Cruise Nation Life - Issue 2

LIFE MAGAZINE ISSUE 2 | SUMMER 2017

TO

% 0 5 UP E V A

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NG I K OO

BY B TH US! WI

F E AT U R I N G

NEW SHIP ON THE BLOCK With Majestic Princess

MULTI-GENERATIONAL CRUISING

STAYING IN THE CITY Barcelona, New York & Venice

THE MYSTIQUE OF THE UNITED EMIRATES

A NEW STANDARD IN CRUISING - MSC Meraviglia

BOUND FOR PARADISE Experiencing the Caribbean

CRUISENATION.COM | CRUISE NATION LIFE

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WELCOME Welcome to our second edition of Cruise Nation Life! We’ve created this magazine to bring together a handpicked collection of our greatest cruise deals, along with insightful cruise tips and inspiring destination guides for first-time cruisers.

Phil Evans Managing Director

Our product team have been hard at work, bringing you Smart Packages that incorporate stays in the destinations you’d most like to spend more time in, adding that extra touch of value that we’re known for. We’ve also been expanding on our regional flight packages to make your travel experience more convenient and enjoyable.

I thank you for your on going support and I hope you enjoy edition 2 of Cruise Nation Life. Happy cruising!

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CONTENTS 04

NEW SHIP ON THE BLOCK

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PACKING FOR A CRUISE

10

THE MYSTIQUE OF THE EMIRATES

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MULTI GENERATIONAL CRUISING

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A NEW STANDARD IN CRUISING

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STAYING IN THE CITY

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YOU HAD ME AT MERLOT

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BOUND FOR PARADISE

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ABTA, ATOL & FEEFO EXPLAINED

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REST OF THE WORLD

With the incredible Majestic Princess.

Hints and tips on what to take with you.

Discover the world’s most amazing wonders.

Reasons to love the latest trend.

Close up and personal with MSC Meraviglia.

Three of our favourite cities to embark at.

The best cruise lines for serving wine.

Caribbean - the most popular destination.

Unsure what these mean? Find out inside.

Exclusive cruise and stay offers.

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NEW SHIP

ON THE BLOCK

In 2017 it will have been three years since Princess Cruise Line launched the Regal Princess, the current reigning youngster in their fleet and star of the ITV Show ‘The Cruise’. However that’s all about to change as a new Princess is emerging on the scene...the Majestic Princess.

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The Royal-class ship is a sister ship to Regal Princess and Royal Princess. The ship will offer many of the same distinctive features on board the sister ships, including the Piazza atrium, the central focal point of the ship; the unique over-the-ocean SeaWalk – a glass-floor walkway extending 8 metres beyond the edge of the ship; the Princess Live! TV studio; and the special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds guests in a curtain of light.

As with many cruise ship launches, the Majestic Princess will be delivered with a variety of firsts for the cruise line, but the launch of the Majestic Princess seems to go above and beyond this quota featuring two new speciality restaurants on board, a new hull design and ‘Sing on the Sea’ Karaoke Suites.

The new speciality restaurants are Harmony Cantonese Restaurant, created in partnership with Chef Richard Chen, former chef of ‘Wing Lei’ – the first Chinese restaurant in North America awarded a Michelin star. Harmony will feature Chinese cuisine, serving Chef Chen’s interpretation of classic Cantonese dishes. Then there’s Le Bistrot, located in the Piazza, which will offer casual French home-style dining with a modern twist. Similar to a Parisian bistro, guests will enjoy traditional escargots casseroles, braised ox tongue and mushroom ragout, along with baguettes, tartines, tourtes

and French patisseries.

The buffet restaurant on board has also been given a new look – and a new name for that matter. What’s known as the Horizon Court Buffet on the other Princess ships will be called the World Fresh Marketplace on the Majestic Princess. The Marketplace will feature a diverse range of food stations offering guests cuisine from around the world, including Mediterranean dishes, an Italian pasta specialty counter and a new ‘east meets west’ street food specialty counter. The Bakery inside the World Fresh Marketplace will serve Western, European and Asian pastries.

Also available in the Marketplace will be; fresh fruit and vegetable juices at the Ocean Terrace Juice Bar, a Lobster Grill, a Dim Sum Bar, a Chopsticks Noodle Bar and a Leaves Tea Bar (Boba Tea).

When it comes to the entertainment on the Majestic Princess, those with a flair for karaoke will be in their element in the ‘Sing on the Sea’ Karaoke Suites which are private karaoke rooms featuring a sleek modern design, fitted with sofas, large TV screens and a mini-bar. Laughs, giggles and bonding time is abound with these fun-filled booths, in fact the only problem you might find is deciding whose turn it is to sing next!

Another significant difference in the design of the Majestic Princess is the retail space.

Nearly 12,000 sq ft has been

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dedicated to offering guests a greater selection of premium and luxury brands including Cartier, Bvlgari, Chopard, Burberry, Gucci, Montblan and Rado.

Last but by no means least; greater attention to detail has gone into planning the staterooms. There’s now a greater variety of choice with more connecting staterooms being available, larger Owner’s

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Suites and balconies on all outside staterooms.

The 3,560-guest Majestic Princess has been built specifically for the Chinese market but will sail the Mediterranean for six weeks following her maiden cruise. UK guests will have a unique chance to experience the ship on 7, 14, 21 and 28-day cruises departing from Rome, Barcelona or Athens. Majestic Princess will sail her inaugural

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voyage on Tuesday April 4, 2017, on a five-day Adriatic Sea cruise roundtrip from Rome with stops in Kotor and Corfu. A repositioning voyage will depart from Barcelona on Sunday May 14, 2017, to the ship’s permanent homeport in Shanghai, where Majestic Princess will carry guests to a variety of destinations in Japan and Korea.

SMART PACKAGES | MAJESTIC PRINCESS SAVE UP TO £600pp

SAVE UP TO £400pp

19NT GRAND ASIA

17NT ‘BULA’ FIJIAN SUNSETS

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• • •

Includes flights, 2nt Free Stay in Singapore & 2nts in Shanghai

Includes flights & 3nt Free Stay in Sydney

19 nights | 8th Mar ‘18 Majestic Princess Singapore, Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City), Hong Kong, Busan, Nagasaki, Shanghai

Was from

£2299

Now

PP from

£1699

PP

17 nights | 10th Sep ‘18 Majestic Princess Sydney, Noumea (New Caledonia), Mystery Island, Suva, Lautoka, Lifou, Sydney

Was from

£2299

Now

PP from

£1899

PP

SAVE UP TO £500pp

SAVE UP TO £400pp

18NT NEW ZEALAND & SYDNEY

22NT FAR EAST & AUSTRALIA

Includes flights & 3nt Free Stay in Sydney

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18 nights | 31st Oct ‘18 Majestic Princess Sydney, Fjordland National Park, Dunedin, Akaroa, Wellington, Tauranga, Auckland, Bay of Islands, Sydney

Was from

£2499

Now

PP from

Includes flights, 2nt Free Stay in Shanghai & 3nts in Sydney

• • •

£1999

PP

22 nights | 21st Aug ‘18 Majestic Princess Shanghai, Busan, Hong Kong, Nha Trang, Phu My, Singapore, Darwin, + more!

Was from

£2999

Now

PP from

£2599

PP

CRUISENATION.COM | CRUISE NATION LIFE

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PACKING

FOR A CRUISE Packing for a holiday is one of those things you either love or hate to do. Some revel in the feeling of being organised and seeing it as a way to build up excitement for the holiday whilst others view it as a bit of a chore which is not what holidays are all about.

