Love2Cruise4Less

Pam, I *tried* to read the fine print -- but got confused. Is the offer good only on a very few sailings?

Oh, never mind. I woke up, read, and understand the fine-print. Offer good on 3-4 day cruises out of LA. <ugh>

Still, I wonder, why have I never cruised Princess and yet I received this email promo? Maybe, perhaps, because I just booked a cruise on Carnival.com??

Yup. It's for real and applicable to a few sailings.

Pam, I *tried* to read the fine print -- but got confused. Is the offer good only on a very few sailings?

I have never cruised Princess nor, to the best of my memory, have I ever signed up for or received their emails. (Sorry if this is old news…I don’t follow the Princes forum.)

Tonight I received an email which LOOKS real. Is this spam or a real offer? Basically said ‘book a cruise now and get 100% off your fare on a future cruise.’ Huh??

I have not had the occasion to cruise much in recent years and forgot all about checking this board before I booked my upcoming cruise. So this is a post-booking comment. After booking I see in this thread that Carnival is offering some attractive rates.

I'm single and I smoke -- so a balcony is all that will do for me. I booked 7 nights from Baltimore to Bahamas December 8 for $539 + taxes. I have NO desire to go to the Bahamas -- but the date and the price worked for me. (Balcony cabins still available at this price.)

I kept my eye on a dream cruise, again solo/balcony, from Athens to Rome. (60,000 frequent flier miles from Las Vegas - Athens/Rome - Las Vegas vs. 50,000 Las Vegas - Baltimore caused me to hesitate.) But, alas, it was just too much to plan relatively last-minute.

Where did you end up reserving a room?

Airport.

Now I have to figure out if there's any better way from hotel/airport to ship port other than $30 taxi ride.... Could rent a car on arrival at BWI and drop it off downtown the following day. That would give me a chance to visit Inner Harbor, etc. that evening.

Never mind. I (made a HUGE mistake) and booked a room.

Booked a cruise kinda last minute.... Flying into BWI 12/7 for a cruise departing 12/8 -- and NOT familiar with Baltimore.

Don't need anything fancy, just a place to stay for the night. Since I have the evening free would like to find a place within walking distance to something to see/do -- downtown (?) or at least near a restaurant/lounge.

Also, would like to find a hotel which might offer free shuttle from airport to hotel as well as shuttle from hotel to cruise port. Might any such hotel exist?

If no such thing as free shuttles please suggest an approximate price for a taxi from airport to hotel and from hotel to port.

Thanks for info/suggestions.

 

Any recommendations for shore excursions in Nassau? We are a couple in our 30's. We were looking at the Balmoral beach trip - but it seems to get mixed reviews....

 

Lizzim, I just booked a rather last minute Bahamas cruise. I, too, am researching available shore excursions.

FYI, in case you haven't noticed it yet there is a separate Bahamas thread which you may find helpful. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=58

mcarlson, probably not of any help but I'll chime in.... I've cruised out of NYC only once. Stayed in a hotel near Times Square the night before the cruise. As I recall it was a short, inexpensive ($6-7) cab ride from hotel to port. Take a taxi. Easier than schlepping luggage all over Manhattan!

I just booked a rather last-minute cruise (sailing Dec. 8) and am attempting to quickly figure out ‘what’s what.’ I apologize in advance if the answers to my inquiries are somewhere in the 374 pages of this Bahamas forum!

Itinerary: Nassau 11a.m.-10 p.m. and Freeport 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Given that I’m a night owl I just may sleep through the Freeport stop!)

I’m single and sailing alone. I don’t like to shop and my days of beach going/swimming/snorkeling/party boating are pretty much in my past. Been there done that.

My previous favorite port activities have been 1) rent a moped, drive as far as time allows, and see as much of the area as time allows or 2) take a ‘historical/geographical’ tour.

I haven’t seen much of the Caribbean in recent years but I understand that, due to a lot of touristy accidents, many of the islands I’ve previously toured by moped no longer rent them. Are moped rentals available in Nassau? If so, is a US driver’s license valid?

I love to learn about an island: its people, geography, history, etc. I have read through the couple of threads here discussing the “People to People” tours. Since I’m traveling solo and at this late date I don’t think this would work for me. Too, of the tours offered by the cruise line, I don’t find anything which would offer a “historical/geographical” flavor which I would find interesting.

