cruise options?

Question

My boyfriend and I are going on vacation this summer, (he's 19, I'm 18) and we were thinking about going on a cruise.

we have just about $2000 to spend, including airfare, and my boyfriend doesn't have a passport (or time to get one )

what cruise options do we have?

Answer 1

Dear Willowbee,

Fortunately, the requirement for a passport for "travel by sea" does not go into effect until January 1, 2008. That information is directly from the US State Department at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Until that date, your boyfriend can cruise with an original or certified copy of his birth certificate with a raised seal, and a govrnment issued photo ID - such as a driver's liciense.

Now as far as a cruise - the ONLY cruise line that will allow BOTH passengers in the cabin to be under 21, is Princess. However, you must be 21 in order to drink.

That's the good news - I'm sorry to say that I don't think your $2000 will cover your expenses for a Princess cruise. Princess does not offer 3, 4, or 5 day cruises that would fall into your budget as Carnival and Royal Caribbean does, except for a handfull of one-way cruises on the West Coast. If you have your heart set on a cruise, you'll have to take a look at a higher dollar figure.

You need to consider a few items:
1) the cost of getting to the ship - do you need to fly ? - that'll take a big bite of of your travel budget.

2) the cost of tips on board - you'll need to figure $10 per day per person - that's another $140 for a 7-day cruise.

3) your selection of cabin - the least expensive is an inside cabin - that will do you just fine, and save you the most amount of money.

4) the cost of your shore excursions - depending on what you would like to do, these can easily cost you $50 - $100 per day per person! Do you HAVE TO go on a shore excursion - NO, but will you want to - absolutely!

I hate to put a damper on your enthuisiam, but you absolutely need to be aware of all the costs involved in a cruise.

I hope this information was helpful.

Answer 2

The thing about being 21 is negotiable but it is hard to ensure. Okay, my great reccomendation is as follows. For 2000 you could do 1 of two things. 1 is get a longer cruise, 7 or 8 day, and get an inside cabin, or oceanview. I say do this. If you go on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwgian, or Princess, then you will have activites as early a 6 AM and as late as 4 AM. So you won't be spending much time there. Or option 2. get a short cruise 4 or 5 day and get a nice cabin. The cabin is not the most important thing. The ships, then the destantions, then your cabin. So consider that. I am also in contact with Stewart Chirod. He is one of America's foremost cruise experts. Go to his site you can ask him a question, and he will get back to you soon. Good Luck, and Have fun.

Answer 3

Not Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norweigan or Costa.

Princess however runs around $1,000 per person. And that won't include airfare, shore excursions, tips or drinking.

As soon as one of your hits 21, or if you find another couple that is 21 to go with you and they book the cruise with you, you'll find carnival best stays within your budget. You can do a 3 day ones starting at $250 per person, 5 days at $350. But airfare is around $200 a person. And alcohol and tips on ship and a shore excursion would be around 500 per person more. So probably a cruise will run you a minimum of $2,000 per couple, and more than likely $3,000. So with that low of a budget it would be very difficult to stay within a $2,000 budget anyway without missing out on some aspects of the cruise. Summer is the high price time for cruises but it's cheaper during hurricane season.

Another problem with the age you are is that you can't rent a rental car either. Why don't you consider staying a week at a beach in Florida? Rent a condo in Daytona and enjoy the beach. Or white water rafting, while camping for a few days--then check into a really nice hotel for a night or two. You could consider flying to San Diego. Flights are cheap there, great weather, and tons of things to do over the week. And good public transportation. A week in Vegas would be cool. Definitely something most of your friends havent done. Again flights are cheap, hotels are cheap. You can't gamble but you could see shows, Hoover damn, Grand Canyon tours--all for within that $2,000 budget.

Sorry I don't think the cruise idea is going to work out for you but I hope some of these ideas do help.

Answer 4

The passport requirements currently only apply to airfare. Passport requirements will not be extended to sea and land travel until January 1st, 2008.

Unfortuantely, most cruise lines require passangers to be a minimum of 21 years old in their own cabin. Unless you can show proof that you are a married couple.

$2,000 seems a bit on the shy side when you need to add an additional $10.00 per day per person for tips and gratuities, all soda purchases (you'll save a lot of money by not being old enough to drink alcohol on board), souviners, casino, shore excursions etc.

I would save your money and wait a few years when you will be old enough to get your own cabin with your boyfriend...

I highly recommend taking a cruise, it is an awesome way to vacation!

Answer 5

You don't really have a lot of cruise options because if your boyfirend does not have enough time to get a passport then you can probably only go on a cruise to Hawaii or somewhere else in the United States of America.

Answer 6

Me and our members have many cruises for whole sale pricing and up to 58% off of air fare. Join us on a cruise for 69 dollars for 7 days per couple. Check out our 360 yahoo page and we will see you on a cruise!

Answer 7

Try....

www.vacationstogo.com

I just booked a 6 night cruise for $379 on that site. I have booked with them before. Once you have researched your options and rates...call the cruiseline directly and tell them what quote you got already. See if they are willing to meet it or match it. It is always better to book through the actual cruise line/ airline directly whenever possible.

Have fun!

Answer 8

I m no longer acquainted with that variety year yet.. a million.in the adventure that your asking approximately cruise administration then its to combat fatigue and to maintain a steadier speed than maximum folk can for greater applicable gas mileage. 2. its an further kit given for highway making use of to enhance and shop placed on on the transmission.

Answer 9

This is an excellent site with some wonderful options for you.

Answer 10

One person in each cabin has to be at least 21. Sorry.