09 November 2011

I have recently returned from a wonderful cruise with my husband on board Azamara Quest. What a great holiday! We embarked on our cruise with no preconceived ideas of what to expect from a "Club Cruise". An up market cruise ship with no formal nights, no compulsory tipping,complimentary wine with lunch and dinner? It all sounded too good to be true. Believe me, it was all true and wasn't just good - it was excellent! From the moment we stepped on board we felt at home. What a friendly ship - from the Captain down to the cabin attendants, everyone made us feel very welcome and the pride they all have for their ship was demonstrated in everything they did. With just 690 passengers and nine decks, Quest is a small ship by today's standards but because of her size, she can sail into ports that aren't accessible to the larger ships.For example, our first port was Sorrento and normally we would have to dock in Naples and take a 60 minute journey by road. However, we woke up to find we were moored in the beautiful Sorrento Bay and just had a short ride by ships tender to reach the town. Another bonus with Azamara, complimentary shuttle buses are provided where appropriate to take you into the heart of the town. This saves a lot of expense and hassle whilst in port and adds to the overall enjoyment whilst ashore. Azamara Quest is a very well appointed ship with attractive decor and uncrowded public areas. Our cabin was very spacious with a queen size bed, lovely bed linen and every convenience you could think of. Complimentary soft drinks in your fridge, fresh flowers and fruit daily,Elemis toiletries and they even provided umbrellas and binoculars, the former which we thankfully didn't need and the latter which we found very useful both at sea and ashore. Port Information was provided for each location and unlike most cruise companies, guidance was given to help passengers get around without the need for expensive shore excursions. Our itinerary was well balanced with each port offering a wide choice of trips, whether you did your own thing or took the ship's excursions.Our cruise started in Rome (Civitavecchia) and visited Sorrento, Taormina,Sicily, Chania in Crete, Mykynos, Kusadasi (for Ephesus) and ended in Athens. We enjoyed a diverse and well thought out itinerary. A great advantage of being on a smaller ship was the ease of disembarking and embarking - handled with efficiency and speed by the crew. They thought of everything - from complimentary beach towels and bottled water when going ashore, to drinks and cookies on the dockside when arriving back at the gang plank. On one occasion, we arrived back at a cool windy dockside to find hot chocolate waiting for us with an optional nip of rum and home made cookies! One can't talk about a cruising without mention of the food! Azamara food is exemplary. There are several restaurants,the main ones being the Discovery restaurant open for breakfast and dinner with waiter service and the excellent buffet restaurant,Windows Cafe, open throughout the day serving breakfast, lunch,dinner and afternoon tea. There are also two speciality restaurants which carry a charge of $15 per person. We ate one evening in the Aqualina Restaurant which served Mediterranean fare and was excellent quality. Where else could you get 5 star food including Lobster for $30 per couple and all served with the finest wines which were complimentary in all restaurants. Entertainment on board Azamara Quest is fairly low key compared with the razzmatazz of the huge liners but I feel that this suited the style of the ship and guests all seemed very happy with the choice. The cabaret lounge staged a show each evening with the excellent and versatile "Quest Singers" who were joined by guest entertainers most evenings. There was also a nightly themed evening in the Looking Glass Lounge where you could dance into the small hours. Casino, piano bar, guitarist and harpist all completed the variety - there was generally something for everyone. All in all, I think this is the most enjoyable cruise I have ever taken. I spoke with many fellow cruisers who without fail all felt the same. Many passengers who had 50+ cruises under their belt told me they wouldn't cruise on any other ship! And having experienced this for myself, I can understand why. Try this for yourself... I promise,you won't be disappointed.

31 October 2011

My trip to Ontario was both interesting and diverse. This province has a lot to offer and I would suggest is a good choice for a first time visitor to Canada. My first port of call was Toronto. The centre of Toronto is a mix of modern and old buildings and the downtown area was surprisingly interspersed with residential brownstones and apartments. This gives the city a relaxed but vibrant atmosphere. What I found unique was having large malls and small neighbourhood shops happily living side by side. Restaurant choice is fantastic in this city. Having travelled extensively in USA, I usually tire very quickly of the food on offer in America. This was not the case in Canada. The quality, choice and variety are wonderful and any foodies having a weekend here would not be disappointed. Toronto is nicknamed the Hollywood of the north as a lot of films are shot here. Don’t be surprised if you turn a corner and find a road block with LAPD squad cars in a shoot out. This happens on a regular basis and makes sightseeing very interesting. Of course no visitor to Toronto should miss out on a ride up the CN Tower. Views over Lake Ontario are spectacular and the high speed ride is thrilling. Anyone seeking culture will have plenty of choice in Toronto. Whether it’s theatre, art galleries or architecture - you’ll find Toronto has a lot to offer. Next location was Niagara Falls, which is a leisurely two hour drive from Toronto - the falls are truly magnificent. The noise and force of the water is mesmerising and as they say in North America - awesome. I stayed in the Sheraton on the Falls and had a Falls View room – well worth the supplement. I sampled the falls in every way possible, helicopter over them, Maids of the Mist boat ride, giant Ferris wheel and dinner in the Skylon Tower revolving restaurant, which were all very exciting. A must when in Niagara is a visit to one of the many vineyards en route to the charming town of Niagara on the Lake. The wineries are reminiscent of those in the Cape Town area of South Africa, very gentile and peaceful. It is interesting to hear how they harvest grapes in extreme winter temperatures to produce the unique ice wine produced in this area. On to Niagara on the Lake which is a pretty clapboard town very similar to those charming villages in New England. A good lunch and a stroll around the lovely shops rounds off the day outing very nicely. After leaving Niagara I travelled up to Algonquin National Park to experience the tranquillity of Canada’s natural beauty. I stayed in Arowhon Pines, a beautiful rustic lodge on the edge of a lovely lake, which has a renowned kitchen and offers attentive service and warm hospitality. Whether hiking, canoeing, bird-watching or just swimming in the lake, this area is a joy. I was treated to a wonderful sight of a moose with her two babies quietly feeding on a roadside watering hole – a real thrill. My trip ended with a short but interesting stay in Ottawa. This city has lots to interest the overseas visitor. After a trip on the Rideau Canal which runs right through the centre of the city, I had a tour of Parliament Hill, Canada’s equivalent to our Houses of Parliament. The highlight of any trip to Ottawa is a visit to Canadian Museum of Civilisation – a fascinating view of the human history of Canada and an insight into the diversity of its people. Allow at least 4 hours for this as there are some very interesting exhibition halls and lots to see. All in all I enjoyed my trip to this wonderful and diverse country. I especially loved the Canadian people who were friendly and welcoming at all times. And of course, the Canadians also love the British people too!