Hannah's Harbours - everything that you need to know about cruising

Will you be booking early for your next cruise?

2012-03-12T19:15:00.000Z

As March progresses thoughts as always around this time of year turn to launch which always happens in April. The cruise lines are already starting to send us their itineraries and prices for 2013 - 2014. It is always exciting to see where the ships will be sailing from and their new itineraries and ports of call, and its especially great to see new ships departing the UK.
Each year more ships seem to be moving to the UK for part of the season. This is great for people who would rather not fly as it opens up the options for them and allows them to try something different.
Normally we are overwhelmed by the amount of clients who pre-register with us so that we can book their chosen cruise on the day it goes on sale. This way they can benefit from early booking discounts, on board credit and free parking offers aswell as knowing that they have got the cabin of their choice. However, in view of the way that some of the cruise lines have been slashing prices this year I am beginning to wonder whether people will forego a particular cabin and a bit of on board spend, and wait to book nearer the time of their chosen cruise. The difference in price is proving to be so vast that 'early bookers' and people who had traditionally been loyal to a certain cruise line are incensed, and because of the timing of the price cuts on cruises it is not beneficial to cancel and rebook at the lower price. I think many people are going to be voting with their feet over the next couple of years unless the cruise lines change the way they do their pricing and re-pricing. Watch this space! I think they need to lower their initial prices when they launch their new brochures and stick to that pricing come what may. What do you think? And how and when do you intend to book your next cruise? Will you be booking later than usual for 2013 - 14?

Just how user friendly is your Cruise Personaliser?

2012-03-06T20:14:00.001Z

Branded by the cruise lines as the perfect way to 'manage your own booking' the online Cruise Personaliser has been around for a while now, allowing passengers to check in before they arrive at the port, thus saving them time, and also allowing people to book excursions, pre-book drinks packages, order baggage labels and print off their own tickets. It all sounds very efficient doesn't it? But how user friendly are these systems really? Do we just tolerate them because we have to as this is the way the cruise lines are going?
I still get calls from people on a regular basis, intelligent people I might add, who are having real difficulties with their personaliser.

A major issue seems to be that the flight details never seem to be added, so passengers either have to phone us to find out what they are or wait until their tickets arrive. Tickets are another issue as sometimes even though you have had the email to say they are ready to down load and print off, there is no way of doing so. One of my clients feels that the ticket printing section of the cruise lines websites is like an after thought that they have tagged on!
Holland America will allow you to print off your tickets weeks in advance, but if you have booked a cabin on a Guarantee basis they won't actually give you a cabin number until 48 hours prior to travel - so, do you reprint your tickets at this point. And, why don't they tell you that this will be the case so that you don't have to go through the whole process twice?
The real issue is baggage labels - a real lottery! Will they arrive, won't they? It seems to be anybodys guess!
I'd be really interested to get some feedback on this one. I would love to know what people think, what the real problems are or indeed the benefits of this online system. Do we all love it, or do we hate it, and do we long for the good old days of lovely leather-bound travel wallets with all those nice little bits of paper inside.
I'd love to hear what you think so please plese please respond to this post

Ports of Call - Lofoten and Bodo......

2012-03-05T19:51:00.000Z

Where? Never heard of it! Anyway, if this is a new one to you then it's about halfway up the coast of Norway,on the right heading North. There are some great things to do here. For starters -

Lofotr Viking Feast
Held at the Lofotr Viking Museum, which is a recreation of the largest Viking building ever found, the Chieftain and Lady of the house invite you to join them for a Viking feast in the banquet hall, which includes home-brewed mead. All this can be enjoyed while watching them make sacrifices to the Gods, praying for the sun to return! All sounds very Norwegian, and thoroughly entertaining!

Lofotr Viking Feast Summer
Much the same as above, but much more informative. You will be told about the Viking Ages and how life was for the Vikings who lived here. Again you will enjoy a Viking feast while you enjoy Viking singing and dancing. Now, I never knew that Vikings danced so I would love to hear some feedback about this from anyone in the know. You will also get to taste the home-brewed mead on this trip.

Bodo Rib Safari
This excursion will take you to Saltstraumen, where you will witness the worlds most powerful tidal current. Four times a day, 13 billion cubic feet of water are forced in and out through a passage 150 metres wide and 31 metres deep. today will also provide an opportunity to observe sea eagles and parts of the Caledonian Fold Belt, a range of mountains dating back over 250 million years. All of this is 'viewable' from the safety and comfort of sturdy rubber boats, or 'ribs' which are driven by highly experienced and knowledgeable pilots. This will be a great day out I assure you.

You see, Norway isn't just about fjords, and scenery. There is lots more to see and do besides. Hurtigruten offer some really fantastic excursions along the voyage. As always, if you would like to know more or would like to share your experiences then please give me a call, or alternatively, respond to this post.

Two Jews On A Cruise - must be worth a look!

2012-02-28T20:32:00.000Z

Just saw this advertised for tomorrow night and thought it might be worth a mention. I think it could be very entertaining. Wednesday night 9pm on BBC2.
Wonderland is a series of documentaries about all walks of British life , and tomorrow night the programme features Gaby and Tikwah Lock, and Orthodox Jewish couple who have been married for 40 years and have never had a holiday.

This is what it's all about:
"Until last October, Stamford Hill's highly orthodox Gaby and Tikwah Lock -married for 40 years and who featured in a previous Wonderland film about Hasidic weddings - had never been on a holiday. Their leisure time was spent divided between religious study and domestic duties.
Then they booked themselves a 12 day Mediterranean kosher cruise. Although it tours the same destinations as many ships, this is a cruise like no other. Alongside universal entertainments like belly dancing and a communal jacuzzi, the Golden Iris boasts religious lectures, creative towel folding and couples relationship workshops. The experience of life on board seems to bring a sparkle to many of the marriages it hosts. 'It's like putting a log in the fireplace,' says one woman, 'For the flame not to go out, you have to feed it once in a while.'
For Gaby and Tikwah, however, the story of the holiday throws a surprising and revealing spotlight on married life. Home truths and frustrations emerge from their visits to the cruise ship couples workshop, which Gaby resolves with an unexpected gift for his wife and a little more understanding of Tikwah's exasperation at his domestic shortcomings."
Well I for one will be agog, foregoing my usual Wednesday night viewing, One Born Every Minute.
Has anybody ever been on this type of cruise? What was your first cruise? Mine was P&O Ventura I'm sure we'd all love to hear more .... For those of you who are new to cruising like Gaby and Tikwah, this might be useful.... Cruise Tips for Beginners, or just give me a call.

Happy viewing.......... Let me know your thoughts 0800 408 6084

Ports of Call - Tromso...........

2012-02-26T20:33:00.000Z

A wide selection of activities is on offer in this wonderful city. Again, specially designed weatherproof clothing will be provided where necessary.
Kayaking - accompanied by an experienced guide you will gently paddle along and be able to take in the fantastic scenery in double canoes. No previous experience necessary. I never did master the Eskimo Roll!

Scenery and Huskies - you will head to the Tromso Wilderness Centre where you will meet more than 200 huskies and their puppies.You will be able to explore the wildlife and bird life around the centre and you will be taught the basics of dog sledging. At the end of the session you can enjoy hot drinks in a traditional Sami lavvo with a slice of local cake.

Night time Dog Sledging - you will hop on board the sledges and let the dogs do all the work as they pull you across the frozen landscape into the Polar night. The only light will be from the headlights on the sledges. A real minature Polar expedition, and if you are lucky this is an excellent opportunity to spot those Northern Lights.

Midnight Concert in the Arctic Cathedral - this cathedral is absolutely beautiful, and what better way to experience it than a candlelit midnight concert when you can truely appreciate its full beauty. You will be able to enjoy Norwegian folk songs aswell as classical and sacred selections. A moving and perfect way to end the day.

Again, this is just a selection of the things you can expereince in this aprt of the world. If you would like to know more, please just give me a call 0800 408 6084

Do the cruise lines look after their loyal clients?

2012-02-22T14:52:00.000Z

We all know that the cruise lines have their 'loyalty schemes' such as Captains Circle and Penninsular and World Club whereby clients can accrue points and gain benefits from them, but are the cruise lines really offering passengers a good deal?
I am beginning to question this, as are many of my clients!

The cruise line brochures always encourage people to book early to get the best deals. They offer a discount if people book at 'launch' and often enhance this offer with some On Board Spend or Free Parking. However, once the balance due date has come and gone (meaning that cnacellation charges would be considerably increased) the cruise lines then slash the price of the cruise to rock bottom prices. Cancelling and rebooking is not an option for people already booked as the cancellation charge is now way too high, so the loyal cruiser is left feeling very very cheated, and indeed, misled. What exactly were the benefits of booking so early??
Okay, with the last minute prices you would not get to choose a cabin, you would not get On Board spend or Free Parking, but even having taken these things into account clients are still £100's of pounds out of pocket. We all know that the cruise lines reserve the right to increase or lower prices at any time but the price drops they are making are just too great these days.
Only yesterday such a situation occured with a very good client of mine, and taking everything into consideration he has paid over £1000 more for a cabin two categories lower than he could have got booking at yesterday prices. However, because the balance had been paid to the cruise line two weeks ago, just before the price on this cruise was reduced, the client would lose £1629 if he were to cancel and rebook at the lower price. He has stated quite clearly that hje will not be cruising with Cunard again!
I think the two main offenders are P&O and Cunard. Over the last 12 months they have alienated a large number of very loyal clients with these last minute price cuts, and if they are not careful they are going to find the once 'loyal client base' is not so loyal anymore.
I think they have well and truly shot themselves in the foot. You cannot treat people in this way and expect them to take it lying down.
I would welcome your views on this subject and will happily forward any of your comments to the cruise lines in question. I think it's time we gave them some feedback and taught them a thing or two about 'Loyalty'.
As always, I look forward to hearing from you.

Ports of Call - Kirkenes

2012-02-17T19:48:00.001Z

What can I do in Kirkenes?

Lots of different things actually. The main thing to bear in mind is that you will need good, sturdy walking boots and plenty of warm clothing. Layers are good.
Hurtigruten has a range of excursions on offer in Kirkenes which will be the turning point of your voyage.
The Russian border - Kirkenes is the only town in Norway where East meets West. You will take a bus tour so you can experience the scenery in this area and various other places around the locality before your stop at Storskog. You cannot cross the border but you can take photos and purchase souvenirs.

River Boat Safari - a chance to experience Norways unique history, beautiful scenery and rich array of animal life, maybe even bears. Again this trip takes you to the Russian border where you will go ashore and amongst other things you will have hot drinks complimented by cloudberries with cream!

Snowmobile Safari - always a popular one. You will drive your snowmobiles on a frozen fjord while enjoying the beautiful landscape. After this you will be taken to a lavvo (tent) where you will enjoy a hot drink and some dried reindeer meat if you are feeling brave!
Kirkenes Snow Hotel - you may have seen this on TV when Joanna Lumley visited a couple of years ago. Situated near to Gabba Reindeer Park, you will be shown around this beautiful hotel and will be served drinks at Norways largest ice bar, to include "Rudolfs Revenge" - sounds interesting. After the tour you will have the opportunity to meet the reindeer which is a great photo opportunity, and also you can visit Gabba kennel and meet some of the many huskies who live there. Following this you will go to the Gabba restaurant for a lunch of sausages and potato pancakes around a cosy fire.
ATV/Quad Safari - you will drive these in pairs up to the Kjerringstupet viewpoint to see settlements of around 10,000 years old before driving around the local area to see more scenery and learn about the area. The trip will conclude with coffee and muffins at the Russian border station.
Husky Adventure - you will be two to a sledge on this excursion and each sledge will have its own 'musher' (guide). You will be taken over the frozen landscape and will also have the opportunity to drive the sledge yourself if you wish. The track is just over 5km long so plenty of chance to see the scenery. The ride will finish with hot drinks around a fire.
Although you will have your own warm clothing and boots with you, on certain excursions Hurtigruten will provide weatherproof or safety clothing. When they supply it we would strongly recommend that you make use of it. It is of a high standard and designed specifically for the Norweigan climate!
If you would like to know more please give me a call

Free Flights Offer from Hurtigruten..........

2012-02-16T20:08:00.000Z

This is a great offer from Hurtigruten who are offering FREE FLIGHTS on Classic Roundtrip Voyages on selected dates between 1st April and 5th May 2012.
The Classic Roundtrip Voyages is the ultimate Hurtigruten voyage allowing you to see Norway at its Springtime best while calling into 34 ports and covering 2,500 nautical miles over 12 days. A real adventure for the more adventurous amongst you.

The voyage will start in Bergen and take you right up into the Arctic Circle before returning to Bergen for your flight home.
FREE FLIGHTS are from London Heathrow only and are operated by BMI. All transfers are included and these special sailings are operated on a full board basis. Excursions would cost extra.
Prices for these sailing start from as little as £1551 per person for an Inside Cabin which would be allocated by the ship.

This offers a real opportunity to see so much of the country and coastline and ports that many of the larger ships cannot get into.
If you would like to find out more details about the itinerary or availibility please give me a call on 0800 408 6084. As our chairman, Andrew Gardner, has just experienced a Hurtigruten cruise first hand I am a mine of information! I look forward to speaking to you

Legendary Danube - 10 nights - Legendary Price!

2012-02-13T19:16:00.000Z

I don't very often put 'deals' on my blog but this one is just too good to miss. I booked this for a client on Saturday and just felt I had to share it with you.

The Legendary Danube 10 night river cruise on the Avalon Tapestry.

Sailing 22nd April 2012 with direct flights from LHR and home pick up (within 75 miles of the airport). Regional airports are still available at a surcharge.
Ports of call - Prague (3 nights) - Nuremburg (overnight) - Regensburg - Passau - Linz - Melk - Vienna (overnight) - Budapest
Balcony Cabin On Royal Deck only £1834 per person.
This is a 'cheap as chips' price in order to sell the last few balconies, excellent value for money and a great excuse to treat yourself to a lovely Danube cruise. There are river cruise lines that offer cheap river cruises, but with Avalon the whole experience is 5*. This is a quality product at a very good price and you would be foolish to miss it!
I'm in the office all week on 0800 408 6084 - don't delay, these cabins won't be around for very long.
The Benedictine Abbey at Melk is breath taking and if you were to see nothing else on this cruise the Abbey alone would be worth taking the trip for. Budapest is stunning too, a really interesting city, and a really beautiful one too. You will dock right next to the famous Chain Link Bridge and its worth running up to top deck when you wake up, in your pj's if necessary, to get your first glimpse of the city a dawn - it will take your breathe away I promise, it certainly did mine!
Go on, treat yourself

Hurtigruten... it's official... it's all about the excursions!!!

2012-02-07T21:05:00.000Z

Hurtigruten ships are working ships which sail up and down the coast of Norway into the Arctic circle - these are 'Arctic adventures', not luxury cruising with every creature comfort known to man. These cruises offer the chance to get out there and experience this wonderful corner of the Earth and all it has to offer in terms of scenery and great adventures in the form of their wonderful Shore Excursions.

I am going to do a series of posts about the many and varied ports in Norway and the experiences the shore excursions offer, so that when you plan your Hurtigruten voyage you will know what to book in order to get the best out of it.
Obviously many of you will book one of these voyages hoping to see the Northern Lights. These are a natural phenomenon and whilst sightings cannot be guaranteed they appeared twice in four days for our Chairman Andrew Gardner last week! Some of the excursions are designed to maximise your chances of seeing the Lights, for example the snow mobiling in the polar night. Remember, there is very little daylight in the Arctic Circle during the winter months so there is alot of night and therefore alot of chance of seeing the Lights!
Keep an eye out for my posts over the next few weeks - I will be starting with Kirkenes, and don't worry, you don't need to be in the first flush of youth and fighting fit to enjoy all of the excursions, there is something for everybody

British Man Missing after Falling Overboard............

2012-02-04T10:00:00.000Z

A 30 year old British man is missing after falling from his balcony on the eleventh deck of the Allure of the Seas, the worlds biggest cruise ship. The fall, which happened in the early hours of Friday morning, was also caught on CCTV.

The Allure had been chartered by a Californian company, Atlantis Events for an all-gay cruise and was on a seven night voyage sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Cozumel, Mexico. The Mexican Coast Guard and Navy are still searching the area where the man went missing while Royal Caribbeans Care Team are offering support to the mans family and relatives. He has not yet been named.
You may be starting to think that cruising is a dangerous way to travel, but on average only around 5 people a year fall over board on cruise ships. Balconies are four foot tall at least and made of very strong plastic or glass and it would be impossible to fall over without actually climbing up onto the railing and then slipping, something that nobody in their right mind would consider doing,
Despite recent events that may be indicating otherwise, cruising is still by far the safest way to travel.

Your River Cruise Questions Answered............

2012-02-02T19:21:00.000Z

Since our first ever edition of the River Cruise Brochure started to arrive in peoples homes last week I have been inundated with calls and emails. River cruisiing is taking off big time it would seem. As many people are new to 'rivers' I am being asked lots of questions about all sorts of things so I thought I would try and answer a few here for you. If you have any question that I haven't answered feel free to ask. I am always delighted to help

Is River Cruising suitable for disabled people?
There are no 'adapted' cabins on river ships so river cruising would not be suitable for totally disabled people, however, for people who just have limited mobility many of the newer ships do have lifts or stair lifts. Many of the tours are coach tours with the option to either return to the ship or contimue on the walking tour. Wheelchairs can be taken along for shore use only and must be collapsible for storage in the cabin.
What is the dress code?
Casual and comfortable! If you wish to dress up a little for the Captains Welcome or Farewell dinners that is entirely your choice.
Which airport can I fly from?
A wide variety of regional airports, much better than the ocean cruise lines offer, except for Nile cruises which tend to be restricted to Manchestr of London Gatwick.
Is river cruising suitable for children?
Most river cruise companys have a minimum age limit of either 12 or sometimes 8 years old. River boats are relatively small with no childrens facilities on board.
Are meals at set times?
Yes because the days are action packed and also there are only usually about 100 passengers. Breakfast 8am, lunch 1pm, dinner 7pm. Breakfast and lunch are buffet style.
Some lines offer early riser 'light' breakfast from 6am and 'light' lunch from 12 noon in the lounge.
What is included in my fare?
Shore excursions and sightseeing, Gratuities, soft drinks with breakfast and lunch, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and bottled water all day, and wine and beer with evening meal, transfers to and from the ship, the services of a Cruise Director and local tour guides who speak English fluently. Some lines (Avalon) will also include home pick up/drop off if you live within 75 miles of your chosen airport.
What are the cabins like?
Exactly the same as on ocean cruise ships, with all the same facilities!
How do I get to the ship if I don't like flying?
Many of the river cruise lines offer Eurostar or coach from local pick up points in the UK as alternatives.
Will I be bored in the evening?
Exhausted more like! The days are full, and after a lovely dinner you can sit in the lounge where there may be a pianist or a local providing regional entertainment, enjoying the company of other guests and a quiet drink. You will probably find that you look forward to some early nights.

These are some of the questions that I have been asked the most but if you can think of any others please ask and if I don't already know the answer I will find out for you.
Just a tip, speaking as someone who is checking availibility daily - many river cruises are now fully boooked for April, May and June, and September is another very popular month. If you are seriously considering a river cruise it may be worth looking for dates later in the year. River Cruises book up well in advance. Nile cruises are already on sale for summer 2013 whit some very favourable rates if you are intrested - from around £700 per person all in.
I look forward to hearing from you soon!

0% Single Supplement on 5* River Cruise Ships.....................

