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Every Thursday, we'll randomly select three cruise reviews to feature here! Plus, we'll send each member a Cruise Critic logo item. We hope they enjoy it!

 

Norwegian Jade A really enjoyable cruise and much better than expectations by Ishiarusha

We were not sure what to expect but were pleasantly surprised with how much we enjoyed our cruise. Okay the cabins are not big and the space for clothes is limited but the staff, food, service and entertainment more than makes up for this. Anyway, we only stayed in the cabin at bed time so it didn't matter that the space was limited. The embarkation and dis embarkation was surprisingly fast and efficient compared to other cruises and we didn't t queue for long when we first arrived at the ship. Continue reading... A really enjoyable cruise and much better than expectations

 

Arcadia Great value by kbinbkk

This was our second cruise, the first being on the Carnival Spirit to Alaska 2 years ago. I had read quite a few negative comments about P&O in general and the Arcadia in particular on this site so I was slightly cautious about the whole experience however it turned out that we had nothing to worry about! Check in at the terminal in Southampton was quick and smooth and within an hour of arrival we were on board and eating in the Belvedere where the food was good and plentiful. Continue reading... Great value

 

Seven Seas Voyager Top Class...Again by Retiredwaster

Our fourth Regent Cruise, third with Voyager. We have also cruised with Oceania (3). My first cruise review.

If you haven't been with Regent before and are thinking about it - DO IT! Most reviews are fair, accurate and most complimentary; but I have read some astonishingly poor reviews and wonder what some people expect and where they will go next so do have a pinch or two of salt when doing your research. Regent is luxury in all areas. I won't repeat the advertising you can see, rather give some humble opinions. Continue reading... Top Class...Again

 

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Every Thursday, we'll randomly select three cruise reviews to feature here! Plus, we'll send each member a Cruise Critic logo item. We hope they enjoy it!

 

Queen Victoria Christmas cruise by freddie63

We arrived at the Southampton terminal just as the band started to play Christmas tunes at midday.Cunards new booking procedure worked well for us as we where on board and in our stateroom by 12.20. We had only booked the cruise 6 weeks prior to departure because of the good deals being offered by Cunard. I always book direct with Cunard and wether this had anything to do with it but we where up graded from a P2 to Queens 4 suite. Continue reading... Christmas cruise

 

Minerva To Burma and Beyond by cricman47

An enjoyable cruise which, at the discounted fare, was good value for money (probably 5*) but which seems highly overpriced at brochure price. Booking was made less than three weeks before sailing. Swan Hellenic reservations team very helpful and all documention received in good order. Flights (Emirates via Dubai outbound and Singpaore Airlines inbound) were on time and SH represntatives at airport to ensure all went smoothly. Continue reading... To Burma and Beyond

 

Oceana Still a great ship by jaypo63

Having read (yet again) some bad reviews on this ship,we really are having a problem understanding who these people are. This is our third cruise on Oceana and we thought,this time,we are going to keep our eyes peeled for all these dirty tables,litter,bad service and rude staff.I'm pleased to announce,we encountered none of the above.This ship is spotless,the staff bend over backwards to accommodate,if you do meet one who is maybe not as polite as you may hope for,please,give them a break? They work seven days a week,thirteen hours a day and for nine months on the trot,wouldn't you have the occasional bad day? Continue reading... Still a great ship

 

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Every Thursday, we'll randomly select three cruise reviews to feature here! Plus, we'll send each member a Cruise Critic logo item. We hope they enjoy it!

 

Azura Christmas on Azura by Tarbie

Check in at Birmingham Airport was effortless although Secuity checks took a little longer. We flew on Dreamliner Premium and although we were looked after very well by the Cabin Crew I wouldn't pay for and upgrade on Dreamliner again as the extra cost of £660 per couple is not warrented for the few drinks, slightly more leg room and "improved" meal selection, breakfast coming back was abysmal! Continue reading... Christmas on Azura

 

Oriana A great cruising experience. Freedom dining is a huge improvement by DennisJames

We saw this 12 night cruise advertised. The price was simply incredible and represented excellent value for money. Our only other cruise experience was three years ago on P & O's Arcadia. The itinerary was virtually the same as this and it was also in November. Frankly - we didn't enjoy that cruise and decided that cruise holidays weren't for us. The regimented dining times and being allocated a 8.30 pm sitting on a table with six others was the biggest negative for us. What a difference freedom dining makes!! I understand that this is now available across the fleet but double check before you book. Continue reading... A great cruising experience. Freedom dining is a huge improvement

 

Thomson Majesty Another lovely cruise by Seabirdy

We sailed on the Majesty from 13th to 29th December. This is my 6th cruise and second on the Majesty. Embarkation wasn't great as we arrived by mini bus at dock close to MSC ship, not The Majesty at a different berth. Driver offloaded cases and we were in our own. Could see the ship some distance away so got cases and made our way. Fine for us but a couple had had wheelchair assistance to minibus and another gentleman was breathless. Arrived to gangway and of course hadn't checked in, so a member of crew radioed and were allowed on board. That was only negative to a great cruise. Continue reading... Another lovely cruise

 

