( February 4, 2012 ) Travel Directs’ Cruise Direct Online, a web-based travel services provider, recently launched a new micro-site http://www.europecruisesdirect.com/ focused on European cruising, separate from its main agency site, http://www.cruisedirectonline.com/

Easy to launch and navigate, the micro-site provides travelers with dependable data on the many options available when cruising Europe. It contains rich composition that will greatly aid a traveler’s vacation search, including ship photos, deck plans, itinerary details, videos and up-to-date pricing.

 “As certified experts on the European cruising market, our Europe Travel Advisors know that the typical cruise client is faced with an incredible amount of choices,” said Marty Trencher, of Cruise Direct Online.

 “Our new site distills that key knowledge into easy to read and discover sections that will greatly benefit our clients in finding the ideal European cruise. We’ve presented Europe by sea , in grade new approach”

Featuring itineraries from Crystal, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean universal, Norwegian Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises , and Viking River Cruises,  the micro-site includes many voyages that include added amenities at no additional charge—such as free shore excursions, complimentary meals at specialty restaurants and onboard credits—even cabin upgrades, and on choose cruises free airfare, all of which are exclusive to Europe Cruises Direct.

 “Thanks to our extensive partnerships with these cruise lines, we are able to supply added benefits that assemble all of our clients feel like VIPs,” added Trencher.
 Visit http://www.europecruisesdirect.com/ to review the complete website.

[Source] Cruise Traveler Magazine

[Source] Cruise Traveler Magazine

[Source] Cruise Traveler Magazine

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First-Ever Miami Departures and New European Destinations supply More Options for Disney Cruise Line Guests
CELEBRATION, Fla. (Jan. 24, 2012) – In 2013, Disney Cruise Line will offer new itineraries, including an expanded portfolio of European cruises with new destinations such as Venice, Italy, and the Greek Isles. In addition, Disney Cruise Line will utilize a second homeport in Florida, with Caribbean sailings departing from the Port of Miami for the first duration.

With the addition of the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy to the fleet of cruise ships, Disney Cruise Line is able to take more families to more destinations around the world. Disney Cruise Line has always catered to the rare vacation needs of families, and next year will be enhancing the cruise options for guests — whether it’s sun and sand in the Caribbean, outdoor adventures in Alaska or experiencing the wonders of Europe.

Highlights of the Disney Cruise Line 2013 schedule (which can be booked beginning Jan. 26, 2012) include…

Mediterranean from Barcelona

Beginning June 1, 2013, the Disney Magic returns to Europe with plenty of new twists to the Mediterranean itineraries, including a four-night option and special 12-night sailings in addition to seven-night itineraries that treat guests to the best of Europe during the three-month season.

The new 12-night sailings visit destinations such as Venice, Italy, and Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast on one itinerary and Ephesus, Turkey and the Greek Isles including Athens, on another. Each itinerary will offer a sailing departing in June and another departing in July.

All itineraries depart from Barcelona, Spain, as the Disney Magic takes guests on an exciting journey of richly diverse cities, cultures and citizens. With romantic boulevards, bustling bazaars, iconic locations, mild climates, sun-drenched islands and the brilliant blue Mediterranean Sea, guests will enjoy a world-class family vacation with legendary Disney guest service.

Rates start at $796 per person for four-night cruises, $1,015 per person for seven-night cruises and $2,244 for 12-night cruises departing from Barcelona for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Four-night Mediterranean Getaway

Ports: Barcelona; Nice (Villefranche), France; Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Departure dates: July 9, Aug. 6

Seven-night Mediterranean Cruise

Ports: Barcelona; Nice (Villefranche), France; Florence (La Spezia), Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Naples, Italy

Departure dates: June 1, 8, Aug. 10, 17, 24, 31

12-night Mediterranean with Greece

Ports: Barcelona; Nice (Villefranche), France; Florence (La Spezia), Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; Mykonos, Greece; Valetta, Malta

Departure dates: June 15, July 13

12-night Mediterranean with Venice

Ports: Barcelona; Nice (Villefranche), France; Florence (La Spezia), Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Naples, Italy; Venice, Italy (overnight); Dubrovnik, Croatia; Valetta, Malta

Departure dates: June 27, July 25

More About 2013 Sailings continues after the 2012 listings below.

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DISNEY CRUISE LINE 2012 DEPARTURE SCHEDULE

Click on the highlighted link for more information

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Destination Disney Cruise Ship Itinerary Sails From Returns To Number of Days
Alaska Disney Wonder 7-night Alaska – Itin B Seattle Seattle 7
Alaska Disney Wonder 7[night Alaska - Itin C Vancouver Seattle 7
Alaska Disney Wonder 7[night Alaska - Itin D Seattle Vancouver 7
Bahamas Disney Dream 4-night Bahamas - Itin C Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 4
Bahamas Disney Dream 5-night Bahamas Holiday Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 5
Bahamas Disney Dream 5-night Bahamas New Year's Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 5
Bahamas Disney Dream 5-night Bahamas - Itin D Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 5
Bahamas Disney Dream 5-night Bahamas - Itin E Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 5
Bahamas Disney Dream 3-night Bahamas Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 3
Bahamas Disney Dream 5-night Bahamas - Itin A Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 5
Bahamas Disney Dream 4-night Bahamas - Itin A Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 4
Bahamas Disney Dream 4-night Bahamas - Itin B Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 4
Bahamas Disney Magic 8--night Bahamian New York City New York City 8
Bahamas Disney Magic 5-night Bahamian - Itin A Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 5
Bahamas Disney Magic 4-night Bahamian Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 4
Canada Disney Magic 5-night Canada & New England Coast New York City New York City 5
Canada Disney Magic 5-night Canada & New England Coast New York City New York City 5
Eastern Caribbean Disney Fantasy 7-night Eastern Caribbean - Itin A Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 7
Eastern Caribbean Disney Fantasy 7-night Eastern Caribbean - Itin B Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 7
Eastern Caribbean Disney Magic 7-night Eastern Caribbean Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 7
Hawaii Disney Wonder 15-night Hawaii Los Angeles Los Angeles 15
Hawaii Disney Wonder 14-night Hawaii Los Angeles Los Angeles 14
Mexico Disney Wonder 7-night Mexican Riviera Cruise Los Angeles Los Angeles 7
Nowhere Disney Magic 2-night New York Weekend Getaway New York City New York City 2
U.S. Pacific Coast Disney Wonder 7-night Los Angeles to Vancouver Los Angeles Vancouver 7
U.S. Pacific Coast Disney Wonder 6-night Vancouver to Los Angeles Vancouver Los Angeles 6
U.S. Pacific Coast Disney Wonder 7-night Pacific Coast Los Angeles Los Angeles 7
Western Caribbean Disney Fantasy 7-night Western Caribbean Itin A Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 7
Western Caribbean Disney Fantasy 7-night Western Caribbean - Itin B Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 7
Western Caribbean Disney Magic 6-night Western Caribbean Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 6
Western Caribbean Disney Magic 6-night Western Caribbean Galveston Galveston 6
Western Caribbean Disney Magic 7-night Western Caribbean - Itin A Port Canaveral Port Canaveral 7
Western Caribbean Disney Magic 8-night Western Caribbean Holiday Galveston Galveston 8
Western Caribbean Disney Magic 8-night Western Caribbean Holiday Galveston Galveston 8
Western Caribbean Disney Magic 7-night Western Caribbean - Itin C Galveston Galveston 7

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2013 Disney Cruise Line News continues....

Bahamas and Western Caribbean from Miami

Disney Cruise Line will sail from Miami for the first date on Dec. 23, 2012. One six- and one seven-night Caribbean sailing aboard the Disney Wonder will set the stage for a schedule of four- and five-night cruises from Miami to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean amoung Jan. 5, 2013, and May 2, 2013. The four- and five-night cruises have a variety of itineraries. Ports of signal may include Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman; Key West; Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

The itineraries offer families magical days at sea to explore all of the fun aboard the Disney Wonder and days in port to lounge on warm, golden beaches, to swim and snorkel in azure waters or to shop to their heart’s subject matter in exotic marketplaces.

Rates for four- and five-night cruises departing from Miami start at $440 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Five-night Caribbean

Ports: Miami, Cozumel, Castaway Cay

Departure dates: Jan. 5, 19, Feb, 2, 16, March 2, 16, 30, April 13, 27

Five-night Caribbean

Ports: Miami, Grand Cayman, Cozumel

Departure dates: Jan. 14, 28, Feb. 11, 25, March 11, 25, April 8, 22

Four-night Bahamas

Ports: Miami, Key West, Nassau, Castaway Cay

Departure dates: Jan. 10, 24, Feb. 7, 21, March 7, 21, April 4, 18, May 2

Western Caribbean from Galveston

The Disney Magic, which will start sailing from Texas in 2012, will continue to sail from the Port of Galveston through May 2013, to the Western Caribbean.

Rates start at $750 per person for six-night cruises and $920 per person for eight-night cruises departing from Galveston for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Six-night Caribbean:

Ports: Galveston, Grand Cayman, Cozumel

Departure dates: Dec. 15 and 29, 2012, Jan. 12, 26, Feb. 9, 23, March 9, 23, April 6, 20. May 4

Eight-night Caribbean:

Ports: Galveston, Key West, Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel

Departure dates: Dec. 21, 2012, Jan. 4, 18, Feb. 1, 15, March 1, 15, 29, April 12, 26, May 10

Alaska from Vancouver

Beginning May 27, 2013, the Disney Wonder will sail seven-night cruises from Vancouver to Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska.

These cruises will combine the natural wonder and adventurous spirit of Alaska with the unparalleled, family-friendly experience found on a Disney Cruise Line ship. Disney Cruise Line worked closely with Alaskan tour operators to create exclusive-to-Disney family-friendly Port Adventures that allow guests to best experience Alaska’s natural beauty and rich history.

Rates for seven-night Alaska cruises departing from Vancouver start at $1,015 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Seven-night Alaska:

Ports: Vancouver, Tracy Arm (scenic cruising through fjord), Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan

Departure dates: May 27, June 3, 10, 17, 24, July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26, Sept. 2

Caribbean and Bahamas from Port Canaveral

The Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream will continue to sail a variety of Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries departing from Port Canaveral.

The Disney Fantasy will sail out of Port Canaveral on seven-night Caribbean itineraries – alternating eastern (St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and western (Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel). Special Eastern Caribbean sailings, January through April 2013, stop at San Juan, Puerto Rico. All Disney Fantasy itineraries include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

Rates for seven-night Caribbean cruises on the Disney Fantasy start at $1,085 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

The Disney Dream will sail three-, four- and five-night cruises from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

Rates for three- and four-night Bahamian cruises on the Disney Dream start at $450 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Adventures By Disney

Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney will offer families strange land and sea experiences in the Mediterranean. Available on choose departures, guests can maximize the magic with three-night or four-night pre-cruise Adventures by Disney vacation itineraries in Barcelona and Madrid. These immersive add-ons allow families to envelop themselves in the culture of the region with VIP access in the most-sought-after tourist destinations – such as the Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona and the El Prado museum in Madrid – as well as hands-on lessons in archeology, flamenco dancing, local cuisine and stained glass crafting. Each Adventures by Disney departure is led by knowledgeable Adventure Guides who handle all the planning logistics so parents can relax and enjoy quality moment with their family.

Families can additionally enhance seven-night and 12-night Mediterranean sailings with Adventures by Disney Onboard Experience packages. all through the voyage, guests will have access to exclusive Adventures by Disney activities and concierge service from committed Adventure Guides. These guides will plus lead travelers at each port, helping them unlock the wonders of each destination through exclusive excursions and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Specific itinerary and pricing knowledge for the 2013 Adventures by Disney experiences will be available in March 2012.

All Disney Cruise Line pricing reflects a category 11C standard inside stateroom, Government Taxes and Fees not included. Bookings for the 2013 schedule open Jan. 26, 2012.

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To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can visit www.traveldirectonline.com , shout their Disney Cruise Line Experts at 800-365-1445 or contact your own travel agent.

[Source] Cruise Traveler Magazine

[Source] Cruise Traveler Magazine

We have stayed at that very beautiful hotel now 3 times for various short breaks by the last 3 years, most recently just before Christmas. While that hotel will never be a cheap break, it certainly is a luxurious and pleasant one. It is probably one of my most favourite hotels I have ever stayed at, and love coming back to it.


The hotel is situated in a massive estate that was first mentioned as far back as the Doomsday Book, but is more famous as an estate that Henry VIII owned and first received and met his first wife (Catherine of Aragon) here. by the many years the estate and house passed through various families. In the last century it became a place where airmen stayed during the Second World War, was various schools and a Catholic Seminary. The main house was basically destroyed in about 1981 and so was rebuilt and became a corporate headquarters for a computer company before being added to and converted into the stunning Four Seasons hotel in 2005.


The hotel is situated very handy for London, and it takes less than an hour to get there down the M3 motorway near the Fleet and Hook exit at Dogmersfield.


The hotel is on the Dogmersfield Park. You drive up that expanded driveway through the huge green grounds and the restored house rises on a hill. It is very cleverly built as the added wings are not really visible when you first drive in.
The grounds around the hotel are immaculate and include a formal garden, croquet lawn and herb gardens. next, of course, the huge open grounds that lead down to a small lake. The picturesque Basingstoke Canal passes around the estate, and is great for enlarged walks and cycling.


