.SOME OF MY CRUISES...
Scroll down to 'Astern' and click a ship name to see the photo galleries.Astern... some past cruises and visits
Saga Ruby, May 2009 (Captain Philip Rentell's mystery cruise). THE lovely Saga Ruby sailed to 11 ports infour countries - Sweden, Norway, Russia and Denmark. It was without question one of the best cruises I've ever done. And my mum - on her first cruise - loved it too. See the daily video updates on Sky Travel. (Top)
Princess Cruises - Coral Princess, April 2009 (Panama Canal). A ten-day cruise through the Panama Canal to Fort Lauderdale, with Princess as usual exceeding expectations. (Top)
Thomson Cruises - Thomson Celebration, March 2009 (Red Sea). A SWIFT run to the Red Sea to check out this traditional little ship. (Top)
Silversea Cruises - Silver Wind, February 2009 (India). SIX-STAR luxury and an itinerary like no other - all around the coast of Incredible India from Madras to Mumbai. Read my reports - and watch the videos - at SKY TRAVEL (Top)
Saga Cruises - Saga Rose, February 2009 (Southampton). A FOND farewell to the Saga Rose, as she sets off on her final round-the-world cruise. Read my report - and watch the video - at SKY TRAVEL (Top)
2008
Costa Cruises - Costa Victoria, December 2008 (Gulf of Oman). IF there is one place where the sun is guaranteed to shine in December, it's in the Gulf. While the ship was fine and the itinerary interesting, the cruise was disappointing. Read my reports - and watch the videos - at SKY TRAVEL (Top)
MSC Cruises - MSC Fantasia, December 2008 (Handover in St Nazaire, France). KEYS to MSC's new ship are handed over, down comes the French tricolour and up goes the flag of Italy. Read my reports at SKY TRAVEL (Top)
Royal Caribbean International - Oasis of the Seas (Turku, Finland). THE newest "biggest ship in the world" felt water on her hull for the first time, as the dry dock in which she was being built was flooded. Truly,the most incredible cruise ship ever! Read my reports - and watch the videos - at SKY TRAVEL. (Top)
Celebrity Cruises - Celebrity Solstice, November 2008 (Caribbean). STRAIGHT back to the Caribbean for the launch of Celebrity's most advanced ship ever, with real grass and Murano glass. Truly sensational - and her sister ship CELEBRITY ECLIPSE will be based in Britain in 2010. Read my reports - and watch the videos - at SKY TRAVEL. (Top)
Princess Cruises - Ruby Princess, November 2008 (Caribbean). YES, another launch. Princess have some of the most relaxing ships afloat, with their sumptuous and much-copied Sanctuary quiet area the most peaceful spot on the ocean. After the naming ceremony there was a mini-cruise around the Caribbean. Read my reports from the trip - and watch the videos - at SKY TRAVEL. (Top)
Royal Caribbean - Liberty of the Seas, October 2008 (Caribbean). A LONG-OVERDUE cruise with Royal Caribbean, on one of the three biggest cruise ships in the world. From Miami we called at St Maarten and Labadee on Haiti. Hurricame Omar put paid to the planned call at San Juan, Puerto Rico. Read my reports from the trip - and watch the videos - at SKY TRAVEL. (Top)
Celebrity Cruises - Celebrity Solstice, September 2008 (River Ems, Germany). THE journey of a lifetime as the almost-ready Solstice sailed from the Meyer Werft yard at Papenburg, Germany, to Gandersum. The ship is stunning - not just the grass, but everything about it. Read my reports from the trip - and watch the videos - at SKY TRAVEL. (Top)
Crystal Cruises - Crystal Serenity, September 2008 (Mediterranean). SIX-STAR luxury, that's what I found on this cruise from Rome to Venice, with a cruise line voted World's Best for 13 consecutive years. Read my daily reports from the cruise - and watch the videos - at SKY TRAVEL. (Top)
P&O Cruises - Ventura, August 2008 (Mediterranean). THIS was my first cruise on P&O's £300 million new ship, the "first superliner built for Britain", designed for families, with more facilities and attractions than any other P&O vessel but keeping the essential British-ness that is P&O's trademark. Read my daily reports from the cruise - and watch the videos - at SKY TRAVEL. I was onboard when the ship was handed over to P&O by Fincantieri - see ++here++, and when she was named by Dame Helen Mirren in a spectacular ceremony - see ++here++. (Top)
Cruise and Maritime Services - Marco Polo, July 2008. IT'S about time I had a look around this popular little ship - she has a loyal following of traditional cruisers. (Top)
Carnival - Carnival Splendor, July 2008 (Naming Ceremony - Dover). MYLEENE KLASS named this ship in Dover - in a £65 dress from Marks and Sparks. The ship isn't as in-your-face as Carnival Freedom, and is mostly decorated in pink - to me it is the most stylish of the fleet. (Top)
Holland America Line Eurodam , June 2008, Southampton. FIRST of HAL's new Signature-class ships, at 86,000 tons their biggest ever. Features include a 142-seat pan-Asian restaurant, an Italian restaurant and a lounge themed on African explorers. Very swish... (Top)
