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Ya dancer it’s Strictly on Saga Italy and Croatia tours

3rd January 20253rd January 2025 funtime65

The New Year is when you make your new cruise plans and ya dancer we’ve found it’s Strictly on Saga Italy and Croatia tours.

All of which plays right into My Wee Jigger’s territory with her having withdrawal symptoms after Strictly wrapped up for the season.

Yes, of course, she’ll be taking in one of the tour dates this year but there’s always room for one more dance.

And where better than the high seas where Saga are taking the best samba and salsa stars there are around the Adriatic and the Italian Riviera?

On Spirit of Adventure and Spirit of Discovery.

Glitterball on the seas

My old paymasters, they’re the ones now serving us, shared the exciting news about the celebrity hoofers coming on board this year.

Luba Mushtuk and 2024 finalist Vito Coppola will be delivering showstopping performances in Saga Cruises’ Playhouse theatre.

While 2024 finalist Lauren Oakley, who danced with JB Gill after Amy Dowden was injured), and Neil Jones will join them in the Italian Riviera.

While Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington will join them in Croatia.

That’s not all though as newscaster and pirouetting pensioner Angela Rippon will also be on board in Croatia.

To talk about her life and career, the iconic moment she danced with Morecambe and Wise.

To the lands of Discovery: The Western Med

All this and much more over 22 nights on Spirit of Adventure, sailing on February 28 and taking in Croatia and the Treasures of the Adriatic, from £6,988pp.

And 18 nights on Spirit of Discovery around The Western Mediterranean and Italian Riviera, sailing on March 26, from £4,999pp.

Spirit of Strictly

Leaving from Portsmouth your Adriatic trip will actually start in the English Channel, traverse the Bay of Biscay and Atlantic and entering the Med through Gibraltar and Malaga.

Saga promises five included panoramic excursions, Malaga, the peerless harbour of Valletta, Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic, Split and Cagliari.

While the Spirit of Adventure will scoot you around an old favourite sea route, the Western Med.

With Gibraltar, Palma in Majorca, Livorno in Italy and Cádiz in Spain all pencilled in for panoramic excursions.

So what’s keeping you, the new year is the time to resolve to go cruising if you never have, and more if you have.

Ya dancer it’s Strictly on Saga Italy and Croatia tours.

MEET YOU ON THE SEAS

America, Countries, Cruising, Deals

I’m a birthday celebrity get me out to there

23rd November 202423rd November 2024 funtime65

Because I knew they wouldn’t forget… I’m a birthday celebrity get me out to there.

The ‘there’ being the Bahamas which our friends at Celebrity Cruises had taken us to for the maiden voyage of Celebrity Edge.

On their tender, or boat, to give us sight of the islands.

Before turning right back without getting off.

Although, of course, getting back on board the $1m super cruise ship is never a hardship.

And also because they know how we flow Celebrity are luring us out again with a special birthday inducement.

Of a €50 saving per stateroom Ocean View, Veranda Concierge Class or Aqua Class €100 per stateroom saving or the Retreat stateroom €200 saving.

With the code BIRTHDAY to redeem.

Bahamian rhapsody

Our gaze fixed on Key West and the Bahamas, both of which have been on our horizon but honed out of view the nearer we got to them.

With suitcase packed and passport at the ready when the US shut the door behind them when Covid visited.

And this beardie missed out on his chance to walk in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway

And hook up with the second-most famous Glaswegian Billy Connolly, after myself, in his adopted land.

Celebrity is offering four nights on board Celebrity Summit.

Leaving from Fort Lauderdale from €365pp with up to 75 per cent off for a second guest and a saving of up to €700 per room.

As part of their Black Friday event with flight offers too.

While if you want to follow the other celebs to the Dom Rep.

Then Celebrity is also offering an Eastern Caribbean cruise from €365pp.

Happy Birthday to me

Now, as much as our cruise chums make us all feel unique we suspect that they are offering every one of their past clients this offer.

