Gadgets on holiday, friend or foe?

I'm like most people these days, attached to my phone! But when I'm on holiday I rarely give it a second look. With all today's gadgets from Tablets to Media players & Cameras are you a holiday traveller who must have the latest gadget with them at all times, or like me relaxing the traditional way with a good hard copy book! 

Does all this technology enhance your holiday?

In my opinion as long as you've got a fairly decent camera to take some cracking holiday snaps with you're good to go! I think it can cause more stress worrying about where your belongings are at all times whilst you are out and about than it's worth. I've recently just been away and I packed my tablet, my phone & my iPod. The only device I used was my phone to take some photo's, a few calls & texts and to check my emails & social media sites when WiFi was available. My last trip before that my phone didn't work abroad and to be honest it was nice not to have the constant thought of my mobile phone in the back on my mind. 

I do believe that with the great apps and different range of tablets about you can get some great photo's and videos with ease to remember your holiday, but spending a lot of time on these instead of actually enjoying the holiday experience! 

Beach ready phone!

Let me know your opinion on all this techno mad travelling we have today! Thanks for reading!

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Carnival Cruise Line...What Do They Have To Offer?

This is a burning question that you may not know the answer to! Well let me enlighten you into the fun world of Carnival Cruises! For a start they have the largest fleet at sea (currently 24) with a huge range of ships and they have a very young fleet in comparison to many other cruise lines. 

Who are they? 

They are a British-American owned cruise line, and are one of ten cruise ship brands owned by the Carnival Corporation & plc. They pioneered the way for shorter less expensive cruises, plus with their on board décor with Las Vegas style it adds to the "Fun" and easy going attitude which they strive for, to make your holiday as relaxed & fun as possible. 

Where can you sail with Carnival? 

Carnival currently don't sail in the Mediterranean, they sail Alaska, the Bahamas, Canada-New England, Hawaii, Australia, Bermuda, Caribbean & Mexico. With all that they don't really need to sail the Mediterranean in my opinion. 

What is there to do on board?

They have broken away from the traditional feel of which you would expect with many other cruise lines such as P&O, Princess & Holland America for example. They have a huge range of activities aimed at every age group, with kids clubs & baby sitting services available to interactive theatre shows and amazing water parks on board. When it comes to food there's a huge American influence in the restaurants, which means that everything comes with a little extra. From the BlueIguana Cantina where you can get freshly prepared Mexican dishes to a family meal at the Cucina del Capitano the resident Italian restaurant which serves beautiful fresh pasta and much more! 

If you need a juicy burger to make your day then you can visit Guy's Burger Joint which is brought to you by celebrity chef Guy Fieri, where you can create your own burger without any cover charge! 

If that's not enough then you can always have a stunning steak in the resident steakhouse on board, which will literally blow your socks off with the quality. There are much more choices like Japanese Sushi & Indian too!

If you want an evening full of entertainment then Carnival is the cruise line for you, with Comedy clubs, Piano bars, cocktail bars, tonnes of live music and stunning theatre shows then you won't be bored on board!

For the little cruisers there a great kids program with Dr Seuss characters where kids can have a special breakfast with them for only $5 which would be a memorable experience for sure! 

If you need to relax and get away from it all Carnival have some wonderful spa facilities and Serenity which is an adult only retreat for that extra special relaxation time. 

What are the cabins like?

As carnival ships are very bright and busy the stateroom are very neutral and calming so you can retreat for you own space & time. The cabins on board carnival are very generously proportioned in comparison to other cruise lines. From interior staterooms all the way up to suites & spa suites there is something for every group. 

Is Carnival for me? 

If you're a little unsure whether a Carnival cruise would be for you then, rest assured no matter your age, Carnival is well suited for families, couples of all ages and single travellers with very reasonable supplements. With a great range of unique shore excursions and sailing around the Caribbean 365 days a year I think you'll agree it sounds pretty amazing! 

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Dogs On Cruise Ships?....Yes Really!

With everything about Dogs in the news at the moment, due to the tragic event at Manchester Dogs Home, however they have now raised over £1.4 million- amazing really!


