I have kept the ad to compare prices, if I remember!! One thing about this seems odd to me though. A cruise has lots of elements you would need to consider. I have never been on one but there are the ports of call, the accommodations, the range of restaurants, the entertainments, on board facilities . So unless you are already really clued up, I would think it is difficult to know from a brief explanation on a TV show if it is right for you. I am sure I would spend ages looking at brochures. I suppose instead of the MBG you will get a cooling off period as I think that is a legal requirement. Maybe cruises are already sold this way though in which case, no problem.
Cruising comes to qvc !
- Thread starter Brissles
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I don't take holidays, by choice, and if I did the last thing I would do, is go on a cruise. Imagine, is a company which sells cruise holidays offered by various cruise lines. I would question why, if it is a reputable company in it's field, it feels the need to go on the Q, as it will need to offer some amazing deals to QVC which will, subsequently, pass them on to their customers (!). It is all added publicity, but why do they need it?
We went on our first cruise just before Christmas. We were spending 5 weeks with our family in Florida and they decided that we go on a 5 day 4 night cruise to the Bahamas. as a run up to Christmas. It was brilliant. We went with Royal Caribbean Cruises but as was mentioned previously their was a lot of choices and up grades - which our granddaughters and their husbands sorted for us (as they had been before). We would have been a bit confused (doesn't take much) if we had booked it ourselves but..................we will definitely do it again.
loveallthingsitalian
Registered Shopper
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I think it is a marmite thing, you either love them or hate them. My OH would rather have hot needles in his eyes than even consider one, so I'll never know which it is! I have friends who go every year and it would appear that they can get good deals on even the expensive ones, in fact mostly cheaper than my one week in Italy.
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well well well look what ive found!! no proper details yet but its a start
17 Nights Grand Voyage from Cape Town to Southampton on the Queen Mary 2
http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.803180
11 Nights Iconic Voyage to New York at Christmas on the Queen Mary 2
http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.803182
27 Nights Scenic Panama Canal Cruise to San Francisco on the P&O Arcadia
http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.803183
15 Nights Venice Stay and Mediterranean Splendour Cruise on the P&O Ventura
http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.803184
23 Nights Treasures of the Far East and Australia Wonders on MS Amsterdam
http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.803185
17 Nights Grand Voyage from Cape Town to Southampton on the Queen Mary 2
http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.803180
11 Nights Iconic Voyage to New York at Christmas on the Queen Mary 2
http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.803182
27 Nights Scenic Panama Canal Cruise to San Francisco on the P&O Arcadia
http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.803183
15 Nights Venice Stay and Mediterranean Splendour Cruise on the P&O Ventura
http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.803184
23 Nights Treasures of the Far East and Australia Wonders on MS Amsterdam
http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.803185
Wonder how much? Can one return if the holiday doesn't suit under the 30 day mbg??
It will be interesting to see what they do with this.
They may make it difficult to compare prices by including some extras such as gratuities, airport/ dockside parking, overnight hotel, on board spend, drink package.....the list goes on....
I love cruising and have cruised with various lines over the years, each one different and picked to meet our needs.
No way would I recommend anyone buying their first ever cruise off a TV show.
1st time cruisers really need to do their homework before they book then speak to a cruise specialist to get their questions answered. I would also recommend joining some cruise forums.
Making a mistake can prove costly.
The cruise lines vary so much, look at the reviews on the cruiseline forums by forum members before you book a ship, make sure it's right for you before you part with your cash. paying for the cruise is just the start of the expense.
If anyone is thinking of a cruise for the first time here are a couple of things to think about
Least movement is felt in the middle of the ship so if the stabilisers aren't deployed you may feel happier with a midship cabin
They run a cashless system which means you get asked to register a credit card and all your purchases get put on that and the money deducted at the end of your holiday.remember most are American Cruise lines so you will be charged in $ on them.
You can pay cash but be prepared to queue on your last night to cough up the cash then you can't buy anything else once you have settled the bill( done it once, never again, credit card all the way ever since)
Gratuities paid by everyone in the cabin, including children, the bigger the cabin, the more you pay, eg someone in a suite pays more than a cabin.
Service charge is added to all drinks( which aren't pub prices)
Don't think you can get around the drink costs by taking on your own booze, most don't let you, some (Holland America ) allowed one bottle per day to be brought on to the ship
Some cruise lines great for kids, some not, the ones that are get packed at peak season
Some cruise lines have a class system( however they may try to disguise it)
Trips are EXPENSIVE and sometimes the ship charges to take you from the ship to the centre of the nearest Town
Like I say, research before you book.
