Cunard and P&O 2012 World Cruises

Cunard and P&O will be launching their 2012 world cruises on the 15th July, but I can give you a sneak preview of what is to come and if you want prices in advance just give me call.

Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth are offering full world cruises from Southampton, both departing on the 10th January 2012. Queen Mary 2’s World Voyage includes a 22 night inaugural Circle Australia voyage after which she returns to Southampton via the Far East, arriving home on 27 April 2012, whilst Queen Elizabeth sail a more traditional itinerary of Southampton to San Francisco, Australia, New Zealand, the Far East and Dubai. She also arrives home on the 27th April. Queen Victoria is doing a series of Exotic Voyages between 8 and 25 nights in length through the Panama and Hawaii, but on a fly cruise basis from the USA.

P&O’s Adonia embarks on her first World Cruise from Southampton to South America and the Amazon, around Cape Horn and into the Chilean Fjords. Aurora and Oriana will take passengers on a full world circumnavigation. Aurora heads west towards the Caribbean, while Oriana heads east out through the Mediterranean. Finally, Arcadia will undertake an epic 109-night Grand Odyssey, which takes in the Orient, Australia and South Africa.

Early booking offers include additional discounts and on board credit for both cruise lines, the amounts varying dependant on the cabin grade and length of cruise chosen. Cunard are also offering to free gratuities on the full world cruises.

There is too much information to detail all the prices and benefits here but if you would like further information on any of the voyages or sectors then just give me a call or send me an e-mail. I’m offering great discounts too!

Calling all Portunus members

Don't forget that if you want to benefit from double on board credit, early booking prices and free car parking for P&O sailings for 2011. Then you must book by close of business tomorrow. This is also the best time to get the cabin of your choice.

Cunard's early booking offers also end tomorrow..so don't delay & book today!

No special requests at the Waldorf Astoria

Some customers of mine have just returned from a Cunard cruise and enjoyed a stay at the Waldorf Astoria - one of New Yorks finest hotels.


My customer is allergic to butter and ordered some dry toast and jam. When this came out already buttered, he asked the waiter to return it and provide a fresh piece. Only to be told 'I'm sorry Sir, but all our toast comes pre-buttered'

Cunard charge £225 per person for a 1 night stay at this hotel, you would have thought that for that price they would be able to accommodate such a simple request wouldn't you?

Do you have any similar experiences?

Cruise.co.uk buy QE2

Cruise.co.uk today announced that they have bought the much loved QE2. Sold by Cunard in 2008 she has rested in Dubai but there has been little progress in converting her to a hotel.

Business hot shot and Cruise.co's MD Seamus Conlon is quoted as saying 'Our customers are always telling us how much they love this ship and what a shame it is to see her go to waste'

She was be sailing a mixture of 7 and 14 night voyages with her maiden voyage to sailing alongside Cunard's new Queen Elizabeth.

To register for Cruise.co.uk's QE2 just click on read more...

APRIL FOOL

Queen Victoria - 12 nights in May from £949pp

Cunard have announced some special late deals and this one caught my eye.

14th May 2010 for 12 nights and calling at the following ports.

Southampton, Barcelona, Cannes, Florence/ Pisa, Rome, Gibraltar, Southampton

Prices for an inside cabin start at just £999pp or £949pp if you're a Cunard past passenger. That's just £79per night!

Give me a call to book - 0800 408 6088

Cunard Free Kids for 2011 ...includes school holidays

I have been asked several times which cruises include free kids prices for 2011 so here is a list for you.

Queen Mary 2 - Round trip Transatlantics 12nts
M106B 10 May
M109B 03 June
M116A 15 Aug
M121 A 29 Aug
M128A 16 Oct

Queen Victoria
V119 12nt Baltic 20 July
V113 7nt Ireland and Ibiera 22 May

Queen Elizabeth
Q113 12nt Western Meditteranean 02 Aug
Q114 14nts Baltic 14 Aug.

On all of the other sailings Cunard are offering child reductions with prices from about £200 per child upwards.

Tickled Pink

One of my customers was lucky enough to be on board Queen Victoria when she was recently all lit up in pink in Sydney's Circular Quay. He sent me the photo's and I thought they were worth sharing with you all.

She was illuminated to support Australia's National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), which officially launched its 2010 fundraising target at an event onboard.

Fly cruises....Your comments please

Well after this Christmas those cruise companies with ships based in the UK are going to be smiling. First of all BA cabin crew threatened to strike putting hundreds of people into panic and uncertainty. The same customers had a small reprieve when the strike was called off only to have snow both home and abroad causing cancelleations all over and people to be stranded at airports with no way of reaching their ships.


We've also had Globespan go bust affecting our Scottish customers and finally the Delta bomb attempt which whilst not affecting cruise customers will certainly put people off flying.

It's interesting to see how the different cruise companies have dealt with the flight problems caused by the weather. Cunard I understand are fully refunding all customers who have failed to reach their cruise, whilst MSC tell you to claim on your insurance. I actually agree with MSC - surely if Cunard refund all of their Christmas customers they will suffer a huge loss of income which will only impact on future prices, whereas a travel insurance policy is rarely claimed on and unlike other insurances you haven't got no claims discount to consider.

 What do you think? I'd also be interested to know if you've been caught up in this and whether you have lost money or been put off fly cruises for life.

Cunard Christmas Cracker?

Cunard's Queen Victoria is sailing a 16 nights canaries cruise departing on the 19th December. Taking in Christmas and New Year and cruising to one of the warmer destinations, she should be the ideal choice. Yet this Christmas cruise still has availability when nearly all other cruises sold out months ago.

Maybe it's the recession - although P&O, Ocean Village and NCL all appear unaffected. Maybe she's too expensive, but with free upgrades, on board credit and keen discounting I think she offers an attractive proposition. I'm stumped, I can see no reason why she hasn't sold - can you?