Ever wanted to take your dog on holiday with you outside of the UK? Well now you can in complete luxury aboard Cunard Queen Mary 2! With her transatlantic sailings from Southampton to New York, so if you're doing the iconic journey now you can have your best friend by your side. 

It's a dog's life on deck

With the fully equipped dozen kennels, six "economy size" and size "supersize", an owners lounge, walking area and all the comforts a sea dog could possibly need, with prices starting from $500 which includes food you and your dog or cat, can travel in much more comfort than any airline could even dream of providing. 

Before boarding every animal has to have a pet passport, be micro-chipped and also a rabies jab 21 days beforehand. And last but not least flea and worming treatments must be given too. 

In the Kennels comfortable bedding is provided but owners are more than welcome to bring their own blankets and toys etc. 

It doesn't end there, each pet receives:

• A Frisbee
• A name tag
• Food dish & scoop
• Fleece Blanket
• Premium food selection
• Healthy Gourmet cookies, which are freshly baked and offered at bed times

Photo op with Kennel Master

Whilst on board there are 50 life jackets in different sizes, for ultimate safety. You may think that this is an entirely new concept, however in 1950 Elizabeth Taylor was photographed with her lovely poodle,  and Britain's Got Talent winner Pudsey who also entertained the guests too!

Savy Sea Dog!

All in all I think it's great how Cunard are unique and offer this service that no other cruise line do, opening up the market for pet lovers who want a unique holiday experience. I'd sure love to try it!

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Even More Has Been Unveiled For P&O Britannia

If what is already on offer by P&O's brand new ship Britannia wasn't enough for you then you'll be pleased to know that they are unveiling the largest wellness facilities that P&O have ever had to the wonderful Britannia. Currently under construction the Britannia is scheduled to launch in 2015, so not too long to wait now! 

Britannia 

Both gym and spa equipment and services will be included at no extra cost as well as an extensive menu of spa treatments and fitness classes - GREAT! 

But it doesn't end there, oh no! With the Oasis Spa there will be a private villa for couples or groups to relax and unwind, complete with their own whirlpool & spa therapist - sounds to good to be true! 

With P&O other ships  Ventura & Azura, Britannia with feature The Retreat, an open-air deck, where crew serve you cold flannels, drinks, snacks and spa treatments in private cabanas - ultimate chill out time.

The Retreat on board Ventura

I've got to admit I used the Sauna and Steam room on board the Ventura and had a look around the spa and The Retreat and it had a lovely feel to it, with the smell of essential oils infused in the air I certainly felt relaxed in the adult only pool, very quiet and private away from the crowds as these are rather large ships it was nice to get away and relax, something that you feel you can only get on smaller boutique ships, so I say well done P&O for creating this atmosphere. 

Maybe I'll be lucky enough to see Britannia's facilities when she launches...fingers crossed! 

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Not An Early Riser? Then Take A Read At Which Cruise Line Has New Shore Excursions Late Risers

If you're like me and you don't like getting up before 10 am then taking out shore excursions that start at 8 am isn't your idea of having a relaxing cruise holiday! Well Crystal Cruises have taken this into account and are introducing a series of shore excursions which will depart between 11 am and noon, giving you an opportunity to wake up naturally after all who wants to be setting an alarm when you're on holiday! I know I certainly don't!

Crystal Symphony 

In my opinion I think this is a great idea as there are many different types of travellers, so more choice means more happy customers. Some examples of the Late-Riser excursions will be Oporto, Portugal where you will get to see the Cathedral & 19th Century Stock Exchange Palace, also Amsterdam visit where this includes a canal tour, Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum. Some of these cities key places I think you'll agree. 

If your not familiar with Crystal Cruises then let me get you up to speed, they're a small cruise line who have a passion for discovery, with wonderful itineraries from some of the best loved ports to unique ports. With two five-star ships the Crystal Symphony & Crystal Serenity both with extraordinary service.  

Crystal Serenity

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ITV's show...The Royal Princess...Yay or Nay?

Tomorrow is the next episode of ITV's documentary The Cruise Ship, showing us insight to what the Royal Princess has to offer. But how did the first episode portray the cruise line? 

