Booking HONEYMOON and Feeling Overwhelmed

[CrazyKoi]

Ahoy! :) (I'm sorry if that is offensive to any of you well seasoned cruisers).

I am trying to book my honeymoon, and I am so overwhelmed its ridiculous! Of course, because of the wedding costs (which we are paying for ourselves), we are on a pretty tight budget. My fiance has little opinions about where we go, but he is not a traveler, so I'm feeling this overwhelming pressure to either a) Make this the trip that will turn him into a travel fanatic or b) Make this the trip to fulfill some of my bucket list just in case I never travel again.

 

With this said, I really want to make this a great trip. My questions can be broken down into 3 categories: Deals, Experience and Cruiselines.

 

1) Deals: I've been told that January through March are my best bet for booking a good deal. We are already marching into March and now I'm nervous. If I don't book NOW, am I likely going to miss out on the best deals? I'm really loving these deals that I am finding (Upgraded Ultimate Dining or Ultimate Beverage Package on NCL, for instance), but is it worth it to upgrade to higher cabins in order to get these special deals from a $ perspective.

 

2) Experience: Am I missing a lot if I book an inside stateroom? I figure that my fiance and I are probably not going to spend a ton of time in our room, and so it is so tempting to just book the cheapest stateroom that I can find. Then again, this is my honeymoon, so I don't know if the difference is so great that it is worth the splurge. Also, we aren't huge drinkers, but is an ultimate dining package or drink package worth it? Is it typically better to do onboard credit or money back after the cruise, if either of those are options?

 

3) Cruiselines: At this point in time, I'm really debating (I think) between RC and NCL. Is there really a huge difference between these two? I think I like RC's ports a little bit better (I'm looking at the RC Rhapsody of the Seas: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruises/RH09M035) or Norwegian Epic (http://www.************/sc.do?tab=media&i=891737&c=34&v=709&Month=ALL&shoppingZipCode=&IncludeSeniorRates=false&IncludeAlumniRates=false).

 

I hear that RC is a little nicer, but the Ultimate Dining package with NCL is making me question whether this is a better choice. What would you do?

[Cuizer2]

1) Is it worth it to upgrade to a better cabin just to get a special deal? No. Turn this around, why do you think the cruise line is making this offer? What if you were in charge, would you make a "special offer" where you end up losing money?

 

2) You are not missing anything by booking an inside cabin. Once you step out of the cabin you are equal to everyone else. If you are not going to spend much time in the cabin, why pay extra for it?

 

3) The Rhapsody OTS is an older ship which began service in 1997. It has none of Royal Caribbean's special features except for the rock climbing wall.

 

The Epic is NCL's largest ship and twice the size of the Rhapsody. It began service in 2009. It has many of NCL's newest features.

 

NCL offers Freestyle dining. There is no set time or place. There are at least ten restaurants, at least four of which are free (actually included in the price).

 

When Royal Caribbean's newest ship began service, it appeared the Royal Caribbean was moving toward something similar to what NCL offers. However, things did not go well and Royal Caribbean has gone back to the more traditional two seatings dinner service plus reserving some areas for My Time Dining which is very similar to NCL's Freestyle dinning.

 

As for the passenger mix, they are very similar.

 

I've been on eleven Royal Caribbean cruises totaling 88 nights and two NCL cruises totaling 21 nights.

[cb at sea]

Rhapsody is one of the older ships....it won't have all the "bells and whistles" of the newer ships. The interior cabins are SMALL...and I mean really small....look at the deck plans and pick one of the larger inside cabins. No ship's cabin will be the size of a hotel room, until you get into the Jr. suites or mini-suites...(and the sq. footage INCLUDES the bathroom space!)...did I mention how small they are?

 

If you can swing it, I'd book at least a balcony cabin...but that's just me, maybe!

 

Epic is a newer, larger ship....and, NCL has some of the best "suite perks" at sea, if you might be thinking of that splurge!

 

I think you'll find the overall experience to be similar on NCL, RCI, and Carnival.

 

As far as drink packages, you need to drink from 5-7 drinks per day (pp) for the package to make financial sense.

 

I can't help with the UDP....never have used that! We find the included dining to be fine, for the most part.

 

I think, since this is your 1st cruise, pick what fits your budget...either line will give you the "getaway" and a good time!

[paul929207]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

Congrats on your coming wedding.

