First cruise to celebrate 25yrs of wedded bliss!

[botspot]

My apologies for starting a new topic but I wanted to draw attention to my first post so that I get the results I want

 

Hi,

My husband and myself are embarking on our first cruise sometime in Aug/Sept 2008, we have not booked it yet as we are still looking for a cruise to suit us both, We both want to sail from Southampton (England) and return there we both want to cruise the Med hubby wants more port of calls then I do but both agree that we don't want too many days at sea. We both like our food and we are drinkers, but not alcoholics. What about dining, we like to eat whenever we are hungry, we don't like to be stuck to a certain time to eat even though we plan to have a few special evenings so we can court each other again lol.

My husband and I have been married 25yrs this year (silver wedding Feb 2008) we have never had a holiday like this, in fact I have hardly been abroad (Spain a few years ago) hubby as been abroad more then me because of his golf and being in the TA in his younger years. Hubby is 57 and I have just turned 48. We have 3 grown children 24,22 & 18, two at university and one still living at home. Hubby and I both work and it is only now that we can afford a trip like this after several years of saving. We probably won’t have another like so we want it to be an enjoyable and a memorable trip.

Hubby and I spoke at length again last night to what we both want and have now agreed to do the Med in September 2008 when we can avoid school children, not that we have anything against kids, but ours are all grown up and we both want a bit of peace & quiet. We know there will be children on board but we hope not so many as we are cruising outside the school holidays for British children anyway.

Now the question is whom do we cruise with we have had good reports about Princess & P&O cruises. We want a 14 night cruise with a double with balcony with a budget between £3000.00 & £3500.00 for the cruise. Where to choose the best cabin for our price range (double with balcony). i.e are top decks better then the lower decks etc?

My husband is more active then me, I am a lazy beggar who as ideas of lounging on a sunbed reading a good book with waiter/ess in attendance to satisfy all my needs (food/drinks). My husband is a golfer and is looking for a ship with golf facilities; I like people watching and live entertainment. I am looking for a nice relaxing holiday where I don't have to do too much but hubby is more active plus I don't want him to get bored.

We welcome all replies, but please do not be insulted but we would to like to hear from UK cruisers as we think this will give us a better judgement, especially if they have sailed from Southampton. Are there any UK peeps out there who have done the Med, also would appreciate tips and advice on what we can expect on board.

What I would really like to know from UK cruisers is how do you go about parking etc. Obviously we are driving from our home to Southampton and leaving the car in a long stay car park we hope. We wonder would the tour operator we book with know this information etc.

If anyone could go through the process of boarding, tipping, dining and anything else that we may need to know. Have seen it mentioned that you can purchase a soda card? (i presume this is for soft drinks like juice & coke?). Are tea & coffee provided in the cabin like in hotels? and would it be wrong to bring on board our own. So over to you, I hope that you all can point us in the right direction and gives us tips and advise on how to enjoy our first cruise.

[LEESRE]

From waht you say then P & O is a good bet. You will get tea and coffe in your cabin and free all day and night in the buffet area.

Some of the P & O ships are adult only so you would not have any children to worry about.

Ventura and Oceana also have freedom dining, this is where you decided when and where to eat. Club dining is where you have a prearranged table and time usually 630pm and 0830pm and you ask for a tabel of 2,4,6, or 8 people.

 

Most ships have a gold simulators on board but you would have to make sure that this facility was on the ship you choose. A good TA will tell you this.

Regards parking then you canpark at Southampton dock which is right by the cruise ship. Also on some of the cruises they include parking for the duration of the cruise.

Regards tipping then you will have a card left in your cabin to tell you who and when to tip. If you have freedom dining then this will be added to your onbaord account automatically.

Soda cards tend to be sold by Royal Caribbean Cruises and if you like a coke etc and drink alot of these then a soda card can be less expensive. But you get your drink from a gun dispenser not a can!!

If you go with P & O then you are allowed to take a bottle of alcohol with you on board other cruise lines tell you No you cannot bring aboard.

There are many good TA's out there but you are nt allowed on this site to give out their names etc. Suggest you go over to the P & O site and on there you can give out details.

Regards where to have a cabin, the best place is as near midships as possible. You say you want a balcony then you will not be low down in the ship otherwise you may get wet feet. ha! ha! Go for dolphin deck I think this will be the lowest for a balcony on many P & O ships. I am sure others will have other views.

I am sure that if you decide to book then you will be hooked like the rest of us.

So Happy Silver Wedding and Happy cruising.

