Naming ships - the best job in the world?

I have come to the conclusion that if I could pick a dream job it would have to be 'naming ships' - not as in ship launch, godmother stuff but actually thinking up the names of the ships myself.

If any cruise lines are reading this and would like to hear my fantastic ideas - get in touch! (I would post them here but I dont want my ideas stolen)

Royal Caribbean Announces Oasis of the Seas Itineraries

News item: With the astounding array of choices and amenities being introduced on Royal Caribbean International's next generation of cruise ships, cruisers will be hard pushed to find another experience as spectacular as what they will enjoy on Oasis of the Seas.
Today, the cruise line renowned for its innovations announced seven night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries for the new ship's inaugural year, with the inaugural voyage planned for December 12th 2009.

Bookings for Oasis of the Seas will open September 3rd 2008. The ship's homeport is Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Oasis of the Seas will begin her inaugural season with 19 consecutive seven night sailings to the Eastern Caribbean, with ports of call at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Nassau, Bahamas. Starting May 1st 2010, Oasis of the Seas will alternate its Eastern Caribbean itinerary with the Western Caribbean itinerary, which will call at Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach destination in Haiti; the new port of Falmouth, Jamaica; and Cozumel, Mexico. "Royal Caribbean is fortunate to have taken millions of satisfied guests over 40 years to these highly regarded destinations," said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "We thank the government of Haiti, Port Authority of Jamaica, State Government of Quintana Roo, Island of Cozumel, SSA Mexico, Ministry of Public Works and Port Authority of the Bahamas, Virgin Islands Port Authority, West Indian Company, and Port of St. Maarten for their support and cooperation in working with us to provide such compelling itineraries for our guests."

Royal Caribbean has been working closely with the ports on the Oasis of the Seas itineraries to ensure the guest experience is seamless when the ship visits. The cruise line and St. Maarten will enhance the guest welcome facilities, while Cozumel's pier will be widened. Approaches to the docks at St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Nassau also will be dredged.

Royal Caribbean is also working with the government of Haiti to construct a pier at Labadee, the cruise line's private beach destination. Additional plans are underway to expand guest offerings with an alpine coaster and fast-boat tours, among others, to complement Labadee's stunning Dragon's Breath Flight Line, which has proven to be one of the destination's most popular attractions.

When she launches in late 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world. An architectural marvel at sea, she will span 16 decks, encompass 220,000 gross registered tons (GRT), carry 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and feature 2,700 staterooms. Oasis of the Seas will be the first ship to tout the cruise line's new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which includes Central Park, Boardwalk, and the Royal Promenade. The ship will sail from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Additional information is available at www.oasisoftheseas.com.

Oasis of the Seas bookings start in September

The long awaited, Royal Caribbean mega-ship, Oasis of the Seas, will go on sale from 3rd September this year.Oasis of the Seas will have the first outdoor theatre at sea boast dual-level loft suites as well as seven themed areas on board, including the ‘boardwalk’ for families with restaurants, shops, games, and the first carousel at sea.

Off the boardwalk will be the amphitheatre Aqua Theater, with the largest fresh water pool to date on a ship. There will also be two 43-foot rock-climbing walls framing either side of the outdoor theatre.
The ship will offer 37 categories of cabins. Park View and Boardwalk View balcony staterooms will offer inward facing cabins over-looking the open air areas of the ship.
The 28 two-level loft suites will be the highest cabins at sea, featuring floor-to-ceiling double-height windows.

Oasis of the Seas will sail from Fort Lauderdale in Florida, starting its inaugural season of Eastern Caribbean itineraries on December 12 2009.

News item: Cunard’s latest luxury liner, the Queen Victoria, has crashed while docking in the port of Valletta, Malta.
The hit caused a hole to form in the stern of the £300m British ship, which was named by the Duchess of Cornwall.Luckily, none of the 1,887 passengers onboard were injured in the crash.

"The ship touched the quay as she was berthing and sustained some damage which is now being assessed," said Cunard president Carol Marlow.
The Queen Victoria was launched in Southampton last December, but, during the traditional naming ceremony, the champagne bottle used failed to break against the ship, regarded in maritime circles as bad luck. Cunard have stated the damage was being assessed and that repairs were under way and should be completed during the night. "This will necessitate the cancellation of the call at La Goulette in Tunisia which the ship was due to visit tomorrow but its expected call to Gibraltar on the 17th May will go ahead as planned" "Cunard will be compensating guests for the disruption to their voyage," a spokesman said.

Queen Victoria will eventually replace the 40-year-old QE2, which is being decommissioned and turned into a floating hotel in Dubai from 2009.

Monarch of the Seas experience

Just a brief review of my findings on board Royal Caribbean's oldest (i think) ship, Monarch of the Seas. In true RC style, the food and the service were excellent. The ship itself was the smallest i had ever sailed on so i did find it quite claustrophobic. It still had a beautiful centrum which looked as though it had been refurbished fairly recently but I really did feel the lack of facilities. There were no Portofino or Chops Grille restaurants on board so we found we could only either eat in main dining room or the Windjammer. There was also a Jade Sushi on board but that's not really my bag, it was always empty so i guess we weren't the only ones to feel like that.

We had an inside cabin on deck 2 which always smelt of sewage. They must be having problems with their plumbing as many guests including us, had gurgling from their drains accompanied by a foul sewage smell. They cleaned out our drains twice in 2 days as it got so bad. I had asked to be moved to another cabin but i was told the ship was full. I'll be honest, it didn't ruin our holiday one bit, the shows on board were great and we stopped at some fabulous ports.. San Diego, Catalina Island and Ensenada in Mexico.

I also can't moan because I believe you get what you pay for...I only paid £120 each for the 4 days (cruise only) so even after all that, it was still good value. Thanks Royal Caribbean but I shall definitely choose a Freedom Class ship for my next holiday.

Royal Caribbean's Genesis - an artists impression

Last week Royal Caribbean unveiled a sneak preview of its plans for the latest evolution in cruise ship design, Project Genesis. They released details on how they will bring the best of the land to the ocean with an area on the ship called Central Park, a revolutionary design in which the ship's centre is open air and features a lush, tropical park spanning the length of a football field.

The images reveal an amazing feature - an open air 'central park' in the center of the ship, with a piazza, tropical plants, flower gardens and lawns, which will be kept alive with special irrigation and drainage systems. Having the cental atrium open to the sky will allow far more cabins to have balconies - of those approx 250 cabins will have balconies over the park.
At 220,000 tons, Genesis comfortably trumps the biggest ships going: the 160,000-tonne Freedom and Independence of the Seas, also owned by Royal Caribbean. It is also close to five times the size of the Titanic, and more than 10 times the size of the HMS Ark Royal, the Navy's biggest ship.

Face of Travel Results

I guess I should say right now that I didn't win the Face of Travel. Instead the female's crown went to Karen Eason from Sunshine Travel and the men's went to Ryan Inman from Cruise Thomas Cook. It's impossible to be a bad loser in this scenario as both really deserved to win.
Coincidentally, both winners used a superhero theme in their presentations, Karen unveiled a 'Travel Girl' outfit and Ryan pretended to be Clark Kent reporting back to Lois Lane from the ship.

The final was held onboard Royal Caribbean's newest mega-liner, the Independence of the Seas while she was docked at Southampton for her launch celebrations. I was one of the 16 finalists and we were all as nervous as each other - which in itself brought great relief!

Each of us had to face an X-Factor-style showdown during which we tried our best to persuade the panel of judges from TTG and Royal Caribbean why we should be the Face of Travel for 2008. After the presentations we had to wait a painful 6 hours for the result of the judges deliberations. In that time we fitted in a tour of the ship, an ice show, a concert by Scouting for Girls and quite a few glasses of champagne. In fact later that night we had the opportunity to meet Roy from the band who turned out to be a jolly nice chap - Hi Roy (he reads my blog all the time - lol!).

