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Countries, Cruising, Deals, Europe

Going on an adventure with MSC on our minds

28th December 202528th December 2025 funtime65

And we’re back, Jack, Kate and the Good Ship Murder gang going on an adventure with MSC on our minds.

The British Channel 5 cruisedunnit is the perfect vehicle to promote our ship pals’ destination.

With the Christmas special dropping in on Alicante and behind the cloisters of St Ignatius Chapel.

Where Sister Tomasina has had an ‘apparition’ which has turned the Spanish town into a pilgrimage.

All of which asks for us to suspend our beliefs.

Mind you, in superstitious, religious Spain fact and fiction can meld and Alicante does have its own myth.

La Peregrina, or Pilgrimage of Santa Faz, which attracts thousands every year, on the second Thursday after Maundy Thursday.

Oui, we Cannes

Peregrinos walk eight kilometres from from the Co-Cathedral of San Nicolas in the historic cente to the Monastery of Santa Faz.

Where the cloth bearing the image of Christ’s face is preserved.

And that’s a mystery that retired tec/cruise crooner Jack and his wingwoman Kate the captain-in-waiting could surely solve.

Of course their Alicante adventure is a window for us to check out MSC’s packages.

The Good Ship wends its way to the French Riviera and glitzy Cannes where inevitably the credits roll on a film star.

Hamam’s the word

And then up the Bosphorus into Istanbul where a wellness guru gets it and the finger of suspicion points to a disgruntled patient.

Now if only they had just gone onshore to the Cagaloglu Hamam.

Where everyone from Florence Nightingale to John Travolta have soothed their weary bones and souls.

Jack of all trades: The Good Ship Murder

We’re promised Crete, Cape Verde, Valletta, Ibiza, and Ancona in the coming weeks,

Giving us all a virtual top up on our tans from the comfort of our own homes.

And prompting us to dip our foot in the sea, although, of course, we already have and can recommend the fjords with MSC.

Med up our minds

Answer to our prayers: La Sagrada Familia

We know you better though and that you need your sunny cruise, so we’re passing on to you

Guests travelling from Dublin can fly to Barcelona and enjoy a seven-night cruise on board MSC Grandiosa from €1,199 on October 29.

With ports of call including Cannes, Genoa, La Spezia, Civitavecchia and Palma De Mallorca.

With the offer valid on new bookings made up to April 7.

Countries, Europe

Loo knew that mountain toilets could be such a lav?

5th June 20255th June 2025 funtime65

Not sure about the green merits of my grandpa’s Donegal forest bog… and loo knew that mountain toilets could be such a lav?

But whoever you are and wherever you live the advice holds true to never pass a piss.

Which is wisdom that had one fellow traveller almost peeing his pants on our trek around Interlaken in Switzerland.

And you never know what you’ll find in an Alpine bathroom up in the clouds, as we discovered in Austria.

Of course, the natural response to being caught short up where it’s long is to use the Great Outdoors.

But then we’re not animals.

Although who knows where eagles, mooses and even shape-shifting trolls go when we’re not there?

Loos With A View

Our friends in the Norwegian fjords do though.

And I’m sure it was a troll turned stone who held up my passage to the nearest loo in the Bergen woods on our MSC cruise.

Norwegians have turned loos into a win.

With their Loos With A View promotions on their off-the-beaten track scenic routes.

And encourage us to take the rest stop at Utsikten on the Gaularfjellet route.

From the outside, it looks like a modernist sculpture – clean lines, concrete and glass.

And from the inside, it frames the valley.

Or head to Liasanden on the Sognefjellet route, where curved steel panels echo the flow of the nearby river.

In Selvika, just off the Atlantic Road, the restroom is embedded in the rocky coastline.

Next to a winding path that leads straight to the ocean.

All of which we can enjoy at our own leisure through the country’s advanced roads.

Electric dreams

With one of the world’s most advanced charging infrastructures, even in its most remote corners.

