Cruise 2024

[Bungleaio]

Composite Guru said:

Just booked a cruise with Marella around Singapore. Thailand, Vietnam & Malaysia in March for my 50th. Really looking forward to it.

We are doing that at the end of the month having loved it back in 2019.

[Deep Thought]

egor110 said:

march

I think it'll be fine in March. The big family groups - like on any cruise line really - are there in the summer school holiday months.

[page3]

I could really do with some help/suggestions as my head is in a bit of a spin. Ive read loads of this thread, plus many, many reviews….

Looking to go on our first cruise for the wife’s 50th - Norwegian Fjords, either April 25 or August 25 for two adults and a sixteen year-old. Our son has autism, and anxiety in busy places! But we’d still like to try if at all possible. He likes boats. Won’t fly. Timings are pretty inflexible as my wife is a teacher.

Rather a smaller ship, but can’t find any at those times. Rather less child-friendly, but can’t do the 18+ cruises as he’s only 16.

I’ve found-

P&O Iona - April
Cunard Queen Mary II - April
MSC Virtuosa - August

I can push to upgrading to a balcony cabin.

I’m confused as to what’s bookable for things like getting the same table at breakfast, to keep change minimised. Can they make accommodation for this sort of disability?

Don’t mind paying a reasonable extra to upgrade to some of the quieter areas, but can’t see if that’s possible or cost effective without upgrading the room still further.

We’d also like to do some day excursions, but little info on what’s on offer and prices. Are these booked on the ship?

Any advice most welcome…… or am I back to looking at a trip by train!

[stevemcs]

Out of those 3 I would probably say Cunard, MSC will be rammed so if you son struggles with crowds then it’s not the ship for him.

[page3]

stevemcs said:

Out of those 3 I would probably say Cunard, MSC will be rammed so if you son struggles with crowds then it’s not the ship for him.

Thanks. Cunard does look good, although quite a few reviews say it’s past it’s prime.

I’ve looked for a smaller ship, but am yet to find any that aren’t eye-wateringly expensive.

[miniman]

I’m not sure a smaller ship will feel any less busy, I would imagine the passengers per amount of space will always be similar outside the super-premium. I’d choose MSC from that list.

[Deep Thought]

miniman said:

I’m not sure a smaller ship will feel any less busy, I would imagine the passengers per amount of space will always be similar outside the super-premium. I’d choose MSC from that list.

The issue will be its MSC in August, versus April for the other 2.

Virtuosa - whilst a lovely ship - will be absolutely bunged full of family groups at that time.

Cunard, yes, good choice but there wont be a lot happening for a kid.

P&O Iona - likely to be more to do, big ship, loads to do, though make sure you avoid balcony cabins on deck 8.

We're on MSC Euribia in May to the Fjords. She does that itinerary in April too which would be perfect but unfortunately for Page3 its from Copenhagen or Kiel, so would require flying.

[Trevor555]

page3 said:

I could really do with some help/suggestions as my head is in a bit of a spin. Ive read loads of this thread, plus many, many reviews….

Looking to go on our first cruise for the wife’s 50th - Norwegian Fjords, either April 25 or August 25 for two adults and a sixteen year-old. Our son has autism, and anxiety in busy places! But we’d still like to try if at all possible. He likes boats. Won’t fly. Timings are pretty inflexible as my wife is a teacher.

Anxiety in busy places.

Had this mildly my whole life.

I'd recommend Iona then.

The online dinner bookings mean no queues into the restaurants (generally)

The atrium area is nice and open.

When you arrive in a port to go ashore, wait an hour to let the crowds get off first.

The tender boats may be an issue for him if there's any of those.

Avoid the buffet in the mornings, lot's of people very close you to, even nudging you (I really, really, struggle with that one)

The buffet for breakfast on deck 8 isn't quite so bad.

Best place for breakfast is the Keel and Cow. You have to pay, but it's not much, and it's nice and quiet.

When you get to check in on embarkation day, tell the staff about your son, I'm sure they'll do everything they can to get you checked in at the end, and help you through security.

Diss embarkation you can do easy walk off if you can carry all of your own luggage. Wait until just before 8am, and it'll be pretty much walk off, no queues.

Lifts can be packed at times, the rear set of lifts the quietest.

[Deep Thought]

On an unrelated note - i see MSC have started making some of the Casinos on their ships non smoking.

This feels like something that is long overdue on cruise lines.

[page3]

Thanks all for the advice. Really helpful.

I’ve sent him links to Iona and Queen Mary II as I think April will be a better time to travel.

I’m not worried about lack of children’s things to do, he doesn’t really do them anyway so Queen Mary II may be the better option. Saying that, the suggestions for Iona were really useful and the cabin looks better so now I can’t decide!

More research I think. Thanks all

[miniman]

Deep Thought said:

On an unrelated note - i see MSC have started making some of the Casinos on their ships non smoking.

This feels like something that is long overdue on cruise lines.

