Dylan Discovers Cruise

Now is the time to book!

2012-02-14T09:23:00.001Z

Over the past five years I have been here, there have only been a few occasions when the prices of cruises really have been too good to miss. Since Friday P and O and Cunard have had a four day sale on, where if you book an Inside you get a balcony. No gimmicks you really do get a balcony. Unfortunately this sale ended yesterday, but don't worry if you are still looking to get away this year Princess Cruises are running another sale that started yesterday!

Although in this sale you do not get upgraded from a inside to a balcony. The prices are the real pulling point. Prices start in between £50-£60 per person per night. You may expect this to be on all off peak dates but, you would be wrong. The deals are especially good for family's in the Summer holidays! There is a full range of itineraries, 7,10,12,14 and 17 nights that visit Fjords, Med, Baltic and many more.This will defiantly only be running until the 21st February, so if you are interested act now.

The reason for this universal price drop is probably down to a combination of things. It may be down to the economic down turn or people just hanging on for a late deal. Either way there are still many ships, with many berths that need to be filled. In order for the cruise lines to do get the ball rolling they need to do something drastic. So hence the four day Sale! let me know if you have any questions or if you want to get anything booked!

Cruising Is Still The Safest Way To Travel!

2012-02-07T10:01:00.000Z

In a previous blog I talked about how I thought the Costa tragedy would affect the cruise industry. Well on a recent study by Luxury Cruise News, it turns out that more than two-thirds of cruisers say the recent capsizing of the Concordia has not affected their future cruise plans. What to know more? Then read on...........

When asked if the capsizing had affected future cruise plans, respondent’s replied as below:-

34% said they would be more aware of cruise lines’ safety procedures before they book
39% said that that this has no effect whatsoever
And 1% of survey participants cancelled an existing cruise and do not plan to cruise in the future

The safety report also showed past and future Cruisers mostly planned to stick to their cruising plans, while making a renewed commitment to safety procedures in the wake of the accident that claimed at least 17 lives.

So what do you think? Has this changed your views on cruising? Have you cancelled a cruise or will you still continue to cruise in the near future? Whatever happens, statically Cruising is still the safest way to travel, but as before it is still not for everyone. As normal let me know your views!

A Set Back For Liverpool!

2012-01-31T10:25:00.001Z

For a while now a conflict has going on over a proposed Mersey port's plans to upgrade its facilities. You may remember that in a previous blog I talked about the ambitious new plans for the Liverpool cruise terminal…….

The Pier Head Terminal is to receive an estimated £18 million in aid from the Government and Europe to help develop its new project. The problem has been that the current turnaround trade from the industrial backwater of Langton Dock is very unpopular with cruise lines and their passengers. Southampton and other established UK ports have argued that it is a wrong use of public money as this will go to help a commercial a commercial enterprise.

So it comes as great news to Southampton that a rival city's plans to cash in on the cruising boom have taken another knock. Liverpool has offered to give back £5.3 million of the aid it had already received but Southampton still argued they would be faced with unfair competition. Shipping minister Mike Penning has ruled against Liverpool, saying there are "persuasive arguments that this level of repayment would be insufficient to reflect the adverse impact on competition with other ports. I therefore intend shortly to seek independent advice on a more appropriate figure."

Liverpool City Council leader Joe Anderson says the offer to repay £5.3m was "fair and reasonable" and he welcomed the independent review proposed by the government. But he accepted that the city was "back to square one" in its bid to bring more cruise business to Merseyside.

Looks like it will still be quite a while until Liverpool gives Southampton a run for its money!

Have you been put off?

2012-01-24T14:31:00.000Z

With the tragic news about the Costa Concordia dominating the headlines over the last week. The question everyone is asking is "Will this put people off cruising?" Over the past week almost every person I have quoted or even talked to has mentioned it in one form or another. Was the cruise line prepared enough? Could it of been prevented? Will it have a knock on effect and impact the industry? Lots of questions have been asked which I'm sure will all come out in time, but for now this is what we know.....................

Costa is not a massively popular cruise line in the UK anyway. After this I'm sure there will be even fewer UK based clients wanting to sail with them. Abroad I imagine they still may do OK ,as Costa to Italy is what P&O is to the UK. Whatever the truth is, may it be human error, broken equipment etc, The fact is this happened to a Costa ship and unfortunately for them, mud sticks. Are their ships worse than others? The Costa brand and vessels are actually very good. The Concordia was one of their best. so in terms of what is on offer they are as good as any. But judging by the reaction of the people I have been talking to, it will take them a long time to recover.

Another question I keep getting asked is "Are we more quite as a whole?" January is a notoriously busy month for us. It is traditionally when people book holidays to get over the winter blues. This is my 5th January here, I can honestly say we are as busy as ever. Most past cruise guests will realise that this event was a one off tragic accident, and still see cruising to be the safest way to travel. On the other hand, less experienced cruisers may find the opposite, and possibly be put off a future cruise.

Will cruising continue to be popular? I think it will be. People will still cruise the same that people will still fly. Major cruise lines are reviewing all their safety procedures, its just such a shame, that it as come at such a high cost for the poor people who lost their life last week. My thoughts are with them all.

Another new Cruise Ship for 2012!

2012-01-17T13:59:00.001Z

Another week, another new launch! You will probably remember that last week I looked at what new cruise ships are being launched this year, and what to expect. Specifically I went into great detail on Oceania's new ship Riviera, this week however we will be looking at the Carnival Breeze! The Carnival Breeze will be launching in June 2012 and will be Carnival's first real stint in Europe since they pulled The Carnival Splendour out of the area in 2009, want to know more? Then read on..........

The Breeze will offer 12 night Europe cruises out of Barcelona for the summer before starting its year around schedule of 6 and 8 night Caribbean cruises to and from Miami. The ship itself stands at 130,000 tons and has a operating capacity of 3,690 passengers (at double occupancy). Other than what is expected in terms of facility on all modern ships, what is new, and make this ship stand out from the rest?

The Breeze is the third of Carnival's Dream class ships, for those who are not familiar with this class, the top deck will have theme park style water park with slides with the addition of the Serenity adults only deck and lounge area. Really the target audience for this ship is families but really anyone who likes Royal Caribbean, Celebrity ,NCL etc, should feel right at home.

There is a new Sport Square on board which is an open air recreation complex with a ropes course, mini-golf, and outdoor fitness area. The Lanai features a wraparound promenade with whirlpools extending over both the ship's sides. At the risk of annoying Princess, Carnival has its own version of "Movies Under The Stars" in the form of a giant poolside LED screen for movies and videos. There is a huge gym and spa on board and as normal there is a extensive kids program to keep the nippers entertained.

My blog would not be complete if I did not mention the food on board. There are three main restaurants as standard, plus a steakhouse, Italian venue, sushi bar, deck grille, and a pub with a private beer label. So it will be very unlikely that you will go hungry. Entertainment options include a comedy club, piano bar, and multiple nightclubs. So this ship really can tick all the boxes.

If you would like to find out anymore, or have any questions, let me know!

What's new for 2012?

2012-01-10T15:03:00.001Z

New ships are released year on year with 2012 being no exception. The problem that faces each and every cruise line, is keeping their new product up to date, unique and getting potential customers excited about the new release. The Queen Elizabeth did this fantastically selling out top to bottom in under 30 minutes. It did have a little help being "billed" as the next QE2, so we can probably discount this as being one of a kind, but what do the new cruise ships and brands of 2012 have to offer us?.....................

Over the next few weeks I will look into a few of the new vessels launched this year and try to give you an overview of what to expect on board and what unique selling points are on offer. This week I will be looking at Oceania Cruises.

Oceania Cruises are releasing their second mid-sized new build in April. The new ship will be called the Riviera. Anyone who has travelled with Oceania before can agree that cuisine on board is as good as any other brand out there but, what is new?

The Riviera is actually the same as her older sister Marina. The official tag line that the Riviera is one of the most beautiful, elegant and sophisticated ships to debut over the past 50 years, is probably not as far from the mark as you may think, considering she is the same as Marina. There are Designer touches through out, from the magnificent Lalique Grand Staircase and stunning Owner's Suites furnished in Ralph Lauren Home.

The first thing you will notice is that this class of vessel, is a mid-sized ship. It is over twice the size of it's predecessors. There is still plenty of emphasis on deck space as the ship is 66,000 tonnes, yet she still only holds at maximum capacity 1250 guests. The staff to guest ratio is 1.56-1, so ther is one staff member to look after every 1.56 guests. Both Marina and Riviera offer guests a total of 10 dining venues, of which six are open-seating gourmet restaurants with no surcharge. This is brilliant news's for all foodies. The style on board is still country club casual, so no penguin suites are expected. There are also all the usual facilities you will come to expect also, libraries spa, gym etc.

In a nutshell, the Rivera has everything you have come to expect of the Oceania product and more. There is more great food, more destinations, a larger more modern ship offering the fine, glamorous style of times passed. The unparallelled service is still the same and each and every aspect of every cabin has been carefully thought out and designed to please you, the customer. I for one cannot wait to see what this ship is like, but for now we will just have to look at her older sibling or wait until April!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T17:33:00.000Z

After a well earned break (some may disagree) I am back in the office. I have a had a great Christmas and New year but, as of right now it is back to business. So anybody who has been finding it hard to cope without their weekly dose of Dylan Discovers, can breath a sigh of relief! I hope you all have had a fantastic 2011, and here is to an even better 2012 (Lets just hope the Mayans were wrong)! As usual please let me know if you have any questions or queries, but for now we will have to just wait until next week for the next informative and very interesting dose of Dylan Discovers!

Thank You!

2011-11-29T16:57:00.004Z

If you have spoken to me over the last month, you will probably remember I am going to be out of the office for the whole of December, as I have been telling anyone who will listen. Wednesday the 30th November is my last day in the office until 2nd January 2012. So let me take this opportunity to sincerely thank every one who has booked or come back to me in 2011. I really, really appreciate it. As normal if you have any enquires whilst I am off please call our main office line on 08004 086 200. So have a fantastic Christmas and a brilliant New Year and I will be back in January to pick up where I left off!

What's Your Favourite Cruise Ship Of 2011?

2011-11-22T15:12:00.000Z

Disney Cruise Line has won several accolades in the 2011 Cruise Critic Editors Picks Awards. The Disney Dream, not to be confused with its Thomson namesake set sail on its maiden voyage earlier this year. It won both the best new ship and best inside cabin awards. So with the industry choosing it's favourite new ship, what is your vote for the best cruise ship 2011? Unlike the Cruise Critic Awards the winner does not necessarily have to be a new ship, just a ship that you think deserves this accolade. So let’s look at a few possible contenders.........
The Solstice Class on Celebrity has been a massive favourite. The Eclipse is the ship I have heard most about, as it is probably the ship I have sold the most. I have heard nothing but excellent reports on the food, the service and most of all the ship. The hot glass show on the top deck, the real grass lawn on board and the Vodka Ice Bar are all huge unique selling points that have people returning in their hundreds.

The Independence of the Sea's is a difficult one to beat. If you are a family of any age, or retired couple this ship has something for everyone. This ship is all about the WOW factor. Rock climbing walls, Ice rinks, Broadway shows, pubs, restaurants and surf machines is just the start. Yes this is a big ship but with limitless activities on offer, you may as well leave boredom at home. The American style dinner Jonny Rockets is a firm favourite, serving Burgers, Hot Dogs and French fries . The Casino is unparalleled in size, with loads of slots and games on offer, here there is plenty of money to be lost here. The Irish Pub on board is what you would expect, good drink and great fun. Finally for the kids the H20 zone or mini water park keeps the youngsters entertained for hours on end.

Cunard's Queen Mary 2. A huge ship but not packed with cabins means lots of deck space and large staterooms. If you fancy a pampering, the QM2 has unparalleled Spa facilities in the Canyon Ranch Spa Club, it has a Illuminations Planetarium at sea, it even has an award winning restaurant on board Todd English. Fancy an afternoon Tea in the queens room serenaded by a string quartet, or maybe a read in the huge well stocked library, the Queen Mary has it all. If you want to bring a slice of home with you, you can play darts in the English pub, the Golden lion. Followed by fish and chips and Karaoke. On transatlantic sailings you can even bring you Cat and Dog on board!

The Grand Princess has recently been refitted and is massively popular with the UK market. This American ship has plenty of facilities on board with very high standards of service and food. For you meat lovers there is an excellent Steak House on board. All cabins come very well equipped. The unique selling point of this cruise is Movies under the stars! On a clear warm Mediterranean night, you can take to the top deck and relax eating popcorn watching Hollywood's latest Films. And if it is a Fjords Itinerary or somewhere maybe a little cooler. Blankets are provided or if you are feeling really brave you can watch the film from the warmth of the Jacuzzi.

Of course I could not go through every contender, as I do not have a spare 3 weeks so there are quite a few not mentioned. Everyone has their own opinion and favourite, so if you have time please let me know yours! As normal, let me know if you have any questions!

Wine and Cruising with Celebrity!

2011-11-15T16:49:00.000Z

If you have not already heard Celebrity cruises have announced that the Celebrity Constellation will be doing round trips from Southampton starting 5th September 2012. With the Eclipse doing so well over here Celebrity have taken the decision to bring another one of its big hitters to our shores. This will be great news for the no fly UK cruise market. The constellation was voted number 1 in the Top 10 Large Ships category by Condé Nast Traveller Reader's Choice Awards. Putting this aside, say if you have never heard about the constellation, what makes it stand out and why should you give it a try? Well read on............

The Constellation is a ship that is probably best for someone 40-plus looking for an experience that touches on both mainstream cruising and luxury brands. Normally the price can be compared to your P&O's, and Royal Caribbean's so for a 5 star luxury brand it is surprisingly affordable. The quality of food and service is superior to choices offered by other big ships, yet it still has the intimacy offered by smaller vessels. She has even just been revamped or "Solsticized" as Celebrity like to put it. This brings her directly up to date in line with the other Solstice Class Ships like Eclipse. So anyone who is interested in a flavourful steak in the sophisticated Tuscan Grille, or a sip of vodka at the ultra-cool, ice-topped Martini Bar then this is for you.

So what Itineraries are in store for this ship? If you see yourself as a bit of a Wino that this may be just the cruise for you. Titled "Immersive Europe Wine Cruises" you can visit the renowned wine countries of France, Spain and Portugal. You even have overnight stays in Le Havre (for Paris/Normandy) and Le Verdon (for Bordeaux), France, as well as Bilbao in Spain. This will give you plenty of time to sip Champagne in the "City of Light," taste robust Bordeaux in the land that bears its name, and relish fine Rioja wines. On board Cellar Masters can help you discover new wines, receive recommendations and enrich your knowledge of the world of wine.

These cruises have something for everyone offering 2-12 night cruises. Even if you are not into your wine, this is still an excellent product going to very interesting places so it is still well worth the trip. As normal please let me know if you have any questions!

Allo Allo Is Back!

2011-11-08T16:00:00.000Z

This may be a silly question but, anybody remember the BBC's hit comedy Allo Allo? I'm sure the answer is a resounding yes, as this famous Second World War comedy was very popular when it aired from 1982 - 1992. Although the comedy recorded its last show almost 20 years ago, it has become a British classic. So it comes as no surprise that Fred Olsen cruises are cashing in on the show’s popularity, want to find out more? Then read on........

Two of the shows main stars, Herr Otto Flick of the Gestapo (Richard Gibson) and Private Helga Geerhart (Kim Hartman) are to join Fred Olsen for two voyages in 2012. So any fans of the series now have the chance to meet the actors. Both Flick and Geerhart will be lecturing and performing on the theme of Comedy, this will be incorporated into Fred Olsen's cruise enrichment programme, Vistas.

I’m sure many of the show’s famous episodes and catchphrases will come into play as most have become part of our everyday language. Allo Allo has legions of fans mimicking the comic sounding accents and clueless antics of the French resistance and its many other characters, so to hear them first hand will be a treat.

For anyone who is interested in the program, this is not one to miss. There will be only two cruises so early booking is advised. The first is Canaries and Morocco cruise on the Boudicca 5th January and the second cruise a 25-night sector on Balmoral on the 9th March 2012. Although both cruises are not necessarily Allo Allo themed voyages, you can still have the best of both worlds on board. You can enjoy the warm climate and the standard cruise voyage with the added benefit of lectures and performances on board so win, win! If you want any further information please let me know.

Where Do Cruise Consultants Go On Holiday?

2011-11-01T20:28:00.001Z

With all of the exotic destinations that we sell on a day to day basis, you would probably expect that a Cruise Consultant may choose to go away somewhere far afield. Unfortunately you would be wrong. A small group of Cruise.co.uk staff travelled across to Sunny Minehead for 3 nights at Britain's equivalent of Disney. Somersets finest family establishment Butlins.

It was a family trip so we had kids and family's in tow, but was it good? I had never been to a Bultins before but they certainly don't do things by half's. You obviously cant compare this type of trip to a cruise voyage, but if you really had to, I would say its closest to a trip on the Oasis Of The Seas. I can hear the cries of disbelief already. Although this IS a very weak comparison, on both options there are unparalleled activities on offer and a lot of money has been spent on entertainment. So Is it worth saving yourself £1000's of pounds and visiting Butlins instead? NO!

You still get what you pay for. We did have a very good time this was down to the friends we went with and the resort was actually very good, but it still isn't quite measure up to a holiday abroad. Although unbelievably it was actually T-shirt weather the whole time we were there..............in October! The food was ok, but unfortunately both me and my wife fell ill on our last day. This could be a combination of either food poisoning, a winter bug or even swimming around in a pool of hundreds of kids, either way I hope we feel better soon! Well I'm back now for the rest of November so as usual, any questions please let me know!

How Late Is Too Late?

2011-10-25T09:46:00.000+01:00

When is it too late to book your cruise? A lot of my clients can go on a cruise at the drop of a hat and if you are in this situation there are probably some guidelines you should think about. Over the last few months I have been checking a certain cruise for one of my clients, each time we have checked the price had gone down slightly. Then this week when we checked it was sold out. So how do you avoid this from happening and still be confident you have a good price?

Without the benefit of hindsight there are a few things we can look at. Firstly you need to know what a good (realistic) price is. In the past 4 years I have I have only seen a cruise go under £50 per person, per night on a handful of occasions. So if the cruise you are looking at works out at £50pp pn, then book it. The same applies to balcony cabins, a good price for a balcony cabin is £100 pp pn, although it is double the price of the leading grade, £1400 for a 14 night cruise in a balcony, is still a very good fare. Unfortunatly for you single travellers the above it is going to be a little more. £80-£100 per night is a good fare for a solo traveller.

Next we need to check the availability. How many cabins are available and how much time is left before the sail date? If there are two weeks to go and the cruise has 100 cabins, then you are going to get a very good fare. On the flip side if it is three months before sail date and there is only two cabins left, If you like the price book it, because it probably wont be there in the morning.

It is very unlikely you can call two days before a ship departs, with the hope of getting a cheap deal. It is entirely possible that this can happen, but more often and not the cruises are completely sold out. This option would only be suitable for people who are not desperately wanting to get away and would not mind equally if they were to stay at home of go on holiday!

The same rules always apply for peak sailings however. Any 4 berth cabins in the summer holidays, any unique itineraries, any Christmas sailings and finally any sailings where you have to go on a certain date, due to a Wedding etc. ALWAYS book early as you possibly can, to avoid disappointment. You may pay slightly more but at least you will get what you want!

If you want any more advice, or have any questions please let me know!

Best For The Baltic!

2011-10-18T18:29:00.000+01:00

Want to visit the Baltic? There are many, many cruises going to the Baltic each year so how do you know which one to pick? Well that all depends on your circumstances, preference and opinion, read on to find out more...........

If you have a young family, or a looking for a brand with a lot going on then Royal Caribbean is the one for you. The Jewel of the Seas sails from March to September, departing from Harwich (good for some, a pain for others). The ship has a nine deck Atrium with an elegantly curved staircase, domed ceilings and glass lifts with sea views. For the adventurous there are sports courts, a gym, running track, mini golf and a rock climbing wall for the kids. During the evening you can catch a West End-style show, try your luck at the casino, or sip wine, beer or freshly-made cocktail at one of the many themed bars. GOOD FOR FAMILIES, COUPLES, PEOPLE WHO WANT A LOT TO DO.
More of a traditional cruiser? Not interested in the bells and whistles offered above. Then why not try a British classic like Fred Olsen. Scandinavian line but British at Heart, this cruise line offers that home-from-home atmosphere that many others try to replicate, but do not succeed. This type of cruise is going to be a more formal affair, the average age will probably be 50-75. The activities on board will consist of cards, bridge, casino, talks, live music (Piano, String Quartet etc) and a library. The food is excellent, drinks are cheap I can tell you this as
I have been with Fred's twice. This line is unsuitable for children. THIS LINE IS GOOD FOR RETIREMENT COUPLES, EXCELLENT FOR SINGLES, PEOPLE LOOKING FOR A SMALLER DESTINATION MINDED CRUISES AND ANYONE LOOKING FOR A QUIETER CRUISE EXPERIENCE.

Finally P&O cruises. Another British classic. This one is probably for those who what something that sits between the above two options. There are probably 4 P and O ships that go this way throughout the year. The larger options have all the modern facilities that you may expect from a Royal Caribbean Cruise, yet the more formal features you would expect from Fred Olsen. The drinks are more expensive than Fred’s but cheaper than Royal, the shows are Broadway style productions, and once again the food is superb. THIS BRAND IS FOR EVERYONE,AS OUT OF THE 4 SHIPS EVERYONE IS VERY UNIQUE AND SUITABLE FOR ITS TARGET MARKET. IF YOU WANT A QUIET SHIP OR A BIG SHIP THEY HAVE ONE.

Any questions please let me know re the above please let me know. I have been lucky enough to sample all three brands so any advice you need,don't hesitate to ask!

Fancy A Norwegian Break Away............... From New York?

2011-10-11T14:14:00.001+01:00

You could be forgiven for reading the above and assuming that a Cruise Line has plans to travel from New York to the Fjords in the coming future. Unfortunately for all you No Fly New Yorkers you would be wrong. Norwegian Cruise Line have announced that their new state of the art ship will have its home port as New York. What is the name of this ship I hear you say, it is the Norwegian Breakaway of course. See what I did there?

As we all know New York is famous for its huge buildings and exciting attractions so it makes perfect sense that one of the world's biggest ships will sail year round from the big apple. This 144,000 ton, 4000 passenger cruise ship is due to launch in April 2013 and is number one of two in NCL's Project Breakaway cruise ships. Thankfully this new class of ship does not have the massive forehead like the NCL Epic, it looks more like a more 'Traditional' Super liner but, that does not mean NCL have gone light on the 'extras'.

Although full details are shrowded in mystery, the main talking point about this class of ship seems to be the Haven, (not to be confused with the British seaside caravan holiday). The Haven (see above) is an area hidden at the top of NCL Breakaway that offers guests a world of luxury and privacy at sea, it is designed with beautiful décor and has the personalized service of NCL's butlers. There are even Haven private suites.

The NCL Breakaway is the largest ship ever to home port in NYC and will replace the NCL Star. It will embark at least 88 cruises though the Manhattan Cruise Terminal until March 2015. From what we know, it is looking increasingly likely that like Epic before her, the Norwegian Breakaway will be another cruise industry game changer. The Epic attracted passengers who never thought they'd set foot on a cruise ship due to sophisticated line-up of entertainment ranging from Blue Man Group to Second City Comedy. So with the Breakaway on the Horizon, and its full facilities not revealed, I’m thinking that NCL could well be onto a winner. Like the Epic the Breakaway will have single staterooms in the form of Studio's. There is not much more that I can tell you I'm afraid but, with stiff competition from Royal Caribbean and going by NCl's previous ships, I'm sure this will be a game changer indeed.

As I find out more I will let you know.

Can I Save On My Fly-Cruise?

2011-10-04T18:18:00.000+01:00

What is the best course of action to get a good deal on your fly cruise? It is no secret that if you are booking a fly cruise with a cruise line, you have to pay a premium to use their flights. If you decide to book flights yourself, you run the risk of footing the bill if you cant make it to the cruise, due to any unforeseen delays. This means if you miss the cruise, you have to pay yourself for a flight out to the next port of call. So what can you do? Let us book the package for you!

Booking flights yourself is most likely to be the cheapest option, however by doing this you will lose all transfers that come with the package. More importantly the responsibility for all the travel is down to you. As mentioned above if anything did go wrong, it will be down to you to sort.

Booking flights with the cruise line will be the most expensive option, but some people believe it to be the safest one. All transfers are included,. You will be travelling with other passengers booked on your cruise on both the flight, and on the coach. If there are any delays or problems with this option, it is the cruise lines responsibility to sort out and get you to/from the ship.

Now for the best option. Booking the package with us. Depending on the cruise you are interested in, we should be able to repackage the holiday for you to include our flights and our transfers at a cheaper rate that the cruise line can offer(depends on dates, availability, special offers etc). Now this does not apply to every sailing but, certainly on a large chunk. By booking the package with us you will be covered under our Atol licence. This means if you miss the cruise due to delays, volcanoes etc, we will be responsible to sort this out for you, just the same as if you booked the cruise direct through the cruise line. But at a much better rate, so win win!

If you want me to check anything for you then let me know. The great thing about us building a package for you is that we can add hotels, flights, trains, tours, car hire etc! So pretty much any itinerary you can imagine we can arrange, and if we can't, we will give it a very good go!

Who is the Best? Fred is the Best!

2011-09-27T20:17:00.000+01:00

For a long time now I have been championing Fred Olsen. For many reasons, this fantastic cruise line never seems to disappoint. So it comes as no surprise that Fred Olsen Cruises have been voted by the British public as ‘Ocean Cruise Line of the Year' in consumer magazine Cruise Internationals first Cruise Awards......

The cruise ceremony in London was attended by 100 cruise line executives and hosted by Nick Hewer (see below, who has incidentally never been on a cruise ship). It was voted for by around 15000 members of the public on Cruise International's website. Fred Olsen walked away with the trophies for ‘Best Educational Programme', for its Vistas series of lectures, workshops and excursions, and ‘Best Live Performance', for its staging onboard of the glamorous singing duo, The Opera babes, whose album has topped the classical charts.

There were 20 other awards were handed on the night for categories including ‘Best River Cruise Line' (won by Viking River Cruises), ‘Best Luxury Line' (won by Seabourn) and ‘Best Entertainment' (scooped by Royal Caribbean).

So if you have never been with Fred Olsen before, why Fred Olsen? In a nut shell, there is not a 15% surcharge on your bar bill, and drinks are as cheap you are going to get on board a cruise ship. All entertainment is British and the whole fleet has a home from home atmosphere. The ships are not massive, but they have very decent facilities, excellent food and really cheerful, helpful friendly staff. As well as this, they mostly sail from the UK and visit very interesting ports. So Win Win!

Any questions let me know, but normally this product pretty much sells itself.

National CruiseWeek. 18th September - 25th September 2011

2011-09-20T17:55:00.000+01:00

If you are not already aware, Sunday was the start of National Cruise Week. But what does this mean to the potential cruiser? It is no secret that the cruise industry is booming, more and more of us are opting to take to the water for our holidays. So if you haven't cruised already, this week the industry will be pulling out all the stops to tempt you to try out life on the ocean waves for yourself..........

So who is offering what, and what benefits can you receive by booking your cruise this week? read on........

P&O are offering an upgrade from inside to outside (obstructed) on Ventura and Azura Caribbean sailings subject to availability.

Fred Olsen, a recent winner at the first ever Cruise Awards will be offering on certain departures and additional on board credit and free transport.

Cunard have massively reduced their transatlantic crossings the prices have been slashed down to as little as £599 for certain sailings in October, November and December 2011.

Silversea Cruises have announced that it will be offering additional savings, on bookings made during National Cruise Week. They are offering an additional saving of £300 per suite (£150 for singles) will be offered on remaining 2011 voyages and 2012 voyages, departing before 30 June 2012.

Royal Caribbean are offering double on board credit for balconies or above on certain sailings (was $100 per cabin, now $200)

Regent are giving $200 per cabin on board spend on all 2012 sailings.

Celebrity are giving $200 per cabin on board credit for balcony cabins and $400 per cabin for suites, again on selected sailings.

Azamara have $500 per cabin on board credit on selected Winter Exotics 2011/2012 sailings again applies to certain sailings.

Oceania are offering $100 per cabin on board credit on most 2012 sailings in addition to any on board credit that is being offered.

If you are interested in a cruise and it is not mentioned in the above, other lines are offering additional benefits also. Just give me a call and I will find them out for you. If you do have any questions or want to know anything else about the above then just let me know.

The River Cruise Line!

2011-09-13T19:05:00.002+01:00

When you think River Cruise, what do you think? Older travellers and very high prices for a one week cruise probably. We have recently starting selling a new product called The River Cruise Line. Although we do sell many of the different River cruise lines, the River Cruise line is different from the rest......

First of all, PRICE. For everyone who is not aware, price is probably one of the main factors why cruises are put off going, which is not hard to see why. One week on the Danube is sometimes the same price as a 14 Caribbean cruise on the Ventura. This is not the case with the River Cruise line. Prices for a week can be as cheap as £500 starting to sound very appealing isn't it.

Coach travel from the UK is included for the Dutch Waterways, Rhine and Moselle cruises, and is operated by a UK coach and tour driver with regional coach departures nationwide. All shore excursions are included, and the ships always dock in very good locations and are walking distance from all the main attractions. All the ships are full board, and have all ocean view cabins. All of this is still all included in the fare.

If you don't want to fly, no problem. As mentioned above a lot of their Europe river cruise destinations, with the exception of the Duero, leave from the UK and travel by ferry. You will travel in style in a modern, executive, air-conditioned coach without any interchange or coach changing, to join the chosen cruise with crossings from Dover, Newcastle or Hull.

What a brilliant was to get under the skin of a country. With river cruising you really get to experience the real people and culture of your chosen itinerary. With Europe, Russia, China, Amazon and many more to choose from. You really can't go too wrong, and now added with the fact that with the River Cruise Line is so affordable. Why not give it a try?

Bad press for P and O!

2011-09-06T22:34:00.000+01:00

Getting married? What would you do if you got your photo's home after the big day, only to find the photographer you had paid good money for did a terrible job? I imagine you would be quite angry. Say you are getting married on a cruise ship, how can you be sure that you get a good photographer without having to pay the extra for a cabin for a professional to come on board? Well you could probably hedge your bets and go with a big brand, like P and O right? WRONG!!!!
Believe it or not, recently a couple paid £600 to hire P and O's"professional" photographer only to find that the lousy lensman photographed the backs of heads, took blurred shots, captured a guest taking a price sticker off the brides shoes, then even snapped HIMSELF in a mirror. Not exactly the classic wedding portraits you would expect.

After pressing the photographer for answers the "HAPPY" couple found out that he was actually a Chef! You can just imagine the P&O management " Hello everyone, we have a wedding today and our Photographer has rung in sick. Is anyone any good at taking photo's? er............ not the best plan. The couple in question in the end did actually get compensation, but is this enough? As you do only get married once!

To be honest this is probably an isolated incident, and I'm sure P and O will not let this happen again. So I would not let this put you off getting married on board a cruise ship, I would just think about maybe going with Royal Caribbean instead as their ship are better after all!

When to go to Alaska?

2011-08-30T19:02:00.002+01:00

Alaska is a once in a life time trip for most people. So if you only get to go the once, Its probably best that you do your research and make sure you get it right the first time. So when is the best time to visit Alaska?

From my research this is actually not as cut and dry as you may think. Alaska is off the scale. It has more coastline than the lower 48 states in America, more lakes than Minnesota and more big sky than Montana. In another words, because of the size of Alaska the weather conditions vary vastly from area to area.

To hedge your bets, you can't really go too wrong visiting Alaska anytime between May and September, with the more wallet friendly options being at the start and end of the season. This is generally when the Cruise lines go anyway. Throughout this whole period the days are long and nature is in full bloom. 21st June or Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year, and has an average of 19 hours of sunlight per day, so if it is long sunny days you are after and 'The Land Of The Midnight Sun' then June is your best bet.

July is probably the most popular time visit. The weather is usually very clear, and the days should also be reasonably hot. It's true that summer in Alaska is slightly rainier than the United States but, temperatures still range from 15 degrees to 27 degrees Celsius. If you’re looking for good weather then you should consider visiting in the summer season.

Early August is similar to July and can be hot and at times muggy, but by late August everything changes. If you are extremely lucky on a clear night you can even see the Northern Lights. Although the Northern Lights are present most evenings throughout the year, light pollution and the Midnight Sun blind one to the very delicate, wispy cloud looking aurora.

I hope this has been helpful, although it is only a brief insight, I hope the above will help you decide. The peak months June, July and August will always be a lot more expensive, but some may argue worth the price to increase the chance of better weather. If you have any questions let me know!

What next? Voyages To Antiquity!

2011-08-23T22:04:00.003+01:00

Are you looking to try something new? Are you fed up of ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls, grass lawns at sea and other gimmicks on cruise ships? Well why not try Voyages To Antiquity? If you haven't heard of them.........yet, then I would recommend it is time to check them out. Although the brand is relatively new, they specialise in destinations. Although it is true all cruise ships do 'destinations' most vessels are all about the ship and what is on board, and tend to do the same popular destinations year on year. With Voyages, the cruises are specifically designed with the destination in mind.Its all about discovering the local history, art and culture of the ancient world! These guys really know how to put on a good show........

In a nutshell the brand combines the comfort of boutique-style cruising with the very best of cultural travel; they offer a unique opportunity to explore the origins and genius of western civilisation. All itineraries are meticulously planned and on board they have celebrated guest speakers who specialise in the local history of the places you have visited. All shore excursions are complimentary and bring to life the fascinating history and awe-inspiring sites of the classical world. This is defiantly a cruise for anyone who is interested in discovering the history of times passed.

Although destinations are obviously the main focus here, this does not mean that the facilities or the whole ship experience has suffered. Voyages to Antiquity have one ship called the Aegean Odyssey. It is classed as a premium class ship that was rebuilt to cater for cruising in the coastal waters of the central and eastern Mediterranean. The vessel provides the best features of a mid-size ship such as passenger space, a choice of restaurants and stability in inclement weather. When VOA brought the vessel it originally had a capacity of up to 570 passengers, after the refit it now carries an average of 350 passengers. This means bigger rooms and more deck space. All drinks are included at dinner and the main entertainment on board comes in the form of lectures or maybe a string quartet.

Each itinerary is completely unique and designed by experts in the field of the destinations you are visiting. All tours are also accompanied by graduates who have expert knowledge of the local area and will give you a detailed history and insight into the culture of times passed. Any questions let me know as these few short paragraphs by no means do the brand justice but, if I pick a ship to sail on tomorrow, this would be it.

.

What suppliments are next for cruisers?

2011-08-16T16:50:00.000+01:00

What supplements are next for cruisers and can they ever be a good thing? On the modern cruise of today, If you want to eat in a speciality restaurant, pick your flight seats or even pick your cabin number, with certain cruise lines there is a supplement to pay. But could this ever be a good thing? In my view, why not?

Over the past few years I have spoke with a large percentage of cruisers who want to guarantee a table of 2 for dining but, are told this can only be put on request. This is a prime example where introducing a supplement could help. If cruise lines introduced a charge, at the time of booking which guaranteed a table of 2, people who were willing to pay a fee, would be happy knowing that their request had been confirmed. The likely argument here is that the demand will far out weigh the supply. I'm sure this will be the case but, if this was done on a first come first serve basis and if the priced reflected the demand, then I'm sure this would work. The same thing can be said for picking a table with an ocean view or on a higher level in the restaurant. Or even Guaranteeing a double bed in your cabin (for guaranteed bookings only).

Again it can be said that cruise lines are already charging enough as it is, which would be a fair argument. I'm just suggesting that this would be for people who justify paying the extra, to get the cruise exactly how they want it. Most, I'm sure would not opt for this option anyway, as this would be seen as an additional unnecessary expense, but for some it could still prove very useful.

