Booking a Cruise

[MRG]

We are looking to book a decent cruise for 2020. We have never been on a cruise holiday before. Do any of you have any tips on do and don’ts? Where is best place to book at a decent price?

[wilks_bfc]

This is the thread for bosscat I think

[winsomeyen]

We normally use Cruise Nation.

[rufus lumley]

book one with the drinks package included and avoid Holland America cruise line.

[Billy Balfour]

It's not for everyone. Some people love them, obviously, but it's now my idea of hell and we have been on a couple cruise ships, though the second one wasn't by choice.

Make sure you book a cruise where you have your own table with your OH or whatever, unless you enjoy enforced socialising with I'm considerably richer than you types. The large cruise ships are very crowded, just look at their capacity, while smaller ships quickly become claustrophobic.

Anyway, different strokes for different folks. Our idea of a good relaxing holiday is a villa with its own pool and a bit remote, though not too far from local restaurants and the sea. Or short to mid haul city breaks without the pan lids.

[PaintYorkClaretnBlue]

I’ve done a cruise and stay in the Caribbean with TUI. Was great.

[Pad1951]

Cruise.co.uk
Used them for our cruises without any problems.

[yosserhughes]

Going on our first cruise in May booked through Iglu for Royal Caribbean doing a seven day European Cruise.

[Longsidebogs]

Largely depends on budget. We’ve done a few with Princess around the Caribbean. Highly recommended. As mentioned above, if you like a few drinks buy the drinks package. Will save you a few bob. Also, if you have any sense, opt out of paying gratuities. Just tip for excellent service if you wish.

[bfcjg]

I'd avoid them like the plague perchance I ended up on the same ship as Jane McDonald.

[9thMay1987]

Establish in the first instance what is important to you and you family.

1. What is your ideal budget.
2. Do you want inside, outside or balcony cabin.
3. What type of food do you want English type or something different.
4. Do you want to be at sea or different ports every day.
5. What time of year do you want to go.
6. Do you want 4*,5* or above.
7. What are the complimentary charges for tipping.
8. Fly cruise or Southampton

[Longsidelenny]

Don’t bother book a week at butlins instead minehead

[alf_resco]

It's not for everyone. Some people love them, obviously, but it's now my idea of hell and we have been on a couple cruise ships, though the second one wasn't by choice.

Make sure you book a cruise where you have your own table with your OH or whatever, unless you enjoy enforced socialising with I'm considerably richer than you types. The large cruise ships are very crowded, just look at their capacity, while smaller ships quickly become claustrophobic.

Anyway, different strokes for different folks. Our idea of a good relaxing holiday is a villa with its own pool and a bit remote, though not too far from local restaurants and the sea. Or short to mid haul city breaks without the pan lids.

This.

Hands up, I've never been on one, so not qualified to comment regarding the experience. But several of our friends bore us to death (if given the chance) regaling us with their tales. As above, sounds like my idea of hell. Also, these friends are absolutely the " considerably richer than yow" types, and have to impress us (they don't) with their constant one-upmanship.
I can still fly and drive and organise myself, which is what I do, all over the world. Being organised by someone else 24/7 was my working life; I've had enough of that.

[theroyaldyche]

We did the med on carnival cruises from barcelona port. Had a water park on the ship surface.

Different destination to wake up at every day. Fantastic doing france monaco italy sically etc

[The Enclosure]

I believe TUI Marella cruises are excellent particularly as there are no hidden exras.All food ,drinks and gratuities are included.Only extra cost are the optional tours

[Joe14]

I was sceptical but ended up being one of my best ever holidays. Never felt crowded.

In the day everyone buggers off into port so you will often have the ship to yourself. If you wanna go sightseeing you can. If you wanna relax by the pool/bar you can. If you want to go and sit in a casino all afternoon you can. Whatever floats your boat (see what I did there? )

Top class food and service. Immaculate. Best £600 I’ve ever spent. (Going back a couple of years)

It’s a close second best to skiing.

[thatdberight]

I'd avoid them like the plague perchance I ended up on the same ship as Jane McDonald.

