Kate's Cruising Crusades

Prebook your flight seats now on selected P&O cruises.

2010-09-22T01:17:00.000-07:00

At last customers are being listened to. P&O cruises have announced the launch of Flight Seat Booker, an online tool accessed via Cruise Personaliser for their Cruises.

Until now, passengers have only been able to make seat requests on medical grounds, with all other seats being allocated by the charter airline. This new system offers our customers the flexibility and choice of pre-booking their seats on our charter flights.

Scheduled airlines have been offering their customers the opportunity to pre-book their flight seats via their websites for some time now, and charter airlines have recently begun to offer the same service.

Flight Seat Booker is easy to use, with on-screen instructions to guide the user through the booking process. Passengers will need to supply a valid email address, and accept the Terms and Conditions, after which, they are presented with an aircraft plan.

The user simply hovers over the seat map to view available seats and prices. Once the seats have been chosen, the user is taken through to the payment screen to pay for their selected seats using a credit card. An email confirmation is sent to the passenger on completion of the booking.

If passengers have any queries with the system, there is a direct number available to the Flights Department, where Air Operations will be able to assist with their query. Air Operations will also control the administration side of the system, including the set-up of the aircraft maps, which are provided by the charter airlines.

This is a brilliant idea and hopefully more flights will be available to prebook by next summer.

Flight Seat Booker will then be available for the 2010/11 season from Ventura cruise N028/A.
Please click here to view the Q&A for flight seat booker.

Visit the Cruise show at the N.E.C this year.

2010-09-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

Are you undecided which cruise to take next year ? if so then maybe you should visit the cruise show taking place at the N.E.C this year.

Following the success of the second London Cruise Show, which took place this March, the organisers have decided to take it on the road to a new location. The show, which is being held on October 16 and 17 at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre (NEC), will give travellers the chance to meet face to face with cruise lines and get a general feel for holidays at sea. to answer your questions.
If you are looking for inspiration to plan your ideal cruise, then start with a visit to one of the talks. The theatres are packed with practical information about discovering exotic voyages and destinations, to expert advice from the leading cruise lines on how to decide which ship is best suited to you, from finding the right cabin and on-board activities to shore excursions and everything in between.

Relax with a glass of wine or indulge with some champagne at The Deck - a great place to catch up with friends, mull over your next cruise or simply take a break from the excitement of the show.

Or if you are feeling lucky, then head over to the CRUISE casino tables to have a go at blackjack or roll the dice on the craps table. Don't worry if you have not tried it before, the croupiers will show you how to play, its easy and fun.

Are you looking to bag a cruise bargain? Do you want to get some information on your next -- or even first -- voyage? ! At least by visiting it will help with new ideas.
The major cruise lines will be there from P&O cruises to Royal Caribbean to the smaller and more luxurious products too.

Here's what else you can expect:

* Show talks
* Luxury
* Adventure - Don't miss talks on Alaska, the Galapagos Islands, South America and European river cruises.

Visit the Cruise Theatre each day for a special programme, including "How to plan the perfect family cruise" (Saturday) and "Expert advice for first-timer cruisers" (Sunday).

* Relaxation. One of the joys of cruising is getting a treatment in the onboard spa. Swing by the "Spa & Relax Zone," where you can get a massage, facial or body wrap -- great after a day of walking the show floor!

Have fun.

My Queen Mary visit

2010-09-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

I am really excited as I am off to visit the Queen Mary 2 in a few weeks time.

I have heard such fantastic reports about her and cannot wait to see her for myself. There will be a few of us from http://www.cruise.co.uk/ going and I will gladly do a review when I return.

My colleague Sian has told me how amazing the ship is with one of the highlights being the Todd English speciality restaurant, which although carries a cover charge is well worth the experience. Todd English is also on the Queen Victoria too.

I just love drama and evening entertainment so I will definitely be attending

all the performances as they are meant to be spectacular. RADA actors also host their popular workshops on the QM2 where the talented actors pass on priceless acting tips.

There's Ballroom Dancing, quizzes and loads of sport activities, so I will let you know how I get on in a few weeks time. It's going to be a busy few days.

I just hope I can fit it all in>

Is there anything else I should look out for during my cruise ? Let me know...

What is the likelihood of being bumped off your cruise ?

2010-09-03T09:40:00.000-07:00

How important is your travel insurance ?

While it's little consolation to those impacted, being bumped from a cruise is, fortunately, a somewhat rare occurrence, typically limited to four main scenarios: a charter, redeployment, an accident necessitating shipyard repairs or an overbooked cruise. And virtually every cruise line has the right to bump anyone involuntarily for any reason.

It's written in the passage contract all cruisers agree to when they book a cruise; for example, Norwegian Cruise Lines' contract says, "In the event of strikes, lockouts, stoppages of labor, riots, weather conditions, mechanical difficulties or any other reason whatsoever [italics added], NCL has the right to cancel, advance, postpone or substitute any scheduled sailing or itinerary without prior notice."

That standard cruise contract even gives the cruise line the right to bump passengers without any compensation beyond refunding the cruise fare; however, lines will often provide passengers with the option to rebook comparable cruises, possibly take care of flight change fees and throw in some onboard credit as a "gesture of good will." Still, passengers who are bumped might be stuck with taking care of travel expenses for things like transportation and hotel stays.

In the end, chances are slim that you'll ever be bumped from a cruise, but it's important to know that it can happen, and when it does, it's up to the individual passenger to work with the line to make alternative arrangements. Here are the four main reasons you could be bumped:

The cruise ship has been chartered.

The ship is redeployed to a new destination or cruise line.

The ship is heading to a dry dock.

Cruise ship is overbooked.

Compensation for Being Bumped:
Standard industry practice calls for an offer of a full refund, as well as some form of onboard credit for those who rebook one of the options offered by the line. (Rebooking options might include the same ship on a different date or a similar itinerary on a different ship.)

So do remember to take travel insurance and check your cover.

Make sure it covers not only the cost of the cruise itself but also airfare and any other major expenses -- like hotel and transportation costs -- you may have. For instance, Travel Guard's "Cancel for Any Reason" policy applies to any trip that's canceled up to 48 hours prior to departure. But, as all policies are different, be sure to read the fine print to make sure the policy you purchase covers all relevant expenses if your sailing gets canceled

Celebrity returns down under

2010-08-28T01:56:00.000-07:00

In response to demand from former passengers, Celebrity Cruises is basing a ship n- 1814, passenger Celebrity Century in Australia in 2011/2012, two years after leaving the region to offer sailings closer to its base in the United States.

Australia is the hot new cruise destination. Last year Carnival UK moved one of cruise line Ocean Village's ships to the P&O Australian fleet to meet demand and the lines second ship will follow this winter. The Ocean Village brand will close.

Celebrity Century will undertake 12 and 13 night voyages between Sydney and Auckland as well as two 18 night Australian Cruises.

Silversea, Cunard, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises will also be visiting Australian waters next year.

Call me for more details.

High time for fun.

2010-08-22T01:55:00.000-07:00

Activities on cruise ships have come a long way since shuffleboard. Now passengers want to keep busy at sea. Here I have found some excellent ways to pass the time which will help you decide which one is best for you.

Do you like the sound of bouncing around ?

then enjoy some stimulating acrobactics on the P&O Cruises family - orientated ship the Ventura. It has bungee trampolines and Cirque Ventura circus school where kids can try stilt walking, juggling and tight rope walking. It's described as the first circus at sea and is available for those aged 8 years and above. The bungee trampolines are open at specific times and are free of charge.

How about soaring through the air ?

Fly high on the world's largest cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas. Daring passengers with a head for heights can glide over the deck on the world's first zip line at sea, stretching more than 80 ft. The line is suspended nine decks above the ships Boardwalk neighbourhood, giving riders a birds eye view of the traditional carousel beneath.

Anyone not wanting to soar through the waves instead can jump on a surfboard on one of the two on-board Flowrider surf simulators. How amazing is that ?

Would you prefer to make a big splash instead ?

Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship, Norwegian Epic, has a shipload of fun and frolics including an aquapark with three waterslides, offering the first tube at sea.

Youngsters can opt for the purple childrens slide that zips through the rock climbing wall or adrenalin junkies can opt for the green slide which twists down three storeys.

For ultimate kicks try the Epic plunge where riders on inner tubes plummet down a 200ft long tube to the vortex in the bowl. Here, forces keep you high on the wall for several turns until they zoom into the splashdown lane.

Have you tried any of these yet ? Let me know if you have.

Is it possible to find a quiet spot on a cruise ?

2010-08-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year where everywhere is busy and finding a quiet spot can be impossible.
Cruising can be confined but there some spaces to be found and here are my tips.

Cruising conjures visions of up to some teak-swathed covered pool deck to enjoy a margarita and a good book under the Caribbean sun. But , while there certainly are opportunities for downtime, depending on the cruise, you may have to look harder to find them.

On a brilliantly sunny day at sea, for example, you might meander out to the pool only to find it overrun with fellow sun-worshippers , all fighting over the same few dozen deck chairs. Throngs of splashing, laughing children will have taken over the pools and the hot tubs, and the sound of the waves will have been drowned out by an outdoor movie's soundtrack, the resident reggae band or a raucous belly-flop contest.

But, if you try just a little harder, peace is still possible to find. You can rent a private cabana for a few hours, or claim a lounger in an adults-only section of the deck. You can retreat to the spa or to the pool on a sunny shore day, when everyone else is exploring off the ship. The bottom line? Cruising can be equal parts amped-up and low-key, sociable and solitary. What you personally experience may depend on where you are on the ship at a certain time of day, which ship or cruise line you've chosen, the itinerary and how much extra you're willing to budget for your vacation.

While there are no hard and fast rules guaranteeing a quiet getaway, we've compiled some basic tips to help you tune out distractions -- and fellow passengers -- while you cruise But first, here's what to avoid as you aim for a serene sailing:

Inside cabins. Don't book a windowless, cheerless, 150-square-foot stateroom cabin if your idea of relaxation means spending time alone or as a couple, away from cruising's stereotypically chummy, social scene. Living in cramped quarters only forces you out more into the ship's hustle and bustle.

