OTrail

Hi Merion, I'm looking at going next August on the France/Spain 7 day trip. Takes in Bilbao, La Coruna, Vigo, and Paris.

I did contact them via email and they said it was possible but when I phoned they said it wasn't. So I replied to the email and then was told they'd added a note to my file so when I called again they'd know what I was talking about.

So I called again and after a near on 40 minute phone call - at least 30 of which I was on hold - I was told it wasn't possible because I had insurance. Insurance I'd added via the booking on their website. So I was told I'd have to call Axa to cancel the insurance to call back to upgrade to then add the insurance again.

It's an utter shambles in all honesty that I couldn't just book a balcony cabin straight away so I've cancelled my booking with them and will probably go with Royal Caribbean, who do allow you to book a balcony cabin online.

Thanks for the quick replies folks, been really helpful and I'm pretty sure I'm 90% toward booking for next year!

Having never sailed with RC before I'm just wondering if anyone could help with information on what it's like for solo cruisers.

I'm looking at a cruise which would be on Anthem otS and I've never been a ship that size before, looks more like a mini city! Are there any meet-ups arranged for solos, especially on sea days. Although my biggest concern/query/anxiety is really over meals, how does it work on RC? Are you allocated a table and time for the entire cruise or are you seated at a different table each day and able to eat whenever? What's the dress code like as the "smartest" I get to is chinos and a plain shirt!

Also, I'm assuming but would like to double check, that room service has an additional cost?

Any help would be appreciated as holidaying alone can be quite daunting.

When I was on the Marella Discovery the best place I found during the day was Bar Eleven. It's at the very top of the boat and not open during the day so very few people in there, those who were around were either reading or napping(!). If you get there early enough you can get a seat looking out the window and there's no music piped in so it's just a really nice place to relax and read a book during sea days.

Hi all

Just wondering if anyone's had any experience upgrading from a single occupancy room to a balcony cabin? I'm not fussed about the cost of it as I've not had a holiday this year, but the only option online seems to be to downgrade from an outside to an inside or vice versa, even when booking there's no option to pick a cabin and pay the extra.

I've tried calling them and got nowhere as the person on the end of the phone thought I was trying to book a single occupancy balcony cabin and kept telling me they didn't have those - which I'm well aware of. I tried emailing too for a price and if it's possible but only been told they can't give a price as it could change between the quote and me booking (fair enough) and they just ignored the other bit about if it's possible.

Next step is to go to a store to discuss in person but I don't really live that close to one so would be a bit of a journey, one I'm not really fussed for taking if it's not possible.

When you check in you can register a credit/debit card so anything you spend is taken automatically at the end, or you can leave a £200 cash deposit. You do sometimes need it for the free drinks, but not always. You'll always have it on you because it's your keycard to get in to your cabin anyway. Couldn't say about receipts as I only drank the free stuff (there's plenty of choice)

Plugs are EU sockets, 2 pin rather than 3 so you'll need an adapter.

Everything entertainment wise on board is free, climbing wall, minigolf, pool, shows.

MDR = Main Dining Room, the waiter service restaurants. On the Discovery it's called 47 degrees, there's also an Italian restaurant above it on Deck 5 called Gallery 47. There's also the buffet, snack place, and other light bite restaurant on deck 9. The speciality restaurants are (I think) about £28-30, I was on Discovery at the end of May and didn't really hear rave reviews for them. Basically along the lines of "it was nice enough but not worth the money"

10-15 mins? No delay when I got off and no cost.

If you're just getting the shuttle bus from the port to the station you don't need to book, you can get on any (7:45, 8:30, 9:15). I got off the boat, picked up my case and was on the 7:45 bus to the station, was there in plenty of time for a 9:15 train.

Just back from sailing on the Discovery out of Newcastle and embarkation was an absolute shambles! Massive queue of people from about 12:30 waiting to hand over our luggage before even getting in to the port terminal, I was waiting for 50 minutes in line with my luggage. Our sailing time was pushed back 4 HOURS because of the horrendous trouble boarding.

