17 September 2018

When I was offered the chance to experience a Fred Olsen Cruise it is fair to say that I didn’t really know what to expect. I have booked several clients on Fred Olsen cruises in the past and everyone who has travelled has been very happy but at the back of my mind I still felt that I may be a little bit too young for this! As I boarded Balmoral at Rosyth, near Edinburgh for my 5-night cruise to Orkney, Shetland and Norway I was pleasantly surprised to notice that I was not even close to being the youngest person on board! I quickly settled in to my cabin – a balcony junior suite. The cabin was very spacious with plenty of storage space, a desk (yes, I was still working), a separate seating area and a full bathroom with a bath and shower. There was a well-stocked mini bar and a bowl of fresh fruit which was replenished daily. As we set sail we passed under Edinburgh’s three bridges – the Forth Road Bridge, the Forth Rail Bridge and the new Queensferry Crossing. The sea was flat calm, and the sun was shining. After enjoying a cocktail and taking in the views at the sail-away party it was time to get ready for dinner. There are two sittings (6.15 and 8.30) in each of the three main restaurants for dinner. The larger Ballindalloch restaurant and the two smaller restaurants the Spey and the Avon all serve identical five-course a la carte menus which change every night. The food in these restaurants was delicious. In addition to the main restaurants there are also two speciality restaurants where you can dine for a small supplement. I was lucky enough to try both and the food was wonderful – definitely fine dining. I would encourage everyone to try them at least once on their cruise. The ship also has a buffet restaurant where you can choose to eat if you just want something casual. Entertainment on board was of a good standard and in the main theatre they offer two sittings to coincide with dining times. In addition to the nightly shows there is always lots to do on board during the day – pub quizzes, educational talks, demonstrations, fitness events etc. This is in addition to the bars, snack bars, pools library etc where you can just choose to meet with friends or chill with a good book. Drinks on board are very reasonably priced with cocktails starting at £4.85, beer £3.30 and spirits £3.85. Our cruise took us to some destinations that I had never visited before and we had the opportunity to experience some of the excursions. The highlights were our tour of Orkney where we got to visit places such as the Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae and the standing stones at the Ring of Brodgar, as well as sailing past the Old Man of Hoy. And also, a bike ride in Bergen. I think that I underestimated the difficulty of this! As anyone who has been to Bergen will know – it is not flat! I had never been before and somehow this fact had passed me by. However, with hindsight I can honestly say that this was a fantastic thing to do. Our group leader was informative and knew all the best places to stop for photos (and to catch our breath). The scenery is stunning, and we were very lucky with the weather – beautiful sunshine and clear blue skies. Overall, I had a fantastic trip with Fred Olsen and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to most people. If you are type of person who is looking for climbing walls, wave machines, ice rinks etc onboard then this is probably not the cruise for you. But if you are happy to relax, enjoy great food, see local culture and maybe spend the evening sipping a pre-dinner cocktail then give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised.

26 May 2017

Singapore is a destination that I have been to on several occasions and I absolutely love it. It is such a convenient hub for onward travel to destinations such as Bali, Malaysia and the Thai islands but it is also a fantastic city in its own right. Flights from the UK take 12-13 hours and the weather is perfect (hot!) year round. It can be humid, but this just adds to the tropical feel of the city, and everywhere is air-conditioned. The range of accommodation in Singapore is enormous – from cheap and cheerful guest houses in Chinatown or Little India to the iconic Raffles Hotel. I was lucky enough to stay at Raffles and it certainly lives up to every expectation. From the minute you set foot in the majestic colonial lobby you are transported into another era. Check-in is a pleasure – your passport is whisked away with supreme efficiency, only to be swiftly replaced by a Singapore Sling! Yes, it is expensive, but in my opinion worth every penny for at least one night. If your budget wont stretch to an overnight stay, afternoon tea in the Tiffin Room is a must – I guarantee you will not leave hungry after sampling the delicious selection of sandwiches, oriental canapes, scones and cakes. I would also recommend returning to the Long Bar in the evening to sip the famous Singapore Sling under the gentle breeze of the colonial ceiling fans. For anyone looking for a more lively night life scene, the bars and restaurants of Boat Quay and Clark Quay offer plenty of choice. And for an authentic dining experience try Gluttons Bay, a collection of hawkers stalls where you sit elbow to elbow with locals whilst enjoying freshly cooked street food. Rooftop bars are in abundance with the most famous in recent years being the Marina Bay Sands with its views over the whole city. Tip – don’t pay to go up to the viewing platform, it's cheaper to buy a drink in the rooftop bar and get the same view for free! Orchard Road is a shopaholics paradise with two miles of shops lining both sides of the street. All the designer names are here – Gucci, Chanel, Prada, Jimmy Choo etc, etc, - together with Tangs and Robinsons which are local department stores. The list of things to do in Singapore is endless – in addition to the usual museums and entertainment venues it is home to a world class zoo, an amazing bird park, botanical gardens housing an incredible collection of orchids and Sentosa Island where Universal Studios can be found. So whether you want to ride on the Singapore Flyer (like the London Eye), walk amongst the electronic trees at the Gardens on the Bay or watch the nightly light show at the Marina there truly is something for everyone. My personal favourite is the Night Safari which can be found next to the zoo. You can take a tram ride or walk some of the many trails to see nocturnal animals in natural moonlit settings (watch out for the giant fruit bats hanging from the trees!) Singapore is a beautiful and surprisingly green city with many parks and gardens. It is also a very clean city with almost no litter or graffiti – and chewing gum is banned. It is very easy to get around. Taxis are cheap and plentiful and the MRT (underground) system is spotless and very efficient. I would encourage anyone to spend at least a few days in Singapore and sample some of what this amazing city has to offer.