BRITAINS got TALENT ~ GONE to the DOGS

BRITAINS got TALENT BONE goes to a DOG

I really cant believe I watched Bitains got Talent most nights last week and listened to those four “judges” criticising quite talented humans, only to have a DOG as the winner.  Has Simon Howell lost the plot, but because he said he would love a dog act to Win...... Surprise ,Surprise, it did.

He said he wanted it to WINNALOT, but hes no longer a PAL of mine

Pudsey - a border collie, bichon frise and Chinese crested cross, took home the £500,000 prize and the winners bone, I mean crown.

He won over fearsome judge Simon Cowell, who admitted he has a soft spot for dogs.   Just how is a dog going to spend all that money in what surely has to be a limited life expectancy ???   

I am sorry but if I were Queen I certainly would prefer to see one of my subjects perform than an animal.

And there is the health and possible embarrassment issues, at least there would be no risk of an opera singer cocking his leg up, to relive himself  in front of her majesty.  I really hope all goes well and the Queen and her CHUMS have a lovely evening.

Come Dancing Comes Cheaper

 "Come Dancing, Comes Cheaper"

So if you feel like kicking your legs in the air........

P&O Cruises has some fabulous late deals for Dancers, they are now offering inside cabins on the 12 night Canary Isle Cruise on the fabulous Oriana for as little as £849 per person. As well as enjoying the sunny, hopefully rain free itinerary passengers will also be able to learn the jive, foxtrot, rumba, quickstep and other routines from the professionals

Judge Craig Revel Horwood and a number of unnamed dancers from the series have been signed up to appear on the child-free ship Oriana.  Maybe the lack of support for this particular sailing is due to P & Os choice of "judge". There are a lot more popular dance related celebrities they could have invited.

The ‘Strictly Dance’ cruise depart Southampton on May 28 for 12 nights to the Canary Islands

P&O Cruises’ managing director Carol Marlow said: “We are so excited to bring the magic of the Strictly ballroom to Oriana. Our passengers will be able to learn with the professional dancers, watch extraordinary show dances and hear some of the secrets of this global phenomenon.
”Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing With The Stars’ commercial brand director Richard Halliwell said: “The Strictly brand is very well suited to an ocean cruise given the heady mixture of elegance, romance, high-class entertainment and exhilarating destinations.”

BIG SHIP versa SMALL SHIP on safety

SIZE MATTERS when it comes to SAFETY

 Royal Caribbean, Boss Richard Fain, whose company operates some of the world’s biggest cruise ships, was responding to concerns raised following the Costa Concordia disaster in January, in which 32 passengers died. He said: "The truth is the newer, bigger ships are as safe or safer than any comparable smaller ships."

More than 4,250 passengers and crew were on board the Concordia when it hit a reef off the island of Giglio in Tuscany. Although the actions of Francesco Schettino, the Concordia’s captain, have been called into question, doubts have also been raised about the safety of evacuation procedures on board larger cruise ships.

But Mr Fain, speaking to the Financial Times, claimed that the evacuation of larger ships was actually faster because of the greater number of exits on board. He also claimed that the ships offered a more comfortable experience for passengers.

Royal Caribbean’s largest vessel – the giant Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas – carries more than 7,500 passengers and crew. So he would say that wouldn`t he.

"RUFF" Crossing for CUNARD CANINES

Seadogs on Queen Mary 

IT’S A DOGS LIFE ~ NOT !!!

With more and more Brits and Americans looking at sailing home with their pet pouches, the demand for Kennels on the Transatlantic crossings is huge.
I recently checked for a family looking at returning to the UK this year with their pet dog, only to find as little as two kennel spaces for the rest of 2012. They do get cancellations and operate a waiting list, but this is not always convenient if passenger need to make their plans.

The benefits of sailing to New York or Southampton on Cunard Queen Mary is, that subject to adhering to the strict vetinarary requirements, your pet will not have to spend months inquarantine and you can even take him walkies whilst on the waves.

I feel in view of the information I have gleened from this exercise, perhaps my managers may even consider appointing me a CANINE CRUISE CONSULTANT or even TOP DOG

I am going to end this blog now, as I am Actually Absolutely DOG TIRED, but here is some more information, that may prove interesting....please feel free to read on

Kennels are only open on Transatlantic voyages between the following ports of embarkation/disembarkation:
Southampton , Hamburg and New York

IF YOU ARE COMING FROM A NON-EU COUNTRY, OTHER THAN THE USA, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK WITH DEFRA FOR THE REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER THE UK.

Pet Travel Requirements for sailing:

Eastbound Requirements: NYC - SOU:
The cat or dog must have been:  

IN THIS ORDER

• Fitted with a microchip
• Vaccinated against rabies
• Issued with an official Veterinary Certificate (Regulation (EC) No 2011/874) or official PET Passport
• Treated against ticks and tapeworm not less than 24 hours or more than 120 hours before check-in and issued with an official certificate of treatment

FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER, WILL RESULT IN YOUR PET BEING DENIED BOARDING.

Westbound Requirements: SOU - NYC:
The cat or dog must have been:

• Issued a current Health Certificate (The health certificate shall show that the dog or cat was examined by a veterinarian within 30 days of entry of the dog or cat into the State of New York.)
• Rabies Vaccination within 12 months to 14 days prior to Entry into the State of New York

General Information:
Animals Accepted- Dogs and Cats only - no birds.
Animals are not permitted in guest staterooms nor public areas
There is no Veterinarian onboard
The Kennel is located on deck 12, Aft.
Dogs can be walked on to the ship on a lead or brought onboard in a kennel
Cats should be brought onboard in a kennel.
Visiting Hours may vary but are usually as follows:
8:00 am to 10:00 am
11:00 am to 12:00 pm
3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
8:00 pm to 8:30 pm
*Guest should check onboard for specific hours

Kennel Measurements:
6 upper Kennels (27" H, 30" W, 35.5" D)
Weight Restriction 25 lbs or less

6 lower Kennels (36" H, 30" W, 35.5" D)
Weight Restriction 26 lbs or more

2 kennels may be opened up to accommodate larger animals. Guest will be charged per kennel.
Pet Measurements should be as follows:

• Pet Height (from floor to shoulder)
• Pet Length (from tip of nose to base of tail)
• Pet weight in pounds
• Pet Age at time of sailing
• Kennel Fees:
  2011 voyages up to April 27, 2012
  1 upper kennel $300.00
  1 lower kennel $500.00
  1 cat requires 2 upper kennels (one for the litterbox)
  May 4, 2012 and after
  1 upper kennel $500.00
  1 lower kennel $700.00
  1 cat requires 2 upper kennels (one for the litterbox)
  second pet sharing same kennel $500.00

SOME ON THE DOG BREEDS THAT ARE TOO LARGE FOR THE KENNELS

Afghan, Bloodhound, Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound) ,Briard, Irish Wolfhound ,Mastiff ,New Foundland, Curly Coated Retreiver, Gordon Setter, Great Dane, Greyhound, Irish Setter, Deerhound ,Doberman, Pyrenees, Saluki Bull Mastiff, St. Bernard, Weimaraner, Malamute

There are always exceptions to the rule, if your dog's breed is on the list and small for the breed we may be able to accommodate you.

SIMON COWELL in DEEP WATER,

OR IS HE ALL AT SEA ?

As a fan of the X Factor and Britains Got Talent, I was disappointed with the latest stories covering the newspapers front pages about SIMON COWELLS love life.  Does he really think that during the times of Britains financial problems, unemployment and our troops at war, that his love life and bedroom conquests are of interest to the British public. Or is it just  hype to help his falling viewer figures, since the rise of BBC programme THE VOICE.
I am sure we would have all much preferrred to have heard his explaination or the reasoning for the Romanian Basketball Acrobats appearance in

BRITAINS got TALENT.  I repeat BRITAINS got TALENT.The clue is in title Mr Cowell....Perhaps he thinks he can fob us off with anything now.......

I admit he is probably one of the most recognised British male Celebrities. 

Mr partner Peter is often mistaken for him, albeit usually in Pubs and Bars. 

Myself, friends and family are quite used to people coming up to him and saying "has anyone ever told you that you look like Simon Cowell",

I now reply with No !! Simon Cowell looks like Peter,  He was here first. 

