Any experienced cruisers on here?

[symyjym]

There is a user on here called Titanic, he may be able to help you.

 

[MissGull]

Drinks packages are a rip off. Unless actively you want to drink to paralysis every night. In which case you would look pretty out of place on the ship, where most people are in their cabins by 11.

 

[BensGrandad]

Do most cruise lines insist on black tie formal dress for dinner or is just a lounge suit acceptable.

 

[Publius Ovidius]

Granny - we've been a number of times with Princess and love it. Have you used Princess and if so how does it compare to the others? agree with you about filghts and school holidays. Airlines hike up the prices for flights that link up with cruise departures so it's best to do the whole package rather than try and go it alone , unless of course you know what you are doing.
We've booked direct and thru Bolsover who were very good

cheers

We were very close to booking a princess out of Fort Lauderdale, for 10 nights, the prices were around £3500 but the flights were really bad...heathrow to Madrid...then to Miami ..coming back to heathrow on the red eye! Again we are limited to school holidays so fitting in a cruise was not easy! Celebrity cruises around the Caribbean were ridiculously expensive with stupid flights again!

We may give princess a go one day if we can fit the dates in, but we are elite members on celebrity/ royal Caribbean/ Azamara so get free drinks packages, internet , laundry etc, and $500 on board credit, so they have got you really!

Glad you enjoyed Princess we know many people who also loved them. We were on a cheapie P&O to the fjords last summer on the azure, which is the sister ship of a couple of Princesses...

 

[Publius Ovidius]

Do most cruise lines insist on black tie formal dress for dinner or is just a lounge suit acceptable.

Depends...most have formal nights, normally 2 or 3 on a seven day cruise then If you want you can dress up...and most people do. I have a couple of James Bond type photos. Funnily enough it's British cruise lines that tend to be more stuffy...Cunard people dress up every night...not our cup of T

 

[Publius Ovidius]

where most people are in their cabins by 11.

Really? What cruises have you done? We normally get a gang of Americans, Canadians and Brits together and rarely get to bed before 2 in the morning! You can hit the casino till 5 or 6 in the morning!

 

[MissGull]

No jeans and no trainers to dinner on the one I went to. But you could dress as smartly as you wanted. On the Disney cruise and some of the American based ones, wear whatever you like, just as long as you wear something.

 

[BensGrandad]

We were very close to booking a princess out of Fort Lauderdale, for 10 nights, the prices were around £3500 but the flights were really bad...heathrow to Madrid...then to Miami ..coming back to heathrow on the red eye! Again we are limited to school holidays so fitting in a cruise was not easy! Celebrity cruises around the Caribbean were ridiculously expensive with stupid flights again!

We may give princess a go one day if we can fit the dates in, but we are elite members on celebrity/ royal Caribbean/ Azamara so get free drinks packages, internet , laundry etc, and $500 on board credit, so they have got you really!

Glad you enjoyed Princess we know many people who also loved them. We were on a cheapie P&O to the fjords last summer on the azure, which is the sister ship of a couple of Princesses...

Never used them but can I suggest that before booking you look at vacationstogo.com I havent seen many at the price you quote.

 

[Publius Ovidius]

I have a friend who uses these type of cross Atlantic booking people, and it can be a nightmare. You do have to be very careful as a lot of us companies will not sell direct into the UK.

...and you are not covered by abta etc.

We tend to go for ABTA bonded travel agents having being burned before!

 

[BensGrandad]

That is probably why my nephew said to look for the cruise in preparation and then get flights to Florida and book when you arrive and have a few days either end of the cruise in Florida.

 

[Publius Ovidius]

That is probably why my nephew said to look for the cruise in preparation and then get flights to Florida and book when you arrive and have a few days either end of the cruise in Florida.

Probably. We do know a couple who instead of booking hotels, when they go to Miami, book a couple of mini cruises. Seemly it's cheaper than staying in hotels.

 

[MissGull]

Really? What cruises have you done? We normally get a gang of Americans, Canadians and Brits together and rarely get to bed before 2 in the morning! You can hit the casino till 5 or 6 in the morning!

Thomson. None of the big ones. Mind you had a week of rough seas and most of the time you weren't even allowed to walk around it was too choppy.

 

[Gazwag]

Drinks packages are a rip off. Unless actively you want to drink to paralysis every night. In which case you would look pretty out of place on the ship, where most people are in their cabins by 11.

