Cruising experience

We’re off on Celebrity Edge in a month’s time. We usually go with Princess but they’ve gone off a bit recently so we thought we would give this one a go. Going to NZ, Fiji, Samoa etc. south seas region. I like Viking, very nice but not Carnival, not our sort of thing that one. As they might say here, Bogan Central. We’re cruise snobs!

Antarctica Voyages - site about sea cruises - antarctica-cruises.io/

In 2009 when my dear husband was still alive we went on Cunard’s Elizabeth 11 to The Caribbean when the ship was new as it was its second cruise. A wonderful experience as I was brought up to love the sea.
Next month, mainly due to having a son in NZ, I have decided to take a short cruise from Sydney to the Barrier Reef before flying to stay with my son.

It never felt crowded though there were about 2500 passengers. I guess it's such a big ship that there's plenty of space. Popular bars fill up after dinner but we never had trouble finding places to sit.

We went with Saga around the Black Sea a few years ago. A good cruise with some interesting ports but the ship was full and there was a bit of queuing.

My favourites are Cunard, P&O Aurora, Saga and Swan Hellenic though SH is far too expensive now imo.

Oh well done Grantanow 👏 those restaurants sound lovely let alone the 🥂🍾

Can I ask how many on board and did it feel crowded at all? A friend swears by the bigger ships and has been cruising for the last 20 years! They must be doing something right!

We’ve been tempted by Saga (norty people 😉) who reduced the price of their Caribbean cruise in November to less than £200 per night which is a third off their normal tariff! We’ve gone for a Guaranteed Cabin with 🤞we get an upgrade …

Are you planning another cruise soon and if so, to where?

Thank you, Pantglas2. We had a jolly good 7 days on the QM2 from NY to Southampton. The Atlantic was a millpond. The food was good in the Britannia restaurant, the main buffet and in the Carinthia lounge for lunch. There was live jazz in one bar and a classical quartet on another night. Drinking champagne on the afterdeck sailing out of NY harbour with the Statue very good. Luggage handled well at NY and Soton. Very quick disembarkation at Soton. A bit slow getting on at NY but they have to process about 2,500 people. We never found the ship crowded though. A good Library, yoga and a cigar lounge(!). Met several US passengers - none a Trump supporter. Must do it again.

How lovely Grantanow - keep the updates coming, love to read them!

We are on the QM2 right now about a day out of New York. It takes a day to get ones head round all the possibilities - dining, entertainment, bars, music, shopping, etc. , - but it's great. She is 21 years old and still looking good. The Royals Shakespeare Company are giving lessons today!

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My first cruise was to Scandinavia, Estonia and Russia St Petersburg while working as a PA to a disabled couple. It was with Royal Caribbean cruise line and I loved it. I told OH all about it but he was convinced he would hate it. So I booked a cruise for us and told him afterwards to the Med. He absolutely loved it so much we've been on quite a few since. I also went around the Caribbean with the disabled couple with P&O.
Basically there is a table service restaurant ot a self service restaurant and also lots of places you can get snacks, cakes etc. Also a library, swimming pools, beauty parlour, gym, shops etc. Staff are friendly and helpful. There's also a doctor and nurses on board, photographers, and a large customer service area. You get a plastic card as a room key that doubles as a charge card for all purchases. If you buy alcohol from the duty free shop or ashore its kept for you until you disembark and not allowed in your room. There's also a laundry and dry cleaning service. The ship's are huge so you can always find somewhere quiet to sit. Always something going on shows, cooking demonstrations, art exhibitions etc.
I think cruises are a bit like marmite you either love it or hate it. It's also very disabled friendly especially for wheelchair users.

We are also looking at cruises for the very first time despite me saying that it wasn’t the kind of holiday I’m used to! The comments on this thread have inspired me. However my DH and I do not like lots of noise and some of the reviews on the Cruise website worry me.
Could anyone recommend a cruise line that is not big( I am not a good sailor so the tendering at ports would be a nightmare) We are looking at Mediterranean cruise in September / October.
Thank you

In the mountains, not the motor. 🙄

I did that very holiday last October with Great Rail Journeys. It was wonderful. We started off in the motor New Hampshire and ended up on Cape Cod and Nantucket. Loved Boston too. I would happily do it all over again.

Hi, I am approaching the big 70 in January and DH has asked me to pick a holiday that I want to have. Thing is, I would love to try an escorted train journey for Sept/Oct to New England in the Fall. Has anyone on Gransnet had this trip or similar and is it worth it? Thank you in advance. M

Bon voyage BlueSapphire 🚢. Hope you have good weather and a great time with a few minutes to pop in and regale us with your doings!

Well done Pantglas. It's lovely to have something like that to look forward to.

Doodle

Pants if you’re looking to save some money you could do Saga advanced registration where you get the cruises offered before they go on sale generally. Up to 35% discount but you have to plan well in advance. Only costs £90 pp but you get the money back off your cruise.

We did it Doodle! Got the discount, deposit paid and pencilled into the diary for next year🤗. Ooh I feel like a norty gurl 😂

Fully intend sitting on the balcony Cornergran as we come into the ports and am hoping for clement weather for the week as it’s August 🌞

I know some of you on this thread are off on cruises before then so do keep us updated on here 🤗 I love picking people brains!

Spend a little time researching the ports - what you would like to do, whether you do an excursion or just wander at leisure. Some excursions are 10 hours which is a long time. We are doing our 1st post covid and DH stroke so a little nervous but I'm sure we will enjoy. Be back on board in plenty of time as the ship only waits for you if you are on one of their excursions. Relax is the best advice.

Oh. So do I! I love Norway.

Oslo. -sorry.

Second more up to date text from me.As Cornerbran said Nor way is wonderful
Been three times I think. Always May/ June time. Weather was always warm.
Liked Bergen and went to GRIEGS summer house. Then a concert afterwards.
Also train trip brilliant.
Stavanger cathederal has close contact with Winchester. Choir exchanges.A good places to wander round.
Also there were tour buses in Olsen ready to take a trip. Cheaper way of doing it.
I want to go again now!,

We’ve cruised round the Fjords twice pantglas and on a third occasion been further north for Northern Lights. Norway is my favourite destination. Worth getting up early as the ship sails into a fjord, I know it goes out the same way but in my view the morning light is just magical. You’ll love every minute and I’m .

You will love it
Small ships like Saga are good if your health not 100%
Fred Olsen is good and small but Saga a little better but FO are good for Norwegian cruises my favourite.
Don’t do inside cabins
Never have table for four - you might get someone you don’t like!
One word of warning ( don’t panic) always lock your cases on the last night before dinner. Had stuff stolen.. The name on the jumpers inferred to thief that they might be cashmere but they were in fact cheap and very pretty. It happened to friend too.
Love cruises.

Pants if you’re looking to save some money you could do Saga advanced registration where you get the cruises offered before they go on sale generally. Up to 35% discount but you have to plan well in advance. Only costs £90 pp but you get the money back off your cruise.

Well you were right folks…all those who said we’d be booking another one!

Saga’s 2025 brochure landed yesterday and we spotted a sailing to the fjords in August for a week from Dover on Spirit of Discovery!🤗

The only downside is they show a countdown on the site and it’s 499 days to go…🤬!