Here is a picture taken on our last holiday,In Fuertaventura, where like Simon Cowell, he also attracts the ladies......

WELL TWO DRAG QUEENS actually.

They seemed to think he had the X FACTOR. It can be quite amusing, I only wish he had his money ........and then I could book that LUXURY CRUISE I have been promising myself.

P & O Family Friendly ? Thats Suite

MYSTERY of the AZURA and VENTURA

Family Suites

I received a cruise enquiry just the other day, from a slightly frustrated father trying to book a family cruise holiday. His family consisted of the two parents and four children.  Very few of the ships have large enough suites for a family of this size on most ships they would require two cabins, this means parents would have to split with 2 children each, and as every cabin requires two full paying passengers before any child discounts can be applied, therefore becomes rather expensive.  The good news is P & O`s Ventura and Azura do have some AE family suites which actually take 6 passengers.  Again it requires four adult fares but generally the 2 additional passengers- depending on ages, can be very reasonable. The bad news is they ONLY have TWO on EACH SHIP. 
My client decided this would be ideal for his family, I did warn him that everytime I have tried to secure one of these suites they have been sold out, but, amazingly there was one available. I quoted the price, which was quite acceptable, then started the hunt for pictures and more details of these illusive AE suites.  Eventually I managed to find a picture in P & O Summer 2012 summer holiday brochure.  Page 174, which I was able to send my passenger.  I tired to find more information on the Internet and was amazed there was no feedback from anyone who had actually stayed in one of these suites. 

As there are only TWO on each ship, does this mean that  “family friendly” P and O, don`t really cater for families above four.

Obviously from the money making angle it is far more profitable to have 2 four bed balconies rather than one 6 bed suite….. What about family values P & O.  Perhaps at the next refurb they might consider adapting a few more standard cabins for larger families

AE Grade Family Suites numbers D105 or d106 on Ventura and Azura.

Two bedrooms, one with two lower beds convertible to king-size, one with two lower fixed twin beds
Two bathrooms, one with full size bath and WC, one with shower and WC
Dressing area, iron and ironing board
Two flat panel TVs and mini stereo
Lounge area with sofa, table and chairs
Floor to ceiling sliding doors leading to the balcony

If there is anyone out there has managed to book and cruise in one of these suites, I would love to hear from you.
I am beginning to suspect they are just a mirage.

AIRLINES FAX TAX ~ ROUND 3

Ryanair urges cabin crew to lose weight 'to save on fuel costs'

   Michael O`Leary looks delighted to have come up with another money making idea ??????

Ryanair has come up with a number of new initiatives aimed at saving money in the face of rising fuel prices - including advising cabin crew to "watch their weight".
As we all know the  heavier an aircraft is, the more expensive the flight, so a number of airlines are devising ways to make their planes lighter.
As well as encouraging flight staff to battle the bulge, Ryanair will cut the amount of ice on board, and reduce the weight of trollies and seats.
The in-flight magazine, Let's Go With Ryanair, will also now be published on A5 paper rather than A4, and will double up as a menu. As well as saving thousands of pounds on the fuel bill, the move will also cut printing costs by £400,000.
A Ryanair spokesman announced "we make every effort to reduce costs were ever possible"
"We also considered removing armrests, but decided against it. This is interesting as on my last Ryanair flight I was told I must put my arm rest down for take and landing ? We even encourage staff to watch their weight – with the motivation of appearing in the annual Ryanair calendar."
Every year, Ryanair's female cabin crew strip down to their underwear for a racy calendar - but it's all in the name of charity.  The 2012 proceeds from The Girls of Ryanair calendar will go to DEBRA, a charity providing support to people suffering from epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a genetic skin condition
Not everybody is keen on Ryanairs "racy" tactics. In February, They had two UK newspaper adverts recently banned for being too sexist.  According to the BBC, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received 17 complaints about the adverts that depicted woman posing in their underwear with the headline: "Red Hot Fares and Crew! One way from £9.99". .........What about the the male cabin crew ?????
The airline promoted its 2012 cabin crew charity calendar, and used images directly from it, adding that crew members had posed voluntarily for the pictures. Approximately  400 girls applied to feature in the 2012 calendar, with only 12 staff members being selected

I don’t  think the thought of appearing in a calender will "motivate" cabin crew to lose weight or help Ryanair's bid to cut fuel costs...? Nor do I think any savings made will be passed on the passengers.......

