P&O tend to be the least likely to give deal offers! You are in a fantastic position, living close to Southampton. Can I ask why does it have to be P&O, as some of the other lines sailing from there are much more likely to reduce prices, and also do similar itineries? Presumably with such a young child you are looking to go outwith school holiday period? Incidentally we have found cruising, at the right price, to be much better value than the standard package holiday type and it is almost always possible to do your own thing relatively cheaply and avoid the expensive excursions offered by the cruiseline.

For example, Norwegian often have really low prices on inside cabins. We sailed on the Norwegian Jade on 30th May 2008 for 14 nights, so effectively first fortnight in June, and paid £500 each for an inside cabin....certainly that is the best deal we have ever had!

It is difficult to say what is cheapest/best way to book as we have found excellent value with TA's, cruiselines direct, Teletext contacts and also e-mail shots from various sources. We have used all on different occasions. Also it sometimes pays to book fairly early, maybe 6-9 months out, but sometimes much closer e.g a month or even a week or two. It is simply a question of learning to keep up to date, and being ready to move when you see the right deal for you.

If you wish, let us know your time window for 2009 and what the itinery you are looking for might be and there are many on this forum who would seek to help/advise.

Hi and welcome to HT!

If childcare is important to you check the ship's facilities very careful as some ships won't look after children under the age of 2 or 3.

luci

Hi Hamrag & Luci- thank you for your replies.

Hamrag, how did you get such a shiner of a deal with NCL? What a find!
Did you have to book far in advance or was it a last minute buy? Was that with a TA or with NCL on the net?

We were pointed in the direction of P&O by our travel agent because that line ticks two boxes for us- most (or all) of their Med cruises departing locally from So'ton & having a free 'Night Nursery' on board- so we can enjoy the facilities on the ship, once the sun goes down (and little one is safely deposited in the hands of the P&O girls...)

I've had a look at the NCL website (didn't know they sailed from Southampton -have seen P&O, Cunard Royal Caribbean & Princess ships docked in port...) & it looks great- inside cabin prices do tend to be a wee bit cheaper than P&O too. It doesn't mention whether they have a similar night nursery or babysitting service on board (although there are kids clubs for children over 2 yrs) but I have emailed them, as that will be the big deciding factor!
Yes, we will be going out of school holiday time. The ports of call are similar to the P&O one we'd like to go on.

Lucy, I know what you mean about checking the ships facitilities. I've done a bit of research
on the different cruise lines & Fred Olsen don't offer any childcare, and Princess & Royal Carribean don't look after little ones under the age of 2 or 3, as you've said. Ocean Village have a night nursery, like P&O, for children 6months+, but they're only fly cruises, which we'd like to cut out if poss.

I'll keep you posted with what we book!

Oh, do you think the credit crunch will have any effect on cruise prices? My hubs says he heard that the cost of luxuries like holidays will go down, but I'm doubtful whether this'll affect cruises...... I'm sure that the kind of clientele that book the staterooms with balconies would be able to afford them whatever the price, special offer or not. (Sadly, that's not us, just yet!!)

RunawayBird wrote:

Hamrag, how did you get such a shiner of a deal with NCL? What a find!
Did you have to book far in advance or was it a last minute buy? Was that with a TA or with NCL on the net?

We booked that particular deal with vacations to go (INVALID URL a USA site. Booked early October 2007 for the May/June 2008 cruise. I saw it there, and it was also available directly on the NCL website, for 24 hours and booked immediately. The following day the price was up by $500.

We have 3 grown up Kippers, so our days for checking out the nursery arrangements are over......sorry cannot comment about NCL. There is actually an "NCL Jade" topic cruise thread, if you post there and ask someone may be able to say what their experience was. I have posted a one liner to bring it "up the order" a bit so you can find it easily. Another thread to look at is the "latest deals for cruises" one, if you look back you will see what kind of deals have been around during the last few months.

Hamrag, have just found out that NCL's childcare arrangements only cater for the over 2s.

So unfortunately, it won't be the Jade after all. Unless we waited a little longer for our little knipper to turn 2 of course, but then we'd have to pay a percentage of our fare, so would not work out much better on the pocket. How lucky you are to have 3 grown up ones who don't need fussing over
Thank you for your kind & helpful comments. I think I'll have to keep watching the websites & every TA's window for that hot deal that's out there waiting for us.

(Won't need much encouragement. All this reading about cruising & the thought of spending a perfect 2 weeks on a luxury liner is too addictive to a dreamer like me!)

