Captain Greybeard - Page 150 of 209 - Your expert guide to cruise ships and cruise holidays

En suite that’s not so sweet

Why has Norwegian Epic been described as the most eagerly-anticipated new cruise ship of 2010? For one thing, it's the only vessel being launched this year which has been built to a completely new design, rather than being a variation on an earlier plan. P&O's Azura is similar to Ventura; Cunard's Queen Elizabeth will almost (but not quite) be identical to Queen Victoria; Celebrity Eclipse was the third of five ships built to the same design, and Allure of the Seas will be a twin for Oasis. But there are lots of other reasons which make Epic special - from [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:25+00:00 22 June 2010|Cruise Ships|3 Comments

Hold on, Epic is coming . . . slowly

She's big, she's brash and she's burly. She's also suffering from a bit of an opening night party hangover. Norwegian Epic, the most eagerly-anticipated new cruise ship of 2010 is going to be a little bit late making her British debut. She should have arrived in Southampton by this morning, ready for a two-day preview cruise for travel agents, press and television. Instead, the 153,000-ton giant is feeling her way gently through the Channel at reduced speed due to a "technical problem" - said to be a failed propellor shaft bearing - which almost led to yesterday's departure from Rotterdam [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:25+00:00 22 June 2010|Cruise News|0 Comments

Keeping the QE2 legend alive

While the attention of the cruise world is focussed on Norwegian Epic - I'm flying to join her in Rotterdam in the morning - one group of enthusiasts is determined that the once-great liner Queen Elizabeth 2 will not be forgotten. Members of TheQE2Story.com internet forum are planning to sail to the Cunard legend's birthplace on the River Clyde next weekend, aboard the historic paddle steamer Waverley. On Saturday they will be sailing "doon the watter" past the former John Brown shipyard, and on to Tignabruaich. On Sunday they are planning to pay homage at Clydebank's Titan crane, and they [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:25+00:00 20 June 2010|Cruise News, Cruise Ships|1 Comment

First pictures of Epic arrival

Although I will be among the first passengers on board Norwegian Epic when I fly out to the ship in Rotterdam on Monday some people have got there even earlier, and my friend Fran Golden was at the pier this morning to see the 153,000-ton vessel arrive. Fran, who writes for AOL Travel, has posted an early selection of pictures on her own website, Get Away With Fran. Please don't go there to look for any more of her pictures during the weekend - wait until you can see mine next week.

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:27+00:00 19 June 2010|Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Top cruise deals of the week

Here are two different ways to spend 12 days cruising from the UK to the Baltic. Similar itineraries, with fascinating ports of call in some of northern Europe's most exciting cities, but contrasting ships - and there's £400 difference in price. Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas sails from Harwich on July 6 and visits Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallinn and Gothenburg. Balcony cabin fares from £1,299. The 2,100-passenger ship was built in 2004, before RCI introduced Royal promenades and ice rinks to their vessels, but there's an 870-seat theatre, a two-deck main restaurant (with fixed seating arrangements for [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:27+00:00 19 June 2010|Cruise Deals|1 Comment

Elizabeth has a bigger behind

At the risk of coming over all geeky, here's a picture which shows that Cunard's new Queen Elizabeth (above) will not be a direct copy of sister ship Queen Victoria (top left). OK, they are basically similar - longer versions of Carnival's Vista platform - but Elizabeth crams a few extra cabins in by not having a raked stern. The modification also provides extra space on the aft pool deck and is similar to the amended design of Holland America Lines' Eurodam (centre left) and the Costa Luminosa (bottom left). Cunard's web site declares Victoria's passenger capacity to be 2,000, [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:27+00:00 17 June 2010|Cruise News|3 Comments

Images from the Baltic

With apologies for the fact that it's taken a week, here's a handful of pictures from my recent cruise to the Baltic capitals on board P&O's Azura. The ship is berthed at Tallinn, Estonia in the shot above, which also gives an indication of the sort of weather we were lucky to have - apart from one day in St Petersburg when the rain lashed down. You can see how grey it was from the picture of cruiser Aurora (below), which in 1917 fired the first shot in the October Revolution. The warship is now a floating museum on the [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:27+00:00 17 June 2010|Cruise Destinations|1 Comment

That’s Entertainment, Peter !

Here's Cunard President Peter Shanks waving the big stick - actually, he is taking part in a Last Night of the Proms on board Queen Mary 2 during his recent crossing from New York. He also joined a 60-strong choir made up of passengers on the liner for part of the performance, and - contrary to the delight shown on his face in this picture - says he might not forgive conductor Anthony Inglis for passing the baton to him and to Commodore Bernard Warner, who also took part in the show. "The Royal Court Theatre was packed for the [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:27+00:00 16 June 2010|Cruise Entertainment|0 Comments

Epic almost ready for action

Final sea-trials have been completed, hull painting is dry and shiny, entertainment - from Blue Man Group to bowling alleys - is ready for action, wave cabins are being prepared for occupation. Cruise ship Norwegian Epic will finally be handed over by the builders and, barring any more last-minute hitches, will leave the yard tomorrow for the last time. The 153,000-ton ship is probably the most significant launch this year as it will be the only vessel built to a completely new design. Carrying 4,200 passengers, it will be NCL's biggest by far, and its size exceeds almost every other [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:27+00:00 16 June 2010|Cruise News|1 Comment

Top cruise deals to Iceland

Anyone affected by the flight disruption brought about by the Icelandic volcano might want to see at close hand what caused all the problems earlier this year. And naturally enough, the best way to travel to see Eyjfjallajökull is by cruise ship. Fred Olsen has two cruises on board the 804-passenger Black Watch sailing to the region in August and September. A 15-night Greenland and Iceland cruise sails from Southampton on August, 7. visiting Qaqortoq, Narsarsuaq and Nanortalik (all in Greenland), and Isafjordur and Reykjavik in Iceland. The ship returns to Southampton on August 22. Fares start at £1,094 per [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:27+00:00 12 June 2010|Cruise Deals, Cruise Destinations|0 Comments