03 October 2023

Regent Seven Seas Voyager It is a small ship by today’s standards. 42000 tons and 698 passengers with 349 suites. We had a Deluxe Veranda suite which was very spacious with a sitting area with sofa and marble coffee table. All the cupboard tops were marble. There was a mini bar containing beers and soft drinks and fresh water was supplied every day. We have a welcome bottle of champagne. The bed was very comfortable. There was a spacious marble bathroom with a separate bath and shower and plenty of storage. There was also a walk in closet. The reclining chairs on the balcony were very comfortable. The food was some of the best we have had at sea and the quality of the wines and drinks were top notch. There were 2 speciality restaurants which were included in the price but the main restaurant menu was vast and of excellent quality. In the main restaurant, Compass Rose, you could have lobster, Dover Sole, Scallops, various steak every night and the highlight at Sunday breakfast was champagne and caviar and the quality of the champagne was good. You were spoilt for choice. There was a French speciality restaurant, Chartreuse, which was excellent and Prime 7 which specialised in steaks but also did other meats, fish and seafood. The choice was excellent. It is necessary to pre-book for the speciality restaurants. The buffet restaurant was also excellent and it was set out with linen tablecloths and napkins. The choice was very good for breakfast and dinner. In the evening it was transformed into an Italian Restaurant. There was a choice of antipasti and other starters followed by a main course served at the table and self-service dessert and cheese. The fish stew I tried with lobster and other seafood was excellent. The service was not as perfect as it should be at times and we had to wait a long time to be served dinner on two occasions but I think there appeared to be some trainee staff. If would not put me off travelling with Regent again because it is an excellent product. Good points – as well as the quality of food and drink it fully all inclusive with numerous choice of free excursions, free laundry, free gratuities and wifi. The entertainment was good in the theatre. The production cast were very good and they had some excellent guest artists. and there were some excellent guest artists. There were 3 main bars. In the Horizon Lounge a resident band played most nights, in the Observation Lounge there was a resident pianist and in the Voyager Lounge there was a singing duo. There were various lectures during the day and a daily trivia quiz. There was a choice of 91 free excursions. We sailed from Southampton to Copenhagen. Our first port of call was Zeebrugge where we booked a full day excursion to Ypres and the WW1 war graves and museum. A very good tour, very moving. We could not dock at our next port of call, Amsterdam, because of strong winds. Our next port of call was Oslo, a lovely clean city. We did a boat tour and visit to a large ski jump site. Not the best tour but probably a bad choice on our part. The next stop was an overnight in Stockholm which is a beautiful city. On the first day we did a tour of the Vasa Museum which was very interesting. On the second day we visited the Old Town and Palace which was also a wonderful tour. The next port was Riga in Latvia where we did a coach and walking tour of the city which was also very good. The next stop was Klaipeda in Lithuania. Not my favourite city. I did a coach tour of the city and a visit to an Amber factory while my husband went on a tour to a Soviet Nuclear Weapon site. Karlskrona in Sweden was the next port which was a pretty place. Our tour visited a very interesting Maritime Museum. Our highlight of the cruise was a visit to Berlin from Warnemunde, a full day tour. We paid extra for this one as we wanted a fully guided tour. We visited all the main sights including the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie and had a canal cruise. An excellent tour with an excellent guide. We finished with an overnight in Copenhagen and booked a Scenic Copenhagen by Sea. I have been to Copenhagen before and it is a lovely city and I would have preferred to do a tour on foot. We did not get chance to stop anywhere to take photos. All in all, a wonderful cruise, the age profile was 60-70. Everyone was friendly and it was not stuffy at all. We were very impressed with the quality of the food and wine choices. We would certainly sail with Regent Seven Seas again.

10 May 2023

We flew from Manchester to Siem Reap via Singapore arriving on the morning of 23rd April. Excellent flight with a tight connection of 1 hour 10 minutes which we made along with hour luggage. We had a private transfer with a Scenic guide to Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor which was a wonderful colonial style hotel where we spend 2 nights. The room was beautiful and spacious. The service was first class and the breakfast was wonderful with a wide selection including champagne! We travelled by tuk tuk in the evening to the centre to look at the night market and eat dinner. There was a wide selection of restaurants and the prices were very reasonable and they local people were very friendly. On the second day we hired a tuk tuk to take us to Ankgor Wat temple. This was a wonderful experience but it was very hot, 38c. Our tuk tuk driver took us to buy the tickets and waited for us while we visited the temple and charged us just 20$US. Our entrance fee was $37US per person. After breakfast our Scenic guides too us on a 4 hour coach transfer to Kampong Cham, stopping for lunch on the way, to join the beautiful Scenic Spirit, an all suite river cruiser which carries 68 guests and has 50 crew. It is very luxurious and the staff were superb. The service was absolutely excellent and nothing was too much trouble. The balcony suites with infinite balconies were very spacious with a separate lounge area, walk in wardrobe and a spacious bathroom with luxury bath products. The free mini bar was re-stocked daily and there was a butler service. This is an all inclusive product and includes all food, drink, tours and gratuities. There was a spa and a gym and the treatments were extremely reasonable. I had a back and neck massage for $30US. We sailed from Kampong Cham to Wat Hanchey. The second day we went to the temple at Wat Hanchey to meet novice monks. After a superb buffet lunch we chose a local folklore excursion to a temple and to learn about local history. The Cambodian people are lovely and very welcoming. We sailed to Angkor Ban and visited Silk Island then cast off towards Phnom Penh. Some local students came onboard and gave a cultural dance performance. The next day we did a tour to the Killing Fields and S-21 Prison from Phnom Penh. This was an extremely moving tour and it is something I think everyone should see if they visit this area. The prison was also very moving. We met two of the only survivors of this prison who were chatting via an interpreter to visitors and selling their books. A very sobering experience. In the afternoon we visited a Silversmith village and the highlight of the evening was a tuk tuk tour of Phnom Penh to see the city lights and visit a rum distillery. The next morning we visited the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh and in the afternoon there was a galley tour, which was very interesting. The head chef, Oka, was from Bali and he was an excellent chef. The choice on the buffet breakfast was very extensive, as was the buffet lunch which was themed. There was both local and international cuisine available. The evening meal was waiter service and again the choice was excellent and the food delicious. In the afternoon we crossed the border from Cambodia to Vietnam arriving at Tan Chau. We had some traditional Vietnamese dancers onboard in the evening. The following day we chose a tour to Evergreen Island. We boarded a Sampan from the boat and went to a local town to ride on a traditional Xe Loi (rickshaw) which seated just one person. It was quite an experience travelling in the busy traffic with motor cycles nipping in and out! We than visited a local temple before taking another sampan through local backwaters to Evergreen Island where we had coffee with a local Vietnamese farming family. I wonderful experience. The last day of our 7 night Mekong cruise was spent travelling by sampan again on the Delta to see an ancient 19th century house and visit a local factory where they made sweets, rice paper and local wines. The evenings on board were spent in the bar lounge or up by the pool bar and were very relaxing about our busy days ashore. We had a pool party one evening which was very enjoyable. We disembarked the ship for a 2 hour coach drive to Ho Chi Minh where we spent 2 nights in the centre at the 5* Caravelle Hotel which was opposite the Opera House with lots of designer shops in the area. This hotel was well appointed and the rooms were lovely but we did not think the service and breakfast was as good as Raffles but it was a typical city hotel and very busy. The traffic was extremely busy in the city with thousands of motor cycles and you took your life in your hands crossing the busy roads! We visited the local market and also took a hop on hop off bus tour of the city. We found it difficult to find many good places to eat but they hotel had a few eating venues and we enjoyed a good lunch in the hotel. We were going to visit the tunnels from the Vietnam war era but they were 45 kilometres out of the city and it would take up most of a day so we decided to give this a miss. We flew home from Ho Chi Minh via Singapore and back to Manchester. We had a 4 hour layover in Singapore but the Singapore Airlines Business Class lounge was very comfortable to spend the time. Again we had a wonderful flight home and a chauffeur was waiting at the airport to take us home. An excellent experience. I would recommend it to people who love sightseeing and experiencing local culture in a luxurious environment. You need to be reasonably fit to be able to embark and disembark the boat and also climb steps. There was a wide choice of excursions so you could choose a less energetic one. The age profile was 50+ and the majority of clients onboard were from Australia with about 10 from the UK and a few from the USA. The guests were very friendly and the staff were extremely friendly and the service exceptional. The chef gave me some of his recipes that I liked. The manager, Tivae, did a superb job and was always there at the door to wish us a good tour and welcome us back. I would definitely travel with Scenic again.

10 September 2021

We hoarded the new P&O in Southampton after having a lateral flow test. It took about 1 hour 45 minutes from arriving to boarding. This is a very large ship, 184,700 tons, capacity 5200 passengers. We sailed to the Western Isles of Scotland and had 2 nights at anchor but did not disembark anywhere. The weather was fantastic. The ship is of contemporary style with a beautiful light filled atrium. The balcony cabins are well appointed with plenty of storage space, a large TV and a good sized shower room. The rooms are rather narrow but long. We had a balcony cabin on deck 5 which I would not recommend as the balcony was small with a single door and large window rather than patio doors. There was also not much room to walk down the side of the bed near the glass door because of a block of metal that protruded. Our daughter had a balcony cabin on deck 9 and a patio door and there was room at the side of their bed. I would also avoid balconies on deck 8, Promenade deck as people walking past can look onto your balcony and room and there were sunbathing areas outside some cabins. The entertainment was excellent with plenty of variety including shows, comedians, vocalists and 2 tribute acts, Adele and David Bowie. Our favourite venues were the Crow’s Nest, The Club House and the Sunset Bar. We bought a drinks package for £39.95 per day but the drinks were restricted. You could have a drink, alcohol or soft drinks and coffees, up to £6.95 but only single measures even though there was the odd large glass of wine within the price limit. Also Fevertree tonic was not included even though it was only £2.95! The food in the main restaurants was good but we found the choice limited, especially for fish but they had 2 vegetarian and 1 vegan option daily. We were also disappointed in the buffet choice but that may be because the ship was not full (only 2100 passengers). The salad buffet was very poor. We enjoyed a meal in the Indian restaurant, Sindhu and the Limelight Club for a supplementary charge. The Limelight Club is a supper club and there was a cabaret by Le Voix. P&O are promoting their App, My Holiday, which the hope to introduce to all ships eventually. This can be used to book restaurants and the theatre. This was very unreliable but there were desks in the atrium to help with queries. The wifi was also very unreliable. I paid £60 for a 7 day package. Hopefully these will improve in time. Because of Covid regulations masks had to be worn at all times inside and in the theatre but could be taken off in other venues if you were seated and having a drink. The ship is stunning but I don't think I would sail on her at full capacity. There was a problem getting into the 710 Club, which was very small. This will have to be monitored at full capacity. However, I think the ship will be very popular with families, younger couples and first time cruisers.