 

Since money is an issue, go for the inside cabin. You will have a wonderful time and can use some of the money you save for something special

[cbr663]

Congratulations on your nuptials. I would suggest that you make a list of what type of activities would be most important for you. This can help you decide. For instance, you stated that you both aren't heavy drinkers, so a drink package is not of great value. We do not drink so we always select OBC instead of a drink package.

 

We are not foodies, but we do enjoy a great meal. Having multiple dining options and lots of speciality dining options is important to us. The huge banquet hall style of the main dining rooms are not our favourite, so we look at other options.

 

We also look for things to do on the ship. Activities are very important when you spend a couple of days at sea. Some like watching movies, attending cooking shows, trips to the spa. It's a good idea to think about what you will do.

 

We have discovered that we really enjoy having breakfast on our balcony, so we always select at least a balcony cabin or higher. We also enjoy romantic evening dinners on the balcony also, and you may want to consider this for your honeymoon.

 

Best of luck with your decision.

[Jimnbigd]

March is not usually a good deal, because of Spring Break. April is usually cheaper than March. We find the lowest prices can be between USA Thanksgiving and Christmas. Not during actual Thanksgiving and Christmas -- of course prices are high then. We currently have Dec. 6, 2015, Liberty of the Seas booked from Galveston, and have a good price.

 

Are you driving distance to a port? That can really help save money. If you are getting married on a Saturday evening, you might want a 5-day cruise that leaves on Monday and returns on Saturday. That way you can drive down leisurely on Sunday to the cruise. It is a good idea to drive or fly the day before the cruise -- unless you live, oh, within 2 or 3 hours of the port.

 

We prefer Royal Caribbean (RCI) over Norwegian (NCL). We like the fixed time dining, and the entertainment on Royal. But you'll find others that prefer NCL, or Carnival. As my dad always said, "That's what makes horse races." (referring to differences of opinions.)

Edited March 12, 2015 by Jimnbigd

[zoncom]

Also check out Honeymoon forum here under special interests.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Ahoy! :) (I'm sorry if that is offensive to any of you well seasoned cruisers). No worries, that's why there's a forum here.

I am trying to book my honeymoon, and I am so overwhelmed its ridiculous! Of course, because of the wedding costs (which we are paying for ourselves), we are on a pretty tight budget. My fiance has little opinions about where we go, but he is not a traveler, so I'm feeling this overwhelming pressure to either a) Make this the trip that will turn him into a travel fanatic or b) Make this the trip to fulfill some of my bucket list just in case I never travel again.

 

With this said, I really want to make this a great trip. My questions can be broken down into 3 categories: Deals, Experience and Cruiselines.

 

1) Deals: I've been told that January through March are my best bet for booking a good deal. We are already marching into March and now I'm nervous. If I don't book NOW, am I likely going to miss out on the best deals? I'm really loving these deals that I am finding (Upgraded Ultimate Dining or Ultimate Beverage Package on NCL, for instance), but is it worth it to upgrade to higher cabins in order to get these special deals from a $ perspective.

 

Think in terms of low demand times. So mid to late January will have some deals, as does some of February. Once you get into spring break time when families and college kids can take off from school, the demand goes up especially for shorter cruises (a week or less).

I'm guessing the reason NCL is offering these deals is to encourage people to book higher category cabins. I would recommend sitting down with a cruise specialist (a travel agent who is experienced when it comes to cruising vacations and give your budget, your wish list of ports, etc....the TA will help guide you to the right everything, including cabin). But booking a high category cabin just to get a special might not always be the best thing. And if you're not heavy drinkers, do you really need a beverage package? Again, a knowledgeable TA can help you crunch the numbers.

 

2) Experience: Am I missing a lot if I book an inside stateroom? I figure that my fiance and I are probably not going to spend a ton of time in our room, and so it is so tempting to just book the cheapest stateroom that I can find. Then again, this is my honeymoon, so I don't know if the difference is so great that it is worth the splurge. Also, we aren't huge drinkers, but is an ultimate dining package or drink package worth it? Is it typically better to do onboard credit or money back after the cruise, if either of those are options?

 

We always get insides or ocean views as we try to be outside our cabin. And we've been on rainy or cool weather cruises so a balcony might be wasted on those.

I've never heard of getting money back after the cruise. Is that something offered by NCL? Personally we're into traditional dining (we didn't care for flexible dining) as it is an experience on cruises. You'll have the same waitstaff who won't hesitate to try to add to a honeymoon experience at least while you're at dinner. BTW, on any cruise, there will be many honeymooning couples.

 

3) Cruiselines: At this point in time, I'm really debating (I think) between RC and NCL. Is there really a huge difference between these two? I think I like RC's ports a little bit better (I'm looking at the RC Rhapsody of the Seas: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruises/RH09M035) or Norwegian Epic (http://www.************/sc.do?tab=media&i=891737&c=34&v=709&Month=ALL&shoppingZipCode=&IncludeSeniorRates=false&IncludeAlumniRates=false).

 

If there's a port or two that you really want to go to, then go with that. If ports are important to you, but the on board experience, look at what features the ships have. And there's other cruise lines too...maybe check them out too.

 

I hear that RC is a little nicer, but the Ultimate Dining package with NCL is making me question whether this is a better choice. What would you do?

 

I wouldn't worry about trying to make this the ultimate vacation (even if it's your honeymoon). Consider that you and your fiancee don't have another cruise to compare it to.

[Lulubelle45]

My 2 cents. Booking early sometimes depends on the destination. Alaska for instance, as it's a may to Sept season, there aren't a lot of price drops and sales as seen in year round carribean Mexico destinations. The Repo cruises are great deals. My first 2 cruises were Pacific Coastals but then I live near Vancouver so air fare was only one way. Are you closer to a particular port?? Time of year- rough seas can ruin the best cruise if seasick! Depending on which cruise line and how early you book, you may get an upgrade. A Guarantee cabin for instance. We booked the highest inside category Gty and got an obstructed ocean view by booking time. Twice! This was on NCL and HAL. Work with a cruise specialized travel agent (it doesn't cost you extra) and they often have extra perks you don't get booking online. Plus they may even toss in a complimentary bottle of wine or OBC as a thank you. I

[big al]

Ahoy! :) (I'm sorry if that is offensive to any of you well seasoned cruisers).

I am trying to book my honeymoon, and I am so overwhelmed its ridiculous! Of course, because of the wedding costs (which we are paying for ourselves), we are on a pretty tight budget. My fiance has little opinions about where we go, but he is not a traveler, so I'm feeling this overwhelming pressure to either a) Make this the trip that will turn him into a travel fanatic or b) Make this the trip to fulfill some of my bucket list just in case I never travel again.

 

With this said, I really want to make this a great trip. My questions can be broken down into 3 categories: Deals, Experience and Cruiselines.

 

1) Deals: I've been told that January through March are my best bet for booking a good deal. We are already marching into March and now I'm nervous. If I don't book NOW, am I likely going to miss out on the best deals? I'm really loving these deals that I am finding (Upgraded Ultimate Dining or Ultimate Beverage Package on NCL, for instance), but is it worth it to upgrade to higher cabins in order to get these special deals from a $ perspective.

 

2) Experience: Am I missing a lot if I book an inside stateroom? I figure that my fiance and I are probably not going to spend a ton of time in our room, and so it is so tempting to just book the cheapest stateroom that I can find. Then again, this is my honeymoon, so I don't know if the difference is so great that it is worth the splurge. Also, we aren't huge drinkers, but is an ultimate dining package or drink package worth it? Is it typically better to do onboard credit or money back after the cruise, if either of those are options?

 

3) Cruiselines: At this point in time, I'm really debating (I think) between RC and NCL. Is there really a huge difference between these two? I think I like RC's ports a little bit better (I'm looking at the RC Rhapsody of the Seas: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruises/RH09M035) or Norwegian Epic (http://www.************/sc.do?tab=media&i=891737&c=34&v=709&Month=ALL&shoppingZipCode=&IncludeSeniorRates=false&IncludeAlumniRates=false).

 

I hear that RC is a little nicer, but the Ultimate Dining package with NCL is making me question whether this is a better choice. What would you do?

 

Cruise agent and 30+ cruises here...You should NEVER book a honeymoon in an inside cabin! How crass..where's the romance of the stars & sea? Where's the wind & salt air? before you do anything, read my thread on balconies:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1947393

 

A honeymoon should be special..an inside cabin is NOT special, it is boring and does NOT give that connection to the sea that changes your cruise experience like I describe..people with inside cabins don't spend any time in the cabin because they have a crappy cabin- I HATED my inside cabin, so we were never there..BUT, in our balcony cabin, wow, what a difference!! Breakfast on your own private verandah over looking the Caribbean sea- what a rush!! Hanging out there before bedtime looking at the stars & seeing those white caps & listening to the waves...doesn't that sound divine & romantic?? Also, on NCL, you cannot get the Ultimate Beverage package or Dining package with an inside cabin, you must get at least a window cabin..The Getaway would be my choice, new ship with lots of great dining & entertainment options..RCI's Oasis or Allure of The Seas also would be a great choice for a honeymoon, along with the Freedom class ships...Epic is OK, but I like the Getaway more because of The Waterfront, an area on deck 8 where you can dine or drink OUTSIDE over looking the sea..great idea..love the 'Illusionarium" dinner show, which is a magic show while eating surf & truf..also Legally Blonde was a real nice show..Allure & Oasis have killer diving water shows, Central Park, zip-line, surfing pool, boardwalk area, lots of fun...those are my opinions on a honeymoon that would be memorable...an inside cabin would be like opting for a hotel room at a resort with NO WINDOWS- does that sound exciting to you? Do the balcony, make it special, you won't regret it & read not only my thread on balconies, READ the responses, very positive!! Any questions let me know...

 

Big Al

[Sea Green]

Ahoy CrazyKoi,

 

Do check the thread on balconies as Big Al says, and note that not all the responses are as positive as he suggests. :D

 

Ultimately its YOUR holiday and YOUR honeymoon, and dont feel that you 'have' to book any particular type of cabin or package to get the best out of it - whatever works for the pair of you.

 

A honeymoon is probably the type of holiday where youd want to be *considering* booking a balcony. As you say you are not big drinkers, would you be better forgoing a drinks package and spending the money on a balcony cabin instead?

 

You know yourselves best of all. Are you a couple who are constantly on the go? Or will you want lots of time to relax by yourselves after the wedding? That will guide you to the best type of cabin for you.

 

Remember not to put too much pressure on yourself and to ENJOY it! :)

[RikkuCat]

Relax and try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Unless you have a very limited travel bucket list, one vacation isn't even going to scratch the surface. I would approach it with the idea of having a nice trip that will hopefully ignite the travel bug in your new husband.

 

1) Don't stress about booking by the end of March - cruise lines offer deals all year. However, if you see a deal you want, it makes sense to book it now. If you wait too long, the promo may change or the cabin category you want might sell out.

 

Regarding the NCL special, you asked whether it is worth it to upgrade your cabin to get the free perks like a beverage package. Remember that the perks are only valuable to you if you'll use them. You can figure out the value of each perk (OBC and daily service charge are easy, and the dining and drinks packages are available for purchase - prices are on the NCL website) and do some math to figure out if the upgrade would make sense from a dollar perspective.

 

Since you mentioned the dining package, I'll throw in my two cents - I think it's an awesome free perk. Some people think the complimentary food on NCL is just fine, but I've never been impressed with it. The food at the speciality restaurants, however, is much better - in my opinion. Would I upgrade my cabin just to get it? I don't know - I'd have to crunch the numbers.

 

2) This really depends on your finances. I wouldn't book an inside cabin for a honeymoon - in fact, I wouldn't book an inside cabin at all - but I also would not accumulate debt over a vacation, honeymoon or not. If it's what you can afford, it'll be fine. If I were in your shoes, however, I would consider delaying my honeymoon for a few months to save up for a nicer experience. We don't cruise without a balcony - we like being able to open the door for some air, watch sunrises or sunsets, have a cup of coffee or a drink out there, etc. Sure, there are public decks where you can do all that, but there's something special about waking up and immediately stepping out onto your balcony. Others disagree and find it a waste of money - we like having a little private outdoor space.

 

3) We've sailed on both RCI and NCL and like both lines - but as far as the two ships you mentioned goes, we would DEFINITELY pick the Epic. You didn't mention your ages, but I assume you're a younger couple. We are 32 and 35 and very much prefer the newer ships - there is so much more to do on newer ships than on older ones. If you think you'll want to sunbathe all day on your sea days and you're willing to bet that the weather will be good, it probably doesn't matter. We have spent some poor-weather sea days bored on older ships, but there are more interesting active options on the newer ships and we've kept ourselves entertained during equally mediocre weather sea days. A ship as old as the Rhapsody would have to be sailing a pretty spectacular itinerary for us to consider it - and even then, we'd shy away from it if there was more than one sea day and just fly directly to the island that interested us for a land vacation.

 

All else being equal, out of the two options you've presented, we would do the Epic in a balcony cabin with the dining package.

[trish1c]

I completely disagree with the posters who are pressuring you into a more expensive cabin category. You will be able to have romance with your new husband in whatever cabin category you get. DH & I almost never use the balcony so we started booked OV gty cabins which we think is a much better deal. Yes, the little private outside space can be nice but it's a very tiny space. You can't lay out there. You shouldn't get too frisky out there or with all the security cameras etc. you will end up on somebody else's video memories.