I completely disagree we have done two Thomson cruises which are fantastic for first timers. We got through our allowance in the first three days just having a couple of cocktails and soft drinks in the day, wine with dinner and a few drinks watching the shows.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

the mrs and i were having a meal at the harbour in chania in june ,there was a cruise ship anchored up,some of the cruisers came on shore and were paraded in front of us ,what a sad spectacle
regards
DR

 

[timbha]

the mrs and i were having a meal at the harbour in chania in june ,there was a cruise ship anchored up,some of the cruisers came on shore and were paraded in front of us ,what a sad spectacle
regards
DR

we watch other cruisers, what they wear, their bags, ruck sacks, how they behave, getting back on the boat for a free lunch, wandering the streets of the ports, etc, etc thinking that were glad we don't look like that.....but of course we do. But the worst is having a round coloured sticker on your jacket denoting which cruise tour you are on. Not cool!
Funny thing is that when you're back on the boat all dolled up for the evening you never see these people.

 

[swindonseagull]

Try PMing SMUDGE, he works on the cruise liners ( Norwegian Sun I think) currently he is somewhere in or around Florida,

I am sure he will give you some info.

 

[Publius Ovidius]

Try PMing SMUDGE, he works on the cruise liners ( Norwegian Sun I think) currently he is somewhere in or around Florida,

I am sure he will give you some info.

Fixt.......LOL

Totally agree...he is a top man

 

[Garage_Doors]

Drinks packages are a rip off. Unless actively you want to drink to paralysis every night. In which case you would look pretty out of place on the ship, where most people are in their cabins by 11.

I don't want any alcohol, just unlimited soft drinks , hot /drinks and ice creams with out "allowances".

 

[Publius Ovidius]

I don't want any alcohol, just unlimited soft drinks , hot /drinks and ice creams with out "allowances".

Then go for soft drink package, for sodas, ie coke fanta etc etc.....coffee and tea will be provided on all ships, however speciality ones, ie cappuccino etc is normally extras, although there are some lines that will....ice creams on most ships will be free, certainly celebrity and royal Caribbean have free ice cream.

Classic Non Alcoholic package on Celebrity will give you all the above. No idea about MSC but looking on their site there doesn't look like anything like this, they have a soda package, but no coffee one.

Register for cruisecritic.com and look at the forums for your cruise and ask the question. There will also be loads of reviews too.

AHAAAAAA. Allegrisimo package! Only available on the MSC divina, but it looks like they are only on certain cruises!

 

[kingcole]

I have been on 20 cruises. Am actually in the states right now awaiting my flight home from my New Years cruise.

Never been on MSc but all I have been on offer free tea/coffee 24/7 self served via the buffet and other locations.

Most offer a free ice cream or frozen yogurt close to the pool. Some also have an optional premium ice cream at a charge like Ben and Jerry's on royal Caribbean.

Juices are offered free at breakfast and water or ice tea or American lemonade ( basically lemon squash ) are also available free at all other times.

Most will then offer a soda package at a cost of about $7 a day. This includes unlimited fizzys. If you drink more than 3 a day then this will be good value for you.

I would reiterate the excellent advice about booking with a USA agent after arranging your eon flights to Florida. The best value cruises all leave from Florida as there is so much more capacity here.

You have no worries about your USA travel agent going skint as they never hold your money. The moment the booking is made you will have a confirmation number for your cruise lines website and they will have confirmed your payment.

Always go via a travel agent rather than go direct as you will be able to negotiate an on board credit.

Consider buying 100 shares in either carnival or royal Caribbean. These two cruise lines own just about every cruise ship on the planet (apart from Disney. Incidentally Disney offer free soda and are very good but have no casino).

I find a great website called cruise compete. Once you know the sailing you want, enter your details snd you will be emailed by travel agents of their best offers.

USA travel agents will not discount. All charge the same but the amount of on board credit will vary.

If you are not confident enough to use a USA travel agent then iglu in the uk will offer a discount.

Don't forget tips. They can reach $8 per person per day and are often charged to your account on board the ship. However, you are free to remove part or all of these if you think they are not deserved. You can also do this and pay in cash.

If you have not cruised before the first few hours at the cruise terminal and on the ship can seem stressful.

Lines at Check in. Waiting to board. Not having access to your cabin for a while. Lifeboat drill. Stick with it. You will have a blast.

Cruising holidays are great fun and great value and suit a very diverse group of people.