All Aboard with Eve - Cruise Expert

The beauty of a balcony

2012-02-13T10:29:00.000-08:00

Well it’s been a busy few days with the four day sale offer with P&O and Cunard offering Balcony cabins at the same price as an inside. What a fantastic way for people who would never before have been able to stretch the holiday funds to a balcony now get to experience the benefits of having their own little bit of outdoor space and private retreat. I must admit that for me a cruise with a balcony is like strawberries with the cream – it just goes!!! I’m not being a snob I know that sometimes a balcony just isn’t affordable but there is nothing better than having your own private escape when it just gets too much up out on deck and you need a bit of you time. If you want the ultimate treat one evening you can opt to have meal on your balcony for a small fee on some lines for example princess offer a package with a four course dinner, drinks and flowers and a souvenir photo to capture it all or if your booked on a luxury line like Chrystal then a course by course balcony meal is all part of the fare. So what else can you do on your balcony?? How about a party , some people who may have suites with huge balconies can host their own little get together with drinks and canapés outside which can be delivered on request with lines such as Regent .

Also another treat is to have a balcony cabin on the aft on the ship where you can be mesmerised by the wake in the waves and the route the ship is weaving. And also not forgetting you smokers out there as there are still cruise lines that will allow you to smoke on your balcony and puff away until your heart’s content but definitely check it out first for the latest up to date information as things can change. Along with a balcony being the perfect place to have a doze or just relax in quiet and read a book you can also be entertained in the comfort of your own balcony to as the aqua suites on the allure of the seas with Royal Caribbean have views of the outdoor pool based show that features high diving and synchronised swimming.

The expansive wrap around balconies overlooks the amphitheatre but obviously come at a premium price so a boardwalk view is a nice alterative at a cheaper price. I think the way that the cruise industry is going that ships are getting bigger and bigger and have much higher percentages of cabins with balconies on them therefore, prices have become much more reasonable and more attractive to clients who five years ago may have never even considered a balcony. I think the main advantage to a balcony cabin has always got to be the view and the fresh air and sense of outdoors and space it brings to your cabin. If its affordable and you’ve always fancied it then defiantly try a balcony especially if you’re doing 10 nights or more and going somewhere warm like the Caribbean as its definitely worth it in my opinion.

For all you old romantics .......

2012-02-06T13:33:00.000-08:00

So it’s that time of the year again when the shops are full of love hearts and chocolates and we are being reminded to show our loved ones that we still adore them and must shower them with gifts of love. Now if you are on a cruise ship on the 14th February then don’t think your luck is in and you’ve dodged the big day because you can still be the number one cupid even at sea. I think cruising can be quite romantic anyway breakfast served on your balcony, movies under the stars, dancing in the ballrooms and every day waking up in a new destination. To make the day extra romantic and impress your loved one and best of all earn extra brownie points then you can add on packages to your cruise to make the valentines special.
For example if sailing with NCL they offer the Romance package which includes sparkling wine and strawberries, a traditional spa pedicure and manicure, two twenty five minute half body massage and tea service in your stateroom. For those of you who are lucky enough to be sailing with Fred Olsens then you are in for a real treat as they have pulled out all the stops by offering a mood of romance on board this coming Valentine’s Day. Whilst at sea, guests will be able to enjoy the atmosphere of St. Valentine’s Day; the bars and restaurants will be decorated in St. Valentine’s-themed decorations – such as red and white balloons. There will be a St. Valentine’s-themed quiz held during the day, and the flavour of this theme continues during the 'Show Time' in the evening. There will be heart-shaped cakes, pastries and chocolate delights served at the St. Valentine’s Grand Tea Dance during the afternoon. Special St. Valentine’s cocktails will be available, and the St. Valentine’s formal dinner in the evening will carry a 'Hint of Red' dress code.

Roses are red and Violets are Blue

A room with a balcony and a lovely sea view

Drinks up on deck and then ready to dine

A gorgeous meal with a glass of red wine

Relax watch a show or go for a dance

How did this happen was it by chance

No of course not but would you believe

Booked by yours truly the wonderful Eve !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheesy............ but isn’t that what its all about – happy valentines day to all you little lovebugs

Clipper Goes Baltic

2012-01-30T09:25:00.000-08:00

I think that the Star Clippers are a favourite with a lot of guests as they have a huge amount of return passengers once you’ve experienced a star clipper cruise it seems you are hooked. So for those of you that feel that you have done the Med to death then i am pleased to announce that the star clippers have their first ever cruise to the Baltic’s in the Summer starting from 3 nights taster cruises right through to 11 night exploration sailings.

There will be a variety of itineraries to some of the Baltic’s most popular capital cities, as well as several smaller cities. The Star flyer is a 170 guest tall ship and will be departing out of England, Norway, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands. Guests will be able to get an in depth experience of the area and will often visit several countries in one sailing. For those of you that have never been on a Star clipper sailing it is very much like travelling on a private yacht. They offer spacious accommodation and expansive teak decks with ample space and two swimming pools. You will find that these ships offer more outdoor space per passenger then conventional ships. The decor is antique prints and paintings of famous sailing ships. I think if you’re looking for a unique experience with a touch of luxury then the clippers are defiantly worth a look for a bit or of pampered comfort.

Luxury - it's more affordable then you think !!

2012-01-18T10:14:00.000-08:00

I think all of us have that dream that one day when the kids have flown the nest and we are retired and have some savings behind us that we might just go wild and treat ourselves to the holiday of a lifetime. The holiday where it’s all about you. Pampering, sauners and beauty treatments. Amazing food and fine wine and above all else just lots and lots of luxury. Well I found out today that you may not have to wait quite as long as you first imagined. I did a booking today for one of my clients and they really wanted to go and see the Dalmatian coast. I searched a few cruise lines and although a lot of the major lines featured Dubrovnik and Croatia the itinerary’s also featured a lot of Greece and Italy and didn’t really offer the sort of thing that my clients were looking for. After lots of attempts we finally came up with an option with shearing’s that had the perfect itinerary going for seven nights on a river cruise style ship in a basic cabin.

The price worked out to be about £269pp a day but was on a request basis and we had to await the reply back from them to see if the date was available. Unfortunately they came back to me to advise that the dates were not available. I was very disappointed as I knew the clients were desperate to get away and see this part of the world and nothing else would be a match for them. I had mentioned Seabourn earlier to my clients but they snubbed it straight away as they thought the prices would be way out of the price range they were looking at. I decided to take a look and found a fabulous itinerary and going on the exact dates we were looking for. Thinking this was two good to be true I was prepared to go back to the client with a price out of budget and not feasible so imagine my surprise when I worked it out on a daily cost that it was actually £20pp cheaper and for a far superior cabin.

The seabourn line includes all soft drinks and wine with meals and open bars throughout. They have in-cabin mini-bars and all the gratuities on board are included. Also Seabourn are award winning for their culinary expertise and all specialist dining venues onboard are complimentary. Now if you actually sat down and added it all up the regular cruise versus the luxury is not as good value as you may initially think. While you’re sipping on a beautifully selected fine wine at dinner on your luxury cruise you would be paying on average $5.50 per glass on your regular cruise. Tipping is going to cost you about £7pp a day but the luxury line is all included and you are guaranteed first class services with staff always attentive and earnest to please. If you love eating in the speciality restaurants and enjoy a wide varied menu then it can cost you approx. $25 to re3serve this on a regular cruise – Luxury such as Seabourn include this. I think my main point really is don’t ever let the more expensive initial prices put you off. Put the whole cruise experience into account, the fare and the onboard spending that you are going to be doing and then all of a sudden the luxury cruise may become the much more attractive option. No one likes to finish the bargain cruise of the century only to find that they have got a hefty bill at the end of it to settle. Luxury may not be the distant dream that you thought it was after all.

New Year, New You - Think Blu

2012-01-08T04:49:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to everyone I hope you all had a wonderful time and enjoyed the Christmas break. Now how many of you have been nibbling at the twiglets and munching on the chocolate roses???? Well if like me then Christmas is one of those times of year when you over indulge and everything revolves around goodies and treats and lovely lovely food. January is typically the time of year when everyone has a resolution and one of the biggest is to go on a diet and lose a bit of weight. If you have decided that 2012 is going to be the time where you lose a few pounds and live a bit more of a healthy lifestyle then a fantastic choice for your next holiday would be a celebrity cruise which features the blu restaurant.

If you are sailing on the Solstice class of ships with Celebrity and book into an Aqua class suite then you can dine in the Blu Restuarant for breakfast and dinner. The design of the restaurant is very modern, light and airy and has a menu that has been dubbed ‘clean cuisine’ which basically means that everything on the menu is a lot healthier and good for you.

Along with the healthy menu in the blu restaurant you can also work out in the gym which features a variety of cardio and core training equipment. They include stationary bikes, rowing machines, treadmills and free weights. The machines are positioned so you face those floor to ceiling windows for a perfect ocean view as you burn off the calories. Also you can participate in yoga, Pilates, spinning and aerobics for a small fee. After your little workout you can then go and relax in the aqua spa pool and chill out- after all don’t forget you are still on holiday.

Have a very Merry Cruiser Christmas

2011-12-13T06:56:00.000-08:00

Well that’s it I am finished now for 2011 and am off to have a nice break and have lots of fun with my lovely boys. Thank you to all my customers who booked with me this year and I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and New Year. I look forward to speaking to you all again in 2012 to book lots more lovely holidays for you.

I am back in the office on the 03rd January 2012.

HAVE A FABULOUS TIME, HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Silver secrets of the North Sea

2011-12-05T15:42:00.000-08:00

If you’re bored and looking for a new adventure for 2012 then how about trying a Silverseas fantastic little ship – the Silver Explorer (formally know as the Prince Albert). As I have blogged before I have been on this ship and with you being one of just 132 guests onboard it’s a once in a lifetime experience that makes you feel like a V.I.P. The expedition cruises with Silverseas are all about the wildlife and cultural encounters and getting out to some beautiful areas of the world that just aren’t possible on larger ships. You get the chance to do some amazing shore excursions which are not only complimentary but also guided by a team of experts. The groups are usually small and intimate and guaranteed to be a unique personal experience every time. All of the expedition team is selected for a particular expertise, and also because of their education, experience and enthusiasm make them ideal for your adventure. To name but a few these tours can lead you to experience Europe’s most impressive castles, gardens, birdlife and ancient stone monuments. I think this is so important to holiday guests of today. Instead of investing in stocks and shares people are investing in life experiences and a silverseas expedition cruise delivers giving you the chance to explore and be educated while enjoying luxury onboard.
All the accommodation onboard have oceanviews and butler service along with complimentary champagnes, fine wines and spirits .The silver explorer also boasts the largest average accommodation size of any expedition ship and also offers 20 premium suites for the discerning traveller to get that extra luxurious living space so at the end of a busy day sightseeing and touring you know you can come back to a bit of luxury and comfort.

One of the itineraries for next year that has caught my eye is the secrets of the North Sea on the 19th August 2012 for 14 days. Its a beautiful cruise from Tromso to Dublin that has many highlights and prices start from as little as £4999 for the adventurer suites.

• 19.08.12 – Tromso,Norway

• 20.08.12 – Leknes, Lofoten Islands Norway

• 21.08.12 – Torget Island,Norway

• 22.08.12 – Runde Island, Norway

• 23.08.12 – Alesund, Norway

• 24.08.12 – Bergen,Norway

• 25.08.12 – Lerwick. Shetland

• 26.08.12 – Fair Isle , Shetland

• 27.08.12 – Invergordon (loch ness)

• 28.08.12 – Stromness , Orkney Islands

• 29.08.12 – Stornoway , Hebrides

• 30.08.12 – Portree , Isle Of Sky

• 31.08.12 – Lunga , Iona

• 01.09.12 – Belfast

• 02.09.12 - Dublin

HIGHLIGHTS

1. *Tour Bergen’s preserved Bryggen Wharf , a world heritage site

2. *Visit an excavated Viking chieftains village

3. *Visit Iona Abbey

4. *Charming fishing villages and medieval castle ruins

5. *Simple croft houses of isolated Fair Isle

6. *Watch for seals, dolphins and Porpoise

7. *Purchase traditionally made Scottish whiskey

So if you fancy something different next year and are ready to explore then the Silverseas experience might just be exactly what you are looking for.

Busy Beavers on Remembrance Sunday

2011-11-19T05:23:00.000-08:00

My boy made me a very proud mommy on Sunday. As it was remembrance Sunday his beaver group was asked to do march through the town and attend a service outside the church. He is not the biggest lover of walking, especially in the November cold and to be honest with you he is Seven years old so his idea of the perfect Sunday includes Lego batman on the Nintendo Wi , building Lego and playing harry potter with his brother – not parading around the town and being quiet and patient listening to the vicar for an hour. But he did it and he did me proud. I asked him if he knew why we were there and what the poppies were for and he was quick to tell me about how we had to remember the soldiers and everything they did for us in the war. There was a very good turn out and it made me realise that these are the kind of things that will make him grow up to be a kind considerate boy who respects his elders and appreciates things.

If you are cruising and it falls within remembrance Sunday then I know that P&O , wherever their ships may be in the world will hold a service onboard by the captain and have poppy’s onboard to make a donation.

Frozen Planet will melt your heart with Silverseas

2011-11-09T01:39:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful insight into the areas of this world that most of us know little about. This David Attenborough BBC programme takes you on the ultimate polar expenditure with the fantastic wilderness and animals of the Arctic and Antarctica. When the first part of the show kicked off with the penguins making a nest out of rocks and then capturing one of them stealing from his penguin pals nest to make his bigger and better I knew that this was going to be a great series. Apparently it takes the biggest and best nests to attract the females so there is a lot at stake!!!

The show not only showed you the polar bears and penguins that we are more familiar with but a type of Whale that I had never even seen let alone heard of. The Narwhal is a rarely seen Arctic Whale and has a tusk sticking out from its head. The tusks use is slightly unknown but is thought to be used by them as a tool for finding food and channelling solar pulses.

I think they are also known as the Unicorns of the Sea, they were fascinating creatures.

Not only was the wildlife amazing but the actual changes in the landscape as spring arrived after five months was fascinating. Speeded up footage showed how frozen waterfalls melted into life with the return of the sunshine and warmer weather.

Well if like me your appetite has been whetted by the Frozen Planet then fear not you don’t have to be David Attenborough to explore the delights of this earth you can now enjoy it all in the luxury of a cruise. Silver sea’s purpose-built Silver Explorer expedition ship (formerly the Prince Albert II) has been designed specifically for navigating waters in some of the world’s most remote destinations, including both of earth’s Polar Regions. A strengthened hull with a Lloyd’s Register ice-class notation (1A) for passenger vessels enables Silver Explorer to safely push through ice floes with ease. A fleet of Zodiac boats allows Silver sea Expedition guests to visit even the most off-the-beaten path locations and an expert Expedition Team provides insight and understanding to each unforgettable Silver Explorer cruise adventure.

As I have blogged previously I have been fortunate to spend a few nights on this ship on a educational trip that took us from Edinburgh to Hamburg (not quite such an exciting itinerary as you can imagine but it was all about the service and food. Click here to read more)

Finding your perfect Silver seas expedition couldn’t be easier just give me a call or send me an email with your ideas and I can find something perfect to suit your needs and for you to truly experience a once in a life time trip.

Fancy a Fred Osmonds cruise

2011-10-30T01:31:00.000-07:00

The seventies legends that are the Osmond’s will be performing and entertaining passengers on a selection of Fred Olsen cruises next year as part of their music and laughter programme. The three Osmond’s onboard will be Wayne, Jay and Jimmy and they will be on the 14 night western med sailing on the Balmoral in May 2012 and then also a mini cruise on the same ship.

The Osmond’s will be remembered for a string of hits in the seventies and were well loved for being an American Family singing group. Their career took them from singing barbershop music as children, to achieving success as teen-music idols. They also had a hit television show and Donny Osmond went on to have a very successful sole career.

The cruises featuring The Osmond’s are L1205 to the Western Mediterranean and L1206, a mini-cruise to Belgium and France. L1205 is a 14-night cruise, departing from Southampton on 12th May 2012, and calling at Lisbon (Portugal), Almeria (Spain), Alicante (Spain), Palma (Mallorca), Mahon (Menorca), Gibraltar and La Coruna (Spain), before returning to Southampton. This attractive Iberian itinerary also has a theme of ‘Drawing’ as part of the onboard enrichment programme Vistas. Prices for this cruise start from £1,549 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin, Grade ‘I’, and include all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes – and, of course, live performances by The Osmond’s

Surely these cruises should of been planned to go out of Liverpool then everyone onboard could of had a good old sing-along - ‘I’LL BE YOUR LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL..............’ I must admit that’s the only Osmond song I know but I’m sure there will be lots of Fred Olsen passengers onboard who will remember Osmond Mania and will be singing along to all their classics.

