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Let’s talk about cruise travel with NCL - £300 voucher to be won

(450 Posts)
YanaGransnet (GNHQ) Tue 20-Aug-19 10:05:48

Cruise holidays can be an ideal option for those who love a care-free holiday, visiting new cities or having different scenery every day without the hassle of unpacking more than once. Whether you’ve been on a cruise or not, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) would like to hear your thoughts. If you’re an experienced cruise-goer they’d love to hear your top tips, and what you wish you'd known before your first cruise. And, if you’ve never been on a cruise, they would also like to find out what you would find helpful before going on a holiday at sea.

Here’s what NCL has to say: “New to cruising? Not sure what to expect? Look no further – this handy guide tells you everything you need to know about holidays at sea. From accommodation choices to entertainment, what to pack and what to do on board, we’ve demystified cruising and you’ll discover why it really is the perfect holiday choice for everyone.”

So what are your tips and tricks when selecting a cruise holiday and how do you make sure it is an enjoyable experience? What are your expectations of a cruise holiday and what are the must-haves on board you can’t go without? How do you prepare and what do you pack for a cruise? How can cruise companies make it your perfect holiday at sea?

If you haven’t travelled on a cruise, what would tempt you to do so? What have you heard about cruises that you would like to understand more about? Now is the time to indulge in your curiosity of cruise holidays.

Please share your views on cruise holidays and you will be entered into a prize draw where one GNer will win a £300 voucher for a store of your choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
GNHQ
Terms and conditions apply

hitchengillian Sat 31-Aug-19 18:34:02

My top tip is to make sure your cabin is not near the laundry room due to noise! Love cruising though, amazing sights

jessiecat Sat 31-Aug-19 18:35:36

I have never been on a cruise but am very tempted to after one of my relatives have just booked one. I would love to cruise round and arrive at different ports every morning seems so fun and exciting. I don't fancy having a cabin below sea level though

notchav76 Sat 31-Aug-19 19:04:42

cruising is great. you see so much more than being in a static hotel but you get the luxury experience and cuisine of a hotel

jaizko Sat 31-Aug-19 19:31:05

I don't think I could ever be tempted to go on a cruise. I once went on an overnight ferry and couldn't stay in the cabin as every creaking sound made me convinced the boat was going to sink any minute!!

busybee6969 Sat 31-Aug-19 19:42:49

the staff are so friendly and hard working ,enjoy the comfy beds/lovely food.the entertainment is great JUST RELAX AND ENJOY THE AMAZING EXPERIENCE

bryonywilson91 Sat 31-Aug-19 19:51:28

I've never been on a cruise before but it's because I have quite bad anxiety with being stuck somewhere - I'm a worrier! I'm worried we'd get caught in a storm, you see such horrible pictures on social media when things go wrong...

Penelopa024 Sat 31-Aug-19 20:11:21

I absolutely love the idea of cruising but my husband is too ill to do it ...

eekie0555 Sat 31-Aug-19 20:27:26

I’ve just booked to go on a cruise for the first time ever. Fell for the hype of total luxury for one week. Here’s hoping it lives up to the expectations.

quadrant Sat 31-Aug-19 21:04:12

We,ve been on several cruises & have been to some wonderful places.Even on the large ships you never feel there are too many people.Always book a balcony so you can watch the world go by in a peaceful setting.It,s possible to find something to eat whenever you want & you can be as busy or lazy as you like,there are quiet spaces on all ships.

collinsona Sat 31-Aug-19 21:36:52

I’ve never been on a cruise but would love to!!

SusannaCallaghan Sat 31-Aug-19 21:43:01

I've never been on a cruise and I would only consider very small boats as I am against thousands descending on places in one go and can think of nothing more horrible myself than travelling with thousands on a large ship.