When it comes to packing for a cruise, you might find that there is a wealth of advice and travel hacks available.

However we wanted to cut through the clutter and fill you in on only the very best ideas on what to bring with you on your cruise.

CLOTHING

Before you even think about folding your clothes and squeezing them in your suitcase, it’s important to find out what dress code to expect when you arrive on your ship.

It’s also important to make sure your clothes suit the destination you’re sailing to so you can handle the hot or cold conditions. If you’re planning on going on excursions which

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involve visiting a religious site, make sure you pack some appropriate clothing items or cover-ups. Remember that most cruise lines have an on board DIY launderette or a laundry service where your cabin steward will collect any laundry and return it to your stateroom washed and ironed for a fee. If you find you haven’t packed enough clothes you can always wash what’s in your case using this service, plus packing lighter will mean you’ll have more room in your case to return with souvenirs.

mean that your case is one of the last to be delivered to your stateroom. Instead of waiting for your case to arrive to freshen up for the sail away party, you could pack any items you think you might need for this in your carry on luggage. It’s worth bearing in mind that some cruise lines can be particular about you boarding with large bottles of liquids in your carry on, so make sure you only pack liquids in 30ml bottles or smaller in a clear bag to avoid any unwanted delays.

CARRY ON ITEMS

If you have a hobby which you particularly like to make the most of whilst on holiday like surfing, windsurfing or cycling, it can be tempting to bring your equipment with you but save

When cruising, it is worth bearing in mind that you may be assigned a boarding time.

If you are in the last group of guests boarding the ship, it may

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SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

yourself the trouble and make a point of hiring from local providers in the destinations you visit. Not only will you save money getting your equipment over to the embarkation port and back again, but you may not even be allowed to bring it on board depending on the cruise line you’re travelling with.

However, if you enjoy snorkelling and your equipment will fit in your suitcase, you’re certainly able to bring it along.

ALCOHOL

Each cruise line has a different policy for bringing your own alcohol on board so it’s important to check this before you pack any alcohol and are then disappointed if it’s removed from you at boarding.

You can view each of the cruise line policies for bringing alcohol onboard on our Cruise Information Hub.

CREATURE COMFORTS

If you can’t bear to go away without your favourite brand of tea or if you simply can’t face lunch without salad cream at the side then you may want to consider bringing a little of what you love along for the journey. Sometimes it’s the smallest things that can make us the happiest and we believe that when you’re on holiday you should be enjoying every moment. With this being said, someone people like to bring their favourite scented candles on holiday to make their stateroom feel more homely, however any items with a naked

flame are not allowed and will be confiscated.

LEAVE IT OUT

Irons are a complete no-go, even travel-sized irons will be confiscated. Believe it or not but fires are the greatest risk for cruise ships (even surrounded by all that water!) so anything which uses heat (with the exception of heated hair tools) may be removed from your luggage.

This may sound strange but hot plates are also an item which guests have tried to board with in the past... as you can imagine these are also banned. Another item you won’t need to bring is a towel, there’s plenty available on board for both your stateroom and for the pool and you can change them daily.

TOP TIP! If you’re planning a transatlantic cruise, it might be worth considering bringing an empty extra case or purchasing a small case in the US. Since there’s no luggage restriction on the cruise back from the US to the UK you can make the most of the boundless shopping opportunities the US has to offer and take your new wares and souvenirs home in your new case.

CRUISE FROM THE UK

Sailing from the UK is a popular and easy option for families as there is no restriction on the number of bags you bring (however there may be a weight limit per bag). Whilst it can be tempting to make the most of this service, it’s worth bearing in mind that most cruise ship staterooms are a modest size and you will need to find places in your cabin to store everything you bring.

If you’d like more information on preparing and packing for your cruise, take a look at our pre-cruise check list and packing checklist over on our Cruise Information Hub.

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THE MYSTIQUE OF

THE EMIRATES

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Every year we help hundreds of our customer’s book the holiday of a lifetime to the Emirates. Offering a spectacular mix of contemporary luxury and fascinating culture, the Emirates is among our top 5 most booked destinations this year and it looks set to be even more popular for 2017 and 2018.

The mystical and magical Emirates boasts some of the world’s most amazing wonders, from Abu Dhabi’s Sultan Ahmed Mosque to the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world which stands guard over Dubai. The architecture, history and cultural heritage here is almost unrivalled which is why millions of people choose to visit this destination every year.

Many of the world’s cruise lines feature Red Sea destinations strongly in their itineraries, allowing guests onboard to visit countless destinations in the UAE. So whether you’re seeking a trip to the astounding city of Dubai, beautiful desert of Oman or the treasure that is Jordan, you’ll definitely find a cruise line to help you tick off some boxes on your travel bucket list.

This part of the world isn’t just about history and ancient ruins (although human impacts here can be traced back around 7,000 years BC). The Emirates is also home to some of the most luxurious and glamorous places in the world making it a destination of two halves - and a cruise itinerary can offer the opportunity to explore both sides.

Here’s a closer look at some of the most popular cruise destinations in the Emirates...

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DUBAI

Described as the ‘Pearl of the Arabian Gulf’ Dubai is one of the seven emirates that makes up the United Arab Emirates.

Drenched in year round sunshine it is a great destination to visit no matter which month you travel in. However, great weather is just one reason of many to visit because Dubai also boasts a fascinating mix of contrasts from the bustle of the Old Town with its colourful souks and labyrinthine alleys, to the sleek modern skyscrapers that dominate the skyline.

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Stroll along white sand beaches, stop for a quick meal right at the water’s edge, get a bird’s eye view of the city and beyond from Burj Khalifa’s ‘At The Top’ observation deck, take a trip on Dubai Creek onboard a traditional dhow; there’s just so much to do in Dubai. For a real sense of Dubai’s history visit the Al Fahidi Historic District, home to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, where you can sample traditional meals hosted by Emiratis.

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If you want to get away from the bustle of the city, why not explore the beauty of the Arabian desert instead? Go for a camel ride or an exhilarating 4-wheel drive safari across the sand. Visit the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve where an expert guide can help you spot local wildlife. For a most memorable dining experience you won’t regret trying a moonlit Bedouin banquet amongst the dunes.

ABU DHABI

It’s the wealthiest and largest of the seven emirate states, and Abu Dhabi is stepping up its game when it comes to its cruise offering. The port, which is in the centre of Abu Dhabi, has had a lot of investment and there’s talk of further development in the near future for a second cruise terminal.

Celebrity Cruises and MSC Cruises have both announced they will have a ship sailing

from the emirates with the latter offering sailings on the MSC Fantasia from Abu Dhabi to Dubai (and vice versa) from December 2016 to March 2017 with 3 different itineraries being available.

The area surrounding the port is filled with skyscrapers, luxury hotels, beaches, marinas and golf courses. However the main points of interest in Abu Dhabi are those which reflect

the culture and heritage of the UAE. Take for example, a visit to the largest place of worship in the UAE - the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Grand Mosque – which is an astounding architectural marvel as well as being a place of religious importance. If you’re a sports fan or an adrenaline junkie, you’ll be in your element with a visit to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest indoor theme park.