[The Monocled Mutineer]

Taking your post point-by-point:

 

Freedom Dining vs Club Dining

 

By your preference go for Freedom Dining (Oceana or Ventura only). However, we tried this once and much prefer Club Dining (Fixed Time, same table, same companions).

 

Breakfast and Lunch, as wel as snacking during the day is flexible for ALL passengers. Dinner provides the option via Freedom vs Club Dining with Select Dining available for all.

 

Select Dining will provide you with the ambiance and "table for 2" so you can "Court each other". There is a supplement when you dine for dinner at a Select venue.

 

You can avoid children all together if you cruise on Arcadia or Artemis. Away from school holidays there will still be pre-school kids plus 16+'ers. Also, there are parents who take their children out of school to go on a cruise. (Something, except in the most extenuating circumstances, I do not approve of).

 

On the longer cruises (16n+), away from the school holidays, on the familiy ships there tend to be a lot less kids (eg On Oriana 09/2006 18n to the Black Sea there were only c.6 children on board)

 

There is no steward service regarding food to your sunbed. Drinks can of course be served this way.

 

Golf nets available on most of the fleet. Aurora & Oceana have golf simulators

 

I have cruised 25 times (all bar 3 ex.Southampton), with many to the Med.

 

Within cabin type the cabins are cheaper the lower down you are and the more further forward or aft you are.

 

For a cabin with balcony you may need to revise your budget closer to £4,000 for two. However, bargains can be got circa 8 weeks before sailing, when some bookings get cancelled (balances are due then). You may need to bear in mind that your choice at this point in time may be limted across the cabin range (eg there may only be one grade of bacony cabin available) as the cruises do sell well early, with many repeaters liking a specific cabin type (or even number) and booking as soon as the brochure comes out. You should also bear in mind that if you elect for Club Dining (the only option on the ships, except Ventura or Oceana) is that you may not get the sitting that you want. 2nd sitting is more popular and sittings are allocaed in booking date order.

 

Depending on your spends you may need to bear in mind that you can end up with a considerable bill at the end of the cruise, plus what you spend ashore at ports of call. 3 tours, a bottle of wine at dnner, some drinks at the bar, soft drinks during the day and a couple of beers, together with purchasing photos taken by the ships photogaphers on board can leave you with a bill for up to £1,000. Some folks can clock even bigger bills with casino, champagne and purchases in the onboard shops.

 

Tips for a fortnight would run to £100+ for 2 (via P&Os suggestions)

 

Parking is cost effective vs a taxi if, for a fortnight, your taxi fare was > £100. We only live 45 mins from the terminal so, unless the parking is free (it is for our Ventura 18/4 cruise because we booked before 08/2007) we use taxis (we sometimes get these free through our travel agent.

 

Parking can be arranged through P&Os agent at Southampton. Details woul be sent to you or you can contct via their web-site or tel-no in brochure

 

There is no soda card sytem.

 

Ordinary tea and coffee can be got on baord for free.

 

You can bring on board alcohol for consumption in your cabin but P&O reserve the right to take it away if they consider that you are drunk, going to supply it to under 18s or bringng it onboard by the pallet load. They will charge corkage (c.£10) for BYO wine consumed in the restaurants or public rooms.

