Help me plan our first cruise

[Justlurking8]

Hello,

I need some help please. I would like to take my 80 year old on a cruise. Just the 2 of us. It’s always been on her bucket list, she loves being on a boat/water.

We’ve never been on one. They’re so expensive, I want to get it right. This might be the only cruise we do.

There are so many options!!! So far I’ve narrowed it down to Tui (as gratuities are included & I want to know upfront how much it’ll cost). Thinking about a week or so in Sept/Oct, when it’s not too hot.

1. Iconic islands (Greece)
2. Norwegian fjords
3. River cruise eg Danube

My mum loves nature/animals. Neither of us are interested in sunbathing/pools. Entertainment isn’t really important. I think we need a room with a balcony to enjoy the views. She’s in good health, but can’t walk for ages, and hilly areas are challenging.

Would one of these options be better than the others? Are there other factors we need to consider? Ideally around 3K but would pay more for the best experience.

Am grateful for any tips/advice you’d like to share. Thanks!

I wouldn’t like to be on a smaller ship as you’d be flung together a little bit more (but then I prefer not to be that sociable on holiday). Plus I’d be worried about ship stability as I get sea sick. The Saga cruises sound good and I’ve heard Azmara is excellent too. Iglu cruises are specialists.

@Dilemma999 They have stabilizers! Plus we have 2 dining areas and tables for 2 if you want. There’s two main areas for “socialising” and a quiet library for reading. There’s the deck areas in good weather. So loads of room for 90 people. Plus cabins have seating on very comfortable sofas, a triple wardrobe, super king bed and lots of space. Most people have a chat with others though and it’s just a nicer experience - but much more expensive.

Having done 2 SAGA cruises, I can say that we (both late 60s) were not the youngest! People aged 50+ can travel with them and a 50+ passenger can take a 40+ companion, too.

They're an excellent product and what you get is excellent - They're the only line we've sailed with who don't take a credit card swipe up front because you don't have to pay for anything further.

Azamara are very good - smaller ships with a 'country club' atmosphere, excellent food and alcohol, gratuities included.

I think Saga cruises include insurance.

They do, though if you already have annual insurance, they knock a bit off your cruise price.

Marella is TUI

We have done a number of cruises, all with P&O so far but have celebrity booked for 2028.

Going from Southampton is so straightforward and would probably make sense of anyone going has any mobility issues at all.

Norway is incredible and cruising is such an amazing way to see the country. We did 2 weeks to Norway and Iceland on Aurora which is adults only (except during school holidays now) and we are going on Iona soon to Norway for a week.

P&O do great fly cruise packages where flights, transfers etc are all included and it’s a very easy process but flying is always a pain and personally I wouldn’t want to do it for a week anymore!

Marella do great itineraries but very port heavy, I do like a sea day to balance things out. I don’t like too many sea days though so although we have been to the canaries from Southampton, we wouldn’t do it again. One sea day at a time is my limit. Something to consider if you are going from Southampton.

Yes I did this cruise with P&O in May on Iona. The scenery was fantastic but be aware that you would likely need to book excursions via coach if your loved one can’t manage hills and too much walking. They are plenty available but add into the cost. You can disembark at ports and do your own thing but there are steep bits. P&O are very good but don’t know much about others although I heard that even though Saga can be pricey they are very good for accessibility as they cater for the older market.

Saga are pricey but everything is included. There are no hidden extras and tours are included in the price.

Yes, we go with P&O every year, Southampton to Southampton. So much better than flying.

I think saga is a lot cheaper than Hebridean Sky. I just don’t want to be with hoards (thousands) of others all in a relatively small port. If you want 100
passengers it does cost a lot more than a bigger ship but only your bar bill is extra and many stick to the wine as it’s included!

I'm going on my first cruise next week. We're going with my parents who have been on 12 P & O cruises over the past 10 years. We're going on the Ventura which is cruising down to Spain to see the Total Eclipse on 12th August.

Not sure if cruising will be our thing, but only one way to find out.

I took my parents on P& O Aurora. It's a smaller older ship but might be less overwhelming for your mum. Staff were lovely.

Thanks everyone. I’ve booked P&O Norwegian fjords. A deal breaker was our own balcony. It seemed a good starter option to see if we like cruises.

I don’t think I can book Saga, as I understand they require the lead traveller/booker to be 50+.

I loved the idea of smaller cruise ships, but they also cost a lot more and I’m not sure yet if we like cruises enough to justify it.

V excited about the trip! Thank you for all the tips and suggestions :)

We love P&O.

Which ship are you on?

This is a useful FB group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1297950644019341

@Justlurking8 Congratulations on booking

Make sure you complete the onboard needs questionnaire as soon as possible. P & O are really helpful, particularly on embarkation and disembarkation days, Don’t underestimate the standing and walking on embarkation - having a wheelchair for your Mum will help her.

If you are going to Flam make sure you book the Flam railway - sit on the right hand side of the train I.e. as it looks up the hill.

In Stavanger the hop on hop off bus is good.

A balcony is great as you can watch the scenery as you sail in the fjords.

I think that's the beauty of cruising - there's a ship and a cruise line for all types.
I would hate a small ship, as I prefer the relative anonymity of a larger ship (I'm pretty antisocial on holiday!) So I like larger ships, and usually will sail larger NCL ships, due to the relaxed atmosphere, lack of dress code, included drinks package, no table sharing unless you choose to etc.

But I totally understand that some people prefer smaller ships with a more intimate environment. I think sometimes people may try cruising and decide it's not for them - and it may well be the case - but sometimes I think it's just that they haven't found the style of cruise that suits them yet.

My mum loved Saga for the freedom it gave her in her 80s. She was picked up at the door, taken to the ship, helped onboard, and looked after like royalty all week. She had fairly limited mobility - just used a stick, but couldn't manage stairs or tenders - but the ships were easy to move around, and she would sit on her balcony, or on deck, and watch the world go by. She rarely got off at ports, but liked the changing scenery. It really was an easy, wonderful way for her to travel independently as she got older.

I like Ventura.

I think there was only one first time Hebridean sky couple on the cruise we’ve just done. Many are returners. However it’s definitely an older demographic! It rained a lot so balconies of limited use but when I took mum on P&O years ago, we had great weather in May. It’s very variable. Sitting on the decks as you sail up a fjord is wonderful though.

I agree that a railway trip is good but there’s other really interesting places to visit.

If you go on the Flåm railway, it stops halfway up at a magnificent waterfall. There’s a lady in a red dress dancing about halfway up, she’s something to do with the trolls. Also, getting off for the veiw is a total bunfight, so be prepared. Don’t let it put you off though as it’s a magnificent train journey.

Great thread! My MIL wants to do a cruise next year for her 80th 😊

@MustTryHarderAndHarder the Arvia ship

@Kirschcherries is a wheelchair necessary? My mum would be horrified, she’s fiercely independent and has been known to still occasionally run up escalators at tube stations. Moderate activity is fine for her. It’s just hilly areas and a whole day of walking that might be too much for her.

Will look into the suggested FB group.

I need to look into the excursions and plan those, v exciting :)

@Justlurking8 I joined a Facebook group specifically for my cruise, you just search using your cruise number.

Are you going to dress up for the formal evenings. I've bought 2 cocktail dresses for our cruise. DP isn't impressed as he's got to wear a suit on those nights plus to get into the main dining restaurant (not buffet) he's also got to wear trousers and a shirt. He's not happy about this at all.

This is why cruising may not be for us, but maybe a different cruise line would be less formal.

@BG2015 I’d like to do the formal night as I NEVER get to dress up. But will see if my mum is up for that, she prefers casual wear.

Thanks for the FB tip!