Cruise Ships - Page 21 of 57 - Captain Greybeard

Farewell Pearl . . . welcome to Quest

Coming soon, my first impressions of Saga Sapphire, - I spent two hours crawling over the ship in Southampton this afternoon. But before boarding the newest gem in Saga's fleet, I had to take a quick look at Saga Pearl II before she was transformed into Quest for Adventure. Actually, it's something of an exaggeration to say she has been transformed. Although she has inherited a number of crew from predecessor Spirit of Adventure, little has changed in the fabric of the ship. The new name had been painted on the bow while I was enjoying a chicken curry for [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:49+00:00 6 May 2012|Cruise News, Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Grand dame Ruby puts on a diva act and then misses a gala performance

There's disappointment at Saga Cruises over a planned triple celebration in Lisbon this week. The company arranged a unique opportunity for all three of its ships to be moored in the River Tagus together, and to be serenaded at a special concert by soprano Lesley Garratt. Saga Sapphire, now fully operational after engine room repairs which disrupted her inaugural voyage last month, was there. As was Saga Pearl II, making her last cruise before a name change to Quest for Adventure, which will happen in Southampton on Sunday (May 6). Sadly, they were let down by grande dame Saga Ruby, [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:49+00:00 4 May 2012|Cruise Entertainment, Cruise News, Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Standing up for Greece

We have not visited Athens on this cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Splendour of the Seas, but these mannequins in a boutique on the island of Santorini would not look out of place among the Caryatids at the Acropolis.

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:49+00:00 3 May 2012|Cruise Ships|1 Comment

Free Fall – Waterslides galore on Norwegian’s newest cruise ship

I'm standing high up on board a cruise ship when the floor suddenly opens beneath me. I'm falling, spinning and looping through the air. What's happening? Is this my second-worst nightmare come true (don't ask about the first). Actually, it's not happening to me yet, but it could do next May, when Norwegian Breakaway is launched. Because among the ship's "recreational facilities" will be the biggest collection of water slides at sea. One of them is the side-by-side Free Fall, which not only combines the scary experiences I have just described, it's also a race between two participants. The Whip [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:49+00:00 30 April 2012|Cruise Ships|1 Comment

Time for some Splendour in the Med

The last time I saw Splendour of the Seas, the ship was out of the water in dry dock at Cadiz, having millions spent on bringing the vessel up-to-date with new restaurants and bars, added cabin balconies, and a spectacular aerial show in the Centrum. Every square foot of carpet was ripped up and replaced, cabins were getting new furnishings, and the ship even received a substantial addition to its stern - a ducktail - to improve stability. The crew weren't ignored either. They were provided with a new restaurant, upgraded accommodation, and wi-fi so they can keep in touch [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:50+00:00 28 April 2012|Cruise Destinations, Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Within spitting distance of Titanic

Here's a bit of fun for the weekend - a spoof trailer for an enhanced 3D-version of the film Titanic with added extras. There are monsters, explosions, and an updated soundtrack. Customers sitting in the cinema seats get to feel the action as they are showered with chunks of ice and far worse, especially when Leonardo diCaprio and Kate Winslet are standing at the ship's rail.

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:50+00:00 27 April 2012|Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Gales delay Balmoral’s return

UPDATE: Balmoral now expected to reach Southampton about 6.00 pm Sunday, approximately12 hours late. Cruise ship Balmoral, returning to the UK after its Titanic Memorial Voyage, has been delayed in the Atlantic by extreme weather conditions. Passengers coming home have been warned to expect delays, and those planning to join the ship in Southampton on Sunday for a cruise to the Atlantic islands have been advised not to arrive until later in the day. Captain Robert Bamberg will assess overnight progress and the weather forecast before informing his passengers and Fred Olsen's head office when he expects to be arriving [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:50+00:00 27 April 2012|Cruise News, Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Watch Balmoral arrive in New York

Wreaths have been laid, prayers have been said, thousands of words of learned lectures have been delivered, and the last of the fancy dress dinners has been eaten. The Titanic Memorial Cruise is over and cruise ship Balmoral is on her way back home. After arriving safely in New York - something Titanic never achieved - the Fred. Olsen ship is returning to Southampton, visiting Martha's Vineyard today and the French territory of St. Pierre & Miquelon, off the coast of Newfoundland, on Monday. Whatever welcome awaits back in Britain, I can confidently predict it will not be as emotional [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:50+00:00 21 April 2012|Cruise Ships|3 Comments

Second Sapphire cruise is cancelled

More disappointment for passengers booked on Saga Sapphire; work to repair the engine room fault which led to the curtailment of its maiden voyage is taking longer than expected, and the ship's second cruise has now been cancelled. The "Wonders of Iberia" cruise was to have started - a week later than planned - next Wednesday from Marseille instead of Southampton. Passengers who had been told they were getting a 50 per cent discount in return for the loss of seven of the scheduled 18 nights have now been informed they are going nowhere. I was alerted late yesterday by [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:50+00:00 21 April 2012|Cruise News, Cruise Ships|6 Comments

Expedition ship goes green

Cruise ships visiting the Antarctic already have to abide by strict regulations governing the number of passengers they can take ashore, and the fuel they must burn to avoid polluting the wilderness region. Now a cruise line has declared for the first time that one of its ships will effectively be carbon neutral. Passengers travelling on Ocean Diamond (above) in search of penguins, seals and whales can do so with a clear conscience because operator Quark Expeditions will be offsetting their carbon dioxide emissions by supporting reforestation and hydro and wind-power projects in Turkey, Kenya, China and India. Diamond, carrying [...]