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That idea about photos of your documents is something I hadn't thought of.

Will do from today.

Thanks happy cruising.

Hi not sure I would ring Fred Olsen and ask.

Presume you booked an Anchor Fare ? If you did you will have to pay to change.

Cheers bee.

Only proper American line we have cruised with was HAL. Also RCI but don't count that as a proper American line.

Smuggling booze on board, I couldn't be bothered and we drink our fair share, to smuggle booze on to save what, a few pounds. After paying say £2000 each for a cruise seems a bit petty.

There again Americans !!!!!! That's a joke I have lots of American friends.

What on earth is a"rum runner" and duct tape......!!!!!!

We just keep a case full of the "things" we take on every cruise under the bed and bring it out every cruise. Not clothes obviously :)

Most important is Our Q shield hand foam, expensive, but we think it is the best product for protection against noro.

We never pack toiletries etc to save weight and buy on board.

Happy cruising we are on the azura 24th

Hi big buck,

We are on that cruise.

Think I would get worried if there was no notification 1 week before.

We booked over a year ago and choose our cabin, but often P and O offer upgrades to free up cabins that they can sell cheaper.

As they are selling this cruise at £999 at the moment maybe that are still juggling cabins.

Hope we have a good cruise.

I once got shushed from the Boudica Library and I was in the shop outside. I think it was the Boudica may be wrong.

Sometimes Fred Olsen is similar to Holland America where many guests look to the library and flower arranging for their excitement. Not ridiculing them but they are often pretty staid in their ways.

I have never ever heard load bad mannered behaviour in the lounges that person talks about. AI or not.

We were flying back from a Panama cruise with Fred and the person sat next to my wife said " oh you were sitting on the large noisy table in the dining room". They did then say "you always looked and sounded to be enjoying yourselves."

Like I have said before on these boards it takes all sorts and we should all try to fit in.

Yup, that is a fair point I hadn't read your post too well.

No skin off their nose to swop you if there was room on either sitting.

Take it easy and best wishes.

Hi Bob, that is exactly the point I was trying to making.

We often pay full whack to make sure we get what we want, but we also do as you do and pay bottom dollar and take what we are given.

Great cruise to Norway in September for around 400 (full price 950) but no idea which cabin and couldn't choose dining time or venue.

What I don't do then is grumble that I don't get the benifits of the people who paid full whack.

Going with P and O in January paid 1800 each with obc and all the benifits of booking early. Same cruise you can get for 999 today. But bet there will be somebody grumbles on the P and O forum that they couldn't pick first or second dining and their cabin was at the back/front and next to the thrusters.

Sometimes I can't believe what I read on these forums.

The all inclusive a farce ? I just don't agree. But it's my opinion.

If the OP wanted a firm dining then pay for it.

We are always served non wine drinks in the dining rooms.

Surprised the OP didn't grumble about not getting any OBC like those of us who pay the full price to ensure we get the cabin, dining, shuttle buses etc etc.

And yes I am a Fred Olsen Fan, no apologies.

Happy cruising which ever line we all choose.

Hi big buck , I once posted four times on the same subject, I kept pressing the button.......anyway see you on the Azura 24 jan, so are we, say hello when you see us dancing. We are always dancing there are four of us, a bit noisy but what the hell.

Take it easy.......

Jean....We cruise with Fred and P and O.

P and O in January and they have just sent us luggage labels although on the Web site it said we had to print them like you say.

So got twice as many as I need ......:-)

Just to make it clear i was joking in my last post about moaning about moaners hence the smiley face.

So the OP is moaning about the moaners.....:-)

We are on the Azura in January and looking forward to it as we do all our cruises.

I usually comment on here about anything exceptional on our cruises both good and bad.

A point I would make though is that having read posters reviews of say their cabin which was maybe noisy, is this moaning, I have stayed away from that cabin when I have booked a cruise on that ship.

One persons comment can be perceived by someone else as moaning.

Happy cruising.

Isn't that why Anchor Prices are "cheaper".

We have booked Anchor priced cruises and taken what we were allocated, but we have also booked two 2015 cruises at a price that ensures we get the sittings, restaurant and cabin we want.

You can't have it both ways.

We are cruising with P and O in January on the Azura, we paid around £1800 each a year ago, but we got the seating, obc and cabin we wanted. You can get on that cruise for £999 today, but you will get what your given.

I hope nobody on the P and O site gripes about not getting what they specifically want after paying £999.

You pays your money and takes your chance with any of these deals.

Happy cruising.

Thanks everybody for the replies, they are appreciated as always.

We have changed to the Ballindalloch.

Happy cruising.

Hi, we have cruised on the Balmoral before and always eaten in the Ballandilloch.

We travel with another couple and always ask for a table for 8 as we like to make 4 new friends every cruise.

We have booked a cruise in 2015 and have been allocated the Avon Restaurant.

I can recall having breakfast in the Avon and my memory seems to say that there were not that many tables for 6 never mind 8.

I presume a call to Fred will allow us to change but just wondered if my memory was correct.

Have looked at lots of photos of the Avon and all I can see are tables for 4.

Anybody got experience of the Avon.

Thanks

We have cruised with Fred, P and O, Thomson, RCI and HAL.

A good cross section.

Just how a cruise line is supposed to determine a persons ability to withstand rough seas is beyond me.

