Surprise cruise for my mom: help?

[Jimmy4pres]

Hi!
My wife and I are planning a surprise cruise for my mom. We have never been on a cruise, and do not know where to begin searching for deals, etc. From what I have heard and read, Celebrity or Royal Caribbean are the way to go.

My mom is older, so we do not need a "party" type cruise.

We are looking at a 4 to 6 day cruise.

1. Do we need passports?
2. What ships should we avoid?
3. What ports should we avoid?
4. Should we use a travel agent, or buy online?

Can you give any advice to newby cruisers? Thank you!

[ToplessRideFL]

1. Do we need passports?
2. What ships should we avoid?
3. What ports should we avoid?
4. Should we use a travel agent, or buy online?

Limitations are getting tighter with regard to non passport travel. Its always advisable to travel internationally with a passport.

Where are you leaving from? East or West Coast? Or somewhere else?

[Jimmy4pres]

We live in Wisconsin, so we would be out Florida (somewhere).

So, I guess it would be best to get a passport, just in case?

Also, as most everyone, we are kind of on a budget and looking for the best deal. Is there a time of year that is best to take a cruise and get a good deal?

[ToplessRideFL]

We live in Wisconsin, so we would be out Florida (somewhere).

So, I guess it would be best to get a passport, just in case?

Also, as most everyone, we are kind of on a budget and looking for the best deal. Is there a time of year that is best to take a cruise and get a good deal?

Not sure of the actual dates... but the high season for travel to Florida and the Caribbean is Christmas thru April...so I assume cruise prices would be higher then too.

I have been on 6 cruises... none since 1995 tho.... Only so many times you can do the Eastern and Western Caribbean ports Jamaica was our fav so now we just go to one place... However... cruising is a great way to see lots of different places in a short period of time. The western caribbean usually includes Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel and sometimes Key west. However I am guessing Mexico is out for a while with the Wilma destruction.

The Eastern Caribbean ports may include St Maatran, St John, Antigua, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, etc....

If I were you... I would call a travel agent and give her/him your budget. Then she can find suitable cruises for you to select from. THEN go online and research for the best price. It may very well be thru your agent.

I traveled on the Royal Caribbean Line (several ships), the Carnival Line and the Norweigian Line. All great trips! However there are other lines out there depending on the budget.

Ports in Florida inclue Cape Canaveral, Tampa, Port Everglades (Ft Lauderdale) and Miami

Other will offer suggestions here I know!! Also...there is a thread on here somewhere about cruising

[Lundah]

I've heard conflicting reports on Cozumel. One of my customer contacts at work is leaving on a cruise on Friday, and they will not be making the scheduled stop in Cozumel. However, I found this report on a Cozumel travel message board:
http://www.mytravelboard.com/cozumel/me ... 20583.html

"We're with NCL in December and they just posted 11/10 that Cozumel was back on the itenerary."

Don't know what's left, I love visiting that area and usually keep tabs on what's new, but since my vacation budget has been slim lately, I've slacked off to keep from being too depressed about not being able to go where the weather suits my clothes...

[springparrot]

I know we have travel agents on BN-----check with JeepGirl

[Jimmy4pres]

Calling all BN travel agents! LOL

Thanks for the help. Any BN travel agents out there? JeepGirl?

[ToplessRideFL]

Calling all BN travel agents! LOL

Thanks for the help. Any BN travel agents out there? JeepGirl?

PM her or she may miss the thread....

[jimsig]

According to the State department website: http://www.state.gov/

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require all travelers, including U.S. citizens, to and from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States

The proposed timeline will be as follows:

December 31, 2006 – Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
December 31, 2007 – Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

It was originally supposed to take place this Dec 31, but was pushed back a year.

I believe it was mentioned above but getting a paaaport is a good idea any time you travel outside the country. I actually bring my passport anytime I fly. Seems to make it easier on when they are checking my ID. I seem to get a smile or relief when ever hand it over to them.

[redwinemaker]

*PIMPING ALERT*

Jeepgirl = Nikki, Travel Agent and cruise specialist Extraordinaire!!!

