Royal caribbean V Thomson cruises. Worth the extra 2 grand?

MattOsprey

Hi,

We tend to go the end of October to the Caribbean.

We came back last week from a Holland America cruise.

1 Night in 4* Holiday Inn Heathrow Jct 4 M4 with upto 15 nights parking. £60.50 from holiday extras 4* guarantee. http://www.holidayextras.co.uk/

1 Night in Fort Lauderdale 4* Marriott Renaisance. £61 through priceline. http://www.priceline.co.uk/

10 Nights on Volendam outside room (not balcony) 1450$ @ 1.85 = £784. We initially paid 1550$ for an inside guaranteed room (possible upgrade). I saw the price drop and contacted my TA in Orlando and she matched the price drop (4 months after I paid my deposit). Then I saw that the outside guarantee's were the same price nearer to the cruise date, but before final payment. So I called her again and she contacted Holland America and changed to an outside guarantee. So saved 100$ and got a better room. In the UK the answer would have been, unlucky mate! http://www.cruisesbydeb.com/

Flights from Heathrow to Miami with BA. Huge baggage allowance no cramped seats. £430. We get the flights when a deal comes up. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=224005 this time we booked the flights then the cruise. When we saw the flight deal I just booked the flights around a cruise we liked then booked the cruise after a little research.

Transfer to Heathrow airport from hotel £10 each way by taxi = £20. (when we wanted it)

Transfer from Miami airport to Fort Lauderdale 90$ with tip @ 1.85 = £49 (when we left the building we just got in a taxi)

Transfer from Ship to Miami airport with the ship 48$ @ 1.85 = £26.

Total price £1430.50

Price per person £715.25

We spent about £600 outside of this. Including trips, which we always do independently. Drinks and tips. This is for the 2 of us.

We like formal ships. However 7 day cruises can become party ships so be careful. Royal Caribbean isn't as formal as we would normally go for, but they are huge and have a lot more for the whole family. Try to go for a ship built after 2000. This is purely a personal preference but the newer they are then the more the facilities are.

You could look for a cruise out of Tampa and spend some time in Disney. You might be able to get a charter flight with http://www.charterflights.co.uk/ or travel republic. They will get you to Orlando from Manchester. The prices are great nearer the time.

Anything else please ask.

Matt

GIRLPOWER_2

well... I have never had so much trouble deciding on a holiday... I must have spent 50 hours searching so far! What I would like to do is DIY to save money. I would like to go July / Aug or first week in September, I would like to go on freedom of the seas and I would like to go from Florida so we can spend about 4/5 nights there...the below link is all the above but sails from miami.. anyone done this and then travelled up to Disney... I would not mind a bit of a drive.. maybe staying in a few motels on the way up/ down and seeing a bit of Florida.

Is this possible?

Would we be in the at risk weather for the time of year and destinations?

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/search/vacationSearchResult.do;jsessionid=0000oajqWrLW3VoLZH6UaaoHYsy:10ktdmods?qvsHome=yes&cS=QVS&date=20073&dest=ANY&port=ANY&ship=FR&cruiseTourOnly=false&x=42&y=3

GIRLPOWER_2

Well I think the answer could be in the form of travelcitydirect. they offer manchester to florida flights, hotel, car hire and 7 nights on carnival glory going 24/08/07 in a balcony cabin for a total of 4000.00.

Anyone think this is a good deal?

GIRLPOWER_2

Well.. it's booked... prices for 2 adults and 2 children aged 5 & 6

leave manchester 24/08 to sanford with travel city direct on a fligh drive for £1958.00 including a car with top insurance and a full tank inc. for 2 weeks.

26/08 7 night cruise http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/cruiseDetails/itineraryAndPricing.do;jsessionid=00003s-CaDwKGChRBXw8H1oRdVm:10ktmevl6?packageCode=MA07W013&sailDate=1070826&date=20073&selectedCurrencyCode=&promoType=

in deck 10 balcony cabin 4 sharing for 590.00 x 2 adult & 230.00 x child inc taxes. Total £1640.00 (best price and I tried the US ones was from liverpoolcruiseclub) many thanks to saveapenny:beer:

so far Total is 3598.00.

Still to pay is hotels for extra nights in Orlando and parking for hirecar whilst on ship. Also will need attraction tickets.... However what a holiday!!!