 

~~~

 

Now to my "standard" reply to new comers ex.Southampton:

 

Your 1st Cruise will be one of the BEST cruises you will ever go on. Believe you me: nothing beats the 1st of everything you do during your 14 nights onboard. This is not to say with the 90%+ certainty that you will become addicted to cruising, that you will not have wonderful, future cruises too. But, there is something very magical about your 1st cruise:

 

I capture a bit of that magic when I see the cruise through a newcomers eyes.

 

Don't feel that you need to book a tour at every port of call. The ship is a destination in itself. There is a very special atmosphere on sea days which (in my view) is rivalled by a day on board when at port, or better still at anchor. The ship takes on a quieter ambiance with half or more of the passengers ashore. There are no queues and the service up on deck is snappier. With a very few glorious exceptions, you will find little better ashore. I tend to go only on tours where a "must-see" is a long distance from the ship and the public transport cannot be relied on. I also find an afternoon tour preferable to a morning one as breakfast on board in popular destinations can be somewhat "traumatic", especially in the self-service restaurants.

 

Advice? Suggest you arrive early’ish at the terminal say around midday. When you arrive at Mayflower you say good bye to your cases as they are placed in a "hole-in-the-wall" by a porter. You will next see them outside your cabin when you board or say about 30 mins after. You proceed into check-in where tickets & passports are checked: you are given your cruise cards there and then: this is both your charge card (you can use it straight away without the need to register your credit card/bank charge card - unless you intend to charge casino chips/tokens to it) and ID to get back on the ship when at port. (I understand that the procedure to register your charge/credit card now takes place at check-in – others will no doubt confirm)

 

You then proceed into the embarkation lounge following a security check (x-ray machine for your hand luggage, etc - rather like an airport) then unlike an airport you then pose for your photograph.

 

Make sure you look your best and smile - tomorrow your photo along with 1800 other passengers will be on display in the Photo gallery for naughty chaps like me to have a laugh (when you look like I do, stones and glass houses spring to mind)

 

Embarkation for the majority of passengers start from c.14:30 (although this now starts earlier). You will have already boarded after noon (suite priority) and will be plied with gratis drinks.

 

When you are called there is then a long walk while you carry your hand luggage along covered walkways that seem to go on for ever. Eventually you suddenly reach a large deck hatch opening and as you step on board it is if you have entered another world.

 

You will be greeted by an officer or one of the Entertainment team (ENTSs - not be confused with Treebeard from the Lord of the Rings) and, if you require, a white-gloved steward will relieve you of your hand luggage and take you to your cabin via lift or stairs.

 

WARNING: You will have studied the deck plans for months and you will think you know your way around.

 

WRONG: The deck plans are in 2 dimensions - the ship is in 3 dimensions.

 

HOWEVER: within about 24 hours you will know your way around! If you are lucky the steward will take you directly to the cabin. Sometimes the stewards do get lost!

 

At last your cabin, (with hopefully your luggage outside). Get to know your home for the next xx nights. There will be continuous safety video playing on the TV and your cabin key-card will be in the door with a spare one on the writing desk with all the bumph and info folders. Have a look at today’s issue of the ships newspaper XXXX TODAY - it will have a nice picture of your well-fed Captain (they usually look as if they have had a few “Captain’s Dinners”) saying "welcome aboard". This will confirm what times all sorts of things are happening today and tonight. The only compulsory thing you must attend is the ships safety briefing held in your muster lounge at c.16:15 (it takes about 30 mins and you will find your muster station location on the back of your cabin door)

 

Your cabin steward will shortly introduce himself and ask what time you would like to be awakened and whether you prefer Tea / Coffee in the morning.

 

There will be a card in your cabin confirming your Dinner reservation which will show Restaurant name, sitting and table no. You might like to go down to the restaurant to see what table size and where it is. At about 15:00 the restaurant manager will be on duty and will try to accommodate any changes you might wish to make.

 

The tablets my Val takes (she is sensitive to motion) are Stugeron. Take 2 c.15:00 (2 hours before sailing) and then 1 every 8 hours until unconsciousness or sleep occurs! You will awake the next day but will probably have missed lunch by the time you wake up.

 

Now if you are sensible and have brought quite a few garments and suits it will speed unpacking if you packed them at home on hangers. But hey! ... hang the packing let's go and explore the ship.

 

As I said earlier, afternoon tea is served from c.15:00 in one of the restaurants or self service style in the deck restaurants

 

If it's a lovely day the prospect of sitting out at a deck bar afterwards sipping a cocktail of the day or a bottle of champagne is a tempting prospect.

 

In no time at all bells and announcements will go off requiring you to go to your muster station.

 

You will need to go back to your cabin and retrieve your life jacket and take it with you.

 

Once the VERY IMPORTANT safety drill is over (about 16:45) you can then go out on deck and start to enjoy the proceedings regarding departure out on the Promenade Deck. (Of course you might have a port-side balcony cabin in which case you can swank on your own private space).

 

There is champagne at £2.75 (I think) a glass - good value and a jolly band on the quayside playing Maritime & Military Greatest Hits.

 

In no time the last lines have been slipped, the last gangway removed and suddenly the bow & stern thruster push this Beautiful ship away to warmer climes. THE CRUISE HAS BEGUN.

 

The peregrination and twisting down the Southampton Water, Calshot Spit, the dog-turns to starboard then to port, traversing Cowes Roads and then on to the Pilot drop-off takes about over 90 mins.

 

It is lovely just to sit on the Promenade Deck and watch the last of England slip by. (or in the Crow's Nest Bar if inclement).

 

And just think your cruise has only just begun.You will have a wonderful time.

 

You will want to book again as soon as that sad day back in Southampton arrives.

 

Some Suggestions:

============

 

1. Unless you really have to, avoid the reception desk on embarkation day and disembarkation day.

 

2. Avoid queues to leave the ship by avoiding the gangway for the first couple of hours in port/at anchor (unless you're on a tour).

 

3. The Fish Main course as a starter if none of the "regular" starters tickles your taste buds.

 

4. Order wine for dinner at one of the bars during the afternoon (or via the Wine Line). Your choice should then be ready and waiting at your table when you arrive. For wine/food matches, dinner menus are available to scrutinise at some bars.

 

5. Without going daft, maximise on the Cocktail of the Day ... good value.

 

6. Champagne at £2.75 (?) a glass at departure is good value.

 

7. Do not rely on the library to be able to supply your travel book needs for destinations on your cruise. They are for reference only and cannot be removed from the library. Bring your own Baedekar, Insight, Rough Guide, etc.

 

8. Do not rely on the library to supply the latest blockbuster from J.K.Rowling, John Grisham, Stephen King, etc. They will have a copy or 2, but 500 other passengers are also relying on reading a copy during the cruise. Bring your own.

 

9. If you go to a film in the evening after dinner - beware - unlike a shoreside cinema, this auditorium gently sways - the combination of warm sun all day, a beer or 2 at lunch (wasn't that curry lovely?) 2 or 3 cocktails of the day, 6 course dinner, a bottle of Rioja, and an Irish Coffee, and the darkness of the cinema will induce narcosis. But don't be embarrassed - you are not alone. The cinema in the evening sometimes reminds me of Paul McCartney's "Frog Chorus" - the sound of syncopated sequence snoring!

 

10. (As per 9 above) try not to do this in the show lounge / theatre - especially if the cheeky comedian is performing. It must be either funny or disheartening to the hard-working, slick company singers and dancers when confronted with "An Ocean of Faces with Mouths Wide Open and Eyes Wide Shut"

 

Tom & Nicole in the cinema aren't really there!

 

11. If you are lunching up on deck, it is a good idea to secure your wine / beverages before you go to make your selections of food.

 

12. Save most of the unpacking (unless you choose to travel very lightly) till when you retire tonight. Excepting 2n-4n party cruises, the 1st night after dinner is usually a fairly quiet affair with many people retiring early as "it's been a long day". If the weather is glorious in Southampton, get yourself into some deck wear and relax in a lounger up on top with a Pimms, a G&T, a cocktail, a glass champagne or whatever tickles your taste buds (for example get a tray of afternoon tea comestibles from the deck restaurant) for a couple of hours before attending the compulsory SAFETY DRILL c.16:15(?).

 

13. When you leave the cabin to explore the ship take your Dining room table card (which is in your cabin on arrival) and visit the restaurant at c.15:00 (a manager/maitre d will be in attendance). If you are not happy about the location of your table, its size or/and the sitting, there maybe the opportunity to change it. Likewise in the hopefully unlikely event of having the "table companions from hell" (most folks who cruise however are a nice bunch) get this sorted after your 1st dinner. (Only twice out of c.20 cruises have we done this: the 1st for environmental reasons - we were right by the waiters fast lane and revolving doors to the galley; the 2nd time after the main course and before dessert - yes they (the “companions”) were very bad!!!).

 

14. Forget about snappy cabin-service (room-service) on embarkation day. If you desire a bottle of champagne or/and nibbles for the departure up on your balcony order them as soon as you board and say you want them in your cabin ready for after the safety drill.

 

15. As I am a very early bird and my wife enjoys the luxury for her of a lie-in, I keep in contact with her during the morning a couple of times by using one of the bar or corridor telephones. This saves a lot of traipsing down the length of the ship and we don't have to waste time looking for each other and arranging where to meet for late breakfast or early lunch.

 

16. Do not feel that you need to book an excursion for every port or for all the day that you are in port. I personally feel that excursions are not the best value for money. The exception would be where there is a "must-see" that is a long way from the port or/and where public transport cannot be relied upon. If you are late getting back to the berth or tender point the ship will NOT wait for you unless you are on an official tour that has been delayed.

 

