Cruise Blog

Taking a look at 2010 it looks like we are in a pretty big year. We have had the Winter Olympics, an new government (of sorts) and there is also the 2010 FIFA World Cup to look forward too.

The world of cruises though is doing its best to keep as much of the limelight as possible. With most of the major cruise lines launching new ships, new innovations and new itineraries, 2010 is shaping up as the year of the cruise ship. With eight new ships being launched throughout the year the world of cruising is becoming ever more popular.

This year there is a real mix of new ships being launched. There is surely something out there for everyone these days. The world's largest ship the Oasis of the Seas was launched last year with her sister ship due to enter service in December, the luxury cruise lines Cunard, Holland America and Celebrity have got involved and the affordable Thomson Cruises have added to their fleet. I have compiled a brief list of what's new and what's to come this year.

P&O Azura: April saw the launch of P&O Cruises, latest ship the Azura. The new 3,100 passenger ship is home to Olly Smith's Glass House Wine Bar and Sindhu, where the Michelin star chef Atul Kochhar has created an Indian menu with a modern twist. The Azura is a great ship that combines the traditional elegance of P&O with modern style and amenities.

Thomson Dream: Thomson's latest ship the Thomson Dream is the largest in their modest and affordable fleet.

Celebrity Eclipse: The latest incarnation from Celebrity Cruises solstice class is the Celebrity Eclipse. Launched at the end of April the ship had to miss the pre-naming party in Southampton as she was in Bilbao rescuing 2,000 Brits stranded on mainland Europe by the ash cloud. The ship offers real American- style luxury and the Murano Restaurant is hoping to be awarded a Michelin Star.

Norwegian Epic: The next ship to hit our shores this summer is NCL's super-liner the Norwegian Epic. This ship has been dubbed the ultimate in 'freestyle cruising' and if it lives up to this, it promises to be a real corker. The ship has been designed with the widest audience in mind, there are more restaurants than you need, chilled-out venues and formal evenings. If there was ever a place where fans on Thomson Cruises and Ocean Village could travel with friends used to Princess, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, this is it. There is even the largest waterpark at sea on board. this ship is Epic in name and Epic by nature.

Nieuw Amsterdam: For the fans of elegant, luxurious American style cruises July brings us Holland America's latest beauty the nieuw Amsterdam. You can enjoy the finest wines, most stunning artwork and fine-tune your cooking in the Culinary Arts Centre.

Queen Elizabeth: This October Cunard will launch the Queen Elizabeth. If glamorous, sophisticated cruising is your idea of heaven this is the perfect ship.

Allure of the Seas: If decadence ever had a place in cruising then Royal Caribbean's new uber-liner the Allure of the Seas is surely home to it. With 5,200 passengers, the widest selection of restaurants, bars, lounges, shops, cabin types and entertainment ever seen at sea. The cruise line have announced Chicago: The Musical as the ships main show, there is a huge amphitheater at the back of the ship and the wonderful Caribbean weather to look forward too. With 7 day itineraries it could take you the whole week to see the whole ship.

The year of the cruise ship is a great time to try something different. Whether a first time cruiser or looking for 5* luxury there has never been a better time to jump on board. With ships the size of villages, huge water parks, authentic Broadway shows and spectacular Spas on offer you need never take another holiday again. My experience on the Azura has left me wanting more and I'm sure there are plenty more people who will feel the same by the end of the year.

Written by Stephen Adam

I've just come back from a four night shopping trip to New York with my mum. It's my eighth time there and I still love it; it's a truly amazing city. Here's some tips for my favourite alternative places to vist.

For the first time, we stayed downtown in the financial district, with a view over the River Hudson. It's lovely and peaceful in the evenings and weekends when all the city workers are at home. All along the river there are long walk ways amongst beautiful manicured lawns with stunning views across to New Jersey, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, as well as waterside places to dine al fresco. It's a good choice for those looking for an oasis amongst the chaos and I saw Holland America's Prinsendam ship sailing along the Hudson too!

Walking distance from our hotel was Battery Park, a leisurely 45 minute riverside walk away. We were also just five minutes from Ground Zero, where work to rebuild the area continues in earnest. Next to Ground Zero is Century21, a superb outlet store, selling designer and branded clothing, bags, shoes, accessories and upmarket cosmetics at a fraction of the normal price. Great for American brands and sportswear such as Ralph Lauren, Clinique, Diane von Furstenburg and Juicy Couture.

The first morning, we went to Woodbury Common Outlet Centre for more retail therapy. It's simple to get there by coach from the Port Authority, takes about an hour for $45. The list of shops is vast and I recommend that you take a small empty suitcase to pull along so you're not carrying all your purchases. A lot of the famous New York stores and designer shops are there with clothes at a significantly reduced prices. It's good to go here on the first morning as you're awake so early  (you can also sleep on the coach on the return journey back to Manhattan)!

I ate at three excellent restaurants:

The Modern, which is the restaurant at MOMA, the Museum of Modern Art. It's gourmet French cuisine, but $88 for a delicious 3 courses. The place was buzzing and the food was wonderful, as was the service.

The Oyster Bar is a traditional New York restaurant located in Grand Central Terminus. It offers sensational fish and seafood, with a daily changing menu. Pop for a post dinner drink at the Campbell apartment also located in the station. It's a secret cocktail bar set in a completely restored private apartment, like stepping back in time.

Buddakan is a relatively new restaurant in the trendy Meatpacking District. Either sit in the bar or in the downstairs room with it's high ceiling and huge chandeliers. The atmosphere is buzzing and the food is out of this world. It's Chinese with a twist, fairly expensive but portions are huge. We opted for Duck & foie gras spring rolls with passion fruit sauce (outstanding) followed by Moroccan Lamb (3 huge cutlets of melt in the mouth lamb with ginger & spices) and Char Sui Pork, extremely tasty and served with mini pancakes. The vegetable rice with coconut foam was also out of this world, mouthwatering. I've recommended this restaurant to quite a few people as I've never had Chinese food like it, 10/10

I was held up by the ash cloud but thankfully only for four hours, which gave us the opportunity to take a traditional New York city tour on an open top bus around the city centre. It's an excellent way to get your bearings in the city, as it visits all the major sites and it's hop-on / hop-off ($42 each).

I'm away again next week on the Queen Victoria for a five night cruise, my first cruise on Cunard, so will send an update when I return!

Written by Simone Clark

This past weekend bared witness to yet another exciting Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix. With the usual glamour we have come to expect in Monte Carlo in the form of Jennifer Lopez and Gerald Butler walking the grid, to the surprise of Fernando Alonso almost not making it.

For the mere mortals out there getting flights and accommodation, let alone tickets, to this event is out of our reach. Until now. Azamara Club Cruises are offering a four night package that takes in the stunning locations in the French and Italian River ia and included full board and UK departure flights.

The weekend started as usual with the first practice on the Thursday, the only race that does, followed by the drama of Alonso's crash which resulted in him missing qualification. An exciting race saw Mark Webber win from pole (not so exciting I know), four safety cars, two high speed crashes and Jarno Trulli's Lotus mounting the HRT car of Karun Chandhok. Not forgetting the controversial Michael Schumacher moment, over taking under the safety car, that currently has him relegated from 5th to 12th on the Grid.

For most F1 fans Monaco is the race they want to see. The famous street circuit, beautiful people, vast yachts and James Bond-esque casinos make the backdrop the one of motorsport's most prestigious events.

For those who want to experience this incredible event, this could be a great way to do so. If your partner isn't convinced you could mention the romantic lunch in Portofino's harbour on the Friday, the day of celebrity spotting followed by an evening of St. Tropez's fine cuisine and nightlife on the Saturday. Then maybe mention the GP on the Sunday, with an overnight stay in Monaco to take in a post-race party or those famous casinos.

Though the race tickets are not included once they go on sale, you can either book them yourself or arrange them as an addition to your cruise. With prices from £899 pp for inside cabins and £1219 pp for balconies you can witness this wonderful weekend in true style without Monte Carlo prices.

Written by Stephen Adam