[curly top]

A group of us would like to take a cruise from any Florida port to the Caribbean that leaves December 25 or December 26. Anyone know of one?

[ladydoc]

Originally Posted by curly top

A group of us would like to take a cruise from any Florida port to the Caribbean that leaves December 25 or December 26. Anyone know of one?

No, but as someone who took a cruise over Thanksgiving a few years ago, be prepared for lots of screaming kids running around the ship and at the ports. Sad to say, parents seemed relieved the kids were occupying themselves even if they were annoying everyone else. This is a true story- my hubby and I and our daughter and son-in -law were sitting at a table in the area of a bar. Someone changed a baby's diaper RIGHT NEXT to us (on a bench seat) and then left it on the table. We returned it to her telling her we were sure it must have been an oversight for her to have left it.

We cruise a lot and this was the most miserable one we ever had. Will NEVER take a holiday cruise again. Picture indulgent grandparents who let their 8 year old drive the golf cart and multiply it by 20x.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by curly top

A group of us would like to take a cruise from any Florida port to the Caribbean that leaves December 25 or December 26. Anyone know of one?

Try Google. search cruise lines caribbean.

[LELANDJANE]

There are plenty. Try cheapcaribbean.com or allcruises.com or VacationsToGo.

[KayakerNC]

Easiest way is to go to Travelocity dot com, select Cruises, select Advanced Search Options, select Choose a Range of Dates, put in December 26 and December 27. Select Cruise Departure Port as Miami FL, and check the box for Also Search Nearby Ports.

[Trish Crocker]

We took a Princess cruise 2 years ago at Christmastime. There were not a lot of kids..it was quite nice. Check out princess.com

[StevenGarofalo]

I used to live in Tampa they have a great cruise area in channel side. Look it up and Have fun. Good luck.

[784caroline]

curly top

If you need to ask a question like this I must assume you are relatively new to cruising. To enjoy yourself and to make certain you do not select the "wrong" cruise, I highly suggest talking to a reputable cruise travel agent. It would be a major mistake simply to select acruise because it is leaving form a port near by........each cruise line hs its pluses and minuses and are geared to a particular type of cruiser. Some are party boats, others cater to families, better food, some have more singles programs (even single cabins). Even how you dine differs between ships where some ships have open seating or anytime dining all day while others are more formal and have early (6m)and late seatings (8:45pm)....or you can choose "select" dining.

You are looking for a holiday cruise over New Years so expect to pay more....and it may be substantially more than if you were departing say the first or second week of January. In addition to cost cabin availability may be limited at this close date.

There should be plently of options for you to decide from, but again, take your time in picking the right cruise for you based on some insight from a trusted Travel (cruise) agent........unless you have good friends that have cruised before and know your lifestyle as well as your friends.

Good luck

[ladydoc]

Originally Posted by Trish Crocker

We took a Princess cruise 2 years ago at Christmastime. There were not a lot of kids..it was quite nice. Check out princess.com

You sure lucked out!

[Yorio]

We took a cruise in March from Fort Lauderdale on Celebrity. We did make friends on board but is there a Cruise Club in TV where someone plans a trip?

[tigereyz]

Holland America (HAL) has a 7 night cruise out of Tampa on Dec 26th. Expect to pay close to 2x what it would cost in January. Example: hubby & I just booked the same cruise, except 6 nights instead of 7, departing Jan 2nd 2012. The total was just over $1,000 for a category HH cabin. This is an outside cabin with obstructed view (lifeboat). The Dec 26th 7 night cruise prices out at just under $2,000 for the lowest category inside cabin. We've taken a cruise the 1st week of Jan before, and all the decorations are still in place.

Even though HAL is known as a senior's cruise line, you can expect LOTS of kids during any holiday cruise.

Whatever you decide, I hope you have a great cruise!

** There is no such thing as a bad cruise, just some are better than others! **

[swrinfla]

Yorio:

There is a Villages Cruise Travel Club. However, you should know that it is really a travel agency offering discounted cruises - I do not that it is really a club. Indeed, it has been denied access to Villages Recreation Centers because it was perceived as 'selling' rather than 'enjoying and discussing.'

I have attended several of their meetings, but will not use the services they offer, preferring to do my own thing!

SWR

[rjm1cc]

As suggest get a lot of advice if this is your first time.
I would go to each of the major cruise lines and do a search on those sites. If price is part of the consideration look for a few weeks on either side of your dates.

[784caroline]

To comment an an earlier post, I would be leary recommending any MSC Cruise especially for a first time cruiser. MSC is an Italian based cruise line and all aspects of their operation have a heavy european influence including the people that would more likely cruise on MSC. Announcements are made in 3-4 languages and just look at Cruise Critics recommendations for individual ships.....they have have 4 stars but most MSC ships are only in the 50% range when it comes time to say "I loved it" and "Would recomend it to a friend". Thats comapred to the 70-upper 80% for main stream cruise companies like RCL, Celebrity, Holland America. MSC is not where a first time cruiser whats to be on. Even though MSC has a relatively new fleet of ships, this is a perfect example of why you donot select a ship based soley on price and port of departure.

[Yorio]

[QUOTE=swrinfla;395664]Yorio:

There is a Villages Cruise Travel Club. However, you should know that it is really a travel agency offering discounted cruises - I do not that it is really a club. Indeed, it has been denied access to Villages Recreation Centers

Swr. Thanks for the info. It's too bad we don't have a TV people initiated cruise club. Perhaps something like that could be possible in the future?