Thanks Luci5,

We have booked to go on the Spirit in July 2006. Read the reviews on HT and spoke to the travel agents the same day and got booked on almost immediately.

Can't wait.

cheers,

John.

Congratulations on getting booked John! You won't regret it. Apart from the cruise reviews on here, if you put "Spirit" into the Search facility at the top of the page you will find more info that you can possibly cope with!

luci

Thanks for that lesson Luci, I have never used that facility, there is so much on HT Van may need to introduce a tutorial. Also Luci welcome back, glad you had a brill holiday. The time really went quickly.

Dizzy

I have just booked to go on Thompson Destiny on 23rd June 05 to celebrate my 40th Birthday. Any information would be most welcome.

Please get in touch is anyone else out there is travelling at the same time.

Elaine

As a virgin cruiser I am not sure if you can take suitcases on the ship (we are on Thompson Desitiny on 23rd June). Is there anywhere to store suitcases in the cabin or do we need to take soft bags?

Thanks for any help

Elaine

Hi VC Welcome to the list.

Guess by the price you are looking for a 2 week cruise It's best to shop around different web sites to get an idea of the costs for your dates eg teletext. cruise control etc.

I've seen Legend of the Seas (Royal Carribean) for just under £1000 for 2 weeks from Southampton visiting Civitaveccia for Rome and Villefranche for Monte Carlo also Gibralta, Barcelona, Corsica, and a few stops in Portugal. they have 18th June or 2nd July.

chrisie

Hello Elaine

Yes, you are allowed to take suit cases.

I think the Destiny was the Sunbird We sailed on her last year and there was plenty of room for suitcases in the wardrobes or under the bed.

Some ships have luggage rooms for big stuff eg the Marco Polo so it isn't a problem

Chrisie

Hi Chrisie

Thank for the information, I can plan my packing now. Still haven't told hubby he needs to wear tie and jacket for gala dinner.

Do you know if he could wear the sirt and tie only and skip the jacket?

Thanks
Elaine

Maureen, We had AI for the first time on the Spirit last week. You can get tea, fresh brewed coffee and liquers, eg drambuie cointreau , as well as sherrys such as Harvey's Bristol Cream and Tio Pepe and the usual spirits. I'm certain that you won't be disappointed.

chrisie

Hi Elaine, my husband wore a long sleeved shirt, tie and waistcoat.

He would have been unhappy without a tie, but I did see people with shirts and open neck collars (but not many). Does he have a dark jacket or blazer? Could you slip one into your suitcase on the QT? that way, if he sees other people in their evening attire he still has a choice.

chrisie

hi,first time user so please bear with me
wanting advice on cruising next year... thinking about canaries.
constrictions., dont want long flight time
would like 14 nights
around middle or late august
would like to do some actual cruising as opposed to dashing around various places
this added on june 8th
wanting the above dates because of wedding anniversry. trying very hard to get brownie points....

I think you best option may be to consider a UK departure NO flying more days at sea but choice will be resticted and fewer ships do the canaries in the summer. For August a quick look only found a few trip heading south to med from UK Also this is prime school holidays(you have kids or are teachers?) so budget will be important and family cabins tend to sellout.

You will get a better selection if you include the Med and even more if you add baltics/fjords

Tranasatlantics are next but one long flight. At the top of the heap is QM2 to new york and back.

Also consider the style of ship and think about budget because it will have a significant impact on choice.

Watch prices closely this year to give you an idea of what late booking options there might be the same ships tend to do same similar itineries each year so try and find a trip for this year as practice for next.
Papers, Teletext and cruise web sites all have info. just got to dig it out
Get on the mailing list for some of the agents it is one of the best ways to catch deals.

Hi x-ray

The Canaries Hmmm???

- do many cruises go there in august? The ones I've seen take in a Moroccan port which involves quite a lot of sailing time which might put you off.

The flight is about 4/5 hours, which is quite a long time for short haul aircraft which give you less seat pitch and leg room than intercontinental ones - specially if you go by charter

WJ is right about starting from the UK, but of course it takes longer to get anywhere like the med so you might have too many sea days unless you do one of the round britain cruises.

Thompson Jewels of the Meditteranean had only one sea day, and more or less full days in the port. It goes from Palma which is a shortish flight.

I guess it depends what kind of destinations you're interested in?

Sorry I missed the bit about 14 nights.

Would definately agree with WJ

anybody suggest best source of booking a cruise please

In my very "extensive" research that I do before booking I have always found Ideal Cruising http://www.idealcruising.co.uk to give the best price.

I have just booked a 2006 Thomsons cruise with them and nobody could come anywhere near their price. The service I got was very good as well and there is no pushiness (not like Cruise Control who will plague you forever!!) I have phoned a few times for different quotes and they have always been very helpful, given me all the required information and as I say, they leave the quote with you, without the need to keep contacting you to see if you want to book. Freephone number as well!!

Iglu seem to have some good offers, but have no idea of what their service is like

Hiya

We booked with Archers Direct who have been very efficient so far ! Cruise Control appear to be hot untill you book with them and not so hot once they have your cash ( at least thats what ive picked up on here so far )

stef

We've booked with Cruise Contol and Travelhouse. Cruise Control were much better (for us ) friendly effecient and no problems. We once cancelled a booking with them too - no probs.

Travelhouse on the other hand on one cruise invoiced us at a higher price than we'd agreed - took ages to get hold of anyone to sort it out.
On another they didn't bother to provide the cruise line with some vital paperwork meaning we didn't get the tickets on time. Everytime we contacted them they told us that all was ok, but then had to call us in at the last moment to sign the papers ( a 20 mile round trip). I saw a review where someone else had exactly the same problem with them.

hope this helps