13 December 2019

We arrived in Dubai on an overnight flight from Manchester to Dubai. We took a taxi to the port which cost about £30. Check in was swift and efficient and we were on board by 11.30am. Our balcony cabin on deck 6 was spacious with plenty of storage. There was a flat screen TV, safe and mini bar. The shower room was also a good size. The Azamara Quest is a small ship by today’s standards, 30000 tons with 694 passengers. The dress code is smart casual and there are no formal evenings although a number of ladies wore cocktail dresses some evenings and a number of men wore jackets on some evenings. Breakfast, lunch and a themed buffet dinner was served in the Window Café on deck 9 which also had an outside seating area for dining. There was a grill outside on deck 9, the Patio, serving burgers, salads, chilli and paninis. Breakfast and dinner was also served in the main restaurant, Discoveries, on deck 5. The service in all dining venues was excellent and the staff were very friendly and attentive. For a small ship the choice of food was also excellent. There was a great choice of hot dishes, pizza, cold dishes, salads, desserts and ice cream in Windows Café. In the main restaurant the choice was excellent with 5 appetizers, 6 soups and salads, 7 main course alone with 3 classic dishes that are available every night. There was also a choice of desserts, ice creams, sorbets and cheese and biscuit. Restaurants catered well for vegetarian, vegan and gluten free dishes. Azamara is all inclusive so drinks and gratuities are included. The spirit, wine, cocktail and beer selection was limited on the included package but there was enough choice for me. You could pay to upgrade to a premium package for $16.95 per day or an ultimate package for $21.95 per day.. There was a choice of two white wines and 2 red wines each day in the restaurants and bars. They were of good quality. All the drinks were branded drinks. The cruise only had one sea day and perhaps because of this there was a lack on on board speakers. We found the entertainment limited. A good trio played in the Living Room every evening and a pianist played in the Living Room lounge most evenings. The entertainment company consisted 3 men and three women and an excellent orchestra. The singers and dancers performed about 3 shows. One evening the cruise director did a show. He had been on Broadway and had a good voice. The assistant cruise director also did a show. They had a guest pianist on board one night, Kym Purling, who was excellent and a magician on for 2 nights. We only went to see one of his shows and were not impressed. There were three quizzes per day, which we enjoyed. Two of the highlights were a trip to the Oman Conference Centre (Azamazing Evening free to all guests) to see Oman Brass Band and local band. There was also a White Night party on deck one evening where we were encouraged to wear white. Party night with entertainment. The selection of food at the outside buffet/barbeque was amazing. The first day was Khor Al Fakkan. We did not book an excursion here but took the free shuttle to what we thought was the local shopping mall in Khor Al Fakkan but instead we were taken on over one hours journey to Fujairah shopping mall. Many complained about the lack of information about this and it was a wasted journey. The next day we arrived in Oman and were there for 2 days. Having visited before so we just took a walk to the local souk. In the evening we had the Azamazing Experience event. After Muscat we had a restful day at sea. The ship had a very relaxing atmosphere. There was no difficulty in finding an empty sunbed and the queues were minimal in the buffet. Day 6 was Al Manamah, Bahrain. We took a coach into the city and walked round the souk. This was not one of my favourite ports. Day 7 were were in Doha, Qatar. This was one of my favourite destinations and my first visit. We took a 4 hour tour to the Souq Waqif and Msheireb Museums which was very interesting. We also has a tour of the modern part of the city to arrive there. I bought spices in the souk and we saw falcons for sale and a falcon hospital On day 8 we arrived at Sir Banyas Island close to Abu Dhabi. We booked a scenic tour of the nature reserve which lasted 90 mins. We saw wildlife including giraffes, oryx and flamingos and other birds. We accessed the island by tender. The island is quite unspoilt but the beach facilities from the tender drop off were very good with plenty of sun loungers and free food and drink were available. Days 9 and 10 were spent in Abu Dhabi. I have visited here twice before and like the city. We visited the Grand Mosque, the second largest mosque in the world. It is an amazing building but it was much busier that it was when I visited 10 years ago. Abayas were provided for the ladies to cover up when going into the mosque and the entry was free. We took a taxi there and the driver waited for us and took us back to the hotel for a cost of about £20. We took a shuttle to the World Trade Centre shopping complex on the second day for two hours and then relaxed by the pool. Day 11 was our final port of Dubai where we stayed overnight. We have been to Dubai before and have seen many of the sites. We took a shuttle to the Mercado shopping centre which was quite small. We then took a taxi to the Dubai Mall near the Burj al Kalifa. It was huge with many famous designer brands including the biggest shoe section I have ever seen. There was also a souk there, an ice rink and an aquarium. In the afternoon we took at taxi to Dubai Creek. I like this area which has an authentic souk selling handicrafts and spices and a gold souk. We took an abra boat (old water taxi) across to the other side of at the cost of 1 dirham per person (about 20 pence each way). Disembarkation was smooth and we were able to stay on the ship until 9.30am when we took a taxi to Dubai airport for our afternoon flight home. Despite having a downpour of rain one evening in Abu Dhabi, which lasted about 30 minutes and a shower in Dubai when we disembarked the ship, the weather was perfect, 25 to 28C. It was a great destination for winter sun and we really loved the small ship experience of Azamara, it was a very relaxing cruise. The age profile was mixed but the majority were 55+. I could definitely recommend Azamara and we will certainly travel with them again.

25 July 2019

Lake Garda, Dolomites, Verona and Venice Tour - 15th to 22nd July 2019 Day 1, I travelled from Leeds Bradford to Venice. It was a 3 hour transfer from Venice to Riva del Garda. There was a choice of hotels but I stayed at the Hotel Savoy Palace in peaceful location 5 mins from lake and 20 mins walk from old town of Riva del Garda, surrounded by mountains and 5 minutes walk to the lake. I had a large double room with balcony with shower for single occupancy. There was a safe, mini bar, tv. Large very comfortable bed. It was spotlessly clean. A dressing gown and slippers were provided. The terrace outside the bar area was lovely with colourful tubs of plants and views of the mountain. Drinks were reasonably priced for a hotel, 5.50 euros for a large gin and tonic. Dinner was very good. 4 courses, service excellent. Salad buffet, a second course with a choice of pasta, soup, etc, main course with a choice of meat, fish or vegetarian, plus a choice of dessert. There were also fresh fruit and cheese set out at the buffet. I had salad, lasagna, John Dory fish and a raspberry dessert. Day 2 A coach trip was included round the lake passing Malchesnie on the way to Garda, a lovely resort with a promenade by the lake with restaurants and bars. Old narrow streets lined with shops and cafes. Then we journeyed past Peschiera, a flatter landscape at this side of the lake. We then went to Sirmione, an upmarket resort with lots of luxury villas. The town itself is charming with a lovely moated castle, narrow streets and many bars, restaurants and ice cream parlours. I had a delightful lunch of pizza and red wine at a restaurant near the shore. We then took a ferry from Sirmione to Salo, about 1hr 15mins, stopping at 4 places on the way. Salo is also a lovely old town, the approach reminded me of Santa Marguerita in Italy. From here I had a hours ride back to Riva via Limone. Dinner again was excellent. I had salad, duck tagliatelli, salmon trout and a wild berry dessert. A pianist plays in the restaurant and outside terrace on an evening. Day3 Tour to the Dolomites. We departed 8.30. First stop in Ortezei. Pretty town in the Southern Tyrol below the tree line. I walked round shops and stopped for coffee and Apple Streudel and coffee. Beautiful alpine scenery and good quality hotels. Next stop was Pordoi, a mountain pass above the tree line with beautiful views of the rugged Dolomite mountains. There was still some snow on top of the highest peaks. Small place with few places to eat. We had lunch here. Then we had a scenic drive through pretty ski towns and villages. Last stop Cavalese, a quiet town as shops were closed but found a good cake/coffee shop. Dinner excellent again. With the salad I chose minestrone soup, drum fish and Sacher torte. Day 4 A free day. I walked along the lake from the hotel to Riva old town. It took about 25 to 30 minutes. Flat, beautiful scenery. The old town is lovely with many narrow streets. I booked an extra tour to see Carmen in Verona arena. This did not start until 9pm. We arrived in Verona about 6pm and there was time to have dinner. I found a lovely restaurant, one of many opposite the arena, and had beautiful lasagne, a quarter litre of red wine and have a litre of sparkling water for 19.50 euros including cover charge which I thought was very reasonable. The opera was amazing. We sat on the marble seats but you could buy a cushion outside for 2 to 3 euros or hire one inside for 3 eurosl It did not finish until 12.30. There were 3 intervals, one was just for a scene change. There is a lack of toilets there and we had to exit security and walk half way round the arena to find them and queue to re-enter through security. Drinks and ice cream are available for sale inside. We did not get back to the hotel until 2.15am but it was a wonderful experience. Day 5 There was a trip to Venice today but I elected not to go as I knew it would be very busy and I have been there often. I walked on the cycle path by the lake into the lovely village of Torbole. Very pleasant 35 minute walk, fabulous scenery. Torbole is small with a number of restaurants, shops and bars. I found a wonderful small local restaurant down a narrow side street, small with tables outside. I had a great lunch of seafood risotto, quarter litre of red wine and espresso coffee for 12.50 euros. I walked back and relaxed by the pool. Another good dinner with salad, delicious mussels in a spicy tomato sauce, fish and chocolate buffet. There was a street party on the road from the hotel to central Riva. Fastastic atmosphere with live bands, dancing, disco etc. Day 6 An extra tour by ferry was arranged by the tour managers from Riva to Malchesine and Limone. We had 2.5 hours in Malchesine to look round the shops in the lovely old narrow streets and there was also a market. We then took a ferry to Limone. I had a lovely pizza lunch with wine for 13.50 euros. I wondered round the narrow streets and did some shopping. We caught the ferry back to Riva and were back at the hotel for 4pm. Excellent value tour for 20 euros. Another excellent dinner – salad buffet, bean soup, salmon and mango sorbet. Day 7 We left at 9am for the hour drive to Verona. Then we did an hour guided tour. We had a choice of a classic tour or undiscovered Verona tour. I did the Classic tour I as wanted to visit Juilet’s balcony. The Italian guide was very informative but the tour was too short and we did not get much time at Juliet’s house. The other group had a longer, more interesting tour. After we had free time to shop and eat. The shops were open on Sunday but there were many expensive designer shops or cheap options. I returned to the same restaurant I visited on Thursday night, Nastro Azzuro. The service was excellent. When I told the waiter it was my seond visit he brought me glass of proscecco on the house and a brushetta I ordered an Amarone risotto served in a parmesan crispy basket along with a glass of wonderful Amarone and water. I finished with an Espresso. We arrived back at the hotel at 4pm. Day 8 After an early breakfast we left the hotel at 7.20am for the long drive back to Venice for the flight. I loved the tour and the hotel was excellent. It was good to have the same base for a week. I will certainly do another Riviera tour. The age group was between 50 to 80 but everyone seemed fit and active.

23 May 2019

I was very lucky to win a stateroom for two-nights on the Celebrity Edge from 13th to 15th May. This wonderful new ship was launched in December and was making her debut in Southampton. The size is 13,818 tons and carries 2,918 passengers. The ship's design blew me away and far exceeded my expectations. I have travelled on all class of Celebrity ships and this one is certainly innovative. The concept of the new Infinite Balcony is good as it is part of the stateroom but you can close it off if you wish. A glass window drops down half way by the touch of a button to create the balcony. These balconies are 23% bigger than the ones on the Solstice Class ships and they have a spacious shower room. There is plenty of drawer space but the downside is a limited hanging space for dresses. I was very lucky to be upgraded to a Royal Suite which was amazing and very spacious. Suite guests have their own restaurant, Lumiere and have access to The Retreat area which includes a private sun deck with a pool, hot tubs and a bar. The Retreat lounge serves drinks and canapes and afternoon tea and is open 24/7. I looked round all the suites and the accommodation from the Sky Suite to the fantastic Iconic suite was very spacious. There are 4 main dining rooms – Cosmopolitan, Tuscan, Normandie and Cyprus Restaurants. Each have their own select menu options and all offer the same signature dishes. If you choose Anytime Dining you can each in any of these. If you choose a fixed dining you will be allocated one of the four restaurants. There is also Blu restaurant for Aqua Class guests. Speciality restaurants which have a cover charge include the Fine Cut Steakhouse, Le Grand Bistro, Le Petit Chef, Raw on 5 at the Magic Carpet, Rooftop Grill and Eden Restaurant. The self service, Ocean View Café is open throughout the day and late into the evening. There are numerous bars including the Martini Bar and Café Il Bacio for coffees, cakes etc. The spa is large and has a Thermal Suite made up of eight different spaces. There is also a large, well equipped Gym. One special feature is The Magic Carpet reaching up to 13 floors. When at the top on Deck 16, it is turned into Dinner on the Edge restaurant. At lunchtime, it is positioned on Deck 5 for lunch and drinks. It is also used as a disembarkation platform on Deck 2, when required. Another new concept is Eden which is a chill-out location during the day and a showtime area in the evening and is also home to the Eden restaurant. It is a bright and airy venue spanning 3 floors. The theatre is very contemporary with an open circular stage and no curtains. The two shows I saw were first-class productions. There is a nightclub called The Club and a children’s club called The Camp at Sea. The resort deck has an open-air pool with big TV screen and there is a comfortable covered solarium area which also has a pool. The Rooftop garden is very beautiful with eye catching sculpures. Another area is the Grand Plaza which covers 3 floors and opens up the restaurants and bars. This tended to be noisy at night when a disco was playing but very lively for the young at heart. The Martini bar is in this location. To sum up, this is a beautiful, modern ship with something for everyone. Some of the features and the modern décor of shades of grey should attract a younger cliental but there is something to appeal to everyone. I would certainly sail on the Edge again!

