CruiseCrazies 2009 Group Cruise

[JoeyandDavid]

I for one would like to see the Princess option. I think the Emerald Princess will be doing that run???

Jackie I too would like to see it ... but how long do you suggest we wait?

[JohnG]

The $600 deposit on HAL is going to be about the same on Princess. On their 2009 sailings Princess is now requiring 30% deposits on cruises over 7 days. That would make the deposit similar to the HAL deposit (they are sister companies).

The announcement, dated Mar 10, 2008 from Princess:

DEPOSIT REQUIREMENTS for 2009 - 2010 will be based on a percentage (%) of the fare rather than a flat dollar amount ($). Most voyages will require a deposit that represents 30% of the cruise fare.

[zebra]

John - are these deposit refundable...... just in case!

[JohnG]

Cruiselines don't inpose penalties for cancellation until the deadline for final payment , generally around 75 days prior to the sailing date. Actual dates vary a bit by cruiseline.

If you cancel after that date, and prior to 30 days before sailing, the penalty is the amount of your original deposit. (The amount the c/l retains before refunding the balance of you payments.)

From 29 days to 8 days prior: The penalty is 50% of the total price.

7 Days or less before sailing: No refund

Cruises Inc is permitted to impose a $35 per person admin fee for cancellation up until 1 week prior to the cruise.

This is one of the reasons to consider travel insurance protection when you book the cruise. If you have to cancel after the final payment deadline, for a covered reason, the insurance reimburses you for the amount of the penalty which was retained by the cruise line, and for any Cruises Inc penalty, if imposed.

Covered reasons include sickness, injury or death of you, an immediate family member (even if not traveling with you), traveling companion, or business partner, jury duty, traffic accident enroute to departure, or home made inhabitable by natural disaster.

There is also Cancel for Any Reason insurance available, at an additional cost.

[lashl]

Joey.....Looks like we are pretty much in agreement on the HAL cruise. Good choices of islands. Have been to most of them but the repeats are all great. $600 seems steep for a deposit but that is just a sign of the times. Seems everyone wants to use your money for free! We still want to look at the others.

[JoeyandDavid]

We still want to look at the others.

and we will steve we will!! This week I have a feeling...

[cruisetarp]

This should be an interesting week with RC and Celebrity opening up with some possible options for us.. Let's hope that Princess gets a move on and posts their itineraries before too much longer.

[cruisetarp]

I have checked with RC's web site and there don't seem to be any cruises from them that will fit outrneeds. We have already ruled out the 9 day cruise from Cape Liberty and they haven't posted any 12 day cruises from there (which we were more interested in)

The only thing that comes close to our needs is the Grandeur of the Seas from Tampa - 10 days to some new ports (St. Kitts - St. Johns, Antigue and Tortola, BVI as well as the usual San Juan and St. Maarten) but it sails on December 7th which is past our time frame.

Royal Caribbean is doing a lot of 7/8 days but to all the usual ports and a lot more short cruises in our time frame.

Hopefully Celebrity will have something good for us today.

[JoeyandDavid]

Waiting on pricing but here is what celebrity wants us to do on November 9th Constellation... deep Carribean and more...

Celebrity ConstellationSM

13-Night Ultimate Caribbean

November 9, 2009

Miami, Florida • Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

Philipsburg, St. Maarten • St. Johns, Antigua • Castries, St.

Lucia

Bridgetown, Barbados • Oranjestad, Aruba

Willemstad, Curaçao • Miami, Florida

[cruisetarp]

Can't wait to see what kind of prices they have. FYI I just checked and Thanksgiving in 2009 is on November 26th, giving everyone who wants to be home for the holiday, plenty of time to get home and get the turkey defrosted. lol