Cruiseday Tuesday: Bahamian Rhapsody
— Read on jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/23/cruiseday-tuesday-bahama-mamma/
When Serena Williams called me from the Bahamas… it’s Cruiseday Tuesday with your Travel Editor of the Year.
Tag: www.royalcaribbean.ie
Cruiseday Tuesday: Bahamian Rhapsody
It’s not every day you get a call from Serena Williams.
My mid-afternoon slumber was disturbed when Serena phoned me from the Bahamas a couple of years ago.
Such is the life of an international globetrotting Travel Editor!
This Serena though was not the tennis superstar as she acknowledges in her emails after her name (no, not her) but a very impressive Serena all the same. She runs a very successful media firm in Nassau http://www.bahamas.local,com.
I was teased with a view of the Bahamas in the distance when I cruised the seas last December but have yet to set foot on land.
I mean to change that.
There are a plethora of cruises around the Bahamas and in the Caribbean. I was taken by this one particularly when they slipped in the two most important words in cruising… ‘party ship’.
Jetline Cruise Ireland is offering 15 nights’ Orlando Fun & Bahamian Sun for four people for a fortnight sharing with inclusive car hire for ten days and then four days’ cruising.
You will stay at the Rosen Inn International or the International Palms Resort on International Drive, Orlando – so make sure you link up with Mickey and Disney and Harry and Universal http://www.disneyworld.disney.go.com and http://www.universalorlando.com.
And then the four of you will share the cabin on the Carnival Cruise Line ship.
Sale date November 1, price from €1299.
Jetline Cruise has a number of other sailings. Visit http://www.jetlinecruise.ie or call (01) 2469576.
The other Tenerife
I’ve got nothing against people who go to Tenerife to sit beside the pool or on the beach and hit the nightclubs.
You can have that if you like, it leaves the rest of the island and its activities such as hiking and carnival to me.
I’ll be hiking in September and also sitting under the stars with a couple of stars of the Travel industry whom I’ll tell you about nearer the time.
And I dare say I’ll get a taste for Tenerife then and want to go back for the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in February…. it’s the second biggest in the world as I was informed when the Canadians visited last year.
In the meantime you can, of course, get there by cruise ship with TUI’s Canarian Flavours package. TUI offers seven nights’ all-inclusive on January 3 on Marella Explorer inside cabin from €969pps.
Visit http://www.tuiholidays.ie or call 1850 45 35 45.
Channeling good vibes
I reckon I know what’s in store for Boris Johnson who is about to go around in circles between the UK and Europe… I did it in a cruise ship in the English Channel a couple of years ago.
The difference though is that I loved it.
Of course if you want to get off you can too. Royal Caribbean has a six-night cruise on Allure of the Seas on May 23 (Brexit should be over by then, maybe). It leaves Southampton and checks in to Paris/Normandy (Le Havre) , Bilbao and Spain.
From €1051 per person based on two sharing, €2102. Flight required.
Call 1800 932 662 or visit http://www.royalcaribbean.ie.
Cruiseday Tuesday: Rhine country
Cruiseday Tuesday: Rhine country
— Read on jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/16/cruiseday-tuesday-its-rhine-country/
River of dreams… sail away with your Travel Editor of the Year and Cruiseday Tuesday. Uniworld River Cruises in Rhineland, Royal Caribbean’s special allure and Princess Cruises and the Canaries.
Cruiseday Tuesday: Rhine country
Cramped up in a booze bus to the Munich Beerfest in a tailback of traffic it certainly looked like those river cruise ships were certainly a more relaxed Germany holiday.
I’ve found as the years have glided by that Uniworld River Cruises are the way to amble along the river.
I was particularly taken on my teenage drinking trip when we stopped off at Nueschwanstein, the inspiration for the Disney Castle, with its swan theme. The Rhine really is fairytale stuff.
Uniworld has a tempting range of discount offers on http://www.uniworld.com. The Castles Along The Rhine has a ring to it though doesn’t it? Eight days on the S.S. Antoinette from Amsterdam to Basel is under £3,000 (£2,999), down from £3,799. Depart September 22.
Flights are included for all 2019 departures. Included flights are from London Heathrow.
And here’s what you get…
Luxury living: On board the SS Antoinette
A Special allure
Royal Caribbean asks if we’re brave enough.
I am. I only did the Zipliner on Oasis of the Seas recently in Barcelona and FlowRider too, and again I’m a veteran of FlowRider having soared on it on Independence of the Seas.
The newly amplified Allure of the Seas is sailing from Barcelona next year.
So here’s what you can expect…
Royal Caribbean boasts that this is the tallest slide at sea… and I dare say the slidiest too.
The great thing about Royal Caribbean, apart from everything that is, is that they’re real party ships.
And the Music Hall is where to party on Allure with some great cover bands… and I’ve been known to sing along.. See my Royal Party on Independence….
Of course ships are known for their culinary excellence and Allure is no exception. I’d recommend Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar. It’s just how Mamma made it.
Now you want to see an offer. What about a seven-nighter Western Mediterannean with weekly departures from May 10 to October 25. You’ll take in Palma, Marseille, Florence/PIsa (La Spezia), Rome (Citavecchia) and Naples. From €1,079 per person based on two sharing., €2158 for two guests. €1pp flights, book by August 12. T&Cs apply. Visit http://www.royalcaribbean.ie.
A piece of cake… well, it had to be
Broomsticks airlines were running on time… and the mother-in-law had a smooth passage home.
She was asking for advice on where to go this autumn, and seeing as how I didn’t want to be turned into a frog (again) I suggested Madeira.
Madeira is unspoiled and not packed out with tourists. It’s also a great place to visit from a cruise ship.
Princess Cruises has an 11-day Canary Islands cruise, sailing from Southampton and taking in Vigo in Spain, Funchal in Madeira, Santa Cruz De Tenerife, Las Palmas in Gran Canarai and Arrecife in Lanzarote.
From €999 per person based on two sharing an inside stateroom but not including flights. Mothers-in-law come with their own broomsticks, though. For more information visit http://www.princess.com.
Cruiseday Tuesday – My Princess
It’s a couples’ dream… cruising. The lingering glances over dinner, the dancing, the spectacular shows, the moonlight walk on the top deck.
Of course, we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t occasionally disagree. I find the best advice is the one She gives: ‘When I want your opinion I’ll give it to you.’
So cruising has the advantage too of being big and varied and entertaining enough to give you both enough space to calm down if you get tetchy with each other. Best not have a quarrel on the top deck though, it can get slippy up there sometimes!
I owe Her a trip to the Bahamas after having had a spin around there last December and Sunway and Princess Cruises have the very thing.
They are offering a seven-night Bahamas & Virgin Islands Cruise on board the Regal Princess on February 29…. and you know what that means – Leap Year and all you loved-up ladies can propose to your gentlemen.
You’ll get all-inclusive drinks – Ocean Medallion (I’ll tell you more about that when I get on a Princess Cruises ship in Dublin later this month), wifi, gratuities and $200 onboard spend.
Price is €1599pp and includes return flights from Dublin, one night pre- cruise hotel stay, plus seven night cruise based on two sharing an interior stateroom, all taxes and fees. Transfers are extra. Visit http://www.sunway.ie/cruise-holidays or call (01) 231 1868. Visit http://www.princess.com.
Sand and sea
Cruising always leaves you wanting more.
We had a choice last autumn of MSC cruises – the beautiful fjords or dazzling Dubai and the Emirates. We don’t regret catching the fjords, of course, but as the mist and rain drew in I did give a thought to how sunny Dubai would have been. And I settled on doing both.
Temperatures in Dubai hover between 23 and 33 degrees in December which is when you’ll go with Abbey Travel and MSC.
Leaving on Wednesday, December 11 and paying €589.00, you’ll get:
- 11 nights cruise on board MSC Lirica in an interior cabin.
- Free tea, water and coffee package and Wi-Fi Social Package.
Add on a Fantastica package from €30pp.
To book call 01 804715, visit http://www.abbeytravel.ie. Flights are extra but enquire at time of booking. Visit http://www.msccruises.ie.
Here’s a reminder of how good MSC cruises are from that fjords trip. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-call-of-the-fjords/(opens in a new tab)
Ich bin ein Hamburger
As I famously said when I visited Hamburg last year at the end of that fjords trip.
Hamburg is a city that was very much to my taste and I’m sure you’ll be the same.
Royal Caribbean International is offering a seven nights’ Dutch and French Adventure on Explorer of the Seas, departing October 18 from Southampton, taking in Hamburg, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Paris/Normandy and Le Havre.
From €649 per person based on two people sharing. €1,298 for two guests. Sailing on October 18. Flight required.
