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America, Countries, Cruising, Deals

The new Celebrity loves us tender

20th October 202320th October 2023 funtime65

I do love me tender and know this too.., the new Celebrity loves us tender too.

And that’ll be why their floating tender has become a fixture on Celebrity Cruises.

You always get a special floaty feeling aboard a cruise ship.

But none so floaty as the moving Magic Carpet.

Which we discovered for ourselves when we sailed on the inaugural launch of the $1billion Edge off Florida.

Carpet fitters

Tender living care: Celebrity’s Magic Carpet

At the top of the ship it hosts the delicious Dinner on the Edge.

Down to Deck 14, the Magic Carpet becomes an extension of the main pool area.

And on Deck 5, it opens out onto an open-air dining experience.

And at the bottom on Deck 2, it becomes an extension of luxury at the Destination Gateway.

Of course, the Magic Carpet which takes you down to a disembarkation boat for day outings to the Bahamas, or wherever, is just one of its cutting-Edge features.

Heaven Ascent

Feast for the senses: Celebrity culinary

Now our friends at Celebrity never rest and are showcasing their new ship Celebrity Ascent next month.

Where we can also look forward to the Rooftop Garden, The Solarium, and Eden.

There will, of course, be plenty of ascending on Ascent with 17 decks and room for up to 3,260 guests in double occupancy.

But you will, of course, have plenty of places to recline and refuel.

With 32 distinct restaurants, bars, and lounges.

Bahamian rhapsody

All good to finish that Bahamas cruise set in front of us on that inaugural Celebrity Cruise preview.

Its three-night Bahamas Getaway, starting from £540pp on November 26.

Leaving port central, Fort Lauderdale. While CC are tempting us too with a hop-on hop-off Debark Tour of Miami (ending at FLL Airport).

And that will save you walking aimlessly block to block in the wrong part of Miami.

Countries, Cruising

MSC, it’s deadly

18th October 202319th October 2023 funtime65

You don’t have to be cop-turned-cabaret singer Jack Grayling to work out that the Good Ship Murder is MSC, it’s deadly.

As soon as you see that deep purple lobby carpeting and Swarovski crystal staircases, all 80,000 bits of them, you know you’re home.

On the same MSC Virtuosa we sashayed down on a port visit in Dublin back in the day.

The Good Ship Murder is the new guilty pleasure Channel 5 whodunit in the sun (or whosunit if you will) for the winter.

Which glided into La Rochelle in its first outing last week.

Ooh La La Rochelle

It gave us the chance to see L’Ile de Ré, the port and the beaches where the wicked deed was done.

While the city in the south-west of France also boasts..

A medieval old town, Courbon Castle, gardens and Coulon, the Green Venice.

Of course, all the destinations on the show are on the MSC roster.

With the jewel of Portugal, Lisbon, trailed for this Friday, October 20.

We expect that the show’s writers will come up with more and more inventive plots and modus operandi.

But not having had an advance peek at the episodes we can only speculate.

That the choice of weapon this week is a poisoned Portuguese custard tart, the Pasteis de Nata.

Lisbon lie-ins

There are a choice of MSC cruises from Lisboa within Europe.

And like Magellan and Da Gama of old, across to the Americas.

When in port, of course, MSC put on a portfolio of itineraries.

So you will want to take in the noted Lisbon trams on a tour of the city.

While they will take you further afield to our old pilgrimage pit stop of Fatima.

And it never hurts to get the prayers in.

Sacred heart: La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

We can look forward in the coming weeks to visiting Valencia, Barcelona, Le Havre, Valletta and more in the coming weeks.

MSC Virtuosa accommodates over 6,000 guests.

With 10 dining venues, 21 bars, five swimming pools, top ents.

And Rob, the first humanoid robotic bartender at sea.

Hold on tight: With the Scary One on MSC

Now we notice that the fjords of Norway, where we visited with MSC, don’t seem to be on that list.

Where perhaps the genesis of the idea for The Good Ship Murder was formed!