Don't get me wrong,  I use Ryanair and have always been pleased with the service. They can be very useful if you pick up a cheap late med cruise only deal and need to get a flight to join a cruise.

I`m A CRYSTAL CRUISE AMBASSADOR

CRYSTAL CLEAR CHOICE

I am absolutely thrilled to have been selected as a CRYSTAL CRUISE AMBASSADOR for Cruise.co.uk.  This means I will have the opportunity to visit their fabulous ships and improve my knowledge an experience of this truly exceptional cruise line.

I have always been aware of the fantastic value Crystal cruises offer within the Luxury market, but I am increasing impressed by their superb standard. Unlike most of the luxury lines, they offer excellent entertainment and some of the most spacious suites, staterooms and public areas of any luxury cruise ship. They provide a deluxe experience with their top class restaurants and a fantastic range of excellent quality entertainment. The Crystal experience is elegant yet friendly on both of  its ships Serenity and Symphony

I will be visiting the Symphony in Dover in May and will of course be reporting back, on what I am sure is going to be a truly fabulous experience.

In the meantime,  I will of course, be pleased to assist with any questions you may have about Crystal, if I am unable to answer your query, I know a man who can ………. I will be regularly offering information, advice and the latest deals from Crystal, so keep checking my blog.

KIDS on CRUISES. MSC update their KIDS CLUBS

MSC REVAMPS ITS KIDS CLUBS HAPPY KIDS means HAPPY PARENTS

MSC Cruises has announced  that its Kids’ Club programs have been revamped and updated to satisfy different age groups, meaning that children and teens can now have even more fun onboard an MSC cruise.  MSC Cruises has been  looking at new ways to enhance the family experience on board. Since mid-January 2012 programme enhancements have been rolled out across the MSC fleet, focusing on  sporting activities, arts and crafts, theatre and technology. And also includes a wider choice of family events, ranging from parades to scavenger hunts. With just under 15% of passengers during the year are children, with this rises  to 30% during the summer season.  MSC want  to ensure that they have an unforgettable experience, which means keeping them entertained all day,  With 22% of the almost 200,000 under 18s who cruise with MSC every year being between 12 and 14, and 24% are between 15 and 17, it’s also a priority to keep programmes up to date for teens and make sure that ships contain the latest technology.” Four age groups and A NEW nanny’s hour Every morning from 09.00 to 10.00 MSC have introduced nanny’s hour, a special programme for babies and toddlers aged 10 to 36 months. Our staff are there to organize dedicated games and activities aimed specifically at our youngest guests and their parents, including playing with bricks, baby disco, puzzle games, and drawing. These are the Four separate Kids’ Club programmes are available, each tailored to a specific age group. · The Mini Club sends three to six year old sailors on a magical voyage of discovery and amazing adventures through enchanted oceans. · Seven to 11 year olds are invited to join the pirate crew of the Junior Club and set off in search of buried treasure on an action-packed adventure towards uncharted islands. · The Y-Team is the perfect choice for 12 to 14 year olds. Why? Because they’ll meet new friends, do exciting new things and have a great time every day! That’s why! · MSC Generation teen club makes it easy for 15 to 17 year olds to get connected with the coolest crew on board and spend time with other people their age. For more details go to http://www.cruise.co.uk/cruise-guides/family-friendly/ and http://www.cruise.co.uk/cruise-guides/babies-and-tots/

NO FLY CRUISE~ NO HASSLE CRUISE

EXTRA SAILINGS FROM UK

With cruising becoming more and more popular, and more people wanting to sail from Southampton, the decision by Royal Caribbean International to homeport another ship in Southampton for summer 2013, will be a very welcome.

The 3,114-passenger Adventure of the Seas will begin sailing from Southampton in May 2013 alongside the 3,634-passenger Independence of the Seas which will return for its fifth consecutive summer season.

Last summer there was a real shortage of availability for people wanting to cruise without having to fly to join a ship.

I have previously mentioned the benefits of sailing from Southampton.

