Newbie's

[dcandme13]

My sister and I live in seperate states, her in MN and me in AZ, we have NEVER done anything just us, its always been a "girls trip" with others or "family vacation"...so we have decided to try a cruise which neither of us has done before, we have picked a short 3 night trip from Long Beach to Ensenada on Carnival Inspiration in March 2015 (her Birthday weekend) just to get our feet wet in this cruising thing...due to us both being new mommies and work/daycare issues this weekend getaway works for both of us...I have found so much great info on here already...I havent booked yet because I noticed that prices drop a bit if you wait until about a month or 2 out?? What are thoughts on this? Should I book sooner rather then later in case rates go UP?

[ncovert]

My sister and I live in seperate states, her in MN and me in AZ, we have NEVER done anything just us, its always been a "girls trip" with others or "family vacation"...so we have decided to try a cruise which neither of us has done before, we have picked a short 3 night trip from Long Beach to Ensenada on Carnival Inspiration in March 2015 (her Birthday weekend) just to get our feet wet in this cruising thing...due to us both being new mommies and work/daycare issues this weekend getaway works for both of us...I have found so much great info on here already...I havent booked yet because I noticed that prices drop a bit if you wait until about a month or 2 out?? What are thoughts on this? Should I book sooner rather then later in case rates go UP?

 

You are correct about the price dropping the closer you get some of the time, however it is not all of the time. Toward the end of March many Arizona schools go on spring break. If demand is high for the cruise date that you are looking at it may not drop. I have seen the 3 dayers on peak be as much as $499 (not in March but December/June July) for an inside cabin and for as little as $99 (actually for the iten. I saw a west coast rate at $109 for tomorrow's cruise just last week) for the same category room. With that being said it is rare for both extremes.

 

I think that if you have a weekend in March that works for both of you and you are ready to book I would book. You should be able to book Early Saver now and would be able to reduce your fare if the price drops before you make your final payment or receive in on board credit if the price drops after your make final payment.

 

Hope this helps and happy sailing.

[bury me at sea]

We like early saver because of the low price guarantee. However in your situation I think I wouldn't recommend it.

 

Two new mothers living states apart - a lot could happen between now and cruise date and you could find yourselves needing to make changrs that aren't allowed.

 

It's main advantage when booking early is there is a large selection of cabins. If you're not choosey about that I would probably wait.

[Shaded Lady]

A couple of points:

 

The shorter cruises tend to be a bit wilder, more of a 'booze cruise'. But it's still a cruise and if I wasn't bringing little ones with me, I wouldn't let it bother me!

 

As for booking, you may want to consider booking earlier and use the Early Saver program... that way you're locked in at a price and it can only go down! Until final payment the cost of the cruise would be reduced by any price reductions. After final payment you would get on board credit.

 

I'm 44 days out from my cruise and my cabin has gone UP in price! So I wouldn't count on it being cheaper closer to the sail date. Just my experience...

[Cruising Golfer]

If you book Early Saver you can put in for price drops when you see them. You have to watch the prices then call Carnival or do the on line form. The price drop must be for the same state room type.:cool:

[bury me at sea]

Ncovert made a good point about spring break. I hadn't thought of that but prices can sure spike on those dates.

[JLee1973]

You are sailing during spring break time on a short cruise. It may be a wild one. Also with the time off the sailing prices may not really drop.

 

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[dcandme13]

OK, thank you all for the quick replies, yes it is spring break which is why we wanted to do it then as my husband is a teacher and he would be able to stay home with our baby :) As far as booze cruise goes...BRING IT:p We are just 2 sister in our 30's looking for some bonding time and mommy away time, We will be packing a bottle of wine for each of us and may even order a bottle of booze from the "Fun shops" which I just found out about :D I will likely book now and do the Early Savers thing so if I'm lucky and the price does go down we can take advantage of it, I know its like 6 months away but I LOVE researching and reading forums once I've decided on something new. Thanks to everyone in advance for my mutiple future posts I'm sure

[dcandme13]

Any help on Deck to choose?

