Caribbean Cruise Xmas 2010

keeprighton · 1 December 2009 at 8:25PM

Hello,

There are 12 of us looking to go away on a caribbean cruise in Xmas 2010 to celebrate two 50th birthdays. Friends have been before and reckon that Thomson are good because they do an all-inclusive package including drinks.

Is this right that they are the only company who do that ?

I'm looking at taking my wife and 2 lads, both adults, the prices seem to come out at around £2k each on the all-inclusive basis.

Does anyone know if this is a fair price ?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Lee

nw_man · 1 December 2009 at 11:47PM

Wow ! Are you saying that the price is £2k each = £8k for the 4 of you ?

If so, thats extortion !!

Caz3121 · 2 December 2009 at 11:15AM

nw_man wrote: »

Wow ! Are you saying that the price is £2k each = £8k for the 4 of you ?

If so, thats extortion !!

not really...a if this is a 2 week cruise in the Caribbean, outside cabin over Xmas holidays (peak season) then this price is probably around the expected price. You may get a little cheaper by shopping around agents.

Would suggest having a good look around cruise forums and websites to decide what type of cruise you are after - formal nights/all casual, small ship/big ship, itinerary...I have done Christmas in the Caribbean with Fred Olsen and loved it but it may not be for everyone - small ship, not glitzy shows, no ice rink or climbing walls (that some have) some formal dress up evenings, set dinner times. FO is not drink inclusive but we are not really drinkers so £11 for a bottle of wine and £2 for pint of beer was fine for us.

cruisecritic.co.uk is a good site with loads of information and reviews.

keeprighton · 2 December 2009 at 1:13PM

Thanks for the advise

lee

easy · 2 December 2009 at 1:31PM

Thompson don't have a good reputation for good 'classic' cruises. Ok if you like 'bog standard spanish package holiday' type of thing, but if you're looking for something a bit more special, you need to move up-market a bit.

I wouldn't choose Thompson.

I can recommend P&O. Yes a bit more pricey, but on the established ships, good service, brill food, they'll look after you (I'd avoid Ventura personally, was a bit like a bear-pit last Christmas I believe, but P & O will probably have sorted that for this year and next).

Altho drinks aren't included in the price, P & O do offer a 'package' that you can buy, so you pay a set amount and that gets you drinks for the duration of the trip. take a look at their web-site http://www.pocruises.com/Home.axd, and ring up and ask them about it.

We cruised with P & O 3 times in the last 5 years (went without holidays the other years), and they really are great.

nw_man · 2 December 2009 at 2:13PM

Put it this way, we just got back off a cruise ( fair enough it wasnt Caribbean and also it was a week ) but the price was.....................£303 each.

£2K ?

Not in a month of sundays !

This is supposed to be a money SAVING forum.

easy · 2 December 2009 at 3:07PM

Go on then. Tell us which line it was, what ship, where did you go, and how late did you book?

I have so say that if DH came home and said "I've booked us a cruise" then that he'd paid £303 each, I'd be filled with dread. There are some things in lifde where you have to pay a bit for quality, and quality is what I'd want.

Yep, we're here looking to get the holidays/food/stuff we want, at the best price. That doesn't mean 'making do' with something just cos it's cheap.

nw_man · 2 December 2009 at 3:27PM

Easy, you need to live up to your name and take it easy. Chill.

Island Escape. Canaries and North Africa and we booked it 2 months before we went, probably a bit too early to get the real bargains.

Not that I have to justify it to you.

Caz3121 · 2 December 2009 at 4:33PM

... not quite comparing apples with apples though
you are never going to get a fortnight Caribbean cruise for the same price as a week in Europe out of peak season
Even a cheap week anywhere more than doubles in price when it comes to Christmas

There is a difference in price going to a restaurant on Christmas Day than in the middle of March
There is a difference in booking a hotel room on new years eve than in September

Christmas late deals rarely appear however in the current climate there may be some - for this year they start around £1400 per person for an inside cabin in the lower grade ships

My parents do Xmas and New Year in the Caribbean every year (they do for a month mid Dec to Mid Jan) they have done this for about 9 years - there is a gang of about 12 of them that met on the ship and meet up every year... the first 2 weeks...dancing on deck in the Caribbean rather than freezing at home...no brainer!

joaniemerc · 2 December 2009 at 5:12PM

easy wrote: »

I wouldn't choose Thompson.

I have cruised with Thomson, P&O and Ocean Village (I know, but the itinerary/price was fantastic;)).

I wouldn't hesitate to go on another Thomson cruise - our first cruise was with them to the Caribbean over Christmas and New Year and we had a fab time - we were well fed, entertained (very professional West End style shows) and very well looked after (never forget being in Grenada and Father Christmas;) came aboard via tender!, just magical for our children). OK their ships aren't all singing and dancing but how many times do you want to go up and down in an internal glass lift (which only serves 4 decks) as per P&O?

Our other cruise with Thomson, again over Christmas and New Year, was Egypt and the Red Sea. Fab itinerary and weather. If Caribbean is out of your range then this is definitely an alternative option - visiting the Dead Sea and Jordan/Petra were amazing.

BTW, we are not lovers of 'bog standard spanish package holiday' either!:rolleyes:

easy · 2 December 2009 at 5:29PM

joaniemerc wrote: »

I have cruised with Thomson, P&O and Ocean Village (I know, but the itinerary/price was fantastic;)).

I wouldn't hesitate to go on another Thomson cruise - our first cruise was with them to the Caribbean over Christmas and New Year and we had a fab time - we were well fed, entertained (very professional West End style shows) and very well looked after (never forget being in Grenada and Father Christmas;) came aboard via tender!, just magical for our children). OK their ships aren't all singing and dancing but how many times do you want to go up and down in an internal glass lift (which only serves 4 decks) as per P&O?

Our other cruise with Thomson, again over Christmas and New Year, was Egypt and the Red Sea. Fab itinerary and weather. If Caribbean is out of your range then this is definitely an alternative option - visiting the Dead Sea and Jordan/Petra were amazing.

BTW, we are not lovers of 'bog standard spanish package holiday' either!:rolleyes:

Joanie, I'm really pleased to hear it.

I have only ever heard poor reports of Thomson cruises (from lots of people), including one guy who said his cabin was pokey and tinny "like they'd cut a caravan in half and stuck it in the ship".

That's why I'm so put off

Caribbean Cruise Xmas 2010

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