2012-01-30T20:35:00.000Z

Uniworld ships are like 5* floating hotels. Oppulent and luxurious are the two words which best describe them. Their motto is 'no request too large, no detail too small'. They are the only cruise line to be honoured by the Zagat Survey as 'Top in Dining' too.
And for all you single cruisers out there that are tired of paying up to 100% single supplement the great news is that Uniworld are NOT charging Single Supplements on many of their itineraries this year. Isn't that great news!
Take a look at this videa clip to see for yourself just how good they really are.

Here is an example for you:

Castles along the Rhine - 7 nights on SS Antoinette on 25th March 2012.

Basel - Breisach - Kehl (Strasbourg) - Germersheim - Rudesheim - Koblenz - Cologne - Amsterdam

An Outside Cabin for twin or single occupancy is £1399 per person.

Whats included? Bottled water and speciality tea and coffee all day, wines, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, all transfers, use of bicycles and Nordic sticks,luxury L'Occitane products in your bathroom, and all excursions.

Uniworld offer exceptional value for money and are one of the few lines, river or ocean, that are no longer penalising the single traveller. Give me a call for more details

If only the Costa Concordia had been a river cruise ship...............

2012-01-24T19:11:00.001Z

......... people would not even have got their feet wet!
When I was cruising on the Danube last October we did safety drill as is the norm when cruising. We all got our life jackets from our cabin and headed up to our Muster Stations on the Sun Deck - there were three of these, one for each deck, very clever. Someone put some thought into that. I was thrilled to be with the 'top deck' passengers at No. 1 Muster Station, I do like to feel posh!

Now, I hate cold water and as I stood there with my group it occured to me that , obviously, there were no life boats as we were on quite a small craft, so was I going to be plunged into cold water should there worst occur?
The answer to this is no! I voiced my thoughts to our lovely Cruise Director, Caroline from Holland, and she informed me that the river was no deeper than the height of the boat, so if we went down as long as we headed up to the sun deck as we had been told then we would be above water level, with just a vague possibility of getting our feet slightly wet! Who would have believed it?
So, for those of you who have concerns following this terrible disaster on Concordia about cruising the seven seas, maybe one of Europes lovely rivers might be able to allow you to enjoy cruising with peace of mind, and once you have tried that maybe you would like to venture further afield - the Yangtze, the Mekong, or the Volga. River cruising is a brilliant way to see right inside a country, not just the 'outside edge' like you do on an ocean cruise. You get right in there to the heart of the place.
Oh, I could wax lyrical for hours as this is my favourite subject at the moment. Give me a call if you would like to chat about it more :)

I've just become a Page 3 Girl!

2012-01-23T20:00:00.001Z

I know, I'm as shocked as the next man but at the tender age of forty seven I have finally achieved my life long ambition - I'm all over Page 3............. of the new Complete River Cruise Guide! Not quite the Sun, but once you've had a look you'll have to agree this is a much more classy publication.

For several years now we have been publishing the Complete Cruise Guide in January and it has proved really poplular as it is full of useful tips and information about cruising as well as some great deals. As River Cruising has increased so much in popularity recently, this year for the first time we have dedicated a seperate publication purely for rivers. Take some time to read it and I'm sure it will give you food for thought if you have never tried a river cruise. Having tried it myself I can thoroughly recommend it to you.
Having done my fair share of ocean cruises I had my first experience of River Cruising last October and over the three days I spent on the Avalon Tapestry I was completely sold on the whole experience and would thoroughly recommend river cruising to anyone. Before I travelled I had the idea that river cruise ships were small and cramped and they would be overflowing with elderly passengers - how wrong I was! Although the ships hold only 100 or so passengers the cabins and public areas feel very much as they do on an ocean going ship, and the food selection was just as good - always important to me!
The ships are small enough to feel friendly and personal but they offer a just as good if not better cruise experience as the big ships.
One of the main things I liked about river cruising was the fact that you have scenery where ever you are, not just sea, sea and more sea. You can just sit on deck, in the lounge or even lie on your bed with the balcony door open and soak up the wonderful scenery.
If you have never tried river cruising I would urge you to give it a go - I think you would be pleasantly surprised - I was!
Please read more of my article, and of course as always please give me a call if you would like to know more. I will be delighted to talk to you 0800 408 6084

Cruise.co.uk Party 80's Style..........

2012-01-17T20:23:00.000Z

We certainly know how to party at CruiseDot, and last Friday night was no exception. Our very own Tony Andrews was 30 years young and to celebrate the occasion his wife - our very own Grace Mitchell, organised a surprise party with an 80's theme.

Those of you that know Tony will know he doesn't usually miss a trick but he didn't suspect a thing! For weeks the whole office have been planning their own outfits, Grace even organised one for Tony, but Tony was oblivious to the whole thing until he walked into the venue at about 8pm on Friday, where he thought he was meeting his father-in-law for a game of snooker.
We had a fabulous night with 80's music playing and a pig roast, and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Well done to Grace. I know who I'll be asking to organise my milestone birhday in a couple of years!

I've included some pictures for your viewing pleasure. Can you identify your favourite cruise consultant? Let me know if you can.

Sneak Preview on Hurtigruten Winter 2012-13 sailings..........

2012-01-16T20:00:00.000Z

Earlier than expected I have had some news come through about some of the early Winter sailing for the 2012-13 season so I thought I would let you know what I know! Voyages will not be on sale until the end of this week but I'm sure this will give you food for thought.
As usual please don't hesitate to give me a ring or drop me an email on the subject - I know so many of you are keen to get more info as soon as possible from the number of enquiries I've had.

Roundtrip - 12 nights
Thurs 08 Nov MAN - BGO
Mon 19 Nov BRS - BGO
Fri 30 Nov LGW - BGO
Tues 11 Nov EDI - BGO

Arctic Highlights
Thurs 29 Nov LGW - TOS 4 nights
Sat 01 Dec LGW - TOS 5 nights - 1 night pre and 1 night post
Mon 03 Dec LGW - TOS 5 nights
Thurs 06 Dec LGW - TOS 4 nights
Sat 08 Dec MAN - TOS 5 nights
Mon 10 Dec LGW - TOS 4 nights

What I can tell you is that the lead in price for an Inside Cabin on a 4 night trip would be £949 per person with half board accomodation. Breakfast and evening meal would be included but lunch would be chargeable.
This is more than your ordinary cruise experience, so if you've done all the usual suspects like Med, Fjords. Transatlantic, Panama, then maybe this is the opportunity to try soemthing really new and exciting. If any of you have experienced Hurtigruten for yourselves then please share your experiences wtih us, we'd all love to hear what you thought

Hurtigruten Winter 2012 sailings to be released.................

2012-01-10T18:25:00.000Z

At last I have some news on next winters sailings - 'not alot' but what I do know is, in about two weeks time Hurtigruten will be releasing dates and prices for a selection of cruises in November and December of this year.
These sailings will range from 4 night Northern Lights/ Arctic Highlights cruises to full 12 night Roundtrips. They will also be doing a special one-off Astronomy voyage in October which should prove to be really popular.
I know many of you are interested, particularly in the shorter voyages, so please contact me if you wish to be pre-registered for these sailings as I am going to hold some cabins as soon as they are released. After the success of the sailings leaving this and next month we know they will sell fast, so DO NOT DELAY, is all I can say. Call me on 0800 408 6084 or email me on hannahw@cruise.co.uk asap. If I am not available leave me a message and I will call/ email you back as a priority

New Year Carpet Extravaganza - enjoy!

2012-01-07T18:52:00.000Z

Can I just start off by wishing everyone a very Happy New Year. Lets hope 2012 is a good year for all of us. I've already spoken to lots of my clients in the last few days and I look forward to catching up with many more of you over the coming months.
As you will already know I had a busy year in 2011, and whilst on my travels I collected some fine carpet pictures - you have no idea the strange looks I get from people when I am taking these photos!
There are many that have not been published yet so I thought I would lump them all together for your viewing pleasure. They are from various ships and hotels that I have visited in the past twelve months, and you will have to agree that there are some stunners - enjoy!

A Last Minute Chance to View the Northern Lights.......

2012-01-03T19:10:00.000Z

How do you fancy a four night taster on Hurtigruten, and the best chance there has been for 50 years to see the Northern Lights? This really has to be one for the Bucket List!
You may be surprised to know that these short cruises along the Norweigan coast sell so quickly that it's difficult to secure a cabin so I was really excited to discover earlier today that Hurtigruten have just released a few extra cabins on 24th February and 17th March this year.
These are four night sailings plus a nights b & b in Tromso at the end of the cruise.
As well as the 'Lights' you will have the opportunity to try Dog Sledging, Snow Mobiling, visit the Russian Border and visit the spectacular Snow Hotel.

The Northern Lights really are nature at its best, giving wondrous displays. They are a celestial phenomenon caused by charged solar particles colliding with Earths atmosphere in an event that peaks in activity every 11 years, so I am told. Astronomers are predicting that this year and next are likely to be the best displays for 50 years so if this is something that you have always longed to do then now is as good a time as any.
Flights will be from London Gatwick and the cruise will be half board.
Prices start from £850 per person so the cabins available won't be hanging around for long.
Don't delay folks - get in touch with me if you are interested

Ring out the old, ring in the new..................

2011-12-31T18:15:00.000Z

Well folks, its that time of year again - New Years Eve. Tonight I shall be attending a Pyjama Party at a friends house which I am looking forward to immensely, but not the bad head that will surely follow tomorrow!
I always get a bit nostalgic on New Years Eve, and as I look back over the past twelve months I can't believe how quickly it has flown and I can't believe all the things I've done.
I am so lucky to have such a wonderful job that gives me the opportunity to get to know some wonderful people, experience so many new things and travel to such wonderful places. This year alone I have travelled to Bruges, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Dubai, and I have experienced five new ships - new to me - MSC Opera, Oceania Insignia, Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas, Avalon Tapestry and the P&O Arcadia, all of which were delightful in their own special way.
On a personal note, my daughter turned 21, and my middle son turned 18 and passed his A levels. In 2012 my youngest son will turn 17 and will start to drive - he can hardly wait!
I hope all of you have had a good 2011 - I know many of you have as I speak to you regularly, and I wish all of you the very best for the year ahead. Lets hope its a good one. Good health and happiness for us all.

Dubai - an amazing place and an absolute 'must do'..............

2011-12-19T20:20:00.000Z

I'm finally back after almost three weeks away from the office, and what an amazing time I've had! The highlight has been my trip to Dubai courtesy of Dubai Tourist board, Etihad, Virgin Atlantic and Royal Caribbean.
Before I left I was very sceptical as I had heard mixed reports but I can honestly say that I was blown away by the place. It is absolutely stunning!

Of course we were lucky enough to stay at Atlantis, The Palm and the Westin, and we visited many other top class hotels for lunch and dinner too. We went up to 'the top' of Burj Khalifa, went on a desert safari, and swam with dolphins too. We also had lunch on the Brilliance of the Seas which was top class - you can never have too many Creme Brulee in my opinion :). Whilst on the ship we were lucky enough to be invited to the bridge - a first for me, and facinating it was too.
The Brilliance does seven night sailings in and out of Dubai, and I would strongly recommend adding on a post-cruise stay in the city or Jumeirah areas - both are incredible. Forget anything you have heard - Dubai is one of the cleanest places I have been in my life, there is zero crime there, and the Emiratees are the most welcoming people you could wish to meet.

I am now a mine of information about Dubai - even if I do say so myself, so if it is a place that you are keen to know more about with a view to travelling there in the future then please feel free to contact me. I would be delighted to share my new found knowledge with you.
Don't forget that I will be loading plenty of photos on my photo website. Too see more of my time in Dubai click here.

The Dubai Trip, last 2 days

2011-12-06T05:25:00.036Z

I am about to board my Virgin Atlantic Plane for the return flight to Heathrow airport, where I hope to arrive later today. Virgin was so kind after letting us experience the Premium Economy class on the outbound flight last week, to let us experience the standard economy service on this return flight.
The last two night we have were hosted by the The Westin & Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resorts. This is a perfect hotel for all kind of activities

Yesterday morning, we took part in a guided city tour of Dubai, including some time for Shopping.
Perfect timing for Christmas shopping I must say.

After the City Tour, there was a site visit to the Shangri-La Traders Hotel. Another masterpiece of construction.

In the late afternoon, a four wheel jeep safari followed in the desert, including a very nice bbq. Great fun to race the sandhills.

After an early breakfast this morning we had our transfer to the Dubai airport and did the check in. Now almost ready for boarding.

It have been a fabulous 5 days here in Dubai. Who ever is reluctant to go to the Gulf area (either for a cruise or a beach vacation or a shopping vacation), please call me and let me tell you all about this city.

The Dubai Trip, Day 3 and 4

2011-12-05T07:21:00.002Z

It have been 3 very very busy days here in Dubai for me so far. The trip organisers make sure to show us all the highlights of this amazing city.

As I have not much time to write this blog, as the next item on the itinerary starts in 10 minutes again, a quick overview
of all my site inspections in the past 2 days:

Jumeirah Mosque for tour

Dhow Cruise on Dubai Creek

Site inspection at The Palace, The Old Town

Visit to ‘At the Top’ observation deck at Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower
in the world

Visit to Dubai Aquarium

Visit to KidZania, Sega Republic and Dubai Ice Rink at the Dubai Mall

Site inspection of the Cruise passenger terminal

Site inspection of the Brilliance of the Seas
Site inspection at The Westin and Le Meridien Mina Seyahi

As you can see, this is certainly not a "sit back and relax" vacation, but real hard work.

The Dubai trip, day 1

2011-12-02T08:01:00.001Z

I have mentioned last week I would be out of the office this week for a few personal days off and a business trip to Dubai. I have just this morning (we are 4 hours ahead of UK time) arrived in Dubai after an amazing flight. I travel in a group of various cruise consultants and holiday professionals and after meeting at Heathrow airport our group was checked in for our Virgin Atlantic flight to Dubai.

Courtesy of Virgin, we all had seats in the Premium Economy section of the aircraft.
Very well worth the extra bit of money. It gives you loads of legroom, big entertainment screens, less seats in a row compared to Economy and great service. Too bad the flight was just under 7 hours at night. I am looking forward to my return flight next week already, to enjoy over 8 hours of flight.

After arrival at Dubai airport, we were transported to the Atlantis, the Palm hotel. This hotel is located on an artificial palmtree shapes island (build by the famous Dutch) and is a very impressive resort.

For the rest of the day, we will have a site inspection of the resort, including a short bed inspection I think to catch up, and later today a Dolphin interaction session at Dolphin Bay. Tonight on the schedule is site inspection of the One&Only Royal Mirage.
Follow this space for my next reports.

Dubai here I come.........

2011-11-25T16:15:00.001Z

Today is my last day in the office until 12th December. I have a few days holiday left to take and I am also going on a trip to Dubai for five nights. I am so excited!!

I am so lucky to have won this wonderful trip courtesty of Royal Caribbean, Etihad and Virgin Atlantic.
The itinerary looks fabulous. We are staying at the Atlantis Palm and the Westin, lunching and dining at an assortment of top class hotels, visiting a water park, a mosque, and going up the Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest tower. We will also be taking part in a 4 x 4 Desert Safari - not for the faint hearted I'm told.

I will be taking my trusty camera with me as usual so there will be plenty of new photos for you to look at over the coming weeks and I will report back about my adventures when I am home.
All this will be done before my next little trip on the Arcadia on the 15th December which is the company Christmas Party. Two nights over to Bruges - party party!!
If you need something urgently while I am away please call my colleagues on 0800 408 6200 - they will be happy to help you.

Hebridean Princess - fit for a Queen.......... and us commoners too!

2011-11-22T17:03:00.000Z

Along with River Cruises, my other big passion is the Niche cruise lines. They offer something very unique and different for the more discerning cruiser. I will be the first to admit that it isn't easy to get alot of information on these lines first hand so I was delighted to find this wonderfully informative review on our website from a gentleman who cruised on Hebridean Princess only last week.

It really does give great insight into this lovely little ship and what it has to offer. I asked the gentleman if he would be happy for me to reprint his review on my blog as I wanted to share it with as many people as possible and he was more than happy. He also sent me some photos that he took which I will add to my attached pictures website here.
Read on.........

We have just returned from what for us has to have been the most perfect cruise ever on the Hebridean Princess around the Inner Hebrides.

As a bit of background, we have cruised with Seabourn ten times, Silverseas twice and SeaDream once.

After the adventure of an overnight sleeper train from Euston to Glasgow, then a quick walk from Glasgow Central to Glasgow Queen Street, we caught the West Highland line which passes through beautiful scenery and past spectacular lochs to arrive at Oban. We were able to leave our bags with security at the ship’s berth and complete our checking in (taking all of 30 seconds) before heading off to explore Oban and spend a few hours in a local spa hotel (£5 each).

Boarding is relatively late at 4.30 pm, but by that time we had refreshed and showered ourselves at the spa, so were ready to be piped aboard the ship, shown to our cabin and be in time for afternoon tea in the Tiree Lounge.

After a short lifeboat drill and time to unpack (the cases had arrived within a few minutes of boarding), it was on to our first proper meal of the cruise and an opportunity to meet our fellow guests.

The food on board is truly the best of British cuisine, with the finest local ingredients cooked to the highest standard. There wasn’t a meal that I didn’t enjoy thoroughly. All meals are taken in the Columba restaurant, there are no alternative dining options, apart from a small room service menu. The food is the hottest (temperature wise) I have ever had in a restaurant!

Breakfasts are a buffet of cereals, cold meats, pastries and fruit along with a cooked to order hot breakfast. Every day there is the option of porridge with a wee dram of whisky and, if you like, sweetened by honey from the comb.

Lunch is a three course meal, plus a cheese course if you are still hungry, with complementary wine, beer or soft drinks with the option of sandwiches if you want a lighter meal.

The evening meal is four courses plus a cheese course, again with complementary drinks. On the two Gala nights, there are much larger, more elaborate meals. I really couldn’t fault it.

After dinner, the only entertainment is provided by the ship’s guide who gives a briefing on what will be happening the following day along with the historical background and stories associated with the places to be visited. One night a local duo of musicians came aboard to play traditional Scottish music, this then transformed into a Ceilidh with everyone getting up to attempt various Scottish dances under the instruction of the excellent musicians. A truly fun night! Otherwise, the evening’s entertainment is chatting to the new friends that you have made on board whilst sampling the free drinks.

All drinks, with the exception of a few high end wines and champagnes, are included. So it is a good chance to sample the ship’s excellent selection of Single Malts, maybe matching them up with the places you are visiting.

During the day, the ship tries to visit two places of interest each day. During breakfast the ship sails to its first port of call, so that once people have finished eating they can make their way ashore using the two tenders (always referred to as the Hardys [the make of the boats]), Shona and Sanda or a very fast speedboat for the more adventurous. Instead of being swiped off and on the ship as with other cruise lines, you collect a life jacket, which must be used when on the boats, and then take a small brass engraved tag that corresponds to your cabin. This is then placed into your lanyard and taken ashore. At the end of the trip, there is a reconciliation of life jackets and brass tags to ensure that everyone is back on board.

The ship sails to its second port of call during lunch.

The trips vary each day. We had a trip up to the top of the Ben Nevis Range by cable car, a visit to Glencoe, a very boggy and physically exhausting walk to find a Broch on the island of Lismore and a scenic coach journey to try to get to the Island of Iona. This proved impossible due to the sea state between Mull and Iona meaning that the ferry was in imminent danger of being cancelled, so stranding us on the island. When we couldn’t land on Jura, we diverted to the small harbour of Tayvallich at the top end of Loch Sween, where there was excellent walking. Another day we had a close sail past Fingal’s Cave on Staffa, with musical accompaniment and tots of whisky. On the last day we walked along the Crinan Canal in the morning and were then taken to have a look at the beautiful Arduaine Gardens in the afternoon.

