A few customers have booked their very first cruise through me recently, (their first cruise, not their first cruise through me). One of the most common themes of their questions was about what to expect onboard and how they should act in different situations. I’ve put together this quick guide on basic cruise etiquette but I’m sure you all have your own ideas and opinions so please, in the spirit of helping all Newbie Cruisers everywhere, add your own suggestions to the bottom of this post, how you should behave whilst onboard, (or how you wish others would behave)!
Happy Reading
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Monday, 27 September 2010
Port of call Picture Quiz no.3
The Good ol' U.S of A.
Woops. I guess it just goes to show even the best of all can make mistakes. I've put together a couple of these quizzes now and it wasn't till it was pointed out to me that I realised my mistake.
I hadn't changed the name of the pictures, so all you had to do to guess the name was click the picture and the name of the port would appear. Oh well, we live and learn. No wonder so many of you were emailing me telling me the quizzes were too easy. Hopefully you'll struggle a bit more with this next quiz, ports of call in North America.
Woops. I guess it just goes to show even the best of all can make mistakes. I've put together a couple of these quizzes now and it wasn't till it was pointed out to me that I realised my mistake.
I hadn't changed the name of the pictures, so all you had to do to guess the name was click the picture and the name of the port would appear. Oh well, we live and learn. No wonder so many of you were emailing me telling me the quizzes were too easy. Hopefully you'll struggle a bit more with this next quiz, ports of call in North America.
Best of luck.
Friday, 24 September 2010
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s…wait a minute is it a boy or a girl?
My wife’s 20 week scan.
We finally get to find out if it’s a boy or a girl! The appointment with the midwife is tomorrow morning and I can’t wait. I can finally start getting ready for the new one, picking out clothes, colour schemes for the nursery etc.
For obvious reasons I wont be in tomorrow, if it’s urgent either email me and I’ll pick it up from home or contact the main office number on 0800 408 6200.
For those of you who follow my blog regularly I still haven’t had any response back from the MD’s about my sponsorship idea for the baby’s middle name to be cruise.co.uk, but I am excited about being able to halve the shortlist of names we have got down to just the boy/girl suggestions.
We are still struggling with name suggestions so check back tomorrow to find out the good news and let me hear your suggestions.
Until tomorrow then……
Happy Cruising
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
We're No.1, We're No.1, We're No.1
And might be again, with your help.
That’s right folks, its that time of the year when the Travel awards are up for grabs and once again we’ve been honoured by being shortlisted for the best world cruise travel agent, and we need you’re votes! Please follow the simple instructions below to help keep us the greatest cruise travel agency on the planet.
Monday, 20 September 2010
Cheap Flights
A client forwarded this to me the other day and I have to admit it made me smile. If anyone has ever tried to book cheap flights on the internet they’ll know exactly what these ladies are talking about.
Enjoy.
PS May contain mild language; please use caution when clicking the read more button.
Enjoy.
PS May contain mild language; please use caution when clicking the read more button.
Sunday, 19 September 2010
How far North can you really sail?
You may have seen this company advertising on TV lately.
Hurtigruten.
The reason I started investigating them is that a customer of mine wanted to book a cruise that would take him as far north as he could go, well above the Arctic Circle, to give him the best chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis as we could. The best cruise line I could find to take him was Fred Olsen, but they were only operating one cruise that far north.
And it was sold out.
For 2012!
Saturday, 18 September 2010
International talk like a Pirate Day
Sunday The 19th September.
It’s tomorrow! Aha me hearty’s! Batton down the hatches! Walk the plank!
*cough cough* embarrassed silence.
Moving swiftly on, I recently did a blog about International talk like a Pirate day, you can find out more about it either here, or on their own page here.
In the blog I said the day, whilst obviously being a bit tongue in cheek, was based on the golden age of Piracy. But what was the golden age of piracy. When you think of the term pirate what springs to mind?