Although these changes are unlikely to happen, I'm sure the introduction of the above would put a few noses out of joint? Would this be the start of cruise lines introducing more and more supplements? Picking seats in the theatre maybe? Priority shore excursions? A toilet tax? Well probably one two far but, you see what I'm getting at. In this current climate people are very wary what they are spending their money on, so as long as these supplements were not made compulsory, then it should work. But this all of course, is all in theory, in practice it will probably be a completely different story!

I'm Back

2011-08-09T16:45:00.001+01:00

After what seems like a blink of an eye, I'm back in the office and ready for business. Since I have been back many of my clients have been asking me which cruise ship I had just come off. I'm afraid, I didn't go on a cruise ship at all. I opted for a slightly more exotic alternative. Any guesses? Blue sea? Hot weather? Lots of Wildlife?
Well if you haven't guessed already from my very obvious clues, I have spent the last week in sunny Wales ( honestly it was sunny). Unfortunately, I do not have any holidays planned for quite a while now, so any questions or queries as usual I'm here manning the fort!

Im Off!

2011-07-28T18:16:00.000+01:00

Hey folks,

It's that time again. I'm off on my holidays for the next 10 days. Any questions or queries you have, please direct them to one of my colleagues on 0800 408 6079 or email contactus@cruise.co.uk

If not, I'm back on the 8th August, so see you then!

How To Beat The Bank! In The Summer Holidays

2011-07-26T19:49:00.002+01:00

Are you looking for a last minute fly cruise for your family in the med this year, but are finding that the prices for the flights are coming in very expensive? Then look no further. It is still very true that availability on peak season sailings are getting sparse, especially if you are looking for 3 or 4 berth cabins but, if you find the right sailing, going from the right port, you can still get a bargain.....

At the moment in August, any flights flying to Barcelona, Rome or Venice are coming in very expensive, again especially if you need them on a Saturday or Sunday. As it is my job to check many different sailings on many different dates, you soon pick up an eye for how to spot a good offer when you see one. Now the chances are if you can find a good price on a cruise only ship leaving from Palma, Malaga or Genoa, there is an even better chance that you can pick up the flights with a low cost airline at a very good rate.

Over the past two months, I have put many of my passengers on the Grandeur of the Sea's with Royal Caribbean for a week, for probably a third less than putting them on either the Navigator or Voyager. The ship is still very good, the service still great and there is still plenty to do but, just because it was leaving from Palma, we could package up with Easy Jet flights at a much better rate without having to sacrifice the price for the weather!

If you want me to look into anything for you or have any questions,please let me know!

Is it time for change?

2011-07-19T15:37:00.004+01:00

Have you ever booked a holiday or a cruise, only to find that four weeks before travel, you have seen the same holiday at a massively reduced price? Most of us have been there (yes even me), and I can quite confidently say for everyone this has happened too, it's a horrible experience. The reason for this blog is simple, what steps can you take to avoid this happening to you!

Let me start with a story, one of my very good clients has booked with a certain cruise line for many many years. She has always booked very early, to get the best cabins, a good price and is not what you may call a complainer. In the past, her cruise bookings may have gone down in price by maybe 15,20 or even 25%. This did not cause any problem as there would always be free parking, on board credit, and more importantly cabin choice on early bookings. This would justify the premium paid. When the cruise went down 50% alarm bells started ringing, and she called me to see if I could help. Regretfully, there was nothing I could do as the cruise line in question, did not operate a price promise. Regardless of her countless loyal years to the brand and her always booking in good faith early. Nothing could be done apart from cancelling the cruise at charges and re-booking. Lesson learned.

Although the above is a very extreme case, if you look at this from the cruise lines point of view, she has still picked her cabin, has extra benefits on board and if she had not seen the cheaper, no frills offer, she would still be very happy with her price. I think the issue here, is just how much the cruise had dropped by. The bottom line is that the cruise lines are in this to make money. They don’t want to drop their prices at the last minute, but have to in order to fill spaces. Although we all want to pay the cheapest rate, this is not possible as we can’t always be ‘at the right place, at the right time.’ This is where a happy medium should come in. In the most extreme cases where the price has massively dropped down, or the most loyal customers have missed out why not split the difference? Or offer upgrades, or even more on board credit? Anything just restore faith! I know if someone said to me after I lost out ‘Mr David, although your cruise has dropped down £500 we are willing to meet you half way and give you £250 back!’ Yes please, back to a happy………er Mr David!

Is the above likely to happen? I’m afraid not. Some cruise lines still operate a price promise like Royal Caribbean and Celebrity (subject to t’s and c’s) who will give you the lower price if the cruise goes down. Others like Princess 2012 and Oceania cruises will let you cancel free of charge, if you have paid deposit and have not yet reached the balance pay in full date (around 17 weeks before sail date). This would mean you can just cancel an re-book the cheaper cruise. Other than booking with the above, What can you do?

I always follow a set of rules.

1.If there is a certain sailing, on a certain ship on a certain date that you can travel. ALWAYS BOOK EARLY.

2.If you are looking at a very unique and popular itinerary, that maybe only goes once or twice a year. ALWAYS BOOK EARLY.

3.If your are a family of four who can only travel in the summer holidays and want to share a cabin of four. ALWAYS BOOK EARLY.

4. If you have to be on a certain ship on a certain date for a wedding or even if your friends are booked. To avoid disappointment ALWAYS BOOK EARLY.

5. If there is a certain cabin, in a certain position that you must have. ALWAYS BOOK EARLY.

6. If you are going in any peak dates, especially Christmas or summer holidays, prices almost always go up. ALWAYS BOOK EARLY.

7. When cruises first go on sale. Some offer free kids places. To take advantage of this ALWAYS BOOK EARLY.

Everything else available, again most of the time it will be cheapest to book early, but if you can go anytime, on any ship, at the drop of a hat. Then waiting may well be the best option!

Why are Royal Caribbean Good For Families?

2011-07-12T15:09:00.000+01:00

I had a call from one of my good clients the other day who is a massive P&O cruiser and wanted to ask me what all the fuss was about with Royal Caribbean. In the past, at least twice a year she has taken her husband and two kids away with P&O and has yet to give Royal a go. It was her friend who actually convinced her to take a look at RC, which was when I came in to help........

Having been on the Navigator Of The Sea's in the Voyager class added with the fact I have sold Royal Caribbean for the past four years, I feel as if I am in a good position to give that advice. First of all I explained for children Royal have no equal. Kids love activities, and with surf machines, ice skating rinks, mini golf courses, rock climbing walls and more, a bored child cannot be found on board.
What about food? I explained there will certainly not be a hungry child on board either or an adult for that matter. Dining options do vary from ship to ship but as standard, in the main restaurant full meals for breakfast and multi-course dinners are available. For light bites there is Windjammers, also for a romantic meal, I suggested why not take the kids to the kids club (open until 10pm) and for an extra charge dine in one of Royal's speciality restaurants. Then for a treat, the next day take the kids along to Ben & Jerry's Ice cream or for cup cakes
at the cup cake shop. Everyone is happy!

Everything is big on board like you would expect, but my no means is this brand completely aimed at just children. The Casino on board is the largest I have seen at sea. Although I didn't actually get to climb the wall or go ice skating, the whole feel onboard is of a large Hotel resort with similar facilities. This type of cruise is not for everyone, as they have been compared to floating towns, just due the large numbers onboard, but for families you can’t go wrong.

You can't talk about the pro’s without the cons. So when I was asked what are the drinks prices like on board I had to be honest. Yes they are more expensive than the British ships, they probably charge more for gratuities also and unfortunately they do charge a 15% gratuity on your bar bill. There is no real way to avoid this and depending on how big a drinker you are, it will be more expensive than say P&O. However when you take into consideration, the welcoming atmosphere, the un paralleled facilities, the family feel, the kids clubs, the brilliant staff, topped with interesting ports, it would be silly not to at least give it a go once.......because let’s face it, we all have a little inner child that needs to come out from time to time!

Welcome Celebrity Silhouette!

2011-07-05T17:55:00.001+01:00

Did anyone see the Celebrity Silhouette the other day on the news? If you missed it, the 320 metre long cruise ship was filmed struggling along the small Dutch canals. As you can imagine this ship was built for the ocean, so seeing this 122,400 ton vessel squeezing along these narrow waterways was a sight to see. So it comes as no suprise it took 12 hours to travel 26 miles, in perspective, a distance a decent long distance runner can do in 3 hours. To be fair the ship had to be helped along by tugboats and it was only travelling at 4mph, the German and Dutch authorities even had to remove a number of power lines and railway tracks en route.

At times the Captain, Dimitrios Kafetzis only had manoeuvring room of 5 feet as he slowly steered the vessel from Meyer Werft port in Papenburg to Eemshaven in Holland. There were plenty of other tight squeezes, in certain places the 36.88 metre wide ship passed though gaps of only 38.09 metres and the huge vessel even had to travel on an aqueduct over an autobahn. Imagine that!

This is the first time Celebrity Silhouette has been seen on the water, but if you have seen any of the other ships in the Soltice Class (Equinox, Eclipse, Soltice) you would now what to expect. If you havent see below:-

Characteristics of Solstice Class ships:

The Lawn Club - With it’s decidedly Country Club ambiance, The Lawn Club, located on Solstice’s highest deck, lets you relax and enjoy a variety of casual outdoor activities on its magnificent, freshly manicured lawn. There's absolutely nothing like it.

The Hot Glass Show - Celebrity Cruises and the Corning Museum of Glass together bring you the dazzling and engaging Hot Glass Show. Watch as professional glassblowers create gorgeous pieces of art in an interactive setting in this one-of-a-kind exhibition.

AquaSpa - Lose yourself in Celebrity Solstice’s deeply indulgent AquaSpa. From our soothing treatments to the immersive Persian Garden, we’ve created an atmosphere that will collectively caress the senses like never before.

Martini Bar & Crush - Inspired by the cool grace of ice, snow and water, the Martini Bar boasts an ambiance unlike any other, exemplified by its sleek, frosted main bar. To further indulge you, we’ve added Crush, a small alcove featuring an ice-filled table centre where you can sample Caviar and Vodka pairings well into the night.

Quasar - Take to the dance floor and embrace the invigorating pulse of Quasar. A contemporary nightclub with a retro flair, it will lure you in with vibrant lighting and hypnotic rhythm.

Cellar Masters - Inspired by the vineyards of Napa Valley, Cellar Masters brings to life the experience of a global wine tour while you learn about and taste a large variety of wines from around the world. A welcoming and unique on board environment, you'll discover new wines, receive recommendations and enrich your knowledge of the world of wine.

Fortunes Casino - Test your luck at the exciting yet elegant Fortunes Casino. This spacious venue features a distinctly Monte Carlo atmosphere, tailored to comfortably accommodate both players and observers. With 200 machines and 16 tables, there’s a game of chance to satisfy every impulse.

Theatre - Enjoy intimate performances on a grand scale at the eponymous Solstice and Equinox Theatres. Each ship’s theatre will treat you to inspiring Broadway style shows, beautiful music arrangements and hilarious comedy acts. The plush, comfortable atmosphere and rounded stage make every show feel like it was created just for you.

Main Dining Room - The main dining room glistens with a magnificent two-storey glass wine tower, stunning chandeliers and gorgeous ocean views. Inspired by the grandeur of Hollywood, you’ll enjoy the finest cuisine in a plush atmosphere that exudes style and sophistication. Savour delicious, freshly prepared Classic World & Continental cuisine, with exceptional service.

Blu - As the specialty restaurant serving our AquaClass guests, Blu’s menu features a wide choice of fresh and healthy dishes. A selection of International and California wines accentuate your meal, all to be enjoyed in an intimate, relaxed atmosphere.

Café al Bacio - Café al Bacio’s selection of speciality coffees and tasty liqueurs complement a variety of freshly baked pastries. In addition, the Gelateria offers a variety of Italian ices and gelatos prepared with an artistic touch.

What do you thick will be next? P&O cruises diving into the narrow boat market for the cannals of England?

Watch this space!

Arabian Adventure With MSC!

2011-06-28T18:26:00.000+01:00

Are you fed up of the same old destinations and want to try something new? MSC Cruises are now featuring an exotic itinerary along the Arabian Sea visiting places such as Abu Dhabi, Oman and Dubai. MSC's Lirica will be sailing these 7 night itineraries, so as well as visiting these fantasic destinations, you can enjoy the ship's excellent facilities. While onboard the the Lirica you can enjoy the relaxing Aurea Spa, the outstanding international entertainment, the suberb cusine and of course the famous Italian hospitality.

Branded the Arabian Adventure you can enjoy the unique blend of old and new in Abu Dhabi, the cosmopolitan excitement of Dubai and the historic landmarks of Al Fujairah and Muscat. passengers can even also opt to experience the Great Pyramids of Giza or a trip over the rolling sand dunes.

The full official itinerary sails roundtrip from Abu Dhabi or Dubai and calls at Muscat, Oman, Al Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, Khasab, Oman, and overnight stays in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The cruise departs weekly from October 30 2011 through to March 4 2012.

So if your fed up of the norm this year, why not try something new!

The Quest Has Arrived!

2011-06-21T22:12:00.000+01:00

Seabourn's newest ship the Seabourn Quest has been built and delivered to Seaborne at T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa. As we all know a new ship will not be complete without a naming ceremony, so in good old fashioned tradition a famous face has been lined up for the event. Actress Blythe Danner or for the younger generation Gwyneth Paltrow's mother will officially name the vessel at a ceremony in Barcelona on June 20. Bythe is already Seabourn Quest’s godmother, so on the 20th the all suite vessel will be named and then will depart that very same day to start it's 14 day maiden voyage to Athens.

The arrival of the Quest marks the end of a very busy period of expansion for the ultra luxury line which has raised the number of ships it operates from three to six ships in two years. Like the others in its class, the Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn, it features an 11,400 square foot spa and 225 suites, 95 percent of which offer private balconies. As normal pretty much everything is included the cruise fare. Champagne in every stateroom on arrival. All alcoholic drinks and soft drinks are included and for the brave there is even complimentary kayaking, sailing and other water sports available on most itineraries.

All Suites are fitted with I-Pod connectors have granite bathrooms with a bath and separate shower, twin sinks and even have walk-in closets. So where is this fabulous ship going after the Mediterranean? From the Autumn the ship will sail from Fort Lauderdale on a series of round trip voyages to the Caribbean, then on to January she will depart on her maiden 108 night world cruise from Port Everglades to Venice via South America. With the awards Seabourn have already won, and if we judge the Quest by its older siblings I'm sure this will not be one to be missed!

The Newest Ship In P And O's Fleet....................Ship X

2011-06-14T19:35:00.001+01:00

P&O have announced that their latest, yet unnamed vessel will offer a small-ship experience despite accommodating close to 4000 guests. Confused? Read on.........
P and O's largest and newest vessel will enter service in 2015 and will be structurally identical to two Princess Cruise Ships that are currently on order by their mutual parent company Carnival. That is where the similarity's end. The new ship, lets refer to her as Ship X, is being designed to be very different from the Princess ships in terms of cabin layout and public rooms. In P and O's very words, it will have some new sophisticated ‘wows’ and new elements we think British customers will want!

Ship X, which will be the largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market, will be designed to meet the expectations of passengers in line with customer research. I would have to say though, when doing market research for a name, Ship X will probably not be high on the list, not the most inventive as it does not sound very ship like, my money is on Athena.

Ship X will be positioned between P and O's two existing super liners, Ventura, which is aimed at the family market, and Azura, which is positioned for the more traditional P&O client. As of now there are no plans to retire older ships when the new vessel enters service, so good news for all you past passengers.

Its only a matter of time now until the ship name is announced, so if Ship X or Athena are chosen, you heard it here first!

Bouddica's Leaving Liverpool!

2011-06-07T09:04:00.000+01:00

It has been announced that the port of Liverpool is set to lose the business of one of its most valued customers, Fred Olsen Cruises. So what has happened? Have Mr Olsen and the Port Authorities of Liverpool fallen out? Considering the £19 million pound Pier Head cruise terminal was only inaugurated in 2009 something must have drastically gone wrong?

Well the truth itself is not quite as exciting. The reason for the change is the terminal is out of bounds for ship turnarounds (embarking and disembarking passengers and supplies at the beginning and end of a voyage). As the facility was partly funded by the European Union, Liverpool's rival, Southampton, itself privately funded, successfully launched a fierce protest about unfair competition. As a result, Pier Head may only be used for day visits by ships and not for turnarounds. Good news for Southampton but bad for Liverpool.

Despite the above Fred Olsen have decided to remain loyal to Liverpool by using their alternative dock at the Langton Cruise terminal just down the road. This speaks volumes for Fred's as Langton Harbour is notorious for fast tides, high winds and unpredictable weather making getting ships getting in and out all the more complicated.

Liverpool City Council is still trying to persuade the government to get the rules changed about using the Pier Head Terminal for turnarounds but unfortunately not quickly enough for Fred Olsen, but I'm sure in a few years we will see the Boudicca at Liverpool again.

I'm Back!

2011-05-31T17:28:00.002+01:00

I'm back. After spending the last week in sunny Crete it's back to business. I am probably exaggerating when I say sunny however. In the week we were away out of the 7 days, we had two days sunshine, 5 days torrential rain, one earthquake ( well a 20 second tremor), one volcanic eruption in Iceland, one on the island (well a few puffs of smoke I'm told) and thunder and lightning like I have never seen......
So if you asked me did I enjoy my holiday you may think my response will be obvious, but to tell you the truth I had a brilliant time. The company was good, my wife and daughter provided the entertainment, the food was great (if you like spaghetti ) and I'm a firm believer in your holiday is what you make it and make it we did. So it's now back to the daily grind and back to the real world!

It's That Time Again!

2011-05-17T21:54:00.001+01:00

Hey Folks,

I'm now currently out of the office unitl Tuesday 31st May. I'm going to be spending the next couple of weeks away with my girls. Any questions or queiries you may have please contact one of my collegues on 0800 408 6200.

See you soon!

