Can't afford it...any other recommendations?

[DDreamer]

Please help, I just can't afford to take a trip on DCL right now (family of 5, cheapest I can find is $2600 for 2 cat. 10 SPR's) but it's time to take the kids on vacation. I'm dying to take them on a cruise though. I've been twice without them and really think they would love it. However, I want to take them on a ship that is definately family oriented(kids are 3,10 and 10). With enough for them to do if they are not in the clubs. I don't think we will be using the clubs that much and I'm concerned that there won't be enough for them to do if we don't do DCL. Anyone have any personal experience that they could share with me? Are there any other good ships out there that my kids would really enjoy and not be bored? My husband and I have been on the Fantasy and the Sovereign of the Seas--didn't seem very family oriented, but maybe I'm wrong. Please help me decide.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Can't afford it...any other recommendations?

Well, there's always divorce...

 

[kpgclark]

Why not do a shorter cruise? You'd still get the experience. Check the kid's school schedule. Maybe they have a few days off from school sometime when the season is low. Check with a travel agent (Dreams) and they can tell you the cheapest time to cruise.

Also, cat 10's are not the cheapest cabins. Try an 11 or 12.

 

[tweetsie]

We (DH, DD 9yo, and me) usually take vacation in June (a week at Summer Bay timeshare). Since we want to cruise before we spend the week at summer bay we have decided to vacation in December which enables us to pay for the cruise and have the week after. We will also spend Christmas at Disney (a first). I can hardly wait.

I guess what I'm trying to tell you is why not wait until you can come up with the money even if it means putting your vacation off for a few months.

 

[disneygal58]

Any other suggestions -
Move to Florida - Great FL Resident rates, access to beaches and theme parks on a regular basis and no shoveling snow.....

Dawn Hope
(Recent transplant)

 

[Bev J]

I would recommend Royal Caribbean. We have sailed with them many times and we feel they offer a great cruise experience for a family. Also a great price. We are paying less for our 7 day on RCI than we paid on DCL for a 4 day. Your prices will be much lower if you can go in the 'off season'. We have found outstanding prices for late October. Our kids have 1 week off during this time so we are going then. Go to a web site like www.buycruises.com and compare prices amoung the ships. Cruising is a bargain right now.
There has been alot of discussion about RCI on these boards so you might do a search for more information. Also you can ask questions about RCI at www.cruisecritic.com and look at the RCI boards.
Prices we found for october were in the 850 range for first 2 people and 280 or so for additional pass. this was a balcony cabin. If you choose a inside or outside without balcony prices are even better some starting at around 500.
Good luck with your search.

 

[jlp651]

TRY

www.vactionstogo.com

they have great prices!

 

[luvstiggertoo]

I agree with Tweetsie. Start planning/saving now and do it when you can afford it. Book a cruise for next year and make payments throughout the year.

The kids will be excited and have something to look forward to next year.

 

[my3kids]

What week did you find 2 SPR's for $2600? That is a VERY good price. I was them in them before and rebooked the same rooms, but no where near that price.

Assuming the 5th person is paying the $399 rate...that is $550 per person for the other 4. Unreal price!!! When, oh when are they selling those rooms at that rate????

 

[DDreamer]

I got my quote for May 2004. It's for a 4night cruise with taxes and port charges included. No insurance or transfers though.

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'm taking it all in. Still trying to decide what to do.

 

[heart4dis]

Not sure how long you can wait, but we booked ours over a year out for around $510/person. Family of 6, Cat. 11 (two cabins). We booked very early (Sept/Oct 02 for Dec 03 cruise.

 

[my3kids]

ddreamer: Thanks for the info. I was thinking 7 nights, not 4. That explains how you found such a different rate. Thanks for the reply.

 

[westjones]

Find someone you know who is going with less than 4 people, then list one of your kids in their room. We had friend who did this. They have 3 kids, and listed one of the kids with the grandparents, but the all stayed in their room.

I do feel for those of you with more than 2 kids. We bought into DVC this year and we figured we could get a lot of trips out of our 150 points by using studios, but if we had 3 kids instead of 2, we would have to always get 2 bedrooms and that would eat up our points.

Good Luck! If you can't go this year, maybe you could try for next year. It is a great cruise!
DJ

 

[westjones]

Find someone you know who is going with less than 4 people, then list one of your kids in their room. We had friend who did this. They have 3 kids, and listed one of the kids with the grandparents, but the all stayed in their room.

I do feel for those of you with more than 2 kids. We bought into DVC this year and we figured we could get a lot of trips out of our 150 points by using studios, but if we had 3 kids instead of 2, we would have to always get 2 bedrooms and that would eat up our points.

Good Luck! If you can't go this year, maybe you could try for next year. It is a great cruise!
DJ

 

[KellyC]

You might want to try to price the same cruise in September. When we were looking into pricing, we were pricing May and September of this year and we found that we could go for a week in September for the same price as the 4 day cruise in May.

 

[Bev J]

Westjones-where do you think the extra kid is going to sleep? There is no way you can squeese an extra person in the cabin. You have the cabin attendent in your room several times a day I am sure they will know right away if an extra person is sleeping in there, a good way to be asked to leave the ship.

 

[jgalecpa]

I second the RCCL.

 

[cathyrob]

I also recommend RCCL. We went on Voyager and had a blast. This is one of their bigger ships with the Rock climbing, roller blading, ice rink, mini golf, etc. There is plenty to do for all ages and there were many families. RCCL has great prices and several good deals. Much cheaper than DCL(Although had a blast on our Magic cruise).

 

[westjones]

The family that told me they did it had the child sleeping in their bed with them (the child is small, only 4 years old). The grandparents were right next door and that is the room she was listed in. The kids just all wanted to be with mom and dad, so they let her stay with them even though they had to list her with Grandma and Grandpa. I guess it worked out OK for them, they are planning another trip with Grandma and Grandpa (maybe next time one of the kids will actually sleep in the grandparents room since they will all be bigger).

Anyway, if you can get another family member or friend to go at the same time and you can put one of the children in that room, it would save a lot of money. This family I know that went with 3 kids had a family reunion on board so it worked out fine for them to list one child with another relative.
DJ

 

[goofysgirl]

Change your cat, your time to travel, and put the whole thing on the Disney Visa so you have 6 months interest free. We are going in November for a 7 day and paying around the same price for 5 people in two cat 11. Booked through Sam's Club travel. You spend so little time in the cabin, on a tight budget the Cat 11 will be fine. This is our second 7 day and I think I might just rebook while on the cruise with my Disney Visa allowing me the 6 month interest free, and the 200 shipboard credits that I missed out on this time because I did not have the deposit until I was off the ship for a few months.. I will get the $50 shipboard credit with my Visa though.
This cruise is well worth the planning.