Costa Fortuna Report

Just spent a week away on the Costa Fortuna. We took advantage of Costa's own flights with British Airways and flew directly from Gatwick to Venice.  A near seamless transfer was spoiled slightly by a very lengthy and disorganised check in procedure.

First impressions were good though of the ship. She is a large vessel accommodating well over 3000 guests in a variety of cabins. We took advantage of a late deal offer and were allocated a roomy inside cabin, with a jolly cabin steward who did everything he could to make our stay enjoyable.

Good points: An interesting itinerary-  Venice - Bari - Katakolon  for Olympia - Santorini  - Mykonos  - Rhodes - Dubrovnik - Venice.
The entertainment was different and varied each night with something for everyone.

The NOT so good points: A large number of children on board, surprising for this time of year, but we learned later that in Italy the children have about 3 months off in the summer which explains a lot.

The food was a disaster for the first 3 days and the service in the restaurant even worse. To be fair both improved greatly later in the week, but I was not really that impressed with the variety and quality of the food. As to the service, Costa charge a compulsory Euro 7.00 per person per day gratuity fee and I got the distinct impression had they not done so, this may have inspired staff in all areas of the ship to try that bit harder. Most were surly at best and chose sometimes even to ignore their customers. Of course there were exceptions but these were sadly few and far between.
On board prices are in Euros and were in my experience over priced, particularly soft drinks and photographs.
So, who would it suit? I had to rack my brains a little here, but I would suggest a family wanting a European holiday experience as opposed to a British experience would love it. That said, there were many honeymooners on board from across the World. Most had a great time from what I heard. I think on balance you have to look at the price you pay for the holiday and remember the old adage, 'you only get what you pay for.'

Did I enjoy the experience? Yes, I did despite my comments. If I could give one word of advice it would be to book a balcony cabin though. During the cruise the sun decks and pool areas get very busy and the crew create a lively atmosphere with different games and events taking place throughout the day. Combine this with the large numbers on board and it can get very noisy up top, with few areas to escape to a quiet corner. The advantage of the balcony - well worth paying the extra for in my opinion - gives you a bolt hole to escape to when you want to have that quiet time out doors, soaking up the sun or quietly reading. Would I do it again?
No. To be honest it was not my sort of cruise, but I can see the appeal for others and just because it was not my 'cup of tea' does not mean that others would not have a fantastic time.

Shore excursions are rather expensive on board, but in most ports of call a must, as the time in each port with the exception of Rhodes is only a few short hours. For reasons of safety and security therefore I would advise those wanting to go ashore to take these arranged excursions rather than go independently. You would not want to be late back to the ship as it would not wait for you if you were.

Stay focused on the price you are paying and you will not go far wrong. If you would like more details of this or any other cruise then please contact me for independent and free advice.

‘You only get what you pay for...'

The summer holiday booking season is looming large on us again and many of us, including myself, are starting to think about what amounts to a major purchase once more.

Many will turn to the internet again this year, some perhaps for the first time. Some WILL be disappointed in doing so, either before or after the event, so ask yourself these questions, before you start planning and think carefully, before you part with your hard earned cash.

Why is it cheaper to book on line than through you?

A. Yes, it is sometimes cheaper, but not always. Many tour operators now prefer you to book on line as they then own you and your details. They often give you a booking incentive usually by way of an on line discount to do this.

Why can you not offer the same price?

A. Sometimes I can, but on some occasions the tour operator uses the commission it would give to Travel Counsellors to give you this discount. If I were to match the price I would have to give you more than my commission to do this, so I would be making your booking at a loss.

Why do you charge a booking fee to book an air ticket?

A. Airline operators no longer pay Travel Agents a commission, so in order for us to book tickets we must raise a charge to do this. The charge depends on the cost and complexity of the reservation, but it is usually between £30.00 to £50.00 per ticket.

However, Travel Counsellors have negotiated special contracts with most airlines so we are able to offer air tickets cheaper or about the same as if you booked your ticket on line. In this event we do not raise a booking fee.

Why should I book with you and not directly online?

Booking on line is fine so long as you are confident in what you are doing. However, you need to be happy about the answers to these questions before doing so. If you are unsure about any aspect of your journey then you should seek professional advice and avoid booking online.


1. If things go wrong is there a contact number I can call that will offer me a quick and helpful response? Beware hidden phone charges, and try the number to see if you get a response.

2. Is the Company I am booking through covered against financial failure? ATOL is a good cover, but check to make sure the ATOL number actually does belong to the company with whom you are about to give a lot of money to before you do. Travel Counsellors has an ATOL License no 6751. Travel Counsellors also offers our clients a unique financial guarantee against operator failure on top of ATOL so your money is 100% secure. I can provide full details on request.

3. Who do I contact if I need to make a change and how much is it going to cost me?

You need to read the small print of any online booking carefully before confirming a reservation. You need to be sure of what to do if you need to change a reservation, and if you can change it, how much it is going to cost you to do so?


Remember, if you chose to book on line you, and only you, are responsible for the booking and liable if things do not work out how you expect them to.

Every day I hear of some issue or other from people who have gone on line and fallen foul of booking conditions or unscrupulous traders. My list of examples is a long one.


Travel Companies have had a very rough ride through the recent recession and this has left many operators financially weak and liable to take overs, and financial failures if another major catastrophe (recent volcano) were to hit again. The world is a volatile place with wars, political unrest and natural events all playing a role in effecting travel plans.

4. What happens if my flight is cancelled or delayed because of the volcano in Iceland?

A. Many people have their own travel insurance these days. If you are one of those make sure, before you book, they have a clause that will protect you from additional expense in the event of a cancellation or delay to your holiday travel as a result of a natural event such as the volcano. Travel Counsellors were among the first to react to the recent volcano event and have negotiated protection for our customers taking our own insurance against a delay or cancellation to your holiday in the event of an incident out of your control e.g. a