What are the different ‘types’ of cruise holidays available?

This article, by necessity, is going to have to make some generalisations. I’m aware that some of the categories below can be combined so that the cruise you end up going on could well be described by several of the categories. Never the less I thought it might be useful for first time cruisers planning their first voyage, or even to more experienced cruisers looking to broaden their horizon, to make a brief list of all the different types of cruises available with the pros and cons to each.                  

First up…………..

P&O and Cunard - Are they chasing the German market?

Any regular readers to this blog will know that I always try to keep you up to date with any interesting cruise gossip that crosses my desk.
You may, (or may not), also remember a post I wrote last year titled - The Germans are Invading.
In it I quoted leading cruise industry leaders who felt that by the end of this decade the German cruise market would have out-striped the UK cruise market in terms of passenger capacity.
Since then there has been a lot of consumer led speculation and rumours floating around as to when/if the cruise lines would start to chase this growing foreign market.

Brilliance of the Seas - Cruise ship review

I've said it before and I'll say it again - It's a hard job but someones got to do it! Yep, you've guessed it, I've just got back from Harwich after visiting a cruise ship just after it had been refurbished. This time I got to see Royal Caribbeans Brilliance of the Seas.
It was an overnight event for travel agents to showcase all the new features of the ship. I hadn't seen a Royal Caribbean ship since the Summer of 2010 when I got to go onboard the Independence of the Seas so I was really looking forward to it.
What were my first impressions? Well it's funny you should ask. As a travel agent when ever someone asks me what Royal Caribbean are like I always use the stock reply of "their quite glitzy and glamorous, all their ships have the 'WOW' factor". The problem with using a stock response though is that after awhile it can lose some of it's meaning. You forget how glitzy the ships are. You forget how glamorous they feel. You do tend to forget about the 'WOW' factor.
So first impressions?
Jaw dropping!!!!
I know Royal Caribbean aren't for everyone. I know not everyone likes that amount of glitz and glamour on their cruise but you have to hand it to Royal Caribbean - They make a great first impression!

How to get a free cruise ship cabin

It might seem a bit drastic to some but these sailors have stumbled on the perfect way of netting themselves a free cabin on a cruise ship..............

River cruise line 2014 brochure

If you're looking for a river cruise but don't like the prices that some of the five star cruise lines charge then may I recommend the River Cruise Line to you.
They're a great company that offer over two hundred and fifty different coach connection points around the UK to get you to the start of your cruise - And there prices are amazing!
Check out their new 2014 river cruise brochure below........

Happy, (river), cruising

Are Cunard cutting costs?

I've spoke to a few guests returning from Cunard cruises lately and they've all had the same thing to say about Cunards shore excursions.