But, hey, we’ll keep the fantasy going because that’s what sailing on Celebrity is.

So you can keep your Aussie jungle, I’m a birthday celebrity get me out to there. To the Bahamas.

Countries, Cruising, Ships, UK

Celebrity Malala to Stena’s Fairy Pawmother

16th November 202416th November 2024 funtime65

Ship ahoy and cruiseheads don’t need me to tell them about naming conventions – but this is a new one on me as I float from Celebrity Malala to Stena’s Fairy Pawmother.

Every ship has her very own fairy godmother.

And contemporary godmums have moved on and got younger.

With crew on Celebrity Edge requesting the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner to launch their pioneering ship on its maiden voyage to the Bahamas.

With a cast of VIPs, Alesha Dixon, Kelly Hoppen, myself et al.

Pet project

On the Edge: And treated like a Celebrity

Fast forward to today and we’re celebrating a very different VIP… a very important pawson if you will.

The pick of Stena’s 87,500 pets crossing the Irish Sea.

Four-year-old Kea donates both her blood to help critically ill canines and her time to help train a generation of aspiring vets.

Kea saw off competition from 4,000 pets.

The competition marks Stena’s enhanced experience which includes 70 animal-friendly cabins across its Irish Sea routes.

And pet lounges on its Stena Superfast vessels operating between Belfast and Cairnryan, my old stomping ground.

Kea royal

At just eight-weeks-old, Kea found her forever home as part of Belfast belle Serena Maini and her family.

Over the years, Kea has been helping Serena at the Royal Veterinary College in London, both as a teaching dog and a blood donor.

Serena says: ‘Kea loves taking the trip from Cairnryan to see my family in Belfast.

‘It is incredibly pet friendly and super convenient. She has made the trip four times now.’

Pets win prizes

As well as the aforementioned those pet friendly facilities include kennels or dog lodges during the journey.

Guests can prebook the Pet Lounge from only £20 per pet.

Or where applicable, a pet-friendly cabin from only £55 per cabin (maximum two pets per booking).

All passengers who wish to travel with their pet in the pet lounge or cabin must pre-book in advance of travel.

And ensure all necessary vaccinations and documentation is up to date.

Countries, Cruising, Deals, Europe, Ships

Wave goodbye and thanks Croatia and isle be back

19th October 202419th October 2024 funtime65

Mahmuti zbogom i Hvala Croatia i isle be back.

Or for those who aren’t fluent by now in Hravatska wave goodbye and thanks Croatia and isle be back.

Which, of course, in this idiosyncratic strip of a country of 1,423 islands means waving goodbye to a pancake machine.

Which is how we kickstart the contraption in the buffet at the Grand Park Hotel.

Playing to the balcony: The Grand Park Hotel, Dubrovnik

On our loveholidays and EasyJet odyssey in Dubrovnik.

It would, of course, be back on our kitchen worktop by now.

Had the Mother of all Dragons not packed the suitcase to the brim with olive oil from the islands.

A scoot around the Elaphiti Islands

We have, in truth, barely made an indentation on those 1,423 isles in our seven days here.

But we did bag three more, the Elaphiti Islands with Get Your Guide (from €60pp) on our last day.

And now with luscious Lokrum, just 700m from Old Town Dubrovnik already explored that makes four.

In all honesty, the Elaphiti Islands lacked the charm, or peacocks, of Lokrum.

And contrary to Pliny the Elder’s claims despite the origins of their name there are no deer on these Elaphiti Islands.

Although plenty of wee Croatian Old Dears, one of whom in Sipan fluttered her eyelids.

To draw Herself into buying her olive oil.

The cutting crew

We have come here on Triton which we pick up from the marina having been driven to the shore from our hotel.

Lorenzo, our dreadlocked polyglot Italian guide and Jakob, his barefooted Polish pal deckhand, get the party going.

We start with Abba and I am reminded of my starring part in Jimmy, Jimmy (A man after midnight) on the Bosphorus.

But word must have reached them and I am not asked to reprise it.

