Bahamas Cruise (Nov./Dec. 2016)

This page details information about the cruise we took on Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) from 11/27/16 to 12/02/16 for 5 days out of the seaport in Charleston, South Carolina.

We opted for a inside cabin and purchased the cruise during a double discount period; we received a discounted price from CCL during the last 30 days before the sail date, plus another discount for being a past guest with CCL. We were lucky to get this cruise for $720.08 total cost for two adults (including cruise, port charges, and govt. taxes). The advertised price for this cabin in the CCL brochure was $1,049.00 per person (not including any of the add on charges). During the last month or so you can often get a cruise at 70 to 85% off of the brochure rate. So it can pay off in big ways if you can hang on for the huge sales that occur during the last month or weeks before a particular sail date.

Since our RV was parked at CarrollWoods RV Park in Tabor City, NC at a cost of $5.00 for 5 days parking; we simply drove our SUV to the port parking lot in Charleston, SC. The Charleston Cruise Port Parking is $17.00 per day with no available discounts, and no alternative discount parking options. Total cost for parking our SUV was $70.00 total.

Our retirement goal is to take one or two cruises per year. Anytime we are near a cruise port, we plan on trying to capture some last minute deals. We love cruising and want to go on many of them while retired. Cruises we have been on in the past (before taking this cruise) include Alaska, Hawaii, Bahamas, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, and twice to the Mexican Riviera. We are more than happy to go to the same cruise areas numerous times. We feel that cruising, especially at a discount, is one of the best bangs for the buck since cruises include your room, meals, entertainment, and most soft drinks. The only thing not included in a regular cruise package is alcohol, soda, day tours, and specialty restaurants. If you have never been on a cruise, you absolutely need to go on one. As full-time RVers, cruising makes for a great vacation destination that you really should take advantage of. You should be able to acquire most cruises at a discount price of $40 to $100 per person per day; port charges, taxes, and gratuities will always be extra so have some fun finding the best cruise deals you can.