Iona live 12th August 2023

[purplesea]

1 hour ago, Presto2 said:

Everyone is different and wants something different. I still want PO Oceana but they keep telling me she is now baked bean cans !!!!

I have a soft spot for Oceana as she was our first cruise with P&O.

[elmsliebev]

1 hour ago, Presto2 said:

Everyone is different and wants something different. I still want PO Oceana but they keep telling me she is now baked bean cans !!!!

Oriana is my favourite, I think she's probably bean cans too! 

[Presto2]

53 minutes ago, purplesea said:

I have a soft spot for Oceana as she was our first cruise with P&O.

Same here .. August 2010. 

[carlanthony24]

Before the world changed.

[grapau27]

3 hours ago, ParisHilton said:

Welcome. I've learnt so much off here myself.

The family are more looking at anthem of the sea

You will love Anthem of the seas.

The North Star lifts you high above and over the decks.

The dodgem cars are very popular.

Only downside compared to P&O is you are expected to pay about $16pppd on your onboard account as well as tipping wait staff and your cabin crew extra plus a 18% gratuity is added to every drink you buy.

A lot of people go to guest services though and stop the daily auto gratuities then give the crew $dollars cash tips instead.

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by grapau27

[AndyLovesCruises]

13 hours ago, ParisHilton said:

Welcome. I've learnt so much off here myself.

The family are more looking at anthem of the sea

anthem is a great ship, i have sailed her twice. If your kids are a little older than toddlers then they will have the best time. 
 

flower rider, north star, bumper cars so much to keep them entrained. 
 

when we sailed with them our son was only 18 months but imagined not seeing him for 7 days when his older ! 

[ParisHilton]

5 minutes ago, AndyLovesCruises said:

anthem is a great ship, i have sailed her twice. If your kids are a little older than toddlers then they will have the best time. 
 

flower rider, north star, bumper cars so much to keep them entrained. 
 

when we sailed with them our son was only 18 months but imagined not seeing him for 7 days when his older ! 

My two turn 10 and 13 in a couple of months so next year would be perfect.

I think I need to start putting in shine overtime!

[CarlaMarie]

12 hours ago, Presto2 said:

Everyone is different and wants something different. I still want PO Oceana but they keep telling me she is now baked bean cans !!!!

 

She was a beautiful ship and was my first as well. 

 

[CarlaMarie]

13 hours ago, ParisHilton said:

Welcome. I've learnt so much off here myself.

The family are more looking at anthem of the 

 

That is great that you would cruise again, even with a different line. The Royal Caribbean ships from what I have heard and seen are definitely more designed for the family market, with more for children to do, experience and to keep them entertained. 

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, ParisHilton said:

My two turn 10 and 13 in a couple of months so next year would be perfect.

I think I need to start putting in shine overtime!

On Anthem.

Flow rider surfing.

Climbing wall.

Dodgem cars.

Sports court.

North Star.

Wonderland restaurant.

Superb gym.

 

[Megabear2]

1 hour ago, ParisHilton said:

My two turn 10 and 13 in a couple of months so next year would be perfect.

I think I need to start putting in shine overtime!

You may need a lot of overtime unfortunately.  An August cruise on Anthem next year for 4 is currently around £9,500 according to my friend who has booked Arvia as an alternative at almost half the price - your 13 year old isn't a child on RC although they are on P&O.  However the August P&O cruise are full if you require a child place so no doubt RC are able to raise their prices as a result of limited availability.

 

Good luck whatever you settle for and many thanks for your daily blog which has been very interesting.

[ParisHilton]

3 hours ago, CarlaMarie said:

 

That is great that you would cruise again, even with a different line. The Royal Caribbean ships from what I have heard and seen are definitely more designed for the family market, with more for children to do, experience and to keep them entertained. 

 

I was concerned mine would get bored, and I think we did hear 'I'm bored' very early on!

But I think they enjoyed us being away from work and daily chores so never really got bored. Having their cousin there too helped for sure.  Certainly wouldn't worry about them getting bored if we did the same cruise again.

 

Other minor points for those following us... don't forget you have to cash in casino chips by midnight o last day  . I'm not sure what I expected, but I'd have thought until 1 or beyond. Shouldn't really be a problem, but if you are drinking up unused on board credit, it might be an expensive problem.

 

Every stop seems to be a fairly hefty tourist destination so tax free shopping is available, i'm not sure how that works, but worth googling before you set off , as far as I can tell, you get a voucher with your purchase for two of the major admin schemes and you can trade the voucher in. There's representatives from those companies on board.  There's a lower limit on what you can purchase to qualify, and I think it's 'per shop' rather than the total.  I'm sure it's all out there on the 'net so if you are planning to buy souvenirs etc, spend five mins before setting off to fill in the details.

 

Also, and I can't stress this enough, dig out the video on youtube about the life boats, my tales of how many it holds seemed to go like chinese whispers around the ship.

As did the 'theory' that holding in the lift button would cause it to bypass people hailing the lift. Not true, nor one of mine 🙂

 

Paul

[ParisHilton]

1 hour ago, Megabear2 said:

You may need a lot of overtime unfortunately.  An August cruise on Anthem next year for 4 is currently around £9,500 according to my friend who has booked Arvia as an alternative at almost half the price - your 13 year old isn't a child on RC although they are on P&O.  However the August P&O cruise are full if you require a child place so no doubt RC are able to raise their prices as a result of limited availability.

 

Good luck whatever you settle for and many thanks for your daily blog which has been very interesting.

 

I think outside school holidays (I saw November) there are some far more reasonable prices.  I'm figuring it's worth considering paying for an extra passenger, a personal tutor, let the kids be schooled two hours a day, keep them on top of their education and the school\council of their back.. The fact their elders sister is currently tutoring to support herself through her PhD is just a lucky coincidence!

 

It's good to see it's such a competitive market with prices reacting so swiftly.  always leaves gaps to exploit if you can be patient. Thanks Mega Bear.

[Megabear2]

4 minutes ago, ParisHilton said:

 

I think outside school holidays (I saw November) there are some far more reasonable prices.  I'm figuring it's worth considering paying for an extra passenger, a personal tutor, let the kids be schooled two hours a day, keep them on top of their education and the school\council of their back.. The fact their elders sister is currently tutoring to support herself through her PhD is just a lucky coincidence!

 

It's good to see it's such a competitive market with prices reacting so swiftly.  always leaves gaps to exploit if you can be patient. Thanks Mega Bear.

I didn't know Anthem was going to be in UK in November, I thought her season ended in October.  A good idea about the schooling.

[ParisHilton]

58 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

I didn't know Anthem was going to be in UK in November, I thought her season ended in October.  A good idea about the schooling.

I could be wrong there. I think it might be an msc with amazing stuff for children in November. Am definitely going to put in some legwork though.

I do feel I should look for a European resort hotel to compare with.  Crusing is certainly fun and the hassle free coach to and from a reasonable bonus.  But for me , and my family, being at sea isn't a major plus.  Different locations in one week I enjoyed but if I could hire a car and be near a city for a week that would be fine too .

[ParisHilton]

So whilst Iona is back in Stavanger is here's a photo, from Stavanger:)