AMAzing! AmaWaterways launches state of the art ship!

We had some fantastic news here at Cruise.co.uk.  AmaWaterways has christened it's new ship- the AmaCerto.

 The AmaCerto is a deluxe 164- passenger ship that is the most advanced in river cruising.  She'll have on board twin balconies and staterooms and suites up to 350 sq. ft. in size.  Plus, you'll be able to dine in multiple venues on board and sample some fantastic local wine that is free-flowing.  The AmaCerto also features a heated sun-deck swimming pool with a swim up bar, fitness centre and spa, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a whole fleet of bicycles for passengers to use on board as well!

If you've never tried a river cruise, you really don't know what you are missing!  I've been on a river cruise before and absolutely loved it.  Most major cities throughout the world were built on rivers.  When you're on a river cruise it's like you're staying in a boutique hotel that moves to some of the best cities around the world.  When your ship docks you really are docking in the heart of the city.  You'll receive all meals, and most of your drinks (depending on cruise line) and at least one excursion every day.  The excursions are lead by local guides that speak fantastic English and will give you a fantastic tour of the city that you're docked in for the day.  I really enjoyed this because I do like to get off the ship and explore a bit on my own and since there was a guided tour in the morning, when I wanted to explore on my own in the afternoon I felt much more confident to have a wander around. Going on a river cruise was one of the most relaxing trips as I really didn't need to think or plan anything- it was all done! 

AmaWaterways offers some of the most beautiful and luxurious ships in river cruising and the AmaCerto will be leagues above the rest. 

If you're still not convinced about river cruising then give me a call- I'll convert you. 

Frustration at Fiumicino

I just returned from a little weekend in Rome and wanted to tell you about some problems I encountered when flying in and out of Fiumicino.  There are lots of cruises that go in and out of Rome and therefore, knowing this info can save you some time and frustration.

When we arrived into the terminal from our flight we were greeted with a huge queue.  Everyone just got into the one queue as well.  It wasn't until about 10 minutes later that another flight arrived and a huge group of Italians started rushing the line that we realized there were 2 queues for Passport Control- one for EU Passports, and one for Non- EU Passports.  Word to the wise- make sure you are getting into the right queue.  As well, if you are arranging your own flights and you have a non- EU Passport (like me) then make sure you factor in at least an hour to wait in this queue.

When we departed we were greeted with more HUGE queues.  The first queue was for security and again there is segregation depending on which passport you hold.  If you have a US or UK passport you get to go in the shorter queue- if you don't have one of these passports then you will unfortunately have to wait in what seems like the biggest queue ever.  So another word to the wise- you may need to factor more than 2 hours to get through to your gate. As well, there is another queue past security for Passport Control again and there is a Non-EU and EU queue.  Make sure you're in the right one!

If you are doing your own thing in Rome then watch for my next blog about my whistlestop tour.  But since we are talking about the travel aspect of your Roman Holiday then I will give some other tips too.  Fiumicino is about a 30 minute train journey from Termini in central Rome.  You can get a train from the airport to the train station for 14 euros each way.  Or you can get a taxi.  Taxis from the airport run at 40 euros for a flat rate and will take you to any hotel that's inside the Aurelian walls. 

If you have any other questions about travel within Rome leave me a comment below or call me at 0800 408 6165. 

Travel Agent or Used Car Salesman?

I'm sure most of us have had an experience with the stereotypical used car salesman.  You know the one that will sell you that car for cheap and try to spin all the negatives into positives.  Whenever you encounter one you get that feeling in your gut that something isn't right.  And you know that you can't believe half of the smooth talking that's coming out of their mouth.  They will literally do anything to get the sale.

That exact thing happened to me twice this weekend.  Before I share the stories you must know I pride myself on giving the most honest and accurate information possible when I'm speaking to a client about a cruise.  I take my job very seriously, especially since for some people they might not be able to afford a holiday that often and they are spending lots of money on it when they book a cruise.  I consider it a privilege to sort holidays and cruises for people as I know what I'm doing makes them happy.

