DO I or DON'T I?

Is this a question you keep asking yourself? Are you looking for a last minute cruise deal or are you thinking about one for next year? 

With the holidays upon us every call I pick up is from a customer looking for a last minute deal. Normally this isn't a problem as I pride myself in finding great cruises which are exceptional value for money, but with the nation looking to leave the British shores it becomes evident that it pays to book and confirm your cruise early!

 If there is more than 2 people in your party, don't be disappointed if you cant get cabins together and certainly cant get more than two into a cabin!

Flights throughout August are proving to be a pain also, as availability is sparse and  they are extremely pricey.

The old tale of waiting until the last minute to book your trip may work for a land package holiday, but not as likely for cruising. Obviously a cruise ship has a limit to passengers and cabins and these are often less than a hotel or resort. If you want the cabin or your choice or you want a specific deck, position and dinning option, you need  to book early to get what you want. This sounds so simple but believe me, people get so angry and aggressive because they cant have what they want!

If you have children and want to cruise in the summer holidays, don't let them down! Book the cruise you want in the cabin you want and have something to look forward to.

With cruise fares published well into 2013, why not book your future holiday now to avoid disappointment.

Visit www.cruise.co.uk and have a look at the many offers about for 2012 and 2013. By booking early you may get on board spending money and car parking included. BUT be warned 2012 summer sailings for family cabins are beginning to sell out.

Call me to get your family holiday sorted for 2012 on:
 0800 408 6164.

Have You Ever Tried Six Star Cruising?

I have recently been to visit one of the Oceania ships, The Insignia.

This luxury ship covers every little detail, from the moment you arrive at the ship you are met by the concierge team and guided on board.

Oceania have have five ships in their fleet: Marina, Riviera, Regatta, Insignia & Nautica. All of these ships are difined as having the finest cuisine at sea and I definatley agree with that!

Once on board you feel like you've just stepped into a beautiful country hotel, these cruises are not formal they are relaxed, smart and have something for everybody.

Oceania focus on the finest cuisine, they have a gourmet culinary programme created by world-renowned master chef, Jacques Pepin.  

I enjoyed caviar, lobster, sea bass and the juiciest steak which I could slice with a fork! This elegant cuisine was accompanied by exceptional service. If I had to compare the cuisine with any of the other cruises I've been on. I simply couldn’t!

The newest addition to the fleet is the Marina, this magnificent ship has all the finesse of the Insignia but in a more modern and spacious surrounding. The Marina's elegance is luxury at its best and is very affordable!

We currently have some fantastic offers on these ships starting from £1399 per person and not only are these bargain fares; we will also give you $1000 per cabin to spend onboard! Have a look at some of the itinerary’s.

In the luxury market, an Oceania cruise is incredible value for money. They offer a cruise only package at the moment but in 2012 they will be opening up an office in the UK that will deal with fly cruise packages. I can also find you a flight that matches up with these cruises and a luxury transfer to match.

Call me on 0800 408 6164 for more information on Oceania Cruises.

River Cruising in Style

Do you like culture, do you enjoy a walk through historic cities?

River cruising is still a very underrated way to travel. There are many river cruise companies in the market, they offer itineraries which take in culture, art & history.

If you have cruised before, dont be mistaken by a river cruise. It is a very different experience, they hold around 150 people, have two levels and they dont have a theatre! The ships are luxurious and often include your drinks, excursions and exceptional service.

Ship facilities often include:

• 106 comfortable river view Staterooms and Suites, 70% with balconies
• Grand Panorama Lounge with full-service bar and dance floor.
• Two open seat restaurants
• Complimentary locally-sourced wines, beer and soft drinks with every dinner onboard ship
• Spacious solarium area and sauna
• Conference Hall featuring lectures, concerts and movies
• Boutique shop
• 24-hour reception service

 

I just wanted to highlight a cruise availiable from AmaWaterways, an exciting 12 day journey from Moscow in Russia to St Petersberg.

The voyage will include direct flights from London and you will be escorted to your river cruise ship which will be mored in the centre of Moscow allowing you great access to the city and its sights. It will stay there for 2 nights which gives you a chance to explore Moscow.

