You can book from the UK by using a US online travel agency.

emdia - I dunno I just know you can save a bunch doing it here

You can book using Carnival's website. They don't know you're from the UK, prices are the same as they are in the US. We booked one last year and got a really good price. I did think about doing a short one in November along with maybe travelling around Florda for a bit too, can't decide though.

I thought Carnival were pretty good. People say Royal Caribbean are even better.

Hi Lesley74 we have been on 2 Carnival cruises one from Port canaveral the other from Miami,thought they
were great. Trying RCI this August from Barcelona we can then compare
annx

Lesley - I have been twice with Royal Car. Once the 4 day to Bahamas and my first ever cruise was 12 day Hawaii.

Although I can only compare with one Carnival and one Celebrity, they are excelent followed closely by Celebrity. But there was nothing wrong with our Carnival cruise, I think I prefer RC.

Let me know if you are comming in November, I'll tell you some of the out of the way stuff you may like to see.

Here's some ideas.

Beaches - nearest is Cocoa Beach (40 mins - 1 hour drive) depends where you are staying.
Cocoa Beach is "next door" to Port Canaveral therefore some good seafood places and
Kennedy Space Centre is 10 mins drive.
South from Cocoa Beach is Melbourne and some good food places there too.

Other Visitor Stuff (you'll need a car) -
DEAD RIVER CRUISES - Dead River Vic's Dora Canal & River Cruises, Dead River Vic's Restaurant, 3351 W. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, FL 32778. For Reservations call: 001 352 742 5000 - US 441 Mount Dora (50 mins) $15 for 90 min ride through lake to see (not guaranteed as they are wild) Gators, Turtles, Snakes, Racoons, Ospreys, Eagles, (once only a Panther) etc etc.
DeLEON SPRINGS - http://www.planetdeland.com/sugarmill/index.htm - Sugarmill breakfast Rest - fun for kids - hotplate in middle of table & they just keep bringing pancake mix until you are sick of it! With fruit etc for pancakes. There are also Manatees (depends what time of year) and walks and a spring swimming area.
ANTIQUE - COLLECTABLES Renninger's Antique Center, 20651 Hwy. 441 Mount Dora,FL 32757 - http://www.renningers.com/dora/dorahome.htm
CASINO - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Tampa (1 Hour on I4) - good bars, nightclub, casino.
AIRBOAT - Bill's Airboat Adventures, St. Johns River, East of Sanford, Phone:001 407 977 3214
FOOD - STEAKS ETC - Cattle Ranch,2700 S Sanford Ave , Sanford, FL 32773 .
001 407 321-5761 = 72 OZ CHALLENGE!!!!
TEXAS DE BRAZIL - INT'L DRIVE (Opp Festival Bay) $45.00 all you can eat = GREATTTTTT!
Logans Roadhouse or Texas Roadhouse both similar and good - I prefer Texas a bit better.
Mykanos - Greek
Mason Jar - Eustis FL = Great US Southern Cooking.
Quaterdeck - Eustis FL = Seafood all you can eat (different item) every day.

Thanks for all that info. That was great. I might get back to you when I'm fine tuning the details. Right now I can't get a flight much under £500 so that's what's holding me up now. I just feel it's overpriced.

Hoping to fly to Fort Lauderdale then stay a few days, head up the east coast as far as Cocoa Beach (or mabye St Augustine), then across to St Pete's and then down to Sarasota maybe and back across to Fort Lauderdale. I am thinking of using priceline and/or hotwire for hotels. Not sure whether to stay downtown St Pete's or on the beach. Also not sure whether to stay on the beach in Fort Lauderdale, or downtown (on the water or whatever), or Hollywood. So much to choose from, and no-one I know has been in most of these places.

THOMPSON.COM - AS A GUIDE - You could drive over from Sanford (theres stuff to do/see on the way)
and go the other way (but you got to go back from Sanford too!

London Gatwick (LGW) to Florida, Sanford (SFB)
Outbound Sunday, 15 Nov 09 10:00
TOM 060 14:55

Inbound Sunday, 29 Nov 09 16:55
TOM 061 06:20

Change dates New Search
1 Adult £ 343.96
Taxes & Charges £ 81.02
Total £ 424.98

1 alternative return flight found Outbound Sunday, 22 Nov 09 10:00
TOM 060 14:55

Inbound Sunday, 06 Dec 09 16:55
TOM 061 06:20

Change dates New Search
1 Adult £ 313.96
Taxes & Charges £ 81.02
Total £ 394.98

OR

for example - LAST MINUTE

Outbound Friday, 28 Aug 09 10:30
TOM 050 15:05

Inbound Friday, 11 Sep 09 17:05
TOM 051 06:35

Change dates New Search
1 Adult £ 93.14
Taxes & Charges £ 90.84
Total £ 183.98


Outbound Wednesday, 26 Aug 09 10:05
TOM 052 14:40

Inbound Wednesday, 09 Sep 09 17:05
TOM 053 06:35

Change dates New Search
1 Adult £ 93.14
Taxes & Charges £ 90.84
Total £ 183.98

Thanks for that. Sorry, I should have said I need to fly from Glasgow. I also need to book a flight right through if it goes through London so that I get the decent luggage allowance. I don't think there's any winter flights this year from Scotland to Florida direct. Usually Globespan does it with 25kg standard luggage which would have been fine, but they're not showing any availability past October just now. I think it's probably inlikely they will add it now.

Another snag is that I only have 9 1/2 days holiday although I have a concession to up that to 10 by working extra hours another time (but no more than 10 days). This means I can only fly on a saturday if for 14 nights. Currently the Saturday flight on the 7th Nov is dearer so I would opt for the sunday-sat 13 nights just now.

That's a really really good price for a flight in August though last minute, isn't it! That said I don't think there's any point in me waiting for a cheap deal like that since London doens't suit at all. I'd have to use Easyjet to connect and there's too much risk (and probably have to travel day before and stay overnight etc).

Damn...wish I was nearer London although if I was all my money would be spent on a mortgage and probably no holidays!