Don't wish their life away your children will grow up all too fast. I often wonder where the years went to. Not sure that a cruise is the best option with a small baby unless you go off take them to a beach somewhere. On the ships babies are not allowed in the pool with or without nappy in a lot of cases. There may be some little pools where a baby can get just a bit wet but a cruise does have some restrictions.
My Daughter would not consider travelling with me and bringing the children. She has cruises with us a family when she was around 16 -17 but felt it was not the ideal holiday for small children.

That is a whole other subject and I am not the best person to discuss it. My Son also says his children are not ready for a cruise holiday as yet. Too little to take on off on excursions and they would not be happy leaving the children in the kids club.
They have just had a 3 week holiday in a quiet family resort in Tenerife.

Sue

I know what you mean about them growing up too fast Sue! Can't believe it's our little one's 1st birthday next week, where has the year gone?

I think a cruise may be too restrictive for young children, say 3, 5, 7 etc who have heaps of energy and would be happy spending all day splashing around & making sandcastles. I think you can't beat a good old seaside holiday for that. Certainly much cheaper too.
But the benefits for a cruise for us, are that we live very close to Southampton, (25 mins there) so no flights with a tired baby, or the possibility of delays.

Also, he's our only one so during the day he will have lots of time with Mumma & Dadda. We can use the kids club area, but as he'll be under 2 when we hope to set sail,
at least one of us will have to be there too. But that's no problem, that'll be quite nice seeing him totter around playing with exciting new toys- now I'm back at work, i often feel like I don't spend enough 'fun' time with him. The pool, i hadn't thought of that, but it's just one of those things.

It's a very good point about excursions- I don't think an all day one would be wise, but there are a couple of beach stops on the itinery we'd like to go on, and towns too, so plenty for him to look at. He's the kind of little one that luckily hasn't thrown a tantrum in a supermarket yet- he's too busy looking at all that's going on....

And of course when he's tired out & safely deposited in the night nursery we can enjoy the bars, shows, casino etc on the ship! (Another big plus, nights out are few & far between now). So I think this holiday's exactly what would suit us at the moment, but just holding on for the best deal.

If you play it right you will be able to get up to 10% off your cruise.

Most cruiseline's websites will tell you the basic price of the hol and on costing will give you a 5% disc. Call your local independant agent and ask them for a beat. They may give 6-7%, then try another, they wll either give you a match or if they are feeling generous will up the disc to 8-10%. You wont get much higher than that unless the cruise is worth many £1000's. On Board Credit is usually provided by the cruiseline, there is no way really(unless we go into boring stuff like allocations) that an agent can give you OBC. I also recommend going for a "guarantee" cabin, which mean, if available you will be bumped to the next level of stateroom. Please be aware, however, with a guarantee that you cannot refuse the upgrade.

Can I ask which ship you are looking to travel on? I may hve some experience of it so can help you further.

Hi Agent Q-

We're looking to travel on P&O's Oceana, as it offers the itinery we like the look of best. Have you had success with an independent travel agent beating the price of the online price, direct with the cruise line? Is it worth asking the big chains such as Thomas Cook etc, so should I just stick with the local independents?

Thanks!

Shoparound Runaway Bird.

There are lots of people you can try, Cruise Kings, Bolsover, Cruise.co.uk to name a few as well as Thomas Cook.

Kath x

I got an excellent deal on the Oceana with Barrhead Travel. It was over 30% less than P&O direct. I did call another cruise specialist, but they couldn't look at it as Barrhead had bought a block of cabins. We even got £150pp OBC.

luci

Received this from gill's cruises today. At first sight it doesn't seem a real bargain but you fly into New York and fly back from Quebec. That alone would cost an arm and a leg for flight. This is what we are thinking of for next year September time, so would be booking this one a year down the line! Might be for someone out there this year!

Gill's Weekend Sale!

New York - Quebec
Sea Princess
13 September 2008 - 11nts

Interior Cabins from just £899pp

This fabulous unique itinerary from Princess cruises has been reduced with its last few cabins remaining!

Leave your world far behind and experience the picturesque destinations as you sail from New York to Quebec. You'll fall in love with the romance of Quebec City and be charmed by the quaint villages from St John to Sydney, Nova Scotia. In places like these, your cruise becomes much more than a break from the routine. It becomes a complete escape!

Fly UK/New York (Overnight)
Boston - Bar Harbour - St John Halifax - Sydney Nova Scotia Charlottetown - Quebec (Overnight)/Fly UK

That's a wonderful itinerary, imagine the sights!

I'm setting my heart on a cruise for my next "big holiday" wth my husband but without the kids (I have a very understanding Mother In Law). It's a bit difficult to talk him 'round at the minute, he doesnt see the attraction.

Anyway, OP, I work for an independant agent, so I have "inside knowledge" so to speak.