Please help with suggestions for a cruise line

[CaroleF]

I'm hoping some of you seasoned cruisers will be able to help me help a friend with advice as to the best cruise line for her and her husband. A friend and her husband, early sixties, newly retired are thinking of a cruise. She's asked me for suggestions as to the best cruise line. Both of them are very active, both had very high powered jobs, she the head of a prestigious London girls' school, he worked on the computer side of a news organisation. They are looking for a smaller sized ship that has lots of lectures, visits to interesting places and maybe ones that not all the mainstream ships visit. They are both very sociable. I really don't know what to suggest. Although I've done over 30 cruises mine have been mainly with P&O with a few Fred Olsen and one Cunard. I could only think of Cunard as a possibility. I don't know about lines like Azmara, Seabourn, and Oceania but I don't know what sort of on board programmes they have. I do know that lines like Princess, MSC etc wouldn't suit them. Has anyone any ideas? They are a lovely couple, make friends easily. Money isn't really a problem so the more costly lines would be a possibility. Can anyone give me any suggestions please? They had apparently been thinking last year of going somewhere this next month but they are going skiing instead!

Carole

Carole

[barney]

Our good friends swear by Saga , the new ships obviously.

We find it too expensive for us to spend on a single holiday but they think it's reasonable.
I suppose it's all about what somebody wants , and their budget.
They always have a suite, the top one if it's available, and think nothing of spending between £10 & 14 k each for a couple of weeks.
They are currently on Spirit of Adventure that is moored up in Madeira today.

It's pretty much all inclusive, including insurance and home to port transfers.

There is an interesting one 6th August with many interesting ports and an overnight in Bordeaux.
Leave Dover, arrive Portsmouth

I'd recommend that they contact a cruise specialist travel agent.
They would steer them right.

[david63]

This is one of those "which car do you recommend" or "which computer should I buy" types of questions to which there is no real answer.

Do they want to sail from the UK or do a fly cruise? This will affect their decision making to a large extent. Once that has been established then they will need to do some "homework" and read what each line has to offer based on what they think they want - doing that will probably narrow the field down to two of three possibilities and then as Barney say talk to a good cruise agent - not their local general TA.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Yes I'd suggest they talk to an agent such as Bolsover for expert advice.

[allatc]

Could try looking at Gary Bembridge's Youtube channel - Tips for travellers -

Lots of info there. https://www.youtube.com/@tipsfortravellers

[Ranchi]

If they are active & like walking then Hebridean ‘footloose’ cruises are worth considering. Beautiful Scottish scenery (& weather!). All inclusive (inc. parking.)

[CaroleF]

I'd forgotten about Hebridean cruises. They are great walkers and I'll certainly mention it to them. Thanks for the other suggestions. I'll suggest they talk to Bolsover, that's who we've always booked with. A line like Hebridean that goes to other parts of the world would be ideal.

[towny44]

Using Bolsover, or maybe Hays if they prefer face to face contact, is certainly the best way for your friends to start. But do bear in mind that even on the same cruise line there will be differences between the different ships on each line, especially those lines that have a range of different sized ships.

[Bensham33]

Ramblers Holidays used to do 'Walk and Cruise' holidays. Instead of going on a trip at ports of call the Ramblers group went for a walk. That was some time ago, not sure whether they still do them.

[Manoverboard]

I suspect that they are compatible with Azmara, Regent or Oceania. All up market but pricey. They could also consider Viking Riverboat Cruises.