Royal Caribbean To The Rescue

2011-05-10T19:48:00.000+01:00

Over the past few years the United Arab Emirates has seen a drastic increase in cruise passengers visiting this part of the world. This has not come without its problems, certain questions have been raised in regards to arranging Visa's and the price it has been costing cruise passengers. As things are now, tourists from most countries must purchase single entry Visa's to enter the UAE. This means cruise passengers traveling through the Persian Gulf each have to buy up to three visas at a cost of $225 for all three. This means a family of four would have to pay about $900......

So it is a breath of fresh air to hear Royal Caribbean have been trying to convince the United Arab Emirates to introduce a special visa allowing passengers more than one entry to the country. Royal Caribbean said that the cost of having to buy several single entry visas to sail to destinations in the UAE is hampering the growth of the cruise industry in the country. With the ammunition that the UAE is expecting to draw 120 cruise ships with about 425,000 passengers this year, and by 2015 180 ships and over 625,000 passengers how can they not listen?

A Royal Caribbean regional director Helen Beck sees this extra cost as inhibiting cruise growth in the UAE, "It's a challenge - it's an inhibitor to sales. It's a federal issue and at some point it will be resolved because the different authorities will all understand the impact it's having and the block it's having on growing. The Russian market, China, those very large emerging markets that are required to get the single-entry visas for entering the UAE, that's a huge chunk of the world."

Do you think passengers are being but off by the cost of this Visa? Most people have probably already booked their cruise by the time they realise the cost of this Visa, but would it stop them coming back? Maybe? So if Royal Caribbean do succeed in get a multi entry Visa sorted it can only be a good thing!

Adonia's Naming Ceremony!

2011-05-03T20:03:00.001+01:00

Following her Royal Majesty christening Cunards Queen Elizabeth back in October 2010. P and O have announced that on 21st May a naming ceremony will take place on board P and O Cruises newest and smallest addition to the fleet, Adonia. Now as you can imagine the Queen will be a very hard act to follow but, Downtown Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville is going to give it a very good bash. You will probably remember Bonneville from Notting Hill or the Vicar of Dibley if you can't, see picture inset. I'm sure this will jog a few memories! Bonneville will act as the master of ceremonies and will welcome none other than Dame Shirley Bassey, who will name the ship with an official bottle breaking ceremony!

Commenting on the news, P and O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow said: ““We are delighted that such an eminent British actor has agreed to join us for the occasion, and we’re sure that it will add an extra element of glamour and distinction to the event.”

I completely agree!

For those of you who not aware of P and O's latest addition Adonia, in a nutshell she will carry just 710 passengers and will be exclusively for adults and she will be the smallest ship in the P and O Cruises fleet!

Any questions let me know!

There's A New Ship In Town. Well Sort Of!

2011-04-26T17:04:00.001+01:00

In order to keep passengers coming back time and time again to the same ship, it is very important to keep things fresh. New menus, new facility's and new decor are paramount for Cruise lines to update. First of all it is a lot cheaper than building a new vessel and increases the longevity of the ship's service and secondly it also keeps things interesting for clientele, and keeps them coming back without having the feeling of deja vu. So with the Grand Princess in dry dock, what changes are being made to keep things interesting? Read on and you will see......

A trade mark of the Grand Princess was Skywalkers Nightclub. Skywalkers was the late-night hot spot. Sitting beside the back window and gazing down at the ship's wake, towering high above the aft. Well not any more,the whole area has now been sliced away. So why was the structure that some people likened to a shopping trolley handle been removed? Well its been removed to increase the ship's fuel efficiency and reduce drag.

It's the biggest transformation of a ship in Princess history. Apart from extracting Skywalkers, a new piazza style atrium is being added, a Crown Grill steak house, a sit-down pizzeria, a martini bar and seven suites. What is they cherry on the cake? A combination of a library and tea lounge with a selection of 500 tea blends, but what are they calling this area? The Teabrary! Well maybe I made that name up, but I'm sure if I would of been in the Princess brain storming session they would of jumped at my idea. Move over Movies under the stars here comes the new Princess exclusive.

Oh and what is replacing Skywalkers? A new One5 Lounge, a nightclub tucked neatly into Deck 15.

Watch out Royal Caribbean there is a new ship in town, well newish!

Royalty and MSC Hand in Hand!

2011-04-19T18:17:00.000+01:00

Looking forward to the royal wedding, but unsure where to watch it? At home maybe, at a pub or are you driving to London for the live event. What about trying something different? MSC Cruises have advised that its guests will be among the 2.4 billion watching the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. It will be broadcast live on Friday 29th April, on all ships in the MSC Cruises fleet, with the exception of the MSC Sinfonia and MSC Opera, which will not be cruising European waters.....
To celebrate all bars onboard each ship will be serving a variety of champagnes and Prosecco, an Italian white wine, with a special commemorative royal cocktail, including sparkling wine, cognac and Grand Marnier. For all of those who want to avoid the wedding, there is always the Sinfona and Opera.

I know the royal wedding is only 10 days away, and unless you are some of the lucky, who have already booked, then you may think it is too late. Well you would be wrong! There are still a few sailings with space left, so if your interested , don't drag your feet act now and give me a call.

Don't knock it until you have tried it!

2011-04-12T12:41:00.000+01:00

It is a well known fact that over the last 10 years cruising has gone from strength to strength, and the old stereotype that cruising is only for the rich and elderly is now almost a distant memory. But what about river cruising? Is this inaccurate judgement still following river cruise brands around, like a bad smell that wont go away? I don't think so. Take Viking River Cruises for example, last week they announced plans to construct an entirely new series of four ships, all of which are set to launch in time for the start of the 2012 river cruise season. Considering Viking have only been around since 1997 and in that time have managed to amass a fleet of 19 ships, is proof the market is defiantly growing and with good reason.
Some could argue that, the same group of cruisers are going on different rivers each year, and there are very few clients new to river cruising. This can't possibly be true as the numbers don't add up plus Viking are not the only company doing well, AMA Waterways, Avalon and Uniworld to mention a few, are also increasing their fleets, more rivers are being explored, different itineraries are being introduced and more and more people are getting their hooks into river cruising.

Granted River cruises do attract a certain type of traveller to begin with. Usually by the time people get around to trying a river cruise, they have probably been on a few ocean liners before, and are looking for something different from the mass market. The normal expectations are that the river vessels are small but is that such a bad thing? There is a high client return rate, but what does that tell you?

We cant really compare river cruising vs cruising as the experiences are completely different, but if docking right on the door step of a city and being walking distance from attractions appeals to you, then try it. Most of the river lines do include all tours also, so that is something else you don't have to worry about. Cuisine on board is easily as good as many of the 4-5 star lines, plus you get to experience something very unique in terms of ports of call and sampling more authentic local culture.

River cruising is not for everyone, but it is coming in a big way. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call, as you know what they say, don't knock it if you haven't tried it! I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

Launch 2011!

2011-04-05T17:57:00.001+01:00

Three days down, three to go. If your really into your cruises, unless you have been asleep for the last month, I would be very surprised if you have not heard that the 2012 and 2013 P and O and Cunard itineraries have gone on sale this week. So far so good. For the last month we have been taking down 'bookings' or pre registrations for our clients. This means getting them to pick sail dates, cabins grades, numbers and agreeing on a price, so we can get them booked when they go on sail first thing at 8am. This is strongly recommended as the more cabins sold the higher the price rises and all cabins are done on a first come first serve basis.

Every pre registration I have taken, I have managed to get booked, that means so far I'm looking at a 100% record. As a company we have also managed to book almost every cabin that we had pre registered. Now on to tomorrow, the big one. Tomorrow the P&O 175th anniversary itineraries go on sale. This is a big deal as the world and his wife are looking to get on one of these 7 sailings leaving on the 3rd of July 2012. For all of you who don't know, P and O cruises are 175 years old on this date and will have seven ships, 15,000 passengers at one port, for a one day grand event. So we are expecting this to be very busy.

If you are interested in finding out more about the 175th Anniversary, or any other sailing 2012 / 13 please let me know so we can arrange a pre registration. But we need to know soon as possible as cabins are going fast and the price is going up!

Is Regent for you?

2011-03-29T14:10:00.000+01:00

If you are looking for a six star cruise, and have never heard of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, what could I tell you about the experience? If you are after an adventure, not a retreat, then Regent is for you. If you yearn for true exploration and discovery, then Regent is for you . If you are after a truly all-inclusive experience that includes fine wines, beer, premium spirits, soft drinks, bottled water, specialty coffees and tea served throughout the ship, then Regent is for you. If you love fine food and like to dine when you want, at open-seated and alternative dining restaurants, then Regent is for you. If you love to be pampered then look no further than the world-renowned Canyon Ranch Spa Club on board, looking for relaxation, then Regent is for you. Finally want a cruise with unlimited shore excursions, then Regent is for you.

With one of the best staff-to-guest service ratios in the cruise industry. Regent is a hard cruise experience to better. Guests are treated to award-winning service, ships and itineraries. So why do Regent keep winning awards? Well first of all Regent are the world's only all-balcony, all-suite cruise line, they have the highest percentage of private balconies of any cruise line on smaller, more intimate ships. Regent visit over 300 varied and interesting ports on all seven continents, here they have the capability to visit more intimate ports that cannot be accessed by larger vessels.

On board, all gratuities are included. Each vessel has up to four gourmet restaurants yet unlike the mass market cruise lines there is absolutely no cover charge. You can also have in-suite dining, served course-by-course during restaurant hours out on your balcony, and they say romance is dead. Butler service in available on Penthouse Suites and higher, and your in suite mini bar, regardless of cabin grade is replenished daily.

So whether it be the Navigator, the Voyager or the Mariner. Regent offer something for everybody. They are a class onto there own, and I genuinely believe that a voyage on a Regent ship will be truly one to remember.

What is all the fuss about? Today Silver Sea

2011-03-22T09:04:00.001Z

Are six star cruise lines really as expensive as you think? The common idea is that these luxury brands are too expensive and are for the well off only, but this is not always necessarily the case. With the market getting more and more competitive, cruises with the likes of Crystal, Regent and Silver Sea are not as expensive as they once were. Granted they are still more expensive that the premium market options like Princess and Celebrity at the time of booking. But as I have mentioned before, when you take into consideration the extras you get with six star lines (varies on ship/ sail date but usually drinks, excursions and gratuities), usually the price per day works out very similar. Not everyone is 100% on the benefits that each line offers, so I thought I would tell you over the next few blogs a little something about each line. Today it is Silver Sea.

First of all Silver Sea visit a variety of ports. Although they do visit the big ports, that most cruisers have been too 5,6,7 times, they also vist smaller ports 'off the beaten track' for a more authentic experience. On board all cabins offer your own view of sea and sky. Silver Sea suites are amongst the most spacious at sea and 85% have private verandas. All Silver Sea guests will receive the ultimate in personalised service with the white glove attentions of their own professional butler. All meals are included. On board venues include a variety of intimate restaurants, a poolside grill and in-suite dining. In your suite you can enjoy a continental breakfast served by your butler on your private veranda, healthy lunch selections from a Wellness menu, traditional afternoon tea and night after night of divine dinners. All drinks, non-alcoholic or alcoholic are complimentary. They offer an extensive selection of fine wines, spirits, champagne, soft drinks, juice, specialty coffees and bottled water are yours to enjoy not only with meals but throughout the ship. Your preferred selections are even. The Show Lounge presents cabaret-style shows, variety acts, special performances and feature films. Enrichment lecturers host discussions of specialised topics related to the voyage destination. There’s live music and dancing. Casino games and top deck celebrations under the stars. In your suite, films are always complimentary. Gratuities are included on every voyage and no extras are expected.

Any questions let me know, next week we will look at Regent.

Where to next? RIVER CRUISE!

2011-03-15T12:08:00.000Z

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. For you experienced cruisers, finding new destinations to visit are becoming harder and harder to find. Exploring a place for the first time is a exhilarating experience, so why should you have to wait once a year for the cruise lines to release their new itineraries? It seems in order to visit a new place you have to visit 8 others your have already been too, more than once! Two words RIVER CRUISE.....

River cruises, as the name suggests offer scenic cruising along the rivers of Europe, Russia, Ukranie and China. But this is where it gets interesting, the destinations! Travel along the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Rhône, Elbe and other great waterways of western, central and eastern Europe. Cruise between Moscow and St. Petersburg along the Volga and Svir, sail on the Dnieper between Kiev and Odessa. Discover Vietnam and Cambodia, two cultures and two ways of life linked by Indochina’s most important river the Mekong River.
Finally see the highlights of Beijing, Shanghai and Xian and enjoy a Yangtze River cruise through the Three Gorges.

Granted, River Cruise vessels are naturally a lot smaller that their bigger counterparts, but that does not necessarily mean a compromise in quality. Great things come is small packages anyone? Well that is certainly the case here. Almost all River cruises are 4-5 star. Smaller passenger numbers mean there are more staff to look after you, which in turn means a more personal service. Don't take my word for it have a look at the reviews on our website. Press here.

Over the last year there has been an unprecedented boom in the River Cruise industry. Bookings have been coming in thick and fast to such an extent, that River Cruise line, Viking River Cruises has announced it is building a brand new vessel. This news comes hot just five months after the launch of its first Vietnam and Cambodia programme on the MS La Marguerite. So something is working alright. Any questions let me know, but watch this space River Cruise is coming, so if you haven't already, why not see what all the fuss is about.

Cruising Cats and Dogs

2011-03-08T10:12:00.000Z

Are you stuck in a rut. Do you want to go on holiday but, can't bring yourself to leave your precious pet at home. Well believe it or not on board Cunard's Queen Mary 2 you can bring them with you, as long as they are of the canine or feline variety.

You can't actually have Spot or Moggy in the cabin with you, but you can rent a kennel on board at a rate of $300 for a small upper kennel or $500 for a large lower kennel. If you have a large dog Two kennels can also be rented ( top and bottom) and be opened up to form a larger kennel though guests will be charged for the two kennels. Your choice of destinations are limited, as this service is only available on transatlantic crossings, and you do need to follow certain procedures in order to brings your furry friends on board. See Cunard's T and C's below.

If travelling from New York to Southampton: all pets must be fitted with a microchip, vaccinated against rabies, satisfactorily blood tested to ensure sufficient protection against rabies (the date the blood test is taken will be entered on the PETS passport and six months must have passed from this date before entry into the UK is allowed. Booster injections for rabies may also be required), issued with an official PETS certificate, official PET passport or 3rd country certificate, treated against ticks and tapeworm no more than 48 hours before check in and issued with an official certificate of treatment.

If travelling from Southampton to New York: all pets must have been issued with a current Health Certificate (the health certificate should show that the dog or cat was examined by a veterinarian within 30 days of entry of the dog or cat into the State of New York) and had a rabies vaccination within 12 months to 14 days prior to Entry into the State of New York.

If your worried about exercise for your pets don't be. Cunard have an outdoor exercise area on board Queen Mary 2, and you are welcome to come and take them for a walk. Sound good! Should do, the only thing you can't do is take them up the Statue of Liberty! Any questions let me know!

Welcome to P and O's New Loyalty Program. The Penisular Club.

2011-03-01T18:12:00.000Z

ATTENTION. All P and O past passengers the Portunus Club is having a revamp. Although this is not the most exciting news of the century, it is good news for many loyal passengers. P and O are not known for their excellent past passenger programme, so I am sure any improvements are welcome. So as of April 2012 the loyalty club will be known as the Peninsular Club. So what does this mean for you, the customer?

Full details have been released, with new membership levels that mean the most loyal past passengers can get up to 10% off their onboard bill. Although it is unlikely that P and O will ever offer a 5% discount on all cruises like Cunard, the onboard benefits should keep people coming back. The official statement from P and O cruises is “The new club will retain the simplicity of the Portunus club and give extra benefits to the most frequent travellers with added ship and shore benefits”. For further information let me know, if not press on the below link to view the full benefits of becoming a Penisular Club member.
http://www.completecruisesolution.com/email_bulletins/Peninsular%20Club%20Booklet%2008-44-35.pdf

River Cruise......Along the Thames?

2011-02-22T16:03:00.001Z

When you think River Cruise, normally The Nile, The Danube or even The Seine spring to mind, but the River Thames? Maybe not. It’s not very often the Olympics come to town so next year, why not try something different? If you’re looking for somewhere to stay during the 2012 celebrations and are not sure where to go, then look no further? Azamara Cruises could be sailing both its ships, the Quest and the Journey, into London in July next year.

Although the itineraries are not yet confirmed, it certainly sounds a little better than your local Travelodge or Premier Inn doesn’t it?

As well as Azamara, 6 star line Silversea will have Silver Cloud, berthed alongside HMS Belfast at Tower Bridge, and the Silver Whisper at Greenwich. So unless the Port of London Authority makes new berths available, Azamara may have to tie up downstream in the London Cruise Terminal of Tilbury. Not great news if your after a picturesque view, but staying on a cruise ship on the Thames will be a very unique experience.

London is not the only venue for Olympic competition, so what next? Maybe a week trip on a Narrow boat along the canal’s of Birmingham or a voyage on a Yacht to the Isle of Wight from Weymouth Bay? Both not great suggestions, so if you can think of any that are better let me know! Until then if you are interested in the above, let me know so I can tell you more. As at the moment the Silver Sea ships are filling up fast!

Captain Olsen......on the Queen Victoria?

2011-02-15T14:30:00.000Z

Following hot on the heels of Sarah Breton, P and O's first female captain. Danish born Inger Olsen (no relation to Fred) has made history by becoming Cunard Line's first female Captain. In all of Cunard's 171 year history, only men have have held the position of Captain, so for Inger this must be a massive feeling of accomplishment. She started her historic maiden sailings as Captain on Queen Victoria, as she brought the ship back to the Port of Los Angeles in December.

Captain Olsen and Queen Victoria took part on the momentous Cunard Royal Rendezvous in New York on 13 January, where all three of Cunard's Queens met for a spectacular fireworks display in front of the Statue of Liberty before departing on their respective voyages. At forty three Captain Olsen has risen through the ranks to become master at a very respectable age, as most are not promoted until they are well into their fifties.