(Disclaimer: She is also my lovely wife)

You can email her at Nicoletta_Sprott@csaa.com she would be happy to help!

[Jimmy4pres]

As they say, "Pimpin' ain't easy!"

Thanks for the info!

[redwinemaker]

My pleasure, hope mom has a wonderful time!

[Jimmy4pres]

Well, my mom has never been anywhere, other than the vacinity of her home. My dad never showed her the respect that she deserved, and even went on vacation without her. I feel that out of all of us kids, I owe it to her to give her something memorable.

Financially, no one else can, and she cannot afford to take a trip on her own. It feel that it is my duty to do this for her.

My wife, thankfully, is on board (pun intended!) with this plan.

[pbans]

Well, my mom has never been anywhere, other than the vacinity of her home. My dad never showed her the respect that she deserved, and even went on vacation without her. I feel that out of all of us kids, I owe it to her to give her something memorable.

Financially, no one else can, and she cannot afford to take a trip on her own. It feel that it is my duty to do this for her.

My wife, thankfully, is on board (pun intended!) with this plan.

You're a good son.....I think it's great that you want to do that for your Mom. I took my Mom on a cruise in 2001.....she was in HEAVEN the entire time, she'd never been catered to like that.....so worth it!
Good luck!!

[Jimmy4pres]

Thank you for the kind words. My mom is not in the best of health, and who knows what life may bring. I live about 250 miles away from her, so I do not get to see her hardly at all. I know that this trip would not make up for lost time, but I would hope it shows her that her son is doing well and truly appreciates her!

[Crzy]

A passport is a must.... Celebrity tends to have an older crowd than Royal Carribean... the newer the ship the better typically.. if you choose Royal Carribean then a Radiance class ship would probably be best (big & new but not too big)... port choices are hard as different people want different things.. just do some research to see what feels best.... and often a travel agent is up to you... many of the cruiselines will not deal with you directly in case of a problem if you have booked with a TA...

a great website for cruise info and reviews is www.cruisecritic.com

Have a great trip!!!

[Desdamona]

We cruised in September, on Royal Caribbean for the second time. If you have
a choice, I recommend them highly. We have also cruised on Carnival. It's like
the difference in a Hyatt and a Super 8. And RC definitely caters to an older clientele,
which would be better for your mom, I imagine. (How old are we talking here? I'm 56.)
We were on the Mariner of the Seas out of Port Canaveral, the largest ship they have
for now. (The new Freedom of the Seas is the one advertised on TV with the "surfing
pool" on the aft. It will be the largest when it is launched soon.) For a 5+ day trip, you
will have just enough time to enjoy all the great stuff on the Mariner (like the ice rink!,
spa, shops, shows, piano bar, casino, etc.) Also, I do not recommend sailing out of Miami.
We've done Tampa and Port Canaveral and been pleased, but our son had no good words
for his Miami experience last week.

If you plan far enough ahead and don't mind sharing a cabin, get a triple. They're rare,
but you will save a ton of money over getting 2 cabins. We had a huge king bed and
a hide-a-bed adequate for one. The third person was about half price that way. We've
never had a balcony cabin, ocean-view is quite nice though.

Oh, get passports quickly (they take a while) and avoid Nassau.

Have fun, and HAPPY CRUISING!
If you have questions, fire away!

[CaptainP]

Johnny....

To keep the cruise a surprise, I recommend hitting your mom over the head with a frying pan, and while she's unconcious, tie her up with duct tape, and get her onto the boat....

[Desdamona]

Johnny....

To keep the cruise a surprise, I recommend hitting your mom over the head with a frying pan, and while she's unconcious, tie her up with duct tape, and get her onto the boat....

Getting her a passport will make it difficult to surprise her, I'm afraid.

[CaptainP]

Johnny....

To keep the cruise a surprise, I recommend hitting your mom over the head with a frying pan, and while she's unconcious, tie her up with duct tape, and get her onto the boat....

Getting her a passport will make it difficult to surprise her, I'm afraid.

OK, stuff her in your luggage....