Is there a way you can sail to the Carribean, stay on land, and then sail back?

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Kristina L

Yes, I didn't know this, but a friend of mine is doing one this year. It's specifically a cruise that takes a day trip to the Bahamas and then drops you off. Seven days later, you boared a ship to come back. I have no idea what the name of the company is that she is taking (and she's currently out of state, otherwise I'd ask her). Point being, if you hunt around you could find one because they do exist.

After a little digging, I've come up with this:
http://www.onedaycruise.com/
http://www.webcityclassifieds.com/DayCruises.htm

If you dug around a little you might find more.
Good luck to you.

TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

The answer to your first question is NO!!. Cruise lines do not act as transportation between islands. But some cruise lines do offer a partial cruise; you can get off at a port stop and end your cruise there, or meet the ship at a certain port (but you still pay the full price of the cruise).

There are some things that you need to know about cruise prices:

1) The cruise lines give the best prices for early bookings a year or more in advance. Then the prices start to go up and are highest close to the departure date.

2) All cruises are priced based on double occupancy (the prices you see will be per person with at least 2 people in the cabin). There are no special prices for kids, but the price for the 3rd and 4th persons in the same cabin will be much lower; about 50% of the fare for the first two. Some ships have family cabins which may hold up to 5 people; the other options are to get a suite, or get two cabins.

3) All of the cruise lines have specials listed right on their web sites. So shop for the specials and deals when prices are lower and go when the price is best rather than on a set date that you may have in mind. You can save hundreds by going when the price is lowest.

4) Your proximity to the cruise departure port can affect your total cost. The options are East coast, West Coast and Gulf Coast. If you can drive to the port nearest you it will save air fare for 5 people; or it will likely cost less to fly to a port closer to where you live. The only downside to this is there are many more and better cruises leaving from Florida and LA than the other ports.

All cruises, regardless of the cruise line that you go on, are pretty much all inclusive. That only cost that is essentially mandatory is gratuities. The things that are included are pretty much the same. The price of your cruise includes your cabin, all meals (including breakfast, lunch dinner, snacks and free room service)(you do pay to eat in the specialty restaurants), all shows and entertainment, and free use of all facilities on ship. The things that you will have to pay for are:

GRATUITIES: They will amount to about $10 per person in your cabin per day; about $70 each for a 7 day cruise. When you check in at the pier they will set up an on-board charge account for you to cover any and everything you may buy on ship. They will issue you a "cruise card" which will also serve as your room key and pass to get on and off the ship. At the end of the cruise they will add the gratuity to your tab and you can pay with a credit card or cash, your choice.

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND SOFT DRINKS: Coffee, tea, milk, juice, and lemonade and punch will be provided free but you must pay for soft drinks and alcoholic beverages and they will add a 15% gratuity to each drink and soft drink order.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Cruise lines will take plenty of photographs of you all over the ship, in the dining room, and as you exit the ship in ports. These will cost a lot, like $15 to $20 for most.

TOURS/EXCURSIONS: You are not required to book any tours and can get off and on in the ports as much as you want. But the cruise line will offer a lot of tours and these are expensive.

SOUVENIRS: Anything you buy on ship from a gift shop or duty free shop goes on your on board account. Things that you buy on shore you pay cash or credit card for.

CASINO: If you plan to gamble on ship you will need cash for that.

SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS: most cruise lines have what they call "specialty" restaurants where there is a gratuity/service charge. All other food on board is free and its not really necessary to budget for food; you cannot eat all of the FREE FOOD that will be available.

SPA SERVICES: If you want/need to have your hair done, get a massage or wrap, or any services from the spa, you will have to pay for them. You can use the gym free but the spa stuff cost big bucks.

INTERNET: Ships now have internet cafe and some have WiFi but the there is a fee for internet access and it is very expensive (like about $50 to $60 an hour).

You cabin will likely have a minibar with soft drinks and munchies; you have to pay for them (but there is free room service 24/7).

My recommendation is that you consider/look at going on a Royal Caribbean cruise on one of their Freedom Class or Voyager Class ships. You can look at the features of these ships on these two web links:

Freedom Class:
http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruis...

Voyager Class:
http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruis...

Both of these type ships have the most on-board activities Things like a mini-golf course, ice skating, roller blading, a full sized basketball court, a program for kids called Adventure Ocean that includes a special area on ships just for kids and professional staff persons to supervise them in free programs all day. Your kids will therefore have free activities on ships all day every day. I have cruised on both of these type ships multiple times and they are fabulous. The Voyager class ships are a somewhat smaller version of the Freedom class and have a few things that are different. You can get cruises on these ships out of Port Canaveral, Ft Lauderdale, and Miami, Florida and also out of Puerto Rico.

And, if you search carefully you can find cruises for your family within your price range. Take a look at the pricing options for this cruise: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/cruiseDetails/itineraryAndPricing.do;jsessionid=0000TD2qZurYHBOyBV7R5Z7mxmB:12hbioan0?packageCode=FR07E005&date=ANY&selectedCurrencyCode=&promoType=&hasSenior=&hasMilitary=&state=

johnrklinger

discovery cruise line goes to GBI. That really is the only option for your. Discovery is really more of a ferry then a cruise ship as it only takes 5-6 hrs to reach the island. They offer multi-day packages. My advice would be to upgrade the hotel and not take the cheapest ones. I would also book directly with them so you don't get suprised with extra fees or time-share crap.

Paco

Since you are on a budget, I would suggest the cruises over from Fort Lauderdale to Grand Bahama island. Shipboard time is 5:15 each way (roughly 90 miles) and Grand Bahama is a much cheaper place to visit than Nassau. There are discounts for children.
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Technically speaking, the Bahamas is not the Carribean, but it is an island. Grand Bahama is about 75,000 people. The land is very flat so their are no mountain views.

phantom_of_valkyrie

Easily. I mean you could either get one big room with an extra cot or the two adults could split up and take 1-2 kids per room. Either way, that's a fair amount of money you have budgeted and plenty to do this with.

Do you have specific dates? Cruise line pricing changes all the time based on how many people right now are booking that cruise. So check one month from now. Fewer people may be booking. Are you a AAA member? If so go buy their office. If not, call the cruise line and talk to a vacation planner. Explain to them 2 adults and 3 children and see how they recommend it for the cheapest price. But when my husband and I travel it's usually 500-800 per person (but of course children have additional charges depending on their ages). That would be well within your budget and you'd have an extra few hundred for shore excursions.

On a cruise, all your food and drinks (non-alcoholic ones) will be free. Your cabin will be already included plus stops on islands where you can just play on the beach or do some shopping will be included. Whereas if you took a ferry, you would then have to pay for all of that individually and food could rack up on you.

I have never heard of a cruise that drops you off for a few days though. Only ferry services and that isn't anything at all the same. It would be very expensive if they did though b/c they'd have to provide you the travel food still but spend twice the gas to come pick you up again.

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