sotong

I'm not new to cruising as live in Southampton and have cruised in Europe a few times.

However I have an idea for my 2017 holiday and want to combine a few days in New York with some relaxation on a cruise.

Like the idea of one of the mega ships, I.e RCI or Ncl but open to suggestions.

Are we best cruising from NYC to Bahamas or similar or getting an internal flight to Florida and cruising the Carribean?? or something else?

Just 2 of us travelling, me 40 ish mum and 14 year old daughter.

Any suggestions or ideas welcome. Thanks Gillian 😀

I'm thinking of cruising with my 13 yr old DD and as she won't want to do the sightseeing shore trips thinking of leaving her on board whilst I disembark for a few hours.

Looking for some advice / information on the different cruise lines policies on leaving children on board alone, do they have to be in the clubs, do I have to sign something extra?

Thanks, Gillian

just looked on the Marine Tracker website and QM2 tender 11 is following it? Anyone know why? hope nothing serious.

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-1/centery:50/zoom:10

Gillian

if the OP or anyone else is unhappy with the gift, they are selling for £50+ on eBay!

sorry not the OP - but the OP on Facebook, i realise the OP on here was simply commenting on an amusing Facebook post thread!

Gillian

Does anyone know if you can have afternoon tea on embarkation day?

We have an arrival time of 2pm and we were hoping to have afternoon tea instead of lunch when arriving on board Oceana.

If it makes any difference we are on a 2 day cruise.

Thanks Gillian.

i'm on this cruise with 3 friends, got an upgrade earlier on in the week (inside on C to inside on A so not sure much on an upgrade), this may mean they are allocating the saver cabins shortly

there are a few people on the roll call for the cruise but not many!

Gillian

Did anyone fly from Southampton to Palma this summer and would share how much they paid for flights.

I'm trying to plan or budget for next summer and wondering if Southampton or gatwick flights are best.

Thanks. Gillian.

Did anyone fly from Southampton to Palma this summer and would share how much they paid for flights.

I'm trying to plan or budget for next summer and wondering if Southampton or gatwick flights are best.

Thanks. Gillian.

Delay is due to Ventura and lifeboats searching for a missing man off the coast of the IOW.

i am sailing on a 2 day cruise in December on Oceana and have a couple of basic questions to help me plan if anyone can help please.

1) Are soft drinks available free all day i.e. by pool or in buffet like the tea and coffee or is it just fruit juice at breakfast? I realise bar service soft drinks are chargeable.

2) I've heard rooms are now ready on embarkation, is this happening still or is it just some ships or just a trial?

Thanks, Gillian.

Thanks for posting this, I've cruised lots of times and am taking 3 friends who are newbies on the Oceana in December - 94 days!

I've just added the i player link to our Facebook site to let them know what they are in for!

Thanks again, Gillian

In other cruise ships all the walls are metal and magnetic, hence I pack magnetic hooks and pegs so can hang things on them e.g sunglasses and fix receipts, tickets etc to the walls!

I've bought magnetic pegs as a FE gift too! so hope that this is the case on DCL too!

Gillian

Couple of thoughts ..

Train between Barcelona and Paris is possible and a different way of seeing the countryside.

The Barcelona football stadium does tours if there isn't a match on.

Gillian.

Thanks Lottie, I'd forgotten about tea and coffee in room, I'm used to cruising with the American lines that don't have kettles!

Gillian

Is it possible to get free coffee / tea at cafe jardin or is it just the pay for branded drinks?

our cabin will be the floor above and thought it would be easy way of getting a quick coffee first thing in the morning!

Thanks, Gillian.

Sorry to gate crash this post but thought it may assist??

We have a day in La Spezia in August from the Disney Magic, we (my DD 12) won't want to be off the ship for long so ...

If we disembark can you walk into La Spezia and find an area where we can have a wander, have a look around, maybe visit a few shops or a market?

Is there a beach?

Assume as this is a large naval port that there is a bus into town? anyone have any more info?

Thanks, Gillian. :)

As Karen says you were lucky to find availability in September and hotels will be more expensive than usual.

It may be more cost effective and a different start to your holiday to book a hotel in Portsmouth and then travel into Southampton on the train on the morning of your cruise (20-40 minutes on train depending how often it stops!).

Gillian.

An update on iTunes today for the App states 'stay in touch with friends on board using Onboard Chat - now available to Guests on all 4 ships.

Anyone on Magic updated the App yet??

Gillian.

Thanks Mokimommy, we will probably try to board when we get out PAT time although good advice that it is often 12.30 before they board.

We are staying in a hotel in the WTC on the same quay as the Columbus statue and i'd already planned to get a cruise buses that go from there. I agree its a long walk from the terminal to the statue, we've used the shuttle buses before but on day stops rather than joining a new cruise.

Fair comment about being inconsiderate, I'll have to continue to think what time we want, may be preferable to remain in the hotel pool with a view over to the ship than sit in the terminal waiting area, espcially as the weather should be good! :)

Thanks, Gillian.

If I manage to get an early PAT for our cruise from Barcelona this summer but then decide to spend more time in Barcelona and board the ship later, is it OK to show up later than the PAT?

Any other tips for boarding in Barcelona would also be appreciated.

Thanks, Gillian.

Black cropped trousers plus a pretty top and jewellery is my staple for non formal nights. Got some white ones too, for the warm evening in the Med.

Gillian

With those prices, i dread to think what school holidays / August will be like!

Gillian

another suggestion is to order a double portion of the simpler options from the children menu.

if you ask and explain what you would like your servers will not let you hungry!

enjoy, Gillian :)

On some ships the gym / spa showers are available to everyone, so Dad and smaller children can go and shower there leaving the Mums and older more complicated girls! to have more room in the cabin.

There was 3 of us cruising and DH would shower first and then go get a beer on deck whilst the girls showered and got ready then met him later.

Just me and DD now so not quite so complicated.

Gillian :)