First Time Cruise

getmore4less

I would recommend two forums.

Cruisecritic. Very USA biased.

Cruise dot more uk biased.

maman

I think you need to decide whether the 'cruising' at sea is going to be a fun part of your holiday or whether you're more interested in the destinations.


I did a great fly/cruise around the Caribbean with a different island to visit every day. The eating/entertainment element was just evenings unless you choose not to get off.


My brother did two weeks in the Mediterranean last summer sailing from Southampton. Effectively more than a week at sea split either end and just under a week in the middle visiting a few ports (Gibraltar, Barcelona etc).


Two completely different experiences to choose from.

MasterPoo

PompeyPete wrote: »

At least you've justified your comments in #2.
Why did you book it in the first place?
What did your boys think that they'd done to deserve such a horrible experience?
Sounds like a bit of PPPPP.:o

Which shopping trolley are you booked on?

I was a cruise virgin, I had read lots of good reports about Thomsons I just don't agree.

I'm either going on Celebrity or RC, LOL!

stephb34

How soon can you go, P&O have some fantastic deals in May, early June. Only looked sailing from Southampton but 21 nights £1049, 17 nights £999 etc not much more for an outside cabin all with a guaranteed 5% off at Thomas Cook some also have on board credit or free parking at Southampton or free bus to port. The Norwegian fjords are normally a good price as well, last year my friend did 1 week outside cabin £399 each, not looked at this years yet.

Abby87

Thanks everyone. There is just so much to consider. I was thinking of trying to go quite last minute May/June for three/four nights. I was looking at departing from Southampton as I live close by. I would love to go for longer but am unsure how my husband would cope, I think I would love it. Its not the seasickness that's my worry, its the thought of being on a boat for a long period of time.


I have signed up to Cruise Critic and Cruise.co.uk as suggested, so hopefully that will help.


The cruise I have seen from Southampton with P&O at the end of June is £598 for my husband and I with an inside cabin for three nights. Do you think this is too expensive or a reasonable price?

duchy

I think booking late you could get a week's cruise in the Med for the same money.

getmore4less

Ventura has 25 hen parties on the current cruise.

I would not pay any more than 150pp for a 3n inside cabin

Just go for longer on a cruise with more ports and get off.

On port days if you don't count sleeping and eating you only have about 4hr ship time.

getmore4less

Cheapest at the moment are Costa and MSC seen 11days at 399pp inc flight bags transfers.

I would check out RCI prices after the Transatlantics.

Princess prices are dropping.

Have a look at cruisefish.net

daveyjp

7 nights is ideal. 2-4 night trips don't give you time to get settled in to what cruising can offer.

burnoutbabe

I know a lot of people say the 2-3 nighters are more like hen party madness /booze cruise than normal cruising.

Our first cruise was 2 weeks to Baltics, £800 each, bargain. Didn't madly matter if we were bored on the ship, it was only 3 days at sea at the start and then pretty much port/port/port. We were too shattered the rest of the cruise to worry too much about quiet sea days (we read, we watched movies, we went to port talks, we ate tons)

P&O seems aimed at an older age group than us (late 30s/early 40s) by 20 or so years but we enjoyed that way of travelling.