Ok, having finally found some time to actually do this, we have FOUND OUR CRUISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't have final pricing yet, still shopping around for the best deal but it will NOT be more expensive than this.

The cruise will be on the Carnival Valor, leaving out of Miami on September 19, 2010. It goes to Grand Cayman, Belize, Cozumel and Roatan, 4 port days, 3 sea days. Here is the PRELIMINARY pricing:

Inside cabin: $476.00 per person (based on double occupancy)
Oceanview: $556 per person (based on double occupancy)
Balcony: $666.00 per person (based on double occupancy)

If you choose to be in a room by yourself, you can double (or more) the above prices. The above prices include all taxes and port charges (but not tipping for the staff or insurance) (more on insurance later). The deposit (and this is the great news) is $25.00 per person. Yup, $25 is all you need to put a preliminary deposit down on the cruise. An additional $225 will need to be paid by approximately the end of March and the balance to be paid by the end of June (all payment dates are approximate at this time). Also, the "drop dead" date is usually about 75 days before the cruise. You can put your deposit down, it is FULLY REFUNDABLE up until the drop dead date. If something happens between now and approximately the end of June, you get your money back.

Also, in addition to the above prices (which are really damn good), each CABIN (not person) will receive a $100 shipboard credit. The first $100 you and your cabinmate spend is a freebie. How you and your roommate decide to deal with that is up to you (more on shipboard spending in another post).

And, as a group, we get a free 1 hour welcome aboard cocktail party. No details on that yet.

Again, this pricing is preliminary. This is the first travel agent I talked to, I have calls into others. But I won't go above those prices or below the above perks. I'm not sure we'll get a better price but I am going to try to negotiate some additional perks. We will have final details, I'm hoping, within a week.

Happy Sailing!

Suzanne

Thanks for all your hard work! Would love to go BUT to rich for my blood, specially since I'd (at this time) be looking at the double price! I do hope you get lots of Mingler's to go, what fun that would be. Maybe I could start a bake sale or car wash on here...sure could use a vacation!

Just as an FYI, we have set up a site that's a little easier for groups. There's a thread in there for people looking for cabin mates.

There are quite a few of us looking for cabin mates. So please don't get discouraged.

http://mingle2010cruise.yuku.com/directory

Please note, I believe that Mingle rules won't allow me to post the contact information for the travel agent we choose. If you are interested, you will need to sign up at the group above to find out the details. Please do not ask Pam or I to give you the information, we set up the other page so that everything we need to say can be broadcast to a group quickly and easily. Unfortunately, neither of us have time to individually e-mail everyone. The forums there already have lots of information, including a cabin mate finder forum, in case you need a roomie.

And, if you ARE interested, there will be a drop dead date for when you can get the group rates. I don't know what that date is yet, but the guy I talked to said it's usually about 60 days from whenever we are GO MISSION on this. But, the deposit is only $25, if you think you are even remotely interested, just put that down, you have until around the end of March to pay the balance of the deposit ($225) and around the end of June to cancel altogether.

This is a great idea. Love to cruise.

Please make sure you sign up! It's a great price and I'm working on getting a better deal. If you need a cabin mate, there's already a couple of people posting about it.

And this is not necessarily a "singles" cruise, there will be couples, singles, friends, friends of friends, just a bunch of people wanting to have some fun

I'd love to be able to go. But there are a couple of problems.

1. The travel costs from here in Germany would excced the price of the cabin.

2. I'm not sure if anyone would be prepared to share a cabin with me.

3. I get seasick in my own bathtub.

Well, 2 and 3 are solvable but yeah, #1's a doozy

Are the prices above for the whole cruise or per night?

That's the whole cruise, baby! And it includes everything but shore excursions, casino, souvenirs, sodas and alcohol. So, really, if you don't drink, gamble and do any of the paid shore excursions, that's the entire cost of your vacation!

There's plenty to do at the ports, too, that cost little or no money.

We can always share a cabin

The price is per person, not per cabin

Is it per night or quote for whole cruise?

awesome

I know that.

I know that.


I figured so, just wanted to make sure. A lot of people don't realize that

i'd go but you don't want to see my bouffant hair in real life.

you're not ready for that. ;p