justifying price

[ClarabelleCow]

Okay - I am more than excited about our cruise inaugust, but am having a hard time justifying the price I am paying. Granted, I booked a Cat4, plus airfare and transfers, this is getting pricey! Its turning into a $7,000.00 vacation! I could do any other cruise for a whole lot less! Please tell me its definataly worth it!

Also, If I can get a better deal on air flying in a day early, has anyone done this and been more relaxed? I could fly in early and thought about staying at the Hyatt right at the airport, relax then higher a car to take us to the port in the am, which leads me to the next question, how early can you get on the ship?

I know 2 many questions, I may just lower my Cat4 to a Cat 6 and save the $1,000.00 bucks, but I really like the idea of the big room!

 

[whytcrystal]

Book your owsn airfare it will save you quite a bit There was a $400 price differnance per person for our airfare. With four of us that saves $1600 in itself.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

thanks - just put air on hold on AA - $616.4 for the 4 of us!! Non stop LGA-MCO, but I do have to fly the day before the cruise, Lowest rate at Hyatt is 133. AAA, but I bet if I keep trying Hotwire, I could get it a lot lower!

 

[mmouse37]

clarabellecow.....

In all honesty the Cat 4 is not that much bigger than the Cat 6...I doubt you would even notice the difference. We have stayed in both.

The categories with a distinctive size difference are the Cat 3, 2, 1's which are much more costly.

Save yourself some money and go with the Cat 6, plus book your own airfare and fly in the day before. You could probably save over $2,000 bucks that way.

MJ

 

[whytcrystal]

That's a good rate. From what I have read many of the hotels around the Airport offer free shuttles so they will pick you up take you to the hotel and bring you back to the airport in the AM for the transfers. Barb can speak to this a bit more. I know she gets some great rates through priceline.

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

Clarabc, have you checked into rooms near the port? It would save you time on embarkation morning and you might be able to get a better rate than at the airport. Just a thought.

 

[dianthus]

Try Priceline for Hyatt- MCO. A few of us recently got it for $38-$42 a night + tax- big savings. Don't do DCL buses. A rental car, or town car to/ from Port is cheaper, faster & more flexible for a family of 4. Avis & Budget are at the Port for drop off the morning you embark. Shuttles will take you to Port. Barb recommends Happy Limo for Town cars, we are trying them this time.

I agree with MJ. CAT 4's are only a smidge larger than a 6, not worth the bucks unless you have 5 people in 1 room.

It's better to fly in the day/night before in the event of weather delays, problems in general with beefed up security. After all the planning, you don't want to miss the boat! Once you're there you can relax & get to the Port easily in the morning.

~ Linda

 

[dianthus]

Hey Clarabelle~ I just noticed we are neighbors. I live in Danbury, near the Ridgefield border. I am a Lexington Gardens fan!

~ Linda

 

[Hygiene99]

Great price on the air...

Would work out less expensive if u took town car service..
Go on to the list and see if other cruiser's that r sailing with u would like to share 8 passenger van... cost for this is around 180.00 round trip.. disney charges about 50.00 p/p so it would be $200.00 for your family if u got the van and shared it with others
the cost for u would only be $100.00 saving about $100.00

switch to the Cat 6....$$$$$

 

[ClarabelleCow]

thanks everyone, still on hold with Costco to lower my cabin!

dianthus - too funny - I made the trip from Newtown to your area every day because DD had a horse in Ridgefield, moved him to Newtown in November!! Don't miss the trip!

I will keep trying Hotwire for the Hyatt, I can't beat that airfare I got, even if I have to pay more for the room, I really like the idea of just being there, will take towncar to the port, inlaws will pick us up, or do towncar back, we don't fly till 600pm, so may do Sea World that day!, figure, we get off the boat early enough, it would be fun. I may even have towncar or rental take us to the airport in the AM, check our bags and then go to sea world! I will save about 900 by lowering the cabin! Plus gonna try to add my Disney Visa rebate fo $50.00, a few drinks!! I'm just so excited about this trip! Especially after watching the travel channel show the other night!

