HELP First Time Cruiser Overwhealmed with Info

Never cruised before and want to take my wife on an eastern or western
caribbean 7 or 8 night cruise in Feb as a surprise....intrested in some
of the ones leaving TX and stopping in Mexico and Belize. I've been
doing google searchs and research but am overwhealmed by too much info,
some of which is conflicting.

We're in our 40's and won't be taking any kids so I'm intrested in a
ship that offers more privacy with not too many families and kids
running around but still want ammenities and a good size comforatable
suite.....anyone have suggestions for a line and a ship....I wanted to
spend about 3.5 to 4K wihen everything is said and done which includes
air fare from MD to FL or TX.....

We have cruised on Celebrity, Holland America and Princess. Holland
America is the best value for your money and hardly has any kids. That
can be a down side though.....most passangers are senior citizens so it
can be slow and not many people our age.
Celebrity was a wonderful experience....a little more expensive for the
same size stateroom but excellent service, food, etc. More couples in
their late 40s and 50s. We went on The Grand Princess out of
Galveston. Best ship! It was during spring break so there were a fair
amount of kids with their parents, however, they were extremely well
behaved and we actually enjoyed having them on board. Stay away from
Carnival....way too many teenagers and cheezy entertainment. Check out
this site Fubiov.com...(Forget U Buddy I'm on Vacation). They have
some critiques and allow people to post their pictures (great way to
get your family to see your vacation for free)! I posted our
video...it's under cruises. Have fun...cruisin is the best!

Thus spake "Thorpe" <jeffthorpe@> :

>Never cruised before and want to take my wife on an eastern or western
>caribbean 7 or 8 night cruise in Feb as a surprise....intrested in some
>of the ones leaving TX and stopping in Mexico and Belize. I've been
>doing google searchs and research but am overwhealmed by too much info,
>some of which is conflicting.

If you were looking at the Elation out of Galveston, be aware that
Carnival no longer offers that routing. You can either book a 4 or 5
night to Cozumel (and Calica) or a 7 night on the Conquest to Montego
Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

>
>We're in our 40's and won't be taking any kids so I'm intrested in a
>ship that offers more privacy with not too many families and kids
>running around but still want ammenities and a good size comforatable
>suite.....anyone have suggestions for a line and a ship....I wanted to
>spend about 3.5 to 4K wihen everything is said and done which includes
>air fare from MD to FL or TX.....

Sailing out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale offers you much greater
options in both lines and routes.

What flavor of formality are you looking for? It sounds like you may
be a candidate for Princess or Celebrity.
--
dillon

Anyone who says grown men don't cry has never
taken a differential equations final.

"Dillon Pyron" <dmpyronINVALID@austin.> wrote in message >>
> Sailing out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale offers you much greater
> options in both lines and routes.
>
> What flavor of formality are you looking for? It sounds like you may
> be a candidate for Princess or Celebrity.
> --
> dillon

Or Holland America!

--Jean
A smile is the shortest distance between two people.
Victor Borge

Took my first Western Carib cruise earlier this year on the Norwegian
Sun. The itinerary was Grand Cayman, Roatan Honduras, Belize, and
Cozumel.

It left out of Miami. My past experience in leaving out of Miami with
Carnival was god awful. But with Norwegian it was the most efficient
boarding process I have experienced. The disembarkation process was
also very efficient.

We booked a balcony cabin for around $800 pp. It was worth it. Nothing
like having your own balcony. We flew from Ohio and airfare was about
$375 pp. Price of tours varies but ours came up to about $700.

Kids are becoming more prominent on all cruise lines and the level of
annoyance depends on the level of parental supervision plus cruise staff
scrutinity. which is lacking sometimes.

But I think you will be able to comfortably be able to keep within you
target from a monetary standpoint (particularly on this cruise), and
enjoy it as we did, should you decide to take it.