The competition was a great experience for me, I don't regret entering for one moment. I met some fabulous people and enjoyed my time on board the ship. I'm looking forward to reuniting with all the finalists on the Celebrity Solstice launch and of course, reading TTG to catch up with the latest antics from Karen & Ryan.

Just for a recap, the finalists were:

From the Boys Under 35 category:
Alastair Baker, Gill's Cruise Centre
Ryan Inman, Cruise Thomas Cook
Aaron McMordie-Ives, Bookable Holidays Ltd
James Revis, The Co-operative Travel

From the Girls Under 35 category:
Karen Eason, Sunshine Travel
Amie Fuller, First Choice
Emily Plunkett, Scotland’s Cruise Centre
Carla Prosser, Ideal Cruising

From the Boys 36 & Over category:
Ian Calvert, Have A Nice Stay Travel
Phil Dargan, Choose and Cruise
Nick McKay, Travel Designers
Mehmet Tepeli, Packyourbags Travel Store

From the Girls 36 & Over category:
Janette Bell, Future Travel
Deanne Gatfield, First Choice
Emma Sanger, Future Travel
Janet Whittingham, St Andrews Travel

CONGRATULATIONS we were all winners in our own way!

Inside Cruise launches Facebook Page

Inside Cruise - the community for cruise lovers - has now launched a group on Facebook.

You can find it on http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6558599798 - remember you need to be registered and logged in to view or join!

Ventura Welcome Party Cruise

I was lucky enough to get a cabin on the Ventura Welcome Party Cruise, especially considering that the entire ship sold out within an hour of going on sale. With that kind of popularity, the Ventura immediately had a lot to live up to. And to be honest, she delivered pretty well.
The 2-day itinerary set sail on Friday 11th April from the port of Southampton and cruised to Zebrugge (Bruges) and back. This was a cute itinerary that gave just enough time to explore the ship and enjoy a break away from it all. For those onboard that were new to cruising, this particular choice would have been perfect as a taster.

From the outside the Ventura looked huge. Although I knew she would be 115,000 tonnes, I just wasn’t prepared for her breathtaking size and stature in the dock. The strangest thing was that once onboard, she actually seemed quite small. It was very easy to find your way around and walking from one end of the ship to the other wasn’t the hard slog it would first appear to be. It didn’t take long to get our bearings and learn where the main rooms were.

We were most pleased that our cabins were ready within ten minutes of boarding. We had booked a junior suite with a balcony, CC grade on D deck (deck 9) which was positioned mid-ship. The cabin was tastefully decorated and spacious although deceptively narrow. It was a nice to touch to be greeted by a bottle of champagne on ice and Belgian chocolates which, I can assure you, didn’t last very long!

Whilst touring the ship it was clear that the designer Nick Munro had done a fine job. The interior decoration was elegant throughout; I particularly liked the Moroccan feel of the Tamarind Club, the contemporary Asian style of the East restaurant and the cool colour changing LEDs in the Havana Club.

There is a wealth of bars, restaurants and spacious meeting areas. For those not wanting formal club dining the choice is endless.We ate in the Saffron restaurant on the first night, taking the earliest sitting at 6.30pm, the 8.45pm sitting being just that bit too late for us. The meal was good and the service was excellent. It can’t be easy to pull off that level of service when all the guests arrive at the same time but the staff sailed through it.After dinner we opted to see the comedians Sean Meo and Mark Maier in the Tamarind lounge. If I’m completely honest they were a letdown. Both had a really hard time squeezing laughs out of the crowd, but then that’s what happens if your jokes aren’t funny. It was a shame that we missed the Chronicles show in the Arena theatre which by all accounts was excellent.

On the second day, naturally, passengers were encouraged to pay for an excursion to Bruges for the grand sum of £38 each, with many passengers taking it up. However P&O Cruises did actually provide a FREE shuttle bus at the quay side to take us to the local town of Blankenberge where a train could be caught to Bruges for around 6 Euros return and a journey time of 12 minutes.

Following our pleasant trip into Bruges, we donned our formal wear and ate in The White Room. This ‘Select Dining’ restaurant had a cover charge of £30 which may seem high but once you’ve tasted the food you’ll understand why it was worth every penny. (On longer duration cruises I am told that the cover charge decreases according to the number of nights onboard)The meal was truly amazing and of an incredibly high standard as you would expect. The asparagus risotto was to die for and I could’ve eaten another portion of the prune and amaretto ice cream quite easily!No sooner than finishing our desserts, Marco Pierre White made an appearance. We had the opportunity to meet him and get photos taken which we took full advantage of. He was a very charming man, well spoken, polite and showed a great interest in his fans. Meeting him was definitely the highlight of the evening and possibly even the cruise.

After dinner we managed to catch tail end of the Legends tribute show in the Havana club. The Elton John act was top class and sounded uncannily like the man himself, it was just a shame we missed Kylie and Freddy Mercury. We then went on to flutter and lose in the well equipped casino before heading onto the Saturday Night Fever show. Having seen the movie more times than I can remember, I was convinced that it wasn’t possible to mess up such a classic. How wrong could I be? It was a ‘tragedy’ if ever there was one!

In the first few bars of the opening song, it was already clear that the guy playing the lead, Tony Manero, was singing slightly out of tune. This was a real problem because the main plot of the film isn’t about the acting but the singing and dancing, taking one of those elements away kind of ruins the point of it all. It didn’t get much better for Tony when his mike stopped working halfway through. I’m not sure if there was an electrical fault or someone just switched him off to save our ears. Whichever it was, that was the final straw, we upped and left the theatre along with quite a few other audience members.

I can’t say that Tony Manero tainted my perception of Ventura at all even though I feel we may have been ‘guinea pigs’ to iron out any teething problems. The ship itself is an innovation at sea and all her new features and experiences will definitely appeal to all ages. I think she’s an impressive addition to the P&O Cruises fleet.

Cute Cruise Gifts

Whenever I come back from my holidays I like to be reminded of the great time I've had. That's what keeps me going until my next holiday comes round. I try to buy souveniers while I'm away and take as many photos as I can. Then I use them to conjure up happy memories.

Usually this involves putting my photos into an album, placing the holiday fridge magnet in its rightful place or wearing the perfume I bought from the airport. But there isn't usually alot you can buy to remind you of cruising unless its branded by the cruise line itself and you purchase it from the expensive onboard boutique.

Thats why I was so tickled to find this cute little online store dedicated to cruise gifts. The Cruise Gift Store is run by real cruise lovers and packed full of nautical themed gifts to please any cruise addict.

I particularly like the Life Jacket Bottle Chiller priced at a very reasonable £8.95. It would make an excellent stocking filler at Christmas. I know all my cruise loving friends are going to get one this year! (i hope they're not reading this)









Visit the store at http://www.cruisegiftstore.com/

Held to ransom in Madeira!

When I heard the news this morning I couldn't believe my ears! Over 450 passengers have spent a second night stranded in Madeira onboard their cruise ship, caught up in a cash row surrounding their travel company.
The Van Gogh has been held by port authorities since Tuesday in the port of Funchal due to a row over the alleged debts of former operator Travelscope, which went bust last December.

The stranded holidaymakers, who were due to arrive back in Falmouth, Cornwall, on Saturday, are said to have believed this was a April fools prank, but soon realised the severity of the situation. The managing director of Van Gogh Cruise Line issued a statement published in the Gloucestershire Echo that suggested lawyers were arguing for the release of the vessel.
It seems that Travelscope's administrators are behind the detention of the ship, making "alleged claims" relating to previous charter agreements, and refusing to allow the ship to continue on journey.

Lawyers are currently liaising with the authorities in an effort to prevent further delay by requesting this matter to be handled on return to Falmouth, to minimise further distress to the passengers.
It seems the mood of the passengers is mixed, with some feeling it is very unfair that they are being held up in this dispute. Others have held a more positive outlook suggesting there is no better place to be held ransom.

Is Sea Sickness all in the Mind?

Years ago, on a family holiday to Cornwall, I remember getting on a small boat and sailing out to sea to catch some fish for dinner that evening. At 9 years old I was thoroughly enjoying being out at sea, catching fish and learning to “drive” a boat. And then came the sickness…
There is nothing quite like sea sickness, one minute your feeling fine, the next you feel completely green. Luckily enough we were already heading back to shore as the sickness was reaching its peak.

Since then I have moved on to bigger and better ships and started cruising. As of yet, I have not experienced any sea sickness at all (lucky me). Not so surprising when you consider how huge cruise liners tend to be and how well stabilized. However, many cruise passengers claim they suffer badly from sea sickness, even on these large ships.

The chances are that the majority of people who go cruising probably won’t suffer from seas sickness. Having said that, I guess you really won’t know until you get onboard.

Sea sickness is caused when the body, inner ear and eyes all send conflicting signals to the brain which makes you feel queasy. The brain is confused as your eyes are sensing everything’s stable whilst your ears are screaming that its not. But, can you control this feeling? According to this story I read, the answer is yes -

A husband and wife cruised regularly year after year, and each time the wife suffered with sea sickness. The husband was of the less sympathetic variety and decided to conduct a little experiment.He got in touch with an old friend who was a doctor. The doctor then informed the wife that she should drink cranberry juice each morning to cure the symptoms whilst on the cruise. The wife followed his instructions and for the first time had an enjoyable, sickness free cruise. Cranberry juice is not known as a cure for sea sickness, and instead acted as a placebo, convincing her that her sea sickness had been cured!

Whilst this suggests it is all in the head, I don’t think we can dismiss the symptoms completely. There are now prescription drugs to try to help ease sickness, as well as a new gadget which looks like a watch, but sends out gentle shocks to trick your body into thinking you are on land.

My advice? Each person you ask is likely to come up with their own remedy for sea sickness, some more credible than others. A few basic tips to eliminate the affects of sea sickness is to stay hydrated, eat lightly, avoid fatty foods and stay out on deck if possible. You may find that focusing on the horizon or nearby land is also beneficial.

Update - Face of Travel 2008

I tried very hard to contain my excitement when i turned on my PC this morning and found out that i had made it onto the leaderboard for the Face of Travel competition. I let slip a little squeal of excitement into my coffee which couldn't be helped. (I don't think anyone noticed though)

I just want to thanks everyone that has voted so far... but if you havent't yet already, don't delay, vote today!

http://www.faceoftravel.co.uk/entries/me.php?id=57

Heathrow terminal 5 here I come!

Next month I will have the great pleasure of departing from the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow. From what I've seen in the press so far, it all sounds absolutely fabulous. The quick check in and bag drop...well who wouldn't benefit from that?
The designer shopping including such brands such as Harrods, Tiffany & Co. and Mulberry will certainly please many - excluding my husband or my bank that is. The obvious downside to this self contained fashion village is that you can't access it without flying with BA.And as if all that wasn't enough, Gordon Ramsey has opened a restaurant there as part of the T5 fine dining experiences.
One thing is for sure, I will have spent my holiday money before I even board my plane. I guess I'll just have to keep you updated on my experience next month. Wish my purse luck!

For more info visit http://www.terminal5.ba.com

Cruise musings

Many experts like to predict the future of the cruise industry in both the short and the long term. Some focus on passenger numbers and destination trends while others veer toward the cruise line's new ships and their on board innovations.

One thing is for certain, we all like to read about what may be coming next, but why do we only think of ocean cruising in one way? There are many ways to visit the world by sea besides the most popular cruise vessels.

One example would be private yachting, once a holiday for only the rich and famous. These days you can charter one of these marvellous crewed vessels for almost the same price as one week on board a super liner. Sleeping up to 10 guests, one company on the net are offering a Rodman 41 for 6 days, carrying 6 people for £1500 per person. It costs even less if you can make the numbers up to 10! That's fully crewed and includes the fuel. And the best bit... you get to choose your itinerary! Granted you won't get the varied entertainment, choice of restaurants and the kids clubs but its certainly an interesting choice.

Another alternative, and probably the more fascinating, is what i like to call the 'cruise timeshare' - or as most know it; the residential cruise line.
Up until 5 years ago, they didn't exist but then along came the first, The World. This is the only one of its kind currently in operation but there are 4 more in the pipeline. (I've listed these and their web links at the end of the article)
The main idea is to own an apartment in a floating resort that constantly sails the globe but you don't need to own one outright to benefit. Depending on the ship, there are several options available: full ownership, partial or shared ownership and short period rentals for those that want to experience the ship as a holiday maker.
On The World you can expect to pay anything between $1,200 to $4,200 a night, with a minimum stay of six nights. Not exactly affordable to most but then that's the whole point isn't it? Being part of something exclusive.

I'm pretty sure that once more of these residential ships are built, as with anything we will see the prices drop dramatically. In the meantime i think I'll stick to traditional cruising.

Further research:

The World http://www.aboardtheworld.com/
Voyage Partners http://www.voyagepartners.com/index.php
The Magdellan http://www.residentialcruiseline.com
The Orphalese http://www.theorphalese.com/

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Let the voting begin!

I'm not usually one for competitions, I don't like the randomness, the poor odds and I especially don't like the 'losing' part. But when I saw the opportunity to become the Face of Travel 2008, I knew this was my destiny. A little over dramatic maybe but hear me out.

The competition is only open to the travel industry and the winner gets to attend lots of posh events, write articles, wins a free cruise on the Independence of the Seas and becomes part of a trade campaign for Royal Caribbean.

After reading all that you should see why I had to enter, this is right up my street!

So this is the bit where I ask for your help... voting begins today and ends on April 11th. If you click on the following link you can submit your vote:

http://www.faceoftravel.co.uk/entries/me.php?id=57

It should take you no longer than 5 seconds to log your vote. Help make me a star... well, in the travel industry at least!

Thanks in advance ;-)

If you're wondering why I haven't made many blog entries this year, there's a simple explanation. I have been working hard on a new project for Ideal Cruising which simplifies the current 6 page online booking process to a simple single page. Each section of the process is separated by a sliding 'accordian' style window so that you can go through each step individually without having to wait for a page to load each time. The best part of this is the ability to change your choices or amend your details at any stage. We are just putting it through the testing phase right now and will be launching on the main site within the next two weeks.
The technology behind the new system is Ajax... to that comment i will have had some techies nodding their heads with approval but to most people that would only conjure up a vision of smelly cleaning powder from the 80's. Whichever it is, trust me it, its state of the art!
Following on from this we are planning to redesign the entire Ideal Cruising website to make it more user friendly, less cluttered and fresher. There will be a few new features which are a first for the cruise industry so watch this space...my lips are sealed for now!

