First time - Incredible Bargain or Money Wasted?

[Cankita]

My wife recently came into a small inheritance (I only got to be Executor but, luckily, she's willing to share it with me!). Being past our mid-sixties we have everything we need possession wise and so thought we'd spend it over the next couple of years on various holidays only dreamed of in the past. We had already planned next year to do the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland but have now added a week in the Lofoten Islands and 5 weeks in New Zealand later in the year - a long held dream location. We have long fancied a cruise but cruises are generally quite expensive (and can easily be as much as the 5 weeks in New Zealand) so we have never fancied blowing our annual holiday budget on something we might not enjoy.

 

Cruises have their (well known) advantages but also their disadvantages. The Lofotoen Islands trip started off as a planned cruise with Hurtigruten to see the Northern Lights but photographing the Northern Lights from the deck of a moving ship is well nigh impossible so you would be relying on the (very short) shore excursions and the chances are they wouldn't coincide with the best displays. Flying to the Lofoten Isalnds and staying for a week in a Rorbuer (fisherman's cabin) costs about the same as the cruise and I can bowl out any time of the night to, hopefully, get a photo or two of the Northern Lights reflected in a mirror calm fjord against a stunning mountain backdrop. You can't do that from the deck of a ship. So that planned first cruise went by the wayside. Thehankering to try a cruise still remains though.

 

The main thing that appeals to us about cruising is waking up in a new destination every morning without the effort of getting there. What doesn't necessarily appeal is being on a boat with thousands of other people. We are not social animals and been happy with our own company on holiday for the past 35 years, occasionally accompanied nowadays with our grown up son when he can't afford a holiday on his own, so the though of 'socialising' is not overly appealing. We'd hate to have spent several thousands of pounds in the past on our one and only yearly holiday only to find we didn't enjoy it. It's not that we don't like other people just that all the 'socialising' adds nothing to the experience for us. But still the lure of a cruise remains.

 

So, I was doing the research when I came across a 7 night cruise round the Canary Islands with a side trip to Morocco on board the Thompson Majesty departing on 11th January for just £410 each including flights from Bristol (getting to Bristol adds another £500 in total but that's another story!) and including all tips and gratuities. When you consider that just staying at home costs about £100 a week in food, heating and electricity that's about £700 for the two of us. Seems like a bargain for a week in the sunshine in the heart of winter. I doubt that you'd find a self catering room in Teneriffe plus flights for much less. If we don't enjoy it then it is not a huge amount to lose and it could save us from wasting several thousands later in the year. So it's booked.

 

I realise that the Thompson Majesty is not the upper end of luxury but we don't need that. Usually we go self-catering or hire a motorhome so it will make a change just not having to do the cooking and the washing up, or even make the beds! How will we get on with those thousand or so other people though? That's the question. Still I've been at Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan concerts with ten thousand other people and survived!

 

When we get back I'll put a review in the appropriate category to let other potential first timers know how we got on.

[cb at sea]

A cruise is simply a vacation. You need not make friends with your fellow cruisers..after all, in a hotel, would you hang around with the other residents? You may if you want, but you certainly don't have to!

 

On the ship, you have your own room, and can do your own thing...it's not a big group thing at all!

[Roz]

Believe me, a cruise is not at all like a Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen concert. Go and enjoy yourselves and report back.

 

Roz

[Rala]

You can be as social or as "anti-social"( no offense intended) as you want to be. You can have your own private table for meals and you can always find quieter out of the way places on the ship to read or nap or watch the ocean or whatever suits your fancy. I hope you do take your cruise. I think you will enjoy it. :)

[srlafleur]

I don't mind chatting with fellow cruisers about a shared experience when the opportunity arises naturally.

However, I don't prefer the forced socializing of sharing a table with strangers, so we always select a table for 2.

We just got back from a 10 day cruise to the Panama Canal on a large ship and, truthfully, except for an occasional "hi, how are you?" and exchanging pleasantries as one would anywhere, we really didn't mingle with anyone but each other.

And that was fine.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

We have done over 140 cruises -- stopped counting a few years ago.

We pretty much stay to ourselves. We prefer tables for 2. And since we do like to stay to ourselves, we don't consider ourselves to be anti social.

Go and have a great time. Soak up that sunshine from the cold area where you live.

[jocap]

You'll be fine...whilst Thomson cruises are very friendly, you needn't be involved...you can sit on the sidelines and watch! There's absolutely no reason why you should interact, nor join in the many activities, but you will learn from this cruise that passengers on cruises, for some reason, are extra friendly and enjoy chatting. We had a week in Sharm el Sheikh before our Thomson cruise, and found that on the whole people didn't mix; we stepped onto a Thomson cruise and within 30 mins, a waiter knew us by name!

Enjoy this lovely break...you don't think you're on a top class ship, but think of constant food, entertainment, pub priced drinks and no tipping...how classy is that? :D

And your bed's made for you...:cool:

[donaldsc]

Sounds like you have a wonderful wife and a wonderful plan. Go for it. Do stuff that you never thought you would ever do.