The entrance to the hotel is beautiful and impressive. Service all through the hotel is impeccable. As per an up market and costly hotel like that the service is personal and efficient.

We usually say in a “Heritage Room”. The first date in one on the ground floor that looks out towards the formal gardens and across towards the Spa building.


The room had a “wow” factor on entering and was more luxurious and beautiful than the photos I had seen before going. There is a large bathroom with big and comfortable bath, shower and basin. The bedroom area has a table and chairs, comfortable chairs to watch TV and a large comfortable bed.


The whole hotel is incredibly well done with a intelligent mix of contemporary and traditional. The Seasons Restaurant (where breakfast is plus served) is appealing with amazing food. The Bistro and bar is trendy and funkier, and a great place to have drinks and a meal in the evening.


The Spa is really good. There is a large indoor pool with outdoor heated area (and no children are allowed in the pool design 11am to 3pm on the weekends). However, the hotel is very “child friendly” and so whether you want to avoid children going during the week is the best bet, and avoiding school holidays.


There is a well equipped gym and form and female relaxing rooms and sauna and steam room in each changing room, and plus in the pool area. There are 15 rooms for treatments and the best deal is an all day package that includes foot massage, body scrub, body massage and facial – which additionally includes lunch at the excellent Café Santé.

There is a lot to do at the hotel outdoors and we particularly enjoyed using the bikes to cycle around the grounds and canal.


They serve a fabulous afternoon tea, which at about £30 a head is a lot, but a real treat. You can have it in the beautiful library or in your room.

It is not the cheapest break you can do, but you felt very pampered and special. We will be back even though we live less than an hour away…


PHOTOS: View all my photos of the Four Seasons and the grounds on Flickr: click here


VIDEO: View my video which explores the grounds, hotel, room, spa area and the nearby Basingstoke Canal:

To just see a video of one of the Garden Bedrooms, watch the video below:

Four Seasons Hampshire: The stunning pool area

The library at Four Seasons Hampshire

Afternoon tea spread at Four Seasons Hampshire

[Source] Gary Bembridge

One of the tips I have for society considering taking a cruise is to take one of the 2 or 3 night taster trips that the cruise line you are considering offer. Most lines run a few of these every year. They are always reasonably priced and very popular. However, whether you have taken a few cruises I recommend that you try and avoid them. (For the posting on tips for first duration cruisers: click here).


We have done a few of them now, and while they are great for giving a taste of the experience, they get more frustrating and less enjoyable once you have done a full cruise and have experienced the less rushed and more interesting destinations than these short ones tend to be able to offer.


We decided, though, to take one on the P&O Arcadia ship as we wanted to take our mums on a short trip for combined Birthday/ Christmas gift. The cruise was very popular as they had booked the popular opera singer Russell Watson as the main performer. It was so popular that it sold out in about 20 minutes of going on sale. that is a review of that trip which was in early December and was due to be 3 nights taking in a day at Zeebrugge and Le Havre. I have been on the ship 3 times before on a Med Cruise, a Caribbean and Atlantic and giving a talk on a Marketing Conference on the ship. To read a review of the ship from those: click here


When we checked in at Southampton, we were told that due to the winds and sea conditions the trip to Zeebrugge would not take place and the ship would just go to Le Havre (France) and stay there overnight. Many were frustrated and complained a lot, as they would miss outings to things like the Christmas Markets in Bruge. I was surprised at how annoyed society got, as surely safety and not being sea sick is better?


Saying that, P&O did not really prepare much effort to find things for humans to do either in on board entertainment activities or additional things in Le Havre. that was a pity, as it was plus raining most of the date. I guess that is one of the disadvantages of these short trips, versus longer cruises where the lines tend to invent more effort.


The ship itself is still in good shape, it is about 4 or 5 years old only, and although there have been some changes and updates since we were first on the ship it is largely the same. 


Overall on that cruise, we found the service and general attitude across the ship to be lost a bit. It was not poor, but overall the staff seemed a bit off hand and not very enthusiastic. I am not certain whether that was due to them being jaded after a enlarged service period, or they find these short trips frustrating or whether I am more used to the Cunard service ethic (as most of our cruises have been with Cunard). 


We boarded the ship quickly on arriving, around noon, but had to sit about in the Orchid where we had some light lunch. They sent suite and mini-suite passengers there, and the other cabins used the normal Belevedre self service.