Half Term Happiness

2011-10-20T03:41:00.000-07:00

It’s my last day in the office for a week as I am off with my boys next week for the October half term. They have already put there orders in of what they would like to do – Swimming , the pictures , friends house , the park, legoland to name but a few. Never a cheap week but if there busy then there happy and that equals peace!!!! I can’t believe the first school term is over already. As I blogged before my youngest boy has just started school and we went to parents evening last night to see how he was getting along. I am happy to report that he is settling in beautifully and the teacher seems to think that he is a little charmer (she obviously hasn’t seen his cheeky side yet!!!) I do enjoy this time with them as I work so hard it’s nice to have a break with them and just have some fun.

For those of you that cruise with children you may wonder if cruising is going to be suitable for them and keep then occupied enough. Well don’t worry because most ships out there will have something to keep your little ones active and having fun for hours.

Have a look at my guide below and see which ship is going to best for you and your family.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Special Programs for Families: Imagine 4-year-olds strutting their moves along with their 40-year-old moms at Family Disco Hour, an opportunity they probably don't otherwise have outside of family weddings. Other family activities include karaoke, family sports tournaments, pool games (such as a relay in which family teammates switch out of and into a wet T-shirt between legs of the race) and beach "Olympics" (the competition includes classic -- and goofy -- events like the three-legged race).

DISNEY

Oodles. The ships' live stage shows -- "Hercules, the Musical" and "Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story" are two -- speak to the budding princess or hero in kids, and perhaps the princess and hero nostalgia in their moms and dads. Disney's themed deck parties are family extravaganzas with costumes, dancing, and fireworks (a Disney cruise exclusive; no other line offers fireworks at sea.) The ships' Studio Sea is a nexus for family entertainment, ranging from Superstar Karaoke to the Disney family disco and from "Who Wants to Be a Mousketeer?" to "Walk the Plank Game Show." Other activities include "animation fun," where families can learn how to draw Disney characters; "eco quiz," showcased on the Ariel View screen above the family pool; and a magic workshop.

CARNIVAL

To start, there's a special family afternoon on every seven-day voyage; a highlight of that is an ice cream eating competition (and if ice cream isn't a great age leveler, I don't know what is). Carnival also offers a boatload of activities that parents, grandparents and children can enjoy together. Among these: family parties in the disco, family scavenger hunts, karaoke, and "Name that Tune." A mother-and-daughter manicure, anyone? How about a father-and-son foot massage? Carnival offers a youth spa program where children ages 12 to 14 and their parents can enjoy body and beauty treatments together on port days. For budding stars and their stage parents, ships offer a Kids' Talent Show.

P&O

In addition to ample space set aside for kids' clubs, families will love Ventura's four pools (plus a small dip pool outside the kids' club) and six hot tubs. There's a large sports court with tennis, cricket, basketball, and golf nets. In the evenings older children can take part in the kids' talent shows; and also a teens' rock school in show lounge Havana -- cool! With 12 restaurants and Freedom Dining available (no set times or venues) there's plenty of flexibility for families. A small library has board games for rainy days at sea.

PRINCESS

We love the activities offered to Princess Pelicans (ages 3-7), including arts and crafts like T-shirt painting and a variety of games. Shockwaves (8-12) are entertained with scavenger hunts and science programs geared to the region (learning about coral reefs, for instance). Princess offers an Adventures Ashore tour program with shore excursions appropriate for families. Remix (13-17) features dance parties, shipboard Olympics and karaoke. Princess also teamed with Klutz to offer an array of arts-and-crafts projects, such as building storybooks, weaving friendship bracelets and making lanyards.

76 Sleeps to christmas !!!!!

2011-10-10T03:03:00.000-07:00

Now I know that this blog may horrify some of you out there but with every other advert on the telly selling toys, bikes, trucks, computer games and all the enticing goodies to send the children into a spin (my little boy is already on page 2 of his Christmas wish list!!) I thought I better just let you all know where we are with the countdown – so here are the facts.

6528435 SECONDS TO GO

76 DAYS , 13 HOURS, 26 MINS AND 45 SECONDS TO GO

76 SLEEPS TO GO

1813 HOURS TO GO

108806 MINUTES TO GO

There you go so now you are fully prepared and can start getting organised. I must admit as the weather starts to get a bit chillier and the winter woollies come out I do start to get excited about it all. You can’t beat a good old family gathering for Christmas and being with all your loved ones.

If you want to do something a bit different this year and the thought of trudging around the local shopping centre is more than you can bear then have you considered doing a Christmas cruise and picking up some unusual and beautiful gifts from the markets.
The Christmas fairs and markets of Germany are unique and really quite magical. I think they are a fabulous way of bringing back the tradition and authenticy of Christmas.

There are lots to choose from such as the Cruise and Maritime Voyage on the 17th December for 3 nights starting from £199pp taking in Amsterdam or the 15th December on the P&O Arcadia for 2 nts going to Zeebrugee starting from £279pp.

Just picture it relaxing on your cruise, with it all decked out, the decorations and the sounds of the choir softly filling the lounges. Then off to visit the markets with the offer of roasted chestnuts and a nice glass of mulled wine to give you that nice winter glow. After all it is called MERRY Christmas!!!!

Give me a call and I can get you booked onto a nice festive break.

Cool as Ice on the Epic

2011-10-01T00:29:00.000-07:00

Fancy a really cool experience and something completely different???? Then the NCL epic maybe the ship for you. Inspired by the ice hotels in Scandinavia they have the Svedka Ice Bar onboard. The Ice bar is one of only 14 in the world and the only true ice bar at sea. The temperature in the bar will be a chilly 17 degrees , but don’t worry they don’t expect you to go in there in your shorts and flip flops they kit you out in duffle coats and gloves so you actually look like little Eskimos. Once inside the atmosphere is fantastic and literally everything is made from ice the stools, walls, table, and bar.

You even get your drink in a glass made of ice. There are life-sized sculptures made of ice too so you can have your picture taken and show your friends how you cooled off on your Caribbean cruise holiday. The bar isn’t free to enter its approx $20 but this will include two signature cocktails, and there is lots of vodka on offer to so you can warm up pretty quickly. There will also be a time limit on your stay, which is a good thing as the last thing you want is frostbite on your jollies.

My family and I haven’t been on the Epic , but we have been to an Ice bar in Egypt. It was absolutely brilliant and something really different. My four year old wasn’t massively impressed as you can see by his face below.

So if you are going on the Epic give the Ice bar a try , I really recommend it , it's great fun.

Doom and gloom but we still need our jollies...

2011-09-23T07:05:00.000-07:00

Well its all doom and gloom at the moment , you only have to watch the news to hear the latest reports on everything increasing food bills, energy bills , petrol prices to name but a few . Honestly sometimes its enough to make you think is it worth getting out of bed. Well never fear I am hear to give you a few ideas on how to spend those pennies wisely and still manage to buy the most important purchase of the year – your holiday. We brits may be happy to give it up some things but when it comes to our fortnight in the sun we will not be swayed. I always have people calling up to check for a bargain and we do our best to get you the deals of the century but follow my tips below and you can get the cruise of your dreams.

*Don’t be frightened to use the web. We have the best website in the UK and if there is ever a bargain you will always find it on there along with some fantastic reviews and pictures to help you along with making your decision.

*How about keeping it local and cruising round the British Isles, usually get some really good prices on these sailings and it cuts out the added expense of flights and transfers.

*Be flexible and be prepared to think outside the box. If you can no longer afford the holidays of the past then don’t completely rule out a cruise holiday as there is still so much choice out there that you can still find a lovely holiday but maybe look at the less informal cruises that are more economical. Thomson cruises for instance are fantastic value for money and many of you may be surprised to hear that they rate in the top ten for a lot of things such as service, food, entertainment etc on a reviews site.

*Think about packaging, rather then buying the flights from the cruise line let us package it up for you independently using cheap flights and transfers this could save you pounds against the cruise line deal.

*Maybe look at travelling in off peak season the prices are always going to be better if you can steer clear of the school holidays. Book a Caribbean cruise in January or February or look at doing your Alaskan cruise in May or September.

*If you have always prebooked your own excursions why not be adventurous and travel out on your own. Grab a local map and get a bus or tube pass and you can investigate all the major cities attractions at a fraction of the cruise line prices. You can even come back and have your lunch on the ship and they way you can save on spending lots especially in the big cities where you will find the prices more top end.

* Visit boots before you go and stock up on your sea sickness tables and first aid kit as the ship doctor will cost you an arm and a leg if you need to visit them onboard.

*Keep an eye on your onboard account , you can always go to the pursers desk and check your account at anytime this gives you an idea of what’s being charged to y0ur account so you cam budget accordingly.

*Bring your own wine but make sure you check this before as each cruise line varies and most of them will charge you a corkage fee if you want to drink it at dinner, but a crafty glass in the cabin will save you some money.

*Quite an obvious one but steer clear of the casino as we all know how that can end after one two many glasses of wine and we think that the big win is in sight.

So hopefully this has made you see that the cruise holiday of your dreams is still within reach and you don’t have to live on beans on toast for the next six months to pay for it.

Ciggie secret exposed on the Ventura

2011-09-15T07:06:00.000-07:00

Talk about being caught red handed!!! Sometimes we can be in are thirties and still want to keep secrets from mom and dad, like having a crafty cigarette now again for instance. Just imagine it you’ve kept your little dirty habit secret for years from your parents never letting on and then suddenly it’s out there and you’ve been exposed – then imagine this on your wedding day in front of a room full or your family and this is exactly what happened to James Radcliffe on his wedding day. He had booked a £8000 trip on the Ventura to tie the knot with his fiancé, with all their family to join them on their magical day. They hired a cameraman, provided by P&O and a photographer to capture all of the images from the start to finish. Unfortunately for them the cameraman overslept and missed the main event.
As if this wasn’t bad enough he then went on to try and cover his tracks by putting together a montage of photos with a soundtrack, which he then showed at a special screening for relatives onboard the ship. Only problem with this was he included a shot of the bride and groom having a sneaky cig behind the scenes. Upon seeing this the bride burst into tears as she knew how strongly the grooms parents felt about smoking and she felt like this had completely ruined the day. The bride was said to be completely devastated and left heartbroken after having such high expectations.

After the disaster P&O tried to make a second film with amateur footage taken from guests and relatives but the dodgy editing made it look even worse with shaky lines and blurred footage. P&O have commented that a member of staff has been disciplined and all costs for the videographer have been refunded!!!!

I should hope so to, the poor couple’s day was ruined by this man – did he not possess an alarm clock. He was probably too busy enjoying the ships drinks and entertainment the night before!!!

Oh well at least the secrets out there now and you never know maybe this will be a good incentive for the couple to quit – new wife, new life and all the money they save not buying cigarettes can be put to buying another cruise holiday.

A first for Royal Caribbean......and my boy !

2011-09-07T04:36:00.000-07:00

Well the day has finally come, my youngest sons Luca’s first day at school. Today I woke up and got him dressed in his big boy school uniform and popped on his brand new Clarks shoes and packed him off to school. At four years old he seems so little to be going off to school especially standing next to his big brother Louie.

I was so proud of him when we arrived into the playground as he went straight over to his little queue and waited patiently to walk into his new classroom. Once we got inside and he found his new peg with a little hot air ballon on, he hung his coat up and his book bag and off he trotted. No tears or clinging onto my leg for dear life. He just strode over to the little table picked up a truck and said ‘bye mom, see you later’ – ohhh ok then!!!! And just like that my boy is off and starting his little adventure on his school life.

Well not only a first for my lovely boy but also a first for Royal Caribbean with their ship the Voyager Of the seas. This will be their first season in Asia and it will be the largest ship ever to be based there.
As previously announced the 3,114 passenger vessel will operate a series of three, four, five, seven and eight night Itineraries out of Singapore and China starting in May. The stops that will be included are Kuala Lumpa,Malaysia,Phuket.Thailand,Shanghai,Japan and South Korea to name but a few. In moving to China the ship will join the much smaller Royal Caribbean ship the legend of the seas, which has been sailing out of the country seasonally for the last three years. It will be starting the fourth season in March 2012. The new sailings will be aimed at the Chinese market but also travellers from around the world who want to see Asia. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity to visit this part of the world and the shorter sailings can be used to tie in with a tailor made package which we here at cruise.co.uk could look at for you or work with you on an Itinerary you may already have in mind. I love Royal Caribbean and think this is a wonderful move for them to get an amazing itinerary on a beautiful ship where passengers will even be able to sample Chinese food and culturally appropriate activities. If you fancy something different then this is definitely the cruise holiday for you.

Now I’m off to put my feet up and enjoy the peace of being a lady of leisure with two children at school and the day off work – Wahoo I could get used to this!!!!!

NCL Epic is Smurftastic

2011-08-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely day off yesterday with my boys, and as it’s the school holidays I let them be the decision makers for a change and asked them what they fancied doing. Bowling, swimming, the park, were all brought up but we plumped for the cinema. We all had to agree that we were desperate to see the Smurfs movie, so off we popped to our local pictures. The movie was fantastic and didn’t disappoint it made us all have a good chuckle. For those of you who haven’t seen it the smurfs get trapped in New York and have to find their way home before the evil wizard captures them all. While watching the film the smurfs jumped onto the top of a taxi and I thought it was quite funny that the advertising board on the taxi was for the Blue Man Group – Award winning entertainers that perform on the NCL ship The Epic. What a fantastic bit of advertising getting to appear on the most famous little blue peoples movie. For those of you who haven’t a clue what I’m talking about then let me explain.

The blue man group is something completely different, entertainment which combines comedy, music and theatrics, and as you can see in the above picture includes quite alot of mess and paint that audiences find themselves in the thick of (beware dont ware your best frock down to the theatre on this night). They started out as street entertainers on the streets of New York twenty years ago doing all manner of acts and now perform some amazing shows involving a trio of actors all painted in blue. One of the great things about seeing Blue Man Group is that it appeals to all ages. Kids will enjoy the lights, colour and spectacle. Adults enjoy the humour, and depth of the characters. Even the hardened theatre critic finds a deeper message behind the fun and mess. The brilliant thing about the blue man group is they are so unique and original you leave one of their shows feeling amazed and wowed. If you are lucky enough to go on the Ncl Epic ship then you can go and watch them perform. I think the Blue Man group is perfect for the Epic as this is more than just a normal ship with its entertainment striving to be different with things like the cirque dreams and dinner – dining in a circus style tent while acrobats and jugglers perform for you. Legends in concert – A tribute show impersonating some of the all time greats like Elvis , Marilyn Monroe, Rod Stewart and many more. Howel at the moon – The piano bar where you bring your inner rock star out and join in with singing, dancing and howling all night long. All in all if you are looking for a lively ship that will have you occupied and entertained at every minute of the day then the Epic is the ship for you – I think its smurftastic !!!!!

Who wears the trousers in your house ??

2011-08-17T02:33:00.000-07:00

I can guarantee that nine times out of ten when speaking to my customers it is definitely the women who make the final decisions when it comes to booking their cruise holidays. Don’t get me wrong the men will call up and do all the donkey work, get the prices and check the availability but wont commit until they run it by the wife. So why is this???
Is it because men generally give less priority to the holiday and are happy to let someone else make all the decisions. As we all know Women are the organisers so it’s usually us who start the ball rolling on where we want to go, who with and how much we want to spend. I would say the biggest exception to this would be the older couple who have more time to sit down together and work it all out as a couple, maybe more time together through retirement. The luxury market where budgets are abit bigger can be more male dominant due to the husband having had to make major decisions in business. Another factor is that women tend to be in control of the household budget and as the holiday is an extension of that they tend to know what’s affordable. Now I’m not being a man hater as I’m sure a lot of hubbies out there just go with the flow and a happy wife makes for a happy life!!

In a recent survey of 1,000 UK internet users found that, of bookings made by mixed-sex couples, almost 60 per cent were carried out by women, with no input from partners. Of these, around half of female respondents claimed to have done so at the request of their other halves and in recognition of their superior web skills. I think women are more prepared to put abit of homework into the process and use different sites such as trip advisor to get the full picture before they book. So upside of this though for the guys, if the holiday is rubbish you know who to blame!!

P.S - Hope no men were offended by this blog , if you disagree then leave a comment.

Are you being TIPPED over the edge ??

2011-08-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

Well if ever there was a hot topic between cruisers new and old then it is the issue of tipping. Something that is part of everyday life for the Americans, but we British, find slightly harder to grasp. After all, tipping is something that should be offered when we have had exceptional service that is a chance for us to show our gratitude for it. Should it be something that is compulsory and forced upon us at time of booking?????
A lot of passengers always say to me please don’t include the grats as I like to tip the people myself , after all it is our hard earned cash surely it should be down to us who receives it. But then this brings up new problems as to who to tip, where and when. So where do our tips go? Well generally speaking they are usually distributed to the men and women on the cruise lines who serve there passengers but are paid a very low wage. It is usually these tips that make up the salary and are heavily relied on by the crew. If you are cruising with a luxury line you usually find that the tips are just built into the fare and are not separated making it impossible to see what it is being applied to. Maybe this should be the case with all cruiselines and this way we wouldn’t have to debate the topic at all. I think the main niggle with most people is that they find the tips to be too high and feel they only want to pay the person they deal with. I believe you are either a tipper or not regardless of the service you receive. I have to say when I go on a land based holiday and eat out at different restaurants and cafes I always leave a tip just because that’s what I have always done on holiday and its just part of the norm, if I think about this and then compare the tips on ships I think that it is more then reasonable for the amount they ask as you have so many people looking after you and eating and drinking throughout the day that its probably cheaper then the land based tips. I do agree with those of you who have received bad service not wanting to tip, because then what are you tipping for – just for the sake of it. This is another issue that is raised by clients, why should I prepay for tips when I haven’t even received the service yet, this is the beauty of the likes of celebrity, and royal Caribbean etc as you can just pay for them at the end of the cruise. To give you an idea most cruises will charge between $10 -$12pp per day for your tips and then also most of the American lines will add on a 15% service charge onto your drinks bill. The tips are definitely something to investigate before you book your cruise as it allows you to budget accordingly. Also another problem with the tips is that more and more cruises are now changing the way that customers dine by offering more dining options and the open dining, where you can be served by numerous people throughout your holiday. I think in this case a service charge to be added onto the booking at the beginning and then spread between all the staff would be a lot easier. My overall thought on this is that I do believe that the tipping is all part of a cruise holiday and providing you have had the service that you expected then why not. How do you all feel about this and how do you like to pay your tips – if at all????

You must be potty !!

2011-07-26T03:48:00.000-07:00

I was chatting to one of my customers yesterday with regards to a possible cruise on the Royal Caribbean’s Freedom Of The Seas. After going over all the basics such as cabin availability, Itinerary, prices etc we started chatting about her young family and what was available for them. Her youngest child was a 2 year old and she wanted to know if she would be allowed in the children’s club and if she could be left there to give her a little break on the holiday. The kid’s club programme is spread over seven different stages
Royal babies (6 months -18 months), Royal Tots (18 - 36 months), Aquanauts (3-5yrs), Explorers (6-8yrs), Voyagers (9 -11yrs), Navigators (12-14yrs) and the teens (15-17yrs). Now my clients child was 2yrs old so they would be in the Royal Tots which is an interactive playgroup session developed by early childhood experts at Fisher-Price. The sessions last for 45 minutes and are held in the onboard lounges. I advised the client for this age group the terms and conditions were that the child must be accompanied by the parent at all time. This is not the case for all cruise lines but it is something that I feel people travelling with children should investigate before they get onboard. This avoids disappointment for the child and parents!! When I went onboard the Grandeur of the Seas with Royal Caribbean we actually did a team activity where we were given the task to find out as much information as possible about the kids club onboard. We were so impressed with what we found. All the girls were very welcoming and all qualified and CRB checked - the grandeur had in fact just won an award for having the best kids club onboard the whole of the Royal Caribbean fleet. They were doing a pyjama party when we visited which included colouring competitions and designing your own pillow case. They were also planning a pirates and princesses party where all the kids could get dressed up and design their own bandannas and outfits. The one thing that the manager stressed to me was the biggest complaint from the customers is the issue of the rules which are in place for them to except children. Basically all kids who want to go along to the kids club must be potty – trained, and there is no exception to the rule. She said that parents had in the past brought the kiddies in and said that they were fine , just about to leave and then they notice the pull up pants popping out of the trousers. Even if your little bundles of joys are nearly there and only have an accident now and again they will still not be allowed into the clubs. They must be completely dry no pull ups, nappies anything at all. The little aquanaughts are brilliant fun and it gives your kids a chance to meet little pals of their own age to. Potty training can be very hard, trust me I know with two little boys at home but I just wanted to let you know that if you are considering Royal Caribbean for your family holiday this is something to remember as I know the kid’s club staff felt this was something that clients were not hugely aware off. So now you know!!!!

Excellent Egypt – give it a try

2011-07-17T13:41:00.000-07:00

I have just come back from a ten night holiday to Egypt and have to report back on what a fantastic country it is and one I would happily return back to. Obviously we all have seen the news and the current unrest in the country politically so this made me feel slightly dubious on what to expect and if it was a good choice for a holiday destination. I can safely say that we didn’t have any problems what so ever and loved it from start to finish. The Egyptians themselves were fantastic, very friendly and welcoming, especially with my two small boys who they made a real fuss about. Nothing was too much trouble and getting to know you all on a first name basis the customer service was exceptional. Going in July I did worry about the weather and if it would be too hot for us but luckily for us we had a slight breeze so found it to be perfect. I think this makes Egypt such a good choice summer or winter destination you know you are guaranteed wall to wall sunshine.
Luckily for us holiday goers Egypt is now a place you can visit while cruising which is fantastic as it gives you the choice to really discover the true Egypt and all the delights it has to offer. Few destinations can match the Red Sea for its exotic promise of history, mystery and spectacular natural beauty. Red Sea Cruises are possibly the best way to visit some of the world’s most fascinating and beautiful treasures.

Each port of call on a Red Sea Cruise will show you both ancient and modern sights - leaving you with wonderful holiday memories. The Red Sea itself offers stunning coral reefs, absolutely teeming with tropical fish and other marine life. We went out on a glass bottom boat for the day and saw some beautiful fish and the coral itself was amazing.

Coral from the glass bottom boat

Being slightly wary of the shark horror stories this was a perfect way of seeing the sea life without even stepping foot in the water. When clients ask me for a red sea cruise the main cruise line that comes to mind is Thomson. They have some wonderful itineraries on the Celebration and usually come in at a brilliant price. The celebration is a wonderful ship with lots to offer such as a two-storey health and beauty spa, three restaurants, five bars , casino and two swimming pools to name but a few. The horizons bar is usually a favourite onboard allowing you to have panoramic views over the ports and beyond. The itineraries on offer consist of some amazing places. There is the Red Sea Magic which takes in Sharm El Sheikh, Aquaba, Port Sokhna and Safaga. The other option is the Red Sea Adventure which departs from Limassol to Ashdod, Alexandria, Port Said, Suez Canal and Safaga. These ports allow you to go off and discover Egypt and indulge in Diving and snorkelling, Camel riding, visit ancient wonders and sample the local cuisine.

Cooling down, visiting the Ice Bar in Egypt.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Egypt to my customers especially for those of you who are looking for some winter sunshine and bored of the Caribbean and the canaries; this could be a really good alternative.

A grand time on the Grandeur Of The Seas

2011-06-28T04:28:00.000-07:00

My colleague and I have just returned from a trip on the Grandeur of the Seas with Royal Caribbean. I am a huge fan of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity and having now sailed with them it has just reconfirmed to me that they are a wonderful cruise line. We were lucky enough to be offered a four day educational starting in Palma Majorca. We booked our flights through Monarch independently and once landed we decided to jump on to the Royal Caribbean transfer bus as it was 10 Euros, cheaper then getting a taxi. Once we had purchased our bus ticket and got on we were advised that they were having check in troubles due to x-ray scanners not working properly on the ship. Rather then keep us waiting in the sun in horrendous ques Royal Caribbean decided to take us on a detour to visit the Palma castle have a glass of lemonade and then take us to the ship. I was very impressed with this and thought it was fantastic customer service and was a very good first impression. Once the castle tour was over and we boarded the ship everything ran very smoothly and there was even a guy playing his guitar in the check in lounge which gave it all a very laid back and relaxed experience.

I was rather surprised that once we were onboard people were already in the pool and sunbathing, holiday in full swing!!! I had an inside cabin, something I hadn’t experienced before so was a bit dubious. The room however was fine. Plenty of space with a little sitting area and most importantly, a big floor to ceiling mirror on the wall so I could get ready and see how my evening frocks looked. There was no fridge in the room and the mini bar drinks were on the vanity units so not cold but I was informed if a fridge was needed in the room then it could be requested. Very good wardrobe space and I was pleased to find a hairdryer in the room as I hadn’t brought one. I must say that the inside cabins are absolutely fine especially if you are looking for a good price and not looking to spend much time in your stateroom but to me if you are getting your quotes always check the price on a balcony because if the difference isn’t huge I would defiantly say I would much prefer to travel in one. You do miss not knowing what’s going on outside weather wise and just to have some outdoor private space is always good.

After I got settled we went off to explore the ship and see what the Grandeur had to offer. Holding 2400 passengers she doesn’t feel to big at all and after a couple of days I felt I really got to know my way about and had a fantastic feel for the ship. The pool area was lovely, a little crowded at times but always somewhere to go if you wanted a little more peace and quite – back and front had lots of spare loungers. They did have lots of singing and music round the pool and it was a real good holiday vibe. For you out there who love to be entertained the activities manager onboard was fantastic and had lots of poolside games to get involved with that ranged from couples competitions to the men’s belly flop competition!!!!!

Evenings onboard the ships were wonderful as I can honestly say the food onboard was perfect. Every evening in the main restaurant there was so much choice and even a separate menu for those of us watching the old waistline with everything on there being no more then 850 calories!! Sorry I can’t tell you what that was like however as it was full fat all the way for me. After dinner there are lots of different options depending on what mood you’re in. The Viking Lounge was the ships Nightclub and music ranged for all age groups which I thought was good. Do be aware though that people are allowed to smoke in there so it can get a bit much if you are not a smoker. The Palladium lounge was lovely, really comfy chairs and the evening that we went they had on a Mr and Mrs Competition on. I wasn’t sure if it would be my cup of tea but the host was hilarious and I was really glad that I went along as it really changed my mind. Also for you karaoke lovers out there after a few Strawberry Dakaree cocktails I was brave enough to get up and have a go but please be aware everyone getting up on stage sounded like a professional straight off the x factor, I however was more like a howling cat but hey ho you’re on holiday and you will never see these people again so go for it.

To round things up I can honestly say that we had such a fantastic time on the Grandeur. If you are looking for a really good atmosphere , fantastic service and amazing food then you cant go wrong with this ship and in fact Royal Caribbean in general. I loved every minute and am being very nice to my bosses in the hope that I can be off on another one very soon. Please see my pictures below so you can see the ship for yourself.

Msc return to Tunisia

2011-06-11T01:35:00.000-07:00

La Goulette will be back on cruise itineraries from the beginning of July with Msc cruises. The Fantasia, Lirica, splendida and the Sinfonia will all be scheduled to return back to Tunisia after the cruiseline released a statement saying they were happy for the ships to return there. Tunisia is one of peoples favourite destinations and now that the country is back to normal with security stable its safe for people to start visiting there again. This is good news for Tunisia as tourism is one of the biggest resources for the country so to get the cruiselines heading back there will be a relief to all.

The 4 ships will offer 7 night western med cruises covering some beautiful areas such as Genoa , Ajaccio, Salerno, Palma, La Valletta , Barcelona, Ibiza and of course la goulette to name but a few. Tunisia will also be featured on the winter itineraries as well for those of us who seek the sunshine in our colder months. I have been to Tunisia myself and am glad it is returning back to normal. There are some fabulous places to visit there and it is a beautiful country which offers a wide range of cultural experiences. You can visit the spice market in the Medina, the arceological site at carthage or the traditional fishing village in Sisi Bou Said. Msc have some fabulous offers at the moment as well so if you fancy a great deal on a beautiful cruiseline then give me a call.

Zumba craze hits princess

2011-06-02T00:07:00.000-07:00

The Zumba fever is taking over the nation and has now spread to the cruise ships. For those of you who don’t know Zumba is a dance-fitness program that blends red-hot international music and fun dance moves while working out. Since December last year, passengers on many Princess ships have been joining in the hip-shaking fun with free classes taught by licensed Zumba instructors.
The classes quickly became among the most popular activities on board, and now additional staff members will complete the official training to become licensed Zumba instructors as the program expands fleetwide. Onboard the workouts are complimentary and can be taken twice a day, a great way for you to feel less guilty about that extra piece of cake you had at dinner the night before. I am not surprised that Zumba is so popular onboard as all of my friends are completely obsessed with the Zumba classes and our local gym that runs the classes even have to turn people away if you don’t arrive early enough. The Zumba classes are the same onboard apparently with the princess director saying ‘our onboard Zumba classes are always packed, and consistently receive positive feedback from passengers who are happy to have the opportunity to try something they’ve been hearing about, or to continue with the program they have at home’.

The Zumba classes are so successful they are available on Caribbean Princess, Dawn Princess, Diamond Princess, Emerald Princess, Grand Princess, Golden Princess, Island Princess, Ruby Princess, Sapphire Princess, Sea Princess and Star Princess. The program is expected to be available fleetwide before the end of the year.

Will you be Zumbering on your next cruise, or does the idea of doing exercise while you’re on your holiday sound like a nightmare. Me personally, I think I’d be happy to watch from the sidelines on my sun lounger, book in one hand, cocktail in the other.

The search is on for cruise ship entertainers.

2011-05-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

Well as if Jamie Oliver hasn’t got enough fingers in pies he has now decided to get involved in the cruise industry. In conjunction with Sky One they are looking for people to take part in a new programme called ‘show Boaters’. This will be a new television programme that will focus on finding new cruise ship entertainers who can sing, dance and act.

Details are still being finalised at this stage but those taking part will compete for a prize that will see them landing a dream job and hopefully a world of opportunities. Although not confirmed it is thought that the contestants will be filmed throughout there journey of competing against others and how they cope with the ups and downs of the competition.

This isn’t going to be just another reality show as it will give the viewers a chance to have a look at the behind the scenes aspects of the cruise ships from the crews daily duties , right through to the cleaners onboard.

The Winner is going to have to be someone pretty special as the entertainment onboard is always of such a high standard, many solo acts having to perform for 50 minute slots with big audiences excepting big things for the money that has been spent.

I personally think this is a brilliant idea and if the show finds another Jane Macdonald then it can only be good times. For those of you who don’t know Jane Macdonald is the women who found fame in the nineties hit show The Cruise. She was the star of the reality show and after performing on numerous cruise ships became a household name on loose women.

Many online cruise forums and websites often run polls to see who comes up trumps with regards to entertainment onboard and having scoured through the most popular seem to be the Ncl Epic , Oasis Of The Seas, Thomson Destiny , Disney Magic and Freedom Of The Seas to name a few.

What sort of entertainment do you like onboard your holiday. Do you like to be serenade by a singer or laugh your socks off at the comedians? Please feel free to add which ship you think provides the best entertainment.

My top ten things about cruising

2011-05-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

Now we are all very different and it is true that it is different strokes for different folks. Having reviews for all the cruise ships on our website is fantastic because you can go and have a read of people’s honest genuine experiences and thoughts about their particular cruise holiday. What John Jones wants from his holiday could be completely different from what Fred Blogs wants from his trip. If you have never cruised before or been on hundreds of ships what is it that makes you say ‘you know what that was a brilliant holiday’? I know we’re all looking for the greatest deal especially in the current climate where we are having to take bank loans out just to pay for a tank of petrol , however think very carefully when booking your holiday is it really the ship for you and what is it exactly you want to experience and do once onboard. I have comprised a list of things that I think are some of the best parts of being on a cruise ship.

1. Eat Lots of good food – you will never be spoilt for choice on a cruise ship and may even contemplate starting a diet before you go so you can completely indulge once on holiday. You have so much choice and many cruise ships offer speciality restaurants too which can make a special event like a birthday or anniversary even more memorable.

2. Being out in the ocean – Which may seem silly but it’s such a fabulous feeling to be sat on deck just people watching and watching the waves wash by. Very peaceful and tranquil and there is nothing more beautiful than a completely clear ocean horizon.

