Travel Oyster

Let’s do it big for Spring Break 2010. My idea is to combine a trip to Miami, FL with a cruise to the Caribbean.
Prices are a killer, however I found out that this year the week of Rollins College Spring Break is the week when majority of the big schools in the states have their spring break as well. Therefore I would suggest we should book at least by the end of January to ensure good prices.

I already picked 3 destinations which I think might work out best. Let me know what you think. You can also find more cruises at Travelocity.com

Cruise picks:

$239 – 4 nights in the Bahamas (Norwegian Cruise lines)
$249 – 3 nights in the Bahamas – stays in Nassau overnight (Carnival Cruise lines)
$329 – 5 nights Jamaica and Cayman Islands ( Celebrity Cruise lines)

*stateroom prices without taxes

Here is a full itinerary for the cruises I chose:

4 Nights Norwegian Cruise line
Trip Schedule: Leave Friday night (March 5th) or Saturday (March 6th) to Miami, FL; Party in Miami for the weekend and then leave for the cruise on Monday (March 8th); Return to Miami on Friday( March 12th) and stay there for the weekend or return
Cruise Departure Date: March 8th
Ship: Norwegian Sky
Ports of Call: Miami, Florida; Freeport, Bahamas; Nassau, Bahamas; Great Stirrup Cay; Miami, Florida
Inside room – $239 Ocean view room – $299

Up to $50 onboard credit is available!

3 nights in the Bahamas – stays in Nassau overnight (Carnival Cruise lines)

Trip Schedule: Leave Thursday night (March 4th) or Friday morning (March 5th) to Miami, FL; Return from cruising on Monday morning and stay in Miami, FL for a week

Cruise Departure Date: March 5th – 5 p.m.
Ship: Carnival Imagination
Ports of Call: Miami, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; Nassau, Bahamas; Miami, Florida
Inside room – $249 Ocean view room – $299

Up to $50 onboard credit is available!

The good thing about this cruise is that it stays in the Bahamas overnight. However the schedule is not very convinient

5 nights Jamaica and Cayman Islands ( Celebrity Cruise lines)
Cruise Departure Date: March 6th, 2009
Trip Schedule: Leave Friday night (March 5th) or Saturday morning (March 6th)
Return Thursday morning and party for the weekend in Miami
Ship: Century – Celebrity Cruise lines
Ports of Call: Miami, Florida; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; Miami, Florida
Inside room – $329 Ocean view room – $449

Up to $50 onboard credit is available!

There are lots of other options for a cruise but these are the most reasonable prices. Check out the rest of the cruises and let me know if you find anything else.

Gasparilla is to Tampa what Mardi Gras is to New Orleans – the biggest celebration of the year. It’s our time to throw beads and enjoy the pirate themed extravaganza.

The party Gasparilla is named after Jose Gaspar, who often terrorized the profound waters off the West Coast of Florida in the 18th century.  This year the event will be happening on January 30^th. If you haven’t booked your place yet, I found that the best option would be Quorum hotel. It’s around 5 miles from the event and it will only cost you $87+ tax. The hotel is the best priced option for this event. It’s also rated 3.5 stars

The Pirate Fest carnival runs Friday to Sunday in downtown Tampa with entertainment and a midway.  Admission is free.

The most exciting part of the event is the parade on Saturday night

More about the parade:

More about the hotel:

The Quorum Hotel Tampa Westshore is located in Tampa, Fla, in the city’s vibrant commercial district. Guests are two blocks from Westshore Plaza and one-half mile from International Plaza. The Tampa International Airport is three miles from the property and complimentary airport transportation is provided.

Address:

700 N Westshore Blvd, Tampa, Florida , United States

Please follow the link to book online through our partner hotels.com

For those who need a flight check out travelocity.com