When on a rainy morning on deck while leaning over the rail I felt a hand on my shoulder.

From my Scary One.

Still smarting from a perceived injustice, probably around maxing out the credit card in the on-board boutiques.

MSC, it’s deadly so enjoy The Good Ship Murder for what it is.

Because the only thing you’re likely to murder is the buffet.

Countries, Cruising

On a ROL cruising around the world

11th October 202311th October 2023 funtime65

Now if you’ve got a spare £1,549 down the back of your sofa and want to get away from it all why not get on a ROL cruising around the world.

The round-the-world cruise is of course the ultimate in travel aspiration though as I’m constantly reminded SHE has already circumnavigated the globe as a child.

Coming back from Australia on a working ship under the stewardship of her parents and visiting Tahiti, enjoying a Neptune crossing the Equator party and going through the Panama Canal.

For the rest of us we need to save our pennies for a lifetime although thankfully our friends at ROL are keen to help us out by cutting the price.

Panama chat

Pitching Arcadia’s official 2026 no-fly Grand World Voyage from only £99 per night it all hinges on that magical Panama Canal crossing.

You will, of course, be 100 nights at sea with six overnight stays and a full daytime transit of the canal.

Now your cruise which sets out on January 2026 will take you from Southampton to an atlas of countries (you do the counting!)

You’ll see Seville (from Cadiz) and one of the most beautiful harbours in the world in Valletta in Malta.

And get your first canal under your belt with a transit of the Suez and take in the Middle East and the Gulf.

Before your first overnighter in Dubai.

Asia and Oceania

You’ll dip your feet in the Sub-Continent in Colombo, Sri Lanka , take in south-east Asia before another overnighter in Singapore.

And that’ll set you up for your city-hopping odyssey of Australia and New Zealand before going all tropical in Fiji.

Say Aloha, or Howiya to Hawaii with another overnighter, in Honolulu.

Aperitifs in the New World

Sign of the times: Jimmy in old Los Angeles

ROL clearly don’t want to make waves with the Californians by getting involved in the big debate of whose city is better.

So they’ll get you off board in San Francisco and Los Angeles for overnighters.

Give you a sight of Manzanillo, Mexico, that unforgettable passaged through the Panama Canal, and a taste of Caribbean life.

SHE likes to regale us of when she visited Curacao, where the sea is as blue as their liqueur, although I hit back with Bridgetown, Barbados.

You’ll see both.

Before you head across the Atlantic and touch ground on the westernmost part of Europe, the Azores.

Early bird

Now what you need to know is that you’ll get on-board spending money of up to £1,910 if you pre-book by 8pm next Wednesday, October 18 to secure the lowest price.

And you’ll be on a ROL cruising around the world.

Countries, Cruising, Deals, South America

Pleasure cruise in the Falklands

25th September 202325th September 2023 funtime65

If you had a uniform and a gun you used to get there for free… but now the only big ships breaking the waves are a pleasure cruise in the Falklands.

This time too we come in peace which is what the Falklands offers, a tranquility that is hard to find in this hustle bustle world.

Our friends at ROL Cruises have the very thing, a 27-nighter which, in these more stable times, even includes a stop-off in Argentina.

A modern task force

This is MS Maud’s maiden season in the Antarctica including five days of icy exploration.

With exclusive savings of up to £6,200.

And an additional discount of up to £875 per booking, book by 8pm, September 30.

You’ll kick off your adventure rather differently than the fabled Brits from the Falklands.

Flying in from London for a Buenos Aires overnighter at a 4* overnighter.

Where you can go full Argentinian with a dinner and tango excursion.

Landing on the Falklands

The locals: The penguins are out in force

Take the next three days to enjoy the ship and sea and appreciate the feast you’ll enjoy rather than those soldiers’ rations.

Before you get to explore three days in the Falkland archipelago.

Enjoy a community walk around Stanley, taking in the Jubilee Villas gardens, Christ Church Cathedral and the Historic Dockyard Museum.

