Happy New Year

After a busy busy day at the office I am now home relaxing with a few nibbles and a glass of something strong waiting to see in the New Year.

I would like to wish all my clients, my work colleagues and family and friends a very healthy, happy and prosperous New Year.

Speak to you all in 2011

HAPPY XMAS TO ALL

Well Christmas is finally here and I hope that everyone is having a great Christmas Day.

I am just taking a few minutes break before continuing with the Christmas day cooking.

The Turkey is in the oven, the veg is prepared and ready and the house is quiet temporarily, whilst I await the arrival of my son and the return of my daughter and her boyfriend.

There are presents everywhere, no need to get stressed about the mess today though as it is Christmas then everyone can leave their prezzies around at least until the dinner is cooked and then I will become a stern mother and demand they be re-located to a safer place.

So for me like so many others my day will be a good Christmas feast this afternoon, just in time to see the Queens speach and then sitting around full to the brim for the rest of the day wondering why I squeezed in so much dinner and that I should of learned after my 46 years that my eyes shouldnt be bigger than my belly.

I hope that everyone enjoys this special day and I will return with more news soon.

Cruise ship Clelia in trouble in the Antarctic

Another Antarctic cruise ship ran into trouble yesterday while crossing the treacherous Drake Passage on its return voyage to Ushuaia, Argentina from the Antarctic Peninsula. The Clelia II suffered engine failure that left it adrift in the Southern Ocean for a time while the region's notoriously bad weather pounded the vessel.

The ship was spotted and passed by the National Geographic Explorer, another cruise ship, which was also making the return voyage to Ushuaia. When the crew of the Clelia II failed to respond to hails, the Explorer turned around and returned to the foundering ship to render aid if needed. After establishing communications with Clelia, the Explorer stood by for much of the day, while crew members repaired the engine and managed to get the damaged ship limping back towards South America once again.

There have been a number of high profile accidents involving passenger liners in the waters off Antarctica in the past few years. Back in 2007, the MS Explorer struck an iceberg and sank in the Southern Ocean, while just last year this very same ship, the Clelia II, ran aground and needed to be pulled off the ice by another vessel.

For now, the ship is once again under its own power and hoping to complete its return trip to Argentina where full repairs can be made. The incident just happens to underscore the dangers of traveling in the Antarctic waters, which can be treacherous in the best of times. Fortunately, it seems that the Antarctic tourism community dodged yet another potential disaster. With the poor weather conditions this situation could have been far worse and it is a miracle that no one was seriously injured

P&O Aurora Xmas party cruise 2010

Hi last weekend we were fortunate to be taken onboard the P&O Aurora for our works outing to Zeebrugge.

It was great to experience another ship and for me as I had only been on the Azura I had chance to see a smaller ship in the P&O fleet.

I thought that this ship had a warm feel to it, the decor again had a warm friendly feel, not too modern and certainly not too old fashioned.

My cabin was lovely, everything that you could wish for a balcony, good sized bathroom and lucky for me a bath with shower over.
Great to have a kettle to make that early morning brew and of course UK plug sockets so no need to pack an adapter.

Simon and I went to see the show which was an Abba Tribute evening, though it wasnt a huge production, it was very entertaining and the audience thoroughly enjoyed it, all singing and dancing at the end of the show, and as there were no empty seats it definately suited the passengers on board this short cruise.

The highlight for me was a trip to Brugges, I had never had the pleasure of visiting this beautiful town before and I was not disappointed.

Lovely quaint streets, choc and lace shops everywhere and of course market stalls in the little squares.
I treated myself to a fab apple strudell and warm hot chocolate in one the of the quaint little restaurants in the square and it was absoloutely delicious.

Many thanks to our bosses for giving us the opportunity to get away and experience another ship as well as visiting Brugges, there are not many companies that would give their staff such a great treat and to anyone looking for a short cruise I would recommend a mini cruise to Zeebrugge anytime as long as you make it off the ship and enjoy Brugges.

How would you like to visit the Panda Breeding centre in Chengdu China

As you may have seen, we at cruise.co.uk have introduced a large number of tailor made tours, which include some fantastic tours to China.

One of my clients was asking whether or not it was possible to go and visit the Panda breeding centre in Chengdu, China.

After investigation I managed to find that it is easy to get there from Beijing and it is only an hour and half flight from Beijing to Chengdu.... so for anyone who fancies visiting this as a side trip before a cruise from Beijing then yes it is possible.

There are excursions from Chengdu that take you to the sanctuary so you can see first hand the Pandas in a natural environment and witness for yourself these magnificent creatures that are now in threat of extinction.

For anyone who fancies seeing these magnificent creatures and would like to take a cruise from Beijing then please give me a call.

How long does it take to fly to ......?

Many customers call us regarding their flights whether they are travelling from London to New York or Gatwick to Barbados and with the best will in the world none of us have ever been everywhere to be able to say off the cuff... it takes ? hours.

I have found this neat little website that checks the flying times for you and can be a great tool if you want to plan a journey and are worried about how many hours it will take you or even if you have already booked and just want to check.

Some examples are:
London to New York 6 hours 30 minutes approx.
London to Miami 10 hours 30 minutes approx
London to Hong Kong 12 hours approx.


