Travel Weekly Blog

I was up at London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury, Essex today to visit Transocean ship Marco Polo, and ended up interested in a site whose first impressions are a little underwhelming.

• It dates back to 1930, when PM Ramsay MacDonald opened a landing stage at Tilbury Docks (archive footage)
  
• Empire Windrush docked here in 1948, bringing West Indian immigrants to the UK
• It is in the frame for redevelopment funding as the 2012 Olympics approaches

It's also convenient for Transocean's passengers, who are generally a sedate, 55-60 and above crowd. They can do without negotiating big, busy terminals with piles of luggage (and if you're not an initiate, note that negligible restrictions mean cruisers tend to pack more than air travellers).

UK cruises

It was also interesting to hear that one of Marco Polo's most popular itineraries is a Tilbury-Tilbury round UK cruise - passengers for which come almost exclusively from the terminal's south-and-east catchment area.

Jane Archer, who writes our Cruise Lines blog and accompanied me around Marco Polo (watch her video review on Travel Weekly) pointed me to a cruisecritic.com article that suggests Transocean rivals Fred Olsen and Voyages of Discovery are seeing a similar demand for UK cruising.

What do we make of it? A growing desire to see more of the UK? Disinclination to go abroad becuase of the weak pound and iffy economic lookout? Or just an appealing price point?

That's right: you, Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas, free Ben & Jerry's ice cream. The catch is you have to stare at their backsides.

The cabin above Independence of the Seas' Ben & Jerry's outlet has - as you can see - a restricted view of the Royal Promenade; as compensation, the occupants get free ice cream.

I would.

The photo was taken by Travel Weekly Cruise Club member Tracy McFall, a disabled travel specialist who sent us her thoughts on IoS's facilities and accessibility.

Nathan Midgley, web producer

TW's editor-in-chief Penny Wilson just visited the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh. Here's the lowdown.

Edinburgh taxi drivers are a chatty bunch.

I have just returned from a splendid dinner on board the Royal Yacht Britannia with Scotland's finest agents and operators - courtesy of Air France and KLM who wanted to say a big thankyou for the support the company had experienced from that part of the world.

Having spent the last four years travelling abroad, I had to admit to not having been to Edinburgh for some time, so I asked the cabbie whether he was Scottish or British.

"I am Scottish first and foremost, and British in times of conflict," he replied.

And as for the Royal Yacht, I've never seen anything so narrow in my life as her majesty's bed. No room for anything else but a tiny person in there.

Word of warning to travellers to Edinburgh courtesy of the Central Cab Company - Edinburgh is being torn apart by preparations to re-introduce trams.

Victorian utilities are being replaced before tram tracks can even be considered. All this is costing millions of pounds and will cause massive traffic delays for another two to three years.

Another message from Louise Scott on easyCruise...

Just been chatting to a senior member of ship personnel who let slip that a customer spent a couple of hours in his office the other day having a moan.

Being a sticky-beaked journo type I asked why and he said she was an older lady who'd been on loads of (posh) cruises before this and wasn't happy with how easyCruise Life was shaping up in comparison - one of her main gripes being the food.

Hang on a minute, I thought, isn't that a bit like comparing Pizza Express to The Ivy? Or going to Maccy D's and expecting steak?

Okay, so the grub may not be the most varied in the world, but it's pretty nice if you ask me (or any of the folk I've chatted to about it). The disgruntled lady didn't take kindly to the generally informal style of the ship either, by all accounts.

Agents, the moral of this story is this: be careful who you recommend a holiday on easyCruise Life to. Those looking for a bit of swank, smarm and Silver Service will not find it here. This is firm flip-flop brigade territory.

Chilled-out types of all ages who would hate the traditional idea of cruising and want to see more of the ports of call than the portholes on deck will love easyCruise Life, though. It's easy peasy.

Travel Weekly's Louise Scott is out on a fam trip aboard easyCruise Life. She emailed me her impressions of the ship...

Orange is not the only colour aboard easyCruise Life - far from it, in fact.

Eighteen hours into a seven-day fam trip aboard the ship and the only sign of the garish colour so far is in the huge numbers printed on each and every cabin door (just so passengers definitely know which one's theirs). They look pretty funky - a word which would could befit the rest of the ship.