ROL’s landings, hikes and excursions are guided by the conditions.

But fingers crossed you’ll be able to visit albatross and penguin colonies.

And they are often found sharing space with seals.

South Georgia on our minds

And those of us old enough to have lived through those days will recall that it was South Georgia where the Falklands War started.

And your next two days will be spent cruising towards the island.

Of course there is more wildlife here than human life and that’s no bad thing.

The Expedition Team will fill you in on the polar history, geology and glaciology.

You’ll spend three days in the ‘Serengeti of the Southern Ocean’.

Its unique position free from sea ice makes the island a breeding site for large colonies of penguins, other seabirds and seals.

An Important Bird Area, it is home to albatrosses, petrels, shags, skuas and terns.

The team will also try to get you out to Grytviken, the final resting place of Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton.

All white

Of course the highlight is getting to where the sea runs out and the ice begins.

When you see the icebergs in all their glory and its inhabitants, the Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie penguins.

You’ll spend four days exploring several possible landing sites, the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands.

You may also get a chance to go kayaking among icebergs and seals, or snowshoe to a stunning viewpoint

Before you take on Drake’s Passage, and we picked up on our travels that if you put a plaster behind your ear it will allay seasickness.

Chile chilly waters

And afore ye go you’ll transfer from Puntas Arenas, Chile, to Santiago to spend your last night in a 4* hotel before flying back to London.

ROL offers a choice of cabins but we imagine you’ll want the Arctic Suite (yes, we know that’s the icy north, but…).

The Arctic Suite comes in at £10,699, down from £12,099.

But you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty and serenity of one of the last unspoiled places on Earth.

On a pleasure cruise in the Falklands.

Asia, Caribbean, Countries, Cruising

Yacht join the fast set like Beyoncé

22nd September 202322nd September 2023 funtime65

We’re working ourselves up to the David Geffen or Diddy class and we imagine you’re the same… really, yacht join the fast set like Beyoncé.

One of the many advantages of travelling the world is getting wined and dined in exotic locations.

Where the super rich have been before.

And royalty, with Princess Margaret (Queen Elizabeth’s party-loving wee sis) christening the sea around Tobago on her honeymoon Nylon Pool.

As it’s so clear it resembled nylon stockings.

While we stood on that Caribbean sea bank Mags had probably done and can Geffen or Jeff Bezos or Barry Diller or Diddy.

Well, probably but we reckon if you’ve got the facilities of the world’s most expensive yacht, Geff’s $590m superyacht, you’ll stay on board.

Yacht to party with us

Of course, you don’t have to have the keys to a super yacht to enjoy yourself.

Or be the king and queen of hip hop like Diddy and Beyoncé to enjoy a good oul’ sing song.

Because give me a captain’s hat and a boom box on the Bosphorus and they say my name, say my name.

While whether you’re Bandanaman, Joe or Joanna Public or a diva the sunset is still the same around the Maldives.

And would you get a superstar going off piste and trying to cross disputed territory between Jordan and Israel on the Red Sea?

Geff’s gaff

But because we know you want to look through the keyhole to see how the super rich play we’re jumping on board with Ritzy Charters.

RC scoped Geff’s gaff to show us 82 (count them) rooms.

The yacht can accommodate around 18 guests and 55 crew members.

With a basketball court, wine cellar and an impressive luxurious cinema.

Yacht to see the others

Bezos’s tub on the sea is second most expensive at $500m and is the largest sailing yacht on the planet.

The Y721, also named Koru (Māori for strength, new life and peace) boasts a great-sized pool on its deck.

And accommodation for up to 18 guests and 40 crew members with Māori art to the fore.

Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller have a $200 million Eos super yacht rippling the waves.

Now if you’re lucky enough to be one of their 14 guests you’ll be bowled over by their glass staircase, a 14-foot world map, a jacuzzi and a figurehead of Diane.

Now for only $120m the VENUS yacht of Steve Jobs’ widow Laurene Powell ticks all the boxes.

