Cruise.co.uk are supporting our local Football Team!

Cruise.co.uk can announce that we are PROUDLY sponsoring our local football team, Redditch United FC or known to supporters as The Reds!

It all came about because my boyfriend, Mark Hands, has played for Redditch United on and off for a few years now and is currently playing for them. He asked me about possible sponsorship and we thought it would be a great way to keep things local and support the small guys.

Redditch are in the Southern Evo Stick league. 

The new 2013/2014 kits has arrived and this is what it looks like:

Not bad if I say so myself! 

I am sure many of the staff at Cruise.co.uk will be heading down to the Valley (the Valley Stadium) to watch them and support them in the new season. Fingers crossed for a good run COME ON THE REDS!

Finally, singles can GETAWAY!

I would say easily one of the biggest bones of contention with cruising this year has been about the P&O and Cunard Getaway deals. In particular, the way that these deals have penalised the single cruiser.

When the getaway deals were first implemented a few years ago, singles were permitted to book on these reduced fares at 100% supplement (which was always still lower than what the normal fare was at 75% supplement) then at the beginning of this year they decide to change the policy and they stopped the getaway deal being available to book for singles altogether!

I have to say, this caused outrage in the singles market (which is quite a high proportion of Cunard/P&O's repeat passengers) myself alone have taken 100's of calls where a single traveler has seen the cheap last minute deals thinking/hoping that they can still book them at the usual supplement but being very disappointed when told that it is not possible and they must pay sometimes triple the price on the Vantage deal!!!

I am quite sure many people have written in to the cruise lines with their gripes on this, in fact I know a few of my clients have, so surely the cruise lines had to listen?? Yes is the answer! They have FINALLY listened and have decided that for their cruises departing from September on wards, the getaway deals can now be booked by singles and families!! Singles are charged 100% supplement but this is still usually a great deal less than the 75% supplement on the Vantage and families can book 3/4 berth cabins at the reduced prices.

This is absolutely fantastic news in my opinion and could not come soon enough! If I had £1 for every single/family that we have had to turn away because of the current ruling  I would be a very rich young lady.

So to all you single travelers out there - September onward is the time for you to GETAWAY! :)

Cruising with Babies?

I am very excited to hear that we are FINALLY going to get some nice weather this coming weekend. It's not been the greatest summer so far lets's face it. Not only is it going to be nice weather, but it also falls on my weekend off! Even better! :)

So what are my plans for a sunny weekend off? Well, as I am 27 weeks pregnant it certainly isn't going to be anything too strenuous! Probably just bask in the sun with family and friends, maybe have a little BBQ and feed the baby!

On the subject of pregnancy, I have missed out on some exciting ship launches and cruises this year due to being pregnant :( the Royal Princess being one of them....the reason being is because I was too far along for the ship to be able to accept me. Each cruise line has there own terms for this but the general is to be no more than 24 weeks pregnant at the time of travel. This, I think, is down to premature births as the ships facilities cannot look after premature babies.

Being an expectant new mum, like myself, it is always handy to know the cruise lines minimum age to accept children. here is a useful link to help you with making your choice for your next family holiday and how well they cater for babies and toddlers: