May madness – Ends Tuesday 31st May 2011.

Roll up, roll up, credit cards at the ready – This weekend has been one of the busiest of the year so far and its rolled over today as well, so Just as a quick word of warning, I thought Id post a quick reminder that there are a lots offers that are due to end today.

2012 – Free Car parking for Royal Caribbean is due to finish today.

Fred Olsen are due a price increase.

Royal Caribbean 4 Day sales – ends today.

Carnival Group – the parent group for P&O Cunard & Princess, along with the likelihood the prices will change, they are changing their terms and conditions!!

Balance due dates have changed, meaning that we will now collect the balance payments 17weeks prior to the sail date.
Deposits will now be – 15% plus the £50 per person cruise.co.uk deposit
World cruises will still stand at £850.00 per person.

CANCELLATION TERMS WILL CHANGE HENCE DEPOSIT AND DUE DATE CHANGING


LIST OF FIRST SAILING ON WHICH NEW CONDITIONS APPLY ARE AS FOLLOWS :


P&O Cruises
Adonia D201 03-Jan-12
Arcadia J201 09-Jan-12
Aurora R201 04-Jan-12
Azura A201 06-Jan-12
Oceana E201 08-Jan-12
Oriana X201 05-Jan-12
Ventura N201 13-Jan-12


Cunard Cruises
Queen Elizabeth Q201 20-Dec-11
Queen Mary 2 M201 19-Dec-11
Queen Victoria V201 21-Dec-11


So – come on, if there is something you have been toying with the idea of – Call me, get it booked and get the best available deals today – You never know what tomorrow will bring!

Off and away

This weekend I making the most of the bank holiday weekend, in Northamptonshire, catching up with old friends and enjoying the British inland waterways, I know everyone at Cruise.co.uk must be missing me, but I'm away and will be spending tomorrow and crick boat show, looking at some different kind of cruise vessels that I'm used to dealing with, I'm sure I wont find a boat with the service or standards of a luxury liner like Oceania cruises, however something like the the new Amsterdam wide beam narrow boat by Heritage of Evesham will surely captivate those who choose to cruise on a smaller scale.

Honey I'm home!!

After my weekend away – I'm back hard at the grindstone that is cruise.co.uk. Sometimes it’s not where you are and what your doing that makes a holiday, but the people you are with and the people who make that holiday extra special. Its friendly faces that make it!

We had a wonderful time, we visited Galstonbury & The Challice Well, this is me drinking from the well, which is meant to be healing, my Nan politely said perhaps it will cure me of my fatness!!!! Bless her indeed.

As from my last blog, I’ve spent the weekend in Western Super Mare with my family staying at the Sandringham Hotel opposite the Grand Pier. The hotel itself is under going some much needed refurbishments, we had a selection so different rooms as we were a big family group – My room was in much need of restoration it is due, whereas my Aunt and Uncles' room next door had already had the work completed to a high standard and was really neat! There are family rooms, single rooms, even some ‘Flats’ which my sister Hayley was lucky enough to have been booked into, with its own kitchen come lounge area stocked with mod cons, cooker, microwave kettle etc. I have to mention one lady who was Exceptionally good – A lady named Sue, our waitress, the most kind hearted a wonderful woman, made even a gloomy windy departure breakfast a lovely experience, she took a shine to my niece and even went so far as to buy her a small departure gift. Sue you are an absolute asset to the hotel. 

Me and my WONDERFULL Nan.

Now this all makes me think of the policy or attitude towards tipping on board ships.


Personally I agree with pre paid gratuities where possible, because staff work hard to earn those, then if any (Like Sue) goes above and beyond I will always make sure that a thank you pieces of paper graces their palms, I was wondering your thoughts on gratuities on board?

Weekend in Weston.

This weekend, I will not be in the cruise.co.uk office, I’ve booked some time off as annual leave and I’m heading off to Weston-Super-Mare .

I Say ‘I’ it’s actually a family affair, my Nan was born in Wells, Glastonbury and she wants us all to visit her home town and go to the ‘Chalice Well’ in the hope that the blessed waters will cure all manner of diseases and ailments, My fatness, (My Nan lacks normal tact and discretion, but I love her) Curtis’ diabetes and her illness too, I’m sure there is a further list in her head that we are yet to hear about.

Curtis and I will be joined with my Nan, My Mum, Sisters & their partners: Donna, my niece Mollie & Darren, Hayley & Matt, My bro’ Joe, Auntie Karen Uncle Kevin, Auntie Roz & her husband Dave. And that’s not even half of us…. So I’m sure a great weekend will be had and hopefully not too many family arguments will ruin it!

 If Id have had my way I would have taken us all on either the Celebrity Eclipse of Independence mini cruise – Much nicer than 2 nights in the Sandringham hotel. I'm sure it will be lovely - But I'm a little bit nervous as the chaos that may be upon me.

Ill be back on Monday 23rd May - So hopefully I can report well then!

WIN A FREE OCEANIA CRUISE

Ever fancied the life of Riley? I'm a big fan of luxury cruising as many of you will know from the numerous blogs I have  done on the subject over time and I though this was fantastic opportunity to try it for yourself.

CALLING A LUXURY LOVERS

OCEANIA CRUISE LINE

NEW MARINA SHIP:

Click here to enter a free sweepstakes.

A Fantastic Opportunity to Win a Ultra Luxury Cruise on Oceania Marina on 15th July 2011 for 14 nights.

You will be staying in the Veranda Balcony Suite on the ship. The Cruise will be visiting several ports in the UK & the Norwegian Fjords.

Oceania are a luxury cruise line, offering outstanding food and impeccable service. Marina is their brand new ship launched recently.

Soft drinks will be complimentary throughout the ship. You will also get return chauffeur transfers to Dover straight from your home.

(UK RESIDENTS ONLY – ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THE UK MUST BE ABLE TO GET THEMSELVES TO DOVER PORT)

GOOD LUCK - I Hope its one of my past passengers win, If your struggling to find a cruise partner - Ill be free!!!



WEDDING FEVER

Off the back of the Royal wedding, I thought Id share a little of my own news. Last night lots of the girls from cruise.co.uk got together and headed out to Zorbas in Birmingham a Greek restaurant for a night of fun and frolics Well for those of us who were not the designated driver and could stay out until the small hours!! This was all in the aid of celebrating another cruise.co.uk collaboration, Amy & Dylan tie the knot next week  so....
BIG CONGRATULATIONS in advance:


Last year saw the wedding of Tony & Grace. 


We still have two more wedding later in the year with Brian & Angela and then later in the year we have Emma & David. So it all go - Ill be whipped up into an array of hen dos and fascinators, which leads me nicely to my news.


I'm getting married too!!! 2012 will the collaboration of the myself and Curtis.


So its straight to the drawing board - What shall I do for the wedding? Ideas on a postcard - Neither of us are very normal in a jokey kind of way - we like things a little bit unique, I like the idea of something quaint and elegant.. so I'm appealing for help! Unfortunately I cant get him interested in weddings at sea. Click here to see what P&O Offer!!


Oh and opinions on the rock too. Here's a picture!

SPECIAL CRUISES FOR YOU...

This month I’ve been asked by a couple of my past passengers to take a cruise and style it to them, this is our company is known as tailor made packages and we have a special lady in our marketing department who builds these packages generically – Not with one specific person in mind, but to appeal to the masses.  At cruise.co.uk we do pride ourselves on the levels of customer service and the amount of repeat business we get – so when our my past passengers ask me for something specific, its feels like im providing a real ‘service’
The package that I’ve done for them is as follows

Adonia Arrives for P&O

P&O Have a new ship – Adonia for 2011, launching less than 16months after the last newest vessel Azura, the Adonia is set to be a ship that they can be very proud of. Her history is very Royally indeed which is fitting for the time of the year with the Royal Wedding etc. The Adonia was originally the Royal Princess, built in 2001 and a very unique feature for P&O as she will have the smallest capacity in their fleet – Carrying just 710 passengers. Adults only ship, she will include Ocean Grill the Marco Pierre White restaurant that features on Azura amongst its other four dining venues . Also featuring a classic dance floor, Crow’s Nest observation lounge, formal nights, classical music recitals, guest speakers, silver service dining and a dedicated card room

 Sailing out of Southampton with a scheduled launch date of May 22nd – Dame Shirley Bassey is set to be the Adonias Godmother with Actor Hugh Bonneville from Downton Abbey taking part in the naming ceremony – I'm anticipating it will draw quite a crowd.

Ive done a bit of research on the name Adonia to see what it means and what I found Is that it a variation of a Hebrew Biblical name meaning “my lord is God” from the Old testament Adoniah was the fourth son of David. As a female name, Adonia is a feminine form of Greek Adonis, suggesting a very handsome person. - I think this is fitting as she is set to be a might fine looking vessel.

Summer Sailings

So how was the last two weeks for you?

I’ve had both the bank holiday weekends off, I did have to work in between them which was a shame, but now were all back to the grind stone here at cruise.co.uk and looking forward to the next set of enquiries – This is the time of the year where all parents start to panic. School Summer holidays start for England in less than three months!! So unless your one of the sensible one who book in advance and have got 2012 covered then you’re probably screaming at yourselves:

Where do you go?

What do you do?
Who do you go with?

How many people are travelling?

What’s available?
When could we go?

Well here is an idea – There are still a few family cabins (Four berth) available with MSC, NCL and Royal Caribbean leaving from the Med – Barcelona, Venice, Malaga as an example.

Check out our website for July & August CLICK HERE to see itineraries.

I suggest having a look and letting me know where or what it is that catches your eye – Be quick because the few family rooms we have will go swiftly now.