Cruises: Beats any package holiday...

saveapenny

Dont go January to the Carribean the weather late December and Jan is the thier winter(told to us by locals) we were freezing in Tortola, St Lucia and soaked through to our skins in Trinidad and so cold. Several excursions had to be cancelled due to land slides and several beaches were a mess due to the mud flowing from the mountains, Infact its not the best area to do a cruise, the islands are beautiful and derserve spending time on and we found we got ripped (St Lucia was the worst) off from the locals once they knew we were on the ship yet whee we have stayed on some islands once they know your staying they treat you completly different. I personaly wouldnt do a Carribean cruise again

missk_ensington

Yeah thats true, they do rip you off. Taxis are pretty bad as well, although thats the same in all countries where money is tight. In Egypt they charged up about £15 for a taxi that should have been 15p, we knew this and refused to pay it but a lot of people wouldn't know and if they did, wouldn't know their rights and just pay it.

However, in the markets and away from the docks the prices are lower and even though youre paying a tourist premium, its still lower than what youd pay in England on a lot of things.

IvanOpinion

Saveapenny, I think you were probably unlucky with the weather (as we all can be)... we have been in Jan, Mar and last year in Nov. Of the three Nov was the worst where we got some skiffs of rain on a couple of days and a total downpour on another (but it only lasted about 20 minutes).


Price wise there are 2 lines of thought. Firstly those that book as far in advance as possible (which is what we do) and those that hold off until the last minute deals (or until they see a particular promotion). If you like a particular cabin in a particular place then book in advance if you are happy with any cabin then you can leave it until the last minute. On one cruise site there was one poster who claimed (pre 9/11) that when a ship came into port he simply packed a bag and asked if there was any free space and if so then he asked to get on board for the price of port charges ... and was usually successful.

Ivan

jetboy

No I'm not affiliated in any way to easycruise but I am to the bigorangeboat website which is a bulletin board where fellow cruisers share their experiences. It's not a commercial website but full of useful information for anyone considering an easycruise.
My Flights to Barbados cost £280 each with BWIA. The Cabin was £120 for 7 days for 2 people..a 2 berth cabin. we ate both on and off ship as we had the choice due to being in port every night. The food and drink on board is very reasonable. Its not for everyone and certainly not for kids (they aren't allowed). One of the best aspects of the ship is the fact that there are only a max of 140 people on it..therfore you get to know people and staff. So we cruised the carribean for £340 ex UK for 7 nights but had to buy the food..I call that a good deal.
Regards weather I've been to the carribean several times in UK winter (Jan-Mar). Thats generally the best time to go..bad weather then is unlucky. The worst time would be June-Oct...storms and hurricaines

auntywalker2

I have had fab weather twice on a caribbean cruise in May.

HTH

saveapenny

I think we must have been unlucky twice then we went to Barbados is January too and it peed down 8 days out of 14, The stupidly booked a cruise for the same time of year only then we were told its not the best time to go so looks you you were lucky

missk_ensington

Sorry jetboy but Im just not having it that it cost you £120 for a week (7 nights?) on easycruise. Ive just been on their website, to go on their European tour alone OUT OF SEASON is £40 per room and thats the cheapest! For a week that';d be £140 each and the only way you could have got it cheaper is if you work for them.

However, £340 for a week without food still isn't cheap anyway. Not for what I eat! I ate 7 sit down meals in 24 hours on my last cruise!

saveapenny

Last season because it was the first year of EC it was going very very cheap.
I looked at it for my son and his GF and could have got a week for less than 100 for the 2 of them but couldnt find a cheap flight

missk_ensington

That explains it then, so the upshot is, it was good value last year but the prices are 'normal rate' now and so aren't that cheap

jetboy

the same can be said of easyjet or indeed any of them that fly the ''low cost'' flag..u need to get in quick. The new proposed Miami itinery from easycruise hasn't gone on sale yet. When it does there will be bargains to be had. For what its worth though most of the people we met on our trip in Jan had paid very little for theirs. In fact some islanders were using it as a ferry because the price was so cheap.
I've booked a weekend Riviera cruise for october which has cost £190 for 4 people over 4 days. That's considerably dearer than the carribean one but hey..demand and supply. It seems to be much cheaper to stay mon-fri in the Riviera. Probably fewer stag do's to contend with too.
My other carribean pick would be Carnival. Been on 2 of their western itineries and I have to say they were excellent as well as great value. I just can't enough time off to do the european one.