Firstly for most passengers the 2/3 hour pre-flight check-in at the airport, almost covers their journey to Southampton, meaning whilst most fly cruise passengers are only just boarding their flight, no fly passenger are already on board and enjoying the luxury of their chosen ship.

Which means often you can gain extra days holiday.

And then theres THE LUGGAGE, I have just returned from a holiday with flights, which was marred by the ridiculously low weight allowances for flight luggage and my struggling to keep within the limits

Sail from the UK and take as much luggage as you wish.

Theres less hassle boarding, no worrying about getting seats together for the flights, booking in flight meals or panicking if your flight is delayed. And often because there are no flights the prices are more competitiv
For NO FLY sailings from the UK and the latest prices and availability check the website or call me on 0800 408 6096

SAVED by SALAMI ???

                            

As the Costa Allegra docked safety without any loss of life or injury to any crew or passengers. Some passengers complained they had to eat Salami day and night.which is insignificant considering its only weeks since 32 people actually lost their lives on Concordia.

As the Costa Allegra docked in the Seychelles after a fire in the electrical generator room left the ship without power, One of the first passengers off the Costa Allegra has described how "horrible" the conditions were on board the ill-fated liner. And an unamed woman told how the passengers ate salami and white bread "morning, noon and evening" with no toilet facilities

Another passenger Danke Alena, 62, from Belgium said that many passengers were forced to sleep on deck because the cabins 'stank.' "They really smelt, it was terrible, but it was because there was no water and we couldn't flush the toilets. She explained how sharing information around the boat "was difficult" because they couldn't even get announcements over the PA. Although there were no hot water facilities, they had "plenty of water" to drink, and in the beginning they had a lot of fruit, as a helicopter dropped off supplies.

When they docked, local travel agents rushed to meet the passengers disembarking the cruise liner. Guillaume Albert, head of Seychelles-based Creole Travel Services, said: "The focus of the operation is to get them a warm meal and a shower."

The 31 UK citizens on board the Italian vessel were met by British High Commissioner Matthew Forbes. All but one of the British passengers opted to stay on in the Seychelles, though many of the 627 passengers are expected to fly home.

Obviously us Brits are made of sturdier stuff and would not let an overdose of Salami or Smelly Loo spoil our holiday.

FAT TAX ~ ROUND TWO

AIRLINE FAT TAX ~ Round Two

OOPs!- it seems my last blog may have upset some people........

I was only passing on information from a news article, that it appears from the comments, most people actually agree with.

I had decided to drop this somewhat sensitive subject............

Until last night, when watching TV and channel hopping as we do, I came upon the“BIG BODY SQUAD” on Channel 5, a documentrary about the people who look after those with excessive weight problems, including Ambulance crews, care workers and fire crews. In it a team of eight helped a 53 stone man back into his house after a hospital stay and also featured a 25 stone woman have her new chair delivered to her modfied home and paid for by her local council at a cost of £3000.00.  It concluded with a team being trained for an arcraft emergency evacuation that involved an obese passenger.
The programme expressed the real concern by the Health Authorities about the sudden and very dangerous rise in obesity in the UK.

Oddly enough at exactly the same time Sky 1 was showing: Obese. One Year to Save my life, where a 30 stone woman was struggling to leave her home.

Now back to the --- tax suggested by the airlines.

I read with great admiration Pauline Quirk's article about her dramatic and commendable weight loss, it transpires it was prompted by a holiday flight, where due to her size, she was unable to fasten her seat belt and had to ask the flight attendant for an extension. Which caused her great embarrassment and resulted in this fantastic weight loss

WELL DONE PAULINE, a great example

As for the anonymous insomniac who thinks I am ugly,I may well be,but it has never cost the National Health,the Benefits Agency or the British Tax Payer a penny.
Back to cruising, many of the ships offer Healthy option dining, for instance on Celebrity the Blu Restaurant is fabulous.

FAT TAX on air seats

Airline “FAT TAX” now a possibility

Recently two British airlines have won an appeal which paves the way for airlines to introduce a ‘fat tax’ to obese passengers.

