There isn't that much dressing up you know Prestos We did a Caribbean cruise last year and out of the 14 nights we had 4 formal. The rest of the nights were smart casual. My other half wasn't looking forward to it, but enjoyed it immensly. We were on the Oceana.

The Ocean Village as you may know is for people 'who don't do cruises'. I am sure you will be able to take or leave any organisation to those that want it. However, I am sure once you have tried it you will be 'hooked'

Whilst you are waiting for someone who has sailed on the ship to reply, why not check out our reviews for the Ocean Village HERE

Kath x

PS Did you get the newsletter from the Paphian about the refurb ?

Re Ocean Cruises - we weren't too keen at first, but the idea is growing on us! Just don't want it to be too informal and a 'free for all' if you get what I mean!



PS Re the Paphian Bay - got it today! Will send a pm as I'm also on the hunt for info about George!

No probs

Being too informal is what worries me about an Ocean Village cruise. We're not dressy up people, but do like to make the effort to put on smartish clothes for dinner and for the evening.

The impression I've had of OV cruises is that it's OK to wear day wear, such as football tops, at night which I'm afraid is not our thing.

I would have suggested a Thomson cruise, but as you say they don't have baclonies. Try looking at some of the other cruise lines such as RCL and Princess as they are often comparable in price to the so-called budget cruises.

If you haven't seen it already, we have a topic on the OV HERE

luci

Thanks for that Luci

Must admit the bit about dressing at night in a hotel sounds like us - we like to make an effort and do the 'smart casuals' if you get what we mean.

Re the other cruises you mention - would you know if they do cruise and stay options or if they do good deals mid August. We have to do school holidays and as you can imagine we just can't get good deals then! We'll have to wait until we retire for that ---- and its a long way off yet!

Thanks for your help - as you mention Thomsons cruises does that mean that they are sort of inbetween an Ocean cruise and a 'posh' dressy' one?

Thanks

My advice to you would be to look at where you would like to go if that is your first consideration.
Then look at the ships that are sailing that route. Some do Barcelona/Venice. If it is more the ship and the cruise which is my very important choice.
There is mountains of choice out there and some incredible offers. I would look at RCI Princess NCL Costa MSC and many other cruise companies as well. NCL has got freedom choice which allows you to eat when and where you wish. For me it is too casual but for you it could be fine. Carnival is posibly too party style The others are all good choices and have bundles of places of departure including the UK e.g RCI Navigator. Spelling?
My advice would be and it is only my advice is that you could get more for your money by booking with some of these Companies than with Thomson or First Choice. Another piece of I think good advice is that it is better to book a lower grade of room on a higher grade and newer ship than a higher grade with an older ship with less facilities.
Another thing to remember is that the TC are buying there ships from Companies who are building new ships and selling off their old stock.

Just a few thoughts.

Sue

Yes Presto I would say that Thomson's would be in between the OV and a posh ship. That said, we have been on the Marco Polo and the Sea Princess which would both be classed as "posher". However we didn't find that to be the case as the passengers on the Thomson Spirit made more of an effort in the evening.

We have never felt out of place on any ship wearing smart trousers and shirt / trousers and top at night, even on the American ships so I wouldn't let that worry you.

You may find some useful pointers HERE It may be worth giving a cruise specialist such as http://www.scotlandscruisecentre.co.uk a call to ask for their impartial advice as there are probably many cruises which would suit you other than OV and Thomson.

luci

HI

To be honest - we are very happy to dress for an evening meal and always make an effort - if you get our drift --- say as we would in a UK 4 star hotel chain (if this helps!). I think its the real tiara look and evening gowns I'd hate - don't do posh hair does and evening gowns --- I think the last time was when we got married ------ and hubby, though he likes to dress smart in hotels just would not feel happy being too over dressed!

