Gemma's Gems

What are your Valentine's Day Plans?

2012-02-07T10:24:00.000Z

With Valentine's Day just around the corner it got me thinking about what you could do to treat that someone special? I was speaking to a passenger yesterday who had recently renewed their wedding vows on board the Queen Elizabeth over Christmas. I thought that was a really nice thought. Whether you are looking at booking a cruise or have a forthcoming cruise why not make it extra special by adding some special touches. The Cruise lines offer many packages and extras you can add to your booking. How about treating your loved one to balcony dining experience. There are Chocolates and Champagnes you can add to a booking or Spa treatments all making the cruising experience that extra bit special. How about decorating the cabin and having some flowers delivered to the cabin? I think that Speciality dining is always a nice touch and with the cruise lines only having a small cover charge for the speciality dining it is certainly worth the money. I am off to York this weekend for Valentine's. We are going on Friday for two nights. I have been to York several times before and love it there. We always try to do something around Valentine's Day any excuse for a break I say. If you would like any more information on packages the cruise lines offer please let me know.

Crystal and Celebrity Chef

2012-01-31T08:58:00.000Z

As I am a great lover of food I was quite intrigued to find out that Celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa will be on board the luxury Crystal Cruise lines in May this year. The famous Japanese chef will be on the Crystal Serenity on a 12 night western Mediterranean voyage departing 24 May 12. He will serve as executive chef in his speciality restaurants Silk Road and the Sushi Bar. Nobu Matsuhisa plans to give cooking instruction, prepare dishes and have photos taken with guests as well as signed autographs for the guests. Nobu designs all the menus and trains his chefs for the Silk Road and Sushi bar on board. Whilst on board guests can enjoy nightly appearances and guest mingling, special add on Omakase dinner and hands on cooking classes for 10 to 12 guests. I think that it is a really good idea Crystal cruises having a celebrity chef on board giving guests the chance to pick up some of his tips and letting them sample his work. Prices start at £3005 for this 12 night sailing and with the new all inclusive Crystal offer this seems really good value for money.

5D Theatre on Carnival Breeze

2012-01-18T09:41:00.000Z

I have heard of and watched things in 3D and 4D but 5D is something a bit different. Carnival Cruise Lines have announced that the Carnival Breeze which debuts in June 2012 will feature a new 5D theatre. So what exactly does this involve? The Theatre will combine a high definition 3D projection system with 4D elements like bubbles and special effects that poke you in your seat or blow air at you etc. The 5D element will be that the seats in the theatre will move back and forth, side to side and also vibrate giving you the 5th element. Guests will receive special 3D glasses to enter the theatre. I have experienced shows in 4D while I was in Orlando last year and I must say it is very clever and exciting. It will certainly be interesting to see how the new 5D theatre goes down on Carnival and what sort of shows they will offer. The Carnival Breeze will be in the Mediterranean for the summer offering fly cruises so there isn't too far to travel to experience the new 5D theatre. With lots of other exciting entertainment and 10 different bars and lounges to choose from Carnival will be a fun packed holiday.

I am back in the office.

2012-01-04T15:10:00.000Z

Happy New Year to all and hope you all had a great Christmas. I am now back in the office after my Christmas break and looking forward to a great 2012. I enjoyed my long break and the Cruise.co.uk Christmas party was as enjoyable as always. I spent a lot of time with my family and friends and ate far too much. My diet starts today. It goes far too fast though. I am now back in the full swing of things at work and looking forward to what this year will bring.
The cruise lines have some great offers in January and with everyone feeling down, and the weather miserable and cold it certainly is a good time to think about booking your next cruise.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2011-12-14T09:37:00.000Z

Well today is my last day at work until after Christmas. I am off on the Arcadia tomorrow for the Cruise.co.uk Christmas party for 2 nights and then will spend the next week finishing off my Christmas shopping. Can't believe another year is nearly over, it goes far too fast.

I will be back in the office on Tuesday 3rd January 2012. If you have any questions or queries while I am off then please contact 0800 408 6200 or contactus@cruise.co.uk

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

Which Shore Excursions suit you?

2011-11-26T15:02:00.003Z

After speaking to many clients after they have returned from a cruise it is quite interesting to find out what each client looks for in a port of call. The cruise lines offer so many shore excursions in each port of call and there will always be something to suit everyone.
Let's take the Caribbean for example. If I was travelling to the Caribbean my main attraction for going would be the sun and the beaches with a bit of exploring and shopping but many of my clients look for something different. Some of the shore excursions offered now are really once in a lifetime. Looking at many Caribbean islands Scuba diving is quite a popular excursion and jeep safaris of the islands. I have had a client though who recently took a shore excursion in Antigua where they had a Yacht race. They had boarding a yacht where they went head to head with another yacht sailing Antigua's yachting mecca. They had a go at sail trimming and winch grinding and took a look at Nelson's dockyard. This seemed quite a fun packed day but then they had also had days where they didn't do much. In Tortola they took a taxi to Cane Garden bay for a relaxed beach day and stopped off at Pussers Rum bar before heading back to the ship. You don't always need to take in a shore excursion with the cruise line but when they offer such a wide variety you would be mad not to. When I went to the Caribbean I only took in a couple of excursions as much prefer just to sit on a beach. I think if I went back I would maybe try doing something different that I wouldn't normally think of doing. Have you been on any unusual shore excursions or do you prefer to do your own thing? On our website Cruise.co.uk we have lots of shore excursions available to book online and at a really reasonable price. You can either pop in your cruise you are booked on and view the excursions or pick out a destination to view. The cruise lines do charge rather a lot for their excursions so if you fancy having an excursion orgainised for you rather than going off on your own, and at a good price then maybe take a look at the shore excursions we have on offer.

Dive to the Titanic!

2011-11-10T15:43:00.000Z

2012 will mark 100 years of the Titanic disaster. I know that Fred Olsen have a sailing following the original Titanic route to reach the site with a memorial service taking place but taking a dive to the Titantic is something that seems very different.

There is a rare opportunity for the centenary year to go and see the Titanic's ship wreck, outlook and bridge etc. People taking part in this trip will dive 12,500 feet to the shipwreck. Participants will be onboard submersibles and the dives can take place day or night depending on conditions. The participants will attend full briefings with the pilots and members of the group will be able to follow the route of the submersibles. The submersibles are able to dive for as long as 16 hours giving the participants plenty of time to explore the wreck. The submersibles take 2 passengers and the pilot. You don't get to experience all of this without a cost and if you have a spare £40,000 then maybe this is for you. I must admit I found the Fred Olsen sailing to the site quite odd and I personally wouldn't want to follow the route but to actually go and see the wreckage I don't think this would be for me. I could see it being quite upsetting with the amount of people who lost their lives those many years ago. What are your views on the happenings for the Centenary of the Titanic?

Weddings at Sea for Cunard

2011-11-02T12:49:00.000Z

I have recently read that Cunard Line one of the oldest passenger shipping companies will start offering weddings at sea.
Cunard will be re flagging their three ships from Southampton to Bermuda to be able to offer weddings. It will be the first time in Cunard's 171 year history. Cunard haven't been able to offer weddings at sea before as under the British Law weddings at sea aren't allowed. From Spring 2012 Cunard will be offering a selection of wedding packages. These will start after the world voyages have finished. The wedding programme will go on sale next month and details will be available soon. A lot of other cruise lines already offer weddings at sea and it is becoming more popular. It is certainly a good idea for Cunard to branch out into offering these and I am sure they will attract lots of interest. As the packages will be available across the three ships there will certainly be many itineraries to choose from. Would you consider getting married onboard a Cunard ship?

Carnival Magic and Maroon 5

2011-10-26T14:41:00.000+01:00

Carnival Cruise Lines have really gone big for their celebrations for their newest ship the Carnival Magic. They have teamed up with three time Grammy award winning band Maroon 5 to perform a concert to welcome the newest ship to its home port of Galveston Texas.
On 13th November 2011 in Galveston Texas, Carnival will treat fans to a free ticket to see the group before the ship sets sail on its US inaugural voyage. The Carnival Magic will be sailing from its homeport of Galveston year round. The Carnival Magic actually launched in May of this year in Europe but Carnival wanted to make the US debut of the ship something special. Maroon 5 are recognised worldwide for their hits including 'Moves like Jagger', 'This Love' and 'She will be loved'. On the 14th November Carnival Magic will then start sailing her Caribbean cruise itineraries which feature 2 different week cruises from Galveston. I am sure the event will go really well and the thousands of fans will have a great time.

Celebrity Itineraries for Wine Enthusiasts

2011-10-19T12:46:00.000+01:00

Celebrity Cruises have recently modified some of their European Itineraries for 2012 to appeal to wine enthusiasts. For 2012 Celebrity will have six of their eleven ships sailing Europe and they will now be offering seven wine themed sailings. They have replaced some of the Holy land Itineraries to put on these cruises. Celebrity has designed the itineraries to offer experiences in the wine countries of Spain, Portugal and France. The itineraries will feature some overnight stays allowing guests more time to experience fine wines and Champagne. Celebrity will offer shore excursions for tours of wineries and for tasting. Onboard the ship Celebrity will also offer things like Champagne brunches, Port and food pairing dinners and events in the ship's cellar masters bar. There will also be special wine packages available that are extra to the other packages already onboard. I think it is a shame that Celebrity have had to change some of their itineraries to accommodate the new wine themes as some of my passengers now have to look at different sailings as theirs have been cancelled. If you have had your holiday booked for a while and can only travel certain dates then it will be upsetting, however I certainly think it is a good idea for Celebrity to have these Wine Theme cruises.

Secret Santa

2011-10-12T16:20:00.000+01:00

Have you started or even finished your Christmas shopping yet?
I don't know about you but I find it harder and harder to think of presents to buy people every year.
I have a rather large family and get fed up of having the same theme for presents for all the men or all the women, or the same old socks, slippers, perfume etc. This got me thinking about different Christmas presents for people. There are so many extras you can add to a cruise booking for people and what a nice Christmas present giving some onboard spend to a family member or friend for their cruise.

There are lots of nice things you can do for your family and friends in secret...

Onboard Credit
Spa Treatments
Chocolates
Strawberries
Wine/Champagne
Speciality Dining
Balcony Dining
Cabin Decoration
Car parking
Flowers

Why not make Christmas special this year...Need any help choosing? Give me a call.

From Work to the Stage.

2011-10-04T14:00:00.000+01:00

This week is going to be a very long and tiring week for me. I am part of Alcester Musical Theatre Company in my spare time and once a year we put on a musical at the Palace Theatre in Redditch.
Tonight is the first night of our production Guys and Dolls. We have been rehearsing for this show since May and it is now finally here. The dress rehearsal last night went well so hopefully the show will run smoothly. I am a Hot Box dancer and singer in the show and the show is packed with some great songs like 'Sit Down you're Rocking the Boat', 'Luck be a Lady' and 'Guys and Dolls'. The show will run from tonight and finish on Saturday with a matinee and evening performance. I really enjoy show week and our hard work certainly pays off. I have got a few days off work this week but today and tomorrow I will be going straight from work to put on my dancing shoes and be on the stage. Once this show has finished I will be straight back into rehearsing for our Christmas concerts where we perform at Ragley Hall in Alcester and also at a few of the Care Homes.

Have you been a top cruiser?

2011-09-27T09:59:00.000+01:00

One of my passengers emailed me the other day to let me know how their recent cruise went. They were onboard the Celebrity Constellation. It is always nice to know how my passengers got on after their cruise.
My clients were the top cruisers onboard their sailing. This was something that I wasn't too sure what it meant but after speaking to my client I found out that they had the most cruise points onboard their sailing making them top cruisers. Cruise points are gained from the more sailings you do with Celebrity and points vary depending on the grade of cabin booked. Celebrity does this on each sailing and my clients were presented to the Captain and received a bouquet of red roses for the lady and a scroll for the gentleman. They were also invited to the Ocean Liners restaurant where they enjoyed a very nice meal from the sounds of it including a Dover Sole which was presented to their table and the bones removed and served to them. After reading my passengers review of their cruise it got me thinking about other cruise lines and whether they also have a top cruiser on each sailing. Have you ever been top cruiser? Do you know if any other lines offer the same thing? It would be interesting to know.

Here is a picture of Mr and Mrs Blyth as Top Cruisers with the captain.

New Ships at Sea 2012

2011-09-20T15:41:00.001+01:00

2012 is going to soon be upon us and I thought it was worth sharing some of the new cruise ships to be launched next year. Here they are.....

Disney Fantasy
The Disney Fantasy will be the fourth cruise ship in the Disney fleet. She is due to launch end of March 2012. The Fantasy will be 128,000 tons and hold 4000 passengers.

Oceania Riviera
The Riviera will be the second Marina class ship to be launched in the Oceania Fleet. The Riviera which will be 65,000 tons will hold 1252 passengers and will start sailing end of April 2012.

Costa Fascinosa
The new Costa Fascinosa will join the rather large Costa fleet in May 2012. The newest Costa ship will carry 3780 passengers and come in at 114,500 tons.

MSC Divina
The Divina will launch in May 2012 and be Christened by Sophia Loren. The Divina will join the Fantasia class of ship. She will be 139,000 tons and carry over 3500 passengers.

Carnival Breeze
Carnival Breeze will join the large Carnival fleet in June 2012. She will be the 3rd ship in the Dream Class and carry 3690 passengers and 130,000 tons.

Celebrity Reflection
The latest ship to be joining the Celebrity fleet is the Reflection. She will launch in October 2012 and be 126,000 tons. She will carry just over 3000 passengers and will be the fifth ship in the Solstice class.

As you can see 2012 will again be a great year for cruising with lots of new ships and itineraries.

I am back from Crete

2011-09-13T11:09:00.000+01:00

I am now back in the office after my holiday to Crete. I have to say it was one of the best holidays that I have had and a week wasn't long enough. The weather was great the whole time we were there.

We didn't do any trips while there as we just wanted a week doing nothing. There wasn't really much to do in the area we stayed but we were only a bus ride away to Rethymnon where we went one evening for a look round and had a nice meal by the harbour. There was also a little village down from the hotel quite a walk though where there were Tavernas and shops. The hotel itself was lovely it was so close to the sea and we woke up every morning to the sound of the waves. It would have been nice to explore the Island and the best way to do this would be hire a car. My partner doesn't drive and I didn't really fancy driving the other side of the road. There were tours we could have taken through Thomson and if we go again I would certainly go for longer to explore more. I am now getting back to normal and enjoying the lovely British weather!

