17 September 2019

'Welcome on board, your suite is ready for you' that was the greeting from our Cruise Director as we boarded the Seabourn Encore in Barcelona at the end of August 2019. It is one of the many advantages of cruising on a luxury cruise ship that only accommodates 600 guests, there’s no waiting around for your suite to be prepared. There is no queuing for anything, getting on and off the ship is easy. Shortly after we were enjoying our complimentary bottle of champagne in our mid-ship veranda suite which had a spacious bathroom with full glass shower and bath tub, a walk in closet and plenty of storage space. We even had a personal ‘welcome on board’ note from the Captain. After enjoying lunch outside at the Colonnade restaurant (with a great view of Barcelona) we went to discover everything that Seabourn Encore has to offer. There are 6 restaurants on board including The Grill by Thomas Keller which is the only restaurant which you need to reserve in advance. All the dining venues are complimentary, there are no supplements to pay. You can also dine where, when and with whom you wish. There is also 24 hour room service so you can even enjoy breakfast or dinner on your balcony. Or perhaps champagne and caviar. It’s all included. With 7 bars and lounges it's always possible to find somewhere quiet even when the ship is full, as it was on our sailing. Complimentary premium spirits and fine wines are available on board at all times and complimentary in suite bar is stocked with your preferences. Tipping is neither required nor expected. Service is personalised and provided by staff passionate about exceeding guests expectations. The entertainment is varied, we enjoyed a comedian, a show in collaboration with Sir Tim Rice featuring music and dance from some of his best known musicals as well as a piano recital and a great deck party hosted by our Cruise Director and the resident Seabourn Band. Our ports of call included Valencia, Cadiz, Casablanca, Tangiers and Malaga. A full range of shore excursions were available in each location (chargeable). A complimentary shuttle is available in each port if you wish to explore independently. Sometimes the ship can dock right in the port and there is no need for a shuttle. Another advantage of luxury small ship cruising. There is something very special about returning to the ship after a morning or afternoon ashore, perhaps to enjoy a light afternoon tea with champagne in the Observation Bar! All the Seabourn ships are intimate ships with a private club atmosphere. I loved my time on board Seabourn Encore and plan to be back on board soon! We extended our holiday with 3 nights in Gerona before the cruise and 1 night in Malaga post cruise. This is a great way to extend your holiday and make the most of enjoying the port where the cruise starts and finishes. I also managed to match it up with Bournemouth flights. If you would like to know more about tailor making ground arrangements to match your cruise or if you would like more information on Seabourn cruises, please get in touch with me. I have lots of cruise experience to share!

17 March 2019

The Canary Island of Fuerteventura is second in size to Tenerife and the closest to the North African continent. It has a relaxed and typically Spanish way of life. It is the perfect place to escape to in the winter months to enjoy some winter sun. The average flying time from London is around 4 hours. I flew from Gatwick and stayed at the 5-star Gran Hotel Atlantis Bahia Real. This hotel is in a privileged seafront location and features tropical gardens and luxurious bedrooms. It is a stunning hotel with great service and many repeat guests. It offers speciality a la carte restaurants as well as a main buffet style restaurant. From the hotel I walked along the beach to old town Corralejo, here you can find a selection of great seafood restaurants and tapas bars. Corralejo also has a very good selection of 3- and 4-star hotels, along with self-catering apartments and villas. On a previous trip I stayed at the 4-star Barcelo Corralejo Bay. It's located close to the centre of Corralejo. It is adult only, so it is perfect for couples looking for relaxed and comfortable surroundings with friendly service. The closest beach is five minutes’ walk away. It is possible to have bed and breakfast or half board. The food is excellent; the breakfast choice is extensive with plenty of hot and cold choices. There is also a daytime and evening entertainment programme. Fuerteventura lies 12 miles to the South of Lanzarote. I visited Playa Blanca, Lanzarote for the day from Corralejo. It’s just a 40-minute ferry journey so is a great option for a day excursion. There is plenty to see and do in Playa Blanca. You can walk for miles along the pedestrian promenade or visit the Timanfaya National Park. There are some great restaurants too. I took the opportunity to visit the 5-star Princess Yaiza hotel. This is a five-star hotel right in the centre of Playa Blanca and located directly on the beach. It has a good choice of indoor and outdoor amenities plus its own Thalasso and Spa Centre. Children are also well catered for with a supervised activity programme. Fuerteventura is a great destination for a Winter or Summer break!

22 May 2018

Regular flights from Bournemouth and Southampton airports to Faro mean that it is possible to fly to the Algarve for short or longer durations. I flew there recently from Bournemouth for five nights. I stayed in Quarteira which is about 20 minutes from Faro Airport. Quarteira has managed to retain its Portuguese character and is a very popular destination for Portuguese particularly from the north of the country. It has a lovely pedestrianised promenade where you can spend time relaxing with lovely walks along the seafront and enjoying the outdoor terraces of the bars and restaurants in the sunshine. Quarteira has a beautiful sandy beach and sunbeds are available for hire. If you don’t wish to hire a car there is a bus station and you can easily visit places such as Albufeira and Faro. Faro has a lovely old town and some great restaurants, it is well worth a visit. I stayed in the Dom Jose Beach Hotel in Quarteira which is in a great location on the promenade with direct access to the beach. It has 154 rooms and an outdoor pool. It also has a lovely terrace overlooking the sea which is an ideal place for a relaxing drink and to watch the world go by. I recommend the sea view rooms at the front of the hotel as they have great views and a balcony. The hotel offers a substantial buffet breakfast and you can also dine in the hotel at night if you wish. The food there is great! If you prefer to eat out, there is an excellent selection of restaurants in the town. There is a fish market at one end of the resort where the catches are sold early in the morning and will be on the menu at the local restaurants the same day. As you might expect from a coastal region, the cuisine of the Algarve is heavily influenced by an expansive range of fresh fish and seafood. Caught daily by the local fishermen, all types of fish are the mainstay of most menus in hotels and restaurants in the area. Vilamoura is around 30 minutes away on foot. It has the largest marina in Portugal along with more beautiful sandy beaches. It also has world-renowned golf courses and has become one of the best-known destinations on the Algarve. This area is great to explore by bike, you can rent one from the Dom Jose Beach Hotel. There are plenty of cycle tracks and you can see things which you miss when travelling by car. It also means you can enjoy a glass of wine at one of the beach restaurants along the way!

05 August 2017

At the end of July, I was invited to visit Regent Seven Seas Explorer in Southampton. This is the most luxurious ship ever built so I knew it was going to be a very special day. It was a beautiful sunny day and Explorer looked fantastic in the sunshine. I have been lucky enough to have cruised with Regent Seven Seas several times so I know the other 3 ships very well and have first-hand experience of the luxurious experience they offer. This was the perfect opportunity to get to know their new ship Explorer. I was not disappointed. As soon as you step on board you know you have arrived somewhere very unique. There is beautiful artwork throughout the ship including original Picasso’s! Seven Seas Explorer is 56,000 tonnes but only has 375 suites so it’s always possible to find a quiet space to yourself. There is never any queuing, even check in is an easy relaxed affair. It takes place in the theatre on board and a glass of champagne makes it a check in with a difference! We were able to see all grades of the suite (they are all balcony suites ) including the top suite, The Regent Suite. This is the exclusive ‘top of the ship’ residence that even has a private in suite spa area, along with two spacious bedrooms and a custom Steinway grand maroque piano. The lead in suites are very spacious and include a marble and stone bathroom. There are plenty of dining options including Pacific Rim, the main restaurant Compass Rose, Chartreuse and Prime 7. You can dine whenever, wherever and with whoever you choose as all of the restaurants are open seating. There is no additional charge for using the specialty restaurants. As soon as you have booked your Regent Seven Seas Cruise there is no need to spend anything extra as flights, a choice of excursions, gratuities, and drinks are all included. It makes such a difference not having to sign for anything once on board and there are no nasty bills to pay at the end of your cruise. After the tour of the ship, we enjoyed a beautiful lunch in Compass Rose restaurant. Meals are accompanied by exceptional wines, all included. Sadly we had to disembark after lunch as the guests for the next cruise were starting to arrive, I definitely would have loved to be one of them! This is a truly beautiful ship with exceptional food and service. If you would like to know more about Regent Seven Seas Cruises please get in touch, it’s my favourite cruise company!

30 June 2017

My journey began with a 12 hour non stop flight from Heathrow with Air Mauritius in Business Class. Champagne and a comfortable seat made a great start to the trip! There is only a 3 hour time difference so no need to worry about jet lag! We were met on arrival by ground handler Connections who provided us with a chilled bottle of water before we boarded our air conditioned mini van for the transfer to our first hotel the Constance Belle Mare Plage. This 5 star hotel has a choice of 7 restaurants and several bars along with two 18 hole championship golf courses, a luxury spa, kids club, bike hire, gym , various water sports, there is something for everyone. And not forgetting the beautiful white sand beach. The rooms here are very spacious, I even had a walk in wardrobe. The Deer Hunter, Blue Penny Cellar and La Spiaggia were my favourite restaurants, it was great to have such a varied choice. This hotel is suitable for couples, families and larger groups and is set in extensive grounds. You can even call a golf buggy if you don’t fancy the walk! After 3 nights at Constance Belle Mare Plage we transferred to Constance Le Prince Maurice. Wow! This is a romantic hideaway with stunning architectural design in a luxurious setting. A member of ‘Leading Hotels of the World’ this luxury hotel ticks all the boxes. It is small and intimate and offers fine dining and top wines to match, boasting the largest wine cellar in the Indian Ocean. The service and attention to detail is evident every day from the beach staff cleaning your sunglasses and phone screen, the waiters in the restaurant providing pashminas if the evening breeze was a little cool and the wet swimsuit bag that was left in my room on the last day meaning we could enjoy the stunning beach until just before our departure. The rooms are spacious and comfortable and very private. I didn't want to leave! Mauritius isn’t all about incredible food, wine and beautiful hotels. There are a number of excursions including the Botanic Gardens, Port Louis and a Mauritian Creole restaurant. My favourite was the ‘One Love’ speedboat trip which took us snorkelling and for a bbq lunch on a private island and then to see some beautiful waterfalls and monkeys! Thank you Constance Hotels and Resorts for inviting me to experience these two fantastic hotels. If you would like to know more please get in touch.

27 October 2016

After enjoying a three night pre cruise stay in the exciting Argentinian city of Buenos Aires at the Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt, I boarded the Regent Seven Seas Mariner to sail to Rio de Janeiro. As soon as you step on board a Regent Seven Seas ship you know you have arrived somewhere special. Every passenger is greeted with a refreshing glass of champagne. The check in process is dealt with quickly and efficiently and throughout the voyage the Regent staff anticipate and fulfil your every need and get to know you on a personal level. A gratuity is never expected as the cruise fare includes prepaid gratuities. Mariner is 42,363 gross tonnes and can accommodate 700 guests and 447 crew. The suites start from 301 square feet and all have verandas, an in suite mini bar which is replenished daily, a walk in closet with safe and a marble bathroom. Flights, shore excursions, gratuities and drinks are all included in your cruise fare so there are no nasty bills to pay at the end of your cruise. Starting from spring 2016 there is also free Wi-Fi across all suite categories on all ships. Speciality restaurants are also included along with 24 hour room service. There is an elegant casual dress code on board and entertainment includes an engaging enrichment programme, spectacular Broadway-style shows, virtuoso performances, culinary demonstrations and wine tastings and wellness programmes. For me another important part of the Regent Seven Seas experience is that you are able to dine when and where you wish. If you would like an early table for 2 or if you want to dine later with some friends you have met on the cruise, then either is possible. This is all part of the relaxed atmosphere on board. On this 12 night voyage the ports of call included Montevideo, Rio Grande, Parati and Buzios with the finale in vibrant Rio de Janeiro. To complete this fantastic South American adventure I stayed for three nights at the Belmond Copacabana Palace. This is an iconic beach front hotel on Copacabana Beach and is a great base to explore all the Rio has to offer. This was a great way to experience some interesting ports of call and with all our shore excursions included it meant we were able to make the most of each destination.

27 October 2016

After an easy two and a half hour flight from Bournemouth Airport and a 30 minute transfer, we arrived at the Pine Cliffs Resort. This is a beautiful 5 star resort, a short drive from Vilamoura or Albufeira. Set on a spectacular cliff top in pine woods, the Pine Cliffs Resort looks down on the stunning Praia Da Falesia sandy beach. Designed as a tribute to Maritime and Moorish Heritage, the Pine Cliff Resort is both an intimate retreat and one of Portugal’s leading family resorts. It is suitable for families, couples, honeymoons and weddings. The size of the resort means that even when it is full there is plenty of space for everyone. With three swimming pools to choose from and lots of sunbeds in the shady gardens, there is never any need for anyone to be placing towels on sunbeds early in the morning! The hotel also has its own sunbeds and shades on the beach which are complimentary for hotel guests to use. There are superb facilities for children of all ages including the Porta Pirata kids club, a tennis academy, mini golf and bicycle hire. There is a championship golf course which makes this hotel perfect for golfing breaks. An indoor pool, gym, beauty salon and sauna mean that you can also revitalise and pamper yourself. The Pine Cliffs Resort has numerous bars and restaurants to choose from and the nearby town of Olhos D’Agua offers a good selection of places to eat and drink. The resort offers a huge variety of room types including two and three bedroom residences which are perfect for larger families or groups of friends. The service is exceptional with very friendly, efficient and professional staff. We hired a car for the last seven days of our holiday and this means that you explore places like Vilamours, Quateira, Faro and the many secluded beaches and coves in the area. The Algarve has lots to offer, beautiful beaches, fantastic sea food, some great golf courses, friendly people and you can fly from either Southampton or Bournemouth.

27 October 2016

Our holiday began at Heathrow where we were able to use the very efficient services of Purple Parking who took our car from us at Terminal 5 and delivered it back to Terminal 1 when we returned. Our British Airways flight left on time and by 1030 we were enjoying Barcelona. We had booked one night at the 4 star Ciutatad Hotel which was in an excellent location for the port area and also for Las Ramblas and central Barcelona. After checking in we walked towards Las Ramblas with a Tapas stop on the way, followed by a beer and some people watching in Catalunya Square. I know Barcelona well so it was great to visit all our favourite places again including of course the Nou Camp Football Stadium One of the best ways to see all the sights is to use the hop on hop off bus tours. It's always a good idea to stay one or two nights before your cruise to make the most of the city you are departing from and to make sure you don't miss the ship! After enjoying a great night in Barcelona and some more sightseeing we collected our luggage and took a short taxi journey to board the beautiful Royal Clipper. With her complement of 42 sails she really is a stunning sight and we felt excited about the next six nights on board. The Royal Clipper is the largest and only five mast ship and carries 227 passengers in luxurious style offering superb service and fantastic food. The check in was easy and our luggage was taken straight to our cabin which had a large double bed, portholes, plenty of storage space and a marble bathroom with shower and toilet. There are also more spacious cabins with private veranda, whirlpool bath and sitting area. Dinner is served between 7pm and 9.30pm and you are free to dine when you wish and with whom you wish. There are no fixed tables so it is a great way to mix with the other passengers on board. Every evening there was a choice of five or six main meals and it was waiter service. Breakfast and lunch are both buffet style. After dinner the entertainment is provided by the crew, a small band or just chatting with your fellow guests in the Tropical Bar. There are no formal nights so there was no need for Rob to pack a dinner jacket or even a tie. We sailed from Barcelona to Menorca, Majorca, Monte Carlo, St Tropez and Marseille with one day at sea when we had the chance to climb the mast to the 'crow’s nest'. Each time we left a port, usually around 6pm, the Captain played a piece of classical music which created a truly magical atmosphere. I loved our Royal Clipper cruise and if you would like to know more, I would be more than happy to talk to you about it.

27 October 2016

I boarded Serenity in Athens. This was a cruise I had particularly looking forward to as I had heard so much about the exceptional six star service and dining experience that award winning Crystal Cruises offer. Serenity is a 68,870 ton ship with a passenger capacity of just 1070 and a guest staff ratio of 0.61. All of this means that even when the ship is full, as it was on our cruise, there is plenty of space and no queuing. We were always able to find a quiet area and when we were at sea there was no problem finding a sunbed on deck. After a smooth check in, which included a glass of champagne, we were shown to our deluxe stateroom with veranda on deck 10. This grade has a sitting area and a bathroom with bath/shower and double basins. There is ample storage space and bathrobes and slippers were in our wardrobe along with an umbrella which we unfortunately made use of in Trieste! The beds can be twin or large double and along with the luxurious feather pillows it made for the most comfortable bed we had ever experienced! If those pillows don't suit there is an extensive pillow menu. The bed was too comfortable and the cabin incredibly sound proofed as the first morning we slept in by mistake. It was so quiet we thought everyone had left the ship! If you sleep in late and even miss the 'late risers' breakfast there is the option of calling for breakfast in your stateroom from the 24 hour room service. Well we had to try out all the facilities! There are several dining options on board. There is a choice of venues for every meal, in fact you can eat at any time of day, there is always something available. The first evening we enjoyed a fabulous evening meal in the Crystal Dining Room. There is the option of early or main dining or dining by reservation which allows you to choose the time you wish to dine. On the second night after a day in Navplion we decided to try out 'Tastes' which is a more casual dining option. The following two nights we were lucky enough to experience the delights of Silk Road by Nobu Matsuhisa and the Italian speciality restaurant Prego. Both of these restaurants are included in your fare and they truly are world class cuisine. Each evening we enjoyed a variety of entertainment options from pre-dinner dancing and cocktail parties to Broadway style productions or comedy nights. A favourite place after dinner was the Avenue Saloon Piano Bar which always had a great atmosphere. Every day a programme of daily events 'Reflections' is delivered to your stateroom which includes the dress code for dinner. We had one formal night, but a jacket and tie is fine for the formal evenings for gents. The all-inclusive Crystal Experience has been voted world's best more than any other cruise line, hotel or resort in history and I can really see why. The all-inclusive luxury begins with complimentary fine wines, premium spirits and champagne served throughout the ship along with unparalleled opportunities for enrichment and entertainment. All gratuities are also included so there are no nasty bills to pay at the end of your cruise. If you would like more details on the cruises Crystal offer including taster cruises giving you the opportunity to sample what they offer without committing to a longer cruise or special solo traveller fares, please get in touch.