<p>My in-laws have a tradition of taking the whole family on a vacation for a few days after one of the grandkids graduates from high school. The headcount is going to be 13 people. </p>
<p>The idea of going on another trip with that many people is making me a teeny tiny bit tense. I love them all but, oh my goodness, the herding involved is tiresome. I was trying to think of places we could go that all the kids would enjoy as the age range is rather wide. Since the grad this time around will be my S, we asked him what he would think of a cruise for a few days. He said it sounded great and we promised to look into it. His first choice was NYC but it’s just too expensive and there are too many of us to try and navigate a large city(in my opinion.)</p>
<p>So, where do I start? Is there such a thing as an affordable cruise (equal to staying at mid rate chain hotels plus food, etc.)? We’d want to go in May, is that a good time budget wise? We’ve never considered a cruise before and I have no idea where to start, so any and all advice is very much welcome.</p>
<p>kate,
I am not an expert by any means; I have only been on one cruise. There are ways to keep costs down, especially now, you may be able to book some deals.
Check out 4 and 5 day cruises rather than the typical week long. Opt for inside berths.
Google ‘short cruises may 2010’.
You’ll get hits for all major cruise lines plus sites named cruises . com, ecruises . com, cruise411 . com
At that time of the year there are short cruises from Bayonne NJ.
Maybe the extended family can cruise from Bayonne but your immediate family can do a day or two in NY before or after cruising.
Happy hunting!</p>
<p>I would start with a travel agent. Ours was able to get us much better deals on the ship we wanted vs. what we could get on our own. She also provided really good advice. The other thing – you don’t know exactly what it costs until it’s booked. Between the brochure price, the advertised <em>deal</em>, the unadvertised <em>deal</em>, the free air, the optional expensive (or free!) shore excursions, the on-board credit etc etc … the pricing is clear as mud.</p>
<p>Each of the lines has their own atmosphere and caters to a certain sort of clientele. Don’t buy just on price – you are on the boat with those people the whole time! For example, if you are not partiers and drinkers …stay away (far far away) from Carnival. </p>
<p>With a group that size, I’d consider one of the larger cabins plus some smaller insides. Just so you have a nice place to gather. At the very least, plan on an outside or two along with the insides. Consider means I would price it out – not hang my hopes on it!</p>
<p>We’ve been on a few cruises and are going again this winter. The largest group we had was 28 people. Cruises work very well for groups like that. No having to herd anybody anywhere. You can arrange to have dinner together every evening at the same table but spend days doing what you like.</p>
<p>I have found the prices on cruises through Costco to be the best. And yes, I have searched all the sites mentioned. Costco prices are even cheaper than booking directly through the cruise line. Some of the last minute deals would be better, but you can’t do that when you have that many people. </p>
<p>Part of the cost involves the flight to the city where the ship departs so consider where flights would be cheap. Unless you live somewhere from where cruises depart. May would be a very affordable time. They have 3-4 days cruises that would work very well out of most ports. </p>
<p>My method is to decide where to sail from, then search cruises from there. Then take THAT cruise and compare prices from the different sites. Remember you can make it very affordable by booking inside rooms and putting three to four people in a room if they are kids.</p>
<p>Another option is an all inclusive resort. That has worked very well for a large family group. Very affordable if you choose the right time of year.</p>
<p>
I don’t think that’s true. I don’t drink at all and have greatly enjoyed Carnival. We are returning to that one this winter for our family cruise of over 25 people.</p>
<p>I would find a travel agent that is a cruise specialist. With a group it is helpful to have a TA negotiate the group discounts, etc. There are slight differences from line to line, but I wouldn’t out of hand discount any particular cruise. My husband is a non drinker but we enjoyed a Carnival cruise we took a couple years ago very much. I agree with the above posters, figure out your departure city then locate the cruise that works best in terms of length and locations. After that, you can compare prices (on your own or with the TA.)</p>
<p>I have taken 8 cruises and am booked for a 9th next June. As someone said above, each cruiseline has it’s own feel and even within cruiselines it can vary based on the size of the ship. For example, on Princess I’ve enjoyed a wonderful Southern Carribean cruise on the Dawn - which may be out of service? - which had around 1900 passengers but I did not enjoy our Eastern Carribean cruise on the Carribean Princess - about 2800 passengers on a ship that wasn’t really designed for that many (they increased staterooms from the Grand Princess without increasing public space . . . NOT a good idea in my opinion!) </p>
<p>I haven’t been on Carnival but, from what I’ve gathered from friends and from countless hours on cruisecritic.com, it’s the short 3-4 days Carnival cruises that have earned it the reputation of being a drunken party ship. </p>
<p>For large family groups I like Royal Caribbean. There’s something for everyone on many of those ships (climbing walls, skating rinks, surfing!)</p>
<p>For a more refined atmosphere, my favorites have been Celebrity and Regent Seven Seas (RSS was a splurge but it was fabulous!)</p>
<p>If you’re a novice, read cruisecritic AND work with a travel agent who knows cruises. You want to find the best fit for you. (Kind of like colleges!)</p>
<p>Agreed with inthebiz on the different lines. I’ve been on Princess and Royal Carribean. Enjoyed both. I’ve also been on Carnival…won’t do that one again. Of course, it also varies by destination at least around here. Because I am near the San Pedro/Long Beach CA ports most popular destination is around Mexico. The Carnival boats are inexpensive and for LA/Mexico you don’t have to fly to get to the port so lots of people on Carnival and definitely around here a very drunken crowd.
