Tinasparkles

Thanks for the link; proposed airfare on Choice Air was more than 3k per person (with two stops) which is pretty much a no go; I found non-Choice flights around $2,600 which is still pretty shocking; I then found a R/T Sydney/Chicago for $1,999 (Vayana or something) which goes through Hong Kong, and I would have to add a one way to Cairns to that. I'm gonna look at some alternative bookings from other cities to see if there is any way to get to Sydney more reasonably.

Try looking at Qantas as you may get a good deal Sydney/Cairns return and also flights from the USA Lax/Sydney return are direct flights

Hi

I have booked on a P&O Cruise in the UK in July but for medical reasons cannot now do the 24 hour return flights. :mad:

I am considering transferring my booking to a P&O Australia Cruise where hopefully I won't lose my deposit. BUT P&O Australia does not seem to have a good reputation and the cruises go to many of the Pacific Islands I have already visited.

Can anyone recommend other options? these should not include long flights to the port of departure or return. I live in Sydney I am open to any suggestions people here can give :)

I have to make any changes before January 15th.

Is there anyone else planning on being on this cruise next year - who is a solo cruiser - or has had experience of this type of cruise as a solo traveller:)

Gillypat thanks for the feedback - very useful

It seems to me, Tina Sparkles, that you would be much better off (from a single dancer point of view) if you switched to Cunard in preference to P & O's Azura. As you will know, Cunard provide dance hosts to dance with unaccompanied ladies. They also do group dance classes although these are mainly aimed at beginners. The professional dance teachers vary from cruise to cruise but they are generally more than adequate and some are of a very high dancing standard and give brilliant demonstrations.

Will you get to dance? Almost certainly on Cunard.

 

We have cruised very many times on both Cunard and P & O and have always found that P & O's Oriana has been best for international style dancing. We have not cruised on Azura but understand that the dance-floor leaves much to be desired for a large ship. Additionally, I am told that the 'Strictly Come Dancing' cruises attract many budding ballroom dancers so a crowded floor is not ideal for an accomplished dancer who needs a free-flowing floor. A good point for P & O is that the dance music is 'international style' strict tempo music and that is not always the case on Cunard.

 

Is it like Butlins? Well, Oriana isn't because it is an adults-only ship.

Incidentally, on both P & O and Cunard they do not generally rotate partners during the dance classes.

 

To be frank, all ship's dance-floors are not big enough for the amount of passengers that want to use them and one has to make the most of what is available. Some times, however, the floor thins out at certain times and then it can be quite pleasurable. Whatever, hope you enjoy your forthcoming cruise, whatever you decide on.

Thank you for the very fast and helpful response. Guess I should seriously look at other options that maybe go from the US - which will also reduce my flight times and costs. I was origionally attracted to the Strictly Cruise as I am a dance tragic and loved to watch the Pros having seen one of them here in Oz. My own dancing days are somewhat curtailed due to metal knees etc. However I can still do fleckerals and the Vienesse Waltz given the right partner and really want to be able to dance if the opportunities are there.

I will be in London on 05 Oct 2016 at the Freed's shoe shop at 94 St Martin's Lane to purchase ballroom dance shoes, some for my lady friends in Hong Kong and one pair for me.

 

Not sure if "legendary" is proper description for my VW, but thanks for what I think is a compliment. Only Dancer Bob has seen my VW, though I have danced the VW, plus foxtrot, slow waltz, tango, cha cha, and rumba with CC815 who has posted on this thread. But it's not easy to dance to some of the music belted out by the Cunard ships' Queen's Room orchestras.

Slow Foxtrot and Tangoli - Dancer Bob posted a response to questions I posted elsewhere and suggested you could help me.

I have made a provisional booking for the Strictly Cruise on Azura (P&O) in July 2016.

As I am coming all the way from Oz for this Cruise I want to be sure that as a Solo Traveller (and a good dancer);

1 The dance classes on these cruises are professionally run

2. The demo's from the Pro's are a good standard and happen more than once.

3. As a Solo traveller I get to dance, ie in class they rotate partners and in the evening people actually mix so I don't get left as a wallflower

4. I read somewhere that people have had poor experiences on these cruises and they are a bit like Butlins on the water.

So if you've been on these Strictly Cruises please share your experiences as I have until mid-January to cancel without penalty if they are no good.

Thanks

Tina Sparkles (from Oz)

Might be worth asking on the P&O board. Also, on the Cunard board, Slow Foxtrot says he also travels on P&O, might have some answers.

Thanks Dancer Bob - I'm new to these Boards so will go in search of Slow Foxtrot - and will also try the other Boards

:)

Can anyone please tell me if this balcony cabin gets unobstructed sun or is it shaded by an overhang and is it smaller than the cabins on C deck? I hAve been offered an upgrade from C ToD but am not sure if it really is for me an upgrade as I wanted the larger balcony.Help!!!

Gillypat I saw your review on the Strictly cruise and need some feedback if you can spare a moment or two.

I am a Solo traveller coming from Oz for the Strictly Cruise in July 2016 on Azura.

Did you attend any of the dance classes? if so how did they handle the singles?'If there were dances in the evening what were they like and again if there were singles did they end up as wallflowers? Finally how many Professional Shows were there and were you able to mingle with the Pros?

Was the cruise good value for money? Hope you can help - thanks. Anyone else feel free to chime in.

I have made a provisional booking for the Strictly Cruise on Azura (P&O) in July 2016.

As I am coming all the way from Oz for this Cruise I want to be sure that as a Solo Traveller (and a good dancer);

1 The dance classes on these cruises are professionally run

2. The demo's from the Pro's are a good standard and happen more than once.

3. As a Solo traveller I get to dance, ie in class they rotate partners and in the evening people actually mix so I don't get left as a wallflower

4. I read somewhere that people have had poor experiences on these cruises and they are a bit like Butlins on the water.

So if you've been on these Strictly Cruises please share your experiences as I have until mid-January to cancel without penalty if they are no good.

Thanks

Tina Sparkles (from Oz) :)

There are P&O Cruises going from the UK themed as Strictly Come Dancing Cruises. I am trying to find people who have been on these to get some feedback as I have provisionally booked for a July 2016 cruise