Are Some Cruises Better Solo? | Cruise Cast Ep 30

In episode 30 of the Suite Natured Cruise Cast we were inspired by JJ Cruises' recent solo cruises, to talk about whether some types of cruises are better solo, especially if one of you has more of an interest in a certain cruise type?

As usual, the Cruise Cast is recorded in real time, unscripted and unedited, so anything can happen, and we never quite know where a conversation is going to go

We also give our thoughts on a few of the recent cruise news stories to get our teeth into, including the recent P&O Aurora last minute cancellation 

00:00 Introduction to Solo Cruising 

01:03 Inspiration Behind Solo Cruising

02:26 Dream Scenarios for Solo Cruises

05:29 Concerns and Expectations of Solo Cruising

10:10 Dining Experiences as a Solo Cruiser

15:44 Exploring Cultural Interests in Solo Travel

20:45 Cruise News and Updates

23:15 P&O Cruise Cancellation Controversy

29:41 Disney's New Ship and Adult Offerings

34:58 Princess Cruise Package Changes

Transcript

Linzi & Mark (00:01.292)
Welcome to episode 30 of the Suite Natured Cruise Cast. Hi, I'm Linz as always I'm joined by Marky Hello. Hello. And today we're talking solo cruising and whether it's better to do it by yourself. But first a little mood music.

Linzi & Mark (00:35.534)
So what do you think of today's mood music? Wow. After your little cheeky intro there. What do you mean? So innocent but it wouldn't melt. My intros are cheeky. I feel that it was lovely music to be alone. I want to be alone music. kind of was though. So talking of which, today's main topic is solo cruising.

which seems a weird thing for us as a couple to talk about, but we were inspired when we're watching our friends, Jared and Jodan, J.J. J.J. Cruz. When they said the other day that they were both going off and doing a solo cruise for the first time. Yes, it said they were splitting up. Yeah, that wasn't true. They were splitting up for a cruise. Well, for a cruise, yeah, And we kind of then were like, well, that...

Maybe it'd an interesting We kind of talked about it and then we said, we should save this for the cruise cast because we have nothing else this week. We would have thought of something else, but it seemed like a good idea. Yes. Yeah. Of course, after that, we've got a couple of news stories to talk about as well. Nice. of which I think we might get into a little bit. And because of that, I've not got a cruise confession this week. OK. Because I don't want it to go too long for everyone. But if you've got a solo cruise confession.

I didn't have a Solo Cruise confession. No, but if you've got one send it to me and... You'd like that for a future one? I'd like it for myself. for this bit? Just for you. Is that for the special late night Lindsay edition later in the year? Yes. Get them in. Get... OK. Well, do you want to kick off this sort of Solo Cruise chat? OK.

I mean, they're quite pricey. are we doing this like on like, like this is the dream scenario. Yeah. It's we, when we were talking about it, we were saying what would be sort of the solo cruise that if we had to do a solo cruise that we would do. Yeah. And why? Okay. So you got to think about your cruise line. Yeah. Maybe your specific cruise ship, if you've got one and then why that particular one.

Linzi & Mark (02:57.068)
Okay, I know what mine is. Go for it then, because I haven't given this enough thought yet. I thought about this quite a bit. that's not nice. that's good thing for me. I'm going on. I'm going on a Nile cruise. Is this because I've kept saying they're a bit dodgy? It's not that... Well, maybe they are, but I want to go on one and I feel this is the only way I'm going on one. It's not that I don't want to go on one.

No, and also Mark, you'd be rubbish on a Nile cruise. You'd know nothing. Do you mean I'd know nothing just because I don't go to sleep at night watching the latest sort of mystery origins of Egypt? Which is true. It is true. That's exactly what I do. That's my bedtime stories. What can I say? This is what I do. And you'd be rubbish on it. Why do I know nothing?

You know stargate. That's a lot more than some people do. You know stargate. Stargate is fact.

