Carribean / Cruise for 9 persons over New Year

azzap

Hi,

First post, long time reader.

My family are are not very travel savvy and I've been tasked with booking a family holiday for all 9 of us over New Year; upto 19 nights leaving 26th - 28th Dec. We are keen to visit the Carribean and open to a Cruise. Not sure where to look site and travel agent wise. It's an expensive time of year so looking for good value (£2k per person tops). Any direction or insight would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

MasterPoo

http://www.cruise.co.uk

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk

http://www.iglucruise.com/promotion_id155?referrersiteid=314&gclid=CMr_q4_K-8MCFYLItAod_B4Avw

Caz3121

have a look at the P&O Azura departing 26th December. Nice itinerary (Tortola is one of my favourite places) you should be able to get that for just under £2k pp depending on your cabin requirements including flights but your drinks would be on top

azzap

Would it be wise to book flights and the cruise seperately?

w211

azzap wrote: »

Would it be wise to book flights and the cruise seperately?

Not necessarily. Flights are included in the cruise price, as well as transfers between the airport and the ship, so it makes the trip easier, rather than booking the flight yourself.

If the flight timings mean you require overnight accommodation in a hotel, then that's usually included as well.

Furthermore, there are preferential rates available if you want to stay overnight in a hotel before/after your flight to/from the U.K.

MasterPoo

w211 wrote: »

Not necessarily. Flights are included in the cruise price, as well as transfers between the airport and the ship, so it makes the trip easier, rather than booking the flight yourself.

If the flight timings mean you require overnight accommodation in a hotel, then that's usually included as well.

Furthermore, there are preferential rates available if you want to stay overnight in a hotel before/after your flight to/from the U.K.

W2 I think your reply is a bit misleading.....the way it reads, because, flights are NOT always included. You need to specify that. Flights will be included if doing a cruise package with e.g. Thomsons. If you go onto the big cruise ship sites they will give you an option to include your flights.

Also if you require hotel pre/post cruise it would be wise to specify that when asking for quotes/making a booking, because it is not usually included.

InsideInsurance

Getting a package makes things easier because if something goes wrong with one part then the tour operator is responsible for sorting out the subsequent elements.

Book your flights separately and if they are delayed so you miss the boat departure then its your responsibility to work out how to get yourself to another port of call to pick it up etc.

Caz3121

I think you may struggle with budget also with booking separate. You would likely need to travel the day before and book a hotel for a night as, on separate contracts, should your flight be delayed due to weather (not uncommon at that time of year) the ship would not wait for you
I would expect flights to be over £1k on their own so that would reduce your options for cruises

Froggitt

The difference of cost in flights arranged thru the cruiseline compared to buying separately is usually about double the cost (but includes transfers etc)....ie cheaper to buy your own.

Your major decision though is what type of cruise line suits you and your family. e.g. do you like dressing up for dinner, eating set times, or do you want to do what you want when you want to do it?

eg P&O is very much "dress for dinner" whereas a line like NCL is "do what you want".

travellerboy

Froggitt wrote: »

The difference of cost in flights arranged thru the cruiseline compared to buying separately is usually about double the cost (but includes transfers etc)....ie cheaper to buy your own

P&O offer flight inclusive 14 night cruises from Barbados for Oceanview cabins for less than £1700. You are unlikely to beat that by buying a cruise and a flight separately. They offer flights from numerous UK departure points.


Cruising from Barbados avoids the hassle of US Ports/Airport Immigration and also the wasted sea days from Miami / Fort Lauderdale. The ship are definitely more suited to Brits and pound for pound unlikely to be beaten by any land-based holiday.


As for dressing for dinner, those days are gone - smart casual is the order of the day.

Once you try cruising you'll never go back......

Caz3121

Froggitt wrote: »

The difference of cost in flights arranged thru the cruiseline compared to buying separately is usually about double the cost (but includes transfers etc)....ie cheaper to buy your own.

this will depend on the cruiseline I think. eg the P&O cruise from Barbados on the 26th December - outside cabin £1919 including flights
want to book cruise only and book your own flights? best price I can see for cruise only outside cabin is £1920....£1 more!
Some of the cruise companies take their own charters and create a fly/cruise package, others may concentrate on selling cruises and give an option of selling you a scheduled flight ticket where you may pay a little more than the airline as they are giving you protection