20 September 2021

Virgin Voyages, you may have heard many things about them and wondered if it is for you. I was lucky enough to be invited on a 4 night voyage on the 2nd August. Now being a little over their target age market I confess I was not sure it would be my cup of tea, well how wrong was I, I loved it! The ship is modern and funky, there is plenty of deck space to lounge on while enjoying a tipple and they have live bands pooping up throughout the ship. We sat listening to folk music while enjoying a little sun, it was lovely to chill out to. They do not have a main restaurant on board, instead they have 20 places you can eat. I really am a fan of this concept, we did not have time to get round all of them but did try the Korean, Italian, Steak and Mexican restaurants. The food was amazing and the service excellent. It is so much nicer to eat in smaller restaurants and feel like you are not on a traditional cruise ship, there is no extra charge for any of these. We were lucky enough to be put in a Seriously Suite which is the lead in category. This comes with a choice of drinks, we chose the fizz and had 4 full size bottles including Champagne. There is plenty of storage and the shower has a peek a boo window so if you are not a couple or good friends you may not like it. These only have a super king beds and cannot be made into twins. I loved the hammock on the balcony and found it very comfortable, although getting in was harder than getting out!!! The bathroom was a lovely size with a walk- in shower and yes there is a hairdryer and a mini bar (this is extra). There is also a $5 service charge for room service which is waived for suites. You also have a concierge; ours Sylvia was amazing and booked all our restaurants for us or this can be done via the app. All services are booked via the app and many can be booked before you go, so it’s a must have! There are plenty of areas on the ship to sit and have a chat as well as lots of wellbeing and exercise classes, which are included, I have to say me and the gym are not best friends so I did not frequent there. The Dual Reality show in the evening is excellent and you sit very close to the action and almost feel part of the show. We also attended Bingo with Abi the Hostess this was good fun with lots of innuendo and laughs. There is one main pool and a smaller one which is petty lively but there are hot tubs located throughout, including Richards Rooftop which is only available to Suite Guests. I loved this area and spent a fair bit of time there. You will love this cruise if you like a thing’s a little naughty and a little edgy but good fun and lots of laughs. It would also appeal to groups of friends who want fun but at the same time good food, great service and something a bit different to traditional cruising. I personally loved it and would go again at the drop of a hat!

04 July 2019

When planning your next family holiday has a cruise crossed your mind over maybe and all-inclusive resort and you have dismissed for the following reasons: Too many people in one place I will be bored Too many old people The ships are too big Think again. Compared to a land-based holiday, cruises are fantastic value for money. You can choose your actual room, you have top entertainment including Broadway shows, comedians, live singers or a quiet bar. Food is second to none! Many ships have celebrity chefs inspiring their menus and are compared to Michelin starred restaurants. There are so many choices on board from sushi to steakhouses, seafood restaurants and sports bars serving good bar food. Jamie's Italian, Johnny Rockets and the list goes on. Dining on a cruise is all part of the experience. Royal Caribbean offer family dining where the children are fed within the first 40 minutes and they will then be collected and taken to the kid’s club so you can finish your meal in peace and enjoy some evening entertainment while they are safe and having fun. The kids are looked after too from babies up to 17 years old. Each group has its own area where depending on age they will have soft play, crafting, games, computer games, chill zones, DJ booths and nearly everything else you can think of. On Royal Caribbean you can experience the I Fly Skydive, the flow rider, the climbing wall, ice skating, dodgem cars, trapeze, football, basketball and on Norwegian Cruise Lines they even have a go kart track on top of the ship, both have water parks with fantastic slides and a zip line most of which are included in the price. You would not get that on a land-based holiday. Yes, the ships are large but not everyone is in the same place at the same time so you can always find a quiet spot to chill and relax. More and more families are opting for this type of holiday as you only unpack once, and you will visit different countries during your cruise. You are waited on hand and foot and speaking as a mother of 4 that in itself is holiday plus no cooking or cleaning, and I would love my own cabin steward at home! Royal Caribbean in particular can cater for children with Autism which you may not know and if you wish to know more do give me a call as a holiday with an Autistic child can be very challenging. So, what are you waiting for? If you prefer not to fly the fantastic Anthem of the Seas will be cruising from Southampton next year 2020 and we still have Independence of the Seas and Explorer this year. Lets get you cruising!