They may make it difficult to compare prices by including some extras such as gratuities, airport/ dockside parking, overnight hotel, on board spend, drink package.....the list goes on....
I love cruising and have cruised with various lines over the years, each one different and picked to meet our needs.
No way would I recommend anyone buying their first ever cruise off a TV show.
1st time cruisers really need to do their homework before they book then speak to a cruise specialist to get their questions answered. I would also recommend joining some cruise forums.
Making a mistake can prove costly.
The cruise lines vary so much, look at the reviews on the cruiseline forums by forum members before you book a ship, make sure it's right for you before you part with your cash. paying for the cruise is just the start of the expense.
If anyone is thinking of a cruise for the first time here are a couple of things to think about
Least movement is felt in the middle of the ship so if the stabilisers aren't deployed you may feel happier with a midship cabin
They run a cashless system which means you get asked to register a credit card and all your purchases get put on that and the money deducted at the end of your holiday.remember most are American Cruise lines so you will be charged in $ on them.
You can pay cash but be prepared to queue on your last night to cough up the cash then you can't buy anything else once you have settled the bill( done it once, never again, credit card all the way ever since)
Gratuities paid by everyone in the cabin, including children, the bigger the cabin, the more you pay, eg someone in a suite pays more than a cabin.
Service charge is added to all drinks( which aren't pub prices)
Don't think you can get around the drink costs by taking on your own booze, most don't let you, some (Holland America ) allowed one bottle per day to be brought on to the ship
Some cruise lines great for kids, some not, the ones that are get packed at peak season
Some cruise lines have a class system( however they may try to disguise it)
Trips are EXPENSIVE and sometimes the ship charges to take you from the ship to the centre of the nearest Town
Like I say, research before you book.
Brissles
Registered Shopper
That's a good comprehensive list Sharonk, and I agree with everything you mentioned. Cruises these days are really varied, from the huge floating blocks of flats that's more like Butlins at sea because they cater for the needs of small children and teenagers, to the 6* luxury smaller ships with butler included.
I have 'done' 7 cruises, and all with Cunard. I like them so have stuck with them. I'm not very child orientated so it suits me not to travel during school holidays. It IS all about choices, and as I'm at the age where 2 weeks on the beach would bore me rigid, and endless days of being ensconced in one place would drive me up the wall, then cruising has everything to offer for me. Good food, shore leave in a new place, and only unpacking the once, oh and embarking can be a dream compared to the nightmares of airports with their 3 day trek and a packed lunch just to get to the Departure Gates !
I have 'done' 7 cruises, and all with Cunard. I like them so have stuck with them. I'm not very child orientated so it suits me not to travel during school holidays. It IS all about choices, and as I'm at the age where 2 weeks on the beach would bore me rigid, and endless days of being ensconced in one place would drive me up the wall, then cruising has everything to offer for me. Good food, shore leave in a new place, and only unpacking the once, oh and embarking can be a dream compared to the nightmares of airports with their 3 day trek and a packed lunch just to get to the Departure Gates !
The Londoners
Registered Shopper
Love cruising, never been 'stuck with klingons' DH and I always have a table for 2 and choose whether to socialise or not - we always have a balcony too, so we have our own outside space if we want it - have found Celebrity cruises have never let us down - not 'cheap' but good value for money. I don't fly so we sail ex UK and the Eclipse is a fabulous ship - conversely we had 3 weeks from hell on the Holland America Rydam - filthy, smelly ship and wouldn't go on it again wven for free! My suggestion would be to read reviews on a reputable site such as Cruise Critic before booking to make sure you get what you're expecting and hoping for - and try to use a travel agent where the same agent will deal with you after you have booked rather than palming you off to an 'aftersales' team - sometimes the smaller family run companies are better and can often price match.
Anthony was on Holland America New amsterdam last year, in change of the huge dancing competition they host. He was very popular on the ship and very slick at his job. Seeing as one of the offers is a HAL one, they may have a shot of him talking about the dancing at least
Cruise.co.uk is another great forum for research and cruise chat. I love the roll calls they and cruise critic do so you can chat to people on the same cruise as you and arrange to meet up, share trips and so on. The cruise shop channel was interesting a few weeks ago, they had a tour company on who would organise private tours and they guaranteed collection and drop offs back at the ships on time! their prices were really reasonable, actually far cheaper than the ship tours, only problem is, I can't remember their name......mind you, major sulk this year, were aren't going away this year.
