Going Solo

There are a growing number of people out there who travel alone, but what can they get from a cruise?

There are a couple of key points that most single travellers ask when they speak to me, What is the Single Supplement and What is there for me to do? I would add to that, can I get a single cabin?

So read on and find out what I can do.

What is the Single Supplement?

The honest answer here is it varies from cruise sailing to sailing and line to line, and can be anything from 100% to no supplement at all. The only sure way to find out is call and ask about the sailing you are interested in.

What is there for me to do?

Every cruise line puts on events and entertainment during the day for all passengers to go to if they wish, and I have found that most people on a cruise are polite and friendly so single passengers will not feel left out.

Some have special event just for single passengers, and perhaps a more special warmer welcome from the cruise lines team when you board. You may even find a number of dance hosts on board so you will have someone to dance with, like on Cunard or Fred Olsen.

Can I get a single cabin?

Well all ships are built to maximise space, so there are very few single cabins on most ships although there are some exceptions.

Fred Olsen have singles available on all there ships, both inside and outside cabins. NCL have 'The Studios' an number of single cabins in a designated private area on The Epic, and when the new ship The Breakaway is launched next year there will again be a small number.

 A single cabin on P&O Azura

P&O have a small number of single cabins on Azura, and next year after her refit in late March Ventura will have had theses added. In addition last year Oriana had a small number of single cabins added when she had a refit.

So does all this help? I hope so, the easiest answer is to give me a call with the cruise you are interested in and let me have a look.

Want to take the kids away on a cruise? Will a P&O cruise suit?

Over the last few weeks as my granddaughter heads towards her 2nd birthday as a family we have been thinking about options for the next 12 months. I have to say my daughter has never fancied the idea of a cruise, but she is slowing coming round. 

So what have P&O got to offer families?

Family cruise holidays

Enjoy family cruises on the family friendly members of the fleet: Aurora, Azura, Oceana and Ventura. These super liners were created with family enjoyment and comfort in mind, and are dedicated to ensuring the very best for your family on our family cruises making sure your family have a wonderful time with us and return home with amazing memories.

The child and teenagers programme is called The Reef, with enthusiastic and well-qualified Reef Rangers who have extensive training and experience in planning a wide range of play and leisure activities ensuring that your children will always be in safe hands.

The Reef


The Reef is our exciting on board programme for 2 – 17 year olds, meaning we are the ideal choice for cruises for families. Split into four age groups, there are a whole host of exciting activities organised daily by qualified Reef Rangers, to keep children of all ages entertained and to ensure that they have the chance to make friends of their own age.

Splashers’ for 2 – 4 year olds ‘Surfers’ for 5 – 8 year olds ‘Scubas’ for 9 – 12 year olds ‘h2o’ for 13 – 17 year olds Accommodation The cabins are well equipped for the needs of the whole family. Many have additional beds. For example, in the majority of twin cabins, beds fold down from the ceiling or out from the wall. In cabins, mini-suites and suites, the extra beds are sofa beds. Other facilities in your room include: TV Telephone Refrigerator Tea and coffee making facilities Plenty of drawer and wardrobe space In-stateroom listening facility Teenage and adult pamper packs Bathroom

Family Dining Normally children join their parents for breakfast and lunch but since you might occasionally want to dine on your own, on our family cruise holidays, we lay on a special children’s tea every night featuring all the food that children will enjoy: sausages, fish fingers and pizza to name just a few. In addition there are many healthy options, such as salads, soups, fruit, vegetables and pasta. Shore Excursions On our family cruise holidays we have a whole range of tours designed especially for families, meaning your time ashore will be as stress free as the rest of your holiday.  With arranged transport, entrance fees and English speaking guides, all you need do is turn up and enjoy your time together. Typical family tours include: Beach transfers Water park trips Dolphin/ Whale watching Adventure trips Family city tours  So, has that helped? Don't forget that there are only a limited number of 3 or 4 berth cabins on each ship and the number of children in each age category are limited for health and safety purposes so I would always recommend that you book early.

New Build or Renovation.... what should the cruise lines do

There has been a lot of talk over the last week about P&O's announcement of the launch of a new ship way off in 2015.

 

But if you look at the various lists that you can find on the webc the pace of new orders has fallen, so what are the cruise lines going to do?
So is now the time of the refurbishment/refit to keep the old ships looking new, without investing the hundreds of millions of dollars needed for a new-build.

All ships head into dry-dock every few years for the "routine scrape of the barnacles" (minor cosmetic and engineering updates). But it is the more major overhauls that can give a ship which is tiring a new look or feel and keep passengers sailing.