In my opinion I think it shows the grand scale of ship and how many staff it takes to keep things running smoothly- Day of embarkation is always a busy one and I think it takes some great management skills to keep everything in order.

In this episode it mainly focuses on a small number of the passengers giving their opinions to the camera, lots of them are Elite cruises meaning they've been on many sailings, they love the cruising lifestyle, and why wouldn't you when your every need is catered for! 

With the big event of formal night approaching there was masses of laundry to be washed and pressed for the passengers, as Elite members get this for free. 

The only downside so far is that maybe it portrays cruising as only suitable for the older generation, however Princess is a rather refined cruise line where you wouldn't really expect kids to be running around playing in pools where you could on say Royal Caribbean, Carnival or Norwegian Cruise Line. All cruise lines are different and cater to different age groups in the market so it's best not to judge too quickly we shall have to see what tomorrow night's episode brings to the table! Are you going to be watching? 

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Evergrowing Norwegian Cruise Line Fleet....More Ships Announced for 2018/19

It was announced yesterday that the wonderful Norwegian Cruise Line have ordered two more Breakaway-Plus class ships, these will be due to be delivered in 2018 & 2019. So not only have you got the Norwegian  Escape & Bliss to look forward to in October 2015 & March 2017!

The two latest ships ordered will be 164,600 gross tonnes and carry 4,200 passengers another large ship for Norwegian, these seem to be proving the most popular for the amount of facilities on board, there's is something for everyone for sure! 

The Breakaway-Plus class ship design is based on the two current Breakaway class ships the Breakaway
& Getaway, I wonder what extras they will add? Hopefully more studio cabins as these are always the first to go - I must admit Norwegian do cater pretty well to solo travellers in comparison to other cruise lines. 

I guess it's only up from here for Norwegian, they seem to be taking large strives forward in recent years with their relax freestyle "Resort Casual" approach. Do you cruise like a Norwegian?

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Carnival Bans Smoking & Increases Gratuities!

It was announced yesterday that Carnival will be an entirely smoke-free environment this includes smoking in all staterooms and suites will be smoke-free this includes smoking on balconies. This change will effect sailings booked from today  for voyages from the 9th October 2014.  I think this is a good move on Carnivals part to be honest as most cruise lines now have the same policy. With people smoking on balconies it's always a fire risk, plus if your neighbour is a non-smoker it's not pleasant to sit out smelling smoke. Smokers will still be able to smoke on the open decks though and cigar lounges etc. 

But that's not all that Carnival has announced, they're going to increase their gratuities only by 50 cents to $12 per person per day, this again on any voyages from 9th Oct. What about those who have pre-paid I hear you ask? Well rest assured they will stay the same for any passengers who have pre-paid their tips - phew! 

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Visiting Turkey next year? New Passport guidance will be in place

If you're planning on travelling to Turkey from the 1st January 2015, you'll be required to have a valid passport for at least 60 days from the date of expiry of your visitors visa. 

The Turkish Ministry for Culture and Tourism state "Travellers without the required period of validity on passports will regrettably not be allowed entry into Turkey due to this new legal regulation." - looks like they're pretty insistent on this. "The new rules form part of Turkey's repsonsiblities within the framework of its European Union negotiation accession process, including as signatory to relevant international agreements within this framework."

Old Turkish Visa

Turkey stopped issuing visas on arrival in April, this was replaced with an electronic visa application system. More than 2.5 million Brits visit Turkey every year for it's beautiful weather, fascinating culture and amazing history! 

Sophia Mosque - Istanbul

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UK keeps top spot as biggest cruise market in Europe!

It's been announced that the UK remains Europe's biggest cruise market, so a big hooray for us! We know that cruising is a big part of the travel industry and is growing every year, for every person who has never cruised before, taking their first steps on board a ship we salute you! 

Having a 27.2% share of passenger number in 2013, the number of UK passengers who took an ocean voyage increased by 25,000 from 2012, hitting 1.72 million last year - pretty amazing right! 

