…eview is based on the Trans-Atlantic crossing from Southampton (UK) to New York that I went on in the wilds of winter in December 2004. And it was certainly wild. Crossing the Atlantic in mid-winter is not for the faint hearted (or those with poor sea-legs). But it is – and was – one of the most exciting and wonderful trips I have ever done. Part of this is because you are really being a part of history, as the ship no longer does regular trans-At…
…ich and famous travelling on transatlantic services from the Genoa port to New York. The choice of the rich, the famous, royalty and dictators too.. Very rich and very famous people stayed here in those glory days when Transatlantic crossings were glamourous and fabulous affairs. Some of the guests at that time included members of Royal families, such as King of Italy (Vittorio Emanuele III) and the Spanish royalty (Maria and Carlos de Bordone). E…
…et liners, Cunard was the choice for the rich and famous to travel between New York and the UK. Today Cunard ships are full of black and white images of them aboard ships like the Queen Mary. This is still true today. Although primarily this is linked to the flagship Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic or World Cruise, Cunard still attracts the rich and famous. Crossings will often have famous names ranging from Rod Stewart, John Cleese, Una Thurman throug…
…5 years now. Even in my job when I was spending at least half the month in New York and then Paris, I kept London as my home base. London is exciting, historic, diverse and generally fabulous. ⁃ Of the hundreds of hotels I have stayed in around the world, it is still the home of the most luxurious and posh hotel and room I have ever stayed in: The Berkeley in London. I stayed here on the night of my Civil Partnership in 2009, where they upgraded u…
…ndling, the rigours of the North Atlantic Crossing between Southampton and New York. This drove the approach to the fleet. Ships suitable for regular Transatlantic Crossings were the prime requirement for Cunard ships, as ships suitable just for regular cruising has historically been the second priority. The Queen Elizabeth 2 when it came into service, for example, had no balcony cabins. This was true for the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth before…
…am on the first morning of our transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York on the stunning Cunard Queen Mary 2. I am sitting in the Grills Concierge Lounge on Deck 9 while Mark, who is travelling with me, sleeps off the effects of the seasickness injection that he had to have this morning. The TV screen in the lounge is showing that we are in the midst of a Force 8 Gale, and the sea is classified as “very rough”. The ship overall is very…
…Queen Mary 2, which included a transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York and then a trip from there to the Caribbean and back. While on board I posted a number of articles, made 2 podcasts of observations and recorded interviews with a number of the senior crew that I will soon turn into podcasts and write up articles. Meantime to find out more about the articles and interviews with cruise tips, please visit and read the articles on Hea…
…the falls. A real must do! I flew into Buffalo International Airport from New York. The airport is in the USA and about a half hour or so drive to the border. I hired a car and headed out towards the border. Crossing the border into Canada was smooth. I just had to show my Passport. I wanted to stay on the Canadian side as had heard that the views were better of the Falls, and also wanted to stay at the Sheraton on the Falls Hotel that I had read…
…hip. I was especially drawn to the rotating chandelier with the skyline of New York which is indicative of the interesting and slightly quirky art all around the ship. Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Chocolate Strawberries A gift of chocolate dipped strawberries in my stateroom when I returned from the muster station drill from the Holland America team added to my feeling of being pampered. Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam departing Barcelona And t…
…dining options including the always busy O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill, Cagney’s New York style steak house, the Argentinean Moderno Churrascaria or the seafood based restaurants like The Raw Bar, Wasabi sushi and sashimi or Geoffrey Zakarian’s up-market Ocean Blue. If those do not appeal you also have the Italian La Cucina, Japanese Teppanyaki, French le Bistro and the Flamingo Bard & Grill open air dining. There are a multitude of bars throughout the…
…e age of the jet liner, there were about 40 lines plying the route between New York and Europe. Competition was fierce especially to provide the fastest crossing. The ships were segregated between the plush and luxurious palaces that were First Class, Second Class and the functional and inexpensive Third Class. Today Cunard still has three classes but other than the dining rooms and one lounge and deck, the ship is open to all passengers. Other li…
