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Cruise Gratuities, Service charges and tipping

July 16, 2018 Cruise Monkeys

P&O & Cunard summer 2019 launch dates

August 20, 2017 Cruise Monkeys
Arcadia at Sea © P&O Cruises

All about our next cruise on P&O Arcadia

June 17, 2019 Cruise Monkeys
Welcome to Cruise Monkeys. Here you will find information and blog posts about our cruising experiences and hopefully some tips and tricks for both new and old cruisers. Check About to find out more about us

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cruisemonkeysuk

❤️🚢 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧🏳️‍🌈
Inspiring adventures | Storytelling & real vlogs | Sharing the joy of cruising | CLIA-registered travel agent
This takes us right back to our fjords cruise on Q This takes us right back to our fjords cruise on Queen Anne in June 2024 - we did a similar route and it was such a fantastic trip 🤩 If the fjords are on your list… this might tempt you. ⭐Norwegian Fjords voyage with the Michel Roux 📅 5 July 2026 • 7 nights 📍 Southampton • Stavanger • Olden • Ålesund • Haugesund • Southampton ⭐️ From £873pp Contact the Cruise Monkeys team today: ☎️ 0330 880 5555 📧 travel@cruisemonkeys.com 🌍 Request a quote via our website Proud to work with The Travel Village Group – established 1959. *T&Cs apply. Prices correct at time of posting but are fluid and subject to availability. E&OE. Based on 2 sharing interior cabin unless stated. #Cruise #Cunard #QueenAnne #Norway #Fjord
Perfect for first-time river cruisers and anyone w Perfect for first-time river cruisers and anyone who loves Paris 🤩 Riviera Travel are offering 20% OFF this Paris & Seine Discovery cruise! 📅 22 March 2026 departure 🛳️ Onboard Riviera Travel's MS Jane Austen 🍷 FREE drinks package With flights or Eurostar included, free drinks and expert guiding throughout, everything is taken care of. Just relax and enjoy France at a gentle, unhurried pace. 🇫🇷 Highlights include ✔️ Guided visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home of Van Gogh ✔️ Time to explore Paris and its iconic landmarks ✔️ Scenic cruising along the beautiful River Seine 🛳️ What’s included • 3 nights on a five-star river ship • Included experiences • Free Wi-Fi Cabin Options: 💚 Lower Deck from £849pp 💚 Middle Deck from £999pp 💚 Upper Deck from £1149pp A short, elegant cruise with great savings – ideal for first-timers and Paris lovers alike. ✨ Limited availability Get in touch with us today at: ☎️ 0330 880 5555 📧 travel@cruisemonkeys.com 🌍 Request a quote via our website T&C's apply, prices are fluid and subject to availability. Prices based on 2 adults sharing. #RiverCruise #RiverCruises #Paris #riverseine
Princess Cruises Summer 2027 Europe - On sale toda Princess Cruises Summer 2027 Europe - On sale today! Princess Cruises has unveiled a significantly expanded Europe programme for summer 2027, confirming a strong commitment to longer, more flexible itineraries. With Regal Princess returning to Europe alongside Sky Princess sailing from Southampton, UK guests can choose from everything from seven-night escapes to epic multi-week adventures. ⭐ Save up to £800 per stateroom 💷 £99pp low deposit 💰 Up to $500 onboard credit per stateroom 🎁 Exclusive launch Bonus: Voyages 40+ nights receive up to $2,000 onboard credit per stateroom Give our team a call today and let us plan your perfect cruise! ☎️ 0330 880 5555 or request a quote via our website T&Cs apply. Book by 19 January 2026. #PrincessCruises #SkyPrincess #RegalPrincess
Nothing gets the heart racing like this sign! Wh Nothing gets the heart racing like this sign! Whether it’s your first cruise or your fiftieth, it never gets old. Who agrees? #totheship #cruiselife #cruise #cruiseaddict
🌴🥥 12 night Ultimate Sun, Sea & City Escape, finis 🌴🥥 12 night Ultimate Sun, Sea & City Escape, finishing in NYC! 🗽🇺🇸 From only £1899pp Includes $100 On board spending money! 📅 Fly out 30 April 2026 🏨 2 Night pre stay at Sonesta Hotel, Fort Lauderdale Beach 🛳️ 8 Nights on board Celebrity Silhouette 🏨 2 Night post stay at Distrikt Hotel, New York City 🚕 Overseas transfers included ✈️ Flying Direct from Heathrow (other airport available for a supplement) ⚓Cruise Highlights include: Aruba and Turks & Caicos! ✨ Interior stateroom from £1,899 with $100 OBC per room ✨ Ocean View stateroom from £1,979pp with $100 OBC per room ✨ Balcony stateroom from £2,099pp with $250 OBC per room 🍷 Add unlimited classic drinks and wi-fi for just £39pp per day Contact the Cruise Monkeys team today for the best fares: ☎️ 0330 880 5555 📧 travel@cruisemonkeys.com 🌍 Request a quote via our website 📱 Prefer us to call you? Message us your contact details! Proud to work with The Travel Village Group – established 1959. *T&Cs apply. Prices correct at time of posting but are fluid and subject to availability. E&OE. Based on 2 sharing interior cabin unless stated. #CruiseMonkeysTravel #cruise #CruiseDeals #CelebrityCruises