Have a look at the link below and see what you think...
http://www.flight-durations.com/popular_searches.php

Titanic artefacts on display at the O2 Arena in special Titanic Exhibition

For those of you who have a fasincation with the great Titanic or just an interest in maritime history this exhibition could be one for you.
Titanic the artefact exhibition is presented by RMS Titanic the restoration company.
Ninety-eight years after the world’s largest ship sank objects salvaged from   the debris will take pride of place in rooms recreated from the Titanic.

Visitors to the exhibition at the O2 will be able to walk through the rooms to  gain a unique insight into the grandeur of the tragic ship.
On arrival visitors will receive a replica boarding pass for the Titanic   before being taken through a chronological history of the ship.
The exhibition will include recreations of third class cabins, the cargo hold   and boiler room, the iceberg, and 14 never seen before artefacts.
This historic exhibition is running until the 1st May so plenty of time for all to experience what cruising used to be and witness some of the fabulous artefacts that have been found first hand.

Air Passenger Duty rises how will this affect us

Air passenger duty is set to rise from Monday 1st November.

What do we think and how does this affect us...... well of course for those who do not fly and just take a traditional cruise then they will notice no difference and of course all they have to worry about is the cruise lines increasing any fuel supplements as time moves forward.

However alot of customers prefer to take a fly cruise and of course flights will be affected with some airlines possibly absorbing the costs and others who will pass on these costs to customers.

Many clients like to book their own flights and of course they may see the added costs straight away when booking their flights.

The airlines are not happy and the worry is that these extra costs may affect those on the tightest budgets where any extra rises could quite easily push the cost of their holiday just beyond reach, and there are many people who have felt the pinch of the last few years and may have just got themselves back into employment after being made redundant and are finding that a holiday that was just affordable is being pushed out of budget.

We also need tourists to travel to our Country to help our own tourist industry so these rises affect those people too who are liable to pay the charges .

This will be the third increase in 3 years and it does seem unfair, we all know that the goverment need to try and raise money, but should this have been a very small increase so as to not to have a huge impact on those who may have foresaken a holiday over the last couple of years because of the climate here.... what do you think ?

Fred Olsen and the single traveller

This week I had some lovely comments from a lady who insists that she will only travel with Fred Olsen.

After travelling for many years with her late husband, obviously it was traumatic choosing the right cruise as it is very difficult for widow/widowers to find the courage to try and holiday on their own.

My client had chosen Fred Olsen and was so impressed with the holiday that now she will choose no other.
The main things that helped her get over her initial worries were that she had requested to sit with other single people in the dining room, this request had been granted and she found herself sharing the experiences of others who were in the same position as herself.
Because the ships do not carry thousands of passengers this made it more intimate and easier to meet the same people around the ship, and she felt that the crew were fantastic and very understanding of a single travellers needs.

I have many people who love to travel with Fred Olsen for the same reasons I have listed above and of course they are one of the few cruise lines to offer single rooms too.
Recently I booked a lady on a twin share again this is something you do not normally find with other cruise lines nowadays. This lady didnt want to pay extra for a cabin on her own, so was prepared to share with someone she hadnt met before. Of course this could be risky if you do not have alot in common, but also could be so rewarding if you do as you could find a travelling companion for future holidays and save yourself paying extra for single cabins or paying sometimes double the price for a cabin for sole occupancy.

I love to hear stories from my clients that prove that the cruise lines do get it right most of the time. I do feel for single travellers as it can be so difficult ,and to travel for the first time on your own must be very traumatic.

We have a great selection of garden cruises and of course if you have a keen interest in gardening this could be another great way as a single person to get together with other like-minded people.

Be careful low cost airlines and industrial strikes in France

Hi Everyone,

I have returned safely from my vacance in France unfortunately didnt catch many fish but we did manage to catch a rather nasty dose of the flu instead... Not from anyone French but from someone on holiday from Accrington , we met his virus before we met him.

Whilst we were away we were unfortunate enough to be coming back on the day that the French decided to go on strike so therefore our flight was cancelled.

Lucky for us, we had access to the internet and by chance checked our emails to find to our horror one entitled URGENT FLIGHT CANCELLATION.

Thankfully we were able to transfer our reservation Free Of Charge with Ryanair BUT had to come home a day early much to our dismay.

However I would like to offer a few words of warning to anyone travelling with low cost carriers where they have to do online check-in and have the print out.   We were fortunate that we were able to print out ours but there were many passengers moaning at the airport because they hadnt got their piece of paper and were being charged 30Euros each.

I would suggest that when booking low cost carrier flights.... always re-check your flights even if you have to use an internet cafe and IF you have to change your reservation always make sure that you find some way of printing out your e-ticket otherwise you can be faced with a hefty bill.

Bonjour from France

Hi everyone I am currently away in France trying to catch a big fish or maybe a few big fish. Weather has been very warm over 70 degrees some days which is unbelievable for this time of year, normally its winter woollies and log burner on every night. I will be back in the office on Wednesday 13th October so I will report back as to whether or not I managed to achieve what I was hoping to.

Did the Titanic really sink due to a steering mistake will we ever really know the truth

Reports are suggesting that the Titanic hit an iceberg in 1912 because of a basic steering error, and only sank as fast as it did because an official persuaded the captain to continue sailing, an author has reported.

Louise Patten, a writer and granddaughter of Titanic second officer Charles Lightoller, said the truth about what happened nearly 100 years ago had been hidden for fear of tarnishing the reputation of her grandfather, who later became a war hero.