Southampton Cruise Port

The port of Southampton retaining its position of Europe's most popular cruise port, with the total number of passengers embarking and disembarking rising by 7.5 percent reaching 1.64 million last year! In the second top spot was the port of Barcelona which had a higher number of passengers from day visits, but fewer embarkations and disembarkations. 

Also the number of UK and overseas passengers joining their cruise at a UK port has passed the one million mark, this is a first! It's good to hear that the UK has an increased number of tourists. 

With the cruise industry generating more than £2.5 billion to the UK economy last year, it's definitely a positive thing. Many cruise lines are currently building state of the art cruise liners, with everything that you can imagine on board, from cooking classes to sky diving!

If you know someone who hasn't tried cruising yet, then tell them all about the great experiences you've had on board. The easy of boarding and starting your holiday as soon as you step on board, with no airline baggage restrictions you can pack that extra pair of shoes on problem! 

Lets hope that this year is as successful as last years, and keep on cruising the only way to holiday! 

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Day 4 - Docking in Naples & Pompeii Adventure!

Today was the day I was looking forward to the most! Having been fascinated with archaeology since I was a child this was sure to be a real treat for me! We docked in Naples a little bit later than scheduled but not a major issue, all the tour guides wait for you anyway. As soon as we docked you can see Mt Vesuvius looming in front of you, pretty dominating!

Our tour guide Fernando looked like an ex-Mafia member with dark sunglasses and a air of mystery about him, he was friendly though and spoke excellent English. We had a short drive through Naples into the Centre, I'm glad I didn't book a full day excursion to Naples from what I saw it was pretty dirty and I would of been rather disappointed. Onward to Pompeii driving with Mt Vesuvius on our left and the sea on our right, a leisurely drive with a lovely commentary from our guide. Arriving in Pompeii there were people dressed in Roman costume for photographs which was a nice bit of fun! 

Entering into Pompeii was pretty simple and we climbed into the grounds straight onto the cobble streets with stepping stones so you could cross the street without getting your feet dirty, pretty clever really!  Venturing through the numerous houses, courtyards and streets seeing stunning mosiacs that were almost complete, we moved onto the bath house where you got a really good feel for all of the fancy décor and style that the people of Pompeii would of enjoyed. 

Our guide took us into a newly redone house that had only been open to the public for a few months, it was off the main tracks and we wouldn't of found it otherwise as you can see below it gives you a really amazing feel of how Pompeii would of been. Here many of the wall painting were very well preserved with still bright colours, and portraits this would of been a very lavish home for sure!

 After venturing we were taken back down to where many of the artefacts are kept (mostly copies for show) but you can see the peoples bodies which left cavities in the ash and these casts were made from. Truly amazing, very humbling experience, frozen in time at that moment Mt Vesuvius erupted. 

Luckily as our tour was coming to an end we missed most of the rain, the souvenir stalls are pretty good at Pompeii, I always like little mementoes to take back with me, mainly keyrings! :) I found it wasn't too over touristy but I think that is more than likely because our guide took us off the main path to see some of the smaller more interesting sites.  I must admit this was the most memorable place on the itinerary so far and well worth seeing and getting a guide! 

Mt Vesuvius dominating the skyline

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Family Cruising with Royal Caribbean!

When it comes to our children they are the most important little monsters in our lives, so it's essential that you know they are in good hands when you're trying to relax on your well deserved cruise holiday. With Royal Caribbean you won't have to worry they cater for all ages, from 6 months to 17 years, with loads of activities and events for them to join in with.  

Engaging Activities

The kids clubs themselves are broken down into Aquanauts (3-5 years), Explorers (6-8 years) & Voyagers (9-11 years). As you can see the clubs try and seperate the children so that they don't get board whereas on other cruise lines you will have groups from 3-8 years. With younger guests Royal Caribbean offer Royal Babies & Tots Nurseries which is available for 6 months to 36 months. And it's not just through the day there are services available throughout the night starting from only $6 per hour per child, which I think is pretty good considering the highly qualified staff. 

Top of the range toys

For the Teens there are two separate age groups 12-14 and 15-17, these groups include great activities like pool parties, sports tournaments, karaoke, Nintendo Wii sessions, guitar lessons, and much more! 