The superyacht can accommodate up to 12 guests in six cabins and 22 crew members in 14 cabins.

And eek, the vessel’s annual running cost is around $10-$15m!

The Diddy of them all

The fifth most expensive celebrity-owned yacht is The Maraya, owned by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ and Beyoncé’s Maraya is only fifth dearest.

And guess what, he rents out the $65 million superyacht for $300,000 per week.

But you can always split that among your 12 guests at a time in six cabins.

And as you’d expect there’s all mod cons such as a sundeck jacuzzi, gym and wellness area, not to mention its very own chef.

Really, yacht join the fast set like Beyoncé.

But if you can’t make the most of what you’ve got.

Countries, Cruising, Deals, Europe, Ireland

Ireland Iceland Island Fireland

17th September 202316th September 2023 funtime65

The financial joke was that the difference was one letter and six months, but we’re not the only ones linking Ireland Iceland Island Fireland.

Although it has taken our friends at Celebrity Cruises to make it a cruise route.

Celebrity is offering 11 nights for €1,684pp, on Apex, departing Southampton for Cork (Cobh) on June 27.

And taking in the pride of Iceland, Reykjavik, Isafjordur, Akureyri and making a detour to Kirkwall (Orkney Islands).

They are also offering up to 75% second guest, saving included.

Up to $200 to spend onboard and free parking in Southampton.

Navigating the waters

Now these may be uncharted waters for even the most experienced of cruisers.

But one of the most famous explorers of them all sailed this way 1,500 years ago.

Yes, only the first Westerner to reach America.

No, not that one, Christopher Columbus.

But St Brendan the Navigator who called Iceland the Land of the Smiths on account of the volcanoes.

Now Smithsland would, of course, have been a very different place.

But they’re right about something, there is a light that never goes out in the land of Ice and Fire… and the Northern Lights.

On-board luxury

You’ll enjoy five days at sea when hopefully you’ll get to see sharks just like Bren did back in the 6th century.

So you’ll be able to relax at the cabanas, disconnect at the art gallery.

Play Jenga on the rooftop garden, dance away at the club or pamper up at the salon.

And among the entertainment and culinary spaces we have happy memories of Eden from Celebrity Edge off Florida.

So follow in the footsteps of one of the great seaman, St Brendan the Navigator.

And make this your summer cruise next year… Ireland Iceland Island Fireland

Asia, Countries, Cruising

Abu Paddy’s Day’s Irish pub crawl

9th August 2023 funtime65

And that’s got your attention Abu Paddy’s Day’s Irish pub crawl.

Yes, it does exist, because after all you’ll find an Irish bar up the highest mountain, down the deepest valley.

Our Abu Paddy’s crawl starts in PJ O’Reilly’s, recommended for its reasonably priced drinks and live bands.

Want to watch the football or the rugby McGettigan’s has all the best live sports.

But you might want to cheer when Manchester City score… the Abu Dhabians own them.

While the Irish Vickers offers you the best of Irish fare, stew, bacon roll, proper chips and Magners.

And what they call black beer but what we all know as Guinness.

Arts of Dhabi

Of course you’ll want to take in the arts, museum, culture, culinary and clothes of the Gulf too.

All of which we’d explored when an opportunity arose for a move out to Abu there back in the day.

And besides there will be plenty of partying going on on-board your MSC Opera seven-nighter from €1509pp.

Pitch Cassidy

When you book with our pals at Cassidy Travel… and MSC will look after you just fine, take our word for it.

You’ll get a Junior Interior Fantastica Cabin, full board including Premium Drinks Package and gratuities.

Price Includes: return flights, checked in luggage and transfers.

You’ll sail from Dubai visiting Oman (overnight), Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island & Dubai (overnight).

So enjoy your Abu Paddy’s Day’s Irish pub crawl.

Because there’s always an Irish pub just around the corner anywhere you go in the world.

