17 December 2023

Wow, what a fantastic hotel. The new iconic landmark of Dubai, Atlantis The Royal welcomes you to an experience that will completely redefine your perspective of luxury. The stunning, opulent and uber-glamorous Atlantis the Royal took 10 years to build and oh my goodness it was worth the wait! We stayed in an upgraded room Club Royal King room, which means we got club benefits, including lounge access, for afternoon tea and drinks. The room was beautiful and had the most comfiest bed ever. With a gorgeous bathroom and huge bathtub. We enjoyed some beautiful food while we stayed at Atlantis the Royal. An amazing meal at Milos which was delicious. Recognised as one of the finest Mediterranean seafood restaurants in the world, and I tried Octopus, and actually enjoyed it. A visit to Gastronomy for breakfast is a must, it’s essential to book at least bed and breakfast when you stay at the Atlantis the Royal, you do NOT want to miss this! Breakfast at Gastronomy at Atlantis the Royal. This is hands down the best breakfast offering I’ve ever seen with something for everyone, it was really hard to choose what to have. We also enjoyed a lovely meal at Ling Ling, a destination dining Asian infusion restaurant, a fabulous dining venue with delicious food. Cloud 22 is a must when you stay at Atlantis the Royal. With breath taking views and ultra luxurious setting, definitely the most Instagrammable spot in the hotel. We also enjoyed a cabana at Nobu by the Beach for the day. A beautiful beach club with beautiful pool area and beach access. If you’re searching to redefine your perspective of luxury, with world-leading design around every corner and where the highest level of service sets a new standard in excellence, then Atlantis The Royal is exactly where you should be. Please get in touch for more information and to visit Atlantis the Royal.

12 December 2023

This August we sailed as a family on Celebrity Silhouette from Southampton to the beautiful Norwegian Fjords. We sailed on this ship in 2022 and we were all looking forward to getting back on board. She is a lovely size of ship at 122000 tonnes, and there was plenty of space on board even though she was full. The service on board was second to none, and everyone was very attentive. We ate in the main dining room for a few of our evening meals and other times in the Oceanview café which was the buffet. There was an amazing amount of choice here for breakfast. lunch and evening meal, plus pizza was available late into the evening too. We had a daily coffee and cake in Café al bacio, one of our favourite areas on board. We had the All Included package on this cruise, which meant we had the classic drinks package and basic WIFI included. We did upgrade Evie to the better WIFI (teenagers), but the basic WIFI does let you have access to emails and social media platforms, so was adequate for us. If you didn't have the drinks package, café al bacio would be an extra cost. This year we booked an inside cabin on deck 7. It was exactly the same size and layout as the balcony cabin we had the previous year, and there was plenty of space for the 3 of us. We visited Bergen, Stavanger, Olden and Kristiansand on our cruise and had 2 sea days. The scenery was stunning, especially on the sail out of Olden, and we enjoyed this sat in the Sky Lounge, right at the front of the ship, perfect viewing point. In Bergen we did an excursion to the Funicular. The view from the top was beautiful and we had really good views of the ship and over Bergen itself. Tip for this tour, is to head there early. The queue when we got off was very long and stretched back on to the street. Our daughter Evie was 15 when we went, and she made lots of friends in the teen club area and they had lots of activities tailored to their age group, but they also enjoyed the silent disco and shows on board. We were very luck with the weather too, beautiful sunshine most days and very calm seas. I would definitely go back to the Fjords in the future, so clean and the scenery is gorgeous. Please feel free to get in touch if you would like anymore information about Celebrity Cruises or the Norwegian Fjords. I will be happy to help.