World cruises or "Grand Voyages." If you've the soul of a hermit crab, these lengthy voyages aren't for you; they attract affable crowds of repeat cruisers and promote social bonding amongst crew and passengers. In other words, you'll be drawn out of your shell, regardless of how much you long to stay in there.

Theme cruises. These full or partial charters essentially take over a ship or a substantial number of cabins. Nearly everything revolves around the theme, and the experience is all about connecting like-minded folks socially in big-group activities.

First timers guide to shore excurions.

2010-08-11T08:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you don't feel like doing anything on holiday but the temptation of snorkelling through coral reefs, exploring ancient Roman ruins, hiking on glaciers, shopping at local outdoor markets -- all of these shoreside activities are as much a part of the cruise experience as enjoying the onboard amenities of your ship. Indeed, half the fun of taking a cruise is exploring exciting new places -- tropical islands, bustling metropolises, exotic countries.

So to enhance each port visit cruise lines offer organized shore excursions on all ships for additional fees.You can take a sunset pleasure cruise in St. Lucia, visit penguin colonies in the Falkland Islands, go wine tasting in Provence or rollerblade through Copenhagen. The tours can be booked onboard at your ship's excursions desk or online before you depart on your trip.

The benefits of booking ship-sponsored tours are many. You can skip the hassle of arranging your own onshore activities, you'll know the tour provider is licensed and reputable, and the ship won't depart until all of its tour buses have returned.

But ship tours are not always the way to go. The pleasurability and efficiency of tour operators varies from ship to ship, and some tour offerings are simply duds. All too often, shore excursions translate into time-consuming bus rides with drop-offs at shopping centers proffering souvenirs you can live without. For example, following a long, hot (but worthwhile) tour of the Acropolis outside of Athens, passengers who thought they were being driven back to their ship were squirreled into a tacky little shop, belonging to the tour guide's brother-in-law. Finally, you will often pay more for the privilege of letting the cruise line arrange your day than you would if you booked directly with a provider.

To give you the skills to make the best decisions about your days in port, here is our best advice on what to expect from a shore excursion and how to make the most of your time ashore.

What to Expect: Shore Excursions

Cruise lines offer a mind-boggling array of tours -- everything from basic snorkeling trips to more involved, overnight tours to see the Great Pyramids in Egypt. Here's a primer on what you can expect to see on offer.

Active vs. Sightseeing Tours: Shore excursions cover all levels of activity and interest and vary greatly, depending on what's available in each destination. Active tours could be anything from water sports to zip-lining, hiking, biking and dog-sledding. Activity-based trips might feature a day at the spa or beach, a pleasure cruise on a sailboat, wine or food tasting, a cultural performance or a visit to a museum. Sightseeing excursions are typically bus tours that take passengers to the highlights and shopping areas of the port city or nearby destinations. Remember that excursions look different in different parts of the word. In the Caribbean, you'll find options like snorkelling with sting rays or transportation to private beaches; European tours focus more on sightseeing -- for example, full-day tours from the port of Livorno to the museums and cathedrals of Florence or multi-hour lunches, featuring local produce, meats and wine at a farmhouse in Tuscany.

Full vs. Half-Day Tours

Shore excursions vary in length. Some take up all your time in port, while others are just a few hours of an all-day visit. Choose a full-day tour to see the most you can in one trip or for journeys to destinations outside the port city. A half-day tour might only focus on one specific itinerary -- a three-hour kayak trip or a highlights tour of a city -- but gives you free time to explore the port on your own before or after.

Guided vs. Free Time

Not all shore excursions involve busloads of tourists, dutifully following flag- or umbrella-waving guides. You will find these types of sightseeing tours, as well as athletic endeavors overseen by dive masters or hike leaders. However, some tours simply bring you to a destination where you're free to explore until it's time to meet the bus to go home, while others feature guided components, followed by an hour or two of free time.

Highlights vs. In-Depth

Some shore excursions -- such as daylong trips from Tunis to the marketplace, museum and ancient Carthage – pack many activities into one trip. Others focus on one destination or activity, like a trip to the Mayan ruins from Cozumel. It's up to you whether you'd prefer to see many things for short amounts of time or focus on one place, in-depth.

Concierge or Boutique

Some of the newest trends in shore excursions include intimate tours that are limited to 25 or so guests. Many lines offer these "boutique" excursions, which could be cooking classes at a renowned French cooking school or a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Many lines also offer car-and-driver packages (so you can customize your own tour) or have concierges to arrange shoreside activities exclusively for your travel party. You can skip the caravan of four large tour buses and trade up for a more exclusive experience.

There are plenty of tours to book and most cruise lines have their shore excurisions viewable online. So book early to avoid disappointment.

Painting a picture on the Black Sea on Fred Olsen cruises.

2010-08-05T11:51:00.000-07:00

If there's an artist within you bursting to get out, a month-long voyage through the Mediterranean might be the way to release your inner Picasso.

The Black Seas Adventure Cruise takes passengers around the Mediterranean and Black Sea, visiting iconic cities such as Malaga, Pireaus, Odessa, Istanbul, Algiers and Lisbon. You cannot fail to be inspired by the Byzantine splendour of Istanbul, vibrant colours of the Gardens Huerto Del Cura in Cartagena and elegant ruins of Pireaus.

As part of the Fred Olsen ArtsClub programme, on-board art expert Brian Healey will hold talks and demonstrations, and offer tuition to encourage passengers to put pen, pencil and paintbrush to paper. The complimentary, informal arts programme is open to all guests and aspiring artists of all abilities.

Fred Olsen Cruises operates the Black Seas Adventure Cruise from September 20 to October 18. Prices for the 28-night cruise start from £2,945 per person, including full board, on-board entertainment and port taxes.

Pack your trunks for the circus for cruising with P&O

2010-07-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

Take a cruise on board the P&O Cruises ship Ventura and you'll have the opportunity to learn a range of circus skills from professional instructors in this circus school at sea.

Located high up on level 19, the Cirque deck is home to a number of skilled performers who run workshops to teach passengers to walk along the tight wire, use a static and flying trapeze, break-dance and walk on stilts. The dedicated circus deck is equipped with four bungee trampolines, meaning passengers with a head for heights can leap around 200ft above sea level, while those with less lofty ambitions can learn to juggle, use a hula hoop or simply clown around.

P&O Cruises operates cruises on the Ventura in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and around Scandinavia. One-week cruise breaks are available from £597 per person, cruise only. Two-week cruises in the Mediterranean start from £1,091 per person, and in the Caribbean from £1,034 per person, cruise only. The Cirque deck operates on all Ventura cruises.

How and which cruise to take with the kids.

2010-07-25T07:28:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again when you expect every destination over the next couple of months to be busy...the fabulous summer holidays are here.

Cruise lines are no exception, they have been outdoing themselves lately to attract the family cruise market. Norwegian Cruise Line has teamed up with Nickelodeon, Royal Caribbean has partnered with Dreamworks (think "Shrek" and "Kung Fu Panda"), Disney Cruise Line is building two new ships and MSC Cruises lets kids sail free on every cruise.

Combined with expanded kids' and teens' clubs, video arcades, waterslides, outdoor movies, basketball and mini-golf onboard, cruising truly has become an ideal family holiday.

But with more and more under-18s boarding cruise ships, especially during school holidays, there can be a down side. Couples looking for a romantic getaway without children may find themselves on a ship with 1,000 kids onboard. And while many of these junior cruisers are happily ensconced in youth activities or spending time with their families, we've heard rumors of unsupervised kids and teens roaming the hallways, taking over elevators and hot tubs, and creating mayhem for their elder shipmates.

So I want to know -- what's been your experience cruising during a school holiday period? Most of the time cruise lines do a great job handling the influx of kids, especially restricting the number of spaces on board, but negative responses and people who refused to ever cruise again during school holidays were plentiful as well. We wondered if enhanced kids' spaces and programming over the past few years would have improved the situation.

Have a look at our website under cruise reviews too for more information on the subject.

Speciality restaurants - a brief guide to some of the best.

2010-07-17T06:27:00.000-07:00

Eating well at great restaurants is one of life's guilty pleasures, whether it's leave-you-speechless haute cuisine or roll-up-your-sleeves grazing. And there's good news for true gourmands. Some of the world's stellar chefs/proprietors of those so-hot-you-can't-get-a-table citadels are jumping onboard.

What's fresh and enticing is that cruise lines are raising the food bar by developing partnerships with such storied chefs as Jacques Pepin, Wolfgang Puck, Nobu, Todd English and Charlie Palmer. While you may rarely find these chefs in a cruise ship kitchen -- er, galley -- they do create menus, train chefs, and consult on front-of-the-house operations ranging from wait staff training to ambience.

Check out a few of our favourites
Celebrity Cruises

Venue: The continental-themed, uber-formal alternative restaurants on most ships in the fleet (save for Galaxy and Mercury) offer a traditional European dining experience.

At the Helm: At this point, Celebrity is one of the few cruise lines that doesn't have a celebrity chef partnership (its longtime relationship with Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux ended a few years ago).

Palate Pleasers: Fantastic wine list, superb cheese course, goat cheese starter, lamb, lobster and steaks.

Crystal Cruises
Venue: Silk Road and the Sushi Bar

At the Helm: Nobu, creator of the world renowned Matsuhisa in Los Angeles, has now developed restaurants around the world. Silk Road and the Sushi Bar are his only sea-going ventures.

Sea for Yourself: Silk Road and the Sushi Bar are on both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. There's a $7 per person recommended service charge for the restaurant. There's no cover fee for dining at the sushi bar.

