TW is on board Royal Caribbean's latest ship the Independence of the Seas.
This ship shares the title of the world's largest cruise ship - it is the width of a football pitch and the length of three. I was hoping to post some pictures but access to PCs is limited (I can't access the USB socket) so am scuppered.
However, we have been granted access to the bridge, the galley and the engine room so have some interesting footage to share.
First impressions are: wow, this is a big ship. It has very friendly staff and is jammed with impressive facilities. Looks like a very family friendly ship with loads to do for the kids.
And it is based in Southampton - so great news for the trade and consumers.
Only criticism . . . some access to USB sockets required.
More pictures and video footage tomorrow . . .
Martin Couzins, online editor
I have posted this message in other areas of the site, but I'm so upset right now, that I have decided, for the benefit of other passengers, to post elsewhere....
As a frequent visitor to Gibraltar, and a frequent cruiser on RCCL, I was surprised to learn recently about how so-called Shopping Promotions actually work.
I have been visiting Gibraltar on several cruise ships since I was a child in the 60's on such classic ships as the Canberra and the Vistafjord. One of my favourite ports is Gibraltar, where I have always found the Britishness of the place and the diversity of shops there to be quite fascinating.
Recently though, I was quite dismayed to learn that one of my favourite shops, Antonio Jewellers, is not one of the 'recommended' shops promoted by the Shopping Lecturers aboardship. When I questioned the owner of Antonio's, I was shocked to learn that he had been asked, not only for a large sum of money for advertising, but also for hefty percentages of whatever the shop sells to 'recommended passengers.'
I can't believe it! Or maybe I'm just a little gullible, but I always thought that Shopping Lecturers were working for the benefit of the passengers. Now I find that all they are doing all along, is lining their pockets by pushing hapless shoppers into shops that are, in all likelihood, more expensive than their competitors (after all, they each have to pay thousands of dollars for the privilege!).
Surely something must be done about this! Is there a law that's being broken here? Are these people being sanctioned by cruise ships like the Independence of the Seas?
Bill Burr, London, England
Hi William, Jane Archer, our cruise blogger has picked up on your comments (link below).
It would seem that this is common practice for cruise lines.
http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2008/05/ever-heard-of-caveat-emptor-1.html