As a cruise virgin, I didn't know what to expect on this or any other ocean liner for that matter, but If I'm honest my hopes for this one weren't high. Going on general perceptions of sister ship easyCruise One a couple of years back I had something remotely resembling a loud, gaudy, floating Pizza Hut in mind. Instead, I've found understated, modern chic.

It's got a great bar and restaurant, sun decks with sumptuous beds to lounge on (feels a bit like the Big Brother garden), all next to a small but functional little swimming pool.

It's more than enough for singles, couples or groups of friends with a bit of taste who want to see the Greek islands at a bargain price and in a relaxed atmosphere.

My only gripe so far is with the gym - did they really need to use up so much valuable sunbathing space for that?!

If I see any of my agent companions so much as look at a treadmill, I'll eat my sun hat...

• Liked this? Try Cruise Lines, TW Group's cruise blog by industry expert Jane Archer

As web producer I don't get to see print adverts until I read the issue. But I like this one from US cruiseline Carnival:

It's a cute riff on the name of its ship Carnival Splendor, which would be spelt 'splendour' in British English.

'All that's missing is u' is knowing, ever so slightly self-deprecating... to my ears, perfect for a big US ship coming to the UK.

The only problem? The hook is buried in the middle of the ad. Having done a bit of copywriting in my time, I hate to see a great idea take the back seat...

Anyway, as you can see Splendor is on the way to the UK. It will have the good fortune to have Myleene Klass as its godmother, and, as our cruise blogger Jane Archer also mentions on Cruise Lines, will be christened with English sparkling wine instead of champagne.

All this deference to homegrown spelling and produce... it's enough to win anyone over. 

Nathan Midgley, web producer

We've had some great pics in from Azamara Cruises - this is the 593-foot Azamara Journey sailing into London for the first time. It's one of the largest cruise ships that has ever docked in central London.

Nathan Midgley, web producer

Not often you get to see behind the scenes on a cruise ship but TW was shown the engine room and galleyon Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas. Here we have the engine room footage - six enormous diesel engines are used to power the ship (not all at the same time).

When we dropped in one engine was operating and the heat and noise was quite something.

Martin Couzins, online editor

See what agents think of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines' Independence of the Seas. And it looks as if size really does matter :-)

Martin Couzins, online editor

Here are some more pictures from yesterday's agent day on board Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas.

Captain Teo Strazicic let us up on to the bridge - here he is pictured in the captain's seat. And then we have the promenade that runs down the centre of the ship and the Flowrider surf ride.

Check out Jane Archer's review of the consumer day on Independence of the Seas (and a picture of Scouting for Girls).

UPDATE: More pics on Flickr.

Martin Couzins, online editor

TW is on board Royal Caribbean's latest ship the Independence of the Seas.

This ship shares the title of the world's largest cruise ship - it is the width of a football pitch and the length of three. I was hoping to post some pictures but access to PCs is limited (I can't access the USB socket) so am scuppered.

However, we have been granted access to the bridge, the galley and the engine room so have some interesting footage to share.

First impressions are: wow, this is a big ship. It has very friendly staff and is jammed with impressive facilities. Looks like a very family friendly ship with loads to do for the kids.

And it is based in Southampton - so great news for the trade and consumers.

Only criticism . . . some access to USB sockets required.

More pictures and video footage tomorrow . . .

Martin Couzins, online editor

Because there's no point pretending it always goes to plan...

The line was "Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines UK and Ireland managing director Jo Rzymowska," of course.

Watch the full interview with Jo, who was at Travel Weekly towers guest editing the paper, over on the website.

Nathan Midgley, web producer

What's that occupying the top slot? It isn't Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's official Independence of the Seas site...

Some enterprising so-and-so called Jesmond Travel has registered independenceoftheseas.org and built a page that pushes RCCL into second place on Google - though Jesmond is nowhere to be seen when you run the same search on Yahoo.

This isn't the end of the world - second place is still very prominent - but it's unfortunate considering the sheer volume of search traffic that coverage of IotS is bound to generate (the mainstream media love the 'biggest passenger ship' angle, despite the fact Liberty and Freedom are the same size).