Future cruise ship build schedule

Line	Ship	Launch	Tonnage	Berths
MSC	MSC Poesia	01 March 2008	89,600	2,500
Royal Caribbean	Independence of the Seas	01 May 2008	160,000	3,634
P&O	Ventura	Spring 2008	116,000	3,100
Carnival	Carnival Splendor	01 July 2008	112,000	3,006
Holland America	Eurodam	Summer 2008	86,000	2,104
Princess	Ruby Princess	01 November 2008	113,000	3,080
MSC	MSC Fantasia	01 November 2008	133,500	3,300
Celebrity	Solstice	Autumn 2008	118,000	2,850
MSC	MSC Splendida	Spring 2009	133,500	3,300
Costa	Costa Luminosa	Spring 2009	92,700	2,260
Costa	Costa Pacifica	Spring 2009	130,000	3,652
Seabourn	Seabourn Odyssey	01 June 2009	32,000	450
Pearl Seas Cruises	Unnamed	Summer 2009	7,600	165
Sea Cloud Cruises	Sea Cloud Hussar	01 September 2009	N/A	136
Silversea	Unnamed	01 November 2009	36,000	540
Celebrity	Equinox	Autumn 2009	118,000	2,850
Carnival	Carnival Dream	Autumn 2009	130,000	3,652
Royal Caribbean	Genesis (class)	Autumn 2009	220,000	5,400
Star Clippers	Unnamed	02 July 1905	7,400	296
Seabourn	Unnamed	02 July 1905	32,000	450
Costa	Unnamed	01 March 2010	92,700	2,260
NCL	F3 (class)	01 March 2010	150,000	4,200
Celebrity	Celebrity Eclipse	01 June 2010	122,000	2,850
Royal Caribbean	Genesis (class)	01 August 2010	220,000	5,400
P&O	Unnamed	Summer 2010	116,000	3,100
Oceania	Unnamed	01 September 2010	65,000	1,260
NCL	F3 (class)	01 October 2010	150,000	4,200
Cunard	Queen Elizabeth	Autumn 2010	92,000	2,092
Holland America	Unnamed	Autumn 2010	86,000	2,100
MSC	MSC Magnifica	Autumn 2010	86,600	2,550
Disney	Unnamed	01 June 2011	122,000	2,500
Carnival	Carnival Magic	01 June 2011	130,000	3,652
Oceania	Unnamed	01 July 2011	65,000	1,260
Disney	Unnamed	04 July 1905	122,000	2,500

Nick Munro in Profile

Great British designer, Nick Munro has recently taken on his biggest project to date, as design consultant for “Ventura” – P&O Cruises latest and largest addition to the fleet, set to be launched this April.

Nick’s brief was to create a collection of products that would be used everyday on board Ventura; in the restaurants and bars but also inside every cabin, and to design a piece of art that would stand in the spectacular atrium of the ship, to be recognised as the symbol of Ventura. In keeping to his trademark style, it is expected that his designs will feature pewter, ceramics, glass and lighting.

A highlight of Nick’s career was to gain the title of UK Young Entrepreneur of the Year, awarded for his use of bedsprings as egg cups. In more recent years, he has undertaken commissions on behalf of prestigious companies including Wedgwood, Victoria & Albert Museum, Spode, Tyrone Irish Crystal, Bugatti, Royal Selangor and John Lewis, and was therefore considered to be well qualified for the exciting position.

Here Nick talks about the project, cruising, and his beautiful ‘Anemone’ sculpture.

How did you become involved in the Ventura project?

“I received a very brief email from P&O Cruises inviting me to attend a ‘meeting about a joint project concerning our new super liner’ – all very intriguing and mysterious!!”

What was you perception of cruising before taking on this project?

“Although I have never been on a cruise before, I have always enjoyed sailing and love the freedom of the open water. The appeal of a cruise holiday was therefore already in place and having an insight into the quality of every aspect of life aboard Ventura, my plan is to take my family up to see the fjords in 2008”

Do you think that people are looking for more than just the cheapest option when it comes to travel?
“I think the cheap flight thing will always have an appeal but I think people are growing a bit tired of the cheap experience that comes with it! The joy of cruising is that you can leave all the hassle behind and enjoy a serene escape into another world. Perfect also for those travelers who wish to experience the delights and beauties of far flung places without packing and unpacking bags between stops!”

What is the inspiration for the Anemone sculpture and what is it made from?

“My 'Anemone' sculpture was inspired by the wonders of the world's coral reefs. I love the diversity and splendour of the forms and colours that are to be found on the ocean floor, and designed 'Anemone' to be an expression of my passion for our underwater treasures. I chose 'bubble glass' as the medium which would best capture the living and breathing energy that is beneath Ventura as she crosses the oceans”

Where does your brief start and end?

“From the outset, I knew that I wanted to be involved with as many aspects of the design of Ventura as possible, which luckily was exactly what the P&O Cruises team was also looking for. This has allowed me access to countless aspects of its operation, from the not so glamorous such as waste disposal – we needed to figure out if the drains could cope with washing away coffee grounds before we could design and specify a cafetiere for each cabin – through to the spectacularly expressive, in the shape of my glass ‘anemone’ sculpture to be sited in the grand atrium!
Along the way we have overcome all sorts of obstacles, such as the weight of the cutlery; thousands of pieces of steel cutlery weigh in at several tons and so the thickness and weight of each piece had to be signed off by the chief engineer. However, with perseverance and patience, the result is approximately 200,000 new items on board Ventura when she sails in April”

What is your favourite Nick Munro design on Ventura?

“Hard question but if I had to choose one thing I think one of the most beautiful objects is the new cafetiere – inspired as it happens by a classic ship’s funnel”

Have you worked with any new materials on this project and how did that affect the design and final product?
“The world of sculpture is a new one for me and I’ve loved working on the ‘anemone’ project. It took quite a lot of figuring out both from an artistic point of view and from an engineering point of view – right up my street you could say!”

What would you like Ventura customers to come away from their trip with?

“Lots of sparkling memories and hopefully not too many stolen objects!”

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Ventura
The 115,000 ton superliner is the largest superliner ever built for the British market and is set to launch a new standard in 21st century cruising.
Culinary legend and winner of three Mitchelin stars, Marco Pierre White, will bring his expertise and flair onboard at The White Room restaurant, along with child favourite, Noddy, who will be keeping the younger passengers entertained. In keeping with the British theme, Ventura will also feature some of the wacky and controversial modern art displayed at the Tate Modern.

Keeping ship shape on a cruise

If you don't want to succumb to the temptations of yummy food available to you 24 hours a day, taking a cruise may not be the answer. That said, a little will power and proper use of the facilities could actually see you return fitter and healthier than before!

Here are some steps to beating the cruise induced bulge:

1. Use the stairs

The obvious way to burn calories is to avoid the lifts and take the stairs. The largest ships can have somewhere between 10 to 15 decks. Whilst performing your daily ritual of breakfast, activities, lunch, dinner and shows, make sure you make full use of your legs. Not only will this keep you trim but you'll avoid any queuing for the lift.

2. Use the fitness equipment

All cruise lines have some form of gym and most are state of the art with instructors on hand to guide. Don't be afraid, even walking briskly on a treadmill can burn up to 300 calories per hour!
If the thought of the gym sends you bolting in the opposite direction just remember that working out doesn't have to involve lifting weights or mind-numbing hours on a treadmill. Most cruise lines offer plenty of ways to keep fit while having fun too. There may be pilates or yoga classes, ballroom or line dancing classes, even surfing simulation and rock climbing! Even dancing the night away in the ship's disco could burn around 400 calories per hour. And lets not forget everyones favourite... the ship pool.
With all those options, the extra weight you gained at the midnight buffet will disappear in no time.

4. Moonwalk... well at least walk

Probably the easiest way of all, walking is good for exploring the ship and the ports-of-call. Added to that, you'll stay fit without breaking a sweat (unless your in tropical heat of course). On shore, try to explore ports on foot rather than with a coach excursion.
Just think, if you walk around a port town for 3 hours at 300 calories per hour... well you do the maths!

5. Stick to 3 meals a day

Lets face it, we are all aware its not the 3 main meals a day that necessarily puts the weight on, its the constant snacking simply because its all free (no such thing as free i know) and available 24 hours a day. Set yourself a rule that you will only visit the buffet or restaurants for those three set meals each day then arm yourself with fresh fruit from the breakfast buffet to snack on the rest of the time.