Seabourn Cruise Line
At the Helm: Chef-restaurateur Charlie Palmer, known for his progressive American cuisine, oversees recipe creation and menu planning at all the eateries on Seabourn's ships. Palmer's claim to fame? New York's Aureole, California's Dry Creek Kitchen, and Charlie Palmer Steak (numerous locales from Las Vegas to Washington, D.C.).

Sea for Yourself: Tastings@2 is on Seabourn Legend, Seabourn Pride and Seabourn Spirit. There is no cover charge.
Cunard Line

Venue: Todd English offers Mediterranean-influenced cooking in a funky, contemporary atmosphere.

At the Helm: Todd English, celebrated for his Olives restaurants in Boston, Washington D.C., New York and Las Vegas, oversees the eateries.
Sea for Yourself: Todd English is on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. There's a $20 cover charge for lunch; it's $30 for dinner.

P&O Cruises

Venue: The White Room

At the Helm: Marco Pierre White, the youngest British chef to be awarded three Michelin stars and head chef in the U.K.'s ITV show, "Hell's Kitchen," takes his creative cuisine to sea.

Sea for Yourself: The White Room is found on P&O's Ventura. The cost to dine there is £20 per person on two-week voyages, £25 per person on seven-day holidays and £30 per person on short-break cruises. Or for £100 per couple, you can order from The White Room's full menu and dine on your balcony; the dinner comes with a bottle of champagne, a butler and flowers.

Which restaurant has been your favourite ? Let me know.

Fabulous Disney Cruises and a new Teen spa.

2010-07-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

We all love Disney and Disney Cruise Line continues to trickle out details on its under-construction Disney Dream, which will launch in January 2011 as the first new Disney ship in more than a decade. In a recent post on the Disney Parks blog, the cruise line announced that 128,000-ton, 2,500-passenger Disney Dream will feature the Chill Spa, an area inside the ship's Senses Spa & Salon that will offer spa services to teens between the ages of 13 and 17.

The area has two designated treatment rooms, and parents will be able to send their kids off for teen-friendly facials, massages, body treatments, manicures, pedicures and more while they get their own more grown-up treatments in the main spa, catch naps in their cabins or visit the adults-only areas of the ship. The Chill Spa will also feature a separate seating area and showers, so there's truly no need to mingle with adults. Reservations can be made online before setting sail.

It's worth noting that Disney is not the first cruise line to feature a dedicated youth spa facility. Royal Caribbean's gargantuan Oasis of the Seas debuted the youth spa concept last December, offering three designated treatment rooms comprising its Y-Spa. Although no other cruise ship has a specified facility, lines including Carnival, NCL and Princess do offer youth-oriented spa treatments in the main spas on select ships.

Additional details about the ship's onboard amenities and features have been emerging over the past several months, including those about new dining options like the introduction of the upscale, French-themed alternative restaurant Remy and the Enchanted Garden, a main dining room that will offer International cuisine and use lighting and other technology to transform its appearance as night falls. Other already-announced features include the industry's first water coaster (the AquaDuck), virtual portholes in all inside cabins and an interactive play floor.

We'll be sure to keep you posted as more details roll in.

Cruise prices...are they all on the increase ?

2010-07-04T06:52:00.000-07:00

Holidays at sea could be up to 10 % more expensive next year, according to Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.
A spokesman for the U.K based company said that prices had hit 'rock bottom' during the recession but could rise considerably as cruise companies sought to increase profits.

Find the hidden costs in your cruise.

2010-06-29T05:26:00.000-07:00

You have probably heard the term "all-inclusive" applied to cruises every so often. But while a voyage is one of the best values around since all major expenses (accommodation, meals, snacks, activities and entertainment) are indeed included in the fare, there are some items -- mostly of a personal nature -- that are out-of-pocket expenses. Here are some of the more frequent cruise questions.

Shore Excursions: Read the line's shore tour booklet and attend the port lectures given aboard the ship that provide you with more details about the organized tours available for sale on the ship. Prices for these excursions range from about $25 - $45 (£15 - £40) for a half-day city tour, to more than $200 (£150) for some all-day tours, overland programs including meals and snacks, and such exciting offerings as helicopter flight-seeing and hot-air ballooning.

Savings Tip: While you may wish to sign up for some of the ship's tours (particularly if you are not familiar with the port and do not speak the language), you also have the option to tour independently at a fraction of the cost.

Alcohol and other Beverages: Alcoholic beverages and wine are not included in the cruise fare on most lines (with the exception of some ultra-deluxe lines). And your tab can add up: Hard liquor, cocktails and wine range from $3.50 - $8 apiece, depending on cruise line (higher-end lines tend to charge more for drinks); soft drinks will run $1.50 - $2. Prices for liquor, cocktails and wine on U.K. cruise ships vary from £2.50 - £7, and bottles of wine start at around £10. Tea and coffee start at £1.50.

Savings Tip: Most vessels advertise "daily drink specials" you may want to try. At meals, iced tea, milk, coffee and juices are complimentary. If you are traveling with children, find out if your ship offers "soda packages" that feature unlimited sodas during the cruise for about $15 - $20 (£10 - £15).

Casino Gaming: Shipboard casinos keep getting bigger and bigger, so it is safe to say that the lines are doing well at their tables and slots.

Savings Tip: Set a limit as to how much you wish to risk and leave if you lose it. Or better yet, avoid the casino altogether.

Spa: A massage is typically around $90 - $110 (£50 - £90). Take advantage of ship discounts on port days.

Savings Tip: check your ship's daily program of activities for ads for spa treatment specials that may be available one day only or during certain hours of a given day.

Souvenir Shopping: You probably want to purchase something to remember your cruise, and it may take a lot of willpower to pass up on the beautiful -- and expensive -- figurines, perfumes, designer fashions and leather goods if your budget does not allow for them.

Savings Tip: Avoid temptation by not browsing in the boutiques onboard and ashore if you cannot afford to buy.

Laundry: As at land-based resorts, laundry and dry cleaning charges on a cruise can be steep (approximately $2.50 to $3.50 (£1.50 - £3) to wash a T-shirt, for instance). Check to see if there is a self-service launderette and use it (typically, washing and drying one load of clothes comes to about $2 - $3).

Savings Tip: If there is no launderette, pack enough changes of clothes for the cruise and do the wash back home.

Film and Other Camera Needs: Getting additional film, batteries and other camera supplies will not only cost you more money (generally $1 to $2 (£2) more per item than the same articles bought at a discount store back home),

Savings Tip: Buy plenty of film and other camera supplies on sale at home -- and bring more than you think you will need, just in case.

Tipping: Many lines recommend about $10 per person per day to be given to the dining room waiter ($4 per person, per day), assistant waiter ($2 per person, per day) and cabin steward ($4 per person, per day). If you have butler service, be prepared to tip that crew member $4 per day. Bar tabs are charged a 15 percent gratuity automatically. When the maitre d' performs a special service, such as arranging for a birthday cake to be brought to the table, he should be tipped as well. U.K. travelers will find that tips are typically built into the cruise fare. You can, of course, give tips for exceptional service.

Savings Tip: These folks -- particularly the waiters, assistant waiters and cabin stewards -- work very hard. Unless the service has been poor, tip the recommended amount. And add a little more, if you can, for outstanding attention.

Fuel Surcharges: . check your quote includes the new fuel surcharge.

Let me know your tips.

Cunard and the new Queen Elizabeth.

2010-06-22T06:02:00.000-07:00

Excitement is building around Cunard's new 90,400-ton Queen Elizabeth, with less than four months to launch – with the biggest question being: What will Cunard pull out of the hat to make this ship innovative and different?

Queen Elizabeth is a near-twin of Queen Victoria structurally but there are some changes, most in the décor but some in the use of public areas, too. For a start, Queen Victoria's classic interiors are inspired by the line's long heritage, while Queen Elizabeth's look will reflect the art deco era, a distinctive style that was at its peak in the 1920s and 1930s.

There are four big changes. Guests in top-grade Britannia-class cabins get their own dining room with open seating dining, a Cunard first. Next, the Winter Garden on Queen Victoria becomes a vast conservatory on Queen Elizabeth, styled after the stunning glasshouses in London's Kew Gardens. And the Games Deck on deck 10 will hark back to the era of Brideshead Revisited; think croquet and bowls on the lawn, and paddle tennis in whites. In addition, there are 38 new cabins, the reason for the ship's boxy stern.

The ship is still very much under construction at Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard at Trieste, Italy, absolutely swarming with welders, electricians, painters and contractors. Structurally, everything is in place but a lot of imagination is required to visualise the elegant vessel that will emerge in October.

Best Cruises for non cruisers.

2010-06-15T11:52:00.000-07:00

If you've got a reason why you couldn't possibly like cruising, I can guarantee I've heard it before. And while I agree that not every cruise ship or type of cruise will suit every person out there, the explanations people give for why they'd dislike a cruise are generally unfounded.

That's because cruise ships come in all shapes and sizes. Vessels like Royal Caribbean's mammoth Oasis of the Seas are like floating cities or Vegas casinos with every possible activity onboard, while Star Clippers' fleet offers an authentic sailing experience -- the closest you're likely to come to being a pirate of the Caribbean. Some cruise lines focus on enrichment, nature and culture, while others strive to create fun atmospheres that entertain kids, couples and seniors all looking for a respite from the daily grind. Itineraries can be port-intensive, visiting a different destination each day, or utterly relaxing, offering strings of consecutive days at sea.

Here are some of the most common fears about cruising and a sample of the lines where those concerns never come into play...

"I'll be bored."

Imagine a ship that's so big that it has neighborhoods within it. Onboard Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise ship ever built, passengers can rock climb, play miniature golf, try surfing, learn to decorate cupcakes, ride a carousel, enjoy a spa treatment, work out in a full-size gym, lie by a "beach" pool or in a hot tub, go for a ride on a zip-line, go ice skating, watch a variety of live entertainment (including comedy shows, Broadway musicals, parades and acrobatic shows), learn to scuba dive, go shopping, watch the game in a bar and sing karaoke. Bored yet? I didn't think so.

