amurray88

Hi All, We are a bit "done" with the usual Barcelona, Rome, Florence itineraries. We enjoy being busy on a cruise but just feel we'd like to see somewhere different. Is Bilbao and La Rochelle worth seeing on the Virtuosa? I believe it goes to A Coruna and "Paris" too. We done the Canary Islands in January which were perfect for what we wanted at that time (downtime and sun) but there really was so little to do. If we felt this was the same we'd probably not bother. Thank you!

Super 👌

Hi All, Been keeping a close eye on summer prices (June/July) and they had been extremely expensive (over my normal £100pppn budget) for a Med cruise. I noticed today prices have dropped a good bit and now been quoted ~£85pppn which is in the ballpark for me to think "book!". Does anyone have any historical data on when prices are at their lowest for summer bookings? Is this them just starting to come down? Will they go further? Thanks!

Agreed - but then P&O would owe the TA the £50, not the booker...as P&O have cancelled, not the booker. Either way - I think the way the TA has worded it isn't right. A well known TA used to give you £50 discount off the total cruise and charge £50 admin fee at time of booking. If cruise cost £1,000 and P&O wanted £100 deposit - At time of booking - Deposit - £100 Admin fee - £50 Still to pay - £900 - £50 discount = £850 This meant if you cancelled P&O get their deposit, TA gets their admin fee. If you didn't cancel then the TA would (I guess) pay the £50 admin fee towards your cruise to cover the £50 discount they gave you. It might seem complex, but it's the right way that a TA could cover themselves without the cruise costing you more.

Exactly as it reads to me too but personally, I don't think there's any responsibility on OP to inform anyone they're cancelling

This should be charged at time of booking though... The OP has no responsibility to tell anyone they are cancelling - I wouldn't pay when final payment is due and that is that. If they wanted an admin fee then that should be charged at booking, not at time of cancellation?

I sailed from Miami - they put everyone into different "pens" for want of a better word, based on their check in time. I was down for 11am and was on the ship for 10:15am which was amazing! I presume if you're down for 2pm and you're there at 11am then they'll clear the other pens first and then get you on. Remember, some 11am ones won't show til later.

Just finished watching 2 hours of Explora videos 😂

We were on with a pram and I was quite surprised...every time they asked for the baby to come out and gave the pram a good search...might have just been for weapons etc. don't get me wrong, if you wanted to take something on it would have been very easy though

Sadly think my RCL days are over for the moment. Just off P&O - flights, transfers, 7 night cruise all for £1,000 ($1250-1300). The entertainment wasn't as good as RCL obviously but it was surprisingly good.... £5 for a beer ($6.40). Tips all included and not added to drinks. We did have issues pre-cruise but very good on it. When I see the prices of Icon ...or even Oasis class, I think I'm now at a point of considering the more luxurious lines that are all inclusive and I never thought I'd ever say that but it seems it ends up working out around the same if you go on RCL, add a drinks package and treat yourself to a speciality or two.

From what I've seen, they're charging my 6 month old baby the same fare as an adult .....

Not according to the video

I agree with your comment on Disney. Having been a long term Florida fan, I can't see myself going back there either now. It's not much fun! The NHL game is a wee bit different...you're there for a few hours. On a ship for 2 or 3 days at sea ties you into that company a bit more.

Here's hoping. Got Symphony for £450pp last year...not sure I'll get that again 😱. Just off P&O cruise and didn't have to pay for baby which was so helpful, RCL is more or less full cost for baby (6 months old) so definitely having to make different decisions now.

Yup... That and the $200 per person restaurant on board (plus 18% = $236 per person). Got to be honest, I love RCL but if this is where it's going I think I'm priced out.

Just watching a video from UK guys who were on Aida Cosma (was intrigued as the ship pretty much followed us) and they flew into the North airport. Very strange. Would rather be safe than risk it though!

We stopped at a cafe right next to the shopping centre. Was lovely and I could not believe how cheap it was. 14€ definitely sounds expensive for that

Nope...they "suggest" you add a shot into it.

I love Oasis class ships... But the sheer price now that we have a family of 3 is too much compared to lines that don't charge for kids/babies. HOWEVER, I've just watched a video of Icon OTS and saw the menu for the milkshake bar. $16.50 for a milkshake, they cannot be serious??? ($14 plus 18%). Wow.

I love Oasis class ships but I've just seen the menu for one of the Icon of the Seas milkshake bars... $14 for a milkshake plus service fee... $16.50 for a milkshake. I think I'll stick with P&O from now on!

Didn't realise that...let's stick with the extra 30min transfer. Unless they can bring the boat to the airport instead?

That's exactly what I said! We went into Starbucks in London today to get boiling water for babies bottle (I wouldn't give them the £ for coffee). They had a hot chocolate (no marshmallows) at...wait for it.... £6.35! What is going on!

To be fair too .. the value really was incredible. Some MSC ships don't charge for babies but most other companies do (RCL is pretty much a full fare). For P&O not to charge AND give him a seat on the flight was incredible. What a difference it made having that extra seat.

Madeira was fine...it rained so maybe that spoiled it a wee bit. Found a lovely wee cafe which was ridiculously cheap (£4 for 2 coffees and 2 cakes). Thought the Christiano Ronaldo museum/hotel/restaurant a bit tacky? We went off the boat after dinner for a quick wander into the gardens. In fairness to the ports they were lovely but I'm normally up at 5am for a 5:30am train to Rome and not back on the boat til 5-6 type of guy. We found ourselves going off the boat for a quick wander (couple of hours) and that was it. I knew that when I booked it, the ports definitely weren't the attraction so happy to not worry too much about it.

Not the end of the world...and might not even be possible. But seems odd as it seems much closer to the port.