Diana's Dream Days - Your Cruise Specialist

Pancake Day - Have you remembered

2012-02-21T18:10:00.000Z

Today is shrove Tuesday and for all those pancake lovers out there, this is the one day when
you can spoil yourself silly and indulge yourself with whatever filling suits you best.

Now some of us choose the traditional lemon juice and sugar, some may choose some syrup
as an indulgence or for the connoisseurs of pancakes they may go for exotic fruit fillings with
lashings of cream....

Well all this talk of pancakes has got me hungry and I will be enjoying my treat later being cooked for me by my step son .Although I am not sure what I will be going for the traditional or something a little more lavish or maybe I will go for a bit of both. I will wait and see what treat awaits.

However you like to have them it got me wondering as I personally have not been on a cruise
at this time of year to experience for myself.

Do the cruise lines make an effort on Pancake Day, do they offer traditional and lavish pancakes.
If they do is it just the UK cruise lines or do the American cruise lines offer this too.

This is a question that I would love to know the answer to so if anyone out there can tell me
then please send me a message on here or drop me an email.

Who would you love to cruise with !!!

2012-02-14T18:30:00.000Z

Today is Valentines day and for all you romantics out there I am sure that a cruise around the
Caribbean sat on your balcony with a bottle of wine and a lavish meal with the gorgeous sunset as a
back drop with your loved one would be the perfect romantic Valentines night... well it would be for me anyway..

There are many cruises of course where you can recreate this romantic setting and it doesnt have to
be Valentines day to be equally as special.. so for all you loved up people out there, think what
you could arrange as the perfect romantic gift for your special one... there are plenty of short weekend breaks around too if you dont want to take a long cruise.

Now if you are single then I am sure that you would dream of the perfect companion for your romantic cruise break and of course we all have many idols to choose from the dishy filmstars and sexy pop
stars or just some gorgeous person we have seen on our travels who has caught our eye.

However, one of my customers was telling me this week about a cruise that she had recently returned
from with Princess from Los Angeles over to Hawaii.

On board this cruise was a gentleman who seems to believe he is father christmas and dresses and pays hommage to him at all times.

Now Father Christmas is not really a person I would choose for my romantic break but it shows
that even he has to take a holiday and chose Princess to Hawaii instead of chilling out in the North Pole.
Now I didnt ask if Mrs Christmas was there too perhaps I should have, as maybe he was having
a celebration too.

So remember all you soppy people out there you dont have to wait until Valentines day to show someone
how much you love them there are plenty of treats and wonderful cruises available all year round to
treat that special someone to a fabulous, romantic experience of a lifetime.

Cruising with Children- How safe are balconies

2012-02-07T16:04:00.000Z

I spoke with a client today who was very concerned about taking a small child on a cruise and staying
in a balcony cabin, they had heard that Royal Caribbean provide a net that can be put up at the balcony.

I spoke to Royal Caribbean who advised me that no they do not offer this but that the balconies are high and of course the parents can ask for furniture to be removed from the balcony.

I thought I would see what other people have written regarding this subject on the world wide web, as of course this is something that many parents may wonder when making their choice of cabin.

It appeared to me that there were very mixed views, some clients never had a problem as their children
were as good as gold and when told you must not do xxx they wouldnt... if only all our children were the same...

Others had removed furniture from the balcony so that there was no chance that a little one could
possibly be able to try and climb over.

There were also suggestions from some parents of getting a safety device to attach to the patio door, to stop it being opened as you would to prevent burglaries at home or that you could get an alarm that would sound should your little one dare to step over the door step.

Most people seemed to agree that if you were looking at a toddler then they wouldnt really be able to open the door to get out there in the first place.

Some people have even written a set of rules for taking little ones on a balcony see below:

But it's always best to have some rules in place...

1. No child is allowed on the balcony without an adult.

2. All chairs are moved from the edge. No standing on chairs.

3. Child must be sitting at all times while on balcony.

4. No horseplay on the balcony.

5. If any of the above rules are broken, the child will be instantly moved to the inside of the cabin and loses balcony privileges. ;)

BUT.....I think the best thing of all is if you are concerned and it may ruin your cruise with all
the stress of worrying about your little one,, then go for an oceanview cabin instead..

All our children are so very different and behave in different ways so as a parent you can only be
the judge of whether your little one may cause you undue stress and worry, only you can decide which cabin will suit your personal circumstances.

If anyone out there has any further hints or tips then please let me know so I can inform my worried
clients...

Costa Concordia Documentary on Channel 4

2012-01-31T22:27:00.000Z

Tonight Channel 4 aired a documentary following the events of Friday 13th January, showing passengers footage and real life accounts from the British passengers on board.

The Costa Concordia has been on the news every day since that dreaded day and of course has
been a talking point to many customers I have been speaking to over the last few weeks.

Most customers I have spoken to although they have been very shocked over the events have not
been put off cruising and all feel that from this terrible tragedy, all ships will now be reviewing
their own proceedures to ensure that something like this never happens again

I found this program extremely informative as well as very moving, from the evidence that was
put forward it does appear that the Captain has to carry the blame for being in the wrong place at the wrong time and also for not acting swiftly.

When all the investigations have been completed I am sure that there will be some new measures put
in place that will ensure that something like this will never happen in the same circumstances.

Soon this will not be in the news and although not forgotten the cruise industry will continue to move
forward, with new exciting ships, more innovative ideas and facilities on board, but with measures
in place to prevent Captains sailing where they should not and with better safety proceedures on board.

Have you seen the Aurora Borealis

2012-01-24T20:36:00.000Z

The UK has been very lucky over the last few nights that those living in the right areas of
Britain have experience something that I would love to see ..the spectacular Aurora Borealis.

Of course many people book a cruise whether it be to Alaska or Norway to try and get the
best views of Aurora Borealis, but of course there are never any guarantees as the ingrediants have to be just right to set off this spectacular display.

But for those living in the UK over the past few nights, they have been able to witness what normally only a priveledged amount of people can see.

If you are out and about tonight here is a list that has been compiled of places that may offer you the best vantage point to see this one off experience.

Also Lancaster University have an Aurora watch website may be worth a look to see where there have been sightings http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/

North

Buckstones Car Park
Marsden Moor, Yorkshire

Friar's Crag
Lake District, Cumbria

Midlands

Mam Tor
Peak District, Derbyshire

South

Bignor Car Park
Slindon Estate, West Sussex

Dunkery Beacon
Holnicote Estate, Exmoor

Echo Mount
Knole, Kent

Black Down
Sussex

Northern Ireland

Divis Mountain
Belfast

Wales

Penbryn Beach
Cardigan

Scotland

Galloway Forest Park
Dumfries and Galloway

Sighthill Park
Glasgow

New Lanark Roof Garden
Lanark

Good luck to everyone trying to see this... remember if you dont all is not lost there are cruises
that specialise in offering cruises to try and get a glimpse of the most spectacular light show on Earth.

Friday 13th was it unlucky or lucky for you?

2012-01-18T21:54:00.000Z

We have all read of the disaster that struck the Costa Concordia that happened on Friday 13th,
but how much do we read into this dreaded day and date and do people really take this seriously.

I had a customer that I quoted on Friday 13th and she refused to book it as she is very superstitious
and nothing I said would make her change her mind.

The following day I called her as arranged and we tried to book her cruise unfortunately,
the cabins that she had wanted had all been sold and she had to pay extra to get the position on the
ship that she needed.

So Friday the 13th would have been far more lucky for her than Saturday 14th.

Some things are just out of our hands whether we are superstitious or not and it doesnt matter
what the date is or time of day, if cabins are booked or prices change there is nothing we can do.

Thankfully my lady saw the funny side of her predicament and said trust me to be superstitious, I only have myself to blame.

If you have any funny stories then I would love to hear them.

Land Ahoy- OOPS Party cruise ends up grounded

2012-01-11T22:18:00.000Z

I was reading a report today that made me laugh in a popular daily newspaper..

The MSC Poesia, has been on a 3 night cruise off the Bahamas and this cruise was no ordinary
cruise.

The cruise was being held for electronica music fans and featured 20 DJ's and featured big-names including Fatboy Slim and former Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee.

At about 7.00am in the morning passengers had a shock when the ship ran aground, maybe the crew had been partying a bit too hard with all that music going on.

The good news was that the ships was pulled free in the end and all was well again.

With no real explaination of how this happened I am sure there will be plenty of questions asked
of the crew as to why this managed to happen.

It will give the passengers something to remember as well as the music and I am sure that for some
who may have been a little hungover from the party cruise it gave them a short shock and sobered them up very quickly indeed.

Remember many of the cruise lines offer themed short break cruises of course not all on the lines of the one above, from visiting gardens to wine themed short breaks so please give us a call if you fancy
a themed break.

Happy New Year to all

2012-01-04T09:16:00.000Z

A Happy New Year to all , wishing you all a fabulous 2012.

The start to 2012 has been busy for us here at cruise so amid all the doom and gloom showing on our news
reports I think it shows that people are still prepared to book their holidays and give themselves something to
look forward to.

With offers of free parking and reductions in prices with many of the cruise lines there are deals out there
for clients wanting to ensure that that special holiday is booked and they can count the days and months until they
depart.

There are some cruises that I have checked recently that already have some types of cabin unavailable,
some of these were in the summer months so really if you have something in mind for these months then
I would advise not to wait too long before making a decision to avoid disappointment.

I look forward to speaking to you all in 2012

Heres to a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2012 to all

Strictly Come Cruising

2011-12-27T18:59:00.000Z

For all you Strictly fans out there and I am definitely one of them, no need to wait until the end of next year
as I have some special news in store for you.

P&O are launching 2 special cruises where you can see the legendary.....Mr Nasty Craig Revel Horwood.. famous for his it was a disaaaaaassssster.. darling sayings and four of the shows dancers for a very special treat.

On each cruise Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood will be joined by four of the show's professional dancers they will not only be performing but will be on hand to give you hints and tips and of course you will be able to hear first hand what goes on and what it is like to be part of such a popular and entertaining show.
Also they will be bringing with them a selection of dresses worn by the dancers on the show.

At the moment the dancers that are attending are to be confirmed.

The two cruises on offer for all you strictly fans who love to cruise are as follows:

Oriana 28th May (my birthday) whoo hoo... Canary Islands Cruise
Oriana 14th July- Norway/Fjords cruise.

I am sure that when word gets out these two cruises will fill very quickly as there are so many strictly lovers
out there who would love the opportunity to see the dancers and of course Craig...

So dont leave it long if you want to book for more information then of course from one strictly fan to another
call me now on 0800 408 6115....

Joyeux Noël

2011-12-20T19:58:00.000Z

Un Noël Fantastique

I would like to wish all my work colleagues and clients a fanatastic Christmas

and a Happy Healthy and Prosperous 2012

As most of my clients know I now live and work from France and Christmas here is just the same as it is

back in the UK really apart from they are not big on turkey and bread sauce.

Christmas is a family occasion wherever you are in the world and of course the French are big

on their family traditions and families come together more than most of us can or do in the UK.

I am looking forward to my first Christmas here in France to see the real differences if any than being back

in the UK.

Have a great Christmas

Chocaholics beware....Price of choc to go up as shortage looms

2011-12-13T21:37:00.000Z

I was reading an article today about cocoa and apparently there is a shortage looming that is putting our
favoutite treat in danger. shortages of cocoa could send the cost of our sins soaring.

With all the doom and gloom around the world at the moment, the one thing we all like to treat ourselves
with as a bit of comfort is the occasional bar of chocolate or for some many bars of chocolate or even a
big box.

Christmas is traditionally the time when someone in your family or circle of friends will indulge you with a
festive treat of a box of your favourite sin or whether it be chocolates or biscuits and we all look forward to
this treat whether we are a big lover of chocolate or not.

Of course if you are on a cruise we all love the added touch of a choc on our pillow before we go to bed,
or chocs with our coffee after a meal, or even the wonderful choc puds on offer with our evening meal.

Then of course when we go on shore excursions there are always places we visit where we like to sample
the countries choc foods or sweeties...Take Belgium for instance renowned for its chocs and last year I certainly came home with some choc treats for the family when we were on our Christmas cruise and I am sure that my work colleagues will do the same this year too.

So please growers of the world keep the cocoa coming so we can continue to enjoy our little treats without
them costing a fortune... we want to keep our chocs as an affordable luxury not something to drool at but
cannot buy..

Euro Crisis - Nevermind the Euro what about the water

2011-12-06T19:58:00.000Z

While the whole world seems to be talking about the state of the Euro and Euro member states and what
they should or shouldnt do or could have done Europe has been suffering a different crisis one that has been
affecting our travellers taking River Cruises...

We all think of lack of water as hosepipe bans during the summer months and dont consider for one minute
the effect that European dry summers have had on the waterways.

The Rhine and Moselle have suffered terribly and now the low water levels mean that there could be
uncertainty as to whether some of the river cruise lines will be able to operate fully their end of year cruises.

Fingers crossed maybe plenty of rain will fall and feed into these rivers so that passengers can continue
with their plans without any disruptions or cancellations. For river cruises of course ships cannot just divert
to another port as ocean cruises can. Their only options are to cancel or arrange for passengers to visit certain places by coach which of course sort of defeats the idea of a River Cruise.

Of course not only have the river cruise lines had the worry of the water levels but we all saw on the television
that Koblenz had to evacuate half of its population while two world war 2 bombs were diffused in the Rhine.

So lets forget the money Euro crisis and hope that the cruising crisis doesnt happen, I dont like to say it but
let plenty of rain fall now to save these cruises but stop just after Christmas so that high water levels dont cause a problem either.

Cruise The Beautiful Adriatic Coast from Dubrovnik

2011-11-29T19:48:00.000Z

I have been investigating some cruises for one of my clients who was interested in taking a cruise from
Dubrovnik visiting Mijet, Korcula,Sibernik, Split, Hvar, Kotor and then back to Dubrovnik.

Discover Dubrovnik, 'Pearl of the Adriatic', where you can enjoy spectacular views from the ancient ramparts, visiting some of the most beautiful islands and the spectacular cascading Krka Falls. Take in Split, Croatia's second largest city, with a wealth of fascinating historical sites to explore.

Optional excursions:

Monastery Visit, Mljet

Guided tour of Korcula

Sibenik and the Krka Falls

Guided tour of Kotor

Sights of Split

Now the cruise ship that operates these cruises is called the Belle de l'Adriatique and is a French owned
ship, however they are used to having UK visitors on board.

We can book this as a package with flights for you from either Gatwick or Manchester if you want direct flights and you can even choose to have a stay in a hotel if you wish.

On selected dates they also sail from Dubrovnik around Greece and Turkey.

This ship is ideal for someone who likes a smaller ship as there are only 100 cabins and the beauty of this cruise is that as well as visiting beautiful scenery all your locally produced wine/beer and tea/coffee and fruit juice is all included in the cost.

Prices including flights/transfers for a 7 night cruise start at about £1350 per person based on two sharing.

So if you fancy something just a little bit different then give me a call 0800 408 6115

The Frozen Planet - make your dream a reality

2011-11-22T19:46:00.000Z

Not only is David Attenborough's Frozen planet a must for anyone to see on a Wednesday night.It is an educational and fascinating treat into the seasons that our Arctic and Antarctic endure for good and bad..

BUT- It is giving a boost to the cruise industry, with so many people like myself taking an avid interest in looking for a holiday where you can experience the sights that we love to watch, snuggled up on our sofas every Wednesday evening.

There have always been cruises that visit these areas, but programs such as this bring to the fore those fabulous places around the world that you do not always consider when thinking about your next holiday.

For 2012 though Hurtigruten will be offering itineraries around Spitzbergen where you will get chance to see the fabulous wildlife and scenery of the Arctic and they offer fabulous Antarctic Cruises too.

If you want to travel further then Silversea offer cruises to Antarctica during the early part of the year and at the end of the year .

So for a glimpse of the Penguins, Whales and of course that magnificent scenery you too can visit your own frozen planet.

Give me a call and let me find that dream holiday for you.

Armistice Day in France

2011-11-15T18:29:00.000Z

Over the last week and on the run up to Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday our news and television has been full of stories from both the World Wars, giving us an in sight to the bravery and suffering that so many people had to endure none of which we could possibly imagine.

Being in France over this time I wanted to share with you the way that they remember as of course life in France was so much harder as they were an occupied Country.

Firstly Armistice Day is a public holiday in France, through the day there was music playing by their Cenotaph in the small village where we are, I do not know the French tune that was playing but they also played Land of Hope and Glory which I found quite strange. Many people visited the village during the day and paid their respects at the Cenotaph.

Now in the Cemetry in the village there are graves of 6 brave airmen who sadly lost their lives in the second world war, when their aircraft were shot down, the villagers risked their own lives by hiding their bodies so that their bodies would not be taken by the Germans and then buried them. In May they fly both the British and Canadian flags over their graves to honour these brave men. We have also been told stories of how the French resistance hid away in some of the old barns around the village. I am sure all around this area and many areas of France there are many similar stories told.

40 minutes drive from where we are there is a memorial town at Oradour sur Glane where 642 people were massacred during the Second World War and this village has been left exactly as it was on the day of this atrocity and I would strongly recommend anyone of any age visiting this site as you cannot help but be moved by what you see and read. This truly makes anyone appreciate what our relatives in the UK fought for and what our neighbours in France endured to make Europe the place we all live in relatively peacefully now.

Of course for anyone interested in World War history from many of the cruises that visit Northern France you can always get the opportunity of taking a tour to the Normandy Beaches too

Cruise ship entertainer to prime Minister who would have believed it

2011-11-08T19:13:00.000Z

I was reading an interesting article today about cruise ship entertainers.

Now we all know of the famous stars who grace the stages of these luxurious cruise liners nowadays with the likes of Jennifer Hudson all our old entertainers from the past who make odd appearances like Ronnie Corbett.

We all know that stars like to enjoy their cruise holidays with the likes of Alan Titchmarsh, Sir Terry Wogan, Rod Stewart, the late Sir Jimmy Saville and many many more...

So what a shock I had to find that 3 times Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi, aged 75 before his career in politics started off as an entertainer and cruise ship singer.

So amidst all the controversy that surrounds Mr Berlusconi it just shows that nobody ever knows where your life will lead and I am sure back in the days when Mr Berlusconi was busy singing and composing he would never of dreamed that one day he would make Prime Minister once let alone 3 times although I am sure he would rather have not had all the drama that has gone with it...

Perhaps Jane Macdonald should have taken a different career once leaving cruise ships who knows what she could have become...!!!

Joanna Lumleys - Greek Odyssey well worth viewing

2011-11-01T19:49:00.000Z

I delighted in watching Joanna Lumleys Nile adventure that was shown on ITV last year as I have always been facinated by the wonder of Egypt and was very excited when I saw that she was doing a series on Greece as I love the beauty of the Greek Islands.

