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

Cruise recommendations

47 replies

Fullofquestions1 · 20/04/2025 20:05

Thinking of booking a cruise for our next holiday, as this will be our first cruise was thinking of western Mediterranean one so fairly short just incase we don’t enjoy it.

Has anyone got a recommendations? Does which ship we go on matter?

OP posts:
Spankmeonthebottomwithawomansweekly · 21/04/2025 10:09

CraftyGin · 21/04/2025 09:01

We've been on several Marella cruises, including the Mediterranean. The Western Med generally in Spain, France and Italy. For us, that was flying to Palma, then stops in France, Italy. They generally have two itineraries going, so you pick the places you really want to see. The ships are medium-sized - plenty to do on board, but small-enough to get into most ports without using tenders.

Marella is an all-British clientele, so the entertainment and food will be catered likewise. It can be as relaxed or as formal as you like. We tend to be on the more formal side, and there are plenty of people like us. Likewise, if sunbathing on the pool deck and eating at the buffet is your thing, you'll be in good company too.

My friend said she liked the fact that the entertainment didn't need to be in 4 languages, it all felt more natural

EveryOtherNameTaken · 21/04/2025 15:03

pandora206 · 20/04/2025 22:52

I think Marella is a good introduction to cruising as a lot is included. Their Adriatic cruise is lovely but not Western Med. If you've not been to Rome, Florence, Barcelona, etc. then I'd recommend starting there but definitely not July/August and to choose a balcony cabin (Look at deck plans and avoid any below/near bars, theatre, kitchens, etc).

Why not the Westerm Med?

FitAt50 · 21/04/2025 15:21

Here to recommend Celebrity, they are fantastic. Been on Cunard (pricey and full of posh pensioners) and MSC (amazing value but huge ships and attracts the low end of the market. I would never do MSC again despite it being about half the cost of Celebrity.

Zanatdy · 21/04/2025 15:35

Our first cruise we did in 2019 with TUI. It was very relaxed, and it included drinks package in the price. Food was amazing, we loved every part of it. Would definitely recommend.

samarrange · 21/04/2025 15:36

Which cruise line matters enormously. Some are like Butlins and some are like the Ritz. Sometimes the passengers are 100% Brits, sometimes 70% Americans, and some lines are aimed almost entirely at Germans or French people. (The TUI brand aimed at Germans names its ships "Mein Schiff 1", "Mein Schiff 2", etc, just in case you were about to get on it accidentally.)

That said, if you are the kind of traveller who doesn't want to interact much with other people or overhear their conversations (DP's ears twitch a lot when other Brits are around, and I would not have a good time on a cruise where they assign you a table if I was sitting next to the kind of British man who calls his friends "squire" or makes borderline racist comments) then we found Aida to be pretty good. Not too expensive, informal, good food, almost everyone is German (but the crew are all Filipino/Indian/Indonesian and all speak English), nobody complains, and they have proper saunas (ooh, we do like a good sauna).

If you are a family then also look at MSC, which is a Swiss/Italian line. Not the poshest, passengers from all over Europe (so the shows are a bit "multilingual"), lots of stuff for kids, really good pizza available something like 20 hours a day.

Most lines don't include drinks (other than water with meals), so you have to decide what "package" to take. In our experience these are only worth getting if you either really knock back the booze (or the speciality coffees if you take the non-alcoholic package), or if you get a good price to bundle the package in when booking. If you buy it when you get on board you can pay $45 per day for the basic alcohol package, and the drinks a la carte, while not cheap, aren't usually extortionate either.

Fullofquestions1 · 21/04/2025 16:59

Thank you for all the replies. It’s given us lots to considered. I hadn’t heard of some the companies so will be looking at them too. Really appreciate people taking time to respond.

OP posts:
mondaytosunday · 21/04/2025 17:06

Hated P&O, enjoyed Celebrity. I recommend Norwegian Fiords. The Med trips seem full of those party party people. Norway was great and we booked good trips, though we were unlucky with the weather (August is definitely autumn there).

Overhaul54 · 21/04/2025 17:19

I would go a full week cruise as the shorter two night ones are more booze cruise.
P&O, MSC and Mariella are cheaper and good for a first time. I loved MSC. I liked P&O too but that was pre COVID and standards have dropped ( on all lines really).

Pick s good itinerary. Check on a website which ports are the easiest to get around. Italian ones tend to be far from the advertised destination ie Rome or Pisa. French ones are better., Málaga and Alicante are good in Spain

Cabins tend to be very similar. Balconies are good for smell reduction and drying things but do look at deck plans. If you get one in shadow, facing the wind you may regret it.

JustFeedMeCake · 21/04/2025 20:20

Celebrity are the best, their cruises are absolutely wonderful! We loved Celebrity Apex, a stunning ship. Amazing service, fantastic food, nothing to fault at all. We first used them last year and are going again this year and have booked next year too.

Timetodownsize · 29/04/2025 13:49

An thinking of booking a Celebrity cruise around Iceland as I've always wanted to see there. Is it best to book direct or via a travel agent ? And are the excursions good?

Timetodownsize · 29/04/2025 13:50

Was also considering Fred Olsen but a bit concerned about the demographic - we're in our early 60's but don't feel specially"old"

Feelingstrange2 · 02/05/2025 10:28

They are but we went with children on FO and loved the ships as they were like ships, with promenade decks, not blocks of flats. And we had a table for our family and enjoyed the ports. Who else was on ship didn't bother us to be honest.