And this is why you're not coming. You think that there's alien involvement in Niles as well? ancient beings? just sort of a jit-jit? What the heck? type of podcast is this? You threw in the Stargate bit. No, that's a TV show. Don't be out in the... Oh, of course, I too can play that game, mister.

So going back to your Nile cruise, who are you going to cruise with? Myself! No! I kind of figured that given that we're talking solo cruising. I mean, which cruise line would you want to go with to do that? Why that particular cruise line? Well, I'm going to be realistic and it's going to have to be... I'd love it to be Viking. Why can't it be Viking for your sort of fantasy solo cruise to the Nile? Oh, my fantasy!

Linzi & Mark (04:54.734)
I'm sorry you lost me there. I'm going to say, going to be realistic because I don't want to, we could all play fantasy cruises. Yeah. But I'm going to be realistic. Okay. I'm going to say to it. I'm going to do to it. I know you park up for a bit, but I'm being realistic. And what would your expectations or your concerns be about?

solo cruising then? On the Nile by myself. On the Nile by yourself with Tui. So it's going with a cruise brand that you've never been before, to a part of the world that you've never been before, on a type of ship that you've never been before. Any concerns there? Well, I mean...

This it could go like I could be like Rachel Weiss in The Mummy.

Linzi & Mark (06:02.574)
and end up awakening. In more tape that'd so typical of me. Maybe there'd be a consensus. I think I could make like-minded friends with people on the cruise. Would you, if you were going to do a solo... I'm a darlin' in by myself, is that what you're asking me? I going to say is, would you go on an organised solo cruise like what our friend Lizzie does?

if she was doing that, maybe with other people that are genuinely interested in Egypt and not just like, ugh.

Linzi & Mark (06:45.518)
don't know what you mean. Where's Jack and Sam? Yeah. That's what you'd be doing. Playing the music on repeat. I'd be more interested in going to the sort of areas where it's publicly available. don't exist apparently. No, they do definitely exist. There is like stuff under the geezer plateau. Suddenly you're an expert.

I could watch some of the stuff that you watch. This is so controversial. We're going to get... we're going to get... we're going to get struck. We're not getting struck for talking about going to different parts of Egypt. I've liked the Gothic Museum there. I always enjoyed going to a British Museum. Godda. Yeah, the gem is huge. That's what the new The new one. looks incredible. I'd get lost in there. I'd just... I'd love it. You'd be, meh.

Meh, tombs. No. Meh, pyramids. They don't have pyramids. This is why I'm going by myself. They have pyramids in Cairo. They definitely have pyramids. Even my lack of Egyptian knowledge knows that there's pyramids in Cairo. Not in the museum, they don't. They can see them from the museum. It does look fabulous. So that's me. Would you have any concerns about going somewhere like that by yourself? I don't necessarily. I want me in because... As a lone female, mean.

Probably. But I could always make a friend. Just be Lex Luthor. No, no. People advertise for travel buddies all the But that's not going solo. Actually I think that might be another urban dictionary thing. I think it might be. But you want... I don't want one of those. So I think if you are going to go somewhere like that as a solo traveller...

I'd definitely, if it was me, I'd definitely feel sort of better as part of a group. Yeah, as a group, a group or with a friend, but you'd be awful. Yeah, but then you're not so well-travelling if you're going with a friend. I'll just, well, no, maybe not. But maybe make friends on the cruise because like-minded people that I would enjoy that. Because I'm not a sun bunny. I'm not laying out for a week. You're not a sun bunny. You don't like sun.

Linzi & Mark (09:11.948)
So you want to go to the desert? I'm not good with sand. But at least... I'm saying a fool when you're No, no, no, but at least I've got like clothes to wear on because you'd be wearing appropriate shoes. You're not doing it... If you're doing it in your flip-flops, you're doing it wrong. That's a t-shirt right there.

What would your expectations be when it comes to, so not Egypt in specifically now, but as being a solo cruiser when it comes to dining? yeah, I'd have to do by myself. No, you wouldn't. they'd put me with people. They would put you with people. I don't think you're getting a table for one on a river cruise onto it. I'm fairly sure you're going to be on the solo group. You just made me think of that table in The Wedding Singer then.