H2O Zone

Not forgetting the general on board activities for children like the H2O Zone which has lots of space for kids to be kids. You've also got Character Meals where kids can dine with their favourite Dreamworks characters, and Dreamworks parades, In cabin movies and 3D cinema too!

Royal Caribbean also offer complimentary Family Dining time where kids get served quickly and they are whisked off to the Adventure Ocean Clubs where they can enjoy an evening of fun and games whilst mum & dad relax and enjoy each others company.

There's also lots of family friendly food options to get your taste buds tingling like Johnny Rockets which is a 1950's style all American diner where you can enjoy tasty hamburgers, and amazing milkshakes - Yum! There's also Cupcake Cupboard where almost any cupcake you can imagine can be found, kids can also take part in cupcake decorating classes - pretty amazing!

There's one thing for certain kids won't be board with Royal Caribbean, the fun is endless! Makes me kind of wish I was a kid again! 

:)

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Docking in Livorno - Day 2!

After a wonderful nights sleep on lovely comfortable beds! I woke up with excitement as today was our first port of call, Livorno, I'd booked shore excursions so that all the hassle was taken out for me! We disembarked which was well organised I must say, I was a little worried about how/where to get off. 

We were greeted by the coach and friendly tour guide "Rosa" and then we were on our way to Pisa. It was only about a 30 minute drive to Pisa, and the scenery was lovely seeing Italy's famous umbrella Pine trees was interesting. The sun was shining and everyone was ready to see the famous leaning Tower of Pisa, I know I was. Arriving in Pisa and a short walk past some stalls and street sellers all trying to make you buy knock-off handbags etc, I guess we've all got to make a living somehow. When you enter the walls of Pisa it's quite a surreal moment as you spot the tower leaning over at quite a dramatic angle, I must admit it was smaller than I imagined but the actual building itself was quite stunning. We had a good wonder round, it was very clean and well kept lawns, there is the cathedral also which has some beautiful carvings on the doors and very intricate architecture. 

The Leaning Tower Of Pisa & Cathedral

After taking the corny mandatory photos, we bought some souvenirs and headed back to coach for our onward trip to Florence. After about a 45 minute coach journey we arrived and walked towards the Cathedral, Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower, I can safely say that this is one of the most amazing buildings I have seen, the detail, the colours and the size of it! We didn't go inside as the queue was huge, so just walked around it. We saw the replica statue of David and other statues, had pizza whilst overlooking the Palazzo Vecchio, it was great even if the food was overpriced. We didn't visit the Ponte Vecchio as it was just too busy I can't imagine what it's like in peak season! After nearly being run over by a taxi we decided to call it a day and sit and watch the world go by, by the Cathedral. 

Florence Cathedral

Our tour guide was great though, she made us aware of the most important things and kept us all safe, whilst making us laugh. It was a good day all in all, the only downside is how busy it was and then there was a long walk to meet the coach again as Florence is all pedestrianised and normal traffic cannot enter, so I'd recommend comfortable shoes! 

Once comfortably back on board we headed to the main restaurant for dinner, which was nice, very fast service simple but tasty food. 

After a few drinks in the Exchange bar and the night club we headed to our cabin as it had been a long day. 

:) 

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Norwegian Announce $250 Million Fleetwide Upgrade

Norwegian Cruise Line have announced they will be investing $250 million into a fleetwide renovation program called Norwegian Next. With this program many Breakaway-class dining and entertainment features will be added to all ships by 2015.

Norwegian Spirit 

As part of these upgrades: 

Entertainment will be enhanced with new shows, game shows and theme nights and not forgetting the acrobats and the H2Glow party will be extended to all ships! 

Dining is set to be widely updated with new menus in the main dining rooms and Garden Cafes. The O'Sheehan's Bar & Grill, Carlo's Bake Shop and Sugarcane Mojito bar will be expanded on all ships. And last but not least brand new training will be given to staff for new wine menus and Bar Lab cocktail creations. My mouths watering already!

Kids' Activites will be given a revamp with new activities, dining and brand new meet and greets onboard the five ships with Nickelodeon entertainment. Also when visiting Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private island kids will get the chance to get slimed plus other great activities! 

