Earplugs. There is the chance of noise pollution on a
ship that may interfere with you having a good time on your cruise. Creaky cabins; noisy
neighbours; crew moving stuff about early and later; loo-flushing;
air-conditioning; waves against the side of the ship and being too near the
inner workings of the ship or the entertainment areas are just some of the
possible problem areas. Your earplugs will go a long way to making sure you
have a good night’s sleep or nap. The gel ones or the ones made of foam are the
best to use. The wax ones tend to be a little uncomfortable. Experiment at home
with them a few days before you travel to see which suit you best.
Wednesday 2 November 2011
Wednesday 26 October 2011
Memorable passengers - When Stephen Merchant lost the plot!
I was once on a cruise on the Oriana and the comedian and "The Office" writer Stephen Merchant happened to be on at the same time.He was with his parents and I found him to be an extremely affable guy. We spent some time in the Casino together.
One day, we were sunning ourselves at the aft of the ship and he was writing notes for his latest series which turned out to be the very funny "Extras". A sudden gust of wind caught the papers and they blew over the back of the ship!
"Ah well, start again" he said.
Considering the show was a brilliant success, he must have had either a photographic memory or he indeed started from scratch (though I suspect it was tongue-in-cheek).
Since then, his career has gone from strength to strength and become a performer in his own right.
One day, we were sunning ourselves at the aft of the ship and he was writing notes for his latest series which turned out to be the very funny "Extras". A sudden gust of wind caught the papers and they blew over the back of the ship!
"Ah well, start again" he said.
Considering the show was a brilliant success, he must have had either a photographic memory or he indeed started from scratch (though I suspect it was tongue-in-cheek).
Since then, his career has gone from strength to strength and become a performer in his own right.
Wednesday 19 October 2011
Infographic
Thomas Cook have launched an Infographic about passenger ship travel through the ages - starting in 240BC and ending with Oasis of the Seas.
You can see it here: http://blog.thomascook.com/cruise/passenger-ship-travel-through-the-ages-infographic/
You can see it here: http://blog.thomascook.com/cruise/passenger-ship-travel-through-the-ages-infographic/
Tuesday 18 October 2011
Queue tips
Do you enjoy queuing? You may do if you’re British:
after all, it is said to be a national pastime. On a cruise ship, you will have
many opportunities to queue if that’s your “thing”.
If, on the other hand, you prefer to spend your time more
profitably, here is a tip to avoid the dreaded standing in line…
The queues start forming outside the restaurants for dinner
way before the stated opening time. You’ll see maybe 100 cruisers in their posh
frocks and natty jackets standing at the restaurant doors like runners on
starting blocks. What is the point? You have been given a table at the start of
the cruise.
No-one is going to steal your place, so why queue along with the
others who have also been allotted a table?
Simply stroll down five or so
minutes after “opening time” and you’ll sail through the doors with a welcome
“Good Evening Sir and\or Madam” and a pleasant smile from the Restaurant
Manager and Maitre’d.
Make your way to
the table – you’ll be in good time to order your meal and wine. Don’t leave it
any later though, or you’ll be scowled at by your table companions: that is, if
they have turned up on time.
More tips to follow.
Saturday 8 October 2011
The Crafty Gurkha
I must admit, I like seeing Gurkha security staff onboard a ship.
They all seem decent guys who sometimes get a rough deal from this
country.
One stands out in particular. I was coming back onboard from a day out in Amsterdam and was confronted at the end of the gangway by an unsmiling Gurkha who stretched his hand out and demanded to see my passport.
I nervously fumbled for it and handed it to him.
He peered closely at my picture then looked me up and down.
Then he looked back at the passport again and directly in my face. Then he frowned and shook his head.
After he had done it several times, my mind was whizzing. I wondered if I'd got someone else's passport or if I'd changed so much as to be unrecognisable.
Suddenly, a big beaming smile filled his face and as he handed back the passport, he pointed at my passport pic and quipped: "Very nice!" then bent double laughing.
The little so and so had been having me on.
As someone who appreciates a good wind-up, it endeared me to the Gurkhas even more.
One stands out in particular. I was coming back onboard from a day out in Amsterdam and was confronted at the end of the gangway by an unsmiling Gurkha who stretched his hand out and demanded to see my passport.
I nervously fumbled for it and handed it to him.
He peered closely at my picture then looked me up and down.
Then he looked back at the passport again and directly in my face. Then he frowned and shook his head.
After he had done it several times, my mind was whizzing. I wondered if I'd got someone else's passport or if I'd changed so much as to be unrecognisable.
Suddenly, a big beaming smile filled his face and as he handed back the passport, he pointed at my passport pic and quipped: "Very nice!" then bent double laughing.
The little so and so had been having me on.
As someone who appreciates a good wind-up, it endeared me to the Gurkhas even more.
Thursday 6 October 2011
Bargain Cruises
Just had an email from a cruise agent offering 24 nights in November on the Eastern Med on P and O's Oceana for an incredible £1099 and 36 nights on the Aurora round the Caribbean and Panama Canal in November for £1,599!
Wish I had the time.
Wish I had the time.
Memorable Passengers - Joyce
Joyce is a lovely lady, proud of where she lives.
It's a little seaside town in Northern England and when we first sat down at the dinner table with her, she was mortified to find we had never been there.
"You've never been to Seatown?!" (not the real name), would ask incredulously. "You don't know what you're missing!"
She took every opportunity to drop the name of the town into the conversation, so when the cruise ended, we thought we'd better go and see the place and we paid her a visit.
It was nice enough. No beach. Just mudflats. Hadn't moved on since the 50's - the 1850's.
Perhaps that's what she loved about it.
A strange thing happened on the cruise. She told me she had had the same recurring nightmare every night.
Her father had been a stonemason, carving gravestones for a living.
In her dream, a tombstone shattered and the pieces flew slowly towards her and into her mouth and she always woke up choking.
Half joking, I said: "I'll stop those bad dreams" and in the middle of the Atrium, I placed my hands on her head and commanded the dreams to stop.
Next evening at dinner, she looked at me and asked: "What did you do?"
I said: "What do you mean?"
She said: "I didn't have the nightmare last night".
Nor did she for the rest of the cruise. Nor has she since.
She always comments on it when we speak to her.
I don't know what I did but it obviously worked. ;-)
It's a little seaside town in Northern England and when we first sat down at the dinner table with her, she was mortified to find we had never been there.
"You've never been to Seatown?!" (not the real name), would ask incredulously. "You don't know what you're missing!"
She took every opportunity to drop the name of the town into the conversation, so when the cruise ended, we thought we'd better go and see the place and we paid her a visit.
It was nice enough. No beach. Just mudflats. Hadn't moved on since the 50's - the 1850's.
Perhaps that's what she loved about it.
A strange thing happened on the cruise. She told me she had had the same recurring nightmare every night.
Her father had been a stonemason, carving gravestones for a living.
In her dream, a tombstone shattered and the pieces flew slowly towards her and into her mouth and she always woke up choking.
Half joking, I said: "I'll stop those bad dreams" and in the middle of the Atrium, I placed my hands on her head and commanded the dreams to stop.
Next evening at dinner, she looked at me and asked: "What did you do?"
I said: "What do you mean?"
She said: "I didn't have the nightmare last night".
Nor did she for the rest of the cruise. Nor has she since.
She always comments on it when we speak to her.
I don't know what I did but it obviously worked. ;-)
Wednesday 5 October 2011
Cheers Olly!
The Glasshouse on the Azura is a great wine bar and a fabulous place to relax and try out the different vintages on offer.
Now there's another reason to celebrate.
The house wines blended exclusively for P&O Cruises by wine expert Olly Smith were highly commended in the 2011 International Wine and Spirits Competition. The Porta Palo Red 2010 vintage won Silver (Best in Class) and Porta Palo Rose 2010 vintage gained Bronze in the same competition.
The wines were blended specially for P&O Cruises by Olly Smith (who oversees the Glasshouse) at the Settisoli vineyard in Sicily, Italy. The wines are stocked on all seven ships in the P&O Cruises fleet and are firm favourites with passengers.
Olly Smith, said: “I'm so pleased and proud that these Porta Palo wines have won awards. I passionately believe that you don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy good wine and my mission continues to be to share the best wines I can find with the entire P&O Cruises fleet. Cheers!"
Now there's another reason to celebrate.
The house wines blended exclusively for P&O Cruises by wine expert Olly Smith were highly commended in the 2011 International Wine and Spirits Competition. The Porta Palo Red 2010 vintage won Silver (Best in Class) and Porta Palo Rose 2010 vintage gained Bronze in the same competition.
The wines were blended specially for P&O Cruises by Olly Smith (who oversees the Glasshouse) at the Settisoli vineyard in Sicily, Italy. The wines are stocked on all seven ships in the P&O Cruises fleet and are firm favourites with passengers.
Olly Smith, said: “I'm so pleased and proud that these Porta Palo wines have won awards. I passionately believe that you don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy good wine and my mission continues to be to share the best wines I can find with the entire P&O Cruises fleet. Cheers!"
Who To Avoid on a Cruise Ship
On a cruise, you will likely meet people from other countries and other
cultures: old and young alike. On longer cruises, camaraderie develops and you
can’t wait to all meet up.
But you get the odd one or two who are determined not to
have a good time. The Moaning Minnies. Here is how you can usually spot them…
Avoid the following people.
They generally sit next to you uninvited or perhaps at
breakfast and will almost certainly ask the following question…
“What do you think of the ship?”
A klaxon should sound in your head and you should get the
heck out of there ASAP for what they really want to do is tell you what they
think of the ship and it’s usually not favourable.
We have been on some fabulous ships which anyone would
normally be really grateful to have the chance to travel on but we have
encountered these Moaning Minnies who, once they have cornered you, proceed to
criticize everything about the ship from the décor to the carpets; from the
crew to the standard of the food which on one memorable occasion included the
comment “The bacon on here isn’t as crisp as it is on the Oriana”.
Another question you should never respond to is…
“How much did you pay for this cruise?”
Uh Oh! That’s a no-no. If you paid half what they did, they
will be scandalized and give you an earbashing but if they paid half of what
you did, they’ll delight in telling you all about it and what great deals So
and So Cruise Agency always give them – indeed they are on first name terms
with the boss there.
So keep an ear open for those two key phrases!
New cruisers
Cruising is growing in popularity.
According to the Passenger Shipping Association, next year, 835,000 passengers will take to the seas on a cruise ship - an increase of 28% over the previous two years.
It seems more people are finding out it suits them!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2045401/Cruise-holidays-Number-Britons-setting-UK-ports-increases-third.html
According to the Passenger Shipping Association, next year, 835,000 passengers will take to the seas on a cruise ship - an increase of 28% over the previous two years.
It seems more people are finding out it suits them!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2045401/Cruise-holidays-Number-Britons-setting-UK-ports-increases-third.html
Monday 3 October 2011
Cruise boost
Visits by cruise ships have grown five-fold in the last decade, boosting the economy by £35 million.
Details here:
www.news.scotsman.com/scotland/Scotland-ahoy-Cruiseliner-boom-sees.6845668.jp
Details here:
www.news.scotsman.com/scotland/Scotland-ahoy-Cruiseliner-boom-sees.6845668.jp
Memorable Passengers - Ron
Ron is a visual feast and one of the most flamboyant people I have ever met
Bumped into him a couple of times on a cruise now and the one thing about Ron is, you can't ignore him and he doesn't give a damn what people think about him.
His dress sense is magnificently over the top - from leopardskin suits and glittery cowboy gear to spangly, dangly, blingy ear-rings: it's what Ron does best.
He has a different outfit every night and it costs him thousands.
I'd love to see his tailor's face when Ron walks in the room with a new idea for a natty outfit.
He's a proper head-turner and people do a quadruple take whenever they first encounter him onboard.
He's a Friend of Dorothy; friend of everyone else too; great company and next time I bump into him, I'll ask permission to take some pics. You won't believe your eyes.
Bumped into him a couple of times on a cruise now and the one thing about Ron is, you can't ignore him and he doesn't give a damn what people think about him.
His dress sense is magnificently over the top - from leopardskin suits and glittery cowboy gear to spangly, dangly, blingy ear-rings: it's what Ron does best.
He has a different outfit every night and it costs him thousands.
I'd love to see his tailor's face when Ron walks in the room with a new idea for a natty outfit.
He's a proper head-turner and people do a quadruple take whenever they first encounter him onboard.