Saga Ruby, June 2008 (Mediterranean). CRUISING done properly, as this lovely ship sails from Gibraltar to Civitavecchia for a sensational concert by beautiful singer Katherine Jenkins. (Top)
Island Cruises - Island Star, June 2008 (Mediterranean). A QUICK trip back to the Med to see how comedians from Jongleurs are bringing even more laughter to this happy ship. (Top)
NCL Freestyle Cruising - Norwegian Gem , May 2008 (Mediterranean). YES, I liked it so much I went back for a holiday! One of the great things about cruising around the Med is that you can stay in touch with your friends by text. Not always such a great idea, really... (Top)
LUNCH WITH THE QUEEN! Cunard Line - Queen Elizabeth 2, June 2008 (Southampton). HM The Queen visits the QE2 for the fourth and last time since she named the ship in 1967. Baroness Thatcher - who shares the title of Britain's greatest Prime Minister with Churchill - was also on board for a memorable lunch. ++HERE++ are some pictures from the event. (Top)
Holland America Line - Oosterdam, May 2008 (Alaska). A GOOD look at HAL's Vista-class ship just a couple of weeks before their new one, Eurodam, is launched. Plus glaciers, whale hunting - er, watching - and spectacular scenery. ++HERE++ are some pictures from the cruise. (Top)
NCL Freestyle Cruising - Norwegian Gem, May 2008 (Mediterranean). A RUN to the Med for another look at NCL's new "It Girl" - and a chance to experience "Freestyle 2.0", their latest tweaks to the onboard service to make it even more casual and laid-back than before. ++HERE++ are some pictures from the cruise. (Top)
Royal Caribbean - Independence Of The Seas, April 2008 (Naming Ceremony - Southampton). FARMER'S wife Elizabeth Hill launched the biggest cruise ship in the world in a spectacular ceremony - if the champagne bottle had broken, it would have been perfect! ++HERE++ are pictures from the event, and from the ship's engine room, bridge and main galley. (Top)
Royal Caribbean - Independence Of The Seas, April 2008 (Pre-launch visit - Southampton). A FIRST look around the ship, before Wednesday's naming ceremony. Simply sensational - packed with facilities, innovative, exciting and, well, very very big!++HERE++ I compare the three ships named this month, MSC POESIA, VENTURA and INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS
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NCL Freestyle Cruising - F3, April 2008 (Aker Yards, St Nazaire, France). LAYING the keel of NCL's superships - promising a host of innovations including a dramatic change to cabins. There is a full report and pictures here.
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Cunard - Queen Elizabeth 2, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria (Southampton) NOT really a cruise, but an important event - after tea on Queen Victoria I climbed into a little boat in the Solent to watch as all three Cunard Queens met for the final time. There was, as expected, plenty of horn blowing! There is a full report and pictures here. (Top)
P&O Cruises - Ventura, April 2008 (Naming Ceremony - Southampton). DAME Helen Mirren, Marco Pierre White, Nick Munro, the Tate Modern, Scalextric, Noddy, the Royal Marines ... and a nice cup of tea or coffee in your cabin! This is the ship the others have to beat - her first season is already almost sold out. The ceremony was spectacular. Report and pictures ++here++. (Top)
P&O Cruises - Ventura, April 2008 (PSA 50th Anniversary Dinner - Southampton). THERE could be no better place to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Britain's Passenger Shipping Association than on Ventura ... and it gave the bosses of all the other cruise lines a chance to wolf down their dinners and rush off to make notes about this fabulous ship. And I finally met my childhood hero ... Noddy! Pictures from the event and my review of Ventura are ++here++. (Top)
MSC Cruises - MSC Poesia, April 2008 (St Nazaire to the Naming Ceremony in Dover). EUROPE'S fastest-growing cruise line, MSC, makes no apologies for being thoroughly Italian - and Sophia Loren was again in action as this exciting ship's glamorous godmother. The ship is beautiful - there are pictures and my blog about the launch ceremony ++here++. (Top)
P&O Cruises - Ventura, March 2008 (Handover - Fincantieri Yard, Trieste). BREATHTAKING! This is the ship that sets a new standard for British cruising. Light, airy and stylish, with acres of astro-turfed deck space, the £300 million ship is a masterpiece. The Millennium lounge at the top of the ship is great, with a video wall showing changing scenes including the inside of a fish tank. Kids' facilities are great, the spa is enormous, and the theatre is simply sensational. She will be launched by Dame Helen Mirren in April. There are pictures of Ventura setting off from Trieste ++here++.
