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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Special holiday for next year...all inclusive somewhere lovely

18 replies

Becaroooo · 19/03/2011 09:30

...dh and I turn 40 next year and would like to have a nice holiday (i.e. one where I dont have to cook and clean!!!) for us and our 2 sons (who will be 9 and 3 by then)

My ds1 wants to go on a cruise and I have been looking at a med cruise on Independance of the seas - but I have read some not so good reviews about it...i.e. full of older, rude people and how expensive the drinks are etc etc The cabins also look VERY small.

We have never gone all inclusive - even pre dc - and am worried that there wont be much choice re; food and the children will need activities. We are not big drinkers so free rinks all ay isnt really a selling point for us.

I love Italy, but would like to be near the coast. France would be fine, also spain.

We are going to Menorca this year in a self catering villa.

We would like to go in June next year if possible...doesnt matter when.

Thanks!

OP posts:

tulpe · 19/03/2011 13:45

How about Sardinia? If you want to go all-inclusive, the south coast has some lovely hotels and the beaches are caribbean-esque.

Original poster

Becaroooo · 19/03/2011 13:47

ooohh, hadnt thought of there...thanks!

OP posts:

geordieminx · 21/03/2011 11:28

We went on voyage of the seas last september. We had the basic cabin, and it was small, but we only have ds, who was 3 at the time. Tbh when we first opened our room I was and a bit gutted, thinking we were gonna have a rubbish holiday, but the storage is amazing, so it was easy to put all of our stuff away.

Honestly, we had the best holiday ever. From start to finish it was amazing. Food, service, locations, entertainment, people we met. Absolutely everything was first class.

We bought a soda card which gives unlimited soft drinks for about $40, you can buy a similar beer / wine one.

The food was amazing, the choice, and selection was overwhelming, and was always really high quality, not normal buffet stuff. The main dining room was fab, you get allocated a table, usually other people, which is a lot nicer than it sounds, usually similar to yourselves, with children same age.

Kids club looked fab, although we didn't use it.

Entetainment was great too. Loads of talks, seminars, shows, music.

Original poster

Becaroooo · 21/03/2011 11:50

Hi Geordie.

Well, had a bit of a shock this morning as I got a call from the trvel agent and Thomas Cook have cancelled the holiday we were supposed to be going on in 8 weeks time to menorca!!!

My ds1 will be so upset

We wont get a cruise at this late date I dont think...any ideas?????

OP posts:

geordieminx · 21/03/2011 12:08

I would hove virgin crusies a call, there might be availability. Would def recommend royal carribean or Norwegian Epic.

They were really helpful with us last year, and have access to all sorts of deals... Oh and the price is negotiable

EssexBecca · 22/03/2011 12:44

We went on a RC cruise on Navigator of the Seas and I didn't like it I'm afraid. It was at maximum capacity and the queues were awful, lunchtimes in particular were a real bunfight to get anywhere to sit. Not for me though perhaps better in June (we went October half term). The cabins are very small for a family of 4 - would have to be adjoining cabins or a suite to feel any sense of space. Cabin reminded me of a caravan.

I second Sardinia and add Corsica to the options - both perfect in June.

re: this year - that is bad luck but 8 weeks time is really off peak so a good chance I would think that you'll get something else that's good - maybe even a bargain. Good luck!

WinkyWinkola · 22/03/2011 14:41

Does it have to be a cruise? We went to Thailand last year. Stayed in Le Meridian on Phuket which weirdly was really not that much more expensive than an all inclusive in Europe

Free kids club (fantastic) and really great food. We booked through Virgin.

Original poster

Becaroooo · 25/03/2011 18:08

Thanks guys - sorry its taken me so long to get back to you...laptop crashed on monday afternoon...had to cancel our bank cards...everything..sigh.

Really interesting re: views on criuses.... we were looking at RC Independance of the seas but I have come to the same conculsion as some of you...i.e. very small cabins, long queues etc...not for me!

Looked on the MN travel reviews and have booked a week at the Oceania Club in Halkidiki in June.

First time we will have gone All Inclusive so am a bit nervous but excited too

OP posts:

wheresmywaist · 25/03/2011 18:14

I know you've already booked but we loved Independence of the seas, we went in December (2 adults, ds1 12 & ds2 7) The kids clubs were excellent and the choice of food was huge - will definitely go again :)

geordieminx · 25/03/2011 18:31

The cabins were small, but after the first 24 hours it wasn't an issue. We went tbe first week in sept and never had to queue for anything.

Original poster

Becaroooo · 25/03/2011 18:34

hmmm...ds1 wants to go next year

Maybe he will get his way!

On Tripadvisor, there are as many bad reviews as good ones....I guess it depends when you go?

Would a smaller ship be better in that regard?

Sorry to ask so many questions but I have never been on a cruise before!

OP posts:

geordieminx · 25/03/2011 18:56

I think even the best hotels in the world have good and bad reviews, and I thi nk if you have a bad experience you are nore likely to write Bout it, then if you have z good one IYKWIM.

Have a look on cruisecritic.co.uk there is a wealth of info on there. WE were on voyager of the seas which is one of the biggest ones. I fanny the one with the flow rider next.

Original poster

Becaroooo · 25/03/2011 19:04

They seem amazing, I agree.

dont really like boats

OP posts:

geordieminx · 25/03/2011 20:18

No, I wasn't fussed at first... Thought I would be sick before we even left the dock... But it's all good.

wheresmywaist · 26/03/2011 10:19

I would go with a bigger boat, you don't feel a thing - the flow rider was brilliant and the rock wall, I didn't do them as I'm a wuss but the kids loved them. It's just so safe, my 12 year old made friends and was off with them the whole time, getting back to the cabin at stupid o'clock in the morning and moaning if we asked him to spend time with us!! You don't spend much time in the cabin, just to rest really and the darkness/cozyness mixed with the fresh sea air all day sends you to sleep in minutes. :) It's pretty cheap too, for the 4 of us it cost £1800 for 11 nights, visited spain, portugal, madeira, tenerife & gran canaria - and we didn't spend much on board at all as everything was included apart from the alcohol.

Original poster

Becaroooo · 26/03/2011 16:43

Can I ask what time of year you went WMW??

OP posts:

wheresmywaist · 26/03/2011 18:14

We went on 10th Dec - 21st Dec just gone it was just busy enough I don't think I would want to go peak season as it would be busier - like any AI resort I guess. We were on Deck 7 which was the same deck as the library :)

DaydreamDollyisshrinking · 31/03/2011 22:23

We've been to the Oceania Club in Halkidiki, it's lovely. You'll have a great time. Kids club looked fab (we didn't use it as we went just before I fell pregnant with DD) and the entertainment was good in the evenings. Food & rooms nice too and lovely pool area. I'm pretty jealous! Have a great time.

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