The one at the back where everyone's put.

That's where all the cool kids are.

That's the table I'm going on. And you know what? I would have a lovely time because we'd all have a genuine interest in.

Linzi & Mark (10:29.358)
In Egypt? Yeah but you can't do it. You've been awful. I think I've On reflection you'd be the worst person to go with. I think that's harsh. I think there's definitely worse people than me to go Egypt with. Not for me. I mean that I know. That you know personally. That you invite to go on a cruise with No but I'm doing it by myself but at least those people would like...

Yeah, I think if you're on a river cruise to Egypt and there's other solo travelers on there, it's very fair to say that they can have an interest in Egypt and Egyptology and the pyramids and everything else. That's why they're there. Yes. Because obviously there's lots of other choices to do. I don't think you'd have an issue on that. I think you'd be absolutely fine when it comes to dinner. Far more than me. you'd be awful.

You'd be awful.

that you can go and speak to someone without any sort of effort and sort of strike up a conversation about anything, especially if you're on an Egypt cruise, you're going to have no problem with that. People tell me the problems. more concerned about just sort of sitting with someone that I've never met before, a group of people, just by myself, not with you there as well, where can bounce off you like I can normally. Mm-hmm. What I mean is if we're...

For instance, if we're on Virgin and we're at the Korean barbecue and you're on a table of eight, there's you there and then there's six other people. So I know that I can talk to them if I want, but I can bounce off you to do that. It just makes it easier, but you're not going have an issue with that at all. No, and also, so that's my cruise. It's also very easy on a river cruise for you to find your way back to your cabin even if you've had a couple of drinks.

Linzi & Mark (12:30.092)
not far to go. No there's not far to go. I wouldn't go mad, you know what, I wouldn't go mad because I need to be perky for the excursions. I need to be able to absorb it and then I need to be able to... Yeah you wouldn't want to You can't do that hungover. No, no. Going into seeing some of these things.

That can be quite oppressive as well. Yeah and especially if it's, depending what time of year you're going, it can be a very hot part of the week. Yeah, very warm. That would not be a fun... It won't be fun for me but I mean imagine the outfits. Imagine the outfits? Yeah, I'm gonna... Well you're gonna be extremely covered up. No, I'm gonna go like I'm on safari. You're not gonna go like Princess Leia on the June buggy.

not how I was thinking at all. This is why you'd be awful. This is why you'd be awful on this cruise. You'd be covered up surely, wouldn't you? I'm gonna... some like linens and khaki things and maybe a hat. Well there would be hats but like... Would you be looking to things like The Mummy and Indiana Jones for inspiration as to what to wear? I'd you going like 1930s, 1940s? I'd bloom in ward. Death on the Nile outfits.

in an evening, yes. And then, yes, that's exactly, this is why I'm going by myself. Well, I've just given you the ideas for Yeah, well, no. You're still not coming, but I would, I would look good doing it. And then.

Right, I'll walk Bukkars and I'll cruise between them any time soon. No, because you would be awful. I wouldn't You would be awful. I'd be mortified. Why? Why? I'm good at looking around at ancient stuff.

Linzi & Mark (14:33.248)
No, I'm not as into Egypt as you are.

I just, feel that we'd be there at dinner one evening and we'd have had a really, really lovely excursion and I would have taken away so much and it would have been incredible and then I'd be on such a high and then we'd go to dinner and then you'd be like, so what about Tealke, where's Tealke? How can we be everything at the start of it?

There's other things that have been signated.

I'd be interested in doing sort of... I'd definitely want to look around the gem for absolute sure, it looks amazing. And I'd be interested to look around things like the pyramids and the tombs, et cetera, where you can go to them. I'd just be more annoyed that I couldn't get to the areas that I'd really wanted to. this is why. This is why you're not But it's not that I'm not interested. OK, do you? Do you? But I haven't even really decided what my one is yet. I know. What?