Ocean Village Two, March 2008 (Caribbean). MY second full trip on Ocean's "cruise for people who don't do cruises" - this time on the former Crown Princess and AIDABlu. Coming so soon after the Carnival Freedom cruise, I'll be comparing the two. The "Fever" show on Saturday night as we sailed away from Grenada lived up to its billing as "the raunchiest, most erotic show at sea!" I've seen cabarets by Rod Stewart and Tina Turner (well, lookalikes) and had some excellent meals in La Luna and telly chef James Martin's Bistro. My birthday was good - they even made me a cake! (Top)
Carnival - Carnival Freedom, February 2008 (Caribbean). ALL-AMERICAN, full-on fun on this fabulous ship - but still surprisingly traditional, with fixed dining and a couple of (loosely followed) formal nights. I can see Carnival Freedom and Carnival Splendor being a big hit with Brits when they come to Europe this summer. There's a brief report of the cruise ++here++ and a longer version ++here++. (Top)
MSC Cruises - MSC Fantasia and MSC Poesia, February 2008 (Aker Yards, St Nazaire, France). FLOATOUT of the biggest ship in MSC's growing fleet - the 133,500-ton, 3,900-passenger MSC Fantasia has 17 decks. Four cabins out of five are outside and 95 per cent of those have balconies. Plus a look around MSC Poesia, which sails in April.
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Cunard - Queen Elizabeth 2 , January 6-13 2008 (Transatlantic Southampton - New York). THE QE2 crossed the Atlantic in parallel with the Queen Victoria, heading for New York to meet up with Queen Mary 2 - the first time three "Cunard Queens" have been in a port together. A great experience, and I can now see why QE2 fans love this grand old lady. There's a brief report about cruising on Cunard ++here++. (Top) 2007
NCL Freestyle Cruising - Norwegian Gem , December 2007 (Naming Ceremony - New York). A TRULY sensational, splendidly casual ship - even the clocks are labelled "for crew use only". And I have to say, the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in! (Top)
Cunard - Queen Victoria, December 10 2007 (Naming Ceremony by HRH Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall - Southampton). POOR Camilla. The champagne bottle didn't break, which means that she will get the blame for anything that goes wrong with the ship. Apart from that it was a spectacular ceremony and whatever people think about the outside, on the inside she's a true Queen. The ship, I mean. (Top)
Cunard - Queen Victoria, November 24 2007 (Handover - Fincantieri Yard, Venice). IT'S always fascinating to see ships when they are incomplete. There was still some work to be done but you could tell this is going to be a sensational and worthy addition to the Cunard fleet. A replacement for the QE2, though? Not sure... (Top) Plus a look at work in progress on Holland America's Eurodam and Costa Luminosa.