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MSC Armonia Fun Times on the MSC Armonia by keithyweithy

We booked this cruise and flight independently so arrived after a great flight on British Airways in the afternoon, the driver of our pre-arranged Sun Transfers met us as arranged in the arrivals hall and within minutes we were on our way to the cruise ship. On arrival at the port, embarkation was swift and in next to no time we were in our cabin! A seamless start to the cruise. We had sailed on the Armonia in 2013 and were keen to see the changes since the refit. The intimate feel of the ship is still intact, and apart from being longer didn't seem a lot different. Continue reading... Fun Times on the MSC Armonia

 

 

Arcadia Arcadia a lovely ship great staff by gallia

What a travesty the previous reviewer of this cruise has provided. 1. The staff throughout the ship were excellent and could not have done more for you. The restuarant staff in particular made it a pleasure to be going to each meal. The food was of a good standard always hot. always plenty of choice. 2. It was November/December which means it is more likely to be rough. It was indeed rough on the first 3 days down to Madeira, yes the ship was moving about but , really it should be expected by anyone booking a cruise at that time of year. In any event Arcadia coped extremely well with the conditions. Continue reading... Arcadia a lovely ship great staff

 

Queen Elizabeth Her Royal Highness by jacqui c-w

INTRODUCTION - Having had an awful cruise earlier this year with another cruise line it was lovely to be back with Cunard on board this regal ship. EMBARKATION - We had to fly to Rome to board the ship, which was fine, but we went with Air France and flew to Paris and a 4 hour wait until our connecting flight. We got up at 3.00am and did not board the ship until 6.30pm so we were very tired. The checking in process was quick and easy though. FIRST IMPRESSION - Absolutely stunning ship, very welcoming, grand and beautiful décor with an art deco theme. Continue reading... Her Royal Highness

 

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Braemar Pretty ship, pretty ports by Host Sharon

My friend and I had received letters advising us that Braemar was arriving straight from Hamburg following a refit and that we should adhere to our check-in times (4.30 for me, 6pm for her) as she would not arrive until mid afternoon. As we watched her arrive early at noon, we decided that she may start boarding earlier and so set off for the ferry at about 1.30, arriving at the Ocean Terminal at 2.15. Check in was swift but then we had a long wait of about 2 hours before finally being invited to go through security. Knowing how sensitive the security scanners are at Ocean, I was dreading having to take my boots off but thankfully the woman there suggested I try and go through the scanner and see if my boots set it off, in which case I would have to return, take them off and go through again – they didn’t! Continue reading... Pretty ship, pretty ports

 

 

Celebrity Eclipse First Cruise Ever by Triock

This was a very special cruise for us as it was not only our first ever cruise but also my 50th Birthday cruise. Overall we have a fantastic time and booked another cruise on board for 2015 !!! That said there are a few things i noticed that may be a one off but its worth noting. Our overnight stay was in Miami at the Hotel Intercontinental and that was a great stay, the transfers from the airport to the hotel and then to the port were faultless. However, we then ended up waiting in a long line as no one advised us that we could use the fast lane as we had a Concierge Cabin, so had to wait for in line for quite a while and were not able to make use of the lounge or fast line. Continue reading... First Cruise Ever

 

Oriana Fantastic Oriana Cruise - our second cruise with P&O by Poppet52

This was our first experience of Cunard and were well aware that there is a subtle difference between a Liner and. Cruise ship. We certainly felt the differences and overall were quite pleased. The embarkation in NY was a shambles . Not down to Cunard but due to the US Customs services doing a serious inspection etc. when we eventually got onboard there wasn't a welcome drink available. Simply a me me,her of staff giving directions. We had to wait a further hour before we were allowed access to our cabins at around 2.00. We managed to squeeze in a visit to the buffet for a snack before going to the cabin. Continue reading... Fantastic Oriana Cruise - our second cruise with P&O

 

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Emerald Princess Atlantic crossing by Jaybee66

We have sailed on many Princess ships and the Emerald lived up to our expectations. However she does look a little tired in her decor and perhaps could do with a refit sometime soon. The cabin was of the usual standard and kept clean and tidy by our steward Roger. We had chosen the extended balcony cabin on Caribe Deck and were very happy being able to use the extra space. We do tend to use our balconies during cruises. After all that's what you pay for. is it's worth going for the extra space if you are like us. Continue reading... Atlantic crossing

 

 

Carnival Freedom A very pleasing Maiden Voyage by AlanMOK

We took our first ever cruise on the Carnival Freedom. With nothing to compare it with I can only speak about this experience but we have no hesitation in recommending it. Right from boarding - which was easy and painless - we found the entire cruise to be a most relaxing and pleasing experience. We had taken a cabin on Deck 11 (Spa) which had very few other cabins around it. As smokers we were dismayed to find that smoking had very recently been banned from balconies and was now restricted to Deck 10 (Starboard), and of course the Casino. Continue reading... A very pleasing Maiden Voyage

 

Queen Mary 2 First time on QM2 by Jaybee66

This was our first experience of Cunard and were well aware that there is a subtle difference between a Liner and. Cruise ship. We certainly felt the differences and overall were quite pleased. The embarkation in NY was a shambles . Not down to Cunard but due to the US Customs services doing a serious inspection etc. when we eventually got onboard there wasn't a welcome drink available. Simply a me me,her of staff giving directions. We had to wait a further hour before we were allowed access to our cabins at around 2.00. We managed to squeeze in a visit to the buffet for a snack before going to the cabin. Continue reading... First time on QM2

 

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I have a booking that I did 13 months in advance. I doubt I will see the rate fall below that but I am very happy with what I paid. And if it doesn't fall, I will enjoy the cruise.

