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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Queen Elizabeth will also offer:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oh No Not more Strikes !!!

Please please no more strikes.....

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

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

Royal Caribbean offering late check out cabins but at a cost

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cruise ships to face tougher security rules in the USA

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

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



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

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

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

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

Azamara announces land tours for 2011

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


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

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