Cruises, cheap, good companies?

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Ive always said I wouldnt do a cruise, did a really nice one in my 20s in Egypt but dont really like the all inclusive nature of the idea, we're quite free spirits

But OH has found Seascanner and the prices look quite reasonable and I suppose I am attracted to going somewhere without flights, I think he started to get ads on Saga!!!

So far over the last couple of months Ive had all sorts of options Ive been saving on my airbnb wish lists, Portugual, Spain, France, Pondicherry, havent booked anything for early next year yet

So now he has presented this as an option. Im sure there are other booking sites but this is a world im not au fait with.

Any advice, I want something where it goes to Spain and France I suppose or thereabouts, leaving from perhaps Tilbury or Southampton, a week at a time, not too pricey obviously. We dont need all the bells and whistles of entertainment and slot machines that isnt our bag

Th eother thing which might sound silly is that we cant eat very much, we have very small appetites, so wouldnt be able to take advantage of all the food and drink on offer and I dont want to get ripped off with the costs which might include all that.

We have only done P&O if you are not going with children the adults only ships are the smaller ships with a chilled atmosphere, thats Aurora and Arcadia. You only have to book the speciality restaurants which we didn't have any issues with. P&O seem the most reasonably priced too and many cruises go from Southampton which is a big plus for us. If you book select fare you can choose fixed or freedom dining so can choose a table for 2, otherwise if you choose saver fare its pot luck what you get. You just have to work out if the benefits of select fare are worth the cost.

P&O scrapped the completely adult only cruises on Aurora and Arcadia last month. Certain trips will allow children now as there are so many multi- generational families now cruising. It has caused consternation.

I've been with RCI Indy, all of the P&O ships except Aurora & Arvia and Cunard. Cunard is undoubtedly my favourite, but certainly not cheap. Britannia would be my second choice.

Oh if it’s the CPS parking for £100 then yes, you’re right!

I think MSC are great value for money, but I haven't cruised with any other lines to compare, partly because the price is so good. I'd put it at a decent 4* hotel level, it's not mega luxury, but you can pay for extra perks by choosing an Aurea level room.

We nearly chose MSC for our recent cruise as the itineraries are always good. However, the fact that you had to book the flights separately put us off!

Duplicate post.

We did a fly cruise with them this summer, they don't offer it on every cruise but they are available.

Which ports did you stop at please? When I was looking to book last summer (about a year before departure), only the cruise part was available for the itineraries I was thinking of.

@TutTutTutSigh @buzzybuzzybees (hope I’ve got the right people) I’m looking at MSC for next summer but some of the reviews about pushy Europeans put me off a bit. Are there many English speakers passenger wise? I personally don’t care but DS will want to make friends at kids club and had a bad experience at a club med style holiday where everyone except him was French.

Marella isn’t actually cheap, don’t sale from uk and it’s not butlins! P and o is the cheapest option usually if you don’t want drink included and have reasonable drinks on board. Portions in the main restaurant are not that big and you don’t have to order all 3 course plus take bread, the buffet is easily avoided.

we choose Marella usually because is fuss free, my bill at the end is zero, other lines they expect tips, there’s a bar bill and you pay for transfers

On the Med cruises it's majority European guests. Obviously the Southampton ones will be mainly English. We don't mind it but could be trickier for sociable kids, but I'm sure they'd manage, there are lots of organised games/sports and the staff announce them in about 4 languages.

Look at MSC we have been on a few cruises the last one being with them, they go from Southampton. We had ten days going round the canaries and Portugal was really lovely. The holiday is what you make it you can join in with activities or not, get off the ship or not, dress up or not entirely up to you. Ignore any negative comments about cruising and like butlins on the sea, it’s expectations v reality and a lot of snobbery too, it’s great to see so many places on one trip and have a completely different experience to other holidays.

I've done many cruises and here's my take.

Marella - great for smaller ships and mainly UK people. It is not Butlins on sea! Still great dining and entertainment.

MSC - Fantastic new large ships but service/food can be hit or miss. If you know that, it's fine. I still cruise regularly on them as the price is usually great.

Royal Caribbean - Love them! The new ships have so much to do onboard. Food is generally very good as is service.

NCL - very similar to Royal Caribbean. Just with both, check how old the ship is as the older ones are smaller and less to do onboard.