cruises...

milo · Guru

cruises...

jimbo · Guru

Yah! My wife and I a few years ago...If I could'nt have snorkeled it would have been a let down...The food is too much Wish I had of had been on a diet

Benwerrin · Veteran Member

They are sensational and the best holidays ever for me. It really depends on yourself though, you have to indulge, mix and participate to get the full enjoyment from them, if you are a shrinking violet I could envisage them being quite boring, otherwise the amount of people that you meet and get to know is remarkable, moreso than caravanning (imho) as you have access to over 1000 people at will so to speak.
After several cruises, I find that these days, I don't even bother to get off on the shore stops unless the port has something to offer that I want or I haven't visited the place before and it looks interesting. There is just to much to do and fun to be had onboard.
Regarding your father, ensure that you are not going on a 'party' cruise or a special age type trip as these can Attract a lot of teenagers and younger passengers, most basic cruises cater for all ages and people of older and mid range ages are well covered and you get whatever you wish to get from it. The entertainment and things to do are both excellent and well organised.
Good luck, I am sure that you will enjoy it

-- Edited by Benwerrin on Monday 10th of January 2011 11:13:14 AM

-- Edited by Benwerrin on Monday 10th of January 2011 11:16:08 AM

didiaust · Veteran Member

G'day Milo

Hubby & I have cruised almost every year . We are not "flash" cruisers and usually only have a modest outside cabin( no balcony or suite). We have cruised on many of the P&O ships but the Yanks have won us over and the past 2 cruises have been with Royal Caribbean on Rhapsody of the Seas. We much prefer this cruise line and it will take a lot to get us back on P&O's books. The only thing with RCCL is that the currency on board is US$ so its great when our dollar is on par or near.

There is a website/forum called cruise critic - there is a P&O part that discusses all cruise lines leaving Australia and there is a RCCL and many other cruise lines

We love cruising - its the very lazy holiday - the biggest decision "what to eat"

Any more questions just fire away

I am off to Tamworth for 10 days from Wednesday or Thursday so won't be on line while I am away "boot scooting"

Di

didiaust · Veteran Member

Benwerrin wrote:
"Regarding your father, ensure that you are not going on a 'party' cruise or a special age type trip as these can Attract a lot of teenagers and younger passengers, most basic cruises cater for all ages and people of older and mid range ages are well covered and you get whatever you wish to get from it."

Good point re youngsters. We find the shorter cruises attract a younger crowd. RCCL have had less youngsters on both cruises we did - 11 & 12 days

Di

ozjohn · Guru

We enjoyed a 14 day cruise last year with P&O.
Can't praise them highly enough. They delivered everyhting they promised and more.
The meals in the buffet were cetainy acceptable and as much as you wanted.
The meals in the dinning room were fantastic.
had breakfast every days and a slad roll for lunch every second day in the buffet.
Other lunches and dinner each night were in the dinning room.
Most cruise liners have set eating time and your either in the early or late time slot for dinning rooms. In most cases you even sit with the same people each time. Bit of a bugger if you dion't like them.
P&O had 'Anytime Dinning'. Just roll up at the dinning room and they seated us with two minutes on tables of eight. Each time we ate it was with different people, so we really got a diverse lot. Only ever struck the one coupe twice in the 14 days.
Cabin was spotless, roomy and had a large flat screen LCD TV. and the whole crew were fantastic.
As for all the stories about the teens etc. Well we hardly struck any as they diddn't rise until after lunch. Spent their afternoons by the rear pool with the other young people then disappeared until around 11pm as we went to bed. They then partied in the night club all night.
And the little kids are well taken care of with two kids clubs onboard. The only time we got to see them on any numbers was in the Buffet.
Previous cruise was with Princes, but we found that the majority were middle aged to old. Not having many kids and teens etc onboard made it somewhat sterile.
All in all I would recommend P&O to anybody and will certainly cruise with them again.
Cheers, ozjohn.

PS> Do you need a couple to carry your bags? LOL.

