Help to choose a first cruise

[KBs mum]

On 9/15/2021 at 9:50 PM, jimbo1683 said:

Thank you all for your helpful comments and suggestions.

 

I note the recommendation that I find a good local travel agent. I'm not sure how one would do that and there's certainly no cruise specialists where I live. Perhaps Trailfinders or Kuoni might be appropriate, I don't know of others.

 

How do we know we'll like it? Well we don't but we enjoy travel, good food and nice hotels so wanted to give cruising a go. We've been on plenty of ferries and know that we won't be seasick.

 

We will only have 2 weeks time off work hence the need for it to fit into that time. I'd prefer not to have the complexity of flying and my interest is more in northern climes, landscapes and architecture than in the Carribbean. Being from the UK we are very well versed in the Med hence not looking at those cruises.

 

So I've narrowed it down. I'm pretty certain we will take a Princess cruise for a week to Norway and Denmark, but I'm still tempted by NCL's slightly longer cruise to the Norwegian fjords and Iceland. The only part of that I'm not so sure about is the need to fly home and get transport back to Southampton.

Bear in mind that most people on here are US based, so won't necessarily know how UK bespoke travel agents work, or that they have specialist cruise departments. The agents you mentioned are the sort to look for to arrange your holiday, as they are whole of market. They can also do insurance. Viking UK and Saga are ABTA bonded travel agents in their own right. 

I travel business class and get a named contact at the firm we think are best, but as we aren't allowed to recommend an agent you'll have to decide for yourself which path to follow

[Host Kat]

On 9/15/2021 at 3:50 PM, jimbo1683 said:

... I note the recommendation that I find a good local travel agent. I'm not sure how one would do that and there's certainly no cruise specialists where I live...

 

Howdy @jimbo1683 

 

Perhaps something in the Cruise Critic article Finding a UK Cruise Deal will be helpful. Especially the Find a Good Cruise Specialist section. Please note the article's last update was January 8, 2020 so some of the information may have changed since then due to COVID-19.

 

I hope this will be helpful and glad to have you aboard Cruise Critic! 

 

Happy sails,

 

Host Kat  

[John Bull]

8 hours ago, Host Kat said:

 

Howdy @jimbo1683 

 

Perhaps something in the Cruise Critic article Finding a UK Cruise Deal will be helpful. Especially the Find a Good Cruise Specialist section. Please note the article's last update was January 8, 2020 so some of the information may have changed since then due to COVID-19.

 

I hope this will be helpful and glad to have you aboard Cruise Critic! 

 

Happy sails,

 

Host Kat  

 

Hi Kat

 

Whilst most of the advice on that linked article is excellent, there are some very significant inaccuracies. 😮

 

"And remember that, in most cases, deposits are refundable up until the final payment deadline so if prices drop you can rebook at the lower rate or ask for an onboard credit to make up the difference. In such cases, some lines automatically refund the difference or add an onboard credit."

No, no, no !!! That applies to bookings made in North America, but for bookings made in the UK - and from most (all?) of Europe, and from Australia - deposits are forfeit from the moment they're paid. Worse, the contract terms will tell you how much extra is forfeit once interim payments are due if you cancel, even though you may not yet have made those payments.

(Currently there are Covid-related exceptions)

 

" ................... last-minute cruises are generally defined as being up to three months before departure. However, one of the best times is 60 to 90 days pre-departure as this is the final window when customers who have pre-booked can cancel without penalty, leaving cruise lines with a clear idea of how many cabins are left unsold. If the tally is high, expect discounts as the cruise lines try to fill their ships."

Again, incorrect for UK bookings - because there are no penalty-free bookings the best value due to poor booking numbers is generally around 4 to 6 weeks pre-departure, even up to a week or so pre-departure.

 

"(Late) deals are often offered on a cruise-only basis, so while they may seem dirt cheap, unless they are sailing from the UK, there is the flight to consider. If you're booking at the last minute, it may be difficult find air seats and those that are available may be more expensive -- wiping out any saving you make on the cruise price."