The cruise takes in all the unspoilt sights untill it comes to St Petersberg where again it will stay as a floating hotel for 3 nights to give you the opportunity to sample the delights.

Outside cabin with flights from London and transfers from £2399.00pp

Balcony cabins with flights from London and transfers from £3199.00 pp

Give me a call to discuss all the options regarding your River Voyage!

I've been a Celebrity for the day!

I have recently been invited by Celebrity Cruises to visit one of their Solstice Class of ships; The Eclipse.

The Eclipse sails from Southampton and offers luxury itineraries around the Baltic and the Med.

I have cruised many times but I have to say I was totally blown away! As soon as I stepped aboard I was greeted by the stunning decor which is modern, contempory yet traditional. My Jaw dropped and continued to drag along the floor for several hours as we were guided through the ship.

I went with my beautiful wife to be and we both agreed that this was our next holiday. We enjoy the finer things in life and like to pamper our selfs and this ship ticked every box.

The guide took us into The Entertainment Court first, which is home to QUASAR the niteclub, it was fresh, stylish and looked like the ideal place to unwaind after a busy day sightseeing. We continued through the Fortunes Casino which again excelled any other ship we've been on, once again stylish, spacious and very grand. The Casino brought us out to the Martini Bar and Crush, these funky, stylish cocktail bars have Ice covering the bar tops, amazing!

Well at this point my heart is racing and I'm totally overwhelmed with what I had seen, there was lots more to see and the Theatre was next! I had to take a seat and take it all in, this stunning theatre was split over 3 decks and I could imagine some very grand shows being produced on the huge stage.

The speciality restaurants onboard are BLU, QUISINE and the TUSCAN GRILL each of them offering a different dinning experience at a small supplement but definatly worth a try. When you book an Aqua Class grade of cabin you can use Blu as your main restaurant, this has a light and contempary feel.

It was just as impressive on the upper decks, the observation lounge was spacious and ideal for an evening with friends relaxing to a live band. On deck we loved the double sunbeds and could have just lay there all day taking it all in. I had heard about and read about the Lawn Club up on the very top deck but untill I actually saw it I didnt beleive that a lawn could look so good.

Overall I think that Celebrity have got it spot on, I will be cruising with the Eclipse next year without a dougbt but this year I have a wedding to pay for!

Take a look at http://www.cruise.co.uk/ or call me on 0800 408 6164 to have a look at the great fares on offer from Celebrity Cruises.

MSC, Great Value Cruising

I work with many cruise lines and they all offer a different type of package, whether it be a fly cruise or cruise only it seems their all battling for you're business.

 As the lines get busy for the summer getaway and availability diminishes, I keep finding myself checking the MSCrange for what they have to offer. I do this because I just cant believe my eyes most time!

MSC offer a contemporary style of cruise inspired by the Italians, this obviously includes the usual attention to detail you may find with an Italian product. They are offering some fantastic fares from as little as £349 per person for an inside cabin, if you like value for money well look no further, this works out to only £43.63 per night for an 8 night cruise! Not only the cruise but great food, great service and great entertainment. You couldn't stay in the UK for that sort of price



I visited the MSC Opera on the 28 June 2011, which is the only member of their fleet to cruise from the UK, Southampton.

I went with my colleagues from the office and we were all pleasantly surprised, the ship felt modern, clean and we were greeted with smiles and a great atmosphere. We had a member of the crew give us a guided tour around the decks. Take a look at some of my pictures. I think you will agree it looks great.

Although this is an Italian based cruise line the primary language on board is English, it also has areas within the ship at selected bars where you can smoke, but I'm not sure how long this will continue with the EU laws changing by the minute!

I've often heard rumours about the food being cold, boring and generally not pleasant, I really don't know  where this comes from because we ordered everything from the menu and it was all great. I had a seafood cocktail to start followed by the soup of the day and for my main I had a pork dish which was very yummy!



Overall this ship exceeded expectations a good quality ship at very low prices, what more can you ask for!

Have a look at our website to find all the deals at: www.cruise.co.uk

Have you been on the MSC Opera? What did you think?