31 May 2019

You may have heard this description quite a lot lately as this type of trip is becoming more and more popular, but what is it. This is a trip like no other, there is no dressing up, no west end style shows and generally Expedition Ships carry a small amount of people. What you will find are a full complement of lecturers and expedition leaders whose expertise will range from photography to marine biology, birdlife to marine life, from climate change to geology. They are passionate and love to share this passion with you. The ships carry Zodiacs otherwise known as RIBS, these will take you ashore in remote places and you can see some amazing wildlife such as whales breaching, a bear fishing from the shore, sea lions basking on the rocks, penguins, polar bears and many more depending on where in the world you are. I would say on some its almost like a safari at sea, or you may also choose it to visit places and people that only see visitors once a year. This is an experience like no other and you will feel like David Attenborough at times. These cruises travel to most parts of the globe, so if you think cruising is not for you because there are too many people, you don’t want to dress up, think again. This could be exactly what you are looking for. The ships range from quite basic to ultra- luxury, some even have a submersible and a helicopter. Can you imagine being under the water with whales, seal or penguins, watch the bears in Alaska or fly over volcanos.

22 March 2019

I was very lucky to be invited to the launch of this stunning ship. I arrived early and boarded straight away quickly and easily and made my way to my deluxe balcony cabin. This ship definitely has the wow factor starting with the Swarovski Crystal staircases which link decks 6 and 7. Each stair costs €3000! I then proceeded to the Market Place Buffet where you are spoilt for choice. This place is open 20 hours a day so no matter what the time there is always something to eat. There are 10 restaurants to choose from which includes 5 speciality ones. I did sample the food at the Kaito Teppanyaki Restaurant and watched while the chef cooked it, and yes it was as good as it looked. I also managed a trip to the ice cream parlour which was yummy! There are 20 bars, cafes and lounges, 5 of which are outdoors. Sadly, we did not get to try these thanks to Storm Freya. Many of the bars have live entertainment, ranging from a comedian to live music or you can just catch up with friends. One of my favourites was the Champagne bar a great place to people watch. Later that evening looking for a quieter bar I headed to Sky Lounge which is forward and has floor to ceiling windows and a great vibe. The evening entertainment is second to none, they have the world-famous Cirque du Soleil at Sea who perform 6 nights a week in the Carousel Lounge or The London Theatre has Broadway style shows which are twice nightly. The Galleria Bellissima is 96 metres long and has the longest LED screen at sea. For those who have been to Freemont Street in Las Vegas, it’s a smaller version and just as entertaining. There are many boutique shops here as well selling a variety of goods. This ship is fantastic for families or multigenerational groups. Bellissima offers 5 children's clubs starting with babies and toddlers up to 17-year olds who have their own dedicated area. For any F1 fans there is the Formula 1 simulator and next to that a 10-pin bowling alley, a full-size court that can be used for basketball, football and anything else you need a court for. They also have an interactive cinema and a virtual games arcade which all the family can enjoy. When you are ready for some relaxation, the spa is the place to head where they offer more than 150 treatments and a fab thermal area. If you prefer exercise there is a well-equipped gym offering personal trainers and exercise programmes if you want them. All cabins on board have a ZOE, their own version of Alexa, who can answer many questions frequently asked in several languages. It can also be used to book a table in the restaurants and excursions or check you bill. If you want a bit more luxury, then the MSC Yacht Club is for you. Each of the 95 Yacht Club Suites have their own 24-hour butler service and exclusive access to a private restaurant, the Top Sail Lounge, a large outdoor area with pool, whirlpool, bar and cabanas. It’s your own little oasis and well worth the extra cost. This ship offers something for everyone, so if you would like to know more let me know.

