Hi, Im new and stuck trying to find a cruise Can someone give advice please?

[faltskog5450]

Hi, I'm desperately looking for a cruise for my partner and I for our 25th wedding anniversary later this year.

 

Our criteria is no children (have 5, and now want peace and quiet), have never been on a cruise before, hate package holidays, hate boring run of the mill destinations, hate having to dress up for dinner etc. Hate pomp and ceremony etc and cabaret based cruises. Want a nice quiet small cruise going to obscure locations. We've saved up for this and want it to be special as we never had a honeymoon, investing the wedding/honeymoon money into the deposit for a house instead.

 

It has to be an adventure to remember. We can't afford luxury cruises, but being honest they are not our type of thing anyway.

 

I want it to be educational, amazing scenery and peace & quiet. I'm quiet and really quite nervous when it comes to meeting people. Is there a cruise out there whilst on a budget, or am I dreaming way beyond our financial abilities

 

H

[Nic6318]

Hi Faltskog

 

Have you looked at Oceania Cruise lines. They would seem to fit your stated requirements generally. They are upscale while not formal. So the only thing would be to see if their packages and itineraries are good for you.

 

hope this helps

have a great cruise

[cb at sea]

All of the mainstream lines will have kids....all of them. The "luxury" lines may have fewer, but will still have some. Since the kids aboard are not yours, you can safely ignore them!

 

Budget lines always have lots of families..as that fits most families pocketbooks.

 

 

On any line, you can be a social (or not) as you like. Nowadays, you have the option of eating alone, if thats your preference. There are always "quiet" spaces on ships (of course, the pool deck is not one of them!) so you can get away from the others.

 

 

Maybe some sort of "expedition" cruise, going to out of the way places would suit you best. A good travel agency specializing in expedition cruises would be the place to start. Travel agents can give you prices and brochures, so you can get a "feel" for your options.

Good luck to you!

[Sancho_proudfoot]

While I agree about a good TA being a great place to start, have a look at Paul Gauguin Cruises. What they offer would seem to fit your wishes, although as you have mentioned "doing things on a budget" it may be out of your financial range.

[faltskog5450]

Thanks for the reply. Its not the responsibility of the children, its parents not taking responsibility of theirs that is my issue. Can't even sit in a coffee shop if parents just allow their children to scream or cry. I'm one of those parents that would take my children outside as to not annoy other people. Think we are a dying breed unfortunately. Being honest we can't afford specialised cruises. Think it will have to be something else.

 

Thanks again

[faltskog5450]

While I agree about a good TA being a great place to start, have a look at Paul Gauguin Cruises. What they offer would seem to fit your wishes, although as you have mentioned "doing things on a budget" it may be out of your financial range.

 

Thanks for the advice. Finances are the issue unfortunately. Ive done Spain, Italy, Malta etc etc over the years Even yugoslavia back in the day. Have never liked sunbathing holidays. Dont drink etc. I enjoy seeing unusual places

I think it is back to the original plan of Malaysia being honest. Backpacking at 53. Who would have thought it. ;)

[srlafleur]

If the more luxury lines are out of your budget, you might try the more mainstream lines like Celebrity, Princess and HAL, but while the kids are in school (avoid holidays, summer, February, March and April- school vacation) and/or a longer itinerary of 10+ days (which is where you'll also find a bit more of the road less traveled itineraries).

We saw very few kids on a Princess cruise in Japan in August (gosh, now that I think about it, I don't remember seeing any, but there must have been a few), even though it was only a 1 week cruise.

[Grandma Dazzles]

Not sure if you have totally changed your mind about a cruise, but have you considered a river cruise, like Viking.

 

All main stream cruise lines will have children, however, longer cruises, over 10 days will usually have less.

[OzKiwiJJ]

One option might be Pacific Princess. She's much smaller than the rest of the Princess fleet and is cruising Europe until December.

 

Princess does have formal nights but you could always go to the buffet or a speciality restaurant on those nights.

[Sancho_proudfoot]

Depending on the security situation a Nile river cruise might be an option. They're excellent value good, well appointed ships and every day there's some hugely interesting places to visit.

 

Both times we've been down the Nile there were no kids aboard.

[RenaeG]

Fly to Australia and do a cruise around New Zealand - ships are Celebrity Solstice and Ovation of the seas and Explorer of the Seas

 

 

Aussie Cruiser

[138east]

Realistically, what is your actual budget for the cruise? Budget for airfare? What part of the world interests you? What time of year do you want to go?

 

It looks like you're in the U.K. Have you done the Med - Italy, Greek Isles etc?

 

As long as you stay away from school vacations you can find cruises that have an insignificant number of children.

[Flatbush Flyer]

One option might be Pacific Princess. She's much smaller than the rest of the Princess fleet and is cruising Europe until December.

 

 

 

Princess does have formal nights but you could always go to the buffet or a speciality restaurant on those nights.

 

 

As was mentioned in an earlier post on this thread, look to Oceania's 670 passenger R ships, including the former Ocean Princess, which O acquired from Princess in 2014 and then applied a $40 million rehab/retrofit. It now sails as Sirena and it bests Princess in every way imaginable (e.g., food quality, cabin bedding/amenities, service, "country club casual" atmosphere, destinations like Easter and Pitcairn Islands). When comparing pricing, do not use "cabin cost." Use "inclusive daily rate," which represents all your expenses divided by the days of your trip. This is a better measure since it includes things that are built in to O's cabin price but are extra on Princess (internet, beverages, specialty restaurants; choice of excursions, alcohol or OBC; and airfare/air credit, which can easily exceed $1500/person on international long hauls).

 

 

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[Essiesmom]

You might be in the age range for Saga cruises - I think minimum is 50 (maybe 55?), companion if at least 40... And P&O-UK has three ships that are adults only. If you are really interested in being educated, you might look into Voyages to Antiquity, on the very small Aegean Odyssey. EM

[herbanrenewal]

"Our criteria is no children (have 5, and now want peace and quiet), have never been on a cruise before, hate package holidays, hate boring run of the mill destinations, hate having to dress up for dinner etc. Hate pomp and ceremony etc and cabaret based cruises. Want a nice quiet small cruise going to obscure locations."

 

 

Have you considered something like Galapagos? it seems to meet all your requirements. We booked with SilverSea Galapagos and they had a deal that included all airfares, pre-cruise 2 full days in Quito, all expenses including wifi and drinks.

[Pudgesmom]

Take a look at Windstar. All ships have under 300 passengers. No children under 8 allowed. I've never seen any children younger than high school and those were few and far between. The ships are able to stop at small uncrowded destinations.

[jocap]

Have a look at Fred Olsen- they do some cruises from Scotland, but also from Newcastle. Children are allowed, but it's not really a line planned for them. Some formal nights, but you can miss them and eat in the buffet. Unusual destinations, including sailing along some of Europe's major rivers. One cruise from Glasgow goes to Canada and back

Cruise and Maritime are child free- also sail from the north of the UK. Like Fred, use older ships, but have unusual destinations.

As Essiesmom says, P&O have 3 child free ships- again, you can miss the formal nights by eating in the buffet or Beach House. EM also mentions Saga... they look pricey, but include a certain amount of travel to the dock, and insurance is included (yes, for over 50s only, except for younger partner)

The one we'd all like to try is the Hebridean Princess, from Oban... the Queen's charter ship, with only 50 cabins... but way out of most budgets!

Also Hurtigruten ferry ships, which do amazing sailings round Norway- I've several friends who are fans- some flew out from Aberdeen... Not the usual cruise ship, but unusual ports.

Enjoy choosing!