07 March 2019

I was onboard overnight on 3rd March to experience the beautiful MSC Bellissima. The 171,000 ton ship carries 5600 passengers. A high percentage of cabins have balconies. The ship is beautifully appointed and has some Swaroski glass staircases. There are several speciality restaurants including a Butchers Cut Steakhouse, Hola! Tapas Bar, Kaito Sushi Bar, Kaito Teppanyaki and the L'Atelier Bistro. I sampled food in all the speciality restaurants and the quality was excellent. I did not use the self-service buffet, but the choice was extensive, and the food looked delicious. I ate in one of the main dining rooms for dinner. The choice was limited but the food was good. I had a balcony cabin which was a good size with a good size shower room. There was a flat screen TV and mini-bar. The balcony was adequate and had 2 chairs and a small table on it. A feature of the Bellissima is an interactive device called Zoe in each cabin. It is a virtual personal cruise assistance which will answer numerous questions about the cruise, restaurants and facilities and is available in 7 different languages. There is a theatre for shows and a venue for Cirque de Soleil shows too. There is also a large casino. Another feature is a bowling alley, Formula 1 simulator, a virtual games arcade, a XD Cinema and a covered basketball/football court. There is a good spa and gym. The children are well catered for with various clubs and facilities. There is an Aqua Park on deck 19 with 4 waterslides. There are numerous bars and a long street through the ship where you find the speciality restaurants, several bars and shops. I was particularly impressed with the Yacht Club which is a private area accessible to Yacht Club guests in the suites. They have their own lounge area, own restaurant and pool. It is an oasis away from the crowds. I would recommend this ship for families and younger couples and the Yacht Club for people who want a quieter experience with all the facilities of a large ship. (Picture 1 is the Hola! Tapas Bar, picture 2 is a lounge, picture 3 is Aqua Park and picture 4 is the ship)

05 November 2018

This Uniworld cruise should have been a 15-night cruise on the River Princess. Because of low water levels on the Danube we started in Budapest on the SS Beatrice for one night. This is a modern ship carrying 152 passengers and 57 crew. The next day we were coached to Vienna and boarded the River Empress, a more traditional ship carrying 130 passengers with 41 crew. We joined our original ship, the River Princess after eight days as she made her way to meet us. The River Princess is another traditional ship with 140 passengers and 41 crew. I must say Uniworld handled the difficulties splendidly and went out of their way to make sure we were moved from A to B efficiently. The staff and service were brilliant and we were given day to day updates by the various captains regarding the water level situation. Ibi, our Cruise Manager, was exceptional. Uniworld is an All Inclusive product including tours, drinks onboard and gratuities. Some special Masterclass tours are chargeable. There was more than one tour a day and generally something to suit everyone. They had a slow walking group and a faster walking group tour. There is also a guest laundry onboard. Details of the itinerary: Day 1. We arrived at the SS Beatrice at 12.45 after a coach transfer from Budapest airport. We had a buffet lunch onboard and went to explore the Pest side of Budapest and do some shopping. Prices are very reasonable. Day 2. We had a city tour by coach and stopped in the old Buda sector for a tour and free time on a beautiful sunny day. We were then dropped off in town within walking distance of the ship to have lunch. We chose a typical Hungarian restaurant where we had Goulash Soup and Apple Strudel plus drinks for a cost of around £15.50 for two. In the afternoon we had a 3.5-hour transfer by a comfortable coach to Vienna, arriving at the River Empress at 5.30pm. Day 3. We had a coach tour of the Vienna Woods and Vienna finishing off with a tour of the beautiful Baroque National Library. We spent the afternoon relaxing onboard. The ship was not in walking distance to the centre but shuttle buses were provided. In the evening some guests did the Masterclass tour to the Shonenbrunn Palace so a buffet dinner was served instead of the normal waiter service dinner. Day 4. Vienna. We had a private tour of the Fine Arts Museum opened especially for Uniworld guests. It was a wonderful baroque building with fabulous paintings. Our guide was excellent and she also took us on a walking tour of Vienna, Do as the Locals Do. The architecture is magnificent. Stopped at a traditional coffee house for coffee and Sacher Torte and also at a local sausage stand. In the evening we attended a wonderful private classical concert at the Klosterneuburg Monastery costing 79 euro per person. Day 5. Melk and Melk Abbey tour. Excellent. Day 6. Linz, rainy day but very interesting tour and tour guide. 1.5 hours long Guide. Visited Gothic Cathedral and walk of old town. Learned about history of town and connection to Hitler. Day 7. Ship docked at Engelsharlszell for cyclists to disembark for cycling ride along the river to Passau. We docked in Passau at lunchtime. Beautiful town in Bavaria, old town, good shops. Live entertainment in the bar. Man of 2000 songs. Very good. Day 8. Vilshofen. Ship cannot get any further because of low water levels. Had to be taken by coach 1.5 hours to Regensburg. I hour city tour with a guild then free time for lunch and shopping. There were alternative tours to Hop Farm and museum. Should have had a BMW factory tour but had to be cancelled as we were a day late Day 9. Vilshofen. Coach journey to tour in Nuremberg stopping at a chocolate factory on the way. Snowing! 3.5 hrs to Nuremberg. Had lunch stop given 20 euros each for lunch. Then city tour and visit to the Palace of Justice where in court 600 the Nuremberg WW2 war trials were held. 1.50 hours then coach to Wurzberg to join our third ship, River Princess. Lovely ship and excellent dinner. Love the black and white décor. Day 10. Ship sailed overnight to Wertheim. Beautiful medieval city. Only 3000 inhabitants. Dominated by second largest castle in Germany. Walking tour, then free time followed by wine tasting and pretzel making demonstration. Option to visit Würzburg Residence in the afternoon or cycle ride but chose to stay on board as we had a long day on a coach yesterday. Day 11. Frankfurt. Took a ‘Do As The Locals Do’ tour in the morning. The guide was excellent. Toured the old part of the city and tried the local cider and Frankfurters in a small Frankfurter café. We also sampled local cakes in a café in a square. Lovely architecture. Was badly bombed in WW2 but has been rebuilt in the Baroque, Medieval style. Lunch on board and a free afternoon. Trio on board in the evening for entertainment. Day 12. Rudesheim. Cable car trip up to Niederwald monument. Fantastic views of Rhine and town. Beautiful medieval town. We shopped and had a Rudesheim coffee. Special coffee with brandy, set alight and served with cream in a special cup. Sailed through Rhine gorge in the afternoon passing many castles. Beautiful scenery. Had cookery demonstration of Black Forest cake by the chef. Day 13. Cologne. Had a city tour on foot visiting the cathedral and old town. Not much of an old town as much destroyed during the war and reconstructed in a modern style. Not a pretty city. Went to a bar for a Kolsch beer tasting. Afternoon sailing towards Amsterdam. Day 14. Amsterdam. Sunny day and had tour of Van Gogh museum. Opened early for our ship. Excellent. Then had ‘Do As The Locals Do’ walking tour with a local guide. Very interesting. Had a herring tasting at a local stall and then a chocolate cookie tasting. Lasted 1.5 hours and took the underground and tram back to the ship. Afternoon on board. Local duo came on to perform early evening. Singer was excellent. Day 15. Checked out of room 8.30. Just left cases outside for collecting and relaxed in lounge until taxi pick-up at 10.15. Standard of tours and guides exceptional. Food OK but not the best I have had. Often not served hot enough. Standard cabins and Juliette balcony cabins were about 151sq feet. Storage was better on the River Princess. All had marble bathrooms, comfortable beds and L'Occitane toiletries (Asprey on Beatrice). Age profile was mainly 50+. Exceptional service and tour guides but food could have been served hotter but excellent product.

13 October 2018

The Brabant caters for 156 guests and has 40 crew. It is in the first year of service with Fred Olsen. I boarded the river boat in Bernkastel on the Moselle to complete a seven-night sailing that started in Basel. I arrived about 12.45 and was just in time to have lunch in the main restaurant. My cabin was ready just after 2pm. It was a Juliette balcony room on Mozart deck, deck 3. Decks 2 and 3 have cabins with Juliette balconies while deck 1 has standard cabins with a window which is quite high to see out of. They are all the same size, approx. 161 sqft. The bathroom was a good size with a shower. The cabin was also quite spacious and was equipped with a TV, hairdryer, safe, double wardrobe and drawers. The toiletries in the bathroom were by Rituals. Bottled water was provided and replenished daily. There is no room service. The plugs were 2 pin European type. There was no kettle in the room, but we were told that because of client feedback they would supply these next year along with dressing gowns and slippers. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate was available 24/7 in the Amadeus lounge to the aft of the ship. Breakfast was buffet service in the restaurant, but you could order omelettes, poached eggs, pancakes etc. There was a light option breakfast and lunch in the Panorama Bar. Afternoon tea and late-night snacks were also served in the bar. Lunch and dinner in the restaurant were one seating at 7pm and it was a three-course lunch and five course dinner. There were choices for each course. With the main course there was a choice of meat, fish and vegetarian option. The food was served piping hot. The Panorama Bar was spacious and had an outside terrace. There was a small dance floor and a pianist and singer performed there in the evening. One evening we had a quiz. The drinks were very reasonably priced. Sparkling wine and wines from £3.50 per glass, a small beer from £3.00, gins and whiskeys from £3.90 plus mixers. You can purchase a drinks package for wines, beers and soft drinks with lunch and dinner for £10 per day. Gratuities are £8 per person per day. Excursions are extra. From 1st to 21st October this year Fred Olsen have an offer that if you pay £200 per person per week extra you get a excursions every day, it does not matter what the cost is, plus you get the free lunch and dinner drinks package and free gratuities. This is a very good value offer. There is a small gym on board and a hairdressers and spa. The prices are good with a 25-minute massage costing £35 and a 50-minute massage costing £60. A lady’s blow and dry is £25 and a cut and blow dry is £35. A man’s cut if from £11. The first afternoon I had a walk into Bernkastel-Kues which is a beautiful medieval town with cobbled streets. There are some good gift shops, bars and restaurants here. It was buzzing with tourists. The second day we stopped at Cochem, a small old town with just 5000 inhabitants. On a hill overlooking the town is the Reichsburg Castle. We did a wine tasting tour in Cochem, a little train took us on a tour of the town to the wine tasting venue. The guide and owner of the winery were very informative. We sampled 5 different Moselle wines. We sailed at lunchtime towards Cologne. The scenery was stunning with views of the hills covered in vines. The weather was fantastic for the time of year and we were able to sit out on the sun deck. The following day we arrived in Cologne on the Rhine. The excursion today was a city tour and visit to the famous Cathedral. The guide was very knowledgeable and informative. We left early afternoon for our final destination, Dusseldorf. The scenery just outside Cologne was quite industrial but soon returned to the beautiful green hills and vineyards. We arrived in Dusseldorf around pm and went for a walk into town. It is a modern city with a small older sector. We disembarked the following morning at 11am for our direct flight back to London. The age group of the clients onboard was about 50 plus. The boat is not suitable for people with mobility issues as there are no facilities for wheelchairs or mobility scooters. The ramps on and off the ship can be steep at times and there is no lift access to the sun deck where you need to be able to negotiate 12 steps. There is a lift serving the 3 floors onboard. Also, sometimes the boat must raft next to other boats in the busy season which may mean negotiating from one boat to another to get ashore. The staff were friendly, and the ship was spotlessly clean, but the décor was a bit dated. Brabant does a number of interesting itineraries on the Danube, Rhine, Moselle and Main rivers from 5 to 25 nights, the majority of 7-night duration. Flights are included in the price, but you can do cruise only with a reduction at this current time of £300 per person for the flights and transfers.

09 August 2018

I boarded the Emerald Radiance in Porto about 1pm on 29th July. My first impression was of a very contemporary, light and spotlessly clean ship. I received a warm welcome aboard while staff took care of my luggage. A light lunch was set out in the bar area as people were arriving at different times. Wines, beers and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner and other drinks packages can be purchased onboard. (There is an offer at the moment for all-inclusive packages for balcony suites and above if booked before 31st August for 2019 sailings). Tours and gratuities are also included. I was allocated a balcony suite on the main deck which had an en suite shower room, mini bar and large flat screen TV. A three or four course dinner is taken in the main restaurant from 7pm. The food was exceptional and paired with a different red or white wine every evening. Rose wine was also available. The restaurant manager and waiters were very attentive and catered for any special dietary requirement. The evening meal was waiter service, but lunch and breakfast were self- service with a vast choice of dishes, hot and cold. On our first evening we had a sunset cruise around Porto. On day two we set sail for Pinhao, passing quaint villages and stunning scenery of hills and vineyards. There is an early morning yoga session for the active onboard. There was also a cookery demonstration in the afternoon. The ship has a small gym and spa. I tried two massages while I was onboard and both were excellent and very reasonably priced, €45 for a 40 minute Jet Lag back massage and €55 for a full deep tissue body massage. There is also a hairdressing salon. On day three there was a choice of a morning coach trip to the village of Lamego to Our Lady of Remedies Sanctuary or a walking tour to a local vineyard, Croft’s port winery. I took this option. It was about 30 minutes’ walk each way. The scenery from the vineyard was stunning and the port tasting was also very good! In the afternoon we had a cocktail lesson making cocktails with wine and rose port. The evenings are low key with a man playing the keyboard in the lounge area. Some evenings were lively with dancing and we also had a quiz on the first evening. On day four we enjoyed a Salamanca tour from Vega de Terron. We had a tour to the beautiful university city of Salamanca, taking about two hours. As with all our tours, they were very well organised with excellent guides. We had a morning tour of the city then free time for lunch and shopping. There are numerous reasonably priced restaurants and tapas bars. After lunch we met up in a square where local musicians sang and played for us. The next day we arrived in Pocinho where we went on a tour to the Coa Valley Museum to see the pre-historic carvings while there was an alternative active activity of canoeing. In the evening we went to a local Quinta/wine estate for a three-course dinner which was included in the price. This was an excellent evening. On day six we visited Regua. A village and museum tour were included but I paid €37 extra to take a tour to Mateus Palace (which is still family owned), about 15 km away. It was beautiful and well worth the extra cost. These days port is produced there, not Mateus Rose. We had a port tasting and, in the afternoon, there was a tile painting lesson. We had a wonderful special farewell dinner in the evening. Day seven was back in Porto. Here I did a guided walking tour of the city and a port tasting at Taylors. Porto is a USESCO World Heritage Site. There was also a tour to Guimaraes at an extra cost. On the last day I was transferred back to the airport at 9.30 am after a fantastic week onboard the beautiful Radiance. I could not fault the food and service, it was exceptional. I would recommend this type of cruise to couples who want a relaxing river cruise. For those who wish to visit large cities I would recommend an Emerald Rhine or Danube cruise.

29 April 2018

2In February I sailed from Southampton on a 12-night cruise to the Arctic Circle and back on the P&O Oriana. The Oriana is a lovely traditional ship which has recently had a re-fit and has been very tastefully done. I had an outside cabin with a restricted view, but it was very spacious with a separate dressing area and with plenty of storage. The shower room was adequate and had plenty of storage for toiletries. There were tea and coffee making facilities and a mini bar. The flat screen TV was small. The bed was very comfortable. I had anytime dining, and I was extremely impressed with the standard of food and service in the restaurant. The choices were excellent and the wine prices very reasonable from about £16 per bottle. The lunch in the self-service restaurant was adequate but it would have been good to have more choice although the salad buffet was very good. I ate in Atul Knocher's Sindhu speciality Indian restaurant one night. There is a cover charge in here of £25 but the food and service was excellent. Drinks in the many bars were reasonably priced. I particularly liked the Crow’s Nest forward of the ship to sit and have a drink and watch the fantastic scenery. My first port of call was Andalsnes. It was very cold with snow on the ground, but I expected this in February. I booked an excursion locally in the town when I arrived which went to the Romsdal Valley, the small skiing village of Bjorli and the Troll Wall. The scenery was stunning. The excursion was about €68 and was of about four hours duration. The next port of call was Tromso, the gateway to the Arctic. Again, it was very cold. It was a pretty town and I had a long walk around and to the Arctic Cathedral as there was no tour that I wanted to do here. The ship stayed overnight and set sail the following morning. The scenery with the snowy fjords was stunning and after overcast weather in Tromso we sailed into beautiful sunshine. The next port of call was the most northern point on our Arctic cruise, Alta, were we stayed for two days. It was bitterly cold here with a wind chill factor of -25c. Plenty of layers of clothing are recommended and some suitable boots for the snow and icy pavements. I did two tours from Alta. The first one was an evening trip in search of the Northern Lights. The conditions were ideal, and we saw the Northern Lights from the ship before I left for the tour at 9.30pm. They took us to an area inland where there was no light pollution and we were very fortunate to get a spectacular show of the Northern Lights. It was very cold but there was a tepee type tent which had a log fire and where hot chocolate was served. There were coaches running back to the ship regularly, so you could stay as long as you wanted up to nearly midnight. The cost was £135 per person. The next morning, I took a tour to the Igloo Ice Hotel which was a great experience. There was an ice wedding chapel and wonderful ice carvings in the igloo hotel. Everything was made of ice, even the beds in the rooms. We were served a vodka in an ice glass. I really enjoyed this trip. The cost was £65. The final port of call was Stavanger which was a pretty town with lovely wooden houses and shops. I wandered round the narrow streets and looked round the shops. There was a Petroleum museum that some of the passengers went to visit which was near to our berth. Our next stop was our home port of Southampton. I was very impressed with the Oriana. The entertainment was excellent with a couple of shows every evening, one in the Pacific Lounge and one in the theatre. There was also plenty going on during the day on sea days with talks, lectures, quizzes, an excellent classical pianist and a cinema with several showings of a different film every day. Another plus point is that it is an adult only ship. I have visited the Fjords in both summer and winter and the contrast is amazing but beautiful at both times of year. I could certainly cruise to Norway again.

02 September 2017

I won a prize of a 3-night trip on board the MV Columbus sailing from Tilbury to Amsterdam and Antwerp from 25th to 28th August. I boarded a coach at Victoria coach station which was organized by Cruise and Maritime. The coach was comfortable and it took 1 hour 30 minutes to reach Tilbury but the traffic was very busy on Friday afternoon. It only took 45 minutes on the return on Bank Holiday Monday. Our cases were taken straight to our room. We checked in and boarded the ship. We had a twin cabin which was spacious and had a walk-in wardrobe with plenty of hanging and drawer space. The shower room had plenty of storage for toiletries and the shower cubicle was a good size. The room had been refurbished but not the shower room. It was very clean and our cabin steward was good. There was tea and coffee making facilities in the room, a mini bar, safe and hairdryer. There was one UK socket and one European socket. The Columbus was the old P&O Arcadia and then Ocean Village It is the largest ship in their fleet a t63, 783 tons and carries 1400 passengers. It was built in 1989 but was refurbished this year. The public rooms are very nice and well appointed. There are two pools. The pool area could do with new sun beds as they look a bit tired. They have put a cinema screen over one of the pools and there is also a swim up to bar in of the pools. They have installed a couple of large Jacuzzis and lovely large sunbeds on the aft of the ship. It is an all adult ship (apart from the odd sailing) so there are no children’s facilities on the ship. The cabins are spacious. We had an outside with a picture window. There is a walk in wardrobe area with plenty of hanging and drawer space. The shower cubicle is a good size but has a plastic shower curtain which I don’t like. The cabin had new furnishings in it but the pictures on the wall looked a bit cheap but that was a minor issue. The Waterfront dining room is pleasant and is sectioned off by partitions to make it feel more intimate and it worked but I did not like the plastic grass decoration at the top of the partitions. The dinner in the main restaurant was very good with good choice options and you could order every course if you wished – starter, soup, salad, main course, dessert and cheese, and biscuits. They catered very well for people with dietary requirements, such as vegetarians, gluten, and lactose intolerant. The portions were not large but certainly adequate. The wine and drinks prices are very reasonable with a bottle of wine house wine at £15 and good quality. Drinks in the bars were very reasonable too. They do a drinks package for £17 per day for cruises of over 4 nights and the gratuities are £5 per person per night. The breakfast in both the buffet restaurant and the main restaurant was very good with a great choice, the bacon was very lean and of good quality. There was a good selection of hot food and desserts but I did not try these. There were a couple of specialty dining options and we dined in the Indian restaurant (part of the buffet which is sectioned off and used in the evening) and the food was very good. There are two other dining options which we did not try. The service was excellent in all the restaurants. Our Goan restaurant waiters were very friendly and gave a great service. The entertainment was very good in the bar areas and the entertainment team put on an excellent show in the foyer on the last evening. We only went to see one show which was OK. I think I have been spoilt with the more professional shows on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. There were some talented singers, particularly one girl who sang opera in the foyer. There was a disco in The Dome which acts as a Crows Nest bar during the day and there are 7 other lounge bars and 2 deck bars. Entertainment was good and lively in the evenings in The Taverner's pub. There is also a casino. There are two launderettes and ironing rooms which tend to appeal to the British market. Their excursions look good value. We did a coach tour and canal boat trip in Amsterdam and a Beer Walk in Antwerp which C&M provided for us agents. The staff were of many nationalities and were very friendly. The ship is classed as a 3* plus and that is where I would put it. The age group generally tends to be 60+ but there was a younger element on this mini cruise. All in all, I found it very good value for money and it was a good cruise if you are not looking for luxury or fine dining. It would also suit people who do not like the new large cruise ships. They do have some good offers, buy one get one-half price or get one free. I would certainly sail with Cruise and Maritime again.

25 April 2015

I arrived at 11.40 and was on the ship by 11.45. It was the fastest check-in ever! My first impressions on boarding the ship was WOW! The décor and ambience is excellent and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. My cabin was ready, a balcony on deck 7. It was a good size with a spacious balcony which had 2 chairs, 2 footstools and a small table. The furnishings were of high quality and there was a large flat screen TV and minibar. the shower room was a good size and had a glass shower screen (much better than the shower curtains found on some ships). Toiletries, other than soap, were lacking, and I had to ask the cabin steward for shower gel, which is usually included. There were no dressing gowns either. These are now provided in suite classes. The ship is stunning and no expense has been spared in the décor of the public rooms and restaurants. It is very classy and I would give it 5* for décor and entertainment. Although it is a large ship, it does not feel too big, apart from round the pool areas, as there are many different bars and smaller restaurants than on most large cruise ships. I looked round all the restaurants and was given samples of the different menus to try. The ones included in the price are The Grande (the only formal restaurant onboard), Chic, American Icon Grill, Silk Asian restaurant and Coastal Kitchen, which is for suite guests only. There are also informal eating places like The Windjammer buffet restaurant, Café Promade, Sorrento's which is also on the promenade, which is open until 3am for a late night slice of pizza. Michael's traditional pub, also on the promenade, serves food. In the Solarium there is Devinely Decedance which serves unusual options and healthy options. Restaurants with cover charges include Jamie's Italian, Izumi Japanese restaurant, Prime Table, Chops Grill, Wonderland - where you order your food from a framed painting, and is on the lines of Heston Blumental cuisine - and Chops Grill where I ate on the second night, cover charge on this was $35US. It was OK but I did not think it was worth the extra. The steak was excellent but the starter and dessert choices were disappointing. The entertainment was some of the best I have seen on any cruise ship. On the first night in the theatre a group of men called Mo5aic did a fantastic performance, singing and providing musical accompaniment by their voices. Boleros bar played Latin style music, while the Schooner Bar, famous on RCL ships, had a good pianist. In Two70 Cabaret area there was a spectacular late night show, Spectra's Cabaret which was on the lines of a Cirque du Soleil production and after this, there was a fantastic band, The Wild Boys, in the Music Hall nightclub plying music from the 80s. On the second evening I watched a production of 'We Will Rock You' and although it was supposed to be a dress rehearsal, it was every bit as good as the London show, it was extremely professional. It ran to 2 hours without an interval. At 10.30 in the Two70 there was a show by the comedian, Alistair McGowan and then later at 11.30 the excellent band played 90s music and there was a late performance of Spectra's Cabaret at midnight in Two70 The Dodgems in Seaplex were a good novelty, as was the North Star pod which was a bit like a London Eye capsule. There was roller skating and a roller skating disco, a Flowrider and climbing wall. The pool areas were vast and the sun beds were too close together. I loved the Solarium which was much more relaxing and ideal when the weather was not too good. It was a large area but separated into 2 sections. The made wonderful smoothies at the bar here. The children's facilities and clubs are also excellent. It is a wonderful ship for families. I looked round all the classes of staterooms and was impressed with the Loft suites. The inside cabins with the virtual balconies were a good idea so that passengers can see what the weather is like outside. There is also a remote control so that they can tune in to listen to the noise outside the ship! All in all, I was very impressed with this ship. I would have given it 5 stars but although, the food is good, it is not on the same level as Celebrity. I would certainly love to try a Quantum class ship again. I think it is best suited to families and couples up to mid-fifties who like lively entertainment and a good quality product. It would also suit people who do not want formality as the dress code is smart casual, apart from if you wish to eat in The Grande Restaurant. People who want more formality could eat in The Grande more often. This ship offers something for everyone.

16 March 2015

I spent 2 nights on the P&O Britannia from 11th to 13th March before the maiden voyage. It sailed out to sea but did not dock anywhere at it was a shake down cruise. We boarded efficiently at 1pm and my first impression was the wonderful atrium which was stunning. The colour scheme around the ship is mostly cream, blue and brown and it is quite contemporary. We had lunch in the Horizon self service grill and we were disappointed in the selection of food available. The salad buffet was very disappointing. We toured the whole ship and was very impressed with the Crows Nest Bar, very elegant with a good pianist playing in the evenings. The Spa area and The Retreat and Thermal Suite was also excellent. There is a charge of £25 per person per day to go in the The Retreat and Thermal Spa and there is also a weekly rate. The childrens club facilities were excellent for all age groups. The large pool area was lovely with good quality sunbeds but there were no beds in the shade around the pool, these seem to have been replaced on Britannia by comfortable chairs and coffee tables. I was surprised that there was not a covered pool for inclement weather. The public rooms were well appointed and I particularly liked the Sindhu Indian speciality restaurant. The décor and lighting were just right and we dined in here on the second night and the food was amazing and well worth the £15 per person cover charge, although the service was very slow. We ate in the Peninsular Anytime Dining restaurant on the first night and I found the food average and the service slow, but it is early days yet and there is time for improvement. The afternoon tea in the Horizon Grill was poor and it was only average in the Peninsular restaurant. I did not try the Epicurian speciality restaurant but was told the food was very good but the service poor. The Cookery Club is a new addition to P&O Cruises and guests can book this to have a cookery school with Celebrity chefs such as James Martin, Eric Lanlard, Marco Pierre White and Atul Kochhar. Brodie's Pub was lively and there was a duo playing in there and also quizzes and karaoke. The Crystal Room, where the dancing took place, was a stunning room. Movies were shown in the Studio and there was late night dancing in the Live Lounge. The Headliners theatre seemed small for the size of the ship but they put 3 shows on per night. The first night was a Motown band of singers, who were excellent. The Headliners Theatre group did a show the next night which was good but not memorable. We had a lead in balcony cabin, HD grade on C deck which was tastefully furnished in sage greens, brown and beige. It was one without a sofa but it had 2 chairs, twin beds with good quality bedding and there was a minibar, hairdryer and large flat screen TV. The balcony was on the small side. It had a large walk in wardrobe but there was a lack of draw and cupboard storage. The shower room was small but adequate and the shower had a proper glass screen which is much better than the shower curtains. Drinks were reasonably priced with bottles of wine from £15 per bottle and gin and tonics for £3.90 but there was a 20% tax on top of the drinks on this cruise as we were still in UK waters. The ship is large at 141,000 tons and can carry 3647 passengers. It would particularly appeal to families and the younger cruise market. I think the older, traditional P&O cruisers would prefer a smaller ship. I think the ship has a lot to offer the British market and I am sure the service will be improved when she is up and running and over the initial teething problems.

25 August 2014

I embarked in Southampton, which was quick and efficient. I was on board by 1pm and had lunch in the buffet restaurant as my cabin was not ready until 2pm. Lunch was adequate but a bit chaotic. I had an outside cabin on deck 9 with a picture window. It was a good size and had adequate wardrobe space, fridge, tea making facilities and a small flat screen TV. The bathroom had a bath with a shower over it. The cabin was clean but a little tired, as was the whole ship. I like the size of the Oriana and it is more like a traditional cruise ship as opposed the larger 'floating hotel' type of ship. It is adult only and it had a good, friendly atmosphere. I was assigned to Freedom dining which meant I could eat any time between 6pm and 9.30pm. I chose to eat every evening about 8.30pm and it worked very well. I only had to wait for a table on two occasions and that was for only 2 minutes. I think this worked very well as I was on my own and I met some lovely people every night. I could dine on a different table every night and meet different people. The food was very good and they catered extremely well for my lactose free diet. Wine prices were good, ranging from about £15 per bottle. Drinks in general were reasonably priced. Gin and tonic was about £4.10, Prosecco £3.50 per glass, bottled water £1.50. There was also a Costa Coffee shop on board in Tiffany's bar but the coffee was not as good as on the high street and it was more expensive. Entertainment was good and the Headliners Theatre Company were excellent. There were also two excellent comedians and a good female and male vocalist. Films were shown daily at various times in the cinema and there was plenty of things to do every sea day ranging from quizzes, keep fit classes, line dancing, Spanish lessons, ballroom dancing lessons, lectures and art classes (a charge for art). The itinerary was good and the cost of the excursions were good value. The first port was Bruges, which is a pretty place. I stayed on board as I have visited Bruges a number of times. Gydnia in Poland was the next stop from where I took at P&O organized coach into Gdansk to do as you please. The cost of the tour was £22 and the guide was excellent. This is a lovely old walled city full of character, with plenty of tourist shops. Prices were very reasonable. Klaipeda in Lithuania was next. I would recommend booking a tour here as there was not much to do in the pretty, small town. I just had a walk round the town for a couple of hours. The highlight of the cruise was St Petersburg where we stayed overnight. There was a good selection of tours. The first day I took a half day tour of the Hermitage Museum which was excellent. The museum is vast but our guide showed us the major highlights and we saw quite a lot in the time allocated. The second day I did a half day walking tour of St Petersburg which was very interesting but the guide was poor and she hurried around without any thought to those who were walking slowly. As I did organized tours through the ship I was covered on a group visa so I did not have to apply for a Russian visa in advance. Tallinn in Estonia was the next port of call. I took the ship's shuttle into town but you could walk into the city in about 40 minutes. This is another beautiful walled city with stunning architecture and beautiful turrets. There is plenty to see in the city and I walked round for about three hours but the weather was bad with pouring rain. Prices were more expensive here than in Gdansk and Klaipeda. The final port was Copenhagen and the weather was warmer here. I walked from the ship into the city passing the famous Little Mermaid statue. Copenhagen is a large city and again the architecture is beautiful. I walked past the Amalienborg Palace, which was about 15 minutes’ walk from the ship. I saw the changing of the guard here. It is about 30-40 minutes’ walk from the ship to the centre of the city. I took a canal cruise from Nyhaven. The cost was only 75 Krone (about £9.00) for an hour's cruise, which was good value as prices in the city are quite high. The weather was quite disappointing for the time of year but when you are considering doing a Baltic cruise, it is more about the itinerary than the weather and I was prepared for this. The dress code on the cruise was four formal, four informal (jackets required for the men and smart clothing for ladies) and the remaining six nights were casual. I was pleased to see the staff enforcing the jackets for men in the main restaurant. Some people complained but they should have chosen a more casual ship if they did not want to dress up. The problem was that there were some late deals on sailing and some people booked on price without considering the dress code. I think standards have dropped since I was last on the Oriana about 12 years ago, but this is reflected in the prices charge now and is quite understandable under the circumstances. The food was very good in the main restaurant. As I was travelling alone, I did not try the speciality restaurants, but he supplement to eat there was quite reasonable. The breakfast in the buffet was good but the lunch fairly average and the salad bar lacked inspiration some days. The afternoon tea choice as also poor in comparison to Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. The service was generally very good until the last night in the restaurant where the service was poor and we seemed to be hurried. I think it was because the staff knew that most people already had paid their gratuities. When we used to give them their gratuities in cash on the last night the service was much better. Taking into account the itinerary and being an all adult ship, the age range was probably on average 60+. I enjoyed the cruise despite it not having the glamour of the more modern ships. The Oriana certainly has character. I think it is a very good ship for single travellers. I met some lovely, friendly people and always had someone to talk to. I did not feel lonely at any time.

25 August 2014

We flew out to Perth with Emirates/Qantas via Dubai and boarded the Celebrity Solstice in Freemantle. We had a balcony cabin and the cabin was very well appointed with a comfortable bed and good sized shower room with plenty of storage and a glass shower screen. The food and service was first class and the entertainment was also very good, with a mixture of modern and classical entertainers. The shows were also good there was an English comedian and a singer from the West End shows that did a couple of cabaret sessions. I can particularly recommend the speciality restaurants. We paid a supplement of $79US each to eat in all three speciality restaurants - Murano (superb), Tuscan Grill (Italian and steaks), East (Asian cuisine). All worth the extra supplement. We paid for the Classic Drinks package which we thought was excellent value. Freemantle is a charming town and we had lunch at a quayside restaurant before boarding the ship. Our first port of call was Port Hedland in Western Australia. This is an iron ore mining town and had a feel of the outback with only a few shops in a small shopping centre a few cafes and bars. We did not do a tour as there was only one available visiting the iron ore mine. Our next port was Bali in Indonesia, which is a beautiful island, if you get away from the bustling roads from the port of Benoa into Dempesar, the capital. Places of interest are the temples and rice fields and there are also some good beaches and excellent 5* hotels. Darwin in Northern Territory was the next stop and this is a delightful small town with a tropical climate. We walked through the town and stopped on the way back at a harbour side café. Next stop were the Whitsunday Islands. There were many excursions available including trips to Daydream Island, Hamilton Island and the Great Barrier Reef. We took an independent ferry to Daydream Island where we did a rainforest walk and had lunch. Brisbane was the next port of call. This is a large city with a number of Victorian buildings. It seemed a prosperous city with good quality shops. There were a selection of tours from here including one to the Australia Zoo. We paid for a ship's transfer into the city as it is about 40-50 minutes’ drive from the port. Next was Newcastle in New South Wales. Here we did a wine tour of the Hunter Valley in the morning and had a walk through the small town in the afternoon. We finally docked at Sydney 17 days later and we did an Opera House and city tour, including a trip to Bondi Beach which was very interesting. We were dropped off at the airport for our flight home via Dubai to Manchester. Celebrity is an excellent 5* product. The staff are very friendly and professional and we could not fault the product. The ship was spotlessly clean. The food in both the main restaurant and buffet restaurant was excellent and we particularly enjoyed the sushi served in the buffet restaurant from 5.30pm, a good finish to the day before getting ready for the evening meal. I would recommend this particular itinerary to couples and singles but the average age was about 55+ although there were a few younger couples on-board.

25 August 2014

I flew from Heathrow to Auckland with Air New Zealand via Los Angeles. It was a comfortable flight and I think this is the quickest way to go. My first day and night was in Auckland where I stayed at the Crowne Plaza, a good, central hotel within 5 minutes’ walk from the harbour. The rooms were large and beds comfortable. Evening dinner there was also excellent. The APT driver, Reece, who met us at the airport was a mind of information. The coach was very clean and comfortable with ample leg room. We did a city tour. The following morning after a good breakfast we set off in the coach to Rotorua calling at Waitomo Caves to see the Gloworms, with a coffee stop before and a lunch stop afterwards. In the afternoon a highlight was visiting Hobbiton, which was amazing. We stayed for 2 nights in Rotorua at the Millenium Hotel. I had a large lakeside view room. That evening we went to the Tamaki Maori Village where there was a re-enactment of maori life and culture. We had dinner there. On our return a few of us when to the Polyanesian Spa where we bathed in the hot thermal baths, heated to between 32-40C, a wonderful experience. The next morning we had breakfast on a paddle steamer, The Lakeland Maid and then we went to the Agrodome to watch sheep shearing and then to Te Puia to see the geysers and hot thermal springs. We had a steam box lunch, which had been cooked in an underground spring and served in a beautiful marquee. For dinner we were taken to Longlands Farm, an experience that only APT do in an evening. The food was delicious and homemade. The next morning we flew from Rotorua to Christchurch and toured the city which is still suffering from the after effects of the earthquake. We stayed at the Ridges Latimer in the city. This is a new, very comfortable hotel. We had an excellent dinner and breakfast here. We visited the Antarctic Centre in the city and stopped for shopping at container city before leaving to drive over the Canterbury plains. The scenery was stunning, with beautiful views of the snow-capped Southern Alps. We stopped in Geraldstown for lunch and then drove to Lake Tekapo to see the Church of the Good Shepherd and have afternoon tea a Peppers Hotel. A lovely hotel with lake views. Our next overnight stop was at the Hermitage Hotel with stunning views of Mount Cook. This hotel was disappointing compared to the other beautiful hotels we stayed in. The rooms we were given were cold and tired but we did see some refurbished ones which were very good. The dinner in the self-service restaurant was also disappointing despite the large choice. In the morning we went to Lake Pukaki and took a MAC boat to see the icebergs and Tasmin Glacier (the biggest in New Zealand) which was amazing. In the afternoon we drove to Te Anau and stayed at the Distinction Hotel, a beautiful hotel overlooking the lake where we had a delicious tasting menu for dinner. My room with a lake view was large and well equipped. The following morning we drove to Milford Sound where we took a boat trip along the fjord and had a packed lunch on-board. The scenery was stunning. In the afternoon we drove to Queenstown for 2 nights where we stayed at the Novotel, which was central near the lake and had good sized rooms. We had free time in the afternoon and evening for shopping and dinner. There is an excellent variety of shops and restaurants. We had a pizza. The following morning we did a Lord of the Rings Safari tour and the scenery was breath-taking, despite the rain. In the evening we went up in a Gondola to the Skyline Restaurant where there were spectacular views of the town. We had an excellent buffet dinner with high quality food and plenty of choice. The next morning we did the famous Shotover Jet boat ride, which was exhilarating but cold! The boat went at high speed though the canyon on the Shotover River. In the afternoon we left Queenstown for our flight to Auckland at then back via Los Angeles to London. This was an amazing trip. Both islands are stunning - volcanic in the north and glacial in the south. APT is a fantastic, high class product which would appeal to the over 55s.

08 November 2013

I was invited to join a river cruise on the beautiful MS Lord Bryon as a guest of Riviera Travel. It was a 14 day cruise from Budapest to Cologne but I joined at Budapest and disembarked 3 days later in Vienna. Our party flew from Gatwick and we were met by a Riviera representative at the airport and our transfer to the ship took about 45 minutes. The ship was launched in December 2012 and it is a 5 star ship and the decor is stunning. The colour scheme is Royal blue and gold with dark wood and brass fittings. We had a warm welcome on board and staff took us to our cabins which were on Ruby deck (middle deck). They were double cabins again with a blue and gold theme décor. They had Juliette balconies and were a good size with flat screen TVs, plenty of wardrobe space and tea/coffee facilities plus a mini bar. There was a mini safe and umbrella in the wardrobe and dressing gowns are provided at reception, should you need one. The bathroom was fully tiled with a glass door shower and granite worktops. The bed was extremely comfortable and the bedding high quality cotton. As we arrived late at 10pm, a delicious hot buffet was laid out with salads and desserts. A full buffet breakfast is served every morning in the beautifully furnished dining room between 7-9am with a light option in the Lido Bar on the top deck from 7-7.30. Lunch is served in the dining room between 12.30-1400 with either a hot buffet or waiter service and there is a light pasta option in the Lido deck from 12.30 to 13.30. A la carte dinner is served from 19.00-21.00 in the main restaurant and you can also have a set meal in the Lido bar. The food was of a high standard with plenty of choice. There is a spacious bar where a pianist plays on an evening and in Vienna a string quartet came on-board to entertain us in the bar. The drinks are reasonably priced and they had a happy hour in the bar from 18.00-19.00. The prices are in euros and wine was from about 17 euros per bottle, gin and tonic 6.50 euros, liquors 4.30 euros, cocktails from 6 euros, sparkling wine 3.50 euros a glass. Afternoon tea and cakes are also served in the bar between 16.00-16.30. The dress code is casual but people tend to dress smart casual on the Captains Cocktail party night however dinner jackets are not required and ties are not essential. There is a sauna and steam room on board and also a hairdressers, which was excellent value at 15 euros for a wash and blow dry. The standard of the tours, which are included, was excellent. We had very interesting and amusing guides in both Budapest and Vienna. We had a 3 hour tour of Buda and Pest including some free time for shopping or coffee. We also had a 3 hour tour of Vienna including free time. The tours were mostly by coach but there was some walking but people with walking difficulties could stay on the coach. I found the river cruise very relaxing and it is an excellent way to see various cities. On the last day we explored Vienna on our own and found it a very beautiful, interesting and clean city. We had tea in the Sacher Hotel cafe which was very good. I think river cruises appeal to the older market, 55+ and are not suitable for children as the ships are not geared up to them. It is suitable for couples or singles wanting a quiet, relaxing holiday with excellent service on-board, combined with wonderful scenery and city tours. Gratuities are not included but at clients discretion. An envelope was left in the cabin to put the gratuities in. I would certainly recommend this ship and river cruising. It is very good value for money.

02 May 2013

I spent a day and night experiencing the new NCL Norwegian Breakaway. The hull of the ships does have paintings which you may think look tacky but, once on-board, there is a wow factor. The decor is very muted with cream upholstery and brown/beige carpeting in the public areas. The ship is 146600 tons and carries just over 4000 passengers but it does not feel too large as it is broken up into various areas. We had lunch in the buffet restaurant on deck 15 and the choice and quality was very good. The dining choices are excellent, with a number of speciality restaurants with cover charges around 15 to 25 USD. They include a Japanese Teppanyaki, French, Brazilian and Italian restaurants. It is necessary to pre-book these. We booked the French restaurant as soon as we boarded. The meal was excellent. There are plenty of activities on board including a climbing wall and zip wire plus a jogging track and a large gym and spa area which includes a relaxing area with hot stone beds. There is also plenty of evening entertainment to suit all tastes including a large theatre with live shows, a comedy club, nightclub, a pub and a relaxing bar with a pianist. There is also an ice bar on board. There is something for everyone. Children are also well catered for and there are good kid’s club facilities. There are indoor facilities for the children and a large pool area with a huge waterslide. Accommodation is good and the showers in all the cabins are a good size, with powerful showers. The ocean view cabins were a good size but the balconies were on the small side, being long and narrow with tiny balconies that could just fit two small chairs and a small table on them. The studios for single travellers are an excellent idea. These are interior cabins on deck 11 which are small but have access to a studio lounge. More cruise lines should copy this idea as there is a shortage of single occupancy on most cruise ships. The ship will be operating out of New York this season. I think this ship will appeal especially to families and young couples and people who want a relaxed cruise experience without the formality of dressing up as, with all NCL ships, it is Freestyle cruising.

25 August 2014

We flew from Gatwick to Barbados with Virgin Airlines. It was a good flight and the staff were very attentive. On our arrival in Barbados we were met by the tail end of Hurricane Maria so the first 24 hours was overcast and rainy but hot and humid with temperatures of approximately 30C). We were guests of Elegant Hotels and the Barbados Tourist Office. We stayed at the Tamarind on St James Beach. We were made very welcome by the management team. The room was a junior suite with a pool/ocean view and it was a good size with a large balcony. The beds were very comfortable. The other room types are standard rooms and one bedroom suites with 104 rooms in total. There is also a children's club. The hotel is right on the beach and there are free non-motorised watersports, standard at all the Elegant Hotel properties. There is also a lovely spa where I had a back, neck and shoulder massage and a facial, the therapists were excellent. The food was excellent and the breakfast buffet had wide selection of hot and cold options, with a choice of freshly cooked egg options - omelettes, poached, fried eggs. There was music most evenings and a weekly manager's cocktail party and barbecue. The grounds are spacious with plenty of sunbeds. We visited other hotels in the Elegant Hotels chain. I was particularly impressed with The Colony Club, again situated on the beach at St James. This is a very elegant hotel that was once a colonial property and that is reflected in the decor. There are 96 rooms consisting of garden, pool or ocean view rooms, junior suites and four, one bedroom suites. We did a yoga class at the hotel and had a delicious lunch in lovely surroundings. The next hotel we visited was the Crystal Cove, an all inclusive property on St James Beach. This has 88 rooms with 3 lagoon type pools. One has a swim up to bar and cave bar. The property is on a hill so it would not be suitable for people with walking difficulties. It is an ideal family property and has a children’s club. We had a very good lunch at this property. The other all inclusive property we visited was Turtle Beach at Saint Lawrence Gap to the south of the island. This is a spacious property with 88 rooms consisting of junior suites and one bedroom suites. The facilities are very good and as well as a children's club there are tennis courts and watersports. We ate dinner in the Asiagos Italian Restaurant and the food and service was superb. This is a very good family property. The final property we visited was The House, a beautiful boutique property on St James Beach, adjacent to the Tamarind. This would be ideal for a honeymoon. There are 34 junior suites and one bedroom suites with both ocean view and garden view options. Some of the garden view ones have a plunge pool. The decor is beautiful! There are two restaurants, one of which is the famous Daphne's, where we had an excellent three course dinner in beautiful surroundings by the beach. There are complementary champagne breakfast, afternoon tea and evening canapes. This is an adult only hotel, which shares the spa with the Tamarind Hotel. During our stay we had a day on a catamaran which sailed up the west coast. Unlimited alcoholic and soft drinks plus a tasty lunch were included and there were 2 snorkelling stops to see the turtles. All in all it was an excellent day out. We also had a day on an island safari which took us on the Atlantic side of the island. Our driver was very informative and gave us lots of information about the island. We stopped at an old plantation house for lunch. This was a fantastic day but the lunch was very disappointing. Our final day was de Action Beach House, a colourfully painted building on the south of the island. Here, Brian Talma, a windsurfing champion gives lessons in windsurfing, kitesurfing and body boarding. We were provided with a tasty barbecue lunch. The facilities are limited here as there were only a couple of sunbeds and very little shade but it is an ideal location for surfing activities and it is only about a 15 minute drive from Turtle Beach. Another venue worth visiting is Ostins fish market for a seafood meal in a local atmosphere. Barbados is an ideal destination for everyone.

01 December 2010

I flew from Heathrow to Miami with American Airlines. It was a good flight and the cabin attendants were very pleasant. The in-flight food was average and soft drinks were complimentary. Wine and spirits were $7 each. It was a 35 minute transfer by coach from Miami Airport to the port at Fort Lauderdale. The check-in was efficient and there were no queues. Our sea facing balcony on deck 7 was well equipped with a decent sized balcony and very comfortable beds. There was a flat screen TV, fridge, i-pod docking station and hair dryer. Dressing gowns were also provided. The storage space was adequate for a 7 night cruise. The shower room was small but the shower was powerful. The Allure of the Seas is the largest ship in the world at this time. She is 5cm longer than her sister ship, the Oasis of the Seas! It is 220000 tons and carries 5400 passengers at double occupancy, full capacity 6296 guests.On the launch there were 3300 onboard and the ship seemed quite empty so it should not feel too crowded at full capacity. The sunbeds were very close together around the main pool area but in the Solarium area, forward deck 15, they were well spaced out and there were also some comfortable wicker sun chairs with foot rests. The Solarium Bistro was a tranquil alternative venue for breakfast. There are 5 different breakfast venues. We looked at the various cabin grades and were impressed with the Loft suites and Aqua theatre suites, the latter overlooking the open air aqua theatre, giving an excellent view of the stage for watching the aqua shows from the balcony. The family staterooms to sleep 5/6 were an excellent size and I liked the staterooms overlooking the Central Park in favour of those overlooking the Boardwalk. The Central Park was a more tranquil area filled with real trees and plants with walkways running through. The Boardwalk was more lively and there was a carousel there, along with the Aqua Theatre. The ship is a complete resort and there is no need to go ashore as these is so much to do. As well at the Central Park and Boardwalk areas, there is the Royal Promenade, similar to the promenade on the Voyager and Freedom class of ships.H ere a number of shops, bars and cafes can be found. The Schooner, piano bar, is in this area, along with a British pub and a Latin themed bar, Boleros. There are 2 nightclubs on the ship (Blaze and Dazzles) and a moving bar called Rising Tide, which rises and descends between decks 5 and 8. The Champagne bar is also very popular. The entertainment was excellent with Chicago showing in the main 2 tier theatre. There was an excellent ice show in Studio B and also acts in the Comedy club. I would advise booking these shows online before you board. There is no charge for these. In the open air Aqua Theatre there is an 18 foot deep pool where divers put on a fantastic show, The main restaurant, the Adagio, was where we ate dinner but there was the option of the Windjammer cafe for more casual dinner and lunch. The choice of food was very good. There are a number of speciality restaurants that incur a cover charge eg. Johnny Rockets burger restaurant and Rita's Cantina Mexican restaurant, both on the boardwalk. We tried these for lunch and they were very good. On Central Park there is 150 Central Park restaurant, Giovanni's Table Italian Restaurant and Vintages wine and tapas bar. The children's facililties were excellent. There were also character breakfasts including Shrek and other Dreamworks characters. The gym was huge. I was disappointed with the spa area for this size of ship. It was not very impressive. Because of the size of the ship there are no tenders so it is restricted to the ports that it can visit. The ship has something for everyone and is suitable for couples, families and large parties. I was certainly impressed with this ship and the facilities. There seems to have been no expense spared on the fixtures and fittings. It certainly has a wow factor.

01 December 2010

We spent 16 nights on the beautiful Celebrity Eclipse sailing the Mediterranean from Southampton and visiting Cadiz, Sardinia, Split, Dubrovnik, Venice, Sicily and Malaga. The Solstice class of ship is 122000 tons and carries 2850 passengers and it certainly has the 'Wow Factor'. From boarding the ship the service was excellent. We were greeted with a welcome glass of champagne and proceeded to our well appointed balcony cabin which had a flat screen TV, mini bar, tea making facilities and hair dryer. Dressing gowns and slippers were provided. There was plenty of storage and the balcony was spacious. The bed was one of the most comfortable I have slept in. This ship is very contemporary and luxuriously appointed. There are many bars to choose from, a coffee shop, a huge theatre and a grass lawn on the top deck where you can play bowls, croquet and putting. There is also a novelty glass blowing show on this deck. In the theatre there were musical shows, a Cirque du Soleil type of show, guest comedians, musicians and singers and the standard was generally very good. There were various bands and musicians playing in the public rooms and bars with music to suit all tastes from classical to jazz to rock. The food was of exceptionally high quality in both the main two tier restaurant and Ocean View cafe and the choice was excellent. We tried the Murano speciality restaurant one evening and the food and service as impeccible, well worth the $35 per person cover charge. There is also a Tuscan Grill Steak restaurant and Qsine where you order quirky food on an i-pad. There is also the Blu restaurant, reserved for Aqua Class guests which offers healthy options. I was very impressed with the 'Persian Garden' in the spa which contained hot stone beds facing out to sea. There was also a sauna and steam room in this area and it was a very relaxing place to spend a couple of hours. There is a charge for the Persian Garden if you are not an Aqua Class stateroom guest. The gym was large and well equipped. There were various fitness classes but some had a charge eg. Pilates, Yoga. The beauty treatments were expensive and the hairdressing was very expensive. (I paid over $50 for a blow dry which took about 15 minutes) There was plenty to do, which is important on sea days. There were about 30 hours of activities daily. These included various lectures with guest speakers, dance classes, quizzes, choir practices, cookery demonstrations, wine tastings etc (the latter was chargeable). There was never time to be bored. Our group all prepaid for the Classic Beverage Package and this worked very well. The package worked out about £29 per person per day and included wines, beers, spirits, cocktails up to $8 and also speciality coffees, soft drinks and bottled water. There was also a Premium Beverage Package. These can be pre-booked or booked onboard. Although wine and champagne was served by the glass, our restaurant wine waiter came round regularly to re-fill our glasses. Drinks are quite expensive on the American ships. We all prepaid our gratuities and the service was excellent and the gratuities well deserved. Our restaurant waiters and wine waiter were particularly good. This is one of the most enjoyable cruises I have taken and 6 out of our party of 10 had not sailed with Celebrity before and were very impressed with the product. Although there is a children's club, I think this product is more suited to couples and groups of family and friends. I would recommend Royal Caribbean for families with children. The age group on board was on average 50+ but it may be younger during the main holiday season. I think this is a excellent product and I would have no hesitation in sailing on a Solstice class ship again.

09 June 2010

We embarked the ship in Greenwich on a beautiful sunny afternoon. We were welcomed onboard with a glass of champagne. We had an outside stateroom on deck 6 which was spacious and there was plenty of storage space. We had a flat screen TV, safe and well stocked minibar. Bathrobes and slippers were provided. There was a bowl of fresh fruit and a vase of fresh flowers. The beds were very comfortable. The bathroom had a shower and white, fluffy towels and Elemis toiletries. The Azamara Journey is a boutique type cruise ship, 30277 tons, 694 passengers. The advantages of this ship is that vintage red and white wines are complimentary with lunch and dinner, bottled water, soft drinks, speciality teas and coffees are also complimentary. Gratuities are included and in-room dining is free. There is also a complimentary laundry for guests. We had afternoon tea on the terrace outside the Windows Cafe on the sun deck, where there is a generous supply of teak sunbeds. Towels and rugs are provided (we did not need the rugs as the weather was perfect!) The first evening we dined in Prime C speciality restaurant ($15 cover charge but well worth it). The food and presentation was excellent and the steaks were very tender. The service was very attentive, as it was everywhere on the ship. We then went to listen to the band in the Looking Glass nightclub. The next day was a relaxing day at sea. We had breakfast in the Windows Cafe where there was a good choice of hot and cold options. We also ate lunch here and there was an excellent selection of salads and cooked dishes and a roast of the day. The desserts and ice creams were very good. In the evening we ate at Aqualina speciality restaurant (cover charge again was $15), which had a Mediterranean theme. The scallops and sea bass was excellent, as was the chocolate dessert that I chose. Wine is included in the speciality restaurants as well. The next day was Amsterdam. We took the shuttle into the local town and then got a hydrofoil into Amsterdam centre for 8 euros per person return. On returning to the ship at 4pm I had a burger and salad at the Pool Grill. In the evening we ate in the Windows Cafe as it was an Indian themed buffet, which was very good. The next day was a transit of the Kiel Canal. This was a very relaxing day and the ship went through the canal at a slow speed of 8 knots. The scenery was lovey, with lots of trees, green fields and lovely houses by the side of the canal. The transit started at 9am and we left the canal at 6pm in the evening. On our last night we met in the Martini bar before having dinner in the main restaurant. Again, you could not fault the food. I had scallops, French Onion Soup and Swordfish steak and another chocolate dessert! There was a wide choice on the menu, including Fillet Mignon. We went to see a cabaret in the show lounge after dinner, a female singer, who was very good. I had a look round the well stocked gym and the spa area and went to the hairdressers while onboard. I also tried the Cova Cafe which provides speciality coffees and teas as well as snacks. There were also 2 Elegant Afternoon teas onboard, served in the Aqualina restaurant. This was lovely experience. A harpist played relaxing classical music. There is a casino onboard and two shops. This is a very good product. I could not fault the food and service and the extras that are included make it good value for money. It would appeal more to the over 50 age group or honeymooners who want a quiet, relaxing cruise and to those who do not like larger ships. There are no childrens facilities onboard but children are welcome. The itineraries are very good and they often have an overnight stop at a port on most sailings to give clients the experience of sampling a port in the evening

25 August 2014

This was my third visit to South Africa. On previous trips I have done Cape Town, the winelands, the Garden Route and Shamwari Game Reserve. I was lucky to win this trip with work and flew from London to Johannesburg in Upper Class with Virgin. The first 2 nights were spent in the beautiful Westcliff Hotel in an affluent suburb north of Johannesburg. The hotel is very luxurious, traditionally furnished and the luxury rooms and junior suites are spacious with huge marble bathrooms. The food and service was excellent. We had lunch on the terrace outside overlooking the infinity pool. It is about 30-40 minutes from the airport. While in Johannesburg it is worth visiting the Apartheid Museum and the Constitutional Hill Museum and Soccer City, the new football stadium which will stage some of the World Cup matches. It is also worth visiting Soweto. I did a tour of Nelson Mandela's house and visited the Hector Pieterson Memorial Museum which was quite moving. Colleagues did a cycle tour of Soweto. On the third day we set off to the Mageliesburg Mountains, about a four hour drive, stopping en-route at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site where we explored the caves and visited the museum, which was very interesting. We had lunch at the Maropeng Hotel which is at the site. We stayed at the Mount Grace Country House & Spa Hotel in Mageliesburg. This is set in vast grounds and is a good spot for walking, bird watching, mountain biking and there are also tennis courts there and a relaxing spa. Our rooms were like thatched roofed cottages scattered around the grounds. The next day we set off to Madikwe Game Reserve, about a 3 hour drive away. Our first night was spent in the luxurious Madikwe Hills Game Lodge, a stunning thatched roofed property with modern, African furnishings. There are 8 beautiful suites. I had one overlooking tree game reserve and water hole. It had a separate lounge with TV, bar and open fire. The large bedroom also had an open fire. There was a separate dressing area and huge bathroom with bath, walk-in shower plus an outside shower. The suite was all glass fronted and opened out onto a sundeck with private plunge pool and sunbeds. We also saw Little Madikwe, a 2 bedroom private villa in the grounds with its own ranger and personal butler. We had 2 game drives, one late afternoon and one early morning. We went out with our ranger and assistant in an open sided 4WD and saw an abundance of wildlife. This would be ideal for couples and honeymooners. Our next lodge was Morukuru, 45 mins drive from Madikwe Hills. Another beautiful property in a peaceful location by the river. On arrival we were greeted with the staff singing to us and giving us a welcome drink. The property is like a private house, modernly furnished with an African influence. The minimum occupancy is 4. It would be ideal for a family holiday or holiday with friends. There is a butler, chef and 2 female staff who are also trained to do massages. All drinks are included and guests can help themselves. The food and service was excellent. The game drives were very good. We had a late afternoon and early morning drive again and we saw 2 lions eating their kill. We visited the Farm House, a new lodge due to be open at any time now. This was a luxurious, modern, stunning property with 5 bedrooms and an outside pool. It is completely enclosed from the game reserve so it would be very safe for children. After a wonderful stay we made our way back to Johannesburg airport, which took about 5hrs 30 mins. We had a very comfortable return flight with Virgin in Premium Economy.

21 June 2009

We joined the Spirit of Adventure in Greenock, arriving by train. If you live within 75 miles private car transfers are included. The worst part was struggling with our cases down 2 flights of stairs to the awaiting coach. After that the check-in procedure and service was first class. We were welcomed with cold towels and quickly shown to our cabins. This is a Saga ship but the age limit is from 21 years. There are no balcony cabins but I had a double cabin with 2 picture windows. It was spacious and spotlessly clean. Dressing gowns are provided. It is a small ship of 9570 tons and the capacity is 352. There is a lovely dining room with open seating and also the Verandah self-service restaurant on Promenade deck. Both are open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Late evening snacks are served in the bar. The Sirocco lounge is a comfortable venue for shows and lectures and the Yacht Club is a cosy bar where a pianist plays in the evenings. The ship is mainly non-smoking but smoking is allowed on port side in the Yacht Club at the moment but I think this will become non-smoking next year. There is a large, well stocked library and a spa and hairdressers onboard. The treatments are reasonably priced eg. Hot Stone Massage 75mins £60, blow dry £20. The drinks prices on board are also very reasonable, eg pint of beer £2, Gin & Tonic £2.30, Irish Coffee £2.25, wine from £2.35 per glass and £15 per bottle. Free bottles of water are provided to take on excursions and most excursions are included in the price, as are the gratuities. The food and service is excellent and presentation very good. There was a good choice in the buffet and also in the restaurant, where they served a starter, soup, salad, main course, dessert or cheese and biscuits plus coffee. The Pavlova was the best I have ever tasted! There is a small pool to the aft of promenade deck and another small indoor pool in the spa. At the top of the yacht films are sometimes screened in the open air. The following excursions were free. In Londonderry we were taken on a leisurely tour of the city with free time to shop and then we were taken through the Bogside area on our return to the ship. From Killybegs we had a tour to Beleek Pottery, which was very interesting and then had free time in Donegal. The only tender port was Galway and from there we did a tour of the Galway countryside and visited a farm where we had delicious scones and cream. We finished with a short time in Galway to see the Cathedral. From Foynes (nr Limerick) we had a full day excursion to Buratty Castle which included a guided tour of the castle, free time to explore the model village and sample the local Guinness and then we had good lunch of salad, Irish Stew, salmon or vegetarian dish followed by apple pie and cream, tea or coffee. Wine was including with the lunch and a pre-lunch drink of Irish Cream or Mead. Local entertainment of dancing and music was provided during the lunch. The next port of call was Cobh for Cork. There was a choice of visiting the Blarney Stone or a tour to Kinsale. I chose Kinsale which is a pretty port with a selection of good seafood restaurants and gift shops. The last port was Dublin. There were two tours here but because I have visited Dublin before I did not take a tour and went to see the Guinness factory as it was raining heavily on the morning. A nice touch with the tours was that they brought round cold towels at the end of the tour along with boiled sweets. When we arrived back onboard we were given hot towels. At the tender port there was a choice of a cold drink or hot chocolate available while we waited for the tenders. The evening entertainment included 2 shows by Elaine Delmare. In Galway the ship did not sail until 11pm so a troupe of Irish dancers and singers gave a show, which was excellent. There was also a classical concert and the staff put on an entertaining show one evening. Another evening a Jazz band played. We disembarked in Liverpool. This is an excellent product and good value for money when you consider what is included.

21 June 2009

We travelled from Heathrow to Muscat with Oman Air. The check-in at Terminal 3 was swift and Oman Air were very good. The seat pitch in economy is 34" and the seat back TVs are a good size. The in-flight service was good and there was a pre-dinner drinks service and drinks served with dinner. The flying time was 6.75 hours. We took at coach transfer to the Al Bustan Palace which took 50mins. Check-in was efficient. The first impressions were of the wonderful marble lobby with huge crystal chandelier. I was given a sea view room with balcony. The room was in traditional Arabic style on the 2nd floor. Some of the rooms are contemporary in style. The bathroom did not have a separate shower cubicle but there were plenty of clean towels. There is a large pool area with plenty of wooden sunbeds, well spaced out on the grassy area towards the beach. There were also sunbeds on the beach. The hotel is in a beautiful spot with mountains as a backdrop but it is rather isolated. It is ideal for a relaxing holiday or honeymoon. The buffet lunch we had at the hotel was excellent, with great choice and delicious desserts. The breakfast was also very good with a choice of hot and cold dishes. On our first morning we had a tour of the city and we went to the Chedi hotel for lunch. This is a contemporary hotel which would suit a younger client or business client as it is near the embassy and business area. The food and service was excellent and the infinity pool looked inviting and is chilled in the hot weather (40 degrees celsius when we were there). The rooms here do not have any balconies or terraces but are tastefully furnished. We visited the Grand Hyatt for dinner. This is a large, traditional hotel with a welcoming feeling. The bedrooms were very spacious and the bathrooms had a separate walk in shower. The suites were very luxurious. The pool area was more compact than at the Al Bustan Palace. We did a tour of the Souk the following morning and visited a shopping area. The souk was good for buying local crafts and pashminas at reasonable prices. The shopping centre was disappointing and was not on the scale of the ones in Dubai. On our last evening we had a Gala Dinner at the Shangri-la hotel. The food and service was excellent. It was a shame that we did not get time to look round the rooms. Muscat is a tranquil resort, with low rise buildings and friendly people. It is much more relaxing than Dubai and would be suitable for a short break or stopover. There are good family facilities at some of the hotels and it would also make a good honeymoon destination. For the more adventurous there are the mountains to explore and scuba diving is also popular. The prices for drinks etc. seem cheaper than in Dubai. The food is of good quality and the scenery is stunning. Dress is more conservative and you need to cover your shoulders when out of the hotels. Muscat is an ideal destination for couples, families and businessmen. The best time to visit would be in our winter months because in our summer the temperatures are around 40 degrees.

31 March 2009

I was a guest of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Association and I flew form Heathrow Terminal 3 with Ethiad. On arriving just after midnight we taken by mini bus to the Shangri La Qaryat Al Beri Hotel, a short drive from the airport. It is a beautiful Arabic style hotel and my room had a balcony overlooking the Gulf and new mosque. The breakfasts were delicious with a good choice of hot and cold food, including freshly made omelettes and pancakes. There is a lovely pool and beach area with sunbeds. There is also an open air nightclub, Pearl, which has stunning views of the mosque. We visited Abu Dhabi Golf Club, a 27 hole championship course with hosts the European PGA in January. This is a lovely course and we were given a lesson on the driving range followed by a delicious lunch in the club house. Facilities include an outdoor pool and gym. We then visited the Intercontinental by the marina. This is a stunning contemporary hotel with 390 beautifully appointed rooms and large bathrooms. There are large, opulent function rooms for weddings and conferences. The Yacht Club bar at the hotel is worth a visit, a very trendy bar with an outside seating area serving a large selection of vodkas and cocktails. In the evening we went to the 6* Emirates Palace Hotel for dinner and toured the magnificent suites and rooms, all of which have butler service. This is a very traditional, opulent hotel with lots of marble, gold leaf and huge chandeliers. We had an excellent dinner at Le Vendome Brasserie. This was self-service but the standard of food was first class with a choice for every taste. Before leaving we had a drink in Etoile nightclub. Before leaving Abu Dhabi for Bani Yas Island, we visited the stunning mosque, one of the largest in the world, constructed of white marble with beautiful carvings and chandeliers. Ladies have to wear abayas to enter. It is well worth a visit. It was a 2.5 hour journey to Bani Yas Island by road but it can be done by sea plane. We then took a 15 min boat ride followed by a 15 minibus ride to the Desert Sands Hotel, an Anantara hotel. Activities here include a safari, mountain biking, game walks and scuba diving. A relaxed destination for couples, honeymooners or families. Abu Dhabi is a wonderful destination for a city/beach resort and a stopover destination. It is a very green, tranquil city. The people are friendly and it is very safe. More luxury hotels are being built. Formula 1 will take to Blazon Yas Island this year and Louvre, Guggenheim and Maritime museums are being built on Saniyat Island. Other future projects will truly put Abu Dhabi on the map.

08 October 2008

Emarkation in Southampton was very smooth. As we were Gold Card Members we received priority boarding. A great start! We boarded at 1.30pm and our comfortable stateroom was ready. We went to the Kings Court self-service restaurant for lunch before going on to the life boat drill. That evening we watched the sailaway on deck as a band played by the pool. We had a balcony stateroom with a view obstructed by the lifeboats, but fortunately there was only one third obstruction so we had a good view. There were 2 chairs and a coffee table on the balcony so we could sit out when we wanted to and watch the world go by. The stateroom was spotlessly clean, spacious and well appointed. There was a large, comfy bed, settee, dressing table, TV, mini bar and plenty of storage space. The shower room was a good size with an ample supply of fluffy towels. Everything we needed for a comfortable stay. We ate in the Britannia restaurant, which is an elegant 2 tiered restaurant and we had a table of 10 for our party. The food and service was excellent, with 3 courses of ample portions. You could have extra courses if you wished. The afternoon tea, served in the Queens Ballroom was excellent, served by waiters wearing white gloves. On two afternoons they held tea dances. There was also the Todd English speciality restaurant - again absolutely lovely! The entertainment and facilities were excellent. There was something to do from morning until night. A packed schedule which included quizzes, art classes, sewing classes, ballroom dancing classes, various lectures, wine tasting (cover charge), bingo, fitness classes (some had cover charges eg pilates), golf simulator, RADA acting classes, bridge, classical concerts and much more. We really were spoilt for choice! There was a good Spa but treatments were expensive. Evening entertainment was good with excellent shows and a big band playing in the ballroom. There was also a good nightclub, G32 where a Caribbean band played most evenings. There were various pianists in bars around the ship and also a harpist. The Golden Lion Pub was a busy venue where Karaoke was held on a couple of evenings. This was one of the few smoking areas on the ship. The casino was also a smoking area. It was good to have a practically smoke-free environment. Embarkation in New York was very efficient and we were through in 30 minutes and guided to our coach to take us to the Marriott Marquis in Times Square for 4 nights. The reception area was very busy and noisy but the rooms were very tranquil to say they overlooked Times Square. The sound proofing was excellent. The rooms were elegantly furnished with a good size bathroom. The hotel was in an excellent position for exploring New York on foot although we took advantage of open topped tour buses that were available outside, and it was a few minutes walk to the Subway. We could walk to Central Park and 5th Avenue easily and we were in the heart of theatreland! There were many restaurants and deli's in the area. We visited Grand Central Station, Ground Zero, Central Park, Little Italy (where we had a wonderful Italian lunch) and Greenwich Village. You can eat very reasonably in New York but the portions are huge! We did not go to Statton Island as we had visited the Statue of Liberty before and we sailed past it on our approach to New York. Our flight back to Manchester with BA was excellent and the cabin staff were very attentive. All in all, a wonderful experience which I would recommend to anyone.