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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

Pansy123 Thu 29-Aug-19 17:37:05

I never thought I would say I love cruising, but here I am and I do. I really enjoy going to sleep and waking up in a new place with the choice of independent exploration or organised trips. Even if you decide to stay on board, there are usually some great activities to join in. I learnt how to make Sushi on my last cruise smile

sylviagill1807 Thu 29-Aug-19 15:02:36

I'd love to go on a Cruise, but would be careful to choose a small quality ship as I don't like big crowds and queue's, it would be a relaxing and adventurous way to discover lots of new places to visit.

albertina Thu 29-Aug-19 13:25:13

I have never been on a cruise but think it sounds wonderful. Friends of mine go regularly and have a great time. The idea of seeing the world in such a stately fashion is very appealing.

Proseccomimama Thu 29-Aug-19 13:18:21

My best holiday recently was a Mediterranean Cruise-heaven to go to sleep to the sound of gently lapping waves and to wake up the next morning in another country. I would always book a room with a balcony. I loved everything about it-singing in the choir during sailaways, ballroom and salsa dancing each night, great food and fab company. We enjoyed meeting different people each night on our table. I didn't feel overcrowded at all, enjoyed the days at sea and the wonderful excursions. Can't wait to go again....

CharlieMouse Thu 29-Aug-19 11:36:54

I've never been tempted by a cruise as I suffer from motion sickness and I would be worried I might never get my sea legs. I love the idea of waking up in a different city or country but hate the prospect of being trapped on a ship during an outbreak of norovirus.

Having said all that, a colleague recently went on her first cruise and had all the same fears but absolutely loved it. She said the ship was so large she didn't experience any motion sickness. She said she loved travelling abroad without all the hoopla of air travel. She has tempted me!

Mandie731 Thu 29-Aug-19 09:23:33

I have always fancied going on a cruise, more so as I have gotten older. I would love to cruise round the fjords in Norway, or go to the Arctic, the only thing stopping me is the fact that they are quite expensive

tigga Thu 29-Aug-19 06:14:36

ive never been on a cruise. but my ideal cruise would be the Norwegian Fjords in the hope of catching the Northern Lights. I have friends who cruise every year and love it. ive just not taken the plunge yet well not literally lol x

flamingtoaster Wed 28-Aug-19 21:56:06

I have never been on a cruise. I worry about feeling seasick all the time. I must admit that I read about one ship having an ice rink and I found the idea of that every tempting though! The idea of the bugs that some ships end up with offputting too.

dorrieoxles1 Wed 28-Aug-19 21:28:28

Love, love cruising. Only unpacking once and the same bed every night. So much Eastman a land trip. The only thing I would caution new cruisers is to check the drinks package, and ask is it worth it for you.

genie10 Wed 28-Aug-19 20:34:28

I have never been on a cruise. Until recently, I had fancied the idea but after watching TV shows about cruises, I think I might find them crowded and claustrophobic.

destin13 Wed 28-Aug-19 20:01:14

I love cruising best type of holiday, so many new people to meet, foods to try, a different place every morning. My fave destination was Norway the fjords a truly stunning but make sure you pack for every type of weather it does tend to rain a lot

Tkcash Wed 28-Aug-19 19:01:52

Cruises are convenient and luxurious but I prefer to be on land.

mandydoherty65 Wed 28-Aug-19 17:12:34

I've never been on a cruise but ever since watching The Love Boat as a child it's something I've wanted to do. Unfortunately finances and personal circumstances mean that I'm not likely to but it remains a dream of mine

creativeness Wed 28-Aug-19 17:08:41

Have been on hovercraft & other types of canal boats as well as river craft. Haven't been on a cruise ship at all but am certain that it would be an amazing experience & I know that you would immerse yourself in unforgettable magical voyage of discovery.

florrie01 Wed 28-Aug-19 16:53:11

I love the thought of a cruise but have a fear of enclosed spaces. With most rooms being small and without a window i think i would panic. I wouldnt be able to afford one of the outside room with balconies so maybe need to look into a smaller boat or river boat cruise first to see how i feel onboard. Would be good if any companies offered tours of the boats for people like myself?

50socks Wed 28-Aug-19 16:09:20

I have never been on a cruise as i am easily seasick although a friend cruises twice a year

Absgran Wed 28-Aug-19 15:37:28

Fairly experienced cruiser here. Cunard, P and O, Thompson and one Royal Caribbean. Never tried a NCL but would be more than willing. My companion loves the life aboard, while I really like the waking up to new places that I would probably never visit on an extended holiday. It’s a great way to see and visit all these places. I love being at sea on odd days. I’m off to Canada soon ( I’ve never been) and then transatlantic back which suits us both. I also like other holidays too, staying with family abroad. Only ever had a few days of rough seas, through the Bay of Biscay and once in the Mediterranean in high winds but have never been seasick. Hope this helps.

Emayers6000 Wed 28-Aug-19 13:21:03

Hello,

I like the idea of cruising very much...I have never been on a large ship myself except on a ferry, many years ago, and to be honest I felt very seasick on one occasion.
So, this is the only thing that would worry me, otherwise I think that it would be a great experience. I would not miss the opportunity of going on a cruise if I had the chance.

badgermum Wed 28-Aug-19 11:39:18

I have yet to experience a cruise but I would very much like to spend ten days cruising around the Mediterranean with lots of exciting stops along the way.

Ranworth1 Wed 28-Aug-19 09:46:21

Peace and quiet, rest and relaxation or plenty of action - yours to choose on a cruise!

Catterygirl Wed 28-Aug-19 08:25:05

I last went on a cruise when I was 12 and loved it. I am now nearly 70 and would love to try a modern cruise. My DH just hates the idea. He isn't a strong swimmer and thinks it could sink! His friend just returned from his first ever cruise and he said it was the best ever holiday. I am now considering going solo. Problem is a single cabin is more expensive.

Angelwings Wed 28-Aug-19 07:43:52

I would love to try a cruise, I have never been but I keep reading about them.
I worry most about having the correct wardrobe for my time aboard, other than that I feel it would be fantastic fun.
I would like to try river cruises as well as the larger ones, and I wouldn’t rule out a world cruise ( need to save up for that one ! )

jacalpad Wed 28-Aug-19 07:21:39

I have enjoyed three cruises. Each was for a week. Travelling from Southampton was absolutely faultless on the last one. No queuing, car driven away to car park. Lovely staff at the terminal (interestingly they were almost all ‘older’ folk!). Plus there was the bonus about not having to restrict/weigh our two suitcases!

janney3 Wed 28-Aug-19 01:11:51

I've never been on a cruise but would like to experience this type of holiday. The volume of people does put me off and feel activities/entertainment on board would always be crowded and difficult to sign up for.
I also worry about the space in your cabin and would definitely need a balcony so there was some outside space of your own to escape to.

Soozikinzi Tue 27-Aug-19 22:31:47

We have been on 15 ocean cruises. We opt for the casual style cruises . We love waking up somewhere different every day . We love having a balcony where we can relax in the lovely sea air although we have done many in the inside cabins as well. You can switch the tv on to see the weather on the deck camera . We enjoy the shows and the singers on board . We love chatting to the staff who are usually from interesting other cultures and live to tell us about where they’re from . If you have any health needs you can be assured that there’s a ship doctor and nurses on board . Just go for it !