But, buyer beware!  There are lots of offers out now for cruises with guarantee cabins.  When you book a cabin on a guarantee you are guaranteed the grade of cabin that you book into or higher.  You can not be downgraded, however, your cabin can be anywhere on the ship.  Now, you may think to yourself well that's not so bad, especially since you will get a fantastic price on the cruise and you may be upgraded.  And this is the warning- while you may be excited about the possibility of being upgraded there are many instances where the higher grades of cabin are less desirable. 

Take Cunard ships for example.  If you book a cruise on Queen Victoria in an A7 balcony guarantee cabin then you are guaranteed a balcony cabin.  But did your travel agent tell you that the railing of the balcony may be made out of metal? Or that if you are upgraded to an A6 balcony cabin then you may end up with your view partially obstructed because of life boat mechanisms? 

This is exactly what happened to one client.  She was shopping around for the best price and was told she could book an A7 balcony cabin on a guarantee for £799. She was very excited about this cabin and the price.  Then she phoned through to me and I told her about the hidden disadvantages to this guaranteed cabin.  She felt so cheated that the other travel agent hadn't mentioned any of this to her and was then very frustrated that the cruise that she thought was the deal of the century and the perfect holiday for her wasn't so perfect after all.

Only a few hours later it happened again.  Another client was shopping for price on a Celebrity cruise.  Celebrity have some incredible prices out right now and most are for guarantee offers.  But again- buyer beware!  The nature of booking on a guarantee is that you don't know where the cabin you are getting will be.  So I quoted him for an inside cabin on guarantee and another agency quoted the same inside cabin on guarantee but then said he would end up on a certain deck.  The client phoned me back and I explained that this other agency was falsely offering him that deck based on them thinking he would just be allocated the first grade that is available still for inside cabins.  The nature of the guarantee is that you can end up anywhere, and at that time there were 4 different decks that had inside cabins still available.  Long story short he booked with me because of my honesty, even though my price was slightly higher.

Moral of the stories- Trust your gut and book with cruise experts like myself.  It may save you a lot of tears, frustration and heartache in the end. 

If you're going to San Francisco...

Princess Cruises is will have a ship based in San Francisco year round!  The Grand Princess, who has been ex-Southampton for over a year, is going to be moving West.

Starting in May 2013 Grand Princess will be offering a range of itineraries from San Francisco including Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and the California coast. 

In a statement from Princess executive vice president Jan Swartz, "Our Bay Area passengers and travel agents have long been asking for more cruise options from San Francisco, and our new year-round schedule with Grand Princess will now give them a great selection of itinerary."

There will some very nice itineraries including 10 day Alaska itineraries (a nice break from the usual 7 night ones), and a new 10 day Mexico itinerary that includes stops in Loreto and La Paz which are brand new ports of call for Princess.

If you don't know much about Princess lines, I have included below a fantastic overview from Fodor's Guide.  (Did you know you get a free Fodor's guide when you submit a review on our website?)

Princess Cruises may be best known for introducing cruise travel to millions of viewers, when its flagship became the setting for The Love Boat television series in 1977. Since that heady time of small-screen stardom, the Princess fleet has grown both in the number and size of ships. Although most are large in scale, Princess vessels manage to create the illusion of intimacy through the use of color and decor in understated yet lovely public rooms graced by multimillion-dollar art collections.
Princess has also become more flexible; Personal Choice Cruising offers alternatives for open-seating dining (when you wish and with whom you please) and entertainment options as diverse as those found in resorts ashore.

The roster of adult activities still includes standbys like bingo and art auctions, but also enrichment programs featuring guest lecturers, cooking classes, wine-tasting seminars, pottery workshops, and computer and digital photography classes. Nighttime production shows tend toward Broadway-style revues presented in the main show lounge, and performers might include comedians, magicians, jugglers, and acrobats. Live bands play a wide range of musical styles for dancing and listening, and each ship has a disco.