Jakob gives us a pep with plum Rakija chasers and Lorenzo tops us up with Dalmatian wine.

Choose your church

Now if you love yourself an oul’ church then the Elaphiti Islands, and Dubrovnik in general, will be right up your ulica.

With one church for every one in the audience.

Although you imagine St Jerome the Hermit wouldn’t have shared his.

And his doors on Lopud are shut when we visit.

My little flower: Herself on the islands

Our time on the islands is alas too brief, 45 minutes each, although we do get to leaf through the botanic gardens.

But hardly enough to get lost on the steep rocky steps in Sipan which houses a positively throbbing 419 residents.

To get to yet another monastery ruins and meet another moggie.

Bare truth about departure time

Now you’d think 45 minutes would be long enough for a nudist beach.

On Kolocep which boasts just 163 inhabitants and just as many cats.

But alas it is too far out to get there and back in time for departure.

With Jakob saying Triton leaves bang on time, kit or sans kit.

In search of a dense hot chocolate

Now despite everyone on the isles seemingly working in the hospitality sector not one serves la ciocolatta di calda densa.

The thick hot chocolate, sometimes found in Dubrovnik, and always in Italia.

There is enough time on our eight-hour boat trip though for Lorenzo and Jakob to wine and dine us some more.

With no shortage of fresh fish, chicken and vegetarian fare all part of the package.

While spirits and coffee are budget prices.

Negotiating the waves

Lorenzo and I parliamo Italiano as we rise to the rhythm of the waves and the Cuban dance music.

And I feel I have made a connection when I share that I loved visiting his hometown Bergamo.

That is until I over-reach and mangle my Italian greeting.

And when I shortchange him at the end when he gets the tip bucket out our prospects of being amichi fade.

And my parting ciao falls on deaf ears without even a buona notte e sogni d’oro in return.

Still, my pancake machine the next morning at breakfast loves and understands me.

So I head for home with a wave goodbye and thanks Croatia and isle be back.

And my wee pancake machine waves back.

Countries, Cruising, Ireland, Ships, UK

Stena’s Holyhead family hub is a racing cert

3rd October 20243rd October 2024 funtime65

It wasn’t always like this, for Fiftysomethings it was toy cars on the deck, but for today’s kids Stena’s Holyhead family hub is a racing cert.

It is safe to say that Seventies chidren, or maybe just this lad, got to know the deck of the ferry pretty well.

On those schoolday Easter trips from Stranraer to Larne with my Dear Old Mum, on our way to her Co. Donegal homestead.

And always on my eyes ducking passengers’ feet.

The Irish Sea diaspora

For those of the Irish Sea diaspora, and with air prices sky high, the car ferry was always the vessel of choice.

With the good people of Donegal and the north of Ireland always decamping to Scotland on account of its proximity.

And those from Dublin and the south relocating to England through the port of Holyhead on Anglesey.

The ferries became a window into the world of the Irish Diaspora on the move.

Men exchanging the craic in a swirl of smoke and booze in the bar.

And the women trying to keep their kids under control as their kids whizzed their newly procured toy cars through’ folks’ legs.

Bells and whistles

Times have, of course, changed.

And no tech-savvy kid would put up with a toy car for entertainment on a ferry.

And Stena has too with its bells and whistles family hub to keep Mum, Dad and Junior happy… and outta the way.

With an interactive wall, digital floor projections and a cutting-edge gaming corner, Stena Line.

And there’s space too on the top-of-the-range Estrid which I’ve road tested and so has their team of kid testers.

Estrid’s family hub boast a seating capacity for 115.

And Stena offers a 2.2 family and car return from Dublin to Holyhead on board the top-of-the-range Estrid from £353

Countries, Cruising, Deals, Europe

Easy flow today round the canals of Strasbourg

22nd September 2024 funtime65

There is an easy flow today round the canals of Strasbourg, the historically sought-after and fought-after French border bastion.

Canal boats now float through the jewel of Alsace-Lorraine, passengers disembarking to walk its cobbled stones.

Where once they resounded to the heavy thuds of army boots.

Alsace-Lorraine, the very name resonates from the pages of school history books.

The French Revolution, the Franco-Prussian War, two world wars.

EuroCentral Strasbourg

Strasbourg is a symbol of the European project with the first meeting of the European Parliamentary Assembly held here in 1958.

The predecessor to the European Parliament which succeeded the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community.

And now home to the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights.

The latter, the last refuge for British Europhiles, which Eurosceptics naturally want rid.

Too much politics already, we hear you scream.

Riviera of dreams

But that’s why we’re here, to persuade you to explore the corridors of power in Strasbourg, as we did in the late Eighties.

And why not do it in style with Riviera Travel?

With eight days from €1799pp based on two sharing.

Of course, you do the politics, Riviera will do the patisserie, plonk and picturesque vistas.

You’ll leave from Cathedral City Koln, drifting down to Koblenz, at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle.

Heidelberg for steins

If the Rhine and the Moselle conjure up wine then Heidelberg is home to a very special stein store.

A staple stop-off on an Oktoberfest bus booze cruise.

Your Riviera cruise will help you, as billed here, lap up the easy flow today round the canals of Strasbourg.

And take you deep into Colmar in the heart of Alsace as your terminus.

Toast of the canals

Before turning you around and taking you back to Koln.

You’ll get seven nights on board a five-star ship with a free drinks passage and full board dining.

With return flights and transfers, return Eurostar and transfers.

There will be 11 included experiences and a Riviera Cruise Director and Concierge.

Countries, Cruising, Deals, Europe

Europe’s longest road/rail bridge Denmark-Sweden

19th August 202419th August 2024 funtime65

Few structures underscore a city’s importance as the bridge that runs through it, particularly when it links two countries as with Europe’s longest road/rail bridge Denmark-Sweden.

Living in and around Edinburgh over two spells for nigh on 15 years I am treated to the spectacle that are the Forth Road and Rail Bridges.

And its cycle path, where you can breathe in the Firth of Forth Air and admire the Rail Bridge.

As captivating an experience as the Forth Bridges are they are bested in scale by the Øresund Bridge.

The 8km/4km bridge/tunnel connecting the Swedish coastline and Copenhagen.

All of which you might recognise from the Scandi Noir series The Bridge.

Scandi connections

Ride on: With Herself and American Tom in Copenhagen

Of course, Denmark and its Scandinavian neighbours are connected.

By more than its impressive Millennial bridge.

With Denmark, Sweden and Norway all bonded together at points in history through royalty.

On the right track: Great Railway Journeys

And today through its cultural links and rail network, all brought together by the likes of Great Rail Journeys.

GRJ, a great favourite of the dearly departed father-in-law old Casey Jones himself, also offers as part of its package cruises.

Around the stunning Stockholm archipelago and Copenhagen’s Nyhavn Canal.

Bridge of highs

Been there, Dane that: Copenhagen at its brightest

Twas from Wonderful Copenhagen that we caught our first glimpse of The Bridge.

On a cruise ourself with MSC when we stopped off in the Danish capital en route to the Norwegian fjords.

And, still it hovers over us a reminder that we need to visit Sverige.

And for no other reason than because my travelling pal Agnetha (no, not that one) has been pestering me ever since we first met in Prague.

But that’s where GRJ come in as they tempt us with their pitch.

‘Take in Oslo’s stylish modernity as well as its long and varied history.

On a guided tour, before travelling by rail to Stockholm.

‘In the Swedish capital, visit picturesque Gamla Stan, one of the best-preserved medieval centres in Europe.

Before embarking on a cruise round the islands.

‘Cross the iconic Øresund Bridge into charming Copenhagen to view royal palaces.

And sail along the Danish capital’s colourful Nyhavn Canal.’

A rail good deal

Included in your package which comes in at from £1,795pp is…

The expertise of a tour manager, standard class rail travel and all rail and coach travel throughout your tour.

