Janice's Cruising World

Solo Crusier.. How about The Epic

2010-06-08T14:59:00.002+01:00

Only nine day's untill the launch of NCL's brand new Epic!
Opposite is the Ice Bar and the only true Ice Bar sailing the sea's, it will be intersting to find out how long is comfortable to spend time in there? Well later this month I will!!!

Cabins feature modern styling that are sure to impress. There are three “private-access” stateroom complexes. You will find 128 Studios which feature a window onto the corridor where you can out but passers by can't see in. are specifically designed and priced for the solo traveler and transform standard staterooms into cool, urban spaces with exclusive access to The Studio Lounge – a shared private lounge. The Spa Suites and Spa Balconies offer a complete spa vacation at sea. The Villas, are not only luxurious, but also part of the largest suite complex at sea with private restaurants, private bars, private pool, etc. And every oceanview stateroom is a balcony stateroom.

I can't begin to explain this fantastic ship, have a look for yourselves online or if you need a brochure just call me on 0800 408 6102 you will be amazed!

River Cruising

2010-06-01T09:21:00.002+01:00

I hear the same thing over and over from my clients, 'I have done that iterary' for those of you who have exhausted the ports of call, which in all honesty seem to be the same year after year, unless you can afford the likes of a luxury Cruise that can offer far flung destinations, then why not consider the River Cruise option?

It's spend, spend, spend in the world of river cruising at the moment. Avalon, Uniworld and AMAWATERWAYS are all busy building and launching new ships this year and now, Viking has joined the fray with the announcement of a massive $250 million new-build and upgrade programme.

Eight new ships will be launched over the next three years, bringing the total of Viking's fleet to 26, reinforcing its position as the world's largest river cruise line.

The first to launch will be Viking Prestige, on the Danube in 2011, while at the same time, Viking Emerald will debut in China to replace Viking Century Sun on the Yangtze. More European ships will be rolled out in 2012 and 2013.

Viking's last big splash was the 189-passenger Viking Legend in 2009 and Viking Prestige will be a sister ship to this. So what can we expect that's new? Viking sells itself on its environmental credentials and Prestige will offer the same hybrid propulsion as Legend, which means a smoother, quieter, more fuel-efficient ride.

We're also promised French balconies on the top two decks and the largest suites on the Danube. Interiors on the new ship will be by Norwegian maritime architects Yran & Storbraaten, who have also worked on Holland America's Eurodam, Silversea's Silver Whisper and Seabourn Odyssey, so expect understated luxury.

On the Yangtze, where ship designers have more space to play with (there are no low bridges and ships can be built with more decks), we will see some changes. The 264-passenger Viking Emerald will have 840-square-foot presidential suites with separate sitting and sleeping areas, two flat-screen televisions, panoramic windows and a private wrap-around balcony, while staterooms will be 269 square feet, with private balconies. (As a comparison in square footage, a deluxe verandah cabin on Celebrity's Solstice-class ships is 194 square feet, so we're talking big here.)

Two ships in the fleet are also due for a complete refurbishment: Viking Pakhomov, which sails in Russia, and Viking Schumann, which was purpose built for the Elbe. All the public areas on both will be refurbished and Viking Schumann's cabins will be fitted with proper beds, rather than the current Pullman-and-sofabed arrangement.

Not that this rather primitive cabin layout seems to bother Viking fans as it stands; the Elbe is virtually sold out for 2010 and the company's Rhine programme is filling up fast. River cruising, without question, is on a roll.

Under age and would like a drink onboard?

2010-05-25T12:37:00.002+01:00

I think we all know that the age limit for drinking alcohol in the United States is twenty one...and the same goes for cruising on an American Ship but there are exceptions.
As most of us who are parents we have all probably let our older teenage children have a little glass at Christmas and other special occassions and as Mothers and Fathers we know our responsibilities so it's good to hear that cruiselines like Royal Caribbean and celebrity will allow teenagers over the age of eighteen a drink under these circumstances... Must be with a Parent and the parent has to sign a consent form, the ship must be in european waters, however if the 'eighteen'year old has a friend travelling with him/her and their parents are at home then sadly he/she cannot drink even with the say so of the travelling Parents.

I'm told by Celebrity today that the consent form has to filled in onboard at Guest Relations and cannont be done before hand.

All that said they might sneek a sip anyway!

Formal nights on Ships

2010-05-24T15:13:00.002+01:00

I'm hearing more and more from some of my clients can escape the formal nights onboard...they avoid it by eating in other area's of the Ship other than the main dining room.

For many cruise passengers, the formal night of their voyage is one of elegance and beauty as well as rich gourmet dining and multiple photographs. Knowing how to enjoy a cruise formal night guarantees that passengers look their best for the evening's festivities and will have stunning photographs to capture the memories of this part of their cruise holiday.

Ask when the formal night of the voyage is when you first make your cruise reservations. On most mainstream cruise lines, formal night is the second night of the cruise, but longer voyages may have more than one formal night.

Leave your cruise ship cabin early on formal night to take advantage of the different photo stations set up in public areas of the ship. Most ships will offer at least four or five different photo backgrounds and settings, including black-and-white photos or sepia-toned images, and some ships may offer up to a dozen options. Photos will be available both before and after dinner.

Return to your cabin to change into more comfortable, resort casual clothes before seeing the evening lounge show if desired, or continue wearing formal clothes throughout the evening.

And let's not forget the kids, get them dressed up too, although they might not look dressed up by the time they have eaten and most of their dinner down their fronts, so get a nice family snapshot before they get mucky!

www.cruise.co.uk''s Quiz night!

2010-05-18T14:08:00.002+01:00

Tonight after work, most of the staff will be heading off to a local Pub, well actually a function room adjacent to it because we would be spilling out of the doors otherwise!

All in casual and not our usual office wear, we don't look as proffesional as we normally do but if you call you will receive the usual high standard of service so no worries .

So tonight is quiz night, with an Independant Quiz Master...so no cheating or bribing then...tut tut.

Although, all done in good spirit's (yes there will be a few of those too) I suspect there will be certain member's who will be very competitive, I would love to name a few name's, won't put in print....but I could whisper to you if you call up :)

I will update as to how the evening went and who was on the winning team but don't let this influence who you book with in the future....in case it's not me!

Free parking or not Free parking...that is the question?

2010-05-13T10:57:00.001+01:00

Have you ever been offered free parking? Have you Cruised many times and not had the free parking offer?

Even as a Cruise consultant I find this on/off offer confusing!

Would'nt it be easier if the offer was available on certain Cruises, whether booked from the minute the Cruise went on sale to a last minute booking?

The confusion is because this isn't the case!

I have clients, who quite rightly, query this even month's after booking the Cruise, they may have browsed the web to see the same Ship and date (regardless of a price difference) now offereing free parking, they call up to see why they have not got this, did I miss it off? usually no, however in case I did, I look back...no easy task as if it was there, it wont necessarily show.

Given that if we book a land resort holiday and book a flight, packaged of not, we know that we have to book our own parking, at least we know and there is no confusion!

Another point when it is offered...' I don't need free parking, I live near the port' Hmmm sorry but you don't get a reduction off the cost.

We all know that we don't get ANYTHING for NOTHING so surely just sell the Cruise accordingly, that way it would stop all of the 'umming and arrring' and we would all know where we stand.

Please give me your thoughts...you might just blow my theory out of the water!

First time Cruisers? go on, dip your toe in the water!

2010-05-09T15:07:00.002+01:00

I recently had a conversation with two old school friends, both of them brother's one of who Cruises on a regular basis (the younger one about 42) and the other who always returns to the same Hotel in Eygpt every year, while talking to them it was obvious that the older brother would not try cruising as that was giving in to younger brother and was a little put out when I also pointed out the benifit's... I had betrayed him and we are the same age!
Mostly it was lack of knowedge too that had deterred him....so this is what I said to him.

Hitting the open water is an experience in itself. The big—er, enormous—Ships, the 360 degree horizons, the different ports of call. Of course, there's also plenty to do on board. You can choose from fitness (golf, rock climbing, snorkeling), poolside spa treatments or a few classes in cooking or wine tasting. Pick a cruise for kids, for food, for nature-seeking—whatever. Then dream up your destination: Alaska? The Caribbean? Mexico? Jamaica? After that, pack your bags and there's very little else you have to do. Let the crew members take care of you while you're on board. Your biggest decision may be what to do when you disembark for a day—but then again, many cruise ships also offer on-land tours. So, leave the backpack and maps at home, work up your appetite for the culinary delights on board and get in on the experience at sea...

The perfect setting

2010-04-30T12:33:00.001+01:00

Well, what a week it's been at http://www.cruise.co.uk/ !

Most of the staff have been working from 7.30am to 7-8pm. The Cruise Sales, being Cunard, P&O and Princess Cruises
were spread through out the week was the reason for the input, as far as I know we all managed to secure the cabins our customers wanted, although one of my customers, who wanted to sail on the new Azura, had a shock when P&O had decided to remove the 'early booking offer' of £530.00 per person Which I had already quoted prior to the day of the sale! their reason was because the Ship would sell so well the 'early booking offer' wasn't needed.

It was all sorted, when I saw that a good position balcony cabin was available so they booked that and were happy with the price.

I'm now on a day off....the reason for the photo is? thats where I feel like I am after such a busy week!

Book your 2011 Princess and Cunard cruise today!

2010-04-26T07:44:00.002+01:00

What a crazy time of the year for all Cruise agents, with so many people on the pre reg list so they can be the first to book and secure the cabin of their choice.

At 8am this morning Princess cruises Europe will be on sale at 8am (in about 20 mins) the office, at the moment quiet, will turn into a chaotic place to be, I'm in early but don't have one to book! should have checked properly but as the saying goes...better safe than sorry.

At 1pm Cunard club members can book (thats who I came in early for) it will interesting to see how much of these ships book up on sale day.

So if you are up and about and reading this, then hurry book because you might miss the boat!

Call me on 0800 4086102.

The Celebrity Eclipse picks up stranded passengers

2010-04-20T08:51:00.003+01:00

tcInaugural celebrations on a brand new £500-million Southampton cruise ship have been put on hold so she could head to Spain to pick up British tourists stranded by air delays caused by volcanic ash.

The 122,000-tonne Celebrity Eclipse is due to leave the city tonight en route to Bilbao.
The luxury vessel was to be in port before a two-day launch cruise starting on Thursday but the crisis caused by the Iceland volcanic eruption changed plans.