You're not sending me on Atlantis Cruise! Every time we've had a conversation with any of our friends it's like you should do the Atlantis Cruise, it would be interesting. No! I think you would find it interesting. I think you'd find it interesting. Yeah, so the Atlantis Cruise is definitely a men only cruise for anyone that's not looked at. And without going into it I'll let you just Google that and read it for yourself.

Linzi & Mark (16:13.294)
Now I think for when I was thinking about this earlier today, obviously knowing that we were doing this this evening, what would be the that I'd want to do? I did think about a river cruise at one point. I didn't think about the Orlando's cruise, I thought was a bad one to think about. I thought about a river cruise but it wasn't ever sort of an hour one. Was it like a Christmas cruise? No, I was thinking about...

Mekong River. Okay I can see you doing that yeah. But I think the one that I would, the more I thought about it, then thought about Virgin and other ones like that. But I think the one that I would really like to do where, for the same reasons you would, would be a second navigate in Japan. On a river cruise? Oh no. Not on a river cruise. That famous river that goes all around Japan. No, doing one of the Japanese ones. you would like that. I would probably go with Celebrity on it.

Celebrity really? Not diamond princess? thought about princess. They've got the naked spas, you'd like that. Well on princess they've got the... Diamond? Diamond princess. That's got the Japanese style spas. Maybe I'll do that. So celebrity or princess for Japan.

ticks lots of boxes for me when it comes to cultural work. same way you're interested in sort of Egyptology. Yeah, but you don't go to bed watching Japanese historical. That's right now they haven't discovered a load of stuff in Japan that like they have in things. there's a lot of Japanese YouTube, sorry, a lot of Egyptian YouTube right now. There's plenty of Japanese history. But I'd be fascinated to go see in particular sort of the older culture, the temples, the samurai stuff.

I it is absolutely fascinating. Yeah, you love that. But then the modern side of it, the anime, the video game side of it, think could be absolutely fantastic. do think that you would enjoy that nearly as much as me, if you went, because you've still got an interest in Topp to Pan, anyway, we have talks about going there. The food, the food. But again, the food would be amazing. And the saga.

Linzi & Mark (18:35.886)
So I thought you said Stargate again then and the Saki. Yeah, I guess I hadn't seen the Japanese version of that. But yeah, the Saki. This is why you're not going. I'm going to Japan. You go to Japan, I'll go to Egypt and then we'll contrast and compare notes. So are you going to film any of yours while you're there? No. Are you going to share it with everyone? I'm sharing it with you. right, okay. So you're not going to share it to anyone.

No, because it's for me. You see, whereas I'd video it. I'll video some bits. I'll video some bits. I'll video the bit where I get stuck in a tomb. And I inadvertently... Release some ancient horror. That would be so me. Who would? what's this book say? now I can read it. That would be good. That would be some past life.

stuff going on right there if I could read it. It's a Rachel Weis bit going on there. But yeah, so I think for me, I was very tempted when I started thinking about it to say something like Virgin because I know her always a good talent. Yeah. You need something else to keep you busy. Yeah. And I think any solo one for me, obviously we've watched plenty of our friends solo travelling, Fraser in particular. Yeah.

he's done cruises that we've done as a couple. And we'll still have a great time. But I'd be looking to do something that we hadn't done. As a couple, like you said, for your now one. You're going to get much more out of that. When I jokingly said, didn't, it's not, I would enjoy going to Egypt, I would. But you will get much more out of it than I would from a cultural experience. And I would probably get more out of Japan than you would.

Linzi & Mark (20:32.454)
Okay that's kind of you.

Linzi & Mark (20:45.44)
Enjoy it. So, 2e basement level indoor room for you.

No. So would you still go with Tuia then? I'm curious apart from what it cost as to why you picked Tuia. I'd have a look to see who else was going.

Linzi & Mark (21:16.654)
I'd have a look, but I'm going to have to be realistic. I'm going to have to be realistic. And also I've got to be realistic that on it. I like your, your single solo cruise. Sorry, not single solo. Solo travel cruise. Just to reiterate the inspiration behind this. JJ Cruise weren't splitting up. They were just going on different ships at the same time.

