I'd like to take a trip south in the coming months with one other person for several nights...looking to spend between 1000-1500 dollars (this would be per person, flight included in that).

Thoughts and experiences?

1/24/2007 12:13:01 AM

cruise

1/24/2007 12:24:28 AM

For that amt per person, you're gonna have the fucking time of your life on a cruise w multiple stops.

1/24/2007 12:25:47 AM

^tru dat. specially if u book last minute, u can get some hella awesome deals and cruises are way badass. no doubt they are the best way to travel. especially the carribean. western is awesome. if u stop in the Caymen Islands do one of the snorkeling/stingray tours. its freakin sweet the stingrays swim right up to you in the water in the middle of no where on this pristine sand bar and u can feed them squid. i think the name of the company we booked our tour with was Kelly's Watersports and it was on Grand Caymen

1/24/2007 12:31:13 AM

although it sounds like you wanna fly

id say take a weeklong cruise out of miami, with that much money you can have tuns of fun and smuggle liquor and cigs back in through miami customs!!!1 i never went anywhere growing up, and was fortunate enough laast year to be someones guest on a 7 day RC cruise around the caribbean (so i dont know exact prices) -- its probably a normal thing to most people, but that whole ship and all the places it went to -- that blew my mind. im so glad i went.

only thing id do differently is try to stay more off the beaten path. i mean everyone and their mom has been to dunns river in jamaica and to the senor frogs in cozumel etc.

1/24/2007 1:18:43 AM

I also went on a Royal Caribbean cruise and highly recommend it. It's like a stomping ground where you can mingle with people from all over the world. The only thing I wish we did differently was not plan so many excursions, we wanted to see it all though, next time we'll go exploring on our own.

1/24/2007 12:43:16 PM

Quote :

"if u stop in the Caymen Islands do one of the snorkeling/stingray tours. its freakin sweet the stingrays swim right up to you in the water in the middle of no where on this pristine sand bar and u can feed them squid"

poor steve...

1/24/2007 9:21:26 PM

Are time frames for all cruises set in stone? I'd like to go on a cruise where I could stop off on an island, stay there for a couple of weeks, and catch a trip back on one of their subsequent trips. Do any cruise companies provide that? I can see why they wouldn't, but it would be nice.

1/25/2007 8:41:42 AM

why all the fascination with cruises? For that ammount of money you can spend a week at an all inclusive in jamaica, st lucia, punta cana, etc. all you can eat, all you can drink.

1/25/2007 9:32:45 AM

^werd. thats tru.

1/25/2007 10:38:47 AM

^^Maybe people like boats, like to island hop, or maybe they are afraid of flying.

1/25/2007 10:55:17 AM

It's traveling without feeling like you're doing so plus you get to see several different locations in the span of a week. Food and drink is all inclusive too, top grade food I might add. It's just very relaxing, the only stress is the flight to the port and back.

1/25/2007 11:04:47 AM

I know this is about caribbean travel, but hawaii is also very doable for that amount. And it doesn't require passports or anything else like that.

1/25/2007 11:14:18 AM

^^ I thought you had to pay for alcohol on most cruises. Never been on one though so don't know for sure.

1/25/2007 12:34:32 PM

i'll give big ups to a cruise as well, we just went on a 6 night out of ft. lauderdale right before christmas, went to key west, Cozumel, grand cayman and jamacia. we also went on royal caribbean. Right now we're planning an 8 night out of ft. lauderdale and then to san juan, st. maartin, st. thomas, tortola and the bahamas. We spent a week in aruba (beautiful), but it was more than 1K/person. for that amount you can do a cruise and airfare easy.

http://www.royalcaribbean.com

1/25/2007 1:20:10 PM

Yeah you gotta pay for alcohol, I think she meant the sodas and drinks with the dinners. There's literally half a dozen places to eat on a ship, a few of which are open 24 hrs. I read RC lets 'wine enthusiasts' bring their own bottles of wine with them and charges a 10 dolla 'corkage' fee.