It is thought that tour operators requested the voyage to pick up around 2,000 stranded Britons desperate to get home.
Even though British airspace is likely to open, the backlog will take days to get through.
Eclipse, which can carry 2,850 passengers, will make the journey and get back to Southampton late on Friday.

The ship will arrive in Southampton as scheduled at 9am today and will depart in the evening. She is scheduled to arrive in Bilbao in the early hours of April 22.
Stranded holidaymakers will embark throughout the morning and Eclipse will return to Southampton, arriving late on Friday evening.

A spokeswoman said the sailing would replace the activities planned during the two-night, round-trip launch celebration cruise from Southampton. My colleagues at cruise.co.uk were supposed to be joining the Ship but now it is going to be re scheduled.

Some of the delayed holidaymakers have been stranded for up to seven days and many were on package holidays with major UK tour operators.
.
The naming celebrations for the ship are planned to go ahead unchanged, and Celebrity Eclipse will be named by Hampshire yachtswoman and breast cancer survivor Emma Pontin on April 24.

Celebrity Cruises said it was working to accommodate guests who were scheduled to join a two-night launch celebration sailing and it would contact all affected guests directly.

Those travelling back will do so in luxury.

Apart from a real lawn measuring nearly half an acre, the ship has the usual facilities including bars, 10 restaurants, a casino, a theatre and swimming and spa pools.
Prices for a 14-night Spanish Mediterranean cruise onboard the new Celebrity Eclipse start from £1,479 per person based on a July 24 2010 departure.

The New Azura from P&O

2010-04-13T13:49:00.002+01:00

On Friday 9th April a group of us from cruise.co.uk boarded a coach to take us from Redditch (our office base) down to Southampton to join the new Azura and what a lovely site she was with the sun beaming down on her

The day was fabulous although it started with long que's waiting to board.

Once onboard and making our way to our cabin, there was time to take in the lovely atrium. The cabins are all to a great standard with loads of space for clothes, shoes and luggage and with wide full length mirrors for when you need to check that evening gown fits as it should! On that note...food? W headed to the buffet and as usual filled our plates with a weird and wonderful combination of which you would never do at home but with all that choice, it just has to be done!

I was amazed at the 'Retreat' area, where you can relax away from the crowd and sunbathe or get yourself a massage in private but outdoors in one of the cabana's, it all looks very exotic with a very warm pool to relax in, all this while you can tuck the children away in one of the children's clubs appropriate for their age, whether they are toddlers in the soft play and ball parks to teenagers in the hi tech computor rooms.

I feel this Ship has something special for family's especially and also feels very sophisticated.

Why not have a serious look at taking your next cruise on her...recommended by yours truly!!

Where do the old Ship's go when they have had their day?

2010-04-03T15:50:00.002+01:00

Have you ever wondered how long a Ship's life is? well in general a long time, much longer than any of us keep a car, unless it's a classic that is

For example, durind the QE2'sservice for Cunard Line the ship sailed more than 5 million nautical miles, carried 2.1/2 million passenger and completed 25 full world cruises and crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times.
Now the QE2 was build with a very thick hull, whereas today's thin hulled ship's probably wont last as long, saying that the average life expectancy is still a healthy 30 years!

So where do they go....to the beach but not very nice ones! Alang in India, Chittagong in Bangladesh or to Pan Yo in China, these are the main ship breaking place's.

Greenpeace has claimed that workers (including children) work under primitive conditions without adequate protective equipment (so nothing much changes in that part of the world then!)

In 2009 The International Convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ship's was adopted....Hmmm

Hey Mr. Postman....where are my Cruise tickets????

2010-03-24T13:01:00.002Z

Almost gone are the days when we booked our cruise, received our confirmation of deposit , ship, sale date and itnerary, in the meantime we could sit back and wait for our friendly Postman to deliver our 'tangible' cruise ticket

More and more change? YES! Have you been contacted yet for a cruise booked or were you by the Cruise Line to complete 'Your Cruise Personaliser'?

My thinking on this as a Cruise Consultant is it's messy for me and confusing for some of my clients, not all of us have instant access to a computor and so many times when this first came into play and I would ask the cruise lines...what can we do, my client doesn't have a computor? the answer....'they can go to a local Library or Internet Cafe' all well and good if you know how to work one and I understand my clients are reluctant to spend their valuable time...even if they know how, booking a lovely cruise should not have to have become a chore? What do think?

Cruise.co.uk have added access from our website http://www.cruise.co.uk/ so you can go straight to the Cruise Line you are cruising with and complete your 'Cruise Personaliser' this will hopefully save you time looking for the official site, after clicking on the link above, click on 'Payments and Check in'

I have offered to complete the 'Cruise Personaliser' for a few of my clients and this is being honest a chore for me too, usually having to get hold of my client time after time to get either a password to access the information needed or to get other details not normally required but as you have been good enough to book with me, then it's become another aspect of my job, please be clear that I'm not complaining but isn't this new system supposed to benefit? or just benefit the cruise line, after all no more wallets containing tickets and labels to tell us it's Bon Voyage!

And there is still room for passengers!

