Never cruised before I have a few questions

[Ginna]

Hello

 

My sister Just booked the voyager of the sea for July 2005. I cant afford it. I was wondering what is the cheapest room to ask for? My husband doesnt like tight spaces ? What kind of cheap room would be best for him. I have 2 children age 9 and 6 traveling with us. Or do I want to save and wait till 2006 and book a really nice room. Also I was wondering what is the differance between inside room and outside room. What is the best location to ask for a room on the ship.

 

I was also wondering if I called the ship 2 weeks before departure like July 1 2005 would they have cheap rooms left so they can just fill up the boat. Or isd it prime time sailing in july and the ship is a good one.

 

Any info would be greatly apprieciate. All opinions are welcomed.

 

thanks

 

Hopefully soon to be a first time crusier.

ginna

[Orcrone]

Ginna,

 

Until you get to the suites most of the rooms will be one size, although some will have two different sizes for their standard rooms. My first cruise we had a 120 square foot stateroom. That's about 10 X 12, including the bathroom and closet. It was tiny. Many ships now have standard rooms that are about 180 - 200 square feet, not huge but more manageable. On our last cruise we got one room for DW and me and another for our two girls. Many people went four to a room, but it would have been too tight for us.

 

Everyone has heard of someone waiting to the last minute and getting a great price. But I assume that you nned to schedule around your children's school. So that limits your flexability. Generally, when you book a cruise you lock in a rate. If the price goes up then you're protected. But if the price goes down prior to final payment (75 - 90 days prior to sailing) you can always get the price reduction. So I think you're better off booking something a bit ahead of time and watching the prices. I check every day and got a higher category for less money.

 

An outside room has a window looking out to the ocean. An inside usually has no windows. Although a friend of mine just got back from a cruise on the Mariner of the Seas and had a window looking out to the promenade deck inside the ship. This was considered an inside room.

 

Hope this helps and doesn't confuse.:D

[Shelli]

It's important to remember that on a cruise ship, you're hardly ever in your cabin (unless you have a balcony where you can hang out). Other than that, you're in there to sleep and to dress, basically.

 

In the past, Royal Caribbean was pretty well known to have some of the smallest cabins afloat (other than suites, as the previous poster mentioned). But some years ago, my ex and I and our two teenage daughters all shared an inside cabin on a Royal Caribbean ship... in addition to two lower beds, two uppers opened up from the wall at night and disappeared from view during the day. Yes, it was tight... but it was do-able. And it's the cheapest way to go. Perhaps the cabins on the newer ships are a little larger-- I couldn't say.

 

Inside cabins have no windows; hence, the term. Outside cabins have windows to let you see the outdoors, but they don't open. Balcony cabins have small individual balconies with a couple of chairs and little tables.

 

Hope that info helped...

[trish1c]

Ginna --

 

As people have said the rooms are pretty much the same size unless you get a suite. Four people is alot in one of the cabins. If your DH doesn't like small / tight spaces, I'd wait until you can afford 2 cabins or a suite. Disney also has much better cabins for families; there's some type of divider so you can have a bit of privacy from the kids.

 

Inside has no windows. It is VERY DARK in those cabins & can aggrevate feelins of claustrophobia. If you do opt for one of these as a cost saver, turn the TV to the bow cam channel to let in some "natural" light.

 

July is prime cruising month but you just never know when I ship will or won't fill up. I'd start looking for bargains & deals at least 3 months out. What happens is some of the big on line travel agencies buy large blocks of rooms; they already paid for them or paid something so they have to unload them. That's where you'll get the bargains, not necessarily from the lines themselves.

 

I like www.*****.com. There's also something called www.unsoldtrips.com I think. They are trying to unload about to be obsolete inventory.

 

Best location varies by preference. For the least amount of rocking motion opt for mid ship at a mid level deck. the higher up you go & the farther out, the more you will be able to feel the ship's movements. Some people swear by hump cabins. Other's tell you aft balconies are the best. You should avoid being directly under the pool, disco, resturants etc. if you can't tolerate noise. I also don't like to be too close to the elevators.

 

I hope you get your dream vacation.

[Boo's Mom]

Ginna..... Yeah, if you are planning on putting all four of you in a cabin...and your Husband is already talking about small spaces... you might have a little problem there.

 

I would recommend (somehow) getting two cabins, connecting to each other. These are limited on any ship.

 

You are only required to put a deposit down on each person (usually $250.)...so you would have many months to save for your trip. The balance should be due 70 days from sailing. Surely there are some birthdays coming up before then....and certainly a Christmas! A little birthday $ and a little Christmas $ will add up quickly! Especially, if you have relatives who buy you gifts. Tell them what you want...and they will be glad to give you the cash towards your trip.

 

Have a yard sale!!! People make hundreds of dollars selling their junk! :rolleyes:

 

There is a great site : http://www.*****.com .... you'll want to get the rock bottom price for your cruise....and this site will help you.