Seven nights’ 4-star hotel accommodation, two nights in a 4-Star hotel in Oslo, 3 nights in a 4-Star hotel in Stockholm and 2 nights in a 4-Star hotel in Copenhagen.

Breakfast each day and three dinners and excursions included.

And they will fly you out from London Heathrow to Oslo.

And back from Copenhagen to London Heathrow.

While if you live further north, and yes one sticking point is that they don’t factor in Scotland in that equation.

Then you can depart from Manchester.

All worth thinking about and how three countries once united under the one blue-blooded family have found commonality, unlike this wee island.

Through Europe’s longest road/rail bridge Denmark-Sweden.

Countries, Cruising, Europe

Cruising in Croatia and you’re going to get married

15th August 202415th August 2024 funtime65

They say the first 30 years are the hardest but so much easier if you start off well… and when you’re cruising in Croatia and you’re going to get married.

Which is how they do it these days.

Fashions have, of course, changed since the mid-90s and that applies equally to weddings.

Yacht to get out there: Deluxe on the seas

So that rather than walk up the aisle in Herself’s hometown, albeit the picture-postcard rural village of Kintbury, Royal Berkshire in our case.

Today’s couples take themselves and a far smaller select of family and friends off to sunny shores.

Hands up who’s wed: Surrounded by the Adriatic

So if you can cope with the outlaws joining in on a wedding/honeymoon.

And it helps if they dig deep into their pockets then read on.

Nor will you be judged on how big your wedding is or how many pals you have.

Because 30 years on most will become just Christmas cards.

It’s MyWedding and I’ll cruise if I want to

MyWeddingCruise.com keep it small and intimate with yachts accommodating anything from 12 to 36.

Its Premier ship can accommodate up to 32 guests and features a diving platform, sun deck as well as spacious salon and social seating areas.

While its Premier Plus ship can host up to 36 guests with the same features but with a more spacious layout in addition to a jacuzzi.

The Superior ship the same with an extra-large sun deck and hosting up to 36 guests.

Elite Yachts, its most exclusive boat type, is ideal for an intimate guest list of up to 12.

The yachts feature six staterooms as well as a Master Suite and VIP Suite with private access; 5* service is a given.

Promessi you a life of happiness

Bridal sweet: And a happy wife is a happy life

MyWeddingCruise.com have got into bed with Croatian wedding planners Promessi to give you high-quality event bundles.

The Silver, Gold and Platinum Bundles all include the following across different standards and durations, reflecting different price points.

A bridal bouquet, wedding arch, centre pieces, décor, wedding cake, a DJ, photography and bridal hair/ makeup.

The Platinum Bundle also includes videography and ceremony musicians.

Separate add-ons can be provided for an additional fee; a celebrant, drinks package and magician, among others upon request.

Optional excursions can be organised and booked for an additional cost.

Recommended activities include the Mljet National Park, kayak hire to explore the local beaches.

Check it out: With our Croatian friends in Dublin

A cable car ride up to Mount Srd for picturesque views and wine tasting in Korcula.

Now back to us and 30 years after I made Herself the Happiest Woman In The World we’ll mark the date in Croatia too next month.

And in time-honoured tradition here…

MEET YOU ON THE ADRIATIC

Countries, Cruising, Deals, Europe, Ships

You too can be an Olympian Celebrity

9th August 20249th August 2024 funtime65

And as the newly-garlanded victors begin to cash in on their triumphs here’s how you too can be an Olympian Celebrity.

And at the heart of the Olympic story too in Olympia, the site of the first Games in 776BC.

The elite cruise providers are offering a timely As Good As Gold Olympia, Greece package which will make you feel a winner.

All part of your 10-night Greek Isles & Turkey.

Spoiled and ruined: At the Acropolis in Athens

Join your bus from your ship from the island of Kerakolon for Ancient Olympia.

Now, of course, any day excursion will never be long enough to channel your inner Olympian hero.

And I can vouch. from a rushed run around the Parthenon, that any time soaking up Hellenic Classical culture is worth it.

