Is this a good cruise to go on for the first time?

Question

Hotwire has a 4 night Western Caribbean Cruise on the Carnival Cruise Line. It goes to Key West Florida on day 2, day 3 to Cozumel Mexico and day for at sea. For an Oceanview Stateroom for 2, the total is $752.60. Is this a good price? Is the Oceanview Stateroom a good room to stay in? Also, is it cheaper booking the flight separately or including it with the price of the cruise? How much spending money do you need? Are there any hidden fees that will need to be paid once you are on the cruise? Will need passports?

Answer 1

Yes.  This is a good cruise for a first cruise.  The price is probably average - check Travelocity or something.  Cruise prices are complex, but this is in the range it should be in, and Cruise companies don't allow a lot of variance.  Anything under $100 a day is usually good - and this is Oceanview.  

All staterooms are fine, they are tiny and you will have a window you can look out.  It's up to you.  

Generally it is cheaper to book your flight separately and take a cab to the port - if you are flying from Port Canaveral you may want to arrange transport from the airport from the cruise line, but if you are traveling from Miami a cab is great.  

Take spending money to cover any alcohol and souvenirs, plus about $10 per day per person for tips - this is the only "hidden fee" and it is important - cruise ship waiters and room stewards don't make hardly any money, just the tips, and it is important since they will take care of you.  

While the cruise companies try to come up with many things to help you part with your money, my husband and I generally say no to most of them.  We do drink, and occasionally go to a premium restaurant (once on a cruise) and I like to gamble in the casino, but we usually would plan about $300-$400 spending money for a cruise like this, and often not spend all of it.  

I don't know if you need passports - ask your travel agent.  They are not required by Mexico (your only foreign port) yet for sea based travel.  Nonetheless, it would be good to have them, and I recommend you consider getting them.

Answer 2

I would say that what you stated is a good deal and I agree with all points made by the previous poster.  Only thing I would be concerned about is what ship is it.   I have cruised carnival 3 times and my 4th is next month.  Only ship I have never heard good reviews for is the Holiday.  It is an older ship that has been refurbished many times though the negative reviews have always outweighed the positives that I have heard.

I would go to vacationstogo.com and they have really good discounts on cruises, and you could look into any discounts that you may qualify for, such as military, airline employee, etc.

Also check into the airlines for cruise deals.  I know that I fly Spirit a lot and they have cruise deals listed on their website.

Depending on when you cruise passports may or may not be required.  I would recommend getting yours now.  Though I have been told that their is a passport id card that is cheaper.  I know if you call carnival and just ask them any questions you have before booking they can answer them for you, whether you book through them or not.  I called them 5 times before I booked my cruise next month.