I was talking to my girlfriend and I brought up taking a mini cruise, something like from California to Mexico, like a 3 or 4 day cruise. She seems very interested as neither one of us have ever taken a cruise before.

What are the does and don'ts, who has good deals, who to stay away from etc? We want to spend less than 1K for this short cruise.

Please give me a heads up and do's and don'ts sort of thing. I'm in AZ so I want something that leaves from California, nothing from Florida or anything, at least not at this time anyway.

Thanks.

smuggle your own booze on board.  paying $20 for a fucking 6 pack on the ship was absolutely rediculous.

Quoted: smuggle your own booze on board.  paying $20 for a fucking 6 pack on the ship was absolutely rediculous.

Thanks, I've been warned of that shit. I will get creative, I must.

BTW, is $20 for a 6 pack an exageration, or is that really about right?

I don't know about the west coast but here in the east cost Carnival is like the Walmart of cruse lines and Cunnard is the Macy.  Norweigen and Royal Caribbean fall somewhere in between.