Then again, hate going into a hotel and finding that folk are still in day wear - jeans etc --------- for an evening meal ---- we're not snobs (sounds awful reading it back) but its 'horses for courses' and we prefer something where folk want to do something special for a holiday -------- does this make sense?! We even do the smart casuals for a Beefeater meal ---- just makes it feel that extra bit special ?! Can understand if folk want to stay more relaxed on holiday, but it's just not for us -

Anyway, you've given us plenty to think about

What I think we've decided is that we are better going for a cruise that gives us what we want re places to visit and ship ----- this would make it special. We're looking at Greece : Ephasus, Rhodes, Crete, Athens etc --- we're culture vultures ------ we have done most of the major parts of Italy a number of times --------- this actually limits the cruises, but we'll have to keep our eyes open!

If / when we get stuck I'll pm or shout 'helppppp' again!

Thanks

I don't think the OV or Island Escape would suit you at all. I don't think there are many cruises nowadays that have the full-blown evening dress and tuxedo every night.

On the formal nights on most of the major cruise lines, some people do wear long dresses and either dinner suits or lounge suits. My hubby really didn't want to go on a cruise to start with as he didn't want to dress up. He did wear a lounge suit on the formal nights and a couple of cruises down the line, bought a new one!

It sounds like an Eastern Med cruise on any of the major lines would suit you and a chat with a travel agent to find out which ships do that itinerary may be a good idea.

luci

Cheers Luci

Been thinking that myself!

Whenever we have looked OV comes out too expensive, alway been better value elsewhere

For the Smart/casual anytime dining then Princess,NCL probably come closest, but don't rule out the other suggestions but they will have traditional dining or buffet where are NCL,Princess have full dinner service anytime.

We have also done the budget end,Island escape/Star at <£350 for a week including flights is good value.

For a bit of culture then the Baltics including a full two days in St. Petersburg takes some beating, but you do sacrifice the hot weather of the med.

For the med there is Emerald Princess it does greek islands als oNCL have the Jewel down that way plenty of others as well.

Cheers Windjammer - am off to search!

I have used them for some years and the thing that I most like is that the same travel consultant deals with all my details booking etc unless I need some information in a hurry and then I would ask one of the others to help me. I can rely on her and her advice as being in my best interest.

Sent off an email to her the other night and got a reply that she was out of the office until Wednesday and a telephone no to call if it was urgent. Their staff all go on to ships regularly and they have reviews of the ships and their opinion. Also good web site and free phone no and email enrollment. The agent who deals with me is called Ali and is the Asst Manager. I call her my Ali as she is always around when I need her even last week when I was at Heathrow on my way home from a cruise. I called her but my mobile battery was dead so she asked me to give her 20 minutes and then call back.

Reading all that you have written I think that OV or Thomson or Island Cruises would not meet your needs. As is suggested the Eastern Med cruises would be ideal for you. I love Santorini and there is the option of doing the Greek Islands Turkey etc.

Also someone has suggested the Baltic and if you are into culture etc this would be a wonderful start for you. If you are after sunshine and this is important to you then stick to the Med.
A good guide to the ships is the Berlitz Cruise Guide by Douglas Ward. It is around £16.99 but well worth it for the information it offers. It will give you the exact and honest review of every ship and is my cruise Bible.
Good luck there is something out there for everyone.

Sue

Thanks

I think at the minute my head is buzzing with all the possibilities. We can't find a cruise that gives us everything we want! Every type of cruise has something we would want but not everything - ahhhhhhhh! If I read the reviews they are all very mixed for every cruise line ------ people either love a boat or hate it!

Oh well, a lot of the fun of going is the research and hubby says it keeps me quiet! At this rate it could be a pedalo in Pafos!!!!!!!!! (with balcony of course!)

What we do is try to find value for money, so go off season or look for bargains, this does mean a comprimise on first choice but the thing is if you get hooked(and you will)you get to try other options next time so the first cruise really just needs to be good(enough). We have yet to find our favourate cruise line or the perfect cruise, they have all been good for different reasons and that from the top line we have tried, celebrity, down to the bottom end Thomsons Topaz and Island escape, all have given us fantastic holidays and great value for money. The cheaper the cruise the more days we get at sea in the year.