3. Keeping Fit - If after enjoying all that fabulous food you get a slight attack of guilt then there is always somewhere to go and have a good old workout. A lot of people love to work out and there is no better backdrop of the ocean sea while you do a hefty workout in the gym. Most ships will feature jogging tracks, weight rooms and yoga classes.

4. Just sitting under the stars - on some ships that feature movie screens outside. A real sense of the outdoors and just something completely different to do which has to be better than being in a stuffy old cinema.

5. Having a little gamble –Most modern ships nowadays have casinos onboard and I just love going down after dinner to take my chances at the black jack table. It is so much fun and one of those things that you feel because you’re on holiday you can get away with it. Don’t go to crazy though as you still want to have some spending money for the rest of the trip.

6. Take in a show – The shows are really something fantastic and can range from big productions to more intimate affairs. It is nice to see a show and feels like a real treat after dinner. Cruise ships can cater for everyone’s tastes so you can pick and choose which shows you will enjoy the most.

7. Exploring the ship – I love just having a walk round and going to see all the different parts of the ships. Walking around on deck and finding new nooks and crannies is brilliant and so relaxing with the sea breeze in your face.

8. Being Sociable – I think the beauty of cruising is that is can make you lose your inhibitions. At home we wouldn’t usually just start chatting to strangers but when you’re on a table of eight for dinner and you don’t know them from Adam you have no choice. You get to meet some really interesting people from all nationalities and can even make lifelong friends.

9. Have a cocktail or two – I like to have a little drink on the evenings when I’m on my jollies and the cocktails onboard the ships can be wonderful. I was fortunate to cruise with silver seas and there cocktail menu was fantastic with some lovely concoctions. A lot of ships offer all inclusive packages to which can be really good value for money.

10. Dressing up – I’m very girly girly and being on a cruise holiday is one of the only times unless you’re going to a special event that you can get dressed up to the nines. Cocktail dresses, ballgowns, shoes handbags and even better if your sailing out of Southampton as no luggage restrictions means you take every dress in your wardrobe if you fancy it.

There you go that’s what I love about cruising I could go on and on but maybe you want to add to my list. What makes your holiday and what’s your favourite thing to do onboard?

Gary's off the menu

2011-05-10T12:55:00.000-07:00

Gary Rhodes has been cooking up a storm on the P&O ships Arcadian and Oriana since back in 2005, so passengers are furious that his restaurants are off the menu and are to be replaced with the firey Marco Pierre white. Some angry passengers are even launching a ‘Bring Back Gary’ campaign as they flood to the forums to vent their anger and suggested that Pierre White could lead to a lowering of standards. The change is going to take place when the ships are being refurbished and will be replaced with the Whites Ocean Grill chain. Bosses at P&O have said that the change is due to customers wanting a more contemporary dining experience and something a little bit different and they feel that white brings that to the table. They know how popular he has been on the other three ships in the fleet and it is a way of them to make sure that they are adapting and changing with the cruise market now being popular with young and old alike.
Rhodes has reacted with surprise at the company’s decision and admitted he had also received numerous letters and emails from disappointed fans. He said: “After more than five fantastic years with P&O Cruises, I am disappointed that P&O wish to no longer continue with Rhodes restaurants on board their Arcadia and Oriana ships.”

He added: “However, this is a decision taken by P&O who wish to introduce a different dining concept.”

I think this must be quite a slap in the face for Rhodes as he was also replaced by white on the Hell’s Kitchen Television programme, which then went on to enjoy increased ratings. I personally think that P&O have made the right decision as there are so many ships that bring something different and unique they have to try and be as competitive as possible with the likes of Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. They have decided to make the changes after research with their passengers showed that they were looking for something new and different from the Main dining experience. Who would you like to see as a celebrity chain on a ship? What will there be next, celebrity’s endorsing their products on the ships like perfumes and books – will we have x factor style entertainment sing offs with Simon Cowell as a guest judge?? Who knows anything’s possible in the ever changing face of the cruising industry.

More choice with MSC

2011-05-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

Msc have now decided to compete with the likes of P&O, Princess, Celebrity and others by introducing flexible dining, starting from May 2011. With more flexibility than ever you can now opt for the lighter option of the formal dining experience by eating in the buffet style restaurants. These restaurants will offer an evening service that gives cruisers so much more flexibility as there will be no fixed dining times so you can eat as and when you choose. This choice is perfect for people who are not sure what the day holds, and not having to rush back to be ready for a set dining time.
If you have been out all day on a shore excursion or are having a day of spa treatments then you can go down to dinner when you are ready and will still get the fantastic quality choice just as the main dining room. It can also be perfect for families who have teenagers or children travelling with them as often or not they prefer to go grab a snack or meal without any formalities. They can have anything from genuine Italian Neapolitan Pizzas to Kebabs (the Italian kind not the donors!!!) This is all offered as a courtesy snack throughout the evening which is perfect for the kiddies who like to eat pretty much throughout the whole day. As if this isn’t enough Msc are also now offering complimentary American Coffee, teas and iced water which can be taken throughout the day. A real advantage to us British who can’t seem to go on our holidays without a good old cuppa!!! This isn’t just at breakfast or buffet dining but 24hrs a day so helps with the purse strings to when budgeting for your spending money. I think this is another string to the bow of Msc who are already offering great value for money cruises on beautiful ships. Don’t let it put you off if you are more a formal diner as you can still experience the fine dining silver service and the speciality restaurants that are currently offered onboard. I think all Msc passengers will be delighted in these new changes and will be very excited to get onboard and sample this dining for themselves.

Best Of British

2011-04-25T02:45:00.000-07:00

Well what a week to be British!!! In the run up to the event of the year I can’t help feeling very proud to be British. Everywhere you turn there is a union Jack flying high and a real buzz in the air as we all get ready to see Wills and Kate get married. Friday is going to be a day where we can celebrate our monarchy and be involved in a moment of history so to keep things nice and traditional I thought I would blog about the fantastic British Isles cruises that are available. The UK offers some of the most spectacular coastline around the world, whether you are sailing in summer or winter your experience aboard a cruise ship travelling around Great Britain will be first class. You can Set sail from Southampton and pass the coastline of Wales and Northern Ireland, docking at Liverpool and voyaging up towards the magnificent West coast of Scotland.

If you are voyaging in winter you may even see the Northern Lights as you cruise around the Hebrides. In the summer, Great Britain has some of the greenest landscapes and thousands of varieties of birds and mammals. P&O, Princess, Silversea, Fred Olsen, Cunard and Princess all offer excellent itineraries for a cruise around the UK and we can tailor the voyage to suit your interests and tastes.

Most Round Britain cruises tend to be between nine and fourteen days and there’s usually a different port of call everyday. British passengers tend to favour Fred Olsen’s or Cunard and are aged over 50. I think you will particularly enjoy this type of cruise if you appreciate enrichment programmes and have keen interest in wildlife and nature. Most ships will also feature an expert speaker or will give lectures onboard. Long walks and the chance to explore historic sites in the company of an expert are part of the attraction of a round Britain cruise.

A fantastic offer to sample one of these cruises is available on the Ocean Princess. Sailing out on the 25th August with a beautiful Itinerary:

Dover,
At sea
Greenock, Scotland
Greenock, Scotland
Dublin
Dublin
Waterford, Ireland
Dartmouth, UK
Dover, UK

This is an amazing £799.00pp for an inside cabin for 7 nights. What brilliant value for money and a real treat as the Ocean Princess is a lovely ship with an incredible choice of bars , restaurants spa facilities and entertainment.

Taking your own alcohol onboard - Yes or No ??????

2011-04-17T12:58:00.000-07:00

One of my customers called me up the other day to ask if she was allowed to take on her own alcohol onboard her cruise. This is quite a common question so I thought I would give you all some guidance on it. The official line is, as a general rule cruise ships do not allow outside alcohol onboard. In instances where it is carried-on, it is generally confiscated by port security, held in bond and returned to you at the end of the cruise. As we all know with big discounts and cruises selling at lot cheaper than a few years ago the cruise lines know that they are going to make their money back on the bar bill. As I said on my last blog it has been mentioned by more and more past passengers that the drinks onboard certain cruise lines seem to be very pricey , especially with the 15% added service charge to so this is now leading people to ask – what would happen if I brought my own on ???
At the gangway carryon bags and carriers can be searched so if alcohol is going to get through then there’s only one way and that’s stashed in the suitcase. I am not advising of this in any way, it is always down to each individual on what they want to do. If you do try to sneak it in your checked luggage, the profile of the bottles can be discovered in x-ray machines and you may have to claim your luggage on board, check the liquor into bond and can result in delays getting your bags. If you do have wine or champagne confiscated, you can usually make arrangements to have it chilled and brought to your dinner table by the ship's head wine steward for a small corkage fee.

I personally would be too petrified of my best dresses being covered in my favourite chardonnay a risk I just wouldn’t be prepared to take. Also people ask me if they purchase drink in a port of call then can they bring it on but usually the cruise line will kindly offer to look after this for you until the end of the cruise. I have heard that people offer tips on how to sneak drink on by pouring it into water bottles or mouthwash bottles – a tad extreme if you ask me. Also be aware that the usual age at which alcohol can be consumed is 21, however some cruise lines departing from a country where legal drinking ages are lower than 21 (typically European and South American countries), a parent sailing with a child between the ages of 18 and 20 may sign a waiver allowing for the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Please see my quick guide below on the main cruise lines drinking polices.

Celebrity - No alcoholic beverages may be brought onboard for consumption with the exception of wine. If you're caught with liquor, it'll be confiscated and returned at the end of the cruise. Passengers may bring two bottles of wine per stateroom, but when consumed in any shipboard restaurant, bar or dining venue, there's a corkage fee of $25 per bottle. Wine purchased from the selection of bon voyage gifts are not subject to a corkage fee.

Cunard - Alcohol may be brought onboard for consumption in the stateroom. Passengers are allowed to bring wine or Champagne onboard. If the wine and/or champagne are brought to the dining room for consumption, a $15 per bottle corkage fee applies.

Fred Olsen’s - Only alcohol purchased onboard may be consumed onboard. Any alcohol brought from ashore will be placed in safe keeping by the ships security officers and will be returned at the end of the cruise. Any wines brought onboard the ships will be retained until the end of the cruise.

MSC - Not allowed. At embarkation there is no food or beverage allowed to be brought onboard unless there is a medically necessary (baby formula, etc. is allowed).

Ncl - Not allowed -- items are secured until debarkation day. Bringing wine or Champagne onboard: Allowed, but you'll have to pay a corkage fee for wine that is brought onboard and served or consumed in any restaurant, public room/area or cabin. Fees are $15 for 750ml bottles, $20 for 1,000ml and $30 for 1,500ml. Boxed wine is not allowed

Princess - Not allowed. Confiscated; returned at the end of the cruise. Bringing wine or Champagne onboard: Allowed if purchased during a port visit or brought on during embarkation, and limited to one bottle per person. May be consumed in restaurants or in staterooms. When brought to restaurants, a $15 corkage fee applies.

Royal Caribbean - No alcoholic beverages of any kind are allowed, including beer and wine (so no corkage fees). Also note: Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage etc.) and will dispose of containers holding alcohol.

P&O - Allowed but will charge a corkage fee of £10 for wine at dinner.

Independence of the seas cruising but to much boozing !!!

2011-04-10T03:08:00.000-07:00

Royal Caribbean’s All Inclusive drinks package may have backfired as reports of people not using the package correctly have surfaced. The All Inclusive drinks packaged started in March being debuted on three ships ,the Independence, grandeur and Liberty of the seas which allowed passengers to pay $29 per day and be entitled to beer and wine packages including all brews, house wine by the glass and a 25 percent discount on other liquors and wines. The "classic," which costs $39, expands on that to include all cocktails and premium and specialty liquor. And for connoisseurs, the $49 Premium Package builds on the classic, but also offers wines by the glass up to $10 and more premium liquors.
Due to guest feedback the 05th April sailing on the Independence had the package suspended whilst the ship reviewed the deal. The main problem seems to be that the package can be purchased by one guest who can then very easily get a drink from one bar and then move to another bar on the ship and get another one. I think the only way that the cruise lines are going to get around this is that the package is added on for all guests in a cabin of drinking age or not at all. Allot of past passengers that I speak to about Royal Caribbean love the ships but the biggest gripe is the bar bill and how much the drinks cost. At the end of the day no one wants to pay over the odds for drinks so I can see why certain passengers may have been abusing the All Inclusive drinks package but the new tweaks to be put in place for the 16th April sailing will see an end to this. I think if people like a drink on holiday then they may be better off with a cruise line like Fred Olsen’s or P&O where the drinks are much more reasonably priced and no service charge on your bar bill.

Intriguingly, the all-you-can-drink plan remains available on the two other ships where it originally debuted: Grandeur of the Seas and Legend of the Seas. Let’s just hope that all this ‘ drink as much as you like’ doesn’t lead to too much anti social behaviour and ruin the reputation of such a fantastic cruise line. Just remember people less is more!!!!

Last Chance to jump onboard

2011-04-02T00:59:00.000-07:00

Well Its that time of year again where if you want to guarantee you get exactly what you want at the best price then its time to Pre Reg for your 2012/2013 Cruises. I have been here since 08:00 this morning raring to go as the first P&O sailings for gold members go on sale today. It’s very exciting to sit here and get everybody booked onto the cruises they want and we make sure that this is the main priority so nobody misses out. Pre Registration is so important, especially for families of four wanting to get cabins onboard the Independence Of The Seas , The Grand Princess , Ventura etc , as we found last year so many people were left disappointed as the family cabins for the school holidays sold out so quickly.
Three and Four berth cabins are obviously more limited so if you don’t want to have to book two cabins next door to each other and pay full price for the kids then you can Pre Reg for your cruise and be the first to grab yourself one of these cabins.

It all works very easily , you tell us what you want , what type of cabin you are after and we will take all your details and get the cabins booked on the days that they go on sale. We then go through and fill out a Pre reg form with all your details and take card details for deposit (Nothing is taken until cabin is all booked). On the day the cruise goes on sale we then dedicate our team to book all our customers who have got in first and Pre Registered with us. Main tip would be to try and be as flexible as possible, give us a few cabin numbers that would suit you so if the one you want sells, it still gives us the option to book another one for you.

Reason to book with us is that we have been doing this year on year for a very long time now and are very organised in the process. We concentrate purely on getting the pre registration customers onto the sailings and then follow this with fantastic customer service. Confirmations are sent through and you have a direct line contact to me for any queries or questions after.

So if there is a ship you are desperate to get on for next year give me a call today as it is not to late to get infront of everybody else as they go on sale dependant on departure date as follows.

P&O

05.04. from 8AM March, April & May 2012 Cruises

06.04 from 8AM June, July & August 2012 Cruises

07.04 from 8AM September, October & November 2012 Cruises

08.04 from 8AM December 2012, January & February 2013 Cruises

CUNARD

On sale 04.04 from 9AM For world club members and then for general public from 13:00.

Give me a call and we can make sure we get exactly what you want for you so your all sorted for next year .

Luxury for a Prince with Silverseas

2011-03-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

Is this the year that you are celebrating a very special anniversary or birthday , or just fancy having a trip of the life time, then if so the Silverseas Prince Albert maybe just what you’re looking for. It doesn’t boast rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks or bars made of Ice but what it does promise is to be a trip where you will go to parts of the world you just didn’t think possible on a cruise ship. When I say cruise ship it’s more of an expedition ship. It holds an intimate 132 passengers which allows each passenger to get a luxury service that will not have been experienced before with each cabin having their very own personal butler. I have actually been lucky enough to spend three nights on this ship, only sailing out from Edinburgh to Hamburg I went to investigate the ship and the service as appose to the fabulous Itinerary!!.
I learnt some really interesting things about the ship as to be honest I didn’t have a great knowledge of what exactly to expect from an expedition ship but learnt that the daytimes are taken up with expeditions where passengers go on Zodiac excursions, walks and hikes; participate in whale- and other wildlife-watching; take in lectures about the destination, its flora, fauna, ecology and geology; and attend briefings and previews of the next day programme. Once the daytime fun is over and the parkas and backpacks (provided for guests to keep), boots and other gear are packed away you can don chic leisure wear and sample the treat of the ships ambience which is more of a luxury yacht, where the staff knows your name and welcomes you to a musical cocktail hour with tapas in one of the lounges, and you do not have to sign for beverages at the bars and restaurant. I can honestly say I haven’t experienced service like it, at dinner the waiters were very attentive and friendly and we even had our very own wine waitress supplying different wine with every dish we had. The food was amazing and I particularly liked the grill at the back of the ship where you could order anything from grilled prawns to gourmet burgers which were cooked fresh in front of you. The most amazing thing I personally feel is that the expedition ships itineraries are so varied and unique that you just don’t know what you are going to see on your trip and the beauty of it is if you have a day of seeing whales and penguins and other sights the captain isn’t forced to push on and leave to arrive at another port in time. The Itinerary very much depends on what happens on the day’s expedition leaving no time restraints and giving the customer the opportunity to get the most out of their cruise. I feel that for people who may be looking for a new adventure and love the intimacy of small ships but standards of 6 star luxury then the Prince Albert would defiantly be for them. I have included an Itinerary below to give you an idea of just how amazing these trips can be, but if you would like any more information or ideas of itineraries for the rest of the year then give me a call and I will be only too happy to tell you all about the wonderful Prince Albert.

14 Nov 2011 Mon Valparaiso 05:00 PM

15 Nov 2011 Tue Day At Sea

16 Nov 2011 Wed Niebla 07:00 AM 02:00 PM

17 Nov 2011 Thu Puerto Montt 07:30 AM 07:00 PM

18 Nov 2011 Fri Castro 06:30 AM 01:30 PM

19 Nov 2011 Sat Puerto Chacabuco 09:00 AM 02:00 PM

20 Nov 2011 Sun Cruising Chilean Fjords

22 Nov 2011 Tue Day At Sea

23 Nov 2011 Wed Punta Arenas 07:30 AM 01:00 PM

24 Nov 2011 Thu Cruise Garabaldi Glacier 09:30 PM 01:30 PM

25 Nov 2011 Fri Ushuaia 06:30 AM

Rolling on a river

2011-03-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

If you feel like holidaying in the slow lane and just taking each day at a slow pace then river cruising is for you. It is a great opportunity to soak up the scenery and explore riverside cities and towns on route. River cruise holidays can also be a fantastic way to learn about some countries culture and heritage, and the fantastic thing about the ships is they are very small a lot of them holing on average about 150 passengers so you really do get to go to some places of the world that would be impossible on one of the bigger cruise ships.
Sometimes people who have cruised for quite a few years tend to find that they start repeating itineraries and doing the same old cities where as the rivers and canals that connect some of Europe's most fascinating cities -- Vienna, Amsterdam, Budapest, Lyon to name a few -- are too small for most cruise ships.

If you have never been on a river cruise but really fancy a change then please see my top tips below.

1. River cruises are great as you get a real mix of people on board and a range of all nationalities.

2. River cruising in particular is in the midst of a major expansion boom. In the past two years (and this will continue) cruise lines have introduced new ships, and 2003 saw the intro of a brand new cruise line. Avalon Waterways.

3. Itineraries will be much more varied and will incorporate smaller towns and villages.

4. One big difference between river cruising and ocean cruising is that you tend to find that the shore excursions are included in the total river cruise fare.

5. Days at sea are rare and you usually get a new port every single day.

6. If your looking for fantastic evening entertainment then beyond mealtimes, entertainment onboard may be limited to shuffle-board or book-reading. These ships carry no casinos and offer little in the way of evening entertainment (except perhaps a piano player).

7. If you suffer from sea sickness then the waterways tend to be a lot calmer then the open seas so hardly any motion is felt.

8. If you spend a lot of time in your stateroom just to be aware you won't find the elaborate staterooms featured on mega-ships. In Europe, there are no balconies (some ships do feature French windows), few cabins have televisions or Internet connections, and bathrooms are small and functional.

Hope my tips have helped and if you think river cruising might be for you then give me a call. River cruising is seasonal, unlike the traditional cruise industry. Most river and canal ships operate during spring, summer and autumn months with a hiatus during December, January and February. Some Asian operators will go year-round. Another fabulous exception is Christmas season in Europe, where several river cruise operators offer voyages that stop in towns and cities with Christmas markets. Latin America-based voyages are fairly limited though good for wintertime -- you might also find the Amazon listed as an option.

Independence Of The Seas - Review from my lovely Nan.

2011-03-10T14:18:00.000-08:00

She’s back!!!!! I finally caught up with my Nan yesterday after her 18 night holiday on the Independence of the Seas and I can honestly say I have never seen her so happy. She happily told me that it was the best holiday of her life and she simply didn’t want to get off the ship. As I said in my previous blog she had only ever been on the ocean village so was very nervous that the Royal Caribbean ship was going to be too formal for her taste, so much so that she ended taking four suitcases just to make sure she was prepared for every eventuality. My first clue that this was going to be a fab holiday for her was when she called me on the day of departure, up on deck having just eaten her first meal in the windjammer. She was so excited and couldn’t get over the size of the ship and her first comment was how fancy the glass lifts were. I knew if the lifts impressed her then we were definitely onto a winner.

My Nan usually goes on holiday with friends so this cruise was the first time in a while that it was just her and my granddad; however this didn’t stay the case for long. She informed me that she never managed to read her book as every time she sat down on deck to start it off someone would plonk down next to her and start chatting away. She made some great friends and just couldn’t believe how much of a sociable and friendly atmosphere it was onboard. Her pals were from Brighton and they have swapped numbers and are even planning on meeting up soon. She was even a little PA for me handing out a few business cards to her friends!!

This holiday gave my Nan an opportunity to try different things and even though she didn’t go quite as far as trying out the flo rider or rock climbing wall she went ice skating for the very first time. When I say skating she had her crash helmet on and clinged on for life to the barrier all the way round, so I don’t think she will be getting the call from dancing on ice anytime soon. Now don’t worry I will be providing photographic evidence of this, I am just waiting for my Nan to work out how to send the pictures over to me by email. As soon as I have them I will update the blog so you can have a good look at the ship and some of the places my Nan visited. Her favourite port of call was Gibraltar as she said it was very pretty and they had some fantastic weather. I feel this may have been swayed slightly by the VERY large pints of beer she and my granddad were drinking in the little street cafes.

Overall my Nan just couldn’t praise the holiday enough, the only downside was that she said she found the drinks a bit pricey so they usually had a drink on shore to keep their bar bill down. They also said that the shore excursions were quite pricey direct with Royal Caribbean so a lot of the times they just got off the ship and made their own way around the places saving them a fortune. They did cut it abit close on getting back on the ship in one of the ports so just always give yourself plenty of time to get back to the ship if you’re doing your own thing.

I’m so pleased for my Nan and granddad as they deserved a lovely holiday and that’s exactly what they got!

Feel like a celebrity with the new mobile app

2011-03-03T13:31:00.000-08:00

Now am I getting old or is the mobile phone taking over the whole of mankind?? I mean really, don’t get me wrong I’m among most of the population when you go out and have a sudden panic attack when you realise you have left the mobile at home you do feel like you have lost one of your arms but after the initial shock it is very nice to be out there in the wide world knowing no one can get hold of you and you don’t have to report to anyone – freedom. Well for those of you out there who love your gadgets and your apps Celebrity cruiseline have now brought out their very own app for all you IPhone users.
This promises to give you the ability to search and explore everything that Celebrity has to offer their customers. It can be used to search all onboard activities including the lines online Icourses in the celebrity Ilounge. If there is a particular itinerary that takes your fancy, then this app allows you to email it to yourself along with any family and friends that may be travelling together. This could speed up the process of big family bookings or groups, especially if you have busy lives and can’t all meet up to crowd round a brochure and pick a cruise. If you have any questions before you go such as what I should pack, what facilities are onboard, what to expect then you can be sure to find the answers on the app.

The app hardly comes as a surprise for those of you who know and love celebrity as it leads the way in being an innovative leader in the pack. It has even introduced menus, wine lists and art tours on an IPad. The Celebrity ILounge, a cybercafé that is equipped with all the latest apple products and accessories allows the customer to utilize IPhone by checking out the ship Itinerary’s, obtain destination information, view details about each ship giving them a better understanding of which ship would be best for them. It can even be used to connect to some of the celebrity social media sites.

As the celebrity cruise line appeals to a real mixture of people the advantage of having some of the most modern technology onboard will obviously appeal to the younger cruise passengers in the market. Passengers can sign up to many different courses such as IPhoto, IDVD, IMovie and IWeb. Once you have taken part in all that if you get the apple bug you can purchase goodies onboard ranging from I Pads, Mac books and IPods.

I think the app is a fantastic idea as the mobile phone is now such a huge part in most people’s everyday life but I can’t help feeling a little bit sad that it seems we are moving further and further away from picking up the telephone and actually talking to another human being. Am I being old fashioned????. Maybe so, but for all those folk out there who still love having a good old chat then call me and hopefully you will feel like you’ve had a bit more of a special customer service then a mobile phone can provide you. Just call me the IEve.

Hey big spender, spend a little time on the Adonia

2011-02-24T07:32:00.000-08:00

Goooooooollllddddd finnnnnnnger ……….everytime the name Shirley bassey is mentioned I cant help but croon that out I LOVE IT !!!!. Well if you to are a big fan of the dame herself then you will be pleased to know that Dame Shirley Bassey has been named as the new Godmother of the latest addition to the P&O fleet the Adonia. Bassey will name the ship in a ceremony in Southampton on the 21st May which hopefully will be as a glittering as one of her famous frocks. The Adonia is an adults only ship and only carrying 710 passengers onboard so will be a much more intimate affair reaching smaller ports then the bigger ships. I love the smaller ships as you get such a nice atmosphere onboard and get to know all the staff and your fellow passengers easily.

Dame Shirley was quoted as saying “I have had the most exciting career imaginable, but to be invited to be Godmother to a cruise ship is something very special and very personal,”

Shirley Bassey is the only artist to have recorded three James Bond movie theme songs and has received numerous awards and accolades becoming a dame in 1999.

Shirley being an iconic British singer made her the ideal pic for P&O who prise themselves on being Britain’s favourite and most successful cruise lines. The Adonia ship is going to be fantastic for P&O passengers as she will feature some of their classics like a the crows nest observation lounge, formal nights, guest speakers, silver service dining and a dedicated card room. The naming ceremony will take place on the top deck in Southampton docks with an audience of 500 guests. The following day will see her set off on her first itinerary doing the Western Med. For those of you that love to have a balcony on your cruise the Adonia actually has an impressive 75% of cabins that have balconies. If your more one for exploring the ship and all her amenities then you may like to enjoy the sea views while having a drink in the Curzon lounge or treat yourself to a relaxing pamper in the Oasis Spa. If you are tempted then give me a call and we can look at booking you onto this fantastic ship.

Royal Wedding Celebrations At Sea

2011-02-19T01:30:00.000-08:00

Now I know some of my colleagues have already blogged about this but I wanted to as well as I am so excited and absolutely love the Royal Family. I think they are fantastic and make me feel very proud to be British. I was very excited to hear that the biggest wedding of the year is going to be televised live on the Princess ships on April 29th. It will be shown on the Movies Under the stars screens, which now feature on an impressive thirteen Princess ships.

Passengers will be able to follow coverage of the historic day broadcast by the BBC. The onboard viewing will also include British Style refreshments and special royal-themed cocktails. Passengers can test their knowledge on the Royal Family while participating in quizzes and there will also be a Kate and William look a like competition. It is very fitting that Princess are doing this as it was in fact Princess Diana who christened the original Royal Princess ship back in 1984.

If like Wills and Kate you are planning on getting married and don’t quite have the budget for Westminster Abbey, why don’t you consider taking your nuptials onboard a cruise. Not only do you get to have a wonderful and unique wedding but also have the advantage of being on your honeymoon already. It can be so easy to organise as most cruise lines will have a wedding specialist department that can arrange everything for you cake, ceremony, flowers the lot. They even organise the tuxedo rental and any spa treatments that you would need. Until recently, the only line that was able to host at-sea weddings, officiated by its captains, was Princess, whose ships are registered to Bermuda. Celebrity created new options for engaged cruisers when it re-registered its ships in Malta (except for Expedition), where new regulations permit legal marriages at sea. Azamara's two ships are registered in Malta, as well. If you can’t get married at sea then you can arrange your ceremony in port. If you’re looking for a beautiful day and good value for money (weddings with princess start from $1200) then I think it is something to really consider. Don’t worry if your already married as you can get your vows renewed onboard and what a perfect excuse for a second honeymoon onboard a lovely ship.

I’m sure the atmosphere will be fantastic onboard on the day of the royal wedding, and I for one will be waving my flag high cheering on the happy couple.

Nan's dream cruise on the Independence.

2011-02-11T02:32:00.000-08:00

As you can see from my previous blog my Nan and Gramps went off on the Ventura a couple of weeks ago. They will be back on Saturday so cant wait to catch up with them and see how they got on. I will try and get some of their pictures to post so you can have a look at the Ventura if you have never been on her before. Well this Sunday my other Nan is going on the Independence of the Seas with Royal Caribbean. Having only ever been on the Ocean Village before to say she is excited is a bit of an understatement.

She has been out and got some new outfits and even brought my Granddad John a fancy new long black coat. I hardly recognised him last week he looked very posh! Nan has had a bit of a rough year so I am hoping she really enjoys her 18 nights onboard the ship. I was lucky enough to have stayed onboard the Independence for a day and night on an agent trip and I can honestly say it is one of my favourite ships ever. When you first pull up into the port she is very impressive, especially if you have never been on a larger ship before. She holds over 3,500 thousand passengers and is 160,000 tonnes. We had a full day to wonder round the ship and I was so impressed at some of the facilities onboard, particularly the H2O zone for the children. This is a water zone area with jets and streams and water cannons. Having children, I loved the fact that the sun loungers were round the edge of this area so you could happily let the kids have a play and a splash about and you can still keep a watchful eye on them. We also got to see the rock climbing wall and the flowrider on the top deck which is so great for those of you who like a bit more adventure on your holidays. I personally wasn’t brave enough to try the flowrider as there was quite a crowd and I think you have to be very brave to give it a go in front of everyone especially if you fall off I don’t think it looks like the softest landing (maybe you should give that one a miss Nan). The Independence also has the Royal Promenade that runs down the middle of it. I loved this as it had such a great atmosphere down there with everybody wandering about and taking it all in and they even do carnival style parades down here on the evenings. There is also a traditional pub on the promenade where we spent a wonderful evening and was even pulled up by the singer on stage to belt out a few tunes. All in all I could go on and on about why I think this ship is such a perfect choice for a holiday but I will give you the main highlights below.

*FlowRider
*H2O Zone
*Cantilevered whirlpools
*Rock-climbing wall
*Ice-skating rink
*Royal Promenade
*Extensive WiFi capabilities and connectivity for mobile phones
*Full-size, flat-screen TVs in every stateroom
*Themed bars and lounges
*Adventure Ocean youth facilities
*Day Spa & Fitness Centre
*Full-size Everlast boxing ring
*Casino Royale
*Presidential Family Suite
*Sports Pool
*Full-size sports court
*Nine-hole miniature golf course
*Johnny Rockets '50s-style restaurant
*Portofino Italian Restaurant
*Chops Grille
*Ben & Jerry's® ice cream

Nan is setting off in the early hours of Sunday as she lives in Norfolk and wants to get there in plenty of time for boarding. Have a fantastic time Nan and make sure you take loads of pics for me to post when you get back. Very Jealous!!!!

Sick At Sea - What to do.

2011-02-03T06:49:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning not feeling the best I have to say. I think I have finally caught this cold bug that has been floating around for a while. Anyway after a cup of tea and a few biscuits I started to feel a bit better and back to my normal self. This got me thinking what cruise passengers do on their holidays if they become unwell. I cant think of anything worse then having looked forward to your holidays for months on end getting more and more excited as it gets closer to departure date, your dream holiday awaits and then BANG….. You get struck down with illness. If you are at Sea and in the middle of nowhere would panic set in and would you have all the provisions onboard to look after you. For the hypochondriacs out there like myself that would worry about this please find a few pointers below to rest your mind.

1. All ships have some kind of medical facility onboard to treat most non serious illnesses from broken bones to sea sickness. Anything more serious will almost definitely entailing you getting off at the next port and spending time in a local hospital. If at sea fear not as ships such as Oasis of the Seas and the Royal Caribbean Freedom class ships all have helicopter pads just for the purpose of medical evacuations.

2. Always Listen to the ships doctor if they feel you should disembark then do so immediately as they know best. You may not want to ruin the Holiday of a lifetime but medical advice and help is by far more important.

