Need Help Planning UK cruise!!

[LiseD]

I have been tasked with finding a cruise for my family (2 adults and my twins-turning 21 on this trip) and my parents both in their 80's (paying for the trip!) and looking at end of July 2014.

 

My parents want a trip that goes out and also finishes in London. (so they can fly BA non stop from San Diego and not take other connecting flights) My parents have done the Baltic route and the British Isle route) so have been looking at either the Mediterranean cruise or the Norway/Iceland cruise.

 

Here is my dilemma ...I have read a lot of the Med. reviews and they say it is HOT this time of year AND that many of the ports are a long way to the city. I think my parents would like to skip a lot of the tours and see themselves just getting off the ship and walking around a bit. On the other hand the Iceland trip looks really beautiful but might be COLD!! They are not real fond of being cold!! ha ha Oh my....so confused about which direction we should go!

 

RCL, Princess and HA all seem to have some nice trips and itineraries either way. But open to any suggestions on options. Advice needed and appreciated!

[hbeaney]

You really do have a problem, the only cruises from London are from Tilbury which are smaller ships like max 30,000 tonnes. From Harwich which is about 80/90 miles from london with direct rail links you have RCI, Celebrity. With cruises to Norway, Baltic and Iceland. The main cruise departure port is Southampton again 60/70 miles with direct rail and coach links, all the main cruise lines depart from here to all destinations.

[Gettingwarmer]

The ports for Florence and Rome for example are about 1 1/2 hours bus drive away. The ports are very large and commercialised and it is not easy to hop off and look around as it is in the Caribbean. The other ports are not so bad.

 

The end of July is the start of the school holidays and the ships will have more children as will the ports. It can be hot in August and early July might be a better time.

 

With your elderly parents with you it might be preferable to take the cruise transfers from the airport or London to the port as they are some distance away.

 

You will find the Ports of call - British Isles Threads useful on

 

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=7&f=233

 

and Mediterranean

 

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=7&f=603