Captain Greybeard - Page 123 of 209 - Your expert guide to cruise ships and cruise holidays

Is there any way to escape fuel supplements on top of cruise fares?

The rising cost of fuel is about to hit cruise fares, and a number of UK lines have recently announced they are imposing fuel supplements - or in some cases increasing their surcharges. Passengers hate them, cruise lines don't like imposing them, but they are an inevitable result of the record price of oil, which anyone who has to fill a car with petrol or diesel can't help noticing. The black stuff in ships' bunkers looks rather different from what flows out of the pump at a filling station - it's what's left after lighter fuels have been distilled off [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:11+00:00 26 January 2011|Cruise News|0 Comments

QE2’s master takes over lighthouses

Congratulations to Captain Ian McNaught, former master of Queen Elizabeth 2, who has found a new berth as Deputy Master of Trinity House, which looks after the lighthouses around the British coast. After 40 years at sea, more than 20 of them with Cunard, he finally gets a home posting. Captain McNaught, 56, a Wearsider from Washington, was in command of QE2 when it sailed off to retirement in Dubai in November 2009. He hosted a lunch for Prince Philip - who is Master of Trinity House - and made an emotional speech before the ship left Southampton for the [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:11+00:00 26 January 2011|Cruise News|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

Cruise ships returning to Brisbane

P&O's Arcadia will be the first British cruise ship back into Brisbane after the devastating floods when it arrives on February 15. The 2,000 passengers on the ship's world cruise will no doubt be digging deep to raise money for relief efforts. A few days later, on February 27, sister ship Aurora will also call at the port. P&O Australia's cruise ship Pacific Dawn had to abandon its home base in the Queensland port after the floods and operated out of Sydney instead. It returned for the first time on Saturday. P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow said: "We have [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:12+00:00 25 January 2011|Cruise Destinations|0 Comments

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

Cast away in a Disney cocoon

Disney's private island of Castaway Cay was a relaxing haven during my recent short cruise on Disney Dream. While new crew members strapped on life jackets to exercise safety drills in the sea near the quay, passengers strolled in the sun or took a tram ride to Scuttles Cove and Pelican Point or the adults-only beach at Serenity Bay. With temperatures in the high 70s it was perfect for swimming, snorkelling, or just lazing on sun-loungers and on the clean, combed and sifted sand - though it must have got uncomfortably hot for the cast posing for pictures in the [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:12+00:00 23 January 2011|Cruise Destinations|0 Comments

$25,000 bottle a wine to Dream about

The Remy chefs (from left) Scott Hunnel, Patrick Albert and Arnaud Lallement The 1947 vintage of Chateau Cheval Blanc is widely regarded as the finest wine in the world. From a vineyard in Bordeaux's Saint Emilion, dating back to 1832, it continues to set records, becoming the most expensive wine ever sold at auction when three bottles came up at Sotheby's in Hong Kong last May and were knocked down for £45,000. Not, perhaps, what you would expect to find on the wine list on board a cruise ship. But then Disney Dream is no ordinary cruise ship and even [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:12+00:00 23 January 2011|Cruise Food & Drink|0 Comments

Time to wave Mexico goodbye?

With all eyes on the launch of Disney Dream last week, the arrival of sister ship Disney Wonder into its new home port of Los Angeles was a relatively low-key affair. For the next few months until it begins a season of cruises to Alaska from Vancouver - a first for Disney - the ship will be operating seven-night cruises to the Mexican Riviera. Strange timing, some think, because Disney's return to the region - the Disney Magic enjoyed a sold-out season of cruises here in 2008 - comes just at a time when other cruise lines are moving their [...]

By John Honeywell| 2011-01-23T10:17:57+00:00 23 January 2011|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News|5 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