 

I cheering for you, Ginna! You can do it!! Sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice!!! Cruise, cruise, cruise!!! ;)

 

Let us know how it turns out. :)

[cruisinqt]

If you're wanting a low priced cruise with a good sized cabin, Carnival is a good cruise line to look at. Most cruise lines cabins start at around 117 square feet for the cheapest cabin available. Carnival's cheapest cabin is 185 square feet. That's a plus for us because my husband is 6'6". Our last cruise was on RCI and our cabin was almost 150 square feet. We had no problem with the size. Probably because you spend very little time in your cabin. It's just a place to sleep. There's so many broadway shows, comedy acts, trivia contests, scavenger hunts, and other stuff to do that you don't spend much time in your cabin. And not to mention the spa, casino, shops, and bars and lounges. It doesn't matter whether you get a suite or the cheapest cabin available. You will have a blast.

 

Some people get the cheapest cabin available because they are rarely in their rooms and want to spend the money elsewhere. Many of these people lay by the pools all day and soak up the sun and cool ocean breezes. Others love the balconies and suites because they like to look out at the ocean from their rooms. It's just according to what you prefer to do in your spare time on the ship. Would you prefer the privacy of your own balcony so you can sip on a drink and enjoy watching the ocean? Or would you prefer to lay out by the pool under the sun listening to the live band?

 

The only reason to pay extra for a suite or balcony cabin is if you plan on spending a little extra time in your cabin. And if you do choose Disney, be advised that there are no casinos or gambling on board. They are a little pricier too. But kids tend to love them!

 

As for cruising in the summer, a lot of cruise ships sell out at that time of year. It is considered "peak season" because school is out. You can get a good deal last minute, but it doesn't happen often.

[kitty9]

The cheapest rooms are the smallest and if your husband is claustrophobic, then you will have a problem putting four people into the small rooms. The inside cabins, which are the cheapest, are really quite tight in room, bathroom and closet space, and I don't think someone who's claustrophobic would be happy in one of those. At least with a window room or one with a balcony, your husband wouldn't feel so confined. Summer is the prime season to cruise and most book those cruises early. It's always the cheapest and most expensive rooms that book first, so be aware of that. Waiting until the last minute isn't the best idea when you cruise during the peak season. Also remember, once you book the cruise, there are other expenses to be had. Most beverages aren't included, tours, gambling, shore excursions, bingo, tips for the workers and many other things aren't included in the price and have to be added into your final cost.

[serene56]

For our first family cruise we pinched tons of pennies. Actually made Lincoln cry some days. But it is afforable. I cruised with my 3 boys out of Tampa for 7 days- I paid less then 2,000. for all 4 of us to fly, cruise and our excursions. Because I go cheaply I can afford a cruise each year now. SInce the kids dont cruise with me no longer I can get a balcony. My cruises have always been the last week in August INTO the first week of September. (hurricane season)

 

We get the cheapest inside cabin- sometimes window cabins are like 600 more. (for that much the windows better be on my house..lol)

 

I book my cruises a year or more ahead of time and make monthly payments.

 

The VOyager is sailing out of NJ now so its priced a lot higher then a cruise out of Florida.

 

GIna: another option you may look at is the Group cruises here on Cruise critic. All you would need is 25.00 down for a lot of them and make a monthly payment.

[Sophie]

Ginna, I never thought we would ever be able to afford cruising. We don't make a lot of money, and we always thought a cruise would cost thousands of dollars. We were very uninformed. After doing some research, I figured out a system that works for us. We both put $50.00 a month from our paychecks in a separate account just for our next cruise. When we have enough to book it with deposits, from one year to a year and a half away, we start saving for the final payment. We don't miss the money and getting excited together is half the fun of the wait. Another way to spend less is to go between the week after Thanksgiving and Christmas week. You'll fine some of the very lowest cruise fares then. Our family and friends have often asked us how we can afford to go on a cruise. When I explain our system, they get all excited and realize they, too could afford to cruise! :D

As for the size of the cabin for two adults and two children, I would try Carnival. They have some of the biggest cabins and the most affordable rates going. :D

You could get an oceanview that sleeps four and have enough room to move around without getting claustrophobic. :eek:

Hope I helped you! :)

[VickiVSN]

We cruised with friends on our first cruise and she is extremely claustrophobic. But we both had inside cabins and she was fine with it. I would would not want to do that size cabin with four people. You could either do two cabins or look into family suites. Royal Caribbean has a category F that looks doable. You'd have to compare the price of 2 cabins to the one suite. In many cases windows and balconies more than double the cost of the cruise. Thats why I stay inside so I can afford to cruise once a year.

[Tradizney]

Inside cabins are cheaper, but I found I didn't like the lack of natural light and it threw me off as to what time of day it was. You don't spend a lot of time in your cabin. Most of the time you're on deck or in port.

 

I can pass along who I book through if you are interested.

 

Tradizney@aol.com