Topic: I am new to cruising and urgently need help!!

Hi Everyone,

I have finally persuaded my husband to go on a cruise as i think it would be the ideal hol for us. Briefly, we both work in education so can only go during school hols. This year we have a lot of commitments financially untill summer so wont be able to book untill end june/july. We would like to go to the easten med but could do any itinery really. Anyway my questions are
:1. Will we get a decent last min cabin without paying thousands 2;which line/ship should we go for, we like smart casual preferably quietish but not boring!!

Any advice on this will be very appreciated thank in advance.Lesley

There are some ships to avoid during the peak times as these are obviously very popular with families, so when you say fairly quietish - I am making an assumption you mean not too many kids, no loud music and fun and games around the pool?

So avoid P&O Family ships , you could look at some of the adult only - Oriana/ Adonia (If you are fairly young suggest Oriana - if older Adonia) Although they do have formal nights so maybe not for you?

Royal Caribbean avoid Independance of Seas as extremely popular with families.

If you want just smart casual perhaps look at NCL Cruises, or MSC.

You can pick up some last minute bargains but be prepared to be very flexible as you may not get the one you want. If you can short list three or four and go from there.

Alternatively MSC have some great deals on at the moment from £349 pp cruise only for 7 night cruises or £549 incl flights. Read the reviews first though!

A nice alternative would be to look at some of the Celebrity fly cruises on Equinox, Solstice or Silhoutte.

Read plenty of reviews before deciding and when you have narrowed it down feel free to ask more questions. Someone will always come along to help.

Yes, i have started doing some research and think we may need to try for an adults only ship - especially seeing as we spend all our working life with teenagers! Abit of peace i think! Thanks for the reply. I will pick some ships and read the reviews - thanks for the advice.

QUOTE:

Yes, i have started doing some research and think we may need to try for an adults only ship - especially seeing as we spend all our working life with teenagers! Abit of peace i think! Thanks for the reply. I will pick some ships and read the reviews - thanks for the advice.

Hi Lesley and welcome to the forum

Kids clubs on ships mean that they aren't always as much in evidence as in beach resorts.

Celebrity have some good Eastern Med itineraries and are a line that doesn't really go all out to attract families. The ships are fantastic but prices on board are higher than the British lines

Thomsons also usually have a ship in this region. They don't have many formal nights and a good buffet if you want to avoid it. The ships are older and cabins smaller but they make up for this in service and entertainment.

I agree with the last post, Thomsons may be worth a look and they have a ship cruising Eastern Med.

Do you all think that they will have cabins left at last minute - ie 4-8 weeks before and do the prices go up at that time? We dont mind kids but have a hectic job working with kids so like to get a break from them!

Thanks all.

QUOTE:

Do you all think that they will have cabins left at last minute - ie 4-8 weeks before and do the prices go up at that time? We dont mind kids but have a hectic job working with kids so like to get a break from them!

Thanks all.

We have seen last minute bargains but you really will be taking a chance at the peak season. This is why if that's your only option, then do try to have a few lined up that you can pick and choose from. If there is just one that you have set your sights on and it is either full or doesnt have a last minute bargain then you could become stuck.

Do bear in mind that RCI and Celebrity have fluid pricing (price goes up or down according to demand) but they do have a price promise. So if you book now and price goes down on same grade of cabin you can claim back the difference. However they sometimes get around this by offering guarantee grade cabins at rock bottom prices nearer to sail date. This means you are guaranteed a cabin within a certain category (inside, outside or balcony etc ) but you wont be assigned a cabin number until nearer to sail date.

Also all you will need to pay at the moment is just the deposit.

Personally, I am going to take a gamble this year and try and wait for a last minute bargain. However I am a little more flexible with when and where at the moment.

I am going to pick a few i like and make a list then keep checking what price and rooms are left etc and see how we get on. We just might have to go for a second or third choice, then if we like it i will book early next year. Thanks for the advice

I sailed on the P and O Ventura last Easter holidays, as I work with children also and have to take the school holidays. I was very concerned that it would be over run with children as there were 500 on board but to be honest we hardly ever saw them (thanks to the wonderful kids clubs) Hubby and I always managed to get a quiet spot no problem. Even one day in the pool at the front of the ship we were the only ones there and had the 2 jacuzzis to ourselves. Don't be put off, as there is something for everyone on a ship that size. We would definately sail with P and O again in the school holidays.

QUOTE:

I am going to pick a few i like and make a list then keep checking what price and rooms are left etc and see how we get on. We just might have to go for a second or third choice, then if we like it i will book early next year. Thanks for the advice

Let us know what you whittle it down to, then we can perhaps give more detailed advice based on your selection.