First time cruising

motherofstudents

I've also found cruisecritic very helpful. We arranged tours in Florence and Rome with 6 other passengers with Romeinlimo and it was amazing. We like Celebrity but as with most American cruise lines, they include 'gratuities' at the start unless you tell them when you board that you want them removing. We asked for envelopes. Americans seem to like to tip up front and when we went on the tours they wanted to tip the driver at the start, so that we would get good service. Fortunately there was another British couple and between us we persuaded them not to do it.
I would not recommend leaving from Southampton and risking sea sickness, it's just not worth it.

getmore4less

Lady_Tara wrote: »

Gah! Mine just keeps changing back to UK, even when I keep changing my country to US. How annoying lol! Thanks anyway

This worked for me

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/home.do?wuc=USA

pauleyers21

Hi, I am due to sail on the Independence of the Seas in May 2012. As it is my first cruise I searched the web for information on cruising. The website cruisecritic is so handy you can find all the information you are looking for and you can even ask questions if your unsure. Happy cruising :-)

Lady_Tara

getmore4less wrote: »

This worked for me

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/home.do?wuc=USA

ooh fab, thanks very much that's worked.

poet123

Cruise compete usually beat most quotes, it is always worth a quote request.

luci

Cruise Compete are very good, but just check that the prices you are being quoted include all taxes.

coupleuk

We just booked a Balcony cabin on Adventure of the Seas for a 7 night cruise out of Malaga for just $560 each - thats just £347 !!

We even managed to get flights out of Bristol for £200 each return (price was high as too close to departure date but local airport is worth it).

I would take a look at vacationstogo.com to see what deals they have - and then use cruisecompete to see if you can whittle price down. But be sure to check your flights are available.

The cruise agents can place a cabin on hold for 24/48hrs which gives plenty of time to secure flights.

I would NEVER use a cruise lines UK website or even a UK agent.

travellerboy

coupleuk wrote: »

I would NEVER use a cruise lines UK website or even a UK agent.

I have also booked a cruise via Vacationstogo, but always look at UK agent prices as they are sometimes cheaper. I would suggest you always seek a comparitive quote before jumping.
Also you limit your choice of cruise since US agents cannot offer any Carnival Corp. cruises (like Cunnard, P&O, HAL, Princess, Costa etc.) to a UK resident.

getmore4less

coupleuk wrote: »

We just booked a Balcony cabin on Adventure of the Seas for a 7 night cruise out of Malaga for just $560 each - thats just £347 !!

We even managed to get flights out of Bristol for £200 each return (price was high as too close to departure date but local airport is worth it).

I would take a look at vacationstogo.com to see what deals they have - and then use cruisecompete to see if you can whittle price down. But be sure to check your flights are available.

The cruise agents can place a cabin on hold for 24/48hrs which gives plenty of time to secure flights.

I would NEVER use a cruise lines UK website or even a UK agent.

UK prices for insides droped to £226. 6 May Ex Valencia.

http://bookings.royalcaribbean.co.uk/findacruise/search/vacationSearchResult/show.do?cruiseType=CO&pageType=SR&includeAdjascentPorts=Y&ship=AD&port=&actionType=&portOfCall=&exp=false&sortBy=2&price=&userPreferences=N&location=&promoType=&eventSource=ship&duration=&dest=EUROP

Often with the low prices there is no UK TA discounts so going direct gives you control over your booking.