Suzieanna

Well, most people probably haven't had a world cruise as their first !!

but when you get a taste for something you find the money somehow. Over the last 2 years for example I have 8 vacations - of which 6 were cruises 1 Singapore area, 2 in Caribbean, 1 northern Europe and 2 round the med. The other 2 were New York and Iceland.

but I haven't had ANYTHING else! - no booze, no cigs, no new car........ no nice food from M&S....

ALL of my money has gone on holidays. And it nearly killed me. I got so tired I didn't actually know where I was.

I was glad to get back to work for the rest to be honest.

We just did 8 nights on Independence of the Seas (Norwegian Fjords), balcony room, premium drink package and grats £1600 per person. Booked this year. What cabin are you looking at?

It was the independence 31 August Standard balcony with drinks. I was looking in may and I recoiled in horror and haven’t looked since!

Anyone have theory on why Europe is so expensive now? Few months back I did the last week of April 18, aft balcony, flights, drink package and grats on NCL epic for £1100. Same trip this year is double the price!!!

I wanted to go round the Norwegian fjords with Royal until I saw it was 2,500 for 7 nights. Ouch!

It can do. Sometimes my real life friends get sick of hearing me banging on about how many weeks there is to go until my next cruise. So, the Roll Call comes in handy for that.

Also, if you want you can arrange to meet and do private excursions which can save $$$ - this is ideal if you are a solo or a couple.

It's nice also to feel like you "know" a couple of people

HOWEVER, I have been on vacations where I didn't want to do any of the above. I just wanted to be with my husband, so I wasn't active on the board and that was equally as nice.

So, my answer Yes - but not always!

Katie, welcome to Cruise Critic.

I see you are from the UK. Unfortunately we are not able to take advantage of price drops at any stage either before or after final payment. our consumer laws are not the same as our US friends. When you read about price drops, it will be someone on the other side of the Atlantic to us.

Don't beat yourself up about 30% or 20% or BOGOHF - they all work out roughly the same in the end. Even if the second person is half price technically, they just "up" the price of the first person in the room!

I have also learned that the sales people often know less than us on this board about what deals are likely - but again - a "free" drinks package is often reflected in a higher base price.

I don't look at prices once I have booked and paid a deposit. It's too stressful.

Just checking in to let you know I am enjoying your report and photos very much! Thanks!

I have noticed lately that some companies will only put the price of the inside cabin/no perks and for any further price you have to call them and undergo interrogation about who you are, where you live, how many cruises you have had before?

Whats all this about? I phoned yesterday for a price and straight away the questions started. I said why did she need to know who I was and she quoted "data protection"

Can anyone answer why they cant just give a price? The cynical part of me thinks they want my details so they can chase me as to why I haven't booked yet????

Get a nice big photo of yourself and stick it to the underside of the lid of their toilet ... give him a fright when he goes to tinkle!! (Prank stolen off the internet)

Get friendly strangers involved... ask them to insist your friend is famous and ask for autograph/selfie etc... this one might spread though!

I think I was using an adaptor to go into the American socket yeah! Will try a different plug set up next time. I have one of those a babyliss heated smoothing brush which is only a few months old so I am hoping I don't have to upgrade thst cos I love it!! Thanks for your advice ladies xx

hi folks

I have seen many debates about whether these are allowed or not... I have something a bit different though

Why do my tongs never heat up? There was more heat coming off the light bulbs in the vanity unit?

What type of ship? Mainly NCL and Royal

Any ideas?

I suppose the fact that it is so close geographically to where I am (uk) I don't really see it as a bucket list destination Ike the Panama Canal.

Thanks for all the helpful responses. Going off to find a small ship now.

Try Britannia from P&O or MSC Meraviglia for the Fjords. Even the Queens are much cheaper for similar cruises in August.

 

 

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I would..but my other half would only go on a P&O etc if he was desperate. What a first world problem!

I keep measuring it against the last few caribbean 14 night With drinks flights from uk etc. all cost less than that

For 200 quid more I can go on the walls and warriors which is flights to China, all sorts of excursions and it's more than twice as long

Ah well... supply and demand. Exactly!

While we are waiting for some to be put up, is there anything in particular you wish to know? I was on this ship a couple of weeks ago

You could go and win a trivia competition... I have about 12 decks obtained thst way!

Sorry. Independence on 31 august

Yeah, it will be the drink and the wifi. Neither of which I could care less about. Hoping prices drop to something I can justify

how on earth can a standard balcony cabin for 2 people for one week be five thousand pounds!!!

Are the norwegian fjords that great???

Maggie cruises. Can I be your friend. Your post has been the most sensible I have seen for a while

Best wishes

I like a day on the ship too when most people are off... its like a sea day without the crowds!

However, I did a Baltic cruise last year - and the thing I remember the most was the wonderful time I had with TJ tours. SPB is definitely the MAIN EVENT of any itinerary of any ship in that area.. I don't know you or your family, but I really think if you didn't go and see some of it you would regret it. The people are not as the TV would have you believe. A Moscow Russian just last week told me that Russians love the tourists, they are just reserved and not in your face.. I am british too - so I know where you are coming from. Take a tour - even if its just a one day thing.

I am liking the sound of a blue cheese olive Martini! Where would I get one of these from?

Following with great excitement! Is that just a standard balcony room... it looks very large?

Can you just walk in to the restaurant and have a drink? Do they expect you to order food?

Liquid marijuana YUM YUM!!!!

Do you have to ask for your status match before you book?

I am with an agent, and they didn't seem to know about it. He led me to believe that it would be 5% off our next (ie second) booking - which didn't make sense to me?

I didn't push it. I am Emerald on Royal - is that worth bothering to status match?

I have been thinking about this for a few minutes

The one thing I would have liked to have been able to do was walk on the circuit at the end. Our ticket did not allow for this. Also there is a Singapore flyer (London eye type thing). We couldn't go on this because it was in a zone that we didn't have access to. Also, our seats were great in that we looked out onto the bay and had the marina bay sands as a backdrop.. amazing view.. and the best seats for the fireworks but If I was a massive racing fan I might have wished to be at a corner as opposed to a straight?

Like I said earlier, we struck lucky with the location of our hotel and we were able to walk everywhere. This might not be the case depending on where your package maker puts you.

You may find a package you make for yourself with your ideal components is no more expensive?