More deals for March..

It seems that on particular cruises throughout the year there are still lots of cabins still to sell, so March will be a crazy month here at www.cruise.co.uk.  You will find that just before they launch the prices and itineraries for 2013 they will want the majority of 2012 sold, hence some fantastic deals to be had.

P&O and Cunard have just released their March Campaign - Ultimate Upgrade Sale ......

Pay for an inside cabin - get an Oceanview cabin

Pay for an Oceanview cabin - get a Balcony cabin

Pay for a Balcony cabin - get a Mini Suite / Princess Grill

Pay for a Mini Suite / Princess Grill - get a Suite / Queens Grill

These above offers are available on the following cruises:

Queen Elizabeth
19 June, 22 June, 6 July, 27 July, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 28 Aug, 6 Sep, 18 Sep, 30 Sep, 12 Oct, 24 Oct, 5 Nov, 17 Nov and 29 Nov

Queen Victoria
5 May, 22 May, 5 June, 22 June, 29 June, 13 July, 21 July, 3 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 28 Aug, 13 Sep, 3 Oct, 19 Oct, 11 Nov, 22 Nov and 13 Dec

Queen Mary
13 July, 10 Aug, 4 Sep, 21 Sep, 9 Oct, 21 Oct, 15 Dec, 4 Nov, 16 Nov and 4 Dec

Adonia
17 Aug, 24 Aug, 16 Sep, 21 Oct, 4 Nov and 9 Dec

Arcadia
3 June, 26 June, 31 July, 30 Aug, 19 Sep, 13 Oct, 5 Nov and 25 Nov

Aurora
3 July, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 31 Aug, 26 Sep, 10 Oct, 15 Oct, 1 Nov, 23 Nov and 16 Dec

Azura
2 June, 16 June, 3 July, 21 July, 28 July, 17 Aug, 02 Sep, 15 Sep, 5 Nov, 19 Nov and 2 Dec

Oceana
3 June, 24 Jun, 22 July, 2 Sep, 14 Sep, 28 Sep, 31 Oct, 12 Nov and 22 Nov

Oriana
20 June, 14 July, 28 July, 4 Aug, 18 Aug, 1 Sep, 17 Oct, 16 Nov and 4 Dec

Ventura
3 June, 17 June, 30 June, 23 July, 27 July, 12 Aug, 1 Sep, 8 Sep, 25 Sep, 5 Oct, 19 Oct, 21 Oct, 2 Nov and 23 Nov

This offer is valid for new bookings only and is bookable from 1st March. If you are interested in a particular cruise call me on 0800 408 6092, I can pre register your details today and make the booking Thursday morning.

Birmingham half marathon....

As a company www.cruise.co.uk staff are competing in the Birmingham Half Marathon on the 21st October.  At the moment it looks like majority of the staff have said yes, it's going to be interesting to see how many drop out when the training starts.  I love running, but have never really considered taking part in a marathon, but I have to say I am really excited.  I try to run at least 3 times a week and anything between 5 and 8 miles, I have done a few 10 mile runs but never 13 miles. Training has now started for me, I will let you know how I am getting on.

You can imagine what we are like in the office at the moment, all are either on a diet, starting a mad fitness regime, and a few are even giving up smoking! 

Andrew Gardner our chairman is also taking part, the last time he competed the half marathon was 30 years ago, but he is no stranger to training and being disciplined as last year Andrew and his family climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.

We are also considering running for a charity, I will keep you updated on this.

Wish us luck!!!

2.       

How well do you know our website?

We have a fantastic website, and I know a lot of clients feel the same, as I get calls saying how informative it is, but how well do you really know it??

Not only do we keep you up to date with all the latest offers, prices and availability, we also have a wealth of other information from deck plans, cruise reviews, client photos, menus, drink prices, question and answers and a whole load more.

• You can check availability and book your cruise
• You can pay your balance online
• You can complete your cruise personaliser
• We have over 20,000 cruise reviews by REAL cruisers giving you their opinions of their holiday. When we as cruise agents go on a ship visit or a cruise holiday we also write a honest review
• We have over 182,00 question and answers
• We have some fantastic photos and videos of clients holidays and again when we go on a ship visit or cruise holiday you will find these on here too.
• We then have the cruise guide information, which is fantastic.  This gives you samples of menus on lots of different ship from the main dining room to the speciality restaurants.  Details on different drink packages and also drink prices.  Did you know a bottle of champagne on a P&O ship starts from £31.95, Cunard it's $75 a bottle.  A cocktail on a Fred Olsen cruise starts from £4.00 and a beer on Princess starts from $4.50.
• Examples of the daily planner, what to expect on days at sea.  So if you are thinking of taking a transatlantic cruise and are worried about what life is like onboard for the 7 nights then you will find this really useful.
• Hate asking the question of gratuities then we have a section on this too.
• Webinars - Live online cruise lectures, only recently launched, this will enable you to speak to the experts from the comfort of your own home, simply register and see what online chats are scheduled.