Hebridean must be unique in that they pay for all drinks and snacks on shore as well as entry to any house, gardens, cable cars, etc you are visiting! The trips are also accompanied by a hamper containing flasks of coffee, homemade biscuits and several bottles of whisky so everyone can have a wee (or not so wee) dram to fortify themselves!

We had a lovely guide, Rita, who when she is not working on the ship, runs a farm in Perthshire. She was incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining and kept everyone together on the walking trips. Whenever we were unable to make our intended destination for the day, Rita would always come up with an excellent back-up plan.

A very special mention must be made of David the Chief Purser, who not only ran the customer facing part of the ship, but also was the master of ceremonies at the Gala nights (including his “address to the Haggis”), comedian after dinner and also cut the wild salmon and mustard glazed ham at the two lunch buffets. David appeared to be everywhere at once and knew all the guests names and made sure that everyone was having a marvellous time.

This was also the first ship where I have been on first name terms with the Captain! The ship itself is charming. Certainly the smallest ship I have ever been on. Only 49 passengers and 38 crew. On board it is more like staying at a house party at a Scottish Country House. It has the most relaxed ambiance, without a queue in sight. There are no set times to do things except for meal start times (there is only one sitting for each meal and you go and eat when you feel like it) and the first and last boats ashore.

The cabins are relatively small (ours was just over 200 sq ft), but beautifully furnished and enough room to move around in. Most have a proper sized bath with overhead shower. The toiletries are Moulton Brown. There is tea and coffee making facilities in the cabin along with a fridge containing milk and soft drinks. There is also a decanter of whisky or sherry that is constantly topped up. The air conditioning is a bit antiquated but works perfectly well and you can often open the windows. There is also a proper sized radiator which is ideal for drying wet boots and socks after a walk ashore.

We met the most charming fellow guests, all of whom knew exactly how to behave in keeping with the ship. There were 10 guests in our age range (late 40s/early 50s) with the rest being older, but very active. We have never swapped so many e-mail addresses as on this cruise.

The only downside I could spot was a lack of seating if you arrived early for embarkation, but provided you arrive after 4.30 pm, you are taken straight on board the ship.

One of my most enduring memories is taking the last Hardy back to the ship as darkness was falling and a full moon rose above the Scottish mountains reflected in the loch. Magical!!

All in all, it was the best cruise I have ever been on, and whilst it might not be for everyone (no bingo, art auctions, ship’s photographer, constant sales pitches, etc), I can certainly see why the Hebridean Princess is a favourite of Her Majesty the Queen ….. and mine!

....and so to Bratislava.............

2011-11-17T20:31:00.000Z

We had a great day here. After another fabulous buffet breakfast we headed off first on a coach tour and then a gentle walking tour around the old town which took us to within five minutes of the ship - and lunch.
The guide kept us well informed of everything we saw - including the American Embassy which is a mini Whitehouse!

We got out of the coach when we arrived at the castle where one of Marie Antoinettes daughters lived after her marriage, and from up here we had wonderful views over the city and the Danube itself - more photo opportunities!

The highlight of my morning was when we spotted some monks. I had been very disappointed that there were non to be seen in the Abbey in Melk.
There is so much history in Bratislava, reminders everywhere of Communist rule and the Holocaust as we found also the next day in Budapest. However, amonst all this history we spotted a Tesco Express - they are just everywhere!

Another great lunch with local dishes - delicious pork, and then free time to leave the ship if we wished so we did what all girls know is best - headed for the local shopping mall. Many of the retail outlets were familiar to us and some were new. We had a good 'mooch' and on our way back to the ship we spotted the Red Bull mini. A great day in a great place, well worth visiting.
Tomorrow - Budapest!

And the winner of 'Rear of the Year' Award.......................

2011-11-14T20:10:00.000Z

..........sponsored by Next plc goes to...... even I wouldn't dare put a name to this bum!
This has been a very busy weekend at cruise.co. Ever keen to stay on top of our game and provide the best possible service to clients we have all had new laptops installed, new servers and lots of other 'techy' type stuff done that is quite beyond my comprehension!
In addition to this we have done our annual clearout of old brochures etc a little bit early so the office is looking like a new pin. The IT guys spent the whole weekend working to get the new system up and running for Monday morning. One of them told me horror stories of congealed gravy on his Sunday lunch which he ate just after midnight last night - oh, the sacrifices these guys have made!
This morning we all pulled together to finish the clear out before getting down to the weeks work. As always our Head of Sales and Operations, Andrew Adler, was the man at the helm, leading by example - er, oh dear, I wasn't going to name names was I?!

Anyway, I look forward to speaking to many of you in the weeks leading up to Christmas - using my new system of course. Although the year is drawing to a close there are still some great deals to be had. Remember, P&O and Cunard have Free Transport on all of their 2012 sailings until the end of November so if you are considering either of these cruise lines for next year then now is a good time to book. They are giving some pretty generous On Board Spend on certain cruises too.
Speak soon...............

Durnstein, Austria..... the jewel in the Danubes crown........

2011-11-13T13:33:00.000Z

So, back to my lovely little river cruise, and follwoing our tour of Melk Abbey and cruise through the Wachau Valley, we spent the afternoon in Durnstein where we were free to do as we pleased. Off we set on foot towards the village, only about half a mile along a walkway at the side of the river, nothing too arduous! The weather was still beautiful too, I couldn't believe this was October.

Durnstein has to be one of the prettiest places I have ever visited. It only has about 460 residents and I have no idea where they all were on that afternoon because apart from a few 'touristy' type shops which were open we didn't see a soul.

Obviously, we had a look at the famous chuch with the blue and white tower, then walked around the pretty little streets. Apart from being in the middle of the main wine producing region in Austria, Durnstein is famous for its Apricot Liquor. Some of the shops even offer tasters! A bottle of that was bought and is now sitting in my kitchen cupboard ready to be drunk on Christmas afternoon - looking forward to that very much!

After a lovely afternoon we returned to the river boat to prepare for happy hour, which happens every evening before dinner. After another lovely evening meal we sat in the lounge where a local chap from Durnstein entertained us with his electric violins. Wow, he was brilliant!
And so to bed to prepare for another busy day in Bratislava, Slovakia the following day. I was really looking forward to this as it is the 'home turf' of Stan from our Accounts Department. Blog post to follow.
For more pictures of Durnstein, click here.........

AmaWaterways to set sail in South Africa.............

2011-11-10T15:31:00.000Z

As you will no doubt have noticed I am now a big fan of River Cruises and I'm really excited about this announcement from Ama that they are venturing into South Africa - this really is very exciting, and a first to boot.
The fast-growing line will kick off its first "Africa Safaris and Wildlife Cruise" programme in June 2012, with three itineraries that pair a four-night cruise on the Chobe River between Botswana and Namibia with land-based safari outings in Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.

The cruise portion of the trips will take place on the Zambezi Queen, an upscale, 28-passenger vessel that was launched in 2009.
Many travel operators offer safari-based holidays in this region but this is the first time a land based trip has been teamed up with a river cruise.

There will be some really exciting itineraries on offer. Here are some examples:

AmaWaterways' new Africa itineraries will range from 16 to 19 days. The 16-day Stars of Africa itinerary joins a four-night cruise on the Chobe River with three nights in Cape Town, South Africa; three nights in South Africa's Kruger National Park; one night in Johannesburg, South Africa; and two nights at Victoria Falls.

The 16-day African Sunsets itinerary swaps two nights in Botswana's Okavango Delta and two nights at Botswana's Savute Safari area for the stays in Kruger National Park and Johannesburg.

The 19-day Golden Trails of Africa itinerary includes one night in Nairobi, Kenya; eight nights at game reserves in Kenya and Tanzania; one night in Johannesburg; the four-night cruise; and two nights at Victoria Falls.

While on the cruise portion of the trip, passengers will have a chance to view wildlife both during excursions from the vessel in smaller boats and during landings in Chobe National Park. In addition to elephants, hippos and crocodiles, wildlife in the area includes leopards, lions, sable and buffalo.

Passengers also will visit a local African village and take part in a traditional African Boma Dinner with music and dance under the stars.
Now, much as I enjoyed my Danube cruise, I don't feel that it stands me in good stead for selling Chobe River Cruises - I'm just off to have a word with my boss to see if there's any chance......................
If you'd like more information please feel free to call me as always.........

Avalon advances towards Asia in 2012...........

2011-11-08T15:16:00.000Z

Avalon have just made an exciting anouncement about the launch of a new ship into a brand new area. The Avalon Angkor will start sailing around Vietnam, Cambodia and China from April 2012 and these exciting itineraries will be on sale from the 24th of this month. I have just been lucky enough to experience an Avalon River Cruise first hand and I have no hesitation recommending them. They offer a 5* cruise experience and I know that you would be delighted with every aspect of your holiday.

Here is the press release to whet your appetite:
Luxury river cruise specialist, Avalon Waterways has announced the delivery of a new river cruise ship, the ‘Avalon Angkor’ as it launches a dedicated Vietnam, Cambodia & China brochure with a fascinating choice of river cruises and tours in the region.

The new brochure will go on sale on 24 November 2011 including a tour of Vietnam & Cambodia including a Mekong river cruise as well as two China tours including a Yangtze River cruise. Tour and cruise departures are from April 2012 to March 2013.
Due for delivery in 2012, the Avalon Angkor has been specially designed to be the first ship in the industry to cruise all the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, avoiding over 7 hours travelling time by coach.
Built by local craftsmen with a colonial design, the Avalon Angkor is the first Avalon vessel to be launched outside of Europe but will feature all the modern amenities Avalon is renowned for. Accommodating just 32 guests in 16 deluxe staterooms over two decks with a Sun Deck, this small and intimate ship will feature the standard spacious 172 sq ft staterooms as all Avalon ships. The floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors provide an open-air experience without losing any space in the stateroom and are the best way to enjoy the stunning passing scenery. Guests will enjoy Avalon amenities including the Comfort Collection by Avalon.
Alan MacLean, Managing Director, Avalon Waterways commented: “2012 will be a landmark year for us as we launch 3 new ships including an industry first, the Avalon Angkor. We are delighted to be able to offer the UK market the Avalon river cruise experience in Indo-China particularly with such a key selling point of a river cruise itinerary all the way through to Siem Reap.

He added: “Interest has been strong already as passengers who have travelled on one of our European cruises are becoming more adventurous, wanting to discover different cultures and countries but with the same high level of service and facilities they have already enjoyed with us.”
The new 16 day ‘Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong’ provides an amazing insight into the fascinating culture, scenery and history of this area. The tour includes 3 nights at InterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, a seven night cruise on the River Mekong aboard the Avalon Angkor; 2 nights at Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa Hotel in Siem Reap and 1 night at InterContinental Bangkok Hotel. Holiday highlights include Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap guided city sightseeing, Cu Chi Tunnels, Cai Be, Phnom Penh, and the Temples of Angkor. Prices are from £3915 per person.
To make the most of a visit, Avalon Waterways offer a range of holiday extensions, pre and post cruise. A three night stay to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Luang Prabang in Laos can be added to the tour by flying via Bangkok at the start of the tour. The 20 day tour is priced from £4605 per person.
Alternatively, Hanoi & Ha Long Bay can be added as a post-tour extension to include 2 nights in Hanoi and 1 night in Ha Long Bay with guided sightseeing and a scenic cruise. Prices are from £4165 per person for this 19 day holiday.
For the ultimate experience add Luang Prabang and Hanoi & Ha Long Bay extensions. Prices are from £4865 per person for this 22 day holiday.
Avalon Waterways’ newly featured China tours incorporate Yangtze river cruises aboard the 5* recently refurbished Victoria Anna. All Avalon passengers will enjoy executive suites sized at 319 sq feet with private balconies and a range of executive benefits including use of a private lounge, concierge service, business centre, choice of dinning rooms and private cultural lectures.
The 12 day ‘Magical China & the Yangtze River’ tour includes a 2 night stay at the Westin Beijing, 2 nights at Golden Flower Hotel in Xian, a 3 night Yangtze cruise aboard the Victoria Anna; with 2 nights in Shanghai staying at the Westin Shanghai. Tour highlights include guided city sightseeing in Beijing, Xian and Shanghai; the Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, Tiananmen Square, Great Wall of China, Terracotta Warriors, Three Gorges. Prices are from £2999 per person. Tour extensions include 3 nights at the luxurious Harbour Grand Kowloon (harbour view room). Prices are from £3499 per person for this 14 day holiday
The 17 day ‘Heart of China & the Yangtze River’ features the same itinerary as the Magical China & Yangtze River tour but also includes 2 nights in Guilin at Sheraton Guilin Hotel and 3 nights in Hong Kong at the Harbour Grand Kowloon. Prices are from £3775 per person. Holiday extensions include a 3 night stay in Bangkok at the Westin Grand Sukhumvit. Prices are from £4239 per person for this 20 day holiday.
All Avalon cruises are full packaged with flights, transfers, airport taxes, port charges and gratuities as well as a private door-to-door transfer service(within 75 miles of your chosen International airport), local guided sightseeing and a full board cruise with complimentary wine served at dinner. Adding even more value for 2012 is the inclusion of gratuities for the tour director, driver and the crew on board.
Please give me a call if you would liket o know more about the Avalon river Cruise experience.

Secret Life of a Cruise Consultant..............

2011-11-06T17:22:00.000Z

It may come as a great surprise to those of you who think I am in the first flush of youth to know that I am old enough to have a daughter who turns 21 this weekend! We had a get together last night with family and friends before my daughter and her friends hit the town
in Birmingham. It was a lovely evening which everyone enjoyed although I think the girls have all got very sore heads today!
Whenever I am perusing the Gala Buffet on a cruise ship I joke that I need to make more effort with my food presentation at home! With this in mind I decided that I would make my daughters 21st birthday cake myself and see just what I could achieve. I have to say, I am quietly very pleased with my efforts. What do you think? If any of the ships are looking for a pastry chef, I'm open to offers - feel free to call me on the number below :).

Rangoon and The Orient.... and the price is right!!

2011-11-01T19:13:00.000Z

This is an excellent deal if you are able to travel at relatively short notice - 27th of this month to be precise, but it is such an excellent offer I thought it was worth bringing to your attention.
Travelling with Voyages of Discovery on the mv Discovery, you would fly from London on the 27th November overnight and board the ship on the 28th. The voyage is 24 nights and here is the itinerary:

27 Nov 2011 Depart London, United Kingdom for overnight flight to Mumbai, India 28 Nov 2011 Mumbai, India 29 Nov 2011 Mumbai, India 6.00pm 30 Nov 2011 Marmagao, India 12.00pm 6.00pm 01 Dec 2011 At Sea 02 Dec 2011 Cochin, India 8.00am 4.00pm 03 Dec 2011 Colombo, Sri Lanka 1.30pm 04 Dec 2011 Colombo, Sri Lanka 6.00pm 05 Dec 2011 At Sea 06 Dec 2011 At Sea 07 Dec 2011 At Sea 08 Dec 2011 Yangon, Myanmar 2.00pm 10 Dec 2011 Yangon, Myanmar 1.30pm 11 Dec 2011 At Sea 12 Dec 2011 Phuket, Thailand 8.00am 6.00pm 13 Dec 2011 Penang, Malaysia 8.00am 5.00pm 14 Dec 2011 Port Kelang, Malaysia 8.00am 5.00pm 15 Dec 2011 Singapore 8.00am 6.00pm 16 Dec 2011 At Sea 17 Dec 2011 At Sea 18 Dec 2011 Laem Chabang, Thailand 7.00am 19 Dec 2011 Laem Chabang, Thailand disembark ship 20 Dec 2011 Bangkok, Thailand
Depart for flight to London arriving same day.

Have a look at what Voyages of Discovery has to offer -

Prices, including flights, port taxes and fees, transfers, the lot, start from £1499pp for an Inside Cabin and £1699pp for an Ocean View Cabin (probably with portholes) - now that is what I would call value for money! Remeber, you would have to obtain Indian Visas but this can be done quickly, unlike some Visas.
So, you lucky people who can travel at the drop of a hat, give me a call if you are interested because cabins aren't going to hang around for long at these prices

Melk Benedictine Abbey, Austria

2011-10-23T12:55:00.001+01:00

This was our first port of call on our recent Danube cruise with Avalon, and it was even more beautiful than I expected. We were up with the lark as we had to be on the coach by 8am but it was well worth it. The weather was freezing cold - frost on the top of the boat, but the sun was shining and the sky was the bluest blue you ever saw.

We had a local guide to take us around the abbey but her English was perfect. Also her wealth of knowledge was amazing. She talked almost non-stop for two hours! Afterwards we were free to walk around the main chapel and the grounds for a while - the views over the river were stunning.

Around 10.30am we were taken back to the boat by coach and then we sailed through the Wachau Valley towards our next stop, Durnstein.

The scenery was breathtaking - castles, monasteries, vineyards all lining our route, and Karolien, the Cruise Director, kept us well informed on everything we passed along the way.
I have so many photos, far too many to put on here, so look out for them here . Next post will be Durnstein!

Why do a river cruise with Avalon?

2011-10-21T20:18:00.000+01:00

Avalon market themselves as a five star river cruise line, and having experienced their ship, their food, their service and their attention to detail I can say they their marketing is spot on.
We were on the mv Tapestry which at five years old is the oldest boat in their fleet. You would never guess this if you didn't know it as it looks brand new. For a small vessel it feels suprisingly spacious and light, its furnishings and carpets (yes I will be publishing photos of the carpets!) look brand new, and the ship is spotlessly clean.

The cabins are the same size as you would get on a big cruise ship, you can still order room service and breakfast in bed, and the toiletries provided are L'Occitaine. The balconies are French Balconies which is more than adequate. One luxury that I have never had on a cruise ship before were the Tempura mattress toppers - so blissfully comfortable and warm that I didn't want to leave my bed each morning! And yes, you get the nightly turndown service, sculpted PJ's and a chocolate on your pillow!
The food was super - as you know I am a big foodie. Breakfast and lunch were both buffet style with a huge choice at both events. Breakfasts were everything from full English, cereals, hot porridge, cold meats, cheese and croissants. There was also a 'Smoothie of the day', a different flavour each morning - delicious! An egg station provided eggs however you fancied them too.

Lunch was a selction of hot and cold - always with a couple of regional dishes on offer. Soft drinks were included at no extra charge. Vegetables were fresh, and there were veggie options too. I also noticed that a table of Chinese folk had chinese dishes served to their table - national cuisine is something that Avalon are more than happy to provide if required.
Dinner in the evening was 5 courses, no dressing up required, all waiter service and wne and beer were included free of charge - they were not stingey with it either! There were a wonderful selection of dishes too, all cooked to perfection, which is incredible when you consider that the kitchens are a very limited size on these boats. Well done to Karoly, the lovely Hungarian Chef and his team!

All the staff on the ship were extremely helpful and friendly, nothing was too much trouble. Every single one of them went the extra mile. The Captain was a very jolly Dutchman who wore clogs all the time, and often broke into a clog dance when he saw you! Special mention must go to Karolien, the lovely Dutch Cruise Director/ Tour Guide/ all round good egg - I think this lady must never sleep! She was relentless in ensuring that everyone was happy and well-informed and well taken care of. Her attention to detail was incredible and she was an absolute delight to have around.
Almost forgot, there is even a small gym on board - of course, I only popped in for a quick look!
A point of interest - I was chatting to the Restaurant/Front of House manager one eveningand he told me he used to work for Princess Cruises, obviously much larger ships, but he changed to River Cruising and enjoyed these smaller boats much more. He said the atmosphere on board was so much more friendly.

