Auto Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 Last night my wife said a wonderful thing to me- "I think we should seriously try to get someone to watch the kids so we can go on a vacation just you and me." This is against the backdrop of us preparing to move back to the States from Germany next summer and trying to make the most of our remaining time in Europe. So I did some checking and the following cruises match our timeline (May 19) and interests: Oasis- Western Med (a mixture of places we've been to and woulnd't mind seeing again and some we haven't) Serenade- Norwegian Fjords (never been, more on my bucket list than hers) Explorer- England/France/Spain/Portugal (places we've never been, except Normandy, but I was working that trip and missed out on a lot of the sights) It's a wash for us to get to London or Copenhagen or Barcelona, so that isn't really a consideration. We're going on a Greek Isle cruise in November, and we have any semblance of fun on it, there is a good chance I will visit the Next Cruise desk with one of the above in mind. So, the question is...what would you do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPS Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 Given my wife's desire to visit Italy, I would lean toward the Oasis/Western Mediterranean since makes 3 stops in Italy as well as two other stops. Just my two cents.Enjoy your Greek Isle cruise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 Oh the choices!! I'm going on my bucket list (Western Med) in a couple of weeks. I say if you've seen those places, go somewhere else ...? I've never been on Oasis, but I hear it's ah-may-zing! I've been on Serenade and Explorer. Both nice, but they are smaller, older ships. accio7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 Norwegian Fjords! Broons77 and accio7 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 Hard decision but if it was me my first choice would be the Mediterranean. If I had seen a lot of the stops already like you mentioned, I would do the England/Spain/Portugal trip. My sister just showed me pictures of her Spain and Portugal trip and it’s just totally beautiful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 One thing to bear in mind you can get all inclusive buy one get one 50% off until I think 5th November with a £75 pp deposit. We’ve just changed our booking for next year so may be best looking at it before you go we only got $300 obc booking with next cruise and only changed it as it was now £827 more but includes deluxe drink package. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mljstr Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 2 hours ago, Stephanie said: Oh the choices!! I'm going on my bucket list (Western Med) in a couple of weeks. I say if you've seen those places, go somewhere else ...? I've never been on Oasis, but I hear it's ah-may-zing! I've been on Serenade and Explorer. Both nice, but they are smaller, older ships. What Western Med are you going on in a a couple of weeks? We are going on the Jewel departing Rome October 24. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunkelBierJay Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 Fjords for me...been pretty much everywhere else accio7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
accio7 Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 5 hours ago, Matt said: Norwegian Fjords! I would pick this cruise as well partially for the itinerary (bucket list of mine) and for the fact that an additional sea day is offered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
accio7 Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 6 hours ago, Stephanie said: Oh the choices!! I'm going on my bucket list (Western Med) in a couple of weeks. Have a great cruise, my family and I are sailing with a different cruise line on a 7 night Western Mediterranean itinerary next June Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 Count me for the Norwegian fjords! As with the others who said that, it's a bucket list item of mine, even more than the Med. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auto Posted September 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2018 I was leaning towards fjords. The constant struggle between me and my wife is that she is a beach/ocean kinda gal and I prefer the mountains. We cruised out of Barcelona in May, which was amazing. All of you headed out in a few weeks are going to love it! Plus, it won't be so hot, which is a plus. The highlight for our family was the Leaning Tower, words can't describe how cool it is to see in person. The one thing we wish we had was a mulligan for Rome, when we went there we were on a not great shore excursion (and the kids were tired and grouchy by the time we made port there). So that is the big draw for us about doing the Med cruise- and I think I'd like to check out a bigger ship with more offerings. accio7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auto Posted September 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2018 Last night my wife brought up our desire for a kid-less vacation to her parents, and they were open to the idea of coming over to watch the kids! So this pipe dream may be a little less pie-in-the-sky than I thought. Depending on when they could come over, it would either be the fjords at the end of May or Western Med in the beginning of the month...fingers crossed it pans out! accio7 and Lovetocruise2002 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted September 22, 2018 Report Share Posted September 22, 2018 8 hours ago, Auto said: our desire for a kid-less vacation to her parents, and they were open to the idea of coming over to watch the kids Kid-less cruises are the best! Thank goodness for awesome parents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie Posted October 26, 2018 Report Share Posted October 26, 2018 On 9/18/2018 at 11:53 AM, Mljstr said: What Western Med are you going on in a a couple of weeks? We are going on the Jewel departing Rome October 24. We went on Symphony Oct 7th out of Barcelona. It was amazing!! Hope you have/had a great time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mljstr Posted November 13, 2018 Report Share Posted November 13, 2018 @Stephanie We returned November 7 from our Mediterranean cruise. We had a wonderful time, although it was quite tiring for these "old" cruisers- 9 ports in 11 days! Everything went as planned-all flights arranged by Air2Sea and connections were on time, all tours were wonderful, all ports were interesting, our cabin steward was outstanding and the food in MDR was wonderful. We were expecting the menu would be repeated on such a long cruise but it was new and different every night. Actually, we ate two nights in the Windjammer and the dinner menu was really outstanding. We attended only a few shows but they were very good-for example, a comedian juggler on a rocky ship!!! There was a great Halloween party with a costume parade and a dance in the Safari Club.and decorations magically appeared in the Centrum and the Windjammer. Also both our pre and post hotels were outstanding! And just to prove this is a small world, the first night after embarkation (which took a record of less than 15 minutes!), we were exploring the ship after dinner and ran into a neighbor we didn't know would be on the ship too. Serendipity! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princevaliantus Posted November 13, 2018 Report Share Posted November 13, 2018 BEST CHOICE: Since you are moving back to the States, why not take a Trans-Atlantic voyage? This way, you have your trip and wave buh-bye to Europe when you are ready to move. A lasting memory. You can either send the kids ahead and still have time together, OR, take the kids and a babysitter (i.e.: family member, friend, etc.) so you will have family time and alone time? The ship also offers babysitting services, I believe. You also save on a little moola on flights for the casino, if that's your thing. Just a thought!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted November 13, 2018 Report Share Posted November 13, 2018 I believe that Royal has stopped offering babysitter services. There is still Adventure Ocean but babysitting in your stateroom is no more. They cited not having enough staff to reliably offer this service anymore but I suspect it is a combination of things that has ended this service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyB Posted November 13, 2018 Report Share Posted November 13, 2018 i would just draw straws because...well, cruising Europe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auto Posted November 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2018 Unfortunately, the timing of my move doesn’t allow for a TA- but it is on my bucket list. We just got back from our Greek cruise, which was awesome. And the in-laws are definitely coming to watch the girls, so I booked our next cruise already. But, much to my chagrin and how much I enjoyed RCCL in Greece, none of the intineraries matched up with what the in-laws could do. So I had to book a western Mediterranean on MSC Seaview out of Rome. Buuuuut.....I just floated the idea of a couples’ retreat cruise with my wife’s sisters and husbands. 2020 is the target date. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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