Norwegian Epic

I think these improvements are well welcomed especially for ships like the Norwegian Epic which is pretty much considered Breakaway class, will now match up to her sister ships. 

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Royal Caribbean Ship to Homeport in Australia

Legend of the Seas at night

Royal Caribbean will be deploying Legend of the Seas in Brisbane, Australia for a five month season in 2015 & 2016. Having being recently refurbished the Legend will join fellow Royal ships Explorer, Radiance and Voyager of the Seas down under! The refurbishment in Feb 2013 incorporated a number of new dining venues, cabin upgrades and not forgetting an outdoor movie screen along with other upgrades. 

Royal believe that this will help ease with the growing demand from Australian and other international guests wanting to discover the South Pacific and Queensland. Normally Legend sails Canada, Caribbean, Europe and the Panama Canal will now call on ports such as Cairns and Airlie Beach in Whitsundays. She will be one of the largest ships to dock in Brisbane's Portside Wharf. 

This news was revealed after Royal announced that Quantum of the Seas will be sailing year round from Shanghai from May 2015. 

I don't know about you but I'd love to discover this part of the world on a lovely ship like the Legend. 

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P&O Ventura - Day 1

Well with all the excitement getting packed and getting ready to travel it was time to leave for the airport! After clearing passport control and checking in smoothly we relaxed in the airport departure lounge waiting for our flight with a nice cold beverage. Before I knew it, it was time to board our aeroplane to Genoa, the flight was short and sweet landing in Genoa and transferring to the ship was straight forward and well organised by P&O. On arrival I could just see the Ventura waiting for us in all her glory, what an impressive ship with such a presence! Boarding was fast and simple with numerous members of staff on hand to assist! Once on board we headed straight to the higher decks of the ship to get a good view of Genoa and to see what was to offer on board! 

Ventura at first glance - WOW

After taking in the views it didn't take long for us to find the buffet where lunch was being served, with a selection of different meals and choices available this was a good start to our cruise! yummy! As our cabin was not ready until around 1pm we relaxed on deck at the pool side bar with a drink and the lovely hilly views of Genoa, couldn't ask for anymore!

Once the announcement had been made that our cabins were ready we ventured to find our cabin number which was surprising easy as the ship is rather large! The cabin was very clean, neat and actually larger than I was expecting with an extremely comfortable bed, tea and coffee facilities, a fridge, interactive TV, hair dryer, valuables safe and bathroom with shower, very comfortable indeed for an interior cabin. I guess it's good to have an inside cabin as you spend more of your time enjoying the ship to the full. Our cabin steward had delivered our suitcases to our door and was very helpful insisting if we needed anything to just ask.

Watching the ship set sail from Genoa was a great experience just watching the huge ship gently sail out of the port with such grace was pretty amazing to be honest. 

We ate in the main restaurant the Bay Tree and the food was great a nice selection of dishes which where all presented well. We relaxed after this in the Exchange bar which had a friendly atmosphere and great staff making sure your every need was met. We then headed back to our cabin for a good nights rest ready for our first day in port! 

Until then keep smiling! :)

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Holland America Launch Dive-In Grill For All Ships!

Holland America are enhancing the current Terrace Grill by re-branding the popular lunch spot as "Dive-In at the Terrace Grill". The bistro-style grill by the ships' Lido pool will feature brand new signature hot dogs, burgers and fries, always go down a treat when having a lazy day by the pool.                                 

The first ships to open the new grill were the ms Amsterdam, ms Eurodam and ms Maasdam. The rest of the fleet will be updated throughout summer of this year. 

The whole menu uses fresh ingredients and Holland America's signature burgers which are handmade with fresh beef topped off with lettuce, tomato and Dive-In secret sauce on a toasted brioche bun. There is also a great variety of other toppings and even chicken too! 

Don't worry though the existing Taco Bar will continue to available where guests can make their own taco with handmade tortillas, or taco shells with all the best ingredients for fillings like chicken, beef and pork. 

It's making my stomach rumble just thinking about it! How about you? 

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All About Coach Tour & Cruise!