25 February 2019

I have just returned from a 4-night break in Lanzarote. We stayed at the Costa Calero 4* Hotel on their Prestige All Inclusive. I have to say the weather was wonderful, clear blue skies and a temperature of 22-23 degrees each day, although once the sun went down you needed a jacket, it was bliss! We flew Easyjet from Gatwick and we were in our hotel room within 30 mins of the flight landing, not bad! The hotel Costa Calero is in Puerto Calero about 10 minutes from Puerto del Carmen. There is a small marina with a few shops, bars and restaurants a short 5-minute walk from the hotel but not much else in the immediate area. The hotel runs a free shuttle bus to Puerto del Carmen, the first bus leaves at 10am, so you can head there for the beach or some shopping. The hotel itself is quite large but well spread out so nowhere feels too busy. We visited the Spa which was lovely, I do like a warm pool! There were 4 more pools, 2 of which are heated in the winter months and a separate children's pool. The hotel also has entertainment every evening and a fabulous terrace where you can enjoy a drink while watching the sunset! Our prestige all-inclusive gave us a private check in area, and virtually every drink on the list including cocktails and a variety of spirits. We had a stocked mini bar in our room that was replenished daily which had soft drinks, spirits and cava in it. It also gave us complimentary spa access so well worth having if you are planning to use the spa a lot. There is plenty to keep you entertained during the day such as giant chess, volley ball, shuffleboard and a gym. Children are catered for with a mini club and a small playground and games room. They also have a dive centre and bike hire is available. The food is buffet style but there is an a la carte restaurant which we had one meal included in our prestige all-inclusive after that there was a supplement to pay. The buffet offered a variety of foods and there was plenty of choice they also catered for gluten free and vegetarians. We decided to book a day excursion called the Gran Tour. It was a long day, but we saw all the main sites of Lanzarote, the Timanfaya National Park was great if like me you like volcanoes, I also enjoyed the Jameos del Agua caves. This was booked by the front desk and the commentary was in German, English and Spanish. I also found out that cars can queue for up to 3 hours to get into the Timanfaya National Park so if you do hire a car get there very early!

15 March 2016

Well what a fantastic time we had! We checked in to Disney's Grand Floridian & Spa Resort which is wonderful. It connects to Magic Kingdom by monorail or boat, we tried both. The first day we spent at Epcot with our VIP park guides. These guys are a fountain of knowledge and tell you all sorts of history and anecdotes about the parks. You also have fast pass access to all the rides which saves an enormous amount of time. We spent day two at Blizzard Beach water park. I tried the crazy golf which was great fun and is included in the ticket price. We then had character breakfasts on day three at Animal Kingdom and experienced the fabulous Lion King show once again with our VIP guides. Animal Kingdom is well worth a visit to see the animals, I particularly enjoyed watching the Gorillas with their babies playing! The other days we spent in Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios again with our VIP guides. Lots of photo opportunities and we used our Memory Maker Passes to the full. These are a must have, for the magic photos alone! A highlight for me was meeting Chewbacca and Kylo Ren from Star Wars being the fan I am. They have lots of bits from the new and old films, a must for any Star Wars fan. They are building a Star Wars Land which will be ready in about five years’ time, can't wait! I have so much more to tell. If you would like to have a chat and hear about the benefits you get from staying on Disney Property please give me a call and we can sort out your dream trip. I am a true Disney Fan whose inner child definitely comes out as soon as I walk through the gates! So come on, let’s go!

30 July 2015

I have just returned from wonderful trip to Disneyland Paris. We stayed at the New York Hotel on a Half Board Plus Basis for 3 nights and travelled by Eurostar. The hotel is in an excellent position although I would say the décor could do with refreshing! However the staff were very friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend paying for the half board plus as this includes nearly all the restaurants, the most important being Café Mickey, this was a highlight of our trip for the children as the characters come to the tables during the meal and the food and service was excellent! This can be pre booked before you travel. We spent time in both parks and made the most of our Disney Extra Hours. the queues were not bad and fast passes are available for the more popular rides. Should you be thinking of a trip to Disney please contact me as I can give you many more tips on how to make the most of your stay including details on the new Photopass they have introduced.