I agree with the OP, there are many frail and elderly people on many cruises but I bet the Hospitals in Benidorm during the Winter are full of Elderly people with falls, fractures and other ailments.

Yes I agree some people, in reality, are a danger to themselves but how on earth are the cruise lines, the airlines or the hotel industry going to decide a persons suitability to withstand the possible rigours of a holiday.

As I said before we all have to rub along together. So if somebody falls and hurts themselves well so be it. That's life, like it or not.

People fall for all manner of reasons some self inflicted others due to capability.

If I see an old and infirm person fall on a cruise I would help them, if there was an emergancy then I would leave it to the appropriate personnel.

I am not a callous person just a realist.

To add a spot of humour is been old taken over from Dress Codes....?

A quick review of our cruise to the Canaries on the Balmoral.

 

We liked the ship, a classic older style cruise ship, well stabilised in rough seas and we had some !

 

We liked the service from very friendly staff in the bars and restaurant.

 

We liked the food at all meal times and the choices offered.

 

We enjoyed the majority of the shows in the Neptune lounge and the resident band and entertainment team of dancers and singers were very good.

 

We met some lovely people and made friends we will keep in touch with.

 

Now for the negatives.

 

I am 67 and my wife is 55. The average age of the passengers I would guess at 75+ Some were like us, sociable and friendly, many were grumpy, miserable and rude. I could quote many examples but one that sticks in my mind is on sea days when walking through the shopping area, it was full of passengers sat reading books. Wow betide you if you were having a laugh with friends because you got looks and tut tuts as if you were walking through a library. At dinner our "neighbours" were more interested in listening to our table conversations than there own. I could go on but you get the picture.

 

Another point which annoyed me with Fred Olsen was some passengers, who had paid top dollar for their cabins, were charged £2 a day per person to guarantee 1st or 2nd sitting.

 

I could go on but suffice to say we will not return to a Fred Olsen Cruise. I might be an OAP but I do want to see fellow travellers enjoying themselves and not whinging and pulling faces all the time. Just a last comment which typifies some of the passengers. I was told by a member of staff that a couple complained to reception because the Captain gave the wrong weather forecast ! In Lisbon he said there would be early rain, followed by clear skies. The rain had cleared away by the time they had gone ashore and they had unnecessarily carried umbrellas and rain coats. How pathetic.

Hi bob I think all the pluses you list for your cruise far outweigh a few grumpy oap's but that's just my thoughts.

If I had a pound for every tut tut We have had on a cruise I would be rich.

So I suppose some people on CC might have posted about those noisy people on table xx. A cruise is like everyday life some people are quite and want to read in the library, others tend to burn the candle at both ends.

We all just have to rub along together nobody is right and nobody is wrong.

Happy cruising which ever line you choose.

Thanks again Boulders. Slightly off topic, what would you say the typical age range will be? DH and I are each side of 50 and enjoy an active social life going to see bands etc. We do appreciate being able to kick back and relax on holiday though. :)

 

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We were on the Ryndam last January. Sorry to say whilst the Ship is fine, the Shows are pretty average but the rest of the entertainment was dull.

The Ship was dead after 10 in the evening.

I realise many people love the Ryndam, but that's our opinion.

Age range was 55 /60 plus average.

If you go to the FredOlsen page and go to All Inclusive it's all listed.

We have been looking at the itinery for Balmorals World cruise 2014 and it really appeals going to lots of placescwe both want to go to, we're not wealthy by any defiinition so if we did it it would be a once in a lifetime thing for us and make a big hole in our savings so we are deliberating carefully because we've never cruised with Fred Olsen before. Of the cruises we have done we enjoyed P&O, Cunard and to a lesser degree Celebrity but hated MSC. Any help and advice from FO cruisers would be very welcome. Thank you.

Hi, we cruise with Fred Olsen and also P and O, we like them both.

Remember FO passengers will be in the range 60 plus.

The Balmoral is lovely we enjoyed a 7 day cruise on it.

A World Cruise is a big commitment I think. We cruised on a section with P and O, Dubai to Hong Kong and you could tell the World Cruisers they seemed to have a "feel" about them.

Another cost we noticed on our section was the cost of visas.

I think it's a great idea for you to test the Balmoral on 7 day cruise.

Have a great time whatever you decide.

Hi Rich,

Just shows how everybody has different opinions.

We loved the Arcadia as its an adult only, and we like the formal feel.

We tried Ventura and didn't like it as much as we felt it was too informal.

That's what's cruising is all about tho.

We were on the Arcadia when the sea was calm all the time so not sure how bad it could be.

Anyway happy cruising......

Hi, yes you can get something but to be fair it's nothing special.

But as a nibble it's ok.........

Shandy ??????? oh come on :)

Hi Les,

Different thread from the guy who got heaved from the Dinning room for no jacket, but see you are a golfer.

How did you fair on on the Arcadia afternoon sea days golf chipping ?

Me and the good lady are keen golfers over here in the UK so we were there every afternoon. Guess what she beat me most days and and came away with all sorts of goodies.

There is a cruise line Fred Olsen that does Golf sections for about £450 and we have been thinking we might try them one day.

Sorry to hear about the Arcadia Cough, I kept it at bay with the whisky mouthwash, but swallowed.....

Take it easy....Paul