Yet another newby question - How soon is too soon?

[croydonCruiser]

Hi All,

 

I've been lurking around here for a while now, and learned heaps of stuff. But one thing I haven't found is how soon should I book a cruise that is on during the school holidays.

 

We plan on going on the 10 night cruise on Pacific Dawn on 23 Sep 2008. I haven't found any specials yet as it's probably too early (apart from P&O's kids free deal), but I don't want to wait too long and possibly miss out. On the other hand, I don't want to book now, and find out in 6 months time that I could have saved 50% or more if I'd waited. I've seen some pretty amazing deals for the next couple of months, but not for this years' Sep/Oct holidays.

 

So my question is; do school holiday cruises book out quickly, or is it safe to wait a while yet?

 

I'll be cruising with my husband and two kids, and also my Mum who will be in her own cabin. She's not too keen on being woken at 5.30-6ish every morning. I tell her it's a grandmother's privilege, but she won't be in it!

 

Thanks in advance for any advice,

 

Jo (yet another one - there seem to be plenty on this board!)

[cheznandy]

Hellooooo Jo!!

 

Welcome:)

 

Drop me an email at cherylab@tpg.com.au and I will forward you some discount cruise websites so you can have a browse and compare prices.

 

If you are wanting a particular cruise, deck cabin, time of year etc good to book early,if you are flexible, hang out for a cheaper fare. Don't pay the brocure prices unless you are really sure that you cant get it cheaper.

 

Chez

xx

[Carlz]

Hello! The kids for free deal is a good one! IMHO if you want school holidays then book soon to avoid disappointment. Apparently they only will take a limited amount of children on any one cruise (for facility reasons I assume) and of course school holidays will be the most popular for families to choose for obvious reasons.

 

my P&O brochure (Earlybird book by 30/9) lists the 23rd Sept Dawn cruise as being kids cruise free AND $99 balcony upgrade....sweet! It also has a 40% price reduction....even sweeter!

 

I'll also add that I booked for MAY next year (not even school holidays) and the balcony cabins were already sold out. But they did upgrade us to an outside cabin :)

 

goodluck!

[MsMinx]

I booked our upcoming cruise in March this year for Feb 2008. Even though I thought I had got a pretty good price, I was sent some advertising from P&O that had the same cruise with the same cabin grades etc for a much lower price! I went to the TA and asked her to help me out and we ended up saving around $700. If you want a particular cruise though i'd probably book as soon as you can. I believe the Dawn will be quite popular in it's first 12 months and school hols will book out faster than the rest of the year might. Welcome to CC by the way :D

[LouLou28]

It may be an idea to talk to a few travel agents as well. Ours keeps an ear to the ground for me on deals - and her chain sometime do group/bulk bookings which resulted in us getting a great deal for our upcoming February 08 cruise (not in school holidays - but I'm one of these bad bad mothers that takes her children out of school every now and then ....).

 

Last time I gave her a couple of options were were looking at and she came back with the best deals she could get on both ... and we went with the one we wanted.

[DennisN]

I'm one of these bad bad mothers that takes her children out of school every now and then

 

Just off topic for a minute.

 

Bad Mother??

 

Not true, not true.

 

A very good friend of ours [who by the way was one of Australia's most eminent psychiatrists before he retired] once told us: "Don't ever let the school system interfere with your child's education."

 

He strongly advocated taking children out of school for short periods for life experience travel with their parents.

 

He was of the opinion that they would learn more about real life on a ten day boat cruise or two weeks at Fraser Island etc, than they would learn in a year at school.

 

Makes sense to me. :)

[arxcards]

 

my P&O brochure (Earlybird book by 30/9) lists the 23rd Sept Dawn cruise as being kids cruise free AND $99 balcony upgrade....sweet! It also has a 40% price reduction....even sweeter!

 

Pity you can't have the kids free & balcony upgrade at the same time.

(All of the Pacific Dawn Balcony cabins are 2 berth only - very hard to get the kids to sail free if you can't book them into your balcony cabin).

 

Cheers

Geoff

[Carlz]

Pity you can't have the kids free & balcony upgrade at the same time.

(All of the Pacific Dawn Balcony cabins are 2 berth only - very hard to get the kids to sail free if you can't book them into your balcony cabin).

 

Cheers

Geoff

 

ahhhh the cheeky devils!!!!! tricky!

[Tigerman00]

Hi All,

 

I've been lurking around here for a while now, and learned heaps of stuff. But one thing I haven't found is how soon should I book a cruise that is on during the school holidays.

 

We plan on going on the 10 night cruise on Pacific Dawn on 23 Sep 2008. I haven't found any specials yet as it's probably too early (apart from P&O's kids free deal), but I don't want to wait too long and possibly miss out. On the other hand, I don't want to book now, and find out in 6 months time that I could have saved 50% or more if I'd waited. I've seen some pretty amazing deals for the next couple of months, but not for this years' Sep/Oct holidays.

 

So my question is; do school holiday cruises book out quickly, or is it safe to wait a while yet?

 

I'll be cruising with my husband and two kids, and also my Mum who will be in her own cabin. She's not too keen on being woken at 5.30-6ish every morning. I tell her it's a grandmother's privilege, but she won't be in it!

