calling at:- Lanzarote, Agadir, Casablanca, Malaga, Valencia, Barcelona, Marseilles, Monte Carlo, Portofino and Livorno
Captain : Knut Hanssen from Norway. Ship’s gross tonnage : 42,363. Max. pax : 700

This was our first cruise on the Voyager, sister ship of the Mariner on which we’d cruised from Alaska to Vancouver in 2004. The two ships are very similar, having exactly the same tonnage and number of passengers but the Voyager is very slightly newer and has very slightly larger cabins (known in this 6-star class of ship as suites).

RSSC Voyager

We took a rare opportunity to sample the delights of a Seadream Yacht for an overnight visit whilst she was moored on the Thames by Tower Bridge. Usually found in the chic harbours of the Caribbean or the Mediterranean these beautiful vessels provide a most agreeable holiday experience, creating the feel of being a guest on a private yacht. At just over a 100 guests at full capacity, pampering comes in all forms supplied from a crew of around 95.

Sea Dream I

Cabin

Library & internet stations

25-28 March 2011

As I am the best big sister in the world (!), this year I agreed to take my younger sister to Paris as her birthday present. Of course the fact I had won a voucher to help cover the cost worked in some way to nurture the agreement! I booked through Kirker Holidays; 3 nights at the Hotel Victor Hugo in the 16th arrondissement – which to you and me is half way between the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. We also pre-booked private transfers and as standard Kirker Holidays provide a 1 hour river cruise and carnet of metro tickets to help you make the best of the city.

November 2010
Germany – Mainz, Munich, Nurnburg, Wurzburg (4days)
Czech Republic – Prague (2 days)
Austria – just past Salzburg (3 ¼ hours!)

Insight Vacations (IV) offer a Premium Coach touring product and in conjunction with their partner companies Trafalgar Tours and Contiki, offer a broad range of touring products of different paces right across the globe.

IV offer a door-to-door service within 100 miles of your departure airport so I was collected in a private car very early on the 23rd November. I had BA flights so had checked in online and easily deposited my bag on arrival. At the airport I met up with a fellow agent and after breakfast we departed Terminal 5 for Frankfurt.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines – Braemar
30th August 2010 – 6th September
Escorted by Sarah Vince – Travelux

We were approached in 2009 to co-ordinate a group on the M1021 cruise to the Norwegian Fjords. Following an earlier group mini cruise from Dover the members were keen to travel again with the added assistance of a Travelux Escort.

Over the following months the size of the group increased to nearly 50 and was also supplemented by Travelux clients who had chosen this cruise and were subsequently invited to join the group for dining, tours and transfers where available.

12 August 2010

Joining at Dover is so easy. Minimum amount of fuss and then the ship takes the strain!

Sailing overnight to Bergen gives you a good opportunity to get to know the ship. The Braemar is not large, but has lots of different areas for entertainment with many of them being on 1 deck. It is quite modern for Fred Olsen, some quite contemporary art, I especially liked the Aboriginal area in the Braemar Room.

I was lucky enough to visit these three most interesting cities in Italy during March 2009, although I was not so lucky with the weather! However, the rain in Siena could not detract me from the charm of this small historic town and an afternoon’s walking tour gave a good insight into the history of the people and its renowned annual horse festival, The Palio.

The hotels throughout my visit were all part of the Royal Demeure group. All 5 star properties and a style that reflects the local culture and Italian design – old and new. My first night’s stay at The Grand Hotel Intercontinental was not only comfortable but also had so much history I could not forget that I was in the heart of Siena.

I had often pondered the idea of going to Lapland, but for various reasons had always discounted it, but this Transun holiday to Northern Finnish Lapland sounded so good I began to think about it again.

It was a three night package, flying from Stansted and staying in the Hotel Ivalo on the banks of the River Ivalojoki and included full board and lots of activities – snowmobiling, a reindeer sleigh ride, Husky sledging, a Gala Dinner and, of course a visit to Father Christmas himself. Our family have always enjoyed visiting warmer climes, but we decided this sounded such fun we just had to try it.