I don't want to give anybody the wrong idea. No, isn't us saying we're planning on doing solo cruiser. We were just talking about what would be the one that we would like to do. Yes, and shall we just leave that there then? Yeah, I'd be really interested to hear in the comments what, especially whether you are solo traveller or whether you are a couple. To Egypt with Lindsay. I'm sure you would get plenty of offers to go to Egypt. There'd be a test. Yeah, you'd have to pass a...

written test? Or is it a verbal test?

Linzi & Mark (22:20.014)
Either way, there'd be a test involved in things. But I'd be really interested to hear from people, especially who are a couple, if they were gonna do a solo cruise, what would it be for each of them? So I think it is an interesting one, because there's got to be cruises that people have looked at it where the other one's just not fancy. Yeah, and I think what happens is people always have a cruise like that in mind, and then they don't go until they're not a couple anymore.

Which is a shame. But there we go. Okay, would you like some cruise news? Yes please. Before we get on to it, anything else that want to add on about solo cruising for people who've never cruised solo? I don't think it's not our level of expertise so I can only talk about me doing it solo and... You're doing it by yourself.

It's taken a turn. It took a turn from the intro. It's pineapple juices. It's a Tuesday. I just got back from work. Well let's do some cruise news because there's been some interesting cruise news this There has been on my gun. So the first one that I wanted to touch on was the Piano Aurora last minute. So if you've not come across this one yet.

I'm sure they have. The time that we're recording this, which is Tuesday, it was due to leave from Southampton yesterday and on Easter Sunday, Nice when there's nobody working, less than 24 hours before it was due to depart or less than 24 hours before people were getting home. P &O announced that they were cancelling it. Aurora has been in for a fairly substantial refit but not

Six months of work. It was booked in for two weeks and this was the first one after yeah There are a lot of people excited to see what they've done in there. She's I think I was the oldest P &R ship still sailing I might be wrong correct me in the comments if I'm wrong on that and And it was still in the dock in Rotterdam where it's having the refit and Yesterday so they sent everyone an email

Linzi & Mark (24:43.566)
saying, sorry, your three night cruise is cancelled less than the day before. I'm not loving the 20 % cruise credit voucher that they got as compensation. I feel that's a bit mean. Well, because if we did travel down. Well, I wanted to touch on that, which is why I thought it'd be an interesting point for that. What P &O have offered as compensation is all your money back, which obviously they have to do. Yeah, not an option. And then

20 % future cruise credits are gone against a P &R one in the future. Of course you could take the whole money back and put it against a different cruise. it was up to you. This is why you have insurance. They weren't offering any refunds or compensation for travel, for hotels or for parking. Now if this had been three or four weeks out from that...

I'd have been like, okay, that's Yeah, but they're expecting you to go to your insurance company, but your insurance Your insurance company might not pay out. Yeah, they might get a little bit, like, really fed up with it. Your hotel would have still been available. So you haven't booked it as a package. No. And therefore that's not gonna be an option. Also, what if you've flown? Not everyone who goes on piano drives and somebody might have done double bubble. They might have booked that one to go and lead into another one. So then you've got accommodation. Yeah. So you've got a problem with-

But because it's in that 24 hour window for me, this is where I've got the real big issue with it. Most things such as parking, hotels, trains, et cetera, these days do allow you to cancel as long as it's more than 24 hours out and offer you a refund or a credit. But if it's within 24 hours, you have to pay. again, that's not being unreasonable for those and it's a lot better than it used to be in the past. So P &O are saying we're not going to give any compensation for that.

I think is unreasonable if you have an expense that you can prove that you had. I don't think people should have just go, oh, I had this 5,000 pound a night hotel. They should have to show the booking. Yeah, it's not going to happen. They should give compensation. It's not going to happen. But given as to how sort of Paul with the handle Malath won. they can't blame anyone else but themselves. No, no. At what point do you, and this is us completely speculating, at what point do you think P &R knew that this wasn't going to be ready?