Olympic glory

During your visit you will spend an hour and a half.

A little less than the best Marathon runners will take.

You will explore the Temple of Zeus, the temple of Hera, the shrine of Pelops, the treasury, the Palaestra and Gymnasium.

After the guided visit you will have half an hour free time.

Before you will rejoin the bus for a five-minute drive to Touris Club.

By the beard of Zeus: The Temple of Zeus

Where you will taste snacks and enjoy traditional Greek folk dances.

With your booking you can get at least 30 per cent off guests 1 and 2, and up to $200 per room to spend onboard.

Also, you can include drinks & Wi-Fi for only £59pp per day.

All roads lead from Rome

Celebrity Equinox will sail you away from Barcelona to Rome (Civitavecchia).

And on to Mykonos, Greece, Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey, the jewel of the Bosphorus that is Istanbul.

Santorini back in Greece, Olympia (Katakolon) and Rome (Civitavecchia).

If you can’t wait and you’ve a spare €1,448pp down the back of the sofa.

For an Ocean View you can get away from August 23-September 2.

Or there are another six alternative dates from next May to September.

So there you have it, the quest does pay off when you too can be an Olympian Celebrity.

Countries, Cruising, Deals, Europe, Ships

Asterisk Asterix and the Olympics

29th July 202429th July 2024 funtime65

Mais oui, the Games have indeed begun but still the fall-out continues from the Rain on the Seine, the Drag Queen Last Supper and the opening ceremony, but for us we want to asterisk Asterix and the Olympics.

Nor are we alone in feeling short-changed by the greatest Gaul of all being absent from the curtain-raising ceremony in Paris.

Particularly as our comic book hero and his bon ami Obelix boast such athletic prowess.

As featured in their adventures and particularly in Asterix at the Olympic Games.

Which was turned into the-then most expensive non-English and French film of all time, featuring inevitably Gerard Depardieu, back in 2008.

Now while Emmanuel Macron and the French Olympic Committee may have overlooked the appeal of Asterix.

Parc it with Asterix

Chantilly grace: A short train drive from Paris

Our friends at Irish Ferries know his popularity endures with enfants and grand enfants alike visiting their shores.

Which is why they are flagging up Parc Asterix, 20km from charmant Chantilly, itself only a 24-minute train ride from Paris.

It just so happens too that the Parc is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.

Now fresh for this year they boast a grand new attraction among the roller coasters and rides… La Tour de Numerobis.

Ride on: Roller coaster thrills at Parc Asterix

You’ll rise to a height of 40 metres and be rewarded with a panoramic view of the whole of Gaul from your perch in Egypt.

While for those who love a water ride Le Grand Splatch becomes La Revanche des Pirates.

Where Red Beard takes revenge on the Gauls.

We’re told that between catapults, nets and harpooning you will be required to show skill and courage to avoid being shipwrecked.

While on that theme there is a new float at the Gaulish Parade.

Gaul’s well that ends well

Asterix has flagged up the Défilé Gaulois to us.

Where you’ll see a parade featuring Astérix, Obélix, Cléopâtre, César, Barbe-Rouge and all our other favourites.

Which this year features a new chariot based on Asterix in Spain.

Now everyone’s a critic after the fact but here’s a thought Emmanuel…

Would it not have been better, a lot more fun, and probably a little less costly to just let Parc Asterix run the opening ceremony.

The perfect match

Parc Asterix offers a one-day/one-night stay.

For two adults and two children in a four-person room at the Hôtel des Trois Hiboux or the Hôtel de la Cité Suspendue in high season from €87.85pp.

And to get you there, Irish Ferries has the seasygoing option for you this summer.

On board its flagship W.B. Yeats.

With sailings from Dublin to Cherbourg from just €238.

For a car with one adult and child in August with an inside ensuite cabin.

So even if Emmanuel and the French organising committee don’t deem him worthy of their attention you can still Asterisk Asterix and the Olympics this summer.