The NCL ship we were on last year had a small separate closed off smoking area in the casino but most of it was non smoking.

[Deep Thought]

page3 said:

Thanks all for the advice. Really helpful.

I’ve sent him links to Iona and Queen Mary II as I think April will be a better time to travel.

I’m not worried about lack of children’s things to do, he doesn’t really do them anyway so Queen Mary II may be the better option. Saying that, the suggestions for Iona were really useful and the cabin looks better so now I can’t decide!

More research I think. Thanks all

We were on Queen Victoria in December and whilst we enjoyed it, there really isnt an awful lot to do. Theres also the formality of smart dress after 18:00 which has its merits but might work or not work for some.

I think Iona would work well for you. Do avoid balcony rooms on deck 8 (watch the you tube videos on it) as the promenade on that deck is level with the rooms and you'll have people walking past and looking straight on to your balcony / in to your rooms. Do also watch the you tube reviews on it to get a feel and flavour for it (as you can do with QM2 also).

[DodgyGeezer]

Virtuosa is a lovely ship, BUT... if it's full it will be really crowded and (IMO at least) there are few places to just sit and chill. This having been said I believe if you book "The Yacht Club" on MSC you do get other, less crowded areas open to you

[toasty]

Last day on a week’s Caribbean cruise on Marella Voyager. Staff very good, cabin ok but would get balcony next time. Choice of entertainment good enough for a week. Food adequate. Choice of drinks on Premium very good.

Value? Outstanding but the OH does work for Tui. Full price it’d still be decent value.

Would do similar for a different group of islands.

[Deep Thought]

toasty said:

Last day on a week’s Caribbean cruise on Marella Voyager. Staff very good, cabin ok but would get balcony next time. Choice of entertainment good enough for a week. Food adequate. Choice of drinks on Premium very good.

Value? Outstanding but the OH does work for Tui. Full price it’d still be decent value.

Would do similar for a different group of islands.

We'd like to try Voyager at some point. It does look lovely.

Marella arent the value line they once were, but i think they know they have a certain audience who appreciate the package holiday wrapper around their cruises with flights and transfers included.

Always found the staff enthusiastic and friendly. Premium drinks a worthwhile upgrade.

[cymatty]

Just booking excursions for our trip from Venice to Venice on the Ritz Carlton Yacht after trying it out last year, very excited.

It could be our last trip on it (especially around Europe) as the prices have like everything else shot up.

[DodgyGeezer]

just setting out to catch the Aurora for our Northern Lights cruise - Dartford crossing is closed thanks to some throbber but no worries plenty of time to get there.

Edited by DodgyGeezer on Tuesday 12th March 18:04

[Silverage]

DodgyGeezer said:

Virtuosa is a lovely ship, BUT... if it's full it will be really crowded and (IMO at least) there are few places to just sit and chill. This having been said I believe if you book "The Yacht Club" on MSC you do get other, less crowded areas open to you

We did the fjords on MSC Virtuosa last May. Absolutely spectacular. We deliberately picked dates when the kids were in school and we managed to score an upgrade to the Yacht Club. It was fine in the wider ship but it was wonderful to know that you could return to the relative haven of the Yacht Club whenever you fancied.

[Deep Thought]

Silverage said:

DodgyGeezer said:

Virtuosa is a lovely ship, BUT... if it's full it will be really crowded and (IMO at least) there are few places to just sit and chill. This having been said I believe if you book "The Yacht Club" on MSC you do get other, less crowded areas open to you

We did the fjords on MSC Virtuosa last May. Absolutely spectacular. We deliberately picked dates when the kids were in school and we managed to score an upgrade to the Yacht Club. It was fine in the wider ship but it was wonderful to know that you could return to the relative haven of the Yacht Club whenever you fancied.

We're doing that cruise this May on Euribia. We chose that time of year for the reasons you described - kids at school.

We've been on Virtuosa before and really enjoyed it. Euribia seems to address some of the space issues with a re-worked Carousel Lounge. It always seemed a waste on Virtuosa as it was just used for the two paid for shows. World Europa has a similar space to this new reworked space and it was brilliant.

This new area seems to be open all day and serves snacks too. Two (free) shows a night here apparently and events on during the day.



Also theres additional seating in open areas around the ship and the Virtuosa Lounge space (presumably Euribia Lounge) has smaller seats (albeit now with a larger dance floor).

Doesnt help the O/P with the question in hand, but thought it was useful info for someone.

We've a balcony room booked which i think we're happy with. Cheapest upgrade in to Yacht Club would be to an inside cabin. Not adverse to that on any other route but think a balcony would be brilliant for Norway. Prices start to get a bit silly for an upgrade in to a junior suite / balcony room. We will do yacht club at some point but i dont think it'll happen on this particular cruise for us.

[stevemcs]

Norway has to be a balcony cabin, we are looking but its either Iona this year or Celebrity Apex next year.