Spring is on the way! Book up now for Bank holiday cruises

The seasons are changing and spring is finally on its way, which not only means daffodils and lambs being born but also some well earned rest for the Brits with all the up and coming Bank holidays.

What better way to escape from it and make the most of those extra days off then by setting off on a cruise closer to home and with many cruise lines offering cruises departing from the UK it is even easier to get away.

The first of the public holidays this year is the Easter weekend between Friday 10 April and Monday 13 April. After that there are two May bank holidays on Monday 4 May and Monday 25 May, followed by a final summer bank holiday on Monday 30 August.

There are some fantastic cruises sailing out from Southampton, with five big ships including Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and Princess Cruises’ new flagship Grand Princess, setting sail during the August bank holiday.

How about a two-night mini cruise on P&O Cruises’ incredible new ship Ventura, sailing to Brugge departing on the 30 August? Or Cunard Cruises’ 4 night Western Europe cruise on board Queen Victoria departing on the 2 May?

These are just a few of the many options available to take advantage of those lovely extra days off so why not give us a call to check out all the latest offers.

Lose pounds whilst cruising

We have all been there – struggling to lose a few extra pounds before the start of your holiday and the inevitable bathing costume ceremony. Now whilst the concept of a cruise holiday on board a super-liner with a whole host of tantalising restaurants and bars to tempt you and weight loss do not go hand in hand, it has been found that cruise holidays can actually be a great holiday for losing some pounds.

Many dining rooms on board cruise ships often have a healthy eating option. Royal Caribbean Cruises newest addition to the fleet, Independence of the Seas, offers guests the opportunity to take part in ‘An Eat More to Weigh Less’ scheme. The programme on Independence of the Seas includes a tour of the buffet restaurant by an instructor who can provide tops on the healthier food options available.

Most cruise ships also feature comprehensive and up-to-the-minute gym facilities and with jogging tracks and surf pools on Royal Caribbean Cruises, calorie conscious cruisers will be in heaven.

Carnival Cruises also boast a deck jogging track, a golf course and a multi-faceted swimming pool.

The latest innovative addition to Princess Cruises is Wii Fit, where guests can take part in fitness tournaments.

Oasis of the Seas Caribbean Itineraries

Royal Caribbean Cruises have released the details of itineraries for their newest ship Oasis of the Seas inaugural year, with sailings planned in the east and west Caribbean.

Oasis of the Seas maiden voyage will not take place until December 2009, but customers will be able to make bookings on the much anticipated ship from September of this year.

Ports of call for the magnificent new super liner Oasis of the Seas will include Haiti, Jamaica, Nassau, Phillipsburg and Cozumel, Mexico.

Royal Caribbean Cruises have said that they are working closely with the new ports to feature on Oasis of the Seas itineraries to ensure that guests will enjoy a faultless cruise experience.

"Royal Caribbean is working in partnership with the Port Authority of Jamaica to complete the new Falmouth Cruise Pier by March 2010, as well as establish the associated infrastructure necessary to welcome cruise ship guests," the company said earlier this week.

The Royal Caribbean Cruises fleet, including Independence of the Seas, also has itineraries in Alaska, Asia, New Zealand and the Panama Canal.

Southampton 'International Centre' for superliners

It has been reported that Southampton is to grow in stature and become an international centre for cruise ships.

The vessels heading to the famous port city are becoming bigger and bigger, including the recently inaugurated 160,000 tonne Royal Caribbean superliner Independence of the Seas.

Richard Fain, Chief Executive of the Miami-based Royal Caribbean International, told the Southern Daily Echo newspaper reporting on the subject:

"The size of vessels will continue to grow, in fact the only limiting factor will be the imagination of ship designers of the future. In fact the sky's the limit."

Mr Fain also commented on the company's forthcoming Project Genesis which will feature a park with real lawns, trees and flowers - the first addition of its kind to a ship. It will also include a moving bar and sufficient cabin space for 8,400 passengers.

Royal Caribbean takes delivery of Independence of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Cruises has just taken delivery of its newest ship, Independence of the Seas, during a ceremony at Aker Yards in Turku, Finland.

Continuing its innovative and revolutionary cruise experiences, Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas is the third of the lines Freedom class of ship and will be the largest cruise ship ever to be home-ported in Europe when she sails out of Southampton for her inaugural season.

Independence of the Seas shares the title of worlds largest and most innovative cruise ship with her sister ships Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas. Her sister ships were launched in the United States in May 2006 and 2007 respectively.

Royal Caribbean has made a break from tradition with a Nationwide search to find a godmother for Independence of the Seas. The ships godmother will be an ‘ordinary’ woman who has done extraordinary things to further the well being of youth in her community and will have been nominated by peers and family members. The search was conducted with the cruise line's charity partner and British five-time Olympic gold medalist, Sir Steve Redgrave.

The four Godmother finalists joined Royal Caribbean Cruises chairman and CEO Richard Fain at Aker Yards to welcome Independence into service. The four finalists are Barbara Natasegra, Elizabeth Hill, Madeleine Henry and Sue Stones. The Godmother, who will be announced on the 18th of April, will be selected by a distinguished panel of judges, including Sir Steve Redgrave; Royal Caribbean executives and guest judges. She will have the honor of participating in the inaugural celebrations and official naming ceremony in Southampton on the 30th of April.

"We are delighted to welcome Independence of the Seas to our fleet and to introduce her to vacationers throughout the United Kingdom and Europe," said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "Positioning one of our largest and newest ships in Southampton reaffirms Royal Caribbean's strong commitment to the region and will provide the opportunity for more European guests to experience the distinctive and award-winning vacation our brand has become recognized for throughout the world."

There will be a number of preview sailings in Oslo, Norway and Southampton, after which Independence will embark on her maiden voyage on the 2 May. Throughout the summer of 2008 she will sail 14 night 'Mediterranean Treasures' and 'Italian Mediterranean' itineraries round-trip from Southampton.

Independence of the Seas has a capacity of 3,634 guests and will feature all of the industry first amenities which are trademarks on the Freedom class ships. Features such as a FlowRider surf simulator, H20 Zone water park, cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 ft above the ocean, a full size boxing ring and a 14 person family suite.

Independence also will feature some of the other distinctive offerings the global cruise line is known for including an ice-skating rink; a rock-climbing wall; an award-winning children's program; fine to casual dining venues; Broadway-style entertainment and the Royal Promenade - an entertainment boulevard stretching the length of the ship with its shops, restaurants, bars and lounges, which provides guests with an endless variety of choices and experiences to suit their taste and preference.

Search for a British Godmother for Independence of the Seas

Royal Caribbean has launched a nationwide search for a British Godmother to reign over their newest and largest ship, Independence of the Seas, when she launches in Southampton in April.

The role of Godmother is typically reserved for dignitaries or celebrities. Past Royal Caribbean Godmothers have included Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway, Lauren Bacall, Whoopi Goldberg, Gloria Estefan, Steffi Graff and champion wheelchair marathoner Jean Driscoll. Unusually Royal Caribbean is looking for an ordinary British woman who has done extra-ordinary things to become Godmother to the brand new Independence of the Seas. The person who is chosen to become Godmother would have demonstrated how she has gone above and beyond the call of duty to improve the well-being and future of young people under 18 years old in her community.

Sir Steve Redgrave, Five time Olympic gold medalist, will front the cruise line’s search for Independence of the Seas Godmother. The search has begun working with ITV, the UK’s biggest commercial television station. Sir Steve Redgrave has commented that he is honoured to have been given this role and is pleased at the increase in awareness this will create for all the fantastic work with young people that is done by hundreds of individuals around the country.

Independence of the Seas will launch in Southampton April 2008 weighing in at 160,000 GRT, with a capacity of 3,634 guests. The third in Royal Caribbean International's Freedom-class of ships, Independence of the Seas features a FlowRider surf simulator; an ice-skating rink, an interactive H20 Zone water park for families; cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 ft. above the ocean; a rock-climbing wall; and the Royal Promenade - an entertainment boulevard stretching across the length of the ship.

PROJECT GENESIS - CONSTRUCTION BEGUN

Frankfurt - The keel of what will be the world's biggest passenger ship has been laid down at the Aker shipyard in Finland marking the beginning of the construction phase of what has been dubbed "Project Genesis."When completed the vessel will be 360 metres in length, have space for 5,400 passengers and be 40 per cent larger than the present record holder, according to the ship's owners, Royal Caribbean International.

The ship is due to start service in autumn 2009 and will be based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Each berth will cost 230,000 dollars to build, making Project Genesis the most expensive cruise ship ever.

Royal Caribbean plans to launch two vessels in this class. The second ship is expected to be completed by August 2010.

Facilities aboard the ships will include a "surf park for wave riders, a climbing wall and an ice rink. The gross tonnage of the 71 metre wide and 73 metre high ship is 220 000 tonnes," the company said.

Currently the largest passenger ships afloat are the Royal Caribbean's two Freedom Class vessels that weigh 160 000 tonnes each.

The Freedom Class is due to get a third ship in May next year when the "Independence of the Seas" is launched.

INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS WILL ARRIVE TWO WEEKS EARLY

Royal Caribbean International's newest ship, Independence of the Seas, will be coming into service two weeks earlier than scheduled.

Work has been completed earlier than expected so the cruise line will be able to offer an additional two sailings on board the new ship from the beginning of May 2008.

Managing director Jo Rzymowska said: "The extra couple of weeks provide our trade partners with further opportunities to earn commission, particularly over the peak booking period during the festive season and in the New Year.

"This complements our Turn Of Year campaign which has launched earlier than ever before."

The two additional sailings include a four-night Cork cruise that departs on May 2 and an 11-night Canary Island cruise on May 6.

Guests who have already booked onto the inaugural sailing on May 17 will be offered the first chance to move at no additional cost to the new maiden voyage on May 2, incorporating exactly the same itinerary from Southampton – Cork – Southampton.

Guests wanting to change to the new date should contact the cruise line by December 12 in order for their booked stateroom to be re-protected on the new sailing date.

Royal Caribbean International is writing to all its trade partners to fully explain the changes.

The new sailings are live for re-booking from December 7.

After a Nordic inaugural celebration in April 2008, Independence of the Seas will arrive in the UK on April 25 with UK celebrations taking place from April 26-30 in Southampton.