Lightoller, the most senior officer to have survived the disaster, covered up the error in two inquiries on both sides of the Atlantic because he was worried it would bankrupt the ill-fated liner's owners and put his colleagues out of a job.

Instead of steering Titanic safely round to the left of the iceberg, once it had been spotted dead ahead, the steersman, Robert Hitchins, had panicked and turned it the wrong way.
 
I know that there are alot of people who are still interested in all the theories of how and why this magnificent vessell sank, but maybe nobody will ever really know the truth and as it was so long ago it cannot now change anything. We all feel for the families of those that lost their lives back in 1912 but wherever the blame is placed nothing can alter the past and bring them back. Thankfully many lessons were learnt from this terrible tragedy which affect us today and together with changes in working practice and advanced technology our voyages around the globe can be alot safer.

Cruise Ships Design what could they look like in the future

Whilst trawling the internet I came across this picture of a futuristic ship which could be reality for someone with very deep pockets and plenty of ambition.

Could our cruise ships start to look similar to this in the future where the traditional look has gone and instead of cruise lines deciding to go for bigger and better facilities they tone down the facilities and go for a look that you would expect to see on star trek.

I think this look would certainly attract a different clientelle as there are plenty of cruisers who would love to try something unusual for an out of this world experience. Maybe these futuristic ships would be able to submerge and give their guests spectacular views beneath the ocean as well as above ... now that really would be something special.

With todays technology I am sure that it will not be long before we start to see spectacular designs gracing our oceans . I would love to see someone do something totally different to enhance our travel dreams. If Mr Branson can start sending passengers into space then surely it cant be long before we are cruising above and below water.

Liz Smiths Retirement Summer Cruise on BBC four

Last week on BBC Four I was lucky enough to catch a re-run of a documentary made in 2009 of actress Liz Smith's retirement cruise. At the age of 87years she had decided to take a well deserved holiday and had chosen a cruise.

Liz famous for her role as Nana in The Royle Family travelled on a cruise around the Adriatic on the Hebridean Spirit, as much as it was lovely to watch the scenery and admire the ship and all it had to offer what I found most interesting was the story of Liz and the build up to her cruise and all the thoughts she had whilst on board as a single traveller.

So many people who are on their own must have the same thoughts as Liz, she asked all her friends at the retirement flats where she lives for advice before booking her cruise and had discounted some cruises as she really just wanted peace and quiet. We then followed her on her shopping outing to buy a selection of clothes ( she went to Harrods), obviously for most of us that wouldnt be an option.

Although she had a lady with her filming you could sense the nervousness of her being on her own and she even commented that nobody would want to talk to her. This didnt last for long though as she soon found herself entering into conversation with the guests on board and not feeling alone at all. Liz had chosen to cruise on a small ship so of course there is a more intimate atmosphere and therefore in alot of ways it is easier for everyone to get along, but I have many single travellers who tell me similar stories to Liz's and many people who have made friends on cruises and continue to cruise with them after many years.

So I think the moral to this story is your never too young or old to travel alone and make great friends, so nobody should ever be scared of trying. If Liz can do it at the age of 87 then none of us should be afraid to either.

The Queen to launch the new Queen Elizabeth but what other ships has she launched ?

It is so fitting that the Queen will launch the new Queen Elizabeth there really couldnt of been anyone else who could of taken her place.

The Queen has been launching ships since 1947 when she was still a Princess, amazing that she has been launching ships for over 50 years.

The original Queen Elizabeth transatlantic liner was named in 1938 by the late Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth. The present Queen, then aged 12, accompanied her mother to Clydebank in Scotland for the event. She also launched the Caronia in 1947, although at that point, she was still a Princess.


By 1967, the young Princess Elizabeth had become Queen Elizabeth II and named the QE2, also launched at the John Brown & Co Shipyard in Clydebank.

Her Majesty also named Cunard's Queen Mary 2 in 2004, although Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall performed the honours for the company's Queen Victoria in 2007.

Unfortunately I am not one of the lucky ones to be able to attend the opening ceremony, however some of our staff here will be going and what an experience that will be for them.

I have booked many clients on this new ship and I am sure that she will live up to all expectations. The cruise that I have booked the most passengers on so far is the 28th October 2011 cruise that visits Egypt, Cyprus and Greece a wonderful itinerary for 17 nights and this cruise is proving very popular with both previous Cunard guests and new Cunard guests who want to experience the delights that Cunard has to offer and also this fantastic new ship.


.

Here we go again BA Crew Vote For Ballot On More Strikes

Yes here we go again just as you think that all is calm more news to start us worrying all over again.

British Airways cabin crew have voted for a ballot on new strike action in the run-up to Christmas and over the festive holidays.

Well it would be at a time when it could cause more worry and misery for passengers.

There are also rumours that BA are looking to take over more airlines....I think they need to sort out the current strike threats first as so many passengers are now wary of booking with British Airways.

Lets hope that all will be resolved so that we can all look forward to a great Christmas.

The Royal Spa onboard Queen Elizabeth to offer the ultimate in luxury experiences

As you would expect the new Queen Elizabeth will not be letting any passengers down with it's luxurious Royal spa.

