OK- learn me on cruises

SBmini · April 2014

My fiance and I have never been on a cruise. We are going to Spain for our Honeymoon and are entertaining the idea of spending a few days of the trip on a cruise ship. We would depart from Barcelona.

Questions-

-Which cruise lines are the best for young, active newlyweds? It looks like Norwegian and Costa (ut-oh) are the only ones who ofter short itineraries from Barcelona

-How much extra can we expect to spend in addition to the per day cost? I understand alcohol isn't included, nor are shore activities. What do those tend to run?

-Is an Ocean view cabin worth it? Or- if we can't get an Ocean view cabin, is that the end of the world?

-In general, do you think a short cruise is a good idea for a portion of the honeymoon?

Thanks!

AprilH81 · April 2014

I've never cruised out of Europe and their drink prices are different (different market and the VAT) so I can't speak to that... Excursions are more expensive over there too because most of them are all day tours of the sites. You can save money by booking with a private tour company and most people will say you will get a better experience as well.

An Ocean view cabin is worth it (a balcony is nice but I can live without it, especially on a short cruise). I've never stayed in an inside cabin but as long as you aren't clausterphopic you will be fine and it will free up money you can spend somewhere else.

A short cruise can be a great way to see a little bit of Spain/Europ (depending on the itinerary) for a relatively low cost. Just keep in mind that your time in port will be limited so you will need to have a game plan for what you want to see in each location.

www.cruisecritic.com will be a very valuable resource in finding deals and reviews on shore excursions/tours.

majesty318 · April 2014

I have been on like 15 cruises (although not in Europe yet - we are actually doing Eastern Mediterranean for our honeymoon). Neither of those lines is my preference, but when you have never cruised before, you really won't know what you might be missing with a different line.

What ports do the short cruises go to? I would suggest choosing based on ports rather than cruise lines. Then check out Cruise Critic for what to do in each port. It is almost always cheaper to book excursions independently rather than through the cruise line, and Cruise Critic can guide you with recommendations for reputable tour companies. The trade-off with booking on your own is that if you get back late, the ship will not wait for you, whereas if you book a tour through the cruise line, they will. Just something to keep in mind - I always book independently though.

I have stayed in inside, ocean view, and balcony. I am spoiled with balcony, and it is my preference. However, I would definitely still cruise even if balcony was sold out or too expensive or something. I think you should weigh the price difference and how it affects your budget.

There is so much to do in Spain (I studied abroad there and it is my favorite place in the world) so whether or not the cruise is worth it would depend what else you have planned and how much time you have. If you only have 2 weeks or so, you can easily spend that in Spain so I wouldn't add the cruise, personally, unless you either have more time than that or are dying to see one of the ports of call.

JoanE2012 · April 2014

I would take a good look at the ports the ship stops. Unlike an ocean cruise, you often don't just get off and walk around in town. For example, I hear the center of Rome is about 1.5 hour drive from the port. I've also heard the excursions are considerably more. You can easily get this info from the cruiseline website. I looked up Norwegian....to get a tour of Rome including a visit to the Vatican and Sistene Chapel, you're looking at around $249 per person. I looked up a Naples excursion to Pompeii and Sorrento and that was $179 a person. It can easily add up fast and cost more than the cruise itself! So before you book, check out the excursions you're interested in and price them out to make sure it fits in your budget.

My personal preference is to tour Europe on foot or by river cruise.

CMGragain · April 2014

The school teacher in me is cringing at your title.

I have been on 17 cruises. I would recommend the Norwegian cruise because they cater to Americans and English is the primary language used on board. Costa caters to the European market, especially families with children. Italian is the primary language, though other are also used if you are patient and wait.
Tips are usually about $11 per person, per day. This is split up among the crew, some of whom you don't have much contact with, but who work very hard to make your trip enjoyable,
Alcohol is not included. Sodas are also extra $$. If you are a big Cocacola drinker, you can buy a all-you-can-drink plan, but you are not allowed to share. Water, regular coffee and ice tea are free.
Shore excursions can be hundreds of dollars, depending on what you choose. If bus travel is required, as in a trip to Seville, it will be expensive. You can usually preview the choices on the cruise's website.
Stay out of the ship casino, and don't use the spas and beauty services. They cost double what you would expect to pay on land. Don't buy anything on the ship. Take your own photos, or ask other passengers to take some of the two of you together with your camera. The entertainment, dance classes, lectures, food, pool, and hot tubs are free. Movies are often available.
Norwegian does not have a formal night dress code, so you won't need dressy clothes.
If you won't spend much time in your cabin, an interior cabin is acceptable, but I like to have a window to tell the difference between day and night. It often doesn't cost much more. Talk to a travel agent before you decide, You should book through one.