Linzi & Mark (27:05.134)
Because I don't believe that someone made that decision on Easter Sunday, less than 24 hours before that it's not ready. And just to put some more context to this, we're recording this coming up to six o'clock on Tuesday, the 22nd? No, 20th, 24th, what? I don't know. I don't even know what day it It's the day after the bank holiday weekend. And so just before we came on this, because I literally just checked it.

Laura's still in Rotterdam. She's due to go on the next cruise on Thursday and that's a 12 night one to the fjords.

They're going to be like we were with some princess out there. They're going to be on pins. Yeah, because that's not a three night. No, that's a big one. That's a big one that for lot of people over the main holiday of the year they've been waiting for and they're to get bucketless cruise for a of people. Yeah. The fjords on a newly refitted ship, which again, I'm sure a lot of people. And it's also you're going to get, you're going to get all the waterfalls because of the time. Oh, goodness.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if that's cancelled. hope it's not. I hope it's not. I've fingers and toes crossed for But the fact that it's still sat in Rotterdam to that now. doesn't tell on to it from Rotterdam. It doesn't. It doesn't. As long as they've got a day clear, they'll get there. Yeah. And it could arrive later and they could depart later and all that sort of thing. Yeah. But the problem being that they've not given themselves any time whatsoever to check everything. No. Presumably right now there's no crew on it.

Maybe I can't imagine. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. So it's just speculating But the other bit that I thought was bring out of order was they set the sent the email on the Sunday No problem sending an email on Sunday, but they sent the email on Easter Sunday Call centers were closed. Yeah, so nobody could ring up and try anything book it to a different No, no on Thursday. Yeah, no It would just really poor timing. I don't believe that they didn't know

Linzi & Mark (29:11.47)
No, no. Pia, tell us if you did. No, they're not going to tell us. No, but tell people, know, at what point did you know that that wasn't ready? I don't believe they will. no, I think it's frustrating. But fingers crossed it does happen for everyone going on on there for the next one. we shall see. Cruise story number two. OK. Little bit happier this one. And there's more and more stuff coming out now.

the next Disney ship, Disney Destiny. Disney Destiny? Disney Destiny. Which has got a theme predominantly around heroes and villains. Okay. So they've released little bits of information sort of in terms of what's happening. There's a Black Panther Wakanda themed atrium. Wow. Various bits and pieces. But they've announced...

a couple of new venues and events that feature Cruella de Vil. Cruella de Vil, okay. Well done. The first one being a Cruella de Vil fashion show runway where they're encouraging people to go dressed up and Cruella herself is going to be comparing it and judging you very live. as soon as I heard that I immediately thought of

that being extremely virgin. Maybe the diva doing that. doesn't seem Disney-ish. No. You have to assume that she's going to be brutally honest. Whether you dress nicely or not, she's going to have a go because it's going to be in character. Why would you put yourself through that on holiday? I think if we'd had enough drinks, it'd be a fun one to do. But I'll be interested to see if that one's still there in a year's time. there's no any court cases.

But yeah, it'll be interesting to see that sort of live commentary one. But they have said prepare for to be dreadfully honest. The second one is a new venue, which is the De Ville piano bar. Oh, I like the sound of this. You're going to like it even more in a second. Go on. Because it's adults only. Oh, hello.

Linzi & Mark (31:33.71)
Pianos in there all sort of decked out in white, black and red. It's fitting with plenty of live music and some specialty cocktails as well. Nice. Which I thought does sound a lot of fun. Yeah. And then straight across the area from where that is, the Caskin Cannon, which is the new Pirates of the Caribbean themed venue bar.

Wow, Which has got specialty rum cocktails. nice. And custom brews. where I'm interested to get your take on that is one, do you think they sound fun? I'm just thinking I look so pasty in this. I'm not this pasty. Why am I so pasty? It's because you've got all this white on here. I'm so pasty. Sorry. Sorry if I'm looking a bit scary. Would you like me to turn that off for you? Yeah, go on. I mean, it makes no difference now.