☀️🌴 Caribbean Winter Sun – Fly & Cruise with a LOW ☀️🌴 Caribbean Winter Sun – Fly & Cruise with a LOW £100pp Deposit 🌴☀️ Swap winter coats for sunshine and island time on this spectacular 14-night Caribbean adventure aboard P&O Cruises’ Arvia! 📅 5 December 2026 | 14 Nights 🚢 Arvia 📍 Roundtrip Bridgetown, Barbados ✈️ Flights from London included 🗺️ Island-Hopping Itinerary: Bridgetown (overnight) • Fort-de-France • Basseterre • Philipsburg • Tortola • St John’s (overnight) • Castries, St Lucia • St George’s • Bridgetown 💰 Fares: • Inside from £1,455pp • Oceanview from £1,843pp • Balcony from £2,134pp ✨ What you can look forward to: ⭐ A huge choice of dining options ⭐ Comfortable, modern accommodation ⭐ Big-production shows & live entertainment ⭐ Pools, whirlpools, gyms & sports facilities ⭐ Signature P&O service – tips included Palm-lined beaches, warm seas and unforgettable island moments - this is winter sun done properly. Contact the Cruise Monkeys team today for the best fares: ☎️ 0330 880 5555 📧 travel@cruisemonkeys.com 🌍 Request a quote via our website 📱 Prefer us to call you? Message us your contact details! Proud to work with The Travel Village Group – established 1959. *T&Cs apply. Prices correct at time of posting but are fluid and subject to availability. E&OE. Based on 2 sharing interior cabin unless stated. #cruisemonkeystravel
Home after an incredible 8 nights on Queen Mary 2 Home after an incredible 8 nights on Queen Mary 2 and 4 brilliant nights in New York — what a trip! We wrapped things up with a gorgeous meal in The Verandah, Cunard’s alternative dining venue. Yes, there’s an upcharge… and yes, there’s another upcharge for that outrageous fish platter… and yes, it was absolutely worth every penny. After more than 45 cruises, we always said our first transatlantic crossing would be on QM2 — and honestly, we’re so glad we waited. The food and service have been spot on, and for a 22‑year‑old ship, she’s looking fantastic. Huge thanks again for all the comments and likes on the posts while we were away — we’ve loved sharing the journey with you. Plenty more to come on here over the next few weeks… but tonight, it’s time to chill with Honey Dog. #Cruise #Cunard #CunardLine #CunardQueenMary2 #CruiseMonkeys
So we’ve made it to our final day onboard the fant So we’ve made it to our final day onboard the fantastic QM2! Cases are mostly packed, so we can enjoy the day without having to worry about that later. This afternoon we have a complimentary wine tasting as part of our World Club status, which we’re really looking forward to as we’ve not done it before — and tonight we’ll be dining in The Verandah steakhouse. The last couple of days have been a little bumpy, but nothing too bad, and we even managed a dip in the outdoor hot tubs! We’ve seen two shows: Sounds of London (a new show for QM2, although we think we may have seen it on another Cunard ship!), and last night we watched violinist Izabella Zebrowska, who was fantastic. It was also our second and final formal night — themed The Roaring 20’s — with plenty of dancing taking place in the Queens Room. One thing we’ve found is that the days and evenings really do go by quickly on here — not something we expected! We’ve had fantastic meals in the Britannia Dining Room and we’re assigned 2nd seating, which we prefer. So we’ll now enjoy our final day and evening onboard before heading home tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who has commented, messaged and shared our posts — and if you’re new here, welcome! Please click follow so you don’t miss out on future updates. It’s been fantastic meeting so many of you onboard too 🥰 #Cunard #CunardQueenMary2 #CruiseMonkeys #Cruise #CunardLine