Friday, 17 September 2010
Top ten ways you can tell you’re on a three star cruise ship……………………………
1. When the beggars at the different ports see you disembarking and offer you money.
2. When the McDonalds you buy on shore is better than the food onboard.
3. There’s a fork in the sugar bowl.
4. You booked your cruise by saving up coupons from the Sun.
5. You can have the lights on in your room or the TV Not both at the same time. Electricity isn’t free you know.
6. You can’t find any named brand anything onboard.
7. Your fellow passengers are outraged that the cruise wasn’t the same price it was two years ago. (Actually, not sure that ones limited to three star cruises).
8. The last time you saw this many Burberry Base ball caps was………..well never actually.
9. Surely not even Mr. T wears that much gold jewellery?
10. This is a good cruise ‘innit?’
This is obviously meant a bit tongue in cheek, there’s nothing wrong with three star cruises but I would be interested in seeing how big we can get these lists. Let’s see how many more you can come up with here.
Happy cruising
2. When the McDonalds you buy on shore is better than the food onboard.
4. You booked your cruise by saving up coupons from the Sun.
5. You can have the lights on in your room or the TV Not both at the same time. Electricity isn’t free you know.
6. You can’t find any named brand anything onboard.
7. Your fellow passengers are outraged that the cruise wasn’t the same price it was two years ago. (Actually, not sure that ones limited to three star cruises).
8. The last time you saw this many Burberry Base ball caps was………..well never actually.
9. Surely not even Mr. T wears that much gold jewellery?
10. This is a good cruise ‘innit?’
This is obviously meant a bit tongue in cheek, there’s nothing wrong with three star cruises but I would be interested in seeing how big we can get these lists. Let’s see how many more you can come up with here.
Happy cruising
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Top ten ways you can tell you’re on a six star luxury cruise ship…………………
1. Anything advertised as ‘on sale’ still seems to cost roughly the same as the national debt of a small third world country.
2. Everyone around you seems to have names like Tarquin or Perciville.
3. You've overheard someone using the phrase “Do you know who I am?”
4. The person sitting next to you at dinner has gone into ‘frugal mode’ because their spending money has just dipped below £20,000.
5. Frugal mode means buying one diamond bracelet in the onboard shops instead of two.
6. When people fill out the passenger satisfaction survey you see them laughing because the "Annual Income" box only goes up to £250,000 a year.
7. All the people on the ship seem to have 'People'....
8. You’re sitting at a table for 8 and the two six year olds you’re sitting with know what a hostile take-over is.
9. The people next to you own a controlling stake of the cruise ship you’re travelling on.
10. People are playing monopoly with real money.
Happy Cruising
3. You've overheard someone using the phrase “Do you know who I am?”
4. The person sitting next to you at dinner has gone into ‘frugal mode’ because their spending money has just dipped below £20,000.
5. Frugal mode means buying one diamond bracelet in the onboard shops instead of two.
6. When people fill out the passenger satisfaction survey you see them laughing because the "Annual Income" box only goes up to £250,000 a year.
7. All the people on the ship seem to have 'People'....
8. You’re sitting at a table for 8 and the two six year olds you’re sitting with know what a hostile take-over is.
9. The people next to you own a controlling stake of the cruise ship you’re travelling on.
10. People are playing monopoly with real money.
Happy Cruising
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Top ten ways you can tell your on an Italian cruise ship…………………………
1. You can have a conversation with a stranger comprised entirely of facial expressions, hand gestures and no words.
2. Someone you’ve just met invites you to come and stay at their house next year.
3. Posted schedules, hours of operation, etc mean absolutely nothing.
4. Someone tells you how they’ve quit drinking coffee – They now only have five cups a day.
5. Eating dinner before 9:00pm instantly labels you as a tourist.
6. You can’t remember what food tastes like that doesn’t include either mozzarella, pesto, garlic or tomatoes. (Actually stick all of those together and that sounds quite nice).