On Pub Night the cruise director's staff leads a rollicking evening of fun with passenger participation. At the conclusion of the second formal night, champagne trickles down over a champagne waterfall, painstakingly created by the arrangement of champagne glasses in a pyramid shape. Ladies are invited to join the maître d' to assist in the pouring for a great photo op.
Lovely chapels or the wide-open decks are equally romantic settings for weddings at sea with the captain officiating.

 I blogged recently about California (read more here).  I used to live in California and I find this news really exciting.  Between the California coast and Mexico itineraries I think this is a great way to see a gorgeous and exciting part of the US/ North America.  There is so much to see and do on an itinerary like those.  As well, it would be a great opportunity to package a cruise and stay package in San Francisco.

Top Tips for America: New York Edition

This is my fourth posts in my series about America. 

This post is probably the hardest I have to write, purely because there is SO much to see and do in New York.  I'm originally from New York and am constantly in an "Empire State of Mind".  Granted, I grew up in "Upstate" (if you're going to New York it's best to know the lingo) about 3 hours north of the City.  However, I've spent a lot of my life in the city and visited for days on end every couple of months.  This list is not going to include everything there is to see and do in New York, rather it's some of my favorites. 

I've decided to write this post now because of the news yesterday that One World Trade Center has become New York's tallest building (albeit, by a bit of semantics) and I dedicate this post to my dear friends that lost loved ones on September 11th.




Top Attractions:

Let's start with where it all began, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  I'm not going into too much of the history about the Statue of Liberty. There are a few ways to see the Statue up close and personal, but all of them require purchasing tickets in advance and/or queueing.  The ferry to Liberty Island can have lines that are hours long.  The best time to visit is on a weekday and early in the morning.  Pack a picnic and really enjoy the afternoon gazing up at Lady Liberty.  The interior of the Statue is currently closed due to renovations, and will probably not open again until the end of 2012.  After the renovations are done you will be able to access the interior again.  If you want to go inside the crown, you need to request this months in advance. The Ferry to Liberty Island will also take you to Ellis Island.  Plan 2-3 hours to tour Ellis Island.  Another way to see both of them up close is to take a harbor cruise.  These last about an hour, will tell you all about the history, give you some fantastic photo opportunities and cost about $15 a person. 

The Empire State Building is the next place to see.  The interior of the Empire State Building is beautiful and art deco.  Empire State also offers some of the best views of the city that doesn't sleep.  You can either visit the main deck on the 86th floor or the top deck on the 102nd floor if you're a bit more adventurous.  Definitely buy tickets in advance for the Empire State Building so you can jump some of the queues.

One of the most iconic spots in New York City is Times Square.  Times Square used to be open to vehicle traffic as well, but a few years ago it was created to be a pedestrian area.  Times Square really is the heart of Midtown.  There is a riser area where you can sit and people watch for hours. 

The September 11 Memorial has recently opened and is another must see.  I haven't been back to the State since it's opened however, I have lots of friends and family that have visited since then.  There is the Memorial Park and museum to be visited. 







Other places to check out:

• Grand Central Station
• MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
• MOMA (Museum of Modern Art)
• Natural History Museum
• USS Enterprise

Top Free Stuff:

I'll be honest, New York really isn't known for it's free stuff.  However, there is quite a bit to do that won't cost you a penny.


Central Park is  must see!  One of the world's largest urban parks you can really escape the rush of the city for a few hours by wandering Central Park.  If you do want to spend a little money, Central Park has a world of attractions all it's own. 

Technically, you can visit the Natural History Museum for free.  I think this is little known.  The admission that you see for Natural History is actually suggested.  Therefore, you can pay whatever you like to visit or pay nothing at all.  I love the Natural History Museum.  As a museum lover, it's in my top three museums.  Don't miss the dinosaurs or the whale!