Any suggestions, information, tour options, and/or resource materials would be greatly appreciated!

BTW I live in Las Vegas … so touring big hotels doesn’t impress me much! :D

I just watched, via webcam, my sister and family sail away this afternoon. Uh oh, I'm getting the cruise itch again!

I suppose this question has been asked and answered many times but allow me to ask it here: are there any cruise lines/ships which still allow smoking in one's (inside/outside) cabin? I admit it, however disgusting I smoke (a lot).

My last cruise was in a balcony cabin. But balconies, booked as a single, are most often out of my price range.

Please don't tell me to quit smoking. Never gonna happen. Just answer the question...please! :p

.... Also, I'm new to cruising and I'm trying to find a good solo trip to go on so I'm thinking the Carribean. I found this thread about solo supplements and it seems a good way to find good deals. Is there a website or another method you guys use to find these trips without the solo supplements or do you just have to scour the travel sites until you find one.

Tacomaguy, welcome to cruising ... and to the board.

I'll offer a couple of generic thoughts. I am, by far, not the most experienced cruiser around here so hopefully others will come along and make more suggestions and/or clarify/correct anything I write.

I agree that, as a "newbie" cruiser, the Caribbean should probably be your first choice -- for several reasons. Ships cruise the Caribbean year-round, thus making the Caribbean one of the least expensive cruises. Too (especially for a young person), the Caribbean has a more "party" atmosphere than does say Alaska, New England, et al.

Cruise pricings are somewhat of a study in simple Economics 101. The more people going to a certain place on a certain date the higher the price. Prices will be higher on newer, bigger ships (usually), during summer (when the kids are out of school), holidays, spring break, etc. Those who have flexibility in their work/vacation schedules are often the ones booking the best prices.

Also --and this is an important point -- always consider the cost of airfare. You may find a GREAT deal on a cruise but discover the airfare is astronomically expensive. (Summers, holidays, one-way tickets, etc.) Again, this is Econ 101. The greater the demand, the higher the price.

About those websites.... I'm sure many (most) of us get a ton of cruise/travel email from a variety of places. (While I've been a rather inactive member of Cruise Critic since 2000, I still haven't exactly figured out their policies. But here's what I think....)

While, I guess, CC allows posters to mention websites like Priceline and TripAdvisor (see several posts up from this one) they do not allow mentioning the names of travel agents, travel agencies, or travel selling websites. Best I can figure, Cruise Critic "sells" cruises and doesn't want any competition. That's only fair as they do provide these many boards which are not only sources of good information but also a means to get to know your fellow cruisers.

It has been my experience that finding great rates for anything (not just cruises but airfare, hotels, car rentals) is somewhat like finding a needle in a haystack. There is no simple, one-stop-shopping for any of them. For some of us the hunting is half the fun. For others it's frustrating.

Poke around on the internet and sign up for emails from several different sites. You will probably soon discover which ones are best suited to what you are looking for.

Others, feel free to add/comment/correct.

Good luck and happy sailing but beware: cruising can become addicting!

Sorry to hear you did not enjoy your 1st solo cruise...sometimes things just don't work out as well as we hope..my 1st solo cruise was also a disaster...only 2 months after my husband died...much to soon...but I kept trying...did a couple family cruises...got my feet under me again...and my 2nd solo cruise was MUCH better....so hang in there...and if we ever cross path's on a cruise someday I promise to come knock on your door & ask to see your balcony...;):D

LOL kc, thanks. It's a deal!

Did you enjoy the cruise?

In all honesty, no I didn't.

While this was my first-ever cruise in a balcony cabin (two thumbs up for balconies), I am not a gregarious (outgoing) person. I know others are different. Others make friends out of strangers rather quickly. I don't. This was my first-ever truly solo cruise. And I felt truly solo for the entire week.

Also, of no assistance, was the fact that I received my Cruise Critic's meet-and-greet invitation some seven hours after it happened!

Alas, if only some cute little single woman had come knocking at my cabin door asking to see what a balcony cabin looked like! But those things happen only in the movies, don't they?

My love for cruising is not yet dead. And my search for a single/solo, balcony cabin for less than $500 shall continue.

OK, I'm confused.

After a much-too-long hiatus from cruising I found what I considered a great deal and posted it here (post #1567). I must have been the only one who considered it a great deal as no one excitedly commented on my find.

While on my cruise I went to the office where they book future cruises (whatever it's called). I said (without mentioning any figures) that I had gotten what I thought was a great rate and asked "what would you consider to be a great rate on this cruise sailing solo in a balcony cabin?" Without hesitation the reply was "$400-500."

I thought my $800 rate was the find of the decade! Am I missing something? :confused:

PS If I can find single, balcony cabins for under $500 it will not be another twelve years until my next cruise!!

I read all of these posts and get so frustrated. While it's true there are occasional good solo deals for an OV or Balcony, almost everyone is posting Interior cabin deals out of necessity because of the cost.

 

I will give up a balcony - I am giving up idea of a balcony for an OV on next fall's TA - but I just don't think I could handle an Inside cabin no matter its cost. I know this is iMHO and others are okay just to be on the sea. Still it is a shame this is the only option for a lot of people.

 

Well, rant over.

Scotland, I don't know if your post was directed at my last post or not (guys, use the "quote" function), but I'll reply/rant nonetheless. (Cover your ears if you don't want to hear this 10 year long rant!) :eek:

<begin rant>

I fell in love with cruising some 15 years ago. When I fell in love with cruising I also discovered this Cruisecritic.com website and, specifically, as a single guy, this "solo" message board.

Just a recap.... cruisinryan started this thread on 9/27/08. His first line in opening this thread read (I quote) "A thread for single supplement/solo bargains is very helpful for solo cruisers." Please note the word bargains. I suppose the term "bargain" means different things to different folks.

As I have posted, to me a bargain is a balcony cabin/booked solo/at less than $100/day. Now, to me, THAT is a rare find. Some inside cabin at $500+ is NOT. Am I wrong?

Am I too cynical, critical, too unrealistic? Please be honest. Perhaps it's time to start another "solo bargain" thread?? Your thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks for listening.

<end of rant>

The more I've been following this board recently the more I like the deal I booked (post #1567).

It took me ten years to find but now that I know it's possible I'll be spending the next ten years looking for a similar deal: balcony/solo/$100 a night. If you hear of one let me know! :D

Admittedly, I am a disorganized, single guy. I feel the same way about shopping as I do about packing: I hate them both!

When I last cruised, long ago, paying to check luggage was unheard of. I use to pack everything -- including a kitchen sink! Times have changed.

I'm trying to figure out if it is possible to pack for a 7 night cruise taking nothing larger than a carrry-on sized suitcase. Obviously I wouldn't take my snorkeling gear (or a kitchen sink!). Also, taking a suit and dress shoes, etc., would be, questionably, a no-no. (I am not exactly a gregarious person -- so I may or may not miss going to dinner on formal nights.)

Since I am flying two different airlines the cost of checking a suitcase would be double.

I'd appreciate your thoughts and packing tips.

Hi. Yes, that's a very good price for solo, but how much is the airfare to PR?

 

Lisa

Well, I suspected airfare would be a problem (expensive). But I've spent ten years looking for a single/balcony at a "doable" price. (You can find my posts on this subject much earlier in this thread.) This is the first one I have ever found -- so I grabbed it while the grabbing was good. (There were only two balcony cabins left. I took one and within a few minutes the other one was booked as well.)

Airfare was around $600 ($690 on choiceair). Too much! After many hours of searching I booked the best deal I could find: frequent flyer miles Las Vegas to Tampa then AirTran to San Juan ($200). Not ideal but worth the $$ savings.

I haven't been on the boards in a long time. I haven't been on a cruise in a long time!

Finally found what I've been looking for for so long....

7 night

So. Caribbean

Balcony

Sailing solo

$789 + 45.54

$100 onboard credit

(Serenade, April 14)

My first cruise in over a decade. I'm not sure I remember how! :D

REALLY LOW PRICES THIS COMING TUESDAY.

Celebrity is having Tuesday deals....

I've been out of the "loop" and away from the boards for awhile. Looks like this thread still doesn't get as much "action" as I wish it did.

