1) Where do you save the most? By cramming 4 people into a small cabin? By booking a budget-line like Carnival? By avoiding or limiting the "for $" restaurant meals onboard? By taking 4 or 5 day cruises? (I know they use the older boats for those and don't service the Eastern Caribbean much with those). How do you try to get your most bang for the buck?
Hubby and I took a cruise with Norwegian last May for less than $3k total. I'd say our biggest splurge would be us booking a balcony room, but when we booked we could choose other perks: one of which was 3rd and 4th guest in the same cabin for free (not applicable to us), free wifi (nah, we're on this to get away) or free alcoholic drinks (we don't drink). The perks we chose were free meals at the upscale restaurants (but to be honest, the main dining rooms were great too) and $ discounts on shore excursions. I'd say the biggest savings we had were pre- and post- cruise transportation. We took a local train and then a bus to our port of departure, and a bus and train back home. You would easily shave $1,000 off by not flying, but there are costs associated with driving/parking, so I would see what lines go out of local ports to you and where they go. Also, you are going to pay more simply because June is a prime month. Traveling in the shoulders of the season will have a corresponding drop in price.
2) Does anyone actually put 4 people into a standard cabin or is that ridiculous? The AAA lady said that our two kiddos would be about 50% less each if we did that. But it seems like it could be super crowded and the restroom situation would be less than ideal. But it might save us $1000 or so, so that's a big deal.
Yeah, but don't do this if you plan on spending an appreciable amount of time in your cabin. If you feel like your family would be by the pool/eating/playing games 90% of the day and you're in the room just to sleep and change clothes, it would be ok.
3) Any awesome ports that you'd recommend in the Caribbean? Has anyone been to St. Thomas, St. Rita, etc? Impressed or not?
Hubby and I liked Great Stirrup Key (but its exclusively owned by Norwegian). Nassau was nice, but we could see how much the local economy was dependent on tourists and we weren't a big fan of that.
4) Any "insider tips"? I've read about bringing binder clips to keep curtains closed and about which lines will let you bring some cokes/wine onboard, but I'm sure there are 1000 tips that folks like me would never think about.
Don't open your balcony door and stateroom door at the same time!
Norwegian states they don't allow cokes/waters on board. I got some on in a carry on, but all of the packed water bottles were found and confiscated. Some people advise bringing a reusable water bottle and refilling on the ship, but knowing I would probably get the stink eye from workers kept me from doing that.
Also, take the number of sunblock bottles you think you need, then add one. If you run out, your choices are overpriced sunblock on the boat, or overpriced sunblock at the tourist shop.
Pack your own beach towels.
5) Finally, would you recommend getting a passport book? I know that the cards or birth certificates will suffice most of the time in the Caribbean, but AAA said that they recommend go ahead and getting a passport in case there's a transportation issue and you have to fly somewhere unexpectedly. We'd be likely to get them eventually (would love to go to Europe in 2 years), but I'm not sure we need to incur the $500 expense right this second. Thoughts?
I would for you and your wife, but not for the kids. When I cruised as a kid there was no issues when my parents used my birth certificate. Just make sure you have the real one with the seal, and not the cute one they make at the hospital.
6) Any other recommendations about certain lines or boats? We would value at-least decent food, a slightly calmer atmosphere, excellent shows and entertainment, kid-friendly programming, and ports of call with a mixture of beaches and maybe a little history/sightseeing. We would prefer to avoid "party boats" and things like bars, nightclubs, and high-end restaurants mean nothing to us.
I would say Royal Caribbean or Norwegian then. Also, do know that an individual boat may attract the kind of cruiser a line typically doesn't attract. All depends on the layout/remodel/perks/destinations etc.
Ps. I would also recommend Norwegian because they were shifting their dining to be more "as you want it". I could make reservations for all of the dining rooms before we even left, and we could sit just the two of us at every dinner. We also wanted the nice feeling of eating out every time, so I think we visited the buffet like once. Highly recommend avoiding it.
Oh, and I have no idea how it would impact the budget, but Disney cruise line lives to give you the best vacation it can. Can't say I remember anything about the food or stateroom size though.