Itinery is probably the first thing to focus on and then what is the budget, for the cruise and the extras. If you tell us that I can probably find something that would do the job.

We go inside cabin unless there is a deal, our rule is upgrade ship not cabin.

Obviously we don't know you so we go with what we like and up market but still in the afordable range is Celebrity, we did the Baltics last year for <£900 2weeks and I see that they have the Galaxy doing the greek itinery but it is over £1k this year .

WHY WAIT till next year there are going to be some bargains this year and they are coming up already, we have a Royal caribbean at the end of this week transatlantic 12nights for £570 including flights, the same ship(Navigator) is doing 11nights to the Baltic for £670 in June(best baltic deals so far this year) for a taster there is the NCL Dream doing 2 nights from Dover for £99 in May. I have just spotted a Hawaii 17night for just over £1k early Dec.

If you can make time over the next few weeks it is bargain time in the lull to the school hols in July, keep an eye on TXT and you should be able to pick a week up on IE,IS, under £350pp or maby OV under £450.

If you check out the post near the top of the list there is some info on how to find deals from the cruise lines and teletext, I have yet to add some info on Travel Agents (work in progress).

ON the dressing up you can take it or leave it on most ships these days, I Have the DJ and the Girly likes to take a posh frock or two(charity shop numbers) but sometime if we fly we can't be bothered allthough it is nice to do the full "James bond night", cocktails, dinner,show, casino.

If you do have a posh number then wait till you are on board to have it cleaned/pressed cheaper than at home we do it all the time now.

If you live down south then seriously look at the ex UK options Dover,Harwich,Southamton, we live an hour north of london so can do all these ports in 2 hours leave home at 9 on the ship for lunch and on return home before 10:00 am if we want or midday if we are last off. You can also take a car load of stuff if you have to fly it usualy means an early start and another day to get home and limited luggage.

Thanks for that -

To be honest we are snookered having to go in the school holidays - we'd have to go in August or all other peak times! That always limits the budget. We have already booked our hols for this year and I'm researching now so that I'm ready when the holidays come out for next year. (I like to go well prepared and know what I'm getting and doing!)

Don't want to phone anyone yet - am happy just getting as much info and background on as many lines as possible so that I am as well informed as possible when I do phone anyone!

Anyway, off to do some work now --- start back soon ---- just in time for the late deals to come out I bet

If you are going in school holidays you either are a teacher or have school children. If you have children the RCI is probably your best option. They have several ships Navigator out of Southampton and Voyager these are huge ships with something for everyone. For me it is too big but then I am a silver surfer so would choose to go out of school holidays. There is also Brilliance Legend and Jewel and parheps others but these your young people would adore.

If you are a Teacher then I think you should look at Celebrity Princess Cunard P&O (not my first choice) The other option is to wait for late offers and prices coming down.
Also if you book and watch the cruise company web site and the price drops you can have that drop applied to your cruise See my post on RCI price drops! Rule where? When? Budget? Or Flexible?

Too much information can drive you crazy so I will say no more for now. If I can help you further then let me know.

Many thanks for taking the time - I think I am on overload re information, but as hubby says too much info is better than not enough --- and it keeps me quiet for hours!

Do appreciate you taking the time to give your help -

Will keep folks posted re what we come up with ----- whenever!

OK with the school hol restriction then I would seriously look early bookings for main stream popular cruises.

Another option, which have for the last two years been cruise bargains, are the Princess round britain trips that come on offer around May time.

They have been peek times but not that popular so can be real bargains, watch what happens this year to Grand Princess prices and then think about a late booking for next year. here are the july/august 2008 list.

http://www.princess.com/pb/searchResults.do?&ship=AP&date=0708
http://www.princess.com/pb/searchResults.do?&ship=AP&date=0808

Another option is the easter break this is two weeks and often throws up a bargain or two.

We plan not to go during the summer month it is usualy warm enough in the UK and the last two years we have done the 10n round britains they have been such good deals, great ports and not that many kids on board this year and next they are 12n but at around £55-£60pppn they will be hard to better on value peak weeks.