1/25/2007 3:51:56 PM

^ yeah carnival does the same thing with the corkage fee
^^^^most carribean cruises do not require passports either

the booze are super overpriced on the boat too and depending on how u book ur package and what cruise line it is some sodas and stuff are extra too

best time to drink on the cruise is night of the captains dinner. Carnival has a fancy cocktail party before the dinner and u have to dress up, but it includes complimentary drinks and all those foreign waiters don't bother to check ID. they dont know if ur 21 or not . other good time to do your drinking is in port, mexico=good, cheap tequilla and some cruises will have a party boat excursion in port at cozumel, u get up in the morning and go out on a boat with open bar, then stop at some place with another open bar, then get back on the boat again with open bar on the way back to the ship

1/25/2007 4:33:37 PM

^ you can always tell what people went on the booze cruise

i've only done a booze cruise once, i don't even remember getting back to the boat

1/25/2007 4:36:46 PM

Quote :

"I read RC lets 'wine enthusiasts' bring their own bottles of wine with them and charges a 10 dolla 'corkage' fee. "

so do most restaurants

1/25/2007 5:03:38 PM

Check out Jetblue vacations. They will knock $40 off the plane ticket (I want to say each way) if you book with them. I have been looking at caribbean trips this week as well.

I have also swam with stingrays and it is freaky. They are like freaking cats and want to cuddle up on your leg.

1/25/2007 6:51:03 PM

be sure to check the passport requirements as they have recently changed. Not only that but I would never be caught in a foreign country without one, and if for some reason you have to fly back to the US you have to have it to re-enter. There has been some lengthy discussion about that topic over on http://www.cruisecritic.com

1/25/2007 7:46:44 PM

Just got back from a 7 day cruise to Grand Cayman and Cozumel, ect. and has the time of my life. I would highly recommend it. I only spent $200 on alcohol, but unfortunately I scheduled my two tours (swimming with dolphins and the Mayan ruins) on the last port of the cruise which was cancelled due to rough seas. Left me feeling down, but I had such an awesome time that I'm def planning on cruising again and will make up for those lost tours

1/26/2007 10:32:48 AM

^ the ruins are the shit if u go again, def do that. its just amazing wat they built back then
as for the dolphins i know someone that did that and said it was actually really shitty cos u dont really get to swim with them like u think u do. i mean u get in the pool with them, but thats about it, and its always really crowded and stuff. but thats just wat i heard. if i get back to cozumel i wanna do the excursion where u take a four wheeler out through the jungle past some ruins to a beach and back again, or the similar one with 4x4 jeep wranglers off roading through the jungle

1/26/2007 4:32:15 PM

do they have any cruises where you take it to a port and get dropped off, and then have to find your way back on your own? cos that would be cool. I'm all for exploring off the beaten path.

1/26/2007 6:19:33 PM

When I was researching the different cruises and such I think they had an option where you could get dropped off and find your own airfare but I'm not 100% certain. It just rings a bell.

As far as the passport issue goes, when I went I didn't need one. I was poor and the cost to expedite my passport was outrageous, so I saved that $170 for the cruise and used my birth certificate and id. Now they've made it very clear that passports will be needed if you're traveling to different countries. You'll know when you hit the US Virgin Islands too, homeland security didn't let anything slide. Get one as soon as you can since it take about 4 weeks to get, although with this new law it may take longer since more people will now need them.

1/26/2007 8:36:42 PM

They said 6-8 weeks when I went last week.

1/27/2007 12:56:28 AM

i've got my passport from my last trip to Europe, that is not a problem.

1/27/2007 4:19:32 AM

The Myan ruins at Tolum (sp?) are a neat site to see, we opted for that trip v. going to cozumel and it was great. The seas were very rough that day and about 70% of our ferry got sea sick both ways.

That sounds like the cruise we did a 6 day western caribbean.... we're currently booking an 8 night eastern trip for thanksgiving.

1/27/2007 8:58:55 AM

Quote :

"^^^^most carribean cruises do not require passports either"

don't require at this moment, will next year. also if you get sick they can't fly you home w/o a passport

1/27/2007 9:13:06 AM

Any of you guys been to these places?

Mon San Juan, Puerto Rico 2:00 pm 11:30 pm
Tue St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 7:00 am 5:00 pm
Wed Samana, Dominican Republic 9:00 am 6:00 pm
Thu Labadee, Hispaniola, Haiti 8:00 am 4:00 pm

1/27/2007 11:16:28 AM

I personally haven't but my wife has been to most. Labadee is a private beach that's "owned" by RCI, so it's just their own little beach, kind of like cococay. I have heard St. Thomas is good for jewlery shopping, but most people that are looking for beaches hope over to St. Johns. San Juan, there is a lot of things to do, but very touristy, I have no idea about Samana.

Hop over to http://www.cruisecritic.com and you can check out reviews of every ship and cruise there is.