 

Thanks in advance for any advice,

 

Jo (yet another one - there seem to be plenty on this board!)

 

 

Dont go on a scholl holiday cruise ... wait until about 3 months before and you will get the best deal !!

[LouLou28]

Just off topic for a minute.

 

Bad Mother??

 

Not true, not true.

 

A very good friend of ours [who by the way was one of Australia's most eminent psychiatrists before he retired] once told us: "Don't ever let the school system interfere with your child's education."

 

He strongly advocated taking children out of school for short periods for life experience travel with their parents.

 

He was of the opinion that they would learn more about real life on a ten day boat cruise or two weeks at Fraser Island etc, than they would learn in a year at school.

 

Makes sense to me. :)

 

Don't worry DennisN ... I'm not that worried about being a "Bad Mother" ... the school is always very supportive (although one teacher gave me a bit of a tutt tutt after our last cruise and a "He'll have a lot of catching up to do" when we came back ... they had missed the first week of school - hardly one of the peak learning weeks I would have thought!!!).

 

Nothing can replace the experience the kids get being away with their parents for any amount of time ... let alone having the experiences they get in travelling overseas! :D

[croydonCruiser]

Wow - you people are amazing. Thanks for all the replies and welcomes.

 

Chez, I've sent you an email. Thanks again!!!

 

Kaz and Carlz, I've looked at the Kids Free deal on this cruise, but as we'd like an outside cabin it really only saves the kids fares at this stage, about $640. For some reason outside twin is the only one not reduced! Hopefully if I wait the deals might get better.

 

MsMinx, it sounds like you were able to get a reduction in price after booking. The TA I spoke to said the price he gave me was fixed, and if prices went down after I booked it was bad luck! I think I'd better go talk to another TA :)

 

LouLou28 and Tigerman00, I'm like you and much prefer to go away outside school holiday periods. I'm more than happy to pull my kids out of school for a week or two. I used to be a teacher too! However, Mum is coming, and unfortunately we have to squeeze the cruise in between her three month trip to Alaska and her return to work! Life's tough for some!:) This cruise is the only one that fits in.

 

DennisN, Like you, I don't think anyone who is providing their kids with an opportunity to see a bit of the world is being a bad parent!

 

Geoff, I got pretty excited about the kids free and the balcony upgrade, until I realised that you could only choose one, and the balcony rooms are for two people only.:( I really need to get Mum to take the kids, then hubby and I can get a balcony - not going to happen though!

 

Thanks again to you all,

Jo

[croydonCruiser]

Thanks again MsMinx. I've sent you an email.

 

Sounds like you got a good deal fishart! I was looking at the next Butterfly Whispers sailing on 26 Oct. I even got a quote of $696 each for the four of us in an outside cabin! Seemed pretty good for an 8 night cruise. Unfortunately Mum can't come this year, but I was thinking of going anyway, until my 6yo son announced that there was no way he was going into the kids club without his 7yo sister! Not much point forcing him as we wouldn't really be able to relax knowing he wasn't enjoying it. I even got the TA to find out from P&O how strict they are with ages for the kids clubs, but they won't let him go into the older club. I'm pretty tempted though, especially as we are planning on going to Coffs Harbour anyway in Oct.

 

Coffs Harbour....Cruise....coffs....cruise .....hmmmm!:)

[fishart]

Thanks again MsMinx. I've sent you an email.

 

Sounds like you got a good deal fishart! I was looking at the next Butterfly Whispers sailing on 26 Oct. I even got a quote of $696 each for the four of us in an outside cabin! Seemed pretty good for an 8 night cruise. Unfortunately Mum can't come this year, but I was thinking of going anyway, until my 6yo son announced that there was no way he was going into the kids club without his 7yo sister! Not much point forcing him as we wouldn't really be able to relax knowing he wasn't enjoying it. I even got the TA to find out from P&O how strict they are with ages for the kids clubs, but they won't let him go into the older club. I'm pretty tempted though, especially as we are planning on going to Coffs Harbour anyway in Oct.

 

Coffs Harbour....Cruise....coffs....cruise .....hmmmm!:)

 

Hi there,

That is a very good deal there for the four of you..cheaper than us three... sounds very tempting!!

In regards to the six year old...they generally will flip opinions pretty quick especially when they meet other kids...But then my son was never shy, so I am unable to speak for yours.. I personally can't get past the value and facilities offered for such a cruise, not to mention you are technically going overseas as well... I can't wait to not have to THINK about what meals to cook! ha ha ha Cheers! Iesha

[cheznandy]

Thanks again MsMinx. I've sent you an email.

 

Sounds like you got a good deal fishart! I was looking at the next Butterfly Whispers sailing on 26 Oct. I even got a quote of $696 each for the four of us in an outside cabin! Seemed pretty good for an 8 night cruise. Unfortunately Mum can't come this year, but I was thinking of going anyway, until my 6yo son announced that there was no way he was going into the kids club without his 7yo sister! Not much point forcing him as we wouldn't really be able to relax knowing he wasn't enjoying it. I even got the TA to find out from P&O how strict they are with ages for the kids clubs, but they won't let him go into the older club. I'm pretty tempted though, especially as we are planning on going to Coffs Harbour anyway in Oct.

