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Cheapest way to cruise 4 family of 5

pattycake08

By pattycake08,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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pattycake08

pattycake08

Posted
Posted

My Boyfriend & I would like to take my 3 boys ages 18, 13, 11 on a cruise next year, 2013, kids have never been on a cruise, boyfriend & I have cruised 3 times alone always getting a balcony. Not sure if a Suite holds 5 people or if we have to get 2 cabins. Looking for the least expensive option. Any suggestions?

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firefly333

firefly333

Posted
Posted

Any ship built before year 2000, the quads hold 5, so all the Fantasy class ships, all 9 ? of them, plus Triumph and Destiny.

 

they put a rollaway or trundle bed in a quad and allow 5 to sleep in there, grandfathered in when the rules changed.

 

Also Dream, Breeze and Magic have OVs for 5.

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Payd

Payd

Posted
Posted
My Boyfriend & I would like to take my 3 boys ages 18, 13, 11 on a cruise next year, 2013, kids have never been on a cruise, boyfriend & I have cruised 3 times alone always getting a balcony. Not sure if a Suite holds 5 people or if we have to get 2 cabins. Looking for the least expensive option. Any suggestions?

 

Even if you can get 5 in the suite it will cost heaps!

 

Go with the balcony for the two of you - obviously you enjoy that. Then get an inside for the kids. On the lowest deck will be cheapest inside, but it is pretty convenient to have them across the hall.

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Catrin

Catrin

Posted
Posted
Any ship built before year 2000, the quads hold 5, so all the Fantasy class ships, all 9 ? of them, plus Triumph and Destiny.

 

they put a rollaway or trundle bed in a quad and allow 5 to sleep in there, grandfathered in when the rules changed.

 

Also Dream, Breeze and Magic have OVs for 5.

 

The Victory too! The ocean view rooms are a great option here. We have cruised with 5 quite a few times. If you can swing the Family Stateroom on the Dream, it really is a fantastic option.

 

Catrin

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Tapi Great Review Rare

Tapi

Posted
Posted

Cheapest cruise:

 

Carnival Imagination sailing on Monday, returning on Friday.

 

Mon - Miami, FL

Tue - Key West, FL

Wed - Cozumel, MX

Thu - At Sea

Fri - Miami, FL

 

Select an inside cabin which will hold 5 guests on this ship. Select a mid-september or early december sailing date for rock bottom prices.

 

Bon Voyage! :D

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laumicmah

laumicmah

Posted
Posted (edited)
a balcony and an inside across ...

This is what we did on our last cruise. Put our twin DDs-12 in our balcony cabin and DS-14 and his friend-14 stayed in the inside across the hall from us. You could just put all the kids across the hall (but will have to book and adult, over 21 or 25 ??, in each cabin and just switch once on the ship). 5 in a suite (only a very few hold 5 and not on every ship) will cost more than the 2 cabins mentioned above.

 

If you get 2 balconies beside each other, you can open the balcony divider for a really nice big balcony. And there are some connecting balconies too. This would be nice and it's nice to have the 2 bathrooms.

 

We also did 2 OV cabins one cruise. That worked fine too. I wouldn't want all 5 of us in 1 cabin...unless it was a very spacious suite.

Edited by laumicmah
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ckdmom

ckdmom

Posted
Posted

:rolleyes:We are taking our 2nd family cruise this summer (mom, dad, 15, 12, and 9 year old). We are cruising from Jacksonville to Nassau and Half Moon Cay this summer. Last year and this year, we booked 2 Ocean View cabins side by side. The cabin cost is $569 each for the 2 person and $509 each for the 3 person cabin. We book mom and DD in one cabin and dad and 2 DS in other cabin. When we board, dad and I get an extra key for each room and we stay together and the kids are right next door in their own room. Worked perfectly last year!

I know it is more expensive to have to go in the summer, but with kids in school, it is sometimes the best option.

Good Luck!

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firefly333

firefly333

Posted
Posted
I personally like 5 in a suite-- with all those boys, the bathroom won't be a problem (though adult time will).

 

This time we are doing a balcony and a triple across the hall (inside cabin)...

 

I think the cheapest cruises are generally speaking the one you book farthest out.

 

As noted above .. this is only allowed on older ships built before year 2000, except for that huge suite that is 925 s.f. or some such.

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spleenstomper

spleenstomper

Posted
Posted

I know, bummer. We couldn't do a suite for the conquest. I am looking forward to trying 2 in the balcony and 3 in the interior. We are midship but I just found out an aft wrap is available. More expensive than the midship balcony (as expected).... Just thinking aloud. I didn't check if there were any interiors near the aft wrap that are available.

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rockbock

rockbock

Posted
Posted

To all of the people suggesting two inside rooms, suites, deluxe OV rooms, etc., please keep in mind that the OP specifically asked for the CHEAPEST way to travel.

 

The first thing you need to consider is the time of year that you will travel. For the most part, the cheapest rates will be found during January, February, September, and October. The beginning of November and beginning of December are also very cheap. You will pay a premium to travel during spring break, Christmas break, or any of the summer months.

 

Consider booking an Early Saver rate. Although there are some risks with this rate that you need to be aware of before you decide to book it, it's a great option for price protection. If the price drops before you make your final payment, you'll pay the lower rate. If the price drops after you make your final payment, you'll receive an onboard credit for the difference (which you can use to pay for your tips if you don't plan to spend any money on the ship).

 

As for your cabins, the cheapest option will almost always be to travel on a Fantasy class ship, sharing one inside cabin. In October, my husband and I shared an inside cabin with our three teenagers on a 5-night cruise. Contrary to what most cruisers will tell you, there is PLENTY of room, unless you are planning to spend lots of time in your cabin. We were more interested in using the cabin only to sleep, dress, etc.

 

We paid $279 for the first two passengers, and the other three were only $129 each. The total was $945 plus port charges and taxes.

 

Here's a link to my short review of the room:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1498944

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kinabina

kinabina

Posted
Posted

You got a really great price. My hubby and I booked the Fascination for May and are sharing an OV cabin with our three boys ages 7, 10 and 15 and it averaged out to $277/pp plus fees/taxes. We do not hang out in the cabins on the cruise and will only be there to sleep and shower. For some it may be cramped but overall it is a very reasonable price to go with a quad cabin.

 

To all of the people suggesting two inside rooms, suites, deluxe OV rooms, etc., please keep in mind that the OP specifically asked for the CHEAPEST way to travel.

 

The first thing you need to consider is the time of year that you will travel. For the most part, the cheapest rates will be found during January, February, September, and October. The beginning of November and beginning of December are also very cheap. You will pay a premium to travel during spring break, Christmas break, or any of the summer months.

 

Consider booking an Early Saver rate. Although there are some risks with this rate that you need to be aware of before you decide to book it, it's a great option for price protection. If the price drops before you make your final payment, you'll pay the lower rate. If the price drops after you make your final payment, you'll receive an onboard credit for the difference (which you can use to pay for your tips if you don't plan to spend any money on the ship).

 

As for your cabins, the cheapest option will almost always be to travel on a Fantasy class ship, sharing one inside cabin. In October, my husband and I shared an inside cabin with our three teenagers on a 5-night cruise. Contrary to what most cruisers will tell you, there is PLENTY of room, unless you are planning to spend lots of time in your cabin. We were more interested in using the cabin only to sleep, dress, etc.

 

We paid $279 for the first two passengers, and the other three were only $129 each. The total was $945 plus port charges and taxes.

 

Here's a link to my short review of the room:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1498944

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Tapi Great Review Rare

Tapi

Posted
Posted
Cheapest cruise:

 

Carnival Imagination sailing on Monday, returning on Friday.

 

Mon - Miami, FL

Tue - Key West, FL

Wed - Cozumel, MX

Thu - At Sea

Fri - Miami, FL

 

Select an inside cabin which will hold 5 guests on this ship. Select a mid-september or early december sailing date for rock bottom prices.

 

Bon Voyage! :D

 

I priced it out and it came up to $147 per person! :D

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rockbock

rockbock

Posted
Posted (edited)
You got a really great price. My hubby and I booked the Fascination for May and are sharing an OV cabin with our three boys ages 7, 10 and 15 and it averaged out to $277/pp plus fees/taxes. We do not hang out in the cabins on the cruise and will only be there to sleep and shower. For some it may be cramped but overall it is a very reasonable price to go with a quad cabin.

 

Your price is typical for May. You didn't get ripped off, but you're not going to find a rate like I paid in May. You pay a premium if you choose to travel during mid-late March (spring break), all of May-August, Thanksgiving week, or the two Christmas weeks. My family is fortunate that my kids get the first week of October off from school every year for fall break (most parts of the country don't get a fall break). It is very cheap to travel during that week.

Edited by rockbock
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tiffy0428

tiffy0428

Posted
Posted
My Boyfriend & I would like to take my 3 boys ages 18, 13, 11 on a cruise next year, 2013, kids have never been on a cruise, boyfriend & I have cruised 3 times alone always getting a balcony. Not sure if a Suite holds 5 people or if we have to get 2 cabins. Looking for the least expensive option. Any suggestions?

 

I am a family of five and we always get an ocean view and an inside , we fins that to be the cheapest way. We book one adult and child on one room and one adult and other two children in the next room. We usually book 3 in the ocean to get the third person discount

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FlaGrl4Evr

FlaGrl4Evr

Posted
Posted (edited)

If you really don't need the balcony, you could get the last port hole room with an OV next to it -or- 2 connecting OV cabins or a balcony and a nearby inside.

 

You could also skip the Soda-card and just bring on your allotted amount of pop. Crystal Lite packets are great to use with a reusable water bottle that can be filled up on the Lido.

 

As far as the ports, make sure you eat your meals on the ship. This in itself will save a lot of money.

 

Give yourself a Casino and souviner budget.

 

Take your own photos instead of using the photographer.

 

Watch the FunTimes for the Gift Shop sales. The tee shirts will be $10 each. This sale is usually towards the end of the cruise.

 

Take advantage of the free shows, contests, trivia and other activities that the ship has to offer.

 

As far as when to book, we have sailed over Halloween and it is one fun time to cruise. The rates are good and the ships are not too crowded.

 

Lastly, just have a great cruise and enjoy the time with your family. You don't have to spend a fortune to have a wonderful vacation.

 

:):)

Edited by Hoosiercouple
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