Never cruised? Want to find out more? Join Royal Caribbean International for a day on board Oasis of the Seas in Southampton: MNers needed for day on Wednesday 15 Oct NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We have been asked by the team at Royal Caribbean to find 20 MNers to join them onboard their ship – Oasis of the Seas - in dock in Southampton on Wednesday 15th October. Goody bag to be had!

Royal Caribbean say: "We are delighted to welcome one of the world's biggest and most innovative ships to Southampton in October for a one off event. We know there are lots preconceived ideas about cruise holidays and we would like to show you what a holiday with Royal Caribbean is really like by inviting 20 Mumsnetters who have never been on a cruise before to come onboard to see for themselves and discover the seven incredible neighbourhoods, each home to countless unique activities and experiences. From this we ask you to capture and share your experiences and feedback to us at the end of the day."

This is a day for adults only, with regret no children are allowed on this occasion. We are looking for folks who have thought about but never been on a cruise before. Maybe there's something small stopping you from booking a cruise for you and your family or maybe you have a perception of what a cruise would be like?

If selected you will...

~ Join the ship in Southampton dock at 11am (along with some MN bloggers)
~ Receive vouchers to cover all food and beverage
~ Have the opportunity to experience various activities on board including child and adult focused activities, vitality and dining.
~ You will be asked to review the whole ship and part of the day will be organised - part of it will be free time for you to explore - with another MNer or in small groups.
~ You'll need to join a round-table discussion at the end of the day with the Royal Caribbean team to share your experiences and thoughts.
~ At the end of the day there will be dinner and drinks for all.
~ You will depart the ship at around 8.30pm and as an extra special treat for those who need/ want it you can have a night in a hotel in Southampton to sober up in order to be refreshed and ready to face the next day!
~ Receive a goody bag (contents to be confirmed) to say thanks from Royal Caribbean

Note: with regret, Royal Caribbean are unable to pay travel costs to get to and from Southampton. However, there is free parking available (with short coach transfer to the ship) and as a token of thanks and in lieu of travel costs every MNer who attends will be sent a £50 Amazon voucher once they have added feedback as required.

In return we need all attending MNers to:

~ Make a video diary of the day on your own smartphone and email the footage back to MN after the event - these videos will be edited and used on MN and by Royal Caribbean. It will be hosted on YouTube and used on social media, MN and possibly elsewhere. Please only sign up if you're willing to do video on board.

~ Attend the end of day debrief with Royal Caribbean.

~ Add feedback (with photos you've taken on the day) to a thread on MN.

Please note quotes from the thread as well as from the day, along with your photos and video may be used by Royal Caribbean on their website, on their blog, on social media and possibly elsewhere: please only apply if you're happy with this.

If you'd like to apply to attend and can make that date (Wednesday 15 Oct) and stay for the required time (11am – 8.30pm) please add your details on this form and we will be in touch with selected MNers asap. We will also run a reserve list.

Thanks and bon voyage
MNHQ

What exactly is a video diary? Would we just be videoing as we go around or is it more like the Big Brother diary room thing? This would be so perfect as I want to go on a cruise but am worried about coping with health issues on the ship.

I can not enter either but have cruise with my DC 6 times on 5 different Cruise lines and really recommend cruises for family holidays. Each day is different and there is loads to do at sea and at port.
I enjoy the mix of sightseeing, sunbathing and chilling and trying new activities.
I like lots of different holidays and will try anything once. I didn't really know what to expect regarding cruises but found it great fun and enjoyed being really pampered from the moment I arrived at the dock and our suitcases were taken care of to our last breakfast sitting out on our balcony.

Is it just me that is worried about the safety thing too? Ds is 13 and dd is 9 so am not so worried about them lobbing themselves in as such but I do worry about a strong wind!! Did people who have already been feel anxious about the kids or very safe? Having never been on one (or actually seen a big ship close up) I'm not really sure what the boundaries are like.

You would have to be pretty determined to go overboard to stand any chance. No way it could happen accidentally.

If the wind is particularly strong they close the decks, but they have very solid railings, it would be pretty hard to go over. They take safety very seriously, they have to have a full muster drill before setting sail in which every single person on board must register at their muster point. Children they are given a wrist band with their muster station number on so that if there was an emergency and they were not with their parents they would know where to go or be guided by staff, your muster station is also on your pass which you carry as it is your room key / charge card / boarding pass. Mine are 10 and 8 and we let them go places round the ship without us this summer, they were absolutely fine once they'd got their bearings (same as us).

Poo. We've cruised but only ever on Cunard and would love a look round a TC ship. We utterly love cruising and recommend it to anyone.

I felt the same about safety before I first went on a cruise. The first one I did was from L.A when my DC were nearly 9 and 10.5 and I remember being on the plane and thinking oh no what I have I done, I have flown half way round the world to get on a ship and the DC are going to fall in the sea. As soon as I got on board I could see safety was the number one concern and wasn't at all worried.

Oh that's interesting. It's odd that it's me who's worried about that as dp is normally the one lecturing the kids about be careful etc. Is the muster point the access for lifeboats too? Presume there's enough for everyone (not titanic style!)

Yes. I can only talk for p and o but they use things like the theatres where in case of emergency you have to go to your cabin collect life jacket and meds and go to the muster point. You would then sit in the theatre so they knew where everyone was and if needed you would be evacuated from there.

And yes lots of lifeboats plenty for everyone onboard. They use them for tender ports and they are quite spacious and covered (no toilet though so I wouldn't like to have to use one in an emergency situation!)

RahRahRasputin - video diary is videoing your visit to the ship and then to camera entries too.

thanks to everyone who has applied and also to those who have answered queries about cruising!

Blast. Would love to do it but have cruised before. Bum!

All done! Totally forgot kids were not allowed to come then mentioned bringing them on the form! Doh! ! AnnMumsnet please scrap that comment! Thanks! :)

AWESOME - I would totally love this!! I've been trying to convince DP that we need a cruise, but with 3 kids plus us two it's £££ in the school holidays... hopefully seeing the ship in person will convince him that it's worth the money - or better yet, that his mother should look after the kiddies and we go away just us two!! hehe... Pick Me! Pick Me!

Actually, that is a question - I can't see anywhere that it says partners are included, so are the invites for just the MNer selected or do they each get 2 tickets?

Oh this is such a tease! Me and dh cruised on the Oasis for our honeymoon last year... I'm dying to go back on, pleeeeease AnnMumsnet ?!

Please be aware that the people staffing the ships are in 'bonded labour' which is outlawed in the uk, but because the ships are registered abroad they get away with unethical labour contracts.
The people have to pay their fare, uniforms and medical expenses, so they have to work for free before they earn any money.
If you go on a cruise you are propping up this unethical form of business.

Rats! I'm far too far away to justify the expense of a day trip to Southampton! Sounds great though.

MissSusanStoHelit - its one ticket
idleweiss - will amend your form
and sorry PotatoPolly they're looking for newbies!

Carbon footprint of a cruise ship is per passenger, approx triple that of a Boiing 747, mile for mile. They also discharge massive amounts of sewage and waste into the sea. Environmentally the industry has a terrible record.

I forgot to add that it's my birthday on the suggested date so would be nice. Can you add to my form mnhq so I can go for the sympathy card.
I danced on cruise ships years ago so I've never seen it from a customers point of view.

Done. I like the idea of finding out more.

Can we bring husband/children to the event?

Aaah I'd love to do this! Always wanted to see what a cruise ship is like....

SlayerKat - no it's just for MNers.
And done ledkr

DH is desperate to persuade me to go on a cruise, this might actually tempt me (or send me running a mile!). He keeps bringing home brochures and trying to tell me I won't be seasick/get norovirus/feel trapped! Crossing fingers, Southampton would be so easy to get to.