Liverpool Cruise Club - Travel Blog

MSC Fantasia by John Cooper

2011-11-24T00:41:00.000-08:00

As we pulled up outside the check-in area at the port, we where met by almost a gaggle of MSC butlers, all trained at ‘Butler School’ (I never even knew it existed!) but they soon had our luggage and where off, taking us through a speedy booking in process, which even included champagne!

We were travelling as part of the ‘MSC Yacht Club’ onboard the MSC Fantasia, and this was just a taste of what was to come, in an exclusive part of the ship, right at the front, where access can only be gained by swiping your cabin card, you are taken into a byword for luxury. The cabin I had was well appointed with walnut furniture, and a rather good sized balcony. There where also little touches like a bowl of fruit, bottle of champagne, and a full mini bar to welcome you! When you are in the MSC Yacht Club, all drinks (with only an odd exception) are included, including the mini bar!

My Butler, Johnny, introduced himself, and even gave me his card, and if I needed anything, just to let him know, including unpacking or packing my case (they even polish your shoes for you!). The cabin was specious, and also what surprised me was how many English language TV channels they had!

Once coaxed out of my cabin, the surroundings are really opulent, and the exclusive lounge area, which also serves English high tea, and nibbles before evening meal, also has stunning views of the front of the ship. This was a great place just to relax and enjoy a drink before dinner.

As we explored we came across the exclusive MSC Yacht Club Deck area, which apart from a couple of Jacuzzi’s and a swimming pool, had plenty of luxury sunbeds, with deep cushions on, and a towel service. The poolside bar also served buffet breakfast and lunch, and as it’s all included in the price, it meant sitting on Deck watching the world sweep along even more satisfying.

Being part of the MSC Yacht Club also meant you had an exclusive restaurant, you can naturally eat in any of the restaurants onboard, but there is a special atmosphere in the French style restaurant set aside for the Yacht Club members, with fabulous vies of the back of the ship as you slip away from port.

The service throughout the Yacht Club area, as you might expect is second to none, and what I found really impressive (infact the folks in the office are board stiff by this!) is the fact you get a choice of newspapers to have delivered to your cabin each morning, and this can be from a UK National Newspaper, to a regional local newspaper, all printed onboard that morning, I chose the Mail on Sunday, and had the full paper printed in full delivered to my cabin before we arrived in Barcelona!

OK the MSC Yacht Club is a few quid more, but do you get what you pay for? I would say so, and it’s all about a level of service you just don’t expect, even down to my butler Johnny sorting out my laptop so the wi-fi on board worked correctly, then fast tracking us through customs at the end whilst carrying all our luggage, and finding our taxi, amongst hundreds at the dockside in Barcelona.

Now that is what I call service.

Queen Elizabeth by Nicola

2011-10-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

Me and my colleagues were invited aboard queen Elizabeth for a full tour and lunch, this was my first experience of Cunard and it was everything I imagined rich luxurious and very grand.

We had a warm greeting from the staff as we embarked after passing through security we entered the grand lobby and very grand it is.

If you are looking for a cruise with class then this is definitely for you there is something for everyone without attending one of the many seminars on board the ship itself is full of history and fine art work.

This ship oozes class luxurious marble and polished wood not forgetting the huge chandeliers If you are spending a day at sea there a lot to keep you entertained, if you like to keep active there is lots to choose from and if you like to relax and pamper yourself there is a wide range of treatments available.

I can highly recommend the food on board as we were treated to a 3 course lunch in the beautiful Britannia restaurant.

I look forward to sailing with Cunard in the near future to have the full experience.

Arcadia by Kelly

2011-10-14T04:57:00.000-07:00

I was given the opportunity to have a guided ship visit on board the Arcadia when she came into Liverpool.

I found a warm feel to the ship and the staff were very friendly. The ship has a lovely relaxed pace which you feel as soon as you step on board. The ship also has some very prominent features like its glass lifts and huge range of art on board. In fact, whilst admiring the art, a member of staff kindly informed me there were over 3,000 works of art on board!!

The food was very good and the service was excellent. From the Asian Fusion restaurant, The Orchid to the Gary Rhodes Restaurant ‘Arcadian Rhodes’, there is plenty to choose from - a total of 4 restaurants in fact!!

I would also say that if you do have a day at sea, the ship offers a wide variety of daytime activities, my favorite would be the spa with its own hydrotherapy pool and lovely fragrant aromatic showers! They also have a fully stocked gym if you feel the need to burn some extra calories from all that lovely food.

Also of an evening you would never find yourself at loss of what to do there’s a cinema, casino, theatre, nightclub and 6 indoor bars to choose from! It even has its own pub that hosts karaoke nights and live bands.

I would recommend this ship and would travel on it myself.

Holland America Line's Rotterdam by Nicki

2011-10-14T04:45:00.001-07:00

I was given the opportunity to visit Holland America Rotterdam when she came into Liverpool.

The ship is one of the five star class of Holland America and the décor onboard is very elegant with rich polished woods and comfortable furnishings. The décor features Holland America memorabilia throughout. The atmosphere onboard was very inviting and I found that the staff were very friendly and attentive to the needs of the passengers onboard.

We were fortunate to experience a taste of dining onboard where we ate in the elegant two level La Fontaine Dining Room which continues with the elegant décor found onboard as well as enormous glass windows overlooking the stern which would provide beautiful sea views whilst sailing. The dining staff were very attentive to our every need and the food was of high standard as you would except from a five star ship.

Whilst onboard we had the chance to have a self guided tour. If passengers preferred a change in dining they also have the option to visit The Pinnacle grill which provides an intimate, luxurious and romantic feel and represents exceptional dining. The cuisine served here is Pacific Northwest cuisine and levies a $20 service charge. On the Lido deck passengers also have the option to buffet lunch and casual breakfast as an option and the menu here is extensive including salad, drink, deli and dessert along with stir fry stations. Snacks such as burgers and hotdogs are accessible from pool side until 4pm.

Passengers can experience a number of activities whilst onboard and we got the chance to take a wander through the spa and salon area. Here passengers can relax and rejuvenate enjoying luxury spa therapies such as massages. The ship also features a fully equipped fitness centre with fitness trainers on hand to help get the perfect regime for you. There are also a number of classes offered to passengers. Onboard activities also include two refreshing outdoor pools, basketball courts, tennis and volleyball courts. If this doesn’t appeal and you would like to adopt a relaxing attitude whilst onboard Rotterdam also offers a whirlpool, hot tub, sauna and steam room.

It’s not all about the adults about Rotterdam. The ship is a family friendly ship and offers club HAL for ages 3-7 and ages 8-12 which offers stories, arts and crafts and other activities and workshops. Teenagers can rest assured they are not left out, they have exclusive areas onboard in the form of ‘The Loft’ and ‘The Oasis’.

I would recommend this ship to passengers considering travelling on a five star ship and would definitely travel on it myself.

Balmoral by Jayne

2011-09-29T06:12:00.000-07:00

Balmoral is the largest ship in the Fred Olsen fleet. It has 9 decks and holds 1350 passengers.

I joined the cruise in Greenock part way through it’s British Isles cruise. I had an outside cabin on Coral Deck with a picture window which was lovely and spacious.

The public lounges where very bright and spacious with plenty of seating areas. The main dining room is called The Ballindalloch located on Main deck, but if you’re looking for something a little smaller and intimate you can chose to eat in The Avon or Spey restaurants located on Highland deck.

The entertainment was very professional from the Crew Shows to Singers and Comedians. Ballroom dancing was held every evening in The Lido Lounge accompanied by a singer or a band.
The nightclub on Marquee deck is open until the early hours.

I had a chance to use the facilities in the Spa & Fitness centre which I found to be very professional and reasonably priced. The drinks on board are charged in sterling and very similar to UK pub prices.

Ocean Countess by Richard Cross

2011-09-20T02:05:00.000-07:00

With its distinctive dark blue hull, the Ocean Countess takes 800 passengers on a variety of Cruises including Northern Lights, Norwegian Fjords, The Baltics & Russia, Iceland, the British Isles, Canaries and Mediterranean with regional departures available from Hull, Liverpool & Greenock.

I went for lunch and a tour of the Ocean Countess whilst it was in port in Liverpool on a cruise turn around.

The ship is decorated to a high standard with comfortable surroundings and friendly services. The ship was originally the Cunard Countess, before undergoing a major renovation in 2009, prior to her maiden season as Ocean Countess in 2010.

The ship has six passenger decks, comprising of comfortable cabin accommodation including Inside, Ocean View and Superior Cabins, Boutiques, 24 hour reception and a tour desk.

Our tour started in the Hamptons, which comes alive at night with its cabaret entertainment. We then were taken through to the Gym & Sauna, the Jade Wellness Centre with its spa, massage, hairdressing and beauty facilities available to all passengers whilst on board for a small charge.

On the top deck, the Tower Piano Bar has panoramic views, ideal for spotting the sights whilst in port, if you choose not to get off the ship. There is also a well stocked library, card tables and even an internet room for you to check emails whilst away if you want.

The food on board is fantastic, we were treated to a four course dinner in the Kensington Restaurant, which was delicious. The staff went out of their way to cater for our needs and kept the wine flowing!

The Holyrood Show Lounge is on the Promenade Deck and hosts nightly performances from the on board show team.

Children and teenagers are welcome on board Ocean Countess, although there are no dedicated facilities for them, there is plenty of time to read, surf the internet or relax on deck.

Crown Princess by Tamara

2011-09-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

I went on the Crown Princess in July 2011 for an afternoon visit, and wow, what an amazing ship.

The first thing that amazed me, was the fantastic atrium which is piazza-styled, offering an array of bars and cafes with performing entertainers, as well as excellent duty free shops for all the gifts you may wish to purchase.

For an adult only experience for utter relaxation, the Sanctuary is a MUST.

This ship also offers a fantastic alternative to normal cinema, with their ‘Movies under the stars’, which is poolside. You will be offered a warm cosy blanket, as well as popcorn, whilst watching new release films with the night time stars flickering down at you.

Last but not least was the divine food onboard. Catering for all tastes, Princess Cruises should be a definite on your to do list.

Boudicca Mini Cruise - September 2011 by Joe

2011-09-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from the 4 night mini cruise on Boudicca which visited the Orkney Islands and Bergen. My last few cruises have been on very large ships, and I really enjoyed being on a ship where the staff got to know you quickly and called you by your name. I was impressed by the friendliness of the staff on board, and their obvious pride in their ship.

We set sail from Rosyth on the Saturday afternoon, and I was on deck to see just how close we got to the Forth Bridges. It felt like you could touch the cars and trains travelling above you. As the ship is mid sized, it was easier to get your bearings on board and find where you wanted to get to. After I had explored the ship, it was time to get ready for dinner. I had booked on second sitting dining, so there was time to enjoy an aperitif in one of the bars. I was in the Four Seasons Restaurant, and my waiter, also called Joe, really looked after me well. Service was professional but far from stuffy. I don’t think I ever saw him without a smile on his face the entire time I was on the ship, and nothing was ever too much trouble. There was plenty of choice on the menu, and I felt I made good selections. The food was delicious, cooked to perfection, and just the right amount. After dinner, it was time to go to the Neptune Lounge to see the show. Throughout the cruise there was a good choice of entertainment from the ship’s company and guest entertainers. Once I had seen the show, I then went to the Lido Lounge which is Boudicca’s late night venue. I enjoyed a few drinks at the bar, and I was very impressed with how reasonable the prices were on board, and as it’s sterling on board, it’s easy to keep track of how much you’re spending.

On the Sunday morning, the ship was sailing towards the Orkney Islands capital, Kirkwall, and we arrived late morning. I had an excursion booked here, and the organisation was excellent. We gathered in the Neptune Lounge until our coach number was called, then it was straight off the ship and away, stopping just long enough to pose for the ship’s photographers when disembarking. I enjoyed a well guided and very informative tour of the Orkney Mainland. We saw the standing stones of Stennes from the coach, but had a full visit to the Ring of Brodgar which is a fuller ring of standing stones. The guide said they don’t know what the stones were for, but we were shown Viking graffiti on one of the stones. From there, it was on to Skara Brae, which is a 5000 year old village that was unearthed after a storm and found by the local Laird when he was walking his dog. The Laird’s house is also now open to visitors, and it has been preserved as it would have been in the 1950s. After leaving there, we went back to the ship, passing the burial cairn at Maeshowe which also has Viking graffiti inside after some Vikings sheltered from a storm on their way towards Ireland. Sadly then it was time to leave Orkney behind and sail set for Norway.

Sunday evening was the time for the Captain’s Cocktail Party and the formal evening in the restaurant. Before going in for dinner, we met the Captain and he introduced everyone to the Officers on board, and we had a chance for a photograph with the Captain. After another very enjoyable meal, I went to the Lido lounge to see the duo they had on board rather than going to see the main show.

We arrived in Bergen just before lunchtime on Monday. Boudicca was able to berth right in the heart of the city, and we only had to walk for about 5 minutes before we arrived at Bryggen and the Fish Market. A few minutes further and we were at the station for the funicular railway to take us up Mount Floyen for panoramic views over the city. It was a shame the weather was not a little kinder, as there was a range of walks from there to explore the natural beauty of the area. We did have good, clear views of Boudicca below us in the harbour, and it was a great spot for photographs. Even on the railway carriage it was possible to take good photos, as they had huge panoramic windows and a glass roof. When I got back down into the city, I just had a look around the shops and tourist sights there. Bergen was somewhere I had always wanted to see, and it was this port of call that had really attracted me to the cruise.

Sadly, the weather was not being kind to us, and we were advised we would sail earlier than expected from Bergen to avoid the worst of the weather that the tail end of hurricane Kata was throwing at us. The crossing back to Newcastle was a little lively at times, but the Captain changed course to make it as comfortable as possible.

Tuesday was the day at sea, so I had a leisurely breakfast, then consulted the Daily Times on the ship to see which activities I could join in. On our cruise, the guest lecturer was one of the Concorde pilots, and he spoke with passion about the aircraft, and gave two very informative lectures that filled the lounge on both occasions. I particularly enjoyed going for afternoon tea in the Observatory. There is a small charge for this, but it was definitely worth doing it. You have to book a table, and you are welcomed and taken to your table and presented with a tea menu. There was a good selection of sandwiches, delicious cakes, then warm scones with jam and cream. My last experience of afternoon tea on a ship was nowhere near as good as this! It is a good job there is a well equipped gym on board to work off those extra calories.

I had an outside cabin, midships on Marina deck. The cabin was larger than ones I have had on the bigger ships, and it was very comfortable. Daisy, our maid, looked after us well and kept everything ship shape.

It was a real shame that it was then time to disembark in Newcastle on the Wednesday morning. I left Boudicca with fond memories of a lovely ship, happy and caring staff, and being treated as a person, not just a cabin number. I hope to return to Boudicca soon, in better weather, so I can take advantage of the large areas of open deck space to relax on the sea days.

Derek Marks on board Braemar

2011-07-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

Our TV Presenter, Derek Marks, has now returned from his First Timers Cruise from the Fjords.

Read his blog, and see the photos http://www.liverpoolcruiseclub.com/derekmarks.phtml

Vision of the Seas by Chris

2011-06-29T04:33:00.001-07:00

Loved everything about it.

The ship was beautiful - lovely ocean views, clean, beautiful and rich decor, and even though the ship was filled to capacity, one never felt a crowded feeling in the public spaces. The food choices and presentations were superb - as was the service, cheerfulness and efficiency of the staff.

The entertainment was fantastically professional and varied for each night.

The food was excellent, varied, and beautifully presented.We had a large inside cabins. The storage and living space was efficiently engineered.There were many activities to choose from. Enjoyed all of the ship's excursions

Looking forward to trying the rest of the fleet!

Boston by John Cooper

2011-06-27T09:30:00.001-07:00

Boston – The Walking City

Firstly, if you have ever been to the States before, and I am talking the usual haunts for British tourists, Florida, California, Las Vegas etc, Boston will come as a complete surprise to you.

Firstly, upon arrival, I have never cleared a US airport so quickly, and keep it to yourself, but the officers on immigration and customs where pleasant, one even smiled! The airport also has several little extras that I have not noticed in many international airports, like Free Wi-Fi, which if you are like me and just can’t wait to update your facebook page is great!

The city itself is very compact of an American city, and I must say, when ever we felt ‘lost’ as you often do in a new city, we where never more than a $15 ride in a cab from the hotel. The public parks are a fine attraction, as is the impressive harbour (Do treat yourself to a dinner cruise, its well worth it!)

The City has a number of hop-on hop-off trolley tours, and they all represent excellent value for money, some even offer a harbour cruise as part of the ticket price, I would suggest you grab one of these for the first day, it gives you a great overview o the city and orientation.

The one thing I really wanted to see was the world famous bar, featured on TV ‘where everyone knows your name’ – Cheers! The part you see on the TV outside is just like it looks on TV, but when you go inside, it really is different! However, this is America, where they always like to please, so some clever person has opened up a bar in a nearby shopping area that looks exactly like the TV set inside! So you can take your picture outside one, and inside the other! (A bit like what they did for the TV series!)

Shopping in Boston is a pleasure, there is such variety, and also the one thing I loved most, a sense of history. This really is the birthplace of the modern America, this is where the New World as really found, and there are buildings that look not dissimilar to any major European city in style.

And unusually for America, it has a sense of history, and I am not talking going back 20 years! You can stay in the Omni Hotel, the same hotel Charles Dickens stayed when he wrote ‘A Christmas Carol’ it was also the first city in America to have an underground rail system.

The City can have very different climates, I was there in early June, and one day it was 90 degrees then next day it was high 60’s, and in the winter the snow can really fall. With this in mind, you find many of the buildings have an ‘inside’ mall type system that links them, so you can go from building to building without leaving the climate controlled space! Cool in the summer – warm in the winter!

Close by there is so much to see and do, as the capitol of New England, it naturally goes without saying in the fall, this is the place to see! It is also close to Harvard the American university town, that is the equivalent of Oxford & Cambridge, you are also abut an hour or so from Cape Cod, with all it’s great beaches, and ports, and of course you can also visit ‘Martha’s Vineyard’ playground of America’s rich and famous. When I visited, I found the hospitality wonderful, and the island life relaxing, it is also the place they filmed the movie ‘Jaws’ although we where assured there are no massive man eating sharks in the area!

Another fine place to visit is Plimoth Plantation, which has life size working villages, showing how the Native Americans lived when the ‘New World’ was found, and how the new settlers lived, complete with cast members who never come out of character.. It really is something to see and hear. They also have the Mayflower 2, an exact scaled replica of the very first ship to bring pilgrims to the new world, which was built in the UK and sailed to the port taking nearly 6 weeks to get there by sail! And once again you can climb aboard and see how they crossed the Atlantic back then, a far cry from the luxury cruise liners of today.

In Conclusion, when ever you go to Boston, make sure you take a camera, and starve yourself for a week or 2 before, as the food is wonderful, and they are very generous with the portions!

Grandeur of the Seas by Jenny

2011-06-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

We joined Grandeur of the Seas in Palma, Majorca.

The transfer to the ship was very quick, just 20 minutes by bus. Check in was very quick, as we had already printed our “set sail” passes before travel – this is well worth doing as it saved a lot of time. Those who had not printed this were waiting over an hour in a queue – not the best of starts in 30 degree weather!

As we boarded the ship, there were plenty of staff waiting to show us the way to go to get to our cabins or the nearest bar! Having been on a number of cruises, I have to say the staff on this ship were some of the best I have encountered.

Upon entering we found the cabin to have plenty of space, with all the usual “mod cons”.

There were lots of facilities on board, including a gym, spa, solarium for adults over 16, swimming pools, a couple of show lounges, a nightclub, a large casino, a 2 deck high theatre with some fantastic shows, and plenty of bars!

Our first day we docked in Barcelona. We decided to walk to the infamous “Rambla” area of the city which was about a 30 minute walk from the dock; however you can take a port shuttle bus for 2 Euro each way. We took the underground tube (1 euro 45 cents each way) to the beautiful Sagrada Familia designed by Antoni Gaudi. The site is under heavy construction, so unfortunately we didn’t get to see much because of the scaffold & cranes, but it was still worth the visit. As it was such a beautiful day we decided to take the long walk back to the ship. I wouldn’t recommend this for passengers with walking difficulties, as it took us around 2 hours, but as I say you can get the tube back which take 10 minutes.

The following day we were in Ibiza. There is again a long walk in to the town from the dock, but you can get a shuttle bus for $10 US dollars from the cruise line, and that will ferry you back & forth as many times as you like during the day. The famous “Bora Bora” beach in Playa D’en Bossa is worth a visit if you like lively music & plenty to drink! Alternatively you can take a walk up to the castle or around the harbour, and there are lots of reasonably priced boat tours available.

Our penultimate day we were at sea, so we spent the day on the rock climbing wall & in the pool. The food on board was always cooked to perfection. Even in the buffet restaurant we found a wide range of dishes & the solarium 24 hour café came in handy at 3am after we left the nightclub!

We departed the ship in Malaga, where it was just a 15 minute taxi ride to the airport. I would recommend Grandeur of the seas to families with children over 5 & under 16, couples & singles.

Boudicca by Richard Cross

2011-06-24T01:36:00.000-07:00

Cruise aboard Boudicca, a truly world class ship.

I recently enjoyed a mini cruise on board Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Boudicca ship, sailing from Liverpool to Greenock via Dublin. Fred Olsen offer a range of itineraries and departures from many ports around the UK, however Boudicca is the only ship in the fleet that offers a variety of departure ports including; Southampton, Liverpool, Greenock, Roysth, Newcastle and Portsmouth.

Because of it’s world cruise history, Boudicca tends to have larger cabins and a number of these are either outside or have a balcony. We decided to book a superior outside cabin, which was large in size, had plenty of storage and an en-suite bathroom with bath.

Out on the decks, there was plenty of room to sit down and enjoy the sea views. The ship had a large number of sunbeds on the decks and we even got sunburnt whilst in Dublin!

The food on Fred Olsen really is great; the main restaurant is split into three restaurants (Four Seasons, Heligan & Tintagel). We enjoyed our evening meal in the Four Seasons Restaurant, our waiter, Joseph, was helpful, hard working and the speed of service was fantastic. There is also the oriental styled Secret Garden café which houses the midnight buffet and informal dining. On Lounge deck, a poolside buffet is also available at mealtimes.

In the Neptune Lounge, the great shows & productions including a swinging at sea production and a hilarious comedian! In the Lido Lounge, there was daily entertainment including a quiz and bingo during the afternoon and at night, the Lounge became home to the resident DJ, disco and cabaret singers. The Observatory Lounge, located at the back of the ship, was the ideal place to unwind for a quiet drink after a long day exploring ports.

The leisure facilities on board were also great, with swimming pools, Jacuzzi, gym and fitness centre which were all available to use whilst on board. The ship enjoyed a number of improvements during a refit in early 2011, which included the construction of a new gym facility on Sun Deck with fabulous sea views! There are also shops on board to take home a souvenir or gift of your cruise.

We could not fault the staff on board who all worked hard and obviously enjoyed their job to go out of their way and help you.

I look forward to my next cruise on Boudicca.

Abu Dhabi by Tracy

2011-06-20T06:01:00.000-07:00

Abu Dhabi – Wow what an amazing place.

We flew with Ethihad direct from London to Abu Dhabi and from the moment we stepped on the aircraft we know how much we where going to be look after. We spent two nights at the Sheraton hotel, one night at the Millennium Hotel, one night at the crown Plaza on Yas Island and one night at the Qasr Al Sarab Hotel in the desert. What amazing hotels I would recommend to stay in all of them.

The Sheraton was near to the beach with its own harbour, swimming pools and had four different restaurants to choose from. We choose to eat in the Mexican restaurant on day two and found the prices very reasonable. It had its own English pub if you didn’t want to go to far which had a great atmosphere. This hotel is not far from the cruise port

The Millennium Hotel was in the business district of Abu Dhabi; again this hotel had its own restaurants & a roof top swimming pool. This is great hotel if you want to explore the area around you and go shopping as everything is very close. The cruise port is very close to this hotel

The Crown Plaza was on Yas Island. It was approximately 35 minutes from the city of Abu Dhabi. I have to say this was my favourite hotel I stayed in. The hotel had its own swimming pool area and you could see the golf course a little further on. This hotel is great if you want to visit Ferrari world and the Yas Marina circuit as they are very close by. We booked a trip to Ferrari world this was great, we got to see the cars they use, we drove around the race track (this took 10 minutes compared to how fast they go) and I stood on the podium. I would definitely recommend this

The Qasr Al Sarab Hotel it a hotel I have never stayed in before. We drove 2 hours from Yas Island in to the desert. This hotel is in the middle of all the sand dunes. You can not see anything other than sand. The hotel was very luxurious and offered complimentary tours, including jeep safari’s and camel riding. In addition to this they offered spa treatments at an extra charge. They had a main restaurant or a French bistro which offered an A la Carte menu.
This was certainly a good experience.

On My travels I also go to see the Emirates palace, which was situated right on the beach. The Mecrure Grand hotel which was at the top of a mountain and the Yas Marina hotel. Again the hotels were great

Having been to Abu Dhabi it has given me a great knowledge of hotels and where to stay or what to do if you are wanting to a pre or post stay in Abu Dhabi before joining your cruise ship. I would definitely go back and hopefully will return in the not to distant future.

John Cooper visits the Adonia

2011-05-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

As you first board the Adonia, you get a feel of real luxury, yet also a feel of home, with its rich dark wood walls and tasteful furniture, its almost like a country house feel. As you start to get a feel for the ship, it is obvious she is not a large ship, however, the benefits that come with that are also transparent. We after a day, started recognising staff and fellow guests, and it does help you ‘settle-in’ quicker.

The bars and lounges onboard are tastefully decorated, and there always seemed to be plenty of staff around, no matter where you went. The pool deck was really good, and although the pool is not the largest I have every seen, the way it is situated makes the whole area a sun trap, and keeps away any sea breezes.

There where 2 restaurants onboard, the more formal ‘Pacific’ was really nice, and when we came to be seated, I have never seen so many waiters looking after so few people, making you feel a bit special. As you would expect on a P&O cruise, the food was of a very high standard, and the choice was plentiful, everyone around us seemed very impressed with the whole dining experience.

The less formal ‘Conservatory’ on the Lido deck, which we chose for Breakfast and lunch was very cool and contemporary in feel, a little bit American / smart. The choice of the food was excellent, and once again, although this is buffet service, there where plenty of staff to clear away dishes etc, and this was done quickly and unobtrusive. The only downside I would say is that of a morning, the coffee making machines and orange juice dispensers are almost at the opposite side of the restaurant to the food, but this may have been rectified by now.

We did enjoy the Crows nest bar of an evening, which gives you a panoramic view as the ship glides forward, it really is spectacular, whilst the evening entertainment in the Curzon Lounge was excellent, with a intimate feel, you felt as though you where part of special night, every night.

The stateroom we had was an outside balcony, and whilst compact, it had everything you could ask for, including Sky News, BBC News and Sky Sports as part of the TV package, which at least kept me happy! The bathroom, was as is normal on cruise ships, compact, but I must say the shower was fantastic. Easy to control, and it had a real strong flow, that wakes you up in the morning!

Who would this ship appeal to? Well, to be honest, anyone who likes a feel of the finer things in life, with personal friendly service, and does not want to feel as though they are one of the masses, and likes to make great friends and feel the camaraderie a cruise holiday can bring. Would I go back? In a heart beat!

Derek Mark's Blog - May 2011

2011-05-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone – and sorry so late. John, myself and the team at The Liverpool Cruise Club have been so mad busy lately that I hadn’t noticed that it’s just a few short weeks until I take my first cruise holiday, aboard Fred Olsen’s Braemer in June.

Being down at Southampton and seeing the way the cruise operation works there has really opened my eyes. My neighbours have just returned from their umpteenth cruise – and as I write this, I’ve just spent a good hour in the sunny garden picking their brains for hints and tips. The overall message they gave me is to not have a care in the world. Relax, and enjoy. They’ve just been on another med cruise, and affirmed just how varied a cruise holiday can be.

John and I have been meeting more of you whilst we’ve been out and about on our travels – and the more people I speak to, the more excited I am. So, the countdown is nearly over. I’ve already got in mind what I’m going to be wearing on board. Of course, something for all occasions – and I keep forgetting that I can take as much luggage as I like as it’s a no-fly cruise from Dover.

I’ve promised that I’m going to take my camera with me and do a daily blog – as it turns out that many people take a Norwegian Fjords cruise as their first.

John’s on board another Fred Olsen sailing going in July I think – and it’s one of the cruises that features on our Fred Olsen programme coming up in June. We’ve got some really, really good opportunities for you in that programme – so don’t miss it.

As always, I’m keen to hear from you. Have you been to the fjords, and top-tips and must-do’s – I’d love to hear them. You can e-mail derek@liverpoolcruiseclub.co.uk at any time.

Right friends, I’ll go and think of packing and continue my eager wait to get on board. 11th of June, Dover! 11th of June, Dover! I can’t wait. I’ll keep you up to date.

Take Care for now.

Derek Marks

Presenter - Liverpool Cruise Club

derek@liverpoolcruiseclub.co.uk

Derek Marks Blog - March & April 2011

2011-03-25T05:00:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone - and firstly, apologies - I'm very late with this month's update. This year is going so quickly - I guess enjoying the best of the spring sunshine is on everyone's mind.

Well, March is here and it's getting ever closer to my first cruise in June. I was re-watching my Fred Olsen Braemar DVD (which you can get free by calling the team on 0800 655 6449). I wanted to get an idea of the facilities, facts and figures on the ship I'm sailing on. I have to say the more I say the more excited I get .

Thank you to those people who have been enjoying our recent programmes and e-mailing us, it's been really interesting to see the questions that you want the answers to you before you take your first cruise. Don't forget that John and the team at the Liverpool Cruise club are there to answer any questions that you have at any time.

They been sending people on cruise holidays for well over 20 years, so they have been asked every single question. In fact, don't tell anyone but I've been asking lots of questions as well about the size of cabins, dining, entertainment, what to wear, and just all the questions that have come into my mind.

I have had one or two e-mails about disability requirements on-board cruise ships. I'm glad you have asked as it is a subject close to my heart as my mother lives with cerebral palsy which affects her mobility. It is a question that we would like to address on the tv programmes, but the answer if very individual to the ship that you are sailing on. Of course, the number one priority on board a cruise ship is safety. They do have some provision for people with mobility problems, and can indeed often cater for a limited number of wheelchair users. What I would say to you is please call the team, or email me directly and I will do my best to get the answers for you - my e-mail address is derek@liverpoolcruiseclub.co.uk

Well being countdown really has begun for me and I am very very excited and also excited about our new channel change as well. We have just been making some new programmes with a new look for April and you can keep track on the website for the new channel numbers on sky tv very shortly. We also have some other big plans which I can't tell you about at the moment , but they are very exciting indeed.

Don't forget for those of you who have taken cruise holidays before, the preview brochures for 2012 for a lot of the cruise companies are out now, so if you haven't yet had yours through the post, please make sure you call us and let us know and we will rush them out to you as quickly as we can. I do know that we are taking a huge number of bookings already for next years sailing, so please take advantage of the best deals whilst we have them for you. I'm really keen to hear from people who may have already been on a cruise this year so far, please do drop me a line and let me know how it was – because of course I have all of this to look forward to on my cruise in June.

Lovely to talk to you again, I'll be back with an even more excited update I'm sure in April!

Derek Marks
Presenter - Liverpool Cruise Club
derek@liverpoolcruiseclub.co.uk

Derek Marks Blog - February 2011

2011-02-09T02:23:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody and welcome to this month's blog.

Sorry it’s a little bit later than planned, but I wanted to come back to you after the two cruise fairs. Thank you to all of you who came along to Southport and Liverpool. It was a really great opportunity for me to meet so many of you, and hear your many varied experience of cruise holidays. I now understand that people who have been on cruise holidays do tend to go on more and more and more. It's a great opportunity for adventure for so many people and gives you the chance to visit many different countries all on one. I got the sense that people that have worked hard for many years are enjoying the chance to kick back, relax and enjoy not only wonderful destinations – but the company of meeting people just like you.

What I did notice in particular is how fondly you seem to treasure memories of their cruise holidays. I heard many stories of new friendships developing on the ocean wave – and how the cruise holiday works so well for groups of friends, and even single people who want to enjoy being part of something special.

Many people make lifeline friends on their cruise holidays, and often meet up and go on a variety of future cruises together. Of course, that isn’t for everyone – and I met couples who also liked the fact that they could simply escape from everyday life at home and just have the time of their lives at a reasonable price. Price of cruises are very important to people – with times being tighter, people are really spending the time to make sure that they are getting value for money. I hope that in some small way that our programmes really do bring to life the genuinely fantastic opportunities that the Liverpool Cruise Club offers. For instance, this month – we bring a variety of cruise offers from P&O, Fred Olsen and MSC Cruises. You can see that we are dealing with all of the biggest names, but negotiating for the TV and for YOU the very best prices we can. Don’t forget, if you have seen offers elsewhere that it will always be worth checking out what we can offer for you – whether it’s your first cruise, or your 31st (which I know it certainly could be).

For our future programmes, I also want to bear in mind a few of the things I learn from talking to people at the cruise fairs. Some people like to know before they go on a cruise holiday and things like how many passengers the ship holds, and whether it’s more of a family or adults only cruise. I’m also aware that many people hear from friends and family about just how great a cruise holiday is, but want to take a taster to find out if it is for them. Well, don’t forget that there are always options for you.

For those of you who don't know, I'm taking my first cruise holiday with Fred Olsen on 11th June from Dover on the Braemar, which I'm looking forward to incredibly and comes highly recommended by you. In fact the more I hear your stories, the more excited I become. A big thank you to those who have been sending us e-mails and messages – we’re responding personally to all of you. In the meantime, if you have any questions or queries – you can always call the club on 0800 655 6449 or e-mail me, derek@liverpoolcruiseclub.co.uk Until we speak again in March, I wish you very well.

Derek Marks

Presenter - Liverpool Cruise Club

derek@liverpoolcruiseclub.co.uk

Derek Marks Blog - January 2011

2010-12-30T01:42:00.000-08:00

Hello all – and I trust you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year celebrations. I spent a lot of my time in December talking to family and friends about how excited I am about going on my first ever cruise holiday in 2011.

Of course, once you start talking about cruise holidays with people you know – the stories start to flow. I tend to sit back, listen and absorb everyone’s different experiences. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that every one of the stories were positive. I have some lovely neighbours who are about to set sail to India for their umpteenth cruise holiday. They have said to me that the attraction for them is that they have the opportunity to gather various members of the family and all have a great time together. This hadn’t really occurred to me before, but the more I listened – the more I learnt. They said that it was a great opportunity to spend valuable and memorable times with the family and enjoy the onboard experience – as well as have their own individual holiday as they chose on the various excursions and experiences at the array of different ports.

As I’ve mentioned on the programmes, my parents went with family and ended up with a greater cruising experience as they could all make not only long-lasting holiday memories, but have that connection to the family as well. I think it’s an excellent opportunity.

I’m already starting to think now with the new year of doing a little bit of research on all the destinations along the way of our Norwegian fjords cruise in June (for details of the cruise – just look back at www.liverpoolcruiseclub.com/tv ).

Well, it turns out that another member of my family has been to the Norwegian fjords, so I’m picking up tips on the ‘must see’ places to go. Again, the joy of this particular cruise (and a number of cruises available) is that there’s no flying involved either. This is great if you have a fear of flying, or you just don’t fancy the upheaval of it all.

The more I learn, the more I discover that on-board a cruise ship you are not constrained by weight limits either. I like the idea of this, as with this being a first cruise – I want to make sure that I’m not caught out about what to wear as I become accustomed to my first cruise. So, that’s now not a worry at all. I can pack suitable clothes for the formal occasions, and take a wide variety of other clothes for all of that shopping, sightseeing and exploring that we’ll be doing as the Braemer makes its’ way from Dover via Amsterdam out to the fjords of Norway.

I’d love to hear from you if you’ve had the opportunity to take a similar cruise already. What should I definitely be planning for this trip? Why not e-mail me, its derek@liverpoolcruiseclub.co.uk well, as we start a brand new year – can I wish you all the best as you start to think about the holiday that you’ll be taking this year.

Talk to you next month, oh – and of course daily on sky 659 with John. All the best, Derek

Derek Marks

Presenter - Liverpool Cruise Club
derek@liverpoolcruiseclub.co.uk

Allure of the Seas by Nick Belger

2010-12-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

WOW, a great opportunity arose for me to be one of the first to experience RCCL newest arrival the Allure of the Seas, part of the Oasis Class, the biggest cruise ship afloat.

We arrived a few days earlier in Miami, to enjoy North and South Beach, as well as Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road Mall, as well as enjoying a trip to an Alligator park and a much anticipated Airboat over the everglades.

We then transferred to the terminal at Port Everglades, ½ an hour by taxi, at first we thought check in would be chaos with the huge numbers involved, but having pre checked in on line, we already have our set sail pass with us, and on stepping out of the taxi we were immediately greeted and once we handed over our pass, our luggage was labelled and taken from us to be delivered to our stateroom. The space in the terminal and the number of personnel available throughout the check in process made it very smooth, and the people we encountered could not have been friendlier.

Less than ½ hour later we were onboard, straight onto deck 5 to be taken aback by the Royal promenade, in all her glory, with all the bars, shops, eateries you could wish for on one deck! My daughter’s favourite had already been spotted the Cupcake Cupboard, and this is the first deck!

We then made it to our stateroom, an outside superior balcony on deck 12, an adequately proportioned accommodation that would suffice our needs. With 2 beds, or made to a double, ample storage, a docking station/player for your Ipod/phone/pad, along with a lounge area and a comfortable glass fronted balcony, storage space a telephone and a TV that we could pre book shows, and excursions on.

We then decided to explore the ship and plan the next few days, up to the top first decks 16 & 17 and to the Viking Lounge, which provides a scenic view with relaxed and peaceful surroundings, ideal for pre dinner drinks or your night cap.

Down one to the Zip line, which terrified me, but obviously not for lots of people, don’t forget to use this you really need your trainers with you, fortunately I forgot mine so I had an excuse! No excuse though for the flowrider, so long as you are prepared for that fall, there is no experience like it, riding that crest of a wave for seconds!!

There are then two restaurants, the Windjammer, offering a fabulous buffet service for all meals, or the Izumi, an Asian restaurant of distinction. The rest of the deck is filled with sunbathing space and bars.

Down again to the main pool areas, a big and fully occupied childs pool and plenty of areas to soak up the sun and get wet, or heat yourself up in one of the many whirlpool. Get to the front of the ship, and there is the Samba Grill, an authentic Brazilian steakhouse. Also here is the adult only solarium a peaceful and warm spot.

Deck 14 has the Youth Zone, which has an array of different aged entertainment, and suits all ages up to teens!
Deck 12 – 7 are the main decks for staterooms, deck 9 however has Dazzles, set on two storeys, 9 and 8 decks, the lower deck leads out onto Central Park, a very soothing area with some great alternative restaurants and Cafés, including Vintages, a popular wine bar & Tapas . Here you can join the Rising tide bar and take down to the Royal Promenade on Deck 5!

Before getting to deck 5, there is the boardwalk fitness centre on 6, on Boardwalk you have the Carousel, Ice cream Parlour, more fun places to eat such as Johnny Rocketts and Rita Cantina, at the end of the Boardwalk, you can watch the intrepid people on the two Rock climbing walls available, as well of evening there being shows in the Aquatheatre, were you will amazed by the water shows on offer, whether that is with lights, water, acrobats or Olympic divers, magnificent!

Then there is deck 5 and 4, the main dining room starts here, the Adagio covers three floors in total, and on the promenade itself, shops bars and snack bars galore, from Champagne Bar to the Bow & stern, the smokers paradise Boleros, make yoru own pizza at Sorrento’s, have a coffee at Starbucks finally at the front is the Amber Theatre

Continue down ad deck 4 is entertainment place, with again the amber Theatre and your chance to see many shows, including the West End and Broadway hit Chicago, there is the Jazz bar, Blaze the late night club, the Comedy Live show, and the Casino.

And then why not see the Ice show on 3, what a show, which to our surprise included a face my daughter recognised from dancing on ice, Stuart Widdall, the whole show was inspiring.

The whole experience left us enthused, and wishing we had longer, we tried to do so much in such a short space of time, it really does have something for everyone, and nothing is left to chance, the check in, staterooms, food, entertainment, staff, and last but not least the ship itself, how do they do that WOW.

Queen Mary 2 by Richard Cross

2010-11-12T08:51:00.000-08:00

I recently experienced 2 nights on board Queen Mary 2 with four colleagues and seven friends sampling the delights that this magnificent ocean liner had to offer.

We left Southampton from the Queen Elizabeth 2 Terminal and set sail for Cherbourg in France. We enjoyed a cocktail party on board before going to the main Britannia Restaurant for our evening meal, which was truly fantastic and can be cooked to your individual tastes and needs, we also enjoyed a bottle of house red wine which complimented the meal. After our evening meal we retired to the Royal Court Theatre to enjoy the comedian and impressionist who kept us laughing throughout the night. We moved on to sample the delights of the ballroom dancing in the Queens Room before partying into the small hours in G32 nightclub. After all the dancing we returned to the Kings Court to enjoy midnight snacks before bed.

On day 2, we decided to enjoy a traditional cruise breakfast in bed which was delivered by a friendly and helpful waitress direct to our room, the breakfast has plenty of choice and was freshly cooked to order. Breakfast was also available in all of the main restaurants on board.

We enjoyed a leisurely morning on board and took a tour of the ship from top to bottom. Whilst on the top deck we took part in some of the leisure activities including a 2 hour game of tennis and also shuffle board.

There was an array of food selection at lunchtime including hot, cold, carvery, burgers and home made ice cream! We filled up before taking a further walk around the ship to take in the panoramic scenery around Cherbourg.

In the afternoon we visited the on board facilities including the Spar, Gym, Table Tennis, Shops, Casino, Library, Internet Room, Art Gallery and even played some Monopoly on board in the games room! In the evening we again sampled the entertainment on board and partied into the small hours in G32!!

The staterooms were clean, spacious and to a high standard. We had opted for a balcony on this occasion which gave excellent views across the ocean. The facilities in the stateroom were top class, Cunard had provided a complimentary bottle of Champagne for consumption in the stateroom and the bathroom was again clean and full of shower gels/creams which were complimentary for all to use.

The staff on board were helpful, pleasant and couldn’t do enough to go out of their way and assist with any queries or questions. The cabin stewardess was also friendly and took time to talk to us each day asking what we had been up to and if we had a good time.

Disembarkation was quick and easy in Southampton at the new Ocean Terminal.

We are certainly all looking forward to our next trip on board this ocean liner.!

Derek Marks Blog - 3rd November 2010

2010-11-03T02:17:00.000-07:00

Derek Marks Blog - 3rd November 2010

Hi Everyone, I thought as I'm off on my first cruise in June 2011 that it might be a good idea to write a blog in the run-up to the cruise, to share my experiences - and hopefully to hear from you along the way too.

You may know by now that it was a complete surprise to find out that I'll be taking to Fred Olsen's Braemar on June 11th 2011 for an eight night Norweigan Fjords Cruise. When I found out back in September, a number of questions came to my mind straight away.

A lot of people I believe have an outdated view on a cruise holiday. People do make certain assumptions - and to be honest, I had one or two pre-conceptions in my mind before finding out more. John Cooper and myself were lucky enough to go and visit the Boudicca while it was in at the Port of Newcastle. I must admit, my heart jumped when we drove in towards the Quay and saw the ship. Walking on board, I was taken by the sheer amount of space that there is on the ship. You somehow think that things will feel quite claustrophobic. Well, I have to tell you - it's far from it. From the Boudicca, I saw plenty of different spaces on board. Whether you just want to relax in one of the lounges, enjoy the variety of dining spaces or take up the opportunity of enjoying entertainment on tap - you'll always have a sense of space. Without having sailed as yet, I have to say that both times I've been on board that I have completely forgotten that it was even a vessel on water. Remember, in the UK in the last year - around 1.6 million people took a cruise holiday, and the number is on the increase. To be honest, I'm not surprised. All of those different destinations that you can enjoy - everything taken care of and you only have to unpack once.

The thing that I can't impress upon you enough is the feeling of belonging on board with Fred Olsen. The staff are attentive and plentiful. My parents have taken two cruises with Fred Olsen before, and had told me that they were very impressed by the level of service. I have now seen for myself why. I had to say that every member of staff that I saw (and remember, most of them had no idea who I was) was willing to help with a smile. From the crew in the cabins, to the check-in and security staff - everyone had time for you, and you are treated individually and made to feel special. Looking into Fred Olsens' history as a company I see that they have been sailing for around 150 years. It shows when you look at the attention to detail in what they have to offer, and the dedication of the team. After speaking and interviewing some of the key figures on board Boudicca, it was clear that a number of the team have been with Fred Olsen for a good, long time. That tells you something about them as an employer.

The more I learn, the more I want to know. It's nearly Christmas and I'm looking forward so much to my first cruise experience coming up in June 2011. Listen, if you are a potential first-timer to cruise holidays - what would you want to know. Are there any unanswered questions that you have? Why not drop me an e-mail and I'll find the answer for you derek@liverpoolcruiseclub.co.uk

Don't forget that we have an incredible discount for you on the cruise that I'll be taking. It sets sail on the 11th June 2011 from Dover and is an eight night cruise taking in Amsterdam and the Norweigan Fjords. We'll also be having an exclusive Liverpool Cruise Club Cocktail Party on board for this sailing - so call the team on 0800 655 6449 to get this amazing discount.

I'll talk to you soon

Derek Presenter - Liverpool Cruise Club

derek@liverpoolcruiseclub.co.uk

Ocean Countess by Nicola

2010-10-25T02:52:00.000-07:00

Me and my colleagues Chanelle and Becky were lucky enough to be invited aboard Ocean Countess for a full tour and lunch.

Previously owned by Cunard as the Cunard Countess, it is now part of the Cruise & Maritime Voyages fleet.

We were given an extensive tour of the ship, which included the Holyrood Show Lounge, The Tower Piano Bar and Hamptons. There really is something for everyone on board including, a well stocked library, card tables and even an Internet room. If you’re looking to relax on board there is a gallery, gym with sauna and a spa, plus there are hairdressing and beauty facilities to pamper yourselves whilst at sea. Up on deck you will find a heated swimming pool, two whirl pools and a pool side bar.

We were also shown the cabins on various decks, which we found very clean and spacious and had everything you would expect to find in a hotel.

After our tour, we were taken to the Kensington Restaurant for a three course lunch, the food was fantastic with plenty of choice.

The staff onboard were very friendly and accommodating, no matter what you needed, they always helped with a smile, nothing was too much trouble for them.

If you are looking for a relaxing holiday, the Ocean Countess has it all!

Azura by Tracy Worthington

2010-10-25T02:04:00.000-07:00

I recently went on the Azura....wow what a ship!!

Upon arrival we were greeted by the staff and directed to the restaurants & public areas whilst we waited for our cabins to be ready.

Shortly afterwards an announcement was made and we went to our cabin. I was amazed at the size of the balcony you could hold a private party on it! The cabin was also spacious with a separate area for clothing and storage.

The entertainment was excellent. There was always something going on of an evening from a show in the theatre to a comedian in the lounge – there was something to suit everyone. The restaurant was great the staff were very friendly and always willing to help.

I would highly recommend this cruise.

Queen Elizabeth by Marie

2010-10-22T01:17:00.000-07:00

The Queen Elizabeth is very luxurious, reminded me of liners of a bygone age, with its wooden banisters & elegant dining rooms & spiral staircases.

The garden cafe is a lovely place to sit & unwind as it is very bright & airy as it has a glass topped roof. The cabins were big enough, bathroom a handy size. We were lucky enough to have a balcony cabin which in itself was huge. The bars are quite big & the golden lion has a very British feel to it so you would never get home sick.

All in all if you're after 5 star, Queen Elizabeth is the one.

Black Watch Iceland & Norwegian Fjords Cruise by Nick Belger

2010-09-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

With our departure from the busy port of Southampton, we decided to drive down the night before and take advantage of a nights accommodation with breakfast, including car parking (upto 15 days) and transfer to the port included for £149, which the next day seem very good value for money as we were then relaxed and ready for the cruise we had looked forward to all year.

The Black Watch carries less than 1000 passengers, so is only a small ship, but provides enough facilities to keep us active for our two days at Sea on our journey to Iceland!

Our suite was based on deck 7, and was ideally located for Restaurants, bars and the Library, as well as being a comfortable sized room, with a separate bedroom area. We choose a late sitting for our evening meal in the Glentanar restaurant, which is on deck 6, although you can choose the newly renovated Braemar Garden Café, which offers a buffet service, so you can choose to dine at anytime from around six thirty.

The choice of menu for each meal, breakfast, lunch and evening meal, has something to satisfy all tastes, and if you cant find anything on the a la carte menu, then the buffet is always open! Even if that does not have your choice then just ask, and whatever you want, within reason, the friendly staff will always try and cater for you.

Then there is afternoon tea, which you can take the normal service which is normally served in the Braemar Lounge, and offers tea, sandwiches with a selection of cakes or why not try the Traditional afternoon tea, which is a supplement of £5.95 per person, and includes Teas from Taylors of Harrogate in your porcelain pot, finger sandwiches, dainty pastries and warm scones with Jam & cream, served by white gloved staff, and accompanied by Piano melodies all in the Observatory Bar.

In the evening along with having entertainment in every bar area, there is the Neptune Lounge which has a wide variety of Shows, every night of the week. After the shows we could then continue, if we wished, in the Lido bar, which offered entertainment to the small hours.

All this meant we were refreshed and ready for Iceland, unfortunately we were unable to stop at the first port of call Heimay, due to the weather and being unable to board the tenders, instead an alternative of a cruise around Surtsey, which is one of the worlds newest islands, and started forming in 1963, by a volcanic eruptions, and the island still is free from human interference, fascinating and eerie.

We then continued our cruise and because of missing the stop at Heimaey, we arrived a night earlier in Reykjavik and were able to leave the ship that evening to tour the city. The following morning all passenger left the ship most opted for the Golden Circle tour, or the Blue Lagoon, both of these tours, offer once in a lifetime experience and very worthwhile, although we chose the Blue Lagoon, which was very enjoyable and relaxing.

The next morning we arrived in Isafjordur, a small town, were the Black Watch towered above all the buildings, and as we found out from our walk out of the town, could be seen for miles so we couldn’t get lost. As I say here we choose to stay local and as it was a beautiful sunny winters day, the walk was made even more enjoyable and the stunning views around the area from every angle took on a new look, we then departed late afternoon sailing through the mountains in the calm waters, looking back over were we had walked to and regretting a little we had not walked around those last few corners!

The next morning we arrived at Akureyi, for an early start, as we only had till early afternoon, we had arranged a 4x4 jeep, which took us down unfrequented roads, first to Godafoss (“waterfall of the Gods”), you could see the mist from the waterfall for miles around and the spectacle was even better close up. When we arrived the coach trips from the Black Watch were already there, although they had taken the less bumpy route! We then headed with our informative driver to a more secluded waterfall, Aldeyjarfoss, with its contrast of black basalt columns and the white waters of the fall, a hidden gem that we were lucky enough to see, only those on the 4x4 tour!

We then were driven over some beautiful and changing landscapes to Myvatn for a coffee stop and to take a look over the lake, one thing we noticed was the quietness, no noise not even bird in the area.

We then made in back to the Black Watch in time for our departure from Iceland and our overnight cruise to Norway and Alesund, here again we had an early arrival and we took the opportunity to take a walk around the small but elegant waterfront, before heading back to the Black Watch for our tour, a cruise through the Fjords on a small cruiser, enabling us to get deeper into the Fjords, so they majestically rose dramatically above us, with waterfalls cascading from all angles, magnificent!