You make a good point here. I was happy with the rate I paid. The ES rate was the lowest and I didn't expect it to go lower. I booked an OS suite. There were only a few available when I booked and I doubted there would be any price drop because there would be no trouble selling them. I booked the ES because it was the least expensive but only by $15 pp, $45 for the three of us. Checking today and the military rate, which I qualify for, is the same price as the ES for the sailing. Had I researched it, I'd have seen the terms and conditions and probably booked the military rate then followed price drops, if any, until final payment was due then decided then if the rate I was paying was what I wanted to pay and canceled if I didn't want to pay it. For me, I didn't book because it was an ES rate. I booked that rate because it was the least expensive that day and I didn't anticipate having to cancel. I've never canceled a cruise in 30 years.

All I can say is that I applaud you for owning up and saying that you made the mistake by not reading the contract. So many come on here and blame the line and moan and groan that carnival "stole" their money. Hats off to you

Thanks for that and to those that haven't wagged a finger at me for making a stupid mistake. Unfortunately, I have no excuse. I've been a member of Cruise Critic for almost 14 years and I've worked here for over 8. There are some rules that people preach over and over when others post...read the contract you agreed to. My only defense is I was in a cruise stupor and so excited to be booking a spring break cruise that it never crossed my mind that I'd have to cancel. Who cancels a cruise?!?!? :D

 

Now that I've educated myself, I do think the $50 pp is a bit much. Maybe it's that much because some people submit many price drops and then cancel and the $50 pp pays for the time taken for the reservation? Whatever the case, it's their fee and they can make it what they want. My recourse was to not agree to it and book a different rate. Oh wait...I didn't do that. :p I also don't like that I don't get a refund of the rest of the deposit. Disney has the same type of rule for booking certain types of staterooms. Once you deposit, your money is theirs. I don't like at all that I have $150 committed to Carnival. They made $150 on the cancellation already. Why keep the rest of the deposit? But again...read the contract. Sigh....

 

A simple 2 minute search of the FAQ on Carnival would have told me all this. Drat!

Every Thursday, we'll randomly select three cruise reviews to feature here! Plus, we'll send each member a Cruise Critic logo item. We hope they enjoy it!

 

MSC Fantasia MSC Fantasia - It is fantastic by acody70

We were a party of 8 (4 adults and 4 children, aged 9 -16). 6 of us were first time crusiers, and 2 have been on numerous cruises, including the Queen Mary, Royal Caribbean, and P&O. From their experience this cruise was as good as their other cruises and even surpassed them in certain areas. We made our own travel arrangements so arrived at the ship earlier than the scheduled boarding time of 1200 hrs. This was not a problem as we joined the queue of fellow early arrivals to board. You leave suitcases to be checked in then proceed to check yourself in. Continue reading... MSC Fantasia - It is fantastic

 

 

Carnival Inspiration Our first cruise to end a great US trip and loved it. by Denis Jayes

This cruise was the final part of a US tour that took us to Vegas, Grand Canyon Ranch and LA, by way of celebrating my 60th birthday. The tour got off to a good start with a direct BA flight to Vegas where we stayed at the Luxor Hotel. Vegas was everything we expected, big, brash and fun, topped off with clear blue skies and temperatures in the mid 70's. We then moved onto the Grand Canyon Ranch, where we got a real taste of the old Wild West, horse riding with Bison and songs round the campfire. Continue reading... Our first cruise to end a great US trip and loved it.

 

Quantum of the Seas Transatlantic on the Celebrity Quantum by little britain

Yes, let’s start with the ship herself. She is not a RCI ship in look or feel, she has the stunning class, style, décor and charisma of an X ship (namely the Solstice class). From the stylish two tier shopping area, to the soft furnishings, to the way the elevator lights changed colour to announce they had arrived at your floor, to no Bingo announcements, to the bathroom with the large shower, and the ladies leg shaving bar, to the balcony furniture with the footstool, to the covered solarium... I could go on and on but I think you get the picture. Now this is not a problem for me as I love Celebrity cruises and their ships, but people who have not done their research may have a bit of a shock. Continue reading... Transatlantic on the Celebrity Quantum.

 

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Early Saver has some great benefits and some really big restrictions. I am sorry the restrictions weren't clear to you at the time you booked.

They were clear...I just didn't read it. :D

I hope you have a great cruise whatever you do. Hard to beat a day on a ship.

 

Someone I respected greatly told me decades ago, if a problem can be solved with money, it isn't really a problem. I have lived with this advice and found it helped me innumerable times.