Another cruise line where you'll never be bored is Norwegian Cruise Line -- especially its newest ships, like the new Epic or Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Pearl. These ships have onboard bowling alleys that turn into bordello-style discos at night, rock climbing walls, a large selection of funky bars and themed restaurants, evening parties, and lots of karaoke. When Norwegian Epic launches in summer 2010, it will have even more to do onboard -- including an ice bar, an aqua park, a dueling piano show, a beach club, a circus-style dinner theater, bungee trampoline and ropes course.

And don't forget -- you'll typically be in port for half the days on your cruise, if not more, where you'll have plenty of options to keep yourself entertained.

Has your cruise ever bored you ?

Supermodel Twiggy Names the Seabourn Sojourn.

2010-06-09T04:17:00.000-07:00

London basked in brilliant sunshine yesterday, perfect weather for the elegant, black-tie naming ceremony of the 32,000-ton Seabourn Sojourn by 60's icon Twiggy, who is godmother to the new ship. Some of my colleagues here at http://www.cruise.co.uk/ were fortunate enough to have a look at her and were most impressed.

Against a backdrop of historic Greenwich, Champagne corks popped around the ship's pool, and waiters in formalwear circulated with caviar and foie gras canapes. A poolside ice bar, engraved with the Seabourn logo, slowly dripped in the heat. Lavish flower arrangements adorned the deck and floated in the water.

The ceremony itself was over in minutes. CEO and President Pam Conover made the briefest of speeches to introduce Twiggy, comparing her to the new ship as both possess "elegance, style, timeless beauty and an iconic presence." Twiggy, every inch the supermodel in a shimmery cerise dress by British designer Catherine Walker, quickly embraced the mood by greeting the crowd with the words: "Welcome to my yacht!" With no further ado, she pressed a button, and the bottle of Champagne zoomed down a zip line, across the pool, and smashed against the ship's superstructure.

After the ceremony and before the fireworks everyone enjoyed a magnificent five-course dinner in the ship's beautiful dining room. After sunset, guests gathered once more on deck for bite-sized desserts flavoured with chocolate, coffee and liqueurs, as a glamorous string quartet blasted out rousing classical tunes. Spectacular fireworks, set off from a barge in the Thames, lit the sky over Greenwich.

It was a perfect evening and a far cry from last summer's tense, uncomfortable media previews of Sojourn's twin sister, Seabourn Odyssey in rainy Venice; Odyssey was delivered from Italy's T Marriotti yard far from complete, with a half-built spa and engine trouble among its problems.

The 450-passenger Sojourn, in contrast, looks spectacular, sleek and luxurious and is very much ready for her inaugural sailing to northern Europe. Ironically, the voyage includes two calls in Iceland, the cause of so much travel misery early this year, and a volcanologist is being brought onboard specially to give talks to the guests. But, at last night's celebrations, the ash cloud was a distant memory.

Finding fitness on your cruise ship.

2010-06-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

If your idea of a great vacation involves daily runs in the open air, a leisurely workout in a hi-tech gym, or a smorgasbord of fitness classes like yoga and Pilates, you should know that a cruise may just be the perfect getaway for you. These days, cruise ships are about more than just eating and lying in the sun, and they're attracting fitness buffs, yogis and health-conscious travelers in droves with active options both onboard and off.

Believe it or not, on a cruise you really can lose weight -- or at least break even. That's because fitness centers are growing in size to accommodate a more youthful and body-conscious passenger base, and often feature state-of-the-art equipment and 180-degree sea views. Ships are breaking new ground with cutting-edge workouts like Kinesis Walls and Tour de Spin classes, and offering trendy sessions in Pilates and tai chi. Deck games like shuffleboard and skeet shooting have made way for onboard surfing, rock climbing, mini-golf and basketball. In port, active excursion options are plentiful. Cycling is big -- not to mention hiking, kayaking, swimming and diving. If breaking a sweat can be fun, cruise ships have found ways to offer those activities in the middle of the ocean.

Royal Caribbean is leading the pack as the trendsetter in onboard fitness options. Its ships are the only ones afloat to offer onboard surfing, boxing and ice skating. But it's not the only line to put emphasis on fitness. Others are also expanding their gyms and their top-deck fitness options. Some of the smaller lines -- SeaDream, Star Clippers, Windstar, Seabourn -- focus on water sports, with onboard marinas packed with water toys that range from kayaks to watersurfing. Crystal and Seabourn are two luxury lines getting creative with gentler, senior-friendly workouts like Kinesis and walking, while river lines store bikes onboard for passengers to use ashore.

Onboard gyms can get crowded at peak hours, such as early morning and late afternoon before dinner. Some ships even have signup sheets for cardio machines with strict 30-minute time limits. Go during off-hours (or while ships are in port) for less crowded conditions.

Many group classes -- Pilates, yoga, spinning -- come with a fee (typically $10-$15). Classes can fill up so sign up in advance. Instructors vary in ability, and as they teach all the classes, they might not have the same level of dedicated training in one tradition as your studio back home. Work out at your own risk and don't do anything that seems painful to you.

Onboard water sports marinas are great but they can only be used when the weather is warm enough and the ship can anchor in safe and relatively calm waters. If you're excited about taking out kayaks and Sunfish straight from the ship, hot weather cruises are better than colder, shoulder season trips (though the opportunity varies). On one October Windstar cruise in the Mediterranean the marina was never opened while on a Seabourn cruise, same itinerary, same season, marina activities were a cruise highlight.

The smaller the ship, the smaller the gym. Luxury lines may have first-rate facilities but a 200-person ship won't have the enormous workout space a 3,200-person ship will have.

Don't forget about shore excursions. Active tours are quite popular. You can get some physical activity -- in the form of kayaking, walking, hiking and biking -- while exploring a destination.

If you really want your cruise to be all about good health, choose a theme cruise. There are special cruises for runners and golfers, as well as general health and wellness lifestyle cruises (often featuring workshops on yoga, meditation and healthy diets). For those who prefer less of a gym-based approach to working out, dance-themed cruises will keep you on your toes day and night.

We feature a number of dance-themed cruises with Cunard so do give me call for all the options available.

The Chelsea Flower Show and our Garden cruises.

2010-05-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

It was an exciting day at Chelsea Flower show yesterday as it was medal day. For the exhibitors it proved that all the hard work over the last year had finally paid off.

Here are my three favouries from each catagory and each won a gold.

The M&G garden with a plunge pool and a comfy seating area.

The Childrens Society Garden by Mark Gregory.

Perfect for teenagers this had a covered seating area with a place to unwind around the fire pit, complete with a pizza oven. Beautiful aquilegias and foxgloves,

The Children’s Society Garden is a modern, urban retreat that takes inspiration from what makes young people happy.

And finally the most tranquil and a very English garden and my overall favourite was the 'Music on the Moors' garden based on a view through a Church window looking at a babbling brook, ferns and stepping stones.

If Chelsea flower show has inspired you to learn more about your plants then why not join other amateurs and professionals on one our Garden Cruises with Fred Olsen cruises where Alan Titchmarsh, David Hurrion and Matthew Biggs along with many others give regular lectures and question / answer sessions.

Here are our Garden cruises for 2011 ask me for details.

Amazon cruise 3rd February 2011 on the Braemar

Classis Caribbean 3rd March 2011 on the Braemar

Dublin and Daffodils 7th April 2011 on the Boudicca

Canary Islands 15th April 2011 on the Black Watch.

Norway 3rd May 2011 on the Balmoral

Baltics 24th June 2011 on the Balmoral

Italy 16th July 2011 on the Balmoral

Canary Islands 29th September 2011 on the Braemar

Counting down to Chelsea and Garden cruises.

2010-05-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

The RHS, Chelsea Flower Show kicks off this week from 25th May - 29th May and is a popular event for all keen gardeners and horticulturists, along with Hampton Court in July. It's a fabulous time of year for enjoying the garden but in between and during the winter months why not join our groups with one of our Garden cruises with Fred Olsen.

* Exclusive talks

* Celebrity garden host.

* Free garden tour.

* On board spend.

* Free car parking

* Informal get-togethers

* Gardeners' Q&A session.

* Meet the experts

* Cocktail party

* Free tours

5 October 2010 – Canaries Collection – with David Hurrion – will be promoted in Gardeners World in April/May issue

25 November 2010 – Caribbean Isles – with Matthew Biggs & Will Giles – currently promoted in Gardeners’ World Magazine

The cruises take place on the Braemar and already we have our garden tour programmes through for 2011 - ask me for details.

Disabled cabins and the new Celebrity Eclipse.

2010-05-20T09:49:00.000-07:00

I rang my friend last night who has recently returned from her cruise on the Celebrity Eclipse. She and her husband had a fabulous time, but more importantly I wanted to know if the adapted cabin she had booked lived up to her expectations.

They have cruised with other cruise lines and Royal Caribbean have become a firm favourite. My friend relies heavily on her husband as she is confined to a wheelchair. She was most impressed with her cabin as there were plenty of grab rails, sockets low enough to reach and lower table tops. She was able to move herself around without calling for her husbands help every 5 minutes.

So, after our conversation I decided to look at how many adapted cabins other cruise lines have and here they are below:-

Princess Cruises

Sea Princess, sailing from the UK to the Mediterranean this year, has 19 disabled cabins ranging from insides to mini-suites

Grand Princess, which takes over the route in summer 2009, has 28, ranging from insides to balcony rooms.

Royal Caribbean International

Independence of the Seas, sailing from Southampton this summer and next, has 30 disabled cabins ranging from insides to balconies.

All Freedom-class ships have the same facilities.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Jade, sailing from Southampton, has 26 disabled cabins

Norwegian Jewel, sailing from Dover, has 27 disabled cabins

Disabled cabins range from insides and outsides to balcony staterooms, mini-suites and penthouses.

P&O Cruises

Ventura has 23 inside, outside and balcony cabins for the disabled.

Arcadia has 18 disabled balcony cabins plus 14 inside twins with wide doors that allow wheelchair access.

