Cruise 25

[Deep Thought]

As we're heading towards the fourth quarter of 24, thought i'd stick in a new thread for cruises in 25.

[Deep Thought]

First up for us is MSC World Europa, Yacht Club, Deluxe Balcony Suite, from Barcelona around the Med, Jan 25.

Weather wont be fantastic but we're not sun worshippers. We normally do a Dec cruise but those are mostly to Bruges, Hamburg etc, and we've done that route a couple of times.

[Sgt Joe Roberts]

We've a Transatlantic booked for October 25, that'll be our fourth and probably last one. It'll be on Carnival Mardi Gras and this will be our second sailing on her. Great ship, a step up in terms of dining and entertainment compared to other ships we've been on.

[ecsrobin]

I have the fjords booked on princess. Keep looking for others to fit in the year but nothing taking my fancy at the moment.

[Ynox]

Off to Alaska in June on the Queen Elizabeth. Meant to go back in 2020 so looking forward to it.

Then on the Queen Anne in November going to Spain for 10 days (cheapo deal - £1k per person for a balcony).

[Deep Thought]

Ynox said:

Off to Alaska in June on the Queen Elizabeth. Meant to go back in 2020 so looking forward to it.

Then on the Queen Anne in November going to Spain for 10 days (cheapo deal - £1k per person for a balcony).

We're on Queen Anne in June. Have done Queen Victoria previously. Really looking forward to it.

Thats a good deal on Queen Anne for a 10 nighter!

[Deep Thought]

Sgt Joe Roberts said:

We've a Transatlantic booked for October 25, that'll be our fourth and probably last one. It'll be on Carnival Mardi Gras and this will be our second sailing on her. Great ship, a step up in terms of dining and entertainment compared to other ships we've been on.

What do you think of the transatlantic cruises? Quite fancy trying one.

[Deep Thought]

ecsrobin said:

I have the fjords booked on princess. Keep looking for others to fit in the year but nothing taking my fancy at the moment.

We did the Fjords in June 24 on MSC Euribia. Really loved it!

What Princess ship are you on?

[ecsrobin]

Deep Thought said:

We did the Fjords in June 24 on MSC Euribia. Really loved it!

What Princess ship are you on?

Sky princess. Have been on Caribbean princess and crown so will be nice to be on a different class of ship.

[Deep Thought]

ecsrobin said:

Deep Thought said:

We did the Fjords in June 24 on MSC Euribia. Really loved it!

What Princess ship are you on?

Sky princess. Have been on Caribbean princess and crown so will be nice to be on a different class of ship.

We did Regal Princess, but havent yet done Sky. Sky looks v similar to Regal but has a few enhancements, being the slightly younger ship.

We're doing Sun Princess next September.

I'd definitely like to try Sky/

[Ynox]

I quite liked Sky Princess (even though i caught Noro on it back in '23).

It's different to what I normally go on (Cunard) but I enjoyed it. In particular, the Medallion worked well and we thought the buffet was very good. For the right money I'd go on it again.

[Sgt Joe Roberts]

Deep Thought said:

Sgt Joe Roberts said:

We've a Transatlantic booked for October 25, that'll be our fourth and probably last one. It'll be on Carnival Mardi Gras and this will be our second sailing on her. Great ship, a step up in terms of dining and entertainment compared to other ships we've been on.

What do you think of the transatlantic cruises? Quite fancy trying one.

We have a great time on them, they tend to last 14 days starting in Barcelona and finishing in Florida, although the first one we did took the northern route and finished in New York. Usually about 5 sea days to cross once you leave the Canaries or the Azores but they're nice and relaxing. Tends to be an older crowd with only a few kids onboard. Maybe we've been lucky but the weather has always been calm and warm, May and October sailings. We started doing them after having done a few Med cruises and fancied a change from going to the same ports.

[ecsrobin]

Sgt Joe Roberts said:

We have a great time on them, they tend to last 14 days starting in Barcelona and finishing in Florida, although the first one we did took the northern route and finished in New York. Usually about 5 sea days to cross once you leave the Canaries or the Azores but they're nice and relaxing. Tends to be an older crowd with only a few kids onboard. Maybe we've been lucky but the weather has always been calm and warm, May and October sailings. We started doing them after having done a few Med cruises and fancied a change from going to the same ports.

We also like the look of them seen a few princess repositions and if you don’t go drinks package works out very cheap. For princess 1 week I’d always go drinks package but for a longer sailing I’ll benefit from pay as you go as don’t want to be drinking myself to sleep every day.

[DT1975]

We've booked the Queen Anne for the Fjords July 2025 (just to get a taste of Cunard) and also see the Fjords naturally before someone puts the kybosh on big ships in nature sensitive areas - or something like that.

[Madness60]

We're off on our very first cruise on Sky Princess to the fjords in early July

[ecsrobin]

Madness60 said:

We're off on our very first cruise on Sky Princess to the fjords in early July

I’ll let you know how mine goes as we’re off earlier in the season. Same ship, destination.

[Drawweight]

Bermuda on P&O 7th March for 14 nights.

I was intending doing a few nights pre cruise as we normally do but was disappointed to learn P&O use charter flights so it would be uneconomical to alter it. Unless anyone knows different but it’s booked now.

It was really just a knee jerk booking as we came to the sad conclusion that going back to Japan is not viable due to my wifes increasing arthritis. We just needed something to cheer ourselves up and look forward to.

[Ynox]

DT1975 said:

We've booked the Queen Anne for the Fjords July 2025 (just to get a taste of Cunard) and also see the Fjords naturally before someone puts the kybosh on big ships in nature sensitive areas - or something like that.

Enjoy. I was on the maiden of the Queen Anne. it's a bit different to the other Cunard ships but I enjoyed it.

[Throttlebody]

Drawweight said:

Bermuda on P&O 7th March for 14 nights.

I was intending doing a few nights pre cruise as we normally do but was disappointed to learn P&O use charter flights so it would be uneconomical to alter it. Unless anyone knows different but it’s booked now.

It was really just a knee jerk booking as we came to the sad conclusion that going back to Japan is not viable due to my wifes increasing arthritis. We just needed something to cheer ourselves up and look forward to.

Shame about Japan. Mega place. I’m revisiting it next year but will only travel out Business or First for that direct long haul. I won’t book a cruise that locks me into their flight. Only other way to cut potential flight pain is to hop out/back with stopovers.

[Deep Thought]

ecsrobin said:

Sgt Joe Roberts said:

We have a great time on them, they tend to last 14 days starting in Barcelona and finishing in Florida, although the first one we did took the northern route and finished in New York. Usually about 5 sea days to cross once you leave the Canaries or the Azores but they're nice and relaxing. Tends to be an older crowd with only a few kids onboard. Maybe we've been lucky but the weather has always been calm and warm, May and October sailings. We started doing them after having done a few Med cruises and fancied a change from going to the same ports.

We also like the look of them seen a few princess repositions and if you don’t go drinks package works out very cheap. For princess 1 week I’d always go drinks package but for a longer sailing I’ll benefit from pay as you go as don’t want to be drinking myself to sleep every day.

Thanks both.

I'm still in two minds about the extended sea days. I can see merit in them for the tranquility. Our next cruise is with Virgin at the end of the month and it has a two day sea day in it. Will be interesting to see how i feel about that. Wife loves sea days.

I'd also take the point about drinks packages on longer cruises. Whilst we do enjoy a drink, drinks packages with some lines arent great value, and then to multiply that by x14 can add up to a very big number.