Cruises: Beats any package holiday...

missk_ensington

Ocean Village isn't for the over 30's, I think you are referring to the brochure, which says their target audience is for the over 30's with families. The passengers on OV are mainly 30somethings with kids, or couples, as well as packs of people (there were a group of 20 Geordies when we were there).

Ocean Village is good value if you get it cheap, I dont think you can get much cheaper than £800 for 2 weeks in the Caribbean including your flights, food and accomodation + entertainment.

If anyone can find an NCL deal as cheap please let me know! Or Royal caribbean!

Easy Cruise charge you per room, so for you to pay £60 each you must have had at least 4 people in a room with you! Easycruise is probably good for the young people who would normally go to Ibiza and clubbing holidays and (without being offensive) want to get drunk, get laid and make a noise at 4am, perhaps an analogy might be 18-30's on-sea! Jetboy, how much were your flights? You couldn't have got much change out of £300, presumably flying to US or Barbados? Thus, you're already at £360 for a week without food.

x

Rachie_B

missk_ensington wrote:

Ocean Village isn't for the over 30's, I think you are referring to the brochure, which says their target audience is for the over 30's with families. The passengers on OV are mainly 30somethings with kids, or couples, as well as packs of people (there were a group of 20 Geordies when we were there).

x

im only saying what it says on their home page of their website

we are 27 but have 2 children

do they think under 30s cant have kids :rotfl:

i soooooooooo want to go to the carribean it looks amazing !!!

missk_ensington

It IS amazing! Its without doubt the best holiday you'll ever have. I'm 20 and I went on OV this Christmas just gone with my partner. Perhaps theyve changed the rules since then?!?!? I dont think they'd turn away business like that when they are already competing fiercely against other ships x

missk_ensington

PS. Just looked at the site it says "Informal Med....cruises for 30-50 somethings" It means thats the sort of people who will enjoy and who its geared around, not only those people can go!

Rachie_B

do you work for them by any chance :rotfl: only joking

will def give it some thought ,would be a fab experience

IvanOpinion

Another addicted cruiser here. We first tried it in 1996 and have never taken a land based holiday since ... as the old adage goes ... 10 years to book your first and 10 minutes to book your second. We are already booked for 2007 and are just waiting for the 2008 brochures to arrive so that we can book something.

Some people mention children ... most of the lines have great children clubs (usually the biggest complaint is trying to get the kids to leave the clubs). I have heard Royal Caribbean, Princess and (of course) Disney excel in this area. And you will find a full range of age groups on most cruises.

We did Ocean Village in 2004 and it was different. There are some mixed reports coming back about it but we are currently looking at the OV2 brochures going 'will-I-or-won't-I'. There are however better deals to be had than OV.

I actually like P&O because it uses Barbados as its home while in the Caribbean (so does OV). This means you don't have to worry about all the American immigration hold ups since you literally walk off the plane and onto a bus that takes you to the ship (they will bring your bags for you).

Someone asked east or west Caribbean ... I would actually say South is best with Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Isla Margarita, Mayreau, Grenada .. although we both loved Grand Cayman, Antigua and Tortola as well. Talking of Aruba, apparently the natural bridge has collapsed which is a great shame .. I have a great piece of video of DW standing on it (and nearly falling off) a few years back.

Can I also suggest that given the chance try to go through the Panama Canal ... it really is something to behold (and the Pacific Ocean is even nicer than the Caribbean )

here is a link to some photos from our trip on Arcadia last year

Ivan

missk_ensington

Thanks, your info is really useful. Ocean Village is a bit like Butlins at sea, although maybe a bit posher than Butlins, perhaps Haven! Its clean though and the drinks are reasonably priced. Ocean Village is good for people on a budget and who have children. If you're a couple, with no kids and a slightly larger budget, I wouldn't go on OV because there are better alternatives. Its good for first time cruises as well, who arent comfortable with the dressing up thing.

Remember the kids club on OV is over 3yrs, as well as Royal Caribbean. And on all ships, even the one that do kids clubs from 2yrs, the staff will not change nappies or wipe bums. So, if you have a two year old who isnt potty trained, bare this in mind-you need to be in close proximity at all times (except on NCL who provide you with a pager and page you when you need a nappy change! genius!)

Rachie_B

we are on a budget - check
we have kids over 3yrs - check
we like Butlins & haven :rotfl: - check
we are first time cruisers - check

we have planned this yrs and next yrs holidays but def fancy a cruise in 08

when is the best time to go on a carribean cruise weather wise ???

missk_ensington

They only run Nov-April (or thereabouts due to hurricanes etc) The weather is similar throughout this oeriod, the only thing that changes is the price! Id advise early December, as this is cheapest. It goes up in price in January, not because of the weather but cos everyone likes to go in January after the post-Xmas blues! Cant speak for Feb and March because I haven't been on hol then, we tend to holiday for a week in Summer and December.

crazyhazel

jetboy wrote:

Don't knock easycruise til you've tried it. We stayed in the carribean for a week for £60 each. It also stopped every night in port unlike most of the bigger ships which spend more time at sea so that you spend more money on board. True its probably not for the cruising crinklies but I've been on plenty of cruise lines and easycruise has a good niche. Even with buying food a drink on board it was still loads cheaper than the others and we got to see islands that were not feature on bigger ships. I would imagine however that the Riviera cruise may attract more 'boistrous' passengers than the carribean one.

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?????;)