Captain Olsen was raised in the Faroe Islands and she joined Cunard in 1997 as First Officer on board Caronia. In 2001 she transferred to sister-brand Seabourn. She sailed on Seabourn Sun and Seabourn Spirit before being promoted to the rank of Staff Captain on Seabourn Pride in 2003. Following some years with other companies within the Carnival Corporation family, Captain Olsen returned to Cunard in August this year as Deputy Captain of Queen Victoria. When not at the helm of the majestic Cunard ocean liner, Captain Olsen lives in Denmark.

So there you have it, proof that if you work hard enough and have the right skills you can achieve anything.
Just ask Captain Olsen.

Should I stay or should I go?

2011-02-08T09:43:00.000Z

I could not help but to feel for a couple of my clients last week. Due to nothing other than bad timing, they are booked onto a Red Sea cruise that is due to leave in a few weeks time. Now currently the Foreign Office is advising that all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez should be avoided, but many cruise lines are still travelling as they are not touching on the above. So should you stay or should you go?

Upon speaking with the said cruise line, it was made apparent that the cruise was still going and there was no real possibility of transferring the cruise to another or getting a refund. I think the term playing it by ear was thrown around. Not great news if you’re meant to be taking kids on a cruise to Egypt at a time like this. The bad news is, if you do decide to stay at home I'm afraid that will be your money lost, but this is a price many of you are willing to pay rather than risk putting your family in harm’s way.

In reality it is very unlikely that the cruise lines would allow its ships to sail into the danger zone. As unsettling as it sounds, the operator would be in massive trouble and face huge repercussions if they are caught doing anything other than putting passenger safety first.

I'm afraid the final decision is up to you. You will only get your money back if the cruise line decides not to travel, even then you may not find out until a few days before. If you are in a party where children are included, then you may feel a little more worried about travelling, but I'm afraid the rules are the same. So whatever you choose just be aware of the consequences and make sure you think your decision though. Your best bet I’m afraid is to wait and see unless the operator advises otherwise and make your mind up at the last possible moment.

The City on the Sea.

2011-02-01T13:43:00.000Z

I have heard many opinions of Venice, many mentioning terrible crowds, smelly canals and over priced hotels, food and attractions. One common view however, is that the City on the Sea is a magic place. Having spent the weekend there with my fiancee, I now completely understand what all the fuss is about.......
First of all it is completely true that Venice is an extremely expensive city, 14 euros for a can of coke is a lot in any ones book. However Venice Island is unlike any other city in the world. A place where you can spend hours exploring the alleys, nooks and crannies of this cultured, historic place. Yet rather than driving around you can sail. This is the only place you can do this.Yes is can be very busy, the best way to avoid this is to go January to April, weather wise the later the better, and as for the smell, who cares. It is not that bad, that it would stop you having a good time, but just in case pack a peg or two.

Spending a peaceful Sunday morning sailing through the canals of Venice on a Gondola is something that will stay will me forever. I would recommend it to anyone and although it is quite expensive at 100 euros for 40 minutes, for the experience and memories created this is a small price to pay.

The food was excellent, although I must admit I am not a fan of sea food so I did not try any of Venice's famous sea food creations, although I hear it is very good. San Marco square is amazing, the architecture, the Clock tower and the Cathedral all seem to mold into one, and walking around here really is a interesting experience. For the history buffs, the Museum and Doge's Palace should keep you entertained. Just wondering around and exploring Venice is an experience in it's self.

If you are thinking of taking a trip to Venice let me know, I will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Where can I smoke?

2011-01-25T11:54:00.001Z

Fancy a smoke? A ciggie maybe. What about a drag? Are you a smoker and want a Cruise Ship that will allow you to smoke in your cabin? Do you want a smoke free cabin where you are assured that no one has smoked in there before you? Well through a bit of research, here are the Cruise Lines who allow you to smoke in your cabin and/or your balcony;

Carnival Cruises - Cabin and Balcony
Costa Cruises- Cabin and Balcony
Cunard - Balcony only
Crystal Cruises- Cabin only
Fred Olsen- Balcony only
Holland America- Cabin and Balcony
NCL- Cabin and Balcony
P&O- Balcony only
Princess Cruises- Balcony only
Royal Caribbean- Balcony only
Seabourn- Cabin only
Thomson- Balcony only

Most Cruise lines have designated smoking areas inside the ship with the exception of Fred Olsen and Thomson who now do not allow smoking inside the ship at all. These Cruise Lines do have outside smoking areas. If you smoke in a non smoking area you may be fined up to $250, so beware! I can think of better ways to spend $250. Being a reformed smoker myself, I know all about shivering outside, clasping onto a cigarette just to get your smoke. Non smokers will say, just don't do it, but for most smokers that is just not an option. So by knowing which ships you can smoke in the cabins, you can pre-empt braving the Artic conditions outside.So smokers I hope this helps!

Any questions please add a comment.

The Two Queens

2011-01-18T08:59:00.000Z

World cruises are not for everyone. First of all you need the money, 107 nights do not come cheap, regardless of what cabin you have. Then you need the time, if you work, 3 months is a long time off. If you are retired, various other commitments such as grand children or family may prevent you from travelling. But for all of you out there, who have the time and money, Cunard are offering a fantastic option that may be just for you.

A place people are always very interested in visiting is Sydney. Now for most of us the thought of a near 24 hour flight is too much to handle. So a visit to Sydney on a cruise seems a lot more appealing. There is only one problem. On a world cruise you may only get one or two nights ashore at the most. With all the attractions to see this is not always enough. That is why this next Cunard option sounds so attractive.

The cruise starts with a 49 night voyage from Southampton to Sydney on Cunard's new Queen Elizabeth, from here you will have a 7 night hotel stay in Sydney, this will give you more than enough time to see the city. Then coming home, you will board the Queen Mary 2 for a 53 night voyage back to Southampton. Obviously there are plenty other selling points to this cruise, as you will still be visiting many, many fascinating ports of call. However this would definitely be a unique and interesting way to travel around the world as well as spending a week in Sydney. Also you will be experiencing the luxury of both the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary, let’s face it how often can you do that?

Any questions you may have let me know!

Behind the scenes of a Cruise Ship.....

2011-01-11T21:08:00.000Z

One look at this picture, and you may be forgiven for thinking that you are looking at the controls of the Star Ship Enterprise. Now look closer, believe it or not this is the bridge deck of P and O's latest ship Azura. If your expecting a large wooden ship's wheel think again, the German made navigation systems are so sophisticated that the entire 115,000 ton vessel can be controlled by a two inch joystick. That means something the width of a football field is controlled only by a thumb and index finger.....

The bridge is on the 14th deck and extends out over both sides to allow officers full views of the ship, only four men work there, with another four-man watch below decks overseeing the ship's six diesel engines. That means it only takes 8 people to get passengers from A to B. As you are probably aware, due to security reasons, passengers are not allowed on the Bridge, however, many vessels like the Norwegian Gem allow passengers to view the Bridge from behind the safety of a glass shield.

So what do you need to do to become an officer on a cruise ship? You could join a sailing academy (if they accept you) and go through a cadet course. If you're lucky enough to pass, you would need to train on a Cargo Ship and after getting your qualifications, you will spend several years sailing on various commercial ships before transferring onto a Cruise ship. By this time you have already spent 15 years getting to the Bridge, so standing behind a glass shield maybe a easier task!

In the extremely unlikely event of the ship's navigation system failing all Officers are still instructed in the basics of navigation, including the use of a sextant. The chance of it coming to this is slim to none, the Azura has a system on board called Track Pilot. This is basically autopilot and will maintain it's course to within ten metres at all times, no matter what the wind, the seas, the current or the tide is doing.

So there you have it, if any other interesting facts come to light I will let you know, but if you have read the above at least you now know what you need to do to become an Officer on a Cruise ship!

Happy New Year 2011!

2011-01-04T08:26:00.001Z

Happy New Year 2011! I'm sure you will agree this year has gone by in what seems like a blink of an eye. So let me take this opportunity to thank all of my clients that booked with me 2010. Its been a very successful year here at Cruise.co.uk and it is all thanks to you! After a short break off in December, its time to roll up my sleeves and get back to reality. So as usual for all you bargain hunters out there, January is the time the cruise lines are fighting each other for business. This is great news if your looking to go on a cruise in 2011, as each company has various booking incentives to convince potential customers to go with them. So if you want to find out more, or find out who is offering the best deals give me a call and we will find the right cruise for you. Here's to a successful 2011!

Happy Christmas and New Year!

2010-12-04T17:39:00.000Z

Hey Folks,

This year I am fortunate enough to have the rest of December off as holiday. So any questions or you queries you may have, whilst I'm off, please contact one of my colleagues on 0800 408 6200 who will be able to assist you. All that is left to say is have a great Christmas and New Year, I know I will, I now have four weeks with my daughter and family!

Speak to you in the new year!

Dylan

The Results!

2010-11-30T22:21:00.001Z

First of all let me thank all the people that voted for me in our recent best cruise consultant / best blog competition. Although I did not come first in either category I did manage to come forth in the best blog category. Now if Meatloaf can say two out of three ain't bad, can I say fourth out of fifty isn’t too bad? Not quite the same I suppose, but either way I'm very happy where I finished and I wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t for all my votes. So again let me say a massive thank you for all of those who took the time to vote for me. Unfortunately I do not know where I came in the best cruise consultant competition, as they only let us know the top five, I like to think I was one vote off fifth place! I guess we will never know, but come 2011 I will attempt to finish higher! Watch this space!

Vote for me!

2010-11-23T20:23:00.011Z

If you don't know already Cruise.co.uk are holding a
competition to find the of best cruise consultant of the
year and best blog of the year 2010. Now there can
only be one winner in each category, and every one in
the office wants to win it.So to decide who gets these prestigious awards, the choice falls down to you the public! Now many of my colleagues are asking people to vote for them, by pressing on the vote for me button on their blogs,but not me. I will not ask people to vote for me, you wont get any cheap gimmicks here, oh no.I want people to judge me on my customer service, my friendly manner and my attention to detail. It's got me this far. I will however be doing a short survey on my blog, so please press on the red tab at the top left of my blog, press on my name, and press submit. This is only for market research purposes of course! So only time will tell, and the winner shall take their crown.

Nemesis rules the waves!

2010-11-16T15:48:00.001Z

You may remember in a previous blog, I had talked about what cruise ships are doing to prevent pirates boarding their vessel's in the Indian Ocean. Well have I got some news for you. It is looking increasingly likely that British cruise ships are to start using a high-pressure water cannon to combat the growing threat of piracy. The device, known as the Nemesis 5000 will provide an 80mph “360-degree curtain of water” round vessels to prevent pirates using harpoon ladders to scale the sides. Yes 80 miles an hour, I imagine getting sprayed in the face with a fire hose, would be the same feeling as getting hit by this monster.....
When I first heard about this device, I imaged it would look like a menacing, tank shaped machine, but in reality, passengers may not even realise that it is there, because only nozzles pointing down spray water. If I was to describe the Nemesis 5000, it would be fair to say it looks like a robot windmill (see inset).

If trials of Nemesis 5000 prove successful it could be taken up by cruise giants such as Carnival. A Cunard spokesman said: “The reality is that our vessels are just too big and too fast to be targeted by pirates, who prefer to go for easier-to-board vessels. We do, however, take many sensible measures.” At present many cargo vessels which are the main target for pirates, use long range acoustic devices which emit powerful waves of sound to deter anyone trying to board them. Earphones anyone? I'm not sure if they would be much use actually.

The price for the Nemesis is relatively cheap, plus its 'ammo' is sea water and it can be switched on in moments notice, so this should appeal to many of the big brands. Pirates beware! Cruise passenger safety is paramount, as without it, cruises would be leaving Southampton empty! So in order to keep world cruisers travelling, the cruise lines need to employ new measures, to ensure the safety of everyone on board, and they are doing just that! Any questions let me know.

Splendour and Radiance to be revitalized!

2010-11-09T12:28:00.001Z

Good news for all you Royal Caribbean fans out there. RC has announced the revitalization and refurbishment of the Radiance of the Seas and the Splendour of the Seas in 2011. There have been a few whispers that the two above ships are starting to look a little tired, so this should be good news for all. RC have said the planned enhancements of the the ships will reflect the cruise line’s aim to provide guests with the industry’s most innovative cruise ships, exciting destinations and superior Gold Anchor Service to help create an extraordinary cruise vacation. Not many cruise lines throw as much money at maintaining their product as RC do, but saying that, not many cruise lines charge as much for drinks as Royal do! The question is, should they build new ships or update the old ones? Silly question maybe, as what costs less?

On board the Radiance of the Seas, RC are introducing new specialty restaurants, a new Diamond Lounge for Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program members, as well as the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, interactive flat-panel televisions in all staterooms, and Wi-Fi throughout the ship.

On board the Splendour of the Seas two new specialty restaurants are being added as well the same extras as above. Is this a good move from Royal Caribbean? Absolutely as all parties should be happy. The guests have a new looking ship, and newer facilities, Royal Caribbean do not have to commission a new ship and can now get many more years out the older ones. It seems RC are building bigger and more exciting ships every other year, so they are still building brand new vessels. It’s just good to think they are still looking after the older ones, and still attracting customers to come back. Keep up the good work Royal!

A First for Cruising?

2010-11-02T15:02:00.002Z

Any takers? eWaterway's are searching for 22 brave, open minded holidaymakers to strip off for a seven night naked cruise starting August next year. Unfortunately I am busy the whole of August , and will make myself busy on any future dates if the cruise is successful, but if you are willing and able, why not? The cruise will be going along the Croatian coast and visiting “the island of love” or as we know it Rab (where?) as well as Zadar and various other Croatian ports of call.....

I'm open minded as the next person, but I can imagine it would be no mean feat to switch sell Fred Olsen passengers onto a Naturist cruise. However, I'm sure Naturists do come in all shapes, sizes and ages, so it might not be as far fetched as you think. According to the London based tour operator it expects the cruise to appeal to a variety of European nationalities but particularly Germans, as they are “really into naturism”. Stereotyping aside, I'm sure this will will be a successful cruise, they are only looking for 22 people and with prices starting from £495 per person, this would be attractive to the wallet too.

Although we are not looking at a Freedom class ship here, the vessel does feature a bar, a spacious sun deck and a small restaurant, which will be serving traditional Croatian cuisine. Which means you have everything at your fingertips. Just think of the packing, all you need to remember is your sun cream, toiletries and your clothes for the plane, ( I don't think staff at Heathrow, allow passengers to board flights in their birthday suits. Puts the children off their dinner apparently)! On a serious note, eWaterways have said that, passengers will get undressed for swimming and sunbathing, but will be fully clothed on the evening, so no need to worry about being put off your dinner.The ship is relatively small, and looks more like a Schooner that a cruise ship, but that is probably part of the appeal. It does however have an engine, so you are not relying on old fashioned wind power alone.

Any questions please contact me, you never know, if this catches on, 2020 may be the year that P and O launch its first nude cruise on Ventura. 3000 naturists may be a lot harder to find that 22 though.

What do you think?

2010-10-26T17:03:00.000+01:00

Royal Caribbean have announced that they are introducing Saturday Night Fever, as a show on board the Liberty of the Seas from April 2011.Although John Travolta will not be joining the cast, I'm sure with RCI's entertainment budget, it will not be a disappointment. This got me thinking, what shows or activities could be put onto a cruise ship that would make them fresh, funny, new and different......
I have come up with a few suggestions (some better than others). Let me know what you think!

Pantomimes. This would be brilliant for children and their families over the Christmas period. Just imagine sitting in the theatre shouting at Christopher Biggins ' look behind you!' You heard it hear first Royal Caribbean.

Falconry on the open decks. As long as the birds do not fly away, there is something very interesting and entertaining seeing a Falcon swoop down from the heavens, to get a piece of meat. Or is that just me?

A Zoo. Yes, we have had a grass lawn at sea, why not add animals?

Disney On Ice. It's probably unlikely that Disney Cruises would allow it's characters on Royal Caribbeans ice rinks at sea, but it may be worth an ask. If not Lion King the musical, would be a good call.

Fairground or a Circus. Although this has already been done on a small scale, I would like to see the full works. The only problem would be where would you keep the gold fish you won? I suppose you could release it into the open ocean. I'm not sure if its survival options would be better at sea or at home with me!

Roller Coasters. There were plenty of rumours, that Royal Caribbean were going to put a Roller Coaster on Oasis of the Sea's. It did not materialise, so why not? Maybe the long queues.

Imax Cinema's. Maybe a 3D version or Jaws playing or Finding Nemo.

Any more suggestions are welcome, I'm sure it wont be too hard to improve on some of my idea's!

It's that time again!

2010-10-17T18:46:00.001+01:00

Hey folks,

It's that time again; I am off to the English country side this week until the 23rd October 2010. Hopefully our fantastic British weather will hold out at least until Saturday. If you have any questions or queries whilst I’m off, please contact one of my colleagues on 0800 408 6200. Otherwise I will answer all questions upon my return.

See you then!

Dylan

Am I a Cunarder? I think I might be!

2010-10-12T21:51:00.005+01:00

When I was asked if I wanted to spend a night on the new Queen Elizabeth, I jumped at the chance. Having never been on a Cunard ship, I was very curious to find out what all the fuss was about. Was the QE all hype? Because of Cunard's history. Why did the maiden voyage sell out in just one afternoon? More importantly, why wasn’t I asked to go on a Cunard ship earlier?

Well all these questions and more were about to be answered. The trip to Southampton always seems more fun on the way, than coming back. So arriving at the docks, with a Burger King in my belly, I was ready and raring to go. Then there she was, my first opinion, I thought she was pretty big, gargantuan actually, then as we got closer I realised my mistake, I was looking at the Independence of the Sea's! Go back to sleep Dylan! Ok, second time lucky, we drove a bit further down the dock. This time I see that unmistakable red and black funnel, and she looks fantastic, even the sun has come out to say hello!