I'm off to Crete

2011-08-30T16:06:00.000+01:00

My Holiday is very nearly here. I have one more day at work then I fly to Crete on Thursday for a week in the sun.
I have already had a holiday to Florida earlier this year and I spent a few days last week in Blackpool to take in the Pleasure Beach and have a look around with my family.

My holiday to Crete will be for a total relax, we don't have any trips planned for this holiday just seven days sat by the pool doing nothing. It will be my first time to Crete and I am really looking forward to it. We might change our mind when we get there and take in a trip, if not we will certainly go into Rethymnon which is the nearest town for a look around.

I will be out of the office from Thursday 1st September and back in on Monday 12th September.
If you require any assistance while I am away please feel free to contact the Cruise.co.uk office on 0800 408 6200.

I will let you know how I got on when I return.

Have you travelled with Hurtigruten?

2011-08-23T13:55:00.000+01:00

Today we have had a training session on Hurtigruten voyages. I have booked several Hurtigruten cruises in the past but found the training to be very interesting. Hurtigruten is different to the likes of P&O and Fred Olsen for example as they carry both freight and passengers.
Hurtigruten ships sail along the Norwegian coast and make lots of stops. In a 12 day cruise sailing the Norwegian Coast you will experience 34 ports. Ports are visited both day and night. Some of the stops may only be for 25 minutes enough time to load or unload freight and passengers to stretch their legs. You can travel with Hurtigruten all year round so you can pick your season. The winter season is where you can go to try and see the Northern lights and the far north of the coast you can take a trip to the Snow hotel or take a Snowmobile Safari. In the spring the sunlight rejuvenates life along the coast and each day the sun light increases thawing the land. The summer season brings the 24 hour day light and the north of the Arctic Circle the sun is visible 24 hours a day. The autumn seasons brings the colours of autumn with lovely landscape and very clear air. There may be snow on the highest points at this time. I have travelled to the Fjords twice before and I am sure which ever season you went it would be breathtaking. Hurtigruten do also offer Explorer voyages to Greenland, Spitsbergen and Antarctica. Hurtigruten have different accommodations onboard inside, outside and suites to suit every budget. They are informal and there is no dressing up for dinner. It is open seating for Breakfast and lunch and waiter service for dinner. A lot of the food is brought on fresh from the ports of call. The Entertainment onboard is very low key and may have a singer or a band on in the lounge. There is a selection of excursions to choose from and there are tour leaders on board to assist with the excursions.
For any more information on Hurtigruten please let me know.

My day on the Oceania Marina

2011-08-16T10:52:00.000+01:00

Last Wednesday 10th August I was lucky enough to visit the Oceania Marina in Dover. The ship was amazing. We all met in one of the lounges before being taken off for a tour of the ship. We visited different grades of accommodation which I thought were all a good size.

The inside cabins were larger than other inside cabins I have seen. I must say that my favourite was the Owner's suite with furnishings from Ralph Lauren. The walk in closet was fab and there are two Jacuzzis one in the master bath and one on your terrace. I was very impressed with the pool area and the spa onboard on the ship. The ship is larger than the other Oceania ship I have been on however it is still a small ship compared to a lot of other ships out there. After our tour of the ship we were lucky enough to have a 7 course lunch in the Grand dining room. I must admit I am quite fussy when it comes to food and I did struggle. Oceania wanted us to experience some of the foods available in the restaurants onboard the ship. The first three courses were not for me and the first course I had was the beef which was nice. The best course I had was the dessert this was like a chocolate mousse and went down very well. I really enjoyed my time on the Marina and would definitely like to sail on her in the future.

I'm off to see the Oceania Marina

2011-08-09T10:10:00.001+01:00

Well after work today a few of us are going down to Dover to stay overnight before going to see the Oceania Marina tomorrow. We are going down to take a tour of the ship and enjoy a lunch onboard. I have seen a Oceania ship before I went to see the Insignia last year and loved it. I am sure that the Marina will be even better than the Insignia as she has a distinctive style. The Marina is 65,000 tons and holds 1258 passengers being larger than the other ships in the Oceania fleet. 96% of the accommodation onboard have their own private verandas. The pictures I have seen on the ship so far look amazing so I am certainly looking forward to seeing the ship, and if the lunch on the Insignia is anything to go by I am sure this will go down well also. I will be back in the office on Thursday so will let you know how I got on.

E Ticketing for Fred Olsen

2011-08-02T14:58:00.000+01:00

Well Fred Olsen has finally come up to date with some of the other major cruise lines to introduce e tickets. Fred Olsen starting using e tickets as standard from 25th July 2011 after a successful trial period. This new system obviously works for Fred Olsen and a week into the e tickets the system is working well here too.
Passengers baggage labels will be sent out separately by post at the moment but by the middle of September the labels will be included in a new look Cruise book that will be sent to guests. The Cruise book gives details of shore excursions and Fred Olsen will be sending this directly to passengers about 8 weeks prior to the sailing. Once the e tickets have been issued here at Cruise.co.uk we will then either email them to our passengers or if they haven't got an email we will print and post them out. The new system will help same time and money and will reduce the over use of paper. The whole e ticketing system took a while to go down with other cruise lines when they introduced it and it is just getting used to the new systems. I am sure it will work very well for Fred Olsen.
If you have any questions on e tickets please let me know

Mini cruise anyone?

2011-07-26T11:48:00.001+01:00

I was out the other night with my family celebrating a relative's birthday. While we were out the topic of cruising came up. My cousin did his first cruise in May this year and has got the bug.
He is only 19 and was asking me about short cruises where he can go with a group of friends for a boozy weekend rather than going out into town. I also had my Uncle asking what short cruises are going next April to celebrate a wedding anniversary. I think that the mini cruises are certainly a good idea for a celebration or for a group of friends. When I was last on a mini cruise I couldn't believe how many hen parties were on there. Mini cruises seem to be the big thing for a good weekend away. It gives people chance to experience a cruise if they haven't cruised before and also for people who are regular cruisers to experience different ships. Most of the mini cruises tend to be for 2 nights however there are also 3 and 4 night cruises sailing from the UK. When you think of what you get included in a cruise it would probably cost you more for a weekend somewhere in the UK than it would to cruise.
I came up with a few options for my family for what they were looking for but there are lots more mini cruises out there for 2012. Here are some of them I found

Independence of the Seas
2 May 2012 for 3 nights from Southampton
Starting price £299pp

P&O Ventura
23 Mar 2012 for 2 nights from Southampton
Starting price £299pp

Have you done any mini cruises? How did they compare to a longer cruise you have been on?

Galapagos Cruising

2011-07-19T09:44:00.000+01:00

I have recently been looking into a Galapagos cruise for a client with Celebrity Cruises on the Expedition. The Galapagos Islands are not very well known when it comes to cruising so I thought it was worth sharing some facts.
Celebrity is the only major cruise line to sail to the Galapagos. They offer year round sailings and offer different packages from 7 nights to 14 nights. The Galapagos Islands are on archipelago of volcanic Islands distributed around the Equator in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of South America. There are 18 main Islands. The main language on the Islands is Spanish and the population is 23,000. The wildlife is the most notable feature on the island and you will see many creatures that cannot be seen anywhere else on earth. To Join the Celebrity Expedition in the Galapagos you need to fly into Baltra which is one of two airports that operate in these Islands. With Celebrity cruises you would first fly into Quito, Ecuador to start your holiday before the flight to Baltra. Celebrity offer different packages where you can either,

Arrange your own flights and just do the 7 night cruise from Baltra
2 nights stay in Quito before the cruise and 1 night at the end
2 nights stay in Quito before and 2 nights after the cruise
2 nights stay in Quito before the cruise and a 4 nights stay at the end to include Machu Picchu

The Celebrity Expedition carries 92 guests and offers a luxurious, yet easy going feeling onboard. It is open dining for all meals and a casual dress code.
What is included with the Celebrity Expedition? Well all your beverages are included, all meals and room service with in-stateroom dining, all shore excursions, snorkelling equipment, Park entrance and Galapagos tourist card fees, pre and post cruise hotel accommodation and the tours on the packages, all transfers and all gratuities.
After looking at all the pictures of these islands and seeing what they offer I think it is a must and I would love to visit myself.
If you need any more information on the itineraries then please let me know.

NCL Pizza Anyone?

2011-07-12T10:19:00.001+01:00

I was reading an article this morning about Norwegian Cruise Lines and their 24/7 pizza delivery service. The popular Pizza 24/7 is available currently onboard the Norwegian Epic. It gives guests the same convenience as you do on land to order Pizza to almost anywhere onboard the ship.
NCL are going to introduce this to the whole of their fleet by the end of August this year. The 24/7 pizza service goes down well onboard the Norwegian Epic, people can enjoy whether they are playing a game of bowling or watching a film etc. The pizzas are 16 inch, handmade and stone baked. NCL charge $5 each for them and are available with a selection of toppings. You don't really think of being onboard a cruise ship and having a pizza delivered to you while sat on deck having a drink. There is so much choice of food onboard NCL I am not sure whether I would pay to have a pizza delivered when I can enjoy so much variety of food across the ship. It does go down well onboard the Epic but will be interesting to see how it goes down across the other ships in the fleet. Do you think that this is a good idea? Would you purchase a pizza onboard?

Commemorative Titanic Cruise

2011-07-05T11:18:00.000+01:00

Next year 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. The sinking of the Titanic is one of the most momentous events in cruising history. Fred Olsen have decided to mark the occasion by operating a mini cruise onboard the Balmoral which will call at some of the historic ports that were on the maiden voyage.
The RMS Titanic which was then the largest passenger steamship first sailed from Southampton on 10th April 1912 and sank on 15th April 1912 which resulted in some 1500 deaths. The tragedy was one of the most serious in maritime history.
So what is Fred Olsen doing to remember the event? The 5 night mini cruise onboard the Balmoral will depart from Southampton on 3rd April 2012. From Southampton there will be a day at sea, then Liverpool, Belfast, a day at sea and back to Southampton.
Passengers will be able to visit the Harland and Wolff shipyard where the Titanic was built between 1909 and 1911 when in port in Belfast.
The 5 night mini cruise prices start at £519pp for an inside cabin which is a really good price to be part of the Titanic event. It is hard to believe how so many people lost their lives on the Titanic and how cruising has grown and changed so much after the tragedy.

Wow! What a Night!

2011-06-28T11:26:00.000+01:00

Well after a very long wait I finally went to see Take That at Villa Park last night. I had waited over 6 months for last night to come around and wow was it worth it.

We managed to get 8 tickets the day the Take That tour went on sale so I went with my sister, Cousin, Mum, Aunties and my Uncles also came I think mainly to see Pet Shop Boys, as they are not big Take That fans. They weren't the best of seats but we still had a great view. We always opt for seats rather than standing area but this was good when it rained as we kept nice and dry. We were very lucky to get tickets as many people missed out on the day. I have been to see the boys several times before and they never disappoint. It was nice to see all five of them back together again. They always put on a very spectacular show and it was also nice to have Robbie perform some of his songs. There was a selection of the four performing then Robbie, then old songs and new songs with the five of them. The park was packed with over 48,000 screaming fans. The support act was the Pet Shop Boys, which also performed really well. I am still on a high today and will remember the concert for a long time.

Cruise Lines Tighten Smoking Policy

2011-06-21T09:28:00.000+01:00

Smoking on a cruise ship has really become restricted over the years and it has been announced recently that it will be tightened even more.
Princess Cruise Lines will be updating their shipboard smoking policy to reduce the number of places where you can smoke onboard. It will come into effect for sailings after 15 January 2012. Smoking will be prohibited in all passenger staterooms and balconies. Princess have said that smokers are a small minority of their passengers and they want to ensure that every passenger has a comfortable cruising experience. If passengers smoke on their balcony they could face a fine of $250. Passengers will still be able to smoke in certain areas throughout the ship.
Holland America has restricted their smoking policy. From 15 January 2012 all staterooms will be none smoking but you can still smoke on your balcony. They will still have designated areas across the ship for people to smoke.
Carnival Cruise Lines also have changed their smoking policy. They have changed their policy for smoking in Public areas. From December 2011 smoking will be prohibited in all staterooms. You can still smoke on your balcony Carnival also said that the majority of their guests are non smokers.
I am not a smoker myself but I can see how the smoking policies onboard ships can put people off slightly. I think it is certainly a good thing that the cruise lines are trying to please everyone. If you want any more information on the smoking policies then please let me know.

Private Excursions with Crystal

2011-06-14T12:20:00.001+01:00

I have recently seen that Crystal Cruises will be introducing private shore excursions for their guests. Can you imagine being able to go on one of the great tours Crystal have to offer but just for 2 of you? The new Private Adventure option with Crystal will allow guests to take already organised group excursions but for smaller parties.
It will begin in August/September this year and will take parties of two, four or six. Passengers will be able to have a private guide and vehicle to tour places like Pompeii, Barcelona or Ephesus. This new Private Adventure Option is different to the existing Private Adventure Programme which Crystal has been running for several years. The existing programme gives guests the opportunity to design their own land itineraries for smaller parties, where the new option lets guests still take the established excursions but in a more private and intimate way. I think this is a really good idea especially if you are travelling as a small party or if you are away for a special occasion. It will let you take in the tour a lot more than being part of a larger group. The Option will be able to be reserved at least one week prior to sailing and prices will be at least 25% more than the standard group tours. It will be interesting to see how popular this new Option will be with Crystal. I personally think it may work well.

Brand New P&O Ship Planned

2011-06-07T11:31:00.001+01:00

It has been announced this week that P&O have ordered a brand new ship for the fleet to enter service in March 2015. The ship is planned to be 141,000 tons and will carry 3611 passengers. It will be the largest in the P&O fleet being larger than the Azura and Ventura which are the largest in the P&O fleet at the moment. The new ship will be the largest cruise ship built specifically for the British market.
So what do we know so far about the new P&O ship that hasn't been named yet?
The ship will offer a stylish new design with an exceptional number of passenger facilities. The ship will combine the classic favourites of the Oriana and Aurora and choice and variety from Azura and Ventura, along with new features. P&O hope to attract lots of new passengers to the brand with the launch of this new ship. I am not too sure how the new build will go down with past passengers of P&O. The larger of P&O's ships attract different clients to the smaller of the ships so it will be interesting to see what sort of passenger the new ship will attract. I haven't been on the larger of the P&O ships but I think as long as the service is as good as it is across the ships in service at the moment it will go down well. It will be interesting to know what Itineraries the planned new ship will take. I will keep you posted and let you know when I know more.