 

DON

[Cankita]

Wow, I never expected so many positive responses! If we can get a table for two like Sue (and Larry) that will suit us fine. Quite happy to be polite and say a few hellos but the thought of small talk over a table of 8 is not for us! If that happens we'll just have to have pizzas on deck!

 

Just a pity that Bob Dylan is not going to be there!

[George C]

Wow, I never expected so many positive responses! If we can get a table for two like Sue (and Larry) that will suit us fine. Quite happy to be polite and say a few hellos but the thought of small talk over a table of 8 is not for us! If that happens we'll just have to have pizzas on deck!

 

Just a pity that Bob Dylan is not going to be there!

 

I would sign up for cruise for Dylan, you have great taste in music, enjoy your cruise, we also normally go for table for 2, but have had lots of fun at the larger tables

[MOcruiserman]

A cruise doesn't have to be super-expensive. We've booked inside cabins exlusively and have been very happy with them. There are so many nice things to do on a cruise we find we spend minimal time in our cabins (nightime and perhaps an afternoon nap).

[jocap]

Something else about Thomson which you won't find on many fly cruises...you're in their hands from check in at Bristol until check out back at Bristol again. You'll be on a Thomson 'plane, and at the end of your cruise you just stay on the ship until your aeroplane has landed...this means you can use all facilities except your cabin, until often into the afternoon...this doesn't happen with many cruise lines, who want you off the ship in the morning, even if your flight isn't until evening!

All of that, plus no tipping and pub price booze...I reckon you're on to a winner! ;)

[cruiseonthebrain]

My wife recently came into a small inheritance (I only got to be Executor but, luckily, she's willing to share it with me!). Being past our mid-sixties we have everything we need possession wise and so thought we'd spend it over the next couple of years on various holidays only dreamed of in the past. We had already planned next year to do the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland but have now added a week in the Lofoten Islands and 5 weeks in New Zealand later in the year - a long held dream location. We have long fancied a cruise but cruises are generally quite expensive (and can easily be as much as the 5 weeks in New Zealand) so we have never fancied blowing our annual holiday budget on something we might not enjoy.

 

Cruises have their (well known) advantages but also their disadvantages. The Lofotoen Islands trip started off as a planned cruise with Hurtigruten to see the Northern Lights but photographing the Northern Lights from the deck of a moving ship is well nigh impossible so you would be relying on the (very short) shore excursions and the chances are they wouldn't coincide with the best displays. Flying to the Lofoten Isalnds and staying for a week in a Rorbuer (fisherman's cabin) costs about the same as the cruise and I can bowl out any time of the night to, hopefully, get a photo or two of the Northern Lights reflected in a mirror calm fjord against a stunning mountain backdrop. You can't do that from the deck of a ship. So that planned first cruise went by the wayside. Thehankering to try a cruise still remains though.

 

The main thing that appeals to us about cruising is waking up in a new destination every morning without the effort of getting there. What doesn't necessarily appeal is being on a boat with thousands of other people. We are not social animals and been happy with our own company on holiday for the past 35 years, occasionally accompanied nowadays with our grown up son when he can't afford a holiday on his own, so the though of 'socialising' is not overly appealing. We'd hate to have spent several thousands of pounds in the past on our one and only yearly holiday only to find we didn't enjoy it. It's not that we don't like other people just that all the 'socialising' adds nothing to the experience for us. But still the lure of a cruise remains.

 

So, I was doing the research when I came across a 7 night cruise round the Canary Islands with a side trip to Morocco on board the Thompson Majesty departing on 11th January for just £410 each including flights from Bristol (getting to Bristol adds another £500 in total but that's another story!) and including all tips and gratuities. When you consider that just staying at home costs about £100 a week in food, heating and electricity that's about £700 for the two of us. Seems like a bargain for a week in the sunshine in the heart of winter. I doubt that you'd find a self catering room in Teneriffe plus flights for much less. If we don't enjoy it then it is not a huge amount to lose and it could save us from wasting several thousands later in the year. So it's booked.

 

I realise that the Thompson Majesty is not the upper end of luxury but we don't need that. Usually we go self-catering or hire a motorhome so it will make a change just not having to do the cooking and the washing up, or even make the beds! How will we get on with those thousand or so other people though? That's the question. Still I've been at Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan concerts with ten thousand other people and survived!

 

When we get back I'll put a review in the appropriate category to let other potential first timers know how we got on.

 

I am a complete introvert- but I love to cruise. We get a balcony room- usually a suite- so I have a place of my own away from the crowds. I also have always been able to find quiet little nooks throughout the ships to curl up and read a book on my own. I hope you enjoy!

[ozscot01]

We recently came back from

Our first cruise and you will find your own level of socialisation. I'm pretty much a loner, my husband much more gregarious and we both relaxed. There are many options to socialise if you wish, and just as many to keep to yourself. I found myself chatting briefly to others but was easily able to extricate myself when I'd had enough. You'll find those who want to socialise in large groups find each other, and will happily leave you to yourself.