We met some great people too from all over the world. Never let anyone tell you that river boats are just full of old people, it just isn't true. Ok, the majority are over 50, but hey, I'm not that far off that!
Well, that's enough for now I think. Next time I will tell you about our 'ports of call' - don't miss it, they were amazing!

Not sure about River Cruising? Allow me to convert you............

2011-10-20T19:31:00.000+01:00

I have just been lucky enough to spend 3 fabulous nights and days cruising the Danube from Vienna to Budapest courtesy of Avalon, and let me tell you, they have been the best of days. Although I have experienced many of our ocean going cruise ships, large and small, this was my first ever river cruise, and I am completely sold on the whole experience. It has very much confirmed to me that I am a huge fan of the smaller vessel and having now tried sailing along rivers I now understand the attraction, and the benefits of river cruising over ocean cruising.

I have so much to share with you on this subject that I will have to cover it in several posts. I offer no apologies for spending so much time and blog space on this subject because I know it is 'unchartered waters' for many of you and I am sure that what I have to tell you will convince you to try it.

To briefly outline my trip, I flew to Vienna via Frankfurst on Sunday - not an issue as the transfer times were perfect. We were met at Vienna airport by private taxi which took us to the Intercontinental in Vienna where we spent around 3 hours so there was plenty of time to explore if we wished. At around 4pm we were taken by coach to the ship, accompanied by our Cruise Director Karolien, a most charming Dutch lady.
Monday morning we visited Melk Benedictine Abbey, stunning. We then cruised the Wachau Valley for about 2 - 3 hours, and although it was very cold I stayed on top deck the whole time as the scenery was fabulous.We then spent the afternoon in Durnstein which is the prettiest of little villages on the banks of the Danube.

Tuesday we spent the whole day in Bratislava, Slovakia. This is a beautiful city with so much history. Wednesday morning we awoke to find ourselves in Budapest which was absolutely breathtaking at first light - yes, I was on top deck in my pyjamas and fleece, taking photos!
The big bonus being on a river cruise is that when you wake up or even arrive somewhere during the day, you are right where you need to be - most of the time you could sight see on foot, no long costly transfers. The other obvious bonus is that at virtually every port you get an 'included' coach tour with a very knowledgable guide and if you wish you can continue onto the walking tour with headsets and your guide, or if you prefer you can take the coach back to the ship. This is all free! There are optional tours should you wish to pay for them but they are very reasonably priced. We managed to fill our days without paying for extra tours.
At the end of our tour of Budapest we were dropped at the Intercontinental in Budapest where we were collected by private taxi and taken to the airport.

Another plus with river cruising is that the boats are small, although they feel spacious enough. Our ship only had 100 passengers and the atmosphere was friendly, passengers and staff alike. The food was as good or even better than I have had on large ships, with regional specialities at lunch each day - the Austrian Meatloaf was to die for!
Entertainment was limited as you would exect although one evening a local Austrian chap came on board an did a stunning performance on an electric violin. Well worth seeing. I have to say that our days were so busy that we wouldn't have made it to a night club even if there had been one on board. I was ready for my PJ's by 10pm, although I think I made it to 11pm on the last night.
I have so much to tell you and so many pics to share over the next posts - maybe check out my photos on the site linked to this blog as many of them will be going on there over the next few weeks.
I have to end by saying that there were six of us agents on this trip and we had an absolute blast. What a great bunch of girls to spend time with. Look out for further posts including the six of us and what we go up to.
As always, if you would like to know more, please give me a call or drop me an email.

I'm heading for the Danube................

2011-10-12T13:38:00.000+01:00

I've just had a few days off and have spent all my time decorating my lounge so I am really looking forward to my little trip next week, sailing along the Danube. It should be more relaxing I hope!
My colleague Jess and I are lucky enough to have been chosen to spend three nights on the Avalon Tapestry.
I love selling river cruises as they are so different to ocean cruising on the giant ships, and they represent such good value for money as on most river cruises all your shore excursions are included in the price, and so are alcoholic drinks with lunch and dinner, I really excited to see if the experience lives up to my expectations.
We are flying out to Vienna at the crack of dawn on Sunday and I gather that we will be able to spend around 3 - 4 hours there before we are transferred to the boat. Monday morning we will be in Melk. I can't wait to visit the Benedictine Abbey as our Chairman Andrew Gardner has told me it is breath taking.

Monday afternoon we visit Durmstein, Tuesday we are in Bratislava, and we fly home from Budapest on Wednesday.
I will take lots of photos and of course I will write about our adventure to let you know how we got on later next week.
If anyone has done a Danube cruise and would like to give me some feedback I would really appreciate it.

Top award for Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection..........

2011-10-04T19:43:00.000+01:00

This bit of news has thrilled me as river cruising is fast becoming a passion of mine. River cruising offers something completely different for clients who have cruised the seven seas for years, you see things from a whole new perpective, and the value for money cannot be denied in these harsh economic times.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has triumphed as “Best Cruise Line” at the Guardian and Observer Reader Travel Awards 2011, in a category that included the best of both the ocean and river cruise industry.
Uniworld was credited for making waves in a category in which it is a relative newcomer. Having launched in the UK just over a year ago, the brand fought off competition from long established and recognised cruise lines. The awards, which took place in Tenerife, were voted for by the readers of The Guardian, the Observer and guardian.co.uk. Each category is won by the best percentage score from all the voters, with Uniworld scoring a flawless 100% from all of its voters.
This is the second accolade bestowed on Uniworld from the UK consumer in as many weeks, coming hot off the heels of an award for ‘Best Dining’ from the readers of Cruise International magazine. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is the world’s only river cruise line to have been acknowledged by Zagat Survey® for “Top Dining”.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection offers itineraries across Europe, Egypt, Russia and China and launches into Vietnam and Cambodia, along the Mekong River, in January 2012. Each ship offers guests luxury accommodation with sumptuous interiors, exceptional service, fine dining and unique facilities such as conservatory-style balconies and river cruising’s first 20-seater cinema, which feature on the S.S. Antoinette, Uniworld’s flagship vessel launched in March this year.
This is a fresh new product, offering the highest levels of accomodation, service and cuisine to its clients. If I can just be devils advocate, and I feel I am in a position to do so as I get so much feedback from regular clients of mine, maybe there is a lesson here to the long established mainstream cruise lines, some of whom seem to be resting on their laurels somewhat. I spent my formative working years as a Trainee Manager at Sainsburys and all we ever heard was how we were market leaders who could not be touched by the competition, They rested on their laurels for a few years, and where are they now compared to Tesco?? Take heed big boys, the little guys are taking the initiative!
If anyone would like more information about Uniworlds products then please feel free to contact me.

Viking River Cruises introduce four new Longships for 2012..........

2011-10-02T13:00:00.000+01:00

Further proof of the inceased popularity of river cruising, from Viking, who are set to massively increase their fleet next year.
The four new ships will boast all the amenities of a fine hotel - a room with a view, fabulous food and outstanding comfort. Vikings motto has always been 'exploring the world in comfort', and indeed you will!

These new vessels have been designed by Yran and Storbraaten, the team behind The Yachts of Seabourn - need I say more, and they offer state of the art engineering, design and luxury. Each will feature - Aquavit Terrace - with a revolutionary indoor/outdoor viewing area at the bow of the ship - Two Explorer Suites with wraparound Verandas giving 270 deg views - All Suites will have two rooms with a veranda off the living room and a Freanch Balcony in the bedroom - More full size verandas and full size rooms than any other ship in Europe - solar panels and an organic herb garden - energy efficient hybrid engines that reduce vibration for a remarkably quiet ride.
All the vessels boast beautiful contemporary interiors and look set to become firm favourites with river cruisers.
If you haven't tried river cruising, let me tell you - river cruising is the new cruise. It is the place to be seen, and when it comes to value for money, they just can't be beaten.
I am a big fan already and would be delighted to help you plan a voyage on the river of your choice, so give me a call if you would like more info. If you have already got experience of river cruising then please feel free to share your knowledge and tips with us.

The new Viking vessels to look out for are - Freya, Idun, Njord and Odin - coming soon to a river near you!

Cruise ship carpets - Oceania excels on Insignia!

2011-09-25T09:16:00.000+01:00

So there I am on this very oppulent six star cruise ship - Oceania Insignia, all of which will be reported in another post, and the thing that interests me most of course is the carpets! The whole of the Observation lounge is carpeted in this magnificent tartan print. A first on any ship I have seen.
Some very fine examples as you can see - enjoy!

Boutique River Cruising..... What’s that? Part 2!

2011-09-23T12:05:00.000+01:00

Carrying on from last week’s blog here are few more pointers about Viking River Cruises and Avalon Waterways.

Viking River Cruises have a unique Scandinavian-influence onboard; interiors are designed to be sleek, comfortable and uncluttered in appearance. Furnishings are crafted of fine woods; fabrics and wools, cashmeres, cottons and linens in a neutral palette to provide the best possible backdrop for the breathtaking passing scenery. With Viking, every stateroom is an ‘outside’ stateroom – with a river view through a picture window or French balcony. Most windows open, and in China, all staterooms have balconies. Most staterooms are deluxe, which means they have hotel-style beds with European linens and duvets. There is also plenty of wardrobe space and a place to stow your bags once you have unpacked. All rooms have a private bathroom, with a shower, which is stocked full with L’Occitane products (The same as Uniworld). Viking pride their cabins being ‘your home away from home’ and want to make sure it feels that way, with quality amenities in you cabin; including slippers, wooden clothes hangers, a vanity set and complimentary bottled water daily.

With the average age of ship just two years old, the Avalon Waterways fleet breathes luxury and comfort. Elegant, contemporary design, state of the art technology and attention to every detail distinguish their ships from all others. Generous in space, and spirit, you will discover it is the little details that make the biggest difference; fresh flowers in your stateroom, enhanced soundproofing, marble bathrooms, designer lighting and their unique whisper-quiet engines. With the largest staterooms in Europe – at least 15% larger than other river cruise ships – every stateroom is light and inviting, and beautifully-appointed. With ample storage space, most staterooms also feature French balconies and panoramic windows. Celebrate a new era in river cruising with the launch of the Avalon Panorama, the first of their new Suite Ships with Open-Air Balconies™. The Panorama Suites offer a minimum of 200 sq ft of luxurious living space in which you can relax and gaze at the epic views, read a book, or enjoy a romantic meal. With two Royal Suites and 17 deluxe staterooms that are 30% larger than any other small ship in Europe. With thoughtful touches that enhance your personal comfort include deluxe woven carpet, L’Occitane toiletries, scented sticks, quality robes and slippers, and our own branded Comfort Collection; a premium-bedding collection that offers you a choice of pillows, mattresses and fine Egyptian linen, this is panoramic cruising at its best.

I don't know if I mentioned it before but in three weeks I am off on a river cruise down the Danube from Vienna to budapest with my colleague Jess on an Avalon boat. I am so looking forward to it - especially the Benedictine Abbey at Melk. Our Chairman Andrew Gardner has told me it is breathtaking!

I have already packed my shorts and pac-a-mac - can't wait!

Celebrity Cruises - Extend Your Stay Option............

2011-09-22T19:55:00.000+01:00

Brilliant news for those of you who are lucky enough to be cruising on any Celebrity ship in Europe from the end of September onwards, and I don't know why they haven't done it sooner, especially as you can almost always guarantee that Celebrity will book you on a late return flight. Until now pasengers have had to endure lengthy hours waiting at the airport for their flight home, but no longer!

Extend Your Stay Program - to be opened on all Celebrity European ships by the end of September

What is the objective of this concept?

The objective of the Extend Your Stay program is to allow guests the flexibility of staying onboard longer on disembarkation day if they have a late flight back home.

What are the core elements of the concept:

Available on all ships sailing in Europe (for 2011 season, that’s CS, EC, EQ, SI and SL)
Only occurs in European turn ports (e.g. not available in MIA or FLL after a transatlantic cruise)
Guests may stay inside of their stateroom until 9:00am on disembarkation day (this is one hour longer than normal)
Stay onboard and enjoy some of the ship’s services until 90 minutes prior to ship departing
Guests can debark the ship whenever they’d like, but once of the ship, they can not enter again
The only exception to this rule is in Civitavecchia, where guests participating in Extend Your Stay can only get off the ship at two different times
Noon (for flights leaving no earlier than 4:30pm)
3:30 pm (for flights leaving no earlier than 8:00pm)
Services include:
Complimentary unlimited non-alcoholic drinks from Café al Bacio
Complimentary breakfast/ lunch in Bistro on Five
Complimentary first-run movie
Access to the pool, fitness center and limited spa services
Lockers in the spa changing room will be open for the convenience of the Extend Your Stay participants
Credit card will be accepted all day for purchases made in any bars and spa treatments
The cost is $59 per guest, $29.50 for children 3 to 12 years of age and free for children under 3
This service can be purchased on board from Guest Services - not bookable pre-cruise.
I think this is well worth the money , and it certainly beats sitting at the airport all day!

Boutique River Cruising..... What’s that?

2011-09-19T13:24:00.000+01:00

Imagine staying in a luxury 5* hotel, enjoying comfortable surroundings, pleasant company, then imagine sailing past some of the world’s most breath taking scenery and waking up in a different town or city every morning – that is the beauty of a river cruise.

There are 4 main Boutique River Cruise Lines: Uniworld, AmaWaterways, Viking River Cruises and Avalon Waterways. They all pride themselves on offering plus comfortable surroundings, magnificent food and world-class hospitality and service.

Here are a few pointers about the first two, I will continue with information on the others in another post so that I don't overload you with too much info!

Uniworld have a unique partnership with their sister company, Red Carnation Hotels – an award-wining collection of five-star luxury boutique hotels. Meaning Uniworld’s ships are uniquely designed and elegantly decorated and appointed with the finest furnishings, inspiring original art, and modern luxuries. Uniworld have also been rated ‘Top in Cabins’ by ZAGAT Survey, your elegantly appointed boutique stateroom comas as standard. Look forward to curling up in your handcrafted Saviour of England bed, which is draped in 100% Egyptian cotton sheets, start the next day by getting ready in your luxurious marble bathroom stocked with L’Occitane products, plush towels from Christy of England and soft, comfy robes.

AmaWaterways aims to bring luxury accommodation on the water. Designed to bring the elegance and amenities of a five-star hotel to the water, Amawaterways’ ships offer truly lavish accommodation. Amawaterways offer two distinct classes of River Ship. The innovative Aria class ships boast of a cutting-edge design, and have been the most popular ships in Europe for some time. The stylish concerto class ships are slightly larger than Aria class ships; however, Concerto class ships have set a new standard in design, thanks to their exclusive Twin Balcony Suites. Onboard your luxury river ship, your suite is more than your room for the night – it’s your elegant private retreat. All suites benefit from exclusive luxury pillow menus, Egyptian linen, personal computer and included wireless internet, spacious marble en-suite with plush bathrobes, slippers and designer toiletries and a state-of-the-art Infotainment system along with many other features.

More to follow!

What not to wear - the River Cruise Edition....

2011-09-10T17:01:00.000+01:00

We all know the dress code off by heart for Ocean Cruising, with what to wear on formal and semi-formal evening, but is river cruising any different? How many formal nights do you get onboard? Is the dress code up tight or can you relax a little? Well I have all the answers!! Viking River Cruises have came to our rescue with a handy little cheat sheet on what not to wear when river cruising.

They suggest we bring comfortable, casual clothing. Ties and jackets are not required; there are no formal nights aboard Viking, however some guests choose dressier clothing for the Captain’s Dinner. They also advised we should consider dressing respectfully when visiting places of worship and other religious sites where you could be denied entry if wearing clothing which is considered to be inappropriate or too revealing. Here is a short list of the items you might want to bring with you:

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Dressier shoes

• Collapsible umbrella/lightweight rain gear

• Lightweight jacket/warm sweater/sweatshirt

• Sunglasses, sun hat or visor

• Toiletries (including medical remedies)

• Warm Coat, gloves and water-resistant footwear (as needed for cooler months)

P.S. – Don’t forget if you are flying to your destination or you have an internal flight before your cruise you will need to consider baggage weight restrictions when packing!

Now onto your hand luggage! Make sure you have all your travel documents, you also may want to take copies of your passport page, credit card numbers and insurance information – plus don’t forget to bring your actual passport as well as a copy! You may also want to consider these handy little items too:

• All needed medications including prescriptions in their original labelled containers

• Glasses, contact lens’ and contact lens solution

• Camera, film, extra memory card (for digitial cameras), extra batteries and all the other bits and bots you get with your camera

• Any valuables you wish to take onboard

Once all the important stuff is packed there are a few items that you might want to think about bringing with you as well:

• Electric converters for in the cabin

• Travel alarm clock

• Binoculars

• A Travel guide/reading material about the river you are sailing down

One for the ladies - Most hotel and the reception onboard you ship should have hair dryers available however you may wish to take your own along with your trust hair straightens/tongs!

I'm off to visit Oceania Insignia.......................

2011-09-03T19:21:00.000+01:00

Believe it or not, I'm a six star virgin. In all these years I have never been on a six star ship, so you can imagine how excited I am at the prospect.
Six of us from CruiseDot are heading down to Dover tomorrow afternoon and we will embark Insignia on Monday morning.
We will have a tour of the ship followed by lunch on board. I think this is the bit I am most looking forward to! You know I love my food and Oceanias reputation for excellent food is legendary.
Bernard Carter from Oceania will be our host for the day and will no doubt show us all the highlights of the ship. I have many clients who have cruised many times with this luxury cruise line and they always return from their cruise with glowing reports of every aspect of it.
See what you think:

The camera is already packed, so I will be taking lots of photos - I wonder what the carpets are like on Insignia!
When I get back I will share my thoughts with you along with some great photos.
We had great news this week that Oceania are extending their 'Explore your World' offer which means you can still book their cruises at excellent rates and benefit from the $1000 per cabin On Board Spend on selected cruises, which makes them very competative amngst their competitors price wise.
Well worth considering - look out for my feedback soon!

A chance not to be missed... or, Aurora Borealis to you too!

2011-09-01T19:35:00.000+01:00

How do you fancy doing something a bit different for four nights with Andrew Gardner, Chairman of CruiseDot? Yes, I thought that would get your attention!

This is a genuine opportunity to try something really different from your average cruise, a four night taster of Hurtigruten in the company of our very own AG.
The Arctic Highlights voyage is spent entirely within the Arctic Circle giving you what NASA predict to be the best opportunity in 50 years to see the Northern Lights, as well as the chance to participate in some fantastic winter excursions to areas rarely visited by tourists.
Flying from London Gatwick on 30th January 2012 you will arrive in Tromso as your starting point, the Polar capital of Norway. Here you will have the chance to visit Ishavskatedralen, the Arctic Cathedral, Tramsos most famous landmark with its beautiful stained glass windows.
Day two you will arrive in Honningsvag, a mere 2000km from the Geographical North Pole. Later that day as you sail towards Kjollefjord you will pass a rock formation that is sacred to the indiginoous sami people and now site of an impressive light show, Finnkjerka.

Day three you will visit Kirkenes, where you will actually be further East than Istanbul and St Petersburg. Here you will have the chance to visit the Snow Hotel and the Russian border.
Day four you will arrive in Hammerfest, a UNESCO World Heritage site, before transferring to your hotel where you will spend the night before flying home the next day.
While on the voyage you will have the opportunity to try your hand at snowmobiling, dog-sledging and snow-shoeing too.
Check out this video:

This fantastic experience is available at £875 per person for a twin inside cabin or £975 per person for an outside cabin.
Great news for single travellers, the single supplement is from only £125 on this voyage.
As you would expect, cabins are selling fast on this lovely taster cruise, and of course now that the word is out that Andrew G is on board i should think the cruise will be a sell out within hours!
If you would like to know more, please give me a call. I would be delighted to talk to you as always - 0800 408 6084

September here we come......