1/27/2007 1:45:37 PM

I've been to San Juan, St. Thomas, and LabaDee. I thought labadee was RC's private beach but maybe not. In San Juan we went to the rainforest, I think I would have liked to spend more time shopping at those places right next to the port. The rainforest tour didn't let you go very far and you didn't see anything extraordinary. In St. Thomas we went to Magen's Bay. It was crowded and cloudy. The tourguide said it was one of the 10 most beautiful beaches there, it was alright, it's not a very big beach. The exciting part was the ride to the beach, crazy drivers on tiny swervy roads. Awesome view of the water and tiny islands though.

Like I said, I'd do it again in a heartbeat, I'd jsut go off on my own and discover the neat stuff.

1/27/2007 9:16:13 PM

If you go on a cruise you can smuggle your beverages of choice in your luggage... pulled that one off moire than once.

1/27/2007 9:21:47 PM

Anybody been to Tulum?? Looking for our next vacation spot and stumbled upon some cool pics on a friend's facebook page. Looks pretty similar to our honeymoon spot of Ambergris Caye in Belize...but with no barrier reef (plus for the wife, who likes to be able to swim right off the beach). I dig the beachside Mayan ruins as well.

4/8/2014 7:35:46 AM

Tulum ruins are great. I don't think there's much to do right around Tulum, though, besides a single visit to the ruins. I think the beaches elsewhere are much nicer.

Akumal, for example, is a beautiful beach nearby and has some great snorkeling right offshore. Sea turtles galore.

4/8/2014 9:24:00 AM

If you're looking for awesome island life, the best beaches, and amazing offshore snorkeling...

Fly to San Juan. Spend a day or two there. Then take a 30 minute charter flight (Air Flamenco or CapeAir) from San Juan to the tiny island of Culebra off the coast of Puerto Rico. Rent a jeep. Spend a few days there, visiting the different beaches on the island, and snorkeling with their sea turtles and manta rays and ridiculous coral formations. My wife and I just did that a couple weeks ago. Great time. Cost us less than 800 pp.

4/8/2014 9:28:32 AM

Just booked this

Date Port Arrive Depart Activity

18-Oct San Juan, Puerto Rico 8:30 PM

19-Oct Philipsburg, St. Maarten 9:00 AM 7:00 PM Docked

20-Oct Basseterre, St. Kitts 8:00 AM 7:00 PM Docked

21-Oct St. John's, Antigua 7:00 AM 6:00 PM Docked

22-Oct Castries, St. Lucia 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Docked

23-Oct Bridgetown, Barbados 7:00 AM 5:00 PM Docked

24-Oct Cruising Cruising

25-Oct San Juan, Puerto Rico 6:00 AM

4/8/2014 9:55:47 AM

I have a 6 night scheduled for late May.
Going to Key West, Grand Caymans, and Cozumel
I've been to all these places before, but for $350/person it is going to be a great trip.
Our entire trip (wife and I) will be under $1500 for 8 days of not being in NC.

4/8/2014 10:03:52 AM

^^ I did that same cruise last summer (except in the reverse order of islands). It was an awesome time, let me know if you want any suggestions for things to do!

4/8/2014 10:49:35 AM

what company is that through^

and whats the pp rate?

4/8/2014 11:43:54 AM

Quote :

"I don't think there's much to do right around Tulum, though, besides a single visit to the ruins. I think the beaches elsewhere are much nicer."

How long ago did you go? It seems that a ton of resorts, bars, and restaurants have popped up there recently. I mean...I don't need a bustling city. I just need great places to eat, drink heavily, and lay on the beach and catch some rays. We'll throw some activities in there as well (snorkeling, ruins, kayaking, etc.).

I'm still looking at Tobago as well. That was my idea for the honeymoon that got shot-down because it didn't have enough "pampering" (a decision I respected). I need a vacay in the worst way...

4/8/2014 11:50:57 AM

^^ We booked ours through carnival, it was $659 a person ($735 after taxes). The flight was $388 roundtrip Raleigh to San Juan. We booked in late January for a June cruise.

Tips, excursions, and alcohol ended up being around another $600 for me and my wife. We did a couple excursions and I drank plenty of beer throughout the trip and spent a lot of time at the piano bar with my friends (I was not concerned with keeping the cost down at all). We also bought liquor for shots and mixed drinks off the boat. We also stayed two nights in San Juan to explore Puerto Rico.

All that was just about $3k for a 10 day caribbean vacation and was worth every last penny.



