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Iglu cruises - Oct half term to Hamburg no fly

3 replies

TooTiredToType77 · 02/09/2023 11:58

Does anyone have any experience of this cruise? Never been on a cruise before. Would love to go with just me and 14yr old daughter in her school half term. Is it suitable? Not just a booze cruise full of pensioners! I would love the ease of not flying, seeing a couple of new towns, entertainment on the ship, not having to cook!! Would it be restrictive if DD can't go to over 18yr old restaurants or bars? Any tips??

https://www.iglucruise.com/iona/21st-october-2023_c290747

Northern Cruise Break from Southampton, 21 October 2023 | 7 Nt | Iona | 21 October 2023 | P&O Cruises | IgluCruise

https://www.iglucruise.com/iona/21st-october-2023_c290747

OP posts:
cherryassam · 02/09/2023 12:05

Iona is a great boat and is likely to be a mix of families and older people. There are lots and lots of venues, if I remember the adult only venues were two of the smaller clubs / bars - there was still plenty of choice of places to eat / get a drink / watch entertainment / listen to music. There are not tonnes of facilities specifically for teens as there are on some boats though.

Curlybrunette · 01/10/2023 14:25

We did this cruise last February and loved it. It was our first cruise and didn't know what to expect, we went with our DSs, aged 15 and 16.

It didn't have a booze cruise feel to it, though there are lots of different bar areas, but didn't see anyone that seemed drunk. There's an Irish bar called Brodies which showed sports so occasionally was a bit of shouting when one team scored but I certainly didn't think it was 'rowdy'.

Some people say Iona is too big, it holds over 5000 people but again (having nothing to compare it to) I didn't ever feel it was too crowded. There's the buffet restaurant which was busy at peak times but I think all buffet restaurants have a slightly chaotic feeling to them!

There are also the MDRs (main dining rooms), there are four of them and each meal time all the MDRs serve the same menu, but the menu changes each night so if you go to a different one it's like eating in 4 different restaurants.

They have music and comedians on every night, and there was only 1 night we couldn't get a seat, but we got there almost as the act started (the ventriloquist guy from BGT!) so could have planned better.

I have 2 more cruises booked now, I thought I'd enjoy it and did, loved waking up in a new place and loved the itinery of this cruise. Bruges was our favourite place.

Might be worth you pricing it direct with P&O, we got loads of free on board credit, not sure if you get that with Iglu?

Also another tip, take sandals/flip flops/sliders etc. I thought as it was winter, to northern Europe I'd be cold, so only had my winter boots, gym trainers and heels for the nights with me. On the sea days and when wandering about the boat during the day I constantly had boiling feet, drove me potty. The boat is warm inside even when chilly outside. I should have thought about that!

CoolShoeshine · 01/10/2023 17:54

I haven’t been on that ship but have travelled with p and o and other cruise lines and in school holidays they generally have a nice mix of ages, often kids, parents and grandparents travelling together but always plenty of school age children in family groups. They do have kids hang out clubs if your kids are interested in mixing with others. My kids were alway happy in the bars doing quizzes, playing pool and watching live music. They also loved hanging around the pool area and watching movies on the outdoor screen.
From my impression p and o don’t tend to get rowdy drunks, possibly because their drinks package is renowned for being the worst value so most people pay as they go for drinks.
it’s very easy cruising from Southampton, much more chilled than the airport.

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