America, Countries, Cruising, Deals

Cruise through the American Civil War

9th July 20239th July 2023 funtime65

They’ve come a long way from the ironclads, and luxury liners are by far the safest way to cruise through the American Civil War.

American Cruise Lines have launched a history tourist’s dream, a 35-day Civil War Battlefields Cruise.

Where you’ll get to travel in the footsteps of the flower of America from the Union and the Confederacy.

ACS will bring you to every significant battlefield of the Civil War and 13 states.

So you’ll visit Fort Sumter, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Antietam and more.

And you’ll sail along the Mississippi River, the Tennessee River, the Potomac River, the East Coast Intracoastal Waterway and Chesapeake Bay.

All on board American Melody, American Symphony and American Eagle.

In the footsteps

The Virginian: At ‘Stonewall’ Jackson’s statue in Manassas

Of course, as much as we’ve absorbed of the American Civil War from our history degree.

And visits to Manassas and military hospitals in Virginia, and Tennessee, Mississippi and the buffalo soldiers in Texas.

There is nothing quite like being guided by someone with family history in the fight.

Davis’s boy

On a pedestal: Jefferson Davis in New Orleans

With the theme cruise led by Bertram Hayes-Davis, no less, the great-great-grandson of President of the Confederate States, Jefferson Davis.

Civil War buffs will get to experience the Anaconda/Vicksburg Campaign, the Western Theater, General Sherman’s March, Union Advantage/Naval Power, the Eastern Theater and the Battle of Gettysburg.

Cruise ship routes are connected via motor coach, with all transfers included.

The Big Easy

And you’ll get the added bonus of a complimentary pre-cruise stay in New Orleans, The Big Easy.

Hotels between your cruise, daily excursions and entertainment and all meals and drink.

And we know from our previous Battlefields and Booze adventures in these parts that the soldiers of the day loved their liquor.

So you’ll leave New Orleans on May 4, and end in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on June 6.

Where, we’d be disappointed if you didn’t channel your best Abraham Lincoln and deliver these immortal lines…

‘Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.’

All of which freedom is priceless though alas for the rest of us you’ll maybe have to dig into the exchequer.

With your cruise through the American Civil War setting you back from $24,700.

America, Canada, Countries, Cruising

New England and Canada is a cruise

6th July 20236th July 2023 funtime65

What would our Fiftysomething iteration tell our 21-year-old self… well, maybe that New England and Canada is a cruise.

The only bells and whistles though back in 1988 when I took the high road from Boston to Canada were on the bus.

How times and my fortunes have changed in the intervening years.

Embarking then on a scribbling career which 35 years later has afforded me the privilege of swapping buses for cruises.

Where you can take your time to get to your destination and relax when you get there.

Fall on good times

Our old friends at MSC Cruises have released their autumn programme.

And they want to take North Americanophiles up the eastern seaboard on MSC Meraviglia.

You’ll get to disembark from New York and there’s the added bonus of Bermuda on your horizon.

MSC are offering 10 or 11-night cruisings this September and October from £629pp, which, of course, is their famed Fall.

The Fall in Central Bark

New York: And when in NY do like the New Yorkers and kick through the leaves in Central Park.

Imagine… well, you don’t have to. And pay homage too to John Lennon at his shrine within view of his Dakota Building home.

On the right Rhode

Art of the matter: Street art in Rhode island

Newport, Rhode Island: And a chance here to reverse my first views of Newport from the train looking out to the big yachts.

From the sea this time where you can channel your Gilded Age in the US’s smallest state.

Now one of the joys of cruising is a shore excursion or free time.

And memories of being tripped by trolls disguised as stones on our MSC Bergen stop-off come flooding back.

As we’re directed towards the historic Cliff Walk with a walking trail along the beautiful rocky shoreline.

Love of Common people

Boston: And whatever New York does, their historic rival Boston claims to have done it first.

With Bostonians only too happy to tell you that for all Central Park’s appeal, Boston Common is the oldest public park in the US.

While for all that Yankee Stadium may be the House that Ruth built.