The passengers seemed much older on that short trip than on the longer cruises. that is against the overall trend on ships which is getting younger, though the Arcadia is an adults only ship, and additionally perhaps that is more the fan base for Russell Watson – so possibly that is why.


The food in the restaurant was good, and a lot of choice. We had room service breakfast the one AM, and that was good and right on date.


I think most citizens were there to see Russell Watson, which society raved about, and so think they were less fussed about what I saw as some flaws in the experience on the ship. The additional entertainment consisted of one of the singing/ dance reviews which was quite average, and a magician that once won young magician of the year (many years ago) and was additionally very average.


Overall, the trip was fine. I felt that P&O Arcadia crew were likely to be somewhat unenthusiastic about these short trips and it showed. that is likely to be less obvious to new cruisers who will be more interested in finding out out the ship, exploring and finding out more about cruising. Hence why I will shy away from doing these very short trips again.

For the reviews on the P&O Arcadia ship itself: click here

P&O Arcadia Mini-Suite B101

P&O Arcadia Mini-Suite B101

[Source] Gary Bembridge

Compare Cruise Prices Using Cruise Connect

[Source] Cruise Traveler Magazine

Shore Excursions ( land based sightseeing and adventure tours ) are part of the experience of cruising. They are additionally a profit center and big part of the cruise line’s income. Once you’ve book your cruise, you will be inundated with emails and promotions from the cruise line touting the shore tour experience at each port of shout your cruise ship visits.
You’ll be told to book your shore excursion(s) early, as space sells out quickly for the most popular tours. However, before you book those tours through the cruise line, consider how much they cost. Many are overpriced and by crowded. Say, your one of those large mega cruise ships. You know the one’s with 5000 or more passengers. Imagine, whether you will the crowded busses, citizens packed shoulder to shoulder, and attractions and adventure activities teaming with thousands of public. Take for an example a gondola ride in Venice. On any given day, hundred’s of gondola’s meander down the canals. Looks like rush hour in New York of Los Angeles. Bumper to bumper gondolas! Nothing like what you saw in the movies or commercial. Not precisely an intimate experience, let alone you paid too much for the privilege. ( €80 [$104] for 40 minutes )

Finally, whether you are looking for independent shore excursions as an alternative to the cruise line high prices and crowded tours, and want to compare prices and features side-by-side, you’ll want to visit http://www.shoretourdeals.com/  The site touts itself as Your Ultimate Guide to Discounted Shore Excursions for hundred’s of Ports-Of-Call. Some of the most popular shore excursions include those in the Caribbean, Alaska, Canada and New England, Europe, Mediterranean,  Hawaii, Mexico and Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal and Bermuda.
They have a Cruise Shore Excursion Comparison Shopping Tool where you can find and book top Shore Excursions where ever you cruise worldwide. Browse By Port, Cruise Ship, Departure term and Duration.

When it comes to shore excursions, Each port-of-call features tours that appeal to diverse interests. Whether you enjoy history, nature, adventure or simply sightseeing, it’s likely there is a shore excursion for it.
Do your research and can learn more about the 300+ ports cruise lines visits each year, as well as key points of interest, favorite activities and the full range of independent shore excursions offered by 4 shore excursion experts to help you explore. Compare prices side-by-side and choose the shore excursion that’s right for you and your family. 
Do it yourself, save money and have a great day.

[Source] Cruise Traveler Magazine

I thought it was a good date to repost and update my thoughts, pictures and videos made on a very rough Transatlantic crossing in December 2004…

I was looking though some old reviews and postings that I had not yet put on that blog, and came across that one from an amazing crossing on the now retired QE2…


This was our first date on the QE2. We had booked the winter transatlantic crossing as we wanted to both experience the QE2, and additionally a crossing on that ship. Now that the QM2 is doing the regular crossings now, our only chance was that one which is the first leg of the 2005 World Cruise.


We were in Queen’s Grill in 8006, which is a Q2 Penthouse Suite. The crossing (as was winter)was rough at the beginning, which meant the ship was quiet for the first few days as many public stayed in their cabins feeling ill!


As many humans have done reviews on that historic ship, I thought I woudl post some of our thoughts and observations:


GOOD:


· The experience of being on the QE2 and being part of the history. Being on a winter trans-atlantic crossing was a great adventure to have done. Highly recommended!


· It was a fabulous experience. Even with the rough weather at the start (which I am certain the QE2 weathered better than any other ship could have). I am so pleased to have done it. It is definitely an experience versus just another trip.


· The “Queens Grill” experience, particularly as we did in Q2, is very special. The restaurant is beautiful, the food amazing, the service outstanding. The pampering by the 3 butlers good. Having the Queens Grill Lounge to retreat to is quiet and handy, particularly at tea date.


· Our cabin (8006 on the penthouse signal deck level with balcony) was tastefully decorated, and very cosy at night. It is a good size at 350 square feet. It was (however) noisy as it creaked a lot in the rough weather, and the air conditioning was noisy. The folks next door did not get much sleep for those 2 reasons. They were added as prefab units and that is possibly why.


· The ship on the outside is glorious. It looks stylish from a distance in spite of the age (35 years). On the decks it looks great with the teak decks, levels at the back. I really enjoyed being out on deck watching the QE2 ploughing through the sea. It was always quiet out on deck and so you had it pretty much to yourself!


· There are some beautiful internal rooms that are classics and hold their own in spite of their age, like the Queens Lounge, Queens Grill Restaurant, bookshop and library, Yacht club bar and the Midships lounge.


· The staff on the QE2 manufacture a real effort to treat you well, get to know what you like and you do feel like individuals even though there are around 1200 of you on board. We both felt we had got to know the citizens we came in contact with a lot (the room butlers, restaurant staff), and that they had taken care to understand what we liked.


· The gym facilities are good and the equipment contemporary. It is a good size and was never too busy (although the rough weather may have helped that!)


LESS GOOD


· Most of the ship inside looks dated, and does not have as much style and glamour of a “by-gone age” that the brochures and the image conjures up. It comes as something as a surprise at just how old fashioned an impression you get on entering the ship and seeing the decks like one and two deck which look like an old hotel, and next the stairwells with their red carpets and paintings of the royals etc. We had watched videos and read books and so it was less of a surprise, whether we had not I think we would have been nearly thrown by it. After a while you appreciate its look and style more, but it must be a shock for folks (like the ones sitting at the table next to us) who had not researched the ship before coming.


· The ship is clearly in (sadly) in the twilight years. There were often signs of her aging, such as towels around leaking windows to the deck, chairs with signs of threadbare arms, sun faded portraits, outdated and pretty rowdy air conditioning and unpredictable plumbing (hot water from the cold and toilet problems on the entire penthouse for a full day). You tend to take them for granted and as part of what the QE2 is, but it does flag up the fact that the QE2 is nearing the end of her moment. A fact even the crew acknowledge.


· It was much more “Butlin’s Holiday Camp” than we had expected. We had expected based on the advertising and the image that one has of Cunard and the QE2 a different kind of passenger to other cruise ships. The program of events and related entertainment was much more bingo, karaoke, pub quiz kind of stuff than we had expected. We had fun doing them (of course!) but had expected more variety based on the wide cross section of public the QE2 attracts. The society at the table next to us complained there was nothing for them to do, as they did not like the bingo, etc stuff.


· It was older passenger wise, and the entertainment was (therefore) biased that way. The music quiz for example full of questions about 1950s singers and nothing from after the 70s!! I think though that that may be more driven by the cruise entertainment team than what the passengers would be happy with!


· Some of the facilities and rooms are very badly in need of some change. The shops were not so good. Very dated in design and not very inspiring merchandise. I had expected an amazing Cunard branded shop, but there was not a lot to excite and we struggled to buy mementos for friends at home. The spa was very shabby.


The ship is working out its last years. And I think you can feel it.


The regulations coming into force mean the QE2 cannot sail much past 2007 without a massive change to the inside. The inside – in addition to the regulations about wood etc – would really need such a massive job to construct it relevant both in features and design for the new generation of cruise and crossing passengers. Something Cunard with the QM2 and the Victoria coming in 2007 are unlikely to do.


But in spite of the comments, I want to stress that we had a glorious and fabulous moment. The QE2 is brilliant. Going on the QE2 on a winter transatlantic was amazing. You feel you are taking part in a real travel experience. It was such an amazing and pampered 6 days.


Would we go on the QE2 again? Yes! Although we are likely to go on the QM2 first to try that out and compare that first! But we will be back on the QE2 before her final days!!!


See all my photos from the crossing on Flickr: click here


PHOTOS OF THE SUITE WE STAYED IN


Queens Grill Suite 8006 on QE2

 

Queens Grill Suite 8006 on QE2

VIDEOS SHOWING HOW ROUGH THE SEA WAS ON THE CROSSING:

[Source] GARY BEMBRIDGE