Lurcher wrote:

We are looking to book a cruise out of Southhampton next May , Cunard "Queen Elizabeth"/P&O "Britannia"/Royal Caribbean "Independence of The Seas" have sailings with date we have in mind .

Any feedback on these ships ?

Thanks

We went with Royal Caribbean " Splendour of The Seas " back in 2001 and enjoyed the experience , found it quite relaxed and we avoided the formal dinner attire which suited us .
The packages now include the option of including drinks/tips in the inclusive price . FL2 gone now in 2016 Discovery 4 Loire Blue .

We had inclusive tips on a RC cruise and basically, it was a book of pre printed vouchers (one marked cabin steward, one marked head waiter, one marked table waiter etc) that you gave to the staff members at the end of the cruise where I suppose they saved them up and cashed them in. Thing is, nothing's for free and you do pay for them somehow BUT our cabin girl was a lazy bitch and didn't even come into our cabin for two days and the days she did, she might not have bothered. Used the wife's perfume too! We complained and got a free bottle of bubbles at our table that night and a grovelling apology from her. If I was giving cash tips, I'd have kept my money in my pocket but, as I'd 'paid' for them and I didn't give them to her (I chucked 'em), she didn't get anything so on that occasion I had 'paid' RC and they made on the deal because the vouchers weren't cashed in! Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Having seen one of these monster ships I decided that I didn't want to go on holiday in a floating block of flats with a theme park attached. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

That about sums up the larger ones perfectly.  Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Lurcher wrote:

We are looking to book a cruise out of Southhampton next May , Cunard "Queen Elizabeth"/P&O "Britannia"/Royal Caribbean "Independence of The Seas" have sailings with date we have in mind .

Any feedback on these ships ?

Thanks

What ever "floats your boat " we have been cruiseing for a few years now started on the oars worked are way up to the drum beater ...

Tried several companies Thompson ,P+O, Cunard, R C they all have there own thing , def not like the Supersize ships ... not a cat in hells chance of going on those .
the one we have done the most on has very very few children , we like the formal nights cost me a fortune in new dresses (for the wife ) and she has developed a taste for the different cocktails (more expence ..!!)

BUT in the end it is WHATEVER SUITS YOU is the right one for you if you enjoy people watching great holiday and you can do it all day and all night with a drink in your hand as well
BUT BE AWARE SOME COMPANIES CHARGE AUTO GRATS PLUS 15% ON EACH DRINK ...!!

LOOK ON SOME OF THE DIRRENT FOURUMS FOR ADVICE ( CRUISE CRITIC) IS A GOOD ONE THEN CHECK EACH CRUISE LINE THROGH THEM VERY HONEST REVIEWS ...

Enjoy

(deep wallets or 2nd 3rd job for the wife a better idea ..)  Wales
Were the mud is thicker, and the ruts are deeper.
(And we have the water to wash it off, and more on the way..! )
Sd4 and chrome Ar*e piece, Auto box for best fun
09 Xs Gone
12 xs Gone
HSE with Leather seats and 4 years warrenty.. staying for now !

iain cooper wrote:

thanks Martyn, will look into the options re drinks packages, etc

need to think about the formal dining scenario, not really my cup of tea, but I suppose it's part of cruising.

Iain

Some companies give extras away if you wear a Kilt ... SERIOUSLY ... also extra discount if work for NHS or are ex-services not widely publicised BUT ALWAYS ASK !! 5% or more off

got to find my welsh tartan for the next cruise  Wales
Were the mud is thicker, and the ruts are deeper.
(And we have the water to wash it off, and more on the way..! )
Sd4 and chrome Ar*e piece, Auto box for best fun
09 Xs Gone
12 xs Gone
HSE with Leather seats and 4 years warrenty.. staying for now !

Thanks for that link mudslinger , very useful lots of negatives on the IOS Royal Caribbean ship which we are considering , mainly about the passengers  FL2 gone now in 2016 Discovery 4 Loire Blue .

Well we saw our friends last week and they wanted to go on a 14 day cruise from Southhampton so we booked with Cunard QE for Spain & Italy next year .
Any view on travelling via train from Manchester to Southhampton Central on the morning of Cruise departure ? , its 4.10mins direct cross country line .
An early train would get us to Southhampton 11.45am (if no delay) , boardings would be after 12 throughout the afternoon .

Missus works at a school so earliest we could get a train day before would prob be 6pm onwards . FL2 gone now in 2016 Discovery 4 Loire Blue .

iain cooper wrote:

Hi Steve, flies to Malta to pick up ship, then tour of Greek islands and Turkey, then back to Malta to fly home.

we went to Malta about 40 years ago, and would like to see it again.

would like an outside cabin with balcony if possible.

Iain

Thread resurrection! How did the cruise go, Iain? We're off on a med cruise in August. 7 days, fly to Malta, then P&O Oceana to Italy and Croatia.

This prompted me to look up some old pictures of our very first 'cruise'. At the time a 3 week cruise home from South Africa was cheaper than a one-way airfare. Here’s a pic of me being alllowed to steer the ship (nothing around for 500 miles so fairly safe).



I bet you couldn’t have a go at doing that nowdays! Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Where’s your mate ? You know the one, him in those adverts 118118 FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

iain cooper wrote:

. . .we went to Malta about 40 years ago, and would like to see it again.
Iain

Spent a week in Valletta last year and loved it - small enough to walk pretty much everywhere, albeit hilly
Believe it's the Capital of Culture this year so no doubt a lot of stuff going on, if you get the time



Just realised your post was dated 2016, you'll no doubt be long home by now

Yorky Bob wrote:

Where’s your mate ? You know the one, him in those adverts 118118

That made me laugh - that actually is my wife and kids nickname for me (118118) whenever the old photos come out.  Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Are you sure your mates aren't from the YMCA

 FL2 now gone and have a couple of items left for sale:-

Brodit active iPhone holder + Brodit dash clip,
Bluetooth Music Streaming Module.

Currently on our cruise at the moment, just leaving Dubrovnik. Have to be quick, getting out of cell signal range but bloody fantastic so far.

 Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.