We’ve reached that stage where we don’t really kno We’ve reached that stage where we don’t really know what day it is or what time it is anywhere - and we absolutely love it! Just sharing some of our thoughts so far along with what we’ve been up to. It’s been a fantastic five nights so far, with another three still to go. A few people have asked about the Planetarium onboard. Sadly it’s no longer operational, and the venue is now used for insights talks instead. One new thing they’re offering is a Virtual Reality experience, which we tried the day before yesterday. At $15pp, the 20-minute session is limited to eight people. We were given VR headsets and sat on swivel chairs as we explored the Titanic in the Honour and Glory virtual recreation – a really enjoyable experience! We’ve also spent time in the spa and enjoyed evenings in the bars. Entertainment-wise, we’ve found it a little light for our taste at times. The indoor lido pool is a bit of an odd one, with the bar closing at 5pm and no music or atmosphere there - seems a wasted opportunity. We’ve been very fortunate with the weather and have enjoyed walking the teak decks of this beautiful ship. Apparently, we’re heading for some rougher weather overnight! Afternoon tea is held daily, and we’ve made it there for tea, delicious sandwiches, and cakes. We had dinner at Coriander the other night, an alternative dining venue. The food was delicious, but at $35pp was a little on the steep side, around $20-$25 would have been more appropriate - but the good thing about the alternative dining is that there is space so you don’t have to book it before getting on the cruise if you are flexible. The beauty of this crossing is the chance to truly switch off. The days gently merge into one another and there’s no rush to do anything – no early mornings, no ports, just us surrounded by ocean. It’s bliss. So apologies if replies or updates are a little slow – we’re making the most of the relaxation! #CruiseMonkeys #Cunard #cunardline #cunardqueenmary2 #cruise
Looking for a great price on a cruise? Contact the Looking for a great price on a cruise? Contact the Cruise Monkeys Travel team today on 0330 880 5555. Alternatively, head over to our website, click ‘Book a Cruise’, and complete the request form - one of the team will be in touch. Proud to work with The Travel Village Group - established 1959. #Cruise #CruiseMonkeys #CruiseMonkeysTravel
As we approach night 4 of this 8-night cruise, we As we approach night 4 of this 8-night cruise, we thought we’d give a little update!  We boarded QM2 in Brooklyn on Saturday—check-in was very efficient and we were on the ship in no time.  Our boarding passes were scanning as “invalid” once on board, which was a slight mystery at first! It turns out our cabin had been upgraded from a cove balcony to a regular balcony. Since we’d printed our passes before heading to NYC, they had the old info. It was easily sorted; since our key cards were waiting outside our new cabin door, we just collected them and moved in. We also spoke to our cabin steward about our luggage labels being for the old room—he was amazing and organised for them to be redirected straight to us. So far, we’ve mainly eaten in the Britannia restaurant for dinner. We have a table for 2, but it’s nestled between another 2 and a 4... so it feels like a friendly long table of 8! The fellow guests are lovely and we’ve enjoyed some great conversations each night.  The food has been very good with plenty of choice, and the wine service at dinner is spot on—no complaints there! The bars and lounges can be busy at peak times, but other than the Golden Lion at lunchtime, we’ve always managed to find a seat. We did eat in the Golden Lion on boarding day and have also tried Kings Court for breakfast; it can get very busy there, so timing is everything! While there is now a charge for room service, it is still complimentary for breakfast, so we have been making the most of that.  We also booked a spa pass, so we’re enjoying spending an hour or two there each day to relax. The crossing so far has been relatively smooth. We are averaging about 19-20 knots. We were a little worried about the motion, but it’s been fine—we’ve just been taking a tablet before bed as a precaution. We even had some snow on the first couple of days!  We have some internet credit as part of our loyalty status, so we will try to post more over the coming days. #CruiseMonkeys #Cruise #Cunard #cunardline #cunardqueenmary2
It’s cruise day! 🚢✨ After a fabulous 4 nights expl It’s cruise day! 🚢✨ After a fabulous 4 nights exploring the energy of New York City, we’ve officially stepped aboard the Cunard Queen Mary 2 for our 8-night transatlantic crossing! 🗽➡️🇬🇧 We’ve decided to skip the internet package this time, so we’ll be a little quiet on here. We’ll try to hop on and share an update once or twice during the next 8 nights, but otherwise, we’ll see you on the other side of the pond! 🌊🥂 #Cunard #CunardQueenMary2 #Cruise #CruiseMonkeys #NewYork