SBmini · April 2014

lol, I guess people don't use 'learn me' on this forum. The goal was not to be grammatically correct.

Thanks for all the info, I got sticker shock from the shore excursion info. I think we'll take the money and instead fly to Minorca, then down to Granada and skip the boat. The first stop on the cruise I found that worked with our schedule was Minorca anyways.

winelover123 · April 2014

I'd go for the ocean view. I'd sleep all day if I didn't have a window.

loro929 · April 2014

In 2012 I went on a 4 day cruise with IberoCruceros (Spanish company) that left from Barcelona. We had 2 stops (Marseille, France and Ajaccio, Corsica) before returning from Barcelona. Our base fare was 200 euros each (including tax) and we included an add-on package for Premium Drinks (including cocktails, wine and beer) which was 20 euros per person per day, so 160 euros more.

With that being said, for 560 euros we had everything cruise wise taken care of (never even removed my wallet from the room while on the ship). The only "excursions" we took advantage of was a bus from the port in Marseille that brought us to the city center (approximately 10 euros each). In Ajaccio we were able to walk from the port to the city center.

We are a couple in our mid-late 20s/early 30s and we had a great time. There was entertainment at night (dance/singing shows, discotheque, casino etc.), our dinner partners were a couple of a similar age so we made some friends too, multiple pools, etc.

If you want anymore specific information, just let me know.

sheslikeasunburn · April 2014

I would spend that time and money visiting another city in Spain. It's such a beautiful and amazing place. Spending time on a tacky, crowded cruise ship when you could be sunning in Ibiza or dining in Sevilla would be a crime.

JoanE2012 · April 2014

sheslikeasunburn said:

I would spend that time and money visiting another city in Spain. It's such a beautiful and amazing place. Spending time on a tacky, crowded cruise ship when you could be sunning in Ibiza or dining in Sevilla would be a crime.

What kind of cruises are YOU going on? I've yet to be on a cruise I would describe as tacky.

sheslikeasunburn · April 2014

One on celebrity and one on carnival. Tacky means lacking good taste or style. I found cruise decor, entertainment, and food to be just that. And to some degree the people. They are fine for a cheap getaway, but would he a waste if you have the options op does.

JoanE2012 · April 2014

sheslikeasunburn said:

One on celebrity and one on carnival. Tacky means lacking good taste or style. I found cruise decor, entertainment, and food to be just that. And to some degree the people. They are fine for a cheap getaway, but would he a waste if you have the options op does.

Thanks for the definition, but I'm well aware of the meaning which is why I questioned it in the first place. I'm not familiar with Celebrity, but I certainly would never cruise Carnival to begin with. All I think of when here that cruise line is spring break, college kids and cheap cruise.

I think it's a bit harsh to generalize all cruise ships as "tacky". But that's fine, that's your opinion. There are many people that enjoy cruising, enjoy the ships, enjoy the ports and can have a wonderful time without feeling like it's a waste.

sheslikeasunburn · April 2014

@joane2012 ha I took carnival in college for spring break :-)

My point was not that all cruising is a waste, but that op will be in Spain and has infinite more amazing side trips she could take.

blabla89 · April 2014

sheslikeasunburn said:

@joane2012 ha I took carnival in college for spring break :-) My point was not that all cruising is a waste, but that op will be in Spain and has infinite more amazing side trips she could take.

Agree with this. When FI and I thought we could afford to go to Europe, he suggested a cruise. I vetoed it because I feel like when you have to board the ship before dinner time and stay the night there, you miss out on the local food, night life and accommodations.

If we had wanted to go to an island destination and have an American-style resort experience, a cruise could have been great, but we wanted to experience more of the local flare.

OK- learn me on cruises

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