Just add the tips amounts($10pppd) onto your total costs then compare like for like.

RCI/princess/NCL are very different products to Island/Thomsons/OV.

We enjoyed our two week Caribbean trip on Sea Princess good variety of evening options, but that was a while back.

If the bigger american ships came out about the same price when all costs considered I would take that option.

I would be looking to squeeze a US ship under £1kpp and the others a target of around £850pp max. for 2weeks caribbean.

Hi

Went on Caribbean Princess cruise out of New York last June. Found there to be plenty of varied entertainment, with not a tribute band in sight. Aside from the big production numbers in the theatre, the bars each had different styles of music - caribbean, rock, jazz, blues, classsical and piano. One evening one of the British singers, who'd appeared in West End musicals sang an impromptu selection of songs from Les Miserables and others and attracted a huge crowd.

We never found any problems in finding the right music style to suit us.

Would certainly recommend them.

John

thanks for your reply sounds just what we are looking for what ship was it please and also what were the prices for drinks like thanks a lot

The ship was the Caribbean Princess.

All prices on board were in dollars, so they are probably going to feel more expensive now than a couple of months ago. At the deck bars, if you like beer, they have a 'bucket of beer' offer that gives you 5 bottles for the price of 4. Budweiser was $16 for 5, which means bought singly in other bars on the ship they would be $4 a bottle other beers like Bass (the only British beer on board) were slightly dearer. From memory, they didn't seem to have any draught beer in the bars. Spirits were similar prices, I think around $4.50 for a gin. On the day the ship sails they go around asking if you want to sign up for the soda (soft drink) package. For $4.25 a day, you get a drinks container which can be refilled in every bar on an unlimited basis. This would also include mixers for spirits. They put a sticker on your cruise card which you have to show the waiter. In reality, after the first couple of days, because its too much hassle for them to take your container to refill it, they just bring out a glass of Coke or whatever. The glasses hold much more than the container. We thought it was excellent value plus you don't get a 15% tip added to your bill everytime, because its shown as no charge.

You can't buy drinks or cigarettes in the on-board store to take back to your cabin, these purchases are held until the last night of your cruise, the same with drink bought ashore. Cigarettes bought ashore not a problem.

If there is anything else you'd like to know just ask.

John