You can charge your car at scenic viewpoints, remote rest areas.

Or while enjoying a local meal in a small fjord-side village.

And the electric ferries, such as those crossing the Sognefjord or Hjørundfjord.

Yes, who knew, and also loo knew that mountain toilets could be such a lav?

Countries, Cruising

Goodbye to newly wed, overfed and nearly dead cruise cliches

28th May 202528th May 2025 funtime65

It was the standard joke but it’s changing and we can now say goodbye to newly wed, overfed and nearly dead cruise cliches.

While our cruising days in our 13 years in our ancestral Irish home were in our early 50s that’s now higher than the average cruise age.

Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) latest annual passenger study has revealed that Irish cruisers are getting younger.

With the average guest age dropping to 46.3 years in 2024 from 46.7 in 2023.

On the up

The finding comes as overall Irish cruise passenger numbers increased last year.

By 11.3% to 65,000, the highest total recorded.

The Mediterranean remains their destination of choice, with 61.3% of all voyages taken.

The Caribbean came in second at 17.7%, while northern Europe was at 6.1%.

The latter scored a 25% uplift in overall journeys taken.

Representing the highest growth among the main cruise itineraries.

With an average length of a sailing is 7.9 days.

Fjord fiesta

Presented with a choice by our pals at MSC to showcase Meraviglia we opted for a cruise around the fjords.

In preference to Europe, having sailed the Western Med, and the Persian Gulf.

While I’d opted to be a landlubber in the Caribbean, Barbados and Tobago.

Now My Little Mermaid soon befriended a Fortysomethings couple on our passage around Denmark and Norway.

And had them upgraded on our hospitality.

In exchange for a crash course in His hobby, tunnelling.

Forties’ forte

Toast of the seas: My date with a Princess

Fortysomethings, and I was one once, come in all shapes and sizes.

And they have all the moves as our cruise crew can testify.

Having partied everywhere from the Med to the English Channel and the Bahamas.

While we don’t even have to leave dry dock as we like to live it up whenever the boat comes in.

Whether Princess, a Royal, a Celebrity or a Swan.

Ship shape

Love me Tender: Celebrity Cruises, Bahamas

And yes, we know that the first rule of cruising is to give Her the deference She deserves as a ship and not a boat.

Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland managing director, said: ‘Cruise is thriving among Ireland passengers.

‘The convenience and value-for-money a holiday at sea offers shining through.’

All of which means we can say goodbye to newly wed, overfed and nearly dead cruise cliches.

Africa, Countries, Cruising, Europe, Ships

MSC killing it again on their whodunit drama

15th January 202515th January 2025 funtime65

And of course we never have to leave our armchair with MSC killing it again on their whodunit drama it’s just more fun if we do.

We jumped right on board when we heard that our old cruise chums had lent their name.

Ship hot: Kate and Jack and The Good Ship Murder

And showpiece ship Virtuoso to the Shayne Ward and Catherine Tyldseley series.

Now we’re glad to say that we’ve enjoyed the pleasure of sailing with MSC.

And can vouch for the unmatched entertainment and hospitality they offer.

Although we never did see any passengers get killed.

Although The Scary One might have been tempted on more than one occasion and had me leaning over the edge too.

Hopping around the hotspots

Viewers have been hooked since on the scrapes Shayne’s crooner Jack and the ship’s First Officer get into as sailing sleuths in The Good Ship Murder.

Now it’s no reveal that the plots are thin but it never bills itself as Morse .

And is of course just an excuse for some escapism and a glimpse into the ship and the exotic destinations.

And so we have been transported at our leisure around the hotspots of Europe and North Africa, many which we’re glad to say we’ve enjoyed.

La Rochelle, the pride of south-west France, Lisbon, the gateway to the New World.

Precious Palma in Majorca, mystical Sicily, operatic Barcelona and the jewel of the Med, Malta’s Valletta.

And of course the Moroccan legend that is Casablanca where they always say ‘Sail it again’.

From Rome to Dubrovnik

We were caught out somewhat when Jack and Kate returned to the high seas in Rome.

To find out that Claire Sweeney’s ents manager Beverley was no longer on board.

And worried that someone had done her in but phew there was a Christmas episode lurking in our Catch Ups.

And in the Pearl of the Adriatic too, Dubrovnik, where we had spent our Pearl Anniversary year at the end of last year.

Ports of call

Good Ship Murder has promised us a whistle stop tour of other magical destinations over the coming winter weeks.

While we shiver back here in damp Britain and Ireland.

And we’re looking forward to some more of our favourites like the Canaries, Gozo and Athens.

And maybe they’re keeping the glorious and supernatural Norwegian fjords for the next series.

Either way we’re happy to see MSC killing it again on their whodunit drama.

MEET YOU ON THE SHIP

Countries

30 years with the Travel and Strife

17th September 202417th September 2024 funtime65

You Pearler… 30 years with the Travel and Strife and time to look back and forward.

Our journey, in truth, started four years earlier in Herself’s Homestead, the Royal County of Berkshire.

With our first pitstop a city which for that reason, and its own, will always be magical to us, Amsterdam.

Off the beaten track

Can I be trusted on a bike? In Amsterdam

Twenty-five years spanned our visits to the pride of the Netherlands and we ditched the ubiquitous bikes along the way.

We had taken the road less travelled on our first trip, going to Edam on its half day.

And then taking the wrong fork on the road back to Amsterdam.

We took a different tack when we were invited out to the Dylan.

And so it was canal boats and the luxury of the hotel George and Amal frequent in theirs, and now our, visits to Holland.

Wear slip-on shoes

We all form attachments to those countries and cities we first go to as children and couples.

And Portugal holds a special place too in our hearts despite another cycling mishap in the Algarve.

But one we got to put right in Portugal Centro years later under the guidance of our own Special One Jose Madomis.

Malta would follow when in an unguarded moment I bent down at dinner to tie up my shoelace and she screamed ‘Yes’.

The Scot in me, I went back years later on my own to see if I could redeem on the bottle of Champagne we didn’t finish…

And so Corfu followed for our honeymoon when the handsome Greek waiter was most attentive to our table.

And my bride was blushing when it transpired he was eyeing me up.

On our Travails

We made the most of those intimate moments then, knowing holidays would never be the same when Him and Her came along.

And waited until we could take off again together, to the Soll slopes in Austria.

That road trip around Portugal Centro.

To George and Amal’s gaffe in Amsterdam.

And up the fjords of Norway and around the Rieperbahn of Hamburg.

Still stumbling along the way and trying to get back on track.

And all the time still following Her lead.

Even when that meant us getting on the bus to Berlin instead of Keil.

The Mother of all Dragons

Or turning up in Monaghan a weekend early and turning that Irish Midlands town upside down.

There have been travails aplenty and pleasures like poppy seeds in Rome and Venice and travels to come.

With an anniversary Loveholidays trip to Dubrovnik to come next month with my very own Mother of Dragons.

Just another marker in 30 years with the Travel and Strife.

Bring on the next 30.

MEET YOU ON THE ROAD

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.

Africa, Countries

Holiday Pics on World Photography Day

20th August 202320th August 2023 funtime65

I’ve an advantage over everybody else… I’ve an award-winning snapper to showcase her holiday pics on World Photography Day.

And that makes it all a treat for y’all when we get the piccies out when we get home.

So without further adieu here’s a taster of what fills our albums at home.

And we’ll even throw in a photography vacation offer to tease you.

Portugal’s a picture

And you can keep your Algarve amateur poolside and beach lounger snaps this is one from Aveiro.

A stunning fishing town in Portugal Centro it is known as the Portuguese Venice.