Time is running out!

2011-05-31T14:53:00.000+01:00

Well it is the last day of May today and all early booking offers for 2012 are coming to an end. Most of these cruises have been available from early April. The phones are ringing off the hook, and have been all over the Bank Holiday weekend with people wanting to secure their 2012 cruise at the reduced early booking prices.
The early booking discounts with Cunard, P&O and Princess will end today. Royal Caribbean's 4 day sale will also end today. It is certainly worth booking ahead to get the little extras the cruise lines offer like car parking and Onboard spend. We have already seen some of Cunard's prices increase for 2012 and people booking over 12 months ahead have had a price increase of over 10%. I spoke to a client only this morning that has had a price increase of about 12% on a Cunard sailing for late 2012. We never know what will happen at a start of a new month with the cruise lines and their prices but they do normally start to increase now for 2012.
You do still have until the end of today to get your 2012 cruise booked up so feel free to contact me. You wouldn't want to miss out on getting that early booking discount so if you are thinking of booking for 2012 then you need to be quick.

Norwegian Dawn major refurbishment

2011-05-24T09:47:00.000+01:00

The Norwegian Dawn which is one of NCL's freestyle ships is currently undergoing a major refurbishment in dry dock in the Bahamas. The ship should re enter service on 27th May 11 in Boston which will be her seasonal homeport.
The Norwegian Dawn first entered service in late 2002 and holds over 2200 passengers. The Norwegian Dawn was the very first ship I had seen and been on after starting Cruise.co.uk. I was on the launch of her for an overnight stay and I must say I can really remember the ship well. I couldn't get over the bright colours and the amount of bars and restaurants a ship could hold. This is nothing now to the size of some of the ships I have seen.

The ship will be receiving quite a lot of refurbishments including the following,

58 New suites and staterooms available from September 11 including,
Four Deluxe Owner's suites ranging from 667 to 732 square feet.
14 Family Suites from 408 to 452 square feet most sleeping 6 guests.
18 inside staterooms
10 Family suites with balcony from 409 to 495 square feet.

Moderno Churrascaria speciality restaurant, which is the popular Brazilian steakhouse introduced on the Norwegian Epic will be in the space where Salsa the Tex Mex restaurant was.
Relocation of the gift shop, photo gallery and Spinnaker lounge to name a few.
Complete renovation of the Kid's Crew and Teen club.
Upgraded flat screen TV's in all guest and crew staterooms.
The Atrium lobby will include new furniture
Complete refurbishment of the crew dining and recreation areas.

The Norwegian Dawn is the second of NCL's ships scheduled for refurbishment this year and the Norwegian Spirit will follow later in the year.
NCL sound like they are really adding and improving to their ships and it will be interesting to see how the Norwegian Dawn looks after her refit.

My Holiday to Orlando

2011-05-17T11:16:00.001+01:00

Well I am back after my 2 week holiday to Orlando. We had a great time. Had a few problems when we arrived at Orlando airport as it was so busy. We ended up sat on the runway for half an hour and then it took us an hour and a half to get through customs so by the time we got to the hotel it was quite late.

We stayed at Holiday Inn at Walt Disney which is located in Downtown Disney. It was a really good positioned hotel for us as it was only a 10 minute walk to the Downtown area with all the shops and restaurants. We ever hired a car while we were there. We used the shuttle buses to the parks from the hotel and taxis where we needed them. We managed to fit in quite a few parks while we were there, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Busch Gardens and SeaWorld. I wouldn't say I had a favourite park or a ride as it was all so good. We were very lucky as we hardly had to queue for any ride. The longest we waited was 30 minutes. I was surprised at how quiet the parks were. The weather was really good. We were threatened thunderstorms many days but never saw any rain at all. This holiday was very different to the normal style of holiday we take. I normally have a relaxing holiday sat by the pool but this was very much on the go. We did manage a few days to relax and do a bit of shopping. I would love to go back at some point and maybe even try fit in a cruise while there. My Cousin is off the Orlando this weekend and he is doing a short cruise in the middle of the holiday on a Disney ship. I will certainly be finding out when he gets back how he found the Disney ship as this is one I haven't been on before.

I'm off to Orlando.

2011-04-26T17:00:00.003+01:00

Well after a long wait my holiday is very nearly here. It is my last day tomorrow Wednesday 27th April then I will be out of the office and back into work on Monday 16th May 2011.
I am off to Orlando for two weeks to experience all of the theme parks. The last time I went to Orlando was over 15 years ago so I can't really remember much of it. We have really planned this holiday to make sure we make the most of our time there and to also give us some relaxing days rather than rushing around all of the parks. We will be covering the Disney parks as well as doing Universal Studios, Busch Gardens and SeaWorld. This is quite a different kind of holiday to what I normally go for as there will be lots to do. My normal holiday is a beach holiday with nothing to do other than sit by the pool all day.
I am certainly looking forward to my holiday and will let you know how I got on when I return.

If you need any assistance while I am away then please feel free to contact the Cruise.co.uk office on 0800 408 6200.

3D films on QM2

2011-04-19T10:01:00.000+01:00

I read an article yesterday that Cunard will be introducing 3D films onboard the QM2 on her transatlantic season starting on 26th April. The 3D films in association with RealD which is the world's most used digital 3D technology will be presented in the ships theatre Illuminations.
The first 3D film to be shown will be Carmen which is an Opera with some really good music. There are English subtitles throughout the film and it will go down well with Opera lovers. Cunard will then show some blockbusters later into the season to include Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and pirates of the Caribbean. I think it is a great idea for Cunard to start showing 3D films. There are so many 3D films around now and it is becoming the new thing when going to the Cinema.
Along with the 3D films being introduced onboard there will also be daily workshops from RADA Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and they will perform short scenes around the ship, and there will also be song writing workshops by professional songwriter Chris Difford. Cunard have really taken their entertainment to a new level. All those days spent at sea on a transatlantic voyage would certainly keep me occupied with the new entertainment.

Who are Azamara Club Cruises?

2011-04-12T09:52:00.001+01:00

I have taken several enquiries recently regarding Azamara Club Cruises and have booked quite a few passengers on their ships, but how much do we know about Azamara?

Azamara Club cruises have two ships in their fleet the Azamara Journey and the Azamara Quest. Both ships carry less than 700 guests and are just over 30,000 tons. As the ships are smaller they can sail into the remote ports of call like Vietnam, Sorrento and Koper (Slovenia). This year Azamara will visit 200 ports of call in over 75 different countries. That certainly gives you plenty of choice on itinerary. So what exactly do Azamar offer passengers? There is one member of staff to every two guests, Butler service in suite accommodation, no formal dress code and no set dining times giving you great flexibility on when to eat.
Inside the staterooms you will find extras such as a fruit basket at embarkation, fresh flowers, afternoon canapes, Elemis bathroom products and large bottle of mineral water.

Included in an Azamara cruise are:

Complimentary bottled water.
Complimentary speciality teas and coffees
All gratuities included
Complimentary shuttle bus at ports of call
All meals and Room service
Complimentary house wine at lunch and dinner

Azamara certainly seem to be good value for many and there are always good offers available with them. I have recently booked an Azamara cruise offering my guests free flights and the fact you get a one night pre cruise hotel stay included with the voyages start you holiday off to a good start.
Up until 14th April Azamara are also offering $500 per stateroom onboard spend as part of their 1 year anniversary. This is for sailings from October 2011 to March 2012.

For any more information on Azamara Club Cruises please feel free to contact me.

NCL add new Legends in Concert

2011-04-05T09:51:00.000+01:00

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has recently announced that there will be three new Legends in Concert onboard the Norwegian Epic starting from May 2011. The Norwegian Epic will be sailing from Barcelona until 23 October 2011.
Legends in Concert which had been on the Las Vegas strip for over 25 years will show a great collection of live tribute artists onboard the Norwegian Epic. The three artists that have added are Elton John, Shakira and Whitney Houston. The Legends in Concert has gone down very well onboard the Norwegian Epic so far so by adding these well known artists will make the entertainment even better onboard. NCL change the performers every four months to keep the entertainment fresh onboard. The three acts are the highest quality tribute acts in the world. The shows are 45 minutes long and they take to the stage 3 days during the 7 night cruise. I have seen several tribute acts onboard ships before now including Tina Turner and I think they are really good fun and go down well with passengers. I certainly think NCL have got this right with such well known and brilliant artists.

Fresh look for Silver Shadow

2011-03-29T11:27:00.000+01:00

The Silver Shadow which is part of Silversea cruises has recently received a makeover. Silversea who are a 6 star cruise line and offer all suite accommodation. All are ocean view and 85% have private verandas.
The silver Shadow went into dry dock for two weeks in Singapore for enhancements to give her more the sophisticated contemporary design themes.
The update will now make the Silver Shadow similar to the Silver Whisper who had a refurbishment last year and the newest ship the Silver Spirit.
The refurbishment to the Silver Shadow has refreshed the public areas onboard. The Panorama lounge, Reception area, card room etc all received new upholstery, carpets and curtains. The Spa features new wood flooring, the show lounge has a new sound system and new carpet has been installed in corridors and staircases.
Each suite onboard the ship has a new mattress which has been custom made for Silversea. There are new memory pillow top covers and the larger suites have had a new home audio system installed. The outdoor areas have also been updated with new deck furniture and a new sound system for outdoor shows. The pool has had new tiles and the Pool grill will now the The Grill offering evening dining where guests can see their meat and seafood being cooked at their table.
The updates on Silversea will really make the ships special. Silversea offer butler service in all suites, there are complimentary beverages served throughout the ship, gratuities are all included, there is in suite dining and many more features. If you would like more information on Silversea please let me know.

All Six Seabourn ships in Europe 2012

2011-03-22T09:49:00.000Z

With all the talk of Cruising for 2012 at the moment with the launch of many sailings and more to come, I thought I would let you know what the Luxury 6 star cruise line Seabourn have to offer.
Seabourn are all suite ships offering 3 smaller more yacht like ships Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Legend and Seabourn Spirit holding 208 passengers and then there are the larger ships holding 450 passengers, The Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest. For 2012 all six ships will be offering a wide choice of voyages in Europe. Seabourn take their guests to smaller destinations that many travellers never see.
The Seabourn Odyssey will sail 7 day voyages from Venice to Istanbul and Athens, stopping at the Greek Isles and Turkey. You also have the option to combine these 7 night cruises to make a longer voyage.
The Seabourn Quest after it has finished its World Cruise 2012 will offer Mediterranean sailings from April to November again 7 day sailing that can be combined. Ports will include Barcelona, Rome and Istanbul.
The Seabourn Spirit will be offering a new 10 day itinerary sailing roundtrip from Venice to the Adriatic coast including Kotor in Montenegro, Dubrovnik and Rovinj in Croatia. There will also be an overnight in Venice on this itinerary.
The Seabourn Sojourn and the Seabourn Pride will both be doing their summer season doing the Baltic and the Norwegian Fjords. Cruises to the Fjords will be ranging from 10 to 16 days and will include the Arctic Circle and the North Cape.
The Seabourn Legend will be offering the Western Mediterranean doing two different 10 day voyages between Rome and Monte Carlo. They will include overnight stays in Barcelona and Malta.

I think that having all six ships in Europe again for 2012 will go down well with passengers. People these days don't want to take a long flight to join a ship and having six star luxury at their finger tips gives a wide choice of sailings. Seabourn offer In-Suite bar and refrigerator stocked with your preferences, Complimentary fine wines at lunch and dinner, and open bars throughout the Yacht. All dining venues are complimentary and Gratuities are neither required nor expected. What more can you want from your Luxury Voyage.
For more information on the 2012 sailings please feel free to contact me.

Oriana to feature extra cabins and new Restaurant.

2011-03-15T10:05:00.000Z

Well before we know it P&O Oriana will become adult only. P&O have announced that when the Oriana is turned into an adult only ship in November 2011 she will feature a different select dining restaurant and will have an additional 27 cabins.
The 27 new cabins which will be balcony and singles will be where the current children's areas are. I think it is a good idea to add more single cabins to the P&O fleet and the Oriana is such a popular ship I think this will go down well. They will also be turning the outdoor children's pool into a seating area and will be adding a new Italian restaurant with ocean views and an outdoor dining area which will be called Sorrento. This restaurant won't carry an extra cover charge only for certain items.
The new restaurant will be Ocean Grill which is by Marco Pierre White. The Ocean Grill will serve some of Marco's classic dishes. There will be extra charges to eat in the Ocean Grill which will be a cover charge. These aren't normally too much and are certainly worth the extra charges. Recent research with P&O passengers found that people want a different select dining experience and a contemporary style. I think this is a good move for P&O and Marco's restaurants will also feature on Arcadia when she gets a refit late 2011 and on Adonia from May 11. I ate in Marco Pierre White's restaurant on the Oceana and I thought it was worth the extra charge. I am quite a fan of his triple cooked chips and the steak was really good. I think as there are some longer itineraries onboard the Oriana for cruises 2012 it will give passengers much more food choice.

What's your Idea of a River Cruise?

2011-03-08T09:26:00.000Z

How do you fancy this for a river cruise?

Or maybe the industry's first Suite Ship would be more your taste.

Avalon Panorama enters service in May 2011. Avalon Panorama is one of nine luxury ships in Europe for Avalon Waterways. After her christening in May she will sail a 14 night Europe cruise Amsterdam to Budapest. The 443 ft long ship can accommodate 166 passengers and 47 crew members. It has been built with 2 decks of suites the first set up in the industry. The Avalon Panorama has 17 deluxe staterooms and 64 Panorama suites located on the top two decks. The staterooms are 30% larger than any other river cruise in Europe. There are living areas in each suite and flat screen TVs and floor to ceiling windows that can open. These windows turn into an open air balcony. There are other facilities onboard a lounge, pool deck, a club and open air bistro.

I have never really fancied a river cruise myself I think I would be bored however this looks rather luxurious and the staterooms are a really good size. Have you ever been on a river cruise? How did you find it? I would be interested to know.

What would you call your Ship?