3. Check your travel insurance and make sure you have comprehensive cover(the cost of an air-ambulance can be rather pricey). Insurance policies will cover cruise holidays like they would cover land-based trips, and medical emergencies and repatriation expenses are usually part of the policy. Always check the excess that you would have to pay.

4. Let the line know if you have a pre-existing condition. Have high blood pressure and need a low-salt diet? Are you diabetic? Need to carry oxygen with you? Use a wheelchair? Cruising in far-off waters calls for honesty with the carrier.

5. If your pregnant check guidelines, especially if flying as you will not be accepted if you are in your later stages of pregnancy.

6. Most medical centres schedule daily office hours when the doctor sees patients, and all offer 24-hour emergency service. Ship's daily newspapers print hours when doctors see patients. Costs per visit vary from $45 to $60.

7. Finally, just because your on your holidays don’t forget your common sense. Don’t sit out in the midday sun and if you a sun worshipper like me make sure you always apply the sun lotion at regular intervals. Be prepared and take your own little mini First Aid Kit taking the essentials like plasters, aspirin, savalon, Insect repellent etc.

Hope this has settled any concerns you may have had and I haven’t frightened you to much. As the brownies and cub scouts say – ALWAYS BE PREPARED!!

What To Wear On Your Cruise.

2011-01-27T06:50:00.000-08:00

Bless my little Nan, she is going on her first cruise this Saturday with P&O on the Ventura. Having never cruised before she was very worried as to what she should pack and how many formal evenings to expect on board, my Granddad on the other hand wasn't too concerned and was fishing out his old navy suit from the 70's (don't worry Gramps you've still got it). My mom and I decided to take Nan up to the local shopping centre to get her kitted out with the appropriate attire. She didn't want anything to glamorous just some nice cocktail dresses and trouser suits which she managed to get, and at a real bargain price to as the sales are still in full swing. As I am sure my Nan is not alone in being a bit confused on what she should take on her cruise I thought I would give all the new to cruise passengers a few tips on what to take.

1. CASUAL WEAR

As it implies, clothes that you feel comfortable in so for warm weather cruises make sure you take swimwear cover up and sandals for round the pool and beach. If you are thinking of doing a few shore excursions then polo shirts, t-shirts and shorts and don't forget your comfy walking shoes. If you have heard of evening casual then this does not mean that you can wear your shorts and t-shirts to dinner it is more a case of chinos and shirts for the men and skirt and blouse for the ladies.

2. INFORMAL

This can mean different things for different cruise lines so I would always advise to have a good read up of on the brochure before you go just to be sure. It can mean in some cases that a dressier dress would be worn then the casual evening, but still not the full works and the men may wear a jacket along with the chinos and shirt.

3. FORMAL

This is the time when us ladies can really go to town. One of the fabulous things about cruising it is one of the only times, apart from a wedding or special occasion when we can really get dressed up in all our finery. Different people will go to different measures and again it very much varies on the standard of ship that you are going on. I personally like wearing full on party dresses with lots of sequin and glamour and of course all the accessories that go with it like shoes, clutch bag, jewellery etc. Some ladies like to wear full length gowns and cocktail dresses to add a bit of sparkle. Not forgetting the gentleman folk as I'm sure deep down they love the dressing up side of it too. Tuxedos black or white jackets for the more outlandish men or if this is not every ones cup of tea a dark suit would be suitable. The gentleman can rent the tuxedos on board if they would prefer this, especially if you are new to cruise and testing it out.

4. COUNTRY CLUB CASUAL

This is usually for the smaller American style ship where generally the whole feel on board is that of a laid back relaxed one. Oceania and Windstar cruises offer this as attire for every evening on board which would mean tuxedos and gowns are never required. Or, if you wanted to go with a bigger cruise line with a more relaxed style then NCL or Thomson's maybe most suitable.

Hope this has helped those of you who were getting into a bit of a fluster about what to take on your cruise holiday. I know my Nan is all ready packed and good to go. She is so excited and I know she is going to have a wonderful time looking a million dollars.

karaoke On Cruise Ships - Yes or No????

2011-01-23T07:18:00.000-08:00

Well I was quite shocked to find out today that the NCL Epic does not have a karaoke bar on board , Considering it is NCL's newest and most innovative cruise ship I was surprised that they were not catering for us Celine Dion wannabes to have a good croon on board. So does this mean that its the end of Karaoke on board cruise ships and its no longer seen as something that cruisers want on there holidays. The Norwegian Epic is chocked full of just about every amusement going at sea , The Blues Club , the H20 open-air nightclub, The Epic Casino and even its very own circus tent where you can enjoy dinner and a Cirque Dreams show. There is so much more to do now on board , with every new ship built offering something new to grab the interest of their prospective customers. However for those of us who like the fun and atmosphere of the karaoke lounge then you do have 18 different places with great music and a good vibe on the Epic. So what do you think ????? Would you prefer to see the back of the Karaoke bars or do you like this traditional pass time and what is your favourite tune to blast out. See my suggestions below of what I think should be on the song sheets .

1. We are Sailing - Rod Stewart
2.My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion - Titanic)
3.We all live on a yellow submarine - Beatles
4.Wipeout - Surfaris
5.Under The Sea - The Little Mermaid (Disney)

Feel free to add to my little list ................

Tunisian Troubles

2011-01-16T12:08:00.000-08:00

I can't believe all the trouble and upset in Tunisia at the moment. As you may have seen in the news there has been an escalation of violence in the country due to demonstrations and protests. This is awful for the country as it relies so heavily on tourism and at the moment all tourists are being advised not to travel to the country and all major operators are repatriating thousands of British holiday makers. I have been to Tunisia and its such a beautiful country full of culture and wonderful things to see and do. The markets there are the best and you can get some fantastic bargains if your prepared to have a haggle. So what does this mean for those who are cruising and have Tunisia as a port of call on there itinerary. Well luckily as it is the low season for cruising in Europe at the moment the only real threat would be the Costa Magica ship that has imminent plans to change the port to Ajaccio. For how long is unsure at this point but holiday makers with Costa should feel assured that they will be safe and shouldn't worry. I hope that peace will be restored quickly and British holiday makers can get the chance to see this fabulous country back on itineraries.

Back on-board with Eve

2011-01-08T11:17:00.000-08:00

Wahooooo , after a six month break and trying out new ventures I am happy to tell you all I am back at Cruise.co.uk. I realised that I have a fantastic job selling dream cruises to all my customers and work with a really fabulous team. Nothings changed too much in the short time that I have gone. We are still offering some fantastic deals and also some very exciting Tailor Made packages for those of you looking for something special with a personal touch. I am very excited to be back and looking forward to speaking to my customers again, old and new.So if you are ready to start planning your next cruise holiday and are looking for some help and advice then give me a call and I will be delighted to help you arrange your next cruising adventure.

Fred Olsen Join On The Supplementary Bandwagon - Tea Anyone ??

2010-06-10T04:45:00.000-07:00

Fred Olsen have introduced a new Tea for Two package that is supposed to offer something abit more special then the normal tea served in the Afternoons. For a fee of £5.95pp you can enjoy a special tea in the observatory lounge that consists of a variety of teas on fine bone china , a traditonal english cream tea complete with dainty cakes , finger sandwhiches , scones ,cream and jam - and all of this while being serenaded by classical music!!!

This is something that has been trialled on the Boudicca and apparently with such success is now being moved over to all four ships.The question is though will Fred Olsen passengers really want to pay this and our Freds just jumping on the ever expanding Supplementary bandwagon , where the good old fashioned cruiser expects it just to included anyway. Are Freds just looking at making more and more out of passengers onboard and are they really doing anything that different that warrants the fee. If you travel with the likes of Cunard or Crystal then they are famed for there white-glove teas and is what there customers expect of them.And its not just top end even Thomson and P&O will offer you a scone with afternoon Tea. I personally think it will all come down to each individual cruiser and there wants and needs of there holiday. Some people will think its a waste of time and the offer is nothing that they wouldnt routinely expect . I would definately pay the fee I have to say as I absolutley love the good old British Cream Tea and think it sounds like it would be very nice for a special occassion or treat. But do us cruisers now just have to come to terms with the fact that cruising is a ever changing market and supplementary charges are the way forward - what do you think ???? Are you a big Tea drinker and think its worth every penny or its a rip off and should be included anyway ???

Fancy hopping onboard to say Bon Voyage - Well You can.

2010-06-03T04:18:00.000-07:00

Ever driven loved ones to the port and thought 'wish that was me'. Well wish no more as One of cruisedom's oldest and richest traditions will return to Princess ships in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Fort Lauderdale, and Los Angeles. The Bon Voyage visit, where friends and family go aboard to see off passengers, is being reinstated this spring. Until the early 1990's it was the norm for families to go onboard and toast your departure but then cruiselines banned this due to security reasons.
Now I know its not quite the same as going off on the two week jolly of a lifetime , but instead of being a glorified Taxi you can now actually get onboard and make a bit of a day of it. This time, the experience will be more memorable than ever: it will include a four-course luncheon, a ship tour, a souvenir photo, and four hours aboard the ship, where participating passengers will receive priority embarkation. The charge, $39, can be applied to a future Princess cruise. Guests will be expected to provide government-required security information. What do you think of this ??? Would you be happy to get off after the four hours or would you be tempted to hide away in the nearest broom cupboard, I'm not sure myself but think its fantastic to have a bit of nostalgia and think it would be fab if we could have the excitement and crowds like we did many years ago.

Weddings at Sea - Fancy something abit different for your wedding day.

2010-05-28T03:25:00.000-07:00

I am just about to go on a hen party tomorrow which I have organised , being the chief bridesmaid , and can honestly say I am petrified that it all goes to plan . The big wedding is next month and were all very excited. This got me thinking about what it would be like to get married onboard a cruise ship and what , if any ,are the benefits to it and how different it is then the norm church wedding. I have looked into it further and have found that Royal Caribbean seem to have it all in hand with there own celebrations department that can deal with every little detail for your dream day. Have a look below for some of the things they offer and see if saying I do onboard is something that would be right for you :

* Wedding ceromonies are available in many ports of call. The Wedding ceremonies can not be performed at sea due to laws however.

*Ceremony times and venues will be confimed approximately two weeks before the sail date of your cruise.According to the number of guests wedding are performed in the Ships Library Chapel or in one of the ships lounges.

*Priorty Check in is provided for guests whose ceremony is performed the first day of sailing.They advise that the wedding party hand carry all items to be used in the ceremony such as tuxedo , wedding dress , shoes jewelery etc. This is because luggage that has been checked in may not arrive on time for the ceremony.

*You are provided with a Royal Romance wedding cordinator. They will finalise all arrangements , such as the ceremony music , the bridal bouquet and bloom for the groom. You are also provided with a Royal Romance Marriage certificate. There is also Proffessional photography service for the ceremony starwberries and sparkling wine.

*Shoreside locations available where you can choose from many garden and beach locations.

After your wedding ceremony you can continue the celebrations with a reception.There are various packages to suit everyone . A more formal option is a luncheon where you can choose from things such as chiled shrimp cocktail , Sesame Crusted salmon or Beef Tenderloin Filet Mignon.The Luncheon would be held in the main dining room and needs a minumum of 25 guests.If you were looking for something a little bit more relaxed then you could opt for a lunch buffet with dishes such as Grilled herb chicken breast salmon and assorted vegetables , greek salad with feta cheese.

Wedding cakes are available in various sizes and designs and you can also organise a beverage service where you can organise everything from a hot beverage to a bottle of Moet Champagne.

Ice Carvings are also available to give it the extra special touch and they are offer designs in a heart , swan or dolphin.

The beauty of it all for me has to be you are already on your honeymoon so can really just chill out and enjoy the whole experience from start to finish with all your nearest and dearest with you.How exciting to think you have the wedding to look forward to and then off to explore all the different ports that the cruise is off to.It seems to me that Royal Caribbean are there at hand to guide you and help organise a truly memorable wedding for you . There are so many things for you to choose from to make the day personal to you and having been with Royal Caribbean I would be confident in knowing that the level of service would be very high so the day would run as stress free as possible.

I would love to hear from any of you who have been married onboard a cruise ship - how was the whole experience and would you recommend it to others ??

Keeping Safe Onboard Your Cruise.

2010-05-21T05:03:00.000-07:00

Now I dont know about you but sometimes the excitement of going on holiday , having two weeks off work and relaxing in the sun can sometimes make us lose our marbles. All of a sudden the front door is locked off you sail and you leave your common sense at home. Some of us do things on holiday that we just wouldnt do at home.
For instance I fell asleep while reading the newspaper once on holiday , no sunscreen on in the blazing mid afternoon heat - two hours later I had blistered up like a ballon and spent the rest of my holiday in agony and having to wear a tshirt in the sea like a 12 year old . Not good , and I would never dream of doing that at home in the garden , but just sometimes the excitement of being on that much aticipated holiday makes us lose our senses. I have devised a little list below to help you holiday goers keep nice and safe while your away just incase , like me they get pushed to the back of your mind when your on your dream cruise :

DO - pay close attention during the ship's lifeboat drill and make sure you know the route from your cabin to the fire exits.

DO check the ship's sanitation report card at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention website: http://www.cdc.gov/.

DO follow the same personal safety procedures you would normally use if staying at a city hotel: Keep your cabin door locked and store valuables in a ship safe along with photocopies of your passport and credit cards.

DO be careful on land excursions and think twice about using tour guides and vehicles not approved by the cruise line. Avoid renting motorcycles and scooters.

DO use handrails and watch your step. In rough seas, stairs, especially on outdoor decks, can be wet, slippery and difficult to navigate.

DON'T overdo the partying. Eating and drinking too much is not good on land, but on an eight-storey-tall ship pitching back and forth and moving ahead at 20 knots, the dangers posed by dimmed judgment and wonky balance are doubled.

DON'T give your cabin number to strangers

DON'T toss a lit cigarette or cigar overboard. The wind could blow it back to a lower deck or cabin balcony.

DON'T forget the kids. If travelling with children, set rules about safety and behaviour before boarding.

DON'T let your guard down. Large ships have the equivalent of a small town's population, and you're just passing through. Don't accept drinks from strangers, stay out of darkened corridors late at night, avoid drunks and report anything amiss to your cabin steward or security personnel. If you win a large amount of money in the ship's casino, keep the celebration low-key and ask for an escort to the ship's safety-deposit box area.

And Finally DO have a wonderful holiday and enjoy every second of it , its all well being safe but dont forget to have the holiday of a lifetime to !!!

Is there anything silly that you have done onboard that you just wouldnt of dreamed doing on holiday , Feel free to post your holiday do's and Dont's to my list.

Baltics Currency Conundrum - Whats best to Take ?????

2010-05-13T04:32:00.000-07:00

One of my customers called today as he is just about to set off on his Baltics Cruise that he has booked with me and asked me what currency he should take . I thought it was quite a common question so heres a bit more info if you are travelling there to. Alot of the Baltic Capitals are in a que to Join the Euro but that hasnt happened yet so you generally fine the following currencies in the main ports of call:

Kristiansand - Norwegian Krone

Tallinn - Estonian Kroon

Oslo - Norwegian Kroner

Copenhagen - Danish Krone

Helsinki - Euro

Stockholm - Swedish Krona

Russia - rouble

The Currencies are not interchangeable in the country unfortunately but you can change any notes (not coins) onboard the ship for the next currency needed.They do accept euros to and obviously if you wanted to a credit card is also widely accepted , and sometimes needed as the Baltics are know for being quite pricey on the old drinks bill. You can also exchange any leftover currency at banks or Bureau De Changes , and usually its commission free.

To keep things simple, and to help avoid loosing out changing and re-changing your money, the best bet is to use ATM machines as you go along. Hole in the wall machines are pretty much everywhere in the region, and invariably along a sidewall, rather than in the bank itself. Using ATM's means you'll have the security of not having to carry around a huge wadge of money, plus they are very good for small withdrawals in local currency. They all have multi-lingual displays too.

One extra thing - If you change currencies when you are there SHOP AROUND!! Especially in Riga, rates can vary by as much as 50% within 50metres. Look at a half dozen places at least before working out where to change your money.　And just because the rate is very good for one currency at a shop, doesnt mean it is for others, meaning it is normally better to exchange 2 different currencies at different place

Short Break Voyages - fancy a getaway ???

2010-05-07T02:52:00.000-07:00

Is it getting to that time of year for you where you feel like it was a million moons ago the last time you went on holiday and you are desperate for a little getaway???? If the answer is yes then you may find that a mini cruise would be ideal for you. Alot of the cruiselines offer short breaks for durations of 2 ,3 ,4 , 5 Nts , which can be ideal for a short break and makes cruising accessible to all. New-to-cruise clients can get a taste of cruising by trying out a holiday at sea without risking much money or time on something they might not like, while regular clients can get a quick cruise fix in between their longer voyages.

Clients can choose two-night weekends away in Belgium, five nights hopping around the Med, or ad-hoc seven-night cruises to Iberia or Scandinavia (as opposed to the fixed weekly flycruise seasons sold in the Med).The short break cruises can also be idal for clients that are watching the purse strings and may not be able to afford a full 7-14 Night holiday this year , but a few nights is manageable.P&O Cruises, which is offering 25 short cruises for 2010, has a three-night break from Southampton on Azura in October 2010, visiting Zeebrugge, the port for Bruges, and Le Havre, from £284 per person. That’s just under £94 a day with all meals included. Clients who book by June 30 will also get free car parking at Southampton port.

P&O’s short cruise selection also includes two-night cruises to Zeebrugge and seven-night breaks to Iberia. In July 2010, Azura has a seven-night cruise to Dublin, Cork, Bilbao and Brest, with prices from £599 per person.Holland America Line is testing the mini cruise market with two four-night cruises on Eurodam this July – from Copenhagen to Dover and a round trip from Dover, which is also the cruiseline’s first ex-UK cruise. This will be followed by a two-night sailing from Dover to Copenhagen.

Another great idea for the mini cruises is hen partys or girly weekends away , something that will be unique and you know that the initial price includes your accommodation all the meals and entertainment and then everyone in your group can then decide if they want to do any extras like spa treatments and shore excursions.The bigger the group the more chance of you getting bigger discounts as well.

Have you had a good experience of a mini cruise what were your highlights and what would you say the benefits are of these short breaks ???

Fred Olsens - Small and Cosy like a home from home.

2010-04-29T06:06:00.000-07:00

Now if your the kind of person that loves the more traditional things in life and is proud to be british then the Fred Olsen Fleet are the cruise ships for you. I have been lucky enough to go on the Balmoral ship and can honestly say it was a fantastic experience. As the ship is quite small ,( it actually holds just over 1300 passengers) i found myself finding my way round the ship very easily after the first few hours of checking in and it isnt long before you feel right at home.

There was no dramas of coming out of the lifts and wondering aimlessley down the corridors trying to find your cabin and the restaurant is such a nice size you get a very good atmosphere in there. Are waiter who served us was very friendly and really got to know us all , which again with the smaller ships is easier for them to do as not as many faces to try and remember. You are definately a face rather then a number onboard the freds line.Dont worry if you think small fleet means no facilities as this is not true at all , you still have plenty on offer such as the gym where you can partake in a fitness class , practise your swing on the practise golf nets , indulge in a spa treatment , play a few rounds of bridge , do some duty free shopping , enjoy a cabaret show or stand up comedy the list goes on and on.The practical element of the fred Olsens fleet being on a smaller scale also means that they can take you into some ports where the huge superliners would not , so you get a much more interesting itinerary to tempt you as well.My conclusion of Fred Olsens after I disembarked was that this cruiseline is perfect if you are looking for an experience that is very personal , relaxed and individual to anything else thats out there. Nothing is to much bother for there staff and you do get the sense that you are onboard a ship that is family run and the customer is at the heart of everything. The ease and benefits of going out of Southampton or Dover just makes it so much less stressful then a flycruise and you get the added bonus of taking as many handbags and shoes as you can cram into your suitcase !!!

Luxury Lines Reduce Prices

2010-04-29T05:01:00.000-07:00

Just Last week , two luxury cruise lines announces sale fares on peak summer europe sailings. Azamara Club Cruises is offering two for ones fares and onboard credit and airfare discounts.This is for departures late April - November. The Luxury line boasts the new promotion is the lines best fares ever.

Seabourn sale saw a 98% rise of bookings over the same period last year.

There fares were starting from $2499 for Europe sailings where previosly fares had been $3550.Seabourn who have sailed for years with just three 208 passenger ships, will more then double its original capacity when 450-passenger Seabourn Sojourn debuts this June, following last year's launch of sister ship Seabourn Odyssey.I think the time is definately right for all customers who fancy experiencing the luxury of seabourn yachting holiday as it is the best price ever and is a fantastic way to do something extra special at affordable prices , where as this time last year this brand may have been out of reach for some.Once Seabourn's capacity increases slow down, expect the deals to disappear.

The situation in 2010 has changed dramatically from 2009, when many luxury cruises were struggling. In general, things seem to be looking up for the lines -- Oceania, for example, saw fares increase after the end of its Wave Season sale on March 31, and many of its sailings are sold out with only wait-list space available.

If you're looking to get the most value for your vacation Pound, 2010 may be the year to look away from the mainstream lines, where fares are on the rise, and turn to the luxury market, where sale fares -- though still pricey -- are yours for the taking.

Want to get in the good books - Anniversary treats onboard your cruise.

2010-04-20T05:43:00.000-07:00

I have so many customers that call me looking for that special cruise to mark an anniversary or celebration thats coming up. I always advise my passengers to send in a copy of a wedding or birth certificate and we will forward it onto the cruiseline. We cant guarantee anything but usually cruiselines will try and mark the occassion with something complimentary in the cabin.We find most cruiselines say it must be six months either side of the departure date

. If you are a true romantic and want to show how much of a smoothy you really are then you can call the cruiselines direct to prebook treats for your cruise.This could be things such as Flowers in the cabin , Fruit basket , Handmade chocolates , champagne or wine. One of my customers who were travelling with Fred Olsens was celebrating a special birthday onboard told me that they had organised a champagne breakfast in the cabin and then had a celebration cake at dinner which they thought was wonderful and really loved being made a fuss of ,(lets face it if youv'e been married 25yrs a cake at diner is the least u expect). If you are looking for some big brownie points then why not organise something special onboard , breakfast in bed , romantic dining in a specialist restaurant , special photo taken onboard in all your finery . Are you one of the lucky ones out there who has had there partner organise somthing special onboard ??? Let me know or if you would recommend anything .

P&O Brand new Ship - My Azura Review

2010-04-13T03:41:00.000-07:00

Having just come back from an overnighter on the brand New P&O Azura ship thought I would let you all know what I thought. Pulling into Southampton first impressions were very good. After a smooth check in at the P&O cruise terminal my colleague and I were directed to our superior balcony cabin. The cabin was lovely , really spacious and the decor was very bright and modern. A nice touch was that they had two flat screen tv's so u could watch it in bed or in the sitting area. The balcony was a lovely size with little table and chairs out there , made even better by the fact that the sun was shining . If i closed my eyes long enough I could pretend I was in the Caribbean , and not the lovely picturesque Southampton.

We had a tour around the ship and managed to visit most areas we wanted to , mainly the retreat which I think would be the ultimate in relaxation . It has an open air Spa Terrace which offers lots of alfresco treatments , and fresh lavender everywhere makes it even more relaxing - I loved it. We had lunch in the Verona food court where there was a huge amount of choice and very tasty treats on offer. Then for our evening meal we ate in the Meridian Restaurant where I was very impressed with the menu. There was something for everybody on there and it was tough to choose. I finally opted for the salmon to start followed by the beef and I can honestly say it was fantastic and my beef was cooked to perfection. Our evening ended by a few light drinks in the bar and then a little boogie in the manhatten nightclub finished the day off perfectly. Overall the standard of the Azura is as I expected, the quality is of a very high standard and the Azura offers something for everyone with it being the first ship to offer single cabins . If you are looking for a special holiday then I think the Azura will have everything you need.

Natural Disasters - Are You Covered ??????

2010-04-06T02:21:00.000-07:00

In the News lately we have been hearing about rogue waves , Earthquakes and hurricanes so you might be wondering how to protect your crusie holiday from a natural disaster or any other unforeseen events. We always recommend at time of booking to purchase travel insurance , but do you know whats covered and whats not ??

If your flights or cruise are canceled or delayed and you need to make alternate arrangements or are forced to cancel your trip your insurance plan will help you cover costs. Coverage may fall into the following catagories Trip Cancellation , Trip Delay , and Trip interruption. However if your simply nervous about travelling or dont think you should go on holiday in a county affected by a recent disaster then you will receive no help from the travel insurance company. Here are some examples of what Travel insuarnce can cover:

*Inclement weather causing delay or cancellation of travel.

*The insured's principal residence or destination being made uninhabitable by fire, flood or similar natural disaster, vandalism or burglary.

*Sickness, injury or death of an insured, immediate family member, traveling companion or business partner.

*Strike, resulting in complete cessation of travel services at the point of departure or destination.

*Financial default of an airline, cruise line or tour operator, resulting in the complete cessation of services.

*Being involved in or delayed due to a traffic accident en route to departure.

Dreamy Destinations - My Top Five

2010-03-30T02:15:00.000-07:00

I think before you book , especially if you have never cruised before you should think long and hard about exactly where you want to go and make sure you get the best ports of call possible.Here are some of the most popular cruise ship destinations :

1.The Caribbean - I think it was peoples love for the caribbean Islands that gave rise to the cruise industry.If there is only one place to go then it has to be the caribbean. Gorgeous Beautiful beaches , tropical climates , clear crystal waters - it has it all. This is for the cruiser who just wants to lay back and chill.It is an ideal place for first time cruisers who dont really want to be off expolring on every shore excursion going but just relaxing into the cruising life , one beautiful beach at a time.

2.The Mexican Riviera - Thousands of miles of beautiful sandy beaches have endeared the riveria to cruisers. If you cant afford to have a full two week holiday break going around the caribbean then the rivieria is a good alternative as manycruise ships visit this area for a week so make it idela for a shorter cruise destination.
3.Alaska - What is the appeal of Alaska?? Well I think ii is perfect for the cruiser who wants a bit more of a action packed holiday. There are so many different options that can be combined with this area doing land tours round the canadian rockies ,gliding through the inside passage taking in glaciers , fjords and the most breathtaking scenery in the world.
4.European Cruise - This is a fantastic oppourtunity to visit some beautiful cities and see the best attractions of each of them. Venice , The French Riviera , Italy , Spain just to mention a few.You could even cruise on Russian rivers and visit St Petersburg , which is so popular that most cruise ships now do at least 2-3 nts at this port. This is a perfect oppourtunity to take in all the history and beauty of some spectacular cities.
5.World Cruise - If you enjoy cruise holidays and are looking for something special , once in a lifetime special then it has to be a world cruise.You can get to see a host of new places and experience the culture and traditions of many different countries.I think the world is full of mystical places and there is no better way to see them then taking a cruise. If you cant bre to be away from home for the full 100+ days then you can always do sectors and just pick put your most favourite must do places to tick off your list.

Where would you like to go and what would you like to see? Where has been your favourite destination ?
Get the Itinerary right and the rest falls into place.

Fancy a good Pamper on an epic scale

2010-03-22T06:11:00.000-07:00

If you are one of the lucky passengers that book their cruise holiday on the Ncl Epic then you must try the ultimate pampering session in the Mandara Spa.It will be the largest spa at sea , with 24 treatment rooms that will cover the area the size of 11 tennis courts.

The complex will have two private couples villas , two steam rooms a DIY scrub experience , a hydrotherapy courtyard and thermal suite , fill service salon and fitness centre. The spa will offer more than 50 treatments for both men and women. I think the Epic is going to be such a brilliant ship that you may need to take a day in the spa just to relax and have a complete chill out day.If the epic sounds like the ship of your dreams then call me to have a chat about its itineraries and prices

The best things in life are free.

2010-03-15T06:22:00.000-07:00

So you have booked your dream cruise , money is tight and you are panicking that you just wont have enough spending money once you get onboard. Well fear not , I have devised the below list for you as a guide to all the things you can participate in that wont cost you a penny.

1.EAT AND DRINK
All meals are included in your cruise fare so you can eat as much or as little as you want , and on some ships this is available 24hrs a day.Some of the Luxury ships include speciality restaurants , alcohol and soft drinks so you get an even better deal.

2.ONBOARD ENTERTAINMENT
Cruise ships have at least one show every evening in the main lounges. These can range from big vegas productions , Singers , Acrobats , Comedians , Magicians etc. If you feel like giving it a go yourself you can also get involved in Karaoke , ballroom dancing and talent shows.

3.GYMS AND FITNESS CENTERS
Obviously not everyones cup of tea , having a good workout when you are on your holidays. But with all that food available , some like to keep a good balance and work it off . You have all your standard gym equipment available and also the jogging tracks up on higher decks.

4.WATCH A MOVIE
Most cruise ships offer free movies in the comfort of your own cabin , but if you fancy something a bit different you can go and catch a movie on a large outdoor screen up by the pool under the stars.Alot of ships will also have an indoor movie theater that will show films throughout the day.

5.LIBRARY
You can check out a book to take back to the cabin , or most have enough space for you to relax and sit inside.

6.EXPLORE THE SHIP
Some ships offer free galley tours which is a fun way to have a look at all the behind the scenes details and what actually goes on at the bridge.

7.GAMES
Ships often have onboard games to participate in.Favourites tend to be shuffleboard , Basketball , Minature Golf , Ping Pong amongst others.The Celebrity Solstice having the lawns on top deck can also offer Bocce Bowls and croquet.

8.ENRICHMENT CLASS
Cruise ships have many interesting free onboard demonstrations. These can include a range of things such as cooking , ice carvery , napkin folding , and even glass blowing.

And You Think your husband is a plank ........

2010-03-09T04:30:00.000-08:00

Having a lazy Sunday afternoon and flicking through the latest celeb mags , I came across a story that made me chuckle.An article had been written about a women who had visted the old Queen Mary ship which is now a hotel in California. She had just split up from her partner and soon felt great emotions and love for the ship itself. She was quoted to say 'On the ship I started to feel better.It felt as if it was a big stong man wrapping his arm around me'.

On her second visit she realised that she was sexually attracted to it ' I wanted to kiss the Brass fittings and wooden rails'.

This women became so besotted with the ship that she evem moved to an apartment 15 Mins from the dock and whenever she can she books a £70 a night cabin so she can be intimate with the ship.

Finally last month she took the big jump and married the ship in a £2000.00 ceremony. Funnily enough she went on to say that only two of her friends made it to the ceremony and her family have distanced themselves from her.She has promised to love , honour and obey the ship , visit it daily and stay over regularly. Bizarre to say the least , I think eventually she will probaly meet someone and move on from the ship.Wonder if she tells the ship off for leaving up the toilet seats!!!!!!

Msc - BEWARE do not leave Pyjamas Unattended !!!

2010-03-04T06:52:00.000-08:00

I have just returned from weekend ship visit to the New Msc Magnifica and had a lovely time. I will go on in a moment to give you a brief run down of my weekend but before I do I must make all Msc Passengers fully aware of the the following. My colleague needed to pop back to the cabin after dinner to pick something up. When she arrived back she had a fit of the giggles and I was quite concerned at to what exactly she had been up to

. She went on to explain that she had arrived in the cabin to find our Pyjamas had been folded and twisted in to little fancy shapes on the bed. Now is it just me or is this a little bit weird???? I'm all for the towels being made into animals , shapes etc but when it comes to a stranger manhandling my pyjamas , I cant help feeling a little bit violated. In future if I ever go on Msc again I will maybe stuff them in the wardrobe away from artistic cabin stewards.Please feel free to send me pictures of any creations that have been made in your cabin from towels to clothes , lets see if you can compete with my pyjamas!!! The ship Itself was lovely and much more elegant and sophisticated then I imagined. We had a balcony cabin on deck nine and when we arrived I was pleased to find that the rooms were a very good size and a decent sized balcony with chair and table . Decor of the room was very modern and facilities included all the norm , Tv , hairdryer , mini bar etc. After a freshen up my colleages and I were lucky enough to have a guided tour around the ship where we looked at all the rooms from the Tiger bar , Sports bar , Swimming pool areas , Theaters etc. On the evening we were on the first dinner siiting at 19:00 which was perfect as by this time my tummy was rumbling and I was eager to see what the food would be like as alot of varied opions are aired when it comes to the food on Msc. All I can say is I found it to be very pleasent indeed. There was a varied selection and service was prompt . The courses were all served warm (as appose to hot) , but tasty and enjoyed by everyone on my table.After dinner we then proceeded to sink a few cocktails in the tiger bar , which has a very good atmosphere , then followed a good old boogie in the nightclub which was huge and a very good layout , not to crammed so you can do all your favourite dance moves.

