Ok, I'm still considering the cruise. I went to Cruise.com and got some prices and also I got some prices from CruiseCompete.com.

These cruises all sail the Mexican Rivera at the end of Feb.

Here are the deals;
Carnival Spirit, good cabin/balcony, 8 days, 2,070.00

HAL/Oosterdam; 5*, decent cabin/balcony, 7 days, 2,396.00

Princess/Diamond Princess; 5*; Great cabin (Aloha deck), 7 days, new ship, $2,305

RCL/Vision of the Seas; 5*; decent cabin/balcony; 7 days, $2,376

NCL/Norwegian Star; 4.5*; good cabin/balcony; 8 days; $2,124

Crystal/Harmony; 5*, no details in proposal via CruiseCompete. 8 days, Catagory E; No balcony. $2,172.00

Whats the best deal...price or cruise line?

1Way:

The answer depends on what you're looking for in a cruise. If luxury is what you're looking for, the Crystal deal sounds incredible. Of course, the average age on a Crystal ship, is, well, "Matlock."

If you want a lot of music & nightlife, go Carnival. Princess is a bit more subdued, but has better service.

Also, is there any particular port that you're interested in? That may make a difference.

Tell us more and we'll try to help!

Since the whale watching along the way will be so good I'd definitely opt for a balcony cabin.

The prices you've quoted for all lines are a little high, I guess because most of the ships are mostly full at this point.

If you go to cruisemates.com and click on the Princess message boards you will find my review of the Diamond Princess Mexican Riviera dated 12/23. The title is "Diamond Princess 12/11 mini review & excursions". I have cruised with NCL, RCCL, and Princess, and overall I have been happiest with Princess.

The personal choice dining is great with the themed restaurants (as mentioned in a previous thread) plus it's a new and large ship (which helps for motion as the Riviera can be a little bumpy), no complaints.

Once you do find a ship, check prices often as after we booked the Diamond a mini suite became availible, and only $20 more than my balcony cabin on Caribe. www.bestpricecruises.com is a great place to check for cabin availibility/prices.

I don't know what's going on with NCL but they have received a lot of bad reviews lately....

I disagree on the whale watching above. It is NOT loaded with sightings. You need tours for viewing. These whales are also in transit, so no "sure spot", like watching out of Alaska or Gloucester. Anyway- these all seem high to me for the cruise area. I would go with Crystal for the above reason- a big bargain!!

And I respectfully disagree on the above posting. I was just there and saw 8 whales along the boat in the ocean, as well of the rest of the ship that was taking photos of the same things we were. That was not including the whalewatching "coastal cruise" I did in Cabo, where we watched a mother humpback with her pup play in the water right next to us for over 45 minutes. I have gone whalewatching 7 or so times in Hawaii and once in Alaska as well as Provincetown in summer, this past week on the Diamond was the best by far.

BTW, if you look at travel maps for the coast of Baja, you will see it is a well known area for humpback whales migrating from Alaska during the winter months.......as well as several other types....

I checked prices at a number of websites and they were all about the same...so, I don't know what low/high is I guess. What should I pay for a balcony cabin on a decent deck level for a 7/8 day cruise. I assume from the postings that it should be less than 2k.

To cruise the Mexican Rivera you generally have to leave from LA or San Diego. My preference would be San Diego..but, I've never been either place so it really doesn't matter. I think flying home from San Diego would be easier than LAX.

The Crystal is a good price but the ship leaves from Costa Rica and I'm using air miles and I don't think I can fly there...so, might have to settle for something more generic.

Thanks for all the advice and help.

1Way:

I think what Wifey meant was that, compared to last year or two years ago at the same time, prices are higher--not that you haven't found the best deals available now.

Demand has grown faster than capacity, so prices are on the rise in general.

Cheers!

Yes... I did some quick internet searching, if you are referring to the week of Feb. 19th, I think I know where you got your pricing

Now, if you are are willing to take the cruise a week later, departing Feb. 26th the prices are much better. On the Diamond Princess you can book a mini suite (big upgrade from Aloha deck with 2 tv's a bathtub, fruit delivered to your room daily and larger balcony- though it is completely open which isn't bad since you're traveling to a warm spot) for $2,236 total through bestpricecruises.com, I'm sure other websites will match that price. There are many more cabins availible on the Aloha deck for $1,846, which is $450 less than your previous price quote for the same cabin.

Now, between yesterday & today all inventory for the balcony cabins sailing 2/19 has sold out completely, so if you are bound to that week you are lucky to have found a cabin if you did.

What I meant was it is kind of short notice to sail as the cruises are booking quickly these days, if you are able to juggle dates more you may be able to save a lot of $$ from one week to the next....hope this helps

Ok, I've done more searching and I'm getting better quotes.

I've got a couple of quotes for the Diamond Princess from LA to Mex. Riviera, jr. suite, (no air) for about $1,020 per person $2,040 total. Does not include insurance or transfers.

Is it true the Princess line is better generally than Holland America? I like the itinerary of the HA Oosterdam a little better than that of the Diamond Princes.

Is a suite worth 100.00 per person more than a balcony room?

Should I get insurance? Should I arrange my own transfers?

Sorry, I've never done HAL so I can't comment. I was looking at that cruise too, but chose Princess because the ship was bigger and heard the Riviera could be a little bumpy, we know the product and enjoy personal choice dining.

Regarding the suite question, it's really personal choice:
plusses- bigger room with sofa, 2 tv's, bathtub (biggie for me), larger balcony, bowl of friut deliered to your stateroom daily upon request
minuses- you do lose some privacy with the balcony because it is completely open, neighbors sometime will chat or hollar things down to you (not bad, but sometimes you "vant to be alone&quot

Regarding insurance, that is also a personal choice. Don't know where you're coming from, and health situation but obviously the insurance is very good if your trip gets delayed (air) or if you should fall ill at some time, however, most insurance has pre-existing illness waivers. We always used to purchase the insurance until we realized what we were paying, in time, cost as much as a new vacation! Now we only buy it for long haul trips.

Hope this helps!

Sorry- regarding transfers, we usually take a cab on our own. LAX to the pier is about $46 each way, not sure about Princess' rate.

If you can get such a good price on Crystal than this is far and away your best choice IMO. You'll be spoiled for sure. I normally don't feel Crystal is a very good value but with the prices you're getting, I'd jump on it.
I disagree with some of the others that think a large ship is an advantage, I feel just the opposite. The larger the ship the more passengers and more impersonal. I've gone on the Mexican Riviera several times and (knock on wood) have never had rough seas.

The one disadvantage to Crystal and HAL both is that you will not have open seating if this is important. The food on Crystal will be far superior than the other ships you're considering...it just depends on what's important to you.

1WayOut - I know of a good deal. E-mail me at [email protected] and I can let you know.

Crystal is by FAR the best value out of them all. Go for it=the price is VERY good. It is a very different experience. THe ship is smaller, the food and service are second to none. Have been on the Symphony (sister ship to Harmony) for a med. cruise. By far, the best cruise ship/line that we have been on.