Aurora has 22 disabled cabins, ranging from insides to balconies

Oceana has 19 – mainly insides and outsides but one balcony room.

Oriana has eight disabled cabins – all outside twins.

Artemis has four ocean-view disabled cabins.

All ships sail from Southampton this summer.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Braemar, Black Watch and Boudicca each have four disabled cabins

Black Prince has two disabled cabins.

Balmoral has nine disabled cabins across all grades, from insides to ocean view and suites.

All sail from the UK throughout the year.

Thomson Cruises

Thomson Celebration, sailing from Newcastle and Harwich to the Baltic and Norwegian fjords this summer, has four disabled cabins.

Island Cruises

Island Star has five disabled cabins.

Island Escape has four disabled cabins.

Both ships sail from Palma in summer.

Ocean Village

Ocean Village, sailing from Heraklion, Crete, this summer has 10 disabled cabins, a mix of insides and outsides.

Ocean Village Two, sailing from Palma, has the same facilities.

The best cruiselines for disabled passengers

Princess Cruises: Princess recommends passengers in a wheelchair travel with an able-bodied person. It’s not a requirement, however, and the cruiseline will not refuse a booking from someone who wishes to travel without a companion, or couples who both use a wheelchair.

Royal Caribbean International: A van with a lift is used for disabled passenger transfers. There are hydraulic lifts for one pool and one whirlpool on each ship, plus wheelchair accessibility to blackjack tables in the casino and at the guest relations desk. Menus and the daily Cruise Compass are available in Braille.

Norwegian Cruise Line: Offers Freestyle eat-when-you-want casual cruising for disabled passengers. An NCL crew member will tour the ship with visually impaired guests on the first day to help them get their bearings. Guide dogs are welcome on board.

Holland America Line: Some wheelchairs are carried on each ship. There are elevators and ramps to all public areas. Deaf or hard-of-hearing passengers can request text telephones, amplified telephones, visual alert alarms, closed caption decoders on TVs and an assistive listening system in the cinemas.

Cruising through the storm.

2010-05-14T04:45:00.000-07:00

Is it worth the risk to plan a cruise to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexican Riviera or even Canada/New England during hurricane season? Absolutely, just expect the worst -- and hope for the best.

Statistically speaking, the chances that your particular voyage is going to be affected by a hurricane are very slim. But changes to your plans are a possibility, and it's important to approach a hurricane season cruise with the right attitude.

Cruise schedules and itineraries may well be impacted by storms, but the chances you'll actually be caught in one are slim to none. These days, solid engineering and satellite equipment allows cruise lines to follow the paths of storms (and quickly send ships elsewhere); Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are two lines that have established situation rooms -- which enable them to monitor storms and respond to changing circumstances.

Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30. Although hurricanes are generally unpredictable, conventional wisdom has dictated that peak season varies by geography. In the Eastern Caribbean and along the U.S. East Coast, the season tends to be busiest between mid-August and mid-September. In the Western Caribbean, it picks up in mid-September and stretches into early November. Early- and late-season hurricanes (June and mid- to late-November respectively) are rare but not unprecedented.

An "average" hurricane season means we can expect 8 to 11 tropical storms; of these 5 to 7 could develop into full-fledged hurricanes. Note, however, that not all hurricanes strike land.

What's trickiest for cruise lines is finding alternate places to dock or anchor when ships' scheduled ports of call are threatened. It's not always easy to find replacements not already booked up with regular cruise visitors -- particularly when other ships are seeking a quiet port in that same storm.

Would you choose to cruise during a hurricane or have any experiences ?

Ship Wrecked......taking drinks on board.

2010-05-08T03:00:00.000-07:00

It’s a Good News, Bad News situation and one not to taken seriously.

Can I take my own drinks on board ?

Bookings are up for most of the cruise lines and some are increasing their fares by 15% but what about the most awkward and grey area of cruising. The drinks policy. Many cruisers try and skirt around the restrictions by bringing alcohol aboard in plastic bottles and in suitcases, which were loaded separately and not subject to cruise line inspection. (Most of the time these are confiscated until the end of the cruise.)

Rumour has it that the members of CSIA are considering reversing its policy of forbidding cruise passengers from bringing alcohol aboard ships for consumption on their voyage.

According to the CSIA president Carrie Vale, cruising is all about personal choice and some like to bring their favourite tipple with them. It will give passengers an option of purchasing a cocktail or enjoying their own.

Previously bottles of alcohol were confiscated when passengers tried to board the ship with bottles stashed in carry-on bags. This policy was in place to boost on board spending by forcing cruisers to purchase spirits, wine and beer from the cruise line.

Nowadays many cruise companies offer prebooked drinks packages which represent really good value for money and can be booked online as we all know the carry on policy will never change.

Well, cruisers…..will you bring a bottle or go on purchasing cocktails aboard ship?

A good laugh guaranteed on the Balmoral with Fred Olsen

2010-05-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

I love comedy and whether like me, you like Rich Hall, Micheal McIntyre, Jo Brand or Hugh Dennis, when I was lucky enough to be on the Balmoral in December for our office Christmas party I headed straight for the comedy lounge and how fantastically funny the evening was.
When it comes to comedy, one size (and style) definitely does not fit all.

If you’ve ever wondered how stand-up comedy differs when performed in a club versus a cruise line, here’s your answer: The biggest difference between comedy club and cruise ship gigs is that entertainment is secondary on a cruise ship. Like myself and the rest of the audience, the comedy lounge on the Balmoral was somewhere to rest between dinner and the midnight buffet.
(Although, I did go back and watch him again later)

Comedy club audiences are usually 21 and older; cruise ship audiences have no age restrictions. World cruises have older passengers (usually over 55) because they have the necessary time and money. The shorter, romantic, long-weekend cruises tend to have younger passengers in the 25-55 age range. Although the audiences are a mixed bunch, in general a cruise ship audience is more polite than a club audience – you won’t hear much heckling onboard.

Most cruise ship passengers attend early evening comedy shows out of curiosity. Unless like me I enjoyed the comic so much I forfeited the midnight buffet to come back for more comedy.

Because of the age restrictions at most comedy clubs, comics usually have the freedom to use even their raunchiest material at every show. On cruise ships, the nervous titters from the early after-dinner crowd are joined by raucous laughter from midnight adult show audiences.

Although club material may take on any subject, many cruise ship comedians include relevant issues such as sea sickness, rough weather, food, and the ship’s staff in their acts.
I was really impressed by the variety of entertainment with Fred Olsen Cruises, from performances copied from West End shows, dancing, quizzes, sporting events and even live music.

Who has been your favourite comedian on your cruise experience ?

Testing the waters.

2010-04-24T13:16:00.000-07:00

For all the cruise virgins out there, or for those who are nervous or undecided about cruising, a mini cruise is the ideal way to discover how you take to every aspect of life at sea, from the movement of the ship, to the food, the nightlife and the joy of visiting a new place every day.
People go on mini cruise for all sorts of reasons. For cruise enthusiasts it might be to pack in an extra weekend fix between those longer voyages. Those who have been loyal to one cruise line may want to sample the services of a rival company.
Some choose short cruises for a chance to celebrate, maybe a civilised stag or hen night, a wedding, or a pre-Christmas shopping break with plenty of festive spirit once the ship leaves port.
There are numerous taster cruises on offer, but they do get booked up quickly.

I have booked a couple today on the new Celebrity Eclipse and the Cunard Victoria. Ring me to book your next one. There are plenty on offer. Royal Caribbean has a short break taster cruise from Barcelona this May which looks just fabulous. It starts in Barcelona on the Adventure of the Seas and will call at:- Toulon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille and St Tropez with the highlight being Ibiza stopping at this beautiful medieval town. I guarantee you will leave wanting to see more.

Darcey Bussell, launches the new P&O Azura.

2010-04-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

The latest news is that Darcey Bussell twirled across the dance floor, watched by an admiring audience of 1,200 guests after enjoying a fabulous five- course dinner before she smashed the customary bottle of champagne to launch the new Azura.
Many of my colleagues here at http://www.cruise.co.uk/ thoroughly enjoyed their brief stay on P&O new ship and were impressed. At 115,000 tonnes and with room for 3,100 passengers the Azura is the largest passenger ship registered in London.

It is already on its' maiden voyage of 16 nights around the Med.
The really good thing about cruising is once booked you know excatly how much you will be spending and what's included, plus it's value for money and great for those who like an arranged holiday.

It's going to be an exciting year as there are string of new launches ahead for 2009/2010 and here are some to look out for:-

Thomson...............Dream
Celebrity...............Silhouette.
N.C.L....................Epic
P&O.....................Adonia
RCCL....................Oasis of the Seas.

I'll keep you posted on the others too.

Balmoral and Sandringham Grand Duplex suites, Cunard

2010-04-11T07:46:00.000-07:00

2,249 sq feet from £14,759.00 pp

Named after HM The Queen's residences in Scotland and Norfolk, these suites on board Queen Mary 2 are certainly fit for royalty.
As part of the lavish Queens Grill accommodation, these suites guarantee priority boarding with separate 'Grill' check-in and a welcome of champagne and sugar-iced strawberries. The enormous downstairs living area has luxury seating, wall mounted flat screen TV, DVD player etc. Downstairs is perfect for entertaining guests with a complimentary bar, evening canapes and butler service. They have beautiful marble bathrooms with Canyon Ranch soaps and shampoos and private exercise room.
In fact, every comfort is catered for as there are nine pillow options, nightly turndown service and a dedicated sunning deck with lounge at your disposal.

Alternatively, you can recline on your own terrace, which uniquely, is visible from the public decks which isn't exactly private but this suite is all about seeing and being seen!

The Royal Loft Suites on Royal Caribbean Cruises.

2010-04-05T23:49:00.000-07:00

Struggling to find a sunlounger by the pool on a hot day at sea ? then look no further than your very own extended balcony that comes with the Royal Loft Suite on Royal Caribbeans' Oasis of the Seas (and from November on the Allure of the Seas too) you won't need to sit by the crowded pool and can enjoy your very own peace and quiet instead.