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MUSCAT Oman is quite unlike Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which are filled with a desire to be the biggest and the best. Instead, Oman has embraced its authenticity and culture and as a result it makes for one of the most intriguing ports of call on a United Emirates itinerary. Muscat is the port capital in Oman and it’s filled with white homes and buildings which turn a magical shade of pink during sunrise and sunset.

Surrounded by spectacular mountains, the blue ocean and an almost endless desert, Muscat offer a wealth of natural beauty for visitors to explore. There’s also the mosques, museums and even a Royal Opera House where you can immerse yourself in the culture of the region.

KHASAB Khasab has been dubbed the ‘Norway of Arabia’ due to its extensive fjord-like craggy inlets and mountains. However, in comparison to the snowcapped mountains of the Norwegian Fjords, the enclave of Khasab has a somewhat lunar appearance with sun-baked rocky outcrops that you might picture the surface of the moon to look like. The Portuguese built Khasab at the beginning of the 17th Century at the height of their naval presence in the region because the natural

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harbour provided great shelter from rough seas.

Today Khasab bubbles with activity, from the souk which resounds with different languages including Kumzari (a compound language made up of Arabic, Farsi, English, Hindi and Portuguese) to the semiillicit trades made with Iran that take place under the cloak of darkness on board souped up power boats. The best thing to do in Khasab is to take a boat tour around the fjords and explore the scenery – you may even be lucky enough to spot dolphins!

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SIR BANI YAS ISLAND Very recently, selected cruise lines have been given permission to call at Sir Bani Yas Island which is located 170km off the southwest coast of Abu Dhabi. However MSC Cruise Line has gone one step further and created a beach oasis on the island in partnership with Abu Dhabi Port Authority. The tropical beach oasis is on a smaller island connected to the main island by a wooden boardwalk that secures exclusive access for MSC Cruises guests to an authentic beach holiday experience, with hundreds of palm trees, shaded cabanas and over 2,000 sunbeds across

36,000sqm of fine golden beaches. At one time, the island was Arabia’s largest wildlife reserve, set up by Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 1977. The reserve spans over 87 square-km and is home to tens of thousands of free-roaming animals including Arabian oryx, cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes and gazelle. Sir Bani Yas Island has won several sustainable tourism awards and is known for its investment in preserving the ecology of the destination. There’s a variety of ways to explore the island including horseriding, kayaking, land sailing and snorkelling and scuba diving.

THE SUEZ CANAL Sailing along the Suez Canal is a bucket list experience. It’s an important route because it links the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea and that’s just one of the reasons that makes this a once in a lifetime sailing for many cruise fans. And when ships transit through the Suez Canal, the majority of guests tend to take to the top deck to secure a vantage point to watch their ship navigate its way through.

At Cruise Nation we combine United Emirates cruise itineraries with land holiday stays in the spectacular cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

These Smart Packages enable you to make the most of your travel by giving you more time to explore and experience these destinations.

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THE UNITED EMIRATES

SMART PACKAGES

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SMART PACKAGES | THE UNITED EMIRATES SAVE UP TO £400pp

SAVE UP TO £600pp FREE UPGRADE TO BALCONY!

9NT EMIRATES EXPLORER

18NT MED TO DAZZLING DUBAI

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Includes flights, 1nt Free Stay in Dubai + overnight in Dubai & Muscat on ship

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Includes flights, 1nt Free Stay in genoa + Overnight in Dubai on Ship

9 nights | Dec ‘17 - Mar ‘18 (price based on 10th & 17th Jan ‘18) Costa Mediterranea Dubai Overnight, Muscat Overnight, Sir Bani Yas Island, + more!

Was from

£1099

Now

PP from

£699

PP

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18 nights | 5th Dec ‘17 MSC Splendida Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Crete, Suez Canal Transit, Aqaba (Petra), + more!

Add 3nts in Dubai for christmas + £149pp

Was from

£1499

Now

PP from

£899

PP

SAVE UP TO £450pp

SAVE UP TO £400pp

9NT CHRISTMAS IN THE EMIRATES

19NT SINGAPORE TO DUBAI

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Includes flights, 1nt Free Stay in Dubai + Overnight in Muscat on Ship & 2nights in Dubai on ship

Includes flights, 2nt Free Stay in Singapore, 2nt Free Stay in Dubai + Overnight in Dubai on Ship

9 nights | 21st Dec ‘17 Costa Mediterranea Dubai, Muscat Overnight, Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Dubai 2nights

Was from

£1449

Now

PP from

£1099

PP

19 nights | 2nd Apr ‘18 5* Cunard Queen Mary 2 Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, Phuket, + more!

Was from

£2199

PP

Now from

£1799

PP

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MULTIGENERATIONAL CRUISING It’s the latest trend when it comes to cruising, and this year more and more multigenerational families are turning to the seven seas for their holidays.

Cruise lines are now increasingly catering for extended and multigenerational families, all keen on travelling together.

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WHY GO WITH THE FAMILY?

CRUISING FOR ALL GENERATIONS Cruise holidays are perfect for grandparents, parents and children because there’s something for everyone. But it doesn’t stop there because you could also end up travelling with aunties and uncles and cousins and a cruise holiday would still fit the bill.

There are activities and restaurants to suit all ages and types, but being on ship means

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the family unit remains together and families can opt to spend time together and time apart.

Reports in the last couple of years show that up to 20% of guests on Norwegian Cruise Lines are part of a multigenerational group, and that’s likely to be similar across other cruise lines, particularly mainstream brands which offer a plethora of on board entertainment and facilities.

Put simply, the bigger the ship, the more activities on offer and the more options there are for larger, extended family groups.

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Just imagine this: the grandparents can be chilling out and enjoying some much needed peace and quiet in the adult-only part of the ship and mum and dad are enjoying a spa treatment or relaxing by the pool. Meanwhile, their kids are in their element, hanging around with children their own age and roaming around the ship taking part in activities organised by the ship’s children’s clubs. Everyone’s a winner, regardless of whether you’re eight-years-old or 80! At meal times all family members reconvene and get some quality time with one another. Nobody gets stressed because everyone is enjoying themselves! Sounds like the perfect holiday, doesn’t it?

Some lines also offer great deals for families, such as MSC Cruises and their Kids Sail Free offer which applies to children under 17.

5 REASONS TO LOVE MULTIGENERATIONAL

CRUISING

perfect for larger families who want a little bit of space (and sometimes want the opportunity to lock the door between the two rooms). These are perfect for grandparents who want to be close by, but still want to enjoy their holiday, their way!

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Restaurants for all – some of the mega ships have up to 30 dining venues onboard, so there is a cuisine to suit all tastes. On top of that, more lines are moving away from strict dining times, which was always a bugbear for families.

Now on many lines, you can dine whenever you like and wherever you like and this style of eating suits multi-generational families down to a tee. There’s no longer a strict regime of eating at a set time in a set restaurant, cruising is now about flexibility and funfilled dining. Even if you have some picky eaters in your group, you’re bound to find something to tickle their taste buds.

Rooms for all – In days gone by standard cruise cabins were traditionally built to accommodate two people. You’d only get a family cabin if you were willing to spend a fortune. But after realizing the opportunities available in the family market, more cruise lines have changed their cabin configuration to appeal to larger family groups. Many cabins now accommodate a small family, but if you’re looking for even more space then you have the choice to stay in interconnecting cabins. These cabin types are

Kid-friendly facilities – Regardless of your child’s age group, there will be something to suit their interests. Cruise ships are notoriously good with keeping kids occupied. Every line has free children’s clubs, which are separated into different age groups and offer activities suitable for the differing age ranges. A toddler might spend their afternoon doing arts and craft; meanwhile a teen could be getting competitive in a game of basketball. What makes the kids clubs even better? The fact that parents can go and enjoy some alone time knowing that their child is being well looked by the ship’s fully-trained staff, after all it is your holiday too!

partnered with Nickelodeon, so you’ll get the likes of Spongebob Square Pants and Dora the Explorer.

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You get your own space – The entire family might be travelling together, but that doesn’t mean you have to be in each other’s pockets the whole time. You’re never far away from one another on a cruise ship, but the space and array of facilities onboard means that parts of the family can go off and do their own thing. Many cruise lines have introduced more quiet areas and adult-only spaces onboard, which helps to balance out the rise in kid’s facilities that have also developed on cruise ships.

Entertainment for all – Because cruise lines are targeting families, the entertainment on board follows suit. The entertainment tends to include high-end Broadway or West End shows, family-friendly comedy acts, and fun bands and musicians. Royal Caribbean has a partnership with DreamWorks and on many ships children will spot one of their favourite characters, such as Kung Fu Panda or Shrek. Norwegian Cruise Line is

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A NEW STANDARD

IN CRUISING...

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THE SHIP FILLED WITH WONDER...

The Meraviglia (Italian for ‘wonder’) sets a new standard for cruise ships and unsurprisingly it’s one of the most eagerly anticipated cruise ship launches of the past several years. As the first of 11 new cruise ships that MSC are launching over the next

decade, there’s a lot of pressure on the MSC Meraviglia to capture the imagination of cruisers early on so that they can continue to generate interest in their ships to come. However, from what we’ve seen so far of the features and designs, we certainly think that MSC won’t have any trouble there!

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THE MERAVIGLIA IS...

being hailed as the first in MSC’s new generation of Smart Ships, and there has been a significant investment in technology on board, particularly in the form of a partnership with Technogym who will manage MSC’s new Wellness Experience. Even though MSC have invested more in technology on the Meraviglia, the ship is still designed to primarily cater to the comfort of guests most simplistic needs, ensuring their surroundings on board are as comfortable as possible. On board, 75% off the cabins have balconies and there are 12 different dining venues, encompassing flavours and dishes from around the world. The entertainment

onboard will be world-class too, featuring exclusive performances from Cirque du Soleil created especially for MSC.

a restaurant area for up to 200 people where guests can enjoy dinner and drinks before watching the big show.

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

SKY SCREEN

The Cirque du Soleil shows will take place 6 nights a week during sailings, with two performances a night, giving guests plenty of opportunity to see these spectacular performances.

The shows will take place in the purpose built Aft Lounges on the Meraviglia which cover 1,000sq metres and are kitted out with the latest audio-visual technology. These specially designed spaces have been developed at a cost of €20 million! The lounges feature a 450-seat theatre along with

The launch of the Meraviglia will also see some new, unique public spaces on board including the Sky Screen which will be the longest LED dome at sea. The Sky Screen measures 80m x 6m above a Mediterranean-inspired courtyard. The screen will display events and vistas around the clock to animate the courtyard and promenade from above. The promenade is the longest yet on the MSC fleet, at 96 metres long it gives guests a place to stretch their legs and stop for coffee or shopping at the cafes,

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bistros and boutiques which run alongside it.

DINING

With an amazing choice of dining venues on board, guests can dine somewhere new almost every night! There’s Italian inspired cuisine, contemporary steakhouses, Teppanyaki, Sushi and a buffet open 20 hours a day serving an array of Mediterranean specialities and international cuisines. The buffet will even have an ethnic corner, where cuisine from the current port of call is featured that day.

Those with a sweet tooth will love the MSC collaboration with French master patissier and chocolatier, Jean-Philippe Maury who will bring his award-winning touch to the Chocolate Bar where his creations will seduce both eye and palate. Maury will also work with MSC to develop a crêperie and ice cream parlour on the promenade.

BARS & LOUNGES

MSC cruise line has always been fantastic at providing a wide choice of bars and lounges for their guests. Each with their own decor and atmosphere,

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the bars and lounges include a sophisticated Champagne Bar which will offer a selection of cava, prosecco, champagne and other bubblies from around the world along with caviar, oysters and crab. The Piano Bar offers incredible 360-degree panoramic ocean views along with a luxe decor that’s complimented by the tinkling ivories of live piano music. The 24-hour bar will ensure that guests can quench their thirst at any time of day, whether it’s an aperitif after dinner or an early morning espresso.

ACCOMMODATION

Whilst the technology, dining and entertainment features on the Meraviglia are enough to have you reaching for your passport, what many cruisers will perhaps appreciate most is the variety of accommodation that is available on the ship. There’s a complete new variety of staterooms and suites available including those designed for solo travellers as well as larger families.

THE FACTS

The MSC Meraviglia is the first of four Meraviglia-class ships and it’s currently under construction at the STX shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. The 4,500-guest, 167,600GRT ship will set sail on its inaugural season in the Western Mediterranean from June 2017, and will be the first to have three homeports: Genoa, Marseille and Barcelona. Further Meraviglia project ships are scheduled for delivery in 2019, 2020 and 2022.

SMART PACKAGES | MSC MERAVIGLIA SAVE UP TO £400pp

SAVE UP TO £450pp

FREE ALL INCLUSIVE DRINKS!

8NT MERAVIGLIA MED

8NT ALL INCLUSIVE MED

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8 nights | Nov ‘17 - Apr ‘18 (based on 25th Jan)

• •

MSC Meraviglia Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Palermo, Valletta, Barcelona

Includes flights & 1nt Free Stay in Barcelona

Includes flights & 1nt Free Stay in Barcelona

8 nights | Jul - Nov ‘17 (based on 2nd Nov) MSC Meraviglia Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valletta, Barcelona

Was from

£999

PP

Now from

£549

PP

Was from

£999

PP

Now from

£599

PP

SAVE UP TO £400pp

SAVE UP TO £300pp

12NT BALTIC FAVOURITES

11NT NORWEGIAN FJORDS

• • •

• • •

Includes flights & 1nt Free Stay in Hamburg

•

Includes flights & 1nt Free Stay in Hamburg

12 nights | 12th Sep ‘18 MSC Meraviglia Hamburg, Oslo, Nynashamn, Tallinn, St Petersburg Overnight, Helsinki, Hamburg 1st September available fr £929pp

Was from

£1299

PP

Now from

£899

PP

11 nights | May - Jul ‘18 (based on 9th May) MSC Meraviglia Hamburg, Bergen, Honningsvag Overnight, Tromso, Molde Fjord, Alesund, Hamburg

Was from

£1199

PP

Now from

£899

PP

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STAYING IN

THE CITY

THE BEST CITIES AROUND THE WORLD FOR CRUISE AND STAY EXPERIENCES.

All cruise lines visit the most popular cities in the world but the length of time you spend in that port can vary greatly.

Only a handful of cruise lines offer longer stays in ports and overnight visits.

Cruises offer a great way to get a taste for a destination, helping you decide if that’s somewhere you’d like to go back to. However there are always certain city stops on a cruise that are always worth the extra time spent there, especially as so many cities can be so different at night.

Here at Cruise Nation, we specialise in cruise and stay packages, allowing you to spend more time in some of the amazing cities you’ll embark and disembark at. Read on to learn more about three of our favourites below...