6. Order smart

Making sure you stick to those 3 meals won't be enough though, you'll need to eat the way you do when you're at home to ensure the best results. If you usually eat a bowl of cereal for breakfast you'll need to avoid having a full monty fry up and I can bet you don't eat a 3 course lunch whilst you're at work so why eat that way on holiday?
During your evening meal select only one or two first courses, or if you must have dessert too, opt for one of the healthy or lighter menu items for your main course. When it comes to dessert, sharing is fun and so much better for your waistline. Follow these guidelines and you'll enjoy your meals without feeling so stuffed you can hardly walk from the table.

7. Treat yourself

No, i'm not contradicting myself, no-one says you shouldn't treat yourself at all on holiday. You can eat that triple choc sundae or tropical cocktail, just don't do it all the time. If you limit yourself, you'll enjoy them more when you do have them.

Try a few of these tips on your next cruise and you'll only need to pack one size of clothing!

Everything About Themed Cruise Ships

It is likely that you have heard of a themed cruise ship before. Themed cruise ships are popular, all around the world. While most individuals have heard of a themed cruise ship before, many are unaware exactly what they are. If you are interested in making travel plans aboard a themed cruise ship, there are some vital pieces of information that you must first consider. This information is vital to selecting the themed cruise that best fits your needs.

When it comes to themed cruise ships, many individuals automatically think of cruises designed for families with children. Family themed cruise ships are the most popular types of cruises available. In fact, it is likely that you have heard of a number of these cruise ships before. One of the most well-known is Disney Cruise Lines. Disney Cruise Lines offer a wide variety of different cruises that are targeted toward the whole family. Disney is most well-known for are their cartoon characters. These characters are aboard all themed Disney cruise ships.
Disney Cruise Lines is a cruise with a specific theme. In addition to a cruise with particular cartoon characters, it is possible to book a traditional family cruise. To be considered a themed cruise cartoon characters do not have to be present. Simply targeting the cruise to individuals with children is enough to have a created a themed cruise ship. Themed cruise ships with a family focus often include a wide range of services, facilities, and activities that are tailored to children of all ages.

While family themed cruise ships are often considered the most popular of all cruise ships, they are not the only themed cruises available. Another popular themed cruise includes celebrity cruises. A number of different cruise lines offer this popular and highly sought after theme. Celebrity cruises have special onboard guests. These guests may include popular television stars, movie stars, and music artists. Special dinners and autograph sessions are often included in a celebrity cruise.

Romance is another theme that many cruise lines focus on. Romance themed cruises are offered onboard a number of different cruise ships. These cruise ships often target couples. To keep the ship setting mature and in good nature, an age restriction may be placed on passengers. Age restrictions are effective at eliminating excess amounts of children aboard a ship that is designed for couples. Romance is a wide theme that covers many categories. These categories are likely to include honeymoons, weddings, and anniversaries.

In addition to the above mentioned themed cruises, there are a number of other cruise ship themes. These themes may include, but are not limited to, dancing, movies, gambling, and adventure. Almost all cruises ships have a casino or gaming facility. It is also possible to find a cruise ship that offer gambling as their theme. These cruises are often referred to as casino cruises.
Cruise ships with dancing themes are popular among individuals of all ages. Despite their wide range of popularity, dancing cruises are often most enjoyed by senior citizens. Dancing cruises tend to offer a number of different dancing halls. Each of these halls may incorporate a different style of music. In a way, dancing cruises can also be considered romantic. There are many travelers who enjoy being able to relax and spend quality time with their dancing partner.

Thrill seekers may find fun aboard a cruise ship with an adventure theme. Traditional cruise ship services, facilities, and activities can be found aboard a cruise ship. In addition to traditional cruise ship services, it is likely that you will find a number of onboard activities designed for those seeking a thrill. Many of these activities include onboard surfing and rock climbing. The adventure activities found aboard a themed cruise will all depend on the cruise ship in question. As more cruise ships are being developed, so are the number of activities designed for those who want action and adventure.

It is easy to see that there are a number of different themed cruises. If you are interested in scheduling a vacation aboard a themed cruise ship, you will need to find the cruise ship of your choice. This can most easily be done by searching for the activities or themes that you most enjoy participating in.

Written by John Ugoshowa. http://www.quickregister.net/partners/

Cruise the Nile of Cleopatra

For centuries, the Nile River has been at the center of life in Egypt. The ancient Egyptian civilization relied on the flooding of the Nile to create fertile land for farming in an otherwise desert landscape. Excavations along the Nile have unearthed vast quantities of archeological remnants from ancient times and a leisurely cruise along the Nile takes you through this ancient populated area that is so steeped in history. And remember, you are following a royal route; the pharaohs and Queen Cleopatra cruised the Nile!

A cruise along Nile is an excellent way of visiting scattered archeological sights in a country with less than spectacular roads and airline service. In fact, some quality travel agents recommend cruising as the preferred method of transportation in Egypt. The best time of year to enjoy a Nile cruise is winter, from December to February, due to the hot desert climate.
Think of the romance of a leisurely cruise through such an ancient and historic land. The banks of the Nile are lined with ancient monuments and unusual sites, like banana plantations. Excursions to other famous locations, such as the Karnak Temple and the tomb of Nefertiti in the town of Luxor, are available on most cruises. Other towns that can be touring stops are Aswan, Esna, Kom Ombo and Edfu. Knowledgeable local guides are available and are recommended to explain the finer points of each site.

A Nile cruise can be quite economical. For a three-star ship the cost can be as little as $70 per person per night while a deluxe cruise can cost a mere $130 per person per night, double occupancy. The length of the cruise can vary from 3, 4 or 7 nights. Rooms are well-appointed and meals are included. Of course, deluxe and luxury cruise boats also provide a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, bar and recreation facilities, and gift shops. Air-conditioning is a must for the American tourist who is unaccustomed to the possible one hundred degree heat. And remember, since you are cruising on a river than the ocean, the river cruise ship will be much smaller, with anywhere from 100 to 500 passengers.

Generally, meals on a Nile cruise are served at a specific time, with all passengers being served at a single seating. Expect a full range of cuisine from local to international. Some meals, such as lunch and dinner, may be served buffet style. And, of course, luxury cruise companies employ world-class chefs to pamper the palette.
A cruise is an excellent way for the American tourist to visit a unique and different culture since all services are provided. For example, there is no worry about where and what to eat. Also the cruise company arranges all the tours to the major ancient attractions and provides reputable guides who know Egyptian customs. Thus, you do not need local currency for admissions as these have been paid in advance. By taking a cruise, you are buying a measure of safety in a foreign land, provided that you select a reputable cruise company with a good reputation.
Egypt is an ancient land with fascinating monuments and temples that are adorned with mysterious hieroglyphics. What better way to immerse yourself into this unique culture than to experience it by cruising the Nile like the royal pharaohs.

By Colin Hartness

Useful Tips When Packing For Your Cruise

Here are some helpful and useful tips when packing for a 5 or 7 day cruise.

• Pack everything you would need, as if you were staying at a resort hotel in the same geographic area of your cruise.
• Avoid over-packing by reading the recommended dress section of the cruise literature that will be mailed to you after you book.
• Check to see if they have a theme night or talent show where you might need some special outfits. Even in the warm Caribbean, you might need a sweater on the decks at night. The air conditioning can also be icy.
• Pack some comfortable rubber soled shoes to get around on the decks.
• Bring a pocket calculator to help you figure your ports of call exchange rates.
• Bring a white T-shirt if you plan on going snorkeling or you may have a burned back when you are done.
• You might also pack some drinking straws to use while at port. This will help you to avoid touching your lips to a can's top.
  The top might be covered with contaminants that will make you sick.

