FamilyCruiserUK

Wow i honestly didnt know that. Such crazy work force rules in the states. But yeah short cruises in the uk i think would be more of a explore the ship break and pop across to France, Belgium, Germany and Holland.

We just booked april half term on MSC world Europe out of Barcelona. Our 2nd MSC cruise. Going to the same places as Royal usually go, but also includes a stop in Malta. £1700 for 3, inside room, premium drinks and including Graturites. Having been on Oasis, Anthem, brilliance and MSC Virtuosa around Europe i would put them in this order based on Food, Entertainment, service. Oasis MSC Virtuosa Anthem Brilliance But value for money the order would be. MSC Virtuosa Oasis Anthem Briliance. So i would really say it depends what people want out of their cruise would dictate how much people are willing to pay. And like all holidays its what you make of it that counts.

Also no need to tip the porters in the UK at the ports. Recently been on P&O out of southampton, you wheel the bags over to a hole in the wall and the porter puts them on a conveyer belt. Off they go and magically arrive at your room a few hours later. demanding a tip by holding hand out to do their job and make sure bags get onto the ship would be an instant dismissal. Bad PR for the company. But tip who and when as you feel, its up to you. But should never be accepted. 👍

Having recently deployed to Estonia and Romania which is much closer to an active war zone i often find myself having to be a lit more cautious when i visit the US then those places. TBH. Dont get me wrong there are some wonderful safe and amazing people in the places ive been to recently, Florida, vegas, Washington but there is an under current of tension mostly pushed by politics and behaviours over ideology. So go and enjoy Europe, enjoy your holiday you will be prefectly safe. 👍 This is my opinion and not a dig or smear aimed at anyone or everyone.

Its a shame as Gibraltar is a really good port stop. The "rock" and the caves for military enthusiast's is a very good day trip. Also unless you have been through the strait's you do not realise how close Europe and Africa is together.

Will go on icon it's on the bucket list of ships but not at those prices. Have just booked a week on msc world europa from barcelona including flights from the UK april 5th 2024 (school holidays) for 7 nights, inside room, 3 people £2100. Graturites included. 👍

If you are flexible then booking late seems to be the best option. However it can be troublesome for those of.us who have children and are limited to school holidays. We looked at an xmas cruise to carribean 2225 and decided no way would.i pay what the release date price was.........will wait out see whats out there.

You can use the refreshmemt package at the bars on the island. We did. There is a shuttle tram from the ship along the pier to a deop off point and another tram from that point that goes around the island with various stops. 👍

Tips is a controversial subject and its cultural. Tips have always been for me for service above and beyond not just given for an individual doing their job. I do not like the enforced tips on reciepts. Lots of people on minimum wage across the UK outside of the resturant trade who do not get tips just for doing their jobs. Imagine if a 10% graturity was added to your supermarker shopping bill for the till operator/shelf stacker. People say its to top up their wages for low wage positions etc, but fail to take into account their outgowings, rent, food, bills etc. Thats not what a tip should be used for its to recognise "outstanding service" as it used to say on envelopes in the rooms etc. Why tip a waiter in a restaurant but not tip a supermarket shelf stacker, or a fast food restaurant worker? At the end of the day its completely the individuals choice and its entirely up to them who and how they tip, but it should not be enforced or expected. IMO

Been there twice dont need to go again. Yes its a nice stop off the ship but offers nothing culturally or exciting. Granted i do like a relaxing day, but a cruise with lots of sea days and then coco cay is just not that exciting for us.

It used to be the itinerary but now having been to most places i have wanted to go too or can afford at this time. Now its the ship and company: Icon of the seas World Europa MSC Any other oasis class ship except oasis as been on her twice 👍 So now saving up......🤣 Or selling a kidney.......🤔

I take it for those in the know launch prices are more expensive then usual?

Just priced up the carribean over school holidays christmas 25 and yeap wont be booking that ....£6k inside room for three.......ouch.

Speaking of food on arvia, my thoughts on what we tried: Buffet: repetitive and sometimes boring. Sindhu, its not an indian like the traditional one in the uk, so dont expect chicken tikka masala. I enjoyed the food tbh, but not worth the extra costs. The beach house. Surprised at the extra charge. Its a mexican really, food was very good but again should it be free? Keel and cow. Fantastic steak loved it wish i went more. The quays. Very disappointed tbh. A fish and chippy a roast dinner or a two choice asian. Very basic and limited menu. Go once and that's it done and dusted. I expected lots of different choices, esp in fusion part. 6th Street diner. Lots of hype, finally got booked in..very dissapointed again was average menue and food. Expected to get ribs, lots of burgers, etc. But a doughnut with a chicken strip on top? Lol. Over all the places we visited were ok but apart from keel and cow nothing exciting to wow me. Mostly just pub/cafeteria food tbh.

Dont like Star of the seas sorry to say. Daughter suggested mystery of the seas ....as its a mystery on what your going to experience, good and bad.... Prices Entertainment 2x room service Quality of the food Graturites Other passengers Cost of packages, drinks, food, private island..... Etc 🤣

Totally agree and have said this plenty of times. P&O have done a half harted attempt to ttract families. Those who are first time will love P&O but those who have experienced RC will understand how limited P&O is for families.

Holding my hands up here. I always book the cheapest room i can on a cruise. This gives me more money to spend on more cruises and onboard. I dont drink alcohol anymore, winner but i do enjoy good food so will book the odd speciality restaurant. I also look for the cheapest cruise company going to the places i want to visit. I love RC, ships are good for us as a family but expensive. P&O offer much better value for money compared to many other lines. As for young drinking all day around the pool, didnt see that on Arvia during school holidays. Mostly just grumpy old experienced cruisers moaning about the kids and queues etc.

Personally a 6 month should not be drinking soft drinks. They do not need the soft drink package. There is water, add some squirty juice concentrate to give it some flavour. We take this with us. Also milk is avilable in the buffet for coffee out of a big urn. For breakfast there is fruit juice in the buffet. Put some in a glass and fill a bottle put it in your fridge in your room. 👍 so P&O should not enforce a drinks package for very young children. As suggested just buy when you want, it is cheaper unless your a heavy drinker......

Sindhu is on Arvia and rhe food was amazing. The main staff who took our order was very to the point. But hey hoe, the food was fab. However the keel and cow was sooo much better, steak was simply stunning....

Covid proved that you need germs in your life. What i mean by that, lots of children i know, daughters friends, not 1 cold or illness during lock down. Most people didn't mix, washed their hands and kept apart. Even for us key workers very little in way of colds. As soon as lockdown finished, kids back to school, adults forgetting to wash hands and etc boom snotty noses, rough colds etc. This is being proven by how many get colds, ill lately on cruises. Too many not bothering washing hands at least. The period of masks, hand cleaning, speration reduced the spreading of common germs and thay reduced our ability to quickly get rid of them. So IMO you need some germs in your life to teach your body how to fight them.

Totally agree with what you said about Icon, the adult base prices do go down when adding a 3rd and 4th passenger. Also when you "reprice" a cruise then yes your clients will get good savings compared to their initial non KSF booking. We in the UK do not get that option 🤷. I think its down to the wording of the deal. To show a price of two adults for say £500 each and then add KSF for £99 you would expect the price to be £1099. However as you then have to have a different category of room the adult price shoots up. So you could end up paying £1200 per adult and £99 for the KSF. So for me the KSF deal is not really a good deal unless you can reprice a current booking.

Watch how the adult base price goes up for the kids sail free promotion. Never noticed much difference between the standard price and kids sail free price. Esp the dates we travel..

The shuttle took us approx 2hrs to 2hrs 30 mins. Half way there is a stop, toilets, some tat shops etc. Take some euro coins to pay a tip for the toilet cleaner. 👍

Yeah we are spreading the net now on other cruise lines. We always want value for money and thats from leaving my door to getting back in my house. Hopefully Royal are competitive on summer 25 cruises.

P&O are very good value for money for cruises to norway and baltics. Predominantly norway and the fjords. Very cheap during UK term time. 👍 Still cant belive how slow Royal are in releasing their summer 25 cruises in Europe......