And, of course, you’ll get the chance to walk on water with FlowRider which I road tested (again) on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas recently in Barcelona and which I’ll tell you more about real soon. And much, much more. Visit http://www.royalcaribbean.ie.
And get your teeth into Hamburg… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/hamburgers-and-ships/(opens in a new tab)
Your cruise
So just tell them what you want. It should be easy, right?
Norwegian Cruiselines and American Holidays know it and are tailoring your trip to your needs with their Feel Free at Sea deals.
Design your own bespoke holiday adding your choice of valuable benefits and luxuries.
For example I’ll be catching up with my friends from the Deep South tonight and tomorrow here in Dublin and have a particular itch to scratch… New Orleans.
Among its packages, NCL and American Holidays offers New Orleans Stay and Western Caribbean Cruise from €1,869 per person for next February. From €1,869pp.
So you’ll get all flights including one checked bag per person round trip.
Three nights at Le Pavilion Hotel, New Orleans. Seven nights cruise on-board Norwegian Getaway (based on Guarantee Ocean View Stateroom – add on Free at Sea upgrade from €120pp). Based on two sharing.
Call (01) 673 3804. Visit http://www.americanholidays.com. Visit http://www.ncl.com.
And you will, I know, but New Orleans breakfasts are gumbo and Sazeracs. You’re on holiday and on a cruise so there’s no point in being dry.
MEET YOU ON THE SEAS
Cruiseday Tuesday
It costs less than the price of a biscuit on the aeroplane.
Royal Caribbean is offering €1pp with selected 2020 sailings to Europe. www.royalcaribbean.ie.
So what you have to do is:
- Book an eligible stateroom on the selected 2020 sailings
(excluding GTY rooms) - Select your €1 flight
- Book by 12th August 2019
And now I’m back from Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, I’m dying to tell you all about boogie boarding, surfing/falling zip lining and stomach-filling. In the Irish Daily Star http://www.thestar.ie and on this blog.
Twenty million reasons to….
Cruise with MSC.
MSC Cruises has reached the 20 million passenger milestone.
Your favourite Travel journalist cruised with MSC and The Scary One last year in the fjords on Preziosa.
And believe me it’s invigorating to swim in the upper deck pool as you approach land (with your bandana on, of course).
MSC Cruises offer some great late deals. Seven nights on MSC Sinfonia. Leaving from Venice and taking in Ancona (Urbino), Split, Dubrovnik, Mykonos and Santorini. Depart July 13 or 20.
Visit http://www.msc.cruises.co.uk. You will need to book your own flights with this package.
Majorca corker
Patrick and Maureen were heading off to Palma, Majorca when I met them at the bar (naturally) on board my day on my cruise ship in Barcelona at the weekend.
The Irish-Chicagoans are in for a treat as Palma retains its Old Worlde charms despite what the Love Islanders and the salmon-pink tourists are doing up in Magaluf to the image of this beautiful island.
TUI offers all-inclusive cruises Dublin to Majorca, Treasures of the Mediterranean. Inside Cabin, seven nights from €1,089pps. Depart on August 27. From €1,089pps. Or Inside Cabin, depart July 13 from €1,179pps. Visit http://www.tuiholidays.ie or call 1850 45 35 45.
Surfin’ Catalon-aye-eh!
Surfin’ Catalon-aye-eh!
— Read on jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/06/29/surfin-catalon-aye-eh/
Stand up if you like this blog, stand up if you like this blog. Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and sweltering Barcelona. From your Travel Editor of the Year.
Cruiseday Tuesday
Love this island
But not Love Island or the sex-craved canoodling of the wannabes who occupy too much airtime on our televisions.
No, it’s the Majorca beyond Magaluf that you want to visit. I like it up north in Soller, but equally we had a lovely holiday in Cala D’Or which is 30 minutes from the quaint village of Sea Salines near which lies the Love Island village. God, I hope those poor villagers don’t have to bump into these bottomed bums.
Equally Majorca and its proud capital Palma are great places to cruise into as I did 15 odd years ago.
TUI offers a couple of options for you, knowing that we live in different parts of Ireland.
Its Hidden Gems all-inclusive cruise is seven days in an inside cabin from €1,139pps, departing Cork on July 16. Or try the seven-night Treasures of the Mediterranean, all-inclusive, staying in an inside cabin. Dublin to Majorca departing on August 27.