For anyone interested in travelling on a cruise around the Greek Islands then I think this is a fabulous series to watch and she gives you a great insight into the culture the fabulous scenery as well as visiting some of the historic landmarks that you could well experience on excursions on an itineray cruising around the Greek Islands.

On her last episode we saw her on Crete and then on to Kos near the Turkish mainland before she headed off to the Northeastern border with Turkey.

This week she is heading off for Mount Olympus and mountains of Greece for her final visit.

You can catch Joanna Lumleys last episode on Thursday night on ITV and for anyone who missed this series then look out of repeats or have a look on the itv player on the internet.

If you are interested in travelling to Greece then it is well worth a viewing to just give you that insight into what to expect.

There are many cruises visiting Greece during the summer months and you can choose from fly cruises visiting Greece and Turkey or you can take a long cruise from Southampton, so there is something to suit everyone.

Celebrating at Sea

2011-10-25T18:00:00.000+01:00

Today I have speaking to clients who have just returned from a cruise with Cunard to the Adriatic visiting Venice and Corfu and well some spectacular destinations.

This cruise was a cause for celebration as whilst on board they were celebrating 40 years of marriage which in this day and age is a very special achievement.

The cruise was booked over 12 months ago and for such a special occasion where everything needed to be just so then my clients made just the right choice.

We forwarded their wedding certificate to Cunard so that they could receive any special goodies for celebrating their 40 years of life together.

Well the clients were absoloutely thrilled when they reached their stateroom as it was laden with flowers, there was a bottle of bubbly and all manor of treats.

They were really pleased with the efforts we had all made to ensure that their time aboard the Queen Elizabeth was a special one, in fact so much they booked another one straight away.

Now for anyone looking forward to a special birthday or anniversary what a wonderful treat it can be to book a cruise and experience your special day in beautiful surroundings and exotic places. I think I need to start dropping some big hints now ready for my next big milestone...

Is Dressing up for dinner becoming a thing of the past

2011-10-17T19:08:00.000+01:00

I have just been speaking to one of my clients who has recently returned from a cruise on the Caribbean Princess in and out of New York.

He had a wonderful cruise, however he had a few comments to make that I actually found quite surprising.

He had gone to the trouble to pack his dinner suit with him as he finds that on the formal evenings for him it is part of the cruise experience to dress up in his dickie bow and tails...

He said he was shocked that on the Captains night he only spotted about 4 gentleman who had made the effort to dress up fully and not many more on the other formal occasions. Instead of feeling special he was left feeling a bit of the odd one out... and more importantly it made him question taking his stuff on future cruises as this was a fly cruise obviously a full dinner suit takes alot of space...

Now whether this was because the cruise left from New York and the Americans do not treat the formal nights in the same way as us or whether times are changing I really dont know.

All I can say is what a shame if it is the latter because personally I think it is lovely to see the men dressing up in their full dinner attire, and it would be a shame if numbers started to dwindle..

Please let me know your experiences..

Freedom of The Seas takes a battering

2011-10-11T20:13:00.000+01:00

Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, apparently sustained some damage on Sunday off the coast of Florida.

At approximately 7:30 p.m., Freedom Of The Seas experienced extreme wind and sea conditions. The conditions were definately not what they were expecting at all..

According to a statement from Royal Caribbean, the ship experienced wind speeds more than three times what was forecast. The combination of the wind and sea conditions caused severe ship movement. At this time there have not been any serious injuries reported..

The ship has sustained some damage to the public areas and guest staterooms, which in no way affect the sea-worthiness of the ship the company added.

Well one thing is for sure we cannot always predict what mother nature is going to throw at us, lets hope that the passengers aboard have now got over their experience and are enjoying the rest of their cruise.

Eating at night in the Buffet Restaurant - what do you get?

2011-10-04T19:35:00.000+01:00

I myself have never been on a cruise ship and used the buffet restaurant at night, so I wondered what do you get ?
I raised this question because today I was talking to one of my clients who had just returned from a cruise on the Celebrity Eclipse.

He mentioned to me that he was a little disappointed because the food was exactly the same at night as it was in the day and the look and feel of the restaurant was just the same as it would be if you had been in there at lunchtime. No effort was made to make you feel like you were not eating in a cafeteria.

Now on a previous cruise with Royal Caribbean they had put table cloths on the tables to give the restaurant a nice feel and really I think that is a nice touch, he had also been able to experience a different menu.

I also have a gentleman that always travels with Fred Olsen who prefers to use their buffet restaurant at night sometimes and he has never had anything bad to say, so I am presuming that they must make an effort to provide something special.

Now I cannot speak with authority as I have never used these restaurants at night but what I wonder is are you treated differently, with so many people now choosing to opt to use these restaurants at night, will you be made to feel special or will you be made to feel like you are eating in a motorway cafeteria...

Any comments of experiences you have had on different cruise lines would be most appreciated...

See the Pandas on our Ying & Yangtze Tour

2011-09-27T21:26:00.000+01:00

12 baby Giant Pandas have been putting on their first appearance recently at the Chengdu Research Centre in China.
For those of you who, who would love the chance to visit this fabulous research centre and see first hand these magnificent creatures and the wonderful work that this centre does to protect this species that is under threat then boy do we have a spectucular tour for you.

On the 9th September 2012 or the 9th March 201 3, we have two incredible tours on offer, fly to Shanghai after exploring the delights of Shanghai you then travel to Wuhan to join your 4 night cruise at Yichang, cruising along the Yangtse you finish the cruise in Chongqing, where you then make your way to Chengdu for an overnight stay. The following morning after spending time at the Chengdu Research Centre seeing the Giant Pandas you then fly to Xian for a 2 night stay to see the magnificent Terracotta Warriors.Finally you fly to Beijing for 3 nights to experience the wonders of the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square and the Summer Palace before returning home from a spectacular adventure.

What a wonderful tour this is

Sea Dream Captain really has passengers interests at heart

2011-09-20T18:20:00.001+01:00

I was reading an article in a French newspaper about Sea Dream in fact it made a 3/4 page spread.

On a recent cruise that was due to make a stop at La Rochelle captain Johan Dyrnes decided that he would scrap this visit and instead travel to Royan instead.

Now the reason why he decided to do this was that he felt that the shuttle trip which takes passengers to the old harbour and town area would have just been too long for his well healed guests.

All passengers welcomed this change and enjoyed their day exploring the beach and town area of the capital of the Cote de beaute and of course form here passengers could visit Cognac and sample the hennessy brandy.

As for Royan they had a welcome boost to their town and gave them chance to showcase themselves as a potential cruise destination for other cruises.

Now Seadream whose slogan is yachting not cruising I think must really have their passengers interests at heart, as the Royan Mayor had to arrange all the security/immigration facilities required at 48 hours notice so arranging these things would not have been easy for the Captain .

But how would you feel if you were in the same situation would you welcome the change or would you be angry that you were not visiting where you thought.

I dont think I would mind at all...

Tropical Storms still causing problems

2011-09-13T20:00:00.000+01:00

With the wind battering the UK over the past few days and the problems with the US coast line the week before last I think that we are all hoping that the weather will sort itself out and everything can return to normal.

However tropical storm Maria is still disrupting some cruise lines and they are having to make decisions to change ports for the safety of their passengers.

Reports today are saying that

Norwegian Gem is now sailing a Bahamas and Florida itinerary, instead of its originally planned Bermuda voyage. The ship will call on Port Canaveral Tuesday, private island Great Stirrup Cay on Wednesday and Nassau on Thursday.

Carnival have altered itineraries for a handful of ships:

The Destiny, which left Miami on Saturday for a five-night sailing, will switch the order of its calls on Ochos Rios and Grand Cayman The ship will call on the latter on Monday and the former on Tuesday, the opposite of what was originally scheduled.

Royal Caribbean also has ships in the area, but according to the Companies Web site, only one itinerary has been altered:

Oasis of the Seas will now call on St Thomas on Tuesday, St Maarten on Wednesday and Nassau on Friday.

I know that it can be very disappointing if you have set your heart on visiting a certain place at a certain time but I am sure that we would all rather be safe than at risk, so I am behind the cruise lines all the way when they have to make these changes and I would hope that travellers would feel the same.

Voyager Of The Seas to spend 2012 in the Far East

2011-09-06T21:48:00.000+01:00

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of The Seas will be spending 2012 in a new home, cruising around the Far East.

I have been looking through the itineraries and I think this is fabulous news for travellers who are looking for something a little different but who love to travel with royal Caribbean.

The Voyager will start her travels to her new home in April when she offers a transatlantic cruise from New Orleans to Barcelona. She will then travel from Barcelona to Dubai and then from Dubai to Singapore.

She is then going to offer 3 cruises or 4/5 night durations sailing from Singapore visiting Malaysia and Phuket, ideal for anyone looking for a short cruise to add on to a stay in Singapore.

Then in mid June the Voyager will sail to Shanghai where she will offer 4 night cruises visiting Japan and Korea, before she heads off to Australia for the winter when she will offer cruises around Australia and New Zealand.

These new itineraries are great news for cruise passengers looking to add stop overs so they can explore the delights of Singapore, China and Australia as we can tailor make some very exciting itineraries for you. Not forgetting of course that the transatlantic repositioning sectors of this cruise offer extremely good value for money if you fancy doing something completely different.

Will a new cruise terminal at Liverpool make the Welsh see red

2011-08-30T18:05:00.001+01:00

There have been many debates about whether or not there will be a new cruise terminal built in Liverpool.

Now it appears that the Welsh are not too happy about this..

Wales currently has six cruise ports – Cardiff, Fishguard, Holyhead, Milford Haven, Newport and Swansea and Holyhead has recently spent 9 million pounds on a terminal attracting 13 cruises to the area.