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BARCELONA Barcelona is the Cruise Nation MD’s favourite city, and it’s easy to see why. It’s full of culture and history, great food and wine and a vibrant night life. With so much to experience here, it’s our most popular destination for our cruise and stay Smart Packages. Here are our top four unmissable experiences in Barcelona...

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1. SAGRADA FAMILIA Construction started on the Sagrada Familia in 1882 and it’s not due to be completed until 2026, which means it will have taken 144 years to complete. You can certainly see why so much time has been spent on the structure as it’s a true masterpiece. Gaudi became involved with the construction in 1883 as head architect and worked on the project until his final years. The Sagrada Familia is one of the most astounding pieces of architecture you’ll likely see in your lifetime and for that reason it should be top of your sightseeing list for the city!

2. BARCELONA FC The Catalan passion for football here is palpable and you’ll often see the Barcelona FC flag flying from the windows of apartments and buildings throughout the city. Barcelona FC is one of the world’s most famous football clubs, in fact it has the world’s biggest social media following for a sports team. For a true cultural experience, try and book tickets to see the team play in the stadium and take in the roaring crowds. If there isn’t a game on during your visit then a tour will certainly be of interest for sports fans and costs €23pp.

3. PARK GUELL Before you even step foot in Barcelona, it’s likely that you’ll have seen pictures of the iconic view over the entrance of Park Guell. The park itself if located on Carmel Hill and is a public park system featuring gardens and architectural elements. The park is a World Heritage Site and features the colourful and quirky work of Gaudi throughout including sculptures and mosaic designs.

4. LA RAMBLAS Take a stroll down this famous street which buzzes with throngs of people. You’ll find plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants and colourful souvenir stalls peddling their wares. About half way down La Ramblas you should find signs for Mercado de la Boqueria which is an experience for the senses with so many colourful and fragrant displays of fresh and candied fruit as well as aromatic spices.

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NEW YORK New York is undoubtedly one of the most famous cities in the world and in many ways, the Big Apple IS America, a microcosm of the country itself in a raging mega-metropolis that is definitely one of a kind. Even if you’ve never been here before, there is something utterly unmistakable about the city skyline, crowded with skyscrapers and tower blocks right out of the movie world. New York is larger than life, 24 hours a day – and full-on entertainment in every sense.

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1. TOP OF THE ROCK When visiting the city, it’s hard to appreciate the size of it from the ground. Head to the Rockefeller Centre to ‘Top of the Rock’ to see the city in all its glory. The Rockefeller is located in the centre of Midtown Manhattan between Fifth and Sixth Avenue. The Observation Deck is open from 8am to 12am with the last ticket being sold at 11pm and the last elevator going up at 11.15pm. Tickets are $32 per adult and $26 per child.

2. SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP After your visit to the Rockefeller you’re in the perfect place to set your sights on all the designer shops which line Fifth Avenue, the most famous of all being Tiffany’s, Saks and of course Macy’s – the world’s largest department store with 11 floors to explore! Don’t miss Bloomingdales on Third Avenue or Barney’s on Maddison Avenue. If you’re a savvy shopper and love a bargain then Brooklyn is a mecca for flea markets where you’re sure to find some treasures!

3. CIRCLE LINE SIGHTSEEING Appreciate some of the best sights of Manhattan from the water with a Circle Line Cruise. You’ll see all 5 boroughs Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx. Plus you’ll get a closer view of the Statue of Liberty! The tour lasts 2.5 hours and is $42 per adult, $34 per child.

4. CENTRAL PARK No visit to New York would be complete without a visit to Central Park. In some ways you’ll almost feel like you’ve been before with the park making a regular appearance in American TV Shows and movies which grace our screens. The best way to see as much of the park as possible is to hire a bike which is around $20 per bike for 3 hours. Our top tip would be to grab an amazing deli-sandwich before heading into the park and stopping during your bike tour for a picnic!

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VENICE There are 118 islands, 177 canals and 450 bridges in Venice with 170 ancient buildings lining its main waterway, that unforgettable Grand Canal. This colourful and ancient city quite literally ‘floats’ on the water. Criss-crossed by dozens and dozens of waterways, it is also a place that can possibly best be admired from the water.

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1. 150 BOATS USED AS WATER TRANSPORT Almost everyone takes advantage of the water transport in Venice as they are the equivalent of city buses. For those arriving by ship, there will be tours being offered by the cruise line but it is quite easy to take in the sights on your own. Most ships are docked in the Stazione Marittima piers and from here you can make use of the ACTV water buses.

2. ONE PALACE PLUS ONE PIAZZA You will likely enter the Piazza San Marco, possibly the most famous public square in the world, from the water. Here, at the waterfront, is an open space known as the Piazzetta which is flanked by two enormous columns (on this very spot used to be public executions!).

Luckily, it is now street sellers hawking their wares that draw our attention offering iconic Venetian masks, wooden marionettes and souvenirs all available for purchase.

3. FOUR VENETIAN RESTAURANTS Tucked away behind the Piazza, away from the Grand Canal and the hustle and bustle of the crowds are several trattorias worth trying out. Some are family owned and have traditional checked tablecloths with honest Italian food such as pizza, snacks and pasta.

4. ONE GRAND CANAL This is the main waterway running through the city and is lined with buildings that were built between the 12th and 18th centuries. With its unique architecture, gondolas skimming along the water, as well as water taxis carrying tourists and locals alike, it is really quite a sight.

Here at Cruise Nation we have plenty of different destinations available for a cruise and stay holiday. View our most popular destinations on our Cruise Deals web page.

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SMART PACKAGES | CITY BREAKS SAVE UP TO £300pp

SAVE UP TO £300pp BRAND NEW SHIP FOR 2018!

9NT ADRIATIC & GREEK GEMS

9NT MED SEAVIEW

• • •

• • •

Includes flights & 2nts Free Stay in Venice

Includes flights & 2nt Free Stay in Barcelona

9 nights | Jul - Nov ‘17 (based on 27th Oct Costa Deliziosa Venice, Bari, Corfu, Santorini, Piraeus (Athens), Dubrovnik, Venice

Was from

£899

PP

Now from

£599

9 nights | Jun - Nov ‘18 (based on 7th Nov) MSC Seaview Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valletta, Barcelona

Was from

PP

SAVE UP TO £270pp

£899

PP

Now from

£599

PP

SAVE UP TO £500pp FREE ALL INCLUSIVE DRINKS!

8NT GREECE & DUBROVNIK

11NT ALL INCLUSIVE CLASSIC MED

• • •

• • •

Includes flights & 1nt Free Stay in Venice

8 nights | May - Oct ‘18 (based on 4th May) MSC Poesia Venice, Bari, Katakolon (Olympia), Mykonos, Piraeus (Athens), Sarande, Dubrovnik, Venice

Was from

36

Includes flights & 1nt Free Stay in Barcelona

£899

PP

Now from

£629

Was from

PP

CRUISE NATION | CALL FREE ON 0800 408 0759

11 nights | Dec ‘17 - Apr ‘18 (based on 7th Mar) MSC Orchestra Barcelona, Valencia, Palma, Valletta, Messina, Civitavecchia (Rome), Livorno (Pisa/Florence), + more

00

£1199

PP

Now from

£699

PP

SMART PACKAGES | CITY BREAKS SAVE UP TO £300pp

SAVE UP TO £350pp

NEW YEAR IN VENICE!