Benwerrin · Veteran Member

I also had a great trip on the STAR CRUISE line from Singapore, infact it was hard to beat, we flew to Singapore and spent a couple of days there then cruised the tranquil whisper quiet 'straits of Malacca' visiting some nice exotic but quiet Asian stopovers...it was a beautiful cruise in high class surroundings and superb cuisine at a reasonable all up cost. Superstar Virgo depats from Singapore, the others from Malaysia and Hong Kong, but with travel so cheap now, the deal is a real goer.
Actually with todays dollar so high, it would be a very cheap option, the food and facilities of this line is outstanding.
Have a peruse of their site for future reference, I can recommend them...

http://www.starcruises.com/newweb/about_starcruises/default.aspx

valnrob · Guru

Hello Milo, I'm going on my very first cruise 6 Feb. It's a P & O cruise to New Caledonia, Vanuatu and a couple of small islands. I am so looking forward to it. I am going with a girlfriend cause hubby didn't want to go. It is a very cheap affordable holiday, $1,500 cause it is all inclusive. Only have to pay for drinks if you want them. I enjoy people's company young or older so are looking forward to a great time.

milo · Guru

thanks every one, its definatly on the cards,
and a lot less expensive than going to europe etc

any one else feel free to post about cruises

Gerty Dancer · Guru

And another advantage of a cruise is that you dont have to worry about him driving Milo! smile

Friend of our went on a couple of cruises with Princess, they highly recommended it but a bit exxy for us. hmm

DellieMay · Senior Member

Agree with all Milo. Can't comment on other liners, but found P&O great. Go and Enjoy.
Cheers Dellie

Sheba · Guru

Don't forget you don't have to eat in the Formal dining rooms Milo. Personally, I prefer eating in a more casual atmosphere, and you usually have a view.
Even doing from Brisbane to Southampton via Suez a few years ago, [ That's a great trip for Shopping ], I wouldn't eat downstairs. Another reason is I found it too claustrophobic
Took a friend on the Cruise you're maybe doing Valnrob [is Pentecost on your Itinarary ?]. Had a great time watching her face. By the time we docked back in Brissy, all of the crew new her, and she new almost all of them.
We're both in our 60's. I'm just saying every-one was very friendly.

The Pic. is a sculptured Watermelon. Keep an eye out for the Ice Sculptures too.

Have fun,
Cheers,
Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Monday 10th of January 2011 10:39:08 PM

shadyandme · Senior Member

I took my my daughter on a p&o cruise for her belated 40th birthday in sept. last year Only 8 nights but we both had a ball.Food great and plenty of it staff fantastic.There is nothing bad to say. Enjoy enjoy.Plenty to do and see for all ages. Have a great time. Norma

-- Edited by shadyandme on Tuesday 11th of January 2011 08:10:52 PM

valnrob · Guru

Hi Sheba, no that is not on our itinary. We have Noumea, Isle of Pine, Mystery Isle,Vila and Lifou. Not long to go now, my bag is packed!!

Allara · Senior Member

Went on a cruise yonks ago on the pacific sky. All the toilets blocked up and everyone was running around trying to find one that worked, they stank to high heaven as well. The food was great and the staff nice, on the up side.

Would like to go on another one, not the same ship though, but since the Christine Brimble case, I can't go in a four share cabin. You have to organise your own four or pay heaps more to be on your own.

If three other solos want to go sometime, keep me in mind.

Cheers
Allara

shadyandme · Senior Member

Allara i would be interested in going on another cruise . Being a solo makes it difficult to do things like that. I cannot keep taking my daughter away from her family so i can go cruising so if we can get 2 more people that would be great and economical to. Norma

milo · Guru

well i think we have decieded on

http://www.ozcruising.com.au/Pages/CruiseByShipList.aspx

to Noumea and surroundings islands in march or june,
i have a couple of apointments to clear in feb ..
but dad and i are quite keen on this and are looking forward to it..
ive never been on a cruise before, i presume these days they all have wifi etc?
and will probably be with p&o paciffic jewel.. cant wait!!

Sheba · Guru

valnrob wrote:

Hi Sheba, no that is not on our itinary. We have Noumea, Isle of Pine, Mystery Isle,Vila and Lifou. Not long to go now, my bag is packed!!

I'm not quite sure, but I think April is the month when they do the original Bungee Jumping with vines tied around their ankles on Pentecost. I have a breathing problem so I didn't get to see it, but my friend managed to get there. You have to walk to the hill, and I just couldn't make it.

Wherever you go, you'll have a ball, I'm sure.

Cheers,
Sheba.

Allara · Senior Member

shadyandme wrote:

Allara i would be interested in going on another cruise . Being a solo makes it difficult to do things like that. I cannot keep taking my daughter away from her family so i can go cruising so if we can get 2 more people that would be great and economical to. Norma

Great! .... We now need to drum up some interst from some other solos.

Anyone else interested?