SURPRISE!!

Oh my god - who ever said men don't remember anything fibbed!!

I got the best surprise gift - something Ive wanted for years - but not the sort of thing you go out of your way to buy yourself, and certainly not something I expected my boyfriend to remember that I wanted!!

A Sony book reader!!! WOW - I was stunned - I'm such a book worm and I have mentioned about 5 or 6 times in the last two years that I have wanted one, especially good for trips such as fly cruises where the luggage allowance deters from taking an abundance of books! THANK YOU CURTIS! XX

Other gifts this years included:
Hairdryer
2 pairs of slippers (One of which are boot type feather quilted - ace)
Photo frames
chocolates
Alcohol (always a winner)
Beauty items
Kitchen scales from my brother - Not quite the same when you know in advance what your getting!

I was most proud of my present buying as I like to buy items that spark memories and this year I bought my brother his child hood hero on DVD - The complete series (101 episodes) of Captain Planet - Hes the superhero that is going to bring pollution down to zero!! I much prefer the giving than the receiving - But just don't try and take my book reader back lol..

I hope you have all had a really good festive period - I'm now back at work and will be here until 4pm today - Weds and Thursday then back on Monday 3rd January 2011... Well that came around quickly didn't it!

Let Black Watch Entertain you!!

Before I go off for my Christmas break - I'm back on 28th December after a few hours in the office tomorrow (Christmas Eve) I wanted to do a review for you!

The acts I saw on board:

Taffy Spencer – Comedy Magician! http://www.taffyspencer.co.uk/

Bob Webb– Comedian - http://www.mjemanagement.com/#/stand-up/4522891293

The Black Watch theatre company

Alan Sheils - Piano Entertainer 

Timeline – Duo - http://tld.timelineduo.com

The Rat Pack Returns –  http://www.ngmproductions.co.uk/

The majority of my evenings were spent in the Lido Bar, which becomes a hub of activity after dinner, I opted for a later dinner (8.30) as I'm not one for rushing when I don't have to and this gave way to brilliant sights - Black Watch always do two shows per night - so if your on early dinner you don't miss out with a 8.30 and 10.30 showing of whatever entertainment is on in the Neptune Lounge; The Black Watch production of Juke box jive was brilliant an array of swirling skirts and an amazing adaptation of 'Austin Powers' it was very funny! The dancers were brilliant and the lead girl, I Don't know her name or I would have given her a mention.

Also in the Neptune lounge - A laugh a minute - the wacky world of Taffy Spencer - I immediately warmed to Taffy upon hearing his accent in the Lido bar on the first night - He is a fellow Welshman and I always smile when I hear the accent - However seeing his show later in the week, I was amazed by one or two of his magic items - The finale of the pipe smoker was astounding and such a breath of fresh air - I had face ache from laughing!! My friend Paul though he was really good too!

Bob Webb followed him with some more traditional comedy, not that took the spotlight off at all - managed to deliver some very funny takes on older more well known jokes...Not that I can remember them now though!

However the absolute highlight for me was a wonderful tribute act which was part of the 'Music and Laughter' programme - THE RAT PACK RETURNS!! Three guys who astounded me with the sing a like voices, with a little 'filler' between songs, entertaining in every sense!! Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr!! outstanding and the applause at the end of the show really gave such brilliant reflection of how much everyone enjoyed them selves, I missed the first one, but I over heard lots of other passengers exclaim what a good time they had all had! So I made sure that I saw that one! For a taster of what to expect - check out this link! THRILLING - I've just shown my boyfriend the clip and he thought they were good too!

http://www.ngmproductions.co.uk/The%20Rat%20Pack%20Returns!.htm

So if you want to be entertained I highly recommend a trip on one of the Music and Laughter cruises - Fingers crossed that Fred Olsen decide to roll them on for the next season too.

Black Watch Reviews!!

I thought I would look at what other people had thought about the Black Watch so I did what a lot of my passengers do and read the reviews on line – I found some interesting ones that I thought Id share with you and see what you think – Feel free to send me your comments below:


Christmas Markets to Disaster was the first one I found, I don’t agree with comments about the food at all – I found it all to be of a really high standard. The markets in Hamburg were great! I recommend that you all have a look at the comments underneath this review – Makes for interesting reading! We most definitely were not ‘HIT’ by a tug boat – the whole point of them is to help guide the ships into position!! Oh Dear!!

http://www.cruise.co.uk/cruise-reviews/fred.-olsen-cruises/black-watch/read_review_26536/

If you have recently been on a cruise – don’t forget to write us a review on the website – www.cruise.co.uk/cruise-reviews and let me know your reference number and we will send you a Berltiz guide to cruising as a Thank you for your efforts –

I'm going to do a entertainment review next and food after that so keep an eye out!!

CRUISE LOG - Black Watch

As you are all aware I have just been on cruise number three!!! Fred Olsen - Black Watch - Arriving home shortly after 1pm today - Yes I know I'm keen but I feel I've got so much to share with you all that I better get cracking! Even if I am sat here swaying like I'm still on the ship! (Quite funny feeling)


Lets start with Itinerary as this has been a bit of a magical mystery tour this week and what was meant to happen:
Friday 10th Dec - Embarkation at Southampton
Saturday 11th Dec - Ijmuiden for Amsterdam -Netherlands
Sunday 12th Dec - Cruise Kiel Canal
Monday 13th Dec - Copenhagen - Denmark
Tuesday 14th Dec - Travemunde - Germany
Wednesday 15th Dec - Cruise Kiel Canal
Thursday 16th Dec - Ostende - Belgium
Friday 17th Dec - Disembarkation in Southampton.

Festive Feelings for Fred Olsen.

Just to gloat slightly – I'm am on Annual leave from Friday 10th December until Monday 20th December!

I know it hasn’t gone unnoticed, but Christmas is nearly upon us and everyone here at Cruise.co.uk is starting to feel the Christmas spirit and lots of passengers are calling us asking about cruise deals 2011. I however am looking forward to my pre Christmas Cruise, I set sail on Friday on the Fred Olsen Black Watch with my good friend Paul and we are both looking forward to hitting the Christmas markets in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Travenmunde and Ostende, so ill have lots of Christmassy Photos to show you all when I get back to work on 20th December.

The itinerary is really impressive and I’ve been looking at shore Excursions, working out what to do and where to go! Paul's happy there is a gym on board so he can keep up his fitness regime whilst we are away, I’m looking forward to relaxing whilst on board so I will mostly be enjoying the spa treatments and a good book or three – I’m a bit of a speed reader!

I’m looking forward to actually getting into Belgium this time as I missed Bruges on the Christmas party cruise.


Any recommendations for Travemunde???


Don’t forget that although, I may not be here to help you personally – My colleagues are more than capable of assisting you – Call the main line on 0800 091 5254

Charity begins at Sea??

As always I found my self scouring the papers for news articles on cruises and cruise companies, I found out the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital and the goal of bringing the paediatric care $50,000 in donations and services this year at Carnival cruise line have announced on Monday that they are now in partnership. They are looking to invest in the centre providing four new ‘fun centres’ including two new laptops, Nintendo Wii console, a flat screen TV and a digital video disc player combination unit which can be moved between children’s rooms.

They are also providing towel pals... Just like the ones we get in our staterooms, children who are sick may never get to cruise, and would not get to see the creative creatures our cabin stewards rustle up when were not looking! So they will be bringing some into the hospital for the children. 1,000 are due to be donated to the hospital in the next year!


Mike Julius, managing director of U.S. sales for Carnival, described a host of gifts and services coming in 2011 from a colourful stage in the toy-filled atrium at the children's hospital. They are also starting to hold quarterly shows with staff from the Fantasy, the ship that home-ports in Charleston. They are also planning extra fund raising events this year such as Hockey games and the Cooper Ridge Run.


I think this is a great partnership and one other cruise lines could do well to follow suit with so I thoughts Id see who else has partnerships:


Fred Olsen – RNLI in March 2010 – According to their website ‘Funds are raised on board its cruise liners through raffles, quizzes, church services, foreign coin collections and auctions. Fred. Olsen has also supported the charity by donating numerous cruise prizes, which in turn has helped generate funds for the charity through the Lifeboat lottery and other competitions. The money donated by Fred. Olsen passengers has funded three inshore lifeboats, three mobile training units, kitted out three seminar rooms at The Lifeboat College, and paid for the development work on the RNLI's DODO (drive on, drive off) lifeboat launching trolleys, in addition to funding three of them’


Celebrity Cruise line – In April 2010 - The first ever Celebrity SunWalk sponsored by Celebrity Cruises took place in Southampton on April 24 2010 and was organised by Walk the Walk, the leading UK-based grant making breast cancer charity, in partnership with Celebrity Cruises.

Drinks price guideline

I’ve just been on a call with a gentleman looking to book onto a NCL Jade cruise, but was asking about drinks packages and prices on board as he has a friend who quoted him $8 per pint of larger!!! I’ve been assured that this was including the taxes, but made me think about drinks prices on board – who is the best value for cruises 2011?

 Best value cruises for drinks have to be Yachts of Seabourn and Regent who have drinks included in the prices, but for the rest of the lines a rough guideline below:

NCL: Bottles of beer at $3.95, wines by the glass $6.95 soft drinks from $1.25 – If you buy a cruise with flights NCL offer free soft drinks for children ages 2-12 9This offer does not apply to cruise only or mini cruises)

P&O : Bottles of beer £2.35, wine by the glass from £3.35 and soft drinks start at 75p!! Not much on a cruise for less than a pound! They do not offer any packages at all, which is a shame.

Royal Caribbean: Bottles of beer for $5.50, wine by the glass from $5.50 as well, soft drinks from $1.95, but I always recommend the soft drinks packages, which start from about $6 per day for adults at $4.95 for children, these are great value and they get a special cup, but you don’t need to carry it around as a special sticker is put on to your sea pass!

Cunard: Bottle of beer $4.75 – wine by the glass at $5.75 and soft drinks from $1.95 – Cunard offer a soda package where you receive unlimited soft drinks in the restraints and bars price is $3.95 per day plus the 15% grats or taxes!

Fred Olsen: Bottles of beer at £2.20 wine by the glass from £3.25 and soft drinks from 70pence. No soda packages are available on these ships.


MSC: Bottles of beer from 3.90-5.75 Euros and wine by the glass starts at 3.00euros and soft drinks2.50euros. Packages for children start at 28euros for 5 soft drinks and 5 juices. A selection of adult drinks packages from 98euros per person per week.


If you would like any of the great value cruise deals 2011 please let me know.