Never been on a cruise

[redrevenger]

My husband and I are both 52 and have NEVER been on a cruise. It is something I have always wanted to do, and as I am getting older really really want to experience. We have very limited funds..What is a good first time, inexpensive cruise?. I would like to leave out of NJ or NY.

[cruiser momma]

Go on a cruise right before Christmas or right after New Years. My least expensive cruise was on Jan 6th out of NJ. Look at the websites for specials. We have been on about 15 cruises. You will love it.

 

Cruiser Momma

[redrevenger]

This website for last minute cruises? Or is there a better site for it

[Cruisin' Chick]

What I would do is sit down with a "cruise specialist," a travel agent who knows all about cruises. Look in your yellow pages under travel agents and find an agency that has the phrase in their ad or heading, or ask your friends and family about a recommendation. CC rules would keep us from stating any specific names here.

 

Bring in your list of wants, including time of year and budget. Ask the agent to tell you what the additional costs are (government fees, port taxes, auto-gratuities). Many costs are optional such as ship's photography (you won't be charge to take a photo, only charged if you buy it), casino, beverages (coffee, tea, water, morning juice are among what's included with your fare), shore excursions.

 

Usually a deposit is refundable before final payment time, but make sure to ask about the agency's charges if you change or cancel -- some won't charge -- before handing over a credit card. If you're unsure, write down the name of the ship/sailing date/itinerary that the agent suggests and you can come back here and ask for opinions.

[cruiserking]

My husband and I are both 52 and have NEVER been on a cruise. It is something I have always wanted to do, and as I am getting older really really want to experience. We have very limited funds..What is a good first time, inexpensive cruise?. I would like to leave out of NJ or NY.

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic RedRevenger,

 

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Explorer of the Seas is an older ship that sails out of Cape Liberty, New Jersey. There are several cruises that are quite reasonably priced.

 

I saw a 6-night to Bermuda oceanview cabin for $629 per person. March 21, 2014 Explorer does an 8-night Bahamas $719 per person balcony or $679 for a window cabin. What is your budget?

 

Sit down with a travel agent that specializes in cruises and they will steer you in the right direction.

 

Jonathan

[dorisis]

Your best bet would be to find a travel agent who is experienced with cruise lines. Shop around some are better than others. Some online agencies are often very good.

[kitty9]

This website for last minute cruises? Or is there a better site for it

 

It's against the rules here on Cruise Critic to talk about, or give information about, travel agents or agencies. Cruise Critic isn't a travel agency, so you can't book cruises here.

[Aplmac]

If you start cruising,

chances are excellent you won't be able to stop it!

 

You've been warned! :D

 

.

[redrevenger]

Thank you all for your advice. I will contact a travel agent.

I heard once you cruise, you will do it again. :D

[zoncom]

I cannot stress enough to contact large DISCOUNT cruise agencies. My Mother went to our local travel agent and really got ripped off. Do an internet search using discount. These large agencies will constantly send you their sales. A really good one many of us use is located in New Hampshire. Cannot divulge name but I bet you can find it. The 3 large budget lines are Carnival,Royal Caribbean and Norweigan, CCL,RCL and NCL. Princess Celebrity a few dollars more. Lots of good cruise travel books on both ports and the ships in your local library as well as the lines own websites. Lowest priced week of year is first week Dec. Excellent time for Caribbean then. Bon Voyage.

[marshhawk]

And, think outside the box. What you may pay for cruise time trying to leave the northeast to get to warmer climates, you might find a less expensive cruise, where the balance could go to air line tickets. A cruise to the Bahamas from southeast Florida is going to be less expensive than a cruise from NY to the Bahamas. You will sail for several days before you get to warmer climates. Cruise ? Yes-Budget -check-where do you want to go???? You are however in a great location for cruising to New England if that is where you want to go.:)

[Markanddonna]

You have been given some good advice to think about from the other posters. I am a very budget minded cruiser, so here is my take:

 

- No harm in talking to a local travel agent but most have not traveled that extensively (a good number of folks on this board know WAY more) and many aren't interested in helping a budget minded cruiser. So, keep lurking on this site to learn from experienced people. I LOVE to talk to others on cruises to learn about ports, good deals, their thinking, planning, etc.