 

[CRB#33]

Switch to Cat. 6.

That's a great air fare!

We're getting a van also, but there's 5 of us so it is more economical

 

[dianthus]

Small world! Which stable- Stepping Stone? My DD rode(lived there...) for years.. At least it was down the road about 2 miles... We're out of the horse phase now. She used to show, but just rides for pleasure now when time permits. Having the horse close by your home is a god send for you I'm sure... That I84 traffic is horrible... See ya at the Mall!

That air price is great! BDL, or LGA to MCO was close to $500 PP for April break, so we used miles for this trip coming up. You are saving big $$ on air.

The nice part about a town car too is they will do a quick stop if you want to pick up soda, snacks before you get to Port. Great way to save vs. $35 for a soda sticker. Unless you drink a ton of soda, it's not worth it. Pick up some drinks & put them in your room cooler.

~ Linda

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Linda - yes same farm!!! Your daughter didn't happen to go to college this year!! If so, this is a small small world and yes we know each other,

I was able to lower the cabin to a cat 6 GTY, saved 864!! Need to pay for this horse of ours!

 

[TinkHappy]

We were in a Cat 5 (same size, just higher) last time we cruised and there was plenty of room (DF4). August seems so far with all this cold weather we have been having!!
Did you check SW out of BDL? That is a great airfare rate...but going into NY always makes me nervous. Just me

 

[ClarabelleCow]

tink - Southwests fares aren't out yet, only up to June, I was torn whether to book or not, but for $154.00 non-stop, I will deal with LGA!, not sure if I would beat that on Southwest, but I would prefer BDL, I only have the tickets on hold till tomorrow, so maybe I will get gutsy and wait for Southwest to come out then deal with airfare! but with my luck, I will wait, there will be nothing reasonable, then my cruise savings will all go to airfare!!

 

[currycook]

You could also switch from a cat 4 or 6 room to a cat 9 and save a good bit of money.

 

[mmouse37]

clarabelle....we have friends in Southbury, on Tepi drive....we travel through Newtown to get to them. Lovely area!!
Also, last year I was able to get Newark to MCO for only $135 R/T non stop on Song Airline...check them out. The rate you got was very good, but checkout Song as well.

www.flysong.com


MJ

 

[dianthus]

It is a small world... Stepping Stone is a beautiful farm & Janie runs it very well. My DD will be 13 & stopped riding there in 2002. Were you thinking of Laura? I Pm'd you.

Back on topic- I agree - Song is very good. It's Delta's version of Jet Blue. I waited for BDL SW to come out for April & They went in 2 sec. flat, so beware.. A bird in the hand is better - sometimes.. $154 is excellent for LGA/BDL/JFK. We are close enough to either airport- same distance so fare wins out with me, although getting to the NYC airports is a bigger hassle....

~ Linda

 

[mjvans]

Isn't amazing what we can do on our own! Look at all your savings! I too would switch to a cat %!
Michelle

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Okay - trip booked completely!!! Lowered Cat 4 to Cat 6 GTY (who knows what I will be in!!), didn't take the American flights, great deal, but, I was able to get Song out of Hartford for $400.00 more, yes I paid more!! BUT - I don't need to come in a day early and pay for a hotel (DH would ony do that if we stayed at the Hyatt - more on that later!), so saved there, and the return flight is at 11:30am, not 6:50pm, so won't need a day room or go bonkers waiting, parking at the airport is almost half compared to NYC! Hopefully the tickets will come down and I will get vouchers, just a pain in the *** always having to check the flights!

Now - I tried to get the Hyatt on hotwire, I really thought it came up, no shuttle, restuarant, pool, weight room, business center, so I thought this is it!! $60.00, great, with fees 73, so I booked it, WELL - it was the Crowne Plaza!, great place, but you need to pay for a taxi to get there! So live and learn, I'm out the $73.00, but a lesson learned! I realized what I was missing was Tennis!! go figure!