I'd say get there as early as you can.

I just looked and compared to this year mine would be £150 cheaper next year which is a bit annoying. Single outside for Baltic Discovery.

I contacted TUI about this very same thing and they said they're not running any shuttle buses between the train station and the port (last two times I went with Thomson they had coaches). I'm probably just going to get a taxi as I'm travelling by myself so a bit nervy about getting from station to port.

Has anyone heard if the recent tensions between the UK and Russia are going to affect any Baltic cruises this summer? I'm booked for the end of May for St Petersburg and am wondering what the policy would be on refunds if it things turn a bit more sour and the companies avoid Russia.

I went on my first one when I was 26 and I think there was one other couple around my age, everyone else was older or a kid with their parents. But it made absolutely no difference as everyone's friendly enough that you just get chatting to anyone. I spent most of my time on the boat with people 50+ and had a great time.

http://cruiseexcursions.tui.co.uk/Default.aspx? This is the link that I keep looking at....we are booked on a November cruise....when do they go on sale please?

The excursions for my cruise were available about 18 weeks before. Can always email and ask them.

Wondering if anyone knows if the free coaches are still being run between Newcastle train station and the port? They were on a couple of years ago when I last cruised but since the change to TUI I don't know if they're still on and just wanna check in advance.

I was told Summer '18 excursions will be available after new year

Thanks for that. The itinerary I am looking at is on Spirit. I would expect maybe less events as it is smaller but do you know if they have a social hostess for solos on all ships?

I've done two solo cruises on the Spirit and both have had a social hostess, annoyingly I can't remember her name despite being the same woman both times!

The number of events usually depends on the length of the cruise rather than the size of the ship.

I'm glad I went along to the solo meet ups, met some really nice people who I met up with in the evenings for dinner and arranged meet ups between us too, out with the ones arranged by Thomson. Also, check out the Roll Call sub form, on my last cruise we had a forum meet up which a lot of people went along to.

Just booked the Baltic Discovery for next May, only 394 days to go!

Looked at the excursions for this year and really hope they do the Moscow one again, 17 hours!

Just wondering if there are any solo cruisers on here who've booked a balcony room and could give any idea on how much more expensive than a normal cabin it is? I'm quite tempted to get a balcony room on my next cruise but aware as I'm a solo cruiser I'll get absolutely hammered with the price.

I'm looking at the Discovery or Capitals ones too, think I'm leaning toward the Capitals one and going to Riga rather than Sweden twice

Hey! I'm a solo cruiser too so if you've got any questions feel free to ask.

You can share a table, basically when you go for dinner you can either be asked to be seated all together or you just say how many are in your group and they'll seat you, normally at one of the larger tables. They also have solo traveller meet ups the first sea day which are quite good for seeing if there's anyone you can spend some time with during dinner and the evening entertainment. Both times I've went to them I've met fantastic people. Also, check the roll call forum as there's usually people on here looking to meet up for a drink.

As others have said, itineraries should be released near the end of April, 20th I think. But you can always look at this year's for a pretty good guess at where they'll be going. I'm already primed to get an early booking on a Baltic cruise.

In the news release they said all packages were AI on Discovery 1 & 2 and the new ship.

Time to cancel this year's cruise and wait for next year, going to have to be on the ball for 20th April when they're released

Any idea when we'd get a strong hint about this? I'm going on a Baltic cruise on Celebration but would cancel that and wait until next year if it's going to be one of the newer ships. In typical fashion if the brochure doesn't come out until the 20th April that's 5 days in to paying a %

Bergen, Alesund, and Tromso you should be fine if you just want to walk around. When I was there the ship docked pretty much in town if not very close to.

Flam you'll definitely want to book, most people do the railway and I highly recommend it.

Honningsvag you'll want to book.

Lofoten you don't have to book, but because of the way it's so spread out doing a tour is a good way to see some really beautiful sights.