2011-08-31T20:03:00.000+01:00

Well, the few days away with the boys went well. I managed to spend some time relaxing in the sun which was lovely, enjoyed being on the boat, although it was a bit compact and bijous when you consider that my boys are 6' 3" and 6' 5"!

While we were down on the South Coast we visited Gunwharf Quay for a bit of retail therapy and we went up Spinnaker Tower. What a fantastic view! While I was up there I even braved the glass platform, but I didn't look down and I held on to the handrail very tightly!
So, here we are almost in September and already the evenings have an autumnal feel about them as they grow shorter by the day and seem to be getting very chilly already - I will NOT be putting the central heating on just yet!
I'm braced for the coming month in the office which is bound to be busy - September always is. Already, many of the family cabins and suites are fully booked for next summer and I predict that by the end of the month 2012 summer holidays will be booked up. Chrsitmas 2011 is much the same and of course we are now getting lots more enquiries for this. If you really do want to be out of the country during the festive season I would suggest you get something booked asap otherwise you will be disappointed, and the same goes for Easter 2012 too. People seem to be booking further in advance than ever these days.
I've also noticed that more and more people are looking for something different. They have done the Med, the Fjords and the Transatlantic, and now seem to be looking at River Cruises or Niche cruise lines like Voyages of Discovery or Hurtigruten to get a different and unique experience. Onlly last week I booked Star Clippers for a couple - that looks really great! I'll blog about that very soon as I really like the look of it.
So, basically, lots happening this month, the office will be buzzing and lively which is just how I like it. I'll do my best you keep you up to date with whats going on - you know me, now the dark nights are approaching you'll be hearing lots more from me. If you don't cach me on my blog then look out for me on the forum. I'm always on the look out for a bargain or something a bit quirky.
Oh, and look out for my blog next week about the Oceania Insignia. I' doing a ship visit on Monday and having lunch on her too - can't wait!
Watch this speace!

A few days off................

2011-08-13T15:31:00.001+01:00

I'm taking a few days off next week so today is my last day in the office until the 22nd August. I am heading down to Emsworth on the South coast tomorrow morning with my boys for a few days on a friends boat. This will be very different to the last time we were all on a boat together, but it should be fun. I think the boys are planning on fishing and power kiting with their mountain boards so hopefully I can relax a bit while they do just that.
I'll let you know how we got on when I return and post some pictures for you too.
In the meantime, if you have a query that cannot wait for my return please call my colleagues on 0800 408 6200 and they will be happy to help you.
See y'all soon!

21 again - I wish!

2011-08-07T13:06:00.000+01:00

I've been hatching a plan for a while now and last night it came to fruition. Thursday was my birthday, and as always around that time one of my best friends who I have known since I was five cooked dinner for me, which we shared with another friend and their husbands - just for the record I am currently between husbands!
We had a lovely night, with fabulous food and I had some lovely presents from them too - I was so spoiled.
Anyway, I had a surprise for them. In three years time Clare, Peta and I will be celebrating a very significant birthday and whatever we do individually to celebrate this occasion I would dearly love the three of us to do something special together. With this in mind I knew I had to do something to make sure we put some money away fot this, so I bought all of us a Terramundi pot to encourage us to start saving for what ever we chose to do. They were so thrilled and immediately started discussing what we should do, and guess what? They looked a bit sheepish as they asked if I would find going on a cruise too much of a busmans holiday! Not one bit I said (secretly delighted). Neither of them have ever been on a ship and would love to try the experience.
We have three years to plan and save, and already I know that the anticipation is going to be as much fun as the cruise itself. I know from being in the business that there is so much choice - how we will ever choose I don't know, although being realistic I think we will just be doing a three or four night cruise.
I never thought that I would be so excited about being 50! Please feel free to let me know how you have celebrated your milestone birthdays, I'd love to hear about it!

On board Hurtigruten - cold on the outside, warm inside!

2011-08-02T20:30:00.000+01:00

Hurtigruten has many of the facilities of a cruise ship but the life on board is less formal and more relaxed. You will find large panoramic lounges, a restaurant serving delicious local Norweigan cuisine, a library and on some ships even a jacuzzi. the ships decor is to the very highest standard and is complemented by works of art inspired by the land a seascapes through which you sail.

You can chose from inside or outside cabins, which are well fitted out, and yes, they do have en-suite facilities! There are even some suites available. If you think you may be interested then mention this at the time of booking and three weeks before the voyage Hurtigruten will contact you to let you know if there are any available and what the supplement would be.
Mealtimes are relaxed affairs - breakfast and lunch are buffet style and in the evening there is no need to dress up, you can stay as you are to enjoy the fresh local produce. The restaurants are fully licenced!
There is always an English speaking Tour Operator on board who will take care of the daily programme and assist with shore excursion bookings. I will cover shore excursions in another post.
Entertainiment on board is totally unlike the commercial entertainment found on larger ships. There is usually a pianist and/or singer in one ofthe lounges but this is not the place for recreating Broadway smash hit musicals.

Tipping is not expected though if you wish to then of course that is fine.
On the coastal route taken by the ships there are only a few occasions that the ships are in open water. They are generally between the mainland and the coastal waters where the sea is smooth and calm, however, all but two of the ships have stabilisers should they be required.
All in all, you will find life on board the 10 Hurtigruten ships that operate up and down the coast unpretentious, informal and relaxed, and it goes without saying that the scenery will be fabulous!

Spotlight on Seabourn Legend............

2011-07-28T20:30:00.001+01:00

Time is of the essence now as the end of the Seabourn Sale is fast approaching (Monday) and savvy cruisers are taking their pick of the cabins while they are still available at unbelieveabley low prices.
Seabourn offers luxury at the highest level but they are currently selling their Autumn cruises at prices that compare very favourably with the mainstream cruise lines. Take this cruise for example:

Seabourn Legend sailing from Rome on the 28th October 2011 for 7 nights visiting the following ports around Italy.
Rome
Sorrento
Taormina
Valetta
Trapani
Lipari
Gaeta
Rome

Prices for this cruise start at £1499 per person for a luxury suite - fantastic value for money when you consider what is included with Seabourn. Why not spoil yourself while prices are so good?

Return flights from the UK are from as little as £70 per person around this time, so why not add on a hotel for a couple of nights in Rome too, allowing you time to explore this fabuous city while you are there - I know of some very good, very reasonable places to stay right in the heart of the city.
If you think you might be interested, why not give me a call and I can arrange a nice little package for you without breaking the bank.
If you have experienced a Seabourn cruise already why not reply to this post and let others know just how good this cruise line is. Look forward to hearing from you soon!

Cruise.co - a week in the life of..............

2011-07-24T18:27:00.002+01:00

Life at Cruise.Co is never dull thats for sure. It's what you might call life in the fast lane. This week has been no exception, infact hardly a day has gone by this week without a major type of event.
Here is a brief run through -

Last weekend our Head of Sales and Operations Andrew Adler took part in a Triathlon with his three children to raise money for the boys Beavers and Cubs groups. He tried to bribe me to replace the picture below with the one above -shame on you Andrew!

Monday morning bought the great news that our very own Tina Williams is now engaged to her long term boyfriend Adam. Congratulations to them both - we do love a wedding here at Cruise!

Wednesday evening we had a 'works night out', a quiz hosted by CCS. Fortunately Andrew Adler and I were in the same team as we both had one aim - to win, which we did. What a pair of anoraks we made! I think we need to get out more Andrew!
Maybe you remember me telling you bout a Bon Voyage call I made a while ago when I ended up speaking to the chap who still lives in the house he bought off my parents in 1969? Well on Thursday I answered the General Line to a man who now lives in Surrey, but in the 1970's he lived opposite my parents house in Barnt Green, Worcs where I was bought up, and he was infact my piano teacher for about eight years. How bizarre is that!
The week was rounded off on Friday with the marriage of one of our homeworkers, John Walker to his girlfriend Kirsty. Here is his send off by fellow homeworker Ellie.

You have to agree that was quite a week, that was. Goodness knows what this week will bring. I'll keep you posted.

Hurtigruten - different and unique

2011-07-23T12:34:00.000+01:00

Last week I was chatting with a new client who was telling me about his trip with Hurtigruten earlier in the year, along the Norweigan coastline. I never knew Hurtigruten had so much to offer! Having now done some serious research I must admit that I am really excited about these voyages and what they have to offer. these are the ships that run up and down the coast for twelve months of the year taking mail and supplies to otherwise inaccessible places. Don't be surprised if you see someones new washing machine being unloaded when you dock!

Voyages vary from about 5 nights to a full roundtrip of 12 nights, calling at up to 4 ports per day. Excursion on offer are fabulous - King Crab Safaris, reindeer sledging and snowmobiling to mention but a few.

Below is an brief outline of a roundtrip voyage noting the ports of call.

Call me if you need assistance in booking this trip, as there is so much to tell, and I am now fully clued up. Yoou don't even have to take your warm weather clothes as they will all be supplied for you!

Day 1: Bergen
Bergen is the bustling capital of Norway's fjord district. If you arrive a few hours before departure, stroll around the old wooden buildings in the Bryggen Wharf, remnants of its Hanseatic past.

until

Day 7: Kirkness
On the seventh day, you'll arrive at Kirkenes, the journey's northern terminus and turning point.

All 34 ports of call:
Bergen, Florø, Måløy, Torvik, Ålesund, Molde, Kristiansund, Trondheim, Rørvik, Brønnøysund, Sandnessjøen, Nesna, Ørnes, Bodø, Stamsund, Svolvær, Stokmarknes, Sortland, Risøyhamn, Harstad, Finnsnes, Tromsø, Skjervøy, Øksfjord, Hammerfest, Havøysund, Honningsvåg, Kjøllefjord, Mehamn, Berlevåg, Båtsfjord, Vardø, Vadsø and Kirkenes

In my next post I will tell you about life on board - and you may be surprised!

D-Day Anniversary Cruise with Voyages of Discovery..........

2011-07-17T15:21:00.001+01:00

You'll have guessed by now that I'm not really a 'deal of the day' type of girl, the cruises that tend to catch my eye are those with something different about them, be it a theme cruise or unusual itinerary.
This particular cruise with Voyages of Discovery sailing on 5th June 2012 came to my attention yesterday when I was booking another one of their voyages for a client of mine.
Firstly, it sails from Portsmouth, always good to sail from a UK port, and secondly I'm a real history buff myself and the first and second world wars are a subject that I've studied for years so anything to do with them is of interest to me.
Have a look at this video to find out more -
Cruise Video
This cruise will be a journey of rememberance and discovery, calling at Cherbourg, St Peter Port, Rouen, Dunkirk, the little-visited island of Heligoland, and IJmuiden (Amsterdam) before returning to Harwich.

Heligoland? No, I hadn't heard of it either. Here is a bit of info from Voyages own website - Britain traded Heligoland for Zanzibar in 1890. She then bombed the important German naval base during World War II. Finally on April 18th, 1947, Britain’s Royal Navy detonated 6,800 tonnes of explosives on the island. The ‘British Big Bang’ left a huge dent in the already crater-pitted landscape – a poignant reminder of Heligoland’s turbulent past.
This is a nine day sailing, and Inside Cabins start from £899pp, based on two people sharing, which I think is really good value for money.
As usual Voyages will have guest speakers on board speaking on relevant topics and up and coming ports of call to add to your enjoyment of the cruise and enable you to get the most from your time ashore.

Gills Cease Trading...........

2011-07-15T18:35:00.001+01:00

The speculation finally ended this afternoon about the future of Gills when ABTA terminated the agencys membership. This followed Carnival Group and the Royal Caribbean Group severing their ties with the company yesterday.
I have no wish to gloat over the closure of another agency, I merely want to clarify the situation for clients who have maybe not heard.

Whilst we as agents are competing with each other on a daily basis for business, this is a sad day for the companys employees who, like the rest of us, have financial and family commitments and I feel for them all and wish them well.
For any of you who have cruises booked with Gills - DON'T PANIC!! Here at Cruise.Co we will be doing all we can to help you through this difficult time. Obviously the cruise lines phones are going to be jammed, so please feel free to give us a call and we will do all we can to reassure you and help with any concerns you have.
Why call me? Have a look at an earlier post of mine here. Cruise.co.uk has been in business for almost 27 years, we are financially sound and in a good strong position as a business, and most important, we will look after you!

My direct line is 0800 408 6084 - or email me on hannahw@cruise.co.uk, I'm ready and willing to help. If you can't get through to me call our Main Line on 0800 408 6200, we are open all weekend and 9.00 - 8.00pm all next week.

Cracking Canaries pre-Christmas Cruise

2011-07-14T16:18:00.001+01:00

Wow, this is a fantastic opportunity to top up your tan for Christmas for less than £54 per day, and on one of my favourite ships too, Fred Olsens Balmoral.

Sailing from Southampton on 8th December 2011 and heading to the Canaries for 13 nights this is the perfect way to get some pre-christmas sun and relax before the madness that is Christmas.

Prices really are too good to miss:
Insides from £699pp
Ocean View from £749pp
Superior Ocean View from £799pp

Great prices are available for singles too:
Single Insides from £799pp
Single Ocean View from £849pp

This is a lovely itinerary - great ports of call -
Funchal, Madeira
Santa Cruz de la Palma, Gran Canaria
Santa Cruz de la Palma, Canary Islands
Santa Cruz de la Tenerife
San Sebastian, La Gomera
Las Palmas, Gran Canaria
Lisbon, Portugal

Go on, treat yourself! Give me a call today! Call it an early christmas present

Customer complaints - You Think I'm Joking?

2011-07-13T15:56:00.000+01:00

Yes folks, these are real complaints - enjoy! Obviously you won't see any complaints here relating to cuises :)

1. "I think it should be explained in the brochure that the

> local store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or

> ginger nuts."

>2. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers to close in the

> afternoons. I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' time -

> this should be banned

>3. "On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that

> almost every restaurant served curry. I don't like spicy

> food at all."

>4. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we

> had to bring our swimming costumes and towels."

>5. A tourist at a top African game lodge over looking a water

> hole, who spotted a visibly aroused elephant, complained that

> the sight of this rampant beast ruined his honeymoon by making

> him feel "inadequate".

> 6. A woman threatened to call police after claiming that she'd

> been locked in by staff. When in fact, she had mistaken the "do

> not disturb" sign on the back of the door as a warning to remain

> in the room.

> 7. "The beach was too sandy."

>8. "We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure.

> Your brochure shows the sand as yellow but it was white."

> 9. A guest at a Novotel in Australia complained his soup was too

> thick and strong. He was inadvertently slurping the gravy at the time.

>10. "Topless sunbathing on the beach should be banned. The

> holiday was ruined as my husband spent all day looking at other

> women."

11. "We bought' Ray-Ban' sunglasses for five Euros from a street

> trader, only to find out they were fake."

> 12. "No-one told us there would be fish in the sea. The children

> were startled."

>13. "There was no egg slicer in the apartment..

14. "We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi

> drivers as they were all Spanish..."

> 15. "The roads were uneven.."

>16. "It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England

> it only took the Americans three hours to get home."

>17. "I compared the size of our one-bedroom apartment to our

> friends' three-bedroom apartment and ours was significantly smaller."

>18. "The brochure stated: 'No hairdressers at the

> accommodation’. We’re trainee hairdressers - will we be OK

> staying there?"

>19. "There are too many Spanish people. The receptionist

> speaks Spanish. The food is Spanish. Too many foreigners

> now live abroad'"

>20. "We had to queue outside with no air conditioning."

> 21. "It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or

> unruly guests before we travel."

>22. "I was bitten by a mosquito - no-one said they could bite."

>23. "My fiancé and I booked a twin-bedded room but we were

> placed in a double-bedded room. We now hold you responsible for

> the fact that I find myself pregnant. This would not have

> happened if you had put us in the room that we booked."

>

>

E-Ticket or not E-Ticket - what do you think?

2011-07-08T20:50:00.000+01:00

As one of the few remaining cruise lines that still send out 'paper tickets, Fred Olsen ' have today announced that they will be migrating to e-tickets from 25th July.So you will no longer receive your little booklets through the post, just an email will arrive informing you that your tickets are ready to download and print off.
In this age of modern technology, what do you the customers really feel about this?
Is this progress, or would you prefer to get your tickets through the post as you always used to? I'm really interested to know.
Personally I think it definitely is progress. The client is more in control, they can print off their tickets when it suits them, and of course we are no longer at the mercy of Royal Mail - God save us all from that! With most cruise lines now you can view your 'booking' on line, view shore excursions on line, pre-book spa treatments, drinks packages - it's all so efficient, not to mention the rain forests we must be saving. And of course this will continue to roll out with clients being able to do more and more on line.
Very few people these days do not have access to a PC. If they don't own one then a family member will have one and they will be more than willing to help out, but of course if you really are stuck then we at cruise.co are always happy to help out - filling in your Cruise Personaliser, printing off your shore excursion information for you and printing off your tickets too.
For those avid Freds cruisers here is the statement released today - I don't want any of you to be alarmed by this leap forward into the 21st Century!

Following the successful trial of e-ticket production for all late bookings over the past few months, as of Monday 25 July 2011, we will migrate to e-ticket production as standard across the fleet.

For a period of time, until mid September, baggage tags will be despatched to you under separate cover . However, from mid September, baggage tags will be included within our new look A4 size Cruise Book, which contains all shore tour options and , will continue to be sent directly to the guest approximately eight weeks prior to departure.

As always, any queries, you know where I am!

A Sea Dream Christmas with 2 Virgins................

2011-07-08T15:02:00.000+01:00

The last couple of weeks the phones in the office are ringing off the hook. Many people finally decided that they want to go on a family cruise this summer holiday and can I find them a good deal? Are they serious?
Unfortunately, it does not work like this in the cruise business. Family cabins book up really early - up to eighteen months in advance, and, even when there are cabins, no flights are available to get to the port of departure.

Take it from me - when you want to cruise during peak season, make sure you plan and book as soon as possible. This is not just for the summer holiday, but also for Christmas and Easter!

For you who are thinking about booking a cruise for Christmas I would get in quick - flights are already booking up.

If you are looking for something really special for over the Christmas period, have a look at something I've just booked for one of my regulars - I'm sure she won't mind me sharing this with you

I booked her a SeaDream Yachtclub Christmas Caribbean cruise to the West Indies.

St. Thomas and other Virgin Islands such as St. John and Virgin Gorda are ports of call. These islands are a favorite stopover for many cruisers. Given the natural beauty of the islands, this favoritism is not surprising to anyone who has visited there. The Virgin Islands also have one of the best climates in the West Indies--lower humidity and pleasant, year-round trade winds. Tourism is king here, having replaced agriculture years ago.

Each Virgin Island has its own personality, whether it be American or British. Although the British Virgin Islands (BVI) are beautiful and popular with holidaymakers and cruisers, it is the three U.S. Virgins that get the largest numbers of cruise passengers each year. The BVI are simpler and less visited, as are St. Croix and St. John.

