Booking after a ship tour question?

[dritan]

Hi all

 

I had just returned from a lovely cruise a few weeks ago to find a letter from P&O inviting us to attend one of their Southampton ship tours.

 

We have a VERY boisterous toddler who loves boats - We feel he is too young to go on a proper cruise but this was the perfect solution. It will be his 3rd birthday pressie too.

 

However, as time approaches, I'm wondering if this marketing ploy will work and hubby will decide that he really DOES want to have a cruise in Sept/Oct after all ( he wasn't on my recent cruise). I'm semi hoping that our son will be an angel and love it so much that hubby will decide we can go for it.

 

My question is this: our visit is at the start of July - is it unrealistic to expect to book a quad inside cabin this close to a Sept sailing? Does anyone have any experiences with this? Or would we be best to just look at next May/June?

 

Of course, this is all conjecture that hubby will be overwhelmed by the visit - so fingers crossed:D

[cruiseluvva]

Hi all

 

I had just returned from a lovely cruise a few weeks ago to find a letter from P&O inviting us to attend one of their Southampton ship tours.

 

We have a VERY boisterous toddler who loves boats - We feel he is too young to go on a proper cruise but this was the perfect solution. It will be his 3rd birthday pressie too.

 

However, as time approaches, I'm wondering if this marketing ploy will work and hubby will decide that he really DOES want to have a cruise in Sept/Oct after all ( he wasn't on my recent cruise). I'm semi hoping that our son will be an angel and love it so much that hubby will decide we can go for it.

 

My question is this: our visit is at the start of July - is it unrealistic to expect to book a quad inside cabin this close to a Sept sailing? Does anyone have any experiences with this? Or would we be best to just look at next May/June?

 

Of course, this is all conjecture that hubby will be overwhelmed by the visit - so fingers crossed:D

 

You could try doing a dummy booking on-line to see if there are any family cabins left which may help you make a decision.

 

Does your invitation to the ship's tour extend to your son? In my experience it is at a fast pace with a lot of talking from the guide and I do wonder if he would find it rather boring.

 

Enjoy it if you accept and good luck with persuading your husband.

[dritan]

You could try doing a dummy booking on-line to see if there are any family cabins left which may help you make a decision.

 

Does your invitation to the ship's tour extend to your son? In my experience it is at a fast pace with a lot of talking from the guide and I do wonder if he would find it rather boring.

 

Enjoy it if you accept and good luck with persuading your husband.

 

Thanks for the tip - will give it a go.

 

Yes - it is a specific family day so the children play in the children's club area whilst you do the tour and then you meet up again for a family lunch.

[berlingo]

In my experience it has always been a bit of the luck of the draw with getting a four berth cabin. We have up until this year always booked at the last minute and managed to get a really good deal on a four berth. People (travel agents!)will try to scare you into booking early by saying how there is limited availability on these cabins, that they sell out quickly etc. Given that you are looking to go out of school holidays you may well be lucky and get something in September.

 

My advice would be to shop around and be as flexible as you can with ships, dates, destinations. Also do not assume that your budget will only stretch to an inside cabin. Often there are deals for earlier and later dates when you can get huge reductions for third and fourth passengers in a cabin. With these it is often possible to get higher grade cabins for only a little more but you need to ask. i usually start by looking at the teletext pages, getting the best price I can and then phoning round to see the best deal I can get.

 

By the way I am sure you will have a great visit. My parents who were very reluctant cruisers did a visit last year and are now off on their first cruise next month! If they can be persuaded then anyone can!

 

Happy cruising.

 

PS I am sure you know already but inside cabins extra beds are pullman types so not sure if your little one would be OK with these?

[BrianI]

Hi Glenda

Four berth cabins are not usually released for two occupants until all two berth cabins are sold, as they like to retain them for families who may come along later. Thus you have a better chance of getting a four berth than a two berth. Also in September the schools will have started back so there will be minimal children on board and thus not a great demand for four berths. Often the late bargains start to become available around the time people have to make their full payment -56 days before departure.

July, therefore, would be an excellent time to book for September.

I would suggest you start looking at potential cruises now and narrow down your options, and current prices, so that when the time comes you are able to move quickly.

By the way you usually get a better deal by using a cruise specialist travel agent rather than a high street one.

Brian

[dritan]

Thanks everyone for your input - you're getting me all excited. But yes, I do have my eye on a Ventura cruise at the start and one at the end of September and it seems they both have inside 4 berthers still available.

 

Also regarding the pullman beds, we would probably take our travel cot. I slept in a pullman on my last cruise and slept like a baby ( pardon the pun!)

[BrianI]

Glenda,

The only other problem is that children are split into four age groups. P&O have a limit on each age group and once that limit is reached, they will not let you book even though a four berth cabin may be available.

However there are unlikely to be many children in September although there could be quite a number of preschool age children, which may affect you.

Brian