first time, got a few questions

[blueeyes1227]

Hey everybody, thanks for coming to help me out. Well my husband and I are planning our first vacation and wanted to go on a cruise. I've been looking at the gem that leaves from ny and sails to Florida and the Bahamas. Does anything else leave from ny? Where on ny does it leave from? Also how much money is reasonable for a seven day cruise? We were planning on going in April or may of next year, which has better weather in the Bahamas? Sorry for all the questions! Do you pay cash for everything on the boat, or is it somehow charged to your debit card. Yes I am a little confused lol we are in our early 20s, so is this a good ship for us, or would you recommend something else? Thanks so much!

[LauraBK]

Hi! Congrats on your first vacation! I am a first time cruiser myself so I can't really answer anything about the cruise lines myself, but I can tell you the terminal in NYC is in the area of the Intrepid (57th St..). There is also a terminal in Bayonne NJ, that will give you additional options.

 

Have fun!

[kitty9]

I suggest finding a good local travel agent to help with your first cruise. They will know which lines cruise out of NY. You don't pay the travel agent, but they can provide perks for you like on board credit or paid tips.

 

Cruise ships leave from the cruise terminals near the Javits Center, on the river.

 

Either month is fine as one month makes little difference.

 

Cruises are not all inclusive. Actually, a lot of people can spend more on board than the cruise costs. Things not included are sodas, liquor, shore excursions, specialty restaurants, bottled water, and anything purchased on the ship. Ships are cashless on board, and you use you ship card to pay for everything. You back that with a credit card that use show upon checking in. The only place you use cash is in the casino.

 

It's impossible to tell you how much it will cost because there are so many variables. You can choose from about 20 cabin categories, all different prices.

 

Like I said, talk to a travel agent. They will help more than you know.

[SuiteTraveler]

If you give us an idea of your budget, we will be able to help you with ideas on what cruiselines are in your price range.

[blueeyes1227]

You guys are fast, thanks! We really didn't know prices, so didn't set a price range yet. We saw a lot of cruises totaling around 1500 to 1800. But we want to have a great time, so we are open minded and I heard you pay it off in payments which is great! I was going to the travel agency across from my job tomorrow. Would they have pictures and whatnot?

[janetz]

There are many cruises that leave NY and NJ in April and May. You will notice as you serach the prices will jump up around April school vacations. These cruises go to the Caribben, Canada, Bahamas. Just google "cruise ports" and there will be links that will give you a map where you can click on the NY port of call and a list of cruises and the cruiselines will pop up. This is a good way to search for what is available. Depending on the cabin you get is how much you will spend. An inside cabin is the cheapest.

 

You are given a cruise card to use onboard. Everything you buy, drinks, etc is put on this card. At the end of the cruise these charges will be billed to your credit card unless you oay off your account in cash.

 

Get ready to become a cruise addict. :D

[blueeyes1227]

There are many cruises that leave NY and NJ in April and May. You will notice as you serach the prices will jump up around April school vacations. These cruises go to the Caribben, Canada, Bahamas. Just google "cruise ports" and there will be links that will give you a map where you can click on the NY port of call and a list of cruises and the cruiselines will pop up. This is a good way to search for what is available. Depending on the cabin you get is how much you will spend. An inside cabin is the cheapest.

 

You are given a cruise card to use onboard. Everything you buy, drinks, etc is put on this card. At the end of the cruise these charges will be billed to your credit card unless you oay off your account in cash.

 

Get ready to become a cruise addict. :D

 

Thank you! Do you need a credit card, or is a debit card allowed. I'm so excited while reading people experiences on here. I don't think is want an inside cabin, my friend said while she was barely in her room, it made her feel crazy.

[janetz]

Thank you! Do you need a credit card, or is a debit card allowed. I'm so excited while reading people experiences on here. I don't think is want an inside cabin, my friend said while she was barely in her room, it made her feel crazy.

 

 

I am sure someone else will chime in about the debit card. We use cash or a CC. We have never had an inside but alot of people dont mind it. We have to see the sea. ;)

 

After taking a look it does look like May 2012 from NY is limited but it is early and that will change. Check again in a few months.

[cb at sea]

Most folks will spend about 1/2 of the cost of the cruise in "incidentals"...prepare yourself and your pocketbook!

[blueeyes1227]

Yeah, we saw that May only has the gem. April has the gem and jewel. April, the beginning two weeks are high in price, is that because of maybe college kids or something?

[Essiesmom]

Early April is higher next year because Easter is earlier, so a lot of schools will have a week off. Try this website to see who is scheduled to sail from NYC. Don't forget, there is a cruise terminal in NJ, Bayonne/Cape Liberty.

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/

The first list of ports is departure ports, the lower list is ports of call. EM

[KC Gorilla]

An expense not yet mentioned will be your tips. Figure about $11 per day per person.

