> Cruiselines F-P > P&O Cruises > med cruise -oceana/ventura/ruby princess ?

Hi all.I have been looking at our first time cruise choices and would value any opinions.We would love to cruise from Southampton to the Med in late June/early July.The holiday is to celebrate my 50th birthday so would love it to be a special holiday.We thought it would be more relaxing to cruise from Southampton rather than the hassle/cost of a fly cruise although the Ruby Princess iteniary (departing 22nd June),looks great-but is much more costly.
Could anyone give their opinion on which ship is best for a little luxury and good food. Ventura seems to be the best value with Ruby Princess fly /cruise being the most expensive (based on a balcony cabin).
Is it best to book now or do you think there would be a chance of it being less expensive nearer the time-we are just a little concerned that with the cost of excursions,drinks etc this would be a very expensive holiday !!

I went on Ruby Princess last May for my 50th birthday, it was the best Cruise I have ever been on, sailing out of Venice was magical. The itinerary was fabulous with lots of stops that if I had travelled from Southampton I would have missed..........Venice and Instanbul the most noteable. We had a balcony cabin and sailing through the straits of Messina with a glass or two of champagne on our balcony is just one of the many memories I have of this truly wonderful ship. I have been on a short cruise on Oceana but not on Ventura. Oceana was lovely too but Ruby Princess takes the prize in my opinion.

Thankyou for the reply-it sounds wonderful.The downside is that Ruby Princess is much more expensive !!!! Do you think it is possible that a Med cruise with Princess or P and O would be availible on a late deal (balcony cabin-departing end of June/beginning of July) or is this season too popular to be discounted last minute? Thankyou.

I know it is more expensive but well worth it, I booked the day the holidays went on sale because I knew what I wanted and I checked the price all the time afterwards and it never got cheaper and I went in May. The prices of P&O are always cheaper in the first editions of the brochure too so I think the best thing to do will be to book early rather than be nervous about a late deal.

I haven't been on Ruby- only Sea- Princess, and I felt we had a very similar experience on the sister company, P&O. Even the decor in the cabins is done by the same firm, and the captains will talk about voyages they've done with both lines. One Princess ship will become the new P&O next year.
Ventura is a new ship, and whilst she is built with families in mind, the children are well catered for, and don't seem to cause much trouble- unless you're sailing over school hols., when any ship may be extra full of children, which has never been a problem to me.
Both ships were built in the same year, in the same shipyard and to roughly the same design, so it is only the interior spaces which will alter.
So, the balcony cabins will be roughly the same size; the number of decks and main dining rooms. Both should give a similar amount of luxury.
The main differences for you will be that Princess is run by an American company- P&O by a British one; the itinerary- because you're already in the Med, Princess will be able to make port stops immediately, whereas ventura will take 2 or so days to reach the Med ( for some, the best part of the cruise); One is in$$, the other ££; Princess charge $10 per person per day gratuity on top of your fare, P&O suggest what tips to pay; Princess charge 15% tip on everything you buy at the bar, P&O charge Brit pub prices without any tips.
I think you should read more on these pages before making your decision, as you really want a special holiday.
Enjoy choosing
Jo.

Thankyou so much for your response-it really has helped to clarify a few issues especially regarding tips etc.It seems that P & O may be much better value for money and I think ,for us, that the rest as we cruise out from Southampton would be great as we have had a hectic year.We could go with Ventura or Oceana as they both do a similar Med cruise on the dates we are interested in.Is one or the other ship more suited to a cruise for a special birthday,or are they very similar ? Thankyou.

We booked our cruise today.We decided on Ventura after considering dates and info from the T.A.We sail the Western Med leaving 3rd July.We are so excited as this is our first cruise.If anyone can give us any hints about booking excursions that would be great.Is it best to go on the organised trips or go it alone? Any info on the ship and/or excursions would be great.