It’s Portugal’s big secret but heck now it’s out thanks to an award-winning writer, and a snapper.

Hamburger and shots

And we did both in the Reeperbahn and further afield and photographic shots and shoots.

We’ll leave our bed pics to your imagination, though actually we have shared those Hamburg city beach bar snaps.

My Fjord Lady

And my Little Mermaid followed us from Kiel in Germany through Copenhagen and up the Norwegian fjords.

And captured it all from aboard her MSC cruise ship and on our land excursions.

Amsterdam dame

And in the City of Tulips, my photographic pal was the prettiest flower.

And when I was motioning towards their famously tall, narrow bars she was capturing the delightful Amsterdam architecture.

No pic like Rome

And with all roads famously leading to Rome it took me some time, until I was 40, to visit La Citta Eterna.

Sadie the Snapper had been here before and was excited to show me the sites, among them the Trevi Fountain.

The superstition is right and I’ve been back and we will be too.

Snap up Morocco

Sahara bumpity: Two Tuareg nomads in the Sahara

While any and all travellers can always do with Travel Department to hold our hands.

TD Active Holidays offers a guided holiday with an array of photographic opportunities.

From the impressive mosques and markets of Marrakech.

To the busy fishing port of Essaouira and the rocky, barren Agafay Desert.

Where you’ll learn to develop your documentary, street and landscape photography skills.

On this holiday, you’ll not only get to experience Moroccan culture through a camera’s lens.

But also through traditional Moroccan food and live music.

As well as an exhilarating camel ride across the dunes… I hope you get my old friend Larsson to hump you along.

You’ll be accompanied on your journey with an additional tutor from the Dublin Photography School.

They’ll provide tutorials, demonstrations and tips to your small group.

So that you get the most out of the images you capture.

This trip departs on 13^th October from €1,099pp.

Including return flights, transfers, four nights’ half-board in a three-star hotel, plus expert guide.

And when you get back your friends will be begging you to share

America, Countries, Europe, Music

Ladies Marmalade from America to here

2nd April 20222nd April 2022 funtime65

Now I’m back home doin’ 9 to 5, livin’ the grey flannel life, but when I turn off to sleep, memories creep. More, more, more Ladies Marmalade from America to here.

I was a bit of a gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya, Dada myself in CityWalk’s Rising Star Karaoke Bar in Orlando.

When despite the acclamations of the MC that my rendition of the Patti Labelle classic was ‘how to do a chick’s song’…

I actually murdered it, while my hosts taped me for posterity.

Daddy Marmalade

All of which nostalgia came flooding back as I watched Daddy’s Little Girl nail Lady Marmalade with her dance troupe in Tranent in East Lothian in Scotland.

Lady Marmalade, of course, is a celebration of Creole and bordillo culture ‘in old New Orleans.’

Though it morphs into Moulin Rouge by the time Lil’ Kim, Christina Aguilera & Pink! got their hands on it.

I know it was for the film Moulin Rouge, but I hazard that Lady Marmalade would only ever have worked a sizzling city like Norleans.

Norleans

Now those of us who criss-cross the Oo Es of Eh to cover its travel fairs especially look forward to when it is Norleans‘ turn.

We still wait, and for the time being we make do by smiling at the pictures of our old pal and Travel legend JP Thompson.

As he decked himself head to toe in kitsch carnival clothes for a Bourbon Street parade.

Why then he took shy when calls went up for karaoke volunteers that night in Orlando we’re still interrogating him to this day.

Now we’re all living with Covid one of the staples of a party holiday, the karaoke is thankfully back.

Karaoke memories

Fab four: Terry, Bernard, Claire and Ray in Portugal

Our first was in the fun surroundings of Cabanas in the Algarve, Portugal (and we keep going back)

When ‘Leeds Ray’ and myself whip-cracked away into the theme from Raw Hide.

More Booze Brothers us than Blues Brothers.