He's a Friend of Dorothy; friend of everyone else too; great company and next time I bump into him, I'll ask permission to take some pics. You won't believe your eyes.
Sunday 2 October 2011
Upselling
When onboard, beware of “upselling”.
This is the practice by a waiter (on commission) of trying to make you spend more money and attempting to influence your choice of drink by asking if you want a certain brand (usually the most expensive) or asking if you want doubles.
This may be done when you are in a group of friends and the waiter is relying on you not wanting to look a cheapskate by going for singles or the cheapest spirit on offer. Look at the drinks list beforehand and specify immediately the brand you want.
On one cruise we did, the waiter kept insisting we have doubles and a quiet word was had with the bar manager.
Saturday 1 October 2011
The day I ended up on Have I Got News for You
It was 2003 and I was aboard the good ship Aurora or the "Plague Ship" as the redtop dailies christened it, owing to a severe outbreak of the norovirus which laid flat hundreds of passengers and led to us being turned away from various ports.
I'll blog about this on another occasion because it was amazing to witness at first hand what happens when there is major ilness onboard a cruise ship.
Friendly Gibraltar let us ashore, despite the Spaniards closing the border, and as we docked, I was standing on the upper decks when a bloke standing next to me unravelled a blanket on which he daubed the word HELP! in massive letters.
The world's press and tv were at the dockside and they filmed it and took pics which ended up in the newspapers.It was even live on the telly at the time.
When I arrived home, I was relaxing by watching Have I Got News For You when one of the questions to the panel was about the "plague ship" all over the news.
Imagine my surprise when the film they showed to illustrate it included a closeup of me next to the plonker with the HELP! blanket.
It's a show I have always wanted to go on but preferably on the panel and not as a specimen.
By the way, the plonker got chased all round the ship by angry officers who confiscated his blanket and gave him a good telling off.
I'll blog about this on another occasion because it was amazing to witness at first hand what happens when there is major ilness onboard a cruise ship.
Friendly Gibraltar let us ashore, despite the Spaniards closing the border, and as we docked, I was standing on the upper decks when a bloke standing next to me unravelled a blanket on which he daubed the word HELP! in massive letters.
The world's press and tv were at the dockside and they filmed it and took pics which ended up in the newspapers.It was even live on the telly at the time.
When I arrived home, I was relaxing by watching Have I Got News For You when one of the questions to the panel was about the "plague ship" all over the news.
Imagine my surprise when the film they showed to illustrate it included a closeup of me next to the plonker with the HELP! blanket.
It's a show I have always wanted to go on but preferably on the panel and not as a specimen.
By the way, the plonker got chased all round the ship by angry officers who confiscated his blanket and gave him a good telling off.
Friday 30 September 2011
Memorable passengers - Kev.
Kev wasn't the name of this memorable passenger but you'll see why I changed it if you read on.
Kev and Ethel (also not her real name) had been out on the lash all day in Civitavecchia. It was the day of the 2006 Carling Cup Final and everyone was settling down to watch it in Winners Bar on the Oceana when in wobbled the pair of them.
Heads turned and eardrums burst when Ethel screamed "Come On Wiggin!" and then proceeded to top up with yet more wine.
They asked us to go and sit with them so we did - making 3 sets of couples. We'd met Kev and Ethel before and he told us his hobby was going to funerals so you can see he wasn't your ordinary run of the mill cruise ship passenger. (He liked the buffets they provided, apparently)
Things went from bad to worse after he accidentally kicked the table over when crossing his legs, knocking all the booze flying. Added to the fact he was effing and jeffing very loudly, it made for an uncomfortable session.
Ethel announced she wanted to be done from the back, as she sat on his knee.
Tenterhooks is what we were on.
Ethel suddenly announced "I'm going for a smoke" and off she trotted while Kev got louder and louder as he knocked back the red as though they were stopping making it.
Minutes later he announced: "I'm going to find my little love. Where is she?!" as he was worried in case she'd fallen overboard.
He stood and immediately flopped down. Then stood again and started to stagger. Me and my mate 'Arry decided we couldn't let him venture unaided so we grabbed an arm each and supported him past bemused passengers and officers as he made slurred comments on each of them as he passed.It's probably as well that they didn't know what he was saying.
"He's had a stroke" explained 'Arry.