The tranquil 13,000 square-foot modern spa will be in keeping with the art deco style of the rest of this ship and includes two levels for treatment rooms, and fitness and pool facilities. Like her sister ships, Queen Elizabeth’s spa offers a comprehensive health and wellness programme with a spectacular Hydrotherapy Pool and Thermal Suite, with the new addition of the Royal Bath House. Inspired by holistic, relaxing and stress-relieving treatments drawn from disciplines around the world, the Royal Spa will offer among the most luxurious and exotic treatments available in any spa resort, including being the first spa at sea to provide Remède products and treatments.

The Royal bath house that includes both the Thermal Suite and Hydrotherapy Pool, will be adjacent to the main outdoor pool on Deck 9. Plush robes, slippers and other amenities will be provided and day passes are available for those guests not booking a treatment.

For anyone who really does want to get pampered on board this luxurious new addition to the Cunard fleet then well what can I say there are so many things to choose from, , Cellulite Reduction and Revitalizing Leg Therapy, waxing , hair and beauty treatments you name it and I think they have it.

Queen Elizabeth to offer the finest luxury brands on board for a unique shopping experience

Cunard have announced that the new Queen Elizabeth will feature some iconic brands on board to offer a unique on board shopping experience.

Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Arcade will feature iconic products from Fortnum & Mason who will offer unique teas, preserves, biscuits and gifts.

Queen Elizabeth will also offer:

• Chopard: For 150 years, Chopard has offered watches and jewellery of exceptional quality, exclusively created to the highest standards in Geneva. To celebrate the launch of Queen Elizabeth, the company has produced the Chopard Queen Elizabeth watch – a limited edition watch combining the dual branding of Chopard and Cunard and available at $18,000; both luxury and heritage brands.

• Penhaligons: Fragrances and gifts for men and women including perfume, aftershave, cologne, eau de parfum, body lotion and bath oil. Issued with two Royal warrants and made in England using the finest rare ingredients from bergamot to jasmine.

• Aspinal of London is best known for their hand-made leather photo albums, leather wallets and purses, leather journals, wedding albums and guest books in both classic and contemporary designs.The signature collection on Queen Elizabeth will capture the Cunard luxury trademark.

To celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s introduction, three brands have launched special items:

• Clogau: The jeweller to The Queen has produced a gold Queen Elizabeth limited edition pendant exclusively for Cunard.

• Rotary: A specially-commissioned Queen Elizabeth watch will only be available on board the new Cunarder.

• Halcyon Days: The company has commissioned a special pill box that links the heritage of the brand with luxury at sea.

For those who enjoy a high quality shopping experience then this will be just right for you, the gentleman will have to keep a tight reign on their credit cards I think.

Oh No Not more Strikes !!!

Please please no more strikes.....

We have had BA Strikes.... the ASH crisis and now we are under threat of BAA workers striking which could disrupt Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh airports.
This year has been so stressful for holidaymakers if this continues then it will drive more people to book cruises from UK ports which of course is good for our business.

Talks aimed at halting strike action that could ruin thousands of holidays are taking place between union representatives and the UK's biggest airport operator BAA lets hope that it can all be resolved.

Royal Caribbean offering late check out cabins but at a cost

Royal Caribbean are offering customers the chance to keep their cabins for late check out on the day of dis-embarkation.

At the moment this is being offered on a trial basis on the Adventure Of The Seas to see how popular and how practical this is.

Customers book on board and pay for the privelege of keeping their cabins longer.

Many customers find it difficult when they have flights departing for home late afternoon and early evening when they have to disembark and then hang around either at the airport for hours or dragging their luggage to the nearest restaurant so they can pass the time.
This seems to me to be a good alternative if customers can keep their cabin longer and at least give them some choices, yes it will be at a price but is the price to pay better than the inconvenience.

Do you think this is a good idea ?... Would you pay for this? and do you think that other cruise lines should eventually offer this facility?

Solar Tsunami - Will we get to see a spectacular Light show

The sun may be about to put on a colourful light show normally only seen by those lucky enough to visit the land of the midnight or Alaska.

That's because of two minor solar storms - coronal mass ejections - that flared on Sunday and are shooting tons of plasma directly at Earth.

The event is likely to affect us today and we have to hope that tonight we have clear skies so that we may at least get a chance of seeing something that only a few people are fortunate enough to experience in a lifetime.

I will be keeping watch tonight..... lets hope that all the conditions are favourable and nature puts on a spectacular event

Cruise ships to face tougher security rules in the USA

President Obama has signed off a new US cruise ship law, which will set more stringent security rules for every ship calling at US ports.

This new law has been introduced following the disappearance of a US passenger who went missing on his honeymoon in July 2005. George Smith had been on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the Aegean Sea. Blood stains were found on an overhang below the couple’s private balcony on the cruise ship, but Smith’s body was never found.



The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act will come into force in 18 months and will impose major new rules for ships carrying more than 250 passengers.

This law will set requirements for deck rail heights, and will require peep holes in every cabin door, on-deck video surveillance and an emergency sound system.
 It will also require ships to employ a trained forensic sexual specialist as well as carry rape evidence kits and anti-retroviral medication.

Any Cruise lines that do not conform to theses new rules could be denied entry into US ports. They can also  face civil fines of up to $50,000 per violation and criminal penalties of up to $250,000 as well as potential imprisonment.

These laws seem very strict and I wonder will it put off or stop some cruise lines from entering the US.

Azamara announces land tours for 2011

Azamara Club Cruises has announced 13 land-tour itineraries to offer more “cultural experiences” for its travellers.


