Thinking Of Booking Cruise For Summer - Need Advice On Pricing

crube

I have been searching the various cruise sites for the last week, but seem to be no nearer to selecting a cruise and an idea of exactly how much one will cost. We would like to go in the summer holidays, 2 adults and one child(8 yrs old). So, between late July and early September.

We would like to sail from Southampton, most probably on a West Mediterranean cruise for 7-10 days. Like I said, I have been through various sites and am struggling to get even a rough idea of pricing. I know I can ring, but I'd rather not have someone trying to sell me on something as I feel that will confuse me even more

Our budget is around £5,000. It seems P & O and Royal Caribbean offer the most appealing cruises, but the latter is fairly limited in terms of sailing from Southampton. We would ideally like an outside cabin.

If anyone who has experience(or just more knowledge than me) could offer some advice on what we can expect to pay and what exactly we will get for our money, that would be fantastic and very much appreciated

travellerboy

Pick up the boat in the Med and avoid the sometimes terrible often boring voyage thro Bay of Biscay. You will gain at least three more days in the Med and enjoy it more.

crube

travellerboy wrote: »

Pick up the boat in the Med and avoid the sometimes terrible often boring voyage thro Bay of Biscay. You will gain at least three more days in the Med and enjoy it more.

Are you saying fly from somewhere in the med? I'd really prefer not to fly and to sail from Southampton

I've had a little look on Thomas Cook and have found a couple of decent deals, one for £2600 for 7 nights and one for £3200 for 14. They are both P & O and look very promising.

travellerboy

OK, we are all different, I would prefer to fly to say Rome and pick-up a cruise. You are limiting your choice, but its your holiday. I would suggest you look at www.cruisesfromsouthampton.co.uk and make your choice.

Once you have choose the Cruise visit www.cruisecompete.com
This is a website where Travel Agents compete against each other to offer the best price for your choosen Cruise (It will take a few days to get all your quotes).

If you have never been on a cruise before, I would suggest you stick with RCCL, Celebrity or P&O. They all have good facilities for youngsters. An outside Cabin is fine don't waste your money on a balcony, if it is 7days an Inside Cabin will be OK.

Cheers, have a good holiday (avoid Holland America Line- too much smoking)

crube

travellerboy wrote: »

OK, we are all different, I would prefer to fly to say Rome and pick-up a cruise. You are limiting your choice, but its your holiday. I would suggest you look at www.cruisesfromsouthampton.co.uk and make your choice.

Once you have choose the Cruise visit www.cruisecompete.com
This is a website where Travel Agents compete against each other to offer the best price for your choosen Cruise (It will take a few days to get all your quotes).

If you have never been on a cruise before, I would suggest you stick with RCCL, Celebrity or P&O. They all have good facilities for youngsters. An outside Cabin is fine don't waste your money on a balcony, if it is 7days an Inside Cabin will be OK.

Cheers, have a good holiday (avoid Holland America Line- too much smoking)

Thank you, this is all really helpful :beer:

nw_man

We have been on several cruises and personally wouldnt dream of going from the UK to the med, the Bay of Biscay can be bad weather wise.

Of course others would say the exact opposite !

With a young child I would be doing a bit of homework about the 'type' of cruise, for example NCL are 'freestyle' , you can wear nice jeans etc, whereas many cruise lines are formal and you will be expected to wear suits and/or dinner suits.

Also, we generally do an inside cabin, how long do you intend sitting in some pokey hole ( and cabins are pokey ! ) whilst there is a massive ship chock full of fantastic facilities to explore !!??

Finally have you looked at www.cruisecritic.co.uk there is tons of good info on there, even roll calls so you can chat to fellow passengers before you go... after all, cruising is just about the friendliest holiday ever !

shell820810

My inlaws booked a week in July with Royal Carribean, from Barcelona for about £1200 each. The travel agent said a outside cabin isnt worth it, cos by the time you are in the cabin, its dark.

daveyjp

You won't get a 7 day cruise to the Western Med from Southampton - it takes 5-6 days to sail there and back.

A 7 day cruise from Southampton will be a trip the Iberian peninsular and France or Guernsey - 2 sea days and 4 ports of call.

Brochure prices start at about £100 per person per night for an inside cabin.

Backbiter

daveyjp wrote: »

Brochure prices start at about £100 per person per night for an inside cabin.

No one pays brochure prices, do they?

travellerboy

shell820810 wrote: »

.......... travel agent said a outside cabin isnt worth it, cos by the time you are in the cabin, its dark.

When it comes to cabin choice, obviously a Balcony Suite is best.
People who say different are kidding you and themselves. They choose an Inside cabin for economic reasons and nothing else.

After all it comes down to money, is it worth the extra. The longer the cruise the more important the cabin will become. Only you can decide if the extra cost is worth paying.

If the weather gets rough, it is important to see the horizon, it does help I can asure you. It also helps to know what the weather is like before going on deck. I believe that at least an outside cabin is essential to enjoy the cruise to the full.

touch*my*food*feel*myfork

We (me, Oh and son was 9 last year) went on the P&O Oceana to Norway for 7 nights and absolutely loved it (we have booked same ship for this year going to france and spain). I think which ship/company you go with is personal choice but my opinion on the cruise we went on is this -

we went from southampton which was fab, drive to terminal , car goes one way, luggage another, we all went and checked in - very smooth and i would highly recommend.

Ship was fab, plenty to do, food outstanding and far far too much 24/7 and well organised trips/info each day.

kids club cannot recommend enough - it is open from 10am to midnight every day and the team looked after them well. My boy usually went for a couple of hours in the afternoon and then after evening meal till midnight.

On board is all in pounds and drinks very reasonable.

I would definately shop around for prices, but have found that Thomas cook has been the best for the last two years for us. They have bettered quoted i have received and always give on board credit.

i hope this helps a little, if you need any other info please pm me.

I should also add we have an inside cabin, only in it to change in the evening and sleep.