 

However, the UDP on NCL is not available as a complimentary perk for inside cabins if that changes your mind. Run the #s: Inside & pay for the package vs. balcony (there are no OV's on Epic) and get it for free.

 

Unless you are super flexible & can go anywhere on a moment's notice there aren't too many deals to be had no matter the time of year. However, the holidays are traditionally more expensive so avoid them.

 

If you are truly feeling overwhelmed -- & WP will overwhelm anybody -- enlist the services of a brick & mortar TA near you to take the pressure off.

[big al]

I completely disagree with the posters who are pressuring you into a more expensive cabin category. You will be able to have romance with your new husband in whatever cabin category you get. DH & I almost never use the balcony so we started booked OV gty cabins which we think is a much better deal. Yes, the little private outside space can be nice but it's a very tiny space. You can't lay out there. You shouldn't get too frisky out there or with all the security cameras etc. you will end up on somebody else's video memories.

 

However, the UDP on NCL is not available as a complimentary perk for inside cabins if that changes your mind. Run the #s: Inside & pay for the package vs. balcony (there are no OV's on Epic) and get it for free.

 

Unless you are super flexible & can go anywhere on a moment's notice there aren't too many deals to be had no matter the time of year. However, the holidays are traditionally more expensive so avoid them.

 

If you are truly feeling overwhelmed -- & WP will overwhelm anybody -- enlist the services of a brick & mortar TA near you to take the pressure off.

 

No one is PRESSURING anyone...this board is for OPINIONS, and if MOST people believe a balcony would enhance their cruise experience, so be it...the fact that you & DH did not use your balcony is your own fault, and a complete shame IMO..did you have breakfast on your balcony at least once? Did you go out there at sunset & have a drink? Did you go out there before bedtime & watch the moonlit skies & listen how quiet it was with just the white caps being heard? On a day at sea, did you sit out there after being at the pool with all the noise & music & hundreds of people & chill & just watch the waves, fish, birds & feel the salt air at your face? Did you see passing cruise ships & take your binoculars to see what ship it was ? Another awe-inspiring event that we've seen is seeing a thunderstorm develop RIGHT in front of you on the open seas & seeing the lightening & rain come down- it is truly jaw dropping to see that late in the afternoon, and of course, this cannot be seen in an inside cabin- NOTHING can be seen or felt in an inside cabin..other than darkness...and BTW, if you think a window or inside cabin is romantic, try leaving your balcony door open on a windy day & listen to the waves & wind while you are "having fun"- now, THAT'S romance!!

All these things can be found in my thread called "Thanks, cruise ship balcony, a commentary" on the cabin selection tips section...

[Cruisin' Chick]

I completely disagree with the posters who are pressuring you into a more expensive cabin category. You will be able to have romance with your new husband in whatever cabin category you get. DH & I almost never use the balcony so we started booked OV gty cabins which we think is a much better deal. Yes, the little private outside space can be nice but it's a very tiny space. You can't lay out there. You shouldn't get too frisky out there or with all the security cameras etc. you will end up on somebody else's video memories.

 

However, the UDP on NCL is not available as a complimentary perk for inside cabins if that changes your mind. Run the #s: Inside & pay for the package vs. balcony (there are no OV's on Epic) and get it for free.

 

Unless you are super flexible & can go anywhere on a moment's notice there aren't too many deals to be had no matter the time of year. However, the holidays are traditionally more expensive so avoid them.

 

If you are truly feeling overwhelmed -- & WP will overwhelm anybody -- enlist the services of a brick & mortar TA near you to take the pressure off.

 

I agree. There's a reason why even most new ships have kept inside cabins -- because people will book them. Some people have worked the numbers and would rather fit in another cruise than book a cabin they can't afford and will be paying off long after getting home. And I was just pricing out fees for the various colleges my daughter may go to for next year...so if we go on a cruise while she's in college (we're trying to do this without her taking out a student loan), booking a balcony would be so wrong. And I'm picking about location so would not risk getting a category upgrade for a bad location just to get the balcony.

 

Plus, unless you're getting one of those ultra-incredible owner's suites with an immense deck, or you luck out with an aft, you're getting a truncated view. Go out on the outside deck (which you can do no matter your cabin category) and you have the whole sky above you. On our last cruise we had an inside aft, and were just steps away from the door that led to a great open deck that was rarely used. If I got up early enough on port days, I could go out there with my camera and get a great view of us arriving in port from many different angles.