The UK Cruise Port Alliance is concerned that around 80 million pounds worth of revenue could be lost to Liverpool if the council get their way and a new terminal is built.

So of course you can understand why the Welsh are not very pleased with this when they have been spending money to improve facilities to attract cruise ships to their ports and then fear that they may end up losing out.

I think it is great that there are many more ports now able to attract cruise ships of varying sizes around the UK to just make those around Britain cruises more interesting and of course give some clients the opportunity to take a cruise where in the past it may have been difficult to travel to the nearest ports.

I am sure that this debate is going to be around for some time until decisions are made as to what when where and if something is going to happen

Are smaller ships more sociable ?

2011-08-23T18:32:00.000+01:00

I spoke to a couple of clients over the last week who have made particular comments about the larger ships and the difficulty they have found making good friends.

I was very surprised that the one client said that they would choose to travel on a Thomsons ship any day rather than travel on a Royal Caribbean.

This particular client commented that when they went on Royal Caribbean as much as the facilities and cabins were beautiful they found that the ship lacked that sociable feel that they had experienced on Thomsons ships.

The main thing that was missing in their opinion was that with the smaller ship if you get chatting with people at dinner or by the pool or at a bar the chances are that you easily meet up with them again and friendships can be formed easily without you having to be pushy by arranging to meet up at a particular time and place.

Today I called one of my clients who had returned from one of our Gardeners World cruises and she was telling me exactly the same thing , that she had been on a Royal Caribbean ship and it was less friendly and that she had a wonderful time on the Fred Olsen Balmoral, the gardening cruise helped as she was meeting up with other members of the group, but she has been with them before and just found the whole experience alot more enjoyable, not just the camaraderie but the whole experience just alot more friendly.

In this age there seems to be more larger ships being commissioned than smaller ones, I wonder whether the future will see clients looking for the smaller ship again.

Have you experienced something similar or disagree with the above I would love to hear your comments.

A storm in a port transfers to and from ships

2011-08-16T21:03:00.000+01:00

I have spoken to a couple of customers this week who were very disappointed in the costs of transfers to/ from the ship to their port of call.

One of the customers had been on a Royal Caribbean cruise out of Malaga and although had a wonderful cruise felt that when the cruise lines are having to use ports well away from the town as the ships are too big, they should be charging smaller fees or no fees at all.

As 15-20 dollars at most ports soon amounts to a large amount of money.

Another client told me that on a visit to La Rochelle they were really faced with no choice but to pay extra as they were in an industrial port not the main town area and it was put across to them that it had to be paid if they wished to leave the ship.

I do understand that the cruise lines do need to make money but I think that they would earn more respect off their customers if they were to charge a little less and make this a service rather than a huge profit making exercise.

It used to be that you paid more for a taxi and less for a quick shuttle transfer but my customers were intimating that they would have spent out less money in a private taxi.

What are your experiences in this matter and what advice would you give the cruise lines.

Riots now affecting the cruise industry

2011-08-09T18:20:00.000+01:00

As the civil unrest has spread around the country tonight we know of two companies who have had to shut their offices early due to the troubles that now many parts of the country are experiencing.
Over the last few minutes the news are reporting troubles in Wolverhampton, Birmingham and now in Salford so we may find tomorrow many more companies having to open late or shut early.

Cruise operators as well as any other business have a duty to protect their staff so if they have been advised to shut early then thats what they should do.

Two of my colleagues found the Viking had shut early and also MSC cruises and we wish our colleagues safe passage home and trust that their offices will not be affected by the troubles.

As many of you know I work from home which is now France and my French neighbours cannot believe what is going on back in the UK... As we are all aware with the protests that happen in France they are a nation who do stand up for their rights but not on a scale that they are seeing in the UK.
The news of our unrest is being viewed all over the world and what we do not want is this affecting our tourism as their are many travellers who not only visit our Country for a holiday but many who fly into the UK to join a cruise ship to take them around Europe.
London is now a focal point with the lead up to the Olympics next year and certainly we do not want our country seen in such a bad way.

We can but hope that there will be end to all these troubles swiftly

Bad Weather halts play for me

2011-08-03T11:09:00.000+01:00

Last night over in France we endured some spectacular thunder storms and possibly for anyone on a cruise ship travelling up the North West coast of France they may have been subjected to the same as me....

At just after 5pm UK time the sky changed and distant rumblings could be heard and then it went darker and darker and I took this picture at 6.30pm UK time and bearing in mind it shouldn't be as dark as this until at least 9.30pm UK equivalent.

We were subjected to hours of booming and crashing with sheet and fork lightening all around, a spectacular display I must say in the sky with the lightening offering pink/purple streaks across the sky and a constant boom that I can only describe as what it must of sounded like for those hearing the bombing strikes in the second world war.

My apologies for anyone who was trying to get hold of me last night as such is the power of these storms all electricals including the phone line are un-plugged.

I have never been lucky enough to be on a cruise ship to witness a powerful lightening storm but I am sure that it must be extremely spectacular.

If anyone has any spectacular pics of storms taken from a cruise ship I would love to see them.

The Pacific Princess gets some special guest speakers

2011-07-26T22:09:00.000+01:00

For the Pacific Princess world cruise in 2012, Princess have recruited some very special speaker to appear during this special cruise. These guest speakers will be on board on the Fort Lauderdale to Venice sector of the cruise and include the following:

Rolly Crump -- Disney Imagineer (January 13-28: Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego)
One of the original Disney Imagineers, Crump joined Disney in 1952, first in animation, contributing to legendary films such as "Lady and the Tramp,". Crump worked alongside Walt Disney himself to create the Haunted Mansion, Enchanted Tiki Room and other attractions, and later designed projects for Disney's EPCOT Center. Crump will talk about Walt Disney the man and the early days of designing iconic Disneyland rides

Gavin MacLeod -- TV and Film Actor (January 28-February 10: San Diego to Pago Pago)
Perhaps best known as "Captain Merrill Stubing" from the long-running television show The Love Boat.

Colonel Robert C. Springer -- Space Shuttle Astronaut (February 10-18: Pago Pago to Auckland)
A two-time space shuttle astronaut who has spent 237 hours in space. After joining NASA in 1981 he served as a mission specialist on shuttle flights in 1989 and 1990. Now retired from NASA and the U.S. Marine Corps, Springer currently works for The Boeing Company as director of quality systems, Integrated Defense Systems. Springer will talk about the shuttle program, his adventures in space, and the future of NASA.

Suzanne Lloyd -- Granddaughter of Harold Lloyd (March 12-20: Tokyo to Hong Kong) The granddaughter of one of Hollywood's founding fathers and silent film legend Harold Lloyd, Suzanne Lloyd will screen a mini film festival of her grandfather's silent comedy classics and talk about growing up on her grandfather's legendary Bel Air estate: Green Acres.

Tab Hunter -- Actor, Screen Idol (April 12-30: Dubai to Venice) A screen idol from Hollywood's golden age, Tab Hunter starred in more than 50 major films, including the Academy Award-nominated "Damn Yankees." Hunter also reached the top of the music charts with the hit song Young Love, and starred in his own television series.

In addition, World Cruise passengers will also have the benefit of a variety of expert lecturers who will share their knowledge on diverse topics, including:

Concorde Pilot -- A former British Airways Concorde pilot will speak about the glamour and technology of the Concorde. (January 13-28: Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego)

World War II Historian -- Bruce Petty, the author of several books about World War II in the Pacific, will talk about topics such as Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Iwo Jima, and aircraft carriers in the Pacific. (January 28-February 18: San Diego to Auckland)

South Pacific Naturalist -- Ann Burgess, an expert on the natural history of the South Pacific region, will talk about a variety of related topics including Polynesian explorers and indigenous wildlife in the area. She will also host animal spotting sessions on the top deck to help passengers catch a glimpse of sea life such as dolphins and whales. (February 18-March 12: Auckland to Tokyo)

Ambassador/Diplomat -- Douglas Hartwick, a former ambassador to Laos and State Department diplomat, will talk about the life of a diplomat living abroad. (March 12-29: Tokyo to Singapore)

Computer Forensics Expert -- Mark Harrington, computer forensic company executive, will lecture on how computer footprints can find terrorists and criminals. (March 20-29: Hong Kong to Singapore)

Astronomer -- An astronomer will join the ship to teach passengers about the night sky, the solar system and the latest space exploration from NASA, plus will host stargazing sessions on deck. (March 29-April12: Singapore to Dubai)

United Nations Official -- John Renninger, a UN official and adjunct professor at NYU, will talk about the UN's peacekeeping role and Middle East topics. (April 12-30: Dubai to Venice)

With such a diverse range of speakers I am sure passengers will be able to enjoy listening to a great variety of subjects, from special people with first hand knowledge.

Now I am not too familiar with all of the above but I must say that I would find most of them extremely interesting to listen to.

Striking Taxis Drivers cause havoc at Piraeus Port

2011-07-19T15:25:00.001+01:00

I was talking to a client last night who has parents on a cruise on the Celebrity Solstice at the moment.

He had received a number of texts from them telling him that unfortunately their scheduled stop in Piraeus had been cancelled due to striking taxi drivers blockading the port of Piraeus.

I thought this needed an investigation and yes indeed not only was the Celebrity Solstice unable to dock but also the Voyager of the Seas.
Although the cruise lines were aware of what was going to happen and had tried to put contingency plans in place, unfortunately the taxi drivers had other plans and decided to stop any passengers from leaving the ships to travel on their sightseeing trip to Athens.

