Cruise Newbie!

caringa

I'm hoping that some of you kind people may have experience of cruising that you can pass on. Basically I am thinking of going on a Carribean cruise with my 29 year old daughter (Im Mum!!) We really don't know where to start and when I google the various companies, I become even more confused.


For instance, do we go for a fly/cruise or just cruise? We are thinking of going around end of March/April but can be flexible. We don't want to pay a fortune but at the same time realise that you get what you pay for. We would like some entertainment but don't particularly fancy a gigantic ship. We can only go for a max of 14 days. As we live not far from Southampton we wondered whether we ought to try and get cruise starting from there maybe?


Any suggestions/tips would be gratefully received. Thanks!!

blindman

caringa wrote: »

I'm hoping that some of you kind people may have experience of cruising that you can pass on. Basically I am thinking of going on a Carribean cruise with my 29 year old daughter (Im Mum!!) We really don't know where to start and when I google the various companies, I become even more confused.


For instance, do we go for a fly/cruise or just cruise? We are thinking of going around end of March/April but can be flexible. We don't want to pay a fortune but at the same time realise that you get what you pay for. We would like some entertainment but don't particularly fancy a gigantic ship. We can only go for a max of 14 days. As we live not far from Southampton we wondered whether we ought to try and get cruise starting from there maybe?


Any suggestions/tips would be gratefully received. Thanks!!

I'm not a cruise fan but if you look at Cruise Critic you may get some ideas

And to get a good deal book through USA agents as they are a LOT cheaper.


There is this thread-start at the last post and work backwards

On the one and only cruise I have been on (Alaska last year) I was paying $700 pp instead of £700 pp:cool:

Katiehound

If you cruise out of UK you need to factor in the time taken to cross the Atlantic. I know that Fred.Olsen cruise lines have good deals when the ship is sailing out for the season and then home again (I am not suggesting FOCL because I think your daughter would struggle with the age factor of the guests- just giving an example.) In that particular case you would fly out to Braemar Mar 2, 4 ports in Caribbean, +Azores, to Dover. So out of 16 nights : 6 days in port- rest at sea. If you want to spend the bulk of your time island hopping then you need to fly both ways.

In the summer I sailed to Newfoundland- 16 nights. 5 + 2 x1/2 days in port- rest at sea.

Full price book cost for this is inside £799 + £400 for flight. (doubtless has or will be reduced depending on number of cabins sold)

I would suggest you contact a travel agent who specialises in cruising- I've always found Ocean World Travel (based in Southampton ) very helpful, and they say that they will beat any price (!though not US prices naturally!)

BarryBlue

P&O have both Britannia and Azura in the Caribbean this winter. Britannia is new but quite big, whereas Azura is fairly big but nevertheless a really nice ship with lots of entertainment. Azura's last Caribbean cruise in 2016 departs on 5th March, and Britannia's a week earlier. They are fly-cruise in and out of Barbados.

They both have their repositioning cruises after that, Azura departing for Southampton on 19 March and arriving on 1st April. It goes via St Lucia, St Maarten, Tortola and Ponta Delgada. It is currently showing at £959.


P&O are geared for the British market while many others are more for the US market. Their ships are modern, unlike lines like Fred Olsen whose ships are much older and smaller.

touch*my*food*feel*myfork

Following on from BarryBlue suggestions the prices quoted are including flights which all P&O prices include flights other cruise line prices are usually quoted without flights so you need to factor them into the price.

I have cruised 12+ times with different companies/ships and they all have good and bad points it really is a case of either finding a cruise you like the sound of/the ports it is stopping at or going with a price you like and enjoying where it is stopping
You say March/April if you can avoid the school hols (26th March for two weeks where i am) then the price will be better
HTH and i will gladly answer any other questions you may have

BarryBlue

Very good point about the flights, it is correct that they are included on those prices. Only one for the repositioning cruise, of course!

We are also experienced cruisers and set off on our 20th at the end of the month. I'll also willingly help out with any queries.:)

blindman

BarryBlue wrote: »

Very good point about the flights, it is correct that they are included on those prices. Only one for the repositioning cruise, of course!

We are also experienced cruisers and set off on our 20th at the end of the month. I'll also willingly help out with any queries.:)

Dare I ask how old the previous two posters are

touch*my*food*feel*myfork

you can ask.............oh ok I'm in my 40's and we cruise as a family - me, husband and teen son

stoneman

We always cruise with NCL (Norwegian cruise line) they have lots of cruises to the Caribbean from Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
You might enjoy them more because they have "freestyle dining" you eat when you want, and they seem a more relaxed line.
TBH the Caribbean is over rated in my opinion. We rarely get off the ship when we are in port, prefer to have the boat to ourselves. We much prefer the history and culture of cruising in Europe.

gettingtheresometime

I'm off in 12 sleeps time for a fortnight on Britannia.

Must admit I'm a little nervous as we've never been on a ship as big as Britannia but at the same time excited!

This may be a stupid question but have you tried cruising before? I think it is very much of a marmite holiday and would recommend you go on a short cruise beforehand (just to see if you like it)

PompeyPete

Did the repositioning cruise on Thomson Celebration in November 2014.

Itinerary was...

- Fly to Malaga, join ship.
- Overnight at sea
- Gibraltar for the day
- Overnight, + following day and night at sea
- Tenerife for the day
- 7 days/nights Transatlantic crossing
- Day each at Antigua, St Maarten, Road Town (BVI), St Kitts, Dominica
- Bridgetown. Flew back to Uk same night.

The ports we visited were alright. BUT, if you're alongside at the same time as any big ships, then the place can appear swamped with tourists.

Paid £1,050 for flghts, Transfers, All-Inclusive x 15 nights.

We like Thomson ships because they're small and relaxed. We don't mind the ship being a bit old, it all adds to the character.