Well I am now back in the office after my visit yesterday on royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas’ and what an eventful day that was, I will elaborate on my day in next week’s blog, so stay posted.

It’s not very often that I highlight actual cruise deal’s on my blog but I had to shout about this one as it has to be the bargain of the century. If you just fancy a last minute getaway, are new to cruise or no someone that is looking to try cruising then why not tell them about this deal. As at such a fantastic price it will not hang around for long and is certainly one not to be missed.

 The Cruise Sails from Southampton on 26th May 2012 on board Princess cruise line’s Caribbean Princess,you will spend 12, yes 12 whole nights sailing around England, Scotland, Ireland and even a pop over to Le Harve for a optional visit to Paris. For the price which starts at £399 per person I think you would struggle to get flights and a hotel for even 1 night to visit Paris. This cruise also sails over the queens Jubilee, so what better way to enjoy the celebrations than on board this fabulous cruise.

26May 12 London (Southampton), England

27May 12 Guernsey (St. Peter Port), England

28May 12 Cork, Ireland (Cobh – For Blarney C

29May 12 Dublin, Ireland

30May 12 Liverpool, England

31May 12 Belfast, Northern Ireland

01 June 12 Glasgow (Greenock), Scotland

02 June 12 At Sea

03 June 12 Invergordon, Scotland

04 June 12 Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Scotland

05 June 12 At Sea

06 June 12 Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), France

07 June 12 London (Southampton), England

For this amazing deal or any other don’t delay call me today 0800 4086101 Kerries@cruise.co.uk

Filed under: Cruise Deals

 

I’m very excited as tomorrow I’m of off to spend the day on Royal Caribbean’s ship Jewel Of The Seas, while she is docked in the port of Harwich.

Ship visits are always exciting but this one is a little bit special as my mum and step dad are boarding the same day for their first cruise. My mum is very excited and for months has been checking out the destinations, booking excursions and sorting the ever important wardrobe ready for the trip. The added bonus for my mum is that as the cruise is leaving from the UK there is no baggage allowance and the bonus for my step dad is he doesn’t have to worry about carrying my mums bulging case as it will be taken from the check – in straight to their cabin.

I can’t wait to see Jewel as I haven’t been on a Royal Caribbean ship before and after speaking to lots of clients who have, I am looking forward to seeing a Radiance class ship to begin with. This is Jewels last season in the UK as next year she is being replaced by the newly refurbished before see begins, Brilliance of the seas.

I will be taking lots of pictures of my visit and will write an independent report upon my return so you can see what I thought of her. I should be back in the office on Wednesday, unless of course I stow away in my mum’s cabin to The Baltic!

BACK WEDNESDAY 16th MAY

Filed under: Ship I have been on

Something I noticed in this weeks Cruise News was about a new independent survey of how much weight an average person gains on a two week Cruise. You probably wouldn’t be aware if you hadn’t met me but I have been yo -yo dieting for as long as I can remember, so this article particularly caught my eye having recently lost almost 2 stone myself.

As with any holiday it’s a mad rush to crash diet before stripping off in that all important swim suit to then gain most of it back again throughout the holiday but it’s the first time I have seen a survey with actual numbers.

The survey revealed that out of a total of 1,281 Britons surveyed, just over half – 52 per cent – said they had gained a stone during their two-week holiday.

Some 84 per cent of those polled said they consumed more than they normally would while three in ten doubled their usual number of calories.

Nine per cent – one in 11 – put on some 4lbs while another six per cent admitted to piling on an extra whooping 18lbs.

41 per cent said they also found the reversal of the weight gain once home somewhat of a challenge.

 

As we all know when cruising whether it is a standard cruise or an all-inclusive, there is always the temptation on board from all day snacks and afternoon teas, lavish 5 course lunches and dinner through to midnight buffets and for some cruise lines it doesn’t stop there with  them offering 24 room service.

 

On many round the world cruises it seems they also have a tailor on board to be able to do those clothing adjustments and some cruisers even take a different sized clothing wardrobe with them.

Some cruises offer a light bite or low fat option especially those with Spa’s, but are they successful or do Cruisers forget the weight worries and enjoy there Cruise to the full and deal with the tight clothes on their return.  Also we mustn’t forget the gym facilities aboard most ships with those fabulous sea views as you work out, although I must say I generally see them busy for the first few days and empty towards the end of a cruise.

