First ever cruise and a couple of questions

[Spike1306]

Me and the wife are off to Norway on the Aurora in December this year, it will be our first cruise and a little confused by couple of things

Drinks - it says on the P&O website for the Aurora that the alcholic drinks are the same price as your local highstreet
Now would that be a London Highstreet or your local town Highstreet - I guess it would make a big difference.

Drinks packages - You have to buy the whole trip which seems a little excesive (12 nights at £49 per person) as we will be doing three nights out on trips trying to see the Northern lights (whole point of the trip) so will not be drinking. But if like my above question if its say £10 a pint or glass of wine then the drinks package might start to look favourable.
We are not big drinkers by any means but do like a couple pints or more if in company

So is the drinks package really worth it or just buy the drinks as you go is the real question?

Thanks

Paul

[Onelife]

HI Paul, I haven't been on a cruise for over 8 years so can't vouch for the prices on this link but I'm sure someone will be along shortly to quench your thirst.

The prices are comparable to those we pay in lovely Shropshire


https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/po-cruise ... ces-menus/

[RAwllE-12]

Hi Paul.
I have just returned from Arcadia, Here are just a few bar prices that may help you plus some other information.
Cocktails from £7.50,
Beer on tap from £5.30 pint.
Bottled Beers from £5.10 to £5.30 dependent on size
Small Coke £3.55.
Very much to my surprise in the main restaurant on some evenings there was a supplement charge on some items of £3.95 if you wanted that item, also at a charge of £14. 95 you could have a different menu. Did not go down very well with a lot of passengers. A lobster claw as a starter is now a chargeable item of £3.95.
No soap in the cabin only handwash.
Hopes this helps.

[Stephen]

Welcome to the forum Spike1306

Prices are pretty much what you would pay in a pub or restaurant in this country. As for the drinks package, we personally don’t bother as we are not big drinkers. You need to work it out yourself as to whether a drinks package is for you based on your drinking habit and individual prices.

Norway though is beautiful

[david63]

So is the drinks package really worth it or just buy the drinks as you go is the real question?

From what you have posted about your drinking habits I would say that the drinks package would not be good value for you. Unless the rules have changed you do have until the second day to buy the drinks package so you will probably get an idea of how much you will drink and the value of the package against pay-as-you-go.

Personally I would say with a port intensive cruise that for the majority that the drinks package would not be good value.

it says on the P&O website for the Aurora that the alcholic drinks are the same price as your local highstreet
Now would that be a London Highstreet or your local town Highstreet

If anything I would say that drinks on P&O are equivalent to, or maybe slightly less, than those in your average non London pub/restaurant.

[oldbluefox]

Also to mention if there are two of you in the cabin both of you have to purchase the drinks package so unless you are both big drinkers you would probably be out of pocket.

[Spike1306]

Thank you for all the answers.

They were more or less what I was expecting.
As we are not going for a holiday as such more an adventure the drinks package can wait.

Thanks again I am sure I will be back with more questions as the weeks go by.

Paul

[Manoverboard]

Note also that drink prices in Norway are quite ridiculous so P&O's bar prices will seem to be a bargain.

[oldbluefox]

Norway is beautiful but it is expensive and my feelings are unless you are buying jumpers or trolls there isn't really a great deal to buy.

(if you're after a Norwegian jumper go to the Norwegian jumper shop in Keswick who sell the real McCoy cheaper than you can get them in Norway but you won't get the fjords or P&O service on Derwentwater!!) I've bought two from there in the sales and should be getting commission.

[paultheagle]

I've seen that shop and at £250 + each I wouldn't bother. Rather go to M&S.

[oldbluefox]

I've seen that shop and at £250 + each I wouldn't bother. Rather go to M&S.

You were definitely looking in the wrong place. Plenty of thick winter jumpers for £79. For a Norwegian knit jumper that's a bargain. M&S no cheaper for that quality.

[Stephen]

M&S and quality!

[CaroleF]

I remember telling John I needed to have a coffee when we were in Bergen, near the harbour. He looked at the menu, I had a coffee, which tasted as though it were made with Camp Coffee for those who know what that its, John had a glass of water! He'd seen the price of coffee!

Carole

[oldbluefox]

M&S and quality!

M&S quality is about as much as you lot darn sarf can cope with

[Mervyn and Trish]

I think he meant S&M...

[Stephen]

I think he meant S&M...

Is that a new store