“They said there’d be snow at Christmas?”

As I sit and write this I can’t believe it’s twelve months since I wrote a pre-Christmas post. Where has 2016 gone? Never has a year flown by so quickly. I mean, one minute we were in the last throws of a glorious summer, the next we were in the run up to Christmas. Autumn didn’t really seem to happen at all did it? And if the weather forecast is to be believed this will not be a white Christmas, wind and rain is on the cards apparently which is a shame, you can’t beat a white Christmas to get you feeling all festive.

Of course if you are heading to sunny climes then the UK weather will be the last thing on your mind. I have been thinking about all my lovely clients who have either already left on their Christmas cruise or are due to leave in the next couple of days, heading to the Caribbean or the Canaries in search of winter sunshine – lucky them, I hope they all have a fabulous Christmas on board which I am sure they will as all the ships make a real effort over the festive season. I also have six clients flying out to New York on New Year’s Eve, arriving at lunchtime, to celebrate New Year in the Big Apple for a few days before sailing home on Queen Mary II. What a fabulous way to see in 2017!

As for me, I have been away a couple of times over Christmas, skiing in Europe, but to be honest I am a home bird at this time of year. I like to be at home, surrounded by family and friends with all the traditional festive foods, games and goings on. Each to their own I suppose, but I really can’t imagine Christmas Day on a beach somewhere or sunbathing around the pool on a ship. How about you? What do you like to do at Christmas?

This Christmas will be only the second time I have not cooked the dinner in the last 25 years. It is the main event for me so I shall feel like a spare part on Christmas morning although I am sure I will survive. I suppose I should offer to do the washing up then!

What ever you are doing over the Christmas period I hope you have a fabulous time – eat, drink and be merry, hopefully with your families and friends around you, and I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2017.

Thank you to all my clients, new and old alike, for all the bookings you have made with me during 2016. I look forward to speaking to all of you during 2017 and helping to arrange more fabulous cruises for you.

Happy Cruising Folks!