What do you do on your Cruise, what food experiences have you enjoyed, let me know and share your experiences.

Kerries@cruise.co.uk

0800 4086101

Tags: cruise, cruise experiences, cruise holiday, cruise line, cruise news, cruise ship, cruises, cruising, cruising on a diet, destination, dining, dinner on a cruise, food on a cruise, food onboard, gaining weight on a cruise, holiday, holidays, loosing your cruise weight, ocean, sailing, ship, standerd cruise, travel
Filed under: Cruise News

When chatting to clients old or new the same topic always comes up. The discussion of tipping on board. I always find the subject a bit like marmite, but love it or hate it tipping is a cruising way of life. So when I was looking through the cruise news today, the below caught my eye.

 P+O it seems have been caught in a row over low pay level with the launch of their new salary scheme. A junior waiter at the bottom of the pay scale earns a basic salary of £250 per month for shifts lasting a minimum of 11 hours a day 7 days a week, with a possible £150 extra in bonuses. According to the Guardian this is a significantly increased basic salary. Many crew on the old scheme were happy and took home over £1000.00 per month (being topped up with tip’s , however due to the tough times customers were reluctant to pay the recommend level of tipping. With the new system customers tips are automatically added to their on board account which pay for the preferential performance bonus. As a passenger you can opt out of paying as P+O are now taking the risk out by paying bonuses if targets are met.

 Bonuses will be held back in part if customers’ feedback ratings do not exceed targets, some of which stand at 96%. Cabin stewards whose attitude was ranked below 92% by passengers will forfeit an entire bonus payment worth approximately 15% of their basic salary. Crew have been told that P&O’s funding of the scheme “is dependent on the passengers paying their auto gratuities“

When I read this article I was amazed at how little this hard working crew earn, but we are told we mustn’t forget where the majority of these workers come from and according to P+O how well they are paid! P+O also state with the newly added automated tipping onto your on board account it will take the confusion out of tipping, what do you think? Do you think it is in the interests of the crew or just another money saving scheme?

Let me know your thoughts

 kerries@cruise.co.uk

 0800 4086101

Filed under: Cruise News

Some of you that follow my blogs may remember that I mentioned that during my time off I was going to visit MSC Lirica and on Friday 13^th April unlucky for some but lucky for me I did just that.

After an easy one and a half hour drive from my home in Suffolk I arrived at Harwich port with ease. Having not been to Harwich since I was at school I wondered how easy it would be to find the port but I was pleasantly surprised and had no problem even without Mr Sat Nav as he was not invited after a previous trip to head office,  but that’s another story on a previous blog. Upon my arrival at the port there she was floating straight ahead of me the MSC Liria.

On arrival I met three colleagues, Denise Jeanette and Lynn for coffee before boarding. Being a homeworker it’s always great to meet face to face with other homeworkers in the company to catch up on the world of cruise. Upon boarding we were met by a MSC representative who showed us all the areas on board.

First off was the shore excursion area, now this specific place on board was of interest to me as I have heard rumours that MSC sell their cruises on their amazing offers and charge over the top for things such as excursions. I must say I was pleasantly surprised, being in the port of Harwich cruisers on board had the chance to visit London which was approximately an 8 hour trip so a very full day and what most visitors who visit the UK wish to do. The tour included the coach journey from and back to the port and a sightseeing trip around London with some free time to take advantage of shopping in the capital, the cost was 75 euros approximately  £63. With train travel from Harwich to London for a day return off peak averaging £55 and a sightseeing trip on average probably another £20 on top of this, all pre-organised without the hassle I thought this was great value for money.  Please see below for a couple of other shore excursion examples for the port of Amsterdam

Next we walked through the Beverly Hills bar to La Bussola Restaurant, a lovely light and airy restaurant offering Waiter Service; we were soon to return here for lunch, yum, yum.

For now we continued our tour all around the ship working off a few pounds before lunch visiting the vastly seated Broadway theatre, the library and card room and the Cyber Café great for sending and pictures home to loved ones or exploring in detail the next port of call.

 

Continuing our tour we walked through the Le Bistrot Cafeteria – the buffet restaurant where the choice was fantastic from a vast array of mouth-watering salads to the Pizzeria and the most delicious choice of Italian cakes

         

Next up was a peak at the cabins, something that I always find very interesting. First off was a standard inside cabin, it was as it says on the tin fine for those that do not spend much time in their cabin all very clean and well-presented and if you don’t mind not having any natural light and looking after the pennies then this may be the one for you, with upper berths some can sleep up to 4 guests.  Alternatively on Lirica there is the ocean view cabins, now they may have the same floor space as the inside cabins but what a difference natural light can make. Immediately when entering the cabin your eyes are drawn to the window and in my opinion well worth the upgrade.

 Finally comes the Balcony suites if space is high on your requirements then these are definitely the cabins for you. Offering larger bathrooms with baths and showers, a seated area with sofa and a balcony to soak up the sea air if you can stretch to these you will not be disappointed.

                             

Next we went to see the Casino, now I’m not much of a gambler but I do like a little go on blackjack, however I may not feel like doing this on MSC Lirica as I learned something I was not aware of. On MSC being a European ship they allow guests to spoke in specified indoor areas, one of these areas being the Casino. It was apparent that this was acceptable from the moment we got closer to the Casino and being a non-smoker I am not sure if this would put me off. All that aside there was plenty to offer the gambler semi or pro from slot machine to tables the choice is yours.

The next part of our tour I have to say was my favourite discovery Of MSC cruises apart from the food but I will come back to that later. As we walked out from the inside of the ship into the lovely sunshine we came across the Pool and main deck areas. I have been impressed with other ships upper pool deck areas however what most surprised me about MSC’s was the size and features. With a large outdoor seated bar area one end, two large pools and Jacuzzis in the end the deck was finished with another bar area with seating the other end of the deck. I thought this was very well laid out and with plentiful lounges available I imagined a very peaceful and relaxing area. As I walked along the deck the conversation between me and my colleagues turned to the loungers, what a fantastic idea one of my colleagues commented they come with a face shade. Being fair skinned myself this is always a concern of mine and many a time have I ended up with a face looking like a lobster but it seems none of that on MSC it’s all taken care of, even prevention of sun burning.

   

  

Leaving the glorious sunshine on the Vivaldi deck we headed once more in doors, to proceed to lunch. On the way we passed the gym with large glass windows overlooking the sparkling sea, the glorious smells from the on board spa and as a mother of two what I am always interested to see the children’s area.

 Unfortunately having a nearly 11 year old son I have to admit the facilities on board may not be to his taste. However upon me seeing the only 1 on board children’s room full of mainly under 7’s,  I was informed that for the older ones the programme is normally run around the ship for example table tennis in one of open areas and maybe out on deck weather prevailing and the disco in the blue room. Being told this I could understand as although with the likes of P+O who in my opinion offering amazing children’s care with rooms applicable to ages, it is sometimes hard to tell a coming up to or teen age year child that they will be in one place for a duration.  I do f feel that with MSC’s way it may give them a sense of freedom and with the added advantage of the teen card  you can pre-load on board credit for them to spend while you still keep control of their spending. You can also limit it so only so much can be spent on video game machines I have been told also. Another added advantage of MSC’s childcare arrangements they are one of a very few cruise lines that allow you to leave (pre-arranged) your children in the safe hands of the MSC trained child carers while you go ashore and explore your local port. This has to be a huge advantage for parents of very small children or for those that like to explore the local culture child free.

Now to the bit all of us agents look forward to on our ship visits – LUNCH!  However having heard mixed reviews from my clients who have travelled on a MSC ship I was slightly apprehensive as to what we were able to receive. My concerns were soon forgotten when we began our five course feast, ok so the waiters may have been a bit over attentive but trust me you will never be without the holy essentials bread , water and wine which is offered at every opportunity. It became a talking point and we had a bit of a giggle as to how many times we could say no thank you. Below I will make your mouth water with the delicious cuisine I consumed during my courses.

It’s a misconception that on MSC the food is served cold it’s just the Mediterranean way of life, if you want it piping hot then just ask and it will be served as you wish no questions asked.

So overall did I enjoy visiting MSC Lirica, yes I certainly did I was pleasantly surprised by what she had to offer as a whole and the only way for me knowing that she was one of the older ships was maybe the pastel colours used on board for her décor, which with some colour schemes used on board the newer liner is not always a bad thing.

Who would I recommend MSC to, possibly anyone depending on what their personal requirements where.  There are many MSC ships and I believe one suitable to ever cruiser.

Would I cruise with my family on a MSC ship, definitely and especially when you consider what fantastic value for money they are with free children’s places and the low adult prices offered. With my family I may be more inclined to cruise on the larger Fantasia or Splendida and the newly awaited Divina as I like the larger ships.  Although if MSC Opera came up from Southampton and I had the time to go if the price was right then I’d definitely come on down!

Have you been on a MSC cruise, what are your experiences, feel free to share them with me:

kerries@cruise.co.uk

0800 4086101 

Tags: amsterdam, cabin upgrade, cabins, cruise, cruise from uk, cruise holiday, cruise line, cruise lines, cruise news, cruise ship, cruise ship tour, cruise upgrade, cruises, cruising, destination, harwich port, holiday, holidays, inside cabin, lirica, msc, msc cruises, msc lirica, ocean, sailing, ship, ship visit, shore excursions, travel
Filed under: Ship I have been on

Royal Caribbean International announced on 4^th April that Liberty of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas will be among the cruise line’s ships in 2013 to offer sailings throughout Europe. Calling at 30 ports, the latest deployment plan features 121 sailings on 25 itineraries. Following the already announced Independence of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas’ deployment from Southampton, Royal Caribbean International’s 2013 Europe cruise offerings will feature five of the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ships, sailing to some of Europe’s must-see destinations. Royal Caribbean International’s 2013 Europe cruises for these five ships are now on sale for new bookings and additional deployments in the region will be announced later in April.

Royal Caribbean International is the perfect choice for couples and families to experience and share all the wonders, flavours and colours of Europe

 Liberty of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas already offer s cruisers so many things that other operators do not, such as the DreamWorks Experience on board Liberty of the Seas, or a real ice-skating rink featuring breath-taking shows on board Navigator of the Seas and even self-levelling pool tables on board Serenade of the Seas. In fact, Royal Caribbean International will be the only cruise line to feature Madagascar 3 in 3-D at sea in Europe this summer on board Liberty of the Seas, making it a perfect option for families.

As the only ship in Europe to offer the DreamWorks Experience, as well as featuring Madagascar 3 in 3-D, Liberty of the Seas will delight guests with on board entertainment featuring the lovable characters from DreamWorks Animation’s popular films. Guests can also watch DreamWorks Animation’s films in 3-D in the ship’s on board 3-D cinema. Shrek and Fiona, Alex the lion, Po the Dragon Warrior and many more characters also join in daily to greet cruisers, offer photo opportunities and lead themed-activities for children.

Cruisers can also choose a Royal Caribbean International Europe Cruise tour to experience the not-to-be-missed destinations that lie inland in Spain in Italy. Royal Caribbean Cruise tours combine a sailing on board one of the cruise line’s ships with an escorted land tour itinerary. Guests can choose from a five-night Venice, Florence & Rome Cruise tour, which features tours of the must-see attractions in the three cities followed by a sailing on board Navigator of the Seas, or a four-night Madrid & Barcelona Cruise tour, which is coupled with a sailing on board Serenade of the Seas.

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Liberty of the Seas

Sailing from its homeport of Barcelona between April and October 2013, Liberty of the Seas will begin with a series of five-night Western Mediterranean cruises with calls in France and Italy. Liberty of the Seas will then sail every Sunday on seven-night Western Mediterranean itineraries, calling at ports on the French and Italian Rivieras, including Provence (Toulon), Nice (Villefranche, France), Florence/Pisa and Livorno, Italy), Rome (Civitavecchia), and Naples. Guests can also choose to embark on a seven-night cruise aboard Liberty of the Seas at Provence (Toulon) or Naples. Called interporting, the option offers guests the flexibility to board a cruise at secondary embarkation ports
where they will return to debark.

The Liberty of the seas five-night Short Western Mediterranean cruise is available at a lead in fare from £662 per person (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom). Price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers and a five-night cruise departing Barcelona (Spain) and
calling at Villefranche (Nice, France), Civitavecchia (Rome, Italy) and Livorno (Florence/Pisa, Italy) before returning to Barcelona for the flight home; meals and entertainment on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on 25 April 2013 departure.

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Navigator of the Seas

Navigator of the Seas will sail seven-night itineraries from Rome (Civitavecchia) and in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ports of call include
Sicily (Messina, Italy), Ephesus (Kusadasi, Turkey), Athens (Pireus, Greece), Chania (Souda, Greece) and Crete. Guests can also choose to embark on their seven-night Eastern Mediterranean cruise round trip from Sicily.

The Navigator of the seas seven-night Eastern Mediterranean fly/cruise is available with a lead in fare from £842 per person (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom). Price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers, meals and entertainment on board and all relevant cruise
taxes/fees. Price is based on 21 April 2013 departure.

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Serenade of the Seas

Serenade of the Seas offers guests a choice of 12-night Mediterranean Greek Isles and Mediterranean Venice itineraries, both sailing from
Barcelona. Guests can choose among several variations, but nearly all Mediterranean Greek Isles itineraries feature calls in Cannes (France), the Italian cities of Florence/Pisa (Livorno, Italy), Rome (Civitavecchia, Italy), and Naples (Salerno, Italy) and the Greek ports of
Athens (Piraeus) and Santorini. The Mediterranean Venice itinerary also offers several variations, but all feature an overnight call in Venice, as well as calls in Florence/Pisa (Livorno, Italy), Rome (Civitavecchia, Italy), Naples(Salerno, Italy), and Ravenna (Italy), and a call at either
Cannes (France) or Monte Carlo (Monaco).

The Serenade of the seas 12-night Mediterranean Greek Isles fly/cruise is available with a lead in fare from £1,094 per person (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom). Price includes return flights from London Heathrow, transfers and a five-night cruise departing Barcelona (Spain) and
calling at Villefranche (Nice, France), Livorno (Florence/Pisa, Italy), Civitavecchia (Rome, Italy), Piraeus (Athens, Greece), Kusadasi (Ephesus, Turkey), Santorini (Greece) and Naples (Salerno, Italy) before returning to Barcelona for the flight home; meals and entertainment
on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. Price is based on 19 May 2013 departure.

 If you are tempeted by any of the above or looking for any other cruises then feel free to contact me:

0800 4086101

kerries@cruise.co.uk

Tags: 2013 cruises, cruise, cruise deals, cruise europe, cruise holiday, cruise line, cruise news, cruise ship, cruises, cruising, destination, europe, europe 2013, europe cruises, holiday, holidays, liberty of the seas, navigator of the seas, ocean, royal caribbean, royal caribbean cruises, royal caribbean liberty, royal caribbean navigator, royal caribbean serenade, royal caribbean ships, sailing, serenade of the seas, ship, travel
Filed under: Brochure Launches

Just to let you know I am off for a break tomorrow, I will be finishing in the office at 4pm on Saturday 06th April 2012 and I will be back in the office on Monday 16th April 2012 at 12.00 pm.

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 Unfortunately I am not off to sunnier climates but will be enjoying so much needed time off with the family. It’s hubbies birthday during my time off so chocolate cake and wine are definitely on the menu as well as catching up with friends and family.

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 I am also during my time off going to visit the MSC Lirica while she is in the port of Harwich not far from where I live. I haven’t been on an MSC ship before so I am interested to see what she has to offer, I will report back on her when I am back in the office so look out for that blog.

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If you need any help with new cruise bookings or to confirm a quotation while I am out of the office from Tuesday I have my colleague Helen who is on hand for you.

 Helen can be contacted on 0800 4086152 or helenN@cruise.co.uk .

 I hope you all have a nice Easter and that the sun shines where you are, see you all on my return

x

0800 4086101

kerries@cruise.co.uk 

Tags: bank holiday, cruise, cruise deals, cruise holiday, cruise line, cruise news, cruise ship, cruises, cruising, destination, holiday, holidays, ocean, sailing, ship, tourism, travel
Filed under: My Days

Over this weekend we have some fantastic cruise sales, a great chance to upgrade your cabin complimentary, or to take advantage of some amazing on board credits.

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P+O & Cunard’s Fantastic 4 Day Balcony Upgrade sale

Today starts the beginning of another 4 Day Balcony upgrade sale from P&O, Princess and Cunard. The last one went fantastically and we were in undated with calls, we expect this one to be just as busy!

The offer is on selected cruises (please see the below list), pay for an Inside and get upgraded to a Balcony, it’s as easy as that. These are now on sale, end Monday 02 April and have limited availability on each cruise so they will not hang around.

Cunard

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Queen Elizabeth Sailings

Q210 – 22nd June 2012 – 14 nights – The Fjords

Q213 – 27th July 2012 – 11 nights – Around the British Isles

Q215 – 14th August 2012 – 14 nights – Mediterranean

Q216 – 28th August 2012 – 9 nights – Mediterranean

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Queen Victoria Sailings

V213 – 22nd May 2012 – 14 nights – Northern Europe

V215 – 22nd June 2012 – 7 nights – Northern Europe

V217 – 13th July 2012 – 8 nights – Northern Europe

V218 – 21st July 2012 – 13 nights – Mediterranean

V219 – 3rd August 2012 – 14 nights – Northern Europe

V220 – 17th August 2012 – 7 nights – Northern Europe

V222 – 28th August 2012 – 16 nights – Mediterranean Cruise

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Queen Mary 2 Sailing

M221 – 4th September 2012 – 10 nights – Mediterranean

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P&O

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Arcadia Sailings

J206 – 16th June 2012 – 10 nights – Around Britain

J209 – 17th July 2012 – 14 nights – Baltic

J211 – 16th August 2012 – 14 nights – Baltic

J212 – 30th August 2012 – 20 nights – Black Sea

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Adonia Sailings

D210 – 7th August 2012 – 10 nights – Around Britain

D211 – 17th August 2012 – 7 nights – France and Spain

D212 – 24th August 2012 – 7 nights – Fjords

D213 – 31st August 2012 – 16 nights – Western Mediterranean

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Aurora Sailings

R207 – 19th June 2012 – 14 nights – Fjords

R210 – 5th August 2012 – 12 nights – Baltic

R211 – 17th August 2012 – 7 nights – Fjords

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Azura Sailings

A211 – 19th May 2012 – 14 nights – Baltic

A213 – 9th June 2012 – 7 nights – Spain, France and Guernsey

A217 – 21st July 2012 – 7 nights – Spain, France and Guernsey

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Oceana Sailings

E215 – 10th July 2012 – 12 nights – Western Mediterranean

E216 – 22nd July 2012 – 12 nights – Canary Islands

E219 – 24th August 2012 – 9 nights – Fjords

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Ventura Sailings

N212 – 20th May 2012 – 14 nights – Western Mediterranean

N213 – 3rd June 2012 – 14 nights – Iceland & Fjords

N214 – 17th June 2012 – 13 nights – Western Mediterranean

N216 – 3rd July 2012 – 17 nights – Central Mediterranean

 *** 175th Anniversary sailing ***

N218 – 27th July 2012 – 16 nights – Central Mediterranean

Celebrity four day On Board Credit Sale

Celebrity  and cruise.co.uk are having a four day sale for Celebrity Eclipse and Celebrity Constellation 2012 sailings departing from Southampton and the good news is this weekend these can be used in conjuntion with the guaranteed cabins.

Please see below for the up to savings on these sailings:

Eclipse

 

Inside $350 – Outside $450 – Balcony- $500 Aqua class Concierge- $750 Suite – $1200

 

Constellation

 

Inside  $150 – Outside $175 – Balcony – $350 Aqua Class Concierge – $425  Suite $700

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Fred Olsen up to 45% saving weekend Sale

Fred Olsen have some very special fares on selected cruises in their weekend sale with up to 45% discount of the brochured fare, bookable from today until Tuesday 3rd April 2012. Sailings are on selected cruises for 2012 departures

Cruises (up to 45% saving)

28/04/12  7 Nts Iberia

12/05/12 14 Nts Western Mediterranean

26/05/12  3 Nts Mini Cruise

29/05/12 8 Nts Norway

11/06/12  10 Nts UK & Ireland

14/06/12  13 Nts North Cape

24/06/12  13 Nts Baltic

07/07/12  15 Nts Central Mediterranean

As with any sale weekend we expect there to be a high demand and availability to sell fast, so why not call me now for up to the minute availability

0800 4086101

kerries@cruise.co.uk

Tags: adonia, arcadia, aurora, azura, balcony, baltic, black sea, britain, british isles, cabin, central med, complimentary cabin upgrade, cruise, cruise deals, cruise holiday, cruise line, cruise news, cruise savings, cruise ship, cruise upgrade, cruises, cruising, cunard, cunard cruises, destination, fjords, france, fred olsen cruises, fred. olsen, iceland, Mediterranean, Mediterranean cruise, northern europe, ocean, oceana, on board credit, p&o, p&o cruises, princess, princess cruises, sailing, ship, ventura, western med
Filed under: Sales

Having children myself I was always a bit nervous in trying a cruise with my children and MSC , as I have always had very mixed feedback in regards to the clubs on board.  It seems though that my reservations are no longer an issue as they have re-vamped their kids clubs. With kids only paying the port taxes and flights if applicable (non ex uk departures) on  MSC cruises the value for family cruising is incredible.  Let me tell you a bit about the changes:

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Four age groups and nanny’s hour

Four separate Kids’ Club programmes are available, each tailored to a specific age group.
• The Mini Club sends three to six year old sailors on a magical voyage of discovery and amazing adventures through enchanted oceans.
• Seven to 11 year olds are invited to join the pirate crew of the Junior Club and set off in search of buried treasure on an action-packed adventure towards uncharted islands.
• The Y-Team is the perfect choice for 12 to 14 year olds. Why? Because they’ll meet new friends, do exciting new things and have a great time every day! That’s why!
• MSC Generation teen club makes it easy for 15 to 17 year olds to get connected with the coolest crew on board and spend time with other people their age.

Every morning from 09.00 to 10.00 MSC have introduced nanny’s hour,, a special programme for babies and toddlers aged 10 to 36 months. The staff are there to organize dedicated games and activities aimed specifically at our youngest guests and their parents, including playing with bricks, baby disco, puzzle games, and drawing.

Opening hours

On both days in port and days at sea the Mini Club and Junior clubs opening times have now been extended. From 09:00- 23:00,

 parents can leave their children in the safe hands of mini club staff while they enjoy shore excursions or simply relax on board.

For kids with bags of energy

Basketball and soccer tournaments, table soccer, carnival parades, volley ball, crazy ping pong, karaoke, treasure hunts, dance competitions, SMS parties, and Miss and Mr Teen are just some of the dynamic activities on offer for kids and teens with bags of energy.

For budding artists

Kids can channel their creativity into drawing, playing with plasticine, making mosaics, painting self-portraits, designing masks, carnival costumes and t-shirts, face-painting and much, much more.

Future journalists and cartoonists will be proud to see their work published in the new kids’ newspaper, and the Mini Club library has been enriched with books and comics for all those bookworms on board.

More activities, more space

Space on board dedicated to these programmes has also expanded and kids can now make better use of other areas of the ship, including the disco, the theatre and the sports courts. On Musica and Lirica class cruise ships, a special dance floor has even been dedicated to kids and teens so they can show off their moves.

Expanded gaming with Microsoft Xbox Kinetic and Nintendo Wii

 

The choice of games has also been enhanced, and the teen area on board every ship in the MSC fleet, excluding MSC Melody, is now equipped with a Microsoft XBox Kinetic, a Nintendo Wii, and the following selection of games: Kinect Sport, Kinect Dance Central, Kinect Yoostar 2: in the movies, Wii Sport, Super Mario Galaxy and Animal Crossing.

The teen area really is the place to be: in addition to the play corner with X Box and Wii, a musical docking station for iPods, iPhones, iPads and USB readers, and a social corner connected to Net TV and with Bluetooth keyboards are also available.

MSC Fantasia, MSC Splendida and MSC Divina have expanded gaming even further. Each cabin in the exclusive MSC Yacht club is equipped with a Nintendo Wii and the game Wii Sport. The following games can also be requested through the concierge service: Wii Mario Kart, Wii Party, Wii Mario Sport Mix, Wii Fit Plus+ BB, Wii Mario Power Tennis, Wii Fifa 11, Wii Super Mario Galaxy 2, Wii New Super Mario Bros. The sports bars and maxi screen by one of pools will also be equipped with Nintendo Wiis.

It’s show time!

 

On each ship, on one special afternoon during every cruise, Tarzan, Cinderella, Aladdin, Snow White and Pinocchio will dance and sing especially for children under 12 years and their families, in a dedicated performance in the theatre. It’s show time!, a special performance made by children, will also be put on in the theatre for kids to show off their theatrical skills to a large audience.

Peace of mind

MSC is also investing in its Kids’ Programmes by increasing the ratio of staff to children and establishing new criteria for the hiring of counsellors. This includes the requirement of a college degree in recreation or child care, or the equivalent experience.

New dedicated welcome desks for the handover of security bracelets have been set up, and pagers and beepers will be available for rent for the parents/supervising adults of children who are three to five years old, children with special medical conditions and children with special needs.

So sit back and relax, safe in the knowledge that your children are in great hands and having a great time.

We currently have some fantastic offers for families travelling with Msc Cruises please feel free to contact me for prices and availability or to let me know about your family experience with MSC.

kerries@cruise.co.uk

0800 4086101

Tags: babies and toddlers on board, childrens entertainment, cruise, cruise deals, cruise disco, cruise entertainment, cruise holiday, cruise line, cruise news, cruise ship, cruise with children, cruises, cruising, destination, holiday, holidays, junior club, mini club, mini club library#, msc, msc cruise with kids, msc cruises, msc divina, msc fantasia, msc kids clubs, msc splendida, msc yacht club, nannys hour, ocean, sailing, ship, shore excursions, space on board program, tourism, travel
Filed under: Cruising with children

Cruising with or without children is always something I feel clients know exactly their preference and will always stick to this. It’s not to say that all cruise passengers without children wish to solely travel on a ship that excludes children, as many I speak to also like the company of little people and love to watch them enjoy themselves. Many factors need to be taken into consideration and not just the choice of choosing a ship that is adults only. The time of year you are looking to travel, the itinerary and the ship can all have a huge influence in the amount of children likely to be on board at any given time. For example if you are looking to travel in early July just before the schools break up, there will generally be a lot lower numbers of children, although there may be lots of pre-school children travelling also at this time.

My advice is if you definitely do not want to be surrounded by children, would be to opt for an adult’s only ship. They tend to be slightly smaller in size, offer a more intimate cruise and be more traditional.

I have Complied a guide below to help you choose the one best suited to your requirements.

P & O Cruises:

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Adonia – she is the newest and smallest member of P&O’s fleet carrying only 710 passengers and having joined P&O in 2011.

Arcadia – she carries around 2000 passengers and is a firm favourite with P&O clients

Oriana – she is a former family vessel, only having moved into the adult’s only market in December 2012 after short a re-fit, she carries around 1800 passengers.

Read some interesting P&O Cruise reviews or even write one yourself.

Cruise & Maritime:

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Marco Polo – This is one of the traditional liners which does not have the glitz and modern glam of the larger liners but she is very traditional and popular with the cruisers she attracts. Marco Polo carries around passengers and none under the age of 16 years.

Thomson Cruises:

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Although Thomson do not have specific adult only ship’s, they do however on various cruises through the year offer the chance to cruise with no children under the age of 16 years of age allowed. Please contact me for more details on these specific cruises.

Voyages to Antiquity:

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Tend to attract the more mature customer and do not take bookings from anyone under 12 years of age.

Voyages of Discovery:

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Voyages are very similar to Voyage to Antiquity but no children under the age of 11 years.

Other Cruise Lines which may not have an adult only policy, but are less likely to attract children are:

Star Clippers:

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This tall ship line appeals mainly to adults and possibly parents with older children

This is also the case for Swan Hellenic, and Hutigruten who may attract older children due to the cultural nature of the destinations these lines visit.

As I mentioned earlier in my blog, choosing the right destination can also be a factor in how many children will be on board a particular cruise. For example Cunard who offer three ships catering for families – on their ships which cruise transatlantic or visiting the Norwegian Fjords & Baltic tend to attract lower numbers of families.

Star ratings can also influence the choice, for example while six – star cruises do take bookings for families with young children due to the lack of children’s facilities and the higher pricings these will deter many.

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Silversea and Seabourn are likely to have small numbers of families on board mainly during the school holidays but unlike for example P&O cruises the numbers will remain relatively low. This can also be said for Azamara, Oceania and SeaDream Yacht Club

River and expeditionary cruises also generally offer adult – friendly cruising and while some take children from 8 years, most are from the age of 12 years upwards.

Do you prefer a floating child free haven or do you like to have the little ones on board? It seems a very split choice; let me know what you prefer!!!

kerries@cruise.co.uk

0844 4086101

Tags: caribbean cruises, cheap cruises, children onboard, cruise, cruise deals, cruise kid programs, cruise kids clubs, cruise line, cruise news, cruise ship, cruise with children, cruise without children, cruises, cruises from southampton, cruising, last minute cruises, med cruises, p&o, p&o cruise reviews, p&o cruises
Filed under: Adults only cruising