We were considering going on a cruise to the Canary Islands and a special offer of £1337 for fourteen days seemed quite reasonable with P.& O.
However, on reading the insurance charges we had second thoughts because it would cost another £200 each because we are over a certain age, plus we should have to make our own way to Southampton which is more expense.
Surely Peninsula and Oriental are making enough profit without all these other charges piling up, they try to tempt you with a goody bag, champagne, and £25 of credit to spend on the ship, but all the little extras are no substitute for a fairer pricing structure.

Reckon on £10 a day recommended tips for your cabin steward too.Plus a couple of excursions at £50 a trip!
No wonder Lord Sterling ex-boss of P&O has a personal fortune of
£100m.

never buy holiday insurance from the travel agent or operator. Buy separately. www.moneysupermarket.com (or it may be.co.uk) will let you search through loads.

I got a week's insurance for £7 this way, compared to £32 from the travel agent.

If you have a credit card, check that you don't automatically have travel insurance. I have an MSDW card and that has some basic insurance with it, that I can top up if I ever go away and want more cover.

I would be wary of going on a cruise after watching one of those reality programs. (Not my fault, the remote was on the other side of the sofa and I couldn't be a*sed getting up to fetch it to change channel).

Anyway, they interviewed an ex-steward off a cruise liner and he said that the main aim of all the staff is to screw extra money out of the passengers for things like excursions, hair cuts, beauty treatment, etc. In his words, expect to pay at least half as much again in extras as the trip cost. On P&O you get given a credit card on boarding and everything is charged to it and the staff are judged on how much money is spent on the trip.

It's a whole lot cheaper to insure yourself for a year through your bank or insurance company, than to buy from the travel agents; it's also cheaper than insuring yourself each time you go away.
There are also benefits if you're just travelling in the UK.
Doesn't cost much, either.

Insurance yeah shop around and do not buy through travel agent unless its free.

Cruise, never been on one, but have a friend who has and he goes on all inclusive cruises (IE, Food, drink, tips) He reckons this is the way to do it, obviously not as up market but at least you know the real costs

Try www.travelinsurance.co.uk - for an annual policy for a couple they were loads cheaper than anywhere else I looked. :lol:

Just a word of caution about Travel Insurance.
If you are getting it "free" as part of another deal such as via a credit card or belonging to a special account at a bank,make sure that it is full travel insurance NOT just Travel Accident Insurance.

I'm told Age Concern offer very reasonably priced travel insurance if you're over a certain age. Why not try giving them a ring?