Then all hell broke loose. Well Kev did, actually. "Let me go!" he yelled and started running through the Atrium towards the Ladies toilets which he staggered into and showed no signs of coming out.
'Arry and I expected screams from within but it was ominously silent. By chance, there was no-one in there and Kev realising his mistake lurched out again and ran off. We gave chase and caught up with him on the other side of the Atrium, persuading him to go to his cabin.
Well, persuade isn't really the correct word. We sort of dragged him there with his legs trailing, like a dead cowboy.
When we opened the cabin door, his beloved Ethel was face down on the bed and looked up with a happy\pissed expression. She was in her own Nirvana.
"There you are my love!" exclaimed Kev and flopped down on the bed alongside her.
It looked to be a good result but suddenly and without warning, Kev jumped up again and fled out the cabin like a jailbreak at Alcatraz.
"Goodness gracious!" said my mate 'Arry (or words to that effect) and we set off in hot pursuit again.
He got to to the end of the long corridor and we grabbed him and again dragged him back to his cabin.
"Shove him inside!" said 'Arry which we did and then held on to the handle of the door to prevent him escaping again.
The door handled rattled like hell as Kev attempted to break out again.
"What the jolly heck can we do? (or words to that effect) pleaded 'Arry. "We can't stand here all jolly night"
It was our luck that Kev's cabin steward was just passing by at that instant so we said: "Grab that handle and don't let it go!" which he did, not knowing why but probably wondering why and fearing the worst if he did.
We left him with his hands gripped and his considerably white teeth rattling as much as the door handle.
We then left and went back to the bar, having decided we had acted above and beyond the call of duty and feeling pretty proud of ourselves.
I don't know how long the steward held on to the handle but presumably Kev and Ethel fell shortly after into a drink-induced coma and he was able to carry on making the beds in the other cabins.
We saw Kev the following day. We had probably saved him and Ethel being thrown off at the next port as the Captain wouldn't have hesitated for the grave offence alone of storming the ladies lavatory in a highly inebriated condition.
Were we thanked? You bet not.
"Never tell a drunken man what to do" was all he said.
Kev and Ethel (also not her real name) had been out on the lash all day in Civitavecchia. It was the day of the 2006 Carling Cup Final and everyone was settling down to watch it in Winners Bar on the Oceana when in wobbled the pair of them.
Heads turned and eardrums burst when Ethel screamed "Come On Wiggin!" and then proceeded to top up with yet more wine.
They asked us to go and sit with them so we did - making 3 sets of couples. We'd met Kev and Ethel before and he told us his hobby was going to funerals so you can see he wasn't your ordinary run of the mill cruise ship passenger. (He liked the buffets they provided, apparently)
Things went from bad to worse after he accidentally kicked the table over when crossing his legs, knocking all the booze flying. Added to the fact he was effing and jeffing very loudly, it made for an uncomfortable session.
Ethel announced she wanted to be done from the back, as she sat on his knee.
Tenterhooks is what we were on.
Ethel suddenly announced "I'm going for a smoke" and off she trotted while Kev got louder and louder as he knocked back the red as though they were stopping making it.
Minutes later he announced: "I'm going to find my little love. Where is she?!" as he was worried in case she'd fallen overboard.
He stood and immediately flopped down. Then stood again and started to stagger. Me and my mate 'Arry decided we couldn't let him venture unaided so we grabbed an arm each and supported him past bemused passengers and officers as he made slurred comments on each of them as he passed.It's probably as well that they didn't know what he was saying.
"He's had a stroke" explained 'Arry.
Then all hell broke loose. Well Kev did, actually. "Let me go!" he yelled and started running through the Atrium towards the Ladies toilets which he staggered into and showed no signs of coming out.
'Arry and I expected screams from within but it was ominously silent. By chance, there was no-one in there and Kev realising his mistake lurched out again and ran off. We gave chase and caught up with him on the other side of the Atrium, persuading him to go to his cabin.
Well, persuade isn't really the correct word. We sort of dragged him there with his legs trailing, like a dead cowboy.
When we opened the cabin door, his beloved Ethel was face down on the bed and looked up with a happy\pissed expression. She was in her own Nirvana.
"There you are my love!" exclaimed Kev and flopped down on the bed alongside her.