Upon boarding, my first act on board was to find my cabin. Unfortunately all of the Queens Grills were occupied to I had to "settle" for just a balcony, poor me! Well when I say settle, my first opinion of my cabin was the size and decor. This was a very pleasantly sized living space, even my suitcases (girlfriends cases) had a home! Everything looked new and gleaming, and the balcony was a very good size, I think it was probably an A4 or A3. This was not slumming it by any means, I was sitting on my balcony, and various small yachts and boats were going passed, with their masters pointing their camera's in my direction. At a time like that I wished I'd had a pipe in my hand and not a cigarette!

Now it was time to see the ship, up I went to the top deck, to the lawn club. Now if your into bowls, crocket, or even paddle tennis this is the place for you, unfortunately I’ve never had the chance to play these games before, and guess what, I still do not know if I’m the next big thing, as I think it was open just for "show". Onto the pool deck, which looked like what I'd imagine the pool deck on the Titanic would of looked like. It was all wood and tiles and not over crowded with deck chairs, I must say things are starting to look good.

Back inside the ship, I first see the main Atrium. Now this is a sight to see, you cannot miss the grandness (is that a word) of it. This is definitely the ace in Cunard's sleeve, see for yourself below.

The library was very well stocked, over two floors with a spiral staircase and had individual seats, equipped with small reading lamps, that would look at home in the Marciana Library in Venice. Throughout the ship, all the decor reminded me of an age of grand ocean liners, even better the QE is bursting with interesting paintings and displays of relics from the QE2 and portraits of import people like The Queen and others. Over all the ship is exactly what you would expect it to be and more.

When walking down to the Britannia restaurant, I was sure that somebody has stolen my tuxedo jacket and replaced it with a smaller one, either way as we sat and viewed the menu; I could not help but to feel important. The thing I love about restaurants like this, is they can't call chicken breast and mash just chicken breast and mash. They have to call it something completely French and fancy. So I ordered one! Although I must say, it was very, very good.

At the end of the night we were all ushered into the Grand Theatre, for a show and presentation by Cunard, the dancers and orchestra were brilliant, after which President of Cunard, Peter Shanks gave a speech, which he said, in the industry they have a saying "We are Cunard"! Well Peter I am Dylan, and I am now also Cunard.

Are 6 Star Cruises worth their price tag?

2010-10-05T14:51:00.004+01:00

If you have experienced, a fortnight, a week or even a day on a 6 star cruise line, you will know that the service, food and overall experience is second to none. The question is "are they worth it?"

Let’s look at the pros and cons. Let’s take Regent for an example, all meals, drinks, excursions and even some of the time flights are included for free. Granted the base price for the cruise is higher, but if you think about it, you only have to dip your hand into your pocket for souvenirs.

6 Star 1 Mass Market 0.

On a mass market ship, all your food is included, but if you’re on a 14 night cruise, go on an excursion a day, and like to have a drink on holiday, with the average price for excursions at around £100 each, and spending an average of £50 a night on drinks, you spend £250 per day! Based of visiting 8 ports that’s £2000. This is not even taking into account the money you will spend onboard on the other days at sea!

6 Star 2 Mass market 0.

If you’re a late booker and always hold out for the best deal, it is possible to get a really good price a few weeks before you travel with mass market lines. 6 Star lines do offer late deals; unfortunately you will never get as cheap a price at short notice as you would a mass market ship.

6 Star 2 Mass Market 1.

When arriving at the buffet section on a 6 star line, unlike the MM you do not have to fight through the crowds to get your cucumber sandwich. The occupancy difference means you have more staff to look after you and also less queues.

6 Star line 3 Mass Market 1.

Having to fork out sometimes twice the sum for a 6 star line could be off putting, as we don’t always look at the bigger picture and think of what we are getting for our money. I must admit a P&O cruise with a lower base rate does seem more appealing. Also depending on preference / and who your with i.e. kids/ family, 6 star lines do not have as many facilities onboard as say Ventura or Independence of the Sea’s, but not to worry the Flow rider is not for everyone!

6 Star 3 Mass Market 2.

6 star lines get into the smaller, more interesting ports of call which is great for return cruisers. If you go on a cruise once a year from Southampton, there’s only so many times you want to visit Civitavecchia and the long hog to Rome. So by going 6 star, you usually get to have a more cultural experience by visiting the smaller lesser known ports. This does not mean that 6 star lines, do not visit the more mass market ports, it just does a lot of others also.

6 Star 4 Mass Market 2.

This has been a very general comparison of the 6 star lines, and the mass market ships. Overall each cruise line has different selling points and experiences to offer. So we can’t really put 6 star and mass market into boxes. However I can say, if they paid me more I will probably choose to cruise 6 star most of the time, but that’s just me. My personal experience with 6 star lines made me realise that they are not snotty or for rich people only, but a very well thought out and enjoyable product. A 6 star cruise will cost you more, so like most of us, they are still a little too dear for yearly cruises, so my suggestion, why not save them for a special occasion! In fact most of my clients who I have booked Silversea, Regent, Crystal, Seabourne, Sea Dream have returned and booked another. So be warned getting attached to 6 star cruising will cost you money!

If you have any questions, or want a more in depth descriptions of the various lines, please leave a comment!

You can't see me!

2010-09-28T11:49:00.005+01:00

I was reading an article in The Telegraph about what to do if you’re on a cruise in African waters and come across pirates. Although you may not think a great deal can be done, apart from preventing them boarding or shouting "GO AWAY"......
P and O have advised their clients to close their curtains between 6.30pm and 7.00am, as pirate attacks are most common between dawn and dusk. They will also prevent people from using the promenade deck between these times. Now this may not sound like much of a protective measure, but keeping people from being seen is a huge step in safety. Gone are the days of the Skull and cross bones, pirates swinging from their galleons, with Cutlass and musket in hand, trying to steal your silver? New are pirates are very different indeed. Gangs are armed with automatic rifles and even rocket-propelled grenades, so the less targets they see the better! Looking forward to your cruise?

Although this does sound a little scary, do not be put off your cruise, due to the above. It would take a pretty confident Pirate, to attempt to take a ship of 2000 passengers, plus cruise lines do employ other counter measures. In November 2005, a cruise ship sailing off Somalia repelled armed pirates without returning fire by using bangs to simulate weapons. An international patrol of warships from EU countries has been set up to patrol the waters, plus boarding a cruise ship from a small dingy can be no easy feat. Look outs are on all ships, this coupled with Radar, makes avoiding pirates very easy. Even if they go get close enough, as long as the cruise ship keeps up its speed, boarding is EXTREMELY unlikely. Plus if the cruise lines were really that worried, would they still go? I think not!

Cruise ship security is the industry’s highest priority, and making cruising safe is paramount. The International Maritime Organization assures that security standards are strictly guided by a network of internationally approved standards, and individual cruise lines also have well established security assessment procedures and protocols. With all of the above said, I think if you want to do a world cruise, then why not! Just remember when packing your case to bring your Cutlass!

Wheres Dylan?

2010-09-21T19:44:00.003+01:00

Having spent the last week in sunny Wales, I forever had to remind myself that I am now a young man (well youngish) and probably should not do certain things that I used to do as a child. By this I should not be a) paddling in the freezing sea, b) seeing something inflatable, and thinking it may be a good idea to buy at try, then realising cold and wet is definatly not funny and c) having some kind of adventurous urge to try and climb any obstacle that I may come across, this could be cliffs/rocks/trees even a rope swing or two as again weighing a few more pounds than I used to meant gravity soon got its way! for my own version of wheres Wally read on!
In true where’s Wally fashion, well ....... without the people......... or the stripy jumper........or the book, have a look below and see if you can spot that brave adventurer in the picture by the name of Dylan! The winner is in line to win a bucket of very rare tartan paint! Welsh tartan paint!

Did you spot me? Never mind, have a look below to see a grown man on a rope swing! Im off to Devon in a few months, wonder what adventures i will get up to? Only time will tell!

The Land Of Our Fathers!

2010-09-09T12:40:00.002+01:00

Alright Folks!

My family have been extra nice to me this year, so I have decided to whisk them away to the exotic land that is Wales! When I said to my girlfriend I was going to take her away, she was very excited until I told her where! Well a break is a break, so if you have any questions when I’m away I am away please email contactus@cruise.co.uk or call 0800 408 6200.

I am in the rest of today, but will be returning to the office on Sunday 19th September.

I have already arranged my visa, and got my currency changed, the only thing I need to do is get my factor 50, as I don’t want sunburn! Hang on a minute, have I got 6 months left on my passport?

Shouda-Coulda-Woulda!

2010-09-05T12:40:00.004+01:00

With the news the Queen is set to officially name Cunards Queen Elizabeth in October, I though id write a list of possible famous figures that other cruise lines, could have asked to name their ships!Feel free to add any suggestions to the comments below:-

Fred Olsen.................Michael Winner
Royal Caribbean..............Ruby Wax
Ocean Village..............Ozzy Osborne

Easy cruise...............Basil Faulty
P&O......................Michael Caine
Princess cruises..............Jonathan Ross
Silversea...............David Cameron
Hurtigruten..............Joanna Lumley
Costa.............Gino D'Acampo
MSC.....................Roberto Baggio
Holland America............Rutger Hauer
NCL........................Sven-Göran Eriksson
Celebrity.................Paris Hilton
Carnival................Robin Williams
Thomson cruises............Jane Macdonald
Island cruises.................Robinson Crusoe

Feel free to add any suggestions to the comments below:-

Cruise prices?Where do they come from? How do they work?

2010-08-29T19:49:00.001+01:00

Although some may believe cruise lines “charge what they like” when it comes to pricing up their cruises. There is actually a very straight forward explanation of where they come from. Supply and demand! Or as some like to say fluid pricing! This concept basically means that if a cruise is going in three weeks, has only sold 50% of its capacity, then the cruise lines are going to drastically drop its prices or vice-versa.....
Unfortunately, it’s usually the latter so a bit of straight forward advice I give to my clients is that, if you have one cruise /ship in mind, then book early for the best price to avoid disappointment. There may be a very slim chance the cruise may go down if the cruise has trouble to sell, but it is very unlikely especially if the cruise is going in peak times, i.e August, Christmas etc.

For all those bargain hunters, who don’t mind where they go, when they go, and are generally looking for the best deal, then a late deal may be for you. Just be aware these deals are few and far between, and usually, by booking on a late deal means sacrificing, choosing your cabin/ a good location / parking and onboard credit, but you will get a better price. However I ONLY recommend going for a late deal if you can go at a drop of a hat and meet the above criteria. For the other 99% of the time booking early is by far the best option.

So what happens if you book a cruise early and you find out the cruise is now cheaper three months down the line? Unfortunately not a lot. If you book Royal Caribbean, Celebrity or Azamara, they do offer a price promise, so if the prices goes down and you see the price has gone down they will reduce your cruise ,ONLY IF, the new royal Caribbean deal stipulates you can do so. Some new deals are for new bookings only, or senior citizens or other restrictions. All other cruise lines you have to pay the price you originally booked at. If you ask someone in the industry, they will give you the explanation, when you buy a TV from Currys and see the price has gone down, you would not go back after and want the new price, so why with cruises?

The best thing to do? Think long and hard before you commit, as once you have paid deposit or balance that is that, and your cruise is booked.

10 things that should be on cruise ships!

2010-08-22T16:49:00.001+01:00

As cruise ships get bigger and bigger, their owners are constantly trying to think of new and exciting new features to add on to their new ships, to make them stand out from the rest. Well they can now look no further; I have come up with a list of 10 things that should be on cruise ships, so you heard them here first........

1. Murder Mysteries.

2. Single cruises with blind date, maybe even Cilla!

3. Paintballing

4. Airkix (indoor sky diving)

5. A Zoo, maybe a bit farfetched, but it worked for Noah.

6. A ski slope.

7. Torpedoes! Not to sink other ships though! Just old boys (not the people) and maybe to create a breakwater, although they may become handy if you bump into pirates!

8. Go karts! may be a little dangerous though!

9. Madam Tussads, so you can cruise with the rich and famous.

10. A crow’s nest, so you can keep look out, and release your inner child!

It seems the further I got down the list the more farfetched the idea's became, but if you have any suggestions, or can think of anything else, let me know!

Celebrity to bring all four Solstice class ships to the med!

2010-08-15T14:08:00.001+01:00

Your sitting on the grass on a warm sunny sunday afternoon, watching the world go past, spending quality time with your family. Sound like an ordinary family picnic? Well the big difference here is that your not at your local park, but on a 5 Star Solstice class Celebrity cruise ship!

Experienced cruisers will know all bout this class of ship, but for all of you who are not aware of what the solitice class has to offer they have the the lawn club, a Genuine grass lawn on the top deck of the ship. From here you can enjoy the feeling of grass beteth your feet even at sea. The hot glass show, The world renowed Corning Musem of glass brings its highly acclaimed hot glass show onboard. The four ships hold just under 3000 passengers and are 122,000 tons, and the dining onboard is of very high standard. In celebrities own words they celebrate each deliosous meal with an ideal atmosphere to match!

Now for the big news, from next year the Eclipse, Equinox, Solstice and the Silhouette are coming to Europe! If you needed reason to believe that Europe is next hot destination for cruising these days, look no further than Celebrity Cruises desison to move these ships over to europe for summer 2011.

Celebrity Silhouette, The newest in the class, will launch midway through the season, debuting with a maiden voyage from Hamburg to Civitavecchia/Rome followed by a 9-night Mediterranean voyage and a series of 12- and 13-night Holy Land sailings, round-trip from Civitavecchia/Rome. Celebrity Equinox also will sail from Rome, offering 10- and 11-night round-trip Mediterranean cruises. Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Eclipse will sail a series of 12-night round-trip itineraries out of Barcelona.

Any further questions or information please let me know, as these are definatly cruises not to be missed!

Are you brave enough?

2010-08-09T00:37:00.002+01:00

8th April 2012 is the day Fred Olsen's Balmoral, follows in the footsteps of Maritimes most famous disaster, the sinking of the Titanic. As most of you are probably aware the Balmoral is to follow the fateful route of the Titanic exactly 100 years after her sinking. She will even be at the exact spot latitude 41°51'N, longitude 50°14'W on April 15, 2012, where Titanic hit an iceberg a hundred years earlier. Superstitious? Then maybe this is not the cruise for you..
Although you could argue that the 100 year anniversary is no different from say the ships 99th or 98th the Century has a certain ring to it, and I’m sure some kind of vessel has passed this point on one anniversary in the last 100. For all interested in maritime history or even disaster this cruise is a must, but the question I find myself asking is.... am I brave enough?

I’m not saying that, it’s going to hit an iceberg, or there are not enough lifeboats etc, ( but if it were to happen, according to the film at least Kate Winslet will throw herself at me, so move over Leo ). I’m just saying it’s a brilliant way to drum up interest for the cruise and the hype surrounding it all, makes it exciting in a kind of curious way. A lot of people will just say, it’s just another cruise, but for some it will be an educational once in a life time experience! If I was onboard, on the 15th April, in the exact spot she sank, I’m sure I will be crossing my fingers and toes; in fact I’m sure this thought will pass through minds of many passengers onboard. But that’s the fun of it!

The people who lost their life, on this tragic night are gone but not forgotten, and I’m sure that thoughts of many of Balmoral passengers will be thinking this as they approach the fateful spot, but at least their memory lives on, and for many passengers this is what it is all about! Let’s face it, only 1000 or so will be able to say, I was there, as it will be a quite a wait if you decide to, "go on the next one" another 100 years later. All I have to say is, this will be a cracking cruise, and if anyone is booked on this, please let me know after how it went, as I’m sure it won’t be a disappointing experience. So let me know!

GMTV and Cooking at Sea!

2010-08-01T13:19:00.001+01:00

Following on from my previous blog on the 20th June, Welcome to Hells "Cruise" Kitchen, it seems that P&O have followed suit. With response to Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Sea's Culinary challenge, P and O teamed up with GMTV to bring us "Chef's at Sea!" How they thought of this name beats me, but Marco Pierre White judged the final, so if the name is good enough for him, it’s good enough for me......
GMTV played host to the event, as its nationwide search for Britain’s hidden culinary talent came to a close last week with the four finalists battling it out onboard Ventura. GMTV Presenter Claire Sweeney was at the helm as the four finalist contestants, were chosen by GMTV viewers.

Haute cuisine teacher and chef, Rosemary Shrager, of Ladette to Lady and Soap star Super chef, Mentored the budding chefs by guiding them through a series of fun food tasks on board and on shore as they test their culinary credentials against each other live at sea.

P&O cruise’s passengers onboard voted for their two favourites in a theatre ‘cook-off’ mid-cruise. The two finalists went head to head in the final challenge – cooking Marco Pierre White’s signature dish for him and the Captain on the Captain’s table.

Unlike Allure of the Sea's culinary challenge, the winner was not rewarded with the chance to join the cruise lines culinary team but with a Caribbean cruise on Ventura, for themselves and their family, and a private cooking master class with Marco Pierre White on board. A good prize for the short term but if it was me I think I’d rather the job! Either way I wonder who will be next to launch a culinary competition, maybe somebody should do an afternoon tea and cake competition! What this space, I thought of it first!

The show must go on. Welcome Queen Elizabeth!

2010-07-25T10:23:00.001+01:00

So the Queen Elizabeth is almost here, and Cunard are pulling out all the stops to ensure that every aspect of their new ship has the wow factor! As for the entertainment onboard you can expect everything from Shakespeare to Neil Simon. Cunard has announced a huge range of production shows as well as topical news quizzes to be staged in the blue and gold, art deco-themed Royal Court Theatre......

For the first time, actors are being included among cast members of the newly formed Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company (most lines just have singers and dancers).

As for the rest of the line-up:

Lovers of Shakespeare will be able to enjoy an abridged version of "Twelfth Night," while there will be a taste of more contemporary drama with a Neil Simon triple bill, featuring a scene each from "Last of the Red Hot Lovers," "Plaza Suite" and "The Odd Couple," each linked by its setting either in an apartment or a hotel suite. The audience will have a chance to meet the actors for a Q&A at the end of each show.

