New to Cruises... Need advice
#31
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL Gold, DL MM 8/22/16!
Posts: 2,563
IATA
Have you searched the web for what that IATA card will do for you? Nobody here has addressed that factor yet. A couple minutes poking around, and it looks like you could do better with that than us civilians can do. One person even said it isn't worth much for airlines, but is great for cruises. And since your expertise is in airlines, maybe that set your expectations for cruises.
But be a good sport and let us know, just to satisfy curiosity even if it makes us jealous.
But be a good sport and let us know, just to satisfy curiosity even if it makes us jealous.
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Have you searched the web for what that IATA card will do for you? Nobody here has addressed that factor yet. A couple minutes poking around, and it looks like you could do better with that than us civilians can do. One person even said it isn't worth much for airlines, but is great for cruises. And since your expertise is in airlines, maybe that set your expectations for cruises.
But be a good sport and let us know, just to satisfy curiosity even if it makes us jealous.
But be a good sport and let us know, just to satisfy curiosity even if it makes us jealous.
Just a 4* cruise liner that has some interesting stops and great food. Oh and some activities for kids. Maybe slides in the pools and a decent kids club. Balcony for sure.
#33
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
I was going to do that. First wanted to narrow down 2-3 different liners and then contact them direct. There is just so much option that I got lost as soon as I started playing around with the different ships.
Just a 4* cruise liner that has some interesting stops and great food. Oh and some activities for kids. Maybe slides in the pools and a decent kids club. Balcony for sure.
Just a 4* cruise liner that has some interesting stops and great food. Oh and some activities for kids. Maybe slides in the pools and a decent kids club. Balcony for sure.
#34
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Join Date: Sep 2003
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The World Is Open. The Sale Is On.
Book an eligible Ocean View Stateroom or above on selected 2018/19 Europe and Abu Dhabi sailings and your partner will pay just half the cruise fare; and you'll both receive free drinks. While 3rd and 4th guests in your stateroom will get 50% off their cruise fare. Offer ends 15 March 2018. T&Cs apply.
Book an eligible Ocean View Stateroom or above on selected 2018/19 Europe and Abu Dhabi sailings and your partner will pay just half the cruise fare; and you'll both receive free drinks. While 3rd and 4th guests in your stateroom will get 50% off their cruise fare. Offer ends 15 March 2018. T&Cs apply.
#35
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
#36
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#37
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
#38
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
I wish there was such a thing as a 7-day luxury Med cruise for $1,800 per person but haven’t seen that in my lifetime. $3,000 to $4,000 per person would be the bare minimum for luxury lines like Silversea and Seabourn and even those fares would be for less attractive itineraries during the shoulder months like May and September.
2500x2 seabourn
2599x2 seadream
1800x2 / 7 = 514
past med seabourn >
571 - 2010 2011 2013
500 - 2010
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Feb 18, 2018 at 12:37 pm
#39
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#40
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 483
We cruised on EPIC in Med 2 years ago and it was great. We did tours at every port through the line and it went smoothly. We were so tired at the end of the day, we just ate at the buffet and the food was great. The ship is large so a room by the buffet elevator was nice for us.
#41
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
I see just one cruise at that price and that’s a 7-day cruise out of Civitavecchia on 20 October. Not exactly prime Med time but if potentially cool weather isn’t an issue then that’s a good price for an ocean view cabin. Also may not work if school age kids are involved.
#42
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
current med >
2500x2 seabourn
2599x2 seadream
1800x2 / 7 = 514
past med seabourn >
571 - 2010 2011 2013
500 - 2010
2500x2 seabourn
2599x2 seadream
1800x2 / 7 = 514
past med seabourn >
571 - 2010 2011 2013
500 - 2010
Last edited by Randyk47; Feb 20, 2018 at 10:54 am
#43
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Fort Worth TX
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I did a 10 night Seabourn Med cruise in late October 2016 and it was cold and rainy Friday for over half our time. We missed one port completely and were cut short on another due to weather. Fares may be better but weather won’t be.
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Fort Worth TX
Programs: Earned status with AA, DL, SPG, HH, Hyatt, Marriott, Seabourn, NCL, National, Hertz...I miss my bed!
Posts: 10,927
Seabourn/Holland America has a dedicated site for travel industry rates. They are normally offered for cruises less than 90 days from departure (i.e. after they’ve maximized full revenue travel) but you’ll save 35-50% off going rates. They have more restrictive qualifying rules for industry travel than some lines do though so getting multiple cabins may be tough.
#45
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
For sure. I guess luckily our cruise started in Civitavecchia (Rome) in cool and rainy weather but got to say it wasn’t exactly shorts and t-shirt time. Next stop was Naples and still sweaters and wind breakers. Next stop after a couple of sea days was Alexandria, Egypt and it still wasn’t really warm but comfortable. It was an 18-day cruise ending in Dubai in late November. Overall comfortable but never hot. Best was the Med can get really rough that time of year and we had very calm seas.
Last edited by Randyk47; Feb 21, 2018 at 8:03 pm