[LoveByrds]

Ahoy! :) (I'm sorry if that is offensive to any of you well seasoned cruisers).

I am trying to book my honeymoon, and I am so overwhelmed its ridiculous! Of course, because of the wedding costs (which we are paying for ourselves), we are on a pretty tight budget. My fiance has little opinions about where we go, but he is not a traveler, so I'm feeling this overwhelming pressure to either a) Make this the trip that will turn him into a travel fanatic or b) Make this the trip to fulfill some of my bucket list just in case I never travel again.

 

With this said, I really want to make this a great trip. My questions can be broken down into 3 categories: Deals, Experience and Cruiselines.

 

1) Deals: I've been told that January through March are my best bet for booking a good deal. We are already marching into March and now I'm nervous. If I don't book NOW, am I likely going to miss out on the best deals? I'm really loving these deals that I am finding (Upgraded Ultimate Dining or Ultimate Beverage Package on NCL, for instance), but is it worth it to upgrade to higher cabins in order to get these special deals from a $ perspective.

 

2) Experience: Am I missing a lot if I book an inside stateroom? I figure that my fiance and I are probably not going to spend a ton of time in our room, and so it is so tempting to just book the cheapest stateroom that I can find. Then again, this is my honeymoon, so I don't know if the difference is so great that it is worth the splurge. Also, we aren't huge drinkers, but is an ultimate dining package or drink package worth it? Is it typically better to do onboard credit or money back after the cruise, if either of those are options?

 

3) Cruiselines: At this point in time, I'm really debating (I think) between RC and NCL. Is there really a huge difference between these two? I think I like RC's ports a little bit better (I'm looking at the RC Rhapsody of the Seas: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruises/RH09M035) or Norwegian Epic (http://www.************/sc.do?tab=media&i=891737&c=34&v=709&Month=ALL&shoppingZipCode=&IncludeSeniorRates=false&IncludeAlumniRates=false).

 

I hear that RC is a little nicer, but the Ultimate Dining package with NCL is making me question whether this is a better choice. What would you do?

 

Hello CrazyKoi! Welcome to Cruise Critic!

I can completely sympathize with feeling overwhelmed. I felt like one more wedding decision might put me over the top. We went on our honeymoon (the day after our wedding) just 1.5 short years ago and i can still remember it like yesterday. We are a couple in out late 20's who had been together for 8 years at that point and i am so glad we decided on a honeymoon cruise as this was our first "grown-up" vacation together. And have hope! It turned my stay-at-home-vacationing husband into a cruiser!

 

1) In my limited experience i seem to see new great deals every few months. If you are not ready to book and are flexible I'm sure something else will come up. (We booked 4 weeks before sailing and got a decent price, only about $400 more than when we booked in advance.) Also for us the Drink Package really wasn't worth it. You can find a lot of info about peoples preferences, but most boards seem to say each would need to drink 5-6+ drinks a day to make it worth its weight. If you don't think you'd drink that much, maybe another deal would be better. I personally like the Onboard Credit deals, cause then we can do whatever we want with the money! I think others would be able to provide more ideas on what kind of deals are out there though.

 

2) We went with an interior cabin - i was so worried, but it fit our budget after pouring money into the wedding. We didn't even notice there wasn't a window/balcony. We spent most of our time out experiencing the ports and the ship and activities! We put some of the money we saved towards really neat port experiences (whale watching!). When we were in our room, it was very comfortable and we didn't feel closed in or claustrophobic. And anyway, when we were in our room we were busy with **ahem** honeymoon type activities. :eek: :D :o

 

We were able to get a window room this time, but really were prepared to book another interior. I think that if whatever you decide, if you decide you will have a great experience, then you will.

 

3) I haven't been on either ship or line - but we do have 1 cruise rule now. After having a faulty conditioner in our room, we prefer not to cruise on an older ships. The newer the ship and the more recent the dry dock will win every time for us now. We have a cruise booked for this September and are planning another for next year because we've convinced so many family members to join us!

 

I also wanted to mention - even if your husband doesn't end up preferring cruising or traveling you may still have the option to go with friends or family. I have fantastic memories of crowding mom, myself and sis into an interior cabin for a Carribean Cruise. We had a totally different experience than a couple would, but it was still fabulous. I hope you don't give up your thirst for travel. And remember absence makes the heart grow fonder :)