Run for the hills! It’s Christmas panto time again…
Cast: Jack Tar the Principal Boy, Puss, Captain Thingy, the Captain’s strangely attractive daughter – Celia, the Ogre. All other parts played by the Virgin Crew – the few who are still sober, anyway. Read the rest of this entry »
My wife, Margaret, was the first to express concern. “Notice anything odd about our ship?” she asked one evening. “I know exactly what you mean,” I replied. “The colour scheme in the lounge – it’s the wrong shade of cream.”
“No, something more serious than that,” she said. “In that case,” I said, “you must mean the lift music. It lacks depth and thematic cohesion.” But apparently it wasn’t that either. “OK, I give up. What’s odd about this ship?” Read the rest of this entry »
‘Tis the season of goodwill to all passengers and cruise lines have an array of seasonal gifts all wrapped up ready for the big day.
I’ve made my cruising Christmas list in the hope that one or other of my dream gifts will magically appear under the tree next Sunday.
The festive season is always a time for giving and this year is no exception thanks to the vast array of generous offers being provided from cruise lines of all shapes and sizes. Read the rest of this entry »
Charles Dickens (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was born by the sea in what is now Portsmouth and is generally considered the greatest Victorian writer.
No other English author has created as many characters – thousands appear in his twenty or so novels.
The 200th anniversary of Dickens’ birthday next year will no doubt be celebrated on many cruise ships around the world, especially if they are British or American owned. Read the rest of this entry »
Just a short note to let you know I’ve been really good this year. To be specific I’ve been kind to small animals and a few medium-sized ones as well.
On top of that I’ve tried hard to be polite and gracious at all times – sadly, with no success, but at least I’ve tried. In view of this I believe I’m a deserving case and worthy of a visit from your good self. Read the rest of this entry »
I’ve just had the privilege of taking high tea with the Queen and I’m pleased to report that she was very happy and smiling.
With a special makeover, Her Maj was looking sparkling despite the dull December weather shrouding Southampton.
OK, I own up. I hadn’t been granted a private pre-Christmas audience with the Monarch to discuss her love of cruising at Buckingham Palace.
Read the rest of this entry »
This is the first time in the three years I have been writing for Virgin Holidays Cruises that my latest blog has actually been published on-line on my birthday.
I won’t tell you exactly how old I am today (too old to know better) but The Beatles wrote a song about this particular birthday. Read the rest of this entry »
With the Oscars only a few months away it seems timely that I should be announcing who has won the Bruce Beckett Cruising Awards for 2011.
Standards across the industry have been stratospheric this year so all credit to our worthy winners. As for our gallant losers, you can hold your heads up high. But that’s only if you’re delusional. Let’s get real here, you didn’t win anything. You failed. Read the rest of this entry »
Crystal ball gazing is always a dangerous game – it’s easy to predict anything but your forecast can come back and bite you if they are proved to be wrong.
That’s why I try not to stick my neck out too often as I have a reputation to consider.
However, on this occasion I’m prepared to take a punt on the prospect of there being incredible deals available for cruises in the Mediterranean for next summer. Read the rest of this entry »
When I was a schoolboy at St Anthony’s in Penge in South London and getting up to the usual classroom mischief I was often sent to the Head (headmaster), for six of the best, i.e. a severe caning of the hands.
Imagine if I had been a young American lad who had just arrived in England. I could have ended up in entirely the wrong place. Read the rest of this entry »
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