Cruise Ships - Page 35 of 57 - Captain Greybeard

Olympic challenge for Azamara

Boutique cruise line Azamara Club Cruises could be sailing both its ships, the Quest and the Journey, into London to provide accommodation for sports fans visiting the London Olympics, according to CEO Larry Pimentel who was in town this week. The company is open to offers for full-boat charters, or could arrange its 2012 itineraries around the Games. They will have to make a decision soon, because the best berths have already been snapped up. Luxury line Silversea will have its 296-passenger Silver Cloud berthed alongside HMS Belfast at Tower Bridge, and the 388-passenger Silver Whisper at Greenwich. Unless the [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:11+00:00 28 January 2011|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News, Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Three ships together for third time

Somebody please tell Cunard's Alastair Greener, entertainment director on board Queen Elizabeth, that the Royal Rendezvous in New York earlier this month was not the second time the line's three ships have been together in port. True, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria were in New York harbour together with Queen Elizabeth 2 in January 2008 - the first time such a gathering had ever taken place. But the vessels were reunited in Southampton on April 22 that year before QE2 sailed off to retirement eight months later So when Elizabeth joined Mary and Victoria in New York on January [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:11+00:00 25 January 2011|Cruise News, Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Royal Caribbean to introduce single cabins – would you Adam and Eve it?

I'll be re-acquainting myself with life on board a Royal Caribbean ship next week, cruising from Dubai on board Brilliance of the Seas. For once, I'll have Mrs Greybeard with me - she had to stay at home when I was invited to the inaugural cruises of both Oasis and Allure of the Seas, although she did impress on her Louboutin heels when Independence of the Seas was launched in Southampton. We'll be sharing a double cabin, and even if I was alone it would be impossible to have anything else because until now Royal has ignored the growing movement [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:12+00:00 25 January 2011|Cruise Food & Drink, Cruise News, Cruise Ships|1 Comment

Cunard sails on to victory

Congratulations to Cunard, who have topped a UK poll to choose the best cruise line for the third year in a row. Their ship Queen Victoria also picked up three gongs, for best ship, best food, and best excursions in the annual survey published by cruise.co.uk The results of the survey are compiled from the star ratings (from one to five) given by passengers submitting reviews to the website, and Cunard president Peter Shanks said: "This is a particularly valuable award as the voters are people who actually go on cruises and they know what they are talking about. It [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:12+00:00 24 January 2011|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News, Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Disney prepares Chinese takeaway

It's been a busy week for Disney's top man, Bob Iger - and you have to think that the naming ceremony of his latest billion-dollar investment, the cruise ship Disney Dream, might not have been the highlight. After joining Mickey Mouse and godmother Jennifer Hudson on stage at the quayside at Port Canaveral (above), he flew to Washington with his wife, Willow Bay, for a state banquet at the White House in honour of visiting Chinese president Hu. High on the menu for discussion over the Maine lobster, rib-eye steak and "old-fashioned" apple pie will have been the $3.7 billion [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:12+00:00 22 January 2011|Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Godmothers on parade for Disney

They certainly know how to put on a party at Disney - the christening ceremony for the new Disney Dream cruise ship was a match for any of the parades in the Orlando theme parks. There were familiar characters by the score, from Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy, through a collection of princesses, to the Incredibles, and a dazzling display of fireworks which lit up the bright Florida morning sky. There were marching bands and Navy bands, and more singers and dancers than at a high school reunion. Amid all the well-rehearsed choreography it even had an apparently unscripted moment [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:12+00:00 20 January 2011|Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Discovering Dreams come true

It's been a day of discovery in Orlando, Florida, in the build-up to the launch of Disney Dream. It all started at breakfast, in the 1900 Park Fare restaurant at the top-of-the-range Grand Floridian Hotel, where we were joined by a frightfully English Alice - who had just emerged blinking into the light from a rabbit hole - and a very strait-laced Mary Poppins (above). At least they were able to talk to the hotel guests; characters like Winnie the Pooh and Tigger could cuddle but not converse. Then we discovered that Disney's famed prowess at regimented organisation can sometimes [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:12+00:00 19 January 2011|Cruise Ships|0 Comments

This is worth a thousand words

The last word for now on that Cunard Royal Rendezvous. And I'll let the picture do the talking. This view of the Statue of Liberty saluting Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth as they sail out of New York harbour, with the Empire State Building lit up in red, is simply stunning. Click on the picture to see a bigger version.

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:13+00:00 14 January 2011|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News, Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Cunard Commodore drops a clanger

Well, the fireworks for Cunard's Royal Rendezvous in New York were certainly spectacular, as this video from my pal Scott shows. Thousands of people lined the Hudson River to watch the show, despite freezing temperatures, but to get the best view, you had to be one of the passengers. Queen Mary 2 led the way down the Hudson and is now heading for Montevideo as part of a world cruise which will take it to Cape Town, Australia and New Zealand, and then back to the UK via China, Singapore, India and the Suez Canal. Next in line was Queen [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:13+00:00 14 January 2011|Cruise News, Cruise Ships|0 Comments

I saw three ships come sailing in

There will soon be plenty of pictures - and videos - of the celebrations in New York to mark the gathering of Cunard ships Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. In the meantime, here's an impressive shot of the ships arriving this morning. Victoria ied the way under the Verrazano Bridge, with Elizabeth next and the QM2 bringing up the rear. My thanks to Scott, who is fortunate enough to live in an apartment across the Hudson River from the Manhattan piers and was up soon after 4.00 am to record the arrival. He has never been on [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:13+00:00 13 January 2011|Cruise Destinations, Cruise Ships|0 Comments