Tell us what you want , what you really really want........................

2010-02-24T02:08:00.000-08:00

Well Its that time of year again where if you want to guarantee you get exactly what you want at the best price then its time to Pre Reg for your 2011/2012 Cruises.

This is so important especially for families of four wanting to get cabins onboard the Independance Of The Seas , The Grand Princess , Ventura etc , as we found this year so many people were left disappointed as the family cabins for the school holidays sold out so quickly.
Three and Four berth cabins are obviously more limited so if you dont want to have to book two cabins next door to each other and pay full price for the kids then you can Pre Reg for your cruise and be the first to grab yourself one of these cabins.

It all works very easily , you tell us what you want , what type of cabin you are after and we will give you your early booking discounts.We then go through and fill out a Pre reg form with all your details and take card details for deposit (Nothing is taken until cabin is all booked ). On the day the cruise goes on sale we then dedicate our team to book all our customers who have got in first and Pre Registered with us. Main tip would be to try and be as flexible as possible , give us a few cabin numbers that would suit you so If the one you want sells , it still gives us the option to book another one for you.

So if there is a ship you are desperate to get on for next year , give me a call and we can make sure get exactly what you want .EVE: 0800 4086080

what a bargain ....

2010-02-09T07:01:00.000-08:00

Just booked one of my clients onto a brilliant deal. They were looking to do something special for their mothers birthday treat for a few nights. I had a little search about and managed to find

them a 2 nt Mini cruise on the Ventura 26.03.10. Couldnt believe it when I priced it up at £249pp for a balcony cabin. The customer was delighted , it would cost them more them that to stay in a hotel for 2 nts , not to mention all the foods included as well.

If you fancy a mini cruise them give me a call , but hurry as they wont be available for much longer at those prices .

Queen Elizabeth Floats out.

2010-02-05T03:29:00.000-08:00

Count down is now on for the maiden Voyage of Queen Elizabeth as she goes on her first float out. Please click the link below to watch video footage of this moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_neDuosSlv0

Right Said Fred - Just Give them a chance.

2010-01-29T10:02:00.000-08:00

After speaking to a customer today I thought I would put my views across with regards to the Fred Olsens Balmoral ship with the big black cloud of the Norovirus hanging over it.Now I am sure that passengers that have had the bug and have been confined to their cabins , it must have been dreadful and I really do sympathise with them. However while travelling on the ship myself in December I wanted to

maybe make people realise that the actual ship itself is wonderful and does its upmost to provide sanatising gel at every turning point you go. I was looking at different options for a customer today and after taking down her requirements mentioned that a Fred Olsen cruise may be suitable , she dismissed this immediatly because of different stories she had read and could no be persuaded otherwise. I feel this is so unfair because on the whole the Balmoral is a lovely little ship. It has a fantastic atmosphere on board which you always tend to find onboard smaller ships. We had an oceanview cabin onboard and it was very spacious with good facilities and nicely furnished .As I said when ever you go into the bars , restaurants there is ample oppourtunity to clean your hands with the gel and all areas were impeccably clean. We had beautiful food onboard and fantastic service from the very friendly staff. I feel the poor Balmoral has just had a very bad run of luck of late which isnt helped with people who do not keep to cleaning their hands after every loo trip and being mindful of being on a small ship where bugs and germs will spread very easily. Obviously this is my own personal view , but hopefully cruisers will give the Balmoral a chance and see that Fred Olsens are a very nice cruise line to sail with .

What Next ? Any Ideas ????

2010-01-26T03:35:00.000-08:00

Well having ships like the Oasis and the Celebrity Eclipse entering the seas with there all singing all Dancing facilities , it leaves me wondering whats next to appear on our cruise ships.

The Royal Carribbean fleet seem to be leading the way with the Oasis of the seas

having the Open air Central Park ,

The first beach pool at sea , Aqua Theater and Zip Line to name but a few.Fancy a game of lawn bowls or Croquet then you can go on the first half an acre lawn on the top deck of the celebrity eclipse and also try your hand at hot glass blowing on a one of a kind exhibition by The Corning Museum Of Glass.P&O Ventura not to be outdone also have the Circus skills school.So my thoughts are whats next, What would you like to see on the next new ships , here are a few of my ideas :

*Bungee Jumping off the back of the ship

*Zoo with elephants , monkeys , tigers etc

*Go Karting around an open top deck.

*Glass Bottomed Cruise Ship.

*Clay Pigeon Shooting.

Little Chefs At Sea

2010-01-24T06:24:00.000-08:00

Marco Pierre White is a very brave man - he has decided to take on the challenge of teaching our children to cook onboard the Ventura.

The first lessons will take place during half term where upto eight children can master such things as Tomato Pasta and Finsh fingers (they are only little so nothing to complex ).Sessions will cost £20 a child , well worth it I think as when you get home you can put your feet up and get them in the kitchen to test there new found skills (chaperoned by dad of course !!)

Extra Extra read all about it

2010-01-23T15:27:00.000-08:00

Even though we are cruise specialists dont forget we can organise any other extras you may need to complete your holiday.We can find

long or short term parking solutions at many of the UK'S airports and Ports and if you want to make sure you have plenty of time or have a long way to travel we can also offer you some good deals for airport Hotels. We can also provide you with travel insurance so you know you have all the coverage you need for any unexpected events protecting you and your hard earned cash.If you are visiting Australia on your Itinerary we will organise the Visa also for you at no extra charge.

Boots.......Are you out there?????????

2010-01-15T02:18:00.000-08:00

I feel it my duty to put a serious message on my blog to my fellow lady cruises. Please , please , please always check your cabin ten times over when packing up your suitcase to come home. Myself and my colleague Tina are now victims of the missing boot syndrome.

Whilst visiting the Independance I wore my beautiful boots onboard but the following day had to leave the ship and go straight to work. Stupidly I put my Work shoes on , packed up my case and on my way I went. It wasn't until on the evening when I came to unpack my case , that to my horror i realised my mistake - MY BOOTS WERE STILL ON THE CRUISE. Next day I contacted the Lost property department and explained what had happend , she went off to investigate but a week later I received a letter confirming my pain - the boots were gone forever. They couldnt find them , my only happiness is to maybe think that my boots are out there cruising the world and one day we may be reunited again. As I said my colleague Tina also feels my loss as on our last christmas party on the Balmoral , she only packed one of her boots and left the other behind. Unfortunately for her she has to look at the lonely boot in her wardrobe , constant reminder of what she has lost . So please learn from my story and always check your cabin for your belongings as being reunited with them seems like a virtual impossibility.

It's Snow Joke !!!

2010-01-08T06:59:00.000-08:00

Right enough is enough now , no more snow I have had enough. I am fed up with beeing very cold and it taking double the time to do anything . The snowmen and sledging was fun for the first few days but I am over it now. I think all this snow is even more of an insentive to get our holidays in the sun booked. Give me a call and we can look at getting you a little bit of sunshine for 2010 .

Formal and Fabulous Darling ........

2009-12-11T06:01:00.000-08:00

When taking a cruise one of the first things to decide is what style of cruise would suit you best. If you are looking for something relaxed , easy going not to much dressing up then you need to go for

the likes of

Island Cruises , Thomson Cruises , Ocean Village and Ncl. Cruises ideal for first time cruisers or those who want to experience all that the ships have to offer but in their own relaxed way. On the other hand if you feel like packing you best frocks and matching handbags and shoes (you to chaps) then go for a Cunard , Celebrity , Princess or even six star luxury like Regent . Having been on The Queen Victoria Cunard ship and experienced a formal evening I have to say it is very exciting to get all glammed up for dinner and then go down and have a look what everyone else is wearing. You dont really get that much opportunity to do this in everyday life so it was really good fun. Everyone has there own take on Formal but you cant beat the men dressed up in the Dinner Jackets and Ladies in faboulous gowns and cocktail dresses.

Pampered Pets

2009-12-11T05:29:00.000-08:00

The Cunard Queen Mary 2 allows dogs and cats onboard on the Transatlantic trips. They have kennels on Deck Twelve for Twelve dogs and cats.

The cruise ship have special staff assigned to the animals , and the owner may come and visit their pet 4 times a day. The kennels are not used just for the rich who cant abre to aprted from there pooch but more for those that are going on a very long holiday or commuting between homes in the Usa and Europe.

Pirates At Sea

2009-12-11T04:46:00.000-08:00

Am I safe from Pirate attacks on my cruise ?? Definately , just make sure you pick the right itinerary .Best places to avoid would be

the Red Sea , Gulf Of Aden , North Indian Ocean , The Malacca Straits or The South China Sea. Many of these cruises are re-postioning and seem to be most vunerable.With so many Itineraries to choose from staying out of pirate infested waters should be no problem at all.

We are Family

2009-12-09T04:27:00.000-08:00

As I have a young family myself I thought it would be helpful to give you an idea of which ships are the most family friendly and cater for you and your little crew.
. Royal Caribbean , especially the Freedom class ships have all the amenities a family could want. They have a selection of cabins for all families from the big family suites to interconnecting staterooms. You can enjoy mini-golf , Ice Skating , Rock climbing wall , H20 water Park and flow rider to keep the kids amused.There are even lively parades that run through the royal promenade. Dont worry they dont forget the adults as you can enjoy adult only hot tubs , solarium , quite hammocks and peaceful seating areas.
Ncl have huge garden villas , more then 5,000 square feet which offer three bedrooms , living room , private hot tubs and sauna so are [perfect for large families travelling together. The freestyle dining appeals with Ncl as well as you can dine as and when suits your needs.Be sure to take advantage of the kids buffet area in the Garden Cafe which features toddler sized chairs and tables and toddler friendly food.
Another fantastic ship for you and family is the P&O Ventura , with an expansive area at the aft dedicated to kids and the first circus school at sea. It has the biggest kids club at sea and has characters such as noddy and Mr bump.On deck 19 you have the Cirque Ventura where you and the kids can try out Bungee trampoline or join a workshop to learn to trapeze and tightrope walking.

For any families taking babys onboard always check the minimun age required this varies from 12 weeks to 6 months old.

And Finally for mom and dad if you fancy an evening on your own to hit the casino or see a show then check the cruise lines babysitting policy. Certain lines prohibit in-cabin babysitting and instead offer a slumber party type of service.Other lines allow you to hire sitters that come to your cabin.

HAVE A VERY HAPPY FAMILY HOLS

Can I See some ID !!!!

2009-12-09T03:22:00.000-08:00

If travelling with a young family you may wonder what the drinking laws are and what is and isnt allowed onboard the ships (I'm talking teens plus , not quite as young as these two cheeky chaps , and dont worry it is apple juice !). Here is a rough guide to laws onboard with the major cruise lines :

CELEBRITY: All passengers must be 21 years old to drink , with the exception of Europe , South America and Australia cruises if parents cruising with their children sign a waiver allowing their 18-20 year olds to consume alchol.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES: Passengers 18-20 , with the written consent of their parents can purchase beer or wine for themselves ONLY when the ship is sailing in international waters.

PRINCESS:All passengers must be 21 Years old to drink alchol.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN: All passengers must be 21 Years old , with the exception of Europe and South America cruises if parents are cruising with their children sign a waiver allowing their 18-20 Year ols to drink.

Strictly Come Cruising

2009-12-04T06:57:00.000-08:00

Why not combine the excitement of the seas with your love of dance.We are now doing some fantastic offeres on these special cruises , where not only can you take in the beautiful sights of some of the wonderful ports of call on your holiday itinerary , but when the sun goes down you can then slip into your ballgown and dance the night away.

We offer your own private workshops with Warren Bullock and Jane Phillips so you can perfect those moves and cha cha cha all over the place.Please find below the cruises that we are doing this promotion on :

*Royal Caribbean 08.04.2011 - Brilliance Of The Seas

*Fred Olsen 26.07.10 - Balmoral

*Cunard October 2010 - Quen Mary 2

Dont Give Baby The Blues

2009-12-03T06:37:00.000-08:00

When booking your cruise make sure that it is the right cruise for you especially if you are a afamily with little ones in tow. For instance on Royal Caribbean ships your young children and infants can not go in the pools unless they are fully potty trained.
Even if they are in the nappy swimmers they are still not permitted . I have a five year old and a two year old and was thinking of taking them on the Independance this year , but with the little one still in nappies I dont think he would of been to impressed to stand on the sidelines and watch his big brother in the pool , splashing about havin lots of fun. Always have a good read of the brochures to make sure you pick the best cruise holiday suited to you.

What A Package !!!!

2009-12-03T05:29:00.000-08:00

Fancy staying a few nights in Venice , Barcelona , Rome Etc , then why not do your very own package.Alot of the ships go in and out of these ports but that means you dont get anytime there to see the sights and explore.
For example it is very easy to organise two nights hotel stay in any of these places , we simply deviate the flights for you and you can extend your holiday and do a land based and cruise package combined. Alternatively we can organise the package as a whole for you . This means we can organise the flights , transfers hotels and cruise for you and taylor make it to suit your needs. We do all the hard work for you , all you have to do is turn up.

Silver Surfer - Explorings not boring

2009-11-23T05:59:00.000-08:00

I was very fortunate this year to have an educational visit on the Silversea Prince Albert Expedition ship.We sailed from Edinburgh to Hamburg so it wasnt the Itinerary we were going for but more to get a real feel for the ship and find out what a ship of this size and style had to offer.

The Prince Albert holds 132 guests so she really is tiny , but this is one of her charms and you get such a warm and friendly feel onboard. Going on an expedition ship with a company like Silverseas is fantastic because you can go to some of the remotest places in the world but sill travel in six star luxury , so there are no comprimises.

If you are considering a holiday on the Prince Albert then your main priority will obviously be the itinerary's as this is by no means an all singing all dancing ship. On the evening instead of going to shows you may go to the theatre and chat about all the lastest findings of the day such as types of wildlife or sealife you have spotted . There are no real set times and dates either with the Albert Itineraries it is all dependant on the captain and the activity in the place you have dropped anchor , which is wonderful as if you have just found a polor bear and want to go out on the Zodiac boats to get as close as you can then this is possible as there are no strict deadlines to adhere to.The accommodation onboard was of a very good standard and the food was absolutely beautiful. So much choice and quality above and beyond what I expected.If you fancy exploring places such as the arctic , antartica Central and South America and really learn about the culture of these places from the wealth of guest speakers they have onboard then I highly recommend this ship . Who wants the Med when theres a whole world out there to explore..........

Start Spreading The News , I'm Leaving Today.................

2009-11-20T06:28:00.000-08:00

and how I wish I was.....
I went to New York in March 2005 and it was by far one of the best trips I have ever done. As soon as you arrive in the big apple the excitement and buzz of the city hits you straight away . I was very excited about seeing somebody famous but unfortunaetly the closest I got was a very good look a likey of Trevor Mcdonald at Grand Central station!!!.
If you go to New York do not waste a second because there is just so much to see and do you cant cram it all in. We started with all your typical touristy things but they are a must have , just so you can tick them off on your to do list .The Empire State buliding - amazing the views are sensational and just so bizarre to see the yellow cabs as small as ants below. Central Park - stumbling across the park in such a busy built up city is surreal but very beautiful.Statue Of Liberty - sailing over on the little boat to see her and when you get close up she is very impressive and fascinating to read up on her history. Did you know she was built in copper and turned green over the years due to the elements in the sea. I could go on and on but not to bore you to much will give you my favourite things to do in New York :

* Tavern On The Green - The only restuarant actually in Central Park
*Ice Skating in Cental Park - Really fun but wrap up warm it is bitterly cold in New York in the off peak months.
*Oyster Bar In Cental Station - You can spoil youself with Oysters or sit back and have a Martini (apple is best)
*West End Show - Times Square is buzzing at night and The Lion King Is spectacular especially the huge mechanical elephant.
* The View Restaurant - It revolves around the city while eating your meal , bit confusing if you have popped to the loo make sure you dont go and sit at someone elses table.

Jimmy Choos or Cruise - what's it to be?

2009-11-18T06:29:00.000-08:00

Did you know for the same price as a pair of Jimmy Choos you could get away on a last minute cruise. With Loads of great last minute deals to be had out there you can grab yourself a real bargain. The only question is girls whats more important , updating the wardrobe or having a lovely holiday on a brilliant cruiseship at a discount price.Decisions decisions .......................................................