My dad used to tell me the very same thing for most situations. He died 17 years ago next week and I'm always reminded of that saying because I'd give any amount of money if I could see him again.

 

We'll be alright. I'll find another cruise and we'll have $150 towards that cruise. It just smarts that a little research on my part could have avoided it. I'm mad at myself! It's one of those things that when I booked it, the PVP didn't say, hey, you need to be clear about this and that. It was up to me to read the fine print before booking and I didn't.

So sorry this happened to you...Same thing happened to my mom, to the tune of $300. We are booked for a cruise in March and she was able to transfer it to our booking as a Christmas gift. I will never book Early Saver, too many stipulations that I don't care to keep up with.

Yeah...I'd have to really think about using it again. It seems like a great program but we sometimes have to change plans because of kids and my husband's work schedule, etc. It might not be the best for us. But for those that get it and get price drops...good for them! I'm glad they get to take advantage of it.

No worries, Cecilia. We're here to help! At least you learned most of the terms of the agreement for next time and you have a deposit almost ready for your next cruise.

 

All the best.

Correct!

 

Baymax...Big Hero 6...saw that movie with my kids last week. We loved it!

 

I think that it is fantastic that you are owning your mistake rather than blaming Carnival as so many others do. Well done.

 

I do have one question, however: What did you think you were giving up under the ES rate in order to be able to benefit from any price drops up until the sailing date? Surely you couldn't have been under the impression that Carnival was offering that benefit with no additional commitment from you. Otherwise, anyone would book ES.

Honestly, I didn't even think about it. I'm a relatively new Carnival cruiser and I just assumed it was a perk given to those that book farther out. I book NCL cruises usually and I get great perks booking far out. I was just living in a blissful little bubble of thinking about price drops! I didn't think at all about a penalty for canceling. I totally went against everything I know about booking a cruise and I've been cruising for 30 years! However, now I know every little detail about the ES rate. I'll be better prepared next time.

 

Thing is, I got a great rate and the ES rate wasn't that much lower than the military rate I qualified for. Another lesson learned. I should have weighed the pros and cons better and I could have done that if I'd read the fine print.

We booked a spring break cruise for March 2015 under an early saver rate. I was too excited about the idea of price drops up to the sailing date that I didn't read the fine print. This will teach me to never make a cruise decision again without consulting Cruise Critic members and reading every piece of fine print the cruise line has.

 

I had to cancel today and we were charged a $50 pp administrative fee ($150) and the remaining $150 for the deposit will be held to be used for a cruise anytime in the next 24 months.

 

Lesson learned...read the fine print and ask around about the positives and negatives of a cruise line deal. Now I know. :o Go ahead...kick me when I'm down. ;)

Every Thursday, we'll randomly select three cruise reviews to feature here! Plus, we'll send each member a Cruise Critic logo item. We hope they enjoy it!

 

Thomson Majesty Great time, pity about the airport by oddjob30

We went on holiday with two friends who had never cruised before. We had spent a week on the Thomson Spirit about 10 years ago in the Western Mediterranean and had a great time. The registration process went well and we were soon aboard the Thomson Majesty but with the heavy rain outside we were a little damp. Our suitcases nearly beat us to the room but we were not there long as we looked for somewhere to eat but as it was after 10pm all the restaurants were closed and we settled for the self-service buffet on a chilly deck 10. We then had lifebelt training followed by a few pints. Day one ended there. Continue reading... Great time, pity about the airport

 

 

Ventura GREAT PORTS OF CALL by Catfm

This was our 6th cruise - 3rd with P&O. We booked for two reasons, it was our 25th Wedding Anniversary and the Ports of Call looked interesting. This was the largest ship we had been on, and like most other passengers we got lost lots of times! But it's makes for interesting discussion with others! We had an outside cabin on deck 12/A606 midship which was lovely. Bed was comfortable, room clean bathroom had everything you would need including shower gel shampoo & conditioner all by The White Company. Proper hairdryer in room. Continue reading... GREAT PORTS OF CALL

 

 

Oasis of the Seas Well I had fun!! by fairymum

I booked this cruise as I wanted to experience Oasis but wasn't that impressed with her Caribbean itinerary she was coming to Europe and we enjoyed our last transatlantic so we went for it. EMBARKATION : Got there at 12:30 queues where huge so we dropped our luggage and went into Southampton for lunch we went back at 4:30 walked straight on and went to our cabin. CABIN: Loved it loved it there was 3 of us it was plenty big enough and we had a balcony perfect! FOOD: Was lovely and I didn't have to cook it or clean up after it Sabor was my big favourite also perfect! WEATHER: Partly cloudy!!! yes it was rubbish but it was worse at home and I was on holiday. Continue reading... Well I had fun!!

 

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Norwegian Epic First time cruise blew my mind! by Hedwig3

The word I used most all week must have been 'amazing!'. I was an extremely nervous first time solo traveller. I chose a cruise because of the social promises made by NCL. I was not disappointed. The studio cabins were perfect for one and I was very comfortable, I loved the little touches like the mood lighting, towel sculptures, the dial outside the door to say Do not disturb/ turn down bed...etc. my only criticism of the cabin is that my shower cubicle didn't drain very well so the shower tray filled up within seconds, but it never overflowed so maybe this was a ship thing. After finding my way around I went to the studio lounge at 6.30pm as instructed on a board in the lounge and about 15 of us turned up ranging in age from late 20's to 60's. Continue reading... First time cruise blew my mind!

