bobstheboy

Sailed Celebrity and Fred last year, both for the first time. Hugely disappointed in Celebrity - it was such an anticlimax as we were expecting so much more in terms of a cruise experience. It was a very similar offering to Princess actually, and we also think that the Princess product has declined in terms of quality of food and service.

 

On the other hand, we were somewhat dreading going on Fred (Braemar) as we had seen the tv programme, but the price was too good to refuse. However, in the event, we had a wonderful cruise with the MDR food being the best of any of our 30 cruises, in our opinion.

 

 

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Just proves that one mans meat is anothers poison.

We sailed on the Fred Olson's Balmoral in 2013 and hated it. Not so much the ship as the passengers. We wouldn't go back if you paid us.

Tipping is added automaticaly as British people have something against tipping.

Ask the wait staff or cabin staff. They are so used to getting "Stiffed" by the Brits.

Some call it cheap. Some call it rudeness.

 

I think it may be a lack of understanding.

Its explained in the small print regarding tipping.

Some just dont get it, or in some cases, pretend not to get it, so as to avoid paying.

 

I tip using the auto tipping method. And tip further if the service exceeds my requirments.As it often does.

 

I could not be a cheapskate and not tip.

Those that dont tip the wait staff and cabin stewards are very cheap.

 

 

 

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It's not just us Brits. We were on a cruise some years back and on our table of eight were four Canadians. On the last night they didn't turn up for dinner and looking around the dining room were several empty chairs. I felt so sorry for the waiters.

Cruise lines are just another business and market forces dictate price. They rely on die hard customers who only sail their brand and are willing to pay top dollar to get a specific ship, cruise and cabin.

I learned many years ago that by being flexible on all of the above you can save a lot of money. You also experience diverse brands, ships and itineries and enjoy the wonders of cruising for less money.

Anyone that books a cruise without looking at the deck plans of the ship either in the brochure or on P&Os website is a fool and deserves all they get.

I could just as easily say anyone paying full price is also a fool, but then again I enjoy the last minute bargains so keep paying top dollar so I can pickup my bargains !!

It dropped very low this time last year so I am waiting to pounce lol.

It is certainly possible.

 

I it did last year on a western med cruise on the Sinfonia. The cruise ws scheduled for Genoa to Genoa but I arranged to get off at Salerno 1 day earlier.

 

The reason being that the cruise ran Monday to Monday and OH was a teacher and we had to get back on the Sunday. I did try booking the cruise from Salerno to Salerno, Sunday to Sunday, but the cost was £2000 pp above the Genoa to Genoa itinerary.

 

THe catch was I still paid for the full 7 days and they would not give a rebate for the 7th day.

 

WE had to arrange our own transfers and flights, MSC would not do it

 

Pete

Thanks Pete

Will be booking cruise only so flights and transfers are down to me.

I am asking advice reference disembarking at an earlier port.

Specifically I am thinking of booking the Armonia, Las Palmas 14 night Canary Island cruise, departing 6th December, but would want to leave the ship a day earlier (19th) in Tenerife. I can phone customer services but do not trust them to give the right answer after reading some of the experiences on here. Tenerife is used as a transit port so I cannot see any problem.

Our last two cruises on the Ventura, late bookings, were Any Time Dining, allocated on board, so I would say that is the most likely as two restaurants are allocated.

Tables for two are available and we always managed to get one.

Would help if we knew the ship.

Bernards tours in St Martin are very good, did one a couple of weeks ago ! Google online.

Yes agree - not keen on cruising from Southampton as on a typical 2 week trip you have 2-3 days each end with what can be dodgy weather - far better to fly to the sun and pick up ship there, but each to their own

Totally agree and we have done four from Southampton. When you add on the cost of travel, hotels and parking it isn't cheap and although we have been lucky with the weather in June and September, it isn't good in November :eek:

Is the Bay of Biscay always rough? I know it's famous for having particularly rough seas, but is that just during storms?

 

We were looking at a Western Med cruise next year, but don't much fancy getting bounced around for a couple of days!

Short answer is no.

I have been through the English Channel, North Sea and even the Med when it has been bad in a storm. Luck of the draw, can be like a Mill Pond, or Force 10 :eek:

I don't fancy ever cruising from Southampton because of that 2 or 3days before you get anywhere, and of course the dreaded Bay of Biscay. Having said that, we are also on the cruise from Malaga to the Caribbean and I'm sure the Atlantic will compare with the Bay of Biscay! It will be hot when we sail off though.

I have never had a bad crossing from the Canaries to the Caribbean. Nothing like the Bay, which I have crossed many times (ex RN). I spent two years on a survey ship crossing from the African coast to the Caribbean and back. Took us three weeks each way and was usually very good.

We did a Canary Island cruise from Southampton last November. First two days out and last two days back the weather kept us below decks, so never again.

We have done several repo cruises from the med to the Caribbean and we are on the Ventura on Wednesday for another one. So far we have had very good weather for the crossing because you start heading west by the Canary Islands, a warm start.

If you know what you are facing and accept it fine, to expect to be sunbathing before day four, forget it.