Nor did either of these embarrassments put me off getting up again and again.

But with age has come experience and I lowered my range to channel my inner Chuck Berry.

And Memphis Tennessee on board MSC in the Norwegian fjords.

Our duet

Tag team: With The Scary One in the fjords

On none of these occasions has the Scary One joined me on the Mic.

Although I guess she might plump for Hit the Road, Jock.

Whatever your karaoke song of choice, whether Ladies Marmalade from America to here, enjoy.

Caribbean, Countries, Cruising, Deals, Europe, Ireland, UK

Cruiseday Tuesday – British isle be back

23rd March 202123rd March 2021 funtime65

And a return of an old favourite feature here on the back of MSC’s announcement of summer cruises around Britain.

The cruises which will be for us British only will begin with a series of short cruises from May 20 followed by seven-night sailings.

My old pal, the exquisitely named UK&I MD Antonio Paradiso assures us that vaccinated and non-vaccinated passengers will be allowed on board.

Just make sure you have a negative test within 72-hours of embarkation.

And MSC will even get you on shore for excursions though having enjoyed their on-board dining and entertainment….!

Barbados is plain sailing

Ruby do: With Ruby in Barbados

Barbados was my first jump-off point too… jumpin’ into the Caribbean to swim with turtles, and jumpin’ at the Crop Over carnival.

And it is the new jump-off too for Royal Caribbean for your island hopping.

Royal Caribbean is offering up to €350 off your stateroom.

They have a lead-in seven-night South Caribbean island hop holiday price.

On Grandeur of the Seas from €434 from Sunday, December 19.

We’re talking Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao (home of the blue liqueur), St Lucia and Dominica.

Greek island hopping

And we still have a few Greek islands to hop.

Travel Department is running a nine-night holiday staying in Athens and on board the medium-sized ship The Celestyal Experience.

The Greek Islands & Aegean Sea Cruise is all yours to book for September or October from €2,139pp.

Including everyone’s favourite cruise stop-off Santorini.

MEET YOU BACK ON THE SEAS

Countries, Cruising, Flying, Food & Wine

New Year Revolutions

9th January 20219th January 2021 funtime65

And as the Alt-Right tries to wage a Second American Revolution in the US a look at the revolutions we do need.

The air

And clearly the challenge is carbon emissions where EasyJet can take a bow.

The budget airline topped a London School of Economics report in a top five which also includes Alaska Air, Qantas, my old friends at United who flew me to the Deep South and JetBlue.

The seas

And high up for the haters in this Covid and Climate crisis are our cruise ships.

Where my old faves MSC whom I sailed with around the Norwegian fjords, Royal Caribbean who showed off their wares in the English Channel and in Barcelona.

And Celebrity Cruises who treated us all like, well Celebrities, off the coast of Florida on their $1bn state-of-the-art Edge.

A nod here to Princess Cruises who had us on board when they stopped off in Dublin on their way round Britain and Ireland.

And Paul Gauguin Cruises who drew us a picture of tantalising Tahiti who have been keeping us going through lockdown with their images and news.

The food

Food for thought: A tajine

And now more than ever we have to watch what and where we eat.

So that means avoiding markets we know little about in countries we are visiting for the first time.

So for me that was Morocco and I should have gone with the professionals.

Northern Africa and the Middle Eastern food is bright, spicy and often new for Western palates so don’t be afraid to ask.

And if you can find Zuhair, G Adventures‘ Jordanian host extraordinaire then all the better.

All our cultures and culinary ways should be celebrated around the world and animal welfare should be central to our approach.

A joint resolution

I’ve probably already broken my own personal resolutions already so it might be presumptuous to ask my Travel pals to take on these targets.

But, in truth, we’re all in it together…

This past year’s challenges have brought opprobrium upon Travel professionals but lockdown has only reaffirmed how vital it is to us all.

So let’s build it back even better this year.