It looked to be a good result but suddenly and without warning, Kev jumped up again and fled out the cabin like a jailbreak at Alcatraz.
"Goodness gracious!" said my mate 'Arry (or words to that effect) and we set off in hot pursuit again.
He got to to the end of the long corridor and we grabbed him and again dragged him back to his cabin.
"Shove him inside!" said 'Arry which we did and then held on to the handle of the door to prevent him escaping again.
The door handled rattled like hell as Kev attempted to break out again.
"What the jolly heck can we do? (or words to that effect) pleaded 'Arry. "We can't stand here all jolly night"
It was our luck that Kev's cabin steward was just passing by at that instant so we said: "Grab that handle and don't let it go!" which he did, not knowing why but probably wondering why and fearing the worst if he did.
We left him with his hands gripped and his considerably white teeth rattling as much as the door handle.
We then left and went back to the bar, having decided we had acted above and beyond the call of duty and feeling pretty proud of ourselves.
I don't know how long the steward held on to the handle but presumably Kev and Ethel fell shortly after into a drink-induced coma and he was able to carry on making the beds in the other cabins.
We saw Kev the following day. We had probably saved him and Ethel being thrown off at the next port as the Captain wouldn't have hesitated for the grave offence alone of storming the ladies lavatory in a highly inebriated condition.
Were we thanked? You bet not.
"Never tell a drunken man what to do" was all he said.
Ah Memories....
This is one of my favourite pics. I took it in Santa Cruz quite close to where the gentleman mentioned in the post below got robbed. I don't know who the ladies are but they were certainly having a good giggle at the soldier statue's expense.
Canaries' Clipboard Scam
Talking of the Canaries, I witnessed a particularly nasty scam in Santa Cruz, Tenerife of which you should all be aware.
An elderly couple off our ship had just gone ashore when they were approached by a young girl wielding a clipboard with a petition in support, or so it said, of African orphans.
While she pressed the clipboard against the gentleman's body, her arm reached underneath and she relieved him of his wallet.
She walked off quickly and I gave chase but lost her down some side alleys - her obviously well-chosen escape route.
I quickly contacted a local policeman and went back to the distressed couple. Luckily, there was a tourist information centre nearby where they spoke English and we managed to get the chap's credit and debit cards stopped.
His boarding card and cash were taken but there wasn't much we could do about that.
I saw another woman with a clipboard and pointed her out to the police and they took her away for questioning. They were obviously targeting cruise ship passengers.
Strangely enough, I saw the gentleman again on another cruise and he had managed to claim back the cash on his travel insurance.
So be very wary of anyone invading your body space - hold your hand up; shake your head, smile and walk quickly away.
An elderly couple off our ship had just gone ashore when they were approached by a young girl wielding a clipboard with a petition in support, or so it said, of African orphans.
While she pressed the clipboard against the gentleman's body, her arm reached underneath and she relieved him of his wallet.
She walked off quickly and I gave chase but lost her down some side alleys - her obviously well-chosen escape route.
I quickly contacted a local policeman and went back to the distressed couple. Luckily, there was a tourist information centre nearby where they spoke English and we managed to get the chap's credit and debit cards stopped.
His boarding card and cash were taken but there wasn't much we could do about that.
I saw another woman with a clipboard and pointed her out to the police and they took her away for questioning. They were obviously targeting cruise ship passengers.
Strangely enough, I saw the gentleman again on another cruise and he had managed to claim back the cash on his travel insurance.
So be very wary of anyone invading your body space - hold your hand up; shake your head, smile and walk quickly away.
Canaries' Alert
If you're planning on cruising to the Canary Isles in the immediate future, a volcano threat on El Hierro means you need to keep a weather eye on the news and consult your cruise operator if things get worse.
Thursday 29 September 2011
Tips
A few tips for Newbies:
·
If your cases are taking up too
much room in your cabin or they won't fit under the bed, ask your steward to stow them away for you.
·
If you want to book a spa session,
book early but be warned: they are expensive. If you want to pay a little less,
look out for the special offers on port days when most people will be ashore.
·
Don’t bother buying the cruise
video. It’s expensive and you’ll probably only be on it for a split second
waving drunkenly at the camera. When you get home, you will probably only watch
it once or bore the backsides off friends and neighbours with it. Do them a
favour and save your money.