If you're visiting at Christmas (which is a fantastic time to visit New York) the don't miss Rockefeller Center.  To be fair, no matter what time of year you visit you don't want to miss Rockefeller Center, but it's especially fantastic in the winter with all of the ice skaters.  Nothing is more quintessential New York. 

This one isn't exactly free, but it's cheap.  The Staten Island Ferry is a perfect way to see the skyline of New York from the water without spending loads of dosh. 



Top Food:

New York City is like heaven for a foodie like me.  There are so many fantastic places to eat I could probably write a series on New York restaurants, for a year, and not be done.

So instead of focusing on loads of restaurants I'll give you a list of things that you MUST have in New York City.

• Pizza.  Pizza to a New Yorker is like water to a fish.  You definitely need to grab a slice (and make sure you call it a slice- it's the New York way).
• Cheesecake.  There is no better dessert than New York Cheesecake.
• Bagels. The ultimate New York breakfast.  True bagel places like Murray's in Greenwich Village will offer every topping imaginable.

A few suggestions for places to eat?  My favorite diner is the Skylight Diner.  I've been going there for years and the food is reasonably priced and comes in huge portions.  The cheesecake is amazing.  If you go for breakfast you probably won't need to eat for the next few days, and the coffee truly is endless.  The wait staff will come buy to fill your cup after every sip basically!

If you want someplace romantic to go to the View Resturant in New York.  It's New York's only revolving rooftop restaurant.  You make even be lucky enough to see a celebrity while you're there.  My Dad went once with clients and sat at a table next to A-Rod (that's Yankees player Alex Rodriguez). 

Want to rub elbows with the ultra rich of New York?  Then head to the Four Seasons.  And no trip to New York is complete without geting stuck into some pasta in Little Italy. 

Check out the Zagat guide for a review of New York's best eats.




Top Nightlife:

Again, this list could get a bit extensive.  There is something for everyone when it comes to nightlife in New York.  My best advice is to scour the internet to see what's on when you're there.  A good resource to use is Time Out New York.   Instead of listing every place you can head out to, I'll just give you a guideline of things to check out:

• Rooftop bars.  This is so New York.  And you'll get an incredible view of the city that many other visitors may not get to see.
• Broadway and Off Broadway.  Check out a musical or play.  If you're looking for a deal, check out the TKTS booth in Times Square.  They will offer discounted tickets, but you must be able to go see the show the same day.
• If you're there during baseball season, then definitely check out a Yankee's game (or a Mets game if you want to dissappoint me). And make sure to grab a dog (hot dog that is) and a cold one (beer that is).  It's the only way to go at the ball park.

Top Shopping:

You can literally shop til you drop in New York and again, for a shopaholic, there really is something for everyone. 

Macy's is to New York like Harrod's is to London.  It's huge, it has everything, and you may get lost.  The area around Macy's is known as the Fashion District and will have pretty much every shop that you can think of.

If you want the more designer goods, then 5th Ave. is where you need to be.  Make sure you check out Bergdorf's- a New York instituition for those not worried about the price tag.

If you want something a bit more unique and boutique, then head downtown towards NYU.  And finally, if you want to feel like a kid again, or have kid's with you, then you must go to FAO Schwartz. 




Off the Beaten Path:

You can spend at least a week in the city and not see all of the major attractions.  However, if you want to get out of the City for a day then my recommendations are head north or head east!  Upstate New York is very rural and offers some incredible country side.  It's especially popular with the city folk to come Upstate in the autumn for the leaves changing color. An easy way to head Upstate is on Amtrak from Penn Station and the train ride is along the Hudson and very picturesque.

Or, head east to Long Island.  You'll need to head out a couple hours but the coast of Long Island is quite beautiful.  An easy way to get out to the Island is on the Hamptons Jitney.  The Hamptons is perfect for lounging on the beach or shopping!  Plus there are some great restaurants too!




