Gettysburg

Hi

Do you park your own car in Dover?

Do you carry your own luggage?

Only been from Southampton so not sure of the procedure

Can you board at lunchtime and get some lunch in the buffet?

Thanks

Hi

Just trying to figure out what tips need to be paid.

In my cabin is myself an adult and two 8 year old boys.

Are children subject to the automatic tipping system

Can you get tap water easily?

Can you bring on orange/lemon Squash?

Is the main restaurant quite flexible with kids regarding menus?

Thanks

Hi

Seeing as we are british and live in England we were wondering if we need to bring some US currency on board for things like washing machines and dryers or can we get change added to the on board bill

Hi

Looking at Holland America Ryndam from Dover on 23 Aug to Norway.

I am single parent with 2 eight year olds.

Just wondering if this ship and cruise line will be suitable as It us not a big ship and does not seem as geared up for kids as some of the other lines.

Being school summer hols in uk I would have thought there would be plenty of children on board, is there a way of finding out.

They are offering kids for £1 if they are 3rd or 4 th sharing a cabin which I thought would encourage families.

I know that there will always be the passengers who don't want to see kids on board, but this in the UK school hols so I was hoping there would be plenty on board

Can anyone tell me what it's going to be like

Thanks

Hi All

I am very tempted to book myself(dad) and my 2 eight year olds onto this ship for a trip around Norway on Aug 02 2014 or Aug 23 out of Dover.

One of the kids goes for £1

I have only been on P & O before and have not taken my children on a cruise before.

Having looked at the ship it has a better age range of 8 -12 in its children's clubs than P&O which puts 8 year olds with younger children.

I also see it has a pool that can be covered which helps if the weather is not so warm.

I like the idea of the dining at anytime.

What I am not sure about is how many other children will be on board , I would assume loads bearing in mind it is uk school summer holidays.

I know that some other cruise lines have full on super duper kids activities but as long as this ship has a decent kids club and pools I would prefer that.

Other than that with booking at such short notice none of the other cruise lines can get close to the price with what availability they have and Dover is our nearest port.

If anyone has any advice for me regarding this cruise then please comment especially with its suitability for children in the school summer holidays

Thanks

As we are booked on Azura with two 8 year old boys who have started asking about the kids clubs I thought I would ask for some advice.

We are going on 26 July

Looking at the kids clubs it looks like they will be the oldest in the club that goes from 4-8, is this going to be grown up enough for them or would they be better going to the next age group up, or do you not get a choice.

What activities will the 4 to 8 age group get up to?

Can children use all the pools on the ship?

Do they have early shows so the kids can go?

How did anyone who has children this age get on, any advice would be appreciated

Thanks

/Speaking with due care and respect/

 

Your children have to learn to eat at a dinner table nicely one day. A cruise would seem to me to be the perfect way to do it.

 

The Club Meal times are great but take them into the Dining rooms on a few nights. Start with a table for just your family then if they are doing well join a larger table.

 

Oh how I wish I had these opertunities when I was much much younger.

Our boys are pretty good at eating out but like any child of their age will eventually get fidgety if it goes on too long.

Just really weighing up the options as we would like them to come to the MDR now and again as we want to see them and enjoy seeing them having a great time.

You are quite right about having these opputunities when we were that age....its a different world these days.

I like the fact that everything is more accessible and more affordable than it used to be but if I were to be honest, I was 7 going on 8 in 1970 and I would never have swapped my childhood years growing up in 70s with just a bike and a football.

Oh to be a child again back then

Thank you for your reply

Hi

We are taking two 8 year olds on Azura to Norway in July School Hols.

We have booked Freedom Dining.

We are a bit concerned that they will get bored sitting for ages at dinner every night so wondered what other options can be taken.

I asume that if we got a table for 4 in freedom dining then we can get through dinner at a quicker pace.

I have to say i dont mind the buffet for lunch and just when you need a bite to eat but i do like to go to the main dining room in the evening.

I have heard that kids club staff will collect them from main dining room after a short while, dont know if that is true though.

Also childrens Tea, what is that?

Anyone with experience of travelling with young children ?Please tell me how you got on and giveme some tips

Thanks

Hi all

We are on Azura on 26 July visiting Norway with two 8 year old boys.

We are happy to go and do oil museum in Stavanger and Walk around Bergen ourselves.

In Olden is it worth paying to go and see the glacier, are 2 eight year olds likely to enjoy it.

We do like walking so which is best for walking out of Olden and Sjkolden.

Would any of the tours in either of these two places be worth the cost for what they offer?

Hi everyone, thank you for your comments.

I have been to Geiranger and Flamm a couple of years ago and I said then that we would bring the children back to see it with us.

We are travelling with 2 children in school summer holidays and it took a

Bit of doing for both of us to be off at the same time.

So we are paying top dollar as we are going in school holidays and was looking forward to Geiranger walks and taking kids on train in Flamm.

I have spoken to P&O and all they would agree to was to allow us to change to another cruise without charge which we were unable to do as we could not organise anything else when the kids were off.

They did not seem concerned in the slightest that the holiday I had booked had been significantly changed as it was their right to do so.

I wonder how many people booked on this cruise booked because they wanted to go to Geiranger and Flamm.Now they are going on holiday to somewhere completely different which is really quite unacceptable.

I have written to them about a week ago by email and have not recieved a reply.

I told them how disappointed I was and that changing half the ports months after we booked was not on.I have asked them to explain why it was them that had to change ports.

We are still going as I have booked 2 cabins and will lose a hefty deposit if I were to cancel and unable to change all our holiday leave time now

Hi

26th July cruise to Norway on Azura has scrapped Geiranger and Flamm and changed to Olden and Skjolden.

Very annoyed as booked cruise specifically to visit these ports again

I think they are pushing it with their right to change ports when its Half of them.

Anyway what is Olden and Skjolden like as we are stuck with this cruise due to school hols and work commitments.

Thanks

I like getaway fares but do think at times they go too low and yes it is irritating and a bit of a slap in the face for those who have paid Vantage.

Quite often the on board spend, travel or car parking given away only adds up to about 150 - 200 for the booking.

You can save a lot more than that at times. R316. Inside Vantage 969. Getaway 699. That's almost 540 saving for two people.

Even if you paid for car parking it's still 400 and you are sacrificing cabin choice.

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We have to plan in advance in order to get the same time off work and our children looked after while we are away.

I am quite happy to book Vantage or early Getaway offers as that is what we are tied to.

Of course I wish I could book late and get a cheaper Getaway but I can't so be it.

If others are able to then fine, their situation in their lives allows them to do that and well done to them for getting a holiday at a great price.

Just don't spend the whole cruise telling everyone about your super cheap fare as it gets boring and as I have said not everyone can wait until the last few weeks or cares about how much their cruise cost them.

I am on Aurora on Sept 28 and can see that we would have saved £260 if I had booked today.

I also looked at other cruise lines when booking this cruise and found all the main cruise lines were discounting heavily or offering free drinks etc

I don't think P&O are doing anything different to anyone else.

.

Rather than go online everyday to look at the latest price for selected cruises, is there a way you can set up an alert that sends you a text or something each time Getaway prices change for particular cruises?