 

 

Queen Mary 2 Suitably impressed by wenlyn

So we decided to visit America by sea and Cunard had a good deal on QM2 so we were going to do it in style. It was only our second cruise (first was on P&O Ventura) and my partner had some concerns at the number of sea days but it turned out they were unfounded. We drove to Southampton and family took the car home so drop off was simple and the embarkation was very smooth we were in our cabin within 45 minutes from arrival at port. There wasn't an obvious map in the foyer to help you orientate yourself in order to find your cabin however by going to our floor it wasn't difficult to find our way there and I had studied the deck plans when our cabin was assigned so had a rough idea of which side we were on. Continue reading... Suitably impressed

 

 

Oceana Excellent First Cruise Have no complaints with this ship! by Elephant999

Our first cruise ever so didn't know what to expect, but when we saw Oceana I was overwhelmed with how pretty she is. Embarkation was very well organised and when we boarded we went straight to our Mini Suite which was gorgeous. Our cabin steward was lovely, very attentive and if we asked for something, she would accommodate us. Although there was an outbreak of Norovirus halfway through the cruise, we were luckily not affected. The food was outstanding and the buffet restaurant was pleasant, not dirty at all, as the staff were always busy cleaning away when we were on board. Continue reading... Excellent First Cruise Have no complaints with this ship!

 

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Quantum of the Seas Quantum Maiden Sailing by Vicky821

We started our journey with a night in The Holiday Inn, Southampton, which was right next to the cruise entrance. Great hotel and perfect location for Southampton Port. We boarded Quantum on the Sunday, very excited about the sidewalk to ship in 10 minutes. It took us 50 minutes to board. There did not appear to be many staff in the cruise terminal checking people in. It seemed like a long process as staff were getting used to using the hand held tablets. Continue reading... Quantum Maiden Sailing

 

 

Thomson Dream Moorish Delights 18/10 by PonkeyJohn

Just returned from our first Thomson cruise experience and what a delight. Our day began with a good flight from Manchester (on time) and arrived to lovely weather. The checking-in process was efficient and speedy with plenty of information to guide us through the stages. Our first impression of the Dream was it actually looked like a ship with the feel of a British stately home unlike the Norwegian Epic which was alongside and reminded us of a towering block of apartments by comparison. Yes, it probably is ready for a touch of TLC on the exterior but a few coats of paint will soon sort that out. Continue reading... Moorish Delights 18/10

 

 

Ventura Ventura Western Mediterranean Cruise - October 2014 by Molly Printemps

This was our first cruise and, on the whole, we thoroughly enjoyed it. I can’t praise P&O enough for the extremely smooth transition from Venice Marco Polo airport to the ship. We didn’t have the usual scrum round the baggage carousel. We just sailed through (please excuse the pun) customs, where a bored looking official gave our passports a cursory glance, and then the P&O staff guided us to the very comfortable coaches and onward to the Ventura. Our cases were delivered to our cabin later on. Continue reading... Ventura Western Mediterranean Cruise - October 2014

 

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MSC Magnifica Great ship, great itinerary, different cruising by thowells

So I've read a lot of mixed reviews about this ship, lots of negative reviews which are definitely not objective ! This is the first European owned cruise ship that I've been on (The others include Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL, Princess and Holland America Line). So one thing I will say is that if you're expecting American glitz, entertainment and food then don't. This isn't the cruise line for you. However that being said, for the price we paid (£129 for 4 nights inside cabin), this one of the best all round cruises I've been on !! Getting on and getting off - Great ! really quick both at the beginning and end ports plus the ports inbetween ! Continue reading... Great ship, great itinerary, different cruising

 

Island Escape Thoroughly enjoyed our holiday on Island Escape by KCashmore

We had previously been on Island Escape in October 2011, & made a last minute booking to board the ship on 14th, October 2014. If anything, we thought the ship had improved its standard. We were happy with our outside cabin on deck 7. Yes, it may have been a bit tired, but it was very clean & of the standard size you would normally expect on a ship, & there was more room in the shower than there normally is on ships. Our cabin steward Sunil, was very efficient & went to the trouble of creating a different design in towel art every day we were on board. The public areas were always very clean & well kept, with members of the crew continually cleaning & polishing. Continue reading... Thoroughly enjoyed our holiday on Island Escape

 

Azura Itsy Bitsy... by Bargate Bill

She wore an Itsy Bitsy, Teenie Weenie white polka dot swimsuit - well after all my granddaughter, Martha is only six months old and it was her first cruise under the Mediterranean sun. My daughter, her husband, and Martha, together with my wife and I joined P&O Cruises' Azura in Southampton for a ten day cruise down to Lisbon, Gibraltar, Malaga, Cadiz and La Carona in the hope of some autumn sun before the clocks went back and we were not disappointed. We were also not disappointed with Azura, a ship my family has sailed on a number of times before. The crew were as welcoming as ever, the cabins comfortable and well cared for, with service and food second to none. Continue reading... Itsy Bitsy...

 

 

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Independence of the Seas Independence of the Seas by david38

Have just returned from cruise on this lovely ship with its wonderful staff who cant do enough to make your holiday a success. Regarding noise, there is a quiet area in the library if you require quiet moments.

Embarkation was so easy and fast and getting into cabins was just about 1.30pm. Personally I felt there was a variety of entertainment for everyone, could have been speakers, there was a chap who did speak on Gardens throughout UK which I found interesting and wax well attended, however, a jewellery making demonstration was listed but on arrival there were too many people and due to poor preparations for the numbers attending, it was postponed till last sea day didnt attend myself. Continue reading... Independence of the Seas

 

MSC Sinfonia Pleasantly surprised after reading negative MSC reviews by jufrasin

I must start by saying we usually cruise with princess cruises and were very nervous about this cruise after reading copious amounts of negative reviews online. But I have to say they were all misleading! We embarked in Barcelona at approx 11 am and as MSC do multiple embarkation points on their cruises (Genoa being the main one) we were one of only 30 people getting on so were checked in and onboard within 10 minutes!! Our cabin was on deck 8 and it was spotless and baggage was delivered before 2pm. The mattress was thin but not unbearable and they have blankets and not duvets. Continue reading... Pleasantly surprised after reading negative MSC reviews

 

Emerald Princess An honest opinion by elynch46

We have just return home from holiday and i would like to thank the staff of the Emerald Princess for excellent service and hospitality. We travelled by eavesway coaches to southampton and i would highly recommended the service. It takes the stress out of travelling and the holiday starts once your on the coach 10/10. Both myself and my husband are in our fifties but most couples were much older and there were a lot of elderly travellers which initially surprised me and if I am honest i would have liked to see more families and younger folks in the mix. Continue reading... An honest opinion

 

 

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Ryndam Exceptional cruise on the glorious Ryndam by JaneGallacher

This was our first experience with Holland America, having cruised before on Royal Caribbean. What can I say....we LOVED this amazing, beautiful ship and her exceptional crew. Embarkation was very smooth, with our cases delivered promptly. One thing that really stood out to us was the feeling of space on this ship - there were never crowds or queues anywhere!! I think the explanation is that there are so many different areas to go on the ship - it took us our whole cruise to find all the different places you could sit/lounge!! Continue reading... Exceptional cruise on the glorious Ryndam

 

Liberty of the Seas First cruise and won't be our last by W and W

We chose this as our first cruise because it ticked all the boxes for us. 1. It was in the Med. Not known for rough seas so hopefully no seasick problems. 2. It covered the period of our silver wedding anniversary. 3. The stops allowed me to do 2 things that are on my bucket list. (The Colosseum / Pompeii) 4. It was 7 days, so if we didn't like it by day 3 there wasn't too long to endure it. We had a couple of days in Barcelona first, which was only spoiled by the tourist bus, which only had 50% of the audio plugs working. The journey to the ship was an experience, with all the taxis jostling to get there quickly. Embarkation was quick and incredibly efficient. Luggage taken from us on arrival, and a friendly check in clerk. Then a walk past the first of around 100 photo points and we were on. OMG it's a big ship. Dis-embarkation was just as speedy and organised. Continue reading... First cruise and won't be our last

 

Norwegian Jewel NCL Jewel through the Panama Canal 100 by Magickpyggie

This is a lengthy review, and I will try to break it down into stages, we were travelling in our favourite Suite, 10500 at the very front so we would have a grandstand view of all the activities. We are Platinum Latitudes and had pre-purchased all our tours and the Ultimate Dining Package (UDP) of which more later. We flew London to LA with Air New Zealand on the Hobbit Special and had a fantastic flight in Premium Economy, stayed two nights in LA then moved to the Crowne Plaza in San Pedro where we met up with some of the Roll Call members. Continue reading... NCL Jewel through the Panama Canal 100

 

 

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Independence of the Seas 5th time on board by Ron the lovethesun22

Our 5th time aboard the beautiful Independence of the seas. Overall we had a very enjoyabke cruise. However there are signs of standards starting to slip. We had a balcony cabin on deck 7. Mid ship. Which we found very satisfactory. Our Cabin attendant worked very hard and we had no complaints with the service he provided. 5 stars for him. We had My Time Dining that worked very well for us. Although some nights even though we had our table booked we had to queue. Continue reading... 5th time on board

 

Riviera WHAT IS THERE NOT TO LIKE? by Jay23

Our cruising days started in 1999, sailing with P & O and Princess. In the last three years we have hanged our allegiance to the luxury lines (Seabourn, Regent and Oceania to date), and are enjoying the difference!! We returned from our first Oceania cruise a couple of weeks ago. We went to the Black Sea starting from Istanbul, Turkey and ending in Athens,Greece. 22nd September to 2nd October. Continue reading... WHAT IS THERE NOT TO LIKE?