Google searches for 'Ventura' and 'Poesia' return P&O and MSC pages in first place, by the way.

Nathan Midgley, web producer

Travel Weekly's Chloe Berman and Michelle Perrett spent some time on the Ventura with travel agents on the VIP agent day. This is what they had to say . . . like Nigel's 'relaxed' bed pose.

Martin Couzins, online editor

Curse this year's ample snow in the Alps. Oh, it may have looked pretty. It may have crunched seductively underfoot and yielded beautifully to skiers and snowboarders. But here's what happened when it melted:

This is taken from the window of Peter Deilmann river cruise vessel Princesse de Provence, which I'd joined for a short trip down the Rhone. It was forced to stay in Vienne, a short drive south of Lyon, for two days.

Disappointment all round, obviously, but nobody could blame Deilmann - a big stick shoots by at 0:22, and the threat of such stuff damaging the propellers is just one of the reasons boats can't depart when the river misbehaves. And the Rhone was clear of traffic, so other operators will have had the same problems.

To their credit, Deilmann staff coped with a difficult situation well, and although apologetic to the press contingent were demonstrably more concerned about getting clearance to depart and keeping passengers happy than they were about what we journos were thinking. Which is as it should be.

Here's more evidence of what the meltwater did, this time taken further north at Tournus on the river Saone:

Nathan Midgley, web producer

Royal Caribbean has produced two videos on the Genesis project including one actually filmed on the ship in production. It is being built at Aker yards in Finland.

Congratulations to our Cruise Lines blogger Jane Archer for predicting the concept for the new ship. Jane is blogging her way around the many ship launches this month.

Martin Couzins, online editor

Royal Caribbean has announced the shortlist for godmother of Independence of the Seas.

Congratulations to the shortlist:

Barbara Natasegara from Cardiff
Elizabeth Hill from Chesterfield in Derbyshire
Madeleine Henry from Southampton
Sue Stones from Bakewell in Derbyshire

Great to see Royal Caribbean looking beyond celebrity circles for this role. Winners to be announced this Thursday.

Martin Couzins, online editor

Thanks to Royal Caribbean for this short film of the making of Independence of the Seas at Aker Yards in Turku, Finland. I like the scale of the coaches against the ship in dry dock.

Martin Couzins, online editor

Travel Weekly's poll on the cruise industry's green efforts was interesting.

Some 44% of respondents declared their customers had no interest in what cruiselines are doing to reduce their environmental impact. Those customers are clearly not aware of the initiatives the cruise industry is undertaking to achieve positive eco results.

Governments and industry are seeking solutions to global environmental problems, but it is easy to get confused as to who is doing what, how, measurement, is it working etc.

Let's support the Association of Cruise Experts in its efforts to remove some of the confusion which surrounds this important subject.

Brian Hordon, director of training development, Silversea Cruises (UK) Ltd

This is the Zebra Bar on new cruise ship MSC Poesia, where various Travel Weekly staff could be found in a state of great, er, relaxation in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Some of our party loved it. Others complained that it was burning their eyes (okay, that was me).

The important thing is that nobody ignored it - not every comment made it into my video edit, but almost every one of the agents we chatted to had something to say on the room.

Want more? Take a look at our MSC Poesia video line-up - there's a short ship tour, some travel agent reactions and a travel trade presentation from MSC Cruises UK managing director Claudia Baino.

MSC's determination to make an impact in the UK was evident on Saturday - our own cruise blogger Jane Archer wonders at "the massive sales job UK agents now have on their hands if they are ever to repay MSC for a great evening."

Few left in any doubt about the product (see another approving write-up in the Telegraph) but as Jane says, now it's time to start winning sales.

The cruiseline is a staunch supporter of agents, offering commission on virtually everything - it will be hoping that its investment in the trade comes good.

Nathan Midgley, web producer

Sky News has reported that the Van Gogh is now heading back to Falmouth after being held in Madeira for two days.

Martin Couzins, online editor

The BBC has reported that cruise ship Van Gogh is being held in Madeira with 460 passengers on board. The ship is on the final leg of a round-the-world cruise and was due back into Falmouth on Saturday.

Here's Travel Weekly's story on Van Gogh Cruise Line's plans for 2008.

More to come on Travel Weekly.

Van Gogh overview.

Martin Couzins, online editor

Here are some left-field cruise ship stats. When fully stocked, the Emerald Princess, which carries 3,110 passengers and 1,200 crew, holds:

18,000 rolls of toilet paper

23,000 bed sheets

59,300 wooden coat hangers

3,900 muffins

150 yards of link breakfast sausages

910lb of ice cream

960lb of bananas

852lb of shellfish

1,431lb of game/poultry

Travolution has a good story on how airlines fared in a recent study of brands' online reputations.

Virgin Atlantic came top, and Ryanair got a sobering score of minus 20. Here are the Kaizo Advocacy Index scores:

• Virgin Atlantic: 65
• BMI: 48
• EasyJet: 25
• British Airways: -6
• Ryanair: -20

And I see on Gadling that the New York Times ran a 'cruise issue' on Sunday. This article on interesting land extensions has a little drop-down menu that takes you to most of the content.

The cruise revolution marches on... I wonder whether the freesheet that doesn't do cruise has relented yet.

Nathan Midgley, web producer

According to the Cruise Report 2008, last year was the year cruise agents started to set up up their own cruise blogs or Clogs in which they posted cruise reviews and invited customers to respond. Good on those agents who are enaging customers through blogs. Here are a couple of examples: Gill's Cruise Centre and Save and Sail Cruise Village.

Here's the TW story on the Cruise Report 2008.

Martin Couzins, online editor

This list of the top 10 not-to-be-missed cruise ports has just come in from Cruisecritic. The list is in alphabetical order.

Amsterdam
Dubrovnik
Hong Kong
Martinique
Maui
Muscat
Naples
St. Petersburg
Sydney
Vancouver

Some pics of Cunard's QE2, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. The ships met for the first and only time in New York.

It's a big year for cruise, so I was hoping there might be a range of cruise ship simulator-type games online so I could have a go at being captain. Alas, it was not to be, apart from docking an easyCruise ship that is.
Martin Couzins, online editor

This year is going to be a big one for cruise - check out Travel Weekly's rundown of this year's new ships.

And here are some predictions for the cruise industry in 2008.
Martin Couzins, online editor

MyCruiseblog.co.uk reports that P&O Ventura will feature the first circus school at sea.

The area will be equipped with four bungee trampolines, which will enable you to soar 60 metres above sea level.

A fine addition to the huge and colourful range of activities now available at sea. Though not one you would find TW Blog getting involved in. If anything is likely to bring seasickness back to today's stabilised cruise ships, it's me on a bungee trampoline.

Nathan Midgley, web producer

MyCruiseblog.co.uk reports that Celebrity Cruises has teamed up with New York State's Corning Museum of Glass to stage a series of glassblowing shows and workshops on Celebrity Solstice.

Located on the ship's upper deck within a custom-designed, outdoor glassmaking studio, the Hot Glass Show will present the history and craft of glassblowing

Fans of glassblowing will be in heaven; other passengers may discover an interest; the rest of us can mark off 'cruise' and 'glassblowing' on our niche holiday bingo cards. It does go to show how much variety there is in today's cruise market...

Nathan Midgley, web producer

Tomorrow will see the Duchess of Cornwall officially name Cunard's Queen Victoria, as we reported back in September. Here are a couple of pictures of the beautiful ship arriving in Southampton on Friday.
Martin Couzins, online editor

Brace yourselves: I've a not-all-that-wicked whisper that will be bad news for those who want to see young consumers in the cruise sector.

During a press trip to Picardy at the weekend I met the features editor of a certain free London newspaper - one which targets the affluent, young urban types many cruiselines would love to get on board - and asked him which destinations or sectors it is unlikely to touch in its travel coverage.

First on the list? I'm afraid it was cruise.

Perhaps cruise industry PRs should make this freesheet their challenge for 2008...

Nathan Midgley, web producer

UPDATE: A British evacuee from the Explorer tells her story.

UPDATE 20.25: Pictures of the stricken ship sinking.

UPDATE Saturday 24 November 20.14: The BBC reports that a Chilean military plane is on its way to King George Island where the 154 tourists and crew spent last the night.