Anyway, I know RCCL posts an online Tuesday special but I didn't know Celebrity did too. Looking around Celebrity's website I can't find anything about it.

Can someone please steer me in the right direction.

BTW I've never found anything GREAT on RCCLs Tuesday's deals -- but I haven't been checking them in the past year or so.

Too, I'm like Nancy. I'm past itching for my next cruise. Maybe 2010 will bring one.

Merry Christmas to all.

Duane

But 200% of a great sale price is still a great solo price, and I'm worth it!

But doesn't it seem like a waste of money?

One person doesn't use as much water or eat as much food. Doesn't paying the same price for one person as one would for two seem like flushing money down the drain?

On my first cruise I let the cruiseline hook me up with another single. What a horrid experience that was! Subsequently, I've always cruised with a group. I've never cruised solo. I'd love to. I like to be alone. But I know I'd keep thinking: I'm paying as much for "me" as it would cost for "me and another person".

I have yet to be able to bring myself to do that. Maybe someday.

(I need to find a cruiser willing to pay 200% for a cruise and take me along!) :D

Well, I kind of "hinted" at this question in a prior post but not finding any answers I'll just ask it....

How does one find good/great single suppliment deals (besides hoping/wishing more were posted in this thread!)? As I mentioned, also in a previous post, it doesn't seem like any online TA's ever include single suppliment information in their emails.

From a number of messages I've read I conclude that to find single's rates one has to - one by one - check every cruise line, every ship, and every sailing date. That could take months! Is that the best/only way?

Please bear with me. This post may be long as I'm commenting/asking questions which I have long not commented upon/asked.

I still chuckle at a post "cruisinryan" made some time ago. (Can't find it right now ... I wish this board had a feature whereby one could see all posts made by a particular user. If it does, I can't find it.) Basically Ryan said: please quit using this thread as a chat room! You know, one person says "I'm going on cruise X" and others reply "I wish I could go but I have to work/can't get the time off/I'll be on another cruise at that time, but have a good time anyway."

I, too, feel the same as Ryan's post implied. I come to this thread for information. But, LOL, we all know "chat" is an inherent feature of *any* message board (be it about cruises, computing, medical issues, product reviews, or any one of a zillion others).

That said, onward....

Having been single and a cruise lover for a long time I cannot figure out, for the life of me, why nobody seems to market to singles. (Yes, I know there are "single's cruises" but that's not what I'm talking about.) For many years I have subscribed to - and received emails from - a host of cruise companies. Not a single one caters to singles. Why? Is there simply no profit in booking a cruise for one person?

I've been a member of Cruise Critic for a long, long time. For some reason which I still cannot understand although it has been discussed ad nauseam: why is CC adamant about NOT allowing messages searching for roommates? In years past, I had my theories. But I don't think those hold true. Is it a legal/liability issue? I have yet to read anything which fully explains it. (Not that I'm looking for a roommate. Just wondering.)

Why is it so difficult to find a great single-occupancy deal? My impression is, from what I've read here and elsewhere, the most common way involves: going to a cruise web site, search by ship, search by date, and enter "1" as number or cruiser(s), and see what rate pops up. Given there are a dozen cruise lines, each with a dozen ships, each with 100 dates this doesn't seem like a very efficient way to find what we, as singles, seek. (12 X 12 X 100 = 14,400 searches.)

Again, I wonder, why doesn't someone start a travel agency - and seek out these deals - just for singles?

Well, that is at least a part of my years-long rant. Thanks for listening.

BTW, I continue to seek my dream: 10 day cruise, balcony, single, under $1000. Am I dreaming ... or having a nightmare?

OK, so this isn't exactly a single's special but since this is my favorite thread on the boards and the fares are attractive I'll post it here.

Surfing around (wasting time) I found these on the NCL website:

4/17/09 Jewel 11 day Transatlantic (Miami - London) from $399 in / 849 balcony

4/19/09 Spirit 12 day "Caribbean Escape" (New Orleans - Boston) from $599 in / 1199 balcony.

~~~~~~

Come on y'all. Wake this thread and pony up some deals. (I'm still looking for/dreaming of my 10+ day, balcony, single's priced cruise for under $1000!!)