Celebrity Eclipse by Helen Lyons

I joined my Colleague Sonia and a group of 40 Travel Stop clients on Celebrity Eclipse for a 4 night short cruise to Cobh (Cork). We sailed from Southampton on the afternoon of the Royal Wedding. Having never been on a cruise ship before, I was extremely impressed at the size and grandeur of Celebrity Eclipse - the then newest addition to the fleet. We were greeted with a glass of champagne and then went and had a walk around the ship. The Royal Wedding was being shown on the huge cinema screen in the theatre at the front of the ship, so guests were able to join in the celebrations if they wished.

Celebrity Eclipse had just returned from 2 weeks in the Caribbean and once our stateroom was ready we went to unpack our luggage which had been delivered there for us. We had a balcony stateroom which was spacious, very modern and the balcony was a good size.

We then went up to the top deck where we had some lunch in the Oceanview Café and Bar, which was at the back of the ship near the Lawn Club.

After lunch we met up with the Travel Stop group and gave a guided tour of the ship to include the AquaSpa.

Some of the group then went up to the top deck again for the ‘sail away’ at 4pm.

We had dinner with part of the Escorted Group in the main dining room ‘Moonlight Sonata’. This in itself was a real treat. The décor especially the lighting was amazing and the food was out of this world.

In the evenings there was a variety of entertainment to go and watch or you could go for cocktails in the Martini Bar, Michael’s Club or dance the night away to one of the live bands in the Sky Observation Lounge or to the DJ in the Quasar Nightclub.

The first full day we were ‘at sea’ most of the day but arrived into Cobh in the afternoon. It was a beautiful day and we were able to disembark and have a look around Cobh. Cobh, then Queenstown, was the Titanic’s last port of call. 123 passengers boarded here on the fated magnificent vessel, in a bid to journey to the new world. We visited the Titanic Museum and walked up the picturesque hill to the church at the top where we could look down and see the size of the Celebrity Eclipse!

That evening was ‘formal night’ on the ship where guests were able to dress up for dinner. The waiters all then did a small show for all the guests in the Moonlight Sonata dining room.

The next day we took the short train journey into Cork where we explored the streets and looked in some of the shops. Then it was back to the ship where we set sail in the afternoon. Just before we sailed away we saw the cruise liner, ‘Independence of the seas’ (Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines – a sister company of Celebrity Cruises) sail into Cobh.

The Travel Stop group were also very privileged to be given a private tour of the Bridge by one of the First Officers. This was a real treat as no other guest was able to do this. We also got a private tour of the Galley, which also was another advantage of travelling with Travel Stop, as everyone else onboard had to join the general tour which had 200+ people on it! All of our clients were thrilled.

On the last evening we dined in one of the speciality restaurants called ‘Qsine’ which was a ‘round the world’ dining experience in which we ordered our food using an ipad each. There are 4 Speciality restaurants onboard Tuscan Grille, Blu (for Aquaclass guests only), Murano and Qsine.

All in all this was a superb short break and a great way to experience a bit of luxury. The staff and crew were extremely friendly and informative and were always on hand to help if needed.

Tenerife by Nancy Bagnall

The island of Tenerife isn’t just sea sand and sangria! It is a fascinating mixture of volcanic mountains, desert, green fields and forests – and beaches too of course, all of which are public!
In May I joined a group with Prestige Holidays to visit the island and had all of my previous stereotype opinions of Tenerife completely overturned.
We were extremely fortunate to stay at the Gran Hotel Bahia del Duque resort. This beautiful 5* hotel, built in landscaped grounds sloping down to the beach, offers a wide variety of accommodation and excellent facilities. We also visited several other outstanding hotels, among them the Abama Golf and Spa Resort, in Guia de Isora, set in a large private estate with its own golf course, spa and beach.
Mount Teide National Park dominated by the mountain with its giant caldera, is stunning; a vast unspoiled – even by all the tourist coaches – wilderness of volcanic rock formations, pine forests and fields of wildflowers. Our guide related the colourful and fascinating history of the island as we drove through the park to visit the Parador from where we had a wonderful view of the caldera. Although having a hire car to explore the park would give one more freedom, I found the commentary from our guide really brought the place to life.
Although the south of Tenerife is, traditionally the preferred destination for those seeking the sun, visiting the north of the island is a must. The north tends to be much greener and, in my opinion, much more interesting. From the cliffs of Los Gigantes in the north west, to the volcanic mountains and dense forests of the Anaga Hills in the north east, to the fascinating towns of San Cristobal – a World Heritage site – and the capital Santa Cruz, the possibilities for exploring are endless.
A highlight of our trip was whale and dolphin watching. Setting out in a “schooner” from Puerto Colon we were lucky enough to see several dolphins very close to the boat and many pilot whales. A wonderful, if rather queasy, experience!
Truly a new perspective on one of our most popular holiday destinations.

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Cyprus by Anita Crowson

I have recently returned from my first ‘flying’ visit to Cyprus and I must say the experience has left me very eager to return. Cyprus has a whole range of accommodation to suit all budgets and requirements. During this trip I visited a selection of hotels in the resorts of Paphos, Miliou, Pissouri and Polis. I would recommend car hire to get you out and about as the roads are in a good condition and they drive on the left hand side just like at home!