BRAND NEW SHIP FOR 2018!

9NT NEW YEAR IN VENICE

8NT MED SYMPHONY

• • •

• • •

Includes flights & 2nt Free Stay in Venice

•

Includes flights & 1nt Free Stay in Barcelona

9 nights | 23rd Dec ‘17 Costa Luminosa Venice, Bari, Piraeus (Athens), Katakolon (Olympia), Kotor, Split, Venice Christmas + New year Cruise!

Was from

£1099

Now

PP from

£799

PP

8 nights | Apr - Oct ‘18 (based on 6th Oct) Symphony of The Seas Barcelona, Palma, Marseille, La Spezia (Pisa/Florence), Civitaveechia (Rome), Naples, Barcelona

Was from

£1199

PP

Now from

£849

PP

SAVE UP TO £450pp

SAVE UP TO £500pp

13NT BERMUDA & BIG APPLE

10NT CANADA & NEW ENGLAND

Includes flights & 1nt Free Stay in New York + Overnight in New York on Ship

• • •

• • •

13 nights | 7th Jan ‘18 5* Cunard Queen Mary 2 Southampton, Hamilton, New York Overnight

Was from

£1299

PP

Now from

Includes flights & 3nt Free Stay in New York

£849

PP

10 nights | Aug - Oct ‘17 (based on 30th Aug) Carnival Sunshine New York, Boston, Portland, Halifax, Saint John, New York

Was from

£1499

Now

PP from

£999

PP

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YOU HAD ME AT

MERLOT

Somehow a glass of wine just seems to taste that little bit better when you’re on holiday. It might be the amazing sea views you can enjoy whilst sipping your favourite Riesling or Zinfandel or it might be because you know you can let loose and enjoy without having to worry about getting up early with a fuzzy head the next morning! Either way, cruise lines are learning that many of their passengers enjoy a fine glass of wine and so are developing wine collections and drinks packages to compliment and enhance their guest experience.

If you’d like to find out the best cruise lines for serving up fine wine experiences then read on to learn about our top three favourites...

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Celebrity Cruises are renowned for having the biggest wine collection at sea, boasting some 400 different labels for guests to choose from. Every major wineproducing region is represented in the collection including South America, Spain, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Germany. The collection includes a variety of half bottle selections as well as 38 choices of wines by the glass. Celebrity Cruises also features a new Reserve List which offers hand-picked selections of speciality red, white, sparkling and dessert wines for discerning palates which are priced from $100 to $250.

Across the Celebrity Cruises fleet, there are 200 certified Sommeliers making it one of the largest teams of Sommeliers in the world. Of course the real wine wow-factor is their 2-storey glass wine tower which features on their Solstice-class ships.

The tower was designed by renowned designer Adam Tihany and holds 1800 bottles at the perfect serving temperature.

Celebrity Cruises offer some fantastic experiences for wine enthusiasts including their Riedel Comparative Wine Crystal Workshop which allows guests to sample wines from around the world using matched glassware that shows how the flavour and aroma are enhanced by using the correct stemware.

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WINE PACKAGES PREMIUM WINE PACKAGE

BUILD YOUR OWN

The Premium Package offers a superb collection of wines suitable for the discerning palate. You may also choose to mix in wines from the Classic Package to further enhance your enjoyment.

Package pricing represents a savings up to 15% off regular list prices.

A package for the connoisseur. Choose from selections such as boutique California, French Grand Cru and Italian Super Tuscan wines.

Also receive a $10 coupon towards the Riedel Comparative Wine Glass Workshop. Limit two per package. Select 3 or more bottles valued at $75 each or more to receive an overall savings of 15%. To purchase this package look for the wine exposition on embarkation day.

Package starts from

ÂŁ114.73

PP Package starts from

ÂŁ147.26

PP

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CLASSIC WINE PACKAGE With the Classic Package, savour international wines. Sample wines such as Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and Malbec from Argentina. Package pricing represents a savings of 10% off regular list prices.

Package starts from

£83.93

PP

DON’T MISS...

The Taste of the Caribbean Package spices up your cruise with the ultimate exploration of leading-edge tropical cuisine and beverages in the Caribbean. The package includes a Riedel Comparative Wine Workshop with a set of four “Elegance” glasses to keep, the Ultimate Dining Package (unlimited lunch and dinner in all specialty restaurants plus a Champagne High Tea), a Chef’s Market Discovery shore excursion, a cooking class with lunch, a Blendtique wine blending class, a World Class mixology class, an “Excite the Senses” lifestyle book, plus Evian water and a Lavazza machine in your stateroom for the entire cruise.

Available exclusively on Celebrity Equinox summer sailings from April 14–November 6, 2017.

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Holland America makes it into our favourites because of its new venue ‘Blend’ which features on the Koningsdam.

Blend is a venue that has been created in partnership with Washington State’s oldest and most acclaimed winery Chateau Ste. Michelle. The purposebuilt venue has a tasting table designed for 10 guests to gather to learn more about the art of blending wine and give them the opportunity to try blending their own. After the session each guest can enjoy their creation later in the comfort of their stateroom or over a fine 3-course evening meal in one of the restaurants.

Signature Cellar Master Package Includes Wine Navigator’s Choice of 5 bottles; prices starting at $247.00 standard wine tasting; premium wine tasting; Pinnacle Grill dinner; wine related gift set; Holland America commemorative bottle of wine from $247 (price varies on length of sailing).

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Wine connoisseurs will hold P&O cruise line in regard due to their partnership with noted wine expert Olly Smith. Back in 2010, P&O collaborated with Smith to launch the ‘Glass House’ bar on board Azura, the bar then went on to win ‘Best Bar at Sea’ in 2011 and 2012 at the Cruise Critic awards. Due to its success, the Glass House has since been launched on Ventura, Aurora and most recently the Britannia. The Glass House is a haven for those who love great food and wine.

On the menu you’ll find tapas and desserts to share as well as larger meals such as steak and Catch of the Day for when you’re in the mood for something more substantial. The menu is complimented by 32 wines which have been hand-picked

by Olly. For something really unique, try the house wine, Porta Palo, which was blended by Olly and his wine-loving chums in Sicily. Smith has also selected the wine menu for Marco Pierre White’s restaurant Ocean Grill,

which features on some of the P&O ships. For those hoping to learn more from the specialist Sommelier himself, Olly Smith also hosts presentations and wine tasting classes on selected sailings.

As the go-to wine specialist, we asked Olly about some of his favourite wine cocktail recipes for winter and he didn’t disappoint. Read his recommendations on the next page!

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OLLY SMITH’S WINTER WARMER COCKTAIL RECIPES MULLED WHITE WINE

This couldn’t be simpler, choose a fruity leftover white wine, add freshly chopped pineapple, a few lemon wedges, honey and a cinnamon stick. Strain and serve with a sliced lemon garnish and sugar to taste (and you can give it a kick with a dose of leftover spirit – brandy, vodka, or Cointreau for an orangey tang).

OLLY’S SECRET PUNCH

Gently heat equal measures of leftover port, Cointreau and Southern Comfort topped up with fresh orange juice in a pan. Don’t let it boil. At the last-minute squeeze two halves of blood orange into the pan and toss in the squeezed halves. I prefer not to add sugar as the port makes my secret punch gloriously sweet. Garnish with an orange slice and serve in glass mugs.

DRAGON’S BLOOD!

