drewlin

There was nothing in the small print in Mail on Sunday about possible fuel/flight surcharges in terms and conditions but there was about paying gratuities, transport to and from cruise terminal or airport and port excursions which he is not talking about. If you take the time and hunt through the P&O brochure you will find that they can charge supplements but you would expect the competition runner to mention this when explaining what you are expected to pay for when they offer a FREE cruise.

Can recommend Cosol tours in St Lucia but check it out in Caribbean ports boards.

Lovely photos - thanks for sharing.

It is so nice to see these photos from the vow renewals - keep them coming!

Lovely photos of your recommitment.

Thanks will check it out. Also going to look at Princess too.

The beach renewal prices have put me off also which is why I thought of just doing our own thing. I agree that I'd rather spend the money on a reception for our guests (having said that there might only be 4 max.). However St Thomas sounds lovely, what are the details you've found. We actually called at St. Thomas on our honeymoon cruise (so would be quite nice to renew our vows there) but never went to any beach as we did an island tour. We could see Magens beach from one of the viewing points and our dining companions actually spent their day there and really enjoyed it.

Thanks for your comments as you have given me other ideas of renewing our vows at one of our honeymoon ports which would be St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Nassau and San Juan although St. Thomas or St. Maarten would be favourite.

This is a photo of the beaded footless flip flop I've made for the beach vow renewal.

So glad I found this thread. We're thinking of renewing our vows in 2015 for our 10th wedding anniversary (2nd wedding). We had a wonderful wedding in Gretna Green (for non Brits this is the famous place to elope to) as my husband is Scottish and I am English so it was half way between our families. However what I really wanted to do was get married on a beach in the Caribbean which is what I plan to do for our 10th. Very early stages at the moment but because of cash restrictions, need to start planning now. Initial plans are to fly to Orlando and have a week there and then drive down to Miami/Fort Lauderdale for a weeks cruise and the vow renewal. Thinking of doing it informally on the beach at Nachi Cocum and then having a more formal meal at a speciality restaurant on board in the evening. Have an idea to make a beach wrap like a saress in white and bead it and some beaded accessories,

Not sure if any of my family will be able to be there due to finances (hence the early planning just in case) but I'm hoping our friends, an American couple we met on a cruise several years ago, will be able to join us.

Looking forward to gaining ideas and any tips from you guys.

Looks like I will not be using Half Moon Cay for our vow renewal with Carnival as they do not do renewals at destination ports only on board.

Have a wonderful wedding and please post photos. You must be getting very excited now.

Congratulations on your forth coming wedding on Half Moon Cay.

We're looking to do our vow renewal on the island. Will your wedding be at the little chapel on the island?

Just want to add my thanks to you for sharing your wonderful video. We've been to some of the islands and it really brought back the memories.

Just been contacted by UK online TA (who I have pre-registered with). Price for inside cabin plus flight back to London is £1199, £50 extra to return to Manchester. Can also do with 4 nights Orlando at Quality Inn I-drive (including shuttle from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando) for £1359. Have to get to MCO independently.

Trying to get an idea of the price of a flight back to Manchester (using Oct/Nov 2013 as a guide) but prices for one way are really high with UK companies. Any recommendations for airlines?

Interesting question, I would like to know that answer. I always understood it that we were locked into the price once booked apart from increases in fuel/taxes which they can add without notice. Anyone know or is it better to book through a US site?

Your pricing is very interesting, however, you need to be at least a diamond member to receive £150 discount. Diamond + and Pinnacle is £165, Emerald is £85, platinum is £75 and gold nothing. Which as a gold member means it is still £729 for us:(. I might take the risk and wait until much nearer the time or alternatively just do a last minute on a Caribbean cruise as we want to do Florida next year anyway. If I was a diamond member, I would certainly be very interested in booking straight away at those prices.

Prices for insides (outside and balconies not available until 9th April) were posted on facebook this afternoon

01 September 2014 / Inside from £739

12 Night Eastbound Transatlantic: Fort Lauderdale – 9 Days Cruising – Malaga, Spain – Cruising - Barcelona

13 September 2014 / Inside from £599

5 Night Western Mediterranean Cruise: Barcelona – Cruising – Rome (Civitavecchia) – Naples – Cruising - Barcelona

18 September 2014 / Inside from £599

5 Night Western Mediterranean Cruise: Barcelona – Cruising – Rome (Civitavecchia) – Naples – Cruising - Barcelona

23 September 2014 / Inside from £699

7 Night Barcelona to Rotterdam Cruise: Barcelona – Cruising – Malaga, Spain – Cruising – Vigo, Spain – Cruising – Cruising – Rotterdam

15 October 2014 / Inside from £729

12 Night Westbound Transatlantic Cruise: Southampton – Cruising – Cruising –Vigo, Spain - 8 Days Cruising – Fort Lauderdale

Sherri thanks for a wonderful and funny review, one of the best I've ever read. I've wanted to cruise Oasis/Allure since they arrived on the cruising scene but my husband wasn't keen on such large ships. I am now happy to say after your review and photos that he is really keen and we are looking at autumn (fall) 2014, as our 2013 cruise is already booked, and combining it with a transatlantic from UK and trip to Orlando then fly back to UK.

