Cruising

[Vonny]

Just wondered if anyone on here has ever been on a cruise and if so what did they think. Any tips etc?

[Jo]

Ooooh, don't get me started !! We did our first one about three years ago and loved it. We have done a couple more since then and are currently planning our next one for next summer. PM me if you want more details.

In general terms..... think about what style you want - formal or informal? We much prefer informal, no dressing up, 24 hour restaurants so you can please yourself when you eat. Informal tends to be cheaper too. But some people love the opportunity to dress up and have set settings for dinner at the same table each night.

Are you bothered about entertainment? On smaller specialist ships there are cultural themes and guest lecturers (which we would be interested in) but these tend to be more expensive. On the bigger ships it's a bit more lowest common denominator but the ents team are generally versatile and enthustiastic, and sometimes run to playlets as well as music/dance shows.

Our first cruise was with Costa, but we wouldn't go with them again. We enjoyed it very much but it was multilingual so all announcements were done in five different languages, which meant you hardly ever got peace from the PA system, and worse, the entertainment was very bland as it had to be understandable by everyone. So, no plays, lots of middle of the road music, bingo, and jokes where the punchline could be quickly translated into five different languages. Plus the excursions had to be by language group, so the choice was smaller to avoid having too many small groups. The sort of disadvantages that just wouldn't occur to you until you've experienced a multilingual cruise!

We liked the Thomson Celebration, and just slightly less so, Ocean Village. We are looking at a cruise in the western Med next year on Ocean Village 2. However, if you fancy something more upmarket there are lots of other cruise lines. There are various online forums where people share their experiences of specific ships or companies. http://www.insidecruise.co.uk/ is one; also http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/.

Damn.... didn't mean to go on at such length, so I'll stop there

[Vonny]

Thanks for your reply Jo!

We have already booked the cruise (booked it in April actually!) but as it seemed so far away I haven't thought about it too much. We have booked to go on Ventura on a cruise around the Med. Sailing from Southampton.

We have opted for "free dining" which I am assuming means just what it says and that you can choose where to dine when you want. It all seems a bit confusing but we would rather have the buffet style dining as we will have the girls with us. The Ventura is apparently very child friendly so am hoping there will be plenty to keep them occupied. We managed to get both kids free as well which is why we chose to go when we are!

Entertainment wise we are pretty easy (I am partial to a bit of bingo though ).

I've heard that the excursions are usually very expensive so we will see what trips they are running nearer the time and take it from there. I guess if we dock in the main part of a city or whereever we can maybe do our own thing.

[jhopgood]

If you're coming in to Valencia, let me know and we can show you the sights.

[Jo]

Sounds wonderful. I will be interested to know your experience of Ventura. The excursions do tend to be a bit expensive but you can go ashore independently and most ports are geared up with plenty of taxis and/or buses if they are out of town - the locals want to get you into the town centre and spending money! Do your research on each port beforehand so you know what you want to see and can head there directly if not doing an excursion. Some taxis will even do you a mini-tour themselves.

Most cruise companies these days operate a cashless system - you get issued with a card that doubles as both a charge card and an ID card, and you have to show it when buying anything on board, as well as when disembarking and re-embarking at ports. You pay your card off at the end with either cash or your credit card.

The last night you will have to put your big suitcases outside your door by midnight so they can be collected up ready for unloading the next morning. So make sure you have a small overnight bag with you to carry off as hand baggage. Although if you're landing straight back in the UK it's not such a problem carrying a few tatty carrier bags round - it's more of a pain if you're saddled with them all the final day whilst waiting for a flight home!

We don't have kids, but I gather the kids' clubs are pretty good - there seems to be plenty going on for them, especially younger (pre-teen) children.

[Vonny]

If you're coming in to Valencia, let me know and we can show you the sights.

Thank you for the offer but unfortunately we're not going to Valencia. The itinerary is:- Southampton - Vigo - Lisbon - Palma - Barcelona - Villefranche - Civitavecchia - Alghero - Gibraltar - Southampton.

[Vonny]

Sounds wonderful. I will be interested to know your experience of Ventura.

I will report back!

Most cruise companies these days operate a cashless system - you get issued with a card that doubles as both a charge card and an ID card, and you have to show it when buying anything on board, as well as when disembarking and re-embarking at ports. You pay your card off at the end with either cash or your credit card.

Do you know what the procedure is for tipping with P & O? Do they automatically take tips from your credit card or do you tip as you go along?

Thanks for the info re the suitcases!

[Jo]

The itinerary sounds fab - we will be doing something similar but flying from the UK to Palma. I'm not sure what P&O's policy is on tipping but the brochure should tell you. I think they generally include a service charge "to save you worrying about tipping", when what they in fact mean is "you will be tipping everyone whether you like it or not"! But actually we have found that the service is generally very good and we don't mind the tips being included. The only person we usually give a bit extra to is our cabin steward.

[J.R.]

When I read the title of this thread, I thought the subject matter might be slightly different !

Oh well.........

[Jude]

When I read the title of this thread, I thought the subject matter might be slightly different !

Oh well.........

As only you could JR!! Oh dear!

Never been, would love to - but doubt I ever will. One of those things I guess! I quite enjoy the ferry to Ireland and back! It takes long enough to be a cruise!! LOL!

JR - I think a cold shower - or shall I tell Jan???!!!

[Vonny]

I'm not sure what P&O's policy is on tipping but the brochure should tell you. I think they generally include a service charge "to save you worrying about tipping", when what they in fact mean is "you will be tipping everyone whether you like it or not"!

Well I don't mind tipping the staff who actually do something for us but I don't intend on tipping for someone/thing that doesn't affect me. Someone at work told me that you can tell them you will tip as you go along rather than have a set amount taken from your account on some liners - will try & find out a bit more about this.
And JR...........

[cstegerlewis]

In defence of JR, a similar thought crossed my mind (in a "carry-on....." fashion)

[Jude]

In defence of JR, a similar thought crossed my mind (in a "carry-on....." fashion)

MEN!!! why is it only you lot think the naughty things AND then type them up as well??? (sighs of disbelief, affected arm over forehead, eyes looking up at the ceiling!)

Vonny, you just have a FANTASTIC time! I would love to come in your luggage - that large suitcase you have?????? No? Oh well, another year here then!!!

[Vonny]

Vonny, you just have a FANTASTIC time! I would love to come in your luggage - that large suitcase you have?????? No? Oh well, another year here then!!!

We're not going for another 5 months yet - lol! Maybe I could smuggle you into the case...........

[J.R.]

In defence of JR, a similar thought crossed my mind (in a "carry-on....." fashion)

MEN!!! why is it only you lot think the naughty things AND then type them up as well??? (sighs of disbelief, affected arm over forehead, eyes looking up at the ceiling!)

Vonny, you just have a FANTASTIC time! I would love to come in your luggage - that large suitcase you have?????? No? Oh well, another year here then!!!

Well, I've received my punishment from on High.

Severe bronchitis and the dreaded gastric flu. Confined to barracks - No footy for seven days and must NOT stray more than 100 yards from a toilet.

Hey-Ho !