2011-03-01T09:25:00.000Z

There are so many cruise ships out there and the fleets are growing all the time, but how do the cruise lines decide what to call their next ship? Can you imagine P&O naming a new ship Titanic?
Is this maybe going too far? Would I really want to travel on a ship named after a ship that sunk nearly 50 years ago? It got me thinking what is actually in a name?
I think if I was naming a ship I might go for something like Neptune or Orpheus. How about even the Prince William? Would the name of a cruise ship stop you travelling on it I wonder.
This then got me thinking to what exactly are the meanings of some of these cruise ships? Here are just a few of the cruise ships and their meanings

Boudicca - meaning Victory
Balmoral - It's a walking shoe
Black Watch - Military regiment from 1739 and still going strong today
Oceana - From the sea
Ventura - Good Fortune
Aurora - Dawn, the Goddess of the Dawn
Azura - Sky Blue
Oriana - Golden one

I must admit I have never really thought about the meanings of the cruise ships before but it is certainly interesting to know exactly what they mean. Do you know of any other meanings or what would you call your cruise ship if you had chance?

Will the Olympics 2012 affect your Cruise Plans?

2011-02-22T10:28:00.001Z

Well with all the talk of the London 2012 Olympics recently and with the release of the tickets for the event only round the corner it got me thinking about holidays around that time. Would you stay at home to watch the Olympics and plan your holiday around them?
I think for me personally it wouldn't stop me from going away as long as I still got to see some of the games. I am keen to try and get tickets for some of the events which I am sure many people are too, but is it worth giving up your holiday for? As the games start 27th July 12 and finish 12 August 12 this is the main summer holiday period for families with children. A recent Survey commissioned by the Cruise Line Voyages of Discovery has found that Britons are opting to be abroad while the games are on rather than stay at home. Over 1000 respondents were questioned on how they would spend the games and over 76% said they wouldn't mind being abroad. It is said that Azamara Club Cruises who are a small cruise line with their ships holding less than 700 passengers could be sailing their ships the Journey and the Quest into London to provide accommodation for sporting fans while the games are on. There are only so many berths up for grabs and Silversea Cruises the 6 star cruise line already have the Silver Cloud berthed at Tower Bridge and Silver Whisper at Greenwich. There are plans for a cruise liner terminal on the Greenwich Peninsula which have been backed which will also feature a hotel and other facilities. There is even talk of a cable car to add transport options. Do you think the London 2012 Olympics will affect your Cruise Plans? Will you still travel as normal?

Fred Olsen 2012

2011-02-15T09:19:00.000Z

Well it is that time of the year again where Fred Olsen Cruise Lines produce their 2012 preview brochure. Their 2012 cruises will be on sale with special preview pricing from Thursday 17th February 2011.
There will be some new itineraries plus some of the old favourites. I think that fact you have six UK ports to choose from makes sailing with Fred Olsen so much easier. It is always best to book when this brochure is launched as when they launch their main 2012 brochure the prices will increase. There is always something to suit everyone. Fred Olsen I must say are my favourite cruise lines for their service. The ships are quite small and don't have as many facilities as some of the other cruise ships but their service is top notch. I have lots of past passengers who travel with Fred Olsen time and time again. I think my favourite Fred Olsen ship is the Braemar. The Braemar is just over 24,000 tons and holds 929 passengers. When I last travelled on the Braemar it was before her re fit and before she was expanded, so I would like to go back on her to see how different she is.
If you are interested in any more information on the 2012 itineraries then please feel free to contact me.

First British Ship to visit Brisbane

2011-02-08T13:03:00.002Z

P&O Cruises have announced that the Arcadia and Aurora will be the first British ships to visit Brisbane after the recent flood devastation. Brisbane is the third largest city in Australia.

The Brisbane floods were the worst they have had since the floods in 1974 and would have been a lot worse if the Wivenhoe Dam hadn't been built after the 1974 floods. The floods have affected over 200,000 people. The ships will be calling at Brisbane as part of their world cruise 2011 programme. The ships Arcadia which entered service in 2005 holding 2016 passengers and the Aurora which entered service 2000 holding 1870 passengers will visit the city on the 15th and 27th February. P&O had decided still to travel to Brisbane as it is a big part of the experience for passengers. P&O will be asking their crew and passengers onboard the ship to donate any Australian dollars they have to go towards rebuilding Brisbane.

Can I Smoke at Sea?

2011-02-01T09:33:00.000Z

I am not a smoker so this doesn't really affect me, however I do have many calls of people asking where they can smoke onboard the ship. This can make a big difference to which ship and what cabins passengers go for. Here is a guide to where you can smoke onboard some of the cruise lines.

P&O
With P&O you can't smoke in any cabins only on the balcony. There are specially designated areas on the open decks. You can't smoke in indoor areas unless designated.

Cunard
With Cunard you can't smoke in the cabin only on the balcony. There are designated areas on the open deck and there is also a Cigar Lounge which is for cigars only.

Princess

With Princess you can't smoke in any cabin only on a balcony. There will be areas on the open deck you can't smoke inside the ship.

NCL

With NCL you can smoke both in your cabin and on your balcony. There will be areas on the open deck and there are casinos, cigar bars and lounges for smoking.

Fred Olsen

You can't smoke in the cabins onboard Fred Olsen only on a balcony. There will be designated area on open deck only. You can't smoke anywhere inside the ship.

Celebrity
With Celebrity you can't smoke in any cabin or on the balcony. There will be designated areas inside and outside the ship.

MSC

MSC don't let you smoke in any cabin or on any balcony. There will be designated areas

Royal Caribbean

You can't smoke in your cabin only on a balcony. There will be outdoor areas on one side of the ship.

This is just a guide to some of the cruise lines. If you need any more information on any other cruise line please do not hesitate to contact me.

New Ships at Sea 2011

2011-01-25T09:00:00.000Z

I had written a blog previously on ships that launched 2010 so thought would update you on ships launching in 2011. There are not as many ships launching this year as there was last year.

Costa Favolosa -

Will be the latest addition to the Italian company Costa Cruises which will launch July 2011.
The ship will be 114,500 gross tons and will hold passenger capacity of 3,780.

Celebrity Silhouette-
Celebrity Cruises will debut their new solstice class ship on 23rd July 2011. The ship will be 122,000 tons and holds 2884 passengers. The ship will be the fourth in the new solstice class of ship.

Disney Dream -

The first sailing for the Disney Dream is the 26th January 2011. This will be Disney's largest cruise ship at 128,000 tons and carrying 4,000 passengers, The homeport for this ship will be Port Canaveral.

Carnival Magic -
Carnival cruises will be launching their second dream class cruise ship which is their largest class of ship at 130,000 tons and holding more than 4,000 passengers. She will be launching in May 2011

Seabourn Quest -

Yachts of Seabourn will debut the Quest in June 2011. The ship will be 32,000 tons and will have 225 ocean view suites.

Oceania Mariner -
Oceania Cruises latest addition to their fleet launched January 2011. The ship is 65,000 tons and holds 1,258 passengers.

For any more information on any of these ships please feel free to contact me.

Is there Wi-Fi Onboard?

2011-01-18T09:15:00.000Z

I have had quite a few calls recently with people asking about Wi-Fi onboard ships. Is there Wi-Fi onboard? Is there Wi-Fi in my stateroom?
For me personally I go away to get away from all of that but for others it is a great way of keeping in touch with family etc. There are different costs for Wi-Fi depending on the Stateroom and the length of the cruise.
Here are some of the cruise lines and what they offer passengers.

P&O
Available on various decks

Princess Cruises
Staterooms and various public areas

Cunard
There is an internet cafe. Available in public rooms and areas throughout the ship.

Royal Caribbean
There are six places across the ship and it varies depending on the ship.

Celebrity Cruises
It is available accross the Solstice class ships. All other ships there are areas around the ships.

NCL
Various spots around the ship.

Fred Olsen
Available on all ships in and close to the library.

MSC
Various spots around the ship.

For any information on other Cruise Lines or for more information on prices etc, please contact me.

Have you been to Florida?

2011-01-11T09:20:00.000Z

I have started to think about what I will do for my holiday this year for May. I have looked at lots of different options but think I have narrowed it down to going to Florida. I travelled to Disney for the first time when I was 9 and haven't been since and my other half hasn't been at all.
I know so many people who have been recently or are travelling soon and I really want to go. I have heard lots of people say to split your holiday up while you are there and maybe do a stay and then cruise. I think this is a good idea as you will need time to relax after a hectic week in Disney. I had a look with Royal Caribbean who is probably my favourite cruise line. The Freedom of the Seas sails out of Port Canaveral to several of the Caribbean Islands weekly so you could do a week at Disney then do a 7 night cruise. The other option I have looked at is just to do a short cruise to the Bahamas, Carnival offer several short cruises, the Sensation goes out of Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and they are such good prices for 3 or 4 days. I have picked my destination, I know need to decide exactly what I want to do and get something booked. We can package pretty much any holiday for you at Cruise.co.uk we offer lots of Tailor made packages so can always package a Disney cruise and stay for you.

Happy New Year

2011-01-04T08:56:00.000Z

Well another year has come and gone and I am back in the office now and ready for a great 2011. I have had a lovely break spending as much time with family and friends as I could. Everyone is now back at work and I have got to get used to my sister not being around for a while as she has gone back to Epsom where she is living at the moment. I now have to decide this year do I take another holiday or am I going to set a date for my wedding and finally buy a house. I think a holiday may possibly win again as booking people's holidays every day makes me want to be away myself.

Happy New Year to Everyone.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2010-12-14T17:00:00.004Z

Well it is my last day at work now until I break up for Christmas. I will be finishing my last minute Christmas shopping and having a nice long break.

I will be back in the office on Tuesday 4th January 2011.
If you have any questions or queries while I am off then please contact 0800 408 6200 or contactus@cruise.co.uk

I hope you all have a lovely Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

Shark Attacks in Sharm El Sheikh

2010-12-07T09:24:00.000Z

I was very surprised to hear on the TV the other day about the shark attacks in Sharm El Sheikh. You just think of Sharm El Sheikh to be so safe for swimming and snorkelling. I was there in September and I think if I was due to travel now I would probably change my plans.
You don't go to somewhere like Sharm El Sheikh not to dive or snorkel. Officials are baffled by the recent attacks and the environment ministry had caught and killed two sharks but they think they were the wrong sharks. What will this do to the tourism in Sharm El Sheikh? Lots of Holidaymakers escape the cold weather here to get a bit of winter sunshine. Would it make you think twice about travelling there? We don't have many cruise lines that travel to Sharm El Sheikh but I have heard that snorkelling excursions have been suspended for the mean time if the ship is docked. I went snorkelling myself when I was in Sharm and you just don't ever imagine something like that could happen.

Xmas Party to Bruges

2010-11-30T19:31:00.015Z

Well we are back now from our Christmas Party on the Aurora. I had such a good weekend and we were very lucky with the weather. I have been on the Aurora before so knew what to expect from the ship. I must say I don't think the service onboard was anywhere near as good as it had been previously.

The food was ok, I am quite a fussy eater and I did struggle on the second night to find anything I liked. I thought the Breakfast and lunch was better than the main meals. We stopped in a Deluxe balcony cabin which is such a good size with a sofa and sitting area and also a bath and shower. We didn't really use the balcony as it was too cold but again a good size. The day in Bruges was lovely. Weather was dry and not too cold. We had a look around the Christmas market and even had a go Ice Skating on the rink in the middle of the square. We stopped for a Belgium waffle which was very nice and very big and then bought some Chocolates from my favourite chocolate shop before heading back to the coach to go back to the ship. We had one formal night while there which is always nice for everyone to get dressed up and have a few drinks. I am so glad the weather was ok for us and we all had a really good weekend.

Off to Bruges on the Aurora

2010-11-23T09:15:00.002Z

Well it is nearly that time of the year again when Cruise.co.uk go on their Christmas Party. This year we are lucky enough to be going on the P&O Aurora for 2 nights to Bruges this weekend. I have been to Bruges several times before and when it has been Christmas time.
It will be nice to have a look around the Christmas market and try some of the chocolates. I have also seen that there is a snow and Ice sculpture display along with an Ice rink and beer stands. The market will have only opened on the 26th November. Every time I have been to Bruges I visit the same chocolate shop to buy my boxes of chocolate to bring home with me. I am looking forward to being on the Aurora again too. I was on her a few years ago. I think she is probably my favourite P&O ship and has such a great atmosphere onboard. Let's hope the weather holds out this year and we don't have a repeat of last year having to walk miles and miles in the snow to board our ship.
I will let you know how it goes next week when we are back.

Oriana to become Adult only

2010-11-16T10:00:00.001Z

P&O have just announced that the Oriana will become an adult only ship when she comes out of refit in November 2011. At the moment P&O have the Arcadia, Artemis and the Adonia as adult only.
When the Artemis leaves the P&O fleet in May 2011 it would only leave the Arcadia and the smaller Adonia as adult only. P&O will then still have the 3 adult only ships in their fleet leaving the Azura, Ventura, Oceana and Aurora for Families. All passengers that are currently booked on the Oriana to travel from November 11 onwards will receive a letter explaining what has happened, and if anyone is booked on one of the sailings with Children they will be contacted to see if there are any other cruise options for them. I think that it is a good idea to have the Oriana take over from the Artemis as adult only as these ships do attract a lot of people. The Oriana is a lovely ship and after her refit will be even better.

NCL to build 2 new ships

2010-11-09T10:00:00.000Z

I have recently heard that NCL have announced they are to build 2 new freestyle cruising ships to their fleet. The ships will be the second and third ships to join the new generation fleet.
The NCL Epic was the first new generation ship which launched in June this year. The 2 new ships will be slightly smaller than the NCL Epic with a gross tonnage of 143.500 and holding about 4,000 passengers. The ships are due to launch spring 2013 and spring 2014. There isn't too much information at the moment to whether the new ships will have a lot of the same features as the Epic but I am sure that they will make the ships just as good if not better. The Epic features an Ice Bar, The Spiegel Tent and a range of single studios to name just a few. If the news ships are anything like the Epic I am sure that they will offer really good standard of food and entertainment. I will let you know when we have any more information on the new ships.

