kadmarco

On the cruise will be myself and my two daughters (14 and 17) I really want to go to the meditteranean but I only have 1400 dollars to spend (total) I also would like to go to the carribean. (one or the other, not both)What cruise line is best? I was thinking carnival.Is the food on cruises free?If you stop, can you go where you like or do you have to stay with the tour group?My other daughter lives in st. maarten (in the carribean) could I visit her while there if that's one of our stops?

cjammeen

I took a cruise on Royal Carribean and had a great time!! All food was included and there was lots of it!!I belive that most cruise lines include food...Our cruise stopped in Aruba, St. Maarten, St.Thomas, and Curcaos. The cruise line had tours and such that you could book and charge to your room, or you could be on your own on the islands. They left it up to us.I would certainly, cruise on Royal Caribean again.

CaicosTurkey

We all have ideas about which sort of cruise ship we like best. This link will enable you to look at what's on offer and offer you bargain deals. My own favourite is MSC cruises because I prefer a smaller ship. Look for cruises to the Eastern Caribbean. http://www.vacationstogo.com/The food is free, it is very, very good and there is a lot of it (too much!) but you pay extra for drinks. You don't have to join tours and there is no need even to get off the ship if you don't want to, although it seems a pity not to have a look round. You would have long enough on St Maarten to visit your daughter, but it might be easier for her to come and meet you at the terminal, as she knows her way around.

TINKERTOYthe1only8432

I have been on many cruises and offer this advice.With your cruise budget your options are limited. Your budget is definitely too small for a Mediterranean cruise as the airfare to get to the departure port would likely be more than your total budget. But you can do a cruise to the Caribbean and it will most likely be a 5-day rather than a 7-day cruise. Yes Carnival is the budget cruise line bit it's not your only option. I suggest Royal Caribbean instead because its a better cruise line and has better activities on ship, especially for teens. Here's what I suggest. Go to the web site for Royal Caribbean and click on the link for "HOT DEALS" and you will see specials that will fit your price range. The lowest price shown is for an inside cabin and the prices scale up for the higher categories. Also the price shown is per person based on double occupancy so that's the price for the first two people. But the third person in your cabin will pay a lower fare that will be approximately 1/2 the normal fare for that cabin. So if there is a cruise listed for $400, the price will be $800 for the first two people and likely another $200 for the third. The price of your cruise includes your cabin, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinners)(except the specialty restaurants), all shows and entertainment, and use of all facilities on ship except the spa treatments. At each port you can get of the ship and go anywhere on your own as long as you are back at least 30 minutes before the ship departs. The tours that the ship sponsors are not free (explained below) The things that you will have to pay for once you are on the ship are:Gratuities: They will amount to about $10 per person in your cabin per day; about $50 each for a 5 day cruise. When you check in at the pier they will set up an on-board charge account for you to cover any and everything you may buy on ship. They will issue you a "cruise card" which will also serve as your room key and pass to get on and off the ship. At the end of the cruise they will add the gratuity to your tab and you can pay with a credit card or cash, your choice.Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks: Coffee, tea, milk, juice, and lemonade and punch will be provided free but you must pay for drinks (alcoholic beverages) and they will add a 15% gratuity to each drink of soft drink order. You can save on drinks by ordering them in a plain glass rather than the souvenir glasses they often use.Photographs: Cruise lines will take plenty of photographs of you all over the ship, in the dining room, and as you exit the ship in ports. Some cruise lines even offer a video of your cruise. The photos will cost a lot, like $15 to $20 for most. Skip them and save yourself a lot of money. Take your own camera and have the other passengers photograph you on and off the ship.Tours/Excursions: These are listed on your cruise line web site and you can reserve them well before the cruise and pay for them also. If you wait until you are on ship to book tours they will be charged to your on board account (then you can pay cash to settle your account on the last day). But you do not have to do any tours; you can get on and off the ship as much as you want at port stops.Souvenirs: Anything you buy on ship from a gift shop or duty free shop goes on your on board account. Things that you buy on shore you pay cash or credit card for.Casino: If you plan to gamble on ship you will need cash for that.Other: most cruise lines have what they call "specialty" restaurants where there is a gratuity/service charge. All other food on board is free and its not really necessary to budget for food; you cannot eat all that will be available.--If you want/need to have your hair done, get a massage or wrap, or any services from the spa, you will have to pay for them. You can use the gym free but the spa stuff cost big bucks.--Ships now have internet cafe and some have WiFi but the there is a fee for internet access and it is very expensive (like about $50 to $60 an hour). We always look for internet cafes in the ports; they are usually only $5 or $6 an hour --You cabin will likely have a minibar with soft drinks and munchies; you have to pay for them (but there is free room service 24/7).