RaisingABabyBell · 17/05/2025 08:16

We've done Carnival and Royal Carribbean, both excellent. P&O is a slightly older crowd, very simple food, but good value. Heard good things about TUI if you're willing to fly, and MSC are good on a budget!

ChompinCrocodiles · 17/05/2025 08:27

Celebrity are the best, their cruises are absolutely wonderful!

My experience is fairly limited but I agree with this. I've been on a Celebrity and a P&O and Celebrity knocked absolute spots off P&O in terms of food and service.

I couldn't fault a thing on Celebrity. The service from every single staff member we encountered was outstanding. The food (even the buffet) was amazing. We had the cheapest balcony room we could get but you're treated like absolute royalty, by everyone.

We're quite chilled and always polite but we had a couple of really poor examples of service on P&O with extremely rude staff. P&O was our second cruise so it was a total shock to the system in how different it was to Celebrity. And P&O's pool service 'system' was a shambles, people were legitimately waiting an hour for drinks. The food was fine...that's about it. But nothing to write home about.

I'd still do a repeat voyage on P&O because we did enjoy, but it would be very much dependent on the price/destination and with appropriate expectations. Wheras i'd jump on a Celebrity ship for a couple of nights just to spend them at Port it was that good 🤣

CharlieChaplin99 · 20/01/2026 15:55

Did you get yiur cruise booked OP and did you enjoy it?

Everyone else we thinking of booking a fly cruise with either Marella, Celebrity or P & O for either May 2026 or Oct 2026.

Who and how do people book with to get the best deal and also advice regarding which cabin to choose and can you add on any trips on board or at a later date? Thinking of either the western med, Adriatic or three seas cruise.

Thanks

CrystalSingerFan · 20/01/2026 16:14

Timetodownsize · 29/04/2025 13:50

Was also considering Fred Olsen but a bit concerned about the demographic - we're in our early 60's but don't feel specially"old"

I'm a Fred Olsen fan and am 66. I didn't find it a problem (and we enjoyed their Fjord cruise.)

We've also done the Hurtigruten trip from Bergen to Kirkenes and back and that was awesome. (Although they're not JUST a cruise experience, which you might find livelier and 'younger'). Check them out.

Maidenjourney · 20/01/2026 16:36

CrystalSingerFan · 20/01/2026 16:14

I'm a Fred Olsen fan and am 66. I didn't find it a problem (and we enjoyed their Fjord cruise.)

We've also done the Hurtigruten trip from Bergen to Kirkenes and back and that was awesome. (Although they're not JUST a cruise experience, which you might find livelier and 'younger'). Check them out.

Which of the two did you prefer and why?

CrystalSingerFan · 20/01/2026 16:45

Maidenjourney · 20/01/2026 16:36

Which of the two did you prefer and why?

Tough call, but probably the Hurtigruten as it was just so different to the Fred Olsen experience,

We went in April and the spectacular scenery got snowier and snowier as we went North. We enjoyed the variety of the stops, and the comings and goings of the ordinary Norwegians using the ship as a ferry to visit their granny, or return to Uni orhave some triple-glazing delivered. Oh and the food. And the staff.

The Fred fjord cruise was super: you can't beat the scenery, and the Flam railway was brilliant. Plus we sailed from Southampton, which I prefer. But Hurtigruten wins.

Maidenjourney · 20/01/2026 16:49

CrystalSingerFan · 20/01/2026 16:45

Tough call, but probably the Hurtigruten as it was just so different to the Fred Olsen experience,

We went in April and the spectacular scenery got snowier and snowier as we went North. We enjoyed the variety of the stops, and the comings and goings of the ordinary Norwegians using the ship as a ferry to visit their granny, or return to Uni orhave some triple-glazing delivered. Oh and the food. And the staff.

The Fred fjord cruise was super: you can't beat the scenery, and the Flam railway was brilliant. Plus we sailed from Southampton, which I prefer. But Hurtigruten wins.

Ah that’s interesting. Thank you. How did they compare cost wise?

CrystalSingerFan · 20/01/2026 17:07

Maidenjourney · 20/01/2026 16:49

Ah that’s interesting. Thank you. How did they compare cost wise?

Hurtigruten will be more expensive. But worth it IME.

A quick Google waffles about comparisons: "Prices vary wildly; shorter [Hurtigruten] segments might be comparable to a standard cruise, while full voyages (e.g., 12-day round trips) are premium". Plus, for the record, Norway is eyewateringly expensive anyway.

Chickenwing2 · 20/01/2026 17:12

royal carribbean gets my vote- outstanding entertainment options!

Kyogo67 · 20/01/2026 17:18

Can’t recommend Virgin cruises enough . Amazing food and entertainment and great itineraries. The price includes your à la carte restaurants , wifi etc. you just put credit on your bar tab for drinks which are not that unreasonable . They usually have great offers and it is a fun non stuffy cruise. Service is great and a nice mixed crowd but broadly 35 -60ish and quite fun. We went wine tasting in Tuscany, had 24 hrs in Ibiza, enjoyed the amazing gym, went to a few party nights in the nightclub, watched bands, attended drag queen karaoke etc. It’s really fun but also lots of lovely quiet spaces and intimate bars to chill

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