Winter Blues

2010-11-02T10:17:00.000Z

It is that time of year again, with the dark nights and frosty mornings and having to scrape the ice off your car soon to be an every morning thing. The summer seems so far away. I much prefer the heat than having to wrap up warm. This is certainly the time of year I wish I was in warmer climates.
It is the Caribbean season for cruising and the time to escape the UK winter to take a relaxing chilled out Caribbean cruise. I have travelled to the Caribbean a few times myself now and this is really the best time to go. Anytime from November through to April. My favourite Caribbean island has got to be Barbados. I have cruised and done a land based holiday there and I would certainly recommend going there. You can just wake up every day to a new sunny Island being on a cruise. I would recommend sailing out of Barbados as you are straight into cruising the Caribbean without having the few days at sea to get you there when sailing from Miami. I travelled with Fred Olsen when I first did the Caribbean but you can also cruise from Barbados with P&O and Princess Cruises. They offer 2 weeks cruise with lots of different Caribbean Islands. All these companies also offer direct flights as they Charter the aircrafts making getting there a lot easier. There is so much to do in the Caribbean lots of beaches to choose from, swimming with Dolphins and Island tours to name just a few. If you want any more information on the Caribbean please let me know.

Comparing worst food on Cruise Ships

2010-10-26T09:15:00.002+01:00

When people compare cruise lines food is always quite a big topic of conversation, and something you seem to remember well about your cruising experience. Doug Ward the author of the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising has recently put in his new book that Royal Caribbean are the worst cruise line for food and service.
He rated Royal Caribbean 5 out of 10 for the dining room, afternoon Tea and wine list saying that it was very poor. I would certainly not rate Royal Caribbean like this at all I have always found when I have been onboard that there food and service has been very good. Other cruise lines mentioned for Poor Food were Costa and NCL. The cruise lines marked the highest for food were Celebrity Cruise Lines, Cunard and Princess Cruises. I can certainly see why these cruise lines were marked high as their service and quality of food is very good. I am quite surprised with Doug's marks on Royal Caribbean as so many people return time and time again on Royal Caribbean and if their food was that bad people wouldn't keep cruising on them. At the end of the day this is one persons view on how they compare all the cruise lines. Everyone will always have their own views and opinions. Have you sailed with Royal Caribbean and how would you rate their food and service?

NCL goes Pink

2010-10-19T10:00:00.001+01:00

Norwegian Cruise Line's hold a White Hot Party across their fleet once per cruise. This is a big evening of fun and entertainment. The cruise line dancers try and get everyone up dancing and having fun and everyone dresses in white.
For the month of October the dance party has gone pink to commemorate the Breast Cancer awareness month. 9 of NCL's 11 ships are taking part in this. Normally at the White Hot party passengers dress in white and the parties are held in different venues across the fleet. You can normally purchase the White Hot t-shirts in the gift shops onboard. NCL will be selling their Limited edition Pink Hot party t-shirts during October to support Breast Cancer awareness month.

Liberty of the Seas does Saturday Night Fever

2010-10-12T10:08:00.000+01:00

As I am such a big musical fan I thought it would be worth sharing this with you. Royal Caribbean are going to be staging the hit musical Saturday Night Fever onboard the Liberty of the Seas from April 2011.
The show will be performed in the 1320 seat theatre onboard the ship. This is the third main stage musical for Royal Caribbean the other musicals include Hairspray on the Oasis of the Seas and Chicago on the Allure of the Seas. Saturday Night Fever is based on the 1970s film and the stage show been performed to more than 10 million people worldwide. My favourite song from the show has got to be 'Stayin Alive'. Royal Caribbean is going to be making shipboard enhancements which will start in January 2011 on the Freedom class ships. I am sure they will follow the musical productions onto their other ships in due course. I really enjoy musicals and for me it would be so good to be on a cruise and being able to watch such great musicals. The Liberty of the Seas will be in Europe for summer 2011 sailing from Barcelona so there are some good prices available throughout the summer with them either as a fly cruise package or doing just cruise only.

Have you seen anyone famous onboard a Cruise Ship?

2010-10-05T10:04:00.001+01:00

Cruising seems to be a growing market all the time and more and more people are deciding to take a cruise every year. It got me thinking, I wonder how many famous people take a cruise? I have only managed to spot a couple of celebrities while I have been cruising over the years.
I have seen Ruby Wax (American comedienne ) while I was onboard Norwegian Gem on a mini cruise. I Bumped into Michael Starke a few times while I was onboard the Oceana last year. Michael Starke who is most known for being in Brookside and most recently in Coronation Street was onboard with his family and did a few talks while onboard. I have also met James Martin the Chef while onboard the Ocean Village. James had a restaurant onboard the Ocean Village and we were lucky enough to spend some time talking and having a few drinks with him while onboard.
These are the only people I have spotted and met while onboard a ship but I know other people who have bumped into Rod Stewart, Penny Lancaster and Robbie Coltrane onboard Cunard.
Have you ever seen or spoken to any famous people while onboard your Cruise holiday? If you have I would be interested to find out more.

Celebrity Reflection

2010-09-28T10:00:00.002+01:00

I have just heard that Celebrity Cruises have announced the name of their fifth ship in the Solstice class of Ships. The Celebrity Reflection will be delivered to the fleet in November 2012. This is for now the final of the Solstice class ships. The ship will feature a lot of the same features as the other Solstice class ships but with some added extras which they haven't announced yet.

It seems so far ahead November 2012 but celebrity Cruises do have another addition to their fleet before the Celebrity Reflection launches. The Celebrity Silhouette is their next ship to launch in July 2011. I think it is really good that Celebrity will have 5 Solstice class ships in service by the end of 2012. The other ships are Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Eclipse. I have been on the Celebrity Equinox which was the second Solstice class ship to launch and I have to say it is my favourite cruise ship to date that I have been on. I really liked the whole ship and I thought the cabins were a really good size. I think the size of the ships is just right holding 2850 passengers and 122,000 tons. I loved the food and entertainment onboard. I think by having the 5 Solstice class ships they can offer lots of different itineraries to be able to travel on the Solstice class as well as their other ships in the fleet where the Millennium class ships will undergo their makeover. I will keep you posted on any updates on the 2 new ships.

My Holiday to Sharm El Sheikh

2010-09-21T09:19:00.000+01:00

I am back now after my 10 night break to Sharm El Sheikh. I have had such a great time. It was my first time to Egypt and I would definitely return in the future. The hotel was so clean and the staff were so friendly.

The only down side with the hotel was the food choice was very limited. I am quite a fussy eater and struggled some nights to find anything to eat. We ordered a KFC to the hotel one night and I had McDonalds another. Can't believe I was in Egypt eating junk food. The weather was superb blue sky every day and very high temperatures. We visited Soho Square one evening which was really nice with Restaurants and bars and shops and also Naama Bay which was an eye opener. I didn't like the hassle off the shop keepers.

We flew to Cairo on one of the days to visit the Pyramids, this was worth doing. It was a very long day but I really enjoyed seeing the Pyramids and the Sphinx and also went inside a Pyramid. We also visited the Egyptian Museum there was so much in there you would need more than a few hours to look around. Cairo was a very poor and dirty place itself and we did have a tour around the city before going back to the airport. We also took a snorkel trip one day to see all the coral and the fish that was worth doing. A lot of people we spoke to in Sharm El Sheikh all wanted to do a Red Sea cruise or a Nile cruise. I think I would consider doing a Nile cruise as there is so much more of Egypt to see.

I would certainly recommend if you are on a cruise to the Red Sea to do the Cairo trip.

I'm off to Sharm El Sheikh

2010-09-05T10:00:00.001+01:00

I am now on holiday and will be back to work on Monday 20th September 10. I am off to Sharm El Sheikh for 10 nights to spend some time exploring and to get a bit of sun as we haven't seen much this summer. We are off to see the Pyramids in Cairo so will let you know how I got on when I return.

If you have any queries while I am away please email contactus@cruise.co.uk or call 0800 408 6200

ESTA to start charging

2010-08-31T10:35:00.000+01:00

You haven't got long left to avoid being charged for the compulsory ESTA (electronic system for travel authorisation) From the 9th September this year people travelling to the US will have to pay $14 to obtain their ESTA.
The ESTA had become mandatory in January 2010 and replaces the visa waiver forms you used to fill out on the plane. Once you have your ESTA it lasts 2 years but why should you have to pay for something that is mandatory? You have to make sure you have purchased your ESTA at least 72 hours before your flight as you may be declined entry into the US. Someone I know has recently travelled to New York and had forgot all about the ESTA until he was checking in for his flight. It wouldn't let him check in without having the authorisation of ESTA. He was very lucky as he filled out the form online and finally got authorisation a matter of hours before his flight. Not everyone will be as lucky as it does state at least 72 hours before travel. Do you think that there should be a charge for this? Although a small charge it is still a money making scheme.

When do I receive my Shore Excursion Information?

2010-08-24T10:03:00.003+01:00

I have been taking a lot of calls recently with clients querying when they receive shore excursion information. All cruise lines have different policies so thought it would be worth sharing some with you.

Cunard
Cunard will send the Shore excursion guide along with luggage labels direct to you 4 to 6 weeks prior to sailing.

P&O
P&O will send the Shore excursion guide along with luggage labels direct to you 4 to 6 weeks prior to sailing.

NCL
NCL don't send out shore excursion information. This can be downloaded off the NCL website. They do send Pre cruise information and luggage labels in the post to you.

Princess
For Princess Cruises you will need to download your shore excursion guide off the Princess website along with your luggage labels.

Royal Caribbean
For Royal Caribbean you will need to download your shore excursion guide off their website. You can request your luggage labels on the Royal Caribbean website within 40 days of sailing and then they will be sent directly to you. This can't be done no later than 14 days prior to sailing.

Celebrity
For Celebrity you will need to download your shore excursion guide off their website. You can request your luggage labels on the Celebrity website within 40 days of sailing and then they will be sent directly to you. This can't be done no later than 14 days prior to sailing.

Please bear in mind that the cruise lines can change their way of doing things at anytime so this is just a guideline. I hope it helps. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Karaoke onboard Carnival

2010-08-17T10:48:00.001+01:00

I have recently seen that Carnival Cruise lines have launched Superstar Live Karaoke. Carnival guests can take to the stage, grab the mic and live their music dreams at sea. This is the newest entertainment feature onboard the Carnival ships and guests can perform in front of a packed house.
There is a designated Superstar Live karaoke lounge onboard and guests can select from a list of more than 100 song titles. There will be something for everyone from Rock to classic country songs. At the moment Superstar Live runs onboard Carnival Conquest, Carnival Valor and Carnival pride. It will be introduced to Carnival's 12 ships that operate itineraries of 7 days or longer. This really takes karaoke to another level. I think it is great giving people chance to get up and sing feeling like they are being backed by a band. I am sure that this new entertainment will go down well on carnival.

The New Kids on the Block onboard Carnival

2010-08-10T13:07:00.001+01:00

The New Kids on the Block have recently announced their 2011 cruise onboard Carnival Destiny. The boy band that are now all grown up and becoming the King of the theme cruise world.
They have already had 2 sell out cruises over the past few years and their 2011 sailing is about to go on sale. The sailing is a 4 night cruise around the Bahamas. There are normally live concerts, photo sessions deck and beach parties and question and answer sessions with the band, I was only young when The New Kids on the block found fame in the late 80's early 90's but I can remember some of their music. I think cruise lines are always trying to find something different for their cruisers and I am sure that The New Kids on the Block will go down well for a 3rd cruise. Apparently fans that book onboard the sailing will also receive a mystery gift. The Cruise goes on sale 13th August 2010.

Dreamworks Experience on Royal Caribbean

2010-08-03T11:45:00.002+01:00

I went to see the latest Shrek film on Friday night and saw an advertisement while there from DreamWorks as they have teamed up with Royal Caribbean to give a unique onboard experience. I decided to read a bit more into this. There will be photo opportunities with Shrek, Fiona and many other DreamWorks characters live and in person. There will also be Royal Caribbean parades with the DreamWorks characters throughout the cruise.
On the Allure of the Seas there will be a How to train your Dragon Ice show where all the favourite characters will take part and there will also be The Madagascar Aqua show where the characters will mix and mingle with the high divers which will be a really good experience.

Royal Caribbean will also be showing the DreamWorks films in 3D which make you feel more part of it. Other things will include meeting the characters at dinner where they will walk around to stop to chat to the kids, and also they will meet and get involved with the characters at the Adventure Ocean which is the club onboard for kids.
I feel this is going to give Kids onboard so much more to do and it reminds me a lot of how things are at Disney. Kids will love having their photos taken with the characters and spotting the characters as they walk around the ship. I think this is going to go down well with Royal Caribbean.

Oceania Insignia

2010-07-27T09:59:00.001+01:00

I have recently come back from a day visit to see the luxury Oceania Insignia. Insignia is 1 of three ships Oceania Cruises have in their fleet at the moment, and the Marina which will be Oceania's latest ship will be joining them in 2011. The Insignia is 30,277 gross tons and holds 684 passengers ( double occupancy).

When we first boarded the ship I was amazed at how unlike a ship the Insignia was. It was like a country house hotel. As we toured the ship it really felt as though I was in a hotel. The whole ship had a lot of dark wood around it and the staircases were narrow rather than the normal wide staircases. I really liked the sun deck area this was more modern to the rest of the ship with double loungers and cabanas that you can rent for the day for a fee. There are no formal nights onboard Oceania which makes it very relaxed and you can eat in the speciality restaurants with no extra charge.

The cabins were a bit different to what I had thought they would have been. The standard veranda cabins were quite a good size however the Owners suite wasn't as grand as some other ships and was quite small. I think the veranda cabins were better value for money.

After our tour of the ship we went for our 5 course lunch and what a lunch it was. I don't like Seafood and the waiters were so good in making sure there was something else for me to eat off the set menu. Each course was really big and it was a struggle to finish everything but very enjoyable. The waiters looked after us really well and the food went down nicely with a few glasses of wine.

I certainly enjoyed my visit on Oceania and would definitely look at sailing with them in the future. If you have any questions regarding Oceania please give me a call.

Oceania Winter Offers

2010-07-20T09:33:00.002+01:00

I am off to see the Oceania Insignia for the day on Friday this week and thought it would be an idea to share these amazing offers Oceania have on at the moment. Oceania is offering these cruises at less than half the normal selling price.

Islands in the Sun on the Regatta
2nd January 2011
10 nights Miami to Miami
Fares lead in from $1500pp for an outside cabin

Exquisite Empires on the Nautica
15th February 2011
24 nights Bangkok to Beijing
Fares leas in from $3000pp for an inside cabin

Mysteries of the Far East on the Nautica

26th March 2011

25 nights Hong Kong to Dubai

Fares lead in from $3125pp for an inside cabin

Prices are cruise only
They include all port tax and now including complimentary soft drinks throughout the ship.

These are amazing deals and can't be missed.

