To keep all the information relating to this cruise in one place, post transferred to Roll Call topic here:

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=229829#229829

I shall lock this one to avoid duplication.

luci

Never been on a cruise holiday before and contemplating going for our honeymoon. Any advice would be great on dress code, entertainment, food, drink - are they all inclusive?

I really aint got a clue!

Hi Raychael and welcome to the Cruise forum!

As your query is a little too general to give specific advice I would suggest that you read through some of the topics on here to give you some idea of what to expect on a cruise, particuarly ones regarding the Thomson Spirit.

There is some information on dress code here:

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=7588

The following posts may help:

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=18593&highlight=spirit

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=13363&highlight=spirit

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=8763&highlight=spirit

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=376&highlight=spirit

HTH

luci

Ok great thanx for that. Will have a look!

...both to cruises and this board! Hello everyone, hope some of you experienced 'cruisers' ( ) will be able to help us book our first cruise for our honeymoon after 10.06.06. We're in the early stages, looked at the variety of cruise lines and the itineries. We would like to try a 14 night med cruise, ideally stopping off at a few ports in Italy. Doesn't look like we can book for june 06 yet anyway - been trying to get hold of 2006 brochures without much luck. Assume 2005 itineries will be similar in 2006? Liking the look of the ocean village med holiday cruise (in terms of it stopping in rome, naples, tunis, barcelona, monte carlo etc) but think for our honeymoon we'd want something a little more formal......still undecided, suppose budget will determine and at £1500 ish per person, beggars can't always be choosers! Book early or later for best deals? any suggestions appreciated

Hi KBsuncatcher and welcome to HT!

We have just booked a 14 night cruise on the Sea Princess which is sailing from Southampton for the first time this year. The ports of call are Cadiz, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Rome, Florence/Pisa, Algerho on Sardinia, Palma and Gibraltar.

RCI are doing a similar cruise on the Legend of the Seas. Both of these would be more formal than the Ocean Village.

I believe with the better cruise lines that it is preferable to book early to get the best discounts, eg before the end of February. I'm not 100% sure, but think that the brochures for next year would come out in the autumn.

HTH

luci

thanks for your reply luci, that's sounds perfect. Looks like we may have to hold our horses for a while then and get saving!

Hi Kbsuncatcher,

Keep an eye out from June onwards as the earliest we ever did a brochure launch for the following year was 4th June..... Although the majority tend to launch in August - September....

Sandi
xx

With £1500 pp you should be able to do much better than OV even if that includes some of the spending money, RCI,princess, celebrity,P&O all fit the bill so look at them and others.
You have doen the right thing to research first, you will be suprised by the numbers that book first ask questions later.

thanks again, thought brochures would be out a tad earlier but no worries, no rush seen as it can't come any sooner now the wedding's booked! The £3000 ish is for the hols not spending money. The brochure prices seem to well exceed that amount but looks like most have offers of up to 40% reductions when booked early, so hopeful we'll be able to find something to suit for that, if not we'll have to stretch into the beer money or bikini allowance

Hi

Also don't forget you get 40% off the price when you pay.

Chel

Ok to get you going, the ships will be the same as this years brochures so just need to check itineries

P&O 2006 itineries for the new Arcadia are out.

http://www.pocruises.co.uk/

princess have 2006 itineries in the med

http://www.princess.com

is there such thing as a 5 berth cabin read the good reviews on the thomson spirit but 4 seems the max no of people in a cabin is there any other ships anyone can reccommend with 5 berth 2 adults and 3 young children so splitting up not an option, thanks for any help Louise

Some of the larger, more expensive ships may be able to accommodate five in a cabin, but I'm not sure about the budget end of the market. I think you would need to contact a travel agent who is a cruise specialist to get the correct info and advice. Sorry I can't be more help.

luci

5 is a tough number. 4 berths are generaly bunks untill you get to larger cabins/suites which have sofa beds. If the smallest is really small then you may find a ship that can do the extra bed/cot but it will be tight.

On the big ships they have cabins with multiple bedrooms but it does get pricy.

The other options are connecting cabins, or outside with inside opposite and parents split rooms. problem is you will be paying for 4 adults.

We have the same problem.There are 2 adults and 3 children in our party and we have had to book a twin and a 4 berth for 3 people.The girl at Portland jiggled the numbers and combinations around until she got the best deal for us.No way round it I'm afraid.

Hi all,

We, (two adults and two children agred 14 and 12) are looking to book our first ever cruise for July/August 2006. Do the 'experts' have any recommendations for us? Any region considered, preferably the Med. Cost wise looking at around £3k.

cheers,

John.

P.S. Thanks in advance for your help.

My Husband and I are booked on the thomson spirit on 27th may this year, for our silver wedding aniversary, for the med cruise, we are booked in a deluxe on deck 7 and looking at the map it seems as though we have some sort of fire escape/stairs outside our window, does anyone know is this will restrict the view. Also we are AI and I was wondering if this includes the minibar in the room or not and also where are the best places to eat, any info about ship, tours does and don'ts ect will be greatly apreciated.

PS - I am really excited

valerie

Hi Valerie, welcome to HT .You may find this information helpful. Enjoy your cruise
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=31112
Elaine xx