Conference abbott::cruise_travel

    One good reason for taking a cruise first is that you get to see some
    of the islands and then you can decide which one you like the best and
    go there another time.
    
    We take a cruise every two or three years and go to an island of our
    choice the other years.  We've visited about 15 islands now so we have
    a pretty good idea which ones we want to go back to.
    
    As for the cost of day tours while on a cruise -- they can run anywhere
    from $20 to $60; one that we took on our cruise several weeks ago was a
    super duper whopper of a tour that cost us $175 (not the average tour!)
    and worth every penny.
    
    If you are not a heavy drinker or spender, you can plan your budget by
    allowing approximately $100 a day, so if you go on a 7-day cruise, $700
    should do it. At least we have found this works very well for us. 
    Others may have had different experiences.
                           

    This just occurred to me -- if you hate to fly, you'll have to cruise, 
    unless you plan to swim to an island! :^)  
    
    Actually, you can get off a cruise ship at any island you like and pick 
    up a later one to come home.  In any case, I find it hard to believe you 
    won't have a great time.  Even when adversity strikes (and the airlines 
    are especially good at that!), we have always had more good times in the 
    Caribbean than bad.

    
    
    Hi Audra,
              Please believe me when I say go for the cruise!  Myself
    and several friends went on the SOS and it is beyond your wildest
    dreams, most of us were single at the time, and we all had a goood
    time. If you would like to hear more please feel free to write or
    call me, my DTN is 529-1521 ext 7188 or write me at wldwst:: evans
    
    janice evans( whos also going on another cruise in Sept.)

    Having been on a few cruises (Mediterranean and Caribbean), you
    can't go wrong if you travel with a quality line.  Contrary to belief,
    most lines will not let you get off on an island to stay for a week.
    If they did they would not be able to take new passengers on the
    ship the following week since the room would not be available for
    two weeks.  You would probably then have to pay for a two week passage.
    Not a small expense.  On my last trip (eastern Caribbean) in January,
    I spent about $25-30 for island tours and excursions (the best way
    to see the most for the least) and $5/day on soft drinks.  The large
    largest amounts that I spent were for clothes, jewelry, colognes,
    gifts for friends, etc.  If you have a taste for the finer things,
    there is no limit on what you can spend.  St Thomas, USVI is a shoppers
    paradise.
    

    re .4
    
    I don't actually know what the "rules" are about leaving the ship.  I
    do know that on the cruise we just took in February, we had one couple 
    leave the ship to stay in Martinique.  And two years ago we picked up 
    a woman in Antigua who had left another ship because she didn't like
    it.  So I assume arrangements can be made -- for a price.  
    
    I should clarify that in my earlier note when I said we planned on $100
    a day -- that's per couple.

    
         Hi,
    
           Phew! ...  $100 per couple sounds better than per person!!  I was
         beginning to think about booking based on cost (meaning whichever 
         cruise we could get the cheapest, so I'd have money left over for 
         spending...   
    
           Regarding cruises vs going to one place:  
    
           Well, I realized it after I wrote the note also, that if I did
           go to one place, I'd probably HAVE to fly...  :)  unless I 
           wanted to pay high for a one day boat trip somehow.  When I was
           deciding between the two.. I was kind of considering flying if
           it would get me a "better" vacation... even though I'd probably
           be a wreck worrying about the flight back.  But, my friends 
           WON'T fly, so the cruise is better all around.
    
        Cruise:
    
           My travel agent and I have narrowed it down to two cruise lines.
           I was going to go on the NCL Seaward, but they were all booked
           for the week of 9/9, unless I went for a A or B class cabin, 
           which is too much.
    
           So, he gave me a really good deal on the Dolphin Sea Breeze, 
           and it seems like it would be perfect, a larger cabin with a 
           window. But it makes 3 stops, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and
           Cozumel, so I'd be at sea for 3 days.
    
           Then there's the Costa Riviera which does the same route, but
           adds another full day for Cancun.  It is about $170 per person
           higher than the Dolphin, and the we wouldn't have as nice a 
           cabin.  But, I heard the food is really good, and it's a bigger
           boat.
    
           So, which do I choose.  My friends said they'd go for the extra
           money for another island stop.  But, I can't stop thinking about
           the good deal on the Dolphin, and it's our first cruise so we'd
           be saving money if we didn't like it.
    
           It would be nice to go with the one that has a younger crowd,
           but we wouldn't be spending a lot of time on the boat if we 
           went on Costa...   decisions.. decisions...
    
    
           BTW, I want to thank everyone for their responses already,
           they've been very helpful.  8)
    
     
           -Audra