[Linda the Book Lover]

This year when my children surprised me with a a cruise vacation we booked three months out. Our cabin price never dropped below what we paid. The DD and I will be going on the the 4-day next year but already booked with early saver. As another poster pointed out it all depends on the time of year. The DH and I only had one time that the price dropped below what we paid using super saver/early booking.

[AnonomissX]

OK, thank you all for the quick replies, yes it is spring break which is why we wanted to do it then as my husband is a teacher and he would be able to stay home with our baby :) As far as booze cruise goes...BRING IT:p We are just 2 sister in our 30's looking for some bonding time and mommy away time, We will be packing a bottle of wine for each of us and may even order a bottle of booze from the "Fun shops" which I just found out about :D I will likely book now and do the Early Savers thing so if I'm lucky and the price does go down we can take advantage of it, I know its like 6 months away but I LOVE researching and reading forums once I've decided on something new. Thanks to everyone in advance for my mutiple future posts I'm sure

 

Ok you two, just don't do anything you don't want ending up on youtube! :D;)

[Linda the Book Lover]

By the way while you are researching take a look at the FTF (Faster to Fun). It will cost you $49.95 which is per cabin not person (ignore the per person on website). You get to embark/disembark early (no tendering on the 3-day) and our cabin is ready when you board. The DD and I loved it. We dropped off our bags in the cabin, she asked the steward to chill the wine for me, we put on our bathing suits, picked up lunch at the buffet and went to Serenity to enjoy the drink of the day. You are younger than us so you may want to join the pool crowd. :D

[Bsbllmom]

We went on a cruise last month and we were on the Empress deck. Right down the hall from guest services and one of the bars!! I loved that location. I am going on a cruise next week and we are on the Upper deck in the middle section. I'm sure I will be just as happy. :) Enjoy your cruise with your sis. I was just talking to mine today suggesting the same thing. :)

[SadieN]

I've done the 3day cruise out of Long Beach many, many times. Twice over Spring Break. On cruise the college kids were behaving themselves. The second one group was cut off (alcohol) the first night. This group was infamous. All the other kids introduced themselves by saying they weren't part of THAT GROUP!

[cruisenshop]

Any help on Deck to choose?

 

 

Since you are a new cruiser, my advice is as follows: if you or your sister is a light sleeper, pick a deck where the area above your cabin is staterooms. That way you won't have excess noise from above. If you can, have a stateroom below you also- or at least make sure it's not a club- that can also be noisy.

Or if you are not light sleepers- then pick a cabin or floor convenient to things you enjoy- pool, casino, bars, spa etc.

Most of all- have fun. And hope you catch "the cruising" bug. It only takes one cruise...

[Cruisin Oma]

My sister and I live in seperate states, her in MN and me in AZ, we have NEVER done anything just us, its always been a "girls trip" with others or "family vacation"...so we have decided to try a cruise which neither of us has done before, we have picked a short 3 night trip from Long Beach to Ensenada on Carnival Inspiration in March 2015 (her Birthday weekend) just to get our feet wet in this cruising thing...due to us both being new mommies and work/daycare issues this weekend getaway works for both of us...I have found so much great info on here already...I havent booked yet because I noticed that prices drop a bit if you wait until about a month or 2 out?? What are thoughts on this? Should I book sooner rather then later in case rates go UP?

 

Book early to get the room you want, and then watch the prices. It's not like the airlines, where you are stuck with the price when you book. My husband and I booked a cruise to Hawaii 6 months out last year, and in think we had 6 price drops by the time we sailed.

[Cruisin Oma]

By the way, if you enjoy cruising, we have a large group of cruisers from this board called Arizona Cruisers. We get together in the Phoenix area (sometimes Tucson) about once a quarter.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1979324&page=110

 

Stop by and say hi!

[dcandme13]

By the way, if you enjoy cruising, we have a large group of cruisers from this board called Arizona Cruisers. We get together in the Phoenix area (sometimes Tucson) about once a quarter.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1979324&page=110

 

Stop by and say hi!