[kitty9]

Thank you! Do you need a credit card, or is a debit card allowed. I'm so excited while reading people experiences on here. I don't think is want an inside cabin, my friend said while she was barely in her room, it made her feel crazy.

 

Debit cards can be a problem. Most debits allow a very low amount you can charge per day, even if you have a ton of money in your account. You can pay for the cruise with your debit card, but you'll have to call your bank to up your daily limit. As for using your debit card to back your on board charges, I don't recommend it, although some do. Here's the problem with debit cards....the cruise line will put a dollar amount "hold" on your account. Even if you don't spend that amount, you won't have access to that money, sometimes for weeks until the cruise line releases it. That can be a pain.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Another factor is that the cruiseline will expect full payment a few months before the cruise. So if you don't have a credit card, you will be writing a check for the full amount (minus the deposit that you paid out when you first book) before the cruise.

[blueeyes1227]

So what would I do? I don't own a credit card. There has to be a way around it somehow, as far as paying for what we use on the boat...I hope lol

[Treven]

So what would I do? I don't own a credit card. There has to be a way around it somehow, as far as paying for what we use on the boat...I hope lol

I only use a debit card for my cruises. I've never had a hold placed on my card; the balance of my bill was charged against my debit card the night before the cruise ended; it was very painless.

 

With the exception of the casino, as was previously mentioned, nothing onboard accepts cash for anything! To pay for drinks, sodas, cocktails, beer, etc., you will be asked for your sea pass card (it's actually an onboard credit card issued to you when you first check in). The waiter, or bartender, or shop keeper will present you with the receipt which you'll have to sign and give back, as well as your sea pass.

 

Something I, and many others do, is send myself $ ($500 - $1,000)to the ship, between when I've paid off the cruise and the date of boarding. That way you're starting out with a positive amount on your bill. Then every time you "buy" something, the amount of that is debited against the amount you have a credit of.

[bythehex]

Hey everybody, thanks for coming to help me out. Well my husband and I are planning our first vacation and wanted to go on a cruise. I've been looking at the gem that leaves from ny and sails to Florida and the Bahamas. Does anything else leave from ny? Where on ny does it leave from? Also how much money is reasonable for a seven day cruise? We were planning on going in April or may of next year, which has better weather in the Bahamas? Sorry for all the questions! Do you pay cash for everything on the boat, or is it somehow charged to your debit card. Yes I am a little confused lol we are in our early 20s, so is this a good ship for us, or would you recommend something else? Thanks so much!

 

Also don't rule out the Carnival Pride from Baltimore. It's a reasonable drive (2 hours from here in NJ). Just as another option.

 

I agree with the others, find yourself a good TA. Some of the rules are different from cruise line to cruise line, so bear that in mind. A good TA will be able to give you the information you need.

[toberman]

I was going to the travel agency across from my job tomorrow. Would they have pictures and whatnot?

 

A good TA (Travel Agent) will have that info, but don't just go 'across the street' because they're close.... try to find one that specializes in cruises, not just anytime travel.

 

I don't think is want an inside cabin, my friend said while she was barely in her room, it made her feel crazy.

 

On our first cruise we also opted for a balcony (oceanview might work) just because we didn't want to NOT like our stateroom - too confining etc., and if we didn't like it, we prob wouldn't cruise again. At your age though, I doubt you'll spend much time in your room or balcony. Us older folks enjoy sitting on the balcony with a drink and reading/snoozing.. whatever ;).

[EGG]

Make sure you check the age restrictions. I seem to remember reading on these boards that there are restrictions against 2 unrelated people under a certain age (24?). I notice you say you are in your early 20s and you also said your traveling companion was a friend.

[blueeyes1227]

Well at the time of the cruise I will be 25 and my husband will be the same, so hope we are all good as far as the age and what not.

 

I went to the travel agency today and was very helpful.

[trish1c]

Glad you are getting help from a TA.

The Gem could be a good cruise for you & DH. It has a rock wall, a water slide, a bowling alley & a great disco, Bliss. Pack a white outfit for the "white hot party."

On board everything is tied to your sign & sail card which is also your room key. You can open that account with a cash deposit or your debit card but as others have said, there can be problems with the debit card.

Assuing you otherwise have good credit you may want to think about getting a credit card for stuff like this. You also need one to rent a car. You don't have to use it (or get in trouble with it) but it's nice to have for stuff like this; then you pay it off when you get home.

Other lines do cruise out of the NYC area -- Carnival, RCL, Princess, Cunard & HAL. The last two are not going to be great choices for active 20 somethings.

If you end up with an inside cabin a trick is to put the bow cam channel on the TV & turn off the sound. When the sun comes up outside you will see it on the TV.

[EBONI325]

blueeyes1227.......My dd never uses a cc or dc when setting up her cruise account. She uses cash at the terminal and when she's close to using it all, she just adds more cash on it, on the ship. Happy sailing