Are cruise ships really formal? No, cruising is not just for the stuffed shirt crowd anymore. Casual attire is appropriate for almost all of your cruise.
Will I need any formal clothes? Yes, cruises still have dinners where more formal clothes are appropriate. The last night of a cruise is usually a formal night, and a seven-day cruise will usually have two formal nights. These are the meals that used to require tuxedos or cocktail dresses. They are now optional but, if you have them dust them off and bring them along. Many Cruise Lines will rent tuxedos, so you can check into this option before you go. Fewer passengers are taking this option and a dark suit and dresses are perfectly appropriate and will probably be the most common passenger attire for the formal nights. On the other nights a sport coat and tie or pants suit are appropriate. Some Cruise Lines are recommending even more casual attire such as sport shirt and pants on all but the formal night. Read your cruise packet or check out the Line's web page for your particular ship's recommendation.
What should I pack in my carry-on bags? Items of value that should never go in your checked luggage such as cash, jewelry, medication, travel documents and a list of everything in your checked baggage.
Since luggage is often not delivered to your cabin until after your first dinner, be prepared and pack a change of clothes.
You might also consider one-day items, in other words all the items you would need to make it through a 24-hour day, just in case your luggage goes missing.
Keep lots of crisp one-dollar bills wherever you keep your money. This will come in handy when dealing with all the skycaps and porters.

You will also be able to find a great variety of types of cruises in many areas of the globe. The Caribbean is sailed by many different Cruise Lines and ships. Each Cruise Line and ship has its own flavor. You will find budget all the way to super luxury available in the Caribbean. The cruise itineraries also offer differences in lengths and ports visited. Any two Caribbean cruises can provide very different vacation experiences.

Samuel Awosolu is a home based travel agent and a freelance writer. He has a weekly deals and steals newsletter for travelers looking to save money and find the best deals on the internet. You can subscribe and visit his website at http://traveldeals.yomitravel.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samuel_Awosolu

Cruise Reviews and Forum Advert

If you're looking to make conversation with like-minded cruise lovers or want to read honest, unbiased cruise reviews then read on...

Jamaica - A Tropical Paradise

From the brilliant white sand beaches to the diverse island culture, Jamaica is one of our favourite Caribbean tourist destinations. The crystal clear ocean waters and the year-round warm climate makes it the ideal travel vacation for sun-lovers. There are many diversions to keep visitors happy: fishing, scuba diving, wind surfing, horseback riding, swimming, snorkeling, golfing just to name a few. In the evening there is fine dining at Jamaica’s elite restaurants and resorts—combined with truly unique Jamaican cuisine, and the night life is certainly hopping!

One of the best things that I have found about Jamaica is the warm, friendly people and the rich, diverse Island culture blended from around the world. In fact, Jamaica’s motto is “Out of Many, One People.” Although African and European influences dominate the culture, the British, Spanish, Irish, Indian, Chinese and German are all represented as well. The official language of Jamaica is English, but sometimes you wouldn’t know it as you will most likely hear “Patois” which sounds like a foreign language but is actually a combination of rhythmic English and slang. “Irie mon” is a common phrase you may hear, which really just means “cool” or “everything is good.” The currency in Jamaica is the Jamaican Dollar, but US dollars are widely accepted.

Jamaica is the largest English-speaking Island in the Caribbean and it is the third largest island overall, spanning 4,400 square miles. The best tourist spots are on the north coast, with Montego Bay and Ocho Rios being the most popular, as well as Negril on the west coast. I have toured the whole Island, from Kingston (Jamaica’s capital) through the Blue Mountains to Port Antonio, around the north coast, on down through Mandeville, Alligator Pond and Treasure Beach and back around to Kingston, so I am well able to tell you a bit about each destination you may wish to travel to. Ocho Rios is located, as I said, on Jamaica’s north coast and is known as Jamaica’s garden centre. Some of the most popular daytime activities include biking, diving, deep-sea fishing and golf. Ocho Rios also has one of the best polo facilities in the Caribbean. Of course, the must-see attraction in Ocho Rios is the famous Dunn’s River Falls, where visitors, lead by a sure-footed Jamaican guide, are able to climb up a series of falls that cascade from the mountains to the sea. The falls themselves are a spectacular sight and climbing the falls is an adventure not to be missed. As a bit of trivia, in the film “Cocktail” with Tom Cruise, Duns River Falls is in a memorable scene. Close by, just off of Main Street in Ocho Rios are two craft parks, the Ocho Rios Craft Park and the Olde Market Craft Shoppes, and The Ocean Village Shopping Centre is also nearby. Here there are hundreds of vendors selling local crafts, and everything from gold watches to wood carvings and the famous Blue Mountain coffee. Also, you will be able to sample the traditional jerk pork prepared over an open grill – a spicy culinary experience for the adventurous. There is also duty-free shopping at the Taj Mahal Shopping Centre.

Just west of Ocho Rios in Aracobessa is another favourite tourist attraction, James Bond Beach and Ian Fleming’s former home called Goldeneye.



Montego Bay is where most travelers arrive in Jamaica, which is home to the North Shore airport and the island’s busiest cruise ship pier. Montego Bay is Jamaica’s second largest city and is Jamaica’s original tourist hot spot. Montego Bay’s attractions include a number of plantation tours, as well as a new attraction featuring the legendary great, Bob Marley. For the adventure traveller, there are also bamboo river rafting tours. As well, there is great fishing by fishing charters for marlin, tuna and kingfish. One may also go cycling, golfing, horseback riding or scuba diving here, and there is another popular local shopping district. A popular tour from Montego Bay is to Wyndham Rose Hall Plantation which was once a legendary 18th century sugar plantation, and a popular spot for golfers would be on the Robert von Hagge Championship Golf Course.Of course, the beaches in Montego Bay are not to be missed. But beware – a friend, while visiting Jamaica, sat under a coconut tree and got conked on the head by a falling coconut, in fact three coconuts! I asked her why she didn’t move away after the first one hit her (of course, the coconuts fell in a bunch of three – but I thought it was funny!) (P.S. – She wasn’t really hurt!)

Negril is located on Jamaica’s western coast with a seven-mile long fantastic white sand beach. It extends from the nineteenth-century Negril Lighthouse in the parish of Westmoreland in the south to Bloody Bay (so named for the days when whalers cleaned their catch there) in Hanover Parish in the north. Negril is famous for its “hippie” era where the hippies set up a colony there and enjoyed the laid-back lifestyle and “ganja”. From this hippie-era colony, Negril has been labelled the “Capital of Casual”. Although I wasn’t interested, Negril does offer some clothing optional beaches. Laws control resort development and no building is allowed to be taller than the tallest palm tree. Negril doesn’t offer the extensive shopping of Ocho Rios, but it does have an assortment of unique shops, including the Negril craft market.
Negril is said to offer some of the best scuba diving in Jamaica. You can also enjoy deep-sea fishing excursions, a vast amount of water sports, and golf at a new golf course, Negril Hills. If you choose to go para-sailing, the sight of the sparkling azure waters and the dazzling white sand beach is a truly memorable experience. Other activities can include tennis, squash, glass-bottom boat reef trips, sunset catamaran cruises and spectacular nightly entertainment.

Although I stayed at a number of different locations in Jamaica, a memorable one was at a family-oriented all-inclusive resort. They offered everything one could want, from unlimited alcoholic beverages for adults to baby-sitting services, and even a special snack bar geared to children with all-you-can-eat pizza, macaroni ‘n cheese, and hamburgers. I was very impressed with how the staff entertained and watched over our children. In one instance, our kids were kayaking around a little bay area. Being adventurous they ventured out towards open water. The staff member followed them in his kayak and gently herded them back. I was very impressed how he handled it. It was a very pleasant stay there.