7. Everything stops onboard, and I mean everything if Italy are playing football.
8. You receive a bill and the waiters name and cabin number are on the back of it.
9. A glass of wine costs less than a glass of coke.
10. When you’re sitting on the balcony and the man in the next balcony is singing at the top of his lungs. At 7:30 in the morning. Naked.
Happy Cruising
3. Posted schedules, hours of operation, etc mean absolutely nothing.
4. Someone tells you how they’ve quit drinking coffee – They now only have five cups a day.
5. Eating dinner before 9:00pm instantly labels you as a tourist.
6. You can’t remember what food tastes like that doesn’t include either mozzarella, pesto, garlic or tomatoes. (Actually stick all of those together and that sounds quite nice).
7. Everything stops onboard, and I mean everything if Italy are playing football.
8. You receive a bill and the waiters name and cabin number are on the back of it.
9. A glass of wine costs less than a glass of coke.
10. When you’re sitting on the balcony and the man in the next balcony is singing at the top of his lungs. At 7:30 in the morning. Naked.
Happy Cruising
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Top ten ways to tell you’re on an American cruise ship…………..
1. A pizza can be delivered to your cabin faster than the doctor can get there.
2. People are ordering double cheese burgers, large fries, and a diet coke
3. Everyone you pass by says "hey, how are you?" and then keeps on walking.
4. The metric system is non-existent, and unintelligible to most Americans, however Cola is still sold by the litre.
5. There isn’t actually any Americans onboard, just Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, German-Americans, Swiss-Americans, Swedish-Americans, Jewish-Americans, African-Americans, Mexican-Americans etc...
6. All the waiting staff will end a conversation with “y’all have a nice day now” but not actually care.
7. You can watch the international news section on the ship TV’s and come away a lot more knowledgeable about the latest results of American Idol and what the scores were in last nights football game. (I won’t even start on American football, where would I begin?).
8. The smallest portions of food available are what we Brits would call ‘Super Sized’.
9. Every time you order a cup of tea the waiter ends up throwing it overboard. (This can be an even worse problem if you happen to be docked in Boston).
10. Every time you order chips with your dinner you end up with a big bowl of Doritos.
I know I said top ten but I’ve just thought of this one and thought it definetley needed including.
11. Gratuities. Enough said.
Happy Cruising
3. Everyone you pass by says "hey, how are you?" and then keeps on walking.
4. The metric system is non-existent, and unintelligible to most Americans, however Cola is still sold by the litre.
5. There isn’t actually any Americans onboard, just Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, German-Americans, Swiss-Americans, Swedish-Americans, Jewish-Americans, African-Americans, Mexican-Americans etc...
6. All the waiting staff will end a conversation with “y’all have a nice day now” but not actually care.
7. You can watch the international news section on the ship TV’s and come away a lot more knowledgeable about the latest results of American Idol and what the scores were in last nights football game. (I won’t even start on American football, where would I begin?).
8. The smallest portions of food available are what we Brits would call ‘Super Sized’.
9. Every time you order a cup of tea the waiter ends up throwing it overboard. (This can be an even worse problem if you happen to be docked in Boston).
10. Every time you order chips with your dinner you end up with a big bowl of Doritos.
I know I said top ten but I’ve just thought of this one and thought it definetley needed including.
11. Gratuities. Enough said.
Happy Cruising
Monday, 13 September 2010
Top ten ways to tell you’re on a British Cruise ship………………
1. Everyone knows how to (correctly) pronounce Edinburgh, Buckinghamshire, Welwyn Garden City, Loughborough and Gloucester.
2. Tea is a drink and a meal.
3. Everyone has brought at least 5 umbrellas and 3 overcoats, even though the cruise is in the Caribbean.
4. Talking about the weather is a perfectly acceptable way to start a conversation at dinner/in a bar/with a random stranger on deck.