After making our way back to the Black Watch, we departed late afternoon to Bergen, here again we chose to walk into the town, there was choice to take a shuttle bus for £5 return, but we took a chance even though it looked as if rain was about to come, but there again Bergen does have 300 rainy days a year, so chances are it was always going to have some rain and it did not disappoint! Having said that, the journey was worthwhile, seeing the Old Town and taking the funicular cable car of Bergen, gives you a wider view of what the city and the area has to offer. Alternatively we could have done the popular Norway in a Nutshell, which operates all year and everyone who went on the tour said how wonderful and worthwhile it was.

We then headed for our last port of call Farsund, which is a small town, again and has the most fabulous beaches and small harbour area in the town, which was a walk away, or a shuttle bus was on offer for £5 return.

We arrived back in Southampton, with a quick exit from the Black Watch and then taxi back to the hotel to collect our car we headed home, for what was a very enjoyable and stunning cruise.

Black Watch by Tracy Worthington

2010-09-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

Having booked a suite on the Black Watch we where invited to a VIP Lunch, this was exclusive to suite passengers & we were allowed to embark the ship before the rest of the passengers. I thought this was a lovely start to the holiday.

As Black Watch is not a large ship you get to meet the same people which I found very friendly.
The food was very good and if you wanted to change anything the staff were always willing to help.

The overall of the ship was good and the suites are very spacious. There was entertainment on every evening and if you preferred not to watch the show you could relax in one of the bars.

I would certainly recommend this ship and would happily book on to the Black Watch again.

Island Escape by Joe

2010-08-12T06:06:00.001-07:00

I travelled on Island Escape around the Mediterranean late on in the season. Following a short flight from the UK, we had a very smooth and efficient transfer to the port of Palma and were checked in and on board with just enough time to pose for the embarkation photograph.

There was a really friendly, informal atmosphere on board the ship. As there are no set meal times on board you can pick and choose where you dine, and with whom. We did tend to go to the Oasis Restaurant for our evening meals, as I like to be waited on when I’m on holiday! The food was good, and there was always plenty of choice, and the service was excellent.

I booked a shore excursion in each port, which may not have been the best idea ever. I’m not an early bird, and often the excursions had quite early starts. That minor criticism aside, they were good value for money, and brought the ports of call alive. Although we went late in the season, the weather was kind to us, except when we went to Pisa where it poured with rain! The sea was flat calm for the entire week, and it was great to get out on deck and soak up the sun.

The entertainment staff on board worked hard to ensure we had a good time. There were plenty of activities to take part in if you wanted, but they were unobtrusive so you didn’t feel compelled to take part in things if you just wanted to relax. The shows in the evening were well put together. The bar staff got to know what your favourite tipple was, and service was prompt and friendly. Prices for the drinks were reasonable, and you can get all inclusive upgrades.

When it was time to travel home, the disembarkation and transfer procedure was as well organised as on the outward journey.

All in all, this cruise represented excellent value for money on a friendly and relaxed ship.

Holland America Line Maasdam by Jenny

2010-08-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

We arrived in to the 3-deck atrium of the Holland America ship, Maasdam, which is dominated by a 30 foot glass sculpture, and were instantly impressed. Whilst being a fairly small ship by today’s standards & holding just 1264 passengers at maximum capacity, the ship was very spacious.

We began our tour of the ship, starting up on the lido deck. The pool area has a retractable roof, perfect if the weather isn’t so good. We then went through the public rooms on board, the casino, the buffet restaurant, the theatre & the bars & lounges, 1 of which has the same view of the captain, but 2 decks above the bridge.

There are 633 staterooms on board, with the majority being outside with window, and they are all a minimum of 182 square feet, a decent size compared to some of the more modern ships that average staterooms at 135 square feet.

The restaurant was light & airy, and spread over 2 decks. We were provided with a delicious 3 course meal & wine, and the staff were very attentive. We were told by several passengers how good the meals & entertainment had been on previous evenings, and a first time cruiser commented she was going to try & stow away!

All Holland America ships are currently undergoing major refurbishment, with the Maasdam entering the 2nd phase of the £350 million “Signature of excellence” overhaul in April 2011.

The ship will have new restaurants & bars, and will also feature the new Lanai staterooms, cabins which open up on to the promenade, so effectively having a shared balcony, but without the balcony price tag!

I would recommend the Holland America line for those passengers who want 5 star service, food & entertainment, with a 3/4 star price tag.

Diamond Princess by Tracy Worthington

2010-07-15T09:16:00.001-07:00

Having always wanted to go to Alaska my husband & I decided to get married there. We combined this with a 6 night deluxe tour to Canada including the Canadian Rockies. What an amazing trip!!!

I found the tour was excellent with the friendliness of a tour operator who with this us for the whole tour.

After the 6 days we where taken to the Diamond Princess to join a 7 night cruise from Calgary to Anchorage.

From moment I stepped on board I couldn’t fault anything. The staff where great & looked after us the whole time. I chose anytime dining so I could choose the time I wanted to have my evening meal. I also wanted a table for 2 and because we where on the personal choice dining I got a table for 2 every night.

I found the show’s very entertaining and there was plenty to do during the day and night. The cabin was spacious and having a balcony made it worth while especially whilst you are traveling through Glacier Bay.

I would highly recommend this tour and cruise.

Fred Olsen. The Braemar in the Caribbean by Nick Belger

2010-07-13T09:52:00.000-07:00

Spending the early winter months in the Caribbean is an ideal way to prepare you for the depths of the British Winter, and what better way to do it than on the beautiful Braemar, sailing out of Barbados.

We chose to use our own flights rather than Fred Olsen., which allowed us to tailor make our cruise/fly package, even though Fred Olsen. offered charter flights direct from Manchester to Barbados.

The earlier departure allowed us to enjoy Barbados a little more and acclimatise before making our way to our ship, which also stayed overnight in Barbados.

Luckily we had booked ourselves a Balcony Suite on the Braemar, and it was well worth it for the extras you get, first there was the welcome bottle of sparkling wine, as well as the fruit basket, and the flowers. We also had our bathrobes and slippers!

Then we had pre dinner canapés delivered every evening, and the free formal wear press, all included in the price, not only all this but a suite on deck seven, Bridge deck, so perfectly positioned.

In all cabins and suites, you have your own safe and on the TV set you can continually check your on board account, as well as pre ordering your wine each evening, and any excursions you wish to pre book. Whilst most people, understandably, lodge a credit card for their own account, we decided to pay it as we went along, so there was no need to lodge a card, which is great for more ‘controlled’ spending!

The ship itself was surprisingly spacious and we felt, well proportioned and suited us, although some may want the bigger ships that offer more activities on board, but we were quite happy with what was on offer.

Our restaurant of choice was our pre booked Grampain, although there were other choices the main Thistle and the informal buffet style Palms Café, which is were you can find the fabulous afternoon teas and the midnight buffets. We were given the later sitting in the Grampain was the smallest and most intimate of all the restaurants, but again suited us, with the Maitre Dee and our wine and food waiter giving us extra attention we well looked after, and chose this for breakfast and lunch too!!

The ports of call were varying and gave a wide variety of experiences, Trindad, Tobago, Jamaica, Tortola, St Kitts, Antigua, St Lucia, to name but a few, but the highlight in the Caribbean after a full day of exploration is always sailing away from the pier, when the sun is going down, standing on the cascading decks at the stern of the ship, whilst the steel drums are playing, add to that the cocktail of the day in your hand, and you can appreciate how mellow and lucky you feel.

The other great thing is the cost of drinks on board, in £’s too, look out for the cocktail of the day, well worth a try and the choice of wine in excellent as well.

The bars and entertainment and shows gave a varied choice too, from the Observatory Lounge, were because of my suite 7007, I was referred to as Mr Bond all week, which obviously left an impression, and yes I know they call everybody that week in week out, but it does make you feel special, so there for pre dinner drinks, to the Neptune theatre after dinner for a show, before a night cap and start all over at a different Caribbean island tomorrow, I could go on and on!

Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines Balmoral by Richard Cross

2010-07-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to enjoy five nights on board Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral Cruise ship last year visiting some great ports of call in France, Ireland and the Channel Islands.

Balmoral is Fred.Olsen’s largest vessel afloat, it carries around 1300 passengers and her name comes from the Scottish home of the Royal Family. Although the ship maybe smaller, when compared to other cruise lines, it is still big enough to offer all the facilities and entertainment that other cruise ships offer. This also means that the ship is able to get closer into ports of call then other larger ships.

There are a variety of cabins and suite accommodation on board, I can highly recommend the Balcony Cabins on Bridge Deck. The balconies have superb sea views and watching the sun set on the horizon from the comfort of your own balcony is a relaxing end to a perfect day on the ocean.

There are a number of restaurants on board, the main being the Ballindalloch restaurant which I dined every evening. Whilst on board, a member of our group had a birthday celebration and the staffs on board were excellent, all waiters sang round the table during our meal. The food on board is superb, there was a wide variety of choice and speciality requests were catered for. We also sampled the other restaurants on board Spey, Avon (both on Highlight Deck 10) and Palms Café (on Lounge Deck 7). Palms Café served an excellent buffet style selection every evening after the review shows, an alternative from the main restaurants. Breakfast was served in all restaurants, we ate in the Spey & Avon restaurants which provided excellent sea views. The Morning Light pub was a new addition to the ship in 2008, we took part in the daily quiz on the days we were at sea (although never won!). A fresh and light pub, named after a earlier ship from the Fred. Olsen fleet.

In the daytime, there were lots of activities to do on board. There was an Internet Room to keep in touch with emails and news from back home, plus a card room and a well stocked Library. In the Lido Lounge we also joined in the fun of the Daily Bingo, with a prize of £500 on offer…(I was very close to winning!!!) On deck there were two pools and a number of smaller Jacuzzis. Plenty of seating on deck was also available, sitting on deck in the blazing sunshine, topping up the tan, whilst we were in the middle of the ocean was fantastic…I didn’t want to come home! The gym and fitness centres were also available and provided good sea views whilst getting fit!

The nightlife on board excellent, after our evening meal, we would go to the Neptune Lounge and take in a review show or enjoy a musical. One of the nights was a themed night whilst another night we enjoyed a magical illusion show! The staff in the Balmoral Theatre Company were great and all spoke to us after the show. After the show, we would either go to Palms Café for our midnight snack or slope off to the Observatory Lounge for the Disco into the small hours of the night!!

It was sad to get off Balmoral, as I would of gladly stayed on board for another two weeks to sample to delights this fantastic vessel has to offer.

NCL Epic by Joe

2010-07-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

I recently enjoyed a 2 night taster cruise on the brand new Norwegian Epic. This is the largest ship I have been on so far, and I was impressed with the huge amount of choice available on board. NCL operate a “Freestyle” Cruise without set dining times, so you can sample several different dining options.

There are 22 different choices for dining on board, from the very simple to the really grand. An absolute must is one of the dinner shows. The Spiegel Tent where your waiters are the performers is great fun, and why not take part in the Murder Mystery lunch there? Or visit the Manhattan Room where Elvis, Tina Turner and Madonna serenade you while you dine.

Out of the 22 restaurants, more than half are included in the fare, and some have a cover charge which I felt was worth the extra. The Mediterranean style “La Cucina” restaurant which overlooks the front of the ship was wonderful. I think my favourite, though, was Shanghai’s Chinese Restaurant. I had a delicious meal there as the sun was setting. Very romantic!

There’s so much to do on board, you’ll be hard pushed to fit everything in! Make sure you pack your costume to try the water slides, or to just relax by one of the pools. There’s a great adults only, open air bar at the rear of the ship, and a fun nightclub with beds by the dancefloor! I was impressed by the amount of open space on board. I thought such a large ship would feel crowded, but there was plenty of open deck to relax on and I never felt hemmed in at all. I did have a look at the gym and was blown away by the facilities in there (I didn’t use it though!).

The spa is amazing, and one of the saunas has picture windows. You can de-tox in the spa, or re-tox in one of the many bars! The Ice Bar is a first at sea. Do make sure you get to see the Blue Man Group in the theatre, but don’t sit too close to the front of the stage!

Night owls are spoiled for choice too. I really enjoyed “Fat Cats” Jazz and Blues bar, a smaller, live music venue. There’s comedy shows to enjoy, and a huge casino if you fancy a flutter.

There’s a massive choice of different accommodation on board, ranging from the Studios which are exclusively for single travellers, and have their own private lounge, right up to the Suites. I really liked the Spa Suites with the Jacuzzi in them! I think it’s worth treating yourself to an upgrade.

There’s plenty for families to do, and the kids’ and teens’ clubs will keep them occupied all day. There are 6 bowling lanes on board, and there’s an Aqua Park for the children, as well as the daredevil slides for the big children! There are rock climbing walls, and bungee trampolines.

Overall, plenty to keep everyone occupied all day.

Celebrity Eclipse by Joe

2010-07-13T07:05:00.000-07:00

As part of the Cruise Convention in Southampton, I visited the Celebrity Eclipse. Of all the ships I visited during the convention, this was the ship that had the “wow” factor. We entered on deck two and were then directed to the Atrium to go to the top deck. The ride up through the height of the ship in a glass lift was certainly memorable.

On the open deck, I enjoyed a walk on the real grass lawn. You’re really encouraged to kick off your shoes and feel the grass under your feet. You can have a picnic, or play games on the lawn. The glass blowing show is just by the lawn too.

As the ship is so large, there’s a huge choice of bars and restaurants. There’s a bar with an ice top where your drink never warms up, and you can write your order in the ice. There’s also a large spa and fitness centre to burn off all those calories you add with the fabulous cuisine.
I felt that the service on board was excellent. The staff just seemed to know when you wanted something. The waiter in the restaurant never stopped smiling, and the wine waiter was very prompt and efficient. The lunch we had on board was delicious and beautifully presented. I think someone had told them all my favourite dishes!

There are several speciality restaurants on board, and I particularly liked the Tuscan Grill and the Qsine fusion restaurant. How do you like the thought of using a Rubik’s cube to choose your dessert? There are some really quirky design ideas on board, and the ship has a top quality feel. I was particularly impressed with the friendliness of the staff on board, and I can’t wait to get back on for a longer time.

P&O's Brand New Azura by John Cooper

2010-07-13T06:52:00.000-07:00

I felt rather privileged being one of the first people to set foot aboard P&O’s brand new super liner Azura, as you would expect with P&O although the ship was brand new, it has a sense of style and warmth, with classic decoration that made it feel fresh yet contemporary.

After having a quick look around the state room, I had been given a balcony room, which I must say was fantastic, and well worth the extra, as it really does give you some open space all to yourself! The Stateroom itself was really well fitted out, complete with flat screen TV, with quite a few TV Channels. There was even tea & Coffee making facilities, which is great when you have just got back in from somewhere.

Next we popped off for a quick lunch. WOW the buffet at the Verona restaurant was unbelievable, and after a long drive to Southampton from Liverpool, it certainly filled a gap! We had lunch outside overlooking one of the pools, and in the sunshine it was almost as if you had been swept away to some Caribbean island, rather than sitting dockside in Southampton!

Next we had a wander round to see what this stunning ship had to offer, and there was so much! The Oasis Spa has to be seen to be believed, and the gym was so well equipped, I almost had a go myself. Well Almost! After the thought of all that hard work, next we sat and enjoyed a cool drink at the Breakers bar, watching people swimming in the pools below, I can’t believe how lucky we have been with the weather!

After getting ready for dinner, we wandered through the main atrium, with it’s impressive sweeping stair case and glass lifts with a band playing away, and people dancing, we stopped and took it all in for a while before browsing the shops, and there where some really unusual presents to buy!

As we strolled through the Library, passed the internet area, we wandered to the Glass House, a wine bar that has wines selected by the TV Wine expert Olly Smith, who was there ‘holding court’ advising everyone about the different wines, it was truly inspiring, and hopefully when you cruise on the Azura, he’ll be on one of your sailings.

Food, as I have already said is a grand affair on the Azura, and for evening meal we ate at the ‘Meridian restaurant’ I have to say the ambiance was really relaxed, yet the service was unobtrusive, yet efficient, and the food… well what can I say, everyone on our table deliberately chose different starters, and we where not disappointed! Everyone we spoke to had nothing but praise for the ship, as we laughed and enjoyed the tails of fellow cruisers we soon realised we would need to get our act together if we where going to be in time to see the show in the theatre.

The Theatre itself, is bigger than most theatres you will ever have been to, and the quality of the acts where to match, when we where on there was like a mixture of all your favourite west end musicals, and it brought the house down. When we finished there we wandered into the casino, and had a little flutter (well, you have to don’t you!) before moving on to the Malabar, where there was a tribute group on, and everyone was up dancing! We spoke to some people there who had just eaten at Atul Kochhar’s Indian Restaurant, and they where raving about how good it was. (Note to self: Try there next time!)

Eventually it was time to go back to our stateroom, where the bed had been folded back, and as we wandered on to the balcony, the world felt a better place. Pity we where only there for one night, as she sailed on her maiden voyage the following day.

After a rather good breakfast in the Verona Restaurant, it was time to take our bags and head back ashore, leaving this gleaming fairy tail of a ship behind. I was only there for a night, but the memories will last a long time… imagine having a couple of weeks on board!

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2010-07-13T05:54:00.000-07:00

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