·
On the last night of the cruise,
take the hangers out of the wardrobes and put them somewhere under a cushion.
Because there won’t be any clothes on them, they will bang together and sound
like the Bells of St. Mary’s all night!
Princess Cruise News
Princess have just announced their biggest ever European Cruise deployment:
The 2012 season offers a wide selection of sailings through the timeless cities of the Mediterranean, the splendor of Scandinavia and Russia and the intriguing ports of Northern Europe. The season features seven ships sailing on 57 itineraries to 116 destinations, including Caribbean Princess' European debut and new 14-day Baltic and 16-day Land of the Midnight Sun routes. And 12-day Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruises will continue to offer overnight stays in one of the continent's most sought-after destinations -- Venice. Two new ports will debut -- Korcula, Croatia on the 12-day Mediterranean Collection on Pacific Princess and Nessebar, Bulgaria (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) on the 12-day Black Sea & Crimean Coasts route
The 2012 season offers a wide selection of sailings through the timeless cities of the Mediterranean, the splendor of Scandinavia and Russia and the intriguing ports of Northern Europe. The season features seven ships sailing on 57 itineraries to 116 destinations, including Caribbean Princess' European debut and new 14-day Baltic and 16-day Land of the Midnight Sun routes. And 12-day Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruises will continue to offer overnight stays in one of the continent's most sought-after destinations -- Venice. Two new ports will debut -- Korcula, Croatia on the 12-day Mediterranean Collection on Pacific Princess and Nessebar, Bulgaria (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) on the 12-day Black Sea & Crimean Coasts route
Chips with everything.
We shared a table once with an ex-soldier who said he worked for a gangster. Short, squat and powerfully built, he had a chunky gold chain round his neck and sported tattoos. But what was memorable about him was his eating habits. He was one of the "nothing fancy" brigade, spurning sauces or anything out of the ordinary and demanded he have "nothing green" on his plate.
On several evenings, despite there being a sumptuous 4 course meal, all he had was a plate of chips and a couple of rolls!
The waiters couldn't believe that he'd paid all that money and had settled for nothing but chip butties.
His powerfully-built frame came into good use though when on an excursion to a rocky islet in Sardinia, a passenger collapsed and the ex-soldier slung him over his shoulder and swam back to the waiting yacht.
Not bad for a man who dined on chips.
On several evenings, despite there being a sumptuous 4 course meal, all he had was a plate of chips and a couple of rolls!
The waiters couldn't believe that he'd paid all that money and had settled for nothing but chip butties.
His powerfully-built frame came into good use though when on an excursion to a rocky islet in Sardinia, a passenger collapsed and the ex-soldier slung him over his shoulder and swam back to the waiting yacht.
Not bad for a man who dined on chips.
Wednesday 28 September 2011
Memorable passengers - Dennis
The people you meet on cruises are what make it special. You have usually got hundreds or thousands to choose from and you're bound to find a gold nugget amongst them.
I have met some great people over the years and still keep in touch but my "gold nugget" was a guy called Dennis.
He had been an active man in his time: a fireman with an eye for the ladies by all accounts. He was with his partner and they sat on the next table to us at dinner but didn't speak much. We thought they had fallen out. But no.
Dennis was suffering from a wasting disease. He walked with difficulty and spoke with even greater difficulty. It was sad to see.
Eventually, we got talking and we decided to go for a drink and what a lovely man he turned out to be. It was their first cruise and he was determined to take his partner on it while he could.
I'll be honest: it was hard to make out what he said at times but his companion - an equally lovely person - helped out with that.
We got on like a house on fire and he really took to me as I did to him.
He even tried to dance in the disco and at the party by the pool night but could only manage a couple before he flopped down exhausted. He had a heart as big as a lion's
We enjoyed their company for the rest of the cruise and we dreaded when it came time to part but we vowed to keep in touch.
Dennis squeezed my hand as it was time to go and the tears rolled down his cheeks.
The inevitable email arrived from his partner a few weeks later. She said he had gone into a swift decline and died.
What an impression he made in those few days we spent together at sea.
You will always be remembered Dennis. You made that cruise a joy and it was a privilege to meet you both.
Which cruisers have you met who made an impression on you?