The Christmas ports of call are:

22-DEC-2012, Saturday Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, USVI 14:00 18:00
23-DEC-2012, Sunday CRUZ BAY, ST JOHN Morning Late evening
24-DEC-2012, Monday Virgin Gorda, BVI Morning Afternoon
25-DEC-2012, Tuesday Little Bay, Montserrat Morning Afternoon
26-DEC-2012, Wednesday Saba, Netherlands Antilles Morning Mid-day
26-DEC-2012, Wednesday Gustavia, St Barts, FWI Afternoon Overnight
27-DEC-2012, Thursday Gustavia, St Barts, FWI Late evening
28-DEC-2012, Friday Jost van Dyke, BVI Morning Afternoon
29-DEC-2012, Saturday San Juan, Puerto Rico Morning 10:00

What is Sea Dream Yachtclub?
5-Star Service
With a maximum of 112 guests pampered by an award-winning crew of 95... prepare to be splendidly spoiled.
Inclusive Fare
Your inclusive SeaDream voyage fare includes ocean view accommodations, gourmet meals, gratuities, wine with lunch and dinner and so much more
Sounds fantastic to me, I wish I could join my client on board!

Doing transfers the local way...............

2011-07-05T19:52:00.000+01:00

I was working on a package for one of my clients today and I needed to book them a transfer from Dubai to Abu Dahbi to join their ship for the voyage back to Southampton next March. I'd checked out various options, the usual, when one of my colleagues suggested transfer by camel - I'm still not sure whether she was being serious or not, but it got me thinking...........

When people go on a cruise to the more exotic destinations they really want to get a feel of the place, local customs, the way of life, and not always just see the more commercial, tourity side of things. Why should we always just take the shuttle bus? So why not do a transfer by camel when in the desert? Is this a possibility? Well, as Dubai and Abu Dahbi are about 130km apart and bearing in mind the amount of luggage my clients will have, I don't think this is a serious option, although I believe camels can travel at up to 65km per hour. Maybe a desert safari on a camel as an excursion would be a better idea on this occasion!
If you do fancy trying something a bit quirky then a cruise including Santorini in Greece will give you the opportunity. As the old harbour there is small the giant cruise ships usually anchor out at sea and you are taken in by Tender. You can then take either the cable car up to the Principal Town Fira or you can take the donkey ride for just five Euros. Apparently this is an experience not to be missed although I'm not sure just how safe I would feel!

I'd love to hear from you about your experiences of transportion around the world on your travels. What is the most bizarre mode of transport you have ever used? If you have any photos please send them in and I'll publish them on my new photo website.

A new service, pictures of destinations and Cruise ships

2011-07-04T10:37:00.000+01:00

Recently, one of my customers asked me if I would like to publish some cruise pictures taken by him, so other customers can see what they can expect at specific cruise locations. I thought this was a good idea, so that is why I have created a pictures website.

Another good idea is to show pictures of local highlights of the area where my customers live. In that way, they can be ambassadors to attract tourists to their local area.

If you want to contribute , please send your picture(s) to hannahw@cruise.co.uk and add a short description about the location and specify if I can add your name. By sending the picture, you agree that I can publish it on this website.

I am hoping to receive special pictures, like celebrities you have met, funny situations, etc.

Have a look at the pictures website http://www.canon-pictures.com/cruisePics/index.html, various customers and myself have already contributed.

Favourite Foods from your Travels.............

2011-07-03T14:42:00.000+01:00

It is quite usual on a cruise ship to find regional specialities from the port you have visited that day on the menu at dinner, which is a great opportunity to try things you wouldn't normally have at home. As you may have noticed, I love all things food so I am always ready to try something new, and I love trying to re-create these dishes when I get home - much to the teenagers horror at times!

A real favourite when I was on the Fantasia was the Morrocan Lamb Tagine we had as we sailed out of Tunis one afternoon - sat on deck, in the sun - Lab, Apricots, raisins and cous cous. Absolutely delicious!
On a recent visit to The Netherlands I discovered a yummy little biscuit called Speculaas that the Dutch traditionally eat on 5th December, St Nicholas Eve, served with mugs of hot chocolate. I managed to buy the special spice mix on the internet from a company called typicaldutchstuff.com, and this afternoon I'm having a go at baking some. I've made the dough and it is now resting in the fridge for a couple of hours to let the spices work their magic before I bake them. I'll let you know how they turn out later. Normally these little biscuits are pressed into a windmill shape before baking but as I don't have one of those at hand the old mince pie cutter will see some early July action today.
Have you come across any recipes on your travels that you think other people might enjoy? If so, please forward them and I'll publish them.

a first view of the Celebrity Silhouette

2011-07-01T06:48:00.001+01:00

On June 30, the new Celebrity Silhoutte left the construction location (Meyer Werft) in Germany.
It is now on its way to be completed and prepared for her Inaugural Sailing on 23rd of July.
I managed to get some pictures of the first part of this trip, have a look. And yes, it is narrow !
Call me if you would like more information about this fabulous ship. I've been on her sister ship, the Equinox, so I am very familiar with her.

Celebrity Silhouette is the newest addition to the Celebrity Cruises' fleet and is also the newest member of their award-winning Solstice Class ships.
Delivering cosmopolitan style, stunning interior spaces and enriching onboard facilities, Celebrity Silhouette offers a truly luxurious cruising experience.

Why would you book a cruise through me?

2011-06-29T22:25:00.000+01:00

Yes, why would you? After all, there are dozens of cruise agencies out there employing hundreds of agents, all of whom would be more than happy to book your next cruise, even offer you some discount, but let me ask you this - how well would they look after you once they had taken your money?

Unfortunately this is where many companies fall well short - good old fashioned customer service. They take your money, and then they seem to forget about you, you are on your own.
Not so here at cruise.co.uk. We pride ourselves in offering the very highest level of customer service which is why we have such a loyal client base. We have clients who have been booking with us since our company began 27 years ago, and they wouldn't dream of booking elsewhere.
From your first enquiry, right through the booking process, the lead up to your cruise, I will be at the end of the phone or just an email away. Even when I'm not in the office I pick up my emails of an evening at home and on days off and if I can't answer your query there and then I'll deal with it as soon as I am back in the office. I'll even send you a Welcome Home letter that will be waiting for you on your return, and yes, please feel free to give me a call and let me know how your cruise went - feedback is so important to me as thats how I get the real high down on the low down! Good or bad, it all helps to build up the general picture. If you have an urgent query and I'm not around then one of my colleagues will help you out beacause here at cruise we look after each others clients in our colleagues absence,
If you need further convincing here are some examples of comments that clients have posted on my 'Rate My Service' column on the front page of my blog:
"If only everything in life was so easy as booking a cruise with Hannah. From my initial web enquiry to finalising the booking she has been 100% professional, making sure she understood our needs and that they were met, add to this a personality that comes down the telephone line and leaves you smiling and why would you book with anybody else?. "
"I''ve just booked a cruise today with Hannah. Having spoken to her yesterday for information I made a point of getting back to her for the booking. She was extremely helpful on both occasions, she knew the ship, and was a fount of knowledge. Nothing was too much trouble for her, and she went the extra mile in finding answers to my questions. All of this in a relaxed and friendly manner. If the actual cruise goes as well as the booking, it will be fantastic!"
"No sooner had we arrived home from a Canary Island cruise than Hannah sorted great value yet again in July for us. She works faithfully with the interests of her passengers in mind which is very refreshing. I''ve being at this game since retiring in 1991 and, to date, nobody else has come anywhere near her intuitive efficiency. Give her your criteria and she delivers just what is required every time without diversion or fuss."

So, would you? Go on, you know you want to!

Fancy Food and Fun Food Cruise Ship Style!

2011-06-25T15:53:00.000+01:00

As I was slapping my bangers and mash onto a plate last night, with little or no finesse, my mind wandered off to some of the food I've seen on cruise ships - not what you are actually served in the restaurants but the food creations that adorn the buffet counter or the gastronomic delights that the Chefs create for Gala Night.
I've seen all sorts of 'food art' ranging from the bizarre to the fabulous. I look at these works of art on ships and think that I really must make more of an effort with the presentation of my evening meal!
Here are a few to whet your appetite - there are plenty more to follow. And as usual if you have any pics that you would like to share, of 'fun food' on ships please share them by sending them to hannahw@cruise.co.uk and I will publish them for all to enjoy.
Here were Mondays offerings on the Opera.

Cruise Ship Carpets - MSC Opera

2011-06-24T20:56:00.000+01:00

It's been a while since I blogged some quirky carpets, but I just couldn't resist these fine examples when I was on the Opera on Monday! I've seen some wierd and wonderful carpets over the years on various ships and I have to say that MSC has some of the best.

Obviously, if you disagree then I would need photographic evidence to back up your arguement.
Here are my latest findings. I think you will have to agree that these are some of the best yet!
If you want to send me some pics then please send them to hannahw@cruise.co.uk and I will publish them on this blog for us all to enjoy.

MSC Opera - Great Ship, Great Food...............

2011-06-21T20:35:00.000+01:00

Yes, it really is, take it from me - I was on her yesterday.

Before you say anything, I have read the reviews too, I've had the feedback, I've heard and seen the news reports about the engine failure in the Baltics last month, but I am prepared to stick my neck out and say that I was impressed with her.

Opera is a different class of ship to Fantasia which I've been on before, she is mid-sized and more contemporary, not as flamboyant in decor, but she is beautifully fitted out, she is clean, she has great facilities and the dining experience was absolutely delightful!

The food was excellent. Ok, it was quite Mediterranean in style and flavour, but this is an Italian cruise line and wouldn't it be a boring world if everything in life was the same? The service was excellent and efficient, the waiters as good as any I have come across, infact better than some.
The other staff we met couldn't have been more pleasant and helpful.

The ship has a great selection of lounges, a piano bar, a classical music lounge, a show lounge and a lovely theatre in which every seat has a clear view of the stage. She has two main dining rooms, a buffet style eaterie, a Pizzeria and a Burger Bar.

The gym was a good size and fully equipped, and the Spa was just lovely. I saw geat facilities for kids too. She has two lovely pools on Deck Twelve and two hot tubs. And if you enjoy a flutter she has a great Casino.

Opera is a serious contender in the UK market when you look at what is on offer and compare her prices with some other cruise lines sailing from the UK - on price she wins every time.
I am a big fan. I was impressed yesterday, and I would happily spend eight nights on her. Don't discount MSC just because they are Italian. Give them a go - you will have a great cruise!
I will pop another post on soon - I have some 'carpet' pics. I haven't done any for a while and Opera had some classics! Also, having done carpets and Towel Animals, I've got a new idea - food carvings and sculptures - watch this space!
As usual all comments are welcome!

L'Opera Bellissima? Vedremo!

2011-06-18T20:15:00.000+01:00

Having spent a week on the MSC Fantasia during her Maiden Season, you know I thoroughly enjoyed the Yacht Club experience. I am also a big fan of the MSC ships design and style, and readily admit to all their critics that the food on MSC is better than on the Queen Elizabeth.

Bearing all this in mind I am heading for Southampton on Monday for a look round the Opera then a spot of lunch on board. She has had some bad press recently after breaking down in the Baltics in mid May but as she is sailing out of the UK all summer and I have sold loads of cabins on her I'm hoping against hope that I'm impressed with her on Monday.

As usual I will be casting a critical eye over her cabins and facilities, and being a food lover, as you well know, I will be heading for lunch with high expectations - please let there be risotto!
I'm going to take plenty of pics, as is my colleage Stuart, so later next week I will give you my honest opinion and show you some of the facilities. You may also like to look at Stuarts Blog, and Julias and Sians too, so that you get a good cross section of opinions and not just mine.
Be back soon.......................

Discover Egypt Nile Cruise, 100% luxury!

2011-06-17T09:06:00.002+01:00

After some months of political instabily in Egypt, the country has now returned to "calmer waters". It is with great pleasure that I can provide you with some information about these very luxurious Nile cruises.
Discover Egypt operates a fleet of 5 star vessels, used specifically for these cruises.

Have a look at the options and please let me know if you would like more detailed information.

To fully discover the ancient wonders of Egypt, a cruise on the River Nile is truly an unforgettable experience.
The Nile River has been Egypt's lifeline since ancient times and there is no better way to trace the passage of Egypt's history than to follow the course of the Nile.
Each day gives you every opportunity to explore new sights or simply enjoy a different view. Discover Egypt has a great selection of superb boats to choose from, all specifically designed with the Nile in mind. Discover Egypt carefully selected all of their boats, so you can be rest assured of the best service and facilities as well as exceptional value for money. Discover Egypt offers a choice of four and seven night cruises from standard 5 star to 5 star luxury.
You can discover more of Egypt's ancient history or its beautiful beaches and modern resorts by combining a Nile cruise with an extended stay in Luxor, Cairo or the Red Sea resorts of El Gouna or Sharm El Sheikh. Alternatively, you can devise your own individual itinerary creating an unforgettable holiday experience.

Royal Viking 5* Deluxe
A superb new modern 5* deluxe Nile cruise boat offering first class service and facilities in which to enjoy the legendary Nile

MS Beau Soleil 5*
A popular addition to the Discover Egypt Nile fleet this 5 star Nile cruise boat offers traditional hospitality and service

The Oberoi Zahra 5* Luxury
An elegant cruise on the River Nile offering the highest standards of service, unrivaled luxury and excellent fine cuisine.

Viking Princess 5*
A spacious 5* Nile cruise boat providing modern comfortable accommodation to give a pleasant Nile cruise experience

MS Royal Ruby 5*
Cruise in comfort and style on board the 5* MS Royal Ruby.

Alexander The Great 5* Luxury
A sophisticated 5* Nile cruise experience offering the ultimate in service, luxury and elegance

Below an example of the fabulous Oberoi Zahra:
There are 25 luxury cabins all of which are tastefully appointed with timber floors and stylish interiors. Large windows in the cabins and bathrooms provide an ideal setting in which to relax and enjoy the splendours of the Nile. In addition there are two very spacious Luxury Suites each with their own separate living room, private terrace and outside Jacuzzi. All of the air-conditioned cabins feature a mini-bar, television and multi disc player plus an en-suite bathroom.

Russian Visas - updated version on line from 1st July 2011

2011-06-12T12:21:00.004+01:00

This is certainly going to make life easier for all of us! The following announcement has just been made by the CIBT about this long-awaited update to Russian Visa applications:

The Russian Embassy has confirmed that there will be a new online visa application form from the 1^st July 2011. The new form will completely replace the current online form and its aim is to make the process of completing the application form online as simple as possible for the applicant (please note there is no new “manual” application form).

Although the form can be found on the VFS website, please be aware that it will not be valid until July 1^st. Applicants using this form before July 1^st will find their application rejected by the embassy. The form is online on the VFS website only for test purposes currently.

Also:

You may have heard rumours about the Russian Embassy introducing biometric requirements in order to issue visas soon; although this is currently in discussion, there are is no implementation date set as yet and no further details.

We hope to hear more about this later in the year; we’ll keep you updated.

Don't forget though, if you are cruising to Russia you don't need to apply for a visa yourself at all. As long as you join an organised shore excursion from the ship you can enter the country on the ships visa - so much less hassle!

Voyages to Antiquity introduces new itineraries for 2012..........

2011-06-12T10:47:00.001+01:00

Whilst continuing to offer the historically interesting and picturesque ports of Greece, Turkey, Croatia and the Black Sea, niche cruise line Voyages to Antiquity has introduced six new Western Med itineraries in its 2012 brochure. The Aegean Oddessy will be exploring ports such as Arles, Avignon, Barcelona and Carcassonne, and will continue its theme of exploring the best of ancient Mediterranean civilizations.

Itineraries include The Grand Tour - from Venice to Cannes, and Italy from the Designs of Michaelangelo - from Cannes to Venice, both of which are 14 night voyages.
As always there will be lectures on board and talks preparing passengers for the ports of call ahead so that when they arrive they can make the best of their time in their destinations, armed with plenty of good local knowledge!

This is cruising for the knowledge seeking client at its best, a truely unique and specialist cruise line for those who appreciate good quality, good service and a little bit of intellect thrown in for good measure!
For anyone who might be interested in what Voyages has to offer in 2012, now is a great time to be doing something about it as they have some tremendous early booking offers available. There is single pricing on selected departures and On Board Credit of up to $250 per cabin on most sailings. Guests who book Category D cabins or above will automaticaly be upgraded to Club Europe flights too! Well worth looking into in my opinion.

Viking Helvetica, a great ship for a Rhine river cruise.

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

Some of my customers will remember that I posted tips about river cruises in Europe some time ago so I thought it was about time I did a few more. I often talk to clients who have just returned from a River Cruise saying almost how 'refreshing' this type of cruising is. Small boats, so you get connected to other passengers, great service, less hustle bustle, and certainly more fabulous scenery than on those 4000+ passenger cruise ships.

I recently had very positive feedback about Viking River Cruises from a client, the Amsterdam to Basel cruise on the Viking Helvetica they did last year.

The Viking Helvetica was designed to provide optimal scenery viewing and deluxe cruising comfort. She features Scandinavian-designed interiors, the amenities of a fine hotel, and an English-speaking crew.

Ship features include:
Lounge and bar with panoramic windows
Library and souvenir shop
Elevator from upper deck to promenade deck (reception)
Chair lift from promenade deck (reception) to sun deck
Internet available
Laundry service

I had a look and noticed this very nice 8 night trip which can be booked for this year for the following departure dates: Jun 12, Jun 26, Jul 10, Jul 24, Aug 7, Aug 21, Sep 4, Sep 18, Oct 2, Oct 16, Oct 30, Nov 13, Nov 27, Dec 11, Dec 27.
Starting in Amsterdam with stops in Kinderdijk, Cologne, Rudesheim, Speyer, Strasbourg, Breisach, Basel

You can also sail the reverse order on the following dates:
Jun 19, Jul 3, Jul 17, Jul 31, Aug 14, Aug 28, Sep 11, Sep 25, Oct 9, Oct 23, Nov 6, Nov 20, Dec 4
Starting in Basel with stops in Breisach, Strasbourg, Rudesheim, Koblenz, Cologne, Kinderdijk, Amsterdam.
Prices for River Cruises are very competative and include return flights and transfers. Many river cruises also include all walking tours in the cost too.

There is a high demand for cabins and availibility is limited now so let me know as soon as possible if you think this type of cruise might interest you. Extra high demand is for the December sailings, as you get all the German Christmas markets for free. I visited the German Markets of Northern Europe last December with my family and we had a super time. I would recommend them to anyone - but wrap up warm!

Do we need another ex-UK Superliner?

2011-06-03T12:53:00.000+01:00

P&O have this week announced that they will have a new 141,000 tonne ship operating out of Southampton from March 2015.
The ship is currently being built by Italian ship builder Fincantiri, and once completed will carry 3,600 passengers.

We already have a vast number of ex-UK sailings from various ports each year, and this year more than ever the cruise lines are dropping prices to rock bottom presumably because they cannot sell the cabins at full price, so I'm curious about P&O's thinking here. How are they going to market this ship? Will she have the features to compete with RCCLs Independence - flow riders and rock-climbing walls? Or maybe they have thought up something better to attract the British public? Watch this space!
There are so many questions that I know will be answered in the fullness of time, but I feel this is a brave move by P&O.
Good news though folks, if the cabins don't sell there will be some great deals to be had!

Royal and Celebrity extend their Free Parking offer......................

2011-06-01T20:11:00.000+01:00

Great news for people who had not got round to booking their 2012 cruise by 31st May. The Free Parking offer on Eclipse and Independence sailings has been extended until the 31st July 2011 so you still have time to make the most of this.

It is well worth booking by then as this offer can save you up to £160 - money that would be better spent in the bars on board I'm sure you'll agree.
Free Parking has finished now for 2012 with the likes of P&O and Cunard, as has their Early Booking Discount, so the best offers are with Royal and Celebrity.
Be warned, these cruises are selling fast, especially the triple and quad cabins during school holidays, so don't delay - GET BOOKING QUICK!
See here for some really great deals.

