Which Line?

[Sir Cumference]

I have been very loyal to P&O until now but, as a result of my last cruise am now seriously considering moving my loyally to another line - but which one?

 

My criteria is:

(a) Small - comparable to Aurora but no bigger than Azura/Ventura

(b) Sails from Southampton

(c) Uses sterling as on-board currency (via card) - not a deal breaker

(d) Offers Club (or set) dining

(e) Adult only - again, not a deal breaker

 

Please advise me:-)

 

Many thanks

[Harry Peterson]

18 minutes ago, Sir Cumference said:

I have been very loyal to P&O until now but, as a result of my last cruise am now seriously considering moving my loyally to another line - but which one?

 

My criteria is:

(a) Small - comparable to Aurora but no bigger than Azura/Ventura

(b) Sails from Southampton

(c) Uses sterling as on-board currency (via card) - not a deal breaker

(d) Offers Club (or set) dining

(e) Adult only - again, not a deal breaker

 

Please advise me:-)

 

Many thanks

I'm not sure that it hits all the criteria for you, but had you considered SAGA? 

 

A very different, considerably superior, offering to P&O (more like the P&O of yesteryear in some ways) but admittedly at rather higher prices.

[wowzz]

I agree with Harry - Saga is your best option. Some cruises depart from Dover, but as you have private transport to the port, this shouldn't be a problem.

[paulatsea]

11 hours ago, Sir Cumference said:

I have been very loyal to P&O until now but, as a result of my last cruise am now seriously considering moving my loyally to another line - but which one?

 

My criteria is:

(a) Small - comparable to Aurora but no bigger than Azura/Ventura

(b) Sails from Southampton

(c) Uses sterling as on-board currency (via card) - not a deal breaker

(d) Offers Club (or set) dining

(e) Adult only - again, not a deal breaker

 

Please advise me:-)

 

Many thanks

Saga - has it all .

[LondonLad60]

Definitely Saga.

[LondonLad60]

13 hours ago, Sir Cumference said:

I have been very loyal to P&O until now but, as a result of my last cruise am now seriously considering moving my loyally to another line - but which one?

 

My criteria is:

(a) Small - comparable to Aurora but no bigger than Azura/Ventura

(b) Sails from Southampton

(c) Uses sterling as on-board currency (via card) - not a deal breaker

(d) Offers Club (or set) dining

(e) Adult only - again, not a deal breaker

 

Please advise me:-)

 

Many thanks

Without wishing to pry, may I ask what happened on your last cruise that has prompted you to look elsewhere?

 

Bob

[paulatsea]

I an curious as well .

[Host Sharon]

Saga or Fred Olsen.

[davecttr]

29 minutes ago, paulatsea said:

I an curious as well .

His profile indicates the Ventura xmas cruise

[paulatsea]

1 hour ago, Host Sharon said:

Saga or Fred Olsen.

Fred don’t do adults only any more 

[wowzz]

1 hour ago, paulatsea said:

Fred don’t do adults only any more 

Can't imagine many people would want to take children on a Fred cruise !

[paulatsea]

34 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Can't imagine many people would want to take children on a Fred cruise !

Yep ! Been on 2 where there were some - looking bemused and bored - also some babies.

 

They used to have several dedicated adults only cruises - but not any more.

 

I don’t want take the risk !!

[Britboys]

Sailing from Southampton and on a smaller ship really limits your options. As others have said, Saga and Fred Olsen. If you would include Portsmouth as a departure port and have a significant budget, Viking and Oceania have a very limited number of itineraries from there.

[welshy74]

There is a new British cruise line launching in April - Ambassador cruises.  However the homeport is London Tilbury, not Southampton.  Other than that its Fred Olsen which has already been mentioned.  

 

[Britboys]

7 minutes ago, welshy74 said:

There is a new British cruise line launching in April - Ambassador cruises.  However the homeport is London Tilbury, not Southampton.  Other than that its Fred Olsen which has already been mentioned.  

 

That crossed my mind too but thought it might be too far from Southampton...

[Sir Cumference]

Thank you all so much for your suggestions. I will explore further SAGA, Fred Olsen and the new Ambassador lines.

 

Thank you again!

[Son of Anarchy]

16 hours ago, welshy74 said:

There is a new British cruise line launching in April - Ambassador cruises.  However the homeport is London Tilbury, not Southampton.  Other than that its Fred Olsen which has already been mentioned.  

 

Thanks for posting.  Just had a quick look, some interesting itineries.

[paulatsea]

19 minutes ago, Son of Anarchy said:

Thanks for posting.  Just had a quick look, some interesting itineries.

I had a look as well - the ship is quite old and I don’t think there are that many balconies - about 40 - but worth a look. 

[gsmt47471015]

Ambassador are a reboot of cmv which went bust, owing quite a substantial amount of money I believe, older ships at a budget price .Saga have all new ships but come with a premium .Fred are somewhere in between 

[Fionboard]

New Saga ships look lovely. All balcony, even singles, and small so more friendly and can go where big ships cannot. Very expensive but may be worth considering.

[wowzz]

11 minutes ago, Fionboard said:

Very expensive but may be worth considering

Actually, if you normally book a cabin and enjoy a drink or three, Saga are not that expensive, but you need to book at launch, with the 35% discount.

[wowzz]

14 minutes ago, gsmt47471015 said:

Fred are somewhere in between

I've always found Fred to be more expensive than Saga for balcony cabins. 

[paulatsea]

9 minutes ago, Fionboard said:

New Saga ships look lovely. All balcony, even singles, and small so more friendly and can go where big ships cannot. Very expensive but may be worth considering.

Im going on saga end of August - I have delayed and rescheduled  it twice in the last 2 years so hopefully this time it will work !

 

a couple of my friends went last November and said it was brilliant - they had never cruised before and we’re hesitant about cruising and holidays in general due to covid but decided it was the safest type of holiday due to everyone being vaccinated and tested etc. in fact they were the anti cruise types previously due to the usual misconceptions about what it’s like. They are now hooked and have booked 2 more !

[paulatsea]

2 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Actually, if you normally book a cabin and enjoy a drink or three, Saga are not that expensive, but you need to book at launch, with the 35% discount.

Yes that’s what I did 😊 included private car to the ship and back !! Brilliant 

[paulatsea]

Just now, paulatsea said:

Yes that’s what I did 😊 included private car to the ship and back !! Brilliant 

It’s now £500 pp more than it was when I booked - for 7 days - so yeah book early with saga.