I will let you know how I get on onboard the Regatta next week.

Safety at Sea

2010-07-20T08:57:00.001+01:00

I have recently heard that the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) have recently announced that a comprehensive package of amendments to the international regulations affecting new passenger ships has gone into force on 1st July 10. There is an increased emphasis in place to reduce the chance of accidents occurring and to bring the concept as the ship as 'its own best lifeboat'.
There was a review to assess whether the existing regulations were adequate to meet future challenges, in particular to address issues related to the increased size of passenger ships that are now being built.

The amendments which will largely affect new ships built from 1st July 2010 include

Alternative designs and arrangements
Onboard safety centres, from where safety systems can be controlled, operated and monitored.
Provision of safe areas and essential systems to be maintained while a ship proceeds to port after a casualty
Fixed fire detection and alarm systems, including requirements for fire detectors and manually operated call points to be capable of being remotely and individually identified.

As the Cruise ships are getting bigger I think it is a good idea to put in place different safety laws. I have never not felt safe while onboard a ship so the new rules are keeping up to a good standard.

Queen Elizabeth Song and Dance

2010-07-14T09:17:00.001+01:00

When the Queen Elizabeth sets sail in October this year passengers will be able to take a trip on the London Underground. The Piccadilly Line, which is set in the shell of a Tube train carriage will be one of the regular production shows in the ship's Royal Court Theatre. There will be 29 singers, dancers, actors and musicians in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company.
Their biggest show will be Slice of Saturday Night, 1960'2 music which has been staged in London and toured the UK and USA. Slice of Saturday Night will feature all of the Theatre Company members and it will be the largest production show Cunard has ever staged.
There will be other performances including Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Plaza Suite and The Odd Couple.
The passengers onboard Queen Elizabeth will also be able to take part in a specially written quiz show based on TV shows such as Have I Got News For You and QI.
The Royal Court Theatre onboard the Queen Elizabeth will be as good as and West End or Broadway Theatre. Cunard seem to be offering something for everyone. After shows I have seen on the other Cunard ships I am sure they will be of a very good standard.

Ice Bar on NCL Epic

2010-07-08T09:50:00.003+01:00

After experiencing the Ice Bar on the NCL Epic a couple of weeks ago I thought I would give you more of an insight into this very different Bar at sea. The Ice Bar was inspired by the original ice bars and ice hotels in Scandinavia and one of only 14 ice bars in the world.

The frozen chamber is set in changing hues of blue, green and purple LED lighting that simulates the Northern Lights and creates an arctic atmosphere. The Bar features bar, walls, tables, stools, glasses and life-size sculptures all made from ice including an Ice Bear.

The Bar holds 25 people at one time and all passengers will be given a coat and gloves to keep them warm. We went into the Bar pretty much as soon as we boarded the ship so therefore most of us had flip flops on. I think they should supply socks for in here as well for extra warmth. The coat had a hood with fur around which did keep you warm while you are in there. After all it is only 15 minutes you are allowed in there on your slot. NCL have a cover charge for the Bar of $20. You also get included in this the Vodka based drinks they serve while inside the giant freezer. The drinks are different flavoured Vodka drinks of all different colours. Maybe they should be serving Coffee or Hot Chocolate to warm you up. Although I enjoyed my experience inside the Ice bar and I am glad we had the opportunity to do it I don't think I would rush to do it again. It is definitely a first for a cruise ship. What will they think of next?

Star Clippers. Who are they?

2010-07-02T09:41:00.003+01:00

Have you ever travelled with Star Clippers? Who and What are they you may ask yourself? Star Clippers are sailing ships. They are the largest true fully-rigged sailing ships in the world. Inspired by the legendary Tall Ship, Royal Clipper has the proud distinction of being the largest and only 5 masted sailing ship built since her predecessor was launched in the last century.

The Royal Clipper has 42 sails it combines the adventure of traditional sailing with the service, amenities and accommodation of a Yacht. The Royal Clipper holds 227 guests. Guests can roam around the ship even to the bridge where the captain will be happy to show you the ropes. You can even climb the mast and help with the sails. The Star Clipper and Star Flyer carry 170 guests. You will feel like you are on a private yacht. All Star Clipper ships feature an open dining in the dining room and have a few bars, pool area etc. The ships being so small will stop at remote places the large cruise ships can't get into. There are no schedules onboard these ships you are free to do as you wish in the days and evenings. For entertainment in the ports they bring on local performers. They have other activities such as crab racing contests which is a bit different. There are no formal nights onboard it is always casual elegance day and night.

Star Clippers travel to the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Panama Canal, Mediterranean and Ocean crossings. The ocean crossings are very good value for money and are about 23 to 37 days however not really suited to those you get sea sickness. They would be repositioning cruises from the Med to the Caribbean or vice versa.

To find out more about these sailing ships please give me a call.

The new NCL EPIC

2010-06-26T09:50:00.001+01:00

I have just come back off a 2 night launch party onboard NCL Epic. The Epic is NCL's largest cruise ship at 150,000 gross tons and holding 4200 passengers. We boarded in Southampton on Tuesday afternoon and got off Thursday. At first we didn't think the ship would sail as she had had a few technical problems the day before however we did finally manage to sail on the Wednesday just out to sea.

I was really looking forward to this launch. I have seen a few of the other NCL ships but was looking forward to this to experience the Ice bar and the Blue Man Group, and it certainly didn't disappoint. The first thing we did when we boarded was experienced the Ice bar. This is a small bar that is all made of ice. We were given big Eskimo coats and gloves before entering. You are allowed 15 minutes inside and NCL charge $20 to try this out. It was great we had a few drinks inside all Vodka based and a few photos around the ice sculptures and the chairs.

Next stop was to the cabin. We were in a balcony cabin on deck 11. I was a bit shocked on first entering the cabin as it was smaller than other balcony cabins I have stopped in. Very modern and the sink was in the actual room rather than having a separate bathroom and the toilet and shower were separated off by a curtain. This took a while to get used to as it is so different to any other cabin I have stayed in. There was lots of wardrobe space though and the balcony was a really good size. They have a plasma TV and tea and coffee making facilities which go down well with us Brits.

The first evening we ate in Cagneys Steakhouse. This would normally have a $20 cover charge, but it is certainly worth it. It was the best piece of steak I have had in a long time. You could also choose 2 sides to go with your meal. I opted for chips and onion rings. There were some items on the menu that also had an additional charge on top of the cover charge. After dinner we made our way to H2O which was an outside bar with big TV screen and a disco. This was really good as the weather was so nice it was nice to be outside into the early hours.

The following day we spent around the pool area trying out the 3 waterslides onboard and the pool. The buffet area for lunch had a variety of food or there was a burger and hot dog area outside. We then went to watch the England match on a huge TV in O'Sheehan's which is normally used for Wii games. After an explore of the ship and seeing the escalator which is odd onboard a ship it was time to see the Blue Man Group. I loved this, it was so different to any other show I have seen. It lasted about an hour and a half with no break but is certainly worth seeing while onboard. We didn't get to experience all restaurants onboard the ship but what we did try was all to a really good standard.

I really enjoyed my experience onboard this ship and would definitely go on my own holiday onboard. If you want to know anymore about the ship please give me a call.

Oceania Upgrade

2010-06-21T09:27:00.002+01:00

Oceania cruises which are a deluxe cruise line have announced a multimillion dollar spend to upgrade their fleet of 3 passenger ships. The 684 passenger ships have already started to undergo their upgrade. Nautica has already been upgraded and Insignia and Regatta will follow later this year.

So what can be expected onboard Oceania cruises after their upgrades.
There will be new custom designed beds in all cabins.
Minibars will be installed in all cabins and soft furnishings revamped so that all the accommodation meets the standard of the Oceania new build Marina, which launches in January 2011.
In the restaurant's the menus are being expanded and there will be a gourmet olive oil menu.
They are adding new and unusual shore excursions one will include a visit to the Pope's private place of worship.

Oceania has decided with the upgrades to also raise their service charges. The Gratuities will go up $1 per person a day. Do they really need to do this or could they just include it in the cruise price? Gratuities can cause so many arguments and a lot of the deluxe cruise lines have already rolled them into the cruise price. Is this the best thing to do?

24 Hour Relay for Life

2010-06-15T12:00:00.000+01:00

I have recently taken part in Cancer Research's Relay for Life. I hadn't heard of this before and normally take part in the race for life. The relay consists of a 24 hour duration over a weekend and there always must be one of your team members walking at all times.

I was determined to walk as much of the 24 hours as I could. The walk was in a field and we walked round and round the same track. There was plenty going on throughout the day all the teams that had entered had different stalls and games to raise money. There were also different theme laps throughout the day all relating to cancer. There was a around the world lap, comedy, caring, PJ lap and here comes summer. We had been out and bought costumes for each of the laps. Each team was then scored on their costumes. On the evening there was a ceremony to remember those who have lost their lives to cancer and for those who have had cancer and those suffering today. We then all walked a lap in silence. The night time was quite hard to get through but it was worse to sit down so I just kept going. At night the path was lit up with candles to show the way and the word hope was spelt out. Although it was a fun occasion for us to take part in the reason why we were doing the walk was always in the back of our minds. I have had a few clients recently diagnosed with cancer and there is no reason why you still can't take your holiday after all you need something to look forward to. My clients have had to postpone their cruise until next year but are both looking forward to it.

Regent Seven Seas Voyager

2010-06-09T09:13:00.004+01:00

I have recently come back from a day visit to see the Regent Voyager. We were lucky enough to have a guided tour followed by lunch in the Compass Rose restaurant. This was my first time onboard a luxury cruise ship. I was impressed with the ship although it was different to what I had thought it would be.

The decor is all very plain in colour there are no bright colours that you find on other cruise ships. It doesn't give you the wow factor but I can see why it is classed as a luxury cruise line and the service would really make the cruise.

On the Regent Voyager it is all suite accommodation and all with balcony. I was impressed with the size of the suites. The Deluxe suite which is the lead in priced suite is 356 square feet. This is as big as a Princess Suite P4 onboard the Queen Victoria. All the suites had a walk in wardrobe and marble appointed bathroom with bathtub and shower. They are all to a very good standard. I think my favourite suite onboard this ship was the Grand suite. This suite had a Jacuzzi bath separate to the bathroom which overlooked the sea. I thought this suite was set out very well.

The pool deck was really nice the sun loungers were spread out so you had lots of space. They were cushioned loungers with a pillow and rolled up blanket on each bed. They also had a wooden table between every two beds for your drinks.

There is so much space onboard the Regent Voyager. There are 4 restaurants onboard the Compass Rose being the main restaurant. The La Veranda which is Italian dining. Prime 7 which is a grill and Signatures.

There is also a tiered Theatre onboard as well as a really good sized Spa and gym and bars and lounges.

Although I was only onboard for the day I managed to really take in this ship. I really enjoyed the food onboard it was to a very good standard. Regent Cruises are also very good value for money. With all that is included for 2011 voyages, flights, unlimited shore excursions, gratuities, all fine dining and all drinks and beverages you really are getting a lot for your money.

If you wish to find out more on Regent then give me a call.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

2010-06-03T08:54:00.004+01:00

Do you know much about Regent Seven Seas Cruises? Are they really worth the money? Regent Cruises are a luxury cruise company with 3 small ships the largest holding 700 passengers. The ships have all Suite accommodation, all having private balconies apart from just 37 suites on Navigator which are window suites.
Each accommodation offers a lounge style seating area, dressing table, expansive walk in wardrobe and marble appointed bathroom. In the evening you can dine on your balcony and choose from the restaurant menu served course by course to your stateroom. Suites range from 301 square feet for a Deluxe suite up to 2002 square feet for the master suite onboard the Mariner.

In a Regent Suite:

Walk in closet
Marble appointed bathrooms

Egyptian linens and feather down duvets on King sized beds
Separate seating and dining area to dine or relax
Flat screen TV with interactive features
Full stocked fridge replenished daily
Hair dryer with safe
Plush bath robes and slippers

So what do you get included in a Regent Cruise?

For 2011 sailings these are some of the things offered on a Regent cruise.

Free return economy flights on every cruise from selected UK airports.
Free unlimited shore excursions on every cruise in every port. (Based on first come first served basis)
Free transfers to and from the ship
All Gratuities
All fine dining
All drinks and beverages including premium branded spirits and selected champagnes
24 hour room service and in suite dining
Ice Cream parlour
UK news roundup delivered daily to your door.

Regent Seven Seas cruises offer lots of itineraries ranging from a world cruise to 7 nights around the Mediterranean. 7 nights start from £2359pp. Great prices considering what you are getting included.

I am off to see the Regent Voyager on Saturday 5th June for a tour of the ship and lunch onboard, so I will let you know more after my visit.

See this review

Have you cruised French Polynesia?

2010-05-28T11:25:00.005+01:00

Do you know much about this area? Who cruises this part of the world? Well I am going to give you a bit more information on the area and which cruise lines cruise here. Spread over a vast area about the size of Europe is the widely scattered 118 islands and atolls of French Polynesia that are part of an overseas territory of France.
They are divided into 5 groups the Society archipelago is the most well known. It includes the Islands of Bora Bora, Moorea and Tahiti. About 61% of the population of French Polynesia live on the Island of Tahiti. The official languages here are French and Tahitian. The currency is Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique Franc. Cruise lines will visit the area between October through to April. The climate at this time will be around 30 degree Celsius. The busiest season is the Christmas period.

Papeete
Papeete is the capital of French Polynesia and is located on the Island of Tahiti. Here you can discover Arahurahu Marae where traditional Tahitian religious rituals were held before the advent of Christianity, or you can take a few snaps of the waterfalls.

Bora Bora
Bora Bora is known as 'The Pearl of the Pacific'. The Island is surrounded by a lagoon and a reef and is centred on an extinct volcano. The population here is 7,250 residents. There is plenty to do here with water sports, relaxation and shopping.

Moorea
Moorea is Polynesia's second most popular tourist attraction after Tahiti. It is encircled by a lagoon of translucent green and the blue of the Polynesian sea. Moorea is unique in the French Polynesia for having both white and black sand beaches. There is plenty to do here discovering the Octagonal church, the oldest European building still in the South Pacific or relaxing on the white sands of Afareaitu.