10 ml Cassis 10 ml Grenadine 200 ml fizzy water Garnish with a slice of blood orange.

For the full effect, make matching Dragon’s Blood ice cubes (use the above recipe but replace fizzy water for still, pour into an ice-cube tray and freeze as normal). You can always customize it into a more grown up cocktail by adding a tot of blackcurrant vodka or sloe gin!

MULLED WINE

This is a simple drink to create – and you can easily customize your own version. The key is not to boil the wine, just keep it warm. You can add orange juice; brandy and sugar to the base, a clove or two, a knob of fresh ginger, a cinnamon stick and you can load it with oranges, lemons and limes or try using slices of fresh mango for a tropical twist. The rule of thumb is keep tasting until its right – and don’t overdo the cloves or they make it bitter!

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BOUND FOR

PARADISE

THE BEST CRUISE LINES FOR EXPERIENCING THE CARIBBEAN

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THE CARIBBEAN IS EASILY ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CRUISING DESTINATIONS IN THE WORLD. And it’s not hard to see why. For starters, there is sun, sea and sand by the bucket load. But on top of that there’s also the fact that the close proximity of islands means holidaymakers can call at a different country almost every day of your cruise.

On a two week sailing you could visit 14 different places – that’s pretty impressive, right?! It’s also a great way to get a taster of various destinations, for example, if you’re not too sure about a full holiday in Jamaica, then why not visit Montego Bay on a cruise and see what it’s like before you commit to a long stay there?

Another draw for Caribbean cruises is the length of sailings available – with anything from two or three days to two or three weeks on offer. And whilst it’s a lot easier for American’s to pop across to the Caribbean, the distance certainly doesn’t put us Brits off either because around 250,000 of us cruise in the Caribbean every year.

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The best thing about the Caribbean is that almost every cruise line offers sailings there.

Companies with only a few ships will have a limited season and are likely to swap between the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, but there’s always great variety and choice. The sheer size of Carnival Cruise Line in the Caribbean makes it a popular choice, particularly with Americans, where the brand is much better known. The majority of Carnival’s ships sail in the Caribbean and even if a cruise starts in the US, perhaps in New York, Miami or Galveston, Texas, the cruise will most likely be headed to the ever-sunny climates of the Caribbean.

Carnival offers more than 30 ports of call in the Caribbean from Grand Cayman and the Bahamas to St Kitts and Antigua.

The majority of the Caribbean is well covered when it comes to cruise holidays however there are a handful of destinations that are less visited, one of them being Cuba. For the first time in decades the embargo has been lifted to allow selected cruise lines to sail here, two of these cruise lines include MSC and Royal Caribbean.

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If its exclusivity you’re looking for, then you might want to head to a private island. Yes, that’s right, a number of cruise lines operate their very own private island!

Princess Cruises’ private stop in the Caribbean is called Princess Cays and most of the line’s Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries stop there. Princess Cays is a 40-acre stretch of beach in the Bahamas which is cut off from the rest of the island. There are lots of hammocks, a beach barbecue and a pirate ship themed playground.

Great Stirrup Cay is Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas. The line has invested $25million in its private resort since buying it from the Belcher Oil Company in 1977. At the time Norwegian was operating under the name ‘Norwegian Caribbean Line’ and it was the first cruise line to offer a private island on its itineraries. Fast forward to 2016 and the activities available on the island include parasailing, kayaking, snorkelling and stingray encounters.

Royal Caribbean International has two private areas – the first is in the Bahamas and is called CocoCay. The private island is exclusive to the line’s guests and is situated on the Berry Islands.

Activities available include eco-tours and the chance to explore the reef by scuba diving, snorkelling or taking a trip in a glass-bottomed boat. Royal Caribbean also takes its guests to

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Labadee in Haiti. The resort has an aqua park and is full of fun activities.

Lastly, MSC Cruise Line recently announced their plans to develop a private resort in the Bahamas called Ocean Cay which will also act as an important marine reserve. The resort is set to open in October 2018 with full support of ecologists and the Bahamian Government. It’s also worth considering MSC cruise line because of their affordability – they have some of the best prices for Caribbean cruises that you’ll find anywhere.

Here at Cruise Nation we offer Caribbean cruise holiday packages for all of these cruise lines and more. We package these cruises with pre or post cruise stays in popular embarkation and disembarkation ports for the Caribbean including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and New York.

View our exclusive Caribbean Smart Packages on the next page!

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SMART PACKAGES | CARIBBEAN SAVE UP TO £500pp

SAVE UP TO £530pp

9NT CARIBBEAN GLORY

13NT CARIBBEAN TRANSATLANTIC

• • •

• • •

Includes flights

Includes flights & 2nt Free Stay in Miami

9 nights | Sep - Dec ‘17 (based on 1st Sep) Carnival Glory Miami, Half Moon Cay, St Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk, Miami

Was from

£1299

PP

Now from

£799

Was from

PP

£1599

PP

Now from

£869

PP

SAVE UP TO £400pp

SAVE UP TO £400pp

9NT CARIBBEAN CALYPSO

9NT CARIBBEAN COCKTAIL

Includes flights & 1nt Free Stay in Fort Lauderdale

• • •

Includes flights & 2nt Free Stay in Fort Lauderdale • • •

9 nights | Nov ‘17 - Mar ‘18 (based on 24th Nov) Carnival Conquest Fort Lauderdale, St Maarten, St Kitts, San Juan, Grand Turk, Fort Lauderdale

Was from

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13 nights | 10th Mar ‘18 P&O Azura Barbados, St Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis, St Maarten, Ponta Delgada, Southampton

£1299

PP

Now from

£899

Was from

PP

CRUISE NATION | CALL FREE ON 0800 408 0759

9 nights | Dec ‘17 - Feb ‘18 (based on 1st Dec) 5* Holland America Eurodam Fort Lauderdale, Half Moon Cay, Ocho Rios, Cayman Islands, Key West, Fort Lauderdale

00

£1299

PP

Now from

£899

PP

SMART PACKAGES | CARIBBEAN SAVE UP TO £400pp

SAVE UP TO £350pp

9NT FREEDOM OF THE CARIBBEAN

10NT BARBADOS & CARIBBEAN

Includes flights & 1nt Free Stay in Fort Lauderdale

• • •

• • •

9 nights | Nov ‘17 - Mar ‘18 (based on 2nd Mar) Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas Fort Lauderdale, St Kitts, St Maarten, Puerto Rico, Labadee, Fort Lauderdale

Was from

£1399

PP

Now from

Includes flights & 3nt Free Stay in Barbados

£999

PP

10 nights | Nov ‘17 - Mar ‘18 (based on 3rd Dec) Carnival Fascination Barbados, St Lucia, St Kitts, St Maarten, San Juan, St Thomas, Barbados

Was from

£1399

Now

PP from

£1049

PP

PREMIUM ALL INCLUSIVE WORTH $850PP

SAVE UP TO £500pp

FREE GRATUITIES SAVE UP TO £400pp

12NT CARIBBEAN FAVOURITES Includes flights & 2nts Free Stay in Fort Lauderdale • • •

Includes flights & 3nts Free Stay in New York

12 nights | Nov - Dec ‘17 (based on 15th Nov) 5* Celebrity Reflection Fort Lauderdale,Antigua, Barbados, St Lucia, St Maarten Overnight, Fort Lauderdale

Was from

£1599

Now

PP from

13NT BIG APPLE & ALL INCLUSIVE CARIBBEAN

• • •

£1099

PP

13 nights | Jan - Mar ‘18 (based on 21st Feb) Norwegian Gem New York, San Juan, St Thomas, St Maarten, Tortola, New York

Was from

£1899

Now

PP from

£1499

PP

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EXPLAINED

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It’s likely that you’ve seen the ABTA and ATOL logos splashed around travel websites and heard advertisements on the TV and radio ending with ‘ABTA and ATOL protected’. But do you really know what that means and the benefits of booking a holiday with this protection?