I have met some great people over the years and still keep in touch but my "gold nugget" was a guy called Dennis.
He had been an active man in his time: a fireman with an eye for the ladies by all accounts. He was with his partner and they sat on the next table to us at dinner but didn't speak much. We thought they had fallen out. But no.
Dennis was suffering from a wasting disease. He walked with difficulty and spoke with even greater difficulty. It was sad to see.
Eventually, we got talking and we decided to go for a drink and what a lovely man he turned out to be. It was their first cruise and he was determined to take his partner on it while he could.
I'll be honest: it was hard to make out what he said at times but his companion - an equally lovely person - helped out with that.
We got on like a house on fire and he really took to me as I did to him.
He even tried to dance in the disco and at the party by the pool night but could only manage a couple before he flopped down exhausted. He had a heart as big as a lion's
We enjoyed their company for the rest of the cruise and we dreaded when it came time to part but we vowed to keep in touch.
Dennis squeezed my hand as it was time to go and the tears rolled down his cheeks.
The inevitable email arrived from his partner a few weeks later. She said he had gone into a swift decline and died.
What an impression he made in those few days we spent together at sea.
You will always be remembered Dennis. You made that cruise a joy and it was a privilege to meet you both.
Which cruisers have you met who made an impression on you?
Reasons to Cruise
Here's the Sydney Morning Herald's Top Five Reasons for taking a cruise. It's hard to disagree!
http://bit.ly/p2AQ2Z
http://bit.ly/p2AQ2Z
Cruising. What's your style?
If you haven't cruised before, you will have to decide what style of cruiser you are.
This will depend on (a) the amount you want to spend and (b)
whether you are single, married, partnered, or with children.
Don’t worry: everyone is catered for and I mean everyone.
Singles can book single cabins (at a premium, although
sometimes they are available at the going rate). There are Singles Meetups
onboard and it isn’t too hard to get chatting to other singles in the convivial
atmosphere of a cruise ship, whether it be at dinner or on the dance floor.
Families can take advantage of the “kids go free” offers or
the 3rd and 4th cabin occupancy discounts. The children have their own clubs,
discos, eating places and scores of activities ranging from talent shows and
games to artistic activities and games. It’s common never to see your children
for hours on end because they are enjoying themselves so much mixing with other
kids of their own age and the Youth Team do a superb job in supervising and
arranging activities.
There is even a baby-listening or babysitting service on
many ships giving you the chance to have a well-earned break at dinner or a top
class show.
Gay cruisers sometimes get the chance to meet others too
when the “Friends of Dorothy” have special meetings in some cosy lounge – as do
Masons, Rotarians and other special interest groups.
There are specific cruise lines for older passengers,
notably Saga in the UK
who only accept over 50’s.
Longer cruises usually have older passengers because they are
generally the ones who can afford them and have the time available.
The 2 or 3 day ones generally suit the younger, boozier
party crowd. Some ships even have alternative type Comedy Clubs where strong
language is employed.
If you want to lounge by the pool without being assailed by noisy kids
splashing and shouting, go on a child-free adults-only ship. Your TA (Travel
Agent) or a guide such as the Berlitz Cruise Ship guide will advise
Welcome to the Crafty Cruiser
I'm a veteran of 27 cruises, some long, some short. I've enjoyed every one and consider cruising to be the ideal holiday. I'm not keen on flying so I've seen places I never would have seen if I hadn't sailed there: gliding past the Statue of Liberty...sailing past St Mark's Square, Venice, on a misty morning; riding the metro in St Petersburg and snorkelling in the warm blue waters of Antigua are just some of the highlights.
This blog will be all about cruising and cruise ships. There will be money-saving ideas, based on my book The Crafty Cruiser which is available on Amazon http://amzn.to/pkUI57 as well as the latest cruise news and personal tales from my days at sea.
So sit back, relax with a Cocktail of the Day and come sail with the Crafty Cruiser.
Great to have you aboard!
This blog will be all about cruising and cruise ships. There will be money-saving ideas, based on my book The Crafty Cruiser which is available on Amazon http://amzn.to/pkUI57 as well as the latest cruise news and personal tales from my days at sea.
So sit back, relax with a Cocktail of the Day and come sail with the Crafty Cruiser.
Great to have you aboard!
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