The British Court of Appeal ruled in favour of both Thomas Cook and British Airways.According to a court ruling, passengers cannot sue for embarrassment caused when on board a plane. This precedent came after Thomas Cook and British Airways who won the case against two disabled passengers who tried to sue them for their poor treatment on their flights
The ruling means that airlines can now begin making necessary applications and adjustments in order to start introducing the ‘fat tax’ - meaning that obese passengers could be charged more for their flights. Obesity will no longer be a reason to claim discrimination if taxed for their excess weight.

Currently some airlines do insist that the obese purchase two seats on a flight as seats are inadequately sized to take the additional bulk of those whose girth spreads into adjoining seats, thus discomforting their adjacent passenger.
The Telegraph reported: "Judges decided that key elements of Britain’s disability and discrimination laws do not apply once passengers have boarded an aircraft."
Former Qantas chief economist Tony Webber wrote: "People who weigh more should pay more to fly on planes - in the same way that people who exceed their baggage allowance must fork out extra. The rationale is simple. The fuel burnt by planes depends on many things but the most important is the weight of the aircraft. The more a plane weighs, the more fuel it must burn."
I think more importantly, there is the issue of comfort of other passengers, have every been seated next to a very large person and had to “squeeze up” in your seat and try and eat in the extra limited space?

As an ex-smoker I was always aware that smokers were blamed for excessive costs to the national health service caused by their habit, yet, now it is proven that obesity costs the country far more than smoking related illness ever did. Smokers have had to change their habits  but are still ostracised and subjected to smoking bans, in spite the enormous revenue they create from tobacco taxes.

If obesity was more accepted as anti social, more frowned upon, and subject to bans and conditions like smoking, perhaps the obese might re think their life style, and lives as well as government resources could be saved.
So maybe this is move in the right direction.

an Alternative may be, forget flying all together and cruise from the UK

WEDDINGS at SEA

WEDDING SEASON

With the wedding season approaching future brides-to-be will be keeping a close eye on this years ceremonies, hoping to pick up some tips for their own special day. A growing number of couples wanting a wedding with a difference are choosing to tie the knot at sea, finding that a wedding on aboard a cruise ship provides the perfect combination of wedding, honeymoon and plus a truly romantic setting. Many of the cruiselines offer a wedding planning service for ceremonies aboard their ships, and even provide an on-board wedding co-ordinator to help with the planning and the big day itself, ensuring that everything runs smoothly. Plus many added extras for instance with a P & O wedding package the bride and groom will qualify for an additional 5kg luggage allowance each if travelling to the ship on a P&O Cruises charter flight , and the planner can arrange for bridal outfits to be pressed and prepared prior to the ceremony once on board. Also family and friends will benefit from an additional price 5% saving if there are ten or more in the party, and with P&O’s pre-cruise service, invitations can be delivered to home addresses prior to cruise departure if desired.

Your wedding cruise starts when you arrive at your cabin and are greeted by the glorious sight of champagne and flowers in your cabin, marking the start of the voyage extra special.

The ceremony itself takes place in a private venue decorated with beautiful fresh flower arrangements and officiated over by the Captain. Couples can personalise the occasion with their own choice of wedding music to make it a truly memorable day.

Every ship in the P&O fleet has it’s own personality, and whether it be classic and traditional or contemporary, there is bound to be a ‘perfect’ ship for every couple. Weddings aboard the stylish and child-free Arcadia can take place in the restful 25-seater Viceroy Room on the Sun deck, or alternatively in the Retreat, which is slightly larger and benefits from a light and airy feel as a result of its floor to ceiling windows. Adonia is the newest to the P&O fleet, and also the smallest, so is bound to suit couples looking for that air of friendliness and intimacy. Adonia’s library, situated on the Sun deck, is an ideal setting for ceremonies with up to 15 guests. Couples getting married aboard the world-class Aurora can enjoy the splendour of the Uganda Room, which accommodates up to 25 guests. Oceana offers couples The Captain’s lounge is the Captain’s private function room, and is suitable for up to 25 guests for a quieter ceremony, or the Library, on the Promenade deck, will cater up to 40 in luxurious surroundings. Larger wedding groups will enjoy the sophisticated Starlights Lounge, situated Promenade Deck, and accommodating up to 80 guests. The elegant and traditional Oriana is particularly child-friendly, and couples looking for a spectacular wedding venue will be delighted with the panoramic views from the Captain’s Lounge, which spans the length of the bridge. Suitable for up to 40 guests, the room is only available for hire for private functions. For couples in search of more contemporary surroundings, the fabulous Ventura and Azura are the biggest ships in P&O’s fleet. The Ivory Suites aboard both vessels are the allocated wedding venues, and seat up to 40 guests.