 

Marina Can't understand all the negative reviews - we had a great cruise by gbs1112

This was a popular cruise that was overbooked and several, maybe forty, stateroom bookings had to be upgraded to similar cruises at a later date. We were in a penthouse PH3 suite on deck ten and travelling with a solo guest in a B grade cabin on deck eight. The penthouse suite was well designed with a generous walk-in wardrobe and more than enough storage. The bathroom, which looked identical to ones we have had on various Silversea voyages, had a walk in shower that was a perfectly good size as well as a tub with shower. Continue reading... Can't understand all the negative reviews - we had a great cruise

 

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Emerald Princess We Love Princess by Ron the Rev

We used to travel down to Southampton from mid Suffolk in our car, staying overnight at a spa hotel, indulging in a first class dinner then going down to the dock by taxi and after the cruise returning to the hotel by taxi to pick up our car. Having costed this out a couple of times, we decided this time that for marginally more money we could get a return taxi all the way down to the port without the hassle of driving. Continue reading... We Love Princess

 

Thomson Dream First cruise won't be the last! by Cariad21

For this cruise, I travelled with my parents and having read some of the reviews since booking I had my reservations but they turned out to be unfounded. There were some issues at the airport where it took 2 hours for our cases to appear and then being directed to three different transfer buses but after that it was easy sailing. Check in was quick and easy. I easily found my cabin on deck 5 and was surprised at how big it was (as a solo passenger I was expecting it to be cramped). Continue reading... First cruise won't be the last!

 

Costa Pacifica Wonderful Ship - No need to worry by Basil_Alan

We had no problems at all, everything worked as planned. After reading previous reviews like many we had worries, but no one should be put off and we had a wonderful experience. Italian Ship What I would say that being an Italian Ship with the vast majority of cruisers coming from Non English speaking countries, we did miss out on getting snippets of good gossip/information from other cruisers on the ports etc but on the upside we didn't have to listen all day long to other English conversations whilst sun bathing !! Continue reading... Wonderful Ship - No need to worry

 

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Norwegian Star Brilliant Baltic and great company by Trotpot

First time with NCL and on an American culture cruise ship. Arrived at Copenhagen an hour after our allocated boarding time - it seems almost all the boat had same boarding time ! Took about an hour between arrival to getting on board. We missed lunch in the restaurant, and ended up at the Market cafe - it was ok, but made me glad I had paid in advance for the Ultimate Dining package. The boat was full, with a mix of Americans, Australians, and Europeans. Some areas of the boat are much busier than others but if you look hard there are quiet spots. Continue reading... Brilliant Baltic and great company

 

Liberty of the Seas First cruise - Liberty of the Seas by Gareth from emsicle

Firstly, let me say I never expected to go on a cruise! I thought cruising was for wealthy people who were a little above the rest of us - yeah, right - how wrong can you be?! My husband and I booked a week long cruise on Liberty for our 25th wedding anniversary, and I devoured everything I could find about cruising before going as I felt a little overawed. There were some questions I couldn't find the answers to, but reading reviews and watching videos helped hugely. So, from an honest viewpoint, here's my take on my cruise. Continue reading... First cruise - Liberty of the Seas

 

Oriana Sweet Oriana - Good times never felt so good!!! by Rabbitsmummy

Oh didn’t we have a lovely time, whilst on the Oriana. 14 nights Baltic Cruise, with so much to do and yes the sun shone every day. Having only had the joint experiences of 4 cruises under our belts now - A Cunard , a Fred Olson and a Nile River Cruise we wanted a cruise from Southampton in early Sept. Oriana ticked the box. Whilst I do read reviews I appreciate that one mans’ meat is another mans’ poison ! and you cannot please everyone all the time ! However we met a lot of people who were P &O fans - had cruised on different ships but returned to this one time and again which in itself speaks volumes Continue reading... Sweet Oriana - Good times never felt so good!!!

 

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Emerald Princess Can't Understand Poor Reviews by Lookingforwater

Embarkation - Busy but well handled. Food: In Horizon's, always good choice and quality generally very good. Serving areas looked too small but never really had an issue getting our food. Seating area obviously busy but, again, always got a seat. Usually had to share a table but great way to meet people. Da Vinci/Michaelangelo restaurants - Ate twice in Michaelangelo and service was slow but never so in Da Vinci.where we dined 12 nights. Some of the waiters a good laugh, considering the pressure they're under. Twice got a pager for a table and didn't wait more than 15 mins, even at peak times. Continue reading... Can't Understand Poor Reviews

 

Independence of the Seas Enjoyable, but standards have slipped by Gareth from Ashford

Our second cruise on Independence. We had a very enjoyable cruise, although there were some negatives. Our cabin was an Oceanview Stateroom on Deck 2. It was exactly as we anticipated - small, but reasonably well equipped. No complaints. Half way through the cruise, a letter was issued stating that the hard-wired hair dryers in the cabins could not be used due to safety concerns. A $30 credit was offered, but this wasn't much use when my family includes my wife and 2 daughters, all with long hair...... There was an option of borrowing a hair dryer, however this had to be booked in advance and for a maximum of 30 minutes.... We booked this and when 30 minutes was up, there was a knock on the door and they insisted (quite rudely) that we give it back immediately. Continue reading... Enjoyable, but standards have slipped

