Cruises

[Stellabe]

My parents are trying to book a cruise but cant decide which one to go for. My dad is retired (although only 53 years old) and my mum cant get too long periods off work as self employed (maybe 1 month). They have looked at a couple of lines (silver sea, p&O) but they are looking for ones with no children, not too croweded. Price not really relevant, just not too extravegant. Can anyone give ideas or any good/bad experinces you have had. Thanks

[Buenchico]

P & O's Artemis might be worth considering. (It's an 'adults only' ship).

Her sailing schedule is here:
http://www.pocruises.com/artemis/Cruises.aspx

Here's one good review:
http://www.ship-happens.co.uk/cgi/reviews.pl?a ction=pop&id=798

That review is taken from this site:
http://www.ship-happens.co.uk/cgi/reviews.pl
Some of the other reviews are less complimentary but the poorer reviews seem to have come from people who've simply chosen the wrong ship for them. (e.g. the reviewer who complains that they had to make a special request for karaoke). In general, the reviews seem quite good.

Chris

[missmoore]

I was on the Arcadia (P&O) at christmas - it's a child free ship and really lovely. We went round the caribbean for a fortnight and I couldn't recommend it enough.

I've been on Royal Caribbean before but it was't really to my taste - it's quite glitzy and showy, and also full of American children (nothing wrong with this, unless you're trying to relax for a week...).

For more advice I'd check out www.cruisecritic.com, there's a lot of interesting stuff there as well as a holiday search facility.

[Stellabe]

Thanks a lot guys. Going to pass onto my parents. They have been 'deciding' or over a year now. These will help.

[sddsddean]

If you want a great first cruise, do what we did. We sailed from San Diego, California to Miami via Panama Canal. Going through the canal is brilliant! Whole trip usually takes 2 weeks. Most of the cruise lines do that route (Calif - Florida/Carribean), so you can take your pick. We did Royal Carribean the first 2 weeks of November and effectively no kids. Princess tend to be for older people, so usually no kids and as said, P & O have kid free ships. The great thing about cruises is you do loads of miles and only unpack once!

[nikkster]

Try the Radisson/ Regen seven sea cruises....They are fab. A bit more expensive but your parents will love it , I did a 3 months around south America on the Mariner and was the best curises i have done . The crowd on that ship is normanlly older and will not find kids running around . The cheaper cruise lines are for shorter periods and filled with young people who r more into the partying aspect of it. this is their web site www.rssc.com.....hope they have fun!!!.............oh one good thing about this line is u don't have to give a tip to every one it's all inclusive