Secrets the cruise lines don’t tell their passengers
Secrets the cruise lines don’t tell their passengers
We are lovingly bombarded with images of stunning ocean going vessels, tempted with the opportunity to visit several superb destinations in one holiday and then pushed further into consideration by the too-good-tobe-true low prices and added extras. In short, the brochures and Facebook pages of our favourite cruise lines suck us in with their charms
June 2015
Disney Magic’s inaugural visit to Norway
Disney Magic’s inaugural visit to Norway
Disney Magic arrived in Geiranger, Norway, yesterday on its inaugural visit to Norway. The cruise ship is sailing on its first ever Norwegian Fjords itinerary, which also is the cruise line’s first European itinerary for 2015. Disney cruise passengers used the SeaWalk pontoon, an innovative floating pier, while passengers on the Saga Pearl II, also
June 2015
Carnival bans passengers from carrying bottled water aboard to combat alcohol smuggling
Carnival bans passengers from carrying bottled water aboard to combat alcohol smuggling
Carnival Cruise Lines is to ban passengers from carrying bottled water and other bottled drinks on-board its ships. The company claims the move is to prevent guests “smuggling” alcohol on board in soft drinks bottles. Passengers will be required to dispose of most bottle liquids before embarkation and when returning from shore on visits to
June 2015
Explorer John Hemming to sail with Rainforest Cruises
Explorer John Hemming to sail with Rainforest Cruises
Celebrated explorer John Hemming is to sail with Rainforest Cruises aboard Peruvian riverboat Delfin II on a five-day river cruise in February 2016. Hemming is a world-renowned expert and best-selling author with 11 titles to his name, specialising in Amazon tribes and the Incan civilisation. He will be sailing with Amazon-specialist Rainforest Cruises and will
June 2015
Cunard’s Three Queens Liverpool event in photographs
Cunard’s Three Queens Liverpool event in photographs
The spectacular gathering of Cunard’s 3 Queens on the Mersey has been hailed as the biggest waterfront event in the history of Liverpool. The free show on Bank Holiday Monday 25 May 2015 was watched by an estimated 1.3 million as Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth sailed majestically up the river in
June 2015
Photos of the construction of Harmony of the Seas (June 2015)
Photos of the construction of Harmony of the Seas (June 2015)
Royal Caribbean has released a new batch of photographs showing the current build progress of their latest Oasis-class ship, Harmony of the Seas. The third-Oasis class ship to be ordered by Royal Caribbean, Harmony of the Seas will incorporate some of the features introduced in the Quantum-class of ships including the Makr Shakr Bionic Bar, Virtual
June 2015
MSC Cruises to run flash sale for autumn 2015 sailings
MSC Cruises to run flash sale for autumn 2015 sailings
MSC Cruises is to run a limited 96-hour flash sale this weekend, discounting a selection of seven-night autumn fly-cruises. The promotion will run between Friday 5 June and Monday 8 June and prices will start from £449 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside cabin. All deals will include a free upgrade from
June 2015
PONANT releases its winter 2016-2017 Antarctica expedition cruises
PONANT releases its winter 2016-2017 Antarctica expedition cruises
French cruise line PONANT Yacht Cruises & Expeditions has opened bookings for its Antarctica 2016-2017 cruises, 18 months prior to the first departure date. Guests can explore the world’s extreme regions in five-star comfort aboard Le Boréal, Le Soléal and brand new ship Le Lyrial. From November 2016 to February 2017, PONANT is offering four
June 2015
X-Factor’s Sam Bailey to sail on Saga Sapphire cruise
X-Factor’s Sam Bailey to sail on Saga Sapphire cruise
Following news earlier this month that TV presenter Michaela Strachan is to cruise to Iceland, Saga has now revealed X-Factor’s Sam Bailey is to sail on a cruise to the Baltic. Sam Bailey, a former prison officer who won the tenth series of The X-Factor in 2013, will join Saga Sapphire’s music-themed St Petersburg and
May 2015
Hurtigruten adds more direct flights from the UK for early 2016
Hurtigruten adds more direct flights from the UK for early 2016
Hurtigruten has added 24 new direct flight options from seven departure airports between January and March 2016 to enable more customers to book fly-cruise sailings. Direct flights have been arranged from London Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol, Bournemouth, Newcastle, East Midlands and Dublin airports. The five- or six-day ‘Arctic Highlights’ is one of Hurtigruten’s most popular itineraries and
May 2015
Thomson Cruises to acquire Mein Schiff 1 and 2 from TUI Cruises
Thomson Cruises to acquire Mein Schiff 1 and 2 from TUI Cruises
Thomson Cruises is to add Mein Schiff 1 and Mein Schiff 2 to its fleet from German sister-line TUI Cruises in a bid to modernise the UK cruise operations. The announcement was made in the ‘Interim Results for the six months ended 31 March 2015’ document published yesterday by the TUI Group. No exact dates
May 2015
Cruise to the fjords cut short by outbreak of stomach bug
Cruise to the fjords cut short by outbreak of stomach bug
P&O Cruises’ Azura was not the only ship spending an unexpected day in Southampton last weekend. Fred Olsen’s Balmoral returned early from a cruise to the Norwegian fjords after a large number of passengers were affected by a “gastro-enteritis type illness.” The ship was given a deep clean before leaving last night as scheduled for
May 2015
Autistic Alan designs Viking Ocean Cruises show garden at RHS Chelsea
Autistic Alan designs Viking Ocean Cruises show garden at RHS Chelsea
Viking Cruises has secured a Main Avenue show garden at RHS Chelsea to highlight the launch of its ocean venture and garden designer Alan Gardner has used his unique skills to create The Viking Ocean Cruises Show Garden after ‘forensically’ studying architectural drawings and images of Viking Star. Viking Star, a 930-passenger luxury ship complete with infinity
May 2015