Chopard at Sea



Before I came to work at cruise.co.uk, I was employed by a large retail jewellery company, as part of their retail management team. Although this was a large company, it sold prestigious brands such as Rolex, Breitling, Tag Heur, and others, So, I know my watches, and jewellery.

I was so pleased, therfore to hear, that the swiss watch, and jewellery brand Chopard, is also going to be available on the new Cunard Queen Elizabeth. The Geneva based company, that has been trading for over 150 years, is producing a limited edition watch, called the Chopard Queen Elizabeth. So, along with Cloggau gold, who have created a speciallly designed limited edition gold pendant, you can go to town, and have the time of your life (apologies for the pun) deciding which item to purchase to commemorate your special journey on board the newest Queen.

So, for a chance to put one of Chopards timepieces on your wrist, call me on 0800 408 6143, or drop me a line at mariannej@cruise.co.uk

Fortnum & Mason. Tea at Sea

Since 1936, when Queen Mary was first launched as a Cunard Queen, they have been famous for offering the best quality brands, and gifts, that can be puchased at sea.

The newest Queen, that will be launched in October 2010, will be no exception.

Onboard the newest ship, Queen Elizabeth, on their Royal Arcade, there will be an iconic range of products from Fortnum & Mason. This company has been the quintessential english store, since 1707, and now you will have the chance to purchase speciality teas, biscuits, preserves, and gifts, whilst surrounded by the oppulance of the newest Cunard Queen.  Personally, I have never shopped in Fortnum & Mason, the closest I have ever got is to walk around Harrods, when I was in London last year.

So, I guess, in a way, this makes it pretty special, as this is a company with more history, and heritage than Cunard.  And they are proving to be just as forward thinking, as any other business, as none of the other cruise lines out there, are offering the same standard of products, to be purchased on board.

We still have some spaces available for her maiden season, so if you want a chance to say 'I was there', then give me a call on 0800 408 6143, or drop me a line at mariannej@cruise.co.uk

And it keeps happening.....

Well, it's true. Over in America, a second oil rig has suffered an 'incident'. The Houston based oil company Mariner Energy have tried to down-play the potential ecolological dangers from the incident. Although, Mariner Energy have stated that the rig was shut down  for maintenence work, according to Homeland Security, the rig was pumping at the time.

All 13 platform workers had to dive into the sea, but thankfully all but one were unhurt.

Now, after all the blame that has been heaped on BP, for the incident at Deepwater Horizon, the US has had two oil rigs blow up, damaging the enviroment in the gulf even further. Not only this most recent incident, on Vermillion 398, as it comes just weeks after the BP Deepwater Horizon well was capped off.

Louisian's Governor Bobby Jindal, is said to be 'furious' as the coast-line,which is just 80 miles from the spill, was informed that seven active wells were shut down after the fire.

Now, it may well be that the 206 million gallon oil leak from the BP oil ig, was the worst in world history, but this latest, might just be the one that adds to all the other damage that is being done.

And, of course, not only the ecological damage, but the financial long term damage that we will all suffer, as the prices continue to rise.

So far, here at cruise.co.uk, the cruise companies don't appear to have been hit all that hard by these developments, but who knows what the future brings....

So, if you want to book a cruise, give me a call on 0800 408 6143, or drop me a line at mariannej@cruise.co.uk

Heading Home

My brother, and niece, are heading home now, and they are doing it the long way, as well. They will drive down to Dover, get the ferry across to France, and then drive down to Spain. They do this every year, during the summer holidays, and for them, it's a great way to see a bit more of the countryside, both in the UK, and in France.

They live in Northern Spain, in the Basque country. I love going over there to visit, as it means I  get to visit the Guggenheim Museum. This marvel of architecture, was designed by Frank Gehry, as a tribute to the sea-faring port of Bilboa.

Here at cruise.co.uk, we have a number of P&O cruises, that take you to Bilbao, as part if the itinerary. If you can get the timing right, then I would recommend a visit to the museum, even if you don't have the time to take a tour, just a walk around the outside of the building, is enough. Not only are there some works of art, but the building itself is spectacular (just my opinion)

If seeing this  is of interest to you, give me a call on 0800 408 6143, or drop me a line at mariannej@cruise.co.uk

Stressful Times....

I read an interesting article in a newspaper the other day, and I am pretty certain a lot of people might agree with the results.
The poll was done by car hire company EUROPCAR. Apparently fear of missing a flight causes undue extra stress for for 25% of British holidaymakers.
The results were that delayed, or cancelled bus, and train services have affected 16%, whereas  taxis that are delayed, or that fail to arrive, have affected 14%. 2 % of holidaymakers, have missed flightscaused by such setbacks, and 1% claim that their most recent journey to the airport was one of the most stressfull experinces to date.
11% of the people polled, fully expect their next journey, to the airport, to be the worst part of their journey.
Here at Cruise.co.uk, we can't promise that every cruise will be stress free, but with cruises leaving from Southampton, we at least have the chance to allow you to unwind sooner.
If you wat this option, rather than fighting the traffic, and those horrendous airport trolleys, then give me a call on 0800 408 6143, or drop me a line at mariannej@cruise.co.uk

Client Opinions

Earlier this evening, I called one of my clients, to wish them 'Bon Voyage' as they are off on a Princess Cruise this weeked. Anyway, as we were talking, I happened top ask which other cruise lines they had been on, and the answer was 'Oh, MSC, Costa, Celebrity, and Aida'

Now, I know that earlier this week, Aida announced the purchase of another ship, to join their fleet, so I asked my client what he had thought of the ship, when he had been onboard. His response was 'If I was going on a cruise with other people my own age, that's who I would go with, as the drinks are all inclusive. It' was a bit of a party ship, and some of the older people onboard didn't look too happy. The food is presented buffet style, and I found that the cabin servive was lacking. The itinerary is comparable to that Of MSC, and Costa, but the tours are all in German'.

So, I suppose, that unless you are German, Dutch, or Netherlads, we won't really see many  of these ships in our locale, which I think is a shame. Their paintwork would definitely compare with some of the other cruise lines.

So, although we can't get you on one of the Aida cruises, we have plenty of others to choose from...

So, drop me a line at mariannej@cruise.co uk, or call me on 0800 408 6143.

Britons, and the Amazon

There is a British ex-soldier, who this week, completed an amazing trek, from the source of the Amazon, all the way to Maruda Beach, in Brazil.

Ed Stafford, has taken over 2 years, to walk the 4,000 miles all from the Peruvian Andes. He was accompanied the majority of the way, by a Peruvian forestry worker, Gadiel 'Cho' Sanchez Riviera. He survived on a diet of Pirahna fish, beans, and rice.

He managed to avoid pit vipers, anacondas, electric eels, and scorpions, but didn't manage to avoid being stung by wasps, and bitten approximately 50,000 times by mosquitos. He also got chased by local tribesman, armed with bow, and arrow.


As a cruise company, we have two cruises that incorprate a small portion of the Amazon, so you would get to see some of the amazing creatures,such as the river dolphin, or the horned toad that inhabit this unique portion of the world. However,, the comfort levels, and culinary delights would be better than he experienced, and somehow, I don't think that any passengers would be chased by tribesmen.

 

So if you want to see some of the unique inhabitants, and experience some of this eco-system, give me a call on 0800 408 6143, or send me an email at mariannej@cruise.co.uk