I have covered the work that Celebrity have done or are douing the the 'Solsticise' the Millenium class ships in a previous blog, follow the link.  But what else has or will happen over the next few months?

Royal Caribbean has recently had both Liberty of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas refurbished in the Bahamas, both  gained Oasis-class features, including 3D movie capabilities, an outdoor cinema, a cupcake shop, the DreamWorks experience and new kids' facilities.

In addition Royal Caribbean will be refurbishing Radiance of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas later this year and they will get several new eateries, including Allure imports Samba Grill (Brazilian steakhouse), Izumi (Japanese), Rita's Cantina (Mexican) and the Boardwalk Dog House. Other upgrades include the addition of a Royal Babies and Tots Nursery and interactive flat-screen TV's in all cabins.

The Grand Princess had a major refit in APril and early may and is now cruising from Southampton, the iconic, top-ship Skywalkers Nightclub, which gave Grand Princess its signature profile (and its "shopping cart" nickname), was removed. A club, One5, added. Princess' now-standard Piazza replacing the atrium together with a new pizzeria and the Crown Grill, the line's steak and chops eatery. 

P&O are also having a major refit on Oriana later this year, and in addition to adding some new cabins the ship will become Adult only when finished.

It's always nice to have the smell of fresh paint, be it a new car, a decorated room at home or a new ship. So a great refurbishment refreshes the ship and gives it the air of something new, so come on cruise lines lets have more.

Adapted cabins

Earlier this week I was speaking to a passenger who has just come back from a cruise, having had to use a wheelchair on board ship.

As we all know most of the cruise lines have a limited number of adapted cabins, with larger doors for access, more cabin space and wet rooms instead of bathrooms. However, these are limited and in the main are only release to people who are confined to their wheelchair for all of the time.

The pictures are of a adapted cabin on P&O Azura, showing the wet room.

So what happens if you need to use a wheelchair for only limited periods.

Well most of the cruise lines allow you to take a collapsable wheelchair or scooter on board, although you may have to complete a questionairre prior to the sailing and certainly need to advise your cruise consultant so that we can advise the specific cruise line as appropriate.

Fred Olsen Cruises do limit the number of wheelchairs on board for safety reasons, with 4 on Braemar, 6 on Black Watch and Boudicca and 9 on Balmoral, however subject to other quota they will store additional wheelcahirs/scooters for use off ship.

With the limited number of adapted cabins available on all the ships they are not on general sale and the crusie lines have their own rules in terms of who they can be sold to. So, give me a call and I will check up on availability for your prefered sailing.

P&O Azura

So, as you probably know Azura was officially named yesterday by Darcey Bussell in a stunning ceremony and will sail on its maiden voyage tomorrow from Southampton to the Mediterranean.

On Friday I had the opportunity to visit Azura in Southampton for an overnight stay, together with others from the office, about 700 other travel agents from around the UK. In addition some members of P&O Portunus Club had the opportunity to visit the ship for the day.

A I woke from my doze, sat on the coach coming into Southampton glinting in the sun was the ship, or was it Ventura...... no we were not in the Caribbean, it was too cold - it was Azura!

The actual ship is the same, but Azura has been themed differently, further information and photos will follow.

Airport Stress

If you are like me you probably hate the stress of the airport, going through immigration, collecting your bags and then having to drag them to the coach, taxi or car to get to your final destination, then the stress starts again when you are ready to come home.


Well, I have just got back from the Caribbean on P&O Ventura and it was a pleasure to transit through Barbados.


At your departure airport you check in as normal, when you land in Barbados there are coaches waiting to transfer you direct to the ship, no going through immigration and having to collect your bags. Your bags are delivered to your cabin by your steward once you are on board ship.


On the return journey, you have to go through an immigration procedure on board ship when it gets back to Barbados before you can go ashore, took no more than 5 minutes (for me) and only 1 from the party needs to attend, you leave your bags outside your cruise cabin on the final night – not forgetting to keep your clothes for the return journey and your last day in Barbados.


The bags are collected and the next time you see these is when you collect them from the baggage claim at your UK airport! On the final day you are transferred to the airport in time for your flight, and if it is delayed you stay on ship until the appropriate time. At the airport, as you have completed your immigration procedure its straight through to the scanners and then into departure – less than 10 minutes after getting off the coach.

Not sure of any other places were the cruise lines organise this, and I think that Fred Olsen also have this procedure for their Barbados departures.


Saves a lot of stress and waiting, but of course doesn’t get rid of the jet lag!! Where is my Rum punch then?


So, if you want to take advantage give me a call on 0800 408 6105 and I will give you a quote.