So which cruises lines travel to French Polynesia? The most popular companies cruising to this area are Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Royal Caribbean. Some itineraries will be quite long about 36 days but there are still plenty of options to do a 14 night sailing. You will find a lot of the itineraries will start or finish in Los Angeles and Honolulu. A 15 night cruise on the Royal Princess starts at £2499pp. You will find that you will spend longer in the ports either a full day or a full day and overnight. This gives you plenty of time to explore the Islands. If you would like any more information on French Polynesia please contact me.

Online Ticketing for NCL Epic Entertainement

2010-05-22T10:22:00.005+01:00

I have recently heard that the new NCL Epic launching next month will feature a pre-cruise online reservation system for select onboard entertainment. The Epic is changing the face of cruise line entertainment with its world class line up including Blue Man Group, Cirque Dreams and Dinner, Legends in Concert and Nickelodeon at sea.
NCL Epic guests will be able to pre book reservations prior to their cruise. Booked guests will log onto the NCL website and log into My NCL section to visit the special entertainment page where they can select and reserve their chosen performance. Guests will be able to make one reservation for each show once per sailing. The online booking system will open 45 days prior to the sailing date. You will still have the chance to book these onboard either through the TV system or at the Box Office. NCL Epic guests will have many entertainment options and venues to choose from. The Blue Man Group will perform eight shows per sailing, Legends in Concert, six performances, Nickelodeon Slime time Live, three shows, Cirque Dreams and Dinner will be performed 12 shows per cruise. There will be Breakfast with Nickelodeon three mornings. There will also be a special Murder Mystery called Presumed Murdered also onboard, this will happen once per sailing.

I think that NCL really are taking entertainment to another level. Giving you the option to pre book the shows will really work. The last thing you want when on a cruise is to get to the show venue at least half an hour before a show to make sure you get a seat. You could plan the whole week for your entertainment if you wanted to. NCL Epic is taking NCL to another level. I am looking forward to going on her for the launch next month. I will post more information after my visit.

Chicago the musical on the Allure of the Seas

2010-05-16T10:00:00.005+01:00

I have recently heard that the hit musical Chicago is going to be debuting on the Royal Caribbean's brand new ship Allure of the Seas. The Musical will be the headline production in the ship's 1380 state of the art Amber theatre.

The Allure of the Seas will start sailing from port Everglades later this year. Chicago has been played in some of the most illustrious venues and continues to show in New York and London. The show will be condensed slightly to fit into the 90 run time onboard. I really love the show Chicago it is a great story and some great songs including All That Jazz and the Cell Block Tango. I think it will be really good combined with such a fun filled ship. The Allure of the Seas will share the title of the world's largest and most revolutionary cruise ship with sister ship Oasis of the Seas. Oasis featured in a previous blog has the musical Hairspray onboard.

The Allure of the Seas will carry 5,400 guests at double occupancy and have 2,700 staterooms. The ship will alternate with eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. It will have the exclusive neighbourhood themes onboard including Central Park and Boardwalk.

Have you seen the musical Chicago before? Do you think you would go on the ship to experience the ship with such a top show?

Viva Las Vegas

2010-05-10T19:54:00.002+01:00

I have just come back off a week's holiday to Las Vegas. I Didn't think we were even going to make it will all the Volcano ash problems and then had the risk of not getting back as the Volcano started up again. It was my first time to Vegas and I defiantly want to go back.
After booking so many clients there who go year after year I wanted to see what the fuss was about. We stayed at the Mirage which has a feature of an erupting Volcano nightly. (Very apt really with the Icelandic Volcano) I made sure I visited all the hotels on the strip so if anyone asks me what I would recommend I can now give my view. When people knew I was going for a week they thought it seemed too

long as most people only spend a few nights there, but for me personally a week worked out well. There is so much to see and do there that I could explore at my leisure without rushing around. All the hotels have something different to offer and there is something to suit every budget. Our hotel was positioned quite well on the strip but the Bellagio I think would be the most central of the strip. As the strip is over 6 miles long there was a lot of walking involved, being central would have made this a little easier. I managed to do a Helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon on the one day and also took in a couple of shows The Jersey Boys and Cirque du Soleil Beatles Love show. This was the first time I have seen a Cirque du Soleil show and I would like to see some of the others. One of my past passengers has seen all of the Cirque du soleil shows in Vegas and has stayed at lots of the hotels. I really would like to go back here but certainly wouldn't need a week again.

I wouldn't mind combining it with maybe a Cunard package to do a 4 night stay in Vegas, 3 nights in New York then a 7 night transatlantic crossing. They are good value packages starting at £1149pp. I also had thought about maybe doing a package myself so could do a few nights in Vegas then fly to Miami to do a week cruise. There are so many ways you could combine Las Vegas into a holiday I would certainly recommend doing it. I am hooked on Vegas and will defiantly be booking up to go again.

Icelandic Volcano. How Frustrated am I?

2010-04-20T10:08:00.004+01:00

Just as we thought the Icelandic Volcano was settling down and flights have started to depart we now have the fear of a new ash cloud to cover the UK. I have my sister stuck out in Majorca with a flight home hopefully this Sunday and then I am due to fly out to Las Vegas next Wednesday.
We have tried to keep my sister laughing and joking while she is stranded but she is so fed up and wants to come home. We joked she wouldn't be back for a few years and will be married with two kids in tow when she returns. I can totally understand how people are feeling having family and loved ones stranded and also the people who aren't going to make their holiday and lose money. I am still holding out hope for my flight next week but all I keep thinking is how much money I will lose. Having booked everything separately and not as a full package I am due to lose a lot of money. I have tours and shows booked which I am due to lose. I have taken so many calls over the last few days where people have booked their cruise as a cruise only and arranged their own flights. This is now causing problems as the cruise lines won't refund if only on a cruise only basis. I really can feel the frustration people have when they call in worried about their cruise. Does this pay us to book our flights and hotels etc separately or are we better to stick to a full fly package? Is it really worth taking out Insurance too? Not all insurance companies are willing to pay out as it is classed as An Act of God. Can we really carry on like this? What are we going to do if it lasts for months?

Sample Menus from Queen Victoria

2010-04-13T14:11:00.004+01:00

One of my clients has just come back off the Queen Victoria and has sent me a copy of the menus from the Britannia restaurant. I thought it would be good to share this with you as I have so many people ask what sort of food to expect while onboard. Here are some of the great foods you can expect on an evening meal....

APPETIZERS AND SOUPS
Creamy Chicken and vegetable Soup with Fresh Herbs
Prosciutto Ham and melon, Field Greens and Arugula, Fig Chutney
Chilled Pineapple and Apple Soup
Vegetable and Mango spring roll, Sweet Chilli Dip
Crab salad with buttermilk Caesar Dressing

SALAD
Frisee and Mixed Greens, Cherry Tomatoes and Basil Dressing
Cos salad and Belgian Endive, Vine Tomatoes, Green Beans and Blue Cheese Dressing
Arugula, Red Oak and Radicchio, Smoked Chicken and Roasted Peaches, Stilton Dressing

ENTREES
Spinach Ravioli, melted Cherry Tomatoes with Basil Parmesan Cheese
Singapore Noodles with Shrimps and Scallops, Sweet Chilli Sauce
Lamb Shanks, Whipped Potatoes, Caramelised Root Vegetables, Rioja Sauce
Herb-Honey and Lemon Marinated Roast Chicken, Duchesse Potato, Rosemary Scented Port Jus
Beef Tenderloin Tips, Wild Mushroom Ragout and truffle Mash
Vegetable Cottage Pie with sweet Potato and Jarsberg

DESSERTS
Chocolate Lava Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream
Black Forest Cake and Cherry Compote
Warm Apple Strudel with brandy Sauce
Strawberry, Vanilla and Coconut Ice Creams
Cheese Selection, Smoked Cheddar, Brie, Edam, Goats Cheese

There should be something to suit everyone on here. Cunard also offer a Spa selection at the top of each menu so if you want to stick to a healthy diet while onboard this is the one to look out for.
Have you travelled with Cunard and tried any of this food?

Food Carvings at Sea

2010-04-07T11:19:00.004+01:00

On nearly every cruise I have been on there has been a special food carving display for one of the midnight buffets. This is normally called the Midnight Gala Buffet. The event takes days to prepare and they produce some of the most interesting pieces of art you could see.
They have Ice sculptures, animals made out of food and sculpted deserts. The people who produce this buffet are very talented. It must be horrible for them spending so much time putting their sculpture together and then it being eaten within minutes of it being on display. They normally open the buffet first for viewing so that passengers can take photos before it gets eaten. When I was on MSC Poesia last August they really went to town on their buffet. There were so many sculptures with butter, fish, bread and lots of sweet things.

Some of the sculptures were massive and must have taken ages to put together. It is normal for ships to put on a midnight buffet but nothing comes close to a Gala Buffet. I know from hearing people talk now that these buffets will probably soon be extinct as people just don't seem interested anymore. I think that the actual midnight buffets themselves have started to go downhill on the last few cruises I have been on but the Gala buffet has still been going strong. Have you seen any Gala buffets at sea? Do you think they are a good idea or just a waste of food and time?

Enhancing Private Islands with NCL

2010-04-02T13:21:00.002+01:00

Following my blog regarding Cruise lines Private Islands I thought I would let you know how NCL are enhancing their Island Great Stirrup Cay. Great Stirrup Cay is located 120 miles east of Fort Lauderdale in the Berry Island chain in the Bahamas. The 250 acre island will undergo renovation costing over $20 million. It will take about 22 months to complete and should be finished by the end of 2011.
NCL have four ships that regularly call at Great Stirrup Cay throughout the year, Norwegian gem, Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Jade and Norwegian pearl.
Highlights of the enhancements include an expanded beach front, Island excursions, additional dining facilities, private beachside cabanas and a new kid's area. The first phase of the improvements is already underway. This includes a new entrance channel for tenders and an arrival area with welcome pavilion. Once completed the beach front will accommodate more guests.

The second phase will include the new dining areas and bar facilities, a band station, straw market and beach and volleyball courts. There will be new island activities added and will include wave runners, a floating aqua park and Kayak tours.
NCL has owned this Island since 1977 when it became the first cruise line to offer a tropical island experience exclusively for its guests.
I don't know whether I think they are taking it all too far. The beaches are private and for NCL guests only but surely would be over crowded if everybody decided to get off the ship. Do you really need all these extra activities and facilities when the ships themselves offer so much to do?

Are Cruise Line's Private Islands worth a visit?

2010-03-28T10:58:00.004+01:00

One of the highlights when on a cruise to the Bahamas is to stop at a cruise line's Private Island. They offer everything you could want for a full day in the sun. They have crystal clear waters, water sports, beachside service, and plenty of hammocks among palm trees. The Islands are owned by the cruise lines and are for the use of their guests for the day. There is only ever one ship in port at a time so there is plenty of space for everyone.

The cruise lines that have their own Private Islands in the Bahamas are:

Half Moon Cay - Holland America Line
Castaway Cay - Disney Cruise Line
Princess Cays - Princess Cruises
CocoCay - Royal Caribbean
Great Stirrup Cay - NCL

The Islands are little cities with full time inhabitants with water treatment facilities and a post office. They have bars, restaurants, shopping, restrooms, water sports and tour huts. Every day before a ship arrives into port the Island crew prepare the Island by raking the beach, putting out the beach chairs and umbrellas etc. The cruise lines provide towels for the day and you can normally get off the ship at around 9am.

There will be a wide choice of water sports and activities to keep you entertained for the day including,
Catamarans
Horseback Riding

Beach Volleyball
Banana Boat Rides
Open Air Massages
Live Entertainment
Snorkelling

When you have worked up an appetite there is no need to get back on the ship for lunch as an Island style Barbecue is served. They offer all you can eat buffets to enjoy including Barbecue Chicken, Hot Dogs, Beans, Coleslaw, Salads, Fresh fruit, Desserts and coffee, tea, punch, juice etc.
There will be additional charges for beer, bottles water and tropical drinks but this all goes to your shipboard account.

If you have already travelled to the Private Islands before then you can always stay onboard the ship as it will be crowd free and enjoy all the ship has to offer. Everything is still open for you to enjoy. The ship would then set sail around 5pm.

Have you ever been to one of the private islands? It has been rumoured that all the Cruise Lines use the same Island but call it their own on the day they are in port. What do you think on this? Do you know of any other Private Islands?

Open seating on Crystal Cruises

2010-03-22T14:01:00.003Z

Crystal cruises are finally following in other 6 star cruise lines footsteps by introducing open seating for dining starting in 2011. This is a welcome enhancement to the onboard experience with Crystal as so many clients seem a bit put off by the fixed classic dining.
The dining will be offered complimentary in the Crystal dining room by reservation. There will be an online priority check in system in place from July 2010 to enable fully paid guests who opted for open dining to make nightly reservations in advance of their cruise. This is in addition to the reservations in the speciality restaurants. Tables for two, four, six and eight are available for dinner reservations and reservation times and table size can vary each night. If a specific time is unavailable the reservation system will suggest an alternative. There is no other cruise line in the luxury market offering this choice of personalised luxury dining. Will this now appeal to more people I wonder or the fact it still has to be booked each evening still not be as open as you think?

Baltic Beauty

2010-03-16T12:17:00.003Z

The problem for many people is that going to the Baltic means going north where British cruisers like to follow the sun south. A lot of people don't know enough about the Baltic and it has so much to offer. St Petersburg is the big attraction that is why many cruise ships will spend two days in port here.
You can also visit Estonia, Gdansk in Poland, Stockholm, Helsinki and Copenhagen. English is widely spoken in these countries which I always find helps. Where the ship docks in all these places can vary. Somewhere like Tallinn is about a 10 minute walk to the centre from the port and Stockholm is a 20 minute walk. One of the main problems with cruising the Baltics is the fact you need different currencies for the different countries. They all have their own currency. The cruise lines will cruise the Baltic between May and September. Within this time there really isn't a best time to travel. The weather can really very.

So what are the highlights of the Baltic?

A night at the Ballet or Opera in St Petersburg.
The church in the Rock in Helsinki
The fountains of Peterhof
A river excursion from Gdansk to Westerplatte
A day trip to Berlin

What are the top tips for visiting?

Buy local currency at the first port, then you can change whatever is left at the next, and so on.
Take the Ships shore excursions in St Petersburg where possible as this saves you having to purchase a visa.
Book your shore excursions in advance to guarantee you your preferred trips.

So who are some of the cruise lines sailing to the Baltic?

Fred Olsen
Princess Cruises
Cunard
P&O
Costa
MSC

Have you travelled to the Baltic? What was your best bit?

Are Art Auctions a waste of Money?

