Mediterranean Cruise - Anyone Been?

paimaams

Ah....i got so much tempted that I just booked a med cruise on ventura in few weeks time. Just cant wait now :-) I had visited forums looking for ideas to save money and ended up booking a holiday. Need to meet my boss now to get my leave sanctioned. Uh.

paimaams

any ideas for low cost parking at southampton. To think of it, I have a 1200 mile roundtrip from scotland to make it to the cruise. So any ideas to save a few quid on parking is welcome.

psa_ruth

One of the best things about a cruise (as well as the ports of call of course) is the onboard spa. As you are celebrating your 21st, you and your mum could spoil yourself to one of the various treatments they have on offer. Many modern ships have extensive spas, many with ocean views and even spa cabins offering unlimited access to the facilities.

Discover Cruise website is a good place to get an idea of the kind of thing to expect from your holiday.

Hope you have a great time!

Ruth

gabyjane

paimaams wrote: »

any ideas for low cost parking at southampton. To think of it, I have a 1200 mile roundtrip from scotland to make it to the cruise. So any ideas to save a few quid on parking is welcome.

Eek long way! sorry have no idea as we have always had free parking and do this time round..if i hear of anywhere though ill post..how exciting though to be going so soon! hope your boss says yes!

getmore4less

paimaams wrote: »

any ideas for low cost parking at southampton. To think of it, I have a 1200 mile roundtrip from scotland to make it to the cruise. So any ideas to save a few quid on parking is welcome.

If planning to drive down and back within 24 hours each way you could look at 1day 1way car hire, same fuel costs but save your car and parking costs.

National sometimes have some good deals(I paid £55 in June).

The advantage of the port parking is no other costs(taxis etc) and a very quick getaway on return.

Cheapest is a park on my drive type place, cheapest I have seen is £15pw but then you need a taxi/lift to the ship and then go fech the car on return.

If driving down an overnight hotel stay can make sense anywhere south of Birmingham can still have you on the ship for lunch look at the de vere places they have some £19 rooms a few round the m25/m4/m3 area.

Another option is a hotel and parking package.

Look at flying

POPPYOSCAR

My Oh is always going on about going on a cruise and I am not so keen but I will do it for him.

Can anyone recommend the best ship they have been on and also any tips for getting the best price and best cabin etc.

Thanks very much

getmore4less

Those doing the Independance,

We were on the TA last Nov and found the main dinning room/kitchens had issues due to its size, it has to deal with a lot of people.

There were often backups in the kitchen so service timing was variable an unpredictable food was not always hot. Your waiters might be better at working round this.

The steak(chops) place was OK but nothing special, the italian(Portofino) well worth the extra.

There might be an extra ICE show, for the suites, that is not advertised if you can find out when it is it gives another option if the regular shows are not at times you want just turn up they let people in once.

poet123

We have been on several inc Independence and they were all great in theri own way, but Indy has it all.

Our problem is that we have now visited all the European cruise ports and so want an itinerary which is different. We would love to do the Carribbean, but we can only have school hols off and those times of year are not the best time to go to the caribbean.

Loads of info on cruisecritic, the americans take their cruising very seriously and know all the best cabins. You can spend hours on there!

moonrakerz

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

My Oh is always going on about going on a cruise and I am not so keen but I will do it for him.

Can anyone recommend the best ship they have been on and also any tips for getting the best price and best cabin etc.

Thanks very much

What I might consider to be the best ship might be the very last thing you would want to go on ! and vice versa.

My next cruise is on a 24,000 ton ship with 600 pax - the idea of a 200,000 tonner with 5,000 pax is dreadful beyond belief - but some people must like it, as they wouldn't build them otherwise !!

As has already been said - Cruise Critic is the place to go.

POPPYOSCAR

moonrakerz wrote: »

What I might consider to be the best ship might be the very last thing you would want to go on ! and vice versa.

My next cruise is on a 24,000 ton ship with 600 pax - the idea of a 200,000 tonner with 5,000 pax is dreadful beyond belief - but some people must like it, as they wouldn't build them otherwise !!

As has already been said - Cruise Critic is the place to go.

Thanks.

Yes I do not like the idea of lots of people so I would prefer something relatively small.I also do not like the idea of having to dress up a lot, I don't mind for the odd occasion but don't want to have to do it if I don't feel like it.

I will definately have a look at Cruise Critic.

I like the idea of one to New York.Anyone done that?