Cruise West - Pacific Explorer , November 2007 (Costa Rica - Panama). THE itinerary is what made this a fabulous trip. The rainforests of Costa Rica, jungle people, zip-lining through the trees (hint - never wear white), and the industrial marvel that is the Panama Canal ... unforgettable. (Top)
Thomson Cruises - Thomson Celebration , October 2007 (Barcelona). A QUICK trip for the launch of telly chef Aldo Zilli's new restaurant on board. As you'd expect, it is a dining sensation on this lovely ship. (Top)
NCL Freestyle Cruising - Norwegian Gem , October 2007 (Inaugural - Dover). OH, what a night! The ship is spectacular, and the party did it proud - there seem to be pictures of me on a bed with a colleague...? (Top)
Holland America Line - Prinsendam , September 2007 (Greenwich). THIS ship oozes style - sadly I was only on board for a few hours, but the public rooms were sumptuous and I can imagine having a very nice time being pampered on here. (Top)
Peter Deilmann Cruises - Deutschland , September 2007 (London). MOORED within yards of HMS Belfast, Deutschland is one of only a few ships that can get this far up the Thames. The ballroom is very much like the Queen's Room on Cunard ships - stylish and elegant. Service was impeccable and, as you'd expect, the ship was spotless. Why is the captain laughing? He asked me if I spoke German. "No, we won," I replied. (Top)
Royal Caribbean - Independence Of The Seas, September 2007 (Floatout - Aker Yards, Turku, Finland). BLIMEY, she's big! They had us do a bit of welding (I created the word 'Sun' out of scrap metal) for an 'artwork' which will be on the ship somewhere, and then we all had a go turning the wheel to open the valves and flood the dock. Plus a look at the first modules of Project Genesis (Top)
Silversea Cruises - Silver Shadow , September 2007 (English Channel). I ORDERED a hot dog from room service, just to see what would happen. It came on a silver salver with four different kinds of sauces and enough silver cutlery to equip a banquet! All very posh and swish - the cabin, especially, was the height of luxury. On arrival, the stewardess offered to swap my Bulgari bathroom stuff for either of two other posh brands, all neatly laid out on a tray. (Top)
Island Cruises - Island Star , August 2007 (Mediterranean). ANOTHER trip on my favourite ship - deliciously quirky, excellently informal and with my great friend Capt John Brocklehurst at the wheel. There's a story about him ++here++. Read an article in the Sun about cruising on the Island Star ++here++ and ++here++. (Top)
Princess Cruises - Emerald Princess , July 2007 (Mediterranean). BRITS can cruise on an American-style ship and still able to find a nice cup of tea. Princess Cruises are run by the US arm of P&O but they can’t quite shake off their British roots. The ships are elegant without being too posh or too brash. So you probably won’t exclaim “Wow, look at that!” as you step aboard. But you might well go: “I say, this is all rather nice.”
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Saga / Adventure Cruising - Spirit Of Adventure , July 2007 (Vineyards - Bordeaux to Guernsey). SMALL-SHIP cruising at its very best. On the excursions, the ship's wine steward tagged along and got into deep conversation with the vineyard owners - each night we tasted what he'd bought. (Top)
Disney Cruises - Disney Magic , June 2007 (Mediterranean). KIDS all disappeared into their own zone, leaving grown-ups to enjoy immaculate service on this terrific ship. Crew areas are marked "Cast Only"! Disney's attention to detail is renowned, and this was a perfect example. And I got to meet Mickey! All together now: "It's a world of laughter...aaarrgh!" (Top)
P&O Cruises - Ventura, June 2007 (Floatout - Fincantieri Yard, Trieste, Italy). THE superliner designed for Britain - a mass of metal and wires at the moment, but just look at the size of it! P&O are pushing the boat out with this one... (Top)
Princess Cruises - Emerald Princess , May 2007 (Naming Ceremony - Athens, Greece). NO pictures, I'm afraid, but I'm cruising on her soon. (Top)
Thomson Cruises - The Calypso , May 2007 (Greece). THOMSON have taken over from where Airtours left off, with traditional-style cruising - this little ship took us to places the big ones can't reach. A bit rough around the edges but a nice atmosphere and a great itinerary. (Top)
Royal Caribbean - Liberty Of The Seas , April 2007 (English Channel). A QUICK reminder of the Freedom-class, before Independence Of The Seas heads our way next year. An awesome ship - look past the gimmicks and there is still a top-quality cruise product. (Top)