2010-03-11T09:42:00.002Z

Whenever I go on a cruise I am always totally shocked by the Art Auctions. I can't personally see why you would go on holiday and come back with a piece of art worth thousands of pounds. These pieces of art can take up so much space and they are huge paintings.
The art auction revolution began about 10 years ago when Park West Gallery proposed taking their act to sea. Since then it has just grown and grown and now have dedicated rooms just for this event. So what happens at the auction? Well they start off giving you free champagne on the first day of auction this is to encourage you to bid. You will always find as the cruise goes on more pieces of art will be auctioned. Walking round the ship you see the artwork out on display. I can never get over how expensive these things are. So it may be fun bidding and the excitement of you having the highest bid, but are they a waste of money. How do you know if you are being ripped off? Are the pieces genuine? Maybe a wise idea to do some research while onboard the ship of the art piece you are interested in. It is always best to treat art auctions the same as gambling in the casinos. You need to know your limits. Don't get carried away with the emotion of bidding. What are your views on art auctions?

Who's your best Entertainer?

2010-03-09T09:37:00.004Z

Do you remember the entertainment onboard your last cruise? What ship stood out for you on entertainment? The entertainment onboard a ship is a big part of your cruise. We don't want to go on holiday and be bored as there isn't much to do.
Entertainment will run day and night onboard a ship. Daytime entertainment is more your bingo and games and entertainment around the pool.

The sail away parties always go down well, P&O and Fred Olsen make a big thing of these a few times throughout your cruise. It is the evening entertainment that really attracts me. Where would we be without a good Broadway style show or a tribute act? Most cruise lines will have their own dancing troop that will perform different shows through the cruise. The bigger the ship the more spectacular these shows tend to be. Some of the best shows I have seen at sea were onboard P&O Aurora, Cunard Queen Victoria and Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas. All were different in their own way. Royal Caribbean really have lots to offer with the ice skating shows they put on in the rink and the royal promenade carnival style shows they put on, these are on top of the theatre shows. When I was onboard the Queen Victoria we watched an old time musical type of show which was different to anything I have seen before. Can I remember any of the other acts I have seen while cruising? I found that the Bootleg Beatles tribute act were a really good laugh onboard the Fred Olsen Braemar. I have also seen Andrea Bocelli perform on MSC Poesia which was great and Tom Jones tribute on the Ocean Village. I am not really into comedians so can't really comment on these. What was your favourite act at sea? Do you think there is enough entertainment on cruise ships? It would be nice to hear your comments.

Do we Sunbathe like Sardines?

2010-03-04T16:42:00.005Z

Do we really feel that there is enough deck space onboard a ship to sunbathe? The cruise lines try to cram in as many sun beds as possible that you can't even attempt to turn your bed. If you are like me I like to follow the sun around in the day and constantly be facing the sun. I always have to try and get a sun bed on the end of a row so that I can at least turn slightly throughout the day.

It doesn't seem to be as bad in the day when the ship is in port as people are coming and going all the time so there always seem to be free sun beds and I can move it to suit me. What a nightmare Sea days can be though you have to be up at the crack of dawn for a start to actually get a sun bed (How this reminds me of being on a land based holiday), then you are rammed in that close you can join into the persons conversation next to you. You have to try and find a secluded spot in hope nobody else has found it. I hate feeling cramped and like my own space so how can you avoid this? Are all ships like this I ask myself? Well no they are not. I never had trouble when I was on Fred Olsen's Braemar and also P&O Oceana. I have not been fortunate enough to experience a six star cruise but I can imagine that there is loads on deck space for your sun bed. There was plenty of deck space and I could move my sun bed how I pleased. Is this because these are smaller cruise ships? Do the larger cruise ships really have enough space to cater for all passengers on seas days? How do you find the sun beds when you are at sea?

Do you remember your Cruise Director's name?

2010-03-03T13:59:00.003Z

Can you remember the names of your favourite cruise directors or are they just a blur? I must admit I have done many cruises over the years and I can't really remember any of their names or even if I rated them. I should be able to remember some of their names as they have such a big part in making your cruise run smoothly.
I never really knew how much work they have to actually do until I was onboard the Oceana last year. A friend of the family is the assistant cruise director onboard the Oceana and is married to the cruise director of the Oceana. There is so much paperwork they have to deal with and they are there to look after the welfare of the entertainment staff onboard also. Every successful cruise requires a cruise director. Essentially the cruise director serves as the planner for all shipboard entertainment and activities. They ensure that all social events are well coordinated but mainly they are the main source of information to passengers to have a great cruise. We see quite a lot of the cruise director on a sailing whether it be introducing the shows or being at the Sunday service and just being there around the ship ready to answer your questions.

Cruise Directors at Sea

Ian Walters on Arcadia
Hughie Taylor on Oceana
Rob Boyd on Ventura
Keith Cox on Grand Princess
Ray Rouse on QM2
Karen Maybury on Norwegian Jade

Can you remember your Cruise Director from your last cruise? Do these people really stand out? I have never really thought about it before but these people do such a great job making your cruise a good experience, how can we forget their names?

How many Toilet Rolls?

2010-03-02T15:25:00.003Z

Have you ever wondered how much food and supplies cruise lines have to provision for on a 7 night sailing? You can't really even start to imagine how much they would get through in one week. Well here are just some of the sorts of figures that a 2000 passenger ship would need for a smooth sailing.

Onboard Hotel Supplies
22,560 Rolls of Toilet Tissue
680,000 Paper Towels
70,900 Cutlery Pieces
79,208 Glasses
34,470 Table Napkins
48,292 Bed Linens

Food and Drink
24,236 Pounds of Beef
7,216 Pounds of Pork
10,211 Pounds of Chicken
25,736 Pounds of Fresh Vegetables
15,150 Pounds of Potatoes
3,260 Gallons of Milk
600 Gallons of Ice Cream
9,235 Dozen Eggs
1,750 Pounds of Cereal
2,450 Tea Bags
200 Bottles of Champagne
3,400 Bottles of assorted Wine
10,100 Bottles/Cans of Beer
290 Bottles of Vodka

Galley Equipment
44 Coffee Machines
180 Refrigerators
60 Stoves
35,592 Dishes used Per Day

Of course not all the food will be consumed during one voyage but a ship must keep a percentage in reserve to allow for delays. The figures include all restaurants, room service, bars and lounges, as well as all baking and confectionery supplies for officers and crew as well as passengers.

SAMBA to the sounds of BRAZIL

2010-02-25T10:31:00.004Z

I have taken a few calls over the last few days of clients looking for a cruise to South America. Well MSC Cruises will be operating half a dozen ships in South America calling at the ports of Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo and lots more in autumn 2010. A cruise to South America I feel is the best way to see this vibrant continent without the hassles of making your own way there.

Brazil is one of the most beautiful countries on earth. It's a country of mythic proportions and great contrasts. From the passion of Rio's carnival to the Amazon jungle it has something to offer everyone. Rio de Janeiro is a major tourist attraction known throughout the world for its breathtaking coastlines and colourful festivals. You could take a journey to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain which is a major highlight in Rio. The top of this is reached by cable car and offers great views over the beaches and the whole city. Every year millions of Brazilians participate by forming parades in the world's famous carnival. The parade stadium holds up to 70,000 spectators all letting go to the rhythm of samba.

MSC will be offering transatlantic itineraries over to South America. Here are the details of some fantastic cruise deals:

MSC Armonia
20th September 2010 18 nights
Venice, Dubrovnik, La Goulette, Malaga, Funchal, Tenerife, Recife, Salvador de Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Santos.

MSC Orchestra
18th October 2010 17 nights
Genoa, Barcelona, Lisbon, Casablanca, Tenerife, Recife, Salvador de Bahia, Rio de Janeiro and Santos.

MSC Musica
31st October 2010 18 nights
Venice, Dubrovnik, Valletta, Malaga, Funchal, Tenerife, Fortaleza, Recife, Salvador de Bahia, Rio de Janeiro.

MSC Lirica
1st November 2010 21 nights
Genoa, Marseilles, Barcelona, Cadiz, Casablanca, Arrecife, Tenerife, Recife, Salvador de Bahia, Buzios, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires.

MSC Opera
25th November 2010 18 nights
Venice, Katakolon, Valletta, Malaga, Casablanca, Agadir, Arrecife, Recife, Salvador de Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Santos.

MSC Melody
4th December 2010 17 nights
Genoa, Valencia, Lisbon, Funchal. Tenerife, Salvador de Bahia.

Cruise only prices for these cruises start at £400 per person for the MSC Melody. By booking cruise only this gives you the opportunity to stay longer in Rio and make the most of your South America.

Fred Olsen 2011

2010-02-23T15:33:00.005Z

Fred Olsen's preview 2011 brochure goes on sale on 25 February. It features sailings from April 2011 to October 2011. Fred Olsen who is a British cruise line always seems to be one of the first to get in with new itineraries.

The best time to book with them is from their Preview brochure because as soon as they launch their main 2011/2012 which will be about May the prices will increase. I have a lot of past passengers with Fred Olsen and past passengers don't only receive our Cruise.co.uk discount they also receive a 5% discount from Fred Olsen as long as we are outside of 6 months to sailing. A lot of passengers will also be able to guarantee their choice of cabin by booking so early. With a limited number of wheelchair accessible cabins and only so many suites with clear views it is certainly worth booking up ahead. There are 4 ships to choose from with Fred Olsen so there is plenty of choice for itineraries to suite everyone. For more information on the new Fred Olsen itineraries please do not hesitate to contact me for further information.

Beat the Rush!

2010-02-20T10:46:00.005Z

2011 Itineraries and prices will soon be launched with all cruise lines. NCL and Royal Caribbean will be launched at the end of March and P&O, Princess and Cunard towards end of April. Fred Olsen already has their preview brochure out and it goes on sale end of February.

It is always a busy time for us as so many people like to get in early and be able to pick their cabin and get the best price. The build up to launch dates are always very busy with clients registering their interest in particular itineraries. Past passengers will receive brochures from the cruise lines or we can send you the latest information on itineraries. A lot of my past passengers book at launch time as they know they are getting a great deal. Once you have chosen your 2011 itinerary we will be taking down all details before the date the cruise ships go on sale like we are making your booking there and then. This then saves you on the day the itinerary going on sale having to struggle to get through to us over the phone and you can sit back and relax and wait for a phone call to say your cabin has all been booked. We have been using this system for quite a while now and it works very well. Don't miss out on getting your chosen cabin or paying a higher price. Pre register your interest with me today to receive all the latest information on the launch.

Goodbye Ocean Village

2010-02-18T10:13:00.006Z

Ocean Village's final voyage will go on sale on 8th March. I have some fond memories of the Ocean Village. I remember when she first launched and then sailed on her myself for a week around the Mediterranean. I can remember thinking am I going to enjoy this ship being so different to anything I had been on and I was pleasantly surprised. It is just so laid back and plenty to do onboard. The cabins were a really good size too and such a variety of food.

There will be 2 farewell voyages

Fond Farewell - 21 Oct 2010
23 nights sailing Heraklion to Singapore
Prices lead in from £1889pp

The Big Goodbye - 14 Oct 2010
30 nights sailing Heraklion to Heraklion then the above Itinerary
Prices lead in from £2199pp

There will be no children prices on either of these itineraries they will pay full adult fares.

What great itineraries to say goodbye to Ocean Village!

Alaskan Adventure

2010-02-17T10:36:00.005Z

I took a call the other day from a client who is keen to cruise Alaska next year. How do you know the best time to travel? What itineraries are best? Who should I cruise with? Well here is my guide to cruising Alaska..............
The shoulder seasons are the best times to visit Alaska, May and September. Cruise ships will sail Alaska from May through to September. Alaska has a shorter visitor season so availability is very limited.

May is a good time to visit with consistently good weather along with excellent wildlife viewing. The larger animals appear more at this time as they are migrating and are in lower elevations where snow has disappeared. September is also a prime time to visit Alaska. The Fall comes early to Alaska so there are many blazing yellow and red trees. Denali National Park at this time will have fresh snow on the peaks and still be dry lower down. You will also see wildlife at this time late season as they are attempting to pack on as much winter weight as they can before the winter sets in.
June 21st is the longest day of the year and there are 19 hours of daylight on Anchorage and 22 in Fairbanks. Alaska's sky is light nearly all night from late May to late July. May will be the driest month with a 25% chance of rain where August goes up to a 50% chance. Temperatures in Alaska are pleasant in the day ranging from 60 to 80F.

Princess Cruises are certainly the one to try if you want to experience this destination. They offer lots of different tours and land tours. Why not try a Canadian Rockies land tour either by coach or the Rocky Mountaineer Train? There are some great 5 and 6 night tours to choose from. Princess cruises also own their own coaches and lodges out there so they are defiantly worth a go. Your always need to book up early for this destination so it is best to book as soon as the new brochures come out to guarantee your chosen tour and cruise date. Contact me for more information on cruises toAlaska.

Cabin Fever

2010-02-10T11:04:00.003Z

Can you imagine going on a cruise and getting confined to your cabin. Well this does happen and it happens more than we think. The norovirus sickness bug is one of the biggest bugs at sea. The first symptom of the bug is a sudden onset of nausea which normally is followed by projectile vomiting and diarrhoea. The symptoms don't normally start until 24 to 48 hours after the initial infection this is why it spreads so quickly onboard a ship.
You will be confined to your cabin if you catch this bug probably for about 2 to 3 days. This could ruin your holiday. I was lucky in a sense when I caught this bug as I wasn't ill until the day I returned from my cruise. This bug really does knock you so it must be awful to be away on your holiday stuck looking at the 4 walls of your cabin. There is not much you can do to speed up your recovery if you go down with norovirus, just to drink lots of water and let time do it's healing. The Cruise lines do really try to stop this bug but not everyone abides by the ships hygiene routine. I am quite shocked how Fred Olsen recently has always got the norovirus as they to me are a very clean ship. They have the sanitising hand wash all over the ship and every time you enter a restaurant you are asked to wash your hands. All ships now are very up on making you wash your hands. I was on P&O 6 months back and we had to wash out hands when we boarded the ship and in the buffet restaurant every time you enter through the food area you have to wash your hands, so if you had forgotten your cutlery etc you were washing your hands a few times in the space of minutes. I found this very excessive but looking back now this is the best way to stay clear of bugs. The norovirus is not nice to have so it is best to really be careful while away by washing your hands after touching door handles, hand rails and entering food areas etc.