What year to do cruise?

[Rpsemont]

(An the answer is not EVERY year LOL!) OK - here's my dilema. Our family is me, DH and DD (10). I really want to do a cruise - I figure we'll start with a 3 day. It will be our first time cruising. We need to go at a discount time around school schedules. Our"spring break" is always the 3rd week of April. I have found that when easter is early - I can probably get a discounted cruise for our spring break, but when easter is late, and our spring break ends up the same week as easter week, the prices are through the roof. So this year, with Easter early - I could take the 3 day cruise on April 21 for relatively cheap $$ We'll definitely be catagory 11 or 12. If I don't do it this year, next year is out because Easter is late. The next time we get a good year to do would be 2008. Would I be better off trying to do it this year, last minute? or waiting and planning for 2008 when I could book really far in advance and maybe get an upgrade? and what are the plusses and minus of doing it when DD is 10 vs. when she's 13? OH and What do I need to plan as far as "extra expenses"? I could probably swing this years discounted cruise and airfare, but there wouldn't be alot left over. Where ifI aim for 2008, I have more time to budget for extra tours, and any other expenses that help to make it really magical

 

[alexandrew]

It sounds like you have a good plan....Howver, have you priced out the particular cruise you want to take? Are you able and willing to take your kids out of school for 3 days? If so, you could save big $$$$$$$ in early May...My experience is that April pricing in general is through the roof...I checked www.allseastravel.com price difference between April 21 and May 5 or 12 is $300.00 ...that difference would pay for all or most of your tips and drinks onboard

Also, no time like the present...do the cruise now vs 2008, which is along, long way off...your 10 yr old will appreciate it more now than as a 13 yr old....besides, you cant book this far in advance anyway....dont bank on DCL giving free upgrades...they are few and far between...book a category you are comfortable with....

Extra expenses include $s for tipping, souveniers,both onboard and in ports,booze drinks onboard, luggage porters(if needed)...if you are taking a 3-day, you could budget yourself tightly, and, since it's only 3 days, you wont need to spend alot on extras....

Again, IMO do it now while the kids are younger....alot can happen in 3 yrs....

 

[tiggrbaby]

Definitely go now if you can! Although everything is fine now, we postponed going away once and a few weeks after the week I had wanted to go away, my oldest son was diagnosed with cancer. As I said, he is perfectly fine now, but this made my husband realize that you can't always count on someday. I would not advocate going into debt to go on a vacation, but if you can afford it, don't wait for someday!

My sister and I just took my two younger sons on the 3 day (oldest son is no longer interested in Disney - another reason to go now!). We stayed on the ship to relax and enjoy it in Nassau, and we did not drink heavily, so we were able to keep our on board expenses down to about $300 including tips.

 

[pfishgirl]

you are asking the wrong crowd... LoL
we will ALL tell you Go Now & Later !!!!

 

[Rpsemont]

"Are you able and willing to take your kids out of school for 3 days? If so, you could save big $$$$$$$ in early May..."

alexandrew,

thanks so much for this idea. You're absolutely right. And I would have been taking DD out of school for a few days anyway since we could not get a cheap fare home until Tuesday. Granted flying down wed night and coming back sunday means we don't get to do a few days at WDW, but now maybe i'll go back to seeing the Red Sox in Baltimore April vacation week! LOL!

PLus who knows, Maybe SWA will come out with a $49 special for May!

 

[scrapperjill]

Another thing about going now...if you love it you could rebook onboard for your future cruise...save the % with the onboard booking...and have time to budget and get everything inorder for cruise #2 in 2008 ..Of course your not able to book that far out at this time....if you book as far out as you can you can change your dates when the dates are available....that way you'd have the early booking discount, the onboard booking discount...and maybe even some onboard credits for booking again.

Good luck...and have a Wonderful time.

 

[scrapperjill]

Another thing about going now...if you love it you could rebook onboard for your future cruise...save the % with the onboard booking...and have time to budget and get everything inorder for cruise #2 in 2008 ..Of course your not able to book that far out at this time....but if you book as far out as you can you can change your dates when the dates are available....that way you'd have the early booking discount, the onboard booking discount...and maybe even some onboard credits for booking again.

Good luck...and have a Wonderful time.

 

[HappyLawyer]

you are asking the wrong crowd... LoL
we will ALL tell you Go Now & Later !!!!

i disagree, i will tell her
1 go during a value season
2 go every other year-lol
your right wrong crowd

 

[Rpsemont]

1 go during a value season

So historically, what is the value season? And if you decide to go value season is it better to book early or late?(cost wise) Is there really that much to be saved by booking early? or do the "last minute" prices sometimes match the early bird discounts?