Discussion
Deep Thought said:
stevemcs said:
Norway has to be a balcony cabin, we are looking but its either Iona this year or Celebrity Apex next year.
Yeah thats wholly our thinking too.Really looking forward to it
DodgyGeezer said:
This'll be our 1st cruise without a balcony- given the potential (virtual certainty of) cold weather it didn't seem like an issue to miss it - obviously if the Northern Lights appear at 03.00 it could be something we'll regret
Well, its not like you'd be out on your balcony much in March!We did an inside room on Virtuosa - Northern Europe cruise in December 22. Didnt see any point in going for a balcony. Like yourselves we normally go for balcony rooms.
Deep Thought said:
DodgyGeezer said:
Interestingly enough there were massive delays on the M6 today which meant that a coach has missed embarkation 
Aurora couldn't wait any longer otherwise there'd have been severe delays to the boat leaving (I'd imagine due to the tide?)
Oh wow that would be awful Aurora couldn't wait any longer otherwise there'd have been severe delays to the boat leaving (I'd imagine due to the tide?)
DodgyGeezer said:
This'll be our 1st cruise without a balcony- given the potential (virtual certainty of) cold weather it didn't seem like an issue to miss it - obviously if the Northern Lights appear at 03.00 it could be something we'll regret
Is this the cruise up to Tromso? My parents are on it! If you see them say hi. Old couple- you wont be able to miss them 
miniman said:
Deep Thought said:
DodgyGeezer said:
Interestingly enough there were massive delays on the M6 today which meant that a coach has missed embarkation Aurora couldn't wait any longer otherwise there'd have been severe delays to the boat leaving (I'd imagine due to the tide?)
Oh wow that would be awful Aurora couldn't wait any longer otherwise there'd have been severe delays to the boat leaving (I'd imagine due to the tide?)The other advantage is, same day travel often requires a very early start so you can end up being wrecked on your first day.
We pretty much have to fly to where the ship is, being in Northern Ireland, so flights tend to be at silly hours like out of Dublin at 06:00 meaning getting up at 02:00. Even we we did a Marella fly / cruise, the flights were at 6:30 ish out of Belfast International to Majorca. Great for getting on to the ship early not so great for the energy levels later in the day.
I do feel slightly envious of those who live within an easy drive of a cruise terminal!
paulguitar said:
Deep Thought said:
We're going two days ahead to Copenhagen and having a weekend there first.
Hope you have some money left!I've worked a few months in Copenhagen doing the pubs. Great city, but properly expensive.
My partner (26) and myself (30) have booked our first cruise for June this year. Two weeks in Norway and right up to the top of Norway in the Arctic Circle, sailing with Princess on the Sky Princess. Bit of a last minute thing but we've been humming and haying for ages and just decided to bite the bullet.
Has anyone been on a Princess cruise or the Sky specifically? We're basically overwhelmed and feel like we are probably missing quite a lot of important wee tips/tricks of the seasoned cruisers!
Has anyone been on a Princess cruise or the Sky specifically? We're basically overwhelmed and feel like we are probably missing quite a lot of important wee tips/tricks of the seasoned cruisers!
covmutley said:
DodgyGeezer said:
This'll be our 1st cruise without a balcony- given the potential (virtual certainty of) cold weather it didn't seem like an issue to miss it - obviously if the Northern Lights appear at 03.00 it could be something we'll regret
Is this the cruise up to Tromso? My parents are on it! If you see them say hi. Old couple- you wont be able to miss them
Tam_Mullen said:
My partner (26) and myself (30) have booked our first cruise for June this year. Two weeks in Norway and right up to the top of Norway in the Arctic Circle, sailing with Princess on the Sky Princess. Bit of a last minute thing but we've been humming and haying for ages and just decided to bite the bullet.
Has anyone been on a Princess cruise or the Sky specifically? We're basically overwhelmed and feel like we are probably missing quite a lot of important wee tips/tricks of the seasoned cruisers!
Did Sky Princess last year (I was 37) with my wife, daughter and inlaws family. We all caught noro...Has anyone been on a Princess cruise or the Sky specifically? We're basically overwhelmed and feel like we are probably missing quite a lot of important wee tips/tricks of the seasoned cruisers!
That said, it was a fun trip. Staterooms are nice (we had a deluxe balcony). Crown Grill is a good restaurant, but I had to leave my meal mid meal due to aforementioned noro.
Princess Plus made for an excellent value for money trip. I missed an old school pub though (I'm normally on Cunard). Main dining room service wasn't great - we ended up eating in the buffet instead which was awesome.
The Princess Medallion tech can be a bit hit and miss. When it works, it works very well however. I ordered some beers to my room on the app and was sat on my in law's balcony. They delivered them to my in law's room - I was seriously impressed.
There was also a stand in the atrium where you could get cold cans of beer to go. This I liked - grabbed some for my room on the first night as I was stuck inside (let my wife go out and I minded our daughter).
Arctic circle is a great trip. I was on the Queen Victoria in November and went up to Tromso and Narvik. Saw the Northern Lights a few times.
Edited by Ynox on Friday 15th March 16:23
Deep Thought said:
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.
Looking at Cunard Queen Anne for 1st June 2025.
Looks like a pretty impressive ship. The speciality restaurants sound lovely and £1018 each for an unobstructed balcony room and $140 on board spend each sounds like pretty good value. Drinks package is pricey and adds around £400, but will probably take it too.
Looks like a pretty impressive ship. The speciality restaurants sound lovely and £1018 each for an unobstructed balcony room and $140 on board spend each sounds like pretty good value. Drinks package is pricey and adds around £400, but will probably take it too.
Deep Thought said:
Looking at Cunard Queen Anne for 1st June 2025.
Looks like a pretty impressive ship. The speciality restaurants sound lovely and £1018 each for an unobstructed balcony room and $140 on board spend each sounds like pretty good value. Drinks package is pricey and adds around £400, but will probably take it too.
Went ahead and booked that. Looks like a pretty impressive ship. The speciality restaurants sound lovely and £1018 each for an unobstructed balcony room and $140 on board spend each sounds like pretty good value. Drinks package is pricey and adds around £400, but will probably take it too.
If you enter BALCONY50 at checkout you get another £50 off so that takes it down to £993 each.
Have to say, that feels like a cracking price for a week on Queen Anne with a Balcony cabin.
Deep Thought said:
Deep Thought said:
Looking at Cunard Queen Anne for 1st June 2025.
Looks like a pretty impressive ship. The speciality restaurants sound lovely and £1018 each for an unobstructed balcony room and $140 on board spend each sounds like pretty good value. Drinks package is pricey and adds around £400, but will probably take it too.
Went ahead and booked that. Looks like a pretty impressive ship. The speciality restaurants sound lovely and £1018 each for an unobstructed balcony room and $140 on board spend each sounds like pretty good value. Drinks package is pricey and adds around £400, but will probably take it too.
If you enter BALCONY50 at checkout you get another £50 off so that takes it down to £993 each.
Have to say, that feels like a cracking price for a week on Queen Anne with a Balcony cabin.
DodgyGeezer said:
Toying with Queen Vic from Istanbul later this year
We did QV in December last year in Northern Europe. We did enjoy it. Limited of course by not being able to use the outside space.Food was great, we did like the more formal dress code from 18:00, entertainment was good, live acts were great, MDR was great.
We found service to be slow in the bars, but that really only affects your first drink as you can time your next order accordingly.
Its a smaller ship so doesnt have a wide range of venues and restaurants but they do make the most of the space.
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