kelly2719

Thank you for the comments, I have only just seen the last few so I am sorry. For the delay in replying!

Yes we have booked the Navigator for the 19th of August 2016, we have a family ocean view cabin 8200 plus 2 drinks packages included. We are all very excited for our first ever cruise!

Regarding the ports we were not really too fussed about these, to be honest we are looking forward to being on the ship rather than the ports. We have been to France and Paris many times so will probably stay on the ship.

Bilbao appears to have a beach very close to the port so hoping to have a beach day. We have seen an RCI excursion from Gijon, canoeing down the river which we may do depending on it's suitability for the children. My son is autistic so we would be avoiding the typical excursions like the plague!

Thank you for your replies, very helpful. The Independence cruise we are considering is an 8 night to France and Spain. It stops at an extra port in Spain but otherwise is the same just 2 extra nights so I wasn't sure if it was worth paying extra for a "bigger" ship?

We have been told about the gratuities by the travel agents and they added them to our quote. Thank you though as I wouldn't have known about them otherwise! Thank you for the other tips too, I will start keeping a notebook. With all this valuable information in. I am very much a planner so will be doing all the research I can!

Hello!

We are looking at booking our first ever cruise for next August. We are two adults and three children (they will be 9,12 and 16). We have stumbled across a great deal for the Navigator of the Seas for next August in a family ocean view room with 2 drinks packages included. We live in the Uk so will be sailing from Southampton. It's for 6 nights and stops in Spain and France. I know nothing about cruising as none of my family or friends cruise and neither of us have been on one before so I'm not sure if this is a good cruise for a first timer! There is an alternative cruise on Independence of the Seas but it is a couple of thousand more expensive, is it worth it for the bigger ship? Is there plenty to do on Navigator?

Also we have the option of 2 sea view cabins adjoining but the cost is £1000 more than the family ocean view room. I'm not sure what would be the best option for us, any advice would really be appreciated!

We have the last family ocean view on hold until tomorrow so we don't have long to make a decision! Should we release the room and continue to research different ships, companies etc?

My 12 year old son is autistic if that factors in at all. Thank you!