http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2008/07/30/28308/tw-group-blogs.html Feed of content from all Travel Weekly blogs English Copyright Reed Business Information 2009 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 07:58:19 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Disney Cruise Line has teamed up with French master chef Arnaud Lallement, from two-Michelin-star restaurant l'Assiette Champenoise outside Reims in France, to create Remy, a classy eatery on new ship Disney Dream. As Disney fans will have noticed, it's named after the star in Ratatouille. Yes, that'll be the rat. I'm pretty sure there won't be a rat in Remy (no jokes about rats and sinking ships please) but it does sound as if dining there will nonetheless be a very lavish affair. The restaurant, seating 80 passengers, is in Art Noveau style, tables will be set with Frette linens, http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/dream-dining-on-disneys-new-sh.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/dream-dining-on-disneys-new-sh.html Wed, 14 Apr 2010 07:58:19 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/mein-schiff-goes-football-craz.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/mein-schiff-goes-football-craz.html Tue, 13 Apr 2010 07:53:27 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/azura-is-named-in-southampton.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/azura-is-named-in-southampton.html Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:20:47 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/azura-to-be-christened-tomorro.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/azura-to-be-christened-tomorro.html Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:15:06 +0000 Celebrity Cruises will have all four of its Solstice-class ships in Europe next summer, adding to the Mediterranean battle royale that is shaping up as cruise lines position a record number of ships on this side of the pond for 2011. I knew there would be three Solstice-class ships - I'd got that much from talking to Celebrity Cruises president and chief executive officer Dan Hanrahan when I was on Celebrity Eclipse sailing backwards down the River Ems in Germany. What he kept up his sleeve was the news they are also bringing Celebrity Solstice to Europe for summer 2011. http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/celebrity-to-bring-solstice-qu.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/celebrity-to-bring-solstice-qu.html Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:36:30 +0000 Next year is shaping up to be a bad one for Dover. Earlier this year Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises announced they are leaving the port in 2011. Now Swan Hellenic has said is off as well, taking up a new UK base in Portsmouth, where a smart new terminal, under construction, is due to open in spring 2011. NCL is leaving Dover because it is dropping all no-fly cruises from the UK and will be offering Baltic cruises from Copenhagen instead. MSC says it is moving to Southampton because it is so much easier to get to. Swan http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/third-cruise-line-pulls-out-of.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/third-cruise-line-pulls-out-of.html Thu, 08 Apr 2010 21:34:21 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/new-cruise-line-woos-singles-w.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/new-cruise-line-woos-singles-w.html Thu, 08 Apr 2010 09:17:01 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/this-weeks-top-offers.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/this-weeks-top-offers.html Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:53:17 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/crystal-offers-free-flights-fo.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/crystal-offers-free-flights-fo.html Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:35:50 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/nile-cruising-with-the-kids.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/nile-cruising-with-the-kids.html Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:35:58 +0000 http://www.travolution.co.uk/blog/2010/04/link-google-april-fool-devours.php http://www.travolution.co.uk/blog/2010/04/link-google-april-fool-devours.php Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:30:10 +0000 Celebrity Cruises has been so flattered by press and public reaction to the iLounge that is making its debut on Celebrity Eclipse this month, that it has decided to roll it out to two more ships. Both Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Summit will get the i treatment, creating what has been dubbed a "hipster haven" on both. Well if that's the definition of a lounge where you can go on line using MacBooks and buy said laptops and iPods, then that's what it is. Sounds to me more like my office transposed into a nifty new retail opportunity. There will http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/celebrity-rolls-out-ilounge-to.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/celebrity-rolls-out-ilounge-to.html Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:39:34 +0000 It's not often that a company is big enough to hold up its hand and admit it got things wrong, so hat's off to US river cruise company Uniworld, which is sold in the UK by Elegant River Cruises (part of Titan Travel) and Saga. River Tosca was supposed to be one of the most luxurious vessels to sail the Nile when it launched last year; instead, it seems there was nothing but complaints from passengers about the shoddy workmanship. There were scratched floors, loose tiles, bad paint and wood work. Hardly life and death stuff, but not exactly luxurious http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/uniworlds-tosca-relaunches-on.