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   posted: Apr. 27, 2008 @ 10:33a

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Hi, I am thinking about taking a cruise to Caribbean/Mexico later this year.

(1) Is Oct or Nov a good time to visit western Caribbean side of Mexico?
(2) Is booking at the cruise line web site cheaper and better?
(3) Or should I book somewhere else? Such as AAA Or COSTCO.
(4) AAA offers a price option of "guaranteed" oceanview or interior stateroom. Basically the room is only assigned at boarding time. Anyone has used it and recommended it?
(5) Can I (or should I) book shore exercusions as early as possible?

Thanks.

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   posted: Apr. 27, 2008 @ 11:16a

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sanbacha said:Hi, I am thinking about taking a cruise to Caribbean/Mexico later this year.

(1) Is Oct or Nov a good time to visit western Caribbean side of Mexico?
(2) Is booking at the cruise line web site cheaper and better?
(3) Or should I book somewhere else? Such as AAA Or COSTCO.
(4) AAA offers a price option of "guaranteed" oceanview or interior stateroom. Basically the room is only assigned at boarding time. Anyone has used it and recommended it?
(5) Can I (or should I) book shore exercusions as early as possible?

Thanks.

1. wunderground.com gives historical weather data anywhere on the globe. (BTW it's called the Mayan Riviera)

2. Only if you like paying retail plus.

3. I've found sites that easily beat them both.

4. I booked a guaranteed balcony for the Golden Princess run last week and was satisfied with my assigned cabin.

5. See answer #2.

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   posted: Apr. 28, 2008 @ 10:44a

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sanbacha said:Hi, I am thinking about taking a cruise to Caribbean/Mexico later this year.

(1) Is Oct or Nov a good time to visit western Caribbean side of Mexico?
(2) Is booking at the cruise line web site cheaper and better?
(3) Or should I book somewhere else? Such as AAA Or COSTCO.
(4) AAA offers a price option of "guaranteed" oceanview or interior stateroom. Basically the room is only assigned at boarding time. Anyone has used it and recommended it?
(5) Can I (or should I) book shore exercusions as early as possible?

Thanks.

Firstly, www.cruisecritic.com should be one of your bookmarks! The best forums I've found on all things cruising!

Your points in order:

1. Hurricane season generally is considered to last through early November. If you have some flexibility pick November rather than October.

2. Usually not. Cruise.com or Kayak.com have good searching of cruise prices.

3. See #2.

4. With a "guarantee" class of reservation you generally have a better chance of being upgraded to a nicer cabin category, but you should book the minimum category you can stand (don't gamble on HAVING to get an upgrade).

5. Depends on the excursion. I've done it both ways. Price-wise you're almost always better off doing the research and booking yourself, but if it's a full day excursion and you're worried about getting back to the ship late, remember that if you book through the cruise line and you're delayed getting back, the ship will wait for you. Not so if you book on your own! Almost every cruise I've been on we've left a few people behind at some of the ports....

Where are you leaving from and how many days are you going for? What else would you like to see? This and some other basic information (# of people, ages, preferred activities, budget, etc) will help people help you.

Dave

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   posted: Apr. 30, 2008 @ 12:18p

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cydabatt said:
And DSJ, can you tell us more about what consolidators (if that's what they are) that you like?

I haven't used a consolidator in many years.

If you want to know where I got the best deal for my last cruise, it was cruise.com . I don't recommend them because their service after the initial booking was mediocre.

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   posted: Apr. 30, 2008 @ 6:29p

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www. Smartcruiser.com has great deals, but you have to sign up with email address to see them. I've used 3 other websites which were better than travel agents or cruise lines, but smartcruiser beat the others. Hurricane season can be unpredictable, so consider cruise insurance if it's during the season. Popular shore excusions sell out quickly, less popular ones may be cancelled while on ship which limits options, so book early if it seems like a popular one would be my recommendation.

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   posted: May. 15, 2008 @ 9:44p

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We just booked a 7 days Royal Caribbean cruise in late June, including AIR for 4 for about $9,000 directly from their site.
We tried to price ea. segment, Cruise and then Air separately but found it not worth the extra hassle, given the lack of direct flight from NCAL into Miami.
We were warned that the Cruise Co. may book us on Red Eye flights and we won't know about our flight info until 30 days.
We will be on the newer ship: Freedom of the Seas

I can provide some feedback when we are back from the Cruise.

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   posted: May. 16, 2008 @ 11:06a

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DSJ said:Seal said:We just booked a 7 days Royal Caribbean cruise in late June, including AIR for 4 for about $9,000 directly from their site...the antithesis of a "travel deal".Yeah, but they will share a cigarette afterward

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   posted: May. 30, 2008 @ 6:12p

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try BestCruiseSpot.com, I have used them in the past and provide the best cruise deals I have found. Customer service is friendly and helpful. The site also has many great cruise information for first time cruisers as well as a discussion forum.

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