Captain Greybeard - Page 140 of 209 - Your expert guide to cruise ships and cruise holidays

Top deals for Christmas cruises

It's my idea of heaven - Christmas at sea, with no need to worry about cooking, washing up . . . or annoying relatives. Just sit back to be entertained, fed and plied with drink at any time of day or night, and even enjoy a few hours of unseasonal sunshine by the pool. And there are options for those who want to spend the time surrounded by their children, or those who prefer to get away from the little darlings altogether. P&O has vacancies on several of its ships for this year's Christmas cruises. Arcadia offers the child-free option, [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:20+00:00 2 October 2010|Cruise Deals|0 Comments

Majestic week of peace in Scotland

Captain Greybeard may be disappearing from the radar for a few days - I shall be cruising around the isle of Mull on board a converted trawler carrying just 11 passengers and a crew of four. Rather different from my recent trips on Diamond Princess and Balmoral, and a world away my forthcoming visits to Queen Elizabeth and Allure of the Seas. There's no internet access on the boat, and after days spent clambering in and out of the tender to go ashore, and walking on the beach at Calgary or in the wildlife sanctuaries of the Treshnish isles, I [...]

By John Honeywell| 2010-10-01T14:45:04+00:00 1 October 2010|Cruise Destinations|1 Comment

Priceless QE2 memorabilia rescued for display on new Queen Elizabeth

When Cunard liner QE2 was sailed off to retirement in Dubai almost two years ago, she took with her a hoard of precious artwork and memories. New owners Nakheel had paid $100 million to buy the ship lock, stock and barrel, and that included countless precious items which the ship's fans feared they might never see again. Now some of them have been recovered and will be on display aboard the company's newest ship, Queen Elizabeth, which will be named by the Queen on October 11. Pride of place must go to the 42-inch solid silver model of the QE2 [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:20+00:00 30 September 2010|Cruise News|3 Comments

Epic wedding for cruise couple

Derek Kahn and Lerah Scott were determined to find a special venue for their wedding. "We wanted to get married somewhere that was more than a beach," says 24-year-old Lerah. The couple found a place that was not only spectacular - they have also created a little bit of history by becoming the first couple to get married on giant cruise ship Norwegian Epic. Lerah, from Georgetown, in Ontario, Canada and Derek, 28, from Kentucky, held their ceremony in the ship's Manhattan Room, the restaurant which is also a venue for the Legends in Concert dinner show. They were married [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:20+00:00 29 September 2010|Cruise News|1 Comment

TV skills could win a free family cruise

Fancy yourself as a budding TV presenter? Royal Caribbean is looking for a family of would-be reporters to cover the launch of their newest ship, Allure of the Seas, on a preview cruise in November. The winning family will be flown to Florida and during a four-day voyage from Fort Lauderdale will be given a behind-the-scenes look at the ship's exclusive DreamWorks Experience featuring the How To Train Your Dragon ice show and the Madagascar aqua show, plus character breakfasts, parades and sail-away parties. They will also be given backstage access to Chicago: The Musical. The Reporters at Sea competition [...]

By John Honeywell| 2010-09-29T17:41:44+00:00 29 September 2010|Cruise News|1 Comment

Cruise ship is golf fans’ hotel

After a hard day watching Europe's golfers take on America in the Ryder Cup, some of the most privileged spectators will be spending their evenings relaxing on a luxurious cruise ship. The French-owned Le Diamant has been chartered for the weekend and today berthed in Newport, just five miles from the course at the Celtic Manor Resort. Golf fans have each paid from £3,000 for the cheapest cabins and up to £6,550 for the owners' suite for five nights accommodation on their floating hotel, which carries 226 passengers and 120 crew. The fare included admission the the Ryder Cup matches, [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:20+00:00 29 September 2010|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News|1 Comment

Marina starts to make waves

Construction of Oceania's newest cruise ship appears to be proceeding at a leisurely pace. The 65,000-ton Marina - a big sister for the line's existing trio of Insignia, Nautica and Regatta - was originally scheduled to be delivered before the end of this year but was long ago postponed until January. The ship, which will carry 1,250 passengers and increase the line's total capacity by 60 per cent at a stroke, is being built by Fincantieri at its Sestri Ponente yard in Genoa. It took to the sea for the first time last week for trials to test her propulsion [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:20+00:00 28 September 2010|Cruise Ships|0 Comments

New Gulf war for cruise passengers

It would be in bad taste to describe the battle for cruise passengers sailing from the United Arab Emirates as a new Gulf war, so I'll resist the temptation. But the growing popularity of the area as a winter cruise destination is shown by news that MSC is to have a ship sailing there from October 2011. MSC Lirica, which carries 1,560 passengers at double occupancy (and a maximum of 2,065 with all berths full) will join Royal Caribbean's 2,112-passenger Brilliance of the Seas and the newer Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa, each carrying 2,260 passengers, in offering week-long cruises [...]

By John Honeywell| 2010-09-28T09:30:00+00:00 28 September 2010|Cruise Destinations|0 Comments

Prinsendam takes a battering

Sunbathing passengers on the cruise ship Prinsendam were taken by surprise last week when a powered paraglider made an emergency landing on the top deck. The ship was docked in Portimao, on the Portuguese Algarve, when a 25-year-old Brazilian man crash-landed his flimsy craft. He suffered a broken leg and was taken to hospital while the maritime police removed his paraglider for inspection. The 837-passenger Prinsendam, smallest ship in the Holland America fleet, has been taking a bit of a battering recently. Towards the end of a round-Britain cruise earlier this month it was hit by a freak wave which [...]

By John Honeywell| 2010-09-26T16:09:43+00:00 26 September 2010|Cruise News, Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Top deals on no-fly cruises to the sun

The nights are drawing in and there's a chill in the morning air, but there are still plenty of opportunities to sail away from the UK on a cruise to the sun - with none of the hassle involved in flying. Departing from Dover on October 12 on a 14-night cruise to the Mediterranean, Fred Olsen's Balmoral visits Gibraltar, Mahon (Ibiza), Marseille, Barcelona, Alicante and Malaga before returning to Dover. Fares from £839. Go to www.cruise118.com or call 0800 280 2614. Or travel to the Canary Islands on board Marco Polo, leaving Tilbury on October 16. The 14-night cruise calls [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:20+00:00 25 September 2010|Cruise Deals|0 Comments