2010-03-23T15:32:00.003Z

Well we really don't put much thought into just how much food has to be loaded on to a Ship for our consumption, read on to get an idea and this is not all of it
What does it take to stock the world's largest cruise ship? From place settings in the restaurants to supplies in the staterooms to provisions in the kitchen and if this seems amazing, what about the bar's..spirits, beer beverages , stirrers, cocktail umberella's and how many ice cubes can a cruise ship carry?

96,396 pieces of glassware
51,612 pieces of silver-plated flatware
13,200 bath towels
8,640 boxes of facial tissue
23,000 bed sheets
59,300 wooden coat hangers
18,000 rolls of toilet paper

200 pounds of salt
960 pounds of bananas
322 pounds of carrots
852 pounds of shellfish
1,431 pounds of game/poultry
104 pounds of smoked salmon
1,170 pounds of potatoes
910 pounds of ice cream
3,900 muffins
390 pounds of bacon
1,600 pounds of beef
306 pounds of veal
551 pounds of butter and margarine
(salted and unsalted)

the list is endless.........zzzzzzz

A week of storms!

2010-03-16T15:00:00.002Z

Just as thought I knew all the benefits of cruising I found yet another......

I have just returned from a holiday in Tunisia, on arrival there were thunder storms, these were comming and going all week, even though I had been checking the weather forcast before we left, which did say storms, I found I was still the optimist and hoped the weather would turn for the better!

Now had we taken a cruise we would have had a very good chance of sailing into some better weather, so in future I will always take this into account, once on a land holiday, if the weather decides to stay put, then you stay with it!!! Cruise the next time I think.....

A card from my client

2010-03-06T16:26:00.000Z

e card
I had a lovely card from one of my clients, you can have a look by clicking on the link above.

It really was a suprise and nice that my client thought to send it to me so thought I would share it with you.
I used to think perhaps they were pointless untill I received this, it made my day!

Ports of Call

2010-03-02T16:25:00.003Z

Did you know or have you seen the 'Ports of call' section on our main web page.

On here you can look at all ports of call and get information and also see a map of the area.
Please let me know if there is a port you have visited thats not showing and we can add it.
I have spoken to many of my clients who think its great and that have actually seen some of the amazing ports and surrounding area's then went on to look for a cruise that included these destinations.

Do have a look it's very informative, I do when i get a minute...a bit like flicking through a dictionary!

The Fabulous Magnifica!!

2010-03-01T17:20:00.002Z

On Saturday 27th February, we at cruise.co.uk went to visit MSC's newest Ship The Magnifica and I think this is a ship with a WOW factor on the inside but i do find that Ships in general don't look that very different from the outside, well the newer ones anyway!

And what a lovely ship she is, bold but not brash colours that are very well balanced, MSC seem to be a little more daring with their decore wheras the majority tend to be a little more conservative, i suppose to please the masses, a bit like painting your house in neutral colours when looking to sell!

A group of us and a handful of guests had a talk with the Peter Pate, Chairman of MSC UK and N.Ireland, very honest and open from all parties, Mr. Pate wanting to know everyones opinions and views, surpisingly he did say that MSC are taking steps to appeal more to the UK market, I like the fact that we have a choice, I don't want all cruise lines to blend into one, they are a cruise line that offer an alternative and I hope they stay that way, I would welcome your views especially if you disagree with mine, Cia!

Fancy a dip???

2010-02-23T15:22:00.009Z

Well if you have ever wondered what the pool area's look like when the ship is sailing on undulating waters, then just have a look at the video, this may even be tame? as I'm sure some of you regular cruiser's could tell me, if you have a tale...please share it with me.

Did you know that most Cruise lines fill their pool's with salt water, which now I've said it, it sounds so obvious! The pool is emptied out at night and a fresh batch (fish not included) is pumped back into the pool while everyone is still sleeping, now how do the not catch one fish, it's filtered!

There are exceptions like Princess Cruise's they like to use fresh water unless you consider distilled sea water not to be fresh. Many ships use this process rather than the filtration process to which you refer. It's about as pure as fresh water can possibly be.

Shops at Sea

2010-02-09T12:51:00.003Z

What do we buy from the shops onboard? Is what we see what we want? From what I have seen the majority is usually ship logo related or over priced goods that you would never dream of buying on dry land!!!

On a long cruise with lots of sea days, we've had breakfast perhaps an hour in the gym (or not) sat on deck chatting to friends old and new, mabey had a bash at a line dance or an hour reading in the library.

During the course of the day it must cross your mind about the comming evening, which bar, what to wear?.....stroll to the Mall just in case there might be a dazzling new outfit for the evening.

I would be very interested in your views and will make a point of asking all of you when we speak on phone, your thoughts and what if any you have bought and whether it was good value and was it exclusive, which probably would appeal to shoppers......just like the Art on show, mind you that's out of my price range!

Romance at Sea

2010-02-02T16:04:00.004Z

I had a call from a client who wanted to book her Wedding onboard Celebrity Eclipse, I had never booked a Wedding before only Honeymoons.

As it turned out the only involvement I had was to book two Sunset balcony suites as I would on an every day basis.
The client had to email a special Wedding department, who then sent her the different 'packages' ranging from basic to the more elaborate, my client not wanting too much fuss and for a small party of guests opted for the basic, she has kindly at my request kept me in the loop and sent me all emails to and from the Wwedding department, would you believe the cost (on top of the Cruise) is a cost of $3,000.00 (less than £2,000.00) to include a cake, champagne, a framed photo, bouquet, live music and of course the Nautical Nuptials. How reasonable!!!!
My clients have had to get a legal document signed by a Solicitor, find her dress....probably the most difficult part and then wait for the day.

My best wishes for your Wedding Day on the 28th May 2010 Miz and Steven!!!!!

2010-01-26T18:16:00.003Z

Facilities onboard Cruise ships for wheelchair passengers is as we know very user friendly but what happens when i comes to tenders? having done alot of reading to figure this out, this is what i found.................

Holland America have come up trumps were wheelchairs and tenders come hand in hand.
There is a ramp on the rear of the tender which goes down to the lower level. The exit of the tender is located on the lower level at the front of the boat. At the bow, a ramp folds open, allowing wheelchairs and scooters to disembark the tender with ease, without assistance.

Now this is not the case for all Cruiselines and so this should be a serious consideration.
I have recently hade to look at nine different for a lovely family of four, one of the family is wheelchair dependent, for starter's, availability for an adapted for four (balcony) is not easy to come by, then add an itinerary that requires no tenders! I found a lovely P&O in the end but if Cruiselines are offering a fabulous itinerary then why should wheelchair users have to stay onboard and be penalised is dispicable!

Saying that if anyone wants to share their experiences, I would love to hear from you.

January Blues????

2010-01-24T15:10:00.000Z

Winter doesn't have to mean dark days and long nights if you get away to winter sun ,cold weather, dark, short days, credit card bills, fading Christmas memories and failed New Year's resolutions can all get us down.

When we should be feeling excited at the prospect of the year ahead, many of us are finding January a struggle. But whether you're suffering from SAD or just fed up now that Christmas is over, we're here to help banish those New Year blues.

If you've got annual leave left over from last year, book it during January to take advantage of last-minute deals.

Here are some idea's if you are unable to sail in the sun!

Get some exercise

It's probably the last thing you feel like doing in January, but as far as beating the blues goes, it's one of the best. So the fitter you get, the happier you'll feel.

And if you can't stand the cold, get down to your local gym to take advantage of their New Year special offers.

Once Christmas and New Year parties are over, many of us feel like we've nothing to look forward to.

Take advantage of it being dark and cold outside, and stay in bed! Turn up the heat on your love life by turning your bedroom into a boudoir.

Eat the right food
What you eat can have a profound effect on how you feel. Tempting though they are, don't reach for traditional comfort foods such as sweets and crisps, as they'll leave you feeling worse. You need food that's rich in amino acids - which trigger serotonin production, which in turn makes you feel happier. Good choices are bananas, chicken, nuts, avocados, seeds and pulses.
Eat little and often: this keeps your blood sugar levels stable, which should mean that your mood doesn't go through peaks and troughs.

Will you swim to your ship????

2010-01-19T19:36:00.004Z

The one frustrating thing I find at work is when there is no flight availability! Surely there are plenty of aircrafts out there?

I find the Cruiselines are not booking enough seats for the amount of people who want to take advantage of the assurance of having booked a package so they get their transfers from airport/ship and also if the flights to ship are delayed, it is the responsibiliy of the cruiseline to get the clients to the ship if not the next port of call, booked independently and all this is lost.
So all in all we have the demand so give us the supply I say!!!

Cunard teams up with The Julliard School

2010-01-17T16:47:00.002Z

I found this rather interesting piece and so thought I would share with you all, well for those of you who didn't know.

Cunard Line, operator of the most famous ocean liners in the world, is pleased to announce a partnership with The Juilliard School that will present stellar jazz performances on select 2010 eastbound Transatlantic Crossings aboard Queen Mary 2. Students and faculty from Juilliard, which has set America’s standard for education in the performing arts, will perform programmes in the ship's Royal Court Theatre, treating guests to the best in classic and contemporary jazz
These presentations are part of Cunard’s entertainment and award-winning enrichment programme, which showcases a variety of compelling entertainers – from new and emerging world-class talent to today's most enduring and iconic artists. Last August, Juilliard Jazz scholar Jumaane Smith became the first student from the school to take the stage onboard Queen Mary 2, presenting a trumpet recital that proved to be very popular with the voyage’s guests. The partnership with Juilliard will provide our guests access to outstanding, world class performances, reflecting both the rich history and lineage of Juilliard, as well as Cunard’s ongoing commitment to supporting the arts and to offering our guests exclusive onboard experiences.

Royal Caribbean on the big screen

2010-01-07T19:32:00.002Z

Millions of families visit the cinema on a weekly basis and now Royal Caribbean are planning to advertise during January and March, this being the peak time for cruise bookings.

With the extra interest to a new breed, I suggest you all have to consider the consequences and perhaps plan you cruise's even further ahead.
The 3D adverts will be shown in Pearl and Dean Cinemas nationwide at screenings of James Cameron’s new blockbuster, Avatar, during the peak cruise sales period from 8 January until 31 March.
They will be combined with additional consumer experiences such as interactive flooring messages and HD television screens.
The cinema campaign, Royal Caribbean International’s first, will be supported by TV, national newspaper print, direct mail and online advertising.
Royal Caribbean International head of marketing, Jo Briody, said: ‘New releases such as Avatar are changing the way people consume film, and innovation-led brands need to be on top of this trend.
‘Royal Caribbean International has a tradition of doing things differently and being first, from the first open air parks and ice rinks on cruise ships to now the first 3D advertising campaign from a travel brand in the UK.
‘Royal Caribbean International is excited to be leading the way in 3D advertising and are confident that this new channel will be equally effective for our brand’s awareness in the future.’

New Years Resolutions????

2010-01-04T12:09:00.007Z

Have you made yet another New Years Resolution? I have, mine is to stop being lazy and wasting money on shop bought sandwiches, so here we are, day one, back to work since the New Year and I have made some, will it last YES! do you believe that?What are yours? Let me know via this my blog and lets get a list together of the funniest!!!

Day 1. Bacon tomato and mayo (made by me)
Day 2. Tuna cucumber and mayo (made by me)
Day 3. Bacon tomato and mayo (made by me)
Day 4. Tuna cucumber and mayo (made by me)
Day 5. Chicken and stuffing (Sainsbury but it is Sunday!)
Day 6. Chicken salad (sainsbury again )
Day 7. Pasta ready meal (I blame the weather!!!)
Day 8. It would be foolish in this weather to get salad things from supermarket, will use what's in the freezer.
Day 9. Will start again next year!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!

2009-12-28T12:19:00.002Z

Greetings to all my past, potential and future clients.
Here we go 2010 We all hope that a new year will be better that the last but think of lovely times we had with people we love that are no longer with us we should at times look back and celebrate the past good times, family births, weddings, achievements and of course fantastic memories, most of which we would never change.

I will be raising a glass to memories of the past, present and the future...CHEERS!

Works Christmas Party Cruise comming up...YIPPEE!! and We are back

2009-12-18T11:58:00.005Z

Tomorrow morning (19 December 2009) almost all of the staff of cruise.co.uk will board the coach at 8.30am to Dover where we will board Fred Olsen's Balmoral. Whilst we will have an informal afternoon and evening, She will take us to Amsterdam, here we will see the sights for the day, on the same evening we have the formal night and arrive back in Dover Monday 21st December.
I will update you next week as to how things went.......Now updated.

You may have seen on the news about the conditions at the channel Tunel and dover port, well all was well and we were on schedule when we left the office to board the coach to transport us to Dover, when we were roughly sixish miles away the traffic came to a stand still and the clock was now ticking, would it clear in time to get to the Balmoral? shall we walk? can we walk??? well we DID dragging cases, carrying holdalls in the snow along the main roads and carriages where lorries were parked up and engines off.

We all made it comming in two by to like a very slow marathon but having no medal to show for it, saying that, i think the large well earned glass of wine was preferable to any medal!!

We sailed to Amsterdam, the city looked like a christmas card scene all covered in snow, we had fabulous food and wine, great entertainment and the company of my collegues who also made the weekend memorable.

If you have any questions about the Balmoral, then email or call me and i should be able to answer.

My Previous Career

2009-12-14T16:23:00.006Z

Before joining the company I worked as Cabin Crew for Monarch Airlines, this was a lovely job even though it meant getting up at all hours of the night!

I have been lucking meeting people from all walks of life, gender and nationality.

In my opinion the people you meet in life are a great inspiration and if not then thats also a plus as you learn of what not to aspire to...haha

When the time came for me to be 'grounded' the only thing i did know for sure was that travel is the only career that gives me the job satisfaction that i need to be able to give it my all.

I have learned that even though the majority of us more than enjoy travel, it can be stressfull putting the plan into action and that for the most we don't start to relax until those cases are unpacked, so have a lot of understanding with my clients and want everything to be perfect for them.

So many of my clients choose cruise only to avoid the confusion, hussle and bustle that airports have
mastered to a fine art!
It's usual for a nervous passenger to make a fuss about the most trivial thing, rather than to admit (even to themselves) they are afraid...if you are reading this and it hits a nerve, then next time you fly, tell the crew how you feel, right away you won't feel so alone, it's very common and no one thinks it's funny.

Tips from me...

2009-12-14T11:56:00.001Z

Some of the following tips are from me but I have to admit that I pinched a few as well.

1. Make copies of all the important travel documents that you take (driver’s license, passport, credit card, etc.) and keep them in a safe place on your person while you are traveling and in your cabin once you get on board. If anything happens, you will have all information you need.

While you’re at it, print out the cruise info you expect to use the most (such as directions, phone numbers, etc), on a coloured piece of paper. That way it stands out from the various other pieces of paper you’ll have in your cruise documents.
                                                       2.If your travel time to the ship is more than 24 hours, put fabric softener sheets between your garments to keep everything in your suite case smelling fresh. This is particularly nice with garments or accessories that are not regularly laundered, such as sweaters or jackets. You may want to cut one in half and place each half in your shoes. You’ll be even more appreciative on your return home, since your luggage will be packed with soiled clothes, some of which may even be damp.

                                                       3. Watch this space for more and let me in on your tips when cruising and I might add to my list.

A day in the life of a Cruise Consultant....

2009-12-13T13:34:00.005Z

How lucky are we! our daily working enviroment is modern clean and comfortable, the mood is usually very busy with telephones constantly ringing, with all the different voice tones mixed in, it all rolls into it's own unique up beat sound.

