First time cruiser. Any advice?

I second that. Cruise critic forum is great. You can find the cruise you're going on, join the roll call for it and so make contacts before you've even boarded. Lots of pre cruise info to share. Sign up for the onboard 'meet and mingle' party that they put on for cruise critic forum members too.

My tip is to track down the cruise critic website and there you will glean alll the information you you could wish for.

We’ve done tui and royal Caribbean latter very fancy. Go for a smaller company and I think you’ll get what you want. Agree go for outside cabin and balcony it’s lovely.

We have done 3 cruises. First was with Hurtigruten in February 2017. We flew from Bristol to Trömso Northern Norway and then after a few stops right over the top to Kirkenes near the Russian border. Food at breakfast was superb but dinner was a set meal and usually overcooked and bland. The views were simply stunning though with all the pristine snow. Second and third we’re with P&O. A Christmas one to the Caribbean flying to Barbados and other was Med cruise. Our Saga cruise in 2020 was cancelled but we are doing a 22 night cruise in August mostly round eastern Mediterranean.

I found the food on P&O to be terrific with a huge number of choices and plenty of variety (and I’m fussy about quality). We found cruises to be very sociable compared to other holidays we’ve been on. Dressing up was only about once every 5-6 days, when at sea without a stop. My DH said he’d hate dressing up but decided he loved the idea. There isn’t a limit to what you can take on board unless you are flying. Door to door service from front door to the ship itself was bliss. I’m not sure I particularly want to fly anymore.

We said we’d never do cruising but we really like them.

On the most expensive cruises it's not expected!

The 3 cruises Ive been on have been “smart casual” for dinner.

Do check if “black tie is expected” it may be on an expensive cruise

Forgot to mention coach travel. We've used Eavesway and Intercruise, EW coaches are nicer.

You didn't say which PO ship you were looking at. Deck 8 might be OK if it isn't above a bar. There is only one formal night on a week's cruise and if you don't want to dress for dinner you can always go to the buffet. Get there early as a few hundred others won't be going to the main dining room on formal night. PO is quite casual every night no need to worry about a new wardrobe. Do recommend bringing your own seasick tablets as they are expensive if you buy them onboard. We loved our Fjords cruise wonderful scenery and fresh air.

My one tip is to be prepared for sea sickness . We both were compleyely floored by it and it was not fun .

I’m going on a cruise to the fjords in 3 weeks. Very excited! Not my first cruise but the first to that area. There is absolutely no connection between P and O cruises and the ferry company. I’ve not travelled with P and O for a long time but I believe that they have saver fares which are less expensive. Look carefully at exactly what is included in these in case there is something that won’t suit you. Have a great time!

Dressing for dinner can seem to be a nightmare, but formal nights are not all that often and usually when you have been at Sea for a day. Even then you can eat elsewhere if you don't fancy dressing up ! Other than that my advice for women is to take a long black skirt or trousers and a selection if comfy tops , job done !

If cash allows go for a balcony, lovely to get outside first thing in the morning! We chose an inside cabin on our first cruise and I felt very claustrophobic! Never again!

We have done The Fjords a couple of times now. Last month with Fred Olsen. Smaller ships and can get to places that the larger ships like P&O etc can’t get. There are fewer balconies but it depends on what you want. Bear in mind that if the weather is rough you are better off in a lower cabin.
Parking can sometimes be organised by the cruise line sometimes you have to arrange your own. I would check out the way coach pick up works. If they have to go to a lot of different stops it could be a long day.

Are you happy to dress for dinner every night?
A new cruise wardrobe could cost as much as the cruise.
We did a formal cruise and hated having to go to dinner in black tie get up, we did enough of that through work.
We far preferred a casual dining cruise.

Oooo fabulous, a cruise. I would suggest an outside cabin, balcony if £££ allows. I have never been in an inside cabin but have seen them while on the ship. With an outside cabin you are able to see your new arrival point, it is all sooooo exciting ( well, it was to me ).
A balcony though is fantastic.

Choose your cabin middle of ship. We made the mistake once of opting for a low deck, way too noisy ( engines )

The staff can not do enough for you so any issues, no matter how small, just ask.

I think it is a fabulous experience ☆☆☆☆☆☆

We have cruised in the Norwegian fjords and it was wonderful. We had an outside cabin with a large window. Our other cruise so far was on the Nile! A bit different, especially as it was in July so extremely hot. We have booked a river cruise on the Danube for March 2023. Because of OH’s health problems we have gone overboard (!) and booked two adjoining cabins, each with a balcony.

Pepper59

Passport renewals are taking 10 weeks from what Ive been told.

Not everyone. My grandson got his back within a week.

Norwegian Fjords is a short trip in a smallish ship we did it in the Celebration years ago. Don’t worry at all, the crew will look after you but you are in the North Sea which is not always calm. Take sea sickness tablets with you, in our case the captain came on the tannoy and told us to take them one evening - it did get quite “exciting”.

Passport renewals are taking 10 weeks from what Ive been told.

Cruising is easy travel, total opposite to independent travel. Not something we did until well into retirement.
There is a place for it and it can be cheaper to go via this mode of transport than booking independently.
When I costed out visiting the islands in the Pacific Ocean it was far cheaper by a mile to go by cruise ship from California.
Any number of companies do cruising, we found the American companies are very different to say the European cruise companies.
We base our bookings on where the cruise is going not the company. Some people only sail with a certain cruise line, there is some snobbery, I've heard people say oh they couldn't cruise with such and such a cruise line.
If we particularly want to do a certain cruise itinerary but it was expensive to book an ocean view cabin we would go in an inside cabin to save money.
Cruising is not for everyone but it as a place in travel.
Best of luck

I had to renew my passport at Christmas and the delivery time given online was 5-6 weeks. The new one arrived in 6 days. My recommendation is to renew online.

Passports are taking up to 10 weeks so sooner the better. People cruising sometimes book a few years in advance but you don't have to. I wouldn't have an inside cabin - we have usually had a window or port hole but that is just me. Never had a balcony but not done Fjords however any time we have had early spectacular views have gone up on deck as you can see both sides and move about more. Having said that I wouldn't cruise just yet. I'm on Celebrity Facebook page and have just seen a post about catching Covid and being isolated in a cabin with no open window/balcony - little information and not much to do once you feel better but still test positive. Though you get whatever meals and drink package you have paid for. Ships not travelling full yet but the Covid isolation deck is cabins without fresh air.

The cheap headline fare advertised will most likely be an inside cabin very low down on the ship.
If you want a higher deck, or an outside cabin, or a balcony cabin, or a suite, there will be an extra charge each step of the way.
It's a personal decision whether you think it's worth paying these extras or not.

It's a good idea if your itinerary includes a sea day to do some exploring on the other decks for future reference.
We had a C-deck balcony cabin on P&O Azura one year. Those balconies are twice the size of the balconies on the decks above.
A couple were walking along our corridor and said they'd booked one for the following year so I invited them in to have a look, they were very impressed and reassured.

As for booking ahead: we went for Christmas and New Year on P&O Ventura to the Caribbean one year.
Booking opened on a Monday in March of the year before, so 21 months ahead.
There were flights available from several UK airports, but by the Friday of that first week the Manchester flight was full ?

If you book before renewing your passport do be aware that the passport office seems to be inundated just now and there are reports of people waiting a long time for the new one to appear. I think the recommended time to renew is at least 10 weeks before you need it.

snowberryZ

Ate people booking a whole year in advance? It seems all the choice spits are gone

We’ve got one booked for November 2023 ?