Weekend Cruise
The night before our cruise we stayed in the Grand Harbour Hotel overlooking the Southampton waterfront. Just behind the hotel is the West Quay Shopping Centre – fantastic for eating (The Real Greek is excellent) and shopping of course. It’s a good idea to pay to leave your car at the hotel if you stay there the night before – it’s cheaper than parking at the cruise terminal.
The next day we walked for just five minutes to the City Cruise terminal where we boarded the ship, had lunch and set sail in the afternoon. Check in was fast and efficient and the cabins are usually ready around 1pm. If you book a concierge room or above, you can even enjoy a private four course lunch in the dining room while your cabin is being prepared for you.
After we checked into our cabin where our bags were waiting for us, we decided to explore the ship – all 15 floors! The ship can accommodate 3000 people and it was full when we went although it never felt overcrowded - there is just so much space on-board.
There are a range of cabins to choose from – some with a balcony or a window and some without. You won’t really spend very long in your cabin so it’s worth considering whether you need to pay the extra for a balcony or window if you’re not really going to use it! The cabins are cleaned twice a day and have everything you need. The TV even gives you a view from the front of the ship, so you can see where you are heading.
On board there are indoor and outdoor swimming pools and hot tubs, a cinema, a three-tiered theatre, gym, numerous bars and restaurants, and a very impressive Lawn Club with half an acre of real grass, a sun deck area and private cabanas for prime sunbathing spots. There are also quiet areas including a library, or bars with juggling staff if you are looking for something livelier – the chocolate martini is a must-try.
There are several speciality restaurants on board which have an additional cover charge that is well worth paying for. The quality of the food is comparable to Michelin standards – we ate steak and lobster in the Muran restaurant – the lobster was theatrically pan-fried at our table and the puddings to share were definitely not for sharing. They were delicious. There is also a 24-hour buffet on-board if you are looking for something more relaxed, as well as QSine where you order your food on an iPad and the innovative dishes range from sushi lollipops to disco shrimps.
There is so much to do in the evening including watching West End style shows that you can see before or after dinner, live bands and a late-night disco. The dress code is relaxed although most people do like to dress up.
When we arrived in France we could choose from various excursions – for example, a trip to Paris, Versailles or along the coast to see Monet’s gardens and local fishing towns. Alternatively, you can decide to stay on-board and make the most of everything the ship has to offer.
On the last day we made our way back to Southampton and checked out – a simple process with no queuing. It’s worth saying that not all cruises are family-friendly, but some are and even offer a full babysitting service, so you can enjoy some time to yourself too!
I would highly recommend a sampler cruise if you have never tried a cruise before. Call me on 01869 868140 and I can help you find a great package on a stunning ship.