5. You will know what a chav is and how to spot one – “on my cruise ship, how dare they!”
6. You've been referred to as "mate" by at least 500 people, 75% of whom you don't know.
7. You will assume every one in a foreign port is only speaking a foreign language to spite you. You can’t understand why they can’t understand you when you speak loudly and slowly.
8. You will complain loudly and vehemently if there isn’t a kettle in your room.
9. Queuing isn’t something you just do. It’s a way of life.
10. The buffet will be left unattended but they chain the pens to the pursers desk.
This is obviously meant a bit tounge in cheek, but I'd be intrested in seeing how big we can get the list. Lets see how many more you can come up with here.
Happy Cruising.
3. Everyone has brought at least 5 umbrellas and 3 overcoats, even though the cruise is in the Caribbean.
4. Talking about the weather is a perfectly acceptable way to start a conversation at dinner/in a bar/with a random stranger on deck.
5. You will know what a chav is and how to spot one – “on my cruise ship, how dare they!”
6. You've been referred to as "mate" by at least 500 people, 75% of whom you don't know.
7. You will assume every one in a foreign port is only speaking a foreign language to spite you. You can’t understand why they can’t understand you when you speak loudly and slowly.
8. You will complain loudly and vehemently if there isn’t a kettle in your room.
9. Queuing isn’t something you just do. It’s a way of life.
10. The buffet will be left unattended but they chain the pens to the pursers desk.
This is obviously meant a bit tounge in cheek, but I'd be intrested in seeing how big we can get the list. Lets see how many more you can come up with here.
Happy Cruising.
Sunday, 12 September 2010
My 'Daddy Cool' Saturday
Every other weekend I like to take my little lad Harry to a nursey group specificaly for Fathers and children. No Mommys allowed! It's only for an hour and a half every other Saturday but it's something we both really look forward to, which notmaly means on a Saturday morning I wake up with a two year old bouncing on my bed shouting
'Yay! Daddy Cool!'
Anyway, recentley, as some of the children have gotten older and moved on to do diffrent things, the nursery has had trouble recruiting new Dads to come along. It always amazes me as to the amount of Dads that seem to be scared about spending time alone withe their kids. I wouldn't give up my Saturday mornings with Harry for anything.
Anyway, to counter act this lack of numbers the nrsery, on Saturday just gone, decided to hold an open day where Moms and Dads would both be welcome, so that they could show off all the services the centre offers. Below are some pictures of Harry enjoying himself, but I managed to talk some off the folk from cruise.co.uk into coming along, so you'll have to check out their blogs as well to see what they thought of the day.
'Yay! Daddy Cool!'
Anyway, recentley, as some of the children have gotten older and moved on to do diffrent things, the nursery has had trouble recruiting new Dads to come along. It always amazes me as to the amount of Dads that seem to be scared about spending time alone withe their kids. I wouldn't give up my Saturday mornings with Harry for anything.
Anyway, to counter act this lack of numbers the nrsery, on Saturday just gone, decided to hold an open day where Moms and Dads would both be welcome, so that they could show off all the services the centre offers. Below are some pictures of Harry enjoying himself, but I managed to talk some off the folk from cruise.co.uk into coming along, so you'll have to check out their blogs as well to see what they thought of the day.
Friday, 10 September 2010
International Talk Like A Pirate Day
September 19th 2010
Huzzah, it’s nearly here again. You wait and wait and wait and then suddenly it’s only nine days away. International talk like a Pirate Day! Mwah hahahaha! Avast me hearty’s!
Huzzah, it’s nearly here again. You wait and wait and wait and then suddenly it’s only nine days away. International talk like a Pirate Day! Mwah hahahaha! Avast me hearty’s!
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Why not the QE3?
By now you all should have heard that Cunards newest ship, The Queen Elizabeth, will be named by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the second herself, so I’m not going to spend anytime belabouring that particular point. What I am going to do is indulge in my favourite pastime on this blog of ranting about subjects that no one except me seems to care about.
