Off on my first cruise next month. Anyone else been on one?

[Dave the OAP]

Hi Everyone. Your local cruise agent here

7 nights Southampton to Copenhagen and Hamburg, 2 nights stay in hotel in Hamburg. A free shore excursion ( hamburg city tour) on the Cunard Queen Victoria sailing 3rd January 2016.

inside Cabin ( no window) £399 each
Outside cabin ( large window) £ 499 each
balcony £ 549

You could probably get on board spend, definitely free parking at Southampton and other offers are available...upgrades etc.

If you are interested its worth a punt.

 

[dazzer6666]

Hi Everyone. Your local cruise agent here

7 nights Southampton to Copenhagen and Hamburg, 2 nights stay in hotel in Hamburg. A free shore excursion ( hamburg city tour) on the Cunard Queen Victoria sailing 3rd January 2016.

inside Cabin ( no window) £399 each
Outside cabin ( large window) £ 499 each
balcony £ 549

You could probably get on board spend, definitely free parking at Southampton and other offers are available...upgrades etc.

If you are interested its worth a punt.

Sent you a pm

 

[GOM]

Well it's just something Karen and I were thinking about. We have advised many people on cruises we thought they may enjoy and up to now not had any " that was duff information"!

There are lots of people who post on forums much like this, cruisecritic, cruise.co.uk , cruise mates etc . and they can advise, although certainly on cruise, if you criticise P&O for example you are torn to shreds by the real die hard, even if you are only reflecting on what you have experienced.

One of the things we do as regularly as we can is " ship visits". That is where the cruise line will take people around a ship in port and wine and dine them. All the main lines do them...we had a 7 course meal with wine, cocktails and specialised coffees on the MSC Opera in Southampton and it only cost £20! We were doing this on a particular ship and the person showing everyone round was clueless, so we took 10 people each...after agreement..and showed the areas of the ship that they would most use...bars, cafes, main dining room and theatre and of course the outside decks. We then showed people lots of cabins that were affordable as the cruise lines like to show you the owners suites, which are about £10k a week! There will only be a minority of people who can afford that...and they would normally go to regent or silver seas anyway.

So to answer your question, I think we can bring our experience to bear when people want to chose something that they actually want as opposed to what the brochure would try to sell them. I am sure we wouldn't make money out of it, or want to really, but if we can help someone have a great time , then we are happy to do so. Certainly showing people around ships is something we enjoy and as we are not company employees we can give impartial advice, like we do during the meal we all attend.

We have mates who swear by Thomson and won't go on anything else. One advantage is that being smaller ships they get into smaller ports, and visit places the bigger beasts don't get to. But I agree they have been described as Chav land, but to be hosts , P&O have a reputation as Butlins on Sea....

Are you still in the business of cruise advice PO.

We are looking at taking our first cruise next year to try this sort of holiday. Dates possibly June. Looking to keep it simple so probably the Med, prefer eastern end. Would also for this time want the basic drinks package - beer wine soft drinks coffee nothing premium - so that I largely know what my costs are going to be. (may not take in future based on experience from this).

Want to keep budget under 3k for a 7-10 day cruise for the 2 of us if possible. Have looked at Thomson (Marella) cruises and they seem reasonably priced but ships do appear to be smaller and older (a bit like us ).

Any advice [MENTION=20]Publius Ovidius[/MENTION] or anybody on anything eg where/when to look/book, and updates on cruise companies since this original thread ?

 

[GOM]

Anybody ?

 

[Hampden Park]

Join the Royal Navy

 

[East Staffs Gull]

Having never been attracted to the idea of a cruise, Mrs ESG talked me into going on a 10 day Baltic cruise on the Norwegian Getaway in June. We sailed from Copenhagen and stopped at Rostock, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm, before returning to Copenhagen. I loved absolutely everything about it. Weather was great, ship was brilliant, food superb, staff incredible, excursions very interesting, etc. We paid about £4,000 in total, which included flights from the UK, meals, all drinks, tips, an external cabin with a balcony, etc. The only extras were excursions, where we did our own thing (generally red bus circular tours), apart from St Petersburg when we had a two day organised coach trip. We also had two full days at sea, blessed with wall to wall sunshine.

I’m now hesitant in booking another cruise because it would have so much to live up to, compared with this one.