19 July 2023

Oceania Vista I was lucky enough to be invited on Vista, a new ship for Oceania Cruises in May 2023. Oceania Cruises are a luxury cruise line with seven ships. Smaller in size to some of the other companies ships but they are beautiful. I would say ideal for people 40+ who like the finer things in life, enjoy fabulous service, and exploring different destinations. We embarked in Genoa and visited Monte Carlo, Livorno, where we went to Lucca, and we disembarked in Rome. Being a smaller ship, we docked at Monte Carlo rather than having to have tender boats to and from the ship. There was a choice of excursions on offer for both ports and they do cater for everyone’s tastes. The ship Vista itself is beautiful. The décor and furnishings in the public area’s was first class, along with the service from all the staff we met on board. We ate in the main dining room, Red Ginger and The Polo Grill for dinner, and the Terrace Cafe buffet restaurant and Barista’s café for breakfast on board and the food was delicious in every venue. Oceania is definitely a ship for foodies. We caught a show one night on board and the standard was really good, professional singers and the live band was entertaining. Our cabin was a concierge level veranda cabin on deck ten. Spacious, modern and lots of storage space, the bathroom and shower, were the largest I have seen on any ship. My favourite bit of the ship was the pool area and the beds round the pool under the leaves. It was so relaxing to sit there and enjoying the sunshine and dip my feet in the water when I wanted and enjoy a drink round the pool. I would definitely recommend Oceania Cruises for anyone looking for a smaller ship experience, who wants to experience luxury and good food at sea and exploring amazing destinations. I have attached some photos from my trip. Please feel free to reach out with any queries for Oceania Cruises.

09 December 2019

I visited Niyama Private Islands Maldives in June 2019 and had a fabulous time. Niyama is a much bigger resort. Spread over two islands interconnected by a wooden bridge. One Island is called Play which is aimed at surfers and families and the other island is called Chill, aimed at couples and larger families and offers a wealth of activities for all the family. Niyama is a much more active resort, with a daily calendar of activities ranging from aqua Zumba and beach volleyball, to coconut painting and bracelet making. With one of the largest water-based offerings, you can gain your Padi qualification, go snorkelling, parasailing or jet skiing to name a few, plus it’s one of the only resorts in the Maldives with a surf school, the chance to try a Seabob and even the new craze; jet packing. There’s a 24/7 fitness centre on site, a games room with everything from Xbox stations, pool table and table tennis to a mini cinema and even a golf simulator (both for private hire). For children, the kids club is extensive, with a water zone, climbing wall, stage and trampoline etc. At USD $20-30+ per hour it’s not cheap but with children accepted from 12 months and babysitting also available, it offers a nice respite if mum and dad need some alone time. One of the strong points about Niyama is its restaurant offerings, they’ve been creative in developing unique environments. Epicure is an airy indoor buffet restaurant that's perfect for a leisurely breakfast and then there's a fantastic outdoor beach restaurant called Dune that offers a wide-ranging menu at lunchtime. We dined at Nest, an elevated restaurant the trees, with its Asian influenced menu, and it was a lovely atmosphere in the trees. We also ate at Tribal, an African village setting, and we enjoyed fabulous food here too. You can have a 72-day dry aged steak! We visited the Edge seafood restaurant which you have to get to by boat and then we went 6m under water and had cocktails at Subsix. There is also the rooftop lounge Fahrenheit which features live music and DJ's in the evenings where you can enjoy late night drinks. My house for the few days was a beach pool bungalow, and I could just see the sea from my veranda, peeping through the trees, so the pool area was mostly private. The room was very large and comfortable. The bathrooms here again are outside, and I had a visit from a fruit bat one evening at the bottom end of the bathroom in the trees which was fascinating. To get to Niyama we flew by seaplane. They are quite small, and your luggage is stored in the plane with you, and they seat around 16 people. The journey was around 45 minutes from Male. I could recommend Niyama to a range of people who are looking for a more active Maldives holiday but if you wanted to go and just relax, there are some beautiful places on the island. Before travelling to the Maldives, I would have just recommended to couple and honeymooners but a group of friends or couples would enjoy these islands for sure.

07 July 2019

This was my first visit to the Maldives and I really didn’t know what to expect but I really was wowed by the islands. I’ve not been to anywhere like it before. My first stay was at Anantara Dhigu Island where we received a fabulous welcome from the staff and a lovely cooling coconut to refresh us after our journey. We flew via Dubai on Emirates and then it is around a 40-minute speedboat transfer from the airport, but you are met off the flight and taken to a lounge where you check in and they then escort you to the boats outside. Faultless arrival for us and we were on our way within 20 minutes. I was a bit anxious of the boat journey, but it was quick, and you were given water on board. We were shown to our Beach Villas and our luggage followed on shortly after. I stayed in a Beach Villa (not sure if was Sunrise/Sunset). It was a lovely large villa with lots of space inside and a very comfy bed. An outside bathroom and a veranda with a day bed and table and chairs. Sheltered from direct view of the beach but you are only 5 metres away from the beach with sun loungers on for each villa. Bathrooms were enormous with a freestanding bath. The beach villas have a sofa bed for a third person and there is room to put in an extra child bed too. There are 3 islands here - Veli, Dhigu and Naladu! My house was on Dhigu which is where children are welcome. Veli is adult only and Naladu only has 22 rooms but children can stay here. Naladu guests have access to the other islands but visitors to Dhigu or Veli cannot go to Naladu. We had a tour of most of the room types on the Islands and all were very tastefully decorated and the houses on Naladu definitely have the wow factor. I did think before I went, I would love to be in one of the over the water villas but after visiting all the villas, my favourite was the beach villas. It was lovely to just wander out of the villa and you’re directly on the beach or within a couple of minutes’ walk from the amenities. Don’t get me wrong, the over the water villas are wonderful, but just a little further out. There was a huge range of choice for breakfast in the Fushi Cafe, which does cater for everyone's taste. It had an egg menu, and these were cooked fresh for you. We had a lovely evening meal at Sea Fire & Salt and the sunset from here was amazing. We also ate at Origami Japanese Restaurant, which is located on Veli Island. You need to get a small boat over to Veli which takes around 3 minutes. I had a fabulous massage at the spa and would recommend, set over the water and you can see the fish through a glass floor while having a massage. The staff are fabulous. The service and attention to detail from all the staff was amazing and we left as friends rather than as customer. I would definitely return to Dhigu, even though it was a small island, it really was paradise.

05 October 2018

In August I got an opportunity to visit Oceania Marina while she was docked in Liverpool. My first impression was that she was bigger than I thought she was going to be, and I couldn’t wait to get on for a look. Oceania Cruises are a 5* plus cruise line and has a relaxed atmosphere like a country club. They are very relaxed, elegant and informal but shine through their service to their guests, and the food, oh my, delicious. Oceania are renowned for the finest food at sea and spend more per person on food than any other cruise line. I had a lovely tour of the ship and her facilities and then we were treated to a spectacular lunch in the main dining room. My photos really don’t do the ship justice but will give you a flavour of life on board, Here’s some of the highlights of Cruising with Oceania. Luxurious yet relaxed elegant casual ambiance Port-intensive itineraries featuring must-see destinations and boutique ports Multiple open-seating gourmet dining venues, at no additional charge High-speed Internet Free and unlimited soft drinks, bottled water, cappuccino, espresso, teas and juices Spacious, sumptuously appointed suites and staterooms 24-hour Butler service in all suites Canyon Ranch ® spa treatments and cuisine Dedicated concierges for personalised service Highly-trained staff selected from internationally acclaimed five-star hotels and restaurants Art masterpieces, rich fabrics and stylish appointments create a casual, sophisticated elegance The comfort of smoke-free environments throughout virtually the entirety of our ships They have six ships. There are two Oceania Class ships, Marina and Riviera which are both 66084 tonnes but only carry 1250 guests which is probably around 1000 less people than other similar size ships with other cruise lines. There are four Regatta Class ships, Regatta, Insignia, Nautica and Sirena which are 30277 tonnes, so a smaller more intimate ship which only carry 684 people. It has just been announced that the four Regatta class ships will all be having a complete refit over the next two years starting with Insignia this November and finishing with Nautica in 2020. They are being completely stripped bare inside and will be literally brand new. They are going to be even more lovely once completed. Being smaller ships, they can visit more destinations which are off the beaten path and they have over 250 unique itineraries to choose from. Their itineraries range from 7 days to 180 days around the world journeys and there really is an itinerary to suit everyone. Oceania Cruises would suit over 50’s guests who are possibly retired or semi-retired and have cruised before. People who appreciate fine dining with excellent service in elegant surroundings and people who will enjoy the authentic cultural experiences of the destinations. If this sounds like you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me to find out more about Oceania Cruises and to find your perfect cruise.

02 September 2018

Recently I was invited to visit Royal Princess while she was docked in Liverpool and I could take my family on with me too. It was quite a windy day but that didn’t stop all the cruise passengers getting off to enjoy Liverpool and the surrounding areas on their excursions. We were asked to do a quiz which took us all round the ship, so we could explore and see for ourselves the lovely ship. We couldn’t see any cabins this time as they were all occupied but we wandered round most of the public areas. The pool area was lovely with lots of sunbeds and chairs available for you to watch the world go by or at night, watch a movie under the stars! Also, near the pool was the Prego Pizza and Trident Grill, where you could grab a slice of pizza or burger if you wanted a snack. We did have the pizza, it was delicious. There is also an adult pool area called The Sanctuary. We passed lots of bar areas when we were walking so you would never be short of somewhere to sit and listen to some entertainment and enjoy a drink. We visited the Horizon Court buffet restaurant for lunch too, and there was lots of choice of food available. I enjoyed a vegetable curry with rice, it was delicious. We didn’t have any desserts as we were too full but there was plenty of choice. Evie did enjoy an ice cream from the pool deck in the afternoon though. We also walked over The Seawalk. It was a bit nerve wracking as its 128 feet above the waves and comes out 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship but gives you a fabulous view below, not for the feint hearted though. As it was a family day, the lovely Princess Cruise representatives let the children colour in a t-shirt in the kid’s club and we all got to have a play on the air hockey table, Wii games, and bowling and make lots of craft items too. The kids would not be bored on this ship. The older kids even have their own hot tub! I was a bit disappointed as I didn’t see Timothy off the cruise programme as this is the ship he was on, but it wasn’t to be. We still had lots of fun and being able to take my family on board with me too was a great treat. I hope you enjoy some of my photos and if you have any queries about Royal Princess or any other Princess cruise, just let me know.

11 June 2018

My family and I have recently cruised on the newly renovated Independence of the Seas from Southampton. She has undergone a multimillion dollar make over and the ship was fabulous. Our itinerary wasn't the most glamorous that was available, but the dates fit with our half term. We visited Cherbourg in France and Cobh for Cork in Ireland. On our arrival on board we headed straight for a light refreshment (or 2) at the Playmakers bar which is a new addition to the ship. It's a sports bar with pool tables and big screen TV's. We then headed off to investigate. The ship is beautiful, spotless and not as cramped as you might think with over 3600 guests on board. There are lots of places around the ship when we looked round that didn’t have anyone around. The only time we struggled to find a seat was on the formal night when everyone was gathering on the Royal Promenade for the Captain’s address but apart from that we could always get a seat. Our favourite place to have a drink in the evening was in the Champagne bar, a great place to watch the world go by and meet up with our friends after dinner. The entertainment on the ship was fabulous, and there was never a dull moment. From day time quizzes, competitions around the pool, films being shown on the screen round the pool and great evening shows, you were never bored. We went to find the new additions to Independence, the two new waterslides and the Skypad trampoline park. These were at the back of the ship near the flow rider. We weren’t adventurous enough and we didn’t try them, but they did look like lots of fun for the people brave enough to have a go. It was also great fun to watch people on the Flowrider, but you had to be pretty good to be able to do it. And then there was the food. Oh my word, the food was amazing. We ate regularly in the Windjammer buffet restaurant, and we ate breakfast, lunch and dinner in here over the week. The choice at each meal was amazing, and the quality of the food was brilliant. We often said to each other that the standard they kept for every meal was superb. They do have a gluten free section too on the buffet. One evening I had never seen such an array of cakes, so I had to try one. We also ate dinner in the main restaurant. The service in here was impeccable and what you would expect from a good restaurant. The choice of food on the menu each evening was good and varied and the menus did change daily. The food in here was again delicious and was probably my favourite place to eat. We did eat one night at Chops Grille which is a speciality restaurant. I had the 9oz steak mignon and they brought us a selection of side dishes to share, so we had a bit of everything with our meals. This was again superb. For lunch one day we ate at Johnny Rockets which is an American diner. They serve burgers, hot dogs, shakes and sides and it was really good. And if you’re lucky you’ll get a dance off the staff. Great atmosphere in here with great music while you eat. We ate inside as it was raining at the time, but you can eat outside too here. We all said the food was brilliant wherever you ate. We bought the deluxe drinks package before our cruise and a soda package for my daughter. We really got the benefit from this drinks package and I would encourage anyone travelling to pre-purchase this before you get on board. We could have any drink on the menu’s up to $14 each and if it went over the $14 you just paid the difference. You just show your card to the bar staff member and they know you have the drinks package, it was all so easy and straightforward without worrying how much you were spending. I’ve popped a photo on in one of the lifts. We loved how they changed the day of the week to remind you what day it was, this was done in every lift every day, it was the little things too which made it fabulous. I hope you enjoy reading about my holiday and enjoy the photos and if you do have any queries please do get in touch. I could really go on and on as I loved it so much, and we’re hoping to get on again at some point.

27 January 2018

You may be thinking of taking a cruise for the first time or indeed be an experienced cruiser that is thinking about trying another line, hopefully the below guide will give you an insight as to what each cruise line has to offer and of course you can always call me for more advice. P&O CRUISES P&O cruises have seven ships in their fleet: the newest being their flagship Britannia. P&O have two new ships on order, one arriving in 2020 and one in 2022. They are known for offering guests Strictly Come Dancing at Sea and for their celebrity chef Food Heroes on board ships. They offer the most cruises out of Southampton, including lots of mini cruises and world cruises that depart in January You would like P&O if… • You like home comforts such as tea and coffee making facilities in your cabin and a “British” feel. • You wanted an adult only cruise - two ships are for adults only - Arcadia and Oriana • You want to take the family then try Aurora, Oceana, Ventura and Britannia Royal Caribbean Cruises Royal Caribbean have 25 ships in their fleet and they range from small to super-size! Their largest ship Harmony of The Seas can take up to 5,400 passengers but don’t let this put you off, the ships may be big but there is plenty of space on board and with things like sky diving, bumper cars, surfing, rock climbing, ice skating and a full-size carousel on board some of their ships there is plenty to do. Independence of The Seas is about to have a multimillion pound makeover that will include the first trampoline park at Sea! You would like Royal Caribbean if… • You are a family (the kids and teens clubs are amazing) • You want a more relaxed atmosphere on board • You like West End Show Productions and great entertainment • You are a first-time cruiser as there are lots of different ships, you will find one that suits you Cunard Cruises Cunard are very much a traditional cruise line, I would say more liners than cruise ships, kind of along the lines of Titanic. There are three ships, one being the Queen Mary which was built specifically to do a Transatlantic sailing (Southampton to New York). This particular ship is the only one I am aware of that also has its own deck for dogs, with kennels and a full time “doggy” butler. As well as the Transatlantic, Cunard also operate world cruises in January, mini cruises and sailings from Southampton throughout the year You would like Cunard Cruises if … • You like formality and tradition • You like exceptional service • You like to dress up of an evening • You can’t bear to be parted from your furry friend whilst on holiday MSC CRUISES MSC Cruises have 16 ships in their fleet and they sail mostly in the Med, The Caribbean, Dubai, Northern Europe and South America. Like Royal Caribbean, most of these ships are big ones but with lots to do on board including water slides and a bowling alley. MSC are a little different, being Mediterranean you will find that the food and entertainment reflect that. However they do have a ship called Magnifica which is sailing from Southampton next year to Northern Europe and this ship will have a more British feel, with tea and coffee making facilities in the cabins, British comedians and more British inspired food. You would like MSC Cruises if … • You have a family with children (kid’s prices are normally very good with MSC) • You want to mix with lots of different nationalities • You want to visit lots of ports • You are price conscious (MSC are very competitively priced) • You drink – MSC have one of the best priced drinks packages at sea! Norwegian Cruise Line NCL have 11 ships in their fleet and sail almost worldwide to Australia, Hawaii, South America, Alaska, Canada, Caribbean, Asia and of course in Europe. On NCL there are no set dinner times, no dress codes - you do as you wish when you wish. There’s great entertainment on board including shows, comedy clubs, ice bars, bowling alleys, water slides and kid’s clubs. Prices include all drinks and tips. NCL were also the first cruise line to build cabins specifically designed for solo travellers. Cruise lines are notorious for charging high single supplements but on a few of the NCL ships they have Studio Cabins that are very affordable. You would like NCL if … • You are a couple or travelling with a group and prefer a relaxed informal style of cruise • You are a family (lots for everyone to do) • You like to budget all your costs prior to your holiday (tips/drinks already included) Celebrity Cruise Line Celebrity are a 5* type of a cruise line, a bit classier than Royal Caribbean but not as formal or traditional as Cunard. They have speciality restaurants on board, martini bars, wine bars, even on some ships a lawn club with real grass where you can have a picnic. In my opinion, although they do cater for families and have kids/teen clubs, there are not so many things on board for kids to do but for couples or groups of friends they are brilliant and have some amazing itineraries. As well as Europe Celebrity cruise to lots of different places including Antarctica, The Galapagos, India, South Pacific, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, Caribbean, Asia and Alaska to name but a few. You may have seen in the news about their newest ship which will sail from 2018 is called The Edge. The design is like nothing you have seen before and will be a real game changer for cruising. You would like Celebrity if … • You are a couple or travelling with a group of friends • You like to eat out in different restaurants • You want to cruise to different destinations Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Fred Olsen are a family run cruise line that have four ships, which are much smaller than other cruise lines and generally appeal to the older market. They also have one river cruise ship called Brabant. They are well known for their friendliness and levels of service. They sail from lots of ports in the UK and sail all over the world including Europe, The Amazon, Indian Ocean, South Africa, Norwegian Fjords, The British Isles and many more. Each evening on most cruises there are hosted dance events, so great if you are into Ballroom Dancing etc, there is entertainment and lots of guest speakers and lectures throughout the cruise, because the ships are smaller you do feel like you are getting a more personal service, however if you are looking for lots of activities or to party all night then this wouldn’t be the cruise line for you. You would like Fred Olsen if … •You are of an older age •You like good service and a very friendly ship •You like to visit smaller ports of call (because the ships are smaller they can access places that the big ships can’t)

15 June 2016

This half term my family and I went to stay at Haven Holidays Thornwick Bay. This is a new park which has only recently opened as Haven. I was a bit dubious as we love visiting their Reighton Sands Park on the Yorkshire Coast but couldn't get the availability there. To say we loved Thornwick Bay is an understatement. The park setting is cliff top near to Flamborough, and there are some lovely views and it's easily accessible by car. Every member of staff we met, or walked past was friendly and acknowledged you even if it was just with a smile. The standard of the facilities is great, and very clean, which you would expect being brand new. The pool was great and my daughter was made up that there were slides and a splash area with a big tipping bucket, although this did empty with some force, but we spent a lot of time in the pool. We unfortunately didn't take part in any of the children's activities during the day as we went off site. They have lots of nature round them and there are activities with the ranger called Nature Rockz all associated with nature. The evening entertainment was first class and different to what I would say is usual Haven entertainment. It started from 7pm with one of the Seaside Squad doing their thing, we saw Rory and Anxious. Then the team of entertainers did something new, Adventure Live. This was 2 of the entertainers who spilt the children in 2 teams and they competed against each other in daft activities but the kids loved it, and the adults to be honest! My husband did a great dance with my daughter when she had to grab a parent! This is fresh and entertaining to watch for adults and for the kids to take part in. It really did make our evenings as Evie loved it. The entertainment staff Neil and Hollie were superb and worked really hard. One of the evenings instead of the seaside squad and adventure live, there was a quiz, we assumed it was the staff's night off but even this was great to take part in and used up to date technology to record your answers, so no pen and paper or cheating! There were lots of families taking part and lots of competition to win. Our accommodation, which was a Prestige 3 bedroomed caravan was lovely and very new. There was a new restaurant on site, The Lighthouse. The food looked lovely but we didn't eat in here but did take advantage that they had pizza oven and did pizzas to take out, they were delicious and handy too. (You can eat them in the restaurant too). There is also a cafe which is open over lunch time which serves Paninis and sandwiches etc. Overall we all enjoyed it and had an amazing 4 nights which was made even better by the fantastic weather we had too! We will go back to Thornwick Bay as we enjoyed it so much and hope they roll out the entertainment to their other parks too. Well done Haven!

02 June 2016

Caribbean Princess May 2016 I have just returned from a 4 night cruise on Caribbean Princess and I loved it. Where do I start? The ship is lovely, yes it’s big, (not as big as some of the newer ships coming out at the moment) but I never felt like I was on a big ship. She’s light and airy. Once I was on board for a few hours I managed to navigate round quite well, and when we did get a bit stuck there was always a friendly crew member around to ask. She has a guest Capacity of 3,142 passengers and is 112,894 tonnes, so quite big. The ship was full when we sailed and I never felt like it was. The most passengers I saw at one time was in the main dining room for dinner. You will always be able to find a quiet spot to yourself if you wanted too. The entertainment on board is super. From the amazing shows on board in the Theatre, to sitting with a drink and listening to a singer in the lounge the choice is yours. And you can even dance the night away in the nightclub which is at the back of the ship called Skywalkers. I think we visited most venues, just to tell you all about them of course! There were some things we didn’t get round to trying, like the movies under the stars, watching one of the latest films on the lido deck, with blankets and freshly popped popcorn! There was always lots going on during the daytime to keep you entertained too. On one day the weather was a bit rainy and we didn’t have time to get off to visit Guernsey due to some training we had so we went in the pool in The Sanctuary. It was lovely and warm and didn’t matter to us that it was spitting with rain. The Americans thought we were a bit silly but we had a lovely relaxing afternoon and there was only us in the pool! There are also children’s clubs on board but there didn’t seem to be many children on board but the clubs were still running for the children they had and the programme looked good. They have teamed up with The Discovery Channel and a lot of the activities are very educating while also being fun to do. Food, where do I start! Fabulous Food. I know why people now diet to go on a cruise. The food was lovely and you can literally eat 24/7 if you like. I ate far too much but again, had to test it out for you! We dined in the main restaurant twice and the food was always delicious, but also we dined in Sabatini’s, the Italian Restaurant which was divine and the Crown Grill which is steak and seafood grill, this was probably my favourite. You do have to pay a cover charge to eat at Sabatini’s and Crown Grill but it is worth the extra and would recommend you try them. The Horizon Buffet was our choice some days for lunch and again the quality and choice of food was super. And you must try the Prego the poolside Pizzeria, freshly made pizza. These were amazing. All the food on Caribbean Princess is freshly made from scratch and you can tell. Our cabin was a Balcony Cabin – BE Grade on Riviera Deck and was great. Lovely big wardrobe area and floor space was good. We had twin beds so if you had a double bed configuration you would have a bit more space. The balcony was lovely with chairs and a table and was great to get some fresh air without having to go up on deck. All this is on the ship and haven’t said anything about the ports we visited but really that’s an added bonus to me. I could have easily stayed on board to do the activities and relax and eat! There just didn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to sample everything. I would love to take my family back on Caribbean Princess and hopefully we’ll get there. If you would like more information on Caribbean Princess or any of the Princess ships and itineraries please let me know and I’ll be happy to help you.

18 July 2015

Recently I was very fortunate to receive an invitation to take a look round Azamara Quest whilst she was docked in Liverpool for the day and enjoy lunch on board. I had a fabulous time and really enjoyed discovering the differences on an Azamara ship. She really is a boutique floating hotel. With only 686 guests on board it felt very personal and very professional and just the right size to enjoy the ship and her facilities. With being smaller the ships can get into ports which the bigger ships can’t, and so can take you to some amazing destinations. The ships in 2016 both Quest and Journey will be having total refurbishments and they have said they will both look great, more modern and lighter but to be honest she looked great when I was on board. She had quite a relaxed feel about her which I liked and it was good to see actual guests enjoying their time on board too. You get quite a lot included on an Azamara Cruise. • AzAmazing Evenings event (on most voyages) • Select standard spirits, international beers and wines • Gratuities • Bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas • Self-service laundry • Shuttle service to and from port communities, where available • Concierge services for personal guidance and reservations Quite different to some other cruise lines. I was also lucky enough to experience an AzAmazing Evening with the guests on board and it was fantastic. With being in Liverpool we were taken to Liverpool Cathedral and enjoyed singers and then the Cavern Club Beatles entertained us and it was an electric atmosphere. The guests definitely enjoyed themselves. There isn’t any children’s facilities on board but they do take children on bookings, and will try and set a few facilities up for them such as a Wii but I would say they are more adult ships to enjoy fine dining and great itineraries. There is a choice of restaurants and we were lucky to dine in Aqualina, which is a specialty restaurant for lunch and the food was delicious, I can see why people were taking advantage of the on board gym facilities! For more information on Azamara and their itineraries and prices, please get in contact.

20 May 2015

In March this year I was one of the lucky agents to be invited by P&O to spend a day and evening on board their new ship Britannia in Southampton. I couldn’t wait to get on board and have a look round this brand new ship and I wasn’t disappointed, and I would like to thank P&O for their fabulous hospitality. Britannia was brought together by world-leading interior design experts to represent the best of British style and elegance. The atrium was spectacular with its centrepiece the Star Burst sculpture, and is arranged over three decks. Definitely a draw for those holiday photos. It was lovely being able to wander around and see what was round the next corner. I loved the relaxed feel being aboard and in the evening we were spoiled for entertainment. We couldn’t decide and had another look around the ship and came across various acts and artists in different venues so there is really something for everyone. I loved the Crow’s Nest bar where they had over 20 different types of Gin! Definitely worth a visit. The Spa facilities on board are lovely and perfect for a spot of indulgence. The Spa boasts some brand new industry leading features such as Oasis Villa – a treatment room for couples or groups, a salt therapy caldarium and a hydrotherapy suite with heated lounges and pool with reflexology, massaging jets and air recliners. All cabins are furnished in a boutique style, with soothing colour schemes and unrivalled entertainment options. All outside rooms feature balconies – a first for a P&O Cruises ship. Food will be a hugely important feature of the Britannia experience. We had a Marco Pierre White menu and it was divine! There is a choice between three signature restaurants, serving food from all corners of the world around the clock. P&O have lined up a Who’s Who of British food – including James Martin, Mary Berry and Marco Pierre White – to lead celebrity masterclasses on select Britannia sailings I was really impressed with the children’s facilities I saw on board and what was available for the kids to do in the clubs. They really wouldn’t be bored and you would struggle to get them out! I’m sure my 7 year old would have a ball and make lots of friends. I haven’t covered half of what is on board and I hope to go back on Britannia again with my family at some point and share it with them. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you would like to holiday on Britannia, I’m sure I can help.