Caribbean Cruises In 2014: Tips For Finding The Best Prices On Royal Caribbean Deals In Florida

If you are looking for the best Caribbean cruises in 2014, then this is the guide for you. I’ve done short cruises, three week long cruises, and most of the major islands of the Caribbean. So what tricks have I learned during my travels?

In a related report by The Inquisitr, cruise ship illnesses are on the rise and the cruise ship companies are scrambling to figure out what to do about the problem.

First off, if you’re looking for the best of the Caribbean cruises, then I would suggest stick with Royal Caribbean International. I’ve gone out from Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Port Canaveral, and in the process I’ve seen what Disney, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity X, Carnival and others have to offer. If you have kids, then Disney Cruises are awesome since they have separate managed areas for the children so parents can relax. If you’re looking for high-class relaxation, then Norwegian, Celebrity X, or Princess may fit the bill. Carnival is a fun time if you’re on a cheaper budget since they tend to offer the lowest prices for their Caribbean cruises.

The Best Of The Caribbean Cruises?

I choose Royal Caribbean Cruises because I like to keep active having fun and not many other cruise lines offer rock climbing, ice skating, surfing, and ziplines while still on board a ship. Now I have not had a chance to try out the Quantum of the Seas, but the Oasis and Freedom class of ships carry most of the amenities except for a skydiving simulator. Royal Caribbean may carry a higher price tag in comparison to others but you’re getting a lot for your money. Of course, this is in my opinion and if you’re not interested in any of those activities then you could consider other options.

Cruises also tend to be split up into West Caribbean and East Caribbean, with the latter being the better option from my experience. Eastern Caribbean cruises tend to visit more locations which I personally found more interesting and varied.

Finding The Best Deal

Speaking of money, finding the best Caribbean cruises deals is lot like finding an airline ticket. On the same cruises you may have people who barely paid anything while others are several times the amount. Cruise lines typically offer the best deals either way in advance or at the last minute (assuming they didn’t fill the ships enough). In general, I’ve found that if the daily price you paid per person is between $35 to $40 (before taxes, tips, fees, excursions, and onboard expenses like drinks), then you managed to snag a good deal.

I’ve also spoken to cruise directors, and if you are looking to spend many weeks to months living on a cruise ship then, you can get the daily price all the way down to around $30 per day per person. The length of the cruise also changes the daily price. Shorter cruises that last three nights are more expensive per day while longer cruises offer the better deal per day.

Keep in mind that you pay a premium for taking a trip on one of the newer ships of the line. For example, the new Anthem Of The Seas will cost over $100 per day on short trips and when I checked there is one cruise out of London that is over $200 per day.

Lastly, the best Caribbean cruises deals tend to involve repositioning cruises, where ships are moved between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea in-between seasons. So far the best cruise I’ve ever been started in the Caribbean and ended in Rome, Italy after visiting locations in Spain, France, Greece, and other European countries. Just keep in mind you will need to pay for air travel back home. Which leads us to…

Saving Money On Cruise Travel Expenses

Getting to the cruise port is half the fun and sometimes can be half the cost. Now I live in Florida so when I go on one of those Caribbean cruises I schedule for a bus to pick me up. This is because the cost of gas and parking fees tend to be more expensive than the bus ticket. The only trick is to find a friend or family member to get you to the bus stop.

But if you live far away from the port, you are going to need to fly. In my experience the best deals can be offered through the cruise line. When I booked my repositioning cruise I was fairly shocked that the cruise line was able to offer me a travel deal that was literally less than half the cost of the best deal I could find on my own.

Do you have any tips or tricks for finding the best deals for Caribbean cruises?