Two more production shows include "The Piccadilly Line," centred on a tube carriage on the London Underground, and "Hotel Royale," set against the backdrop of a fading hotel with some unusual and quirky staff and guests. Sound familiar? Basil Faulty anyone!

"Sing," based on the Singers in Concert shows on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, will feature covers of popular hits from musicals, pop and light classics.

"La Danza" is a dance-themed production show in the same vein as Apassionata and Dance Passion, running respectively on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria.

Finally, a specially written panel quiz show based on the format of the BBC's "Have I Got News For You" will also be staged during the day.

Actual scheduling of all the shows has yet to be announced, although we know some will be followed by theme parties, for example, a "London Swings" sixties night will always coincide with "A Slice Of Saturday Night".

Roll on October!!

First came peas and carrots? Second, salt and vinegar? Now gardening and cruising!

2010-07-18T12:18:00.005+01:00

Who would have guessed it? Something as simple as adding a hobby like gardening to a cruise holiday would become so successful and interesting.....
Well here at cruise.co.uk, largely thanks to the brilliant Vanessa Behan, (The Gardeners group product manager), we have been delivering exclusive trips to some of the world’s most beautiful gardens for years.....

For all of you out there who do not know what a gardening cruise is, it doesn’t involve cutting grass as sea I’m afraid, (unless you’re on the Celebrity Eclipse of course). It’s actually a specially arranged group on a cruise trip to the Canaries / Caribbean / Europe even the Amazon with Fred Olsen. On these trips, we arrange for top television gardening personalities, to be onboard to give talks/ advice, host cocktail parties and escort specially arranged shore tours to some of nature’s most perfect settings. Gardens visited included, Frances beautiful flower arches of Giverny. The beautiful botanical gardens of St Lucia, the Amazon rain forest and many more! Speakers include Alan Titchmarsh, Matthew Biggs, Will Giles, David Hurrion, Ashley Stephenson and Pippa Greenwood. This combined with the brilliant Fred Olsen cruise experience is one not to missed!

Any further questions or enquires let me know, Some of our trips last year, are still hugely talked about now, but don’t take my word for it, let me know, and I will direct you to some of the reviews on our website from past our gardeners cruisers, so you can see what others have thought!

The Joy's Of Shipbuilding!

2010-07-11T09:15:00.003+01:00

Did you know many of the most famous passenger liners in history were built in the British Isles? To be honest, I was actually aware of this, I’m sure most of you were, but I had no idea just what personal hardship and sacrifice went into this by the shipbuilders. I was watching a program on BBC 4 the other night called, the men who built the liners......
Now anyone interested in the history of liners/shipyards this is one to watch. (It may possibly be repeated on Bbc iplayer). The documentary was about the several shipyards along the banks of the Clyde. The show combined personal accounts and archive footage to evoke a vivid picture of the unique culture that grew up in the Clyde shipyards. Despite some of the harshest working conditions in industrial history and dire industrial relations, it was here that the Queen Mary, the Queen Elizabeth and the QE2 were built. Such was the Clyde shipbuilders' pride in their work, and the strength of public support, that in 1971 they were able to defy a government attempt to close them down and win the right to carry on shipbuilding.

In 1972 heaths government announced that UCS (upper Clyde ship builder's) would go into liquidation, even though they had a full order book. Rather than take this on the chin Union leaders and the shop stewards had other plans. Immediately the famous UCS work-in began at the Clydebank yard. The men of the ship yards would take over every aspect of the yard's work, including orders, purchasing, and the building of the ships. It was a phenomenal situation that captured the imagination of public and press, and by the next week the other shipyards of UCS were conducting their work-ins. It was accepted the men had won this round of the battle they controlled their shipyards.

What they had no or little control over was cash. But that was not to remain a problem, from other shipyards around Britain and the world, from other unions in Britain and around the world, through mass media campaigns, and from a supportive public the cash came in to aid the historic work in. Even John and Yoko Lennon donated £1000. By August over £46,000 had been collected. But this was just the start. Public support gathered like a snowball, demonstrations attracted people from all over the UK and the government even found itself criticised by its own friends in business who accused the government of seeking to bash the workers and little else. That these same business would lose thousands of pounds owed to them if UCS was liquidated may have had some bearing!

I will not drone on any longer, the government did cave in to public support and gave UCS more money, however in the end this was not enough as many of the ship yards would soon close, and where the was once 50 yards on the Clyde only about 2 now remain! Unfortunately the Golden era of British ship building was over, and most of what we have left is just memories.

Sailing Blind! Lights out at sea!

2010-07-04T12:28:00.002+01:00

Imagine this! Your on the cruise of your dreams, everything is going brilliantly. You have had a fantastic day ashore and built up a bit of an appetite, so you decide to go to your designated restaurant and you sit down for dinner. Your waiter passes you the menu “Can I help you sir?" Then just like that all the electric goes out onboard and you’re left in the dark......
Sound scary? Well just ask the Carnival Fascination passengers that were left dancing in the dark on Wednesday night, after a power cut left the ship adrift at sea for several hours. Apparently the cut was due to a "technical malfunction", what comfort this gave the cruise passengers I don’t know, but at least we are talking hours and not days.

How long exactly the power was out is yet to be confirmed, but I’m sure it seemed like a life time for the passengers. I suppose its slightly more fun than having a power cut at home at least you can still fill up on the tasty food by torch light. Carnival is offering compensation to the disembarking passengers for the delay and the hours without power in the form of a 20 percent discount on a future two- to five-day cruise. The excitement of cruising!

Nickelodeon onboard Ncl!

2010-06-27T09:25:00.015+01:00

Great news for parents and their children on NCL cruises. Nickelodeon, the major children’s' entertainment brand, has teamed up with NCL and will be featuring on many NCL departures 2010/2011.This is major coup for NCL and must be ruffling a few feathers over at Royal Caribbean. This will a huge attraction for families as brands don’t get much bigger in children’s entertainment than Nickelodeon.....
Parents are going to want to book a cruise that is great for their kids, and with the backing of a huge children’s entertainment channel, I don’t think NCL can go to wrong.
Nickelodeon-themed cruises will start with the Norwegian Jewel from New York this season and the Norwegian Epic from Miami this summer. Nickelodeon's television channel is seen by 100 million households, so it will be music to their ears to hear that Nick character meets, interactive game shows, breakfasts, dance parties, show premieres, and even Nick characters will be onboard. Just think how many children will be watching their show's after school, seeing an advert for NCL, and bugging their parents relentlessly to go on the cruise. I know I would of done. So we will have to see just how successful this goes, but I don’t Think NCL has too much to worry about. Who knows, we may even see another other big American cruise line following suit with maybe cartoon network! Only time will tell.

Welcome to Hells "Cruise" Kitchen!

2010-06-20T08:44:00.005+01:00

The problem with reality shows is that nobody wants to see celebrity pet swap or dancing with the stars partners. So its music to my ears to hear, that in the style Gordon Ramsay's "Hell's Kitchen," Royal Caribbean have announced the start of the new “Allure of the Seas Culinary Challenge”. This contest has come about to find a new head chef for the ship's 150 Central Park, the jewel in the crown of the Oasis class dining experience.....
Rather than having bigwigs at the company finding and appointing the head chef, Royal Caribbean is jumping on the culinary competition bandwagon and attempting to find the most qualified candidate to run the restaurant aboard the new Allure of the Seas. Now unfortunately, if you are thinking of applying, you need a few more qualifications than knowing how to poach an egg. To enter you need to either have a bachelor's or Associate's degree from CIA, and no Royal Caribbean are not looking for a spy chef. The CIA is the Culinary Institute of America! The applicants will have to create an original menu and submit a video that demonstrates the preparation of the recipe. The video must also detail why he or she should win the competition and the one-year contract that comes along with the job title. Sounds like a you tube interview!

According to a statement from the cruise line 10 semi-finalists will be chosen at the end of the entry period, at which point their videos will be posted to the contest Web site. From June 28, 2010, through July 11, 2010, the public will have the opportunity to watch each video and vote for their favourite chef. There is also a bonus for voting, if you register you will be entered into a draw to win a trip for two onboard the ship.

The entire competition will be documented in a series of episodes on the Allure of the Seas Web site. So is this going to work? Are they going to find the right man/woman for the job or is this just one big publicity stunt? I think it’s a great idea to drum up interest for the restaurant onboard; people I think are going to want to get involved then sample the finished product. Only time will tell!

No Hobart for Cunard 2012!

2010-06-13T09:18:00.002+01:00

Cunard Have decided to mix up their 2012 world cruise itineraries to keep things fresh for their past passengers. Hobart, a world cruise favourite port, has been dropped this year from the world cruise itinerary. Cunard have announced that Hobart will be replaced by other Australian ports, as their passenger ships have visited three times out of four years, and they want to keep things fresh....

This is nothing new really; Cunard does regularly change its world cruise itineraries, it’s just bad news for the local economy. I was reading an article and it advised one visit alone by one of the Queens injected more than $500,000 into the economy. This just shows you the pulling power of Cunard. The blame game has already started, as all are not convinced that Cunard pulled the port for the above reasons, and the real reason was Cunard losing confidence in the port authorities. A former Tasmanian auditor-general David Kirby blamed the Tasmanian Ports Corporation, a private company. He has called on the Tasmanian Government to exercise strong control and direction over the operations at the company and has said " To lose the confidence of the world's most famous cruise line represents the ultimate disgrace for our port of Hobart and a damning indictment on TasPorts and its miserable stewardship record,"

So not to happy then, but in my view rightly so, this is a big cash cow to loose, Many Australians, have a huge interest in the royal family, so the thought of a royal ship coming to port would draw many in. Plus losing the huge injection of revenue into the local economy by the vast amount of cruise passengers coming ashore must be a bitter pill to swallow. Mr Kirby has said strong control was needed to prevent further damage to the port of Hobart and financial harm to the southern community. "TasPorts is steadily dismantling the port, neglecting to maintain assets entrusted to it and is turning away cruise ships by its negative policies," Luckily for Tasmania other cruise ships do still visit and I’m sure Cunard will be back at some point, as many of their clients find Tasmania a very important and interesting place to visit. We will just have to wait and see!

10 reasons to contact cruise.co.uk

2010-06-06T22:05:00.004+01:00

1. We have been specialising in selling cruises for 26 years.

2. We ONLY sell cruises; all our consultants are highly trained, and have been on cruise ships. Between the office there are very few ships we have not tried and tested. So we advise from experience.

3. We are Abta and Atol bonded, so your money is safe with us.

4. Not only can you look for your next cruise on our website, you can also book, pay your balance and check in with just a click of a mouse!

5. We have the biggest cruise review data base in the UK, so if you’re unsure about a ship or itinerary, why not go onto our website and see what other's have said.

6. Been on a ship? If you write a review, we will send you a free up to date Berlitz guide worth £17.99.

7. Our customer service standard is very high, we will only sell you a cruise that we think is suitable for you.

8. We have a brilliant working relationship with the cruise lines, and get exclusive offers and deals.

9. We are open 7 days a week, so whatever you’re query, someone will be there to answer your call.

10. As we are Atol bonded, we can tailor make your cruise to suit your needs. Want a week in New York after your cruise, no problem. Want a rocky mountain train through the rockies after a trip around Alaska, consider it done.

The Fishy Rose, coming to a port near you!

2010-06-01T15:33:00.007+01:00

I don't know how many of you actually saw Britain's got talent last night but the Fishy Rose's finest entertainer Kevin cruise was on top form last night. For all you expert cruiser's out there who have never heard of the Fishy Rose, it is a 5,000 passenger and 2,000 crew floating entertainment complex. Still no idea?
Well don't worry, the Fishy Rose is actually a fictional cruise ship, YES, a fictional cruise ship. Although it may not sound fun or even possible to travel on a fictional cruise ship, The chief host on board, Kevin cruise is actually pretty funny. Now i may not actually be laughing at his jokes, or his "put you off your dinner" gyrating dance style, its more about his sheer enthusiasm and energy. At times i actually felt awkward, but you got to hand it to the fella, what he lacked in skill, he made up for in determination. Kevin Cruise is actually the the Alter Ego of actor/comedian Martin Cabble, who based Kevin on a number of the entertainers he met when working as a performer on various Ships. Although he is not to everyone's taste, I actually found him very refreshing from other cruise ship entertainers. He is not foot or note perfect, he would not been seen in the west end, but he is entertainment with a capital E. Have a look at the video above, and let me know, how bad/good you think he is.

New Queen Elizabeth news!

2010-05-26T10:04:00.004+01:00

If you’re like me, and very excited about what the new Queen Elizabeth is going to be like, then read on. Bit by bit are finding out about some of the ships new features, and the latest word, is that Cunard have commissioned a huge art piece to be focal of the new Grand lobby......

As you are probably aware Cunard's new liner, the Queen Elizabeth, will be a sister to Queen Victoria. For all you past Queen Victoria passengers you probably remember the grand lobby aboard Queen Victoria, you know that it's the first part of the ship passengers normally see when they board, and your eye is drawn directly to the main staircase to the huge artwork at the landing. So when designing Queen Elizabeth, Cunard knew they wanted something special there, since it sets the tone for vessel and the entire voyage. They wanted something that said, "Britain," and something that said, "Cunard." So they employed David Linley to create a marquetry to become focal point of Queen Elizabeth’s grand lobby. I personally think that this is an excellent idea, as first impressions go a long way, and a lot of passengers will remember their first experience on Queen Elizabeth. Please see below and artist impression of what this may look like.

Fire on Epic? Deliberate or accident?

2010-05-20T16:43:00.007+01:00

You may remember the fire on the Norwegian Epic at the beginning of this Month. Well after a recent report after the fire, STX Europe, the shipyard building the ship said the French authorities are looking into how the fire was started at its St. Nazaire shipyard.The fire broke out just after 11:00 p.m. Monday 4th May, at the aft of Deck 4.....
Fire fighters managed to contain prevent the fire from spreading, meaning that only the ships wiring was damaged.

In a statement realised STX said: "At the conclusion from the fire-fighters and the CID [Criminal Investigation Department], a French prosecutor made a decision to design an expert and to launch a police investigation.

"It appeared that ... some findings could indicate that the fire might have been started deliberately," such as "non activation" of an automatic fire extinguishing system and the fact there was no work being done at the time likely to cause a fire.

So is there any foul play going on here? Or just over active imaginations? Either way NCL and STX have still advised that the maiden Voyage on the 24th June is to still go ahead. Many of my colleagues are a two day press realise just before this, so i will keep you posted. I’m sure though, having been on NCL myself, the fire will not affect the brilliant product that is Norwegian cruise line.

I was unable to find a picture of this incident, so thanks to modern technology i have managed to recreate what this ship may of looked like on fire. I must say it is very believable. Although the fire was actually at the aft of the ship, i found this very difficult to recreate on paint, so i decided to move it! whoops! Either way maybe i have missed my calling? Let me know what you think!

Best things to do in Majorca!

2010-05-14T16:58:00.003+01:00

After a week in sunny Majorca with my family. I thought that I would share a few interesting places to visit and to do on the Island. Flying to Palma could not be easier for cruisers or people going on package holidays, its only 2 hours flight, and if you’re going through to the port it couldn’t be closer to the airport. I stayed in Alcudia, which is a popular resort s to the north of the Island. If I am honest, my expectations were not exactly that high, as we had only paid £500 for the week, but when we arrived I was very pleased with the cleanliness of the area, and the apartments really exceeded my expectations......
We were only a ten minute walk from Alcudia's famous beach, here there we many bars and restaurants to have a spot of lunch after a relaxing day on the beach. Your never far from a cash machine, or a telephone and the area feels very safe to walk around.

For families this resort is excellent, lots of things for kids to do, Aquariums, go karts, water sports, arcades, water parks, and all of the restaurants I went in were very child friendly. The cuisine is probably not the strongest point, although you are on a Spanish island, most restaurants try very hard to attract English guests. They use such slogans, as REAL BRITISH FOOD WITH AHH BISTO GRAVY and COME IN REAL BRITISH CHEFS. This of course is great if your happy eating burger and chips every night, so again for kids there will be no problems. But if you would like to sample the more authentic Spanish food, then maybe a smaller less British orientated resort would be for you.

As my daughter is only 7 months old. There were a few tours that I would of loved to do but couldn't. So I cannot speak about these from experience, but I can tell you they certainly sounded very interesting, see them below:-

Pirates

Pirates has thrilled more than 3 million people over the past 24 years with a unique mix of spectacle, music, dance and fun. The 'Pirates experience' begins even before the show does! As you approach the specially designed theatre you realise that you are in for night unlike any other. Our swashbuckling heroes escort you to your table where you feast on buccaneering fayre washed down with flagons of pirate punch. Then the epic tale unfolds all around you as the pirates perform incredible feats and amazing stunts that will take your breath away

The Caves of Drach

The Caves of Drach are the most famous tourist attraction on the island of Mallorca. There are three chambers inside the caves, Cueva Negra (Black Cave), Cueva Blanca (White Cave) and Cueva Luis Salvator (Luis Salvator Cave). The latter is named after the Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria who invited Édouard-Alfred Martel to explore the caves in 1896; the caves are also home to Lago Martel (Lake Martel), one of the largest subterranean lakes in the world. Visitors can take a boat ride on the lake and see the beautiful limestone formations, including stalagmites protruding from the rock face and stalactites hanging down from the roof of the cave. As part of their journey underground, they are accompanied by the sound of musicians performing classical music, including compositions by Chopin, every hour on a boat.

The Tiananmen Trail

The orange blossom trail. Described as easily the most popular excursion in Majorca, you get the opportunity to travel onboard the ‘Orange Blossom Express’, a famous wooden train, from which you will be able to view an array of remarkably picturesque landscapes that include pine mountains, gorgeous villages and colourful citrus groves. You get the chance to step back in time also, when you visit a Majorcan country mansion.

All in all, I would recommend Alcudia, to any family with Kids, the beach is brilliant, the terrain is very flat for pushchairs or wheel chairs, weather is great, mosquitoes can be a little irritating, nothing jungle formula wouldn’t fix. The flight is short, and there is plenty to do! For couples, still good for a cheap beach holiday, just make sure you book the right hotel and do your homework. For people looking to sample the local life, I would say look at another Spanish destination for example, I was sitting in the Queens head, drinking a pint of carling, eating fish and chips on a Sunday afternoon, I wondered why the weather seemed so good!