I’ve always wanted to do the Alaska cruise and if I was going again that is the one I would do. Everyone says the views are awesome, the scenery great, etc. I’ve done Mexico several times (3 day and 7 day) and the Carribean (7 day). I’m a little bit over the warm weather, buy cheap souvenirs, lay on the beach spots. Don’t forget to think about that too. What do you want to do/see when you are in port?</p>
<p>We done several cruises, I like Royal Caribeen for a mixed age group, there is something for everyone to do. And cruisecritic.com is a wonderful source of information. I love Alaska (we’ve been there twice) and it has a wide variety of activites for each port. Check the vacationstogo.com website, you can sort by cruise line/port/length of trip (you can do this on most cruise related websites). Find a port or ports everyone can agree on, and then see what your options are from those locations.</p>
<p>We’ve only done one cruise with the family - through the Disney Cruise line. It was phenomonal. It’s not just for kids although there is, of course, a lot for hte young ones to do. The food was excellent - they have four restaurants you rotate through and you get your own table (one gradually changes from black and white to color during the course of your meal. Your servers come with you to each restaurant and they are a hoot - you really get to know them. Our two kids had just graduated from high school and college and they were treated like royalty - special grad cakes, songs, etc. They also have great themed clubs, nightly Broadway-style shows and excellent day excursions. There were even fireworks from the ship one night. We especially like the day at Disney’s private island Castaway Cay. Secluded, multiple beautiful beaches. </p>
<p>I don’t know how the cost compares but we have been getting a lot of emails on deals recently - I"m sure the economy has hurt them as well. The rooms are really nice. They have many with balconies. The family suites sleep five comfrotably. We wouold do a Disney cruise again in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>Please report when all is said and done. I’ve never gone on a cruise. I’m sort of adverse to both “family vacations” and cruises, so to me you’re one brave woman. I’d opt for an all inclusive resort in Telum or something. I do agree that herding relatives in NYC would be a nightmare.</p>
<p>We did a large family cruise (20 people) for my in-laws 50th anniversary and had a wonderful time. We did it on Norwegian Cruise Line and visited the Western Caribbean starting in New Orleans. We had fun getting together in the evening and comparing notes about who did what. We vacation together every year so all know each other well and the cousins had no trouble going off with each other or an Aunt and Uncle or Grandparent. Each family paid for their own port outings but we tended to do private ones to avoid the surcharges that the cruise line charged. Cruisecritic info was essential.</p>
<p>I’m actually heading out for a week on Sunday with my 2 best friends to celebrate the 70th birthday of one of them. This will be my 8th cruise, their 2nd. Then we just learned of an amazing deal to Alaska r/t from Los Angeles (so no extra airfare!) in May and have reserved space. </p>
<p>pugmadkate - what you’re going to learn most of all is that everyone who has cruised has an opinion about what the various lines has to offer or doesn’t.</p>
<p>I personally have been on all the majors, and love them all…but I’m also not a “cruise snob” - I can have a good time in a paper bag if it’s on the ocean and I get fed! ;)</p>
<p>If the bulk of your family is in Texas, then you have access to the port of Galveston (possibly without the expense of flying). Both Carnival & Royal Caribbean sail away from there, but there are limited sailings from there in May. There is at least 1 ship offering five-night sailings to the Western Caribbean that includes Cozumel & Progreso Mexico, both beautiful ports (and in Progreso you can tour several Mayan Ruins including Chichen Itza). </p>
<p>Feel free to PM me, and I can lead you to some great sites for research and provide some insight.</p>
<p>I think cruising with a large family/friends group is the best way to travel together. I’ve done it several times and everyone comes away happy because they all got to do whatever they wanted without having to compromise the “together” factor, which usually comes at dinner time at a huge family table.</p>
<p>Missy, try it sometime! My husband thought he would absolutely hate cruising and he ended up really liking it thank goodness ('cause I love them for all the pampering and true relaxation with no TVs, no phones, and people waiting on me all the time etc.) We don’t gamble, don’t go to the shows. Just relax with a good book and eat and eat and eat and visit ports! We’re going to try an all-inclusive this year for the first time and I’m hoping it’s a similar experience.</p>
<p>Disney cruises are great. Fun for every age. Downside: crowded pool on board, and their private beach day is cramped as well. Still, it was a blast.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much. I cannot begin to tell you how helpful this all is as I am truly starting with zero knowledge. You can probably imagine how my FIL (Retired Navy) and my H (active duty Marine Corps) feel about a cruise. They would both be thrilled to never set foot again on a boat longer than 30 feet. Alas, I feel the size of our crowd is calling out for a new solution. </p>
<p>As for the Disney cruises, I would absolute love to book one of those based on what I’ve heard from friends who’ve done it but, my goodness are they expensive. Even with a military discount, I was shocked. If only we could go in mid January when it’s half the price! I’m going to look around on the internet and call a travel agent.</p>
<p>If nothing else, I’m completely convinced that we need to go somewhere contained!</p>
<p>Agree with the comments above that cruises are great for large family groups. We did one a few Christmases ago and it worked perfectly. My elderly father/stepmother never left the ship and still had a great time, and enjoyed getting together with the rest of us for meals and happy hour. I think the Carnival Caribbean cruises are nicer than the Carnival west coast trips. I still prefer Royal Caribbean. There is SO much to do- or just relax. There really is something for everybody and there are a lot of options for the shore excursions, too. I thought I would hate it, but I didn’t. We didn’t even gain weight! You walk- a lot. And you can work out.</p>
<p>Pugmadkate, are you the only one in charge of making the plans? Do you have any complainers in the group? If there’s one ship known for its activities and another known for its food, for example, I’d put it to a group vote. You’d hate to be blamed if Aunt Helen hates the food.</p>
<p>All cruise ships have multiple dining places- that’s what makes them wonderful for groups. With a big group people can break up and eat in different places or make arrangements to have a few tables together. As to activities, there are a myriad of things to do with a favorite being just hanging out and talking…</p>