The good news however was that the Seabourn Odyssey was allowed to disembark their passengers who were travelling home for the airport and take their new passengers on board so at least the taxi drivers did have some compassion.

The yellow cab drivers are protesting against deregulation of their industry as part of the economic reforms demanded by Greece's international creditors

Thankfully the strike was due to end at 5am tomorrow so normal service can be resumed with at least 3 cruise ships a day visiting the port of Piraeus the cruise lines will be feeling relieved that for the moment this industrial action has finished and I am sure with all the recent troubles in Greece they are keeping their fingers crossed that no further troubles will affect their passengers especially now we are into the peak summer weeks.

Llandudno's cruise ship hopes

2011-07-12T21:06:00.001+01:00

The BBC are reporting today that Llandudno is the latest UK seaside town hoping to encourage visitors on cruise ships.

Planners are considering that if they can upgrade Llandudno pier then maybe then can attract cruise ships to dock there, therefore bringing a wealth of job opportunities to the region.

Now I am sure that the larger ships would probably not be able to dock there, but of course the likes of the smaller cruise lines like Fred Olsen and Voyages of Discovery and Cruise and Maritime would probably be able to visit this North Wales Seaside resort.

It would be lovely to see some of our seaside resort able to offer facilities to encourage cruise ships to call on their round Britain cruises and make their cruises more diverse and certainly their would be many possibilities for excursions from the town with Snowdonia nearby as well as the attractions of the town itself.

Good luck to them I say, for considering all the options to try and get visitors and jobs to the area,

Although probably a long way off before this could be reality, I will keep my fingers crossed for them that they move their project forward and cruise lines take advantage.

How would you like to view a Solar Eclipse?

2011-07-05T19:48:00.000+01:00

One of my clients called me yesterday as he is planning a special trip to celebrate a special anniversary.

Now he has come up with what I consider a very special cruise and one that you will remember for the rest of your life.

This cruise departs Hawaii on the 2nd November, travels via Samoa, crossing the international date line on the 11th November then travels to Fiji and postitions itself just in the right spot for a spectacular event not to be seen by all.

On the 13th/14th November the Southern Hemisphere from Northern Australia to Southern South Pacific will bear witness to a spectacular solar eclipse.

How special would this be.

Now for anyone who would like to offer the same romantic gesture then this cruise is a Celebrity cruise on the Millenium departing on the 2nd November 2012.

After witnessing this spectacular event the cruise will take you on to New Zealand visiting Tauranga, Auckland and the Bay of Islands and then concluding with an overnight in port in Sydney on the 21st November.

How romantic this cruise will be, my man would certainly be in favour for a long long time if he was to plan something as special as this for me

Upgrades does lady luck shine on you

2011-06-28T22:17:00.000+01:00

This year I have spoken to many clients who have been very lucky and received upgrades either just before they travel or when they have arrived at their ship.

In fact quite recently I have had a number of clients who have been upgraded on Cunard to Princess Grills which of course is a fabulous upgrade as the cost of these cabins is considerably higher than the norm and for many customers they would prefer to save their pennies and use this as spending money or to get more cruises.

Now I am not sure what the reasons for this are, and maybe it is because there have been alot of offers for cabins this year on a guarantee basis and therefore the cruise lines are moving passengers up the grades to release cabins in the lower grades to make it more attractive to the consumers pocket or whether my clients have been extremely lucky.

Of course with Cunard , P&O and Princess you can elect for a complimentary upgrade should one become available, however I would never recommend this if you have chosen a cabin to be near a lift or in a particular area of the ship for specific reasons as of course you cannot guarantee that you will get a cabin in the same vicinity with an upgrade and you could be on higher or lower decks more front or rear. Of course when you have one of these upgrades there is no going back to your original cabin.

I love to hear from my clients who have had the good fortune to have been given these upgrades because it shows that there is hope for us all and maybe one day a bit of good fortune could come your way and you are lucky enough to get more than you expect.

Extreme Excursions - Hippo's in Toronto

2011-06-21T20:46:00.000+01:00

Now there are some strange excursions that you can take around the world but this one I couldnt get my head round.

This is a bus that goes into the water and is aptly called the Hippo Bus.

Now we offer a variety of tailor made packages to our clients and this has got to be a must for anyone travelling to Toronto.

This Hippo is a unique 40 passenger vessel that offers land and water tours of Toronto. What a fun way to discover what Toronto has to offer... experience the vista on the road and then the sights on the water how fab is that. Excuse the pun but apparently it is the Hippest way to see Toronto.

According to their website you can take a tour from 43 Canadian Dollars and guess what they are coast guard approved.

If anyone has been on this then please let me know or if you have any other quirky excursion ideas I would love to hear about them.

Oriana has a little bump

2011-06-14T23:57:00.000+01:00

Reports are telling us that last week the Oriana had a small collision with the dock when departing Kristiansand Norway last week.

Now the good news was that no passengers were hurt and she sufferred a little dent, but it did mean that she had to return to dock briefly which delayed her departure by about an hour.

Now is this big news.... well no not really but it did get me thinking I wonder how insurance works for cruise ships.... would they have to fill in one of those tedious forms showing diagrams of the port and how why when and where the incident happened.

Do they lose their no claims bonus... I wonder how it all works for ships.

If there is anyone out there who knows then please let me know

US Security 7 hour nightmare is it really necessary

2011-06-07T16:11:00.000+01:00

I was reading an article today on line from one of leading newspapers who were reporting that a group of OAP's had a security nightmare when entering Los Angeles.

Apparently the 2000 travellers were subjected to the full works, with fingerprints of both hands taken as well as retina scans and a detailed check of the passport as well as questioning as to their background.

In all this took 7 hours to complete and the 2000 travellers were made to stand for hours with no facilities whilst they were subjected to these stringent checks.

Ironically, all the passengers that were enjoying a lovely long cruise on the Arcadia all had the relevant immigration ESTA's required so there was just no need to these extra checks and of course this is not something that is the normal when British cruise lines enter US ports.

Some travellers feel that these checks had resulted due to the fact some passengers had got irate after computer systems failed so immigration decided to punish everyone with the full checks.

Whoever's fault this is, personally I feel there is no need for all of this, the US is more than happy to enjoy the extra money being spent in it's ports by our cruise passengers. We should have respect for our older members of society not treat them disrespectfully, if it wasnt for their efforts none of our lives would be as they are now.

The Great Barca Cover Up

2011-06-01T19:45:00.000+01:00

Barcelona is banning the wear of bikinis and swimming trunks when walking in the streets of this historic City.

Apparently they want to clean up their image so beware all you travellers staying in Barcelona before or after your cruise you must cover up or face fines for exposing too much flesh in public.

Fines will start from 105 Euros rising to 300 Euros and if you are caught naked (perish the thought) then fines range from 300- 500 Euros.

There will be designated areas where you will be allowed to wear your bikinis or swimming trunks near the beach but if you wander from that well you will be in trouble...

So remember if you like to expose just a little too much flesh when on holiday it could now cost you more than you bargained for....

Killer Cucumbers - Whatever Next

2011-05-28T21:58:00.000+01:00

Reports have been coming out on the news of killer cucumbers from Spain. To be honest when I first read this headline I thought it was a joke, but no it is a serious issue.

Apparently cucumbers have allegedly killed up to 9 people in Germany due to E coli.

Now we are all told how to eat more salads and foods that are good for us, and then these things break the news and my goodness is there anything safe to eat.

I have always considered that a poor little cucumber with a bit of lettuce and tomato was good for you, but now apparently they carry some very nasty diseases, allegedly from Spain.

I have never really thought about this but for cruise liners visiting ports all around Europe who are picking up supplies for their onward journey what a nightmare this must be when these things happen do they buy their Spanish salad material or do they opt for another product and if so are there foreign brands they can buy.

For people in the UK it is a simple choice we just dont buy the Spanish brands until we know 100% they are safe.

Lets hope the killer cucumber incident disappears soon.

Man Overboard on the Celebrity Eclipse !

2011-05-21T10:29:00.000+01:00

Sadly reports have just been coming into the news that a man has plummeted into the English Channel last night off the Celebrity Eclipse. The circumstances behind this are not being reported.

Apparently it happened at at 10.15pm eight miles north of Cherbourg.

At the moment they are not reporting whether this man was a guest or a member of the crew.

Searchers have not been able to locate the gentleman and the man is now presumed dead, so our hearts go out to the family and friends of this man in these distressing times.

Of course we all pray for a happy ending and hope that the gentleman in question can be found.

Getting to UK ports how easy is it to get the information you need

2011-05-17T21:18:00.000+01:00

Are you fed up with spending hours on the phone or trawling the world wide web when you are looking for directions or coach times or flights to get you to UK ports.

Well I know I get fed up when I want to try and find out about trains,coaches, flights or even just directions by car.

You end up sat on the internet with what seems like hundreds of browsers open flicking between them all to get the relevant information.

I have recently found a website that seems to take most of this stress away and you can look at train times, coach times, driving times and lots of other bits of information that you may or may not find useful.

I looked at an example of travelling from Birmingham to Southampton to the Mayflower cruise terminal departing at 07.00am in the morning.
It gave me the train as an option that would take 2 hours 49 minutes and that it would take me 11 minutes from the station to the terminal, a coach journey that was well lets say a very long journey and the time by car of 2 hours 53 minutes.

I could even check the costs and my emmissions if I really wanted to.

I found this site really useful so I thought that I would share it with you and hope that it will prove a useful tool when arranging your next trip.

www.tranportdirect.info

Would you share a cabin with a stranger?