And the best bit...... after the ceremony – the honeymoon starts immediately as you are already settled into your own luxury floating hotel–

So as they say....YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT !

MISSED YOUR MUSTER or DODGED the SAFETY DRILL

Ever MISSED YOUR MUSTER ?

or DODGED THE SAFETY DRILL.
As has recently proved that few minutes can save lives.
 The MUSTER or SAFETY DRILL usually takes place a few hours after embarkation and its then ALL passengers are requested to meet at their MUSTER STATION, which is designated meeting place for passengers to have a lesson on how to put on a life jacket and what to do in case of an emergency.Personally, I would not dream of missing it and although I have been fortunate to sail on many occassions, I always attend as no two ships have the same drill and you must be aware and familiar with your Muster station.

In my experience unfortunately, you always get one or two passengers who think they already know everything and prefer to stay in their cabin or attend for the first few minutes and then sneak off before the presentation is completed. I hope some of these passengers may now rethink the importance of these drills following the CONCORDIA DISASTER. Although,It appears with Concordia, the drill had not yet been held for the passengers who embarked in Rome.
ALL Cruise ships have to follow regulations called (SOLAS) Safety of Life at Sea. The ship must ensure that passengers are educated about emergency evacuation procedures adopted following the sinking of the Titanic and is administered by United Nation's International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The SOLAS regulations regarding the muster drills are fairly straightforward.
They require that a drill takes place within 24 hours of embarkation.
The regulations differentiate between “a muster” and a "safety briefing."
SOLAS rules state whenever new passengers embarks, a safety briefing must be held "immediately before sailing, or immediately after sailing," consisting of at least a PA announcement. This may be supplemented with other information together with the written instructions in each cabin.

Regulations require that the safety briefing provides "clear instructions" that "detail the actions each person on board should follow in the event of an emergency."
Whereas a muster when passengers are physically assembled, is required only within 24 hours of sailing.
Regarding life jackets, the rules don't specify passengers must actually wear them during the drills but must be made aware as to how to wear them. In recent years ships have become much larger; therefore moving up to 5,000 plus passengers, wearing in bulky life jackets and making their way to their muster stations had become impractical. Some of the larger ships have an updated version of the drill and passengers now assemble in large public rooms, instead of on the open decks, where they await further instructions.
The main thing is that each line has standard methods and procedures and a well-trained crew.The Carnival Corporation,parent company of Costa, has announced that it will conduct "a comprehensive audit and review of all safety and emergency response procedures across all of the company's cruise lines". According to the company statement, "they will review all safety and emergency response policies and procedures, officer and crew training". The aim is to identify the best procedure and make sure that the Concordia like incident never happens again.

Lets hope,in future those “know it all” cruisers or the people who just want to get back to their lunch or the bar, will take the safety drill more seriously.

6 Star Luxury for the Price of 4 Star

6/7 Luxury at 4 Star Prices

If you have not been lucky enough to receive our

latest edition of The Complete Cruise 2012/13, You may not be aware of the differences between the cost of luxury and standard cruises.

Our marketing team here, have created a full page giving a like for like comparison between Ultra luxury and standard cruise prices.

They have taken the costs of a luxury cruise, which includes all drinks, Tips, wines, soft drinks ,tea and coffees, cocktails and wine with meals and even the free shore excursions and amazingly some of the luxury lines are

actually cheaper, than a standard cruiselines.
Not only are they working out less expensive but you also benefit from the fantastic service, luxurious cabins and suites, unique itineraries and no worries about your final on board account.

    

So don’t automatically dismiss the Luxury lines when making your selection. Currently some of them have great offers with free flights, very generous amounts of no board credit and even ones with

no sole occupancy supplements.

IF YOU GOING TO CRUISE,

CRUISE IN STYLE

For those of you who have received a copy of The Complete Cruise guide, please look at page 95, I am sure you will be amazed and for those who would like a copy of this great guide, please call me I will gladly send you one.