UK Cruises

jaylou

Gold Member
Has anyone been on a cruise which starts and ends in the UK?
I'm looking at this for the future, maybe to the Canaries and just wondered if anyone has been on one and what your thoughts were?
 
My mum and dad are currently on cruise number 4 from the UK. They normally leave from Southampton and head off to the med, last text I had from them they were in Kos, Greece.

I think it takes about 2 days to clear the Bay of Biscay and then depending what your route is stops are every 1 to 2 days.

They love it, Mum is currently looking at flying to New York next year and then crusing back to Southampton, and Dad has been eyeing up a round the world cruise leaving from the UK when they retire!

The way she raves about it, we have considered doing it and if it was not for the fact I am currently 21 weeks pregnant would be doing a cruise to the Canaries in November as there was a bargain in the paper a couple of weeks ago!

Go for it, as soon as you get on the ship you are free to use the facilities and restaurants, none of the hassle of the airport (we dropped them off last year and they had boarded the ship before we had got out of the port!) and I think Mum thinks it is brilliant there are no restrictions on number of bags or weight of luggage!
 
Thank you :)
There are 2 big plus points for me, no flying and no baggage allowance!
Only negative is the price but it does mean that we get some sunshine and I don't have to fly!
 
My mum and Dad were another two who always cruised from the U.K. from Liverpool on the Empress of Britain. They used to cruise to Las Palmas , Gran Canaries, stay for the winter and then cruise back. They loved it and rarely flew there. They went year after year.

I have done several cruises but fly cruises, flying out to the ship and then onwards. I thought it was such a wonderful way to see the world and such a sumptuous, luxurious way of holiday life. I did far flung places and every day of each cruise was great.

You do not have to think about much, food is great, entertainment provided, keep fit on deck...........so much to do.

Go for it JayLou........spoil yourself.

If flying is not your bag another alternative is to sail to France taking the car and the driving to wherever takes your fancy.
 
I went on a cruise a couple of years ago, which sailed from Southampton to the Med. I have to say it was one of the best holidays of my life. Free food, entertainment, keep fit. Also a hairdresser, beautician and masseuse on board. Room service and breakfast in bed (no charge). Go for it - you'll love it!
 
Ah thank you Ladies. It's one to think about for the future that's for sure! I keep looking and the cruises look gorgeous!
 
cruises are brill. Have done the carnaries from southampton (P&O). So much fun. But note went out of season slightly, and the boat was full of oldie folks. By 10pm on the night the clubs and bars were empty. But during the day, and evening the conversation and some of the stories, during our dinners were great. Have also done from venice with (Royal Caribbean). This cruise was just fun and way too much food and wine. Go for it you will never have a holiday like it.
 
I went on the Independance of the Seas, Royal Carribian two years ago. We went from Southampton which is local to us, we visited Vigo in Spain, tenerife and the canary islands and we returned to Southampton. It was 10 days and it was the best holiday of my life, it was amazing, when I am trying to explain to people who havnt tried cruises but say they dont think they will like them, I was like that before I went on it. IT WAS AMAZING!! The look on the kids faces said it all. The look on EVERYONES faces. As well as being a younger family, from some stories i've heard cruises are for the old folk - thats a load of rubbish, well I guess it depends what cruise you go on, the royal caribian was very good for all ages - they even bought champagne around most nights, and kept on bringing it round lol... great fun.
 
Ooooh, fellow cruisers. We tried our 1st one back in 02 and haven't wanted a land-based holiday since! We lurve them oodles. We generally go in Nov (birthday & anniversary) so have done Caribbean & Hawaii for the weather. We've also done a couple of Meds from Southampton & recently returned from Norway Fjords. Our very best favourite was from Dover to the Baltic Capitals (including St Petersburg). We've been with P&O, Royal Caribbean, NCL, & Celebrity and as much as you can stuff yourself silly on wonderful food, 24/7, with all of them - I've found that the American lines provide better choices of low-fat, low sugar, low salt options to help reduce the inevitable weight gain. I do indulge (well, I am on holiday!!) but it's nice to be offered something more creative than fresh fruit salad most other evenings. Entertainment is extremely good and there's always plenty to get involved with if you so choose. The Captain on a return journey from the Med advised us that he anticipated 'poor' weather around the Bay of Biscay and gave everyone the opportunity to disembark in Portugal to fly home. Six couples left but would probably have kicked themselves because we didn't feel a thing! The bigger the ship, the better it will ride the waves. Hope you do try it and love it as we do.
 
Back
Top