P&O Cruises’ mighty Ventura is special to me for a number of reasons. She was the first cruise ship I ever worked on back in 2009, and I spent much of 2015 and 2016 cruising on her for long periods with my husband. It’s safe to say that she, alongside
Read moreAuthor: Anna
Cruise ship review: Braemar, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
A few months ago I was fortunate enough to have a look around the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ship Balmoral. I was impressed by the ship and keen to learn more about the rest of the fleet. When the opportunity arose to visit another Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ship –
Read moreMy memories of the QE2, Dubai’s newest 5-star hotel
The Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner (or QE2 as she is fondly known) is to open as a floating hotel in Dubai, after a major refurbishment. QE2 first arrived in Dubai in 2008 but plans to turn her into a hotel ground to a halt, until now. An invitation only soft
Read moreOfficer Q&A: Behind the scenes of a cruise ship Shore Excursions team
Some of you may already know this, but I spent three years working on board P&O Cruises ships in the Shore Excursions Department (2009-2012). In my opinion it was one of the best jobs on board, partly because you got to go ashore and experience the ports on a daily
Read moreA cruise travel guide to Malta
One of the things I love most about cruising is the opportunity to visit a new port every few days. I really enjoy hopping ashore, jumping on a tour or exploring a place independently. But sometimes I want to spend longer than one day in a port, which was the
Read moreOfficer Q&A: Getting to know an expedition cruise ship Captain
For my latest ‘Meet the Officer’ interview, I had a chat with Aaron Wood – Captain with expedition cruise company Lindblad Expeditions. Both Mr Cruise Blogger and I sailed with Aaron during his time working on P&O Cruises and Cunard ships. I was really keen to find out more about
Read moreShip review: Cunard’s Queen Victoria
When I graduated from university in 2007, I had a temporary contract working for a company called Ocean Books. The company set up and maintain libraries on many of the world’s best-known cruise ships. Back in 2007, this included the soon-to-be-launched Queen Victoria (QV). I remember the excitement surrounding this
Read moreFive of Lanzarote’s best attractions
This is a guest post about Lanzarote by Sam Whiteside, Port Presenter with P&O Cruises. You can find out more about Sam at the end of this article. I seem to be on a one man cruise ship mission to convince people that Lanzarote is actually one of the most
Read morePacking for a cruise: The essential items only seasoned cruisers know about
Experienced cruisers will know there are certain items you cannot travel without when packing for a cruise. I’m not talking about packing the right clothing, remembering currency or stocking up on sun cream. I mean those small essential items that you only learn about after doing a cruise or two.
Read moreOfficer Q&A: An interview with the Captain
For my latest officer interview, I am delighted to introduce you to P&O Cruises Captain Derek Gray. I have had the privilege of sailing with Derek when he was Master of Azura. He is well loved by crew and passengers alike, bringing his unique Scottish flair to the role. How
Read moreCruise bloggers share their favourite things about cruising
As a cruise passenger in my thirties, I often get asked what I like most about this type of holiday. With this question in mind, I started to think about all the great benefits a cruise has over land-based holidays. Everybody likes to ‘set sail’ for different reasons, so I
Read moreShip review: Balmoral, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
I had a couple of preconceptions before boarding the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines flagship Balmoral this month. I’d heard that Fred. Olsen ships looked dated and their passenger base was a lot older than many of the other larger cruise lines. I hadn’t been on one of their ships before,
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