Why aren’t they calling her the QE3?
Why aren’t they calling her the QE3?
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
A Very British Cruise
A regular passenger called me up yesterday and said they were fed up of all these foreign cruise ships and wanted me to book them a 'proper' British cruise.
Well that didn't take to much thought, P&O instantly jumped to mind or possibly even Fred Olsens.
It was last night though, mulling their request over in bed, I know, I know, I spend too much time thinking about cruising, that it hit me. What had I actually booked them?
Well that didn't take to much thought, P&O instantly jumped to mind or possibly even Fred Olsens.
It was last night though, mulling their request over in bed, I know, I know, I spend too much time thinking about cruising, that it hit me. What had I actually booked them?
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Vacationing in Valencia
O.K., so here’s another update on my series of blogs about un-missable tourist destinations on the different ports of call we at cruise.co.uk send you all too. Again, bear in mind this is aimed at people who have never visited these ports before and it’s all based on my personal opinions and my favourite sites anyway. If you feel I’ve missed something important out or disagree with a point I've made please make a comment below to help other cruisers make up their minds.
Monday, 6 September 2010
My 100th Blog Post!
I know it's only another number. I know if you start counting from one you'll eventually reach it, but still, one hundred is a bit of a milestone. It's been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, from ash clouds to ship launches; B.A strikes to world cup wins and defeats.
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you constant readers out there who have followed my blog for the last few months; I appreciate you all coming back to check out my latest post and wanted to say how much I appreciate all of your comments/questions/musings. Thank you all.
I thought it would be fun to take this opportunity to look back over the last few months and list my personal top ten favourite posts. I might also have a word with one of our I.T gremlins to see what the most popular posts were by numbers and see how they compare.
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you constant readers out there who have followed my blog for the last few months; I appreciate you all coming back to check out my latest post and wanted to say how much I appreciate all of your comments/questions/musings. Thank you all.
I thought it would be fun to take this opportunity to look back over the last few months and list my personal top ten favourite posts. I might also have a word with one of our I.T gremlins to see what the most popular posts were by numbers and see how they compare.
Sunday, 5 September 2010
Cruise Wordsearch
ANCHOR, BLUE, BOAT, CAPTAIN, DOCKS, FISHING, HARBOR, OCEAN, SAILING, SEA, SEAGULL, SHIP, STARBOARD, VOYAGE, WATER,
Happy Cruising
Saturday, 4 September 2010
Port of Call Picture Quiz No. 2!
The Mediterranean
A lot of comments about my last ports of call picture quiz were regarding how easy it was, so I've tried to make this one a little harder for you. I've based it pretty much around the Med for you to give you a bit of a clue to start you off.
A lot of comments about my last ports of call picture quiz were regarding how easy it was, so I've tried to make this one a little harder for you. I've based it pretty much around the Med for you to give you a bit of a clue to start you off.
Best of Luck.
Friday, 3 September 2010
Cruising to Cagliari?
O.K., so here’s another update on my series of blogs about un-missable tourist destinations on the different ports of call we at cruise.co.uk send you all too. Again, bear in mind this is aimed at people who have never visited these ports before and it’s all based on my personal opinions and my favourite sites anyway. If you feel I’ve missed something important out or disagree with a point I've made please make a comment below to help other cruisers make up their minds.
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Which Passenger are You?
Thanks have to go to Moss Travel TV, a Ships Cat member of our forums who posted this last month. I've only just read it and thought it was hilarious, so come on , be honest which one are you. And please don't get offended it's just a bit of tounge in cheek humour.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
September
I’ve been doing a series of blogs for awhile now on what to do during in a particular month if you missed out on that last minute cruise deal. Included have been some of the wackier days out/festivals that can be found around our dear old Island. One of the strangest things I’ve seen was the bog snorkelling championships in Wales last month, but there’s a couple below that nearly beat it for weirdness, read on if you dare……….
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