Which cruise to go on!

It’s so much easier to book customer cruises than your own!

So it’s January & the best time to book your future cruise holiday, with all the special offers out there at the moment:-

Free Upgrades
Free Spending Money
Free Car Parking at UK ports
Free Coach Transfers to UK ports
Free All Inclusive Drinks Packages

And much more………

But I need to book my own cruise for this year but where do I start I ask myself as it is not just my holiday but my families too. My mum is 70 this year and has always wanted to go on a cruise. My dad would never go on one when he was alive so the family have decided to take mum on her 1^st cruise for her 70^th birthday.

I fulfilled her dream of crossing the Golden Gate bridge a few years ago which was a huge surprise for her and now I have the chance to do it all again. As you know my mum has been staying with me since Christmas Eve and she goes home on 12^th January so discreetly I have been trying to pry into where she would love to go if she went on a cruise without giving it away and so far I’m doing ok (I think). Talking about what cruises I have looked at for my customers & where they are going (but not in too much detail of course) has helped as she has said ‘Oh I’d like to go there’ – method in my madness.  So with private text messages to my sister & my brother to arrange things and discuss dates, itineraries, cost & which cabin type we are going to stay in it has been quite exciting trying to do this whilst mum is staying at my house. My brother can’t actually come with us on the cruise as his wife is due a new baby in May so will be too young to travel on the ship. Infants must be 6 months old before they can go on a cruise ship. He is enjoying arranging it with us though & we’ll show him the photos to show him what his money has paid for. I really wish they were coming but he has insisted we go without them.

Eventually I will have to tell her we are going but not just yet – maybe on ‘Mother’s Day’ when we all take her for lunch in Bolton like we have done for years now.  As knowing my mother her passport will need renewing & she will want to go shopping for new clothes (now I know where I get it from).

My mum is retired but myself & my sister have children at school so it’s going to be the children’s school holidays so we are restricted to dates. Plus her birthday falls on the 29^th July so to be away for her actual birthday would be amazing.

So where do I start is the question?

First of all we thought about half term week in May 2013 but then we decided to go end of July so we can be on board for her actual birthday.  Luckily the school holidays are from 20^th July so this fits in quite nicely.

So the date has been decided – we will go weekend of 27^th July 2013 for 7 nights, I would love to go for longer but as my family haven’t cruised before they just want a week to see if they like it.

Now which ship are we going to go on?

It has to be a ship with plenty to do for the kids, 2 x 17 year old girls as Kim is taking her best friend with her this time, a 15 year old boy & a 9 year old boy. There are so many to choose from but as it’s my job I’m sure I’ll find the right ship.  My first job was to see which ships go to Western Mediterranean that weekend. Royal Caribbean, MSC, Costa, NCL, Princess Cruises & more.  A lot of the cruises are for more than 7 nights so to narrow it down we had 3 to choose from.

1. Norweigan Epic
2. Royal Caribbean – Liberty of the Seas
3. MSC – Preziosa  brand new ship in 2013.

I told my sister about these 3 ships and advised her to look on www.cruise.co.uk website to see which she liked the best. She had a look and liked the Norweigan Epic.

I have been on the itinerary for the MSC & the Royal Caribbean so didn’t really want to do same itinerary again plus I’ve never been on the Epic so to go on a new ship for me is fantastic as it will add to my cruise experience.

Between us we decided on Norweigan Epic as we like the itinerary as it goes to Rome & I know mum would love to see the sights of Rome & maybe visit the Vatican City. The Epic also has water slides which the kids will love, also the kids clubs – Kids Crew (6-9 yrs) & Teens Crew (13-17yrs)on board to keep them entertained & out of our hair for a while. I’m sure Kim & her friend Hannah will entertain themselves if they don’t use the Teens Club.

One of the reasons for choosing Norweigan Cruises is it will be freestyle cruising which means no dressing for dinner or set dining times which is better for my mum, sister & nephews. I don’t mind dressing for dinner but it will be nice not to worry about it.

The Norweigan Epic is one of the largest cruise ships at sea, it is great for a family holiday from the reviews I have read. I’ll let you know once I return so look out for my blog in August.

Click on the following link for more info on the kids clubs on board Norweigan Epic.

http://www.cruise.co.uk/cruise-guides/NCL-useful-info/

Norweigan Epic facts & figures

Built in 2010 in St Nazaire, France.
Gross Tonage 155,873
Overall Length 329m
Guests 4,100
Crew 1,753
Cruise speed 24 knots
21 Dining Venues, 2 main restaurants (1 classic & 1 contemporary)
Buffet restaurant where you can dine Al Fresco
Casual Cafes, on deck grills & Barbeques, 24 hr room service (delivery charge from 12am – 5am)
Speciality restaurants including Parisian in Le Bistro, Italian, Asian, Steak House, Brazilian & Japanese
A cover charge for the speciality restaurants is payable from $10 – $30 per person, children under the age of 12 pay half the cover charge.

Click on the link for an idea of menus & drinks prices:-

http://www.cruise.co.uk/cruise-guides/NCL-useful-info/

I can see us having a special meal on mum’s birthday but which one to choose from – another secret conversation I think!

Various types of accommodation are available on the Epic from inside staterooms to luxury suites & villas. There are also studios especially for solo travellers which carry NO single supplement, these studios are located in a private keycard access complex with the exclusive Studio Lounge & feature a full size bed, separate areas for bathroom, sink & shower. This will be perfect for my mum to stay in as we will let her have her own cabin & cheaper for us as no supplement to pay!

I like to stay in a balcony cabin so will probably go for that again on this ship but my sister & the boys, Kim & Hannah will have an inside cabin I think. At least I’ll have 3 cabin types to look at so I can let you know what they are like when I return.  I have checked the cabins and can get an inside cabin opposite a balcony cabin so at least can keep the girls nearby.

Family Courtyard Villas sleep up to 6 people featuring 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living area with dining area & incredible views.  A private butler & a concierge to attend to your every need. These are great for larger families.

All cabins have en-suite facilities, air conditioning, hairdryer, internet access, TV, safe, phone & feather duvet & pillows. In suites & balcony staterooms tea & coffee facilities

For a more indepth look at the deck plans click on the following link, select each deck to view individually.

http://www.cruise.co.uk/cruise-lines/nclcruises/norwegian-epic/deckplan/

I need to get my skates on and collect the deposits so I can get our family cruise booked as soon as I can before the prices change. We are so looking forward to this and we cannot wait to tell mum where she is going for her birthday, I just hope I can keep it quiet till March.

So if you wish to book on the Norweigan Epic or any other cruise line give me a call on 0800 408 6108 or email me at [email protected] and I will be happy to assist you.