2011-05-10T16:56:00.002+01:00

I have recently had one of my passengers who has booked with us for many years return from a world cruise on Fred Olsen's Balmoral.

Like so many single passengers when she made her inital enquiries, the price for a single cabin was quite expensive for her so she decided to consider sharing with another solo traveller.

She had never tried this before and was a little apprehensive for all the reasons that you can imagine....
Will I get on with the person, will they snore and what type of person will this be.

Fred Olsen are the only cruise line who will offer a share basis and they do have limited places for this, but they do try and match people up to the best of their ability.
Subject to availability Fred Olsen will offer the share facility on any of their fantastic range of cruises.

Now as you can imagine 108 nights away on a cruise is a long time, but I am happy to report that my lady was absoloutely over the moon with her travelling companion.

They got on well, knew when to give each other the space they needed and in fact got on so well they are keeping in touch and may travel on a cruise again together.

This is wonderful news and a story with a happy ending that I thought I must share with you all. Of course for anyone looking to travel on their own who doesnt mind sharing this can be a great way of saving some money.

Portsmouth's New Terminal - gets the thumbs up from me

2011-05-03T20:34:00.000+01:00

Over the Easter weekend I was lucky enough to travel to France for the weekend from Portsmouth.

Normally, I have to say the facilities at the Port are not good at all, very dated buildings toilets not very pleasant and all in all a bit of a shabby affair.

However this time what a delight to see all the old 1970's buildings blocked off, unfortunately they still have the nasty toilets in operation but great to see right at the port this new terminal building.

From now on both cruise and ferry passengers will be able to enjoy fantastic facilities in modern surroundings, now they will have somewhere nice to sit, be able to get food and drink, instead of the old tatty buildings that were used before.

The new terminal opened at the begining of April and they are expecting 36 cruise departures for this year including Fred Olsens Boudicca.

Well done to Portsmouth for updating their facilities with more cruise lines deciding to sail from Portsmouth now our passengers will be able to enjoy the comforts that they have been used to at other ports.

Fred Olsen Grand Voyages 2013 on sale tomorrow

2011-04-26T22:55:00.000+01:00

Fred Olsen are way ahead of the game with their launch of 2013 Grand Voyages tomorrow for their ocean club members.

For those who are not oceans members then you dont have to wait long as they are on general sale from Thursday of this week.

For 2013, there are two special voyages the traditional round the world cruise on the fabulous Balmoral travelling out to the caribbean, through the Panama Canal and visiting New Zealand and Australia before travelling back via the Suez Canal.

The second cruise is an Indian Ocean cruise aboard the Black Watch, this time you will travel out to Namibia via Tenerife and Gambia, then around South Africa , across to the Reunion Islands and Mauritius then returning via India and the Middle East.

Also booking before the 31st May have a no fuel surcharge guarantee.

With some great starting prices they are certainly worth looking at so call me today for further details on these two magnificent journeys.

Azamara Club Cruises

2011-04-19T23:14:00.001+01:00

Today we were lucky to have a visit from AzamaraCruises. Not only did Sonia bring a supply of chocs with her as an Easter gift but she spent time talking about her product and what their ships have to offer.

It was ironic that today I also called a couple of clients of mine who had just returned from a cruise to the Far East travelling from Hong Kong to Singapore.

They had chosen to travel with Azamara because the itinerary suited what they wanted to do, and it was their first cruise with Azamara.

My clients had the most fabulous time and are hoping to travel on many more cruises with them.

Azamara have smaller ships meaning they can get into more ports. Their customers enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere in lavish surroundings that give you a warm and welcoming feeling.

There are no gratuities to pay and your wine is free with your meals.

At the moment on a selection of cruises you can also enjoy $400 on board credit on oceanview cabins and above.

With a selection of wonderful itineraries to choose from Azamara cruises are certainly worth considering.

Summer 8 night cruises from Southampton

2011-04-12T22:35:00.001+01:00

Throughout July/August and the beginning of September MSC are offering some special 8 night cruises visiting Amsterdam, La Rochelle, Bilbao,La Coruna and Cherbourg.

These are ideal cruises for those wanting to experience the joys of cruising for the first time, not having to travel too far from home and also as they are very reasonably priced not having to spend a fortune to do so.

In fact their cruise on the 8th September starts at a very reasonable £599 per person based on 2 persons sharing a 2 berth inside cabin.

It is great that by them offering these fantastic summer sailings there is now more choice for passengers who do not necessarily want to have a longer holiday, but just fancy a change.

The MSC opera offers entertainment, childrens clubs and all the usual amenities you would expect to find on a cruise.

To add to this on selected sailings you can also benefit from free car parking or 2 free excursions.

We are busy busy busy 2012 on sale

2011-04-05T20:12:00.000+01:00

From last Saturday we have seen Cunard and P&O launch their 2012 programmes and my we have been busy bees.

Tomorrow sees the launch of the July sailings and of course as their special 175th celebration is on the 3rd July and we know that at 08.00am tomorrow these sailings will start to fill very quickly. Many loyal cruisers or clients just looking to experience the celebrations and seeing all ships together for a one off occasion have made these sailings extremely popular

To anyone reading this I would suggest that you contact us as soon as you can if you are considering one of these cruises.

It is great to see so many customers pre-booking their cruises for 2012 to ensure that they get the best cabins of their choice.

We have been very lucky that we have managed to get our clients who have pre-registered the cruises they have requested.

It is also great to see that the doom and gloom of the economy does not seem to have deterred alot of people from booking their holidays, even if it is for 2012, we all need something special to look forward to.

BA vote to Strike can a solution be found to give travellers peace of mind

2011-03-29T22:51:00.000+01:00

British Airways cabin crew have again voted in favour of a strike.

We are all watching and waiting hoping that BA can find a solution to this dispute and all praying that they do not decide to take action over the Easter period.
Of about 9,700 crew polled, 83% of the 6,981 who returned valid voting papers voted for strike action.

Travellers will again be worrying and wondering if or when this may happen and hoping that it will not disrupt their travel plans.

I think that it is time that BA find a final solution to this problem as so many travellers do think twice before booking BA flights following the disruptions that have occured over the past 12 months or so.

They need to give customers confidence that their flights will not be cancelled or disrupted due to industrial action and as agents we need to feel confident when we are booking our clients that their flights will be secure.

Fingers crossed that some end to this ongoing situation will happen soon.

The Budget will it be good news for travellers.

2011-03-22T23:41:00.001Z

With the Budget due out tomorrow will this be good news for travellers.

We all sit pondering will there be a rise in fuel costs and will there be any increase in Air Passenger Duty. We know normally booze and cigarettes will go up as they seem to be the first things to be hit, but with all the troubles around the world and many people have lost their jobs or have been on short time over the last few years, are our holidays going to cost more.

Well speculation is that the government are not going to increase the Air Passenger Duty,so if this happens then this is good news for us all.

These extra charges can soon mount up especially for families and can sometimes just make a holiday unaffordable so please Mr Chancellor keep these costs at the same level.

Let us keep our fingers crossed that tomorrow will be good for our holiday makers who deserve a break.

Will Japan ever recover from the terrible events of last Friday

2011-03-15T22:06:00.000Z

The terrible shock pictures and total devastation that we have all seen since last Friday have rocked the world not only the loss of life and destruction but also the nuclear fears.

Of course last Friday there were alot of cruise ships in and around the area affected by the Tsunami and also in areas that had been put on high alert.

I myself was on holiday in France last Friday when the terrible news broke and I sat glued to the news and wondered if any ships had been affected by this extreme event. I felt relieved when one of the reporters mentioned that ships way out to sea would probably not be affected and that it would be ships in ports that could suffer at the hands of this Tsunami, and thankfully for the cruise industry all the cruise lines appeared to have departed and all was well.

With so many cruise lines offering cruises around the Far East either throughout our winter season or as sectors of the world cruise will this have an effect for the future.

I am sure until life gets back to normal and the threat of radiation has passed it will be some considerable time before we see cruise lines visiting Japenese shores.

Our hearts go out to the Japanese people and though life for alot may never be back to normal after what has happened lets hope that some normality can be regained around their shores so that their economy can get back to what it was and the people of Japan do not suffer anymore.

I am off to France

2011-03-03T22:47:00.000Z

Hi Everyone,

I am off to France from Friday 4th March and back in the office on the 14th March.

I am hoping to do a spot of fishing and maybe improve on my personal best.

If I manage to catch that big one then I will post a picture on my return.

See you all soon

Diana

No I didn't get to see the Northern Lights over the UK so I will have to cruise

2011-02-24T20:35:00.001Z

Last week I blogged about the Northern Lights and how the forecasters were telling us that we might be lucky here in the UK to get a glimpse.

What a disappointment no sign of them here in the Midlands, so only a lucky few must of been priveleged enough to see them.

So now I most definately know that one day I am going to have to take a trip to Alaska to fulfill my dream.

I recently booked some clients on an Alaskan cruise but with a bit of a twist, they are flying to Vancouver, seeing all the usual sights and finishing in Seattle, but instead of flying home and maybe taking in a stay en route they are going to fly to New York and then cruise back on the Queen Mary 2 back to Southampton.

What a wonderful way to travel, a trip of a lifetime to see the glaciers, wildlife and all that Alaska has to offer, not forgetting Vancouver of course before the cruise and then have a few nights in New York and a leisurely crossing aboard the Queen Mary 2.

We are so lucky that we can now tailor make packages for our clients so that they can see what they want to see when they want to see it, so all you travellers out there dont be afraid to ask for something a little out of the ordinary as we are more than happy to see if we can arrange it for you.

