Discussion
Advice please,recommendations,things not to do and to watch out for?,the pitfalls etc,the best?(and the worst).We are both just retired and thinking of a 2wk fly/cruise,Canary Islands,Panama Canal,Dubai etc.We have traveled the world by air but the only ship we have ever used was a cross channel ferry!!so trawling through all the cruise ads is mind boggling and we would like to hear from people who have been on cruises and their experiences.
We've been on 2 Royal Caribbean cruises, one from Venice down into the Adriatic, the other from Southampton up into the Fjords. Both were excellent. The usual concern is the sheer volume of people on the ship, but we didn't find it at all crowded or overbearing. The really big ships have two or three small restaurants which were really good and not terribly expensive - it's nice to have dinner for two from time to time rather than as a group.
Years ago we went on a smaller ship and had an inside cabin and I found it horrific. So go for an outside cabin, ideally with a balcony.
Years ago we went on a smaller ship and had an inside cabin and I found it horrific. So go for an outside cabin, ideally with a balcony.
We did a one way transatlantic passage on the QM2, it was probably one of the most pleasant experiences ever, and this was with the cheapest cabin on the boat, actually as it was a low deck cabin in the middle of the boat, we didn't get sick in the Force 10 gale in mid atlantic, whereas all the toffs in the big suites on the top decks looked a bit green, if you are heading somewhere calm this shouldn't be an issue.
Oh I would avoid the caribbean this time of year!
Oh I would avoid the caribbean this time of year!
We've been on 4 cruises (all Royal Caribbean) and love them. Southampton was particularly easy for us (just down the road) - but last year we flew to Rome for an Eastern Med one which worked out well. End of October we're doing our first Caribbean one, so flying to Miami for a week on thier largest ship (and largest in the world) - Allure of the Seas, really looking forward to that.
The big ships only feel crowded occasionally, there are so many spaces that it is only when they want a crowd that it's crowded. I'd be tempted to say what you should do is read up on the philosophy/style of the cruise line to match that as well as where you are going. Different lines I think have a different balance on formality of dress code, dining times and arrangements, entertainment etc.
Cabin prices vary massively but then the cabins do too - so if you want cheap, your room is going to be low down and inside, more cash & space: high up and outside with a balcony. Getting round on the ships is usually very easy with plenty of lifts.
Some ports it is quite practical to do your own thing, other places you're probably better off on an organised trip but it is probably a case by case thing and dependent on what you are into and want to see/do.
Good luck in deciding and have fun.
The big ships only feel crowded occasionally, there are so many spaces that it is only when they want a crowd that it's crowded. I'd be tempted to say what you should do is read up on the philosophy/style of the cruise line to match that as well as where you are going. Different lines I think have a different balance on formality of dress code, dining times and arrangements, entertainment etc.
Cabin prices vary massively but then the cabins do too - so if you want cheap, your room is going to be low down and inside, more cash & space: high up and outside with a balcony. Getting round on the ships is usually very easy with plenty of lifts.
Some ports it is quite practical to do your own thing, other places you're probably better off on an organised trip but it is probably a case by case thing and dependent on what you are into and want to see/do.
Good luck in deciding and have fun.
Thanks for the replies lads.We have narrowed it down to a cruise aboard the Lirica with MSC lines from Abu Dhabi, with 4nts in the Radisson Yas Island (Grand Prix circuit and Ferrari World).All my research looks good but we have never heard of the people we are booking with,"Cruise Club UK". Any one used them? or any other comments on this idea.
Did our first cruise with Holland America lines earlier this summer around the eastern Med (Rome - Greece - Santorini - Turkey - Sicily).
Positives for me were;
Nice cabin
You only unpack once
Good service
Nice food
Got to meet some very different & interesting people.
Negatives for me were
You cannot escape the movement and engine noise - sounds silly to say but I was very concious of it all the time and really did not feel comfortable, not travel sick, but just not comfortable
Loads of people - after 10 days it was difficult to find somewhere outside "quiet" to sit so ended up relaxing in the Spa area.
We would have liked longer at each port - you have really just a few hours to see the main sights / get a flavour for the places which we didn't like.
Maybe something we do in a few years time - but wouldn't rush into one again in the near future.
Positives for me were;
Nice cabin
You only unpack once
Good service
Nice food
Got to meet some very different & interesting people.
Negatives for me were
You cannot escape the movement and engine noise - sounds silly to say but I was very concious of it all the time and really did not feel comfortable, not travel sick, but just not comfortable
Loads of people - after 10 days it was difficult to find somewhere outside "quiet" to sit so ended up relaxing in the Spa area.
We would have liked longer at each port - you have really just a few hours to see the main sights / get a flavour for the places which we didn't like.
Maybe something we do in a few years time - but wouldn't rush into one again in the near future.
There's a guy at work in his 50s who swears by cruises. Personally I'd hate the herding about, having to be on board by a certain time etc. I like to spend time in places to try the local food and absorb the atmosphere and culture. All things that are next to impossible when cruising. The O/H's brother has also just come back from one in the Med. He showed us his pics. I'd be climbimg the ship walls after about 4 hours.
No, not for me, not ever.
No, not for me, not ever.
Edited by fatboy b on Friday 2nd September 18:21
fatboy b said:
There's a guy at work in his 50s who swears by cruises. Personally I'd hate the herding about, having to be on board by a certain time etc. I like to spend time in places to try the local food and absorb the atmosphere and culture. All things that are next to impossible when cruising. The O/H's brother has also just come back from one in the Med. He showed us his pics. I'd be climbimg the ship walls after about 4 hours.
No, not for me, not ever.
I'm with you on the herding thing. We did a passage - so no jumping on and off the boat - I dont think I could handle that, might as well go on a coach tour!No, not for me, not ever.
Edited by fatboy b on Friday 2nd September 18:21
I cant recommend a Cunard transatlantic trip highly enough though, At no time did I feel that we were on a boat with a lot of people - you see them all at Dinner, but the ship was not crowded anywhere we went.
fatboy b said:
There's a guy at work in his 50s who swears by cruises. Personally I'd hate the herding about, having to be on board by a certain time etc. I like to spend time in places to try the local food and absorb the atmosphere and culture. All things that are next to impossible when cruising. The O/H's brother has also just come back from one in the Med. He showed us his pics. I'd be climbimg the ship walls after about 4 hours.
No, not for me, not ever.
each to their own - but herding is optional & I think it is a good way to sample several places that you may (or may not) want to go back to laterNo, not for me, not ever.
Edited by fatboy b on Friday 2nd September 18:21
oh...and climbing the ship walls...
that is optional too
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