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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU about a 6 grand cruise?

80 replies

Dandelionsmakeyouwee · 14/06/2016 17:52

Spent all yesterday and today looking for holidays and have found one with P&O cruises. 8 nights around the Caribbean, in a suite which apparently has butler service! Plus all the other cool things such as kids club and night time nursery for my 3 year old.
Also get £550 to spend on board.

We haven't been on holiday for nearly 4 years, am I being unreasonable to want a 6k holiday? even if it's just 8 nights? I probably am aren't I :/

OP posts:
Philoslothy · 14/06/2016 18:59

Cruise are ideal family holidays, we have taken our brood on quite a few. Check that you have included tips that could add a significant amount of money to your trip.

6k is a good price.

Royal Caribbean tend to be more family friendly than P&O in my experience. I assume it is a fly cruise, cruising from Southampton is even more laid back as you just walk on board but that means you need at least 2 weeks and it can limit your destinations

Puzzledandpissedoff · 14/06/2016 19:01

I love cruising, but that's a hell of a lot of money for a week on P&O ... for that kind of cash you'd get 7 nights on Regent with absolutely everything included, which really would be special

Have you done much research yet? There are so many ships in the Caribbean that they're almost at capacity and I'd be very surprised if you couldn't get two weeks for that price if you waited, or sailed on another mainstream line

FlouncyMcFlounceFace · 14/06/2016 19:03

Check out topcashback too. if you book online clicking via top cashback it's around 4% back.

The onboard spend is not always valid on everything so it's worth checking how much it'd be worth to you.

Tips are automatically added to your account but optional. Usually, a set amount x pounds per adult per night.

It's also worth checking the itinerary carefully because some of the excursions are £££.

If you google search before you go you can usually find really good alternatives days out that may be more appropriate for a 3-year-old.

OlafLovesAnna · 14/06/2016 19:07

Sounds awesome and not bad value.

Do it!

KissMyArse · 14/06/2016 19:09

If you wait for the saver fare I don't think you get the £550 to spend on board. That only seems to apply to select fares.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 14/06/2016 19:12

Oh, and if you get to St Lucia, seriously consider booking a tour with Cosol www.cosol-tours.com/

Please trust me on this; there's a very good reason why they get the kind of reviews they do Smile

FlouncyMcFlounceFace · 14/06/2016 19:13

You also don't get first option on seating arrangements at dinner. so if a table for 2 (assuming you'd use the night nursery) is very important for you then you may not get this option on the saver fare.

Dixiechickonhols · 14/06/2016 19:23

Disney cruise was great (only done 4 night Bahamas so far) They win lots of awards as best cruise line. Adult only areas, spa was heavenly and great kids clubs staffed by lots of enthusiastic English staff. Food good and everything spotless.

nocoolnamesleft · 14/06/2016 19:28

I probably wouldn't spend that much for 1 week on P&O...but it depends what you want/what you can afford. And cruising is absolutely the best, most relaxing, way to holiday.

ScreenshottingIsNotJournalism · 14/06/2016 19:29

YANBU because its managable financially for you

YwouldBU to spend £100 on a weeks holiday if you didn't have that £100 and it would leave your family short.

It's all relative to what you can sensibly manage, go for it! enjoy! And I say that as someone who couldn't even dream of spending half of that on a holiday Smile

BabyGanoush · 14/06/2016 19:33

Go for it

Personally I cannot think of anything worse than being on a cruise ship (I imagine it as a council estate/prison/block of high rise flats floating on the sea (so you'd be locked up as well as seasick, as well as scared (have you seen Titanic?! Grin )

My kind of hell, but if it's your kind of heaven and you can afford it just do it.

LowDudgeon · 14/06/2016 19:35

DH & I just spent £2500-3000 (haven't added it all up yet) on 2 weeks in Corfu & apart from 4 nights in a relatively expensive apartment in Corfu town we were slumming it pretty much.

£6000 for what you describe actually sounds like an amazing bargain, even if there will be extras on top, & as it's effectively your honeymoon as well you should definitely do it Flowers

HermioneWeasley · 14/06/2016 19:35

Does that include flights, transfers to the port etc? Also, you'll probably need some accomodation either side depending on flight times.

But if you can afford it and want to do it, then book it and enjoy!

HermioneWeasley · 14/06/2016 19:36

Oh, you'll need to pay for drinks and tips onboard

Dc3name3 · 14/06/2016 19:41

We spent that amount last summer for two weeks around the med on the Azura. I got food poisoning (not sure where I picked it up- no one else was ill) so it was a very expensive week confined to my cabin. I was totally sold on cruising before. Now, not so much.

ScreenshottingIsNotJournalism · 14/06/2016 19:43

Personally I cannot think of anything worse than being on a cruise ship

Me neither, the environmental impact is horrific. The staff are a "captive audience" to their treatment on board. My idea of hell. Even if it was free.

cavkc123 · 14/06/2016 19:43

You will be able to use your onboard credit towards drinks and tips

Whilst tips are not compulsory the vast majority of cruise passengers pay the suggested gratuity. It's sort of the done thing (God that sounds stuck up ... I'm not really). The daily rate suggested is per person, including children.

That said, I don't actually think it's a bad deal, if you can afford it then do it.

There's a forum called on the cruise critics website that will give you loads of info if you have any questions before you go

Handsoffmysweets · 14/06/2016 19:49

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request

SmellyTelly · 14/06/2016 19:49

if i could afford it I would go 6k is a lot though to me dont know about your finances

pearlylum · 14/06/2016 19:57

Another one that would run a mile from a cruise. I wouldn't go if it was free either.

I don't baulk at the price, but for that money you could get an amazing holiday without spending the week trapped in a steel bulkhead.

LadyLayLay · 14/06/2016 20:02

Personally I cannot think of anything worse than being on a cruise ship (I imagine it as a council estate/prison/block of high rise flats floating on the sea (so you'd be locked up as well as seasick)

Me too Grin

AnotherUsernameBitesTheDust · 14/06/2016 20:04

Cruises never appealed to me, and then I went on one. As I went without my children it was a completely relaxing holiday. I loved it.

Anyway OP, YABU. £6000 is far too much to spend on yourself for a cruise. Be charitable and send me instead. Wink

GabsAlot · 14/06/2016 20:08

its up to u if u can affford it

tbh i think the butler service is a waste of money u dont spend hardly anytime in your cabin so theres no point and all the food is included

get a cheaper suite without the butler service

Original poster
Dandelionsmakeyouwee · 14/06/2016 20:16

I think I need to show DH this thread as he doesn't believe it's good value. He hates that it's only 8 nights (which I agree is a bit naff) however, I just want a holiday where I can put my child into night nursery, sit back and enjoy my evening meal.

I am now tempted to look at the Disney line though, which would mean we wouldn't be able to go in December.
I did look at the saver option, it did knock quite a bit off in all fairness, closer to £5k than 6.

I obviously haven't done in depth research into excursions as I can't seem to find a nice cruise (besides this one) so far.

OP posts:
Philoslothy · 14/06/2016 20:39

You are not trapped on board, most days you get off and explore, that is the point