Cruise from Southampton - family of 4

travellerboy

My problem with Thomson Cruises is the reliabity of the ships, most people know what it is like to own a car that is passed its sell-by date. Problems with aircon and toilet systems are the biggest concerns. Some people are lucky and have a trouble-free holiday but the odds are weighted against you.
I choose not to take the risk, its ship of 10 years or less for me.

All the cruise companies have economised significantly in recent years to maintain their headline prices. There are a lot of hidden costs from service charges (some call them Gratuities), expensive excursions, high drinks prices both non-alcohol and alcohol, to deteriating quality of food hence the rise of the onboard Specialty Restaurants ($25 - $45 a head). But even for all these on-costs a cruise holiday really does stack-up extremely well when compare to normal land-based resorts.

gingernm

As others have said RCI is superb for families. My family and extended family have cruised with both them and P&O is the past.

Can't comment on other cruise lines as we've never been with them, but I wouldn't do another P&O cruise.... EVER!

With RCI the one thing to note for your youngest, they must be toilet trained to be allowed even in the smallest of pools. No nappies or swimmer nappies at all.

There are kids clubs onboard, child only dining times in Jonny Rockets, babysitting services, pools with various activities (water jets, etc) Adventure of the Seas has a children water slide. Indy / Liberty have the Flowrider, although your children may well be too small for this. There are evening parades along the promanade with various costume character, think Shrek etc.

We've booked both directly with RCI and used www.thecruisestore.co.uk in the past, both for UK sailings and Med sailings. RCI can be very pricy for flight packages, unless they have a discounted offer on.

In all I'd highly recommend a family cruise holiday, my children are now 16 & 14 and still get giddy at the thought. Can't wait for our next one.... with RCI (no I don't work for them!!)

Rob.

Kynthia

I went on a Royal Caribbean cruise about 10 years ago and the thing to take note was the cost of the tips. They are a more traditional cruise company and have a set amount of daily tips for certain staff members, and being an American company it is expected that you pay them. Staff are paid based on receiving these tips so it's not fair to not do so unless service was bad.

It's worth investigating the tipping guidelines on whichever cruise company you book with.
http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/articles.cfm?ID=132
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/8812952/Cruises-guide-to-gratuities-and-tips.html
http://bookings.royalcaribbean.co.uk/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=2&faqSubjectName=Life+Onboard&faqId=263&faqSubjectId=334&faqType=faq&wuc=GBR

McKneff

The thing that bothers me, and I haven't been on a cruise, is it normal to have to walk miles from cabins to facilities. Its always put me off but Im happy to be corrected.

Anyone recommend one from Newcastle please.

mickey234

McKneff wrote: »

Anyone recommend one from Newcastle please.

Does Newcastle have a viable port?

getmore4less

The big ships are well big, think 300+ paces from end to end.

remember a lot of facilities are stacked some on the top decks like pools buffets spas gyms.

and other on lower decks like main dining show lounges shops bars.

in between are more things cabins, kids clubs, libraries etc.
(varies ship to ship)

this means some to the distanes are up/down stairs to get rid of the vast amount of food available or lifts if lazy/infirm.

ignore the do a short trip, get on for 14 night and enjoy a proper holiday

your kids are quite young so the 2 year old won't have club on all lines.

Thomson is not as bad as some would think.

newcastle will limit options I think Thomson do some and Fred olsen and cruiseand martime do but these are all small ships so not the glitz of the newer ones.

If you can go soon try pricing up Caribbean Princess round britain in May 12night starting from £499pp but not sure what a 4berth will cost.

Froggitt

Kynthia wrote: »

I went on a Royal Caribbean cruise about 10 years ago and the thing to take note was the cost of the tips. They are a more traditional cruise company and have a set amount of daily tips for certain staff members, and being an American company it is expected that you pay them. Staff are paid based on receiving these tips so it's not fair to not do so unless service was bad.

I they they all the major cruise lines have fixed daily tips (around $12 pp pd) nowadays......certainly NCL RCI and Celebrity, the ones we've done, do.

Froggitt

gingernm wrote: »

With RCI the one thing to note for your youngest, they must be toilet trained to be allowed even in the smallest of pools. No nappies or swimmer nappies at all.

Update on this......Oasis and Allure of the Seas both have a non-potty trained paddling pool. You've gotta like Caribbean though!!!

JonathanA

Can't advise on deals etc as we're cruise novices, but we returned from a 7 day cruise with P&O on Ventura yesterday having sailed from Southampton to Spain and Portugal. Our cruise was spoiled a bit due to the poor weather - Oporto was closed to all vessels so we had an extra day at sea. Can't fault P&O, the Ventura is very family friendly (we have a 12 yr old and a 9 yr old and were travelling with my sister-in-law and her 3 yr old). Kids clubs, lots of entertainment, excellent food to suit all tastes.

It can be a bit Butlins on sea, but you make it what you want it to be. Cruising has never appealed to me, and not something we've thought about before, but would certainly go again and would recommend P&O following our experience.

The Bay of Biscay was very rough (force 10 and 6 mtr swell) but we were unlucky with the weather overall!

The Ventura was refitted just before we got on and seemed to be a fairly high standard throughout. They do offer getaway (?) pricing but you are then restricted on cabins. We had an inside cabin (no windows) which was cheaper, but wasn't a problem as we only slept in there - there's so much to do on board you won't ever be bored or need to spend a lot of time in your cabin!

Having been very sceptical and not convinced about cruising, I wouldn't say I'm a convert, but would certainly consider it again.

touch*my*food*feel*myfork

Hi
I have just returned from a cruise and would highly recommend them as a family holiday, they have fab kids clubs and my 12ywar old loves them.
We have done both P&O and Royal Caribbean and although they both had good points and bad we prefer P&O - also they have good child prices were as RC are only slightly cheaper than adult, that I found when I booked.
Is your 4 year old at school? if so I think you will struggle to find a cruise with availability within school hols as they get booked up very quick - if out of hols then should get a good deal

edit - just seen the above post by JonathanA - this is the cruise I too have just returned from and although the weather was not good this is the 4th time I have sailed down the bay of Biscay and only the first time I have experienced bad weather.
HTH