Visit http://www.tuiholidays.ie, call 1850 45 35 45 or visit a TUI store.
And that’s a rap
They both have sand… and Jerry. Or Big Rapper as I called him.
Asked to rap for us in the Wahdi Rum desert in Jordan, St Lucian Jerry belted out a song of which Kanye West would have been proud.
Jerry and his charming girlfriend Hannah, front of pic, have been talking of putting a guide book together of his native St Lucia, and I’m sure that they will and it will tell us all we need to more and give us the best authentic take on the Caribbean island.
For the rest ask Royal Caribbean which has a seven-night Southern Caribbean Cruise on Freedom of the Seas, featuring the island which is famed for its peaks. Also taking in Phillipsburg, St Maarten, Basseterre St Kitts & Nevis, St John’s Antigua and my favourite, Bridgetown Barbados, departing from San Juan Puerto Rico on April 20.
And you can save up to €1000 when you book by July 1. From €749pp based on two people sharing, €1498 for two guests. The promotion is applicable to new bookings made between Monday, June 3 and Monday, July 1. Visit http://www.royalcaribbean.ie.
PS: post (or) pre sailing
And follow http://www.thecruiseroomireland.ie.
MEET YOU ON THE SEAS
Cruiseday Tuesday
It’s an oasis when you’re dehydrated from hitting the wall of humidity after a long-haul flight… that bottle of Fiji water in your hotel bedroom.
But it comes at a price… around $10 if memory serves me right. And like all things tempting, to touch is to claim ownership and you will be billed because American hotel owners will deem that you have taken the water and replaced it with an inferior product.
Just saying.
Not that you’ll need to worry about such matters with Captain Cook Cruises where we were reliably informed at last night’s Tourism Fiji presentation at the Morrison Hotel in Dublin that water, tea and coffee are free… you will though need to pay for your booze. Visit http://www.fijitravel.
Captain Cook Cruises has a special offer running right now – book early and save 20% with the early booking saver fare (for sale and travel to 31 March 2020). Visit http://www.captaincookcruisesfiji.com. (061) 2 9126 8160.
So that’s three nights from AUD$1516pp twin share on a C Ocean Stateroom (approximately €946).
How to get there… well as the good people from Cathay Pacific reminded us it’s just a couple of sleeps and four movies or 32h 10mins (my idea of a good night in) and you’ll be there. Cathay flies via Hong Kong. Visit http://www.cathaypacific.com.
You’ll be glad you did. Fijians have been voted the happiest people on earth.
And judging by the welcome they gave us last night …
Here I am with High Commissioner Mr T (they have unpronouncable names) and his good lady, and Rosie (a little easier there) and her group of musicians and dancers who are attached to the British Army up north. Happiest people on Earth… it’s no idle boast.
State of Independence
Round and round we go, not getting anywhere… it’s how I live my life and I guess I won’t change now. Spare a thought then for The Scary One.
I joined the party ship Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas for a saunter around the English Channel and cared not a jot for anything going on between Britain and Europe…. I believe they’ve fallen out.
If you want to break up your trip though with some great on-shore itineraries then I’d recommend Indy’s 11-nights Canaries Adventure, departing October 8 from Southampton and taking in La Coruna, Madeira, Tenerife,, Gran Canaria, Lisbon and Vigo. From €1109pp (interior) based on two sharing. €2218 for two guests. Ocean view +€120pp, Balcony +€390pp, Suite €1310pp. Visit http://www.royalcaribbean.ie.
And if you want to know what a real party ship is like… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/a-royal-party/(opens in a new tab)
Miami twice, thrice…
Frice! It’s four times and I’ve just invented the word, but that was about the number of times I did the loop of Biscayne Bay when I stopped off in Miami after attending the launch of Celebrity Edge.
I went in search of South Beach only to be told it was across a never-ending bridge, miles and miles away. I doubled back and focused on finding Little Havana. After passing my hotel, the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay, and many other by now all too familiar buildings I reckoned I’d found my destination.
Only to be told that Little Havana was more than just one Mexican shack!
You’ll get more time to investigate Miami with a ten-night Miami Stay & Eastern Caribbean cruise from American Holidays from €2,058pp including flights from Dublin. So that’s three nights at the National Hotel South Beach and seven nights cruise on-board Adventure of the Seas. Travelling April 2020. Based on two adults sharing. Call American Holidays on (01) 673 3804 or visit http://www.americanholidays.com.