Top Tips:

• Use the subway!  I think many people are intimidated with the Subway, however, once you get used to the map it is an easy and effective way to get around.  You can get a Fun Pass which is a cheaper way to use the Subway instead of buying individual tickets and will give you unlimited rides for however many days you choose.   
• Check out the City Pass.  It offers admission to most of the major sites of New York and when you buy in a bundle it's at a discount. 
• Check out Downtown.  Most people tend to spend all their time Midtown and Uptown but Downtown is where you'll get a real feel for New York.
• When hoping in a cab or asking for directions... it's street then avenue.  Example: How do I get to 34th and 8th?
• Why not cruise back?  Cunard's Queen Mary 2 does transatlantic crossings almost every week and my recommendation would be to fly to New York, deviate your flights a few days forward so you can spend time in the city and then cruise back with no luggage allowance! Perfect for all the shopping to be done!

The Media's New Fall Guy

Well we all know how the media loves to exploit something.  It seems that no matter what story it is, from NHS to the riots last year that once the media has it's teeth sunk in, it won't let go.  It'll run every story possible no matter how big or small until there is no life left in it.

That seems to be the case with the cruise industry now.  We all know the horrific story of the Costa Concordia.  I'm not trying to say that the media shouldn't have reported on it.  With such a high loss of life, the Concordia accident was a terrible tragedy and the media had every right to report on it.  However, I think the amount of shows and programs still coming out about it is overkill.

Then the Costa Allegra catching fire and drifting in the Indian Ocean followed by the same thing happening to the Azamara Quest.  I'd like to think had the Concordia accident not been so recent and major that these wouldn't have been reported on.

Yesterday, I even saw an article from NPR in the US.  Now, I love NPR.  They always present fantastic news articles that are thoroughly researched and unbiased. (Think of it a bit like the US version of the BBC, but not funded by taxpayers.) However, it did get me to thinking "Why are they even reporting this?"

The story was about a Princess ship that didn't help a stranded fisherman off the cost of South America.  You can read about it for yourself here.

Personally, when the Costa accident first happened we did have a few less inquiries from new cruisers, however, those that are more experienced knew that something of that magnitude never happens.  Since then I would think that we here at Cruise.co.uk haven't really experienced any difference.   The phones are still ringing off the hook. 

So I ask for your thoughts.  Is the cruise industry the media's new fall guy? And when are they going to release their choke hold and take this target off our back?

All aboard the FUN ships!

In case you are wondering, I am back to the wonderful world of Cruise.co.uk.  I got back from being tour guide to my family on Tuesday.  I did make it back safe and sound, and I didn't even sink our narrowboat.  More about my adventures to come after I get done sorting through the photos!

Instead, I wanted to discuss the FUN ships this week.  My cousins in America spent their Easter break on a Carnival cruise- their third with them.  Carnival is starting to become more popular in the UK market, but they are still relatively unknown compared to the American market.  So, I thought I would take it upon myself to discuss the cruise line with the big red funnel.

The best overview I have read of Carnival is from the Frommor's Guide (the boss may not be happy that I'm not plugging Fodor's- shhh!).  Here is an excerpt from their overview:

"When you're hankering for an utterly unpretentious and totally laid-back cruise, Carnival's colorful, jumbo-size resort ships deliver plenty of bang for the buck. If you like the flash of Vegas and a serious party vibe, you'll love Carnival's brand of flamboyant fun."
"The McDonald's of cruising, Carnival's got the most recognized name in the biz and serves up a very casual, down-to-earth, middle-American Caribbean vacation. Food and service are pretty decent considering the huge numbers served, and Carnival gets points for trying to offer a higher-quality vacation than in years past, with upgraded cabin bedding, classier dishware in the buffet restaurants, and Wi-Fi access throughout each ship.
On most ships in the fleet, you'll find a sushi bar, supper club, wine bar, coffee bar, and great amenities for children. Like the frat boy who graduated to a button-down shirt and an office job, Carnival has definitely moved up and on to some extent. But like that reformed frat boy who still likes to meet his old pals for happy hour every week, Carnival hasn't lost touch with its past. Sure, the line's decor, like its clientele, has mellowed to some degree since its riotous, party-hearty beginnings, but each ship is still an exciting, bordering-on-nutty collage of textures, shapes, and images. Where else but on these floating playlands would you find a giant octopus-like chandelier with lights that change color, bar stools designed to look like baseball bats, or real oyster-shell wallpaper? The outrageousness of the decor is part of the fun. Evolved, yes; dull, no."

