gilmahcroft

There are company inconsistencies here which is totally WRONG!! We have just returned from a cruise on Eclipse out of Southampton and had the classic drinks package which allowed drinks to the 11 dollar ceiling. This even included some branded spirits such as Smokey Shoulder scotch whisky and a low end Bombay gin.

Another crazy notion is that smoothies at the HEALTHY option breakfast cafe are more than these spirits and effectively excluded from the classic package. YES!! you can pay the up grade but why for a none alcoholic drink which perhaps the cruise company should encouraged us to use.

Is Fred Olsen more expensive than other cruise lines? Not sure we have noticed that, but then we have been making use of their deals during the last two years. Three cruises for the price of two last year and as "silver" members in the FO loyalty system we qualify for discounts when booking. It is worth mentioning that their gratuities at £4.50 per day per passenger are a huge saving on the so called "super cruise lines".

There is also huge competition for sailings from Southampton due to the number of cruise lines sailing from there, to pretty well the same destinations [ The Med - Canaries - Spain and various mixes of those] and therefore they are competing hard for the business.

We have wanted to try Celebrity following several recommendations and indeed we have secured a good deal in October to the Canaries [where unfortunately, we have cruised to before] - free valet car park and free drinks package - which does underline my point about competition. We are having to look at "fly cruises" now as we have run out of new itineraries starting from the UK.

We do like the "Fred" package - small ships with absolutely friendly atmosphere, the crew get to know your names pretty quickly which is not so on the larger ships. However, waiting for the Thomson [soon to be replaced with TUI Cruises] and one of the "Discoveries" to be based in Newcastle would be good. We started with them and also like their product - not forgetting NO GRATUITIES and ALL INCLUSIVE - give it a try would be my advice - BUT NOT DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS!!!!

This may be a stupid question but we have the drinks included on our forthcoming cruise on Braemar. We haven't been on a FO cruise since the inclusive drinks package was available. If, as we have often done in the past, we go with a couple from our table to one of the bars for a drink after supper and they do not have the all inclusive drinks package, how do we go about offering to buy them a drink? Does it mean the waiter will have to take both my husband's cruise card and mine for our drinks and then put the cost of the other couple's drinks on one of our cards? Sorry if I'm making this more complicated than it is.

Hi there

We have used the drinks package a lot. It is definitely Not transferable. You can not use the package to buy for others. Pay as normal if you want to treat

I agree, especially if like us you are not prepared to cruise with an inside cabin The price increase this year was unjustified even with the usual excuse of Brexit. In addition to that they have increased the price of the all inclusive package which used to make up in a small way for the extra cost compared to other cruise lines.

where can you get a all a drinks package for £10 per day per person. On a recent RC cruise this was over £35!!!!!

We have been FO fans - we like the small ships rather than those mega 3500 and over ships.

However we have discovered this week that for our next FO cruise in July we could have got a much better deal than that offered via booking on board and with "Oceans" membership discounts.

SAGA are offering a package deal which includes: VIP Door to Door transfer to and from the ship, The drinks package and inclusive travel insurance or if you have this latter; another £48 off the price. This fare is similar to the one we are paying!! Although we have had to book car park at Newcastle for £142(n) :mad:

Have you seen the Fed Olsen launch for their River Cruises - out today 25th May. WOW!!!

The price is similar to other cruises on the big Rivers ........BUT!!!!

No included excursions - which many of the competitors do include.

No wine with Lunch and Dinner as with other river cruise lines. :o:confused::(

Do I detect that there is no such thing on FO cruises? What a pity; it seems such a good idea!!

If you are traveling on Balmoral July 1st from Newcastle. maybe you would be interested in meeting up. Taxis are so much cheaper if there is a group of people joining forces!!!

:cool: