STOP PRESS! Man over board! CRUISE NEWS.....

The world's largest cruise ship, the 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas, skipped a port call at St. Thomas yesterday to search for a crew member who went overboard.

NEW ONBOARD - Meet the new ships!

From supersized ships to sizzling entertainment – here is the low down of this years new ships – Which one will you be booking?

P&O AZURA

Size:3,100 passengers – family friendly – top entertainment- 58% Of cabins have balconies.

This Southampton based vessel will focus on traditional cruise luxury with spa staterooms and wine-tasting bars fine dining and award winning chef Atul Kochar on board offering Michelin star Asian cuisine.

NCL: NORWEGIAN EPIC
Size 4,200 passengers – family friendly – excellent entertainment and 64% balcony ratio

This innovative BILLION Dollar vessel with feature edgier theatre shows such as the famous BLUE MAN GROUP when she launches in June.

CUNARD – Queen Elizabeth


Size 2,092 passengers – family friendly –classy entertainment – 71% Balcony ratio
Debuting December, Cunards’ fabulous new £365Million Queen Elizabeth ship pays tribute to the 1930s with its art deco design and grandeur, all of this with a slightly modern twist.



HOLLAND AMERICA – Nieuw Amsterdam.
Size 2,104 passenger – family friendly – Luxury – Outstanding entertainment – 67% Balcony ratio.
This is Holland Americas’ second ‘Signature-Class’ vessel, Eurodams sister ship, she will alternate between a Summer Med itinerary and a Winter Caribbean from July.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN – Allure of the Seas.

Size5,400 passenger – Amazingly Family friendly – Superb Entertainment - 80% Balcony ratio

Fondly referred to as Oasis of the Seas part two. She will have the same mammoth capacity zipline and Aqua Theatre etc, she sets sail from Fort Lauderdale in Dec 2010.

CELEBRITY CRUISES – Eclipse.

Size 2,580 – family friendly- great entertainment – 85% balcony ratio.

The third ship in Cel;ebritys’ Solstice Class, she will be based in Southampton over the summer for the first time, Before she moves on to the Caribbean in November.

MSC – Magnifica

Size 2,518 passenger- family friendly – stunning entertainment – 66% balcony ratio
The fourth MSC ship in the Musica Class will call at Canada and New England but debuts in Venice. Expect Classics from this ship such as the Balinese-style Aurea spa onboard.


YACHTS OF SEABOURN. – Sojourn

Size 450 passengers – children welcome – classy and relaxed entertainment – 90% balcony ratio

Seabourn’s second of three new ships launching from Greenwich in June. Luxe touches include a two deck spa and Charlie Palmers restaurant.

For an opportunity to be one of the first onboard any of the
'NEW BORNS' please call me  08004086144 or email your choices to nadinel@cruise.co.uk - Personnally Im quite excited by the new fleet.

SUPERMAN IS A PORT WORKER

OMG!!! Ive just seen this article and felt I had to share it with you all, Its amazing that this can happen once in a lifetime, but Superman manages TWO rescues in one day - amazing things can be seen port side thats for sure!

Port Lauderdale!! Top of the Ports

Fort Lauderdale is set to take the title of WORLDS BUSIEST PORT from Miami in 2011.
More than 5,300 ships call at Port Everglades in a year forming the basis of a diverse maritime operation that includes a thriving cruise industry and a reputation as the "world's best cruise port," a growing containerized cargo business that establishes Port Everglades among the nation's top seaports, a major petroleum storage and distribution hub, South Florida's primary bulk cargo depot and a favourite U.S. Navy liberty port.

Its name somewhat misleading, Port Everglades is not a part of the wetland ecosystem known as the Florida Everglades. The seaport is, in fact, located on the south-eastern coast of the Florida peninsula within the three cities of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Dania Beach, as well as unincorporated Broward County. It is approximately 23 miles north of Miami, 48 miles south of West Palm Beach and 312 miles south of Jacksonville.

• 3.7 Million Passengers are expected in 2011.
• $75Million Dollars has been spent on the expansion of Cruise Terminal 18 to accommodate the Oasis of the Seas.
• 1007 cruise ships passed through in the last 12 months
• 3,139,820 cruise ship passengers passed through in 2009.
• 15% more passengers cruised through the port last year than in 2008
• $32,65,785 total cruise revenue at the port last year
• 35 Ships will be home ported here in 2011, including ships from Royal Caribbean, Princess, Carnival and Holland America line.

So to see what all the fuss is about – get in touch and I can arrange some fantastic cruises leaving from Fort Lauderdale. And for those who need it we can make arrangements for post or pre Floridian vacations. Get in touch on 08004086144

ARCTIC SUMMER! Cruise through Ice..

In Svalbard, which means the ‘Cold Edge’ the Polar Bear is King – If any of yor have seen the film the Golden Compass, this is really brought home with the scene where two bears fights for the Throne – I digress, but the point is that Svalbard is a fittingly majestic home for these fabulous fluffy mammals. The last stop before the North Pole is also dotted with natural ice sculptures, making it a veritable winter wonderland. Want to check it out? Well Hurtigruten is launching a new Svalbard Explorer itinerary in June and you will now be able to cruise the west coast of these frosty islands on the suitably named MV POLAR STAR!! The brief Arctic Summer.

June to August is the best time to visit, especially with the spectacular midnight sun - Find below some itinerary from other liners that head up that way in the Arctic Summer – some great views are to be ‘scene’.

Fred Olsen – 7nights sailing from Dover : Bergen, Norway : Olden, Norway : Flam, Norway : Gudvangen, Norway : Stavanger, Norway : Dover


CUNARD on the Queen Victoria 7nights – sailing from Southampton, England : Stavanger : Flaam, Norway : Geiranger, Norway : Bergen, Norway : Southampton, England


COSTA Crown Princess – 12 night tour sails from Southampton, England : Stavanger, Norway : Hellesylt (Cruising), Norway : Geiranger, Norway : Trondheim, Norway : Honningsvag, Norway : Tromso, Norway : Flaam, Norway : Bergen, Norway, back to Southampton

COSTA Magica 6nights - Kiel : Hellesylt Tech. Call : Geiranger : Bergen : Stavanger : Arhus : Kiel –

Azamara - Copenhagen : Geiranger : Lerwick/Shetland, Scotland : Akureyri : Reykjavik : Reykjavik : Torshavn, Faroe Islands : Kirkwall, Scotland : Copenhagen

P&0 Ventura -7nights Southampton, England : Bergen, Norway : Flaam, Norway : Olden : Stavanger : Southampton, England –
If any of these itineraries appeal, the get in touch and I can arrange these tours for you. 08004086144 or email me nadinel@cruise.co.uk

Port Side Parking!!!

Thought Id share this as It made me remember some very daft accidents we have heard about in the past… (Mostly on the Narrow boat admittedly) but some funnies have happened over the years..

THIS daft driver missed a turning on his way to meet his pals — and ended up parked on a cargo ship. Dozy student Tom Stockreiter, 19, and three pals were left hanging upside down over the River Enns in Ennsdorf, Austria. The lads eventually managed to scramble clear with the help of local cops. Mr Stockreiter said: "I just missed a left turn but when I went straight on I saw I was going straight to the river. "I slammed on the brakes but the car skidded and just went even faster." He added: "Then we took off and all I could see was water until we hit something.
"It was exciting but I wouldn't want to do it again."

no less than ten different options, all close to the port. There are of course hotels right at the port that don’t offer the cruise parking option, however there are specialist cruise car parks below are some companies that offer parking.

http://www.abparking.co.uk/
http://www.cruiseparking.co.uk/
http://www.parking4less.co.uk/
http://www.parkbcp.co.uk/
I’ve heard reports that the traffic can be a tad manic on departure days, so Id definitely allow extra time (An hour extra minimum)for getting from these car parks to the port – It may be that is too much time, however I would prefer more time than to be rushed. I’d love to hear your stories and tales about your journey to port
Has anyone else got any water/dock side related stories, Id love to hear them if your in the mood for sharing!!

GOOD NEWS ON ASH.

Finally some respite on the whole 'ash cloud' and no fly zones!!

New rules to allow planes to fly at higher ash densities for a limited time will be introduced at noon, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said to fly in the ash zone, airlines will need to get agreement from their aircraft and engine manufacturers. The authority's move was welcomed by airlines, regulators and manufacturers after thousands of passengers were stranded by UK airport closures.


Airline chiefs have heavily criticised the earlier no-fly zone system.'Exceptional features'
All flight restrictions have now been lifted, after the volcanic ash cloud over UK airspace moved away, but knock-on disruption continues. Airport operators are advising passengers to check for delays to their flights with airlines.

SEABOURN CHOOSE TWIGGY

British Supermodel Twiggy To Name New Luxury Cruise Ship



This is becoming a habit, what with Reba last week, but Ive found out today that TWIGGY!!! (OMG, Ive heard of her!) is to be honoured with the Title of 'Godmother' to name the 450-passenger Seabourn Sojourn, the fifth of the Yachts of Seabourn fleet, in a ceremony at London's Greenwich on 4 June.

Supermodel Twiggy, who rose to fame in Britain before embarking on a global career, Twiggy will join an exclusive group of British national treasures when she performs the honours with the Champagne. Only weeks ago, prima ballerina Darcey Bussell cut the ribbon on P&O Cruises' Azura. Dame Helen Mirren named P&O's Ventura in 2008 and, back in 2005, Joanna Lumley became godmother to Princess Cruises' Sea Princess. All four women are known for their elegance and charm (much like the ships)– and all four are absolutely adored by the British public and quite rightly so!

Reba McEntire ‘The Godmother’ to the new Norwegian Epic

Now, Im not in the habit of multi blogging in one day, but I just stummbled across some very exciting news for anyone interested in Norwegian Cruise Line.

It has been announced this week that Reba McEntire will christen the companies newest Freestyle Cruising ship,Norwegian Epic. The christening ceremony will take place in New York on July 2, 2010 on board Norwegian Epic.Reba McEntire has sold over 55 million albums worldwide; earning 34 number 1 singles and 15 American Music Awards, 12 Academy of Country Music Awards, nine Peoples Choice Awards, seven Country Music Association Awards and two GRAMMY Awards. She is also an avid cruiser and has taken several family cruise vacations, most recently on Norwegian Gem in the Mediterranean!! Lets hope she enjoys the new look EPIC as much as I do, It looks so innovative and exciting, I can wait to get on board myself.

CRAZY CRUISE DAYS - Save the date!

At Cruise.co.uk we are just starting to recover from the last few manic weeks where we have been booking on all of the ‘Pre-Registered’ booking requests as the cruise lines go live for the 2011 cruises. We now have been give the definitive dates for the launch of some of the 2011/2012 sailings:

Princess Cruises ‘Alaska’ 2011 goes live on 28th June 2010.

P&O and Cunard sailings for 2012 will be live on 12th July 2010.

Princess Cruises ‘Caribbean’ sailings for 2011/2012 is going live on 15th July 2010.

How we operate to get our past passengers and keen cruisers the best opportunity to get the cruises and cabins they require is to take all the details in advance and we get straight on the case for you as soon as the lines open and we can get booking.

Let me know your requirements and I can look to get you the best prices and cabins available for you. Call me on 0800 408 6144 or email me nadinel@cruise.co.uk

NCL Turtle Power!!! Heroes for the half shell...

Sea turtles, tortoises, I don’t know what my obsession is with them, but I love them, they are so cute, however when we hear of the horror stories of poachers stealing their eggs and the skins and shells being used for allsorts of horrific things it makes, my heart ache.. I was absolutely thrilled to see that one of the best known cruise companies ‘NCL’ have now agreed to donate $5 dollars from every booking for the EPIC that was made on 22nd April in celebration of Earth Day 2010. The monies will be donated to help support the sea turtle release programme run by the Officer Snook Water Pollution Program / Youth Environmental Programs, Inc. Norwegian Epic, the line’s biggest and most innovative Freestyle cruise ship, will feature several environmentally-friendly features particularly in its heating and cooling, lighting, waste handling, sewage and glazing systems. Included in Kids’ Crew programmes across the fleet, Officer Snook the mascot for its educational programming teaches children of all ages about the importance of clean water, and the effects and prevention of marine pollution.

CRUISE 'Food for thought' with NCL

NCL One of the many questions that people ask when booking a cruise is ‘What’s the food like? This is a massively important factor when spending a great deal of time at sea, as you can’t just nip out and grab something whilst you’re at sea, its down to the food on offer to fill the gap and satisfy.N.C.L have taken ‘onboard’ the whole issue regarding food and come up with some amazing food options for you to sample during your cruises.

Captivating Canaries with Fred!

Captivating Canaries with Fred!



After one of the most chaotic weeks of my life moving house, we have got our selves so worn out and stressed in the last few days, coming to work post 2011 launch week seems like a break!! (Its not, we are still incredibly busy)

I mean, we all are fully aware that cruising offer the utmost in luxury vacations, but I’m thinking of the ‘chill’ factor and I don’t mean the breeze on the open decks, I mean the convenience of having everything at your finger tips. I was painting my new bedroom last night and decided that a cruise offers so much for a complete rejuvenation which I could do with right now. The benefits of only packing once appeal greatly! It’s the best of ALL worlds, adventure holidays, sightseeing holidays, relaxing holidays, spa breaks and luxury treats all in one place.