On the whole, I love Jamaica, from the warm friendly people to the crystal clear waters and all-year round warm climate. There is not much that Jamaica doesn’t offer for an ideal vacation. The Island is unique in its culture and cuisine (have you tried boiled green banana, saltfish and ackee, jerk chicken or fried breadfruit?) The resorts are experts in what they offer guests – especially the all-inclusive ones. The only thing that I might caution you about is travelling alone/unaccompanied outside of the resorts. It can be dangerous, but if you stay within your resort or take guided tours, you shouldn’t have any problems. “No problem, mon!”

Denny Phillips has created several articles inspired by her love of cooking, travelling and art. Read other articles by Denny on her websites: www.goodcookingcentral.com and www.vacationtravelquest.comArticle Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

The Disney Cruise Ships

Disney' cruise ships - the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder - embody the style and spirit of the grand ocean liners of days gone by, coupled with every modern amenity you have come to expect from a premiere cruise line. The two ships are basically identical save for some decorating details - the Wonder is decked out in an Art Nouveau style, while the Magic is fashioned in an Art Deco style - and the names of some of the restaurants and clubs. Both ships incorporate an interesting dining rotation, whereby your tablemates (in fact- the entire dining room full of guests) is rotated through the 3 restaurants along with your servers and wait staff, so that you get to experience a different restaurant each night without sacrificing the careful attention and pampering of having your own servers. And what restaurants they are - Parrots Cay embodies a fun, tropical flavor (and incidentally serves a fabulous breakfast buffet, and Disney characters often drop by unannounced, so be sure to have those cameras and autograph books handy!).

Animator's Palate is a most unique restaurant where the décor starts out black, white and grey, but by the end of the meal is a full burst of colors and Disney pictures, all coordinated with a musical soundtrack, and Lumiere's/Triton's, which is an elegant restaurant decorated with beautiful mosaics depicting scenes from The Little Mermaid on the Disney Wonder and Beauty and the Beast on the Disney Magic.

Both ships have a variety of features and activities designed exclusively for the younger set, including a family pool and water slide (fashioned as Mickey's gloved hand), snack bars poolside serving chicken nuggets, French fries and ice cream, a fully-equipped kids 'camp' open 'till midnight with counselors, great activities, play areas and computers, great Disney-themed shoes (including one starring all of the kids onboard, assisted by their counselors), and more characters than you could ever meet at Disney World. All of this attention to the kids certainly doesn't shortchange the adults, who are treated to their own pool and spas, adult-only restaurant (make reservations as soon as you board- Paolo's is a big hit), adult clubs, and even their own beautiful, private cove on the beach at Disney' own Castaway Cay island paradise.

Rooms on the Disney Cruise ships are about 25% larger than comparable rooms on other cruise ships, and many include a unique split 1 1/2 bath, to make getting ready easier for families. There is certainly more food than you could eat or activities you could participate in to fill several cruises, and you'll certainly find yourself wishing that the cruise were longer - or start planning your next cruise before you even disembark!

Stephanie Larkin is the editor of http://www.WaltDisneyCruise.net, as well as http://www.CruiseNewsOnline.info. She and her family love to cruise - her 3 children especially love the towel animals and chocolates left on the beds at night!

A Cruise Lover's Guide to Repositioning Cruises

Cruise fans have probably noticed a great deal turn up every now and then on something marked as "repositioning cruise." It looks too good to be true, so you might be suspicious. And then you're even more suspicious when the cruise literature does not even explain what on earth a repositioning cruise is. So what is it? And is it really such a good deal?

A cruise line that is moving a cruise ship from one home port to another will call the voyage to go from the old port to the new port a "repositioning cruise". Most cruise ships have a home base and make their cruises in and out of that port. That's why most cruise packages let you set sail and return to the same place.But sometimes the cruise line will want to maneuver its fleet a bit differently. It may be time to change up the schedule. At any rate, they need to move a cruise ship from the old home port to a new home port.

Cruise lines are smart and they know they can sell passage on these unusual voyages even though they are not the typical cruise with a fixed route and lots of fun ports-of-call. In fact, a repositioning cruise may not even offer any ports of call.

The focus of a repositioning cruise is getting from Port A to Port B. However, a repositioning cruise will offer you the usual cruise amenities. The crew will give you the same level of service as on a conventional cruise, you will get to dine and see shows. The only thing is that the cruise is not following the usual "route" with the standard ports of call.

That is the reason that you can often get a good bargain on a repositioning cruise. However, you need to be a particular type of passenger to really make this work out for you.First, you need to be a cruise passenger who enjoys "ship time" more than "port time." You have to be content to spend days at sea. You'll have access to the full facilities of the ship, so you can soak in the sun, go swimming, work out, see shows, get spa treatments, and take advantage of everything else on your ship. (Ask about what is offered on board before you book any repositioning cruise.) If you like long lazy days of eating and relaxing and soaking in the scenery from the deck, this is a perfect vacation for you.

Second, you need to be able to deal with the "to and from" of the repositioning cruise. You'll be leaving from one port but coming back at another. That means your airfare may be a bit more complicated and even pricier. You won't be able to book a round-trip airfare; instead if you need plane tickets, you'll be getting two one-way fares.

As with any cruise, you can tack on airfare to your total cruise package or book airfare yourself. Asking which is the better deal is like asking how much a cruise costs. It depends! You may want to do some online shopping to see what fares cost versus what the airline can package for you.An extraordinary value on a cruise would be a repositioning cruise that starts or stops in a port near your home town, since you'd only need one leg of airfare.

You can learn about repositioning cruises from most cruise line websites as well as from travel websites. They are usually listed in among the regular offerings but they should be flagged as repositioning cruise.Some cruises that work a regular route do start and stop from different ports. This happens, for instance, in Alaska, where a cruise ship may work a route north to south one trip, then south to north the next. This is not a repositioning cruise.The advantages of a repositioning cruise are mainly financial. It usually does not offer any new sights or destinations than the standard cruise packages and it creates a bit of a passenger inconvenience by starting and stopping at different places. However, it is often offered at a definite discount.
For people who enjoy the sheer fun of cruising and spending long days at sea, who don't mind starting and stopping their vacation from different cities, and like onboard activities, the repositioning cruise can be a great value.

If you are looking for a good deal on repositioning cruises or just finding out more about cruises in general, visit http://www.thecruise-shopper.com . Mandy Karlik wrote this article and is going on her next cruise to Cozumel. She contributes regularly to TheCruise-Shopper.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Clip of Mountain Biking with Ocean Village

Your Adventure Awaits On A Cruise Ship

When most of us think of the words cruise ship, we envision the Love Boat or the Titanic. Well, not all the time, but often that's the first thing that comes to mind. Actually, a cruise ship doesn't have to be that big, and many countries have their own cruise ship lines. A cruise ship is also called a luxury ship, but that doesn't mean that only rich people can sail on her. You may not find Gopher or Doc on board, but a cruise ship offers a unique way to travel at a slower pace so that you get to know your fellow passengers and are able to intermingle at various venues provided by cruise ship activity and entertainment directors. Airline or train travel doesn't allow for such pleasures, nor does driving. For anyone who hasn't been on a cruise ship, adventure awaits!

A cruise ship is also called a passenger ship and is used for those seeking a pleasure voyage to various destinations around the world, from Tahiti to Rio, to the Canary Islands and Hong Kong. Today, a cruise ship line offers the best in travel comforts and perks. With a cruise ship, the entertainment on board is as important as the ultimate destination, and most cruise ship lines will make sure to schedule exciting events that will entertain various age groups.

