Holland America Cruise Lines
With research and planning, you can find great deals on major cruises to several island destinations aboard a Holland America cruise ship. There are some amazing discounts you can get if you are a member of the armed forces, a veteran, or even a AAA member. Corinne gives a detailed account of the overall experience of her 7-day honeymoon cruise.
My husband and I love to travel, so for the wedding we went to Vegas in December, then opted for a week long cruise in the Eastern Caribbean for our honeymoon in March. It was the first cruise either of us had been on. We sailed out of Fort Lauderdale aboard Holland America’s ms Zuiderdam, and we were immediately taken aback by the size of the ship. Our cabin was near the back of the ship and quite a walk from any elevators. Our first meal was in the buffet area, which had as many stations and varieties of food as we’d experienced at the buffets in Las Vegas. We ended up taking most of our breakfast meals at the buffet. We’d usually follow up our meals with a walk on the promenade deck or up top around the shuffle board players and pools. Oftentimes after spending an afternoon around the ship or on land at our port of call, we’d return to delightful towel animals created by the staff tending to our cabin. The meals were all-inclusive, although sodas and alcoholic beverages were only available with petty cash or a specialty drink card for purchase. We didn’t mind though, as we drank a lot of water due to the Caribbean heat and humidity. One of our first stops was the island of Grand Turk. The main area near the ship’s port was populated with touristy gift shops; we opted for a short excursion via open-air bus to a former prison and a lighthouse. Our stop in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands also left much to be desired in terms of things to do near the port, as the shores were littered with gift shops filled with overpriced, faux “authentic” souvenirs. Other couples we spoke with said better options existed for excursions on the island, but most we researched prior to the trip were close to $100 per person. Our favorite port of call was Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. A bus tour across the island took us past many local haunts, great scenic mountain views (including a stop at the mountaintop restaurant) and some free rum before a lengthy rest at the beach).
The actual cost of the seven-day cruise was about $600 per person; we know some prices for similar cruises dropped in recent years due to the slow economy, but we also were not subject to the gas surcharges many companies have since instituted. For a cruise out of Florida near the peak time for Spring Break, we were very satisfied. We do most of our cruise shopping online, although we sometimes work with a travel agent affiliated with the cruise line. Be sure to check out any discounts you may be entitled to via membership in AAA or if you are a member or veteran of the military (Many discounts are available for USAA customers like us). Overall, we were very pleased at taking a cruise for our honeymoon. Just be sure you’re prepared for the possibility of motion sickness if you’ve never cruised before (We brought Dramamine and Bonine with us to help). If you can, request a table for just the two of you. Open seating dining was not available when we sailed, but most cruise lines have added the option since. And while they may not seem worth it prior to cruising, renting a cabana on the beach for just the two of you can be quite romantic. If you don’t want the hassle, just hang around in your room in your robes and order room service (on our cruise, it was free).
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