Whilst this is true for cruise-only, UK-based cruise lines like P&O and Marella mainly use chartered aircraft (effectively everyone on the aircraft is on the cruise) for cruises which sail from ports in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and elsewhere. So there are the same big late-booking discounts for those under-sold fly-cruises.

 

"Some lines such as Cruise & Maritime Voyages regularly offer "Buy one get one free" deals"

Correct - altho out-of-date. Cruise & Maritime is defunct. And it's worth mentioning that "two for one" is based on inflated prices, so such bargains aren't as good as the enticing promo. 

 

BTW, Kat - naming cruise agents on Cruise Critic is supposed to be taboo.

Yet that Cruise Critic article names most of the major ones. 🤔

 

Happy sailings

 

JB 🙂  

[Host Kat]

@John Bull

 

Thank you for your attention to detail.

 

The message boards & Editorial articles are separate Cruise Critic departments. "Different strokes for different folks." And as as I said, the article has not been updated by the Editors for a long time. 

 

From About Us:

 

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[SteveH2508]

As a heads up to the OP - if you are going to use a cruise specialist, check out their Trustpilot etc. reviews (especially the 1* ones). We had to threaten court action to one of the specialists mentioned in the article, to get our refund after 6 months waiting.

[jimbo1683]

Thanks everyone. Since i originally posted i have booked 2 cruises on different lines. I booked both direct and now looking forward to them next year.

[john watson]

On 9/15/2021 at 9:50 PM, jimbo1683 said:

 

 

So I've narrowed it down. I'm pretty certain we will take a Princess cruise for a week to Norway and Denmark, but I'm still tempted by NCL's slightly longer cruise to the Norwegian fjords and Iceland. The only part of that I'm not so sure about is the need to fly home and get transport back to Southampton.

 

I think Princess will suit you better than NCL as you did indicated an interest in Cunard Grills.  NCL are generally the complete opposite.

 

Regards John

[jimbo1683]

56 minutes ago, john watson said:

 

I think Princess will suit you better than NCL as you did indicated an interest in Cunard Grills.  NCL are generally the complete opposite.

 

Regards John

Agreed. We have gone with a club class mini suite on Princess

[john watson]

39 minutes ago, jimbo1683 said:

Agreed. We have gone with a club class mini suite on Princess

 

Club class will have an elevated menu and other refinements which I think takes you even nearer what I believe your initial requirements were.

 

Regards John

[Sarnia 432]

Our first cruise was with Princess in Club Class, we were hooked!  Enjoy your cruises, which itinerary did you decide on?

[rkacruiser]

2 hours ago, awanderingminstreli said:

First post ...

 

I'm thinking a good first cruise might be a river cruise since there won't be too much motion.

 

Has anyoneone ever know a river cruise where it was too rough?

 

Welcome to a very new Cruise Critic member!  Maybe someone will be able to answer your question.  I have not taken a river cruise, but I can't imagine it being rough whatsoever.  I have seen a few guests sailing out of Port Everglades starting to feel ill before the ship even gets very far in the channel that leads to the Atlantic.  To me, that's ridiculous.  It's more mental than physical, I think.  Or, maybe too much to drink on too empty of a stomach?  Even that is ridiculous if it's a reason.  What do most cruisers do very soon after embarking their ship?  They EAT!  

Edited November 11, 2021 by rkacruiser

[Lois R]

On 11/11/2021 at 1:58 PM, awanderingminstreli said:

First post ...

 

I'm thinking a good first cruise might be a river cruise since there won't be too much motion.

 

Has anyoneone ever know a river cruise where it was too rough?

I have been on 2 river cruises and have a 3 booked for 2022.  Loved them. You might check out the "River Cruise Forum" as there are some very detailed threads on it about the river cruise experience.

My sailings were wonderful.....and both were smooth.