The trips range from two to six-night escorted land adventures in eight destinations, including Rome, Athens, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Istanbul, Jordan and Israel, India and China.
All land-tour itineraries will be lead by a tour director or a local host, and will feature accommodation in five-star hotels.

Chief executive of Azamara Club Cruises, Larry Pimentel said: “The introduction of these new offerings will enable up-market travellers to enjoy an even more immersive adventure with Azamara Club Cruises.
“Guests have more opportunities to experience the cultures of exotic destinations by extending their voyage with a land-tour itinerary for an enthralling holiday.”
In summer 2011, guests of Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest can choose a two-night Athens or three-night Rome cruise tour package. Meanwhile, in India, a five-night itinerary has been introduced, allowing guests to visit Delhi and the Taj Mahal

Food Glorious Food aboard Oceania Cruises

I was extremely lucky to visit the MS Regatta part of Oceania Cruises a few weeks ago and though people had raved about the standards of cuisine on board I have to say that the food was the best I have tasted so far.

So I thought I would share with you the delights that we sampled whilst on board.

Warm Crushed Baby Potato with Chive and Caviar

Polenta Souffle with Black Truffle Poricini and Morel Mushroom sauce

 

Risotto All'Aragosta

Lobster Risotto with Meat Jus Glace

Spiced Tenderloin of Black Angus Beef with Vidalia Onion and Sun Dried Tomato Sauce

Warm Valrhona Chocolate Bouchon

Silverseas to offer more UK departures for 2011

With a record number of cruises either departing or arriving at British ports, Silversea’s decision to increase the number of sailings in and around Britain follows the success of this year’s programme, which with 12 ex-UK cruises is double that of 2009.

Four of Silversea’s six ships have offered UK departures during 2010, but high demand from customers has encouraged Silversea to boost its ex-UK programme to 15 voyages in 2011 with more one-way cruises to the Mediterranean.

“Our ex-UK sailings for this year have sold out and it really has been a success story,” said Anil Swarup, UK and Europe marketing director.

“Convenience is a big factor and the British Airways strike and the ash cloud have all helped – we have seen increasing demand for top-end UK cruises.

“Next year we will have even more sailings, including three round-Britain voyages and more varied itineraries.”
He added: “UK cruises just used to be the Baltic and around Britain, but we have ships that sail from the UK to places like Monte Carlo and Barcelona, with passengers flying back.”
Next year Silver Spirit, Silver Whisper, Silver Cloud and Silversea’s expedition ship Prince Albert II will offer cruises that either start or finish in the UK.
Four cruises start and finish at UK ports such as Tower Bridge, Southampton, Portsmouth and Leith (Edinburgh).

Several one-way sailings, such as Southampton to New York, Southampton to Barcelona, and Athens to Southampton also include free flights.

Prices start at £2,618 for a seven-night Hamburg-Southampton cruise aboard Silver Whisper on August 31, 2011, including flight and transfers.

Cruise Ship Enthusiasts How the Oasis Of The Seas was built on Discovery Channel

Next Wednesday at 8pm on Discovery Channel see how the Oasis Of The Seas was Built

The Oasis of the Seas is the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world. Apart from sheer size - with 18 decks, 2,700 staterooms and the ability to carry 5,400 guests - the ship is a high-tech vessel for the 21st century, presenting features that have never been seen on a ship before. To build it, designers and engineers are put to the ultimate test.

This is will be a fab programme to watch and see how the shell above became one of the most high tech ships to grace our seas so far,

The future of flying Ryanair standing seats and paying to use the toilet whatever next

Do you have thighs of steel? If so you could take advantage of Ryanair's latest borderline-insane plan to maximise revenue – standing tickets for its planes.


For as little as £4 the firm intends to sell space at the rear of its aircraft for anyone who thinks they can take three hours of dodging around drinks trolleys and other passengers queuing for the toilet.

There are three questions: Is it safe? Is it legal? And is it worth it?

Diana away in France (back Mon 5th July)

I am away in France helping my other half get our fishing lake ready for business as well as taking a few days off from work after a busy time. If you need any help whilst I am away, please contact one of my colleagues on 0800 408 6200 or send an email to contactus@cruise.co.uk.

Many thanks
Diana

More Webcams at Sea.... Princess Cruises

This is seriously worth a view Princess Cruises have some wonderful itineraries and you can view some spectacular scenery in Alaska as well as if you are lucky seeing a wedding on board ship on the wedding cam.

Follow the link below and then choose the ship you want to view.... this is interesting stuff.


http://www.princess.com/bridgecams/


Have fun viewing these.... it gives you a taste of what you can experience too....

Where in the World P&O Cruises Webcam Tracking

For those of you who like to see where a ship is and what the port and scenery look like then you can visit some of the cruise lines on line webtracking sites.

I have been known to follow a few myself and especially around Alaska where there are magnificent views to be had.

Today I am giving you the P&O Cruises site please follow the link below and you will see where all the ships are and  below that the views from their webcams...... interesting stuff.

http://www.pocruises.com/Cruise-Ships/Ship-Webcams/

P&O Cruises promises its 'biggest world programme ever'

P&O Cruises is promising that its 2011-12 world cruise programme, will be its biggest ever.

Regent Seven Seas Voyager

I really enjoyed my day out to see the Regent Seven Seas Voyager.

I had never experience what they consider as 6 star luxury before so it was great to compare this ship to the other cruise lines I have been fortunate enough to explore.

