Lets get packing!

Probably one of the most frequently asked questions I am asked is .........

'HELP, WHAT DO I PACK??!!'

This will depend on the cruise line you are travelling with, your chosen destination and the season in your destination.
Obviously, if you are going on an Alaskan cruise with Princess Cruises you are going to need completely different clothes to the Caribbean with NCL!

The best tip has to be, research the weather in your destination! You can never guarantee weather reports will be correct but it does give you a great idea on what to expect, or have a look at on line forums as you can find some great tips.
If you are still really unsure, I would advise layers! A great example of this was when I went to Alaska at the end of May, a few years ago, which is the beginning of the cruising season out there. I was expecting cold weather and did not expect on 2 of the days to be walking around in shorts and a vest top so I was glad I packed a small sun lotion and one pair of shorts with the thinking 'just in case'.
I am a great fan of packing for 'just in case' and I always take an umbrella everywhere, even in the Caribbean!

The evening dress code on board your chosen ship will vary and you can find information such as the amount of formal, smart casual and casual nights on the cruise lines website. This will help you plan your evening wear and pack savvy, remember on a fly cruise you have a maximum weight allowance!



I have seen and picked up some great ideas on what to take on board to make life a little easier!

1) Miniature toiletries - Huge space saving for us ladies leaving extra room for all those shoes!
2) Overnight bag - By packing a small overnight bag means you can leave those essentials out for the next morning, after your suitcase has been left outside your cabin the night before. Once you have collected your luggage just pop it in the top, job done.
3) Magnets - This may sound strange but the walls in your cabin are magnetic! If you want to pin up your daily newsletters or shore excursion vouchers, so as not to lose them, this is the perfect way to know where they are.
4) Motion sickness wrist bands - You never know if you might need these! The medical centre is always on hand to issue tablets ( for a fee of course ) if things get really unbearable.
5) Ear plugs - Obvious uses, you never know what your cabin buddies either side of you might be like! I always find the cabin doors slamming early in a morning, unintentionally I'm sure as they are quite heavy, quite a pain especially if I want a lovely holiday lie in.
6) Waterproof money pouch - I am not sure the exact name for these but you can buy them in the shop on most ships. You can keep your cash,cards, keys and small personal items in these if you are going to the beach or just around the pool. Swim safe in the knowledge your valuables are not going to go walkies!
7) Plastic shoe hangers - If you have a family sharing a bathroom and have lots of different toiletries these can clutter the bathroom area. By hanging one of these on the hook on the back of the door it keeps them all together and tidy and is a great space saver.
8) Lint roller - Suits and dresses can attract bits from anywhere, so to save the cost of laundry on board take one of these to look dapper and fluff free on formal nights!
9) Lanyard - An easy way to carry your cruise card when you have no pockets or hand bag.
10) Alarm clock and adapters - A simple thing but a small travel alarm can be handy if you wake in the night and want to know the time or just need to be up early one morning for an excursion. Don't forget your travel adapters either to convert your plugs!

Finally my top tip on packing your suitcase.....

Pack your clothes on a beach towel! - Yes, you are provided these on board but I find it so handy to just lift out  to get easy access to shoes, toiletries etc. at the bottom of your case if you are checking you have everything or need to get at something quickly.

Happy packing everyone!

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New ship sailing from the UK in 2015

Explorer of the Seas 

Explorer of the Seas

Royal Caribbean have announced the Explorer of the Seas will be sailing from Southampton in 2015! She will be taking the place of her sister ship, Adventure of the Seas, who was originally scheduled to be based out of the UK.

Explorer of the Seas is currently based out on New York but is going in for a month long 'extensive revitalisation' before arriving in the UK at the end of April 2015.

A  'Virtual balcony'

The revitalisation will see 'virtual balconies' being added to inside cabins. This will bring live ocean and destination views to the cabins. I think this is such a great idea and to me makes the idea of having an inside cabin more appealing.

The new touch screen signs will also feature on board. These are so handy if you get a little lost in finding your cabin or to see what activities are going on and where.