The Londoners
Registered Shopper
Doesn't look like we're going this year either - the times we can go there are no suitable offers and, as even a 'cheap' cruise still involves spending a lot of money, I'd sooner wait until we can afford the one we want. Last year we booked with a company called 'Cruise 118' who were very good and sent details of a company that sounds like the one sharonk described for excursions - most cruiselines charge a high premium for their own trips, but I seem to recall not booking with this company as the weather was due to be unpredictable and I don't think it was possible to cancel with short notice - which you can do with the cruiselines usually.
Someone on CruiseCritic is bound to have details - there are some amazingly knowledgeable people on there
Someone on CruiseCritic is bound to have details - there are some amazingly knowledgeable people on there
Got this email from QVC this morning:
"Get ready to set sail with Imagine Cruising – a brand new show launching exclusively on QVC this month. Every Tuesday in May we’ll be showcasing hand-picked voyages to suit all tastes and budgets.
We are working in association with Imagine Cruising who hand-pick their cruise packages and include the most scenic landscapes, luxurious rail travel and spectacular journeys to some of the world’s greatest destinations.
Read on to see our presenter Kathy Tayler's video as she experiences a cruise to Dubai with Imagine Cruising.
[Having trouble viewing this video? See YouTube's Help page]
With QVC and Imagine Cruising you can travel to New York, Sydney and the Caribbean aboard some of world’s most fantastic ships. Cruises will take you to the Mediterranean, Dubai, Hawaii or Las Vegas, while exclusive-to-QVC packages include special upgrades like balcony cabins, hotel stays at some of the world's most exclusive hotels, or exciting on-shore excursions.
Whether you long for luxury or want to experience the world's finest culture, or have never thought about cruising before, tune in every Tuesday in May and we'll do what we can to inspire you.
Imagine Cruising? We can…"
I would never buy a cruise from QVC, could not be bothered with the messing about if something was wrong.
How would the 30 money back guarantee work on this one?
And typically there will be QVC Exclusive offers there too!!!!
"Get ready to set sail with Imagine Cruising – a brand new show launching exclusively on QVC this month. Every Tuesday in May we’ll be showcasing hand-picked voyages to suit all tastes and budgets.
We are working in association with Imagine Cruising who hand-pick their cruise packages and include the most scenic landscapes, luxurious rail travel and spectacular journeys to some of the world’s greatest destinations.
Read on to see our presenter Kathy Tayler's video as she experiences a cruise to Dubai with Imagine Cruising.
[Having trouble viewing this video? See YouTube's Help page]
With QVC and Imagine Cruising you can travel to New York, Sydney and the Caribbean aboard some of world’s most fantastic ships. Cruises will take you to the Mediterranean, Dubai, Hawaii or Las Vegas, while exclusive-to-QVC packages include special upgrades like balcony cabins, hotel stays at some of the world's most exclusive hotels, or exciting on-shore excursions.
Whether you long for luxury or want to experience the world's finest culture, or have never thought about cruising before, tune in every Tuesday in May and we'll do what we can to inspire you.
Imagine Cruising? We can…"
I would never buy a cruise from QVC, could not be bothered with the messing about if something was wrong.
How would the 30 money back guarantee work on this one?
And typically there will be QVC Exclusive offers there too!!!!
I assume it will be like IW.
You get an overview on QVC but book direct with the company, QVC just being the 3rd party.
So no easy pay or MBG!
lol
BUT I have to say, I do enjoy seeing film of the places the cruises visit........hope they will have footage of the ACTUAL ships......IW use generic footage.
What good is that????
Shows you nothing about what your chosen ship is like.
You get an overview on QVC but book direct with the company, QVC just being the 3rd party.
So no easy pay or MBG!
lol
BUT I have to say, I do enjoy seeing film of the places the cruises visit........hope they will have footage of the ACTUAL ships......IW use generic footage.
What good is that????
Shows you nothing about what your chosen ship is like.
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2008
- Messages
- 19,147
Okay am I the only one????
I think of the Al Pacino movie Cruising!!!!!!!:mysmilie_11:
I think of the Al Pacino movie Cruising!!!!!!!:mysmilie_11:
reflexgirl
Registered Shopper
At least its something different from La Q. I will be watching if I can! Not buying though as new hubby isnt sure he would like it. I have done 2 cruises with previous hubby 27 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed one of them - the other one I was as sick as a dog!!
I will be watching with interest. I imagine it will all be very middle to upper class with the emphasis being on affordable luxury. Kathy's video will have been very well put together. It wouldn't just be her and a camcorder, but a whole crew, with everything being staged, scripted and choreographed.
