Cruises: Beats any package holiday...

Rachie_B

missk_ensington wrote:

I'm not saying kids want to eat junk food, my son certainly doesn't, but its a fact that a lot of kids won't eat anything 'foreign', so on cruises you have that choice. There's healthy options, soya options, veggie options etc etc etc.

I agree that your kids should be with you on holiday, but between certain ages, kids DONT WANT to be with mum and dad. And I believe mum and dad should have the odd night out on holiday (after all theyve paid for it and worked hard all year) but I disagree strongly with young kids running around bars late at night whist the parents get p1ssed. From what I see you have 3 options 1) dont go out 2) Get a babysitter or 3) Leave them running around like the Clampits. On my one annual holiday, Id go for option 2.

Its each to their own, but I dont feel 'normal' travel with a baby is enjoyable in the least. In fact, Id want paying to do it, not be paying to do it. Took my baby to Spain aged 4 months and it was hell-sand everywhere, drowning him in suncream, I couldn't go out at night so I was in bed at 8.00 on my hol. I hated it and came home stressed and a lot more tired than when I left in the first place, as well as several hundred pounds lighter!!

:rotfl: sorry you had a nightmare of a holiday !

yeah i guess once they get to teenage its not cool to be with ma and pa all the time on holiday is it

ive got that to come i guess <sniff sniff> lol

hate the families who allow their kids to run around and or fall asleep while they get sozzled ! niiiiice holiday

whats wrong with a nice meal ,few drinks ?! a lot of countries are very family / child friendly and we would let our youngest fall asleep in his buggy after dinner and carry on enjoying the evening ,still enjoyable without upsetting anyone / getting !!!!!! up !

everyones idea of a "holiday" is different i guess

but i think its cruel to include kids in an "annual !!!!!! up" kinda holiday

think thats what " scares" me about a cruise in the fact that if we come across such behaviour / families you cant exactly get away from them can you ? lol

saveapenny

Fred Olsen Northern Europe cruises, May to August 2006 from £655pp. Sailing from Dover. Special offer to newcomers to Fred Olsen Cruise Line - £50 on board credit up to 10 nights, £75 for 11 nights or more.

27 May Braemar 10 nights Arctic Circle from £695pp

06 June Braemar 13 nights Baltic from £845pp, incl 2 days in St Petersburg

03 July Black Watch 13 nights Baltic from £845pp, incl 2 days in St Petersburg

09 July Braemar 11 nights North Cape from £795pp (hoping sons finished Uni in time to cat sit )

24 July Boudicca 12 nights Norway and Iceland from £995pp

13 Aug Black Watch 8 nights Norway from £655pp

As requested more cruise bargians I often post what I think are good deals on here
these are from https://www.gocruisedevizes.co.uk

or if you have a friend in the trade they can be booked even cheaper on Fred Olsens family and friends rates such as the 9th July one for £475.00 but you have to have a friend either a travel agent or cabin crew to get these price and they would book through https://www.traveltis.co.uk and they have to book it.
Glad my mate works for First Choice

carled

missk_ensington wrote:

I am targetting my advice to people who would otherwise only normally go to Benidorm for a week, due to budget, young children, etc etc. For fully fledged travellers you can up and go, without worrying about babies and other such like, you can go to tranquil islands and have a wonderful time, but for most of us with young families, we want entertainment, kids clubs, hot dogs and kids meal sittings, babysitting services, other english families, and most importantly the peace of mind that you can relax and know your child is pretty safe.

You see this is what really irritates me... I have a young family too. Guess what? When I go on holiday with them, I like to spend time with my daughters, not fob them off on some complete stranger so I can go to the bingo, enjoy the 'quality' entertainment or have a bit of peace & quiet. If your kids are inconveniencing you, look in the mirror for the culprit...

I also like them to eat proper food as opposed to what passes for "kids meals".

saveapenny

probably because your a working dad and dont normaly spend too much time around them for people (like me) who used to spend every waking minute with the kids a holiday was a chance for someone else to take over...like I said each to there own

snax

Savapenny - thanks for the info re FredOlsen

Carled and MissK ... give it a rest ..........boring.

S.

missk_ensington

Carled why don't you go somewhere else to express your irrelevent views. I didn't start this thread to attack people's holiday preference, or drum up debate about whats right or wrong on holiday.

Just want people to be aware of whats available, because a lot of people don't know much about cruises and probably thought it wasn't suitable for them, or too expensive, or nothing for their kids to do.
Holidays are, in short, expensive when you have Mum and Dad and a couple (or more) kids and id Carled can afford to book whatever holiday he wishes, then he is very lucky, but most of us can't do this.

I'm sharing a view that cruises tick all the boxes for a family on a budget, with regard to safety, cost, entertainment, food, travel etc etc. Although there is nothing wrong with a 'package' holiday, I think you spend a whole lot of extra money on food (unless youor All Inc, then its a great idea). We spent fortunes on lunch, ice creams, breakfasts because we always missed it in the morning. With a cruise this is laid out 24/7.

And thank you to Saveapenny, who hit a point about us women having the kids 24/7 for the other 51 weeks of the year!

jude123_2

never really considered a cruise before I came across this thread. Just had a quick look at the thomascook site and found one in October for £502 which seems very reasonable as we usually expect to pay around £350 for all inclusive. Cruise line is Royal Caribbean International and ship is Spendour of the Seas. Can anyone tell me what's included in that price, what extras we'd have to pay for and also whether it would be suitable for a 15 year old.

missk_ensington

It includes pretty much everything apart from your drinks, Royal Carribean are (in my opinion) one of the better ships, along with NCL. Go and get a brochure just for info, or go to the Royal Caribbean website!

saveapenny

Be careful with Royal Caribbean cruise and Princess (and others) they automaticaly add the tips to your bill which I personaly dont like ...it can be anything from £5-8 per person per day. They both have come under a lot of stick for doing this and accused of not passing it on to the crew in the form of tip and using it for the crews wages.
You can opt out but you have to doit on the first day at the pursers desk.

It would be suitable for a 15 year old RC are very good with kids and teenagers have a look at thier site https://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk but like I said beware of tips

saveapenny

Also shop round you should beable to get that crusie cheaper I have never found TC to be the cheapest for cruises
try these
https://www.liverpoolcruiseclub.co.uk
https://www.1st4cruising.com
https://www.gillscruise.com
https://www.bolsovercruiseclub.co.uk
https://www.savensail.com
https://www.bookacruisetrip.com
https://www.a1cruise.com
if its out of southampton try
https://www.vacationstogo.co.uk

A couple of other good crusie sites if its your first one are
https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/home1.htm gives you a good idea of the size of the ships on whats on board

https://www.chat-page.com/ship/1/ Loads of reviews and a plenty of cruise chat