Whilst in Cyprus I thoroughly enjoyed an excursion to the Troodos Mountains. The Troodos Mountain Region stretches across the centre of Cyprus. It is definitely worth considering as a holiday destination or at least for a visit during your stay. Troodos is about 45 minutes away from the Mediterranean Sea resorts and some wonderful beaches. Away from the beach areas you will find charming traditional villages to explore many remain unspoiled by development or tourism. Mount Olympus at approximately 1950m is the highest mountain on the island of Cyprus. There are some stunning views to be seen from here. There are the white ‘golf balls’ at the summit a reminder that it is a military listening station.

If you are holidaying here in January/February you might just get the opportunity to do some skiing as snow often falls in the Troodos Mountains in the winter months. There are monasteries, beautiful churches and some breathtaking scenery to enjoy. You can pack a picnic and take off on one of the nature trails. The Cyprus Tourist Office has all the information you'll need on the four official trails in the area. The Artemis Trail takes you around the summit of Mount Olympus and takes around 3 hours. The Atalanti Trail is longer at around 5 hours and the Caledonian Falls trail takes about one and a half hours. The Persephone Trail takes about 45 minutes. So, if you're not that good a walker, you know which one to take!

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Port Ghalib in Egypt by Linda Cudmore

I visited Port Ghalib in Egypt in December with Classic Collection Holidays for 3 nights.

We flew into Hurghada airport and within 25 minutes drive we arrived at the luxurious 5* Oberoi Hotel. This hotel offers all suite rooms with sunken marble baths overlooking private walled gardens. There is a private beach within the 48 acres of grounds, outdoor swimming pool, The Banyan Tree Spa offering a wide range of health & beauty treatments along with excellent restaurants featuring fine cuisine.

We then travelled down to Port Ghalib where we stayed at the 5* deluxe Intercontinental Palace Hotel for our 3 night stay. The hotel has a lovely sandy beach, outdoor swimming pool and lagoon set around lush gardens with a multitude of sport facilities. It has a Six Senses Spa, 3 restaurants including one at the Marina close by and not to be missed is after dinner drinks on the Terrace of the Look Out Bar with stunning settings.

I went on two excursions whilst there, one being a Red Sea Experience where we had the opportunity to go Snorkeling and to do a Trial Scuba Dive, if you prefer you can just relax onboard in the sun whilst lunch and beverages are served. The other was a Super Safari Experience into the desert in 4x4 vehicles. Once there you can opt for a Camel ride or a Quad bike ride into the desert for 20 minutes and on your return relax with some Bedouin Tea & Coffee along with some Bedouin entertainment in the Egyptian sunset.

Port Ghalib is a new and upcoming resort with a lovely marina that features restaurants, cafes, bars, a traditional Egyptian Bazaar and surrounded by luxury, sophisticated hotels. This resort is also a diver’s paradise and offers a wide range of other water sports and is ideal for a relaxing break in the sun.

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South Africa by Annette Ross

My trip to the North West Province in South Africa was the most amazing trip, staying in luxurious lodges in Madikwe.

Madikwe (about 4.5 hours drive North West of Johannesburg), covers a vast area, with lots of hidden gems. We stayed at the luxurious Makanyane and Madikwe Safari Lodge’s. Enjoying morning and evening game drives at each, viewing a wide variety of game.

In the Pilanesburg it is a little easier to spot the game and would suit those with children of all ages. A highlight was at a hide by the side of a lake in the Pilanesberg National Park near Sun City. A herd of elephants came down to the waters edge to bathe and shower, carefully protecting and encouraging the baby elephants to go in for a dip! Hippos were watching from a safe distance in the middle of the lake.

Only a 2 hour drive from Johannesburg is Sun City, with its vast array of facilities and a choice of hotels to suit different needs and budgets.. Lots of fun activities to suit all ages including the Valley of the Waves and the famous zip slide. So this makes it a great choice for families and is also a great golfing destination with 2 championship courses.

The North West province is a great destination with a good range of accommodation and activities. My lasting impression is of the friendly, beaming faces of its people, the huge array of activities available, the variety of its wildlife, the amazing enthusiasm of the rangers and the privilege of sharing in their knowledge. Seeing the animals so close up, in the safety of our especially adapted safari vehicle. Elephants, giraffe, rhinos, zebra, hippos and a pride of Lions resting under the shade of the trees and not forgetting the smaller fry – Dung beetles, tortoise, locusts and other insects and a huge variety of birds.

I was joined by my husband when we travelled from Pretoria to Cape Town on the Blue Train. A luxury service akin to the Orient Express. Travelling through some dramatic scenery in ultimate comfort,in a luxury suite with an en suite shower. Fine a la carte dining, fine wines, and all drinks included. Big picture windows giving us good views as we went along, comfortable lounge chairs – the beds hidden away in the wall. In Cape Town we stayed with friends, we explored the Cape, finding time to visit the Penguins at Boulders Beach, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point.

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