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

I've never been on a cruise but a good friend, Sailor Dave, works for one of the big cruise companies and once took me on a tour of one of their ships. I found it fascinating - like a floating block of flats with a shopping mall attached. It was huge. You could simply spend 3 days exploring the ship.

If I wanted to spend my Holiday exploring a block of flats with a shop attached surrounded by drunks I’d just go to Croydon.

 

[Blue3]

Going from Southampton on Cunard Queen Victoria for three nights to see if I like it.

Anyone got any tips or good/bad cruise experiences?

Been on loads cannot get enough of it Cunard is certainly up there with the very best three nights just a taster enjoy the food is wounderful as is the ship

 

[227 BHA]

If I wanted to spend my Holiday exploring a block of flats with a shop attached surrounded by drunks I’d just go to Croydon.

Wow, what a close minded view which is about what I’ve grown to expect

 

[jakarta]

If I wanted to spend my Holiday exploring a block of flats with a shop attached surrounded by drunks I’d just go to Croydon.

If you can think of any other way of getting down to Antarctica then please let me know.

The Cruise Ship we went on was a custom built 300 passenger semi icebreaker, no shops, no shows, just lectures on what we were going to experience.

It was a once in a lifetime experience for Mrs Jakarta and I, most of the other passengers were stupidly rich but perfectly nice and it for many it was clearly just another experience off the Bucket List.

The funniest thing was seeing the 4 obnoxious South Africans reaction to the charming Indian Guy who took the whole of the Top Deck Suite (including a Butler of course) for his family. The Saffers were the only people to boycott his Champagne and Swimming pool Party one evening. Hope the Cvnts enjoyed the empty restaurant.

Most memorable conversation was with an elderly Aussie Lady about flying. Did I like it? Yes, on the whole I did. Had I thought about about buying a plane like her Husband then? Er No...

 

[dazzer6666]

Having never been attracted to the idea of a cruise, Mrs ESG talked me into going on a 10 day Baltic cruise on the Norwegian Getaway in June. We sailed from Copenhagen and stopped at Rostock, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm, before returning to Copenhagen. I loved absolutely everything about it. Weather was great, ship was brilliant, food superb, staff incredible, excursions very interesting, etc. We paid about £4,000 in total, which included flights from the UK, meals, all drinks, tips, an external cabin with a balcony, etc. The only extras were excursions, where we did our own thing (generally red bus circular tours), apart from St Petersburg when we had a two day organised coach trip. We also had two full days at sea, blessed with wall to wall sunshine.

I’m now hesitant in booking another cruise because it would have so much to live up to, compared with this one.

Did pretty much the same cruise, but with P&O for 14 nights from Southampton and included Skagen and Oslo. Was the first time for us - I’d always been sceptical about spending that long on a ship - but agree with everything you say. Felt like a series of great city breaks without having to travel/change hotels. Each city completely different and fascinating, but the comfort of returning a fantastic hotel room, great food and drink, loads of activities and good entertainment etc. The sea days were fine......plenty to do, everything from a decent spa and gym to a series of lectures. Liked the variety of formal and informal dining. It’s possible to basically eat 24 hours a day though so expect to put on some timber.........

Only thing I would say is for any length of time get the best cabin you can afford, it’ll make the trip much more enjoyable. We’ll be doing another before long - again as you say difficulty will be living up to the first one, and choosing where to go (Galápagos Islands or Alaska if I get my way [emoji16])

 

[Dorset Seagull]

A couple of years ago went on a Celebrity Cruises trip to Portugal/Canaries/Spain and it was absolutely top draw. Had the drinks package which is well worth getting. The entertainment was first class and I would recommend Celebrity to anyone as we had a fantastic time and even spotted the odd dolphin. Beware that although the Bay of Biscay may look calm there is an undercurrent that can make some folk a bit seasick even though you are on a massive cruise liner

 

[jakarta]

Did pretty much the same cruise, but with P&O for 14 nights from Southampton and included Skagen and Oslo. Was the first time for us - I’d always been sceptical about spending that long on a ship - but agree with everything you say. Felt like a series of great city breaks without having to travel/change hotels. Each city completely different and fascinating, but the comfort of returning a fantastic hotel room, great food and drink, loads of activities and good entertainment etc. The sea days were fine......plenty to do, everything from a decent spa and gym to a series of lectures. Liked the variety of formal and informal dining. It’s possible to basically eat 24 hours a day though so expect to put on some timber.........