Aye Aye Captain!

2010-04-30T13:39:00.002+01:00

I was reading this week that P&O Cruises have appointed their first female captain, Captain Sarah Breton. This got me thinking of my childhood, I’ll go on to explain. Sarah took command of P&O Artemis on 19th April this month. She has served on many of the Carnival ships, working her way up from 3rd officer when she joined P&O in 1989 to master at the very respectable age of 45. My Dad made captain at 33 (I’m not bragging) but he was at sea at 16. So both have made Master at quite a young age. My first experience at sea was when I was about 5.....
there was no kids clubs, no swimming pools, and the only entertainment I had were the rowdy crew. Being a captain has its certain perks, so my dad was allowed to bring his family onboard the Ultra luxurious "cargo ship". Me and my brother had all kinds of fun playing football in the empty cargo holds, manning the bridge, prating about with the engineers in the engine room and with the strong Atlantic winds blowing, trying to stand up straight. My next experience at Sea, the dock workers went on strike in a French port, I can’t remember the name, but it was close to Sete in the south of France. We were stuck there for a month, imagine that sound familiar? Well unlike the people stranded by the volcano, the ship was pretty much our home, I had my family with me, the sun was shining, there were lots of beaches around and it meant a month off school! Unfortunately my dad has left the sea, but still works in the industry as a consultant. Otherwise I would have asked him the go for a job on a cruise ship, as I imagine the perks that come with being a master on a cruise ship greatly outweigh the perks on a Cargo ship! Not that I am complaining, being at sea was a brilliant, memorable experience one that I will always remember. I just wonder if I should have followed in his footsteps, with my dad being Captain, and me er…… selling cruises. It hasn’t quite got the same ring to it has it, but at least they both have something to do with the sea! That’s what I like to think anyway.

Misconceptions about Fred Olsen Solved!

2010-04-27T14:22:00.004+01:00

There are many misconceptions about Fred Olsen. When I talk with potential new clients thinking about going on a Fred Olsen ship they always ask 'I’ve heard Fred Olsen is just for old people'. Well on behalf of Fred (we are good friends) let me set the record straight. YES, Fred Olsen ships are smaller, YES the elderly also like to cruise, and YES there are formal nights onboard. There are not any roller rinks, golf courses or extreme sports, so anyone who likes to surf on a cruise ship may be disappointed. But the question I ask is do you actually need these facilities to enjoy yourself? My answer would be no......
At the risk of sounding like an old man (I’m 26), do you want drunken revellers, falling out of night clubs, causing havoc onboard like on other un-named ships, or do you want to have a good drink, in a well stocked bar with live Music? Yes? Well that is exactly what I found with on the Black watch in December 08.
The point I am trying to make is that Fred Olsen attracts a different market, to say some of the mass market cruise lines. A cruise is what you make it and with its decent facilities, good staff and excellent food onboard I would recommend Fred Olsen to most people. My advice would be, don’t knock it until you have tried it. When I first saw the BW, I thought the ship looked small, and I honestly had the same misconceptions as mentioned above, but within two days i was turned around. The only thing I will say, is that for families with children, the 3rd and 4th berth cabins do come cheap, but the children’s facilities and clubs are not as good as some of the others. If your kids, do not like to go into the children’s clubs and like to stay by your side, Then why not try Fred Olsen? Any questions let me know.

P&O Gold members 2011

2010-04-24T16:47:00.001+01:00

As you may be aware P&O's 2011 itineraries have gone on sale today for Gold members. What a fantastic day it has been. Although the Sun is shining outside, a crack team of cruise.co.uk cruise specialists (cheesy I know), have been working flat out booking cruises for our guests all day. Due to the nature of the day, to me it feels like mid morning, so I could not believe my luck when I looked at the clock at it was 4.30. We have managed to get through the day with flying colours, and even more importantly got our clients exactly what they asked for. Let’s hope the launch for the rest of the P&O cruisers, along with Cunard runs just as smoothly. I’m sure it will. If you have not yet pre-registered for your 2011cruise yet, it is not too late. By pre-registering, you get the best price, the best cabin. You won’t even have to worry about trying to get through to us on the phone, on the day your cruise goes on sale. As we will, be here at 8 am to book for you. Roll on Monday

Best Things to do in St. Lucia!

2010-04-22T09:01:00.001+01:00

A lot of the time when you are only spending one day in a port, you are stuck for choice of what to do, where to go and what to see. In this blog i will give you a few tips to help you decide what the best attractions to see in St Lucia are. A lot of the time this is down to personal choice, but one universal pass time almost everyone likes is a day on the Beach. There are not many better places for beaches, but I will recommend a few that I have tried and tested and thought were worthy of a visit. For a small un-crowded white sand beach, travel to Pigeon island. There are two beaches here, small but very nice. The great thing about Pigeon Island is that there is a fantastic walk around the headland, quite steep but Very beautiful, so make sure you bring water. There is a colonial fort (Fort Rodney) with cannons overlooking the bay, various other old military buildings, from when the island was occupied by the French or English, and a small museum offering historic information of the Island. The whole experience seems very swashbuckling. Taking of Pirates, for children and the young at heart there is an fantastic day trip on a replica pirate ship, flying the skull and cross bones, this is a very fun day trip, where you get to see some of St.Lucia's beautiful sights, yet also feel what it is like to have a day in the life of a pirate. Most cruise ship's offer this excursion, so be sure to check before you go.

Marigot bay is a beautiful little cove, now a harbour, where for centuries ships have moored as it provides and excellent hurricane shelter. This is also where the original Dr Doolittle was filmed staring Rex Harris. There a various hotels here, and also you can take a trip to the other side of the harbour on a little 2 man boat to visit one of the sea front seafood restaurants. This place is so picture perfect, many celebrities are said to have homes here including Oprah Winfrey. For a beautiful stretch of white beach, backing onto Hotels and Bar's go to Rodney Bay. There is a large shopping centre nearby also, various water sports are on offer and you can even come back here on Friday nights for the weekly street party. The best beach on the island is the white sand man made stretch that nestles between the Pitons. This beach is absolutely perfect, and is a privately own beach by the Jalousie Plantation Hotel. The hotel is very expensive to stay at, but they have no problem you visiting there for the day. The best route there is by taxi, is about 30 minutes from the Castries where the cruise ships dock, but it is also possible to get there by sea, on a small boat trip from the Castries.

A small trip inland very close to Soufriere, you can go see the botanical Gardens, and spend an afternoon walking around, seeing the exotic plants and colours. Here you can also visit a tropical waterfall, and even take a dip and swim at the bottom of the cascading falls. This really is something special. You may as well make a full day of it, as very close is St.Lucia's very own active volcano. Bring nose pegs as the whole area has a very strong smell of rotten eggs, due to the Sulphur. The tour around this volcano is fascinating, and tour guides very knowledgeable. It is said by the locals, if you breathe in the fumes around this area, it is the secret to long life. Over all St. Lucia is a fantastic destination top travel to, and I’m sure that there are many more attractions on the island, the above however I have experienced myself so if you have any questions let me know.

Azura Cabin Update!

2010-04-13T13:50:00.003+01:00

As you may be aware a large portion of our office went down to Southampton on Friday, and had a chance to be some of the first people to spend the night onboard P&O's new ship Azura. By the sound of the things, on the whole this visit went very well, the ship sounds fantastic, the food sounded delicious, the facilities great and overall a memorable experience. Although I was not actually able to make it to the visit, I have picked up quite a few little changes just in your cabin, which may have a big effect for past P&O guests. First of all they have changed all of their toiletry products from Elemis, To the White Company products. For those of you who have not heard of the white company, they are a high end home care accessories company, that offer toiletries in the same league as L'Octaine and Morton Brown, and early feedback from the guys in the office suggests they are as good as any other out there..........
The hairdryers onboard in the cabins are now all Steiner Beauty protects, which I am told which is salon quality. It is also the first time in 15 years that P&O have used Steiner, but they have gone back with a bang. The contemporary Glass kettles, and glass mugs with metal frames that were so unpopular on the Ventura, have gone, and in are plain white kettles with plain white mugs. To summarise, I think P&O have tried to fix all of the "clever, contemporary" mod cons to the cabins that they got so wrong on the Ventura, and replaced them with the same straight forward idea's that P&O cruisers loved in the first place. You know what they say, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it!

Alaskan Adventure? When is the best time to travel?

2010-04-07T17:35:00.004+01:00

If you are planning a cruise trip to see the Snow covered peaks, wildlife and beauty of Alaska, then when is the best time to travel? Most tours operate mid-May to mid-September and peak season is mid-June to mid-August. Of course Peak season is the best time to go for the weather and wildlife, but value for money is a completely different matter. Is it worth travelling out of peak season to save at least a third of the price? My answer would be defiantly yes........
For me when I think Alaska, I think picturesque scenery, rocky mountain train tours, mountains, snow, birds, bears, lakes, ice, I could go on. What I am saying is I am not going there to work on my tan, and sip cocktails around the pool, as long as it does not rain, and it can rain in the summer, I will be there enjoying myself on all of the tours, taking in the beauty of Alaska.

There are a few things that I would take into consideration when booking a holiday for Alaska. At the risk of contradicting myself above, to save money, YES do book your cruise out of Peak season, but I would definitely, DEFINITELY pay the extra, and go for a 3 to 7 day tour on the Rocky Mountaineer Train. In all honesty, this will increase your holiday cost by quite a bit, but how many times do you get to go to Alaska, Probably once, if you’re lucky. Just imagine meandering through the Rockies, one of travels Great experiences, by day you get the scenery, the wildlife, then by night you get to stay in a Purpose built Princess hotel, nested in one of the most beautiful locations on earth. If you are ever unsure about what to do or have any questions, let me know, as I will find the answer! And yes Alaska IS the future!

Wales to New York with Cunard!

2010-03-30T09:08:00.004+01:00

If I told you that Cunard were offering a transatlantic crossing from Wales to New York, what would you think? Would you think that I’m talking rubbish, or maybe that Cunard are looking to make things convenient for the welsh? Well on recent visit to see family in Pembrokeshire west Wales, I was having a walk around Fishguard harbour with my girlfriend and daughter. Half way around I come across, various signs, containing small snippets of information about the history of Fishguard. On one of these plagues, it told of how since August 1909 the famous Cunard liner 'Mauritania' inaugurated a transatlantic service and up until the outbreak of the 1st World War in 1914.......
Various other Cunard Vessels called in regularly at the port as Fishguard is the nearest British port to New York. When Britain declared war on Germany, the admiralty sent out an order requisitioning the Mauritania and Lusitania as armed merchant cruisers. After the war however, Cunard had decided that they would no longer be using Fishguard as a base of operations, and that was that. So who knows, maybe if not for the outbreak of world war 1, then the "Classic" Cunard transatlantic crossing would be Fishguard to New York.

Do i need visa's for my cruise?

2010-03-16T17:24:00.003Z

A question that I get asked more and more frequently is ' Do I need a visa for my cruise?' the answer to this is not always as straight forward as you seem. Let’s take St Petersburg for example. If you are visiting St Petersburg on a cruise, you have a two options to chose from, depending on which would suit you best......
Pretty much all cruise ships visiting St Petersburg; give you the chance to go ashore on the ships visa. This ONLY applies if you are going off on a pre arranged shore excursion with the cruise line staff, and NOT if you just want to go off on your own and have a good look around. If you are a bit braver, than the rest, and would like to explore on your own, then a call to the visa service is required and a visa needed.

Now let’s look at maybe India, you can get a 3 day visa for India, but most cruise lines require you to get a lot longer duration visa, even if you are only visiting India for say, one day. The reason for this is that if for any reason you have to stay in India, due to falling ill and being hospitalised. The authorities require that your visa cover the full stay that you are in hospital.

The best bit of advice I can give really, is that on every cruise you book, just take 5 minutes to check if any visa is required. You can call us or the Visa service and we can check for you, but it is actually down to the traveller to check. We do always but it on our invoices, because if you don’t have a visa, and one is required, then you will not be allowed on the ship full stop, which equals a holiday ruined.

Ghostly stories from her majesty!

2010-03-08T17:14:00.003Z

Spooks at sea? Doesn’t sound very pleasant to me! But don’t worry I will not be scaring you off the Queen Mary 2 anytime soon. Now the Queen Mary, that’s a completely different story! The original Queen Mary is now permanently docked in long beach California, and is used as a floating museum, so be warned if you decide to read on, that the following paragraphs may put you off Cunard all together................
As I approached this subject I found out that more and more stories were coming to light, some of which I will share with you, but please if you have any experiences or have any stories please share them on my blog below. One story is said to concern the spirit of John Pedder. John was a 17-year-old crewman who was unfortunately crushed to death by a watertight door in 1966 during a routine drill. It is said unexplained knocking has been heard around this door, and a tour guide, who worked on the ship had seen a dark figure as she was leaving the area where Pedder had been killed. She even saw his face and recognized that it was Pedder from his photographs. The eerie cry of an infant in the third-class children's playroom, is said to be heard, echoing down the corridors, And an apparition of a young woman in an evening gown dancing alone in the Queen's Salon, is said to have been seen on more than one occasion.

Perhaps most disturbing is that, ghostly voices and laughter have been heard by the ship's swimming pool. One employee saw the wet footprints of a child appearing on the pool deck... with no one there. Over the years fifty people reportedly had died onboard, and it is said some still remain. So I suppose when booking your 2010 cruise it may be worthwhile considering picking a newer ship and steering clear of all older ships! but that is only if you believe in that kind of thing I suppose!

To cruise or not to cruise, that is the question?

2010-03-02T16:54:00.002Z

To cruise or not to cruise? that is the question! Most people, who have not cruised before, all tend to have the same misconception. Cruising is too expensive, cruising is for old people, is cruising safe! Well let me tell you that, in the year 2010 this could not be further from the truth. YES, cruising can be expensive, if you go for the 6 star lines and have the best suite onboard. YES, cruising is for old people, but it’s also for young people, couples, families and groups, again it depends on which cruise line you chose, and YES, cruising is very, very safe. Gone are the days of not enough life boats and the privileged getting saved, and IN are plenty of lifeboats, safety drills (only on the first day) and health and safety notices everywhere onboard. The point I’m trying to make is that to disregard cruising, as for the old and too pricy would be like saying, all young people are hoodlums, which is also a load of nonsense. I am not saying stop going on package holiday's, still go away for a week on the beach, I know I will. I’m just saying give it a go. You never know you might just catch the bug!

House always wins!

2010-02-23T14:48:00.002Z

With ships getting bigger and bigger and more and more cruise lines trying to outdo each other by having bigger and more exclusive facilities. Alot of people don’t realise that although casinos have been on the ships from the early days, gone are the days of a small roulette table in the corner of the room, and in are the huge almost Vegas style facilities. On the most part, the American ships like the new Celebrity, NCL or Royal Caribbean ships, have equipped almost everything you can think of, from slot machines, to roulette, blackjack, poker nights etc......
The American lines dedicate huge amounts of space for these mega casinos, in some cases almost half an entire deck. For the frequent cruiser some even offer membership schemes. For those cruisers, who are less interested in the big, brash American style, then there are still smaller British cruise lines like Fred Olsen and some of P&O's smaller ships, like Aurora and Artemis that offer the more classic smaller casinos. Remember though, the house always wins!

Springtime in Fjordland!

2010-02-16T13:27:00.004Z

When is the best time to visit the Fjord's? this all really depends on you, May time is the cheapest time to visit, the mountain tip's will be covered in Snow, whilst by the fjord the meadows will be green and the fruit trees will be in bloom.....
In the winter months the waterfalls are frozen, the mountains are thick and covered in white yet; the weather can change quite severely in moments. The only cruise line that departs between these months is Hurtigruten, and this is only because their fleet are working ships. If its weather you are after then the summer months are for you. Last year some of my clients actually came back very brown, I actually thought they must have been re-routed to the Caribbean! Of course no-one can promise you the weather, but to maximise your chances the best time to travel would be July / August. The only problem is this is when it is most expensive to go!
By far the most spectacular time to travel would be January/ February, as at the Darkest time of the year, on a clear night you may just be lucky enough to see the northern lights.

Born yesterday!

2010-02-09T16:26:00.005Z

Recently I have come across some questions that cruise passengers have asked their agents, some of which have left me scratching my head, but I’ll let you be the judge! My personal favourite is ‘How many Fjords to the dollar?’

How about some funny comments made by cruise ship passengers?

* Is an outside cabin outside of the ship?

* Does the crew sleep on board?

* How many fjords to the dollar?

* What time is the midnight buffet?

* How does the captain know where to go?

* Is the island completely surrounded by water?

* How do we know which photographs are ours?

* Does the ship generate its own electricity?

* When the captain is sleeping, who is steering the ship?

* What do they do with the ice sculptures after it melts?

Weddings at sea with Royal! Are they worth it?

2010-01-19T12:55:00.005Z

Weddings at sea, with Royal Caribbean, can be a fantastic experience, but an expensive one. A very good client of mine is midway through arranging a ceremony onboard the Independence of the sea's, with Royal Caribbean’s Wedding department Royal Romance. She has had difficulty getting hold of Royal romance (as they are based in the states) and has found it quite a difficult process......
Apparently, you are actually married before, you then have a symbolic ceremony afterwards. All of this does also cost a pretty penny or two! The question I have to ask myself though is what wedding is cheap? What wedding is easy to arrange? The answer is none. The idea of getting married at sea is a very romantic one; it’s just a question of gritting your teeth and getting through to the wedding day. Once this arrives, I am sure that the wedding will be one to remember!

Snows the word!

2010-01-11T17:37:00.005Z

With snow making it almost impossible, to go out and do anything at all in this country. I have a suggestion that may dull the bored feeling of being cooped up at home. Give me a call, we will book you a cruise! Simple as that! Of course there are probably, quite a few less expensive options to spend your day snowed in, at least with this option you will have a cruise to look forward to!