There are usually staff walked to and from each others desks helping eachother out with bookings, a few people in the staff kitchen comparing notes on how the day is going over lunch or making a coffee.

The day at 'cruise' passes so quick and never a day goes by when there is something new to learn, Its great talking to those of who who have lots of cruise's under your belt...I listen to you and learn and yet when talking to a client who has never cruised before, I am happy that i have the experienec to guide them and help them choose the Ship that will give them the best time ever.

Now as for the biggest perks....cruise and ship visits, usually every few weeks in groups off we go to wine a dine on some of the magnificent ships when they come into port and occassionally get a full cruise, courtesy of the company..... The photo is me at the pre lauch of Celebrity's Equinox in my glad rags.

Thank You cruise.co.uk!!!!!

THE GLOVES ARE OFF!

2009-12-08T17:23:00.001Z

If you are having a day when nothing happens to put a smile on your face, here's what to do......

Go to http://www.cruise.co.uk/ main page, click on 'cruise answers'

On here i have come across the contributors forming quite angry interactive dialogue just from a simple question posted like 'is it worth taking my mobile phone' but this isn't just a spat between two people you will find several join in.

Please take a look, you just can't resist a smile :)

Artemis Farewell

2009-12-08T13:33:00.002Z

WOW!!!

SOLD OUT IN 17 MINUTES!

It was the first time I had a booking for a farewell cruise and although I had been briefed, I still was not prepared for the mayhem, I had my client on my phone at 9.55am, she went on sail at 10am. My client advised three cabin numbers which I thought would be plenty but oh no, the cabins were disappearing before my eyes, I told my client who asked me what cabin numbers were left but as soon a I read out a number, gone again! we agreed to secure any outside cabin, just as my heart steadied down to recognisable beat i saw the price had leaped, my client agreed new price but this went up again before the end of the transaction, which was only a few minutes! The whole office was buzzing, what a day to remember.

I say Bon Voyage to all who sail!!!

Strictly Ballroom - Male Dance Host's

2009-12-07T15:05:00.003Z

Many cruise lines allocate cabins for dance hosts. Dance hosts are expected to socialise with passengers and dance with the female passengers, who happen to greatly out number male passengers on most cruises.
Dance hosts must be present nightly at dance floor locations and "work the room", offering a dance to each unescorted female passenger, while being careful to not to show favoritism. They are also responsible for attending all ship-sponsored parties and are often asked to host tables at dinner time. They serve as general companions, making conversation and joining in for shipboard activities and games. All the while, romance is not involved, so these gentlemen must have their wits and tact about them. Crossing another passenger's cabin threshold can result in disembarkation.
Ideal hosts come from well travelled and well educated backgrounds who find it easy to converse on a variety of subjects. It is important that hosts have polished appearances and refined, approachable manners. They must also be in good shape, as dancing, most nights, lasts for hours.

My personal opinion is that its acceptable and is a fabulous way for those sailing solo to enjoy the whole experiance of their cruise.

I just have one pause for thought, what about the male solo cruiser's do they have to rely on and hope there may be some single lady to dance with?

Travel Insurance is it all down hill when we need it?

2009-12-04T16:42:00.001Z

With thousands of Travel Insurance companies to choose from, albeit you bank, local broker or online, do we get what we pay for?
I wonder what the cost to us as an individual is if we add all the years of paying travel insurance?
The increases in premium as we get older is excessive to say the least and yet you may have never claimed so why the increase?
Does anyone know if there is a 'no claims bonus' as is available with car insurance?

Having to pay for treatment at the time if needed is par for course but i wish the pay outs from the insurance companies were the same!

And there are more yet to come!

2009-12-04T15:21:00.002Z

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Magic - June, 2011

unnamed - spring, 2012

Celebrity

Celebrity Eclipse - April, 2010

unnamed - fall, 2011

unnamed - fall, 2012

Costa Cruise Line

Costa Deliziosa - January, 2010

Costa Favolosa - summer 2011

Costa Fascinosa - spring 2012

Cunard

Queen Elizabeth - October, 2010

Holland America Line

Nieuw Amsterdam - July, 2010

MSC

MSC Magnifica - March, 2010

MSC Meraviglia - February, 2011

MSC Favolosa - February, 2012

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Epic - May, 2010

P&O

Azura - April, 201

Royal Caribbean International

Oasis of the Seas - December, 2009

Allure of the Seas - December, 2010

Do you have to queue for a shuttle bus at Port?

2009-12-04T14:34:00.002Z

From what i'm hearing some cruise lines are charging more and more, with local sevices sometimes offering a free service and just expecting a tip.

Having been told that a 'courtesy bus' was available for a small fee, had me confused! How on earth can anyone know before their cruise what the real costs are going to be? it may or may not be chargeable if for instance you are a Oceans Club member, after talking to a Gold Member who told me that she was greeted with a message on her pillow with the charge of the shuttle bus to port the next day, she queried this and so did'nt pay, had she not then she would have been charged!

Some charge as little as one euro and some at eight, some free some local....
I have spent some time searching on the well know cruise lines sights..and if the information is there, then they are not shouting about it...hmmm.