The Boston Red Sox had Babe Ruth first making home runs at Fenway Park, the oldest, at 111 years, in the States.

New Scotland

Nova Scotia: And when you’re done with New England then the natural progression is New Scotland.

The new Scotland of olde worlde fishing villages, beautiful beaches and captivating shorelines.

Guests can enjoy a stroll on one of world’s longest continuous waterfront boardwalks in Nova Scotia capital Halifax.

Neuw Brunswick

New Brunswick: And if you were wondering then NB which is billed a maritime province is named after British royalty.

And George III, who was also the Duke of Brunswick.

For all New Brunswick‘s fish, and its inhabitants are mocked as Herring Chokers and there are whales and seals aplenty, look out too for its moose.

Maine event

Portland, Maine: And what goes up must come down so cruisers will sail back via Maine, and New England again.

Make sure too to sample the local beer and try out the world-famous Maine lobster.

Specs appeal

At 315 metres long and 65 metres tall, Meraviglia boasts an impressive 19 decks and up to 5,700 guests.

There are ten different types of cabins to choose from, including solo cabins, popular balcony cabins, and stylish accommodations in the MSC Yacht Club.

A 90-metre promenade lined with shops, restaurants and bars with an LED sky screen… all for the big party.

Indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs, together with a water park and ropes course.

And different theatrical extravaganzas in Meraviglia’s 985-seat theatre.

So much better than bussing it up the eastern seaboard then when we know New England and Canada is a cruise.

Caribbean, Countries, Cruising, Europe

Ride the breeze in a Princess’s playground

16th June 202316th June 2023 funtime65

There’s no place to hide when you ride the breeze in a Princess’s playground.

So if you’re protective of your dignity (and your loose-fitting Stars and Stripes swimming shorts) then choose again.

And maybe lie back on your hammock (I need no invitation).

Where are we? Out at sea, of course, on the new Sun Princess.

With our fellow revellers at Park19 which features nine engaging activities for the entire family.

Hanging out on deck

Lie back and think… of hammocks everywhere

Now, we’re told that Sea Breeze is hang gliding in a safe environment.

So that won’t be hanging off the side of the Rockies as our Coloradan friends would have had us do the last time this came up.

The Sea Breeze is the first Rollglider on a cruise ship and gives guests the high of panoramic views and ports of call.

Using an overhead track, guests are seated and harnessed to this electric ride with speeds of up to 11 mph during the 60- to 90-second experience.

So what about the other features?

High rollers

On the Coastal Climb you’ll ascend from decks 19 to 20 through a series of obstacles.

Have a peak around at the top at The Lookout and then slide back down to the bottom.

If nets are your thing then you’ll want The Net, a series of unstable bridges, a z-shaped balance beam and cargo nets.

Princesses aren’t understated by their very nature and these cruisers are no different, promising an Infinite Horizon.

High rollers will love these leaning tilt walls cantilevered over the side and peer out from deck 19 to deck nine and beyond.

Of course you’ll want to make your own splash and Sun Princess has a splash area with pop jets and a water sculpture.

Fun and games

While if your idea of a cruise ship is the traditional shuffleboard and they bring that too at the Recreational Court.

From ping pong, shuffleboard, Xponential Fitness classes and morning meditation Sun Princess has it all.

While you can also exercise off all those buffets and drinks packages without even knowing it.

The jogging track allows guests to walk, jog or run at their own leisure and pace, with 6.7 times around equaling one mile.

Renders of Park19 and other features can be found by clicking here.

Return of Medallion Man

Like all Princess ships, Sun is MedallionClass helping families (and me around Dublin port) stay connected onboard via the OceanCompass shipmate locator.

With the most balconies on any Princess ship, guests can take in the Med or Caribbean from their cabin.

While The Dome is a transformational entertainment venue inspired by the terraces of Santorini.

And the three-storey Horizons Dining Room is sure to have everyone talking.

Inaugural 2024 Sun Princess cruises to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Transatlantic and Europe are currently on sale.