Whether you’re just a bit unsure or you’re starting to wonder if we’re speaking in code, then make sure to read our guide below explaining the benefits of ABTA and ATOL protected holidays.

ABTA

Wherever you book a holiday, whether in a retail travel shop or online, always look for the ABTA logo. ABTA stands for Association of British Travel Agents, however in July 2007 the name was changed to The Travel Association to represent the travel industry on a wider scale. ABTA maintains a code of conduct which exists between members and their customers, the basic principle of which is that customers should always receive the holiday they pay for. The ABTA code of conduct guides on best practices and also provides a scheme of financial protection that ensures that any customers that book via a member for a LAND or SEAbased holiday such as rail, coach or cruise, will have that holiday financially protected should their travel agent or tour operator fail.

This means that if your holiday company fails before you have travelled you will be entitled to a refund or if your travel company

fails whilst you are on your holiday, the financial protection will cover the rest of your stay and transport home.

ABTA also works as an impartial authority for complaints. As a customer, if you ever feel that a complaint made directly to your travel agent hasn’t been handled to your satisfaction, you can raise this complaint with ABTA who will investigate as part of their promise to ensure travel agents and tour operators deliver a best-practice service.

Cruise Nation is a long-standing ABTA member, we pay an annual fee to protect our clients financially and ensure we are delivering the best possible service.

ATOL

ATOL stands for Air Travel Organisers License and it’s a government-run financial protection scheme operated by the Civil Aviation Authority. Any package holidays or flights sold must be protected by an ATOL license. Here at Cruise Nation, when you make a booking with us and when payment has been confirmed, we will send you your ATOL certificate with your confirmation by email. It’s important that you keep this certificate safe should you need it at a later date.

Package holidays such as those which we provide at Cruise Nation, offer the best form of protection. Not only are you entitled to a refund or repatriation should your travel company go out of business, but you also benefit from additional

legal protection should there be a problem with your holiday.

The image above shows what your ATOL certificate will look like.

And whilst we’re here... we may as well tell you a little more about our Feefo review system.

FEEFO

Feefo is an independent global ratings and reviews provider of genuine guest feedback from verified purchases. Here at Cruise Nation we selected Feefo as our reviews platform because only our real customers can leave feedback. We’ve trialled other review platforms such as Facebook but found that any person can leave a review which doesn’t give an honest representation of our service.

We’ve been using Feefo for around 3 years and this year, in 2016, we became a Gold Trusted Merchant with an average review score of 4.5 out of 5 stars and a percentage of 96% positive. So far we’ve clocked up over 4,000 unique reviews by sending feedback emails to our customers after their return from holiday. Click here to read our Feefo reviews.

CRUISENATION.COM | CRUISE NATION LIFE

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SMART PACKAGES | REST OF THE WORLD SAVE UP TO £400pp

SAVE UP TO £400pp

11NT CLASSIC CALIFORNIA

10NT FAR EAST FUSION

• • •

• • •

Includes flights, 1nt Free Stay in Vancouver & Overnight in San Francisco on Ship

Includes flights, 2nt Free Stay in Singapore & Overnight in Laem Chabang (Bangkok) on Ship

11 nights | 24th Apr ‘18 Star Princess Vancouver, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Francisco Overnight, Vancouver

Was from

£1499

Now

PP from

£999

Was from

PP

£1399

PP

Now from

£999

SAVE UP TO £600pp

SAVE UP TO £500pp

17NT MAURITIUS & SEYCHELLES

16NT HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

• • •

• • •

17 nights | Oct ‘17 - Feb ‘18 (based on 8th Nov) Costa neoRiviera Mauritius, Seychelles 2 nights, Nosy Be, Diego Suarez, Tamatave, + more!

Was from

£1999

PP

Now from

£1399

CRUISE NATION | CALL FREE ON 0800 408 0759

PP

Includes flights & 1nt Free Stay in Los Angeles

Includes flights, 2nt Free Stay in Mauritius & 2 nights in Seychelles & Overnight in Reunion & Mauritius on Ship

56

10 nights | 7th Feb ‘18 Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Singapore, Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City), Laem Chabang (Bangkok) Overnight, Singapore

16 nights | Nov ‘17 - Feb ‘18 (based on 16th Feb) Star Princess Los Angeles, Hilo, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui, Ensenada, Los Angeles

Was from

PP

00

£1999

Now

PP from

£1499

PP

SMART PACKAGES | REST OF THE WORLD SAVE UP TO £600pp

SAVE UP TO £750pp

17NT CHINA & JAPAN

28NT PANAMA CANAL

Includes flights, 2nt Free Stay in Hong Kong & Overnight in Hong Kong, Naha & Shanghai on Ship • • •

Includes flights, 4nt Free Stay in San Francisco & Overnight in San Francisco on Ship • • •

17 nights | 11th Mar ‘18 5* Holland America Volendam Hong Kong Overnight, Manila, Kaohsiung, Taipei, Naha Overnight, + more!

Was from

£2199

Now

PP from

£1599

PP

28 nights | 9th Jan ‘18 P&O Arcadia Southampton, Madeira, Barbados, Curacao, Panama Canal Passage, Huatulco, Cabo San Lucas, San Francisco Overnight

Was from

£2499

Now

PPfrom

£1749

PP

SAVE UP TO £500pp

SAVE UP TO £500pp

19NT FIJIIAN SUNSETS & SOUTH PACIFIC GEMS

18NT RIO CARNIVAL & SOUTH AMERICA

Includes flights & 4nts Free Stay in Sydney • • •

19 nights | 20th Feb ‘18 Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas Sydney, Lifou, Lautoka (Fiji), Suva (Fiji), Vila (Vanuatu), Mystery Island (Vanuatu), Mare (New Caledonia), + more!

Was from

£2499

Now

PP from

£1999

PP

Includes flights, 3nt Free Stay in Buenos Aires, Overnight in Buenos Aires on Ship + 2nts & 3 days in Rio De Janeiro for Rio Carnival • • •

18 nights | 3rd Feb ‘18 5* Celebrity Infinity Sao Paulo, Ilhabela, Buzios, + more!

Was from

£2699

Now

PP from

£2199

PP

CRUISENATION.COM | CRUISE NATION LIFE

57

For more information visit cruisenation.com or call free on 0800 408 0759

Conditions: Prices are from and per person based on 2 sharing the lowest cabin grade unless otherwise stated. Gratuities are not included in any of these offers. Gratuities are compulsory with Costa Cruises and are charged at approximately 8.5 euros pppd. Credit card charge is 2.25%, there is no charge for debit cards. Booking fee & Baggage charge may apply. Cruise Nation and Cruise Line Terms & Conditions apply.

E&OE. Offer can be withdrawn at anytime. These offers are valid as of 25/05/17. Prices and offers correct at time of magazine release and are subject to change and may be withdrawn or amended at any time without prior notice.

58

CRUISE NATION | CALL FREE ON 0800 408 0759

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