MSC Fantasia by John Cooper

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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