Ocean Village Two , April 2007 (Naming Ceremony - Southampton). SUPERMODEL Jodie Kidd and her sister, celebrity make-up artist Jemma, launched this second ship aimed at people who "don't do" cruises - at the second attempt. It took the girls two goes to smash the champagne bottle. (Top)
Saga / Adventure Cruising - Spirit Of Adventure , April 2007 (Egypt, Jordan, Suez Canal). (Top)
easyCruiseTwo , March 2007 (Amsterdam) (Top)
Carnival - Carnival Freedom, March 2007 (Naming Ceremony - Fincantieri Yard, Venice, Italy) (Top)
Princess Cruises - Star Princess, February 2007 (Western Caribbean) (Top)
Thomson Cruises - Thomson Destiny, February 2007 (Canaries) (Top)
Cunard - Queen Victoria , January 2007 (Floatout - Fincantieri Yard, Venice, Italy) (Top)
2006
Island Cruises - Island Star, October 2006 (Mediterranean) (Top)
Saga Ruby, September 2006 (New England) (Top)
Ocean Village, August 2006 (Mediterranean) (Top)
P&O Cruises - Oceana, July 2006 (Canary Islands) (Top)
Celebrity Cruises - Century, June 2006 (Dover to Amsterdam) (Top)
Island Cruises - Island Star, May 2006 (Mediterranean) (Top)
Royal
Caribbean - Voyager Of The Seas, May 2006 (Mediterranean) (Top)
Island Cruises - Island Star, May 2006 (Mediterranean) (Top)
Royal
Caribbean - Freedom Of The Seas, April 2006 (Channel Islands) (Top)
2005
Royal
Caribbean - Legend Of The Seas, August 2005 (Mediterranean) (Top)
Island Cruises - Island Escape, June 2005 (Mediterranean) (Top)
Royal
Caribbean - Legend Of The Seas, May 2005 (Channel Islands) (Top)
P&O Cruises - Arcadia, April 2005 (English Channel) (Top)
2004
Royal
Caribbean - Adventure Of The Seas, August 2004 (Caribbean) (Top)
Royal
Caribbean - Jewel Of The Seas, May 2004 (English Channel) (Top)
Royal
Caribbean - Grandeur Of The Seas, April 2004 (Caribbean) (Top)
2003
Celebrity Cruises- Millennium, November 2003 (Caribbean) (Top)
Royal
Caribbean - Brilliance Of The Seas, July 2003 (Mediterranean) (Top)
Royal
Caribbean - Navigator Of The Seas, February 2003 (Caribbean) (Top)
2002
Royal
Caribbean - Navigator Of The Seas, December 2002 (Caribbean) (Top)
Royal Caribbean - Brilliance Of The Seas, July 2002 (North Sea!) (Top)
Airtours (MyTravel/Sun Cruises) - Sundream, June 2002 (North Sea!) (Top)
P&O Cruises - Aurora, May 2002 (Channel Islands) (Top)
Airtours (MyTravel/Sun Cruises) - Sunbird, March 2002 (Caribbean) (Top)
2001
Airtours (MyTravel/Sun Cruises) - Sunbird, November 2001 (Amazon) (Top)
P&O Cruises - Aurora, June 2001 (Channel Islands) (Top)
Costa Crociere - Costa Classica, April 2001 (Mediterranean) (Top)
Royal Caribbean - Explorer Of The seas, February 2001 (Caribbean) (Top)
2000
Airtours (MyTravel/Sun Cruises) - Sunbird, December 2000 (Caribbean) (Top)
Costa Crociere - Costa Atlantica, December 2000 (Mediterranean) (Top)
Airtours (MyTravel/Sun Cruises) - Sunbird, May 2000 (Transatlantic) (Top)
1999
Airtours (MyTravel/Sun Cruises) - Sunbird, November 1999 (Transatlantic) (Top)
Airtours (MyTravel/Sun Cruises) - Sunbird, July 1999 (Mediterranean) (Top)
1985
P&O Cruises - Canberra, August 1985 (Mediterranean) (Top) . I ALWAYS forget that I went on this cruise. Mainly because it was AWFUL. I was in a four-bunk cabin with three elderly strangers, the bathroom was down the alleyway, and apart from a nice girl from Leeds the passengers were mostly awful too. I remember walking the decks in the early hours of one morning and being chased away by crew who were dumping box after box of rubbish over the side. A dreadful experience. Thank goodness things have improved - especially the law that nothing goes into the sea! (Top)
1971
British India Steam Navigation Company - Uganda, February 1971 (Mediterranean) (Top) . FEBRUARY 1971 - a memorable month, when Britain dropped shillings and pence (£-s-d) and went decimal (£-p). My first trip abroad was to join SS Uganda on a school cruise from Naples to Venice.
My schoolmates (King Edward VI Grammar School, Nuneaton, Warwickshire) and I were in Stanhope Dormitory. Hazy memories include being woken each morning by the Masters-At-Arms yelling "Feet on the deck!" ... a red night-light right by my head on a top bunk ... juke box selectors like the ones you see in Johnny Rocket's ... falling desperately in love with a girl from Myton High School, Warwick, who I never saw again ... and having a sneaky cigarette with a teacher! Great days.
Click a ship's name to see the photo galleries.