Hurtigruten - Northern Lights Brochure for something completely different

Hurtigruten has already received alot of interest for its new 2011 Northern Lights brochure and has been made even more popular by Joanna Lumley’s Northern Lights documentary that had everyone transfixed.

Royal Caribbean Allure Of The Seas to go 3D and more....

Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship is to offer 3-D movie screens, retail stores and new dining options.

Ash Crisis - Is It Really Over

The Icelandic volcano which caused weeks of air travel chaos is no longer active, according to scientists.
Lets hope that it has gone back to sleep for another 100 years.
"The activity of the crater has stopped. No magma is coming up," said geophysicist Magnus Gudmundsson of Iceland University.

Unite Wins High Court Appeal Over BA Strikes

Here we go again more uncertainty for passengers travelling with British Airways......

The Unite union has won an appeal against a High Court injunction that blocked a mass strike by British Airways cabin crew.

BA Wins Court Battle To Block Strikes

BA Wins Court Battle To Block Strikes- This is great news for passengers who have had not only the worry of Ash but strikes as well.

New Measures to help the Ash Crisis

Planes will be allowed to fly through volcanic ash under new measures announced by the Civil Aviation Authority tonight.

Lets hope that this helps keep more flights going as long as passengers are assured of safety then this will help ease some of the disruption and worry.

Warning give yourself plenty of time when checking in for low cost flights

I have just returned from my latest trip to France to do a spot of fishing on our lake and always use Ryanair as they are the only airline that fly the route I need from Limoges to the Midlands.

Which Celebrity would you love to cruise with ????

After our fabulous weekend aboard the Celebrity Eclipse as well as experiencing wonderful food, fabulous facilities and spectacular surroundings, we were also lucky enough to do a bit of celebrity spotting.

The Celebrity Eclipse Food- Wonderful !!!

Wow the food on the Celebrity Eclipse was definately something special, I am afraid I would definately be in need of a strict diet if I was to eat everything you can eat. It was really fabulous and for me the best food I have tasted on board ship so far. I give Celebrity 10 out of 10.

Good news for us Brits travelling on the Celebrity Eclipse

Yes for all of us who need a morning cuppa to start the day in the comfort of our cabin. On the Celebrity Eclipse yes you have a kettle and tea bags, sugar and milk. Its great that they have thought about our obsession with the early morning brew so no need to stress.

Also great news we were worried that we would need to take an American adapter but although there are two American style plugs in the cabin there is also one standard european one. I know it would be great if there were English style sockets but that was never going to happen, but better to have a European plug which most of us do have adapters for than just US style.

The New Celebrity Eclipse

Yippee I am off to see the new Celebrity Eclipse cant wait to tell everyone all about my experience, taste the wonderful food, enjoy the entertainment and compare the facilities and food on board with the other ships I have been lucky enough to visit.

How lucky those holidaymakers were returning from Europe who had been stranded to set sail back to Southampton in luxury.

I will be posting further information after the weekend of my experiences on board the Eclipse.

Food Glorious food..... Titanic v Todays Cruise Ships

What a lovely evening meal I had aboard the Azura, I tried to choose my courses by having dishes that I would not be eating at home . I definately would not be eating lobster at home . The portions were just the right size for me and I also finished off with some cheese and biscuits. My only disappointment was there was no blue cheese on cheeseboard however I am sure if I asked maybe they could of found me some.

Titanic Letter sold for £55.000

Intimate Titanic Letter Fetches New Record


A letter from a first-class passenger on board the Titanic has fetched £55,000 at auction - a record price for a piece of written correspondence from the ship.

The piece was penned by Adolphe Saalfeld, on three sides of stationery from the doomed vessel, to his "wifey", Gertrude, still home in Britain.
His words give a rare glimpse into day-to-day life on the maiden voyage of the Titanic, which sank on April 15, 1912 with the loss of 1,517 lives after hitting an iceberg.
The letter was one of 350 lots of White Star Line memorabilia sold yesterday by auctioneer Henry Aldridge and Son, in Devizes, Wiltshire.
The letter, composed five days before the disaster, was sold to an unidentified museum in Britain, which has yet to formally announce its purchase.
Explaining the appeal of the artefact, Andrew Aldridge said: "The content is superb. It gives a real first person perspective of what life was like onboard, through the eyes of a first-class passenger, right down to the food, the size of the cabin and the decoration."
While other letters exist, this is the best example of its kind due to the depth of its detail, he explained.


The letter tells of Mr Saalfeld's approval of a "luncheon" featuring soup, fillet of plaice, a loin chop with cauliflower and fried potatoes, Apple Manhattan and Rocquefort cheese, "washed down with a large Spaten beer iced".

A partial transcript of the letter, released by the auctioneer reads: "After leaving [Southampton] at noon we had quite a little excitement, as the tremendous suction of our steamer made all the hawsers of the SS New York snap as we passed her and she drifted on to our boat, a collision being averted by our stopping & our tugs coming to the rescue of the 'New York'.

"The weather is calm and fine, the sky overcast. There are only 370 First Class passengers. So far the boat does not move and goes very steadily. It is not nice to travel alone and leave you behind. I think you will have to come next time.

"I had a long promenade and a doze for an hour up to 5 o'clock. The band played in the afternoon for tea, but I savour a cafe in the Verandah cafe with bread and butter and quite thought I should have to pay but anything and everything in the eating line is gratis.

