It's a dogs life at sea

What to look forward to in 2010

Its that Sunday feeling before many of us get back into the swing of work so I was just trying to to organise myself and noting key dates into my diary (yes I still use a paper one - but New Years resolution is that I am going to use the diary on my PDA).

It looks like it is going to be a very busy year.

Janaury
Off to Ft Lauderdale to cruise on Celebrity Solstice with an incentive group that we have organised for many years.  I am really looking forward to it as I enjoyed Celebrity Equinox last year when we spent a couple of days for the launch.  We got to eat in the Asian fusion restuarant and I really want to try the other speciality restuarants.

February
MSC are bringing over Magnifica to the UK for a couple of days to showcase it to agents.  We will be onboard for 2 nights which will give me a good insight to what MSC have to offer as I have heard mixed reviews but the ships look amazing and very different.

April
P&O cruises Azura and Celebrity's Eclipse will be launched.  The PSA (passenger shipping association) dinner usually takes place at this time but not sure just yet which ship it will be on.  I have my invite for Azuras christening which are usually very theatrical events - it really makes you feel proud to be in such an industry as it keeps its traditions of breaking the champagne (hopefully) and blessing the ship.

Have not got further than this as exhausted thinking about the other 6 ship launches in 2010 and Mary is now saying that she should have gone out to the sales to get more outfits if she knew there was this much going on (you would think that she had enough after 25 years cruising)

Christmas Party 2009

The company Xmas party took place on the Balmoral for 2 nights. 

Ship: small enough that we could all find each other and big enough to do lots

Cabin: Obstructed outside - did not spend much time in the cabin but was clean, lots of draw space, and oddly enough I quite like the built in "hi-fi" system

Entertainment - quite a lot considering only a short cruisepub quizz  - did not win but still enjoyable; main lounge a Scottish singer who was good and then a fantastic comedian who was rather risky in his jokes but absolutely hilarious. There was a live band most of the time in the lounge.  Nightclub was very busy and good fun.

Food - we ate in the main dining room on both nights and was fine, the Christmas dinner on the second night was particularly good.

We all had a good time, cruising is ideal for a Xmas party - everything is organised for you - when to eat, entertainment, accomodation and no need to worry about taxi's or getting into bars late in the evening.  

Everyone enjoyed themselves which is the main reason .....

Just looking into booking next years xmas party - either Black Watch or P&O Cruises. 

Teamwork like never before

Each year we close the office for a couple of days and go on a short cruise for our Christmas party.  Its a great way to say thanks to the staff for all the hard work, have some good food, dancing and experience a cruise as well. 

This year was no exception as we set off for Dover to join Fred. Olsens Balmoral. We set off at 9am from Redditch and by 1pm it was looking rather bleak that we would make it there on time.  The M27 was closed and lorries were stacked along it as the Channel Tunnel was closed. We diverted down the A2 in the hope that we may get there - but as we got closer all the traffic came to stand still.

We had a coach full of staff and they were determined to make it to the ship and have a Xmas party. So all got out and walked the 3 miles to the port.  All the lorry drivers encouraged the troops on as they pulled their luggage down the A2 and gave them way.  A few vechicles further along another Cruise Specialist were also heading to the ship for their party and they decided to join the walk.  At 5pm everyone made it to the ship. And the ship left at 6pm

A virtual cruise holiday ?

Princess Cruises have just announced that they are inviting people to become an honorary Godparent of their newly named ship Ocean Princess ( formerly Tahitian Princess ) in their first ever Virtual christening !!  The ceremony will happen online at www.princess.co./oceanvirtualchristening and everyone who signs up will trigger a $1 donation to the New England Aquarium which is a Global leader in marine exploration.
Sounds like a funky idea to me but are we moving into a much less personal age ? What next a Virtual Cruise?  At least it will save all the packing and unpacking.  Why not click on the link and sign up or let me know your thoughts. What else could we do in a virtual way?

Hairspray onboard Royal Caribbean Oasis

Yes, they did perform it onboard and I watched it twice.

We went to see the opening performance - all was going well and we were getting into the songs and then the sound went - the girl who played Tracey and the mother did very well to get over this quiet patch and the sound was resumed a few minutes later.

The next night they had definately found their feet - more confident and had a real buzz about them.

Mary and I go to watch many productions when we are home and it was great to watch one onboard.  It made a real difference to the usual singing/cabaret style that is performed on ships.

Certainly a good move that Royal Caribbean have made and even better that it was for free - it would have cost me at least £60 per ticket each time (and the second time I went on my own)

National Curry Week

Last week was National Curry week and having lived in the West Midlands - the heart of a good curry - it was only appropriate that I comment on this superb week.

This popular dish has been created in many ways onboard ships:

Royal Caribbean have a part of the Windjammer (their casual buffet) called Jade Garden - it serves Indian and chinese food - I had a chicken tikka last time I was onboard.  I had several days of eating steak, duck so thought that this would be a welcome change.  I did expect it to be chcicken stirred in some pre-made sauce (a bit like how I cook it) - but I was pleasantly suprised - it was marinated really well - need I say more - I did go back for seconds and even splashed out on a bottle of wine to accompany the meal.

On the latest Royal Caribbean ship Oasis of the Seas - they have an Asian resturant - it looked nice but did not get the chance to taste any of the food.  It did not look like it would serve a traditional curry and the world "Asian" is quite a broad word.

Also on P&O cruises new ship Azura - they even have a whole resturant dedicated to Asian fusion and an Indian chef.  Again I am expecting curry to be on the menu but "fusion" makes me think twice - will it be a curry placed nicely on a plate or have a twist to it. I wonder who could cook a better curry Anil (the new Celebrity Indian chef) or Marcho Piere-White (the other Celebrity chef onboard Azura)

You can find a good curry onboard all cruise lines now and it is a welcome distraction from the fine dining amongst a 12 night cruise.

All this talk of food has made me hungry - I wonder what is on the menu tonight?