Pampered Pets

2009-12-03T17:13:00.003Z

Dog and cat owners who prefer not to fly can cross the Atlantic in style with their pets in tow on Cunard's Queen Mary 2

Most passengers on board Cunard's Queen Mary 2 are unaware that on Deck 12, there's a luxury kennel with space for 12 dogs and cats.

The kennel is not used by rich passengers who can't bear to be parted from their precious pooches, but for more practical reasons, by the many passengers who are relocating, taking a long vacation or commuting between their various homes in the USA and Europe.

Animals are only permitted on the ship's scheduled transatlantic crossings, not on the regular cruises around the Mediterranean or the Caribbean. They have to have all the necessary paperwork. During the voyage, they are cared for by a member of the housekeeping staff. Of course, people want to feel they are on vacation and take the dogs to their cabins, but they are not permitted for hygiene reasons. Life on Deck 12 is nonetheless pretty good. The kennel is fully climate-controlled and a chart on the wall lists each animal's dietary preferences, while doggie lifejackets are stored in a special cupboard and the floor is scattered with chews and toys.

Get Dressed or get a Room!!

2009-11-29T16:56:00.002Z

Have you been on a cruise, or anywhere where people think it's acceptable to walk around in their complimentry bath robes?

Or are you a culprit? if so why? we go to the trouble of shopping for suitable holiday clothes but for some reason lose all sense of dignity whilst on holiday, if not inhibitions too.

There have been a few clients have had reported this to me, now from cabin to Spa ok but to extend it to the pool? surely a colourful printed light weight sarong from M&S (there is a branch in almost every corner of the World) would be more in keeping and match the bikini!
But it's getting out of hand, more and more...i have just read a review where three seperate guests wore their robes to the breakfast buffet, whats that about?
I am speechless! i saw this alot while in Eygpt but did'nt think the 'trend' would spread the world.

I would'nt even let my teenage Son lounge around like that in front of guests even in my own home.

Is it just me?????

Food Glorious Food!....or is it??

2009-11-28T11:45:00.002Z

If you are what you eat, then cruise-ship passengers must suffer from an identity crisis. On a typical day, cruise-ship passengers might nosh on escargot, artichokes, tropical fruits, French onion soup, papaya soup, tossed green salad, salmon, chicken, tenderloin of beef, rack of lamb, spinach ravioli, mushroom quesadilla, strawberry shortcake, chocolate mousse, baked Alaska and ice cream — and that's just for dinner.

Food is quite important to passengers, and usually one of the first questions we get from individuals is, 'How is the food?
The importance individual cruise lines put on their cuisine is emphasized in each company's brochure — it's quite rare to find a color brochure from any cruise line that doesn't have one to four pages of color food photos."

My own experiance has been great, even the caviar (my first taste ever) was delicious!
Having seen the photos and heard about high standards onboard where the food is concerned, have you ever been dissapointed??

Fly cruise...what are the benifits?

2009-11-24T14:32:00.002Z

Some say fly cruise cuts out the 'boring' bits, others, that it's those 'boring' bits that are the most relaxing part of their cruise.

Luggage is a major player too, with obvious restrictions when you fly to your ship but of course we don't all have the luxury of a long cruise that cuts out the sometimes long wait and the queing for the security clearance, then again its a short cut to those wonderful far flung destinations.

Allowance for luggage is being or has been reduced by most airlines making it more frustrating for cruisers wanting to carry their formal wear as well as everything else, perhaps a lighter weight case and a light weight ballgown may help to alleviate this slightly.

Alternativly, if you have an item you just have to take, then you might consider paying the excess at the airport but check out the ever changing costs per kilo and per airline.

My most suprising clients....so far

2009-11-24T13:28:00.002Z

Many years ago i worked for another company, completely unrelated to the travel industry.

I do bump into my old boss and his wife from time to time, whilst discussing holidays he groaned that they hadn't taken a holiday in years as his wife won't fly! They had never contemplated a cruise before. I have gone on to book them both on a Royal Caribbean ship, they were thrilled and now book on a regular basis, it's nice to know my old boss has 100% faith in me, Thank You both...you know who you are!

Think before you dive straight in!

2009-11-24T12:56:00.001Z

So as a first time cruiser, you must look well beyond the cost of a stateroom or cabin and do some serious research.

If you are a single a couple, group or family, straight or gay, are the majority of cruisers on this trip in your interest group? All Ships have their own personalities and styles. If your main aim is just the on board life and you could not care less about the ports of call, will you have scenery to enjoy beyond endless views of just the ocean? If this is what you want, possibly a cruise on the inside passage to Alaska would be for you? although maybe not in winter! For winter, the Panama Canal cruises offer interesting scenery, or perhaps the Caribbean if you appreciate the beauty of its beaches.

Take extra care as a first timer when booking online that you have researched the ship you are about to book, if in doubt call us with any questions, after all we WANT you to enjoy the cruise you book and with the right guidance i know you will.

Grass on cruise ships - what's next a jungle?

2009-11-23T13:09:00.002Z

I was lucky enough to stay overnight on The Equinox, where televisions own celebrity Interior Designers Colin and Justin appeared at the pre launch of Celebrity's latest Solstice class ship. The stars looking very well groomed and glamorous and sipping champagne....and now we can watch them in the jungle on ITV's 'I'm a celebrity get me out of here'

Do you think they are more at home on manicured grass or down and dirty in the jungle?