"At 6 o'clock we anchor outside Cherbourg and two tugs with passengers came alongside. Owing to our little mishap at Southampton we were all one hour late and had dinner only at 7.30 instead of 7 o'clock as usual."
Mr Saalfeld, a German-born businessman who was en route to New York hoping to sell perfume concentrates, apparently name-dropped to good effect when it came to procuring a larger table at dinner.

"The name of my friend, the White Star manager in London, works wonders and I have a small table for two to myself. I made a very good dinner and had two cigars in the smoke room and shall now go to bed as I am tired. But for a slight vibration, you would not know that you are at sea."

Mr Saalfeld was apparently in the smoking parlour at the time of the collision and survived the sinking, having clambered into Lifeboat No. 3.

He later said there was sufficient time to save all on board - if enough lifeboats had been carried.
Mr Saalfeld died in 1926 at Kew Gardens and is buried in London's Golders Green cemetery.
Another star of the sale was a set of keys belonging to an officer transferred from the Titanic at the last minute, which fetched £54,000.
The keys - bearing a brass tag engraved with the words "binocular box" - were kept by officer David Blair and would have been stored in a teak box on the bulwark of the bridge.
Mr Blair sailed with the ship from Belfast to Southampton, but was moved onto another ship at short notice, taking the bunch of keys with him - a move which may well have saved him.
Mr Aldridge said: "Mr Blair was without doubt one of the luckiest men alive because this decision almost certainly saved his life."
A set of photographs relating to the Titanic, her passengers and crew were sold to various collectors for over £100,000. One picture, of Rosa Abbott, who was pulled from the water, fetched £35,000 and went to a private collector.

Kevin Cruise - Dusts off the volcanic blues Britain's Got Talent 2010

Cruise entertainer Kevin Cruise on Britains Got Talent...... this was so entertaining and worth a watch and a welcome relief from the volcanic blues.........

2 very good reasons why to travel on a P&O Cruise on the Azura

Oh dont we miss an early morning cuppa when there are no tea/coffee making facilities in our rooms........well you dont need to fret here is the proof below direct from my cabin on the Azura, Cabin D210 to be precise yes I could plug in my all important hair straighteners and even better I could enjoy a lovely cup of tea or coffee in my cabin. How lovely it was to make a cuppa and sit outside on the balcony in the lovely sunshine.

Darcy Bussell Godmother of P & O Azura what the stars have to say

For those who as myself were not able to see Darcy Bussell launching the Azura please look at the link below and you can see a brief video of the launch and see a few of the stars who attended and what they had to say.

http://www.talktalk.co.uk/video/27723/entertainment/Darcey-Bussell-launches-ship/?lpos=tat-links-5-videos&lid=tat-links-5-darceybusselllaunchesship#27723

P&O Azura - A day and night to remember

I have just returned from our ship visit to the wonderful new ship Azura.

What a warm and welcoming feel this ship has ,over my next few blogs I will give you my opinions and more information on my visit but for the moment as today is her special day I would just like to celebrate this new addition to the P&O Cruises family.
I would also like to thank P & O for giving us all the opportunity to go and experience a night on board this new ship, we were wined and dined and entertained and were given the opportunity to pretend we were on holiday too, sitting on deck and on the balcony enjoying the warm sunshine we have been so lucky to have over the last few days, anyone would of thought we were really at sea not in dock in Southampton.

I loved the Azura and have returned home wanting to go on her myself as she really suited my holiday needs and the standards of accomodation were fantastic. A superb range of entertainment, lovely food, wonderful spa facilities who could ask for more

The Weird and The Wonderful - QE2 Next ?

I was reading a popular internet site recently and came across this wierd hotel made from an old airplane

I am not sure about this eventhough it is definately different, with talk of floating hotels from old cruise liners, who knows where these old airplanes,cruise ships etc will end up.

Lets hope that the dear QE2 doesnt end up one day stuck in the middle of a jungle and she does become a super luxurious hotel.

P& O Flexi/Freedom Dining made Simple

Further to my previous post regarding set first or second sitting dining please see below information regarding Freedom Dining that hopefully will assist you.

Traditional Dining made simple on board P& O Cruises

Many people who are new to cruising get a little confused over the different dining options available, whether to choose first or second dining , or flexi dining when available so I have listed below on this post first of all the tradtional First or Second Dining options to help clarify.

Dish Of The Day Part 2

Following on from my dish of the day Marco Pierre White, to wet your appetitie I have a sample menu from the great chef. This way you can see for yourself what you can experience on board when you visit Marco Pierre Whites.... "Whites Restaurant".

P&O New Edition The Adonia

Coming soon for those who prefer a smaller ship is the Adonia. I get many clients who call who are looking for a smaller ship who find the newer large cruise ships just too big so now we have another choice for our cruisers and for those clients who particularly love P&O Cruises another ship for them to try.....

Dianas Dish Of The Day on board the Ventura or Oceana

Yes my dish of the day is Marco Pierre White possibly one of the most sexiest men on the planet well I think so anyway.

What I would give to be on either the Oceana or the Ventura dining on the dish of the day when Marco Pierre White was on board what a treat that would be. The dish of the day with my dish of the day !!!.

Passengers on the Oceana and Ventura can enjoy a meal in one of Marco's exclusive restaurants on board for around a £20 per person cover charge. Considerably less than dining in a Celebrity Chef restaurant in the UK.