Our website really is the bible to cruising.

Cunard launches a 4 day sale

Between the 10th and 13th February Cunard are offering a fantastic cruise sale, you pay for an inside cabin and you will receive an upgrade to a balcony!

I have to stress that this offer is for new bookings only, and will only be available during this 4 day period.  It will be available on all three of Cunards ships - Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and the Queen Mary, are on selected Southampton departures between April and September 2012.

Prices start from £399 per person on the Queen Victoria, 3 night cruise departing 5th May 2012.

We are expecting to be busy during this period, its certainly a great deal!

Changes to P&O World Cruise 2013

P&O have recently annouced the cancellation of Azura’s 2013 world cruise.  I have to say that when we received the itineraries for 2013 I was shocked to see the Azura sailing on a World Cruise.  Personally I didnt think the ship suited the market who take a World Cruise or a sector of a World Cruise.  Don't get me wrong I love the ship, but she was built for the family market, and the majority of people (agree a small minority will be families)  who take a world cruise are retired or semi retired.  Instead the ship will be doing a series of fly cruises in the Caribbean.  There was obvioulsy a reason why they decided to withdraw her from the Caribbean, maybe they need to rethink the Caribbean itineary.  As yet P&O have not published replacement itineraries.   All passengers booked on the cancelled voyages have been offered alternatives on the 3 remaining world cruises or a full refund.

Happy Burns day!

Today is one of Scotland’s biggest cultural holidays, Burns Day/Night celebrates the poet & lyricist Robert Burns.

What is Burns Night?

Burns Night is the commemoration of the life and works of Robert Burns, Scotland's most famous poet. It is celebrated with traditional suppers, which have been held annually on his birthday for more than 200 years.
Burns was born on 25 January 1759, in Alloway, Ayrshire in south-west Scotland. He is renowned worldwide as a great poet and songwriter. A keen social commentator, Burns wrote movingly about love, universal brotherhood and the human condition. He wrote from the heart and, to this day, his words are considered timeless.

The traditional Burns supper menu consists of cock-a-leekie soup (or Scotch broth) and haggis with "tatties and neeps" (potatoes and rutabagas), Tipsy Laird (sherry trifle) followed by oatcakes and cheese, all washed down with liberal tots of the "water of life" - Scotch whisky.

 

To a Mouse - A Poem by Robert Burns

(Written by Burns after he had turned over the nest of a tiny field mouse with his plough. Burns was a farmer and farmers are generally far too busy to be concerned with the health of mice. This poem is another illustration of Robert Burn's tolerance to all creatures and his innate humanity.)

Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie,
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty
Wi bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee,
Wi' murdering pattle.
I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
An' justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth born companion
An' fellow mortal!
I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen icker in a thrave
'S a sma' request;
I'll get a blessin wi' the lave,
An' never miss't.
Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin!
It's silly wa's the win's are strewin!
An' naething, now, to big a new ane,
O' foggage green!
An' bleak December's win's ensuin,
Baith snell an' keen!
Thou saw the fields laid bare an' waste,
An' weary winter comin fast,
An' cozie here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro' thy cell.
That wee bit heap o' leaves an' stibble,
Has cost thee monie a weary nibble!
Now thou's turned out, for a' thy trouble,
But house or hald,
To thole the winter's sleety dribble,
An' cranreuch cauld.
But Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!
Still thou are blest, compared wi' me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But och! I backward cast my e'e,
On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!

 

I'm hosting the All Things Scottish Blog Giveaway Hop for the event. Each participating blog will talk about their favorite thing from Scotland along with hosting a Scottish themed give

January cruise news

Well we are half way through January already, and what a great start to the New Year.  There are some fantastic late deals at the moment out to the Caribbean with P&O and Fred Olsen, take a look at our cruise forum (click here)  where we will load the best and latest deals hot off the press.

There are also great deals for cruises going in the Summer - P%O and Cunard have reduced their fares by 10% and there are also some departures with extra onboard credit.  RCCL and Celebrity are offering free parking at Southampton, free flights on some of their departures and again on certain dates extra onboard credit.  MSC have some fantastic cruise only prices starting from £349 for a 7 night cruise. 

We are also ready to send out our latest complete cruise brochure - which I know a lot of you are eagerly waiting to receive.