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/04/uniworlds-tosca-relaunches-on.html Tue, 06 Apr 2010 08:07:14 +0000 One of my favourite blogs, London Hotel Insight, had a sneak preview of the long-awaitied revamped Savoy hotel. The 263-room hotel on the Strand closed in December 2007 for a £100 million restoration. The reopening has been pushed back, then delayed, then pushed back again.. Now chief architect Conrad Smith has admitted the Savoy will finally reopen its doors "hopefully in September". Fairmont Hotels is keen to take the hotel back to its former glory, using original pieces wherever possible and classic Savoy touches. Smith teased us with some juicy details of the hotel's new look. We can expect: Flagship http://www.hotel-girl.com/2010/04/savoy-to-reopen-hopefully-in-s.html http://www.hotel-girl.com/2010/04/savoy-to-reopen-hopefully-in-s.html Sun, 04 Apr 2010 19:34:13 +0000 http://www.travolution.co.uk/blog/2010/04/digital-facsimiles-versus-digi.php http://www.travolution.co.uk/blog/2010/04/digital-facsimiles-versus-digi.php Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:39:18 +0000 I was unable to make it to Volendam in Holland last weekend to see Avalon Waterways' new vessel christened - I was otherwise engaged as one of the speakers at the Cruise show - but by all accounts it was a great occasion. The ribbon was cut by godmother Measha Brueggergosman, whose previous engagement was singing at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and Avalon Felicity is now getting ready to operate a seven-night Romantic Rhine cruise from Amsterdam to Basle (and vice-versa). It runs from April 11 to the end of October. A sister to Cosmos, http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/felicity-joins-the-avalon-flee.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/felicity-joins-the-avalon-flee.html Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:29:50 +0000 http://www.hotel-girl.com/2010/03/adlon-kempinksi---theres-more.html http://www.hotel-girl.com/2010/03/adlon-kempinksi---theres-more.html Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:37:03 +0000 Here we go again. Royal Caribbean International has just added yet another new inaugural cruise for its next big ship, the 5,400-passenger Allure of the Seas. It's a four-nighter going from Port Everglades in Florida to Labadee, Royal's private island in Haiti, on December 1. Just like they offered when Oasis of the Seas launched last. Even the dates are the same. Anyone booked on the previous maiden cruise - a seven-night Western Caribbean voyage departing December 5 (which only replaced the original December 12 inaugural last month) - has until April 30 to decide if they want to add http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/royal-caribbean-adds-new-allur.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/royal-caribbean-adds-new-allur.html Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:03:57 +0000 Still undecided about whether you can afford to book a cruise this year? Here's a selection of this week's best deals. * Cruise and Maritime Voyages is offering free upgrades on a six-night springtime cruise from Tilbury on April 23, visiting Rouen in France, Guernsey and the Isles of Scilly. Prices from £399 (that's just £66.50 a day) per person cruise-only. See your travel agent, call CMV on 0845 833 9798 or click here. * Iglu Cruise has seven nights on Princess Cruises' Grand Princess sailing from Southampton to Scandinavia on May 22 from £599 - that's just £85 a http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/this-weeks-cracking-deals.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/this-weeks-cracking-deals.html Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:45:11 +0000 The second National Family Week (no I never knew there was a first one either) runs from May 31 to June 6 and MSC Cruises is the only official cruise line supporter. The week is supposed to be about highlighting the important role families play in society and encouraging quality family time but I can't help feeling it's actually all about persuading families to book a holiday. MSC will be organising competitions with family cruises as prizes and also offering a 15% discount on all 2010 and 2011 voyages booked before July 31 2010. MSC's kids' mascot "Do Rey Me" http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/msc-signs-up-for-national-fami.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/msc-signs-up-for-national-fami.html Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:48:38 +0000 A couple of weeks ago, Alaska governor Sean Parnell thrashed out an agreement with the cruise lines on the controversial head tax that has caused many to pull ships out of the 49th state this year. Now Travel Weekly US reports that Parnell has submitted a bill that will more than double the reduction originally agreed. Are they keen to have the cruise lines back or what? Not surprising really given this summer the number of cruise calls will fall 17%, which translates into 140,000 fewer cruise passengers. It also translates into a lot of unemployment among locals involved in http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/alaska-governor-seeks-59-cut-i.