Our home for the next 8 nights aboard Cunard Queen Our home for the next 8 nights aboard Cunard Queen Mary 2 #Cruise #CruiseMonkeys #CunardLine #CunardQueenMary2
We’ve officially finished our Manhattan marathon, We’ve officially finished our Manhattan marathon, and the numbers (and blisters) tell the story! Our final four days on land were a whirlwind: Day 1: 19,915 steps Day 2: 19,516 steps Day 3: 25,238 steps Yesterday: 24,957 steps Subway: 5 trains taken That’s nearly 90,000 steps in just four days! Our final full day was a perfect mix of history and local charm. We started in Chinatown, soaking in the atmosphere while hunting for magnets and bodega snacks. From there, we hopped on the subway to Grand Central Station to marvel at that iconic celestial ceiling before heading up to the Top of the Rock (General admission was $97.98/£73 for both of us) for one last look at the skyline from above. We briefly touched Central Park - a place you could easily spend days exploring alone - before heading over to the West Side on the subway. It was incredibly moving to stand at Pier 54 (by Little Island), the historic spot where the Carpathia brought the Titanic survivors to land in 1912. We finished our walking tour with the High Line and the Vessel. The highlight of the entire afternoon was our meetup at Jack Doyle’s. It was an absolute pleasure to meet Tommy, a member here who fell in love with New York and made it his home. We spent a fantastic couple of hours together - the perfect chance to share a few beers and give our tired feet a well-earned rest while learning more about New York from a local! 🍻 After we departed Jack Doyle’s, we went for a wander around Macy’s before heading to The Liberty (the local Welsh hub). We then took the subway back to the area our hotel is in and not ready to end the night, found a brilliant hidden gem called The Little Shop doen by the Sea Port area, it’s a speakeasy tucked behind a bodega. A late-night slice of NYC pizza on the way home was the only way to finish it off. 🍕🍸 Now, the bags are packed and we’re heading to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal to board the Queen Mary 2. Next stop: the Atlantic! 🚢⚓️ We hope you have enjoyed these updates from our 4 nights in New York - it’s been an absolute blast and we know we will be back one day! #CruiseMonkeys #Cruise #NYC #NewYork #manhattan
We started yesterday with a trip to a local bodega We started yesterday with a trip to a local bodega for a bacon and cheese roll - the ultimate hangover cure. Suitably fueled, we headed over to battery park for our trip to the Statue of Liberty. In September we snapped up two tickets for the crown (about $27pp) so we actually climbed all the way up to the Crown! It’s a tight squeeze and a lot of stairs, but the view and the perspective from inside such an icon are incredible. On the way back, we wandered through the Seaport area and grabbed a late lunch to refuel before heading back to the hotel for a quick breather. Refreshed, we braved our very first NYC Subway ride to head uptown for an evening of sightseeing. This included: A walk through the beautiful Bryant Park Christmas Markets Explored the bright lights and total chaos of Times Square. Saw the tree and the rink at Rockefeller Center. Caught the stunning light display at Saks on 5th Avenue. We didn’t sit down for dinner until very late at Connolly’s bar, and by the time we made our way back to the hotel via the subway, we were absolutely shattered. We ended the day having clocked up 25,000 steps! Today’s plan is to head back to do Top of the Rock, explore Central Park and lots more. There is just so much to do and never enough time! Finally, a huge thanks for all the messages and comments on our posts! #CruiseMonkeys #NYC #Cruise #NewYork #statueofliberty
Tomorrow we’re off on an 8‑night transatlantic cro Tomorrow we’re off on an 8‑night transatlantic crossing aboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2! If there’s anything you’re curious about like food, cabins, entertainment, sea days, the whole lot - pop your questions in the comments and we’ll take a closer look for you. #Cruise #CruiseMonkeys #CunardLine #cunardqueenmary2
Yesterday was all about exploring Lower Manhattan Yesterday was all about exploring Lower Manhattan before seeing in the New Year on the water. We started the day at the 9/11 Memorial Pools. It’s hard to put into words the scale of it- the waterfalls are massive and the atmosphere is so incredibly moving.  From there, we stepped into the Oculus, which is just a great piece of architecture (looks like a rib cage) We wandered through to the Winter Garden to see the palm trees indoors. After a few calls home, we then took a cold but beautiful past the Raging Bull and through Battery Park - the ticket touts here were relentless, so lots of “no thank yous” later we were in the park! Never but tickets from those on the street. If you want to see the Statue of Liberty, book ahead on the official website and if you want to take the Staten Island Ferry, that’s free!  Next up was some cheesecake - you can’t come to New York and not try!  Then we headed to the White Horse Tavern, where we’d been the night before. We love it there. It’s got such a great vibe, and it was the perfect spot to warm up and tuck into a few drinks before our big night out. On the way we went past the Trinity Church, which looked amazing! We also walked past the New York Stock Exchange on the way back to our hotel. The main event was the Grande Mariner NYE cruise.  Now, I’ll be honest - the food was pants - warm chicken and rice isn’t something we’d like to eat so we left our food, but the drinks were free-flowing and the atmosphere was great. A open bar was included in the £170pp fare 🍻 The highlight? Being right there on the water as the clock struck midnight. We had a front-row seat for the fireworks and a view of the Statue of Liberty. At the end of the day, the food didn’t matter - the important thing was that we were together and enjoyed every minute of the countdown, but we’d definitely say this is one to avoid! So that ends another 20,000 step day! Happy New Year everyone! Now for a recovery morning before we head back down to Battery Park and over to the Statue of Liberty! #cruisemonkeys #newyork #cruise #travel #NYE2026
We just wanted to take a moment to say a huge than We just wanted to take a moment to say a huge thank you for all your support this year. Wishing you a very Happy New Year - we hope it’s a fantastic one! Luke, Gav & Honey x #Cruise #CruiseMonkeys #HappyNewYear #NYC #NewYork
NYC Update! After a brutal 4am alarm yesterday, we NYC Update! After a brutal 4am alarm yesterday, we were at the airport by 5:15. We couldn’t check in online and hadn’t reserved seats (BA wanted £150 for that!), so we fully expected to be split up. We think the check‑in issue was because we only had a one‑way ticket, so we had to show proof of our cruise out of the USA. Then came the surprise — we’d been upgraded from economy to the next level. Extra leg room… yes please! The flight was mostly smooth and once we landed, we were straight through security and into a yellow taxi. We’d been warned about the taxi touts, so we ignored them as they tried to get us to go with them. We’re staying at the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites New York Manhattan/Downtown East After checking in, we crashed for an hour — absolutely needed. Once we resurfaced, we walked down to the Brooklyn Bridge (our hotel is right by the Manhattan Bridge), wandered over to DUMBO, and grabbed a couple of pints and some food in TimeOut Market 😋 We then walked to the Financial District to see the Charging Bull. We didn’t queue for the classic photo under its 🥜 … far too cold for that! A quick stop in the White Horse Tavern was needed to warm up (with the wind chill it felt like -8) and then back to the hotel for an early night. Honestly, we’ve achieved more than we expected for day one - a solid start! #cruisemonkeys #newyork #cruise #travel
We’ve finally made it to the Thistle Heathrow — pi We’ve finally made it to the Thistle Heathrow — pint in hand and food on the way! It’s been a long travel day. Our 5‑hour journey to Southampton turned into 7 after we got stuck on the motorway because of an accident and fire (not us!). We ended up missing our bus from Southampton to Heathrow, but thankfully the ticket was flexible, so we managed to make the next one! For now, we’re going to eat, collapse into bed, and brace ourselves for that 4am alarm. Then it’s time to head to the big Apple! #CruiseMonkeys #Holiday #vacation #arewethereyet
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