I quite like her TV persona. I might be gullible but I think she's pretty genuine. I'd never go on a cruise though while I still have my faculties.

[Bosscat]

We are looking to book a decent cruise for 2020. We have never been on a cruise holiday before. Do any of you have any tips on do and don’ts? Where is best place to book at a decent price?

For a 1st cruise I would recommend a Fjords cruise 7 nights not many days at sea (1 day going up & 1 coming back) great scenery and ports, if you don't enjoy it then its not a deal breaker .... but if like my wife and I.. you do enjoy it then the oceans your oyster m8...

We cruise mainly with P&O ... but if black tie nights not your thing ... my eldest brother and his wife cruise a lot with CMV ... they are older ships but just as comfortable.

Some great deals with Thomson (Tui) fly cruises to the Med, not too formal.

We are doing a lot of river cruising too (but they are more expensive, although almost all (tours & drinks etc) is included).
We are in Holland at the moment, on one with Emerald Waterways and having a great time.Just been exploring Veere and learning about the floods in 1952 that devasted the area and prompted the Barriers (used like the Thames barrier only longer) off to Antwerp tomorrow and Arnhem Monday... back to Amsterdam Tuesday then home.

[IanMcL]

I believe TUI Marella cruises are excellent particularly as there are no hidden exras.All food ,drinks and gratuities are included.Only extra cost are the optional tours

I have tried different cruise companies and found Thomson Cruises the most friendly, consistently, over the years. I would only recommend them, although others have been fine.

Thomson/Tui is now Marella, as stated. Drinks included. No hidden tips. Normal food and special if required. Entertainment has gone up a notch too, on their new ships.

Enjoy.

[Aclaret]

Planet Cruise is a decent website to browse , never booked with them though.
Only done 2 cruises but booked directly with the cruise line.
Star Cruises and Azamara Cruises

[gtclaret]

Been on 5 big & 2 mini. 4 big cruises with Royal Caribbean and loved them all, the other was NCL and was not impressed. The mini cruises(3 & 4 days) were P&o and they were great. As you can tell from some of the above posts its a matter of taste, I love them, I missed a cruise last year as I went to Japan instead, but hopefully I can book one later in the year

[Top Claret]

Cruises are great for kids, old and fat folk. I don't come into any of those catagoyries

[MRG]

Cruises are great for kids, old and fat folk. I don't come into any of those catagoyries

I hit 2 out of 3 so I should hopefully have a blast!

[Aclaret]

I hit 2 out of 3 so I should hopefully have a blast!

Me too, wife also says i act like a big kid at times
Almost 3 from 3 then.

[South West Claret.]

O/T what happens if you go a shore and don’t get back on time do they leave you behind as it’s in the contract you sign? I.E. you go a shore at your own risk.

[thatdberight]

Cruises are great for kids, old and fat folk. I don't come into any of those catagoyries

My kids wouldn't have thanked you for one. But then, other kids wouldn't have thanked me for the holidays I inflicted on my kids.

[Billy Balfour]

O/T what happens if you go a shore and don’t get back on time do they leave you behind as it’s in the contract you sign? I.E. you go a shore at your own risk.

The ship won't wait. You're on your own and you will have to find your way to the next port of call or if that's not logistically possible, get to an airport and fly home.

[cbx750]

O/T what happens if you go a shore and don’t get back on time do they leave you behind as it’s in the contract you sign? I.E. you go a shore at your own risk.

If you are on an official excursion and the coach is late for any reason the ship will wait but as BB says it will leave you if you are late after going ashore on your own.

[South West Claret.]

Thanks both I thought that might be the case.

[dsr]

O/T what happens if you go a shore and don’t get back on time do they leave you behind as it’s in the contract you sign? I.E. you go a shore at your own risk.

Billy Balfour isn't correct. He's right that the ship won't wait, but you aren't on your own - the cruise line has an agent in every port and they will do the necessary as far as making bookings to catch up with the ship. Though of course it will be at your own expense.

