Nettee

I would go forward of the lifeboats so I could look down at the sea but I suppose there is more movement and it is further from the stairs and there could be noise from the theatre.

It doesn't look like it from the current deck plans :-(

Have a great cruise

I would like a Westbound transatlantic in August, ideally on the QM2, that included a viewing of the total eclipse of the Sun that is happening on 21st August and crosses the Atlantic from the coast of South Carolina.

Anthem does not have the family ocean view rooms. Family junior suite is the cheapest single room for 5. I assume connecting rooms would be cheaper. There would be a nursery though if you wanted some childcare.

You find out for sure in March or April 2016. The deployment schedule thread is normally pretty good at guessing though although rccl do last minute changes just before the cruises go on sale to add to the excitement :-)

Link here: http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2257388

http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1939947#

Not sure why that link wasn't working - here is the cut and paste version

We stayed in 8500 on Serenade - review with a link to someone else's photos here:

http://http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1939947#

We loved the room - lots of space, great view, the children sat on the window sills. Yes it was a longish walk but our toddler liked going down the corridors and the ship is sensibly sized. We did feel some motion when it was a bit rough one night. No noise to complain of but we are deep sleepers anyway .

We did La Spezia, Rome and Naples in October 2013 with a 8, 6 and 1 year old.

In La Spezia we stayed in the town which is ok - nice promenade to walk along but I seem to remember a lot of shops were shut. Probably could have done something more exciting but we had a 'day off'

We did a 'family' ship tour to Rome but there was too much walking and it was a very long day. I wouldn't go at all having been once but if it was my first time I would try to go by train and do our own thing so we could return when tired.

We had a great ship tour in Naples which was climbing Vesuvius and visiting Pompeii. Really caught the children's imagination and it wasn't a steep climb.

Enjoy!

It depends what is important to each person. RCI advertised dynamic dining, took thousands of pounds for holidays on that basis and are providing something different.

We had a good time on our first cruise on Serenade (sister ship) in Europe with our 18 month old in 2013.

Review here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1939947

Have a great holiday

Our toddler loved running down the corridors which are long but apart from that there wasn't too much running after her to do. The staff all loved seeing her around and made us all feel welcome and looked after.

Jewel's itinery to April 2017 is on Cruisecal now :-)

oh no - so Jewel is doing her Transatlantic before October half term. What a shame :( We get 2 weeks so it a good opportunity for some Autumn sunshine.

In fact it seems that most of the Med ships are except perhaps Rhapsody. Bit cold to go from the UK in October and romp around the Channel or the Bay of Biscay. Maybe the Harmony Transatlantic is the answer! Just have to persuade the rest of the family.

Yes apparently no Harwich for 2016 at all.

Maybe because there were 5% less cruisers from the UK in 2014:

http://http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3001732/Cruise-trips-sink-popularity-Number-booking-holidays-fell-80-000-year-people-large-ships-cost.html

Maybe because people would rather go from Venice than Harwich (I think I would!) so they have Jewel there instead of Brilliance in the UK. I had the 12 day Norway and Iceland cruise that they did once a year on my future wish list. I think it will either be 2015 or not at all unless they bring it back one day. (or suddenly announce that Ovation will be in Harwich which I think is vanishingly unlikely)

I agree that it is not that clear which ships do and don't have childcare for the under threes. The best way is to look for a nursery on the deck plans instead of the video arcade next to adventure ocean. I think there is a thing called tots club which is like a play group and parents have to stay which is not the same at all but could be confused for the nursery.

Could Ovation be going to Alaska?

Family Ocean View. (Sleeps up to six with a separate bunk room and just one ordinary bathroom). Navigator have a new one called family Panoramic ocean view which looks amazing! But yes you need to phone in order to get prices and availability.

It's on cruisecal.com

The whole summer with Indy and Navigator from Southampton is listed. As well as Serenade from Copenhagen and Stockholm

Very exciting!

I think I am right in saying that Vision has lots of good views from public areas - part of the point of the name of her class. We did the trip in radiance class and there were views everywhere so perhaps the money would be better spent on excursions, depending if you want to look at the scenery in private or not.

I have done this itinerary in late October and in my opinion it was warm (I am British though so may have low expectations!). There were some beautiful places to arrive at - Venice is the big one - on arrival you want to be on the starboard side. Dubrovnik was another one. Naples with Vesuvius in view. We were in Ocean view and enjoyed all these views from the deck as well as our window. Only you can say if it worth $2000 but I think the reasons you have given may not be so accurate - although it is port intensive as you say.

For Europe then, we seem to have two spare ships and two spare home ports. Is there any possibility that Ovation will sail from Harwich? She is designed for cold weather after all. Or are they going to come up with some completely new routes that they have not done before and drop Harwich? Maybe Vision will be doing the 7 day from Venice runs?

They seem to have split the dates for Europe into two now as well so a bit longer to wait till we have all the answers.

The UK all inclusive offer has changed into a "simply lower prices" spring sale - no big deployment announcement after all.

Which cabins?

It is an unlikely rumour but must be coming from somewhere. - I agree, the pricing definitely put me off Anthem for 2015 especially as a family of 5 with no FOV rooms available.

Oooooo - how soon is soon? The current UK sale finishes tomorrow so I am hoping for some news then. Last year there were e-brochures on the European sailings around 2 weeks in advance of the deployment release. Is that usual? If so again tomorrow is 2 weeks before 16th March so I am hopeful.

Jamie's Italian seating with a view. Not 100% sure how much I like that one - but I expect it would be a nice lunch spot. Bit like a street cafe maybe?