Only thing I would say is for any length of time get the best cabin you can afford, it’ll make the trip much more enjoyable. We’ll be doing another before long - again as you say difficulty will be living up to the first one, and choosing where to go (Galápagos Islands or Alaska if I get my way [emoji16])

Yes Alaska is the only other Cruise we have done and it is excellent. Make sure you have at least a couple of days in Vancouver, a lovely City!

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

If I wanted to spend my Holiday exploring a block of flats with a shop attached surrounded by drunks I’d just go to Croydon.

True. But you if you want to get a sun-tan whilst you’re doing it Sailor Dave is your man. Which, to be fair is all we really want from a holiday; apart from starting a thread on here about which pub to watch the game is a great and easy way of showing off you’ve been away.

 

[Gazwag]

Did pretty much the same cruise, but with P&O for 14 nights from Southampton and included Skagen and Oslo. Was the first time for us - I’d always been sceptical about spending that long on a ship - but agree with everything you say. Felt like a series of great city breaks without having to travel/change hotels. Each city completely different and fascinating, but the comfort of returning a fantastic hotel room, great food and drink, loads of activities and good entertainment etc. The sea days were fine......plenty to do, everything from a decent spa and gym to a series of lectures. Liked the variety of formal and informal dining. It’s possible to basically eat 24 hours a day though so expect to put on some timber.........

Only thing I would say is for any length of time get the best cabin you can afford, it’ll make the trip much more enjoyable. We’ll be doing another before long - again as you say difficulty will be living up to the first one, and choosing where to go (Galápagos Islands or Alaska if I get my way [emoji16])

As did we on Arcadia, was it 26 May cruise as there were a few Brighton fans on board that one.

 

[dazzer6666]

Yes Alaska is the only other Cruise we have done and it is excellent. Make sure you have at least a couple of days in Vancouver, a lovely City!

Been to Vancouver on business a couple of times, definitely on the holiday list. Fantastic place

 

[Boroseagull]

Done a couple recently, all repositioning cruises (fantastic value), last one was Yokohama to Vancouver & the next one Barcelona to Recife (Brazil). We then add our own trips at the end (birding in Brazil for 5 days & some sight seeing). Japan to Canada was with Holland - America, very nice, extremely reasonable but as the alcohol was expensive we decided to be tea total (and enjoyed it!). The November trip to Brazil with Pulmantur includes all drinks, alcoholic or otherwise, visits the Canaries, Cap Verde, and the 12 day trip is cheaper than the return air fare. So a little tip, if you want value look for repositioning trips & the company we use is vacationstogo.com

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Are you still in the business of cruise advice PO.

We are looking at taking our first cruise next year to try this sort of holiday. Dates possibly June. Looking to keep it simple so probably the Med, prefer eastern end. Would also for this time want the basic drinks package - beer wine soft drinks coffee nothing premium - so that I largely know what my costs are going to be. (may not take in future based on experience from this).

Want to keep budget under 3k for a 7-10 day cruise for the 2 of us if possible. Have looked at Thomson (Marella) cruises and they seem reasonably priced but ships do appear to be smaller and older (a bit like us ).

Any advice [MENTION=20]Publius Ovidius[/MENTION] or anybody on anything eg where/when to look/book, and updates on cruise companies since this original thread ?

PM Sent

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

PM Sent

Sailor Dave?

 

[Dave the OAP]

Are you still in the business of cruise advice PO.

We are looking at taking our first cruise next year to try this sort of holiday. Dates possibly June. Looking to keep it simple so probably the Med, prefer eastern end. Would also for this time want the basic drinks package - beer wine soft drinks coffee nothing premium - so that I largely know what my costs are going to be. (may not take in future based on experience from this).

Want to keep budget under 3k for a 7-10 day cruise for the 2 of us if possible. Have looked at Thomson (Marella) cruises and they seem reasonably priced but ships do appear to be smaller and older (a bit like us ).

Any advice [MENTION=20]Publius Ovidius[/MENTION] or anybody on anything eg where/when to look/book, and updates on cruise companies since this original thread ?

Sorry mate. We are on holiday at the moment. When we get back late next week I will get something together

Cheers