Last Minute Madness

Only 4 weeks to go until the summer holidays! I recently wrote about the limited available places for children on cruises but now with the holidays looming it may be difficult to get you to a ship!

Although cruise lines offer great last minute deals, flights to get to the ships are often not available or over priced at this late stage. I am receiving a large number of calls at the moment from customers hoping for that last minute deal which they find on our website www.cruise.co.uk. Not realising that all these deals are cruise only they often get disappointed that the deal doesn't include flights and when we add flights the price increases quite dramatically.

One of my guests make a valid point today about this so I thought I would share it with you. She asked me this question: 

"If these cruise ships have all these empty cabins they are offering at knock down prices, how do they expect to sell them if we cant get to them"?

With the Nation looking to get away very soon don't you think extra flights should be chartered and extra routes made available?

Tell me what you think!

Fred Olsen Ship Visit

At the end of last week I went back down to Southampton to sample the delights of Fred Olsens Balmoral.

I went with an open mind and was really looking forward to veiwing this ship as I have many customers booked on her and many more enquiries. Fred Olsen only have four ships in their fleet and this family run business has been around for over 150 years! The perception has always been that they cater for the more mature traveller with departures from 7 UK ports, making them one of the most accessible cruise lines across the country.

On entering the ship I was welcomed by a very spacious and pleasant reception area and some very attentive crew!

There was a really nice ambiance on board, I felt like I could quite easily do a long cruise on this ship. The cabins were spacious and fresh with the suites offering complimentary drinks and lots of space!

The upper decks felt modern and looked smart, my photos don't do it justice as the skies were black but I was very impressed as I didn't imagine a Fred Olsen ship would look like this. After the tour we dinned in the Ballindalloch Restaurant with a glass of wine. The food was great, I had soup for starter and beef for main. 

I had a fantastic day and would recommend this ship to any traveller who wants a friendly ship from the UK with great service and years of experience. Take a look at some of there offers at www.cruise.co.uk.

P&O Adonia Visit

Following the recent cancellation of my overnight stay on Adonia, the most recent addition to the P&O fleet. I was once again invited down to Southampton to have a look around and sample the menu with fellow agents from around the UK.

It was also very nice to meet Carol Marlow, the managing director of P&O Cruises. She was very welcoming and pleasant, it was nice to meet the lady I see everyday in the brochure!

On arrival I was amazed with the size of this tiny ship, something i'm not quite used too. As I stepped aboard it felt a little cloaustraphobic and became very evident that this ship only caters for around 700 guests, but this small ship will be great going into the ports that the bigger ones cant reach and P&O have set up some great itinaries for her to visit.

We were given a map with a route to follow and we set off to discover all she had to offer. Adonia has a traditional feel and the decor is very simular to others in the fleet, she also has all the facilities you would expect on a bigger ship but on a smaller scale.

She has one pool on deck with a running track and a sparking new gymnasium and spa. We looked at all the grade of cabins and I was surprised to find that the inside cabins were so large, I wouldnt hesitate to use one of these. At the other end of the scale the suite was amazing with its living area a bedroom with endless wardrobe space and a stunning bathroom with a whirlpool bath!

We had lunch in the main restaurant and was offered the full menu which was very nice and included a blue cheese mouse for starter, Goose for main and cheesecake for dessert followed by a coffee to finish of! The meal was cooked to a fantastic standard and I left feeling very full for the long journey home!

No More Kids!

The summer is coming and were all trying to plan the perfect family holiday, If you're anything like me I forget about the school holidays and at the last minute I'm rushing around trying to find the perfect trip!

The only problem with doing that is that you don't always get what you want. I'm currently having this issue as some of my customers want to go away in the school holidays on a fantastic cruise with the Grand Princess from Southampton.

Although the Grand Princess has cabins available they are currently not taking any more children on board and claim;             "NO INVENTORY AVAILABLE FOR THIS AGE GROUP".

Cruising from Southampton is becoming increasingly more popular and so to get your perfect cruise it pays to book early. It's not only Princess that offer this service, P&O, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Fred Olsen are just some of the operators that also sail from the south!

I have access to all of the cruise companies that leave the UK, and will be happy to look at something for you. Give me a call on 0800 408 6164.

Rafting on the River

Another bank holiday over with and I certainly made the most of it!

We went to the  National Watersports Centre which cater for all types of activities on the water.

With the weather as bad as it was here in the Midlands on Monday, a group of us decided to go white water rafting on the River Trent in Nottingham. The rain lashed down and the wind made it colder out of the river than in so we took advantage of that and spent most of the day swimming!

Its a great experience on this man made course with qualified instructors and excellent equipment to hire. Prices are really competitive and if you can get a group together of 6-8 you can have your very own raft which heightens the experience.

It's been a couple of years since I've done anything like this, I used to go every year to the River Tryweryn white water rafting centre in Wales which is longer and wilder.

 I am also a keen sailor, canoeist and diver, basically if it involves water I'm there!

Ding Dong!

It's only 17 weeks before my big day and I'm getting excited!

The long awaited time is creeping up fast, it was back in November 2009 when my princess said yes in Jamaica. We went straight into planning the big day and within a couple of months everything was sorted.

We found a beautiful venue just north of Birmingham called, Moxhull Hall. Availability was very low and so we have waited until September this year to take advantage of this fantastic venue. Our fingers are crossed to have our ceremony outside in the stunning grounds and then celebrate the day in the marquee with a band and a hog roast!

We then fly out the next day to Mexico to be pampered and spoilt for two weeks, it truly is going to be a fantastic memorable day!

As for the stag do which I posted about earlier in the year. I'm going out for a nice meal with family and friends and maybe a cheeky drink!!

No Sparks for Italian Thoroughbreds!

I Drive an Alfa Romeo and over the last six months it has spent more time in the garage than on the road. It is currently with an auto electrician as I have lost vital electric systems to keep the car working!

Alfa Romeo has a reputation of unreliability, which I can only agree with as I have experienced every possible problem. I write this with the news of an Italian Cruise liner hitting the head  lines as it too has lost vital systems due to an electric fault.

The MSC Operahas been crippled in the Baltic Sea and Tugs have been sent to tow the stricken vessel to a port in Sweden. The Opera has no power and cannot offer it's usual high standards. This a very unfortunate incident and one that very raley happens within the cruising industry. MSC will ensure that all passengers will be taken care off and uphold there strong position within the cruise market.

Every time my car lets me down, I look forward to getting it back as I wouldnt drive anything else. MSC will correct the problems and soon be back on the waters.

It wouldn't be Italian if it didn't break occasionally!

Adonia, Small Ship Charm

 



Not long now before the launch of P&O's latest addition, The Adonia.

Adonia will be the fourth name to be carried by the ship.  She was originally built as the eighth and last of Renaissance Cruises, it then became Minerva II, sailing under the Swan Hellenic flag until that company was sold off.

The ship then joined the Princess fleet, where she was re-named Royal Princess.

Adonia is an exciting introduction to the P&O fleet and one that enables P&O to diversify the range of cruise destinations that they offer.

I have been invited to the Launch on the 20th May with my colleagues. We will have a sneak preview of this newly refurbished ship sampling the food and service, look out for the photos when I get back.

Adonia's cruise calender starts on the 22nd May 2011 with some fantastic intineries. P&O customers have been asking for a smaller ship that is adults only and here it comes.

What are your thoughts about this new ship? Would you like to try it?

This Time Last Year

It was one year ago when disaster struck the travel industry as the volcano in Iceland erupted halting flights all over the world!

I was in Lanzarote at the time and my week long holiday lasted almost 3! It had a big impact on everyone as flights were canceled around the world. Those people not being able to join there cruises were covered but it the economy took a big hit.

I have recently returned from Lanzarote again, my family and I wanted to go back to rest and enjoy it as last year the circumstances led to stress and worry.

We had a fanatastic holiday even with the rain and clouds, it would appear that England was having superb weather whilst we ate tapas and sipped cocktails!

With the worry of flights and strikes hanging over our heads at the moment, cruising out of the UK is becoming very popular and the industry has grown since this time last year.

With companies such as P&O, Fred Olsen, MSC, Princess and Royal Caribbean all offering sailings from various points across the UK. The choice has been broadened and the operators will start offering more sailings to cater for the customer.