[Edited on April 8, 2014 at 11:58 AM. Reason : ]

4/8/2014 11:53:09 AM

Yeah, I'd love some suggestions of things to do.

4/8/2014 2:06:34 PM

Puerto Rico - walked around old san juan and paid the small fees to look inside the forts and old churches (worth it). I thought a man was being nice and pointing out cool things, but in reality he was trying to get us to take his impromptu tour so I blew him off after he kept waiting for us to go into places. We spent another day on the beach at Condado (we had walked to grocery store to buy a small cooler and some beer/ice). Our last day we paid for a tour of the El Yunque rainforest through the cruise line so I wouldn't have to haul my luggage around san juan while waiting for our flight. It was cool, but I enjoy nature and hiking.

St. Maarten - we walked off the boat and paid for a taxi to take us 3 different spots around the island from the taxi stand (they have a sign that shows all the taxi options). We drove through the French part (and skipped stopping to shop/eat), stopped at airport beach for enough time to see planes land (including the 747) and watch some planes leave and watch people get blown backwards. We then spent the rest of the day at a beach a short drive from airplane beach. It was a nice beach with topless women, good sand/water, and a beach bar.

St Kitts - this was definitely the least developed island. We had made friends with some of the bartenders on the boat and they showed us a pool resort place that we could walk to from the boat. We walked through "downtown" and up the hill to get a great view of the bay and the boat. This was our second to last day, so it was nice to just relax in the pool and drink beer. It was pretty small/private, and all 20-30 people there were workers from the boat. We ended up getting 25% off food and beer because the "resort" thought we were crew. We had great views of the mountains on the island, and it might have been cool to take a tour/taxi there, but it also felt pretty damn good lounging in the sun.

Antigua - having trouble remembering exactly what we did, but I think we just took a taxi to the beach and lounged all day. I think half the crew left early to do some shopping and walk around.

St Lucia - We did an excursion this day and took a snorkeling boat ride to see the pitons. It was very scenic and the snorkeling was pretty good (lots of fish in moderately deep water, lots of rocks that you could dive and look under, a couple sea turtles, and free rum punch). The pitons themselves were pretty scenic and it was cool seeing the very nice resorts tucked into the mountains. My first trip to St Lucia on another cruise we took a taxi to the beach and snorkeled off the beach to find starfish. We were approached several times to buy weed and have guys carve stuff out of coconuts for us (they weren't pushy). It was also a very relaxing/nice time.

Barbados - we took a taxi to Mt Gay Rum (only a couple minutes from the port). They gave us 5 shots of different rums plus a nice tour, and then we ate fried fish/lunch on their patio for lunch and drank from their bar ($5 for a frozen drink). I made friends with the bartender and tour guide and he let me sample his homemade spiced rum (one was coffee flavored and one was clove/spice flavored). We then walked across the street to the beach to lounge and do some swimming. The taxi picked us back up at a prearranged time.

4/8/2014 2:53:00 PM

Been to Jamaica for real cheap and it was definitely worth it. I would highly recomend against doing anything associated with resorts, because they will just shelter you away from the real experience. When I was there, I ate all of the local food and drank the water, never got sick or upset at all.

4/8/2014 7:08:46 PM

^^ Awesome! Thanks.

4/9/2014 10:07:18 AM

Cruises suck. We've always had better times while staying on an island where we were on our own schedule and didn't feel like we had to rush to get back to the boat.

4/9/2014 10:17:32 AM

To each their own. I love cruises (have been on 7 now). I never feel rushed to get back to the boat (after being out on the beach or touring around for 8 hours, I'm ready to get back to the boat and sit on the deck to watch us leave port or relax before dinner). I like waking up every day to a new experience and new sights, and you can do whatever the hell you want (if you want to go to a beach, if you want to do some type of extreme sport, if you want to shop, or if you just want a tour of a new island). I like that you get awesome meals, awesome service, and a variety of entertainment every night (or you can lounge and relax). It's also convenient for coordinating between a group of friends because everyone pays separate, dates are set, and no hassle about people wanting to do different things.

4/9/2014 11:35:45 AM

Same here. I think I'd get bored staying on the same island a week. Just be sure to book late dining to maximize time on the islands.

4/9/2014 12:05:14 PM

Cruises generally suck but the Caribbean is such bland region (relatively speaking) that cruises just may be the way to go for the reasons mentioned.

4/12/2014 1:29:38 AM