Try before you buy...and save some money too

Fred. Olsen are offering potential customers the chance to spend a day on board one of their ships with a number of ships visits on offer this summer.

Guests will be welcomed on board and enjoy a welcome drink and presentation from the experienced staff and then be given a guided tour in a small group to see a selection of cabins and public areas.

Guests will then enjoy a buffet lunch and wine in the ship's main restaurant

Any guests booking within 6 months of the ship visit will be given an further 5% discount or £200pp whichever is the greatest (subject to terms and conditions)

If you'd like to go on one of the ship visits which are on offer across the country just conact myself on 0800 408 6088 or joc@cruise.co.uk. The cost is just £40pp

To view the list of ship visits on offer just please read more

Balmoral - Southampton
20 July
03 August
27 October

Braemar - Dover
14 April
31 May
22 September

Boudicca
7 July - Rosyth
10 August - Rosyth
26 August - Newcastle
4 November - Portmouth
18 November - Portsmouth

Black Watch - Dover
11 June
24 June
07 July
02 September

Read some Fred Olsen cruise reviews at Cruise.co.uk.

It's sales all round!

If you have been pondering the idea of a summer cruise then now is the time book as there are a number of sales this week. These are for a limited period only though so take advantage while you can.

Carnival
Book between today and the 9th February and receive on board credit
$50 per cabin for sailings of 3-4 nights
$100 per cabin for sailings of 5-6 nights
$150 per cabin for sailings of 7 nights
$200 per cabin for sailings of 8 nights or more

P&O & Cunard
Book between the 10th and 13th February and receive a free upgrade from an inside to a balcony cabin on selected cruises. Just read more for the list of included cruises


Aurora - 19 June
Azura - 29 April, 6 & 19 May, 9 & 16 Jun, 14 & 21 Jul, 10 Aug, 2 Sep
Oceana - 13 May, 20 Aug
Ventura - 13 & 20 May, 3 & 17 Jun, 20, 23 & 27 Jul, 21 Aug, 01 & 08 Sep

Queen Elizabeth - 22 Jun, 07 & 14 Aug
Queen Victoria - 04 Apr, 05 & 22 May, 29 Jun, 13 & 21 Jul, 03, 17 &  28 Aug
Queen Mary - 10 & 17 Jun, 04 Sep

Free flights giveaway

Well it's back Royal Caribbean are giving away free flights on the majority of their Summer 2012 Mediterranean Cruises. And they are offering them on peak dates too.

They offered these last year and it was really popular, this year they have 10,000 flight seats to give away and are offering free flights and transfers from:
Belfast, Birmingham, Dublin, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Manchester and  Newcastle.

The free flights giveaway is great because it means that your fligts and transfers will be provided by the cruise line giving you added protection in the event of strikes, ash clouds delays and cancellations

The dates and airports offered vary on each date and cruise so the easiest way to see which ones are best for you is to call or email me. But please read more to see the list of all sailings with free flights.



The following sailings have free flights attached
Adventure of the Seas
7 nts Western Med
7nts Canary Isles

Grandeur of the Seas
7nts Italian Med
7nts Spanish Med

Liberty of the Seas
5nts Western Med
7nts Western Med

Mariner of the Seas
12nts Greece & Turkey
7nts Western Med
12nts Holy Land

Navigator of the Seas
7nts Eastern Med

Splendour of the Seas
6nts Western Europe
7nts Greek Isles and Turkey
7nts Greek Isles
6nts Greece & Adriatic
8nts Greek Isles and Turkey

Serenade of the Seas
12nts Med Greek Isles
12nts Med Venice

How strict should a dress policy be?

There is always lots of discussion as to how formal cruising should be and fortunately nowadays there are several ships to choose from dependent upon your individual preferences. Customers can choose between a cruiseline that has several formal nights on board where black tie is a necessity or they can select a cruise line such as NCL or Oceania where black tie is not required at all.

The dress code is stated in advance and is generally enforced during dining. Now I am all for cruise lines stating their dress code and then enforcing it, customers know what they are booking and should expect to adhere to it. However I have just heard of an incident on board P&O's Azura when I think they were taking it to the extreme.


The gentleman concerned had worn a suit and tie to dinner on a 'semi-formal' night and had then retired to the Planet Bar at about 11pm for a drink. As it was late he had returned to his cabin and dropped his jacket off but upon entering the bar he was politely informed that he had to wear a jacket.
Being he gentleman that he is he returned to the cabin and donned the jacket again.

This time he was allowed to return to his friends, could order a drink and was allowed to remove his jacket to be comfy.

Now I know P&O have had a bad press and people have complained that standards are slipping, but was this really necessary? What do you think, and what do other cruise lines do?

If you need any help....

Well we've all only just come back to work but I'm taking another week off and will be out of the office until Monday 22nd January.

Whilst I'm away please call my colleagues on 0800 408 6200 and they will be happy to help you.

Thinking of extending your stay in Venice?

If you are then don't forget that they have now introduced the Venice Tourist Tax, which adds up to  €5 per person per night to your stay. This tax introduced at the end of 2011 is on charged on a sliding scale from  €5 per person in a 5* hotel to €3 per person in a 3 star.

If you're staying in the neighbouring islands or Lido are the cost is slighty reduced to  €4.50 per person for a 5* hotel. Children under 10 are exempt for the charge and 11-16 year olds pay 50%
The city is  cleverly calling the charge a 'cultural donation' and  it is to go towards a £20 million restoration project to save Venice from the sea.

Venice is a beautiful and amazing city however it is an expensive place to stay. It will be interesting to see if this tax puts people off from staying there this summer. Personally I don't think it will,  €10 for a couple on a room is probably less than 10% of the hotel cost.

This tax has to be paid by the tourist and isn't included in costs advertised by travel agents or hoteliers so don't forget to have some Euros' with you to pay it.

Happy New Year to you

Just a quick note to say Happy New Year to you all.
I'd like to wish everyone a very prosperous year and hope that all your dreams and resolutions come true.