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/alaska-governor-seeks-59-cut-i.html Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:36:27 +0000 As Thomas Cook's top seller Moira Lumsden says, there are no prizes for second place. So it's lucky that she and the rest of our group are on the first official journey of the Maharajas' Express, India's newest luxury train. We arrive at Kolkata station to a barrage of spectators and press - this may be our allocated fifteen minutes of fame. Karen Allen of Aspen Travel gets in front of the camera and on to Indian TV - the results are on YouTube. http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/postcards-from-travel-weekly/2010/03/india---maharajas-express-inau.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/postcards-from-travel-weekly/2010/03/india---maharajas-express-inau.html Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:06:46 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/windstar-woos-lovers---of-choc.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/windstar-woos-lovers---of-choc.html Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:04:32 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/2010/03/the-post-trip-funk-silly-but-s.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/2010/03/the-post-trip-funk-silly-but-s.html Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:40:45 +0000 It's been one busy weekend for those of us who were at the Cruise show at London's Olympia on Saturday and Sunday. As soon as the doors opened at 10am on Saturday, the crowds started to flood in. Every time an underground train arrived at Olympia, the scene in the street was like that one from the Disney film Mulan, where the Mongul hordes come over the hill. And they were coming fast as well - all of them keen cruisers or folk wanting to find out if a cruise was the holiday for them - all desperate to get http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/cruise-show-packs-them-in.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/cruise-show-packs-them-in.html Mon, 29 Mar 2010 07:20:51 +0000 While on the subject of food and dining, check out this report on Cruise Critic about the new Cirque Dreams and Dinner experience on Norwegian Epic. I nearly got the chance to go and see this preview in the US a couple of weeks back but in the end all the spaces were taken by American journalists. Have to say I'm really disappointed now as it looks pretty amazing - even to this old cynic! http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/in-the-spiegel-tent-on-norwegi.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/in-the-spiegel-tent-on-norwegi.html Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:56:55 +0000 I'm sure I can't be the only person rejoicing that Crystal Cruises is to introduce a new flexible dining option for passengers who want the freedom to eat when and with whom they want. Regular readers of this blog will know I am no fan of the same table, same dining companions system that Crystal currently operates. When my daughter and I sailed with Crystal last year we ate in the dining room only four times, preferring the freedom of the speciality restaurants. At least there was another option - well two of them actually - and happily Crystal doesn't http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/crystal-to-introduce-perfect-c.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/crystal-to-introduce-perfect-c.html Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:04:53 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/2010/03/link-what-the-decline-of-block.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/2010/03/link-what-the-decline-of-block.html Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:32:44 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/sea-princess-to-go-down-under.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/sea-princess-to-go-down-under.html Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:37:01 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/qm2-makes-cape-town-debut.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/qm2-makes-cape-town-debut.html Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:25:35 +0000 My blog about MSC Cruises' new service charge did not go unnoticed at TUI Towers. David Selby, managing director of Thomson Cruises, was quickly on the phone with a light-hearted quip but also to make a few very serious points about the whole issue of tipping and service charges. "When the news came out, a colleague of mine wryly suggested MSC might soon be mistakenly taken to stand for Mandatory Service Charges. Whilst I have to admit it raised a smile, it's not the sort of reputation I want our industry to get. "After all, we all operate in the http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/follow-our-tipping-lead-says-t.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/follow-our-tipping-lead-says-t.html Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:52:08 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/how-to-do-antarctica-without-a.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/how-to-do-antarctica-without-a.html Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:18:16 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/truce-reached-over-alaska-head.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/truce-reached-over-alaska-head.html Wed, 24 Mar 2010 07:58:00 +0000 UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has referenced the online travel industry as part of his speech to launch a new government web initiative, MyGov. He said: "Today you can book and pay for a holiday online in minutes. Why can't you do that for a blue badge for a disabled person? With MyGov you will." MyGov, part of the current government's Digital Britain initiative, is intended to provide every UK citizen with their own password-protected home page, from where they can access all government services. The site will allow Brits to "manage their pensions, tax credits or child benefits; pay http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/2010/03/brown-references-online-travel.