17. Do feel encouraged to linger on board when in port or at anchor. The ship takes on a different and not unwelcome ambiance with half or more of the passengers ashore. Remember all the facilities that you have already paid for are at hand, the service will be snappier and, other than in the most exceptional of destinations or establishments you will find little better ashore. To my mind spending a day onboard in a unremarkable port is the equal of a warm, languid sea-day. RELAX and forget about traffic, pollution, pick-pockets, paying out for this, that and the other, etc, etc.

 

18. Other than when the ship is very quiet it is nearly always quicker to use the stairways. That way you keep yourself trim (remember there's a lot of food morning, noon and night that's just there for the taking) and it helps free the lifts up for those less ambulant of folks.

 

19. On the last day (usually at sea) pack all but one of your cases as early as possible. That way you are free for most of the rest of the day – a day to savour the last of what will be one of the most memorable holidays you will ever take … and believe me … you WILL go on more P&O cruises but the 1st will ALWAYS be special!

 

20. You will standout as a Newcomer if:

 

a). You call the ship a boat.

 

b). You ask what "floor" is the cinema on.

 

c). You refer to your cabin as your room.

 

d). You call the bow the pointy end and the stern the blunt end.

 

e). You refer to the right hand or left hand side of the ship. Depending on whether you are facing the pointy or blunt end, both sides of the ship can be left and right. That is why there are the terms Starboard & Port.

 

f). At the safety drill on embarkation day you come in to the muster station wearing your life jacket.

 

g). When you see the Captain doing a tour of the ship and glad-handing passengers you call out "'Ere! Who's driving the Boat, Cap'n?" [/font]

h). Laugh out very lound at your own wit when you say to the Head Waiter after he has told you you are dining on the Captain’s Table “that you haven’t paid all this money just to end up eating with the crew.”

HAVE A WONDERFUL CRUISE!

Derek “The Monocled Mutineer” Kane

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[sannibop]

I am a first time cruiser myself,my husband and i are booked on oceana in april,it will be our 10th wedding anniversary,I have just read everything you said there,and we are so excited,I have laughed all the way through your advice and loved every minute of it, I hope we meet people like you on our cruise, as I was reading the tips, I thought about myself,and I could visualise myself acting and saying those silly things, I will turn up like a professional now HA HA , I don't think so!!!!!!!!!! I am the type of woman that tries to pull a push door!

Thankyou:) sannibop

[LibraLass41]

Hi

I also started cruising for my 25th Wedding Anniversary, I had a balcony, my hubbie is 10 years older than me and we are in your age range. I too, left the kids behind for this cruise.

 

I chose Arcadia as she was child-free, and have never regretted it. We had a fantastic holiday and are now addicted to cruising, we started with the Canaries, last year The Med and this year - in 8 weeks we will be cruising into Venice and the greek islands - all on Arcadia. I have also been on Aurora twice !

NOT BAD FOR A 'ONE OFF HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME' HAHA!!

 

I have photos on the web you can look at....

 

To make the cruise extra special you can book a package onboard, which gives you a champagne breakfast on your actual wedding anniversary morning, chocs and flowers and champagne on arrival in your cabin, a professional photo, and a massage and facial - all for £145...

 

Onboard Arcadia they have a Gary Rhodes restautrant - 'Arcadian Rhodes' and a Thai restaurant 'Orchid where we went on the night of our anniversary. When i booked a table in there, I told them we were celebrating, and at the end of the evening we were presented with a iced cake..

 

Have a look at my albums - the Canaries one is the Silver Wedding Anniv one, you really should be thinking of booking very soon, I booked a year in advance to get the cabin position on the ship I wanted...and the dinner seating...2nd sitting at 8.30pm is more popular than 1st sitting at 6.30pm, and may already be fully booked, so book asap!

We took a winebox with tap, onboard in our hand luggage, this fitted in our cabin fridge and was great for sitting on the balcony and relaxing in the late afternoon- bliss.

 

email chat anytime

Libralass41 @aol.com - and I'll try and answer your questions.

 

photo link: COPY AND PASTE THIS....

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/AuroraPartyCruiseSueV

 

 

Use a internet travel agent to save 10% on prices in brochure, email me and i'll tell you more;)

 

Sue

[botspot]

Thank you all for your post there were very interesting and entertaining to read.

 

I have done further research and finally we both agree on a cruise starting 31 Aug 08 on the Ventura cruising the Canaries (that what it say on a well known travel site) ports of call are:- Corunna, Maderia, La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, (Canary Islands) Lisbon, (Portugal) & Vigo (Spain).

 

We are planning to book a balcony cabin on the Riviera deck which as far as I can tell is Starboard Forward (whatever that means).

 

