Know of any cheap cruise websites?

[jestmaty]

I'm thinking of taking a cruise in the next couple of weeks out of either Galveston ( 1st choice ) or New Orleans.

Wife and I have taken about 8 or so cruises over the last 15 years and we're coming up on our 20 yr marriage anniversary.

We're also in the middle of a refinance on the house so we're trying to watch the $$ flow.

We have 2 boys, 12 and 8 yrs old that we'll be taking with us. So much for romance on the seas......... but we love spending time with them and they absolutely love cruises. School starts on Aug 24 and we have to wrap it up by then. Or...

Wait until Sept and take em out of school for a few days, Thurs and Fri and Monday the following week. As much as we would like to take another7 day cruise, money and work schedule will prevent that this time.

Prices do seem to drop off once school starts.

I've visited www.cheapcruises.com and www.cruise411.com so far and have seen some interesting choices.

Just wondering if any other mousketeers, I mean "piloteers" are cruisers and what websites you go to first when looking for a cruise.

[Happydady]

I don't have the answer for you since we have never taken any cruise trips before. I know

But I have a question though

Poking around in cheapcruise.com, if a group of people max up to 5 it lets you pick one cabin. However, a group of six, it will tell you to pick again. Does that mean if you go more than 5, you have to purchase seperately?

[jestmaty]

Dunno....

I've only had to make plans for 4 max.

I suppose some cabins may have occupancy for up to 5 people, after that you have to get a 2nd cabin?...

[bigdadi]

This site is specialized in Caribbean and Mexico, Air and Cruise or Package.

http://www.cheapcaribbean.com/

[Tim]

I've used these people a couple of times;

http://www.cruiseandvacationdesk.com

[Michal]

I've never booked the cruise but for any travel arrangements I check this site before going to others
http://www.travelzoo.com/
I see you have a boat. Have you thought about bareboat chartering? Lots of fun for the family and comparable price.

M

[Big_D]

I have never booked one on this site but they seem to have decent prices.

http://vacationstogo.com/

[jestmaty]

Thanks for the help folks..

[colorider]

Moved to Off-Topic.

[jdeanski]

OK from what I understand there are no deals that put anyone cheaper than another. It is knowing when those special sales come about. You need to develop a relationship with your "personal vacation planner" at a cruise line so that they will call you when a deal becomes available. My information comes from my best friend whose son, daughter and daughter in law work in the cruise industry.

[jestmaty]

Originally posted by Big_D
I have never booked one on this site but they seem to have decent prices.

http://vacationstogo.com/

Big D,

You wind the prize for the best website suggestion! Nobody else was close with the best prices...

Long story short... Leave out of New Orleans, La on Sept 10 ( Thurs ) and return on Monday, Sept 14th. This is considered a 5 day, 4 night cruise although they kick you off the boat at 8 a.m. on the 5th day.

Two choices, get one interior cabin with bunk style beds that come down from the walls ( one bed each for each of my boys ) and a queen bed for mom and dad, or pay a bit more and get 2 seperate rooms.

Price for 1 room with all 4 of us stuffed in there was $860 or get 2 rooms for exactly $1001. Yep, we paid the extra $140 to get 2 rooms, side by side. Remember, we are kinda celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary during this cruise.

We really preferred to leave out of Galveston as it is only about 1hour and 15 minutes away. New Orleans is about a full tank of gas ( 7 hrs by car ). But the price difference was about $600 for the same cruise.

I figure that $100 in gas and maybe a $50 hotel for the night b4 the cruise still puts me ahead $$wise. Now I just gotta figure out how to sneak my kids outta school for 2 days of one week, and Monday of the next week! They're both A-B students and are not habitually absent from school.

Thanks again for the suggestion, part of the fun of vacations for my family is the anticipation for the month b4 the actual event!

The break down of charges, in this economic day and age:

Cruise 520.00
Port Charges 396.00
Government Taxes 85.20

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total Sale (US$) $ 1,001.20

[bigdadi]

Ask the teachers for absent-day-homework and do the study and homework in the cruise. In order to save vacation money some parents are doing this after school term started. Plus the cruise is not that congested, more enjoyable. Make sure to buy insurance on hurricane trip interruption.

[Big_D]

Thats great! I am glad I could help you save some $$$. I agree, the anticipation prior to leaving on vacation is just as good as the vacation itself.

Congrats on the 20 years! We just celebrated our 20th as well. We went to Maui for a week.

Enjoy yourself!!!

Originally posted by jestmaty


Big D,

You wind the prize for the best website suggestion! Nobody else was close with the best prices...

Long story short... Leave out of New Orleans, La on Sept 10 ( Thurs ) and return on Monday, Sept 14th. This is considered a 5 day, 4 night cruise although they kick you off the boat at 8 a.m. on the 5th day.

Two choices, get one interior cabin with bunk style beds that come down from the walls ( one bed each for each of my boys ) and a queen bed for mom and dad, or pay a bit more and get 2 seperate rooms.

Price for 1 room with all 4 of us stuffed in there was $860 or get 2 rooms for exactly $1001. Yep, we paid the extra $140 to get 2 rooms, side by side. Remember, we are kinda celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary during this cruise.

We really preferred to leave out of Galveston as it is only about 1hour and 15 minutes away. New Orleans is about a full tank of gas ( 7 hrs by car ). But the price difference was about $600 for the same cruise.

I figure that $100 in gas and maybe a $50 hotel for the night b4 the cruise still puts me ahead $$wise. Now I just gotta figure out how to sneak my kids outta school for 2 days of one week, and Monday of the next week! They're both A-B students and are not habitually absent from school.

Thanks again for the suggestion, part of the fun of vacations for my family is the anticipation for the month b4 the actual event!

The break down of charges, in this economic day and age:

Cruise 520.00
Port Charges 396.00
Government Taxes 85.20

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total Sale (US$) $ 1,001.20