Does the food on Cunard still cut the mustard?

2011-05-26T16:04:00.000+01:00

I seem to be getting more and more negative feedback from clients about the standard of food and service on board the Cunard ships. What has happened to the 'White Star Service?' people are asking, and I'm curious to find out what people think about this. Is it a trend or are these isolated experinces?

I was talking to a client of mine earlier this week who had just returned from a voyage on Queen Mary. He usually books an Ocean View or Sheltered Balcony stateroom but the Flat Rate offer on Princess Grill was so good on this voyage he decided to splash out and treat himself and his partner. He was so disappointed!
the Princess Suite was lovely, and he felt that the Open Dining arrangement of the Grills was great, but the food and the very brusque service of their waiter spoiled the whole voyage.
My client was sure that much of the food was pre-cooked and then held on hot plates until served, leaving the meat tough and dried out. Often their vegetables did not arrive until part way through the meal. Two meals they had were inedible! Not at all what he was expecting.
On two mornings the latest you could have breakfast was 7.30am, ridiculously early by anyones standards!
My clients had been so excited about their first experince of the Grills and were so looking forward to it, but they will not bother again. They are returning to the Brittania Restaurant.
I would love to hear from other Cunarders. What are your experinces? Do you feel that standards have declined?
As usual, please feedback to me, and I will feed back to Cunard.

Will you receive baggage labels for your next cruise?

2011-05-21T19:03:00.000+01:00

If you are a seasoned cruiser you will have noticed quite a change in recent years in the way the cruise lines produce pre-cruise information and travel documents.
With most of the cruise lines, gone are the days of glossy books of Shore Excursion availibility dropping through your door a couple of months before your voyage and then a nice leather wallet containing your tickets and colour coded luggage labels arriving about two weeks before travel.
Most lines are now trying to be paper free, which I must admit I'm all for, trying to do their bit to save the planet. Once you get used to it, it is so much easier to do everything on line - much quicker and more efficient certainly than relying on Royal Mail!
A recent improvement made by ourselves here at www.cruise.co.uk very recently is that we no longer print off your e-tickets and post them to you, we simply email you to let you know that they are available to download and print off in the comfort of your own home - so simple. Obviously if clients do not have internet access we will still print and send tickets, and we are more than happy to do their online check in for them.
One real bone of contention though seems to be baggage labels. I seem to be getting more and more phone calls on the subject, and despite guidelines from the cruise lines there really doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to when they send them out or not. Many cruise lines give people the opportunity to order them on their Cruise Personaliser, others allow clients to print off paper ones - they will be about as much use a a chocolate teapot!
Clients are not happy with these paper ones and I can understand why. They are useless!
The only advice I can give you is if you do not receive baggage labels, all the porters at the cruise terminals have plenty of them in their pockets so grab one ofthem and say you need baggage labels beofre you hand over your bags. Maybe these chaps will get so fed up of being asked that they will feed back to the cruise lines and a new improved system will have to be introduced.
All suggestions welcome!

MSC pull out all the stops after engine failure on the Opera.......

2011-05-16T13:31:00.000+01:00

No doubt you will have seen the news reports regarding the Opera and the engine failure, or explosion, that occured on Saturday in Baltic waters. This is not a unique event. Unfortunately things do sometimes go wrong on cruise ships, and it isn't just MSC.
News reports are full of horror stories about air conditioning not working and poor or no sanitation whilst passengers were marooned at sea, but we all know how the press love to embellish their stories, so I would take most of these reports with a pinch of salt.

MSC have just issued the follwoing statement to clarify the situation:

Following the technical problems to an electrical panel experienced on May 14th, MSC Opera has been towed to the port of Nynamshamn (close to, Sweden) where she arrived this morning around 11 am.

Since yesterday afternoon, most of the services have been restored and this morning passengers have been offered a hot breakfast. All ship’s bars were open with a complimentary beverage service. The whole crew, together with a team of technicians from STX Yards have been working around the clock to solve the electrical problem and an additional technical team has just embarked in the port of Nynamshamn.
MSC Cruises' team ashore is working closely with the port of Nynamshamn and the port of Stockholm to welcome and repatriate all guests from Stockholm. MSC Cruises is issuing all passengers with a credit voucher for the whole amount of the 10-day cruise valid until December 2012.
As the work of the electrical team is not yet over, MSC Cruises has taken the precautionary measure of cancelling the next MSC Opera cruise which was due to sail out of Southampton tomorrow May 17th, in order to maintain its high standard of security, quality and comfort. All affected passengers will be contacted and offered compensation.
As I would expect, MSC are doing all they can to compensate passengers for this unfortunate stroke of luck and I'm sure that the Opera will be up and running again in no time.
I was due to go down to Southampton tomorrow for lunch on board the Poesia but this has now been cancelled as the cruise line concentrate all their efforts on the Opera and her repairs. Ho hum! I was looking forward to that as I have only been on the Fantasia to date but I'm sure we will have another opportunity later in the year.

A magical pre-christmas cruise on Arcadia...............

2011-05-09T15:44:00.000+01:00

.......... with Derren Brown on board to entertain you. What a fantastic pre-christmas treat this would be for the family - a magical start to the festive season!
Sailing from Southampton on the 12th December 2011 and visiting Zeebrugge and Le Havre. The streets will be full of festive cheer as the Chrsitmas Markets will be in town too.
I visited the Christmas Markets around Northern Europe with my 3 teenagers last December and it was a wonderful experience.
With prices from as little as £299 per person this cruise is a must.
Here are some reviews from people who have seen Derren in action on other cruises -
Aurora made magic by Derren Brown

Harold, Stevenage on 30th Sep 2009
"The high point for me was Derren Brown, who did an excellent 50 minute show three times on the cruise to packed houses. Even better than the show was an hour long Q&A he did - again with standing room only in the 600+ seat theatre. He turned out to be a very funny and charmingly down to earth chap with very little "showbiz" about his attitude despite being a "showman" on stage..." More
Derren Brown
Keogh, Bognor Regis on 5th Jan 2010
"We had a fabulous mini cruise Derren Brown was brilliant he got a standing ovation, the show was wonderful, entertaining and fun..."

Alternatively, if music is more 'your bag' how about a three night sailing on the 3rd December 2011 on Arcadia too accompanied by Russell Watson. This cruise visits the same ports and prices are the same. The evening entertainment will surely be wonderful!
You know where to find me if you re interested!

High 5 your next cruise with MSC..........

2011-05-03T15:33:00.000+01:00

With prices for cruises seemingly increasing at a rate of knots and significantly fewer 'extras' being offered by many cruise lines, MSC make a really refreshing change to the norm.
Not only are they offering some superb prices for 2012, they are giving away so many extras that deserve serious consideration when planning your next cruise.

Take a look at ALL THESE EXTRAS:

Mediterranean Cruises

Free return flights (based on London)
Pre-paid tips
Return transfers to and from the airport
On Board Spend up to £250pp
Shore Excursion Voucher £100pp

Cruises from Southampton

Pre-paid tips
Free coach transfers of car parking at Southampton
Spa Voucher up to £200pp
On Board Spend up to £400pp
Shore Excursion Voucher - £100pp

Below I have listed just a few of the fabulous Itineraries on offer. Give me a call if you think you might be interested in an MSC cruise.

Mediterranean Cruises 2012

- Mediterranean Highlights - Italy, Malta, Spain
- Ancient Mediterranean - Italy, Greece, Turkey, Croatia
- Black Sea Adventure - Italy, Greece, Ukraine, Turkey, Croatia

Cruise fromSouthampton in 2012
- Baltic Capitals - United Kingdom, Netherlands, Russia, Estonia, Denmark
- Norwegian Fjords - United Kingdom, Netherlands, Norway
- Continental Discovery - United Kingdom, Netherlands, Spain, France

Favourite River Cruise Destinations - to inspire you!

2011-04-28T12:15:00.000+01:00

With the increasing popularity of River Cruises I have collected a top 10, only my opinion of course so please have a look for some inspiration. If you have any suggestions, or have done a river cruise that you would recommend please let me know so that I can share it with everyone.

1 The Nile, Egypt
If you only take one river cruise in your life, it should be this route, sailing along the Nile between Luxor and Aswan. It’s worth it just for the temples at Luxor and nearby Karnak, Tutankhamun’s tomb at the Valley of the Kings, and Nefertari’s tomb in the Valley of the Queens. But there’s more: from Luxor most cruise ships sail to Edfu for the temple dedicated to falcon-headed god Horus, then on to Kom Ombo temple, dedicated to crocodile god Sobek. And at colourful Aswan you can take a trip to the Aswan High Dam and the temple of Philae, or fly to Abu Simbel’s temples. To get the most out of the country, combine a Nile cruise with a few days in Cairo to see the Pyramids at Giza and the Egyptian Museu

2 Volga River, Russia
Moscow and St Petersburg are Russia’s must-do destinations, and you can see both by cruising along the Volga River and other rivers, lakes and waterways which connect the two cities. Highlights along the route include: Uglich, Russia’s second oldest city; ancient Yaroslavl, with its 13th century churches; Goritza, a typical Russian village; Kizhi, with its amazing 22-cupola wooden church, and Mondraga village, home to the Vodka Museum.

3 The Yangtze, China

Many UK-based travel companies offer Yangtze River cruises as part of a wider tour of China’s sights, often starting with several nights in Shanghai before flying to Wuhan and transferring to the Yangtze hub of Yichang. The Three Gorges – Xiling, Wuxia and Qutang – are the cruise highlight, with stops at the enormous Three Gorges Dam and Chongqing, home to lively markets. Longer cruises include: Nanjing, the ancient capital of several dynasties; historic Huangshan; Wuhan where you can visit Chairman Mao’s Villa and Yichang, surrounded by forests and mountains.

4 The Danube, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany

At 1,800 miles, the Danube flows through eight countries from its source in Germany to the Black Sea, with one of its most rewarding stretches starting at the historic Hungarian capital of Budapest. This cultural journey through European history includes Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, and Austria’s principal cities, Vienna and Salzburg. The countryside is also outstanding, including the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

5 The Amazon, Brazil

There are many ways to navigate the world’s largest river, but by far the most comfortable is by cruise ship. Itineraries usually call at the picturesque city of Santarem, where the River Tapajós meets the Amazon. Other colourful destinations include Parintins known for its Boi-Bumbá folklore festival every June; the wooden village of Boca de Valeria, and Manaus, the State of Amazonas capital.

6 The Rhine, Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland

There are plenty of options for sightseeing along the 900 miles of Europe’s most popular cruising river. You’ll see fairytale castles and medieval towns, as well as big-hitters such as Basle’s cobbled old city, Strasbourg's fabulous mix of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque buildings, the half-timbered houses in historic Mainz, the neoclassical palace and Roman basilica at Koblenz (where the Rhine meets its cruising partner, the River Mosel), and Cologne’s UNESCO World Heritage gothic cathedral. You'll also have access to Dutch cities such as Arnhem and Amsterdam.

7 The Mekong, Vietnam, Cambodia

Mekong River and Delta cruises usually begin with a few nights in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), a hectic urban sprawl which retains its elegant French colonial heart. The mystical Mekong offers an enticing mix of Buddhist shrines, colonial towns and floating markets. Many cruises cross into Cambodia where you can visit the capital, Phnom Penh, and the major temples of Angkor Wat by the town of Siem Reap.

8 The Rhône, France
Navigating France’s mightiest river is a favourite for wine aficionados and foodies. A cruise through Burgundy and Provence gives you the chance to visit vineyards (think Côtes du Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape), explore Lyon – the gourmet capital of France – and enjoy historic towns such as the fortified city of Avignon and the Roman ruins in Arles. The countryside is equally superb: its fields of lavender and sunflowers were an inspiration for artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, and as the river drains into the Mediterranean you’ll see the famous white horses of the Camargue.

9 The Mississippi, USA
A trip along Ol’ Man River from Memphis to New Orleans reveals an impressive slice of the United States’ cultural and historic richness. You’ll see Elvis Presley’s Memphis, Civil War sites such as Helena and Vicksburg, and the Southern belle towns of Natchez and St Francisville with their beautiful antebellum houses. Baton Rouge is the spiritual home of folksy Cajun music and spicy Cajun food and then there’s jazz-soaked New Orleans, now recovering much of its nightly Mardi Gras atmosphere.

10 The Douro, Spain, Portugal
Often overlooked, this beautiful river meanders through peaceful villages and towns, through gorges and past vineyards and tranquil almond orchards. The cultural highlights include Salamanca, an ancient Spanish university city fought over by Hannibal the Great, and Porto, Portugal’s elegantly historic second city and the home of port wine. En route you can stop at Peso da Régua and Pinhão, in the heart of Portuguese wine country, or visit market towns, castles and country homes such as the 18th century Casa de Mateus Palace.

Call Centre funnies.................

2011-04-22T13:52:00.001+01:00

Sent to me by my client Tony from Hull who sends me a few funnies every day - they always make me smile. These are particularly relevant, working in a call centre, although naturally non of my clients are so stupid. Anyway, I thought I would share them with you. Enjoy!

Actual call centre conversations !!!!!

Customer: 'I've been ringing 0800 2100 for two days and can't get through to enquiries, can you help?'.
Operator: 'Where did you get that number from, sir?'.
Customer: 'It was on the door to the Travel Centre'.
Operator: 'Sir, they are our opening hours'.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --
Samsung Electronics
Caller: 'Can you give me the telephone number for Jack?'
Operator: 'I'm sorry, sir, I don't understand who you are talking about'.
Caller: 'On page 1, section 5, of the user guide it clearly states that I need to unplug the fax machine from the AC wall socket and telephone Jack before cleaning. Now, can you give me the number for Jack?'
Operator: 'I think you mean the telephone point on the wall'.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----

RAC Motoring Services
Caller: 'Does your European Breakdown Policy cover me when I am travelling in Australia ?'
Operator: ' Doesn't the product name give you a clue?'

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----
Caller (enquiring about legal requirements while travelling in France ):
If I register my car in France , do I have to change the steering wheel to the other side of the car?'

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----

Directory Enquiries
Caller: 'I'd like the number of the Argoed Fish Bar in Cardiff please'.
Operator: 'I'm sorry, there's no listing. Is the spelling correct?'
Caller: 'Well, it used to be called the Bargoed Fish Bar but the 'B' fell off'.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----
Then there was the caller who asked for a knitwear company in Woven.
Operator: 'Woven? Are you sure?'
Caller: 'Yes. That's what it says on the label; Woven in Scotland '.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----

On another occasion, a man making heavy breathing sounds from a phone box told a worried operator:
'I haven't got a pen, so I'm steaming up the window to write the number on'.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----

Tech Support: 'I need you to right-click on the Open Desktop'.
Customer: 'OK'.
Tech Support: 'Did you get a pop-up menu?'.
Customer: 'No'.
Tech Support: 'OK. Right-Click again. Do you see a pop-up menu?'
Customer: 'No'.
Tech Support: 'OK, sir. Can you tell me what you have done up until this point?'.
Customer: 'Sure. You told me to write 'click' and I wrote 'click''.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----

Tech Support: 'OK. In the bottom left hand side of the screen, can you see the 'OK' button displayed?'
Customer: 'Wow. How can you see my screen from there?'

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----

Caller: 'I deleted a file from my PC last week and I have just realised that I need it. If I turn my system clock back two weeks will I have my file back again?'.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---- ------------ --------- --------- --------- ----

There's always one. This has got to be one of the funniest things in a long time. I think this guy should have been promoted, not fired. This is a true story from the Word Perfect Helpline, which was transcribed from a recording monitoring the customer care department. Needless to say the Help Desk employee was fired; however, he/she is currently suing the Word Perfect organization for 'Termination without Cause'.

Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee. (Now I know why they record these conversations! ):

Operator: 'Ridge Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?'

Caller: 'Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect.'

Operator: 'What sort of trouble??'

Caller: 'Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.'

Operator: 'Went away?'

Caller: 'They disappeared.'

Operator: 'Hmm So what does your screen look like now?'

Caller: 'Nothing.'

Operator: 'Nothing??'

Caller: 'It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type.'

Operator: 'Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out??'

Caller: 'How do I tell?'

Operator: 'Can you see the C: prompt on the screen??'

Caller: 'What's a sea-prompt?'

Operator: 'Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?'

Caller: 'There isn't any cursor: I told you, it won't accept anything I type.'

Operator: 'Does your monitor have a power indicator??'

Caller: 'What's a monitor?'

Operator: 'It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on??'

Caller: 'I don't know.'

Operator: 'Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that??'

Caller: 'Yes, I think so.'

Operator: 'Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall.

Caller: 'Yes, it is.'

Operator: 'When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one??'

Caller: 'No.'

Operator: 'Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable...'

Caller: 'Okay, here it is.'

Operator: 'Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer.'

Caller: 'I can't reach.'

Operator: 'Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is??'

Caller: 'No.'

Operator: 'Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over??'

Caller: 'Oh, it's not because I don't have the right angle - it's because it's dark.'

Operator: 'Dark??'

Caller: 'Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window.

' Operator: 'Well, turn on the office light then.'

Caller: 'I can't.'

Operator: 'No? Why not??'

Caller: 'Because there's a power failure.'

Operator: 'A power....... .. A power failure? Aha, Okay, we've got it licked now.

Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in??'

Caller: 'Well, yes, I keep them in the closet.'

Operator: 'Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from.'

Caller: 'Really? Is it that bad?'

Operator: 'Yes, I'm afraid it is.'

Caller: 'Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them??'

Operator: 'Tell them you're too f --- ing stupid to own a computer!!!! !'

Secret Life of a Cruise Consultant......... I'm getting smaller!

2011-04-21T20:20:00.000+01:00

You may remember me telling you a couple of weeks ago that I had joined Weight Watchers. Well I'm really excited to be able to tell you that I have lost my first stone in just four weeks. I am so thrilled, and already I can feel the weight loss.
My goal is the Christmas cruise. I want to be able to pop on that little black dress and look like a real 'foxy moma'! Still three and a half stones to go - I'll keep you posted.
If anybody has any tips or nice low fat recipes feel free to pass them on. I met lady at my class tonight who is slimming for her cruise on the Independence in August, and I bet there are many more people out there doing the same thing! My tip for you is the weight Watchers Creamy Chicken Curry - delicious! If you'd like the recipe let me know, it's really simple.

All Inclusive Boutique Style River Cruising................

2011-04-20T20:04:00.002+01:00

AMA Waterways have been around for 83 years but this is a product that is quite new to me, and one that I find really exciting. It is 'boutique-style', luxury and it is river cruising at its best I think. I'm sure that many of my clients are going to agree with me too.

AMA offer a fabulous range of itineraries on their many boats, covering Europe, Russia and Indochina. I'll cover some of their more unusual sailings in another post, but here I want to share with you the fabulous value for money that they offer with their 'all-inclusive' deal.
When I give you a price for an AMA Waterways River Cruise all of the following are included:
Flights - from a choice of 15 different UK airports.
Airport 'Meet and Greet' - a representative will meet you at the airport to assist with your luggage and your transfer to your cruise.
All Meals and tea/coffe and water through the day and Champagne at breakfast and wine with dinner in the evening.
Services of an English Speaking Cruise Director and friendly onboard Staff.
All shore excursions - done in small groups to ensure your experience is maximised.
On Premier Plus and Premier cruises, unique and exclusive excursions designed to meet your specific request.
All Gratuities - nothing extra is expected from you.
All transfers between airports and your cruise boat.
All port charges.

So, having booked for your river cruise you have peace of mind that the price you have agreed covers more or less everything - now doesn't that make budgeting so much easier?
There is so much to share about this great Company that I will do more posts giving you more details soon.
I was offered the chance to spend three nights on this boat last week but couldn't be away at such short notice, however, two of my colleagues, Faz and Stuart are currently on board, and having a great time - Stuart's Sailing Stories

MSC Cruises - the Yacht Club Experience

2011-04-14T15:09:00.003+01:00

A couple of years ago a colleague and I were offered the chance to sample MSC at its best, travelling in style in their 6* Yacht Club, on the Fantasia. I was unsure what to expect, as I really didn't have much knowledge of MSC prior to the trip, so off we went with an open mind.

We flew from London Gatwick to Genoa and took the included transfer to the port which took about 10 minutes. Apoint worth noting - when you fly into Genoa you fly over the port as you come in to land. We had a fantatic birds eye view of the ship, a really impressive sight! So, be sure to look out of the window when flying into Genoa. We were directed to a seperate check in desk especially for Yacht Club passengers, seperate from the masses, and here the 'experience' began. We were met by our personal Butler, Danny, who was an absolute delight, and could not have done more for us. Our wish was his command! All the Butlers in Yacht Club are trained at the International Butler School in Holland, and their service is second to none. I was only sorry that at the end of the cruise I couldn't fit him in my suitcase - believe me, I tried!

The Fantasia is stunning, no other word can describe it. One of the most impressive ships I have been on. We were met by all of the Staff as we boarded with Danny in the lead! Our luggage was brought to our cabin, and unpacked/ put away by Danny. The Yacht Club area is Decks 16 - 18, totally seperate from the rest of the passengers, and has a lovely calm and quiet air about it - most relaxing. There is food available 24 hours along with inclusive drinks. Be warned, as a Yacht Club passenger you only get free drinks in the Yacht Club lounge, not in the other bars in the ship.

The day after we embarked we were given a full tour of the ship by our host Craig Jeffs (MSC). These MSC ships are breathtaking, the decor is stunning, running seamlessly from one area into another.

The evening entertainment was excellent and varied. the theatre, which is the largest at sea, did a sort of Sword in the Stone meets Cirque de Soleil which was excellent. I can also recommend L'Insolito Lounge, with dance music to suit young and old alike, and great dance hosts. The Liquid Disco is great too, although the music tends to be Europop!
The kids facilities are great for the younger kids and there is also a 'Teen Zone'. Warning - the F1 simulator and the 4D Cinema are great but cost about 6 euros a go, so you will need to limit your kids access to these!
The food on board is ok, tastes good, but the presentation is lacking and it isn't always very hot. A point worth noting is that L'etoile, the French Restaurant, is inclusive for Yacht Club Clients. I would recommend that you ask your Butler to reserve you a table here for evening meals, the food and the service are second to none.
Another restaurant well worth trying, although not inclusive for Yacht Club, is the Tex Mex restaurant. The food is excellent and very reasonably priced.
All in all, the Yacht Club experience is fantastic, and I would recommend it to anyone.
I have recently learned that Yacht Club clients now have an exclusive restaurant on board which really will complete the 'Yacht Club experience'.

m/s Paul Gauguin to undergo multi-million $ refurbishment for 2012

2011-04-14T11:25:00.000+01:00

Exciting things are happening in the cruising world of Paul Gauguin for 2012 - a major refurbishment, exciting new itineraries and free flights from LA on all voyages. You can even experience Whale Watching!
- Refurbished Ship, New Itineraries & 10% Savings -

Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest rated and longest continually-sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, has announced details of its 2012 itineraries which will once again feature FREE flights between Los Angeles and Papeete.
To ensure that every sailing continues to be the cruise of a lifetime, Paul Gauguin Cruises will continue to focus on the exotic regions in which it specialises - Tahiti, French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, the Society Islands, the Marquesas and Tuamotus – while adding the spectacular destinations of Fiji and New Caledonia into the mix.
Following a multi-million dollar refurbishment in January 2012, the m/s Paul Gauguin will embark on a series of 40 stunning itineraries with prices starting from just £3,933 per person for a seven-night Society Islands cruise including return economy flights from the UK, overseas transfers, a night in Los Angeles and use of a day room post cruise.
New for 2012:
• Multi-million dollar total refurbishment of the m/s Paul Gauguin in January 2012.
• 20-night South Pacific Discovery cruise and land package which allows guests to discover the scenic splendours of Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, the Cook Islands and the Society Islands.
• 11-night whale-watching itinerary in September taking in Rurutu, Bora Bora and Moorea.
• Seven-night Society Islands voyage on 2nd June taking in the transit of Venus
• Two new Fiji voyages in October and November visiting Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.
• Unique Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Programme to operate onboard between 2nd June and end August 2012. This groundbreaking programme introduces travellers to the extraordinary natural wonders of French Polynesia and aims to give young participants aged nine to 17 direct, hands-on, interactive experience with knowledge of marine and island ecosystems.
• Any guests new to Paul Gauguin Cruises who have previously sailed with another luxury cruise line such as Crystal Cruises or Windstar Cruises will benefit from a 10% saving on any 2012 booking.
The 2012 voyages – all 40 of which are now open for booking – will highlight the beauty of the South Pacific from the luxurious and spacious accommodations aboard the newly-refurbished m/s Paul Gauguin. Onboard each cruise, marine biologists, environmentalists, naturalists, historians, and special guest lecturers reveal secrets of islands visited, sharing their knowledge and insight to enhance the travel experience.
The 2012 m/s Paul Gauguin sailing schedule will include:
• Raiatea: the island was once the cultural, religious, royal, and political heart of Polynesia and was, according to legend, one of Tahiti's most significant archaeological sites.
• Taha’a: adjacent to Paul Gauguin Cruises’ private Motu Mahana, featuring white sand beaches with swaying palms, crystal-clear waters and gentle breezes, where guests can enjoy a barbecue lunch serenaded by Polynesian singers.
• Bora Bora: immediately recognisable by the basalt tombstone of Mount Otemanu rising from the ocean, this half-atoll, half-mountain is surrounded by a spectacular lagoon and a series of smaller islands.
• Moorea/Tahiti: covered in an abundance of fresh fruits and flowers, spectacular mountain peaks, peaceful multi-hued lagoons and palm-fringed beaches. Here guests can shop for local crafts, trek on the “Trails of the Ancients,” snorkel one of the world's most beautiful lagoons, or embark on a dolphin-watching expedition with a marine biologist.
• Cook Islands: guests will marvel at the contrast of arid Aitutaki, where the ocean is always in view, and Rarotonga, an island of lush valleys and jagged peaks.
Onboard the five-star m/s Paul Gauguin —the most highly awarded small ship in the region – guests will enjoy blue-ribbon service, spacious accommodations, luxurious amenities, gourmet dining and Polynesian elegance in a relaxed atmosphere, while immersing themselves in the world’s most enchanting destinations.
So if you have done the Med, the Fjords, all the usual, why not try something unique and different for a really special crusing experience.

What makes a River Cruise such great value for money?

2011-04-07T18:12:00.000+01:00

One of the main things is that all Shore Excursions are included, so you don't need to budget extra for them as you do on any other type of cruise. Shore excusions can be very costly indeed - but not on a river cruise!

I thought I would give you an example of the type of itinerary and excursions that you would find included on a typical seven night Nile cruise, but do bear in mind when reading this that you can cruise the Nile for upto two weeks. Another option is to cruise and then stay in a hotel for a week afterwards - plenty of options for every one. So excursions, here goes:

Having been met at Luxor airport and escorted to your chosen boat, you will enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Luxor.
The following day you will explore the West Bank of the Nile seeing The Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Valley of the Queens and the Colossi of Memnon. you will then sail towards Edfu.
On the morning of the third day you will visit the Temple of Edfu which is one of the largest and best preserved temples in Egypt and is dedicated to the god Horus. The afternoon will be spent sailing to Aswan so you relax or take a dip in the pool while you watch the scenery drift by.

Day Four will be spent Aswan which includes a visit to the High Dam, the Old Granite quarries and the Unfinished Obelisk. Later that day you can take a boat trip to the Philae Temple which is dedicated to the goddess Isis.

During day five you can either chose to spend the morning exploring Aswan at leisure or you can take the only payable excursion to Abu Simbel, Egypts greatest treasure after the pyramids. During the late afternoon you will sail to Kom Ombo where you can visit the Temple of Haroeris and Sobek.
After all that you will probably be glad that day six can be spent relaxing while the boat sails to Luxor!
Day seven is spent in Luxor abd begins with a visit to the Temple of Karnak, a comples of three temples dedicated to the Theban Gods. Later that day you will have the chance to explore the Magnificent Temple of Luxor which was once connected to the Karnak Temple by an avenue of Sphinxes. That evening there is an optional excursion to the Sound and Light show at Karnak Temple.

Finally on day eight you will enjoy beakfast on board before being escorted to Luxor airport or to your chosen hotel for the remainder of your holiday.
Now, that all sounds pretty good value for money to me. I would really love to hear from anyone who has done a Nile Cruise to offer any advise they have - do's and don'ts.

Secret Life of a Cruise Consultant - Dancing Queen...............

2011-04-01T19:44:00.001+01:00

We are now five or six lessons in to our Salsa classes and our progress has been amazing, even if I do say so myself! We are doing the Mambo like old pro's, and our 'Hip Hop Suzie Q' has to be seen to be believed!
The Mambo Cuban Turn we learnt on Tuesday almost foxed us, but we got there in the end.
Ok, so I still can't guarantee where I'm going to end up at the end of a full turn and on whose toe I'll be standing but we are all in the same boat so everyone takes it in good spirit.
This new hobby ties in very nicely with another new project I've just started on - Weight Watchers! All these years sitting at a desk and eating the fabulous food on cruise ships has taken its toll and it is time to take the matter in hand. The plan is to lose just under 5 stone by Christmas, when I will unveil the new slimline me (photos will be blogged!). there are quite a few of us in the office doing the diet so I am in very good company. Hopefully we can give each other plenty of support. Keep you posted!
Below is a short clip of what we aspire to with the dancing -

We are hoping to be looking like real professionals before the Christmas party, so I'll let you know how things go. I tell you one thing, I shall be far more sympathetic when I watch Strrictly Come Dancing this Autumn.

The chap whose eye I accidently elbowed on week two is due out of hospital shortly and is expected to make a full recovery.

Great Deals on Grandeur of the Seas.................

2011-03-26T19:51:00.001Z

If you're looking for a great cruise deal this summer then look no further than the Grandeur of the Seas sailing weekly out of Palma Majorca all through summer, which is ideal for families as it is a really short flight.
If you are not familiar with Royal Caribbean, let me tell you what the Grandeur has to offer.
It is one of the Vision Class of ships - known as the 'ships of light'. At 78,000 tonnes she is an average size, not too big or too small and she has plenty of great facilities for everyone on her eleven decks. She has a theatre and a casino and a variety of bars and lounges including the Schooner Bar and Champagne Terrace. She boasts a state-of-the-art Spa and Fitness centre for those of you who are looking to keep in tip top condition while you are away and a sun deck and solarium for those who enjoy a more relaxed cruise. There are great kids clubs on board whith a teen area too and also a rock climbing wall to keep the little darlings amused! For those of you who can't bear to be totally 'away from it all' there's an internet cafe too.

With prices starting from around £780 per person this is a brilliant deal. Flights are still available from London and Manchester at the moment.
Have a look at this itinerary and see if it tickles your fancy.

Sun 10 Jul PALMA DE MALLORCA - SPAIN 14:00 17:00 DOCKED
Mon 11 Jul CRUISING
Tue 12 Jul CANNES / MONTE CARLO - FRANCE 07:00 20:00 E TENDERED
Wed 13 Jul FLORENCE/PISA(LASPEZIA) - ITALY 07:00 19:00 E TENDERED
Thu 14 Jul ROME (CIVITAVECCHIA) - ITALY 07:00 19:00 E DOCKED
Fri 15 Jul SICILY (PALERMO) - ITALY 10:00 18:00 E DOCKED
Sat 16 Jul CRUISING
Sun 17 Jul PALMA DE MALLORCA - SPAIN 06:00 E DOCKED

If anybody has sailed on Grandeur and has an opinion please feel free to share it with everyone.

Fantastic singles prices on Nile Cruises.........

2011-03-21T20:08:00.000Z

I booked a fantastic Nile River cruise today for a single chap with Discover Egypt, and I had to share it with you. I get so many calls from people who find that single supplements make the cruise they fancy beyond their budget, but I was really impressed with this cruise deal. Here is what my client booked for a little over £1400.00.

Seven night Nile cruise on the 5* Viking Princess on the Upper Deck, with Manchester flights and all transfers included. He will then be transferred to the all inclusive 4* Three Corner Ramhira Hotel on the Red Sea for another seven nights. At the end of his stay he will be transferred back to Luxor airport for his return flight to Manchester.

I think you have to agree that this is exceptionally good value for money. You would be hard pushed to get a seven night cruise on one of the big cruise ships for £1400.00 let alone 14 nights, and the fact that the hotel is all-inclusive makes this reallly good value for money.
More and more often I'm finding that River Cruises offer much better deals for single travellers, so I'm going to keep my eye on them and will let you know as and when I come across them.

If anybody out there spots a great deal before I do then please let us all know by popping a comment on here. That way others can benefit too.
Many thanks in advance.

Experience the Romantic Danube with a Viking River Cruise.................

2011-03-20T14:13:00.001Z

Having been in the cruise industry for some years now I'm noticing the increasing popularity of river cruises. I'm booking more and more over recent months and it isn't difficult to see why - they have so much to offer and at great prices.
I booked a fabulous river cruise for a client only the other day with Viking River Cruises and decided that I really should write about it to 'spread the word' so to speak.

With 175 years of experience and numerous awards including 'Best River Cruise Line 2010' and 'Worlds Leading River Cruise Operator 2010', rest assured you are in good hands. Their ships are 'deluxe' and their facilities on board and service are absolutely outstanding.. Their ships have a very calm and contemporary feel. They are light and spacious. All cabins have either a picture window or a French Balcony to ensure you can make the most of the fabulous scenery - and there is plenty of that on a river cruise! Remember, you won't be having long sea days - you will have scenery all the time and there is a new port of call every day.
River cruises are more or less all inclusive which makes budgeting so much easier. The cuisine on Viking is superb, served in a relaxed and informal setting. Many of the dishes will be local specialities too.
The ships also offer lectures and cultural performances relative to the destinations you visit.

Two of the viking ships sail up and down the Danube. The Viking Prestige and the Viking Legend, and you would embark in Budapest or Nuremberg, depending which was round you decide to do the cruise. Apoint to note - at each destination a walking excursion around the local area will be included free of charge!
Budapest is stunning, and you will be able to do a city tour on you second day on board before leaving there which will include the Castle District.
The next day will be spent in Vienna, and exellent opportunity to visit the famous Spanish Horse riding school or maybe the Vienese Opera.

On your fourth day you will be able to visit a Benedictine Abbey just outside the town of Melk. They abbey was built in 1089 and I have been reliably informed that it is breathtaking, and must not be missed.
Day five you will visit Passau where you can enjoy an organ concert and day six you will be able to enjoy the Medieval city of Regensburg and Kelheim where you can enjoy the 'strange beauty' of the Danube gorge.
Your final day will be spent cruising through Nuremberg where you will be able to enjoy a WW2 history tour.

In addition to all this, on board the ship you will have welcome cocktails and dinner, as well as a Captains farewell dinner on the final evening.
If I were to tell you that you can have all this, and flights and transfers from London Heathrow from as little as £845 per person, I think you would have to agree that these Viking River Cruises are exceptionally good value for money!

Discover Tahiti and French Polynesia with ms Paul Gauguin.............

2011-03-17T20:42:00.000Z

So, you've done the Med, the Baltics and the Fjords. You've sailed Transatlantic and cruised through the Panama Canal. Now you fancy something more off the beaten track, something a bit special and not so commercialized. Have you even heard of Paul Gauguin, let alone considered them? Well, let me tell you, they really are something very special indeed.

The m/s Paul Gauguin, a mere 20,000 tonnes, was designed specifically to sail the shallow seas of Tahiti and French Polynesia, visiting small ports that larger ships can’t reach and effortlessly blending into the stunning natural beauty of the South Seas. She offers an extension of the informal, relaxing environment of the islands, coupled with five-star service, comfort and luxury. Spacious suites and staterooms (more than 70% with private balconies), an onboard watersports marina, a choice of three open-seating dining venues and an extensive spa are among her luxurious attributes. The atmosphere aboard ship radiates warmth, informality, and Polynesian flair. And the troupe of Gauguines—a local Tahitian group who serve as cruise staff, entertainers and storytellers—add the unique personality of Tahiti to every cruise.

She only carries 332 passengers and has a member of staff for every 1.5 of them. Gratuities and drinks are all included in your fare and cabin categories B and above have their own Butler.

She is a little ship with a huge amount to offer, and all in such beautiful surroundings.
If you think that you could be tempted in cruisiing from Tahiti around the Cook Islands, the Society Islands and other stunning destinations around that area then you must consider Paul Gauguin. They really do offer a very special product indeed. And don't think that they are beyond your budget, remember they all virtually all inclusive, and they do have the same offers as some of the big cruise lines - on board credit and free flights too!
If you'd like to know more I'd be happy to help.

Two Gardeners and a Gardner........ celebrate 20 years of Gardeners World

2011-03-17T12:09:00.001Z

It’s all about Anniversaries this month! I thought I would share this great photo with you - don't you just love a lad in a checked shirt! They all have a very cheeky look in their eye, as though they have been up to no good! Our very own Andrew Gardner, Alan Titchmarsh and Roy Lancaster at the Gardeners World 20th Anniversary celebrations last week.

Eden Project celebrates its 10th Anniversary today too!
Today, Thursday 17 March 2011, sees the 10th Anniversary of Cornwall’s Eden Project. Back in 2001, Eden first opened its doors to the public and during this time over 12 million people have explored this fascinating work of art. Housing some of the world’s most fascinating plants, it benefits from the mild Cornish climate which welcomes an early spring. It was the brainchild of Tim Smit who wanted to create a project that explored and brought to life, the connection between plants and people. The most obvious attraction at Eden are undoubtedly the Biomes which are huge horticultural areas representing different climate zones. These Biomes cover 8 acres of its total 35 acres. If you have yet to experience Eden, then you must make 2011 the year to visit.

And as Eden celebrates this milestone, Gardeners’ World Magazine too celebrates its 20th Anniversary – 20 years of sharing a passion for gardening with its readers and 20 years of great gardening advice! And last week, Victoria Travel/cruise.co.uk were invited along with 150 selected guests to their special anniversary celebration at Clifton Nurseries in London (also celebrating 160 years of horticultural heritage) and were greeted by the editor of the magazine, Adam Pasco, horticultural editor David Hurrion and a host of well-known celebrity gardeners’ including Alan Titchmarsh, Pippa Greenwood, Carol Klein, Matthew Biggs and renowned plantsman Roy Lancaster. And to celebrate this notable landmark, cruise.co.uk have organised a special garden themed reader holiday for the magazine, cruising around the British Isles in August. Alan Titchmarsh will get this cruise off to a great start with an anniversary welcome as Balmoral sets off for its first port of call, Guernsey. From there the cruise takes you around the UK on a trip rich in gardens, scenic countryside and fabulous ports. Garden visits include Mount Usher Gardens in Dublin, Bodnant Gardens from Holyhead and the famous Beth Chatto Gardens in Essex. There will be gardening get-togethers throughout the trip, with plenty of time to get expert advice from Adam Pasco, Pippa Greenwood and Matthew Biggs who will be joining the cruise for the full duration. See here for more details on this great cruise.