Pros

• Melting pot at sea: You name 'em, they'll be on a Carnival cruise, from rowdy, pierced 20-something singles and honeymooners, to Leave It to Beaver families with young kids, to grandparents along for the show.
• An insomniac's delight: When passengers on most ships are calling it a night, Carnival's guests are just getting busy with diversions such as midnight adult comedy shows, raging discos, and 24-hour pizza parlors.
• Fun, theme-park ambience: The fanciful, sometimes wacko, decor on these vessels is unmatched.
• Large standard cabins: At 185 square feet or larger, Carnival's standard inside and outside cabins are among the roomiest in the mainstream category.

Cons

• You're never alone: Not in the hot tubs, on shore excursions, in the pool, while sunbathing, at the gym, at the pizza counter . . .
• Get in line: At breakfast and lunch, the buffet restaurants are jammed; expect a 20- to 30-minute slow shuffle through the line to get your bowl of oatmeal and scrambled eggs . . . along with a few thousand other passengers.
• No enrichment: Activities are pretty much confined to fun and games on the pool deck; no guest speakers and classes like most other mainstream lines offer.

But sometimes, the best thing to do is hear about it from someone that has done the cruise.  Here's what my cousin had to say about his family's time on Carnival:

"Any fun loving family will have an abosolute blast on the right Carnival cruise. If you hear a bad review, you should consider the person, what they expected, and whether they are the "fun" type or not. Cruising is all about perspective and expectations. With the 3 Carnival cruises we've done, it is clear to me they are a cruise line targeting families with kids. Couples looking for solitude and romance, adult party animals, etc. should steer clear as the ships will have an amusement park feel. Carnival calls these ships the "fun ships" for a reason, they are not a luxury line. They are also very price competitive, so don't expect velvet drapes and towel warmers.  

You need to fit your personality to the cruise you choose. If you like adventure, pay close attention to the ports of call and what excursions they offer. We've zip-lined in Honduras, cave-tubed in Belize - but we've also hung out on a beach in the Bahamas and street walked through Key West. If you simply want sunbathing, food, drink and decent shows, you won't even have to leave the ship. Our Carnival cruises (Ledgend, Triumph, Fascination) have had very good comedy clubs, funny audience participation games (hairy chest contests, newlywed games, etc.), and food everywhere.

In general, the food is good quality, considering the number of people they feed in short periods of time. I'd characterize the dinner food as good, higher-end chain-restaurant food. The breakfasts and lunch buffets are above average and some of the side grilles are surprisingly good. On the Fascination for example, the Mongolian Wok, Pizza, and Deli stops were my favorites.
The only frustrations for me have been related to the large number of people fitting into a small space (the ship). Carnival manages the crowd flow very well, but you must expect a few lines. Finding a sunbathing chair on the sea days can be a challenge during peak hours. This is really not for the lack of chairs, but for the people who "reserve" chairs early in the day. At any given time there are many empty chairs, however most of them will have a "reserve" towel on it. If they could somehow outlaw chair reserving, there'd be more than enough room for everyone.

We've liked Carnival enough to do 3 cruises and see no reason - while we have young kids - to try another."

So, my two cents/pence (that's the British/American) in me...

If you've done Royal, and you've done NCL and want to do something you haven't tried yet... get on board the FUN ships and give Carnival a try!

The Carnival Breeze is cruising from Barcelona all summer long, and is doing 12 night Med itineraries.