 

I tried to jump to this AZ link recently and it is closed... and I wanted to ask people about the travel to long beach from AZ...I'm struggling with people freaking me out about not being able to go in the day before...My sister is flying in from MN and then we are driving from west valley to Long Beach day of cruise...it doesn't sail until 530pm..Im planning on dropping my baby off at daycare at like 630am and driving in same day hopefully getting to port no later then 1-2pm...is this really a concern by not going the day before?? Or is it do-able?? I just want thoughts from someone that has driven in same day etc...thoughts?? Its are first cruise and honestly id rather spend the money elsewhere then on a hotel that I would just be sleeping at for a few hours to cut travel time ya know?

[Cruisin Oma]

We have to periodically close the thread because it gets to large. (I think every 5000 posts). There should have been a link at the end of the thread to the new one.

 

Now to answer your question. Is it doable. Yes. But nothing can go wrong. One flat tire and you could miss your cruise. It's about 7 1/2 hours. (From where I live in Surprise) Plus if you've never been you have to find your way to the cruise terminal / parking and then deal with boarding. We have friends that always come in from Laughlin every time the day of. Personally I'd rather not have to start my vacation with that much stress, also, several hotels offer park and stay packages, so some of the hotel cost gets offset by not having to pay parking fees.

 

But that being said, we all have different responsibilities and I can easily put myself in your place and sounds like your plate is full juggling more than I have to when I leave, so any chance to get away is probably well deserved and something to look forward to regardless of the last minute hoops that have to be performed!!!!

[Cruisin Oma]

This should be the link to the current AZ Cruisers thread. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2121975

[Cruisin Oma]

Ps if your leaving sometime in the next couple months, the time change should benefit you. You will gain an hour going back to LA, so leaving at 6:30 will be like leaving at 5:30. As long as you are west of downtown, you will be going away from traffic so that should help. But even with a 5:30 departure of want to be in Long Beach by 2:30 to get parked, checked in and on board. Remember this is international travel so you have to deal with passports, health travel declarations, etc. It's not like checking in for a simple airline flight. The checkin will take longer. But still , all being said, it is definitely doable. (Have the car serviced before you go - and fill your car here and then in quartzite again. The price of gas in CA is horrendous!!!!!

 

Happy travels!!!!

Edited January 23, 2015 by Cruisin Oma

[dcandme13]

Ps if your leaving sometime in the next couple months, the time change should benefit you. You will gain an hour going back to LA, so leaving at 6:30 will be like leaving at 5:30. As long as you are west of downtown, you will be going away from traffic so that should help. But even with a 5:30 departure of want to be in Long Beach by 2:30 to get parked, checked in and on board. Remember this is international travel so you have to deal with passports, health travel declarations, etc. It's not like checking in for a simple airline flight. The checkin will take longer. But still , all being said, it is definitely doable. (Have the car serviced before you go - and fill your car here and then in quartzite again. The price of gas in CA is horrendous!!!!!

 

Happy travels!!!!

 

Oooohya.....I didnt even think of that....Im in Youngtown....so no traffic really getting out of town....we are going March 13th...my sister just mention DLS was weekend before....didnt even think about Cali changing too....so that helps..

 

Sent from my GT-P5210 using Forums mobile app

[Cruisin Oma]

Oooohya.....I didnt even think of that....Im in Youngtown....so no traffic really getting out of town....we are going March 13th...my sister just mention DLS was weekend before....didnt even think about Cali changing too....so that helps..

 

Sent from my GT-P5210 using Forums mobile app

 

 

Actually that's bad. When daylight savings starts Ca will be on our same time zone, so you will lose your hour advantage. :(

[dcandme13]

Actually that's bad. When daylight savings starts Ca will be on our same time zone, so you will lose your hour advantage. :(

 

Crap lol....

 

Sent from my GT-P5210 using Forums mobile app

[Cruisin Oma]

So headed out to CA today after the Super Bowl. There was an accident on i10 right as you are coming into the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs) 2 hour delay. Fortunately I was using a GPS app on my smart phone called Waze. It routed me around the accident automatically. Added 30 minutes to trip. But that's better than 2 hours on that steep downhill coming down from Chiriaco Summit. If you have a smart phone you might want to download that app now and get used to it.