 

- I personally would keep looking at a big online site- most of them will give you about the same deal (the sites like the one with the gnome..). When you are pretty settled in what you want, then start checking the price for your desired cruise on the other sites and don't forget to find out the cost and deals from the cruise lines directly. It sometimes pays to call them up.

 

- Learn to check different options as you search- like someone else mentioned thinking outside the box. You may discover that a cheap flight is worth it. You might want to customize your search to "price per night" to see how the sailings compare and to help you prioritize and focus.

 

- Leaving out of NY or NJ, I would search NCL, Royal Caribbean and maybe Celebrity. Others will disagree, but I'm not a Carnival fan.

 

- As you read these boards and other sites, you will hear people say that they just HAVE to have a suite or a balcony. I've only had one two times and I'm perfectly happy to go to an ocean view room or inside. Consider that perhaps half the folks on the ship ARE on an inside and some people talk themselves into the thought of having claustrophobia in an inside. I spend most of my non sleeping time roaming the ship and paying lots extra for a suite or balcony just doesn't make sense to me. I'm just saying, we who are on a budget need to listen to who we get advice from... I drive a Malibu, not a Lexus. So it is with cruising...

 

- You can spend lots of money at the casino, the bars and on photographs if you let the cruiselines dictate your wallet. We buy an occasional glass/bottle of wine, don't do any ship photos anymore and my spouse spends just a bit at the casino (too smoky for me). The ships probably have us labeled as super thrifty and I'm not helping their bottom line. Sorry.

 

- I think sailing in Jan- Feb sounds like a splendid idea, if you have the time. Those are probably some of your best months. Also, the fall is another great bargain time but hurricane season can be problematic. I departed on a transatlantic cruise the day before Sandy and the stress of almost not making the flight (managed to get on an earlier connection) was no fun and made we a bit squeamish about doing "an important cruise" in the fall. I agree that an early Dec. cruise may be a very good bargain.

 

- You might find some great bargains in Dec-Jan for future travel. You will get more knowledgeable about things like "wave season" and looking for bookings when the lines open up their schedules. But, that is a 300-400 level course in cruising.

 

- Know that different types of cruises have different personalities: Mediterranean being a bit more sophisticated with more experience and international travelers, Caribbean being more party like and looser, Alaska being cooler, port intensive and "for nature lovers", the Bahamas (I personally am so not interested in the Bahamas after being there a number of times), etc. Some cruiselines are also known to cater to certain crowds (families, older folks), although that also depends on the time of year and destination. We were just on a HAL in Alaska and while HAL has a reputation for having an old crowd, it just wasn't that way in June with lots of families onboard. Transatlantics (my personal cruising favorite) on any line will have more retirees because most younger folks can't take off three weeks.

 

- Personally, I would recommend NCL or RCCL for your first cruise. NCL is freestyle and RCCL is a bit more traditional. Very similar and both good experiences. A couple in their fifties would be happy on either line. RCCL has a type of freestyle dining but you might want to stay with traditional dining for your first cruise, although we started with NCL and happily go back and forth seeing the advantages of both styles.

 

Check out some reviews when you narrow things down but eliminate both the really negative ones that insist ALL the food was inedible and also the really 5****+++ stars from first timers who don't have enough experience to discern. I like the reviews that give objective details rather than just posting their diary online.

 

The folks on cruise critic are the ones that gave me my best education and we are all paying it forward to the newbies!

[cruiseaholic777]

Think about leaving from Baltimore Md. In november and december they have some great deals. Cruises for 2 for 7 days 822$. Cruises for 2 for 8 days as low as 980$. Good luck :rolleyes: