Thanks to Rob...

......for sending in this photo of the coffee table that he is going to put his Complete Cruise Brochure on.

He has 2 sentries ready and waiting to guard it. I'm a bit concerned about Lucy the Labrador’s ability to guard well though - she seems to have a bit of a drinking habit looking at the drink beside her.

The Complete Cruise Brochure is out now

I have just seen this year's copy of the Complete Cruise Brochure and it's better than ever. If  you haven't cruised before there are loads of pull out guides to help you choose and comparison tables showing all the facilities offered by the differing cruise lines.

We have included our normal guides to kids clubs, bar prices, gratuitie charges etc and this year have also included guides on disabled facilities, services offered for babies and a cruise planner of who is sailing where and when.

The brochure is also jam packed with offers from all of the cruise lines and there are several deals that are exclusive to Cruise.co.uk customers - we have negotiated on board credits, free car parking, free shore excursions and bottles of wine on numerous cruises.

If you are new to cruising this is an invaluable guide to cruising, and as far as I am aware it is the only brochure like this. Our local Thomas Cook shop even uses last year's copy as a reference guide. And the real beauty of it is..it's free.

If you would like a copy just give me a call on 0800 408 6088 or e-mail me at joc@cruise.co.uk and I'll be happy to send you one. It will look great on your coffee table!

Surely fuel is a requirement of all cruises?

Fred Olsen have in the last week announced that they are increasing their fuel surcharge for future cruises.
But surely those nice people at Fred Olsen were aware when pricing their cruises for 2011 and 2012 that fuel would be a large part of their costs.

I am not hugely into politics and I didn't study economics at school but I do know that fuel seems to increase in cost every month and I anticipate that by this time next year I will be paying at least another 20p per litre for my diesel. I allowed for this when considering which car to buy last year and looked at my fuel consumption costs. Fred Olsen though don't seem to be able to anticipate this aswell as me.

I think it is grossly unfair of Fred Olsen to add a surcharge, just because the cost of oil has increased. The price of wheat is particularly high at the moment, perhaps they will impose a surcharge for food soon too.

For all keen table tennis players...

I've just had a really interesting conversation regarding the position of table tennis tables on the majority of cruise ships.

My good customer is a keen player and a Cunard cruises customer, however on Queen Mary 2 the table tennis tables are out on deck and open to the elements. On a transatlantic sailing with strong winds blowing, this is really not conducive to a good game, the ball being exceptionally light. Fortunately for him, the nice staff on board kindly moved the table indoors into the Winter Garden and he was able to keep playing.

 The same customer is off on Queen Elizabeth's world cruise today and having been on board I was able to tell him that once again the table will be subject to wind, although they are sheltered above. I hope Queen Elizabeth's staff are as accommodating for him.

You do have to question though.....why place the tables out on deck in the first place?

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU

I'll be back in work on the 3rd Jan and am really looking forward to 2011. With the Complete Cruise Brochure plus our new tailor made brochure being sent out, it is going to be a really busy start to the year.

I also hopefully going snowboarding soon so will be able to shed all my Christmas excesses on the slopes.

For now though, its back to enjoying my last few days off..I think I'll have another chocolate