Tips and hints please?

[SmithieNix]

My husband and I are looking at a P&O Med cruise this August. Any tips or hints to make it more enjoyable. We really know nothing about cruising at all. (Apart from what a few kind people have posted)

[paul929207]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

The Med is a great place to cruise. You have a coupe of months, so take the ports one at a time and plan out what you want to do. The ship will offer excursions. People on your Roll Call may plan private excursions and be looking for others to join. You get book an excursion as you leave the ship. Finally, you can do it yourself.

[t_car]

What ports are you visiting?

 

August is very very hot in the Med, so be prepared for that.

 

Do your research on the ports and cities you will visit. Tons of things to choose from.

What about mobility. Cobblestone streets and walkways, stairs, lack of elevators. You will definitely need comfortable walking shoes.

 

Depending on where you visit, for example Rome, we noticed that most of the nice restaurants we wanted to check out were closed for the month of August, for vacation. I wish I could do that every year. As a result beaches were very crowded.

 

So please tells us about what ports you will visit, and what you are interested in doing.

Edited May 29, 2015 by t_car
Spelling :)

[Scrapnana]

Don't try to do everything! Relax and enjoy yourself onboard (you will need it after numerous ports).

 

Chances are you will become addicted to cruising (like most of us:D)!

[cruiserking]

Welcome to Cruise Critic SmithieNix. If it's within your budget try and book a balcony cabin. It's quite wonderful to go out on your private balcony late at night or first thing in the morning and smell the fresh sea air.

 

Make sure you research all of your port stops thoroughly. Some ports can easily be done on your own and others are best booked through the cruise line.

 

For example if you're docked in Barcelona or Funchal, Madeira these ports can easily be done on foot. There is much to see within walking distance of the cruise port.

 

If you visit Monte Carlo for example and you'd like to see the South of France try and book a ship excursion that visits Nice, Hez, Saint Paul de Vence, Grasse. We did a marvelous all-day ship excursion that included Cannes, Grasse and Saint Paul de Vence.

 

As a new cruiser you will be better off booking with the cruise line, it's one less thing to worry about. If the excursion is late returning to port the ship will wait for you.

 

Try and get a table at dinner with at least six or eight people. You will meet some wonderful people on your cruise and big tables at dinner are often enormously enjoyable.

 

Have a great cruise.

 

Jonathan

Edited May 30, 2015 by cruiserking

[SmithieNix]

Thank you. Useful tips.

[jocap]

It depends on your ship: if it's the fly/cruise Genoa/Venice, then it's good to know that you're in the company's hands from the airport, and you won't have to vacate the ship on the final day until your aeroplane is due in.

If you're on one of the family friendly ships, then do be aware that August is the school holidays, and there will be a large number of children on board, adding one or two extra to many cabins...busy, but they're well catered for.

The remaining three ships are adult only, which may mean that night life finishes earlier than usual...

Although it's officially summer, be prepared for typical British weather on the first and last two days....ie, a raincoat might be needed!

Other than that, just relax and take life on board as it comes....there will be plenty of others who are lost on the ship, or not certain of the day's dress code! It will all be remarkably clear by the end of day 3...but do ask any specific questions of us.

Enjoy planning! :cool:

[SmithieNix]

I'm not afraid to ask, but just trying to be prepared well in advance! :thumbup: