Cat's Cruise Chat

Celebrities on Celebrity

2010-04-26T11:50:00.000-07:00

I am still buzzing having returned this morning from the launch party of the Celebrity Eclipse and will be raving about the experience and the ship for a long time. Watch this space for plenty of blogs coming this way about the amazing ship.
However, the appearance of a couple of familiar faces on board got me thinking about the common mistake that many people make - that Celebrity Cruises is for celebrities.

In fact, this is far from the case - the brand name probably comes from the fact that this cruising experience makes you feel like a celebrity no matter how normal and boring you are!!!
However, it did brighten my experience to bump into 2 famous faces on board: Colin and Justin. We certainly couldn't resist a few pictures.

And something else - we never realised how uncanny the resemblance between one of our colleagues and the 'inspiring' opera singer, Paul Potts. Yes, we did have our own little mini celebrity on board

Calamity Catherine

2010-04-19T08:15:00.000-07:00

My first ever memory is having my head glued back together as a baby after cracking my head open on a table. I have had more trips to casualty than I have had hot dinners. I have ended up in A&E in Spain as I fell down the stairs in Mallorca, and went to Madrid on a school exchange in a wheel chair after a knee injury. It is fair to say I am accident prone, and whenever added with some kind of plans, I am sure to do something to make things more difficult than they need to be. So 3 days before going on the Azura launch party, I was sure to have an accident and injure myself, and that I did. It didn't come as any kind of a surprise when I dislocated my knee just days before the anticipated launch of the Azura. Whilst my colleagues have come back with their takes on food, décor and facilities, I was forced to see a different side of Azura, as ever the trooper, I was determined not miss out and spent my Azura experience on crutches.

When making a booking, the cruise line always asks about any medical requirements and wants to be aware of any mobility issues that a client may have so that they can work with them and assist them both port-side and on the ship. Disabled cabins can be booked which are bigger to allow wheelchair access and have wet rooms to accommodate wheelchairs in there too. Here is a typical example of this on the Azura

This is all well and good when medical conditions and mobility issues pre-exist but what happens when you have an accident like me just a few days before and assistance isn't pre-planned? I was pleasantly surprised at just how well those with impaired mobility are catered for.
Disabled toilets wherever general public loos are on the ship, ample lifts in a good location down the length of the ship, and even in my general deluxe balcony cabin (not a disabled adapted cabin) the sides of the bath (and shower) were low meaning I didn't struggle to get in, and hand rails around the bath and the bathroom helped greatly.

When I arrived in Southamptonm, I was in good spirits and so armed with just my crutches, I was determined to board Azura unaided. However, you soon realise just how far there is to walk in the terminal, and at disembarkation the following day after fitting in so much on the ship, I was exhausted and asked for assistance to get off the ship. At the airbridge, it took just a couple of minutes for somebody to come down from reception and call for assistance to get me off the ship. It was all very smooth, and proves that even an accident at the last minute shouldn't ruin the experience as help is there.
I was pushed off the ship in a wheelchair, right through the terminal to our coach pick-up point outside (much to the amusement and delight of all of my colleagues).

The only down side - Azura is such a fantastic ship, with so much to do and see, getting around and doing everything was exhausting as she really is huge. Believe me, you notice this on crutches!

And on a final note, with my place confirmed on the Eclipse launch this weekend, keep your fingers crossed that I don't do anything to injure myself over the next few days!!!

Lowering the tone?

2010-03-23T05:15:00.000-07:00

Cruising has previously been associated with some level of prestige, and keen cruisers are proud to belong to this elite. Of course the cruise industry is changing and is catering more and more for a wider market with the presence of informal cruising as well as cruise lines such as Island who cater for the lower budgets.

Experienced cruisers now boycott certain ships at certain time, claiming that they are overrun by 'Chavs'. With very attractive pricing campaigns, ships such as the Ventura and the Independence of the Seas are extremely popular with families in the school holidays due to the fanstastic facilities on board, and so will attract a different market at these times.
So I wonder if these claims are justified, or if in fact they are just elitist?

Perhaps this story will make up your mind.

A 23 year old man has just been jailed for 7 years for trying to smuggle a large quantity of cocaine into the U.K. aboard his cruise ship. Disembarking from his cruise in November 2009, U.K. Customs staff intercepted over £300,000 worth of pure cocaine found in the lining of the young man's bag.

At first I wondered if he had just been to a port of call where he succombed to temptation and it was all too easy to make a bit of money. I really couldn't believe that somebody had pre-planned to do this and had booked a cruise of all things to bring the large quantity of drugs into the U.K.

However, one source confirms that the 23 year old was paid £2000 to bring the drugs back to Britain. And the ship he chose to do it on - Fred Olsen's Black Watch!!!!
He must have really stood out like a sore thumb on there!

So here is a case where somebody used a cruise to commit a criminal offence and smuggle cocaine into the United Kingdom.
Now, as cruising awareness grows, I wonder if the tone really will be lowered. Whilst cruising should be better known, does this run the risk of changing the standards?
I wonder what other cruisers think. Have you noticed a change over the years?

Think before you kiss!

2010-03-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

A couple have hit the headlines in a spectacular way, having being convicted of indecency and illegal drinking in Dubai. The indecency? Kissing in a burger restaurant. This may seems a little far fetched, but in the United Arab Emirates, there is a list of things which would be perfectly acceptable in the U.K. but which in the UAE can lead to arrests.

Dubai is an up and coming tourist destination, with new cruise programmes covering Dubai having launched this year. These have been extremely popular. It got me to thinking - all these passengers that we have booked on to Duabi cruises - are they all fully aware of customs, traditions and laws in the United Arab Emirates? I know I wasn't, so I thought I would look at a number of popular cruise itineraries and cover the do's and don't of various destinations

The United Arab Emirates is a Muslim country, meaning customs, traditions and laws will be very different to what we are used to in the U.K. Some sources claim that Britons are more likely to be arrested in the UAE than anywhere else in the world. However, for anybody that has got a holiday booked there, there is no need to worry, as simple awareness of the do's and don'ts will keep you out of trouble.

The main things to remember is that there is a zero tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol, and that use of bad language, rude gestures and public displays of affection are considered to be obscene acts. The drinking age in Dubai, and other Northern states is 21, whilst in other states, it is 18. However, alcohol can only be consumed in fully liscenced bars and in the privacy of your own home. It is illegal to be drunk in a public area. Care should also be taken with both prescribed and over the counter medications, as some readily available medicines in the U.K. are actually considered to be controlled substances in the United Arab Emirates.

The couple mentioned above who were arrested in Dubai in November were reported to the police by a local woman who saw them kissing. These public displays of affection, sex outside of marriage, cross-dressing and homosexual behaviour are all illegal acts in the UAE.

The best way to make sure you are prepared for your destination is to visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website, who have comprehensive lists of travel advice by country.

I hope that nobody reading this has ever fallen foul of the different rules and regulations abroad, but hopefully you will always be prepared when travelling.

The Aussies get in on the action

2010-03-09T06:44:00.000-08:00

Currently both Southampton and New York are home for the world famous Queen Mary 2. However, with news having just broken about new plans for the ocean liner to go down under in 2012, will the Cunard vessel soon be proud to call Australia home?

An American liner with many distinct British traditions on board, Queen Mary 2 feels like home from home for British and U.S. clients alike. Both nations cherish the world famous ocean liner, and there is nothing quite like seeing the Queen Mary 2 come in to dock in Southampton or New York.

Following her world voyage every winter, transatlantic itineraries on the ship are interspersed with cruise from Southampton to Northern Europe and the Med, and Caribbean and North American itineraries from New York.

However, Cunard have just announced that the vessel will be based in Australasia following her world cruise in 2012. This bold move is expected to generate $10 million for the Australian economy and will also boost Australian cruising trends. Before we panic that we are losing the ship for a whole year, the plans are only going to be taking her away from home waters for a month, and she will spend just 28 days in Australian waters following her world cruise. However, depending on how it all pans out, she may very well stay down under for longer in the future.

Final itineraries are still to be settled but there are set to be 3 options to cruise Australia on the Queen Mary 2 on her circumnavigation of the country. There looks like there will be a 22 night itinerary starting in Sydney, 21 nights from Adelaide or 20 nights from Freemantle. During her Australian season, she will visit 5 states and the Northern Territory, calling at 8 Australian ports as well as Bali.

With the Queen Mary 2 currently in Australian waters as part of her 2010 world cruise, these latest announcements will surely cause much hype down under, with people keen to catch a glimpse of their adopted 2012 baby. If all goes well during her maiden Australian season, should we worry that we might lose her for longer? And will the Aussies grow to cherish and respect her as much as their Northern Hemisphere cousins?

Are the Brits ever satisfied??

2010-03-03T09:17:00.000-08:00

What do we want from our holidays? I am beginning to think there is no answer to this, and that as a nation, all we want is something else to pick on and moan about.

A number of my colleagues have just come back from the launch of the new MSC ship (Magnifica), and I was interested to know their findings, as this Italian cruise line comes under a lot of criticism from the Brits for many of its Italian touches. However, a recent newspaper article has confirmed to me that the other end of the scale isn't good enough either - apparently Spain is "no longer foreign enough"????!!!

The proliferation of English bars and restaurants along the Spanish coast is too much for many Brits who claim that Spain is no longer foreign enough. Yet how many people do you know who go on holiday for the sun, sea and sand, and still want there pints of Carling, fish and chips or full English breakfast. This huge number of British venues would never have opened up if there was no market to cater for. The places are always full to busting with British holiday makers.

According to figures from the Spanish Tourism Institute, there has been a 15% drop in 2009 compared to 2008 of the number of Brits visiting Spain. 59% of all of those surveyed said they were no longer going to Spain because it wasn't foreign enough. Yet the survey also showed that the U.S.A was the most popular destination for holidaying Brits. Would you call America foreign?????

Perhaps an MSC cruise would be the perfect cup of tea for Brits looking for something more foreign? As an Italian cruise line, MSC attracts a very European market, including Italians, Spaniards and French, along with a number of Brits. It follows a much more Mediterranean theme in its cuisine, décor, entertainment and clientele. And the British opinion of MSC? The food is never warm enough, the entertainment is poor because it is foreign, everything is done in several languages and the Mediterraneans are rude and pushy! So perhaps we should conclude that it is too foreign?

The million dollar question - how do you please a Brit?

Prostitute changes the world of TUI

2010-03-01T06:49:00.000-08:00

With January and February having seen huge sales applicable to reservations at cruise.co.uk, extra generous discounts have been a must. Competition between different agents has been intense, with cruise specialists here at cruise.co.uk trying to offer the best possible prices to our clients.

However, at the other end of the scale, TUI, the name behind Thomson holidays, amongst others recently removed all discounts from their web site for a 2 day trial period. They did this to see how it "affected customers' buying patterns". This inspiration behind this change in tact was the story of a Chicago prostitute, featured in a travel book. She apparently managed to increase her fees by 67% by employing a tactic known as 'price discrimination'. In a nutshell, this meant that by identifying clear traits in customers who are willing to pay more, you can get away with charging different people different amounts for the same product.

The result? Whilst business dropped by 50% during this TUI trial period, this also clearly identified 50% of the market who are not driven by prices and discounts. This means that whilst volume decreases (i.e. the number of bookings), the average amount of profit will go up, meaning more revenue - it is swings and roundabouts.

So I wonder, if it isn't the prices and discounts that drive you, what does form your preference for one agent over another when you are booking your holiday?

When is a cruise, not a cruise...? (When its a ferry crossing!)

2010-02-23T07:17:00.000-08:00

Flicking through various ariticles and travel news reports, I am astounded to see an advert for a P&O 'mini-cruise' for £72 for 2 adults on a 'buy one get one free offer'. When I click through to see the catch, I realise it is more than a catch! Can you really call a P&O ferry a 'mini cruise'?

P&O cruises offer a variety of mini cruises throughout their fleet at some very attractive prices. Usually between 2 and 4 nights in duration, the ships can get to Ireland, France, Belgium or the Netherlands for example, with time to explore the ports of call. Mini cruises are great for first time cruisers who aren't sure if they will enjoy the whole cruising experience - it gives a great opportunity to get a real flavour for what cruising is all about. The cruise lines win too, as very rarely do people come back from a mini cruise saying that they will never get on a cruise ship again. On the contrary, they come back with the cruising bug!

A certain online news paper is currently advertising a 3 night mini-cruise for just £72 for 2 people. When I clicked through, it turns out that the so called mini cruise is in fact with the identically names P&O ferries! I ask all seasoned cruisers if a ferry is anything like a cruise ship? I can hear the exasperation at such a stupid question already. The bonus of these so called 'overnight cruise style crossings' is apparently that they have 'a whole lot more leg room than other modes of transport'. So is this what makes a cruise?

The 'Pride of Bilbao' is a ferry service which operates between Portsmouth and Bilbao. The ferry features restaurants, live entertainment, 2 casinos, a sauna and a gym. Is this what makes it a cruise perhaps? Would you really feel like you were on a relaxing cruise holiday on a car ferry? I would be interested to know your views on what makes a cruise a cruise.....

Jab jibber jabber

2010-02-14T06:46:00.000-08:00

I picked up a call yesterday from a client who has booked onto a Caribbean cruise with us. She had a number of questions that she wanted clarifying but one of her main concerns was whether she needs any vaccinations. A recent press article has scared some people and this seems to be a common concern

A couple were booked on to a P&O cruise for their honey moon, but were not allowed on board because Mr. had not had the required yellow fever jab which was necessary for their Amazon cruise. This article and situation has sparked much debate over whose responsibilty it is to check what vaccinations are necessary. You can read in more detail or else add your own opinion at
http://www.cruises.co.uk/109-cruise_news/3470-couple_feeling_feverish_about_p_o_cruises.html

My client yesterday was keen to make sure that she had all of the required information to avoid being denied boarding on to her cruise. Unfortunately, I was not the one who could give her the information she required. I am not a doctor. Would you really want me to advise you on something that I, or better, we here at cruise.co.uk are not specialists in. At the time of booking, we always advise that if you are unsure about any vaccinations, you should always refer to your GP to double check. It is the customer responsibilty to do this.

Sometimes the cruise line will send information out about requirements for vaccinations, but this is not always the case. Would you rather make a simple trip or phone call to your GP and rest assured you are in the picture, or pass the book to somebody else and kick up a stink when it goes wrong.
I know that for my own peace of mind, I would rather take the responsibilty myself. There is a wealth of information available, and it is a GP's job to make sure you are fully protected

Querida España....

2010-02-08T09:19:00.000-08:00

I have had the pleasure of booking more Spanish people on to their cruise and in the correct lingo - read on.....!
Que placer haber realizado otra reserva para unos clientes españoles. Yo soy la unica representante aqui que habla español, y cuando empecé en esta empresa, no me di cuenta de que habría la oportunidad de hablar español de vez en cuando.

Aqui en el Reino Unido, tenemos muchas ofertas muy atractivas que nos dejan ofrecer a nuestros clientes mejores precios que las agencias en el extranjero. Cada vez que recibimos datos de algún cliente, yo estoy encargada de ponerme en contacto con ellos a ver si les puedo ayudar. Y normalmente, termino en realizar la reserva para los clientes, dado que tenemos los mejores precios.
Entonces, querido mercado español, si estáis pensando en ir de crucero, llamame, porque estoy segura de que tenemos mejores ofertas, y porque yo os puedo cuidar y hacer todo el proceso en español - además, poder hablar español es un placer para mi!

The sun sets on another ship...

2010-02-03T11:23:00.000-08:00

With all the excitement and anticipation of all the new ships that are set to launch in 2010, it is easy to forget about poor little Ocean Village who is soon to enter her farewell season. Despite all the new ships for 2010, I still wonder if the departure of Ocean Village will leave a hole in the cruise market.

Currently doing her last few itineraries in the Caribbean before her Transatlantic voyage to begin the summer season in the Mediterranean, Ocean Village is soon to be no more. Her sister ship, Ocean Village 2 sailed her last as an Ocean Village ship in 2009, and disappeared over to join the P&O Australia fleet. The sad announcement that Ocean Village 1 will follow suit later this year after her farewell summer season in the Med means that it will be the end of the much loved Ocean Village brand.

'The cruise for people who don't do cruising' is one of a kind in the cruising industry, and is miles apart from more traditional cruise lines such as sister companies Cunard and P&O. The Ocean Village brand aims to offer a cheap, cheerful and informal style cruise, which many other cruise lines don't.

So is Ocean Village replaceable? The closest competition is possibly Thomson cruises or NCL, however, I don't believe that these cruise lines capture quite the same feel as fun loving Ocean Village. I believe the brand will be sadly missed

It's a Gardener's World

2010-01-28T07:12:00.000-08:00

Many things make us stand out as a cruise specialist agent, but one thing that really makes us stand out from the crowd are our garden cruisers. They prove popular with our clients time and time again.

A valuable, long standing relationship between ourselves and Fred Olsen cruise line means that we can work together with them to put on these garden cruisers and offer our clients some fantastic value cruises. Fred Olsen allows us to organise groups on selected sailings, which gives us discounted prices that nobody else can get close to. So what do we do for you? Aside from passing on these huge discounts to you, we organise talks, excursions and other fantastic benefits so you as the client gets value for your money.

We do produce a specific garden cruise brochure, and with a new edition ready for print, we are adding two new garden cruises to the list - Braemar on the 5th October and the Braemar on 25th November. So why book on to one of these cruises? Apart from great prices, we arrange for garden experts such as Alan Titchmarsh, Tony Russell and David Hurrion. These esteemed experts will hold lectures, book signing and photo opportunites and even lead complimentary shore excursions arranged by ourselves for selected sailings. If you love gardening, then surely this is too good to be true?

And if you aren't up on your gardening? You can still benefit from the great prices, and other benefits such as free car parking or on board spending monies. There is absolutely no obligation to be involved in any of the garden themed activities at all. It's your holiday so why shouldn't you do what you want to do. Surely it's a no brainer.

I don't know the first thing about gardening, but I wouldn't think twice about booking one of these - a lovely cruise intinerary, fantastic prices and any other benefits applicable to the sailing!

Get the most out of your cruise

2010-01-23T08:24:00.000-08:00

In our new Complete Cruise Brochure, page 10 features an article about getting the most out of your cruise with our top 10 tips. Tip number 1 makes me smile, and a photo sent in from one of my clients inspired me to write this blog.

"Get FREE Drinks"
Our Complete Cruise Brochure sourced advice from our forums which are written by REAL cruisers, and they advise you to "attend the Captain's Cocktail Party, welcome party or past passenger party as the drinks are free and it is a good way to start a night.

Is this cheeky? Of course not, and they are a great way to meet your captain, which for many can be a highlight and can be the icing on the cake of celebrating a special occasion. Here are two of my clients meeting the Captain on one of their past cruises. He made such an impression, they are keeping their fingers crossed that he may be the Captain on their next cruise aboard the QM2

It's back...

2010-01-22T07:41:00.000-08:00

Cruise.co.uk has just printed the new edition of our Complete Cruise Brochure - a must have for all cruisers, young or old, experienced or not. It contains loads of useful information and tips for anybody going on a cruise, as well as a dedicated page or 2 or 3 for each cruise line which we specialise in here at cruise.co.uk. Even if you aren't interested in all of our top offers, and exclusive deals, it will make an interesting read. Order your copy from us here, via our website, or by contacting me directly

Trampling on other people's misfortunes?

2010-01-21T09:44:00.000-08:00

Royal Caribbean has caused a lot of controversy recently by continuing days in Labadee as part of some of their itineraries in the Caribbean. Labadee is a Haitian port, and following the recent earthquake that tore Haiti apart and has left the poverty-striken country in devastation with a bleak near-future, has Royal Caribbean over-stepped the mark by bringing ship loads of tourists to 'trample on other people's misfortunes'? I was in this camp previously, but I have now reconsidered.

The Independence of the Seas stuck to its itinerary and returned to Labadee in recent days. The Navigator of the Seas and the Liberty of the Seas are also doing the same, along with the Celebrity Solstice (the sister company to Royal Caribbean).
Claims of this being inappropriate and in poor taste could be valid and many passengers have felt uncomfortable at visiting a place that is struggling to get over such a great tragedy. However, let us consider the flip side.

News articles are starting to report stories that, in fact, the ships are most welcome, as they are bringing aid to the struggling island. Furthermore, not only are they bringing material aid, they are also bringing financial support. Thousands of tourists pouring on to the island can only mean one thing - money. Perhaps as the travellers weave in and out of shops, visit market stalls and deal with street traders, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruises are bringing the financial boost that the Haitian economy desperately needs.

Fit for a Queen? Your car ferry awaits Ma'am!

2010-01-16T07:21:00.001-08:00

According to a report in the Daily Mail, the Queen is planning a £300,000 cruise to relive her 80th birthday celebrations. She is considering chartering the Hebridean Princess to take her on a trip down memory lane through the Western Isles. Originally a car ferry, what makes this ship 'fit for a Queen'?

Hebridean Island Cruises has just one ship in the fleet, the Hebridean Princess and claims to offer exceptional service, fine food and wine and a warm welcome extended by the whole crew. It has just 30 cabins and takes a maximum of 49 guests, meaning a very intimate and personal cruising experience. The Queen's plans to charter this ship mean nobody else will be on board with her, and she will travel with just members of the Royal family. It also means however, that other holiday makers who are already booked on board have now been informed that they have been cancelled. It seems there are some advantages to being the Queen!

As the country struggles to come out of the Recession, I just wonder if perhaps £300 000 on a holiday is a little excessive!

Something for nothing - how often does that happen?!

2010-01-12T09:38:00.000-08:00

It is very rare to get any kind of drinks package included in the price of your cruise, unless you pay top-notch and cruise on a super luxury 6* cruise which offer an all-inclusive holiday. However, we are offering a one-off drinks package on any Celebrity Eclipse booking for 2010 (excluding the mini-cruises).

Sister ship to the Equinox, the Eclipse is Celebrity's new ship which is set to launch this year, and to promote her maiden season, we are offering a drinks package for bookings onto the Eclipse. The package consists of a bottle of vodka, a bottle of gin, mixers and a variety of pub-type snacks. All of this can be enjoyed in your cabin at no extra cost. You could really splash out and enjoy the extra luxuries of a balcony cabin so that you can enjoy these extras on your own private verandah.

The only catch - you must hurry, as we can only offer this package to our first 25 bookings

Going solo

2010-01-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

One of the issues that I find most unfair doing the job that I do is seeing how much single travellers are punished for being brave enough to go on holiday on their own.

Cruise lines base their prices on two people sharing a cabin and so when a single traveller looks to occupy a cabin, they are forced to pay the same price as two people would pay for both travellers. This is because the cruise lines refuse to lose any income by allowing 1 passenger to occupy a cabin instead of 2, and paying for just one fare.

Cruising is supposed to be a very sociable way of holidaying, and so should be an ideal way for any lone travellers to get away on holiday without feeling awkward, vulnerable and uncomfortable on their own. However, they are paying double the price to be on that ship as anybody else. I feel that this is very unfair.

Some cruise lines have answered back by offering single occupancy cabins. Fred Olsen has a number of these on each of their ships, and P&O's newest ship, the Azura which is set to launch this Spring will also have a limited number of these cabins. However, when you actually look at the price of this single cabin, whilst it may not be as much as a single occupying a twin, it is far from half of the price of a double occupancy cabin.

The cruise lines have got these clients backed into a corner, and it is unfair that they are stung over and over again. If a cruise line were to offer single cabins at realistic prices, I believe it would be a very smart move as they would sell over and over again.

Snow no! The country comes to a standstill

2010-01-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

I am working from home today because I couldn't make the journey into work due to the treacherous conditions on the U.K. roads. I slipped and slid all the way to work yesterday, and had an even worse journey coming home. When I got up this morning and saw even more snow on the roads, I wasn't even going to risk an attempt to get into work.

Whilst this may mean a day off for some people, I am trouping on and doing what I can from home, difficult as this may be.

I wonder how many of you have been affected by the snow? And can we ever manage our roads better in the future so a bit of snow doesn't bring the country to a standstill?

The January sales hit cruising!

2010-01-03T06:18:00.000-08:00

If ever there was a best time to book your cruise, this is it. The January sales don't just affect the high street - we are able to pass on huge discounts to cruisers too. Have at look at http://www.cruise.co.uk/ to see some of the amazing deals around at the moment, or call the specialist cruise consultants here to speak to somebody and book your dream holiday. My contact numbers are at the top of the page!

The Spanish do it best!!

2010-01-03T06:13:00.000-08:00

I have to say I am glad to see the back of 2009 and am looking forward to what 2010 might bring, but I didn't see the new year out in quite as much style as I normally do.

I have spent the last 5 New Year's Eves in Spain and love the traditions that it involves. I couldn't get away this year, and whilst I was very lucky to be surrounded by my friends and my boyfriend on New Year's Eve, I missed Spain desperately, especially when my friends out there started calling me and telling me what they were doing. My New Year's Eve this year was spent in a grotty pub, with people around who were too drunk to stand up, and having to queue up for half hour to use the grimiest toilet I have ever seen in my life! What's worse is that I was in bed by 3.30. This compared to previous years where New Year's Eve last until about 8.00 a.m where we then all pile into a cafe for hot chocolate and churros!

(This is post meal on New Year's Eve in Spain)

New Year's Eve in Spain is a very traditional affair and I am lucky enough to be able to spend it with a Spanish family, allowing me to see the real Mccoy!!! The first year out there was quite a shock, and I was grateful I had packed a dress as everybody gets very dressed up! The men all appeared in tuxedos and the girls in dresses! I also had it whispered into my ear that the girls have to wear red underwear in Spain on New Year's Eve for good luck. We all tend to sit down for a big family meal about 10pm which consists of lots of red wine, and about 7 courses. There are usually about 15 of us all sat round the table. The meal then takes us up to just before midnight. Again, my first year out there, I thought the meal was over, and then little tin foil parcels were brought out for everybody. In them were 12 grapes, to be peeled, de-seeded or whatever you needed to do to eat them quickly. At midnight it all became clear as we had to eat a grape on each bong of midnight. Again, if you managed all 12, you would have good luck for the New Year. We then toasted midnight with Spanish cava, into which you had to drop a gold ring to bring further luck! Just make sure you don't choke.

(This is our flamenco fan who entertains us every year)

Then we all sat round the table for another hour or so. In my Spanish family, we are lucky enough to have a cousin who loves music. Therefore, every year, we all have a good sing song while he plays flamenco on his guitar! As the drinks flow, it gets more and more amorous with the men all serenading the women!! Then about 2 in the morning, we all head out to our local bar, or into town to dance the night away!!!

Believe me it is absolutely amazing and is a far cry from the grotty pub in Birmingham, where you have to avoid treading in sick!!! One thing is certain, I will trying my very best to get away for New Year next year!!!

New Year, new start?

2009-12-29T03:22:00.000-08:00

Are you somebody who strives to make New Year's Resolutions and then breaks them within weeks? I always was, but I made a New Year's Resolution 2 years ago that has been a pleasure to keep!

My New Year's Resolution 2 years ago was to visit a new country every year! 2008 managed to add Austria and Italy to my list, and 2009 has seen Venezuela. I wonder where I will manage to get to in 2010.

Maybe a cruise will be the answer and visit several new countries in one go. I have so many continents to conquer! It is just a case of saving up the time and the money to do it!

At least the New Year's Resolution is a good enough excuse to go on holiday!

It's Christmas!!!

2009-12-22T09:15:00.000-08:00

Well nearly, but it starts here for me as I am finishing work now for a few days over Christmas.
Just a quick post to wish everybody a very merry Christmas and a happy 2010

I won't be making the same mistake again....

2009-12-22T02:53:00.000-08:00

It is surprising how many calls we take from clients who have issues with passports; "I have got to the airport and my passport isn't in my bag"; "My passport ran out last month". I have never had much sympathy until now....

I was packing my suit case on Friday night ready to set sail on the 2 night cruise to Amsterdam on the Balmoral with all of my colleagues for our Xmas party. I suddenly remembered my passport, and went to get it out while I was thinking about it. It wasn't where it should have been! It suddenly hit me like a tonne of bricks - it was with my solicitor, to check I am not money laundering, as I am in the process of buying a house!! I cried all night - I was devastated, and had been really looking forward to it.
The frustrating thing is, I am normally the most organised of people, but have never been one of them people who pack a week before. I will be in the future.

It brought back memories of my trip to Vienna last year, when when of my friends had a passport issue! A group of us from uni went out on a week's placement to the U.N. When my friend picked me up to go to the airport, he announced that when he had double checked his passport that morning, he had realised it was out of date! He joined us 2 days later in Vienna, after the most horrendous experience of getting an emergency passport, and re-organising flights out there, which kept going wrong. What had cost us about £100 for an easyjet flight out to Vienna and back ending up costing him an extra £500 in getting a passport and getting himself out to Vienna.

They say things come in 3s! I certainly won't be letting myself get involved in any passport sagas again. I will be packing weeks in advance and won't be letting my passport out of my sight again! I certainly won't be repeating the mistake!

We are all foreigners together....

2009-12-14T04:12:00.000-08:00

Reading reviews on MSC, the same thing gets repeated time and time again - the Mediterraneans spoil the whole cruise experience because they don't know how to queue etc. I wonder what the 'foreigners say about us...

The British have this wonderful habit of criticising the Europeans, and being typically British. We seem to forget one thing - we are Europeans too. Our biggest problem is that we are intolerant of foreign culture and traditions. MSC is an Italian cruise line and has avery European feel on board. Yes this is different to many other cruise lines, but is that really a bad thing? Different is the key word here!! MSC caters for and attracts many different nationalities. Why should 'foreigners' have to deal with everything in English? What is the issue with eating Italian food, or watching entertainment that encompasses many different nationalities? Why can't the first language on board be Italian or Spanish if this is the majority. We are foreigners too!

I dare you to try actually talking to a 'foreigner', and being a little more tolerant of their differences. I tried this once and have never looked back - I now have several invitations per year to go out to stay with foreign friends, meaning a wonderful cheap holiday, and a chance to escape the moaning Brits! Some of my best friends in the world are Spanish, and I embrace our differences. MSC is a cruise line I want to try, as I don't believe it is bad and horrible, just different!

Finally the myth that many people are guilty of believing.....

2009-12-14T03:26:00.000-08:00

It is unbelievable the number of people who think they will get a better deal on their cruise if they book it directly with the cruise line. They think that by cutting out the middle man (the agents), they will save money. There is logic in this thinking, as of course, you would imagine that you would have to pay fees for everybody involved in the booking process. I would like to take this opportunity to dispel this myth completely.

There is a lot involved in the reservation process for somebody booking a cruise, and a client will always want a point of contact to resolve any issues that may arise right up to departure date, and even afterwards should anything go wrong. This is something that the cruise lines do not really want to be involved with. Therefore, the cruise lines give a certain percentage of commission to the agents to sell their cruises. This commission is the leeway that we use to discount your cruise. The cruise lines themselves will not give you any discount at all in this way. The only discount you would get through them is any extra discount for a being a past passenger of theirs, which you get when booking through your agent anyway.

Due to the fantastic working relationships that we have with each of the cruiselines, we can still contact them regarding any issue at any time on your behalf. Therefore I can not stress enough, that to get the best possible deal, contact your agent - our reviews speak for themselves

Myth #3 and #4

2009-12-14T03:03:00.000-08:00

Myth #3 - you will get bored
For some reason, people believe that because you are on a ship out at sea, you will feel trapped, claustrophobic and get bored quickly! This couldn't be further from the truth. You can choose an itinerary to suit yourself, featuring the ports of call that interest you. You can choose 14 night cruises, which include at 10 ports of call, meaning very few days at sea and a holiday where you are very much on the go. Cruise ships have all sorts of features to keep you from being bored. With shows, games and activities throughout the day and evening, pools, spas, gyms, rock climbing walls and bowling alleys, I personally would struggle to be bored. Of course there is plenty of space to relax too should you need a little bit of quiet time.

Myth #4 - cruising is too expensive
My answer to this is always; if you can find a cheaper way to visit so many countries and destinations in the same amount of time, including all transport, food, entertainment and activities, I would be very surprised. Whilst the initial cost may seem high, when you consider what is included, I believe cruising is very good value for money. Of course, there are always some fantastic deals through your travel agent, which can often work out cheaper than an average package holiday to Spain for example.

Myth #2 - Cruising is for old people

2009-12-14T02:49:00.000-08:00

For some reason, cruising is stereotyped to be something that old people do. Perhaps this is because retired generations, for example, have more time to go on longer cruising holidays. However, within the cruising market, there is something for everybody, and cruising appeals to all generations for different reasons. If you like a great holiday, plenty to see and do, and excellent food, service, entertainment an facilities, then cruising is for you!

Perhaps it is true that certain cruise lines appeal to certain generations due to the facilities and activities on board. For example, Fred Olsen aims at the older generations, with its decor, ambiance and venues on board, whilst some of the Royal Caribbean ships looks towards families, with things like a surf simulator, rock climbing wall and dynamic kids clubs on offer. Some cruise lines are ideal for newly weds celebrating their honeymoon too. In my experience, clients of all ages and walks of life book onto cruises and have a fabulous time!

First time doubts - laying the myths to rest

2009-12-14T02:37:00.000-08:00

Anybody that hasn't cruised before may fall hook, line and sinker for the many myths that circulate and be put off cruising for life. I would like to take this opportunity to tackle these myths and put them to rest once and for all.

Myth #1 - Cruising is too strict and formal
Whilst many experienced cruisers may feel that the formal nights and formality of cruising are an integral part of the experience, it may worry some people who like to wear shorts and a t-shirt and eat in a buffet restaurant in a resort hotel in Benidorm. Experienced cruisers may feel that the formal nights etc are a tradition that should be embraced, other holiday-makers may turn to cruising as a way to visit a number of different destinations, and may find dressing up in a tux to be a chore rather than a pleasure. If this is you, rest assured that there are a number of cruise lines out there that will cater for and offer a more informal cruise experience. Ocean Village is one that we would always recommened, although this cruise line will cease operations next year. However, Thomson and NCL for example offer a 'freestyle' cruise. Even the more traditional cruise lines such as P&O, Princess and Royal Caribbean can appeal. It is possible to avoid dressing too formally if you are prepared to eat in the buffet restaurant on the formal nights. Apart from this, everybody on a cruise just wants to have a good time on their holiday, and so you will find cruising to be a very relaxed environment.

The answer you have all been waiting for...

2009-12-13T04:30:00.000-08:00

Since the announcement was made about P&O's Artemis going out of service, everybody has been asking us if they are going to do anything to replace her. Truely, we didn't know the answer. However, last week P&O announced that they will be adding a small ship to their fleet in May 2011.

Currently Princess' Royal Princess, the ship will undergo changes to turn her into P&O's new ship the Adonia. With the addition of the Crow's Nest Observation Lounge, and Anderson's centrally located club style lounge bar, she will share the features that define a P&O ship with the rest of the fleet, but will be very different. Whilst the likes of Royal Caribbean are bringing out bigger and better ground breaking ships such as the Oasis of the Seas, P&O are sticking to the other end of the scale.

Adonia will take just 710 passengers at full capacity, and will be able to offer an intimate and traditional cruise experience, yet with the comforts of a modern vessel. Of course, putting 2 and 2 together, Adonia will replace Artemis, but P&O haven't gone for bigger and better. She will be even smaller than the Artemis, allowing her to call at 'off the beaten track' destinations. She will have a very traditional feel, and like the Artemis, will be child-free. Adonia will offer a very sociable, intimate cruising experience, allowing fellow passengers to get to know one another due to her small size and limited capacity.

It remains to be seen whether Adonia will just cater for Artemis' loyal following, and will just follow very much in Artemis' shadow, or whether she will develop her own unique personality, clientele and rave reviews. One thing is for sure, P&O certainly know how to silence their critics.

Themed cruises about themed cruises?

2009-12-12T05:46:00.001-08:00

Themed cruises provide the opportunity to enjoy your favourite hobby, whilst getting away and having a special holiday. These type of cruises usually feature special guest speakers, a number of related activities throughout the duration of the cruise and shore excursions in the various ports of call, visiting places of interest based on the theme in question. You also get to meet and socialise with others who share your same hobby. I found a page on the choosing cruising website that collates all of the different themed cruises around:

http://www.choosingcruising.co.uk/Cruiseweb/Themeintro.asp?client=choosing

Take a look and see if there is anything there that takes your interest. I can't quite believe how many weird and wonderful themes there are. What will they think of next? A themed cruise about themed cruises?

Not only do you get all of the benefits mentioned in my introduction above, but the travel agent who is organising the themed cruise will have secured special rates and can offer you an unbeatable price. This means that anybody can book on to these cruises, benefit from the really cheap prices and then get as involved or not with the theme itself. Suddenly the 'Reindeer Races' cruise seems of interest doesn't it? Contact us at cruise.co.uk to see what themed cruises we have organised at the moment.

Weddings at sea - value for money?

2009-12-10T08:59:00.000-08:00

This is a question I posted on the cruises.co.uk forum and it got quite a response. Therefore I wanted to feature the same question on my blog.
With the market for weddings on board your cruise growing as more and more cruise lines are starting to offer wedding packages, I wonder what the benefits of getting married at sea are.

Getting married can be a pricey business, and with the general opinion of many people who haven't cruised before believing that cruising is expensive, I wonder how these 2 work together. The average cost for a wedding these days is somewhere in the region of £11000. I think a package through one of the cruise lines could be much cheaper.

Included in your wedding budget will be things like a wedding breakfast, a reception venue, buffet and DJ for a reception, a venue for the wedding night, church/civil costs and a honeymoon. These are all of course included in your cruise. With the standards on cruise ships these days, food may well be of a much higher standard than could be served at your wedding breakfast, your cruise itself is your honeymoon afterwards, and a wedding at sea means the whole experience lasts for as long as your cruise does, instead of it all being over in one day. And there is far less running around, as 'included' in your wedding onboard, you get a wedding co-ordinator to help you to organise your special plans.
Perhaps you may feel that it would exclude people from your day, but as many of your friends and relatives can book on the cruise for as long as there is availability, and have a holiday.

Surely, all of this is killing multiple birds with one stone? Surely a wedding at sea compared to a shore based wedding is a no-brainer?

Any excuse for a party!!

2009-12-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

It seems that anything related to ships, boats and sailing always ends up in one big party - it's a wonder that anything ever gets anywhere! Ship launch parties, cocktail parties and naming ceremonies... Then there is my personal little favourite that I have discovered - a celebration that doesn't really celebrate anything, but is my favourite party that I have ever been to!

Roquetas de Mar - 29th December every year - PARTY! What is it celebrating? Fishermen going out to sea in boats and coming back with fish! Is that not what they are supposed to do? Of course, but cue a celebration, the beach, copious amounts of alcohol and any type of food you possibly think to throw on the bbq! And so goes the best day of my year.

Apparently, it is a very old tradition in Roquetas de Mar in Almería, and for years, people have headed down to the beach on the 29th December and celebrated. T.V. cameras arrive, newspaper journalists mingle and I am pretty much the only English girl in the village! I love it. Long live sea related traditions.

Almería - My Corner of Spain

2009-12-10T08:13:00.000-08:00

Almería is one of the lesser known places in Spain but is a personal favourite of mine. It is a city on the South Eastern coast of Spain,and is also one of the 8 provinces in Almería. Back in my teenage years, I went on a package holiday to Roquetas de Mar - a tourist resort in the province of Almería. Little did I know that just a few years later I was to meet a girl who now lives in Madrid but whose family is from Roquetas de Mar and who spends every possible holiday down in their second home there. This girl was to become one of my best friends and I have been invited out several times a year to Almería ever since I met her. Would you turn it down?

(The figure in the picture is the Indalo man - the symbol of Almería.)

Almería features on many cruise ship itineraries, including P&O, MSC and Fred Olsen. Whilst the city may not offer some of the wow factors that Barcelona might for example, it is well worth a visit. Almería has many Arabic and Moorish touches to it, and is also a key port for ships sailing over to North Africa. The name of the city itself comes from Arabic, meaning 'Mirror of the Sea' and has stunning views over the bay as we approach it from Roquetas. If you happen to be lucky enough to dock in Almería during the last week of August, be sure to wander into the city. This particular week is the 'Fería de Almería', and you will experience a real Spanish fiesta, with good food, good company and good times! Don't think it is all for Spaniards either. I go every year and have the advantage of speaking Spanish, but I took my boyfriend for the first time this year and he absolutely loved it.

Almería is also in good proximity to Granada, which again with beautiful Moorish influences such as the Alhambra Palace is well worth the visit. Please don't assume that just because you may not have heard of much to do in Almería, that you may as well stay on the ship. I have fallen in love with the place.

¡¡¡Que viva España!!!

2009-12-09T10:43:00.000-08:00

Saludos a nuestros compañeros viajeros españoles desde Cruise.co.uk en el Reino Unido. Me llamo Catherine y soy inglesa, aunque soy española de corazón. He pasado mucho tiempo en España, y he vivido en Madrid. Ya con mis amigos, y una 'segunda familia' española, tengo una vida española también.

Antes de empezar de trabajar en esta empresa, no me daba cuenta de que había un mercado tan grande de hacer un crucero en España. Sin embargo, dentro de una semana, yo hice una reserva para tres familias diferentes en varios cruceros. Parece que en Inglaterra tenemos la ventaja de precios inferiores en comparación con España, debido a las relaciones preciosas que tenemos con las navieras.

Entonces, me interesan mucho, y me gustaría saber las experiencias y opiniones del mercado español en cuanto a los cruceros

It's grim up north!!!

2009-12-09T10:15:00.000-08:00

I am a northern girl through and through and proud of it! I now live in the West Midlands but spent 24 years of my life in the North West of England, and truely love the people and the places up there. There are some real beauty spots, and I think it is true when most people say that northerners are the friendliest of the lot. However, there are some bad parts to being a northerner - we seem to get completely forgotten about!

Why is it harder to get a flight out of Manchester than London? Manchester is a huge international airport, so why is London the only option for cruise lines such as MSC? Even for the ones who do offer Manchester flights, there is always very limited availability! So perhaps it would make sense to go for an ex-UK cruise?? Again, the northern half of the country is very much uncatered for. The majority of cruises depart out of Southampton or Dover.

Ever since being a youngster going on school trips, the 6 + hour coach journey down to Dover to sail out to Europe seemed like a lifetime! It isn't really a great start to a holiday to have to spend almost a day travelling to the point of departure! I am only talking from my experience from living in Lancashire - I always spare a thought for Scotland!

Fred Olsen offer a handful of itineraries that sail out of Liverpool, Newcastle and Rosyth. I can only hope other cruise lines follow suit and start to cater for the people in the top end of the country. The North is a lovely place, but it really can be grim up north when we are forgotten about!

This is the captain of your ship....

2009-12-02T06:36:00.000-08:00

Your cruise wouldn't happen if it weren't for your captain. They are very versatile people whose job encompasses a range of skills and duties. Not only do they sail the ship, they are health and safety experts, being responsible for everybody's safety on board and conducting safety drills for all passengers. They are also social experts, hosting parties and dinners. You can even pay on the new Oasis of the Seas to dine with the Captain. However, a common misconception is that the captain can marry people on board, but generally they don't have the legal right to perform a wedding at sea. They must obtain this licence of their own accord. Therefore, I wonder if it would be worth the captain finding the time to do so, or if in fact this would be just too much on the list of duties.

We can get where water can't!!

2009-12-02T04:25:00.001-08:00

They always say water can get anywhere...if only this were true. Some of my favourite destinations in the world so far are places where the cruise ships can't reach. Here is the flip side of being able to visit a number of different destinations in one holiday - there are some amazing places that will never feature on cruise itineraries.

As I have mentioned in a previous blog, Madrid is one of my favourite places in the whole world, and no matter which other world-wide destinations I visit in my life time, Madrid will always be amongst the top of my list. However, slap-bang in the middle of Spain, there is no chance of it ever being on a cruise itinerary. With places to visit such as the magnificent palace, Retiro Park and the Plaza Mayor to experience the fabulous ambiance there, it is a real shame that it is a hidden and undiscovered treasure as far as the cruising world is concerned.

Having said this, perhaps there are some destinations that aren't even worth a visit and is a good job they don't appear on any cruise itineraries. The example that springs to mind for me personally is Vienna. For a capital city, in my opinion, it offers nothing worthwhile whatsoever! I went to Vienna on a work placement for a week at the United Nations.

The experience of that made the trip worthwhile, however, had I gone just on a city break, I would have been left very disappointed. If this were on a cruise itinerary, I wouldn't bother getting off the ship.

I wonder what unreachable destinations would be on other people's wish list for a cruise. Or what destinations people have been to, that wouldn't be worth getting off the ship for?

The German Market or the Birmingham Market?

2009-11-29T09:36:00.000-08:00

I am off to the German market in Birmingham and am really looking forward to it. With so many mini breaks and mini cruises heading over to Northern Europe, do you really need to go to Germany to go to a German market, or can you experience it in your 'back garden'?

I used to live in Luxembourg for about 3 months and was there from October right through to just before Christmas in 2005. Luxembourg had a really lovely little Christmas market that I visited often. I have also been to the Christmas market in Cologne, Germany. However, I have tried the Christmas market up in Manchester and found it had a very authentic feel to it. It remains to be seen if Birmingham has much to offer. I will certainly be sampling the Glühwein to see if it compares!

Has anybody else got experience of the European Christmas markets compared to those back in the U.K? It seems fitting to mention that there are some lovely little cruise itineraries available, both for 2009 and 2010 which go out to various Northern European ports for the chance to visit the authentic Christmas markets

Barcelooooona

2009-11-29T09:18:00.000-08:00

With many of the cruise ships departing from Barcelona, here are my tips on what to do when in this fantastic city.

I have to admit first of all that I am a Madrid girl at heart, but I still think Barcelona is a wonderful city, having been 3 or 4 times now. Anybody who has visited Madrid and Barcelona will favour one over the other, with the favourite being Barcelona, however, I am Madrid through and through. Barcelona is a much more cosmopolitan city, whereas if you don't speak any Spanish at all, Madrid is more difficult to get by in. However, having lived in Madrid and having many friends there, I have experienced it as a local, and absolutely love the place.

Barcelona has may sites that appeal to tourists and is very easy indeed to get round. I have done all of the typical attractions in Barcelona and they are all pretty spectacular - Las Ramblas and the Sagrada Familia are well worth a visit. The bottom of the Ramblas is basically the sea, and along the front there, a number of bars and clubs are a fantastic night out too. My favourite place in Barcelona has to be the Parc Güell though - it is a large area with plenty of space to explore it, to the point where you find yourself completely on your own at times along the paths. At the very top of the park is an open space with spectacular views of the city - you can see everything, right accross to the waterfront. The park is also littered with Gaudi influence, as it was designed by the architect Antoni Gaudi.

This Parc Güell is certainly a must on my list of things to do in Barcelona. What are other people's favourite parts of Barcelona?

Around the world in 14 days.....

2009-11-29T08:26:00.000-08:00

Well almost, but not quite - but isn't cruising a fantastic way to see many destinations in a short time? Apart from wonderful food, a fantastic social environment and plenty of relaxation time and facilities, I believe that the possibility of fitting so many places into a 2 week holiday really is the beauty of cruising.

Although I have never been on a Caribbean cruise, I did a very small scale version of a cruise and I loved visiting different places in a day. I can certainly see the benefits of cruising in that respect. 14 day Caribbean cruises tend to take in up around 10-12 ports of call, which is a great way to get a real feel for an area. Considering the cost of a cruise too, I don't imagine there is any better way to see the world ( in bits, unless you are really lucky.)

When I went to Caracas in May 2009, I took a day trip with a friend to an archipelago known as Los Roques, which lies just off the Venezuelan coast. We flew out of Caracas on a tiny little plane, landed on what can only be described as a dirt track on one of the little islands and spent the day in the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my life, on a yacht visiting some of the islands that form part of the archipelago. Being on the yacht meant that we could visit a couple of places in one day, which as I said is kind of the same benefits as doing a cruise.

What is the nicest itinerary any of you have done, encompassing a number a of different places, cultures and tradition?

The world is waking up to cruising

2009-11-28T08:54:00.001-08:00

Thinking back to some of the big names in cruise ship history such as the Titanic and the QE2, it could be argued that cruising is a British tradtion. On the other hand, with the USA dominating the market, and offering quite a different cruising experience to the more British cruise lines, can Americans claim cruising as theirs?

It can't be denied that the British and the Americans play a big role in the cruising market, however it seems that the rest of the world is waking up to cruising.

Starting work as a specialist cruise consultant, I have been quite surprised at the number of enquiries that come in to us as a British agent from countries all over the world. If we are getting a few here and there, agents in the respective country must do well booking cruises for their clients. My Spanish 'mum and dad' have just come back off a cruise, and I have dealt with 2 enquiries from Spanish clients just this week. Other enquiries from Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Holland are just some examples of the market that is considering cruising, if they haven't already done so. Well known Italian cruise lines such as Costa, and MSC, which is looking at revamping its' products to cater for the cruising public show that cruising isn't just a British and American tradition.

So who can educate me? Which far flung countries have been hit by the 'cruising bug'? Or are these enquiries few and far between and cruising remains a British/American thing?

Memorable for all the wrong reasons...

2009-11-28T08:52:00.000-08:00

Sunshine, tropical beaches, clear Caribbean waters and a twist at the end: My trip to Venezuela 2009

When one of my friends got a project out in Venezuela, I seized the opportunity to experience a really different country and get to know a little bit about South America. Having studied Spanish at university, my interest and enthusiasm for Spanish culture and the language is immense, and by now I know Spain like the back of my hand. However I had never had the opportunity to visit Latin America before, and my holiday out there would be the price of an air ticket - my accommodation was covered as I would be staying with my friend.

Before my trip, I was nagged and warned by various different people that Caracas wasn't really the safest of places to visit - alongside Rio de Janeiro, I believe Caracas is the most dangerous city in South America. Nothing could put me off though!! I prepared myself for the poverty of Caracas, and therefore the crime that always goes hand in hand with poverty.

As soon as I arrived at the airport, we travelled from Caracas straight up to the coast with his girlfriend and another friend to Parque Morrocoy (a national park). This was my first visit to the Caribbean, and I was completely astounded. White beaches, coconuts on the trees and a real Caribbean attitude to life, cooking and relaxing - I loved it. We only managed to stay for the one day, due to inclement weather (I did go in May - rainy season) and work commitments for the others. I wanted another visit up to the Caribbean coast during my stay in Venezuela. I spent the rest of my time getting to know Caracas with a few locals I met through my friend. I coudn't understand where this notion of it being the most dangerous city in S.A came from - I was very impressed with the city. However, the day was due to go home, everything changed.

Never ever rely on a Spaniard to get you anywhere on time - this I have learnt over the years, but this time Eugenio topped the charts. Despite me telling him several times what time my flight home was, I arrived at the airport late, and I missed my flight! I booked on to the flight the following day, and I had a further 24 hours in Venezuela. The next day they took me into Caracas city centre, which I hadn't actually explored.

That was when we were approached from behind and had a gun pointed at us! When the ordeal was over, I collapsed on to the floor in tears, the others were fine. Apparently that is quite normal!

My advice for visiting South America
1) Listen to the locals - if they tell you not to do something, don't do it. Eugenio was wearing a watch and had been told by his girlfriend to take it off before we went into town. This was what the men wanted.
2) Don't wear jewellery or watches of any description - this is what can be stolen and flogged easily! I had a white gold necklace which was a 21st birthday present ripped from round my neck.
3) Don't make it obvious that you are foreign - of course we may look different, but no need to advertise it by wandering around talking on a mobile in a different language or accent, and don't carry maps etc as typical tourists do.

Of course, many people will go away to destinations like Caracas and be fine - I have friends who have lived in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico and had a great experience. However, just be aware at all times and don't do things that make you stand out as being different.
Has anybody else had a similar experience on holiday?

Does size matter???

2009-11-25T11:20:00.001-08:00

This is the question I ask myself on almost a daily basis in my job. Regular and experienced cruisers don't hold back as they profess their distate as more and more information filters through about Royal Caribbean's new monster of a ship: Oasis of the Seas

Currently, until the launch of the Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas is not only their largest ship, but in fact is the largest ship on the water. I went down to see "Indy" as they call her a few weeks ago on a ship visit, and for once in my life, I was absolutely speechless. I was completely open-mouthed at her sheer size and grandeur. No matter how far away I stood, I couldn't fit her completely on one photograph. With the rock climbing wall, surf machine, pools and spa, an ample choice of bars, restaurants and café, and even a very realistic street that runs down the middle of the ship, there is certainly no need to get bored on board the Independence. Alternatively, you can choose to do nothing, not go to the gym, and still walk off the huge amounts of food you would eat just in getting around the ship. I was shattered by the end of my day. I was very impressed with Independence, nd despite her size, believe she is very well run and managed.

Having said all of this, the Oasis is a revolution in terms of cruising, with new ports and docks having to be built for her. Compare the photo of the Independence with that of the Oasis, and it can't be denied that the Oasis is absolutely immense. She looks more like a series of hotels and buildings on the horizon than a cruise ship. At 225,282 tons, the Oasis is 5 times bigger than Titanic and can accommodate up to 6360 passengers. She is to have 7 godmothers - a real cruising first! She is constantly subjected to insults, being called ugly, amongst many other things. She is highly criticised as her itineraries include just2 or 3 ports of call on some 7 night cruises. "You would spend the whole cruise queuing up" some claim.

However, at the beginning of Independence of the Seas' life, much of the same was muttered about her, and now the reviews speak for themselves. She is beautiful, fun-loving and ensures all of her passengers come back raving about her. Can Oasis prove everybody wrong? Does it really matter that she is so big if Royal Caribbean know how to overcome the potential problems of queuing and docking in various ports of call? Can Oasis beat her critics and make Royal Caribbean's new venture a success? With Allure of the Seas (Oasis' sister ship) also in the pipe line, let's hope so!

Xmas in the UK - no get away!!

2009-11-18T07:06:00.000-08:00

It's November 2009 and the same enquiries are flying around - a Christmas cruise. What a perfect time to plan a lovely itinerary for Christmas 2010. But no! The enquiries are people desperately trying to get away for Christmas 2009. We all have the same answer - absolutely no chance! There is zero availability now for Christmas 2009, but still the desperate bids to escape the U.K. for Christmas are coming in thick and fast. It really makes me wonder why.

Everybody seems to love Christmas for the traditions and values. Who can say they have never moaned about the lack of snow at Christmas? Yet, you won't get snow on a Christmas cruise. Is it really Christmas if you spend it having a bbq on an Australian beach, or having lobster for dinner in Mexico with a Mojito to wash it down?

I have to admit, I am kind of guilty myself, having spent the last 5 years away in Spain over the Christmas period, although I have to add that I have never been away for Christmas Day. I tend to go away about the 27th, to visit some friends, frequent a fantastic fiesta that my little village in Spain celebrates every year, and spend New Year out there. I have to say, New Year here is nothing to compared to being out in Spain. My visits to Spain over the Christmas period are partly to spend New Year over there, but also just because it is a nice time to holiday. Perhaps it is true that I find the wind down after Christmas a little depressing, but I could never go away for Christmas itself. I love a traditional British Christmas too much.

(Yes these photos are my experience of Christmas time in Spain, and yes we do spend one of the days at a fiesta on the beach)

So why do people strive to get away over Christmas? I would be really interested to know your different reasons and experiences to explain this. However, I would like to take this opportunity to give a little bit of advice - if you are desperate to get away for Christmas, please make your enquiries and get something booked plenty in advance to avoid disappointment. Now is the time to book a cruise for Christmas 2010, not Christmas 2009