Never been on a cruise? Don't like flying? Want to see more of Europe? 

Then this a coach tour and cruise is definitely for you! 

Our coach dropping passengers off to join the P&O Ventura

With local pick up points throughout the UK there's no need to travel long distances to start your holiday. Boarding our luxury land cruiser, which has comfortable and adjustable leather seats, with generous leg room and aeroplane style tray table, TV screens, overhead storage and large viewing windows with tinted glass. An example of an itinerary is as follows: 

Starting in the UK travelling from the various pick up points to Dover where you board a ferry to France and stay over night in Lille. Travelling then onto Belgium & Luxembourg and spending the night in Alsace, the next morning you will travel onto lake Lucerne, Switzerland and then onto Verona, Italy for over night stay. The following day you will depart from Verona for Venice and board your ship for your 7 night cruise (full board). The cruise itinerary visits Bari, Katakolon,Piraeus, Izmir and Dubrovnik, after this you'll depart the ship and head onwards to Neydens, the next day you'll travel through the Burgundy wine region onto Paris for an overnight stay. After spending the night in Paris you will head back to home soil via Dover and then be dropped off at your local drop off point. 

Coach in Paris at the Arc de Triomphe

Throughout the coach tour you will be expertly guided by the extremely knowledgeable coach driver and your every need will be attended to by the hostess on board. You can buy light snacks, hot & cold beverages on board the coach either in Euros of Pounds also there won't be a journey leg longer than three hours, so there are frequent stops this means that you actually see more of Europe than is ever before. 

I honestly think it's a great idea as you already feel like you've been on a holiday before you've boarded your cruise. And it's a great way to make new friends with similar travelling interests a great on board experience!

Below are some photos of the coach to give a feel of what to expect!

Coach Interior

Generous Leg Room & Aeroplane Style Table

Reclining Leather Seats

Coach Exterior

Front View of Coach

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Quantum of the Seas - Float Out & Update!

Yesterday Royal Caribbean's New Quantum class ship the Quantum of the Seas was floated out from the Meyer Werft ship yard in Germany. As you can see construction is moving ahead at full steam to complete this grand ship. The 167,800-ton 4,180 passenger ship will have her maiden voyage in November this year from Bayonne, New Jersey, she is the first of three Quantum class cruise ships to be built. 

                             

Royal Caribbean have already announced that they are going to have a brand new dining innovation on board, with dynamic dining. Where the main dining room is to be replaced by five complimentary restaurants that offer a variety of choices for every palate. In total there will be 18 restaurants aboard offering passengers the most variety they've ever had at sea. 

The new Complimentary Restaurants include: 

American Icon Grill - classic American styled dining experience with the best-loved regional favourites from around the USA. 

Chic - Contemporary Cuisine, with fresh ingredients for modern palates. 

Silk - Pan-Asian style eatery with spices and exotic flavours from the Far East

The Grande - a classic European Ocean Liner restaurant with rich timeless dishes, every evening is an  excuse to dress up to the nines! 

Coastal Kitchen - a fusion of Mediterranean flavours combined with the riches of California's bountiful farmlands. 

It doesn't end there with there also being several sepciality restaurants to choose from such as: 

Wonderland - an elaborate feast where Royal Caribbean chefs imaginations run wild inventing a number of unique dishes never seen before. 

Jamie's Italian - which features some much loved Italian favourites all made using fresh pasta and seasonal ingredients. 

Michael's Genuine Pub - this is the first American gastro-pub at sea which offers simply prepared food and drinks all made from the finest ingredients. 

Solarium Bistro -  where every meal is under 500 calories so you can keep an eye on your waistline. 

Of course there will be the favourites such as Chops Grille, Johnny Rockets, Chef's Table and Izumi. Royal Caribbean are offering dining reservations well in advance with lots of options to book, using a new online booking tool which also compares restaurants. 

Moving onto the entertainment it's been announced that Mamma Mia will play onboard Quantum this adds to the growing trend of Broadway shows such as Hairspray, Chicago and Saturday Night Fever. 

 With all this and much more Quantum is set to be a rather impressive ship! What are your thoughts? 

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