The very first cruise ship built expressly for the purpose of transporting vacationers from Point A to Point B was called the Prinzessin Victoria Luise. She was built in 1900. So began the age of transatlantic transportation that hit a rough spot after the sinking of the Titanic. Following that accident, Albert Ballin, the manager of Hamburg-America Line, made it a point to send his cruise ship captains across the North Atlantic is the worst winter weather to prove that the ill-fated sinking of the queen of all liners was not the norm, but rather an isolated incident. He succeeded, and other shipping lines followed his example.

A cruise ship is equipped to withstand bad weather and is capable of sailing great distances to exotic ports of call or down your country's coastline. One of the most popular cruise ship destinations for world travelers is the Alaskan cruise, which offers delighted passengers sights and sounds that can't be seen anywhere else.

There are many different kinds of cruise ship, and some are large, which others are only moderately so. Most come with affordable small to medium sized cabins, and a cruise ticket will generally include all the food and entertainment on board as well as tickets to events or locations listed on the ships port of call sightseeing lists. A cruise ship offers hotel style living, fine dining and even theatrical entertainment all in one place. Some cruise lines offer a cruise ship geared more toward the younger crowd, like Disney, while others offer nothing but exquisite elegance. Which cruise ship you choose will not only depend on your tastes, but your pocket book as well.

Author Info:
Chonticha Marijne: Ready to embark on a cruise ship adventure of your very own? Find out more about starting your cruise ship journey right at http://theCoolestCruises.com/cruiseship.html.

Clip of Kayaking excursion with Ocean Village

Lunch onboard the QE2

I was lucky enough to be invited onboard the QE2 this week for lunch and a tour. The first thing that struck me was her size, i really thought she wouldn't be as big, yet when you stand on the dock she towers above you like any other superliner. The tour was 2 hours long and we took in many cabin grades from insides to suites. My personal favourites were the suites of course - the decor was a little more to my taste with the fusion of art deco and a hint of modernism. The stairs to the penthouses were very narrow and reminded me of my staircase at home but that gave it quite a nice personal feel. These are only accessable via the Queens Grill hence not being able to eat in there unless you're staying in one.

The ship is full of memorabilia and art works depicting her history. There are many paintings of Queen Elizabeth herself as well as models of previous Cunard fleet and other art pieces. One of my favourites was the wall of fame filled with old photos of famous past guests. It was fun to look through and see how many people you could recognise. Another decoration i enjoyed was the Ratcliffe memorial wall - this was filled with Cunard memorabilia from many years ago. It included puzzles, matches in fact anything emblazened with Cunard or QE2. The story behind the wall is that the chap who collected the items actually took them without paying over the years he travelled onboard, yet when he died he left the collection back to Cunard. I thought that was a facinating story which brought a lump to my throat!

The shopping area was pretty good with a Harrods onboard as well as the usual ship fashion and convenience stores although i could only peek though the windows as she was moored in port. We visited all the restaurants and in actual fact, decor wise, i felt the Mauretania had the most character. We were lucky enough to eat in the Princess Grill and had the most delicious 3 course lunch including the best Chateaubriand i have ever tasted.

Although she wouldnt be my first choice of cruise ship, the QE2 had a wonderful charm about her and i am really glad i got to experience her magnetism before she becomes a luxury floating hotel in Dubai.

New Cruise Forum & Reviews website

One of the best ways to research your cruise is to visit a cruise forum or read cruise reviews... now you can do both and much more.
Last week saw the launch of Inside Cruise, a community for cruise travellers. Read news, features, reviews and join in conversations on the forum. It is still in a beta phase with extra sections being added very soon - these will include cruise galleries and videos.
Take a look for yourself! http://www.insidecruise.co.uk/

Goodbye QE2

What a sad day when we found out that a piece of british maritime history, the good lady QE2 herself is to stop serving as a cruise ship next year. Even sadder to find out she will be moving to her new home in Dubai to become a 5star hotel. Goodbye Queen Elizabeth II, you will be missed by all who sailed onboard you and all those who never got the chance.... although its not too late, you can still book an itinerary with your local travel agent. Visit Ideal Cruising for a quote today.

Ocean Village Two Launch plus Karma Spa

I was lucky enough to attend the naming ceremony for the Ocean Village Two last week. I witnessed Jodie and Jemma Kidd christen the ship - the bottle didnt smash first time, it took 2 attempts but everything seemed to be in 2's that day anyway... Ocean Village Two, 2 godmothers, 2 smashes of the bottle!

The ship was very tastefully decorated and I must admit i preferred it to the original Ocean Village. Just that little bit more detail in everything.

We ate lunch onboard too - very nice indeed - There was plenty of choice so i opted for the Lobster Thermadore AND the Lamb Wellington! I have to admit I gave in to the strawberry tart too but it did taste good!

James Martin was also onboard that day as he has opened his second restaurant (his first is on Ocean Village) - The Bistro. Its slightly smaller than the first restaurant so i should imagine booking as early as soon as you board the ship to get the time and date you want.

The Karma Spa and Fitness complex onboard really was the highlight for me! The two-storey, ocean-view spa incorporates a number of industry firsts as well as being the largest spa afloat in relation to the size of the ship.
The upper deck has a state of the art gym fully kitted out with all the latest high tech exercise machinery! There is also a separatefitness room offering spinning, Pilates, yoga and more.

Adjoining the gym is the Spa reception. It is very tastefully designed with relaxing features such as the indoor waterfall and cypress trees. From here you can access each of the eleven treatment rooms. Each treatment room focuses on a particular speciality such as facials, massage (including hot stones and couples massage), manicure and pedicure, dry float and hydrobath. There is even a sunbed so if the weather is bad, you dont need to go home pale!

From the Spa reception area, a stairway leads down to the Karma Sauna and Steam zone. There is a herbal steam room and Hammam hot room where you can turn up the heat in the mosaic-tiled and pillared surroundings. The Hammam therapy room features a warmed marble slab where a specialist Arabian Aromasoul massage treatment specifically designed for Ocean Village Two combines warm water cleansing, heat therapy and the application of nourishing oils. It all looked so inviting, i was pretty gutted i had to get off the ship!

The meditation room provides a back-to-the-womb experience with red padded floor, walls and ceiling, and four hanging chairs - all around a fibre-optic obelisk whose changing colours provide the room’s only light.

Two hours in the Karma Sauna and Steam zone costs £12.50 or £20 for three sessions.
A total of 14 expert therapists make up the Karma Spa team with two fitness experts offering a full exercise programme as well as personal training.

The Spa will offer top quality signature treatments specifically designed for Ocean Village Two including:
• Arabian Hammam Aromasoul Massage – two hours of Hammam heaven to cleanse the skin, smooth the body and soothe the mind.

• A Dream Chair facial ritual which also features a full back, neck and leg massage• ZUMBA fitness classes, the world’s largest Latino Aerobics programme – at sea for the first time!

• A Pilates Institute at sea programme including complimentary Pilates seminars for keen golfers on how to improve their posture as well as their game

• Fitness programmes including glide board Gravity sessions

Passengers will also have the chance to indulge in a range of celebrity treatments such as the Oxy-jet facial (£99), dubbed ‘the miracle facelift’ and said to the facial of choice of the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Madonna.

Other treatments to be offered in Ocean Village Two’s Karma Spa and Fitness include ones already proven popular on Ocean Village’s original ship such as:
• G-Form – a pain free weight loss therapy which uses micro-currents to work on problem areas. (£55 for a 60 minute session)

• Ancient Stones - the direct heat relaxes muscles, allowing manipulation of a greater intensity than with regular massage• Teeth Whitening - for that Hollywood smile. (£135)

All in all i was really impressed with the ship but it was definitely the spa that sold it for me.

Check out the Ocean Village Two here.