Were you one of the lucky ones to see the Northern Lights tonight

2011-02-17T23:05:00.000Z

When I returned home tonight my husband to be couldnt wait to inform me that there was a possibilty that some fortunate people may catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis in UK skies tonight

He is so lucky to have visited Alaska many times and witnessed this spectacular event, that he has raved on about it for the ten years that we have been together.

So many people book cruises to see the sights and of course to hope to catch a glimpse of this greatest free light show on earth to Alaska or of course towards the northern tip of Europe, so I was excited to think maybe there would be chance for me here sat at home in Redditch.

I trawled through the news reports and he was right the BBC was saying it was a possibility and that this strange phenomena has been caused by a huge flare has been unleashed by the sun, which should lead to an impressive display of the Northern Lights.

Apparently Northern Ireland was lucky enough to bear witness to this earlier this week so I am keeping my fingers crossed that maybe we may get a glimpse here. If we dont and we are just too far south then I am afraid I will have to revert back to my original plans and sort out a cruise to Alaska.

If you were lucky enough to see something in the skies tonight then please let me know.

Oh No Volcano Troubles or are the press just trying to scare us

2011-02-10T22:47:00.000Z

To my dread when I was surfing around the internet this afternoon I noticed an article headed volcano eruption warning sparks new travel fears.

Oh my goodness I thought after all the troubles of last year, is something happening and will it affect me and my travellers.

On further reading through the article which at first glimpse would scare any traveller, we learn that Geologists have warned that Iceland's second biggest volcano may be about to erupt, sparking fears of a repeat of last year's travel chaos.
It hasnt erupted yet and may not erupt at all and if it does the airlines are assuring us that there will not be the same chaos that caused so much misery and upheavel last year.

I do wish that sometimes the press would be less melodramatic about these things, of course it will be a worry if this volcano does erupt, but until they really know whether it is going to or not and if it does the consequences personally I would rather not know.

Will Egypt ever recover from recent violence

2011-02-03T22:41:00.000Z

The news has been constant over the last week or so reporting every last movement in Egypt following the resent unrest.

So many people travel to Egypt to visit the sites the Port Of Alexandria,The Pyramids and of course the Cairo Museum.

I found it so sad to hear reports that some people had raided the Cairo museum and destroyed some artifacts as well as trying to steal other items and that historical sites were being looted.

Many holidays have been cancelled and of course cruise lines have had to change itineraries to avoid the area.

Of course those booked to travel all through this year are now concerned as to whether their travel plans will continue and at this moment in time none of us can possibly know what will happen in the future and how soon it will be before the trouble has finished.

I dearly hope that there is an end to this soon as who knows what may happen not only to the Egyptian people but to this country filled with so many historical sites and artefacts that once destroyed can never every be replaced.
Egypt relies heavily on its tourist industry and as each day passes they must be losing millions in revenue from visitors from all over the world who want to see the marvels that this fascinating country has to offer.

French Collection an unusual 7 night cruise on the Balmoral

2011-01-27T22:24:00.000Z

I recently booked some clients on a cruise with Fred Olsen on the Balmoral departing on the 1st August.

I thought I would bring this cruise to your attention because it is uniquely different from most 7 night cruises that depart in the summer from Southampton as normally they head down the western coast of France to Northern Spain and back oryou they travel up to Fjords.

This cruise departs from Southampton and travel to Joan of Arc's famous Rouen where she docks overnight giving you nearly 2 days to explore this interesting area of northern France. I myself lived in this area for a while 10 years ago and we spent many hours wandering through Rouen,which has quaint cobbled streets, lovely pavement cafe's and of course tributes to Joan of Arc. The area also boasts Monet's gardens as well as beautiful countryside.

Next she sets sail for St Malo, then on to the North Western town of Brest with its stunning beaches along the Brittany coastline, finally arriving in L'orient to enjoy the interceltique festival before she returns back to Southampton.

For anyone that doesnt want to spend too many days at sea and is looking for something just a little different then this may be the cruise for you.

For further information please call me on 08004086115

Cruising the mediterranean - Trevor Macdonalds Secret Mediterranean on ITV

2011-01-20T23:20:00.000Z

This week I was lucky enough to watch Trevor Macdonalds Secret Mediterranean....what a fabulous program this is for those considering a mediterranean cruise for the first time.

Trevor went to my favorite part of the world the beautiful bay of Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Although this programme has nothing to do with cruising itself, you can see the wonderful scenery and of course get a glimpse of what you can expect to see if you find yourself on a cruise visiting Naples. He visited Naples itself, walked to the top of Mount Vesuvious, gave us glimpses of Pompeii and took a drive along the stunning winding roads of the Amalfi coastline.

Next he was in Barcelona, a place that so far I have not visited. Again he gave us glimpses of what Barcelona has to offer and an insight into Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, I was fascinated by this building that may take decades to complete.

Finally he was off to Tangier, and although you didnt get to see alot of Tangier itself, we were able to see life beyond the cities and also where the mediterranean finishes and the Atlantic ocean begins.

For anyone who has missed seeing this series then I would recommend trying to catch it when repeats are on and tune in next week for the next installment in Trevors Mediterranean adventures.

Natural Disasters at ports of call what happens if you are due to visit?

2011-01-13T14:04:00.000Z

Following the recent terrible news of floods in Australia, and of course today the terrible devastation near Rio De Janeiro and in Sri Lanka obviously this makes some people nervous even if they are thinking of travelling many months ahead.

Our hearts go out to anyone who has lost a loved one or suffered terrible damage to their properties around the world due to these strange weather phenomenons that have happened over recent months.

When Madeira suffered so badly there were so many mixed reports, with the inhabitents being very concerned for their tourist trade and of course Rio, Sri Lanka and Australia will be worrying too.

What was very heartening when Madeira was hit so badly was that although some cruise ships decided not to dock there , there were also some that did as of course where the ships dock or where the excursions visit is not always where there has been any devastation.

For anyone visiting any areas that have suffered badly, then I would say do not panic as things can change so quickly as Madeira proved, and of course if you cannot visit somewhere it will be for your own safety.

Lets hope that these countries do not suffer anymore and that life can get back to normal as soon as possible and for those looking to travel to these countries whether by ship or by airplane that you are not too hasty in changing your plans.

Remember the tour operators and cruise lines will where possible try and get you to visit ports, and will only change things if they feel that they have to which will be for good reason.

A Busy Start to 2011

2011-01-07T22:46:00.001Z

After all the doom and gloom of the past few weeks with our news packed with tales of woe, snow, flooding, birds dropping out of the sky mysteriously, threats of terrorism and worries of swine flu as well as the state of the economy, to be honest I was not sure how busy we would be in January when I returned to work after the new year.

However I am pleased to report that we are busy busy busy in fact we are busier than this time last year.

This just shows that the cruise industry is still as buoyant as ever and there are so many people who call who are booking cruises for the first time as well as those who have cruised previously.

I am so pleased that I work for a company that takes the time and trouble to ensure that cruise lines keep us up to speed with everything and they have such a rapport with the operators after 27 years in business that training is a priority and where possible we have visits to look around both old and new ships.

Those colleagues who have been in the industry for many years are always happy to share their experiences and we have many staff who have actually worked on board various cruise lines.

It is important when our clients call that we can give them honest opinions as lets face it we want them to return to us and what I am proud that I work with a lovely bunch of people of all ages who all have a wealth of experience in life and cruising/travel.

So often now when we speak to a call centre we do not always get the levels of service that we would expect, as companies do not always invest in their staff to keep a fine balance of age and experience.

We now have more staff as our business is growing and growing and I am sure that it will continue to grow even more.

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T22:50:00.000Z

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

2010-12-25T12:33:00.000Z

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

2010-12-08T22:18:00.000Z

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

2010-12-02T12:08:00.001Z

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

2010-11-21T18:42:00.000Z

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 ......?

2010-11-14T19:45:00.000Z

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

2010-11-07T14:22:00.000Z

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

2010-10-31T21:33:00.002Z

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

2010-10-24T21:48:00.000+01:00

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

2010-10-17T15:45:00.001+01:00

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

2010-10-10T11:49:00.000+01:00

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

2010-09-27T21:49:00.000+01:00

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

2010-09-20T20:30:00.000+01:00

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

2010-09-13T21:20:00.000+01:00

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 ?

2010-09-06T21:46:00.003+01:00

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

2010-09-06T21:30:00.001+01:00

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

2010-08-30T18:12:00.001+01:00

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

2010-08-23T21:29:00.001+01:00

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 !!!

2010-08-16T20:56:00.000+01:00

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

2010-08-10T20:43:00.000+01:00

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

2010-08-04T11:10:00.000+01:00

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

2010-07-31T11:38:00.002+01:00

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

2010-07-25T21:47:00.000+01:00

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

2010-07-20T22:17:00.000+01:00

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

2010-07-16T20:11:00.000+01:00

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

2010-07-10T15:18:00.000+01:00

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

2010-07-04T17:48:00.002+01:00

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?

In a TV interview Michael O'Leary, the airline's chief executive and a major reason why many people refuse to fly with the airline, was asked about Ryanair's other hugely controversial scheme: to charge people on shorter flights £1 to use the toilet.

He said the coin-operated toilets would be on flights soon 'and the other change we've been looking at is taking out the last 10 rows of seats so we will have 15 rows of seats and the equivalent of 10 rows of standing area'.

The airline has since confirmed that it is talking to Boeing about refitting its 250 planes with what it calls 'vertical seats'. In order to comply with safety rules, passengers would have to be strapped to them.

The airline says tickets for these 'seats' would start at £4. But then it already has tickets for less than this, so there's a good chance that they would be sold on the same basis – a few sold at cheap promotional prices, and the rest at a much higher costs.

O'Leary said safety testing could happen as early as this year, when the toilet charge will also come into force.

The toilet charge is aimed at reducing the number of people using the toilets, so two of the three at the rear of the plane could be removed. The space could then be used for standing passengers.

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said it was questionable whether the standing seats would meet safety regulations.

'It's aviation law that people have to have a seatbelt on for take-off and landing so they would have to be in a seat. I don't know how Mr O'Leary would get around that one. During turbulence, passengers also have to have a seatbelt on,' he said

Diana away in France (back Mon 5th July)

2010-07-02T10:42:00.001+01:00

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

2010-06-27T10:03:00.000+01:00

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

2010-06-22T08:51:00.001+01:00

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'

2010-06-17T11:04:00.002+01:00

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

Featuring five ships, taking in 177 ports in 55 countries, with 95 separate holidays to choose from, the 2011/12 world cruise brochure will be available for sale from Thursday July 15 2010.

As well as P&O’s newest ship Adonia, which launches next spring, the programme features the only Alaskan cruise departing from the UK, on Arcadia.

Five world cruises featuring in the programme include:

Arcadia 72 night Alaska Adventure departing Tuesday April 12 2011

• Adonia, 87-night South America Grand Adventure departing Friday January 13 2012

• Arcadia, 109-night Grand Odyssey departing Monday January 9 2012

• Aurora, 98-night westabout full world circumnavigation departing Wednesday January 4 2012

• Oriana, 97-night eastabout full world circumnavigation departing Thursday January 5 201.2

P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow said: “A world cruise is the ultimate holiday experience and this programme has more opportunities to see the world than ever before.

“Our world cruises are perennially popular with mature passengers who want to see the world in style, and sectors (part of each itinerary) are increasingly popular with those taking a sabbatical from work or embarking on the ever fashionable ‘grown up gap year’.

“There are 95 cruise options ranging from 15 to 109-nights in duration so a world cruise is no longer just for the rich and retired.”

Dont miss out give me a call and be the first to enjoy this wonderful new programme with cruise.co.uk

Regent Seven Seas Voyager

2010-06-07T21:23:00.003+01:00

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.
Not only do you get that extra luxurious feel but they include free flights on selected cruises, all gratuities, unlimited shore excursions and all drinks and beverages.

You could definately see the difference and the public areas just had that extra air of extravagence with a wonderful warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The decor was very tasteful and the colour schemes blended so nicely that everywhere you seemed to go gave you that relaxing feeling.

I was so impressed when we looked at the theatre not only was it alot larger than I expected for a ship that take only 700 guests but when you sat on the seats you just melted into them they were so comfortable and there was a little table for you to put your drinks etc on, this was a lovely added touch.

Hurtigruten - Northern Lights Brochure for something completely different

2010-05-30T20:28:00.002+01:00

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.

Joanna’s footage is pretty spectacular – a kaleidoscope of colours enveloped the sky and reduced her to tears.

Hurtigrutens programme features new excursions and additions to its itineraries, as well as longer trips, which Hurtigruten sales and marketing director Kathryn Beadle said had already received a “phenomenal amount of interest”.

Highlights of the brochure include new digital photography-themed voyages, which have been divided into separate beginner and intermediate dates to cater for all levels of photographers.

The line’s astronomy voyages have also been extended to take in more of the Norwegian coast. Trips departing from Bergen travelling to Kirkenes will include a stay in the Kirkenes Snow Hotel.

Ten new excursions have been added to this year’s programme, including a visit to one of northern Europe’s largest saltwater aquariums to see the resident penguins and an “Aurora safari” with dinner by cable car.

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

2010-05-30T20:16:00.002+01:00

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

Allure of the Seas, which launches in December this year, will be the first of the line to have specially equipped 3-D screens in its theatre, before sister ship Oasis of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas all follow suit with 3-D technology brought in from January 2011.

Meanwhile, new dining options will include Mexican speciality restaurant Rita’s Cantina and the Boardwalk Dog House – an outdoor speciality hot dog counter.

Fashion Company Guess, will also debut its first flagship store at sea in the line’s Royal Promenade neighbourhood, with an accessory boutique on board the ship, while other amenities include Apple IPod docks in each of the staterooms.

“Allure of the Seas will offer guests a new set of onboard amenities and entertainment and dining options that will help make a most memorable cruise,” said Lisa Bauer, senior vice-president, hotel operations.

Allure of the Seas will span 16 decks, and carry 5,400 guests at double occupancy, with 2,700 staterooms. It will also showcase the line’s exclusive neighbourhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, including Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, and Youth Zone.

The ship will alternate a western Caribbean with an eastern Caribbean seven-night itinerary from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Ash Crisis - Is It Really Over

2010-05-24T08:38:00.001+01:00

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.

Iceland's Meteorological Office said: "The eruption activity is minimal."
Civil Protection Agency official Iris Marelsdottir says some steam was coming out of the volcano, but no ash. "It's too early to say this is over, but at the moment it is quiet," she said.
The volcano erupted on April 14 for the first time in nearly two centuries.
The threat of engine damage from the volcanic ash plume led most northern European countries to shut their airspace for at least five days, grounding an estimated 10 million travellers worldwide.
Experts say they will continue monitoring the volcano.

"I would say if there are no new earthquakes and no new outburst, then that would suggest that it is over," said Mr Gudmundsson, though he pointed out that the previous eruption at the volcano in 1821 lasted 13 months.

"It stopped and started again several times with different intervals, so it's difficult to say, difficult to give a timeline," he added.

Let us hope that this is the end to put an end to the worry all passengers have been facing.

Unite Wins High Court Appeal Over BA Strikes

2010-05-20T11:39:00.003+01:00

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.

Breaking News11:27am UK, Thursday May 20, 2010

Unite Wins High Court Appeal Over BA Strikes

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

If Unite's appeal is accepted the union is expected to resume planned strikes

A wave of five-day walkouts was due to start this week, but on Monday the High Court ruled in favour of BA as the airline made a last-ditch legal attempt to stop the strikes.
Today two out of three judges in the Court of Appeal in London accepted the union's challenge over the High Court junction.

Their decision means the strikes can go ahead.

Unite said BA cabin crew would not walk out before Monday.

The union originally announced four five-day stoppages from May 18-22 inclusive, then from May 24-28, May 30-June 3 and June 5-9, the last strike ending just days before the start of the football World Cup in South Africa.

BA Wins Court Battle To Block Strikes

2010-05-17T22:22:00.001+01:00

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.

The airline was facing mounting chaos because of the industrial dispute, coupled with a volcanic ash cloud that has forced flight cancellations.

But BA has now been granted an injunction against union Unite that blocks the walkouts.

Mr Justice McCombe, in London, refused the union permission to appeal - although it could renew its application to the Court of Appeal.

Unite's John Hendy QC told the judge it was possible that the Court of Appeal would consider the case on Tuesday.

After the ruling, BA said: "We are delighted for our customers that Unite's plans for extreme and unjustified strike action cannot go ahead.

"We are sorry the court judgment cannot undo the disruption already suffered by some customers who were due to travel during the early days of the union's industrial action.

"Ash disruption permitting, we will aim to restore a full flying programme at Heathrow by the weekend. We will also offer a full programme at Gatwick and London City, as planned."

New Measures to help the Ash Crisis

2010-05-17T22:18:00.002+01:00

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.

The announcement of a new "Time Limited Zone (TLZ)" was made after all UK airpace was reopened this evening.

The CAA said the TLZ - introduced from midday tomorrow - would allow flights for a limited time at higher ash densities than are currently allowed.

To operate in the new zone, airlines need to present the CAA with a safety case that includes the agreement of their aircraft and engine manufacturers.

The CAA said this meant that in future some areas of UK airspace that would have previously had to close would be able to remain open.
CAA chief executive Andrew Haines said: "I'm pleased that the huge efforts we're all making across aviation to keep flying safe while minimising the disruption from the volcano have resulted in further progress."

The measures follow heavy criticism of the no-fly zones by those in the airline industry

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

2010-05-16T23:17:00.002+01:00

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.

I know they are renowned for their quick turnarounds so always ensure that I am at Limoges airport an hour before, I do not have checked baggage so usually one hour is more than enough time to get through a very small airport.

On Saturday I arrived one hour before and just as I arrived a Ryanair plane just landed, there was no notice on the board to say that it was the East Midlands flight and no change in the departure time for my flight. I quickly popped into the shop which again is very small and before I knew it they were calling the flight and I had to rush through passport control and get straight on the airplane which eventually departed approx 15 minutes early.

The moral to this story is whenever you are using low cost carriers give yourself plenty of check in time as they are always in a hurry to get back to where they need to be, and better to be there a little early than to be sorry and miss your flight. I have never had this problem before at Limoges Airport and usually end up sitting around for ages at the gate but this has made me realise that given the right opportunity the flight will depart as early as it can and you could so easily be left stranded.

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

2010-04-30T17:18:00.003+01:00

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.

Catherine and I were lucky enough to grab a photo and a chat with Colin and Justin who were on board.

Colin and Justin had taken part in the walk for life breast cancer charity walk in Southampton .

We asked Colin what he thought of the decor aboard and he said he thought it was fabulous and I can tell you that Catherine and I were amazed at how down to earth these two men were, they had time for anyone who wanted a chat or a photo.

Who would you like to spend a cruise with and who have you had the pleasure of spotting on board during your cruise please send us any pictures you may have.