 

Queen Elizabeth Wonderful ship, excellent cruise. When can we go again? by drnp101

To put this review into some kind of perspective, we are aged 38 and 40 and from North Yorkshire. I am a doctor and my partner is a local government officer. We enjoy fine dining (having eaten in several Michelin starred restaurants) and staying in better than average hotels. Having travelled on Cunard's Queen Victoria in 2008 (and loved the experience) we thought we would try Queen Elizabeth this time. Having read so many negative reviews on here, we were worried that perhaps we had wasted (a lot) of money! Before embarkation, we spent 4 nights in Rome exploring the city and soaking up the atmosphere. Continue reading... Wonderful ship, excellent cruise. When can we go again?

 

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Thomson Majesty Thompson Majesty Aegean Classics by Clarejem

We went into Thompson for a beach holiday and came out with a cruise! It seemed value for money and we liked the choice of visiting different places. We were slightly worried that my 15 year old son would not like it but after a couple nights he met some lovely friends and started to enjoy it. All the staff were extremely friendly even down to the window cleaners that always said hello. We liked the idea of it been a more relaxed cruise not having to dress formal every night for evening meal, my partner and son both refusing to wear trousers, shirt and tie for formal night or any other night for that matter lol however I did take trousers, shirt and tie but they refused to wear the tie, when we got down stairs everyone was dressed up some in tux some in full suits, ladies in lovely evening dresses, they were glad they put them on ! Continue reading... Thompson Majesty Aegean Classics

 

Independence of the Seas Fabulous family holiday by Nix111

We sailed on Independence of the Seas, Spanish Med itinerary in July 2014 with our six year old son. This was our tenth cruise to date and our third with Royal Caribbean. Previously we've always flown to meet our cruise ships but we absolutely loved the simplicity and ease of sailing from Southampton with no airport misery and unlimited luggage allowance! We bboked the car park at the port, a 5 minute stroll from the ship and we were checked in and onboard within 15 minutes - an absolute joy. Continue reading... Fabulous family holiday

 

Thomson Spirit Baltic Highlights Cruise 3-16 August 2014 by wishiwasinliverpool

We chose this cruise because of the itinerary - seven countries, Germany, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia and Sweden, stopping off in places we'd never visited before and always wanted to see, particularly St Petersburg. It was our second sailing with Thomson Spirit, having done a week's long cruise with them before to the Norwegian fjords in 2009, so we knew what to expect. However, we were led to believe that the ship had had some sort of refurbishment following that trip which was why it had been taken out of service; frankly, we couldn't see it. The ship still looks old and worn in places, the tint was peeling off the windows in the Lido restaurant, there was a dent in our cabin roof, and the lifts were slow and forever breaking down, but for all that, the ship is spotlessly clean Continue reading... Baltic Highlights Cruise 3-16 August 2014

 

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Safari Explorer A plan to deviate from by lisafreeman

Before I launch into an “ Oh my god – it was wonderful! “ style review, I would like to offer a brief back ground detailing how I eventually ended up on this truly fabulous cruise. Two years ago I decided that for my birthday I wanted to go whale watching; also I have always wanted to visit Alaska having seen the documentaries and been in awe of the place, so I started a search to see whether it was possible to do both at the same time. I didn’t know exactly what I did want, but I knew exactly what I didn’t want. The thought of a large cruise ship with thousands of people on board stopping for shopping in ports at every available opportunity, having to fight my way through crowds to get anywhere, and having to dress up for dinner made me feel nauseous. Continue reading... A plan to deviate from

 

Saga Pearl II Simply Marvelous by Seabourng

We boarded the Saga Pearl 11-with a little trepidation as we are Silversea and Seabourn regular cruises but my wife no longer can fly with her medication so of to Dover we went. First let me say the dining was very good indeed,and the small but perfectly formed library we spent many lazy days in there! The service overall was good too.We especially enjoyed the interesting port lectures. However for us (and as it turned out for a great many other passengers too!) the entire highlight of the cruise was the star comedy impressionist ! Normally we avoid. This type of entertainment but we missed his first show and everyone was talking about how clever and accurate his mimics of the great comedy icons were Continue reading... Simply Marvelous

 

Disney Magic Amazing and Magical experience by Disney2014

We are a family of 4 with 2 children aged 6 and 10. We planned to start our holiday in Barcelona staying for 2 nights prior to the cruise.We stayed in a lovely hotel called Groupotel Gravina, 5 mins walk away from La Ramblas and only a short walk to the Christopher Columbus Monument where we hopped on the port bus, taking us directly to the ship, a short 5 minute ride. As first time cruisers, but lovers of disney we didnt know what to expect at all. Seeing the ship for the first time was an amazing experience for all the family. The check in was busy but organised and time soon passed as the kids had their first sighting and photos taken with Captain Micky and his friends! We were astonished as to the size of the ship, the welcome we received and the friendliness of all the staff who greeted us. The magic began as soon as we stepped into the beautiful atrium! Continue reading... Amazing and Magical experience

 

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