This vast double-storey apartment has a baby grand piano so you get the idea of the sheer size of this suite.
It has two bedrooms, sofa bed, floor to ceiling windows, dining area to seat 8, bar, library, walk in shower and jacuzzi bath.

Other perks include, priority check-in and departure, complimentary luggage valet service, in-room dining, spa bathrobes, pressing service on formal nights, reservations for shows in the main theatre.

Although, lets be honest why move when you have your own outdoor dining area, wet bar, LCD T.V and a jacuzzi to add to the wow factor.

1,524 square feet from £ 5,522 per person.

Suite Dreams...Part 2

2010-03-28T13:04:00.000-07:00

Crystal Penthouse with Verandah, Crystal Cruises.

982 - 1,345 square feet from £9,718.00 pp

For many it's all about the fluffy bathrobe and if this is you, you won't be disappointed. This is part 2 of my search for the best suite on board and this week I'm looking at Crystal Cruises.

Described as' home away from home' - although I'm not sure many homes have a jacuzzi with an ocean view or a personal butler that delivers afternoon tea and evening hors' d'oeuvres - these are Crystal Cruises' largest and most luxurious suites.

The Crystal Penthouses with Verandah are located on Deck 10 of Crystal Symphony and Deck 11 of Crystal Serenity.

Long before you step on board you are treated like royalty, with complimentary private car transfers( within 100 miles) between your home, airport and ship. No need to worry about your unpacking, as your butler will do that for you while you explore the spacious living room furnished in shades of olive, chocolate and containing a super-sized flat-screen T.V, DVD and CD players, plus a sophisticated sound system.

There's also a separate dining area, bedroom, bathroom and large private verandah with beautiful teak furniture. The bar is fully stocked with Cristal champagne and soft drinks, beer and bottled water. Inside your walk-in closet you'll find kimonos, slippers and the fluffy bathrobe.

There's so much included still...twice-daily housekeeping, shoe shine, pressing, optional in-suite dining, massages from the Crystal Spa and finally the use of binoculars so that you don't miss a thing from that amazing verandah.

A star-studded ship.

2010-03-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

There's still space to join P & O Azura on her 16 night maiden voyage from Southampton on 12th April 2010. You will also be in excellent company.
A host of British Entertainers, including opera star Russell Watson and West End actress Claire Sweeney, will perform for passengers adding glamour to this luxurious new liner.
Prices start from £1, 502.00 per person.
Ask me for details...

Suite Dreams.

2010-03-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

Forget cramped cabins with a single porthole to peer out of, today's cruise ships offer suites and staterooms that rival those at top-end-hotels. After a busy day on board, or an exhausting shore excursion, elegant accommodation provides passengers with the perfect retreat. But going beyond the fine furnishings, suite life also means gaining access to some of the indulgent services on offer.
So here is part one of my series on suites.... each will include value / space and what's included.

Penthouse Suite, Yachts of Seabourn (above)

534 square feet from £ 4,149.00 pp

All-suite Hotels are fast becoming the latest word in luxury, so it's no surprise that cruise lines including Yachts of Seabourn, are following suit.
The best is to come, book one of the 22 Penthouse Suites on the Seabourn Sojourn when she launches in June. You'll find, flat-screen interactiveTV with music and movies, DVD player, Bose Wave sound system, a welcoming bottle of Champagne, Bronnley, Chanel and Hermes touches, twin sinks in the bathrooms, separate shower, walk in wardrobe, living area with sofa, writing desk and refridgerator.
Naturally, there's a separate bedroom, a full length window and glass door leading to your private verandah. Your bar is replenished daily to your personal spec and you'll have access to wireless internet.

If you can drag yourself away from the comfort of your suite, make yourself on deck for a complimentary massage, have caviar and Champagne in the surf or have a limousine take you to the fabulous shops on shore.

Tempted ?

Dozens to sue Island Cruises.

2010-03-13T13:34:00.000-08:00

Thomson holidays is facing legal action from dozens of British Holidaymakers following several outbreaks of gastric illness on the cruise Island Escape.

A law firm has been called in to investigate hygiene standards on the ship after a number of passengers reported dirty conditions, leaking roofs, foul odours and flooded cabins.

More than 130 Britons who became ill are being represented. All this happened in January on the ships' Mediterranean and Canary Islands itinerary.

One passenger claimed her ceiling collapsed under the weight of a water tank. Passengers have since set up their own website, cruisesfromhell.webs.com where dozens of complaints have been collated.

Thomson have denied rumours stating health and safety is their primary focus and are genuinely concerned to hear of any illnesses reported on the ship.

Were you on the Island Escape last January ? Leave your comments and findings below if so.

Trainers and Tiaras.

2010-03-10T12:48:00.000-08:00

Here at www.cruise.co.uk we like to 'welcome home' our customers and hear their comments about their recent cruise.

I called one of my lovely customers recently as I was eager to know if their Ocean Village cruise around the Caribbean had lived up to their expectations.

Not having cruised with Ocean Village before, they were drawn towards the itinerary. Being the school half term holidays, her late booking and dates chosen had limited availabilty, so with an open mind the couple decided to book, safe in the knowledge of a fabulous itinerary and hot sunshine.

It was cruising with a difference.

It's a well known fact that Ocean Village are an informal cruise line and use the caption 'for people who don't do cruises' but unfortunately this seems to confuse passengers and the level of service on board.

On most evenings apparently, it was quite comical, there were ladies dressed in beautiful long dresses and men in DJ's, looking out of synch with the majority dressed in football shirts, shorts and trainers, all having to use the trays in the self -service restaurant to collect their evening meal, whilst trying to balance a bottle of wine!

So, how informal are Ocean Village? Of course there isn't a strict dress code, just one of comfort to ensure all customers are happy.

Wake up with Wogan.

2010-03-07T04:58:00.000-08:00

For cruises with a difference how about something more light-hearted.

Terry Wogan is playing host on a cruise for his T.O.G.s (that's Terrys Old Geezers or Gals ). He will be on the Queen Victoria departing Southampton on May 14th on a 12 night cruise to raise money for Children in Need.

The 12 night 'Jewels of the Mediterranean' voyage, roundtrip from Southampton, takes in such cultural delights as Barcelona, Cannes and Civitavecchia (for Rome). Sir Terry and his intrepid team will be joining Cunard during the voyage, to entertain and delight all TOGs on board.

By signing up for this wonderful adventure - as well as having a lot of fun - you'll also be making a contribution to BBC Children In Need. Cunard will donate 10% of every TOGs voyage to this charity. Ask me for details.

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

This superb 12-night trip departs from Southampton 14 May 2010 and includes:

Two Exclusive Champagne Receptions

Deadlyoke – a sea shanty sing-a-long with the Voice Of The Balls

Janet & John Live! (not for the faint hearted)

A Natter With Nove ( A crash course in how not to drive a bus and other torrid tales)

And the return of Alan Dedicoat’s world famous Pub Quiz (“who’s buying me a drink?”)

Plus a sensational fundraising evening with a knight of the realm and the team!

It's very exciting having Wogan on the Waves and I would love to hear your comments if you have booked.

The Elixir of Youth.

2010-03-04T12:50:00.000-08:00

Whether it's having Spa treatments, lots of sleep, generally relaxing, keeping in touch with friends and relatives, having a slurp of your favourite tipple, watching a movie, participating in a sporting activity or being fulfilled by your children or grandchildren, we all have a remedy for trying to stay young.

Finding a holiday to fulfill all your needs could be a tricky task especially as most families have to cater for different ages and expectations.

But what if Mum and Dad want to dive and the kids want to explore Disney. Can ever the twain really meet.?

Yes, absolutely. The answer is to package your own holiday.

It is possible to combine your cruise with a pre-stay option in , for example:- Orlando, for a hectic itinerary packed week, then jump onto your cruise,
visit all the exciting ports of call.
Finish off with a relaxing 3 or maybe 4 nights post-cruise stay on a caribbean island.

What could be better? Besides, many of the cruise lines use scheduled airlines making the option of delaying your return date alot easier.

Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Princess and many others can tailor make your holiday.

We can book Hotels in Orlando, pre-pay the Disney attraction tickets, arrange the car hire, book the transfers to the Cruise ship and book the end of stay Hotel. Everybody happy.

Just don't over-indulge on the cruise as anyone wanting to dive needs to pass a swim test first!

What are you waiting for ? there's 8 weeks of summer holidays to fill.

MSC Magnifica puts a spring in my step.

2010-03-02T08:30:00.000-08:00

A fabulous time was had by Cruise.co.uk on board the brand new MSC Magnifica last Saturday night.

After our early start, speedy security check at Southampton and suitcases taken to our cabin, Mel who I shared my deck 10 balcony cabin with (pictured above) and I ventured off to participate in the ship tour.

Our cabin had been made as a double but was soon rectified into a twin after making our request at the front desk.

It was tastefully decorated in dark blues and gold with all the usual comforts, complimentary dressing gown, T.V, safe and mini bar etc.

On our tour we saw the beautiful atrium complete with a waterfall backdrop and resident pianist. The whole ship which in true Italian syle was lavishly decorated to an extremely high standard. The funky 'Tiger Bar' where Mel and I spent most of the stay was perfect..great music and the best cocktails. Mel had a penchant for 'Sex on the beach' and I can highly recommend a 'Cosmopiltan' or the 'Coco Loco's.' We preferred the atmosphere in here ( find it on deck 6 to the more popular L'Olympide Sports Bar on deck 7)

Anyway, fabulous shops, a Cigar Lounge, Asian Restaurant, 4D cinema, the Atlantic City Casino and most importantly a pool with a retractable roof.(Deck 13) Magnifica has thought of everything I love watching the shows and in the Royal Theatre located on 3 tiers over 3 decks is accessed on decks 5,6 and 7,we saw gymnastics, dancing & best of all a 'Blues Brothers Four' showing amazing acrobactic talent.