Last minute deal with no single supplements !!!

Preziosa Venice to Brazil, 19 nights, 8th November, including flights

£799 inside. £899 outside. £999 balcony

After all the dialogue regarding lack of single supplements, they must be struggling to sell this cruise.

We are very happy early bookers too as we like to choose the dining and cabins etc :)

 

I would like to add that i book direct with P&O and I am very internetsavvy. It is a matter of choice, not ignorance of what is around on the internet.

 

Am I of a certain age? I dunno, what age do I have to be to qualify?

LOL

I should add that I am certainly "of a certain age" but very computer literate.

How can you possibly say that? Have you asked them all. I know loads of people who book early and we and they are totally happy with the price. If I wasn't I wouldn't book it!!

Of course I have not asked them all, I am just commenting on my findings on this subject.

Many people I have spoken to have no idea of the deals available via the internet because they are of a certain age and always book via a TA. They are very surprised when I tell them of the deals I have seen and booked.

I am not trying to provoke an argument, it is a matter of choice for you, who is obviously internet savvy and can decide accordingly. I have made friends of some couples who I have helped find a bargain and they are delighted with the savings.

I could go on and on but am happy that I have saved £1000's over my time enjoying the delights of cruising.

A never ending question and debate.

We have done over 25 cruises and never paid either the brochure price or early bird specials etc. We have always booked late because we are flexible and have never been disappointed with the price we pay or the cabin we are allocate. We are not loyal to one brand, although there are some we wouldn't go back to.

It is a matter of choice, but having spoken to many other cruisers on board about this subject, there are more unhappy early bookers than late ones and I never boast about a price paid and will only divulge it if asked.

I can understand the annoyance.

The OP clearly said they were new to cruising and their friends was experienced. He/she also said their friends told him/her prices only go up, so either he/she was lied to or their friends were not as experienced as they said.

I posted this on another thread but I still think it is worth repeating, especially for those passengers who still feel that the expected on board gratuities, whether by auto tip or by envelope, are actually a tip for the quality, or not, of the service provided.

Your gratuities are going to make up the wages of all the staff who are on low wage contracts, to make their wages up to an acceptable standard. This has always been the case on most cruise lines, even when tips were handed over in cash they were shared out to other staff members.

Yes it might be better if these gratuities were included in the basic price of the cruise, but since the practise is industry wide I imagine the cruise lines have good reasons to maintain this system. IMO it would probably lead to much higher overall prices once the bean counters started adding overheads to these "extra" wages, so I am happy to observe the practise and pay the full auto tips, plus a little extra to those staff who give me a little extra.

Having done 25 + cruises I don't mind tipping, either the conventional way or auto tips. I cannot agree that one should tip whether the service is good , bad or indifferent. I expect good, courteous service and am very polite and engage in conversation with the staff. I have had bad service and reported same.

And you sound like the sort of person who will suffer any amount of poor service, but heaven forbid actually mentioning it.

 

P&O must love people like you.

Totally wrong - again.

Your expectations are unrealistic and you don't care or worry about other passengers. I love cruising and have done most of them from 6* to Airtours . I love to be pampered but know the limits possible. You are just making excuses for your poor attitude and behaviour.

"invited" means she had a choice whether to sit with others or not.

 

What P&O do is not "invite" but to cut costs and force people to sit with others when they do not want to.

You sound just the person I avoid, totally selfish and unreasonable.

Please let us know when you sail and on what so I can avoid.

If you are that desperate for time alone together, stand and wait for a table for 2. Putting stuff on chairs in an attempt to with-hold a space from others is just plain rude.

 

and I say that as somebody who is going with just my partner. we like to sit alone, especially as It is our honeymoon. We have a table for 2 for dinner and will wait for one for lunch. What we will NOT do, is chuck stuff on a chair at a table for 4 and attempt to avoid eye contact with those looking for a space.

Totally agree.

Couples that sit diagonally opposite on a table for 4 are obviously not wanting to share and selfish. I like to upset these individuals, but my wife likes a quiet life !!

The one thing with cruise holidays is there is something for everyone.

I can understand people wanting a particular itinerary on a named ship and being able to choose cabin, dining, etc. and not minding what they pay. We have a limited budget, can go at a moments notice and are not fussy whether it is an inside or balcony, but a balcony is better ! By buying "bargains" we can have two a year instead of one so are very happy when the last minute deals surface.

Let's be honest, many passengers who remove the auto tips have no intention of paying anything. So they get a big financial advantage over all the others who don't. They are the ones who are missing from the dining room on the last night.

 

And I guess a fair number of passengers who do slip the envelope to the waiters and steward don't put anything near the £3.95 pd inside.

 

British people don't have a tipping culture, this has crept in from across the pond, and as P&O is a Carnival company!!!

 

I would be overjoyed to see P&O add the tip to the cruise price and pay the staff a proper wage. Saga do and I have never sailed with a happier staff.

 

David.

Totally agree.

I have been on ships in the past when it seemed that a quarter of the seats in the dining room were empty on the final night. The looks on the staffs faces was not nice to see. Far better if the tips were added to the cruise price.