 

Coffs Harbour....Cruise....coffs....cruise .....hmmmm!:)

 

 

Jo, I have friends on that cruise, two couples from Port. Sounds like a good deal, ummmm....... Coffs.....cruise know which one I would be going with, You would have to prepare meals, shop, and clean up if thinking of a unit at Coffs,probably spend more keeping the kids entertained:eek:

 

I am sure your son would settle in after he see's how much fun the other kids are having.

 

Have fun whichever you decide:)

 

Chez

xx

[croydonCruiser]

It's very tempting, the thought that on a cruise I wouldn't have to even think about what to cook for tea for 8 days! I went on two cruises with my family when I was a kid (well 14 and 18), and I remember Mum saying that they were the only real holidays she had ever had. Mind you, I was the eldest of 6 kids, and our holidays were mostly spent in a caravan in the middle of the bush with no facilities of any kind :eek:

 

No wonder she likes cruises!

 

The hard part is convincing hubby. I don't think he is too keen on the whole cruise idea, and the thought of two in two years might be a bit much :(

 

Jo (I'm going to have to look up the dates of my past cruises and add them to my sig. :))

[karmac]

... I remember Mum saying that they were the only real holidays she had ever had...... :))

 

I always tell people who haven't been on a cruise that it is the best holiday for a mum. It's the only holiday that I've had where I didn't have to do anything (and yes....deciding WHAT to cook is one of the hardest jobs a mum has to do).

 

I'd much rather decide what to EAT, not what to COOK.

 

Karen

[cheznandy]

It's very tempting, the thought that on a cruise I wouldn't have to even think about what to cook for tea for 8 days! I went on two cruises with my family when I was a kid (well 14 and 18), and I remember Mum saying that they were the only real holidays she had ever had. Mind you, I was the eldest of 6 kids, and our holidays were mostly spent in a caravan in the middle of the bush with no facilities of any kind :eek:

 

No wonder she likes cruises!

 

The hard part is convincing hubby. I don't think he is too keen on the whole cruise idea, and the thought of two in two years might be a bit much :(

 

Jo (I'm going to have to look up the dates of my past cruises and add them to my sig. :))

 

 

Might be the Big Banana and Porpoise pool for you then:( :)

 

and yes, add your cruises Jo, you may have cruised with some of us:D

Chez

xx

[kaseyoz]

Dont go on a scholl holiday cruise ... wait until about 3 months before and you will get the best deal !!

 

the problem is if you wait for three months before school holidays there will almost certainly be a school holiday there too. Remember not all states have hols at the same time.

another point to remember if you do have kids if you go outside school holidays there may be much less kids on board too.

 

great for couples though!!:D

[kaseyoz]

I always tell people who haven't been on a cruise that it is the best holiday for a mum. It's the only holiday that I've had where I didn't have to do anything (and yes....deciding WHAT to cook is one of the hardest jobs a mum has to do).

 

I'd much rather decide what to EAT, not what to COOK.

 

Karen

 

absolutely agree.no washing, bed making. deciding what to cook can a big problem too.

you do not even have to decide where to go and eat , dont have to keep getting money out, no tv (to a point) no internet for the kids (to a point!!)

just rest and eat and play

[gooch47]

I'll admit I didn't read every word on this thread so if this was mentioned, please forgive me.

 

For future reference, what period is considered school holidays?

[Carlz]

I'll admit I didn't read every word on this thread so if this was mentioned, please forgive me.

 

For future reference, what period is considered school holidays?

 

Every state (and sometimes every year!) is slightly different.

Try these websites:

 

http://www.dest.gov.au/portfolio_department/calendar_dates/school_term_dates_2007.htm

http://www.bcl.com.au/school-holidays.htm

They should give you an idea of the dates for the areas you intend visiting.

 

happy sailing!

[gooch47]

Thank you! That was perfect.

[upwarduk]

Pity you can't have the kids free & balcony upgrade at the same time.

(All of the Pacific Dawn Balcony cabins are 2 berth only - very hard to get the kids to sail free if you can't book them into your balcony cabin).

 

Cheers

Geoff

 

From another board, Kiwi Kruzer wrote:

 

Not sure about the increased capacity,with the big makeover ,but it is only increasing the twins into fours '

 

http://cruise.11.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=1376

 

Not sure whether the increase is for Balcony cabins though!

[arxcards]

From another board, Kiwi Kruzer wrote:

 

Not sure about the increased capacity,with the big makeover ,but it is only increasing the twins into fours '

 

http://cruise.11.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=1376

 

Not sure whether the increase is for Balcony cabins though!

 

Hi Jackie & Adrian,

The onboard capacity increases from around 1600 to over 2000 by converting many 2's to 4's. There are also some major makeovers to some of the public areas as well - especially by removing the casino from the dome.

Alas, all of the outside with balcony rooms are still all twins.

http://www.pacificdawn.com.au/html/deck-plans.cfm

 

Cheers