[dsr]

We are looking to book a decent cruise for 2020. We have never been on a cruise holiday before. Do any of you have any tips on do and don’ts? Where is best place to book at a decent price?

I'd go to Althams. There is not much difference in pricing because all travel agents get the same fairly low commission with not a lot of room for bargaining. But if you get an online quote first, you'll probably find Althams match it. And especially first time, it's handy to have someone else to fill in all the paperwork for you - things like passports, insurance details, cabin requests, etc.

Please ignore longsidebogs' suggestion about removing auto tips. The staff are well paid by the home country standards but poorly paid by our standards, but crucially, a very high proportion of their salary comes in tips. If you deny them tips for doing their job competently then you are robbing people who are much poorer than you. Obviously if they don't do their job, then by all means remove the tips; but I've never known any cruise ship staff not do their jobs competently.

We usually go with Cruises and Maritime now, but have also used P&O and Fred Olsen. Cheapest cabins are fine - there is loads of public space and so 90% of the time we spend in our cabin, we are asleep. If you want to pay extra for a balcony or outside cabin, that's your choice, but unnecessary IMO.

We have never met any "we paid more than you" snobs. More likely to find the "we paid less than you£ reverse snobs, if anything. But we have met people who have clearly paid ten times what we did (grand balcony suites, etc.) and it made no difference at all - they were just people.

[HB Claret]

We absolutely love cruise holidays and have done the Med, the Fjords in summer and winter, Transatlantic, Caribbean, Hawaii and also one through the Panama Canal. In the early days there was a snob factor from some but as an earlier poster commented you generally eat the same food and drink in the same bars. Embarkation day and debarkation days are generally crowded as staterooms/cabins are not always available until after lunch but once the ships set sail there are always quiet areas to be found. Entertainment is usually pretty good on the bigger named companies such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity and P&O and you do get to visit some stunning locations. First few cruises I definitely overindulged as there was simply too much good food on offer (which is why I refer to myself on Facebook as a Fat Blackburn) ! The crew are usually very friendly and especially appreciate talking to British people as we are often more polite and grateful than done if the other nationalities. Drinks packages can be a good idea (especially on a Transatlantic cruise which usually has 6 sea days) but I have snobby friends who “have to drink enough to make a profit” so now we prefer to pay as we go. Some ships have speciality restaurants which incur an extra charge - this seems to be a common theme now as the basic prices are very competitive.

[Billy Balfour]

Billy Balfour isn't correct. He's right that the ship won't wait, but you aren't on your own - the cruise line has an agent in every port and they will do the necessary as far as making bookings to catch up with the ship. Though of course it will be at your own expense.

Fair enough, Drs. Like you say - you are on your own apart from someone picking up the phone or going online to sort out a taxi, train/bus times - if they are available and the logistics work out.

[corporal jones]

It's amazing how those who admit to have never been on a cruise insist they are crap! Each to their own of course but don't pass comment if you have no experience. Personally I have done two cruises both with NCL and they were great. One to the Caribbean and one round the med. Caribbean ship was bigger and better but def not crowded at all. Food and drinks first rate and staff and facilities excellent. Cruising in general has become much more expensive lately as they are wrapping tips and drinks packages into the price. Days at sea are my favourite but that's just me and the best bit is throwing open the balcony door in the morning and having a coffee with the ocean rushing by below. Heaven.

[cbx750]

It's amazing how those who admit to have never been on a cruise insist they are crap!

This.
Mrs. cbx badgered me for ages to go on a cruise but I didn't fancy it, I finaly relented and went on one, Fiords in Summer then in Winter for the Northern Lights and loved them both. Looking forward to booking the next one.

[Top Claret]

I have been on two cruises in the last 14 years. The 1st one was for 5 nights on the Sea Princess and the 2nd with RCL for 14 nights, both from Southampton.
We didn't enjoy the RCL. We were on 1st sitting which was crap and 14 nights was to long to be on board it felt like a Prison, the kids had a blast though.
The Sea Princess was excellent we had the option of alternative dinning and the food was excellent.

I find that cruising is for the lazy and unadventurous traveller, just like all inclusive resorts are