I am going in out local Travel Agents tomorrow to book it, it is a well know one and all the information was from their website.

 

One quick question will I get the same deal as online or will I have to pay more in the shop so to speak.?

 

I am getting quite excited but very nervous incase I have made the wrong decision, but I can't look anymore as my head is spinning with all the choices.

 

Once again than you for your responses and thank you to the The Monocled Mutineer for your precise and insightful post.

[LibraLass41]

Hi

Did you look at my Canary photos? You will sail under that bridge at Lisbon which is very interesting.

 

Remember Ventura is being advertised as a family ship, and you said you wanted a peaceful and quiet holiday. You may be OK on 31 Aug as children will be going back to school early Sept, and parents don't like them to miss the begining of the school year, when they make new friends...

Get some quotes BEFORE you enter that travel agents!!! And if you really want to book with a high street TA, then if you show them your cheapest quotes they will price match but you must have proof.

 

All you need to do is get the quotes first, a few minutes of your time will save you hundreds of pounds....literally.

If you see this post before you go to the TA tomorrow email me and i will give you some internet TA web sites....

 

Mid ships is best for stability - esp if you don't know if you are a good sailor or not - and you have not chosen this, but if you are a good sailor you will be fine,

 

Sue

[LibraLass41]

One quick question will I get the same deal as online or will I have to pay more in the shop so to speak.?

 

You will pay the price in the brochure if you don't query it.... TA 's want to make as much profit as possible...... if you ask - you get - I BOOKED WITH THOMSONS, and they price matched my internet quote, but you MUST have proof in writing...

 

 

 

[LEESRE]

As Libralass says please don't book direct with cruise line as you will only get approx 5% discount. Usually you should get about 10% if they are good.

Plus some OBC. (On Board Credit)

 

Try to ring a few before you go and see what they offer and then choose. I usually have three that I ring and see what offers they have. They can vary from as much as £50 to £100 so be warned.

[botspot]

Hi

Did you look at my Canary photos? You will sail under that bridge at Lisbon which is very interesting.

 

Remember Ventura is being advertised as a family ship, and you said you wanted a peaceful and quiet holiday. You may be OK on 31 Aug as children will be going back to school early Sept, and parents don't like them to miss the begining of the school year, when they make new friends...

Get some quotes BEFORE you enter that travel agents!!! And if you really want to book with a high street TA, then if you show them your cheapest quotes they will price match but you must have proof.

 

All you need to do is get the quotes first, a few minutes of your time will save you hundreds of pounds....literally.

If you see this post before you go to the TA tomorrow email me and i will give you some internet TA web sites....

 

Mid ships is best for stability - esp if you don't know if you are a good sailor or not - and you have not chosen this, but if you are a good sailor you will be fine,

 

Sue

 

Thanks for the post and yes i did have a look at your photo's and very nice they were, you and husband seem to be having the time of your life. I hope me & my hubby do so too.

 

I as yet don't know what sort of sailor i will be I have never done this before, I have been on boats & ferries for short distances and had no problems. We did go over to Ireland a few years ago and the ferry going over was very smooth but coming back a bit rough plus the ferry was smaller & faster then the one going we felt the rolling but i didn't experience any seasickness.

 

As for going to the TA at the week-end unfortunately I didn't make as i came came with a rotten cold and was in bed most of the week-end. I was going to go this lunchtime but the weather is lousy here in the Midlands sl unable to make it again.

 

I would book on-line but i want to speak "face to face" to a person who knows about P&O and the cruise we ae choosing as I have many more questions to ask.

 

I have surfed the internet until I am blue in the face and have all my quotes printed off, will this be enough proof etc to get what I want?

 

The TA that i am going to is very well know and they have branches all over the country and the company website is very good and as i am booking with them in shop they should hopefully match price their web quote.

 

Fingers cross i hope to get there tomorrow and do the deal lol.

[feebee_71]

Botspot,

 

I would make it very clear to the TA that you are prepared to leave their shop without a booking if they cannot price match for you.

 

I used to book in a TA branch but then found out that their 'best price' was 7% off the brochure price and that unless they think they will lose a sale then they will not let on that they can often go up to 10%. Beware though -if they can go to that amount why don't they offer it in the first place?

 

If you want to email me at fiona_rolls@hotmail.co.uk (underscore between the fiona & rolls) then I can pass on some details of a very good online agent who is actually shop based and who will give you generally 11% off the P&O price - Cruise Critic rules prevent me from naming the agency. I have now stopped booking cruises with anyone but this particular agent and have yet to find their prices beaten.

 

Feebee_71 :)

[LibraLass41]

I believe I use the same agent as Feebee and Yes he is good :D

 

Sue