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/2010/03/brown-references-online-travel.html Tue, 23 Mar 2010 11:29:13 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/is-a-service-charge-the-way-to.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/is-a-service-charge-the-way-to.html Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:07:02 +0000 http://www.hotel-girl.com/2010/03/blysthwood-square-hotel-brings.html http://www.hotel-girl.com/2010/03/blysthwood-square-hotel-brings.html Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:19:26 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/cheers-its-olly-smith-at-the-c.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/cheers-its-olly-smith-at-the-c.html Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:10:40 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/ncl-finds-another-restaurant-o.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/ncl-finds-another-restaurant-o.html Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:57:45 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/its-a-cut---cunard-reveals-hal.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/its-a-cut---cunard-reveals-hal.html Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:29:38 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/celebrity-eclipse-squeezes-dow.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/celebrity-eclipse-squeezes-dow.html Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:34:22 +0000 http://www.travolution.co.uk/blog/2010/03/travellers-prefer-face-to-face.php http://www.travolution.co.uk/blog/2010/03/travellers-prefer-face-to-face.php Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:20:31 +0000 What is it about Australia all of a sudden? Ocean Village is being disbanded and sent down there, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 will be circumnavigating the continent in 2012 and now Silversea has said Silver Shadow will be cruising around Australia next year. Silversea's 30-day Sydney round-trip, from January 19 to February 18, visits Brisbane, the Whitsunday Islands, Willis Island (for the Great Barrier Reef), Port Douglas, Cooktown, Darwin, Broome, Exmouth, Perth, Albany, Port Lincoln, Adelaide, Geelong, Melbourne and Hobart in Tasmania. Prices start from £11,282 per person including all meals, drinks and gratuities, but excluding flights. Cunard has three http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/cruise-ship-duo-to-circumnavig.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/cruise-ship-duo-to-circumnavig.html Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:08:54 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/po-hit-by-foie-gras-storm.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/po-hit-by-foie-gras-storm.html Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:19:51 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/po-launches-med-flycruises.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/po-launches-med-flycruises.html Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:37:43 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/princess-expands-in-europe.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/princess-expands-in-europe.html Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:51:49 +0000 Actually it's the first glimpse and the last one for a while, because if all goes according to plan, the 446-passenger Saga Pearl II will be off today on its inaugural cruise in its new colours - an 18-night voyage from Southampton to the Norwegian fjords. I say "if all goes according to plan" because the refurbishment of the ship, which was built in 1981 and formerly called the Astoria, has not gone quite as smoothly as Saga might have hoped. But I saw it in Southampton yesterday and although there are workmen crawling all over it still, it is http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/first-glimpse-of-saga-pearl-ii.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/first-glimpse-of-saga-pearl-ii.html Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:15:51 +0000 What a cool guy Celebrity Cruises president and chief executive Dan Hanrahan is. Not just calm as his new ship Celebrity Eclipse negotiated the obstacle course known as the River Ems, but also totally laid back about the fact Eclipse looks a long way from being finished. "When I see Bernard Meyer panic, I know it's time to get worried," he told me. "There is a lot to be done but I am confident if they tell me it will be ready on time, it will be ready on time." Incidentally, Bernard Meyer was on board for the conveyance, and http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/full-steam-ahead-to-finish-ecl.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/full-steam-ahead-to-finish-ecl.html Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:44:49 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/breathe-in-celebrity-eclipse-s.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/breathe-in-celebrity-eclipse-s.html Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:47:10 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/a-cruise-ship-is-born.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/a-cruise-ship-is-born.html Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:03:58 +0000 http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/look-out-for-an-early-eclipse.html http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/blogs/cruise-lines/2010/03/look-out-for-an-early-eclipse.html Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:21:07 +0000