My bf is a student working on his PhD and seriously has had a hard year....dad's been diagnosed with very serious illness and he has been flying back home every month or so for visits which are emotionally and physically draining.... not to mention putting together his research proposal for his dissertation amidst all this.

I do what I can to be there for him but there's little I can help with his family's illness or his research. However I really want to do something nice for him...like surprise him by bringing him on a cruise to relax for a few days.

I have never cruised before so while I have been reading various sites, I would like some suggestions from you.

The parameters are basically these:

1) We live in LA so I would like to depart preferably from LA or from San Diego.

2) Cruise length about 3 or 4 days.

3) Seems like if we cruise from CA, we would be going on a cruise to Mexico.

4) We are looking to depart in the next few weeks, are there last-minute deals worth looking at?

5) I would be paying for this trip and cannot afford to splash so I am budget-conscious.

6) We are young and adventurous and someone suggested Alaska, I'm open to it even though I know it would be very cold. Does anyone else recommend Alaska in Jan/Feb?

7) Any thing I should watch out, be aware of, this being my first-time cruising.

Please advise and let me know if I should just go to a website and book something online or go through a travel agent. Which cruise lines should I look at? What other costs can i expect besides paying for the cruise price?

Many thanks!

Chandster,

I always start at www.vacationstogo.com

Using their search at the bottom of the page, you can enter that you want a 3-6 day cruise out of San Diego, Long Angeles, Long Beach, etc. during January (you can also 'add one month' to pull up Feb as well)...doing this, I found a ton of cruises that fit your parameters, both on Carnival and Royal Caribbean. Most are running $250-400 per person.

Most itineraries I found include Cabo and/or Ensenada.

Check the different room categories, as sometimes it's only $50 more per person to go from an inside room to a room with a window, possibly even a balcony.

While onboard, you can expect to pay out of pocket for photos, drinks (unless you are happy with lemonade and iced tea), excursions off the ship and any gambling. There are also tips you'll need to pay at the end of the cruise.

I think you can easily do this trip for around $1000 all in.

Use vacationstogo as a starting point; you don't have to book through them (though I have, and they are reputable). It's just a quick way to narrow down your options. You can go to www.cruisecompete.com once you know what sailing you want and they will have agents bid on your cruise. There you might get discounts, free upgrades or insurance.

I think what you are doing is very nice. I hope it works out for both of you.

What you are planning is a lovely gesture for your bf. Will he want to be out of "commission" for several days in terms of not being reachable by his father and/or family?

The vacationstogo is a wonderful first stop for your plans. I use it regularly. If you find a cruise that appeals to you, the next stop is www.cruisecompete, where several different agencies make you their best offer.

At your ages, you might be happy on a Royal Caribbean cruise or Princess. Holland America is definitely an older cruising demographic and Celebrity might also be the same (although we enjoy them very much). Carnival may be too "low-brow" for you, although we have never tried it -- perhaps I shouldn't assume that.

Alaska is, AFAIK, not a possibility for January/February. The Alaska season is relatively short - end of April to mid-September, with really only June-August being actual season. It is a phenomenal place to visit, but 3 or 4 days is too short a time for a cruise to see anything. We did a repositioning cruise from Vancouver-through Alaska-ending in San Francisco last September. The weather was not great, but the trip was brilliant (14 nights) and we are going to do an inland Alaska trip this coming September before boarding a cruise ship from Whittier, Alaska to Bangkok (32 days). Our trip of a lifetime -- but amazingly affordable compared to most trips of this length.

Have a wonderful time - whatever you end up deciding.

P.S. Don't forget to look at the possibilities on the AA website or others that you frequent. You could end up with several thousand miles if they are running any specials.

My suggestion is somewhat different. All of the 3 or 4 night sailings except for one only go as far south as Ensenada. Carnival does have a 4 night sailing though from San Diego that goes to Cabo San Lucas. That could make a nice getaway!