However, a small boat might be tempting, especially with expert guides aboard, talks about sights, history, archaeology etc.

db3745 Sat 31-Aug-19 21:51:01

We were amazed at how much we enjoyed our first cruise, very much a budget one, probably 10 years ago. Basic lower deck, inside cabin, yet I think if you keep an open mind most people will find it much easier and pleasanter than they'd expected. You can dress up or down in the evening as it suits you - no pun intended, and it's guaranteed that there will be food to suit every taste. Try to steer clear of the cruise snobs who will tell you of all the top-of-the-range ships they've been on, and spend time researching the on-shore trips on offer. You'll normally find a friend who has experienced a destination, and don't be afraid to just stay on the ship. Oh, and in our 2 -time experience don't bother getting off at Gibraltar! It's been far too long since our last cruise and would love to do it again.

blahblahblah1 Sat 31-Aug-19 22:06:17

I really enjoyed the cruise that I've taken, but it was a comparatively small ship. I can't bear the thought of so many people everyone on one of the larger cruise ships. How does it work with everything so busy?

Direne3 Sat 31-Aug-19 22:31:25

Haven't yet been on a cruise, so expensive, and at our age I think husband's current medical situation would make health insurance astronomical.

galadrial Sat 31-Aug-19 22:56:07

My tips for a great cruise are, we always take a a multiplug strip with us that has usb ports to ensure we have enough charging sockets.
Regarding your wardrobe I always take a capsule wardrobe, and make sure that each item matches at least 3 other items, this means you don't have to take too many clothes, shoes and accessories.
We also use packing cubes, they are so useful.
We also like having an outside cabin with a balcony.

boxfords Sat 31-Aug-19 23:03:19

We've never been on a cruise and are put off when people tell us about buying 'food and drink packages'. We're not big drinkers or eaters and I would need to know much more about these.

8mhigh Sat 31-Aug-19 23:22:46

If travelling on a boat that doesn't just serve UK passengers, be sure to take power socket adaptors. I could have made a fortune selling them to people who needed to charge things!

fionajk42 Sat 31-Aug-19 23:32:16

I had 2 wonderful long journeys by sea as a child, when long-haul air travel was not an option. We sailed from Southhampton to Singapore, stopping in Suez, Port Said, Aden, Karachi, Bombay, Colombo, Calcutta and Penang. I loved visiting so many different places. I then did the same trip in reverse on our return to UK.
However, cruising in modern cruise ships does not appeal. The boats are too large, with too many people, the entertainment too anodyne.

Winpeaks Sat 31-Aug-19 23:53:18

I love the idea of going to multiple places and relaxing in between but the cost puts me off as well as the type of entertainment and socialising that doesn't appeal to me.

katynana Sat 31-Aug-19 23:58:14

We love our cruises as it means we no longer have to endure the agony that is the airport embarkation area. That does tend to restrict our actual destinations but, so far, we have managed to enjoy a good variety of new, to us, places to see. Regarding seasickness, yes I do suffer, but find that using suitable medication and retiring to my bed in our inside, low down cabin sees me sleeping through the worst weather while my OH can carry on enjoying the onboard facilities ( lucky B+++++). Small ships for us as we don´t feel the need for zip wires, ice rinks or dodgems. 2 cruise this year and 3 booked for next. Carry on Cruising!

maty68 Sun 01-Sept-19 09:36:19

where else can you wake up to a new destination and experience, fantastic food, West End style shows. Goodbye to one resort holidays hello the world

maddieclarkson Sun 01-Sept-19 13:44:36

I have never been on a cruise but it is something I've always wanted to try. I'm a bit worried I may get sea sick!

alem2018 Sun 01-Sept-19 19:01:11

I would love to go on a cruise as long as the sea wasn't too choppy

Tabs1 Sun 01-Sept-19 20:29:11

Only one cruise although a seasoned traveller. Glad we had balcony but miles of corridor to walk several times a day - knew little about choosing cabin ! I found whole ship too large - and yet so crowded. Smaller experience might have been better. Visited the Fjords, and they were wonderful. Would need to be very tempted by cruise line to travel again - and it is certainly not cheap. Feel we get far better value in 5 star all inclusive resorts.

live7 Sun 01-Sept-19 23:57:27

I haven't been on a cruise before. I'd love to but not sure whether I would get seasick or not. That puts me off. Also I wouldn't want one where dressing up all the time is expected - I don't enjoy that.
But I would love the relaxing part and being able to visit some places I've always wanted to go to without packing and unpacking all the time.