Cruises: Beats any package holiday...

IvanOpinion

Ticklemouse wrote:

Hi

I'm thinking about booking a 7 night cruise on the Island Star mid August, with 2 kids aged 4 and 7. The cheapest room is on the Bronze Deck, with a £30 pp supplement for being 1 deck higher.

Whilst I take on board what you say about sea-sickness being easier to control the lower in the boat you are, do you hear the engines? I'm a really light sleeper and if that 1 deck would make a difference, I'd pay the extra £30 pp.

Also, does anyone know if these cruises do actually sell out? Or will there be some availability somewhere during the school holidays? I've never even been on a package holiday with my family, let alone a cruise.

ps The bronze deck is in the bowels of the boat,which is why I'm asking

I have never been on the Island Star so can't help although I would expect that you would only hear engine noise if right at the back of the ship. If you are a light sleeper keep an eye on what is above you and below you .. if it is the theater or the gym then you may experience some noise .. if it is other passenger decks then you should be OK.

Iva

nelly_2

Ticklemouse wrote:

Hi

I'm thinking about booking a 7 night cruise on the Island Star mid August, with 2 kids aged 4 and 7. The cheapest room is on the Bronze Deck, with a £30 pp supplement for being 1 deck higher.

Whilst I take on board what you say about sea-sickness being easier to control the lower in the boat you are, do you hear the engines? I'm a really light sleeper and if that 1 deck would make a difference, I'd pay the extra £30 pp.

Also, does anyone know if these cruises do actually sell out? Or will there be some availability somewhere during the school holidays? I've never even been on a package holiday with my family, let alone a cruise.

ps The bronze deck is in the bowels of the boat,which is why I'm asking

Going as late in the summer holliday as possible is deffinately best, people have a tendancy to book for the start so that may help.

Get some ear plugs just in case, also a bottle of red wine helps sleep

But far more important than any of that...I noticed your sig, Whats your favourite coaster?

alanjuk

nelly wrote:

the maximum fine is £100 per kid I'll bet you save well over £1000 going in term time

and what is the cost of the missed education?
.

kenshaz

crazyhazel wrote:

NCL was just the same - as soon as you return on board you have to have the hand sanitation and it is by every food station (bit of Americal lingo for you there) NCL also had a great kids club and free seating for meals so none of this two sittings only. We started looking at our cruise via www.vacationstogo.com also looked on www.thecruiseline.com but ended up going direct to NCL and getting the best deal! and that was only about 10 days before the holiday.

Hazel these are USA sites and cost is in dollars,do you have to book your own flights to the STATES,HOW EASY IS IT

kenshaz

crazyhazel wrote:

Jetboy

You are mentioned an awful lot on the EasyCruise website - not affiliated or anything are you and just trying to get some free ad space?????;)

Well spotted Hazel

kenshaz

Edinburghlass wrote:

Interesting concept, when my daughter was young I got all those "ingredients" in a lovely family hotel in St Annes.

but it rained

nelly_2

alanjuk wrote:

and what is the cost of the missed education?
.

If i was that thick that I couldnt catch a week or so up over a year I wouldnt bother at all

Neoshoegal

Ticklemouse wrote:

Hi


Also, does anyone know if these cruises do actually sell out? Or will there be some availability somewhere during the school holidays? I've never even been on a package holiday with my family, let alone a cruise.

Don't know about that ship, but I know most cruises of the big lines like Royal Caribbean, Princess, ... tend to sell out. We booked one in April this year for October 2007, it was sold out within 1 month!!!

lisyloo

Hazel these are USA sites and cost is in dollars,do you have to book your own flights to the STATES,HOW EASY IS IT

These are US sites, but they offer cruises all over the world.
If you are in the UK and going on a European cruise then you wouldn't have to book flights to the states, you would book it to your destination.
When we went we booked flights with Easyjet for £50 return each to Venice.

It's very easy, but you need to include

1) costs of exchanging the money (0% on Nationwide cards but some cards charge 2.75%)
2) costs of sending the tickets from the US (about £15)
3) flight costs
40 costs of phone calls to the state (vacations to go offer a free number)

We did this before and saved about £250 even taking into account the costs above.