…isecritic (where you can also read my review!) http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=247 BBC “On This Day” – launch of the QE2 Read all about the day the QE2 was launched in 1967 – and see the video of the naming and launch! Click here Wilipedia (online encyclopaedia – which is excellent by the way!) Entry on QE2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Queen_Elizabeth_2 Entry on Cunard: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cunard_Steamship_Lines…
An old tart with lipstick is still an old tart. This pretty much summarizes my view of the Hotel Berlin in Berlin. It is an old and dated building that they have tried to tart up and make look trendy, funky and modern. But the problem is that the body beneath the new clothes and lipstick is not up to scratch. It is failing. On a superficial level, they have done a decent job of this tried and uninspiring block of concrete. The lobby is bright, wh…
Watch my video tour and thoughts on the ship: The first Nieuw Amsterdam ship was launched by Holland America LIne in 1906. The current one is the forth to take this famous name. Today, many of the 2,000 passengers congregate at the Sea View Pool at the rear of the ship for the sail-away parties. Some, of course, prefer, to relax in the more enclosed Lido pool, which has a retractable roof. As well as lots of recliners and seats you can also hire…
Grand Canyon: Mark, Me and our Mums Watch the video tour that I made of the amazing helicopter trip we did with Maverick Helicopters from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. The tour takes half the day and we first flew to an airstrip at the top of the canyon after flying over Hoover Dam. Some of the passengers got off and we then flew right down into the basin of the Grand Canyon where we had time to take pictures and explore. We then flew back up to…
The Ghan is one of the iconic train journeys in the world. This epic trip travels over 2,900 kilometres through the outback of Australia between Darwin in the Northern Territory and Adelaide in South Australia. Following the steps ancient Afghan cameleers took transporting goods through this vast country, the train provides a memorable experience spanning three days and two nights. The most luxurious option is travelling in Platinum Class. The sp…
Uniworld River Beatrice docked in Melk Austria Day three of my Uniworld “Enchanting Danube” river cruise saw us visiting two charming towns along the Danube. Both were fascinating. First we visited the town of Melk. This town is best known for a large and sprawling Benedictine Monk Monastery that dates back to the 11th Century. The current buildings are more recent as most were replaced in the baroque style after the 17th Century when a fire dest…
Uniworld River Beatrice Docked in Passau Germany Watch my video overview of the Uniworld Enchanting Danube river cruise Uniworld’s “Enchanting Danube” river cruise sails 7-night cruises between Passau in Germany and Budapest in Hungary. Passau is a medivaeal town located where three rivers converge. The Danube, Ilz and Inn. Local guides take small groups of passengers on a leisurely walking tour that includes a peaceful stroll along the fast flow…
…are, they now expect guests to print off their own cruise tickets, baggage labels and advice booklets. I miss getting them. I was pleased to find out that Crystal Cruises retain the practice in line with their luxury positioning. The large folder arrived by post and contained: Cruise ticket with details of stateroom, transfers, itinerary and check-in information. Baggage tags, where you fill in your stateroom number. Leaflet promoting the Crystal…
…an the frenetic offerings of water slides, rock climbing walls and similar attractions. They were happy to do activities like playing music in “The Studio” (a room with electronic keyboards), sports, going to the technology classes and the cultural excursions. I suspect most travellers on board would prefer not to be surrounded by families and children – and they (more than the line) are less tolerant of them. Familiar environment Crystal provides…
Food is important in cruising and for Crystal it is a special focus. Initially they partnered with established culinary luminaries like Nobu Matsuhisa to create Silk Road (Asian dining and sushi) and Valentino Restaurant to create Prego (Italian) but more recently they have driven their own initiatives. They rolled out Tastes, which offers a Global Street Food Court and was developed with Sapphire Restaurant in Laguna Beach California. It provide…
Qatar Airways A380 Doha Airport I have never felt compelled to take a photograph of the toilets on a plane until I travelled on the inaugural flight of Qatar Airways A380 from Doha to London! As other passengers rushed around excitedly capturing images of the sparkling new plane, I stumbled across the room that is usually totally functional and sterile looking – even in First Class on airlines like British Airways. The fact that even this area ha…