Now going to check out your Eastern med review!

Sunshine on 11th October 2013 from Barcelona.

We've used parkatmyhouse twice when cruising from Southampton and had no problems. The last time was last November and was parked in the house owners garage for the whole of our cruise (22 nights). The house owner drove us to the cruise terminal and picked us up on return. He even gave us a jump start as our battery was flat. The cost varies but was approx. £5 per night considerably cheaper than some car parks.

Hi thoroughly enjoyed this thread so thank you. Couple of questions most of your meals have consisted of fish/seafood and cheese dishes. Are there many meat dishes to choose from as my husband isn't keen on any type of fish or seafood? Also is there a cooked breakfast as opposed to a continental type breakfast?

Thank you so much for your review. We're hoping to sail on the Legend next year when she comes over to the med. and was a little apprehensive as we have picked the cruise on the itinery. But not anymore! Can't wait to experience her for ourselves - thanks again.

We've been researching, too, our excursions for our next cruise on 1st Nov. Glad about the recommendation for Bernards Tours as that is one we have picked. Also Cosol for St. Lucia. Any recommendations for Barbados? Want to do Harrisons Caves, has anyone been there?

We're here! Not been on the forum for a few days as we had a couple of days away down in Southampton. We have just done a ship's tour of MSC Opera and had a lovely time. We took my son, Chris and his wife, Karen, with us as they are very keen to take their first cruise next year and only want to cruise with us????? We're looking at a Carnival cruise in the med. and trying to price it all out for them. Does anyone know if Carnival do any kind of drinks package as my son is afraid of running up a large bill on his account (not that he drinks that much just likes to have it all budgeted before hand).

Your day at the beach sounded quite idyllic. As our island is quite small (compare to USA it's minute) so we are never too far from a beach. I am only about 45 minutes away but never think of going there but will now. Only need some decent weather as Uk has had the wettest summer for 100 years so it hasn't been exactly beach weather. I, too, love my kindle and have just downloaded quite a few books ready for our cruise. I was introduced to a kindle by an American friend I made via CC roll call and met at our meet and greet on Carnival Liberty. Debbie has been a friend since and we have even met up again last time we were in Florida. Cruising is such a great way to meet and make friends! I am lucky in that I have never been alone, straight from home to marriages but, if I ever had to holiday alone and finances allowed, I would definitely cruise. I think it's the safest and friendliest holiday you could take.

I, too, am looking forward to hearing about the Allure. I have watched a program about the building of the Oasis and have been fascinated ever since. I would love to experience a cruise on either of them and I wouldn't even care about the itinery as I think I'd want to stay onboard and experience it all!

I have been to Madeira before on our Canary Island cruise but wasn't feeling too good that day so just had a look around. Went to the chair lift but the queue was too long and I don't really have a head for heights lol. I think we are just going to get the local bus up to watch the tobaggan rides and maybe afternoon tea at Reids.

I am really enjoying this thread - no nastiness - just loving it.

Hi thank you for the warm welcome. Our return cruise from Southampton is on P&O Aurora for 22 nights calling at Ponta Delgada, Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Tortola, Barbados and Madeira. I'm so glad it's from Southampton as there are 6 formal, 6 semi-formal and 10 casual nights so I need lots of dresses and, therefore, at least 2 suitcases for all my stuff!

On reading this thread, I also envy all the senior discounts that you receive from the various stores and restaurants. Very few places here give a senior discount or offer a senior menu and even if they do, it is usually from 65+ and not 55. I quite like using American TA as I can get 55+ discount on some cruises although I am restricted to a limited number of cruise lines. But must admit here in UK this year there has been some great last minute bargains in the Mediterrean. It must be great to be in striking distance of Florida as our airfares across the Atlantic are getting quite prohibitive now. We have in the past flown to Florida, had a week with Disney and then driven down to Miami or Fort Lauderdale and taken a cruise before returning to Orlando and then home but I think that those days are over due to the price of the airfares.