EJMcruiser

We have cruised a lot and always auto tip but would be interesting to hear a more detailed explanation how it works. A TV documentary a few years back suggested that a cruise ship worker earned say 850 dollar but the auto tip was used to make up this amount and if not enough tip was collected the company would make up the difference. I would like to think that the fantastic boys and girls got the tip over and above their basic salary but the documentary suggested that was not the case. Worth noting that the documentary was not about Cunard but another major cruise line.

Can really recommend a day trip to Jyst Van Dike island on Tortola. Boat straight from the ship and no mini buses. Sooo beautiful. Grand Anse beach is nice but it's very crowded. We go to the Caribbean every year with our little ones and like others have said some islands (the best ones) are like third world countries and there will be an element of risk involved. In Barbados you can walk to the beach if you want to.

As previous posters have said the coffee in the buffet is terrible. Costa is alright as long as you don't have a long stretch of sea days as they then switch to long last milk :-(

I suspect a cabin steward in the first few weeks of his very first contract. The pressure on turn around days is enormous. It's even common practise for some cabin stewards to "hire" a colleague to help out. Guess this guy was getting worried already the night before and wanted a head start. I think they average about 18-20 cabins per person and if you walk around the ship around 8am you will be shocked by the state of some of them and I believe they all need to be ready in a few hours. First impression is important and you don't want people waiting all day in the buffet on day one. Do not disturb sign is the way to go.

We stayed in Southampton before a three weeks cruise to the Caribbean last year. Ended up going to Turtle Bay for some Caribbean food to get in the mood. Turned out to be the best Caribbean food we had that holiday despite trying lots of local places over there. Highly recommended :-)

On the Aurora a few weeks back the captain said he had never seen so little snow :-)

Thanks Brian. Have booked with enterprise now and will do like you said and drop the luggage first.

Struggling to find information online so thought I try posting here. Joining a cruise from Mayflower terminal and basically wanted to rent a car and drop it off at the terminal. I have two little ones so was hoping to just drop the car for example in the short stay car park and maybe drop the keys in a box inside the terminal. Found a rental company that offer free transfer to terminal from Southampton city centre but that sounds like a stressful start to our holiday with all the luggage, kids etc. Thanks in advance if you have any experience to share.

Good to know that not all programs are 30 days. Didn't realise that. I asked someone onboard Aurora at the moment and no kids channels. Just BBC One within the English Channel and Sky news, BBC World for the rest of the cruise.

Guess it depends on the coverage of the satellite. Best to download the kids favourite programs from BBC Iplayer before you go as you then have a library on your iPad or laptop for 30 days. We are also on the Aurora at the end of the month and I have started to download stuff already in case I get sea sick and have to entertain 2 year old in the cabin :-)

Ventura/Azura tend to average about 700 under 16 in August but less then a hundred during term time. This is a very noticeable difference so if you have been before during holidays and didn't think it was too bad you should be fine :)

Britannia is on the move on marine traffic. Ah can't wait for our cruise later on in the year :) :) :)

Well said pete14. This might make going on holiday unaffordable for most in the future :-(

Don't think it would make much of a difference in terms of salaries on P&O to reflag to Southampton as it would only apply to European crew member and don't think there are many of those currently under £6 / hour (I could be wrong though). They would not be able to have weddings though if uk flag which I think would be a really shame. Love seeing wedding parties onboard :)

I think it's pretty fair. We use the night nursery, P&O baby food, bed linen, day time play area etc when we go. Even if you don't they can't really price on a case by case basis. It's also extra work for cabin stewardess. In an emergency extra safety equipment need to be provided for small babies etc. They also need to take extra care in cleaning high chairs in the buffet etc. Additional luggage etc. The list go on. I think you need to look at the full family price and compare it to other flight included all inclusive holidays.

Barbados: take a taxi to Paynes Bay Beach, hire a chair/umbrella for $10 and enjoy this lovely little beach. When you get board walk along the beach up to the famous Sandy Lane Resort (Tiger Woods got married there).

St Kitts: as per previous comment def. the suger train via P&O.

Tortola: very busy island so book the P&O trip to the island of Just Van Dyke to escape the crowds.

St Maarten: get a taxi to Maho Beach & get some of the worlds best holiday snaps when a jumbo jet lands right on top of you (check it out on youtube if you havn't seen it).

Antigua: book the swim with sting rays with P&O in the morning and spend the afternoon on Jolly Beach (taxi $10 max).

Domenica: do the river tube riding with P&O, we did it as a family and everyone from the teens to the 70+ loved it. Its very calm and enjoyable.

St Lucia: do the helicopter ride if you have the cash around the Pitons (its suppose to be an experience of a lifetime according to my parents) or otherwise just get off and sign up to one of the mini bus tours of the island as its beautiful (about $25 pp). Avoid the local $6 beach transfer as its terribly overcrowded and not very nice.

St Vincent: if you are reasonably fit I would do the hike to the seven sisters waterfall. You can swim under the falls and its in a beautiful forest.