My Cruising Collection

I`ve been working in the travel industry for over 20 years, cruising for the last 16 of them, and I do have my favourites. I also have a few thing that always stick in my mind, some of cruises I`ve been on – some I`d like to go on. Images always spring to mind so I`ve chosen a few to talk about today.

Lets start with one I`d LOVE to do! I love this photograph, and it is the one image that always springs to my mind when looking at Caribbean, and even Mediterranean, cruises. Seabourn are a 6 star cruise line and this experience happens on their Caribbean cruises. The waiters accompany their guests to the beach with champagne and canapés in hand. It is known as the Caviar in the Surf Celebration and is something unique to Seabourn. Small ships and wonderful food, and service, are other reason why they are rated as one of the worlds best cruise lines.

One of the best things I have done is a Transatlantic cruise on Queen Mary sailing into New York. The cruise was brilliant but the highlight was definitely the morning we arrived at around 4am! Yes its very early but you have to get up. The ship sails in under the Verrazano Bridge, by this time we were all on deck to see the arrival into New York. As she passes under the bridge, and you look back, her funnel looks like it is gong to hit the bridge itself! Actually she misses by only a metre, apparently the construction of the ship was changed to allow her to fit underneath – just as well!

I`d love to do the trip again but sailing out of New York next  time.

I have also been lucky enough to sail on the old QE11. My trip was to the Norwegian Fjords, which are beautiful but the best bit was being on board for her maiden visit to the port of Rotterdam. The number of people and small boats who came out to cheer the ship on her arrival, and departure was incredible, it made the trip very special.

Another really good cruise was on the now redundant, but much loved, Ocean Village. With this one it was really the excursion to Rome that stands out in my mind. My friend and I booked the full day tour to Rome. That day it poured with  rain, and I mean poured! We arrived at the Vatican and the queue was unbelievable, it must have been at least a mile long. To be honest if we had not booked the tour we would have given up and gone home, but  the guide gave us no choice and she was so right it was unbelievable. I`m not a religious person, nor particularly into looking at churches but this was amazing. If your cruise goes to Rome take my advice and pre book an excursion.

Last, but definitely not least, nor my only other memory as there are lots of them, is Luxor and the River Nile. When I worked for Thomson as an overseas representative I spent several happy years working in Luxor, mainly on Nile cruises. It is one of the best holidays you can ever have, as long as you don’t go in the middle of summer when it is unbearably hot.

The cruise is lovely, excursions are included and the guides are excellent, but I always thought the best part was the actual sailing down  the river as it is just like floating through the Bible. It is like stepping back in time as you will see water buffalo and children swimming in the Nile and having a bath at the same time! the ladies still wash their clothes in the river too. Egypt has gone through some difficult times recently but hopefully thing are calming down and 2015 could be the year to plan your next holiday there.