UPDATE 13.29pm: Here are some camcorder stills taken from Hurtigruten's MS Nordnorge, which is involved in the rescue. These are being updated.

UPDATE 12.44pm: Here is the map of the location.

View Larger Map

UPDATE 12.40pm: The Sun newspaper has published this picture of the ship.

UPDATE 12.28pm: Gap Adventures has released an emergency number for relatives - 00 1 800 465 5600 ext 101.

UPDATE 12.27pm: Lloyd’s List reports that the Explorer had five deficiencies at its last inspection, including missing search and rescue plans and lifeboat maintenance problems.

UPDATE 12.22pm: Gap Adventures have confirmed that 24 british nationals were on board.

UPDATE: 11.55am: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has said that 152 people on board Explorer have now been rescued by Endeavour. Hurtigruten's MS Nordnorge has arrived to collect passengers. MCA said the Rescue Coordination Centre in Falmouth is helping out with the rescue's communication.

UPDATE: 11.50am; Travel Weekly has now put a link to a video of Explorer on the website.
Click here to see it.

UPDATE: 11.11am; Sky News is reporting that MS NordNorge and Endeavour have arrived at the scene.

UPDATE: 11.08am; Hurtigruten has just advised Travel Weekly that its ship MS Nordnorge has arrived in Antarctica and will reach the Explorer at around 11.30am Norwegian time.

UPDATE: 11.01am: The British Antarctic Survey press team is having a tea break - we will keep on trying them for a comment on the environmental immpact.

UPDATE: 10.58am: There are concerns about the impact on the environment of the Explorer sinking.

UPDATE 10.53am: The Explorer is not owned by Noble Caledonia, as has been reported in the press.

UPDATE 10.49am: BBC confirms Britons, Canadians and Americans were on board. There is no emergency number as yet.

UPDATE 10.47am: Gap adventures PR confirms all passsengers are safe and that there are staff on board trying to stabilise the ship.

UPDATE 10.40am: Sarah Longbottom is telling ITN that the Explorer is fitted to ice standards and that GAP Adventures is a member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators. Sarah points out that the IAATO issues safety guidelines but there are no legal requirements to adhere to these. She goes on to say that this incident will knock consumer confidence in cruising.

UPDATE 10.34am: Travel Weekly reports, Hurtigruten MS Nordnorge is to be first ship to sinking Explorer.

UPDATE: 10.31am: Travel Weekly editor talking to ITN

UPDATE 10.26am: According to Lloyd's List the Explorer is registered to Gap Shipping.

UPDATE 10.09am: Royal Caribbean has been inundated with calls from people concerned its ship, Explorer of the Seas, is the one involved.

UPDATE 9.58am: GAP Adventures have confirmed that they are currently chartering the ship.

UPDATE: Travel Weekly has just spoken to Andy Harmer at ACE and told us that he belives the ship is currently chartered by GAP Adventures.

UPDATE 9.55am: We are currently trying to establish who has chartered the ship for this trip.Unconfirmed reports are that it is a UK company.

Sky News reports there is a major rescue operation underway after a cruiseliner hit an object and began sinking in the Antarctic Ocean. More than 150 people on board are being evacuated and moved to life rafts and a nearby ship off the Argentinian coast.

The ship is the MV Explorer, which is used by companies such as GAP Adventures.

Here is a picture of the ship on the GAP Adventures site.

More updates on Travel Weekly's website.

Martin Couzins, online editor

From Travel Weekly's Kelly Ranson, just back from an InterContinental Hotels Group conference in Dallas...

Arriving back from a long-haul flight to a gloomy and damp Sutton really wasn’t a great start to yesterday.

By the end of the day the jet lag had kicked in and I was in need of matchsticks to keep my eyes open.

However just before leaving the office I was brightened up hugely with a massive bunch of roses and a marriage proposal (!) from Princess Cruises.

Ok, so I won’t actually be walking down the aisle with a 3000 passenger cruise ship - it was actually a plug for the company’s Weddings and Honeymoon brochure.

Three other ladies in the office also received flowers, so TW Towers was a happy place to be yesterday.

Very nice touch.

Kelly Ranson, reporter

Thanks to Royal Caribbean International for this footage of Independence of the Seas, the last of the cruiseline's three Freedom Clas