| If someone can't tolerate sun, I have to believe the Caribbean at
almost any time of year wouldn't be toomuch fun. Some options, tho,
might be to consider a Bermuda Cruise in late summer (out of NYC). I
believe that RCCL, Celebrity, and other lines offer 7 day cruises. I
did Celebrity Horizon 2 years ago, thought it was very nice, excellent
value.
Other options could be some of the Canadian Cruises out of a variety of
New England ports up to Nova Scotia and up th St Laurence. Also,
Alaskan cruises in summer (which I've wanted to do for YEARS!) would
seem to fit the bill. I don't think any of these are 3 or 4 days, but
would be 7 or 10 days instead.
The only 3-4 day cruises tend to be out of Southern Fla to the Bahamas
(now, that might work, would be sunny, but not too hot in wintertime)
or out of LA to the Mexican Riviera (don't you love how someone
re-named Mexico's Pacific Coast).
If you can work the time, and money, and really want to get a feel for
cruise travel, I'd see what's available to Alaska.
Re waiting to the last minute...I'd have to agree with another recent
note I read that said in effect, the biggest savings these days tend to
be booking in advance. Of course, don't let that discourage you: have
a travel agency do some legwork, after you decide when & where you'd like
to travel, have he/she see what kind of promo/deal a line will offer.
Compare that to the price you're quoted booking 8 - 10 months in
advance, and make your decisions. FWIW tho, the 3 or 4 day cruises
really aren't agressively discount.
Have fun
Steve
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| I just made a lengthy reply on an older note that covers some of
the timing issues about making reservations. Generally I believe that
what was true one to two years ago, book late get better deal is now
shifting more to book earlier. Booking late may get a very good deal
but not any better and very little selection especially for popular
dates and cruise lines. See note 194.19, it also gives the number
of a discount agent in NJ, and refers to note 388.14 with other
numbers.
As far as the sun goes. First the Caribbean is much closer to the
equator. Because of this the length of days and angle of sun does not change
as much from season to season, that is why it is warm down there in
the winter. There is not a lot of difference sun wise from one season
to another. The winter would provide a little less sun.
The good news is that cruises are excellent for couples
like myself where my wife likes to bake in the sun and I like to
stay more in the shade. We go up to the pool deck, my wife sits in the
sun, and I sit a short distance away in the shade. I go in the sun
for short periods and use sun block. I will go on a cruise in the
winter for 7 days of very sunny weather and come back with no
burn or tan and have a great time, my wife is well done. If the
ship has a promenade deck then these are great to relax in shade.
Some of the new ships with a high percentage of outside cabins
delete the promenade deck. I would miss that myself.
In other words it is easy to be outside and comfortable on
a ship. When near the pool the hardest spaces to get are the
good sunny spots, especially close to the pool. Shade is usually
not a problem. If you have to sit/lay down and hold hands with one
in shade and one in sun then bring an umbrella.
Generally 3 night cruises are Friday to Monday. You end up with only
2 full days at sea or in ports, too short for me but great for
a quick getaway. My understanding is that 3 night cruises tend
to get a higher percentage of people who like to party hardy.
Generally the longer the cruise to more mellow, but there is always
a wide variety for just about any.
4 night cruises typically go Monday to Friday. 3 full days at sea or
in port. One more day, disadvantage versus 3 is they require a full
week of vacation time because you have to travel Mon/Fri.
7 night is most common, now 6 full days. In some cases the cost may
only be slightly higher than 4 night cruises.
Many cruises have a one day stop, usually 8 hours at a private
beach island. They usually have shade but not always that much. You
can still stay on board if you want.
The island stops are almost always hotter than ship. Ship at sea in
Caribbean is typically about 80 degress with breeze from ship moving.
Typical island is about 90 to 100, many times no breeze.
With proper clothing, sun block etc. I think it is real easy to
enjoy a cruise without getting baked. I've done it for 8 cruises, on
and off the ship.
Another thing, some of the short cruises use older ships, they are
fine but sometimes the cheap cabins have vertical bunks. Make sure
you know what you are getting. RCCL Nordic Empress is nearly brand
new, no vertical bunks, 3/4 night cruises. Carnival probably has
more than one ship for 3/4. One might be older. Carnival is
more party type cruise.
It might be that a 3 night cruise would be great to get the flavor.
Just remember it will seem short which can be good if not what you
like. 3 night cruises are really not the same as 7, you relax more
on 7 night because you do not move time.
The shortest cruise I took was a 4 nighter out of Port Canaveral, Fla.
Disney cruise.
I would suggest looking into prices early, if you are flexible and
they are not that good then maybe wait for better deals. There are
so many things changing in the industry that what worked great a year
ago may not work now.
Harold C.
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| Even though Alaska would be cooler and would definetely be nice, I've
always wanted to go also. You could possibly end up with more sun
there ! Remember the further North you go around Summer time the
longer the days, remember the day of the midnight Sun ! That is not the
Carribean that is Alaska. June 21 in Alaska is a long day. Reality says
they would probably have more clouds and stuff. Bermuda in Summer would
probably have as much Sun as the Caribbean in winter. I think you could have
a good time on any of these cruises and protect yourself pretty
easily. I assume you might like the sun, and if so you have to
balance both sides. I believe you can do that on most cruises.
I think it would be a lot harder to do that by spending a week
at a resort in the Carribean. Now a week at a New England Ski resort
in early Jan should foot the bill, right ?
When I talked with my agent today to confirm my cruise I ask
her about the late deals versus early. She agreed with what
I've been hearing from Cruise News and other people. What was
true a few years ago (wait late, get great deal) is changing.
Now it is probably better to book earlier. Almost all cruise lines
have figured out that if all the best deals are late then everyone
will wait and they will lose money. They are trying to provide
the best discounts in advance now, especially 6 months or more.
The deepest discounts are for the longer advanced bookings, as
the ship fills up they adjust the discounts to small amounts so
the price goes up. Obviously the most popular dates and ships get
little discounts. There is no magic, it is all supply and demand.
Basically what happens is the advance bookings are much better now
and the late selection becomes very slim, especially on any
of the major lines. Because discounts vary depending on departure
date popularity and itineraies even slow season sailings will
book up also because they get greater discounts. This is not
to say that you cannot get a really great deal with a late sailing,
they still exist, but not to the degree a few years ago.
A few years ago advance bookings did not get much more than a better
room selection at many times much higher price. That is going away
now. What I notice this time from last year is the very best low end
deals that were available a year ago 1 month ahead are already gone
4 1/2 months ahead. Some lines provide price protection for advance
bookers.
None of this affects the really last minute deals which pop up because
of cancellations etc. These deals are always going to be there but
the problem is you have to be able to get to the Port on your own
very quickly. This means they are best for people who live in Florida
etc. that can pack quickly and show up at the ship.
Harold C.
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| Thanks for all the information - early vs. late bookings, sun, old vs.
new ships. Great tips. I now have a lot to think about.
As for Alaska, I don't think we are ready for that yet. BTW, did you
hear they are having a "heatwave"?
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