I am a college student and recently went with my family on our first cruise. We departed out of Galveston, TX on the Carnival Conquest over spring break. We had an amazing time and I was very satisfied with the cruise. My roommates and I would like to go on a cruise this summer but we would have to pay for it ourselves, not my parents. We are in college and dont have much money. We dont care about having a fancy room or anything unnecessary. Other than the obvious things such as getting an interior room and such are there any other ways for us to reduce our expenses? Coupons, special deals, special packages, etc????? We would love to go again! PLEASE HELP!!
Welcome to CLF and to cruising! We know how addictive cruising can become here...as well as (sometimes) expensive!
When you add up all the costs, and all that's included, it comes out to be quite a deal virtually all of the time.
Sorry - no selling needed on you, but your roomies may need a little convincing - and we can help!
One necessary question, tho. You don't say how old you/your roomates are, and most cruise lines have a limit on age and number in cabins!
Hope this is no problem for you, but it is a starting point for the search.
Look for to seeing you on the boards and the seas!
There are different things to consider such as how you're getting to the port. If you're within driving distance, then it's the cost of gas, parking. Otherwise, you'll need a hotel room and your transportation there (don't try to scrimp and get there the day of the cruise as you're risking not getting on the ship if there's a problem with your flight).
Other ways is definitely going with the lowest category, which means booking as early as you can. If you're planning on going on Carnival again, make sure you're sign up for any email specials as a past passenger.
Another way to save is to research your ports and skip excursions. Just wing it as a sightseer. Or stick to hitting a beach.
Watch your bar tab (if you're over 21, that is). Stay out of the casino (if you're 21, that is).
In order to determine the best possible deal for you, you need to determine: 1) how long you want to go; 2) do you mind if it's on a smaller older ship or a larger ship with more amenities; and 3) does it matter where you leave from?
Once you've answered all these questions, then you can begin to find the best cruise for you. Obviously, a 3 or 4 day cruise is going to be cheaper than a 5, 6 or 7 day cruise. And a cruise out of Florida is going to be cheaper than a cruise out of Galveston because of supply and demand - there are simply more ships sailing out of Florida, so better deals can be had.
Since you are college students, the later in Summer you can go, the better the pricing. So, pick a cruise as late in August as you can possibly make it.
Also, be aware of the age requirements. You don't memtion how old you are, but most cruise lines require at least 1 person in each cabin to be 21 or older....there is no getting around that because your passport or other documentation will be checked before you can board. And 21 is the drinking age on the ship as well.
I am on spring break this week, and I am going on a 9 night cruse next week..
BUT; I only go to school part-time and my work will be done first, and I will only be missing 1 class each, and I am not behind..
It is a little different when you are just about 30 and in school
_________
I can not help really with fares, I just wanted to butt in and be heard LOL, but the people here are real travel specialists and are tossing out free advice, maybe request to book one of them, does not cost you nothing more, and maybe they can get an on-board credit for you that you can not get on your own, saving you more ...
I know this is most likely the last cruise I will book on my own. I did not realize what an advantage having an agent has...
Another time to think about is between semesters (think October) I have gone on 2 of my cruises at that time. The weather is GREAT! What you pay at Spring Break and Summer is HIGH, but in October the same cruise can cost as much as $200 LESS! As Sk8erguy1978 said, if you do your schoolwork ahead of time you might only miss a day. As a recently graduated student from college...I missed only 2 classes...I did make it back in time to take a final the same day the ship came in...but that is another story altogether! LOL
Another time to think about is between semesters (think October) I have gone on 2 of my cruises at that time. The weather is GREAT! What you pay at Spring Break and Summer is HIGH, but in October the same cruise can cost as much as $200 LESS! As Sk8erguy1978 said, if you do your schoolwork ahead of time you might only miss a day. As a recently graduated student from college...I missed only 2 classes...I did make it back in time to take a final the same day the ship came in...but that is another story altogether! LOL
Congrats on finishing school.. for a part-timer, shoot even a full-timer, it's a long hard road traveled.
Took a final the day the ship came into port, that's a bit much LOL.. But hey you did what you needed to do and that is important.
I'm a college student also, well a much older one. LOL
Most of the other students in my classes (except night classes) are young enough to be my kids. I was faced with this situation when trying to choose a cruise for 2008. I was going to go over Memorial Day, but that would have inteferred with the summer semester. I decided to sign up for online classes in the first summer session which starts Monday so I could have the "main" summer months free. I was looking into the last week of August, but that cut into the first week of the Fall semester. I decided on the second week of August. Their are many students that plan their cruises for during the school year when the prices go down and make arrangements with their Professor to make up the work, or do it before they leave. In my Sociology class, I have a classmate who went on Royal Caribbean, sometime the end of January, which was the beginning of the Spring Semester. Besides reading the textbook, the only the Professor required from her was a reaction paper/essay on a movie from a list of about thirty, which was due before she left. I would say, choose your cruise first, the summer season is pretty expensive, so if you want to go during the semester, inform your Professors before hand and see what you can do to complete the work before hand. Make sure no tests will be given while you are away or see when you can make up the test. I had planned to go to GA to visit my GMA when a test was being scheduled and he moved it back a week, so I wouldn't miss it! These guys will work with you and are not out to get us like many students think. Communications is the key!LOL
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