A poolside outdoor cinema screen will be added, perfect to watch the sports action or a film during the day whilst catching some sun! The new 3D cinema will bring something a little different to life, quite literally, in front of your eyes!

Numerous speciality restaurants will feature on board including the addition of Izumi which is one of my favourites with Royal Caribbean. If you enjoy sushi and Asian flavours this is a must to visit, the food is fantastic!

Of course there will also be the rock climbing wall, new Flowrider surf simulator, basketball court, ice skating rink and Royal Promenade which is synonymous to this class of ship.

All in all, another great reason to sail out of the UK next summer.

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Calling all Solo Travellers

Azamara Club Cruises

If you travel alone, it can be very difficult to find any offers with a low single supplement.
I speak to a lot of single guests and it is by far the biggest bug bear I hear!

Azamara Club Cruises offer sailings at a reduced supplement of 25% on certain sailings throughout the year, which is a great deal for singles considering everything included on board.

If you haven't considered Azamara before, I have listed below everything included in the standard price.

- All gratuities
-  Courtesy shuttle bus in port ( where applicable )
- 1 'AzAmazing Evening' on most cruises ( You will taken ashore to experience local food, drinks and entertainment in one of the ports of call on the itinerary )
- Complimentary self service laundry
- Selected spirits, international beers, cocktails, wines, bottled water, soft drinks, speciality teas and coffees.

As the ships are relatively small in comparison to some others they can visit some out of the ordinary destinations and stay longer, even overnight, in port.

A fantastic bonus for solo travellers with Azamara is that the crew on board, and even the Captain, will know you by name by the end of the cruise! There is a great atmosphere and camaraderie on the ships as its becomes a kind of close knit community so a great place to make new friends or even travelling partners for the future!

The feel on board is that of a yacht club, no formal nights and open dining in the restaurant, giving you the freedom to enjoy your cruise at your own pace.

I have only had the opportunity to do a ship visit and have lunch on the Azamara Journey when she visited Liverpool for the day.

Some of my photos are below so you can get a feel for life on board!

Azamara Journey in Liverpool

Pool deck

Pool deck again

And another deck view!

Luxurious loungers in the spa area

Stateroom on board

Another stateroom view

Stairwell

Stateroom again

Discoveries Lounge

Discoveries lounge

Discoveries Restaurant

Cafe bar

Casino on board

Casino tables

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Quantum of the Seas is China bound

Exciting news.......

Quantum of the Seas

Royal Caribbean have announced that the Quantum of the Seas will be based out of Shanghai following on from her inaugural season out of New York next year!!

Details released so far is that there will be a re positioning cruise over to Shanghai from New York in May 2015 with the ship then doing 3 - 8 night itineraries from the end of June, year round, visiting Japan and Korea.

At present Royal Caribbean already have the Voyager of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas based out in Asia so with the addition of Quantum of the Seas there is a ship out there for everyone.

Not only is this destination on my 'to do' list, so is the ship! What a fantastic trip that would be!

If you would like further details on these sailings, once they have been confirmed, drop me an email and I can send the information on to you.

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Introducing Natalie's Nautical Tales

Ahoy There!

Welcome to my blog regarding all things cruise.

My name is Natalie and I have been working in the travel industry for 15 years and specialising in
the cruise sector for over 8 years now.

Not only do I book dream cruises for my clients every day but I love to cruise myself! There is just something about waking up in a different place everyday and experiencing new cultures and destinations that appeals to me. Cruise ships are just like floating resorts and each has its own personality, no ships are the same so I enjoy trying different cruise lines and sizes of ship.

I will be posting pictures from my various cruising adventures and any news from the industry to keep you up to date with the goings on.

There will also be some fantastic special offers coming your way in due course so keep your eyes peeled for these too.
Please visit my contact page to get in touch if you would like me to check prices for you on any cruise, I promise to get you a great deal!

If you want to share any of your cruising experiences or photos with me, I would love to see them!

Here is a little photo of me in one of my favourite places I visited on a cruise, Aruba! Behind me is the fantastic Adventure of the Seas in port.

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