Absolutely faultless.

Then it was time to meet up for dinner in the L'Edera restaurant (deck 5) The starters were fine, asparagus in filo pastry. Then the main course..I had beef but unfortunately Mel ordered Risotto which as you can see from this photo was exactly how it was presented. Such a disappointment and salty too.

We headed off to the T32 Nightclub on deck 14 and danced into the small hours.

Overall, Magnifica is truely spectacular and has the right balance for size and facilities to suit everyone. It's just a shame the dining is let down by the higher standards found on other cruise lines.

A Shore Thing.

2010-02-24T14:06:00.000-08:00

Cruising from a U.K| port has never been easier, with more lines than ever placing ships in Southampton, Dover and Harwich. Furthermore, many of these are brand new. P&O Cruises, Seabourn, Celebrity Cruises and Cunard Line are all launching ships in British ports this year, without compromising on destinations.
Plus, it cuts out the misery of flying and for families with small children -there's no stress about luggage limits.

Here's my first of five cruises sailing from Southampton this year.

Royal Caribbean's - Independence of the Seas.

She is going to rival the more traditional P&O with her American-style glitz.

Itinerary:-Southampton, England : Gibraltar, United Kingdom : Nice (Villefranche) : Florence/Pisa(Livorno) : Rome (Civitavecchia) : Cagliari Sardinia : Seville (Cadiz) : Lisbon : Vigo : Southampton, England

Prices from £1499.00 pp departing 25th September 2010.

The Independence of the Seas, is in the spectacular Freedom class of ships. Seasonally ported in Southampton, England for part of the year and Fort Lauderdale, Florida the rest of the year, this ship offers all of the amazing onboard experiences you'd expect from our Freedom Class of ships, while cruising to your choice of destinations in Europe or the Caribbean.

FlowRider®

H2O ZoneSM

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 RoyaleSM

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

Cunard featuring the Queen Elizabeth to follow next....

Cruising into Cunard's history.

2010-02-21T04:25:00.000-08:00

You may remember a few weeks ago I mentioned that the heat was on to find a winner for the best sculpture in the competition behind Cunard's quest to find the most suitable design good enough to adorn the lobby of the new Queen Elizabeth.

After much deliberation and with bated breath the winner has been announced....

A second year sculpture course student at Edinburgh College of Art, Peter Simpson aged just 20 years, is the proud designer of the award. He was judged against 20 shortlisted alongside Peter Shanks who is Cunard's president.

The brief was to create a piece that reflected Cunard's art-deco style, but with a 21st century twist.

All that remains now is to turn his model into a full-size sculpture by the time the ship sets sail this Autumn.

In Vogue....BrushBoarding vs Flow-rider

2010-02-15T12:35:00.000-08:00

Well, as the saying goes...it's out with the old and in with the new. Could the flowrider already be yesterdays news, old hat, kaput!, defunct or last season ? We now have a new trend called BrushBoarding. Now my daughter has seen this, she is eager to try it out. At the moment there is only one venue in Exeter and it has brought competition to the Flow rider for all the keen surf-riders out there.

BrushBoarding is a revolutionary new Multi-board sport X-training activity that can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities, from 3 - 63 years.The Brush ramp is safe and enviromentally friendly, and enhances key skills and fitness needed for all board sports-without needing to get wet!

Which Cruise line will compete with Royal Caribbean and install one on their ships?

Bored on board ? Never again.

2010-02-12T13:01:00.000-08:00

Cruises are what you make them. If you simply want to relax, then fine, but many passengers prefer to learn a new skill, to make the most of a hobby or just explore. There's something for everyone now and below I have listed a few.

Princess Cruises' Island Princess and Coral Princess are the first ships to offer wet-clay pottery lessons with Ceramics@Sea programme. The company's 15 other ships also have kilns on board for hand decorating your pots.

Cookery classes have gone upmarket at Celebrity Cruises, where its new Celebrity Life programme includes " Food is Art" courses. Guests can enjoy interactive cooking shows and learn to be a sous chef in an on board competition. This is available on their newest ship - Celebrity ECLIPSE, which launches in April with a selection of mini cruises from Southampton.

Topless bathing anyone ?

2010-02-11T13:28:00.000-08:00

Well, I get all kinds of requests on a daily basis from special anniversaries being celebrated, to champagne and chocolate surprises in cabins, but today I had a request asking which cruise ship offers topless bathing.
My customer wanted to know if she could sunbathe topless on the Balmoral but alas, this is not the case. The only cruise line I could find with an (albeit confined) area for topless bathing is on the Carnival Glory. (No surprises there then!)
Does anyone know if any other cruise line allow topless bathing ?

Don't get lost.

2010-02-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

Have you booked to try a new ship this year? If so, then here's my handy hint. First, find your cabin and dump your bags, head for the buffet for a late lunch and then do a recce of the ship before it gets busy. That way, you will have your bearings and have discovered every nook and cranny before it fills up.

The heat is on....

2010-01-23T09:13:00.000-08:00

A design fit for a new queen is always tough and the heat is on to find the winner in the competition behind a major piece of public sculpture for the new Queen Elizabeth.

It will be the centrepiece for the new Cunard liner being launched this Autumn.

The design has to reflect the Art Deco style of the new interior and fit in a tall, narrow space.
Over 140 entries worldwide have entered and the results are to be announced at the beginning of February.

Snatched from the jaws of victory.

2010-01-18T12:41:00.000-08:00

I'm not a huge football fan, but I can certainly say that watching Fernando Torres playing football means my money is on Spain winning the World Cup.

Not very patriotic I know and yes, it's great watching England play but do we really need to have World Cup fever on our holidays too?.... suitable for men only maybe, Thomson Cruises have annouced they will be showing all the matches on board this summer.

Cruises with watering holes with the WOW factor.

2010-01-16T11:05:00.000-08:00

One of the many delights of cruising is finding your special spots on your chosen ship. When it comes to having a drink, the ambiance, mood, music and of course great company is the key.

Here are a few of the best bars on board....

The Metropolis Bar (pictured below left) on the P&O Ventura is a themed bar featuring a 66ft floor to ceiling, plasma-screen video wall displaying real-time footage of some of the worlds greatest cityscapes. It could show, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Paris or New York, with a cocktail to match.
The Rising Tide Bar on the Oasis of the Seas is enclosed in a capsule and amazingly the bar moves slowly up and down between decks. From leafy Central Park on Deck 5 to the Royal Promenade on Deck 8 guaranteeing an ever changing outlook.

Also, NCL's amazing Ice Bar (top picture) on their soon to be launched Epic is a Cruise industry first. It's THE bar with the ultimate chill. The frozen bar changes colour with LED lighting that simulates the Northern Lights.
All of the seats, walls and tables are all made from ice. Find it on deck seven, the Ice Bar will accommodate 25 guests who will be given fur coats, gloves and hats

Make sure you pay a visit.

LIVE ! Where in the World is your favourite cruise ship ?

2010-01-10T10:32:00.000-08:00

I have made a fantastic online discovery.

I cannot help it but I am always curious to know where my favourite Cruise ship is heading, so I couldn't believe my luck in finding this website.

www.sailwx.info/shiptrack

Type in eg:- Queen Victoria and up she pops mid- transtalantic on her voyage to New York or the Ventura currently navigating the Caribbean !

An opportunity not to be missed.

2010-01-06T02:03:00.000-08:00

Here at Cruise.co.uk it's getting pretty busy but we can always keep you well informed of the latest news and now I need to share with you our amazing deals if you book your cruise within the next couple of weeks.

There are some fabulous offers around providing you confirm your dates now, so here we go....

* Royal Caribbean - prices discounted by 10% and on board credit.
* Celebrity              - prices discounted by 10%
* NCL                    - free stateroom upgrades.
* P & O                  - 10% discount on selected early summer cruises with    double on board credit.
* Princess               - prices discounted by 10%

Burj Khalifa in Dubai - the first super skyscraper

2010-01-04T14:16:00.000-08:00

This week we have heard about the introduction of body scanners at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester soon to take effect but shadowing the news is the more exciting, Burj Dubai.

In recent years Dubai has grabbed the headlines with its' offshore islands, rotating buildings and a seven star hotel. On Monday 4th January 2010 it opened the world's tallest building, Burj Dubai.

At more than 800m, Burj Dubai smashed the previous world record, which was held by Taiwan's 508m Taipei 101.

It's about twice the height of the Empire State Building, you can see its spire from 95km away and the 26,000 glass panels, which glisten in the midday desert sun.

A definite landmark to see on your next visit to Dubai.

New Year Health check...

2010-01-04T04:45:00.000-08:00

It's time to work off those excess pounds after the indulgences over the last few weeks. There are plenty of opportunities to join in your favourite sporting activity. Although, whenever I feel like doing any excercise, I lie down until the feeling passes.

On Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines in their Freedom Class ships there's a fabulous jogging track which wraps around the whole ship on one deck, allowing anyone who's keen, to keep up their morning jog and marathon practice.
Also, there's a full size sports court for football, basketball or volleyball, a rock-climbing wall and minature golf course to name a few of the activities available.

Time to join in the January Sales.

2010-01-02T00:42:00.000-08:00

We all love a bargain and some people are more savvy than others. Recognising a good deal when you see one requires little time to make a decision and as the saying goes, you have to "make hay while the sun shines"
When a Ship is repositioning for the start of a new season is generally the best time to snap up a bargain within the industry. These are the one-off itineraries and generally not widely advertised. Having a wealth of experience and industry recognition here at Cruise.co.uk you can be rest assured of the best deal for your Cruise holiday.

Our ill-fated Christmas Party.

2010-01-01T23:37:00.000-08:00

I found this photograph and it highlighted the memories of our Christmas Party held on board the Balmoral in December.

Let me introduce you to (from l-r) Kelly, Sheilagh, Adam and Davina who all work with me at Cruise.co.uk.