Fred Olsen Cruise Comment from a Single Traveller

I have just had a lovely lady call me who has just returned from a months cruise around the Caribbean on the Fred Olsen Ship the Boudicca.

British Airways - Do we love them or hate them !!!!

We all used to love BA and all used to feel so safe and secure when we were booked with them, the recent threats of strike causes so much misery and worry to people who are booked to travel with them. Let alone all the extra work cruise operators/travel agents have trying to plan should strike action be taken.

Do you make life changing decisions on holiday?

Research by one of the UK's tour operators has revealed that more than half of life’s big decisions are made on holiday – and travel agents can have a “massive” impact on people’s lives by making sure the decisions are taken in the right environment.

This is a scary thought as are we as cruise consultants as well as travel agents around the UK could be responsible for so many things as reports show that people decide to move house start families, change their jobs and even to break up their relationships whilst on holiday. The busiest times for counselling service Relate are actually January and September, after two major holiday periods.

So customers beware when choosing your holiday take our advice and ensure that the cruise suits your requirements it will make for a perfect relationship and happy times ahead.

Madeira needs everyones support

What a terrible tragedy for all on Madeira when severe weather caused so much destruction and loss of life.
Madeira is hoping a swift clean-up operation will stop it from losing holidaymakers after the island was hit by flooding and mudslides.


Severe storms last weekend resulted in the death of 42 people, including one British woman, with another 13 still reported missing.

Tour operators have been urging clients not to cancel their trips as the floods did not affect tourist areas and the airport is now operating fully.

The Atlantic island’s infrastructure is recovering with electricity and water services restored.
Mobile phone and internet connections are also operating again.
The island relies on its tourist trade so lets hope that they will recover soon and that the cruise lines will continue to visit this beautiful island

Azura Arrives 7th April and Specials from £1049 per person

The long awaited Azura arrives on the 7th April and I am one of the lucky ones here to be able to go and see this wonderful ship on the 9th April.

Yet another TV programme to fill the planner !!!!!

Drama On The High Seas in New Cruise Ship TV Show

Whatever next every part of our lives is being explored I dont mind watching some of these shows if they are entertaining but everywhere you look now there is a documentary about something...

 In 1998, United Kingdom TV documentary "The Cruise" propelled singer Jane MacDonald to international fame. 2002 brought ITV's "The Cruise Ship," a warts-and-all docudrama about the trials of the fledgling Island Cruises.

Now, "Cruise Ship Diaries" is about to bring cruising back to the small screen in the U.K. Being aired at 7 p.m. GMT Sundays (starting 7 February) on National Geographic Channel, the six-part documentary puts Costa Cruises' 114,500-ton Costa Serena, its 3,000 passengers and 1,100 crew in the spotlight.

"It's cruise ship life as you've never seen it before," promises the narrator excitedly. “We'll see exactly what it's like to live and work on one of the ocean's true giants

Sir Terry Wogan and his beloved TOGs (Terry’s Old Geezers and Gals) are planning a second intrepid trip on Cunard’s Queen Victoria to raise money for BBC Children In Need – and everyone’s invited!


The 12-night roundtrip cruise from Southampton promises to visit the Jewels of the Mediterranean – woven with more than a modicum of guests, glamour and glitz from the whimsical world of Wake Up To Wogan.

Many members of the Togmeister's team will be on board to host receptions, entertainment, and evenings of music and mirth – and Pudsey is sure to make an appearance or two! Janet and John Marsh, and the mad ‘bus crasher’ Charles Nove, The ‘Loose Canon’ Roger Royle and ‘Voice Of The Balls’ Alan Dedicoat are already aiming to build up their parts!

And the ‘ Togmeister’ himself is hoping to helicopter in to rescue the whole sorry affair!

BARGAIN MINI CRUISE - CELEBRITY ECLIPSE £322.80

CHEAP CRUISES ALERT 

CELEBRITY ECLIPSE

4 night sailing to Cork

29th April or 3rd May

Bargain at only £322.80 per person  based on 2 persons sharing a Category 08 Oceanview Stateroom.

This is a free upgrade from an inside cabin.... dont miss out ....

Call me for further information and booking on 0800 408 6115
or email dianap@cruise.co.uk

Food Glorious Food

Since passengers eat most of their meals onboard, the quality and range of dining options can be crucial.


When Gary Rhodes teamed up with P&O in 2004, and James Martin signed a partnership with Ocean Village Cruises the following year, they heralded a new era in cruise ship dining. Five years on, there is barely a cruise line that has not added some celebrity sparkle to its restaurants. Gone are the repetitive, bland buffets with which cruising may once have been associated. In its place, passengers will find an ever-growing and innovative range of dining experiences. As always, it is about making sure the ship fits the passenger. But whether cooking for 49 passengers on Hebridean Princess or 5,400 on Oasis of the Seas, chefs and restaurant planners are continually adding new surprises. Here is a taster of the delights.......

Wishing you all a Happy & Prosperous New Year !!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL CLIENTS 

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2010  ............

Fred Olsen The Balmoral

Our Christmas Party cruise was an eye opener to me as I had never experienced Fred Olsen Cruises before eventhough I have booked many clients with them.

I thought that the service was truly outstanding the staff were extremely attentive as well as being friendly and smiling all the time.

The food was excellent and I could see what many people need to diet after their cruise so many courses if you want them.