Is that better for you? Look, I look like a human colour now. Not like I've been trapped in a crypt. But for anyone listening, you still look exactly the same colour as you did 30 seconds ago. Do you think they sound like fun venues? Yes. I assumed that you would do. I do. But do you think that this is Disney edging a little bit more to encourage Disney adults without children?

It does sound very Disney adult. Because if you look at sort of you got a couple of venues there that are definitely aimed at sort of the older ones a little bit more. The fashion show is open to everyone. OK. But the bars are not. They seem to have been sort of putting more. When we first went on Virgin, when we first went on Disney. Yeah. Which was Disney Magic.

long long time ago. And that remains our only Disney experience today. was very little adult only. It was the specialty restaurants. And if I remember right, it have a comedy club on there at one point? I don't remember that. I just remember when we went to the island and we went to walk to the... To the other beach. To the Adults of the Runway. Up the runway and there was like a haze and it looked like something...

Linzi & Mark (33:59.906)
like a mirage and it went on forever. went on forever. then that really weird looking Rudolph reindeer style truck came towards us and we didn't know whether we were hallucinating. don't remember it being Rudolph reindeer. There was a Rudolph reindeer truck. I think there's every chance you will hallucinate at that point. And then there was a sign saying beware the barracudas. There was that. OK, so yeah, there was definitely.

But do you think that Disney is starting to sort of set a little bit more towards adults with the last few ships? I wouldn't say yes. And it'll be interesting to see what happens with Destiny and Adventure and whether there is more than that. It is, you know, forever like the parts, gonna be aimed at families. But they just seem to be just putting a little bit more out there. Okay. It'll be interesting to see. Final news story. Okay. We've got to have a princess news story. Love princess.

they're increasing the package bundle prices. Well, kind of. I've just said I love them. You still love them. We always book it. So if we book it for the premier package, we know I've my eye on one. I've got my eye on one. You can't talk about that yet. No. So under the new pricing structure, I had to look this up because when I read this, I want a hundred percent sure it was right. There's going to be an additional $5 charge if you book it on board.

I already thought that was the case because that's the case with most cruise lines. If you book it in advance you get a discount. If you book it on board you pay the normal price. What they're saying is that you pay the normal price if you book it in advance and it's a premium if you leave it until you get on board. it's five dollars. Oh but this is when it's, you know when this annoys me. If this was Royal Caribbean or Celebrity I'd be like

because you could use your cruise credit. You can't use your cruise credit with a thingy. You have to fork out your own cash beforehand. This is when it's mean. Yeah. And I think that's where the biggest issues with these ones are that I assumed that it already was that. So it wasn't. No. But I did genuinely assume it was. If you want to use your cruise credit, you can't use it in advance. And therefore when you get on board, if you're on for a week,

Linzi & Mark (36:25.422)
Each person that's on there, that's an extra $35. So for you and I, that'd be using an extra $70 of onboard credit. If you'd only got $100 of onboard credit, you've just wasted $70. You'd be better off booking it in advance. And using that onboard for something else, if you're in a position to do that. But I thought it was... It's interesting. Interesting that they wanted to do it and that they're doing it. And is it purely because people have been doing it more with...

that or is it that they from a logistics point of view have to get more stuff in? Maybe. Is there more admin to do if people leave it till last minute in terms of adding it to the booking? Or do they just want extra Which there's every chance is the latter. We still think Princess Premier is great value. Absolutely our favourite package at time but it's going up a little bit in price if you leave it until you get on board.

So our recommendation would be look for an offer around sort of Black Friday or sales times, which they have throughout the year. They do, yeah, yeah. It's not just Black Friday and book it in advance because you can sometimes get the premier one sort of below 50 pounds compared to $95, it would be on board. But I think that about brings us to the end of this cruise cast. Well, cheers, Alan. I'm off to cost a Nile River cruise for one.

and I'll be seeing what I can find for Japan. Okay, thank you for listening. Have a lovely day. And I'll play us out with a little Moon music. Nice.