In what can only be described as true gung-ho spirit we embarked on our 5 mile trek from our coach stuck on the A20 to the Dover Cruise Terminal.

Adam graciously carried my bag, I dragged Sheilagh's and in a true team effort got our heads down and concentrated on our trudge. It was very quiet en-route as the sun began to fade and the air still. We kept our spirits upbeat with my terrible jokes along the way and although it wasn't quite conquering Everest we did overtake some of our colleagues, knowing they would catch us up.

But, was it worth it?

Absolutely! our weekend on board the Fred Olsen Ship was truly fantastic, exceeded our expectations and the service on board from the crew just first class.

Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Celebrity Cruises...The new Eclipse.

2009-12-30T04:36:00.000-08:00

A new Solstice Class ship with Celebrity is being launched in April 2010.
The Eclipse will be based in Southampton for a short period and offers mini cruises to Ireland, Canaries and the Mediterranean.

Merry christmas to all.

2009-12-26T11:29:00.000-08:00

At last, it is time to put your feet up and enjoy the Christmas break with family and friends. Here's wishing you all a Happy New Year.

Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

The Amsterdam River Cruise.

2009-12-24T09:25:00.000-08:00

We braved the snowy conditions and whilst walking to Dam Square we decided to take a River Cruise. One hour of a leisurely view of the pretty canals and houses.

Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange

Shore Excursions.

2009-12-21T07:29:00.000-08:00

I found an interesting company offering River Cruises around the canals in Amsterdam.
Mmm, some are appealling but some obscure excursions were on offer. The Canal Cruise which I did on Sunday cost just 12 euros for a one hour tour and it was excellent!
Highly recommended!

Snow delays sail.

2009-12-21T07:13:00.000-08:00

This is the Balmoral waiting to set sail on Saturday 19th December. All of us were delayed due to snow, the Calais strike and the Eurotunnel being closed. Our final departure time was 1830 instead of 1500 to Amsterdam and hearing everyones ordeal, we were not alone in our long trek of 5 miles outside of gridlocked Dover walking through snow with suitcases.

Where do the Celebrities go?

2009-12-18T00:58:00.000-08:00

A great name always helps advertise a new product. P&O's new ship, the Azura is no exception. Atul Kochhar is launching an Indian style restaurant. Marco Pierre White has a restaurant on three:- Ventura, Oceana and Aurora. Gary Rhodes is on board the Arcadia and Oriana.

Banned from Bolivia.

2009-12-17T05:30:00.000-08:00

The importance of having visa's.

During my early years in travel and on my trek around South America I was unfortunately thrown off a train entering into Bolivia for not having the correct visa.
As my Spanish is fairly limited, I relied upon a friendly native to translate and being the middle of the night I had to find a Hotel and organise my visa the next day.
My expensive mistake cost me another rail ticket and the overnight Hotel.

Oceania is launching 'The Marina'.

2009-12-10T06:42:00.000-08:00

The Oceania-Class Marina represents an evolution of the line’s extremely popular Regatta-Class ships. Oceania Cruises, deliver an unparalleled onboard experience. So many of the indulgences are a direct result of their ships’ ideal mid-size, a tradition that Marina will proudly continue, but in an even more refined incarnation.
While larger than her consorts Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, Marina remains comfortably mid-size. She offers the “finest cuisine at sea” in six restaurants, including two new gourmet venues — Jacques and Red Ginger. For special coffees and snacks, there is Biscottos Coffee Bar. The new Bon Appétit Culinary Center offers hands-on cooking instruction under the guidance of master chefs. Similarly, artists-in-residence teach fine arts in The Studio, a new enrichment center. Intimate lounges abound. Accommodations in every category are incredibly spacious, especially with regard to the lavish bathrooms.

***Plus*** there are no additional charges for their Speciality Restaurants during your Cruise.

The Epic Pentathlon

2009-12-09T08:56:00.000-08:00

The (soon to be launched) Norwegian Epic will have an amazing sports complex which will feature basketball, volleyball, bungee trampoline, home run derby in a full -sized batting cage and bowling in the dark at the neon bowling alley.
Kids splash pool, climbing wall, and the 'Epic Plunge' water slide.

Loyalty Card Benefits.

2009-12-09T07:25:00.001-08:00

Whether you've cruised with NCL one or a hundred times, everyone enjoys the perks of being a Latitudes member with the exciting enhancement to NCL's past guest programme.

All of the cruises you've taken with NCL since you were enrolled in the Latitudes programme count towards your membership level. So pack your bags and cruise your way to more benefits!

With the programme enhancements, the more you cruise, the more benefits you receive!

NCL Ice Bar - The Ultimate Chill.

2009-12-09T05:53:00.000-08:00

There are 14 ice bars throughout the world including the newly planned ice bar on board the Norwegian Epic to be launched Summer 2010.
The only true ice bar at sea. Inspired by the ice Hotels in Scandinavia.
Enter a glistening, frozen, fantasyland where the bar, walls, tables and stools and even the life size sculptures are made out of ice.

Is this true Paradise ?

2009-12-06T10:56:00.000-08:00

Paradise Island in the Bahamas is truly breathtaking. I ran out of time after 10 days here. With so many islands to visit, via sea-plane or boat and diving is a must.

Paradise Island resort with its' own aquarium and sharks...

Ice skating at home or on the Oasis of the Seas....

2009-12-06T09:42:00.000-08:00

Ice skating is great fun for young girls and my daughter

is no exception. She would grab any opportunity for me to

take her spinning on her skates.

It isn't new however, Royal Caribbean International offers an ice-skating rink on its' Voyager of the Seas, with an in-line skating track also. Take a look at the link below....

Is any request unreasonable?

2009-12-06T07:49:00.000-08:00

......I have spoken to some customers who have just booked
their next Fred Olsen cruise and have requested their
preferred waiter during their trip.....

Celebrity Cruises

2009-12-01T01:14:00.000-08:00

Starting this month, Celebrity Cruises passengers can buy unlimited beer and liquor packages, marking a change from the typical cruise line a la carte bar policies.

Celebrity first told its Captain’s Club members last May that by the end of this year such packages would become available.

Most major cruise lines offer some unlimited soda options, as well as wine packages. But outside of the all-inclusive luxury realm, cruise lines have generally stayed away from offering all-you-can-drink options except for some groups and special functions.

Party time

2009-11-30T01:22:00.000-08:00

It's party time and having just celebrated a family birthday this weekend it has me pondering over all the possibilities available on a Cruise to enhance the importance of not passing by these special occassions.
If there is a celebration taking place during your holiday then make sure you pre-order the cake, flowers, champagne or spa treatment. The options available are amazing.

Fancy an alternative Christmas?

2009-11-27T01:10:00.000-08:00

This is proving more popular year on year. The option of a traditional Christmas spent with family and friends or escaping the hurly-burly and winding down, having staff to fulfill your every whim.

2009-11-26T01:18:00.000-08:00

My friends are scattered far and wide and oh! thank goodness for Skype and webcams..otherwise where would we be ?
There can be nothing better than organising a rendezvous. How exciting would that be?
Organizing a group to suit everyone's needs can be exhausting but it need not be difficult.
Cruising offers the perfect opportunity to combine all your requirements, either as an annual holiday, or a short weekend break to a longer jaunt.

2009-11-26T01:09:00.000-08:00

Just what the Doctor ordered!

Not feeling great? I suggest the best antidote for the winter blues is booking a warm Caribbean Cruise.
There are so many options... Why not try the 'Princess Cruise Experience' with their excellent choices of itineraries.
There is still some availability until March..so grab your space now.
A guarantee as the perfect remedy solution!

2009-11-25T01:06:00.000-08:00

My mantra today......If it wasn't for last minute ...nothing would get done!

2009-11-24T01:28:00.000-08:00

Diving in the Bahamas,

What a fantastic port of call Nassau is! Located on New Providence Island it offers a vibrant and colourful experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed Nassau with its straw market, duty free shopping all set within beautiful colonial old buildings. FANTASTIC.
I had time to explore some of the outer islands such as Abaco and Green Turtle Key where Scuba Diving has to be done in these warm, calm waters.
The marine life is amazing and seeing stingray was the hightlight of my trip.
The smaller islands offer a complete contrast to the hustle and bustle of
New Providence where the emphasis is on gambling, shopping and nightlife.

2009-11-24T01:18:00.000-08:00

Is it out with the old and in with the new?

When it comes to selecting your Cruise which is it to be? Traditional or Modern.
I believe choosing an established Company with traditional values is fantastic and therefore could be more interesting, highlighting their wealth of experience. However, modern could hold the key to the latest gizmo's and gadgets which can be tremendous fun.

2009-11-20T08:02:00.000-08:00

Beautiful food ? or service with a sneer ?

I don't know about you but I am always eager to try the latest venue...keen to try the hottest dish. Having the opportunity to sample new foods to me is very exciting albeit in a new local restaurant or on holiday.

2009-11-20T07:56:00.000-08:00

Nice... Is it really full of 'Joie de vivre?"

Nice is exciting and is such a great spot for exploring all the beautiful old towns along the coast.
Don't miss Antibes with its' old port and fantastic restaurants. The atmosphere is super and one tip on how to avoid the endless traffic jams is to use the train which travels along the coastline.

2009-11-20T07:27:00.000-08:00

On board games...
Backgammon...Is it still in Vogue?

Truly, how better to spend a few hours but by playing Backgammon.
I know many would argue that scrabble is infinitely better, but dear oh dear it is so hard landing on a triple word score!
With Backgammon it is so easy to lose yourself in the game, taking great joy from extracting points from your opponent and sending their chips back to the bar.
There are just so many traditional games to enjoy and learn new skills.

2009-11-20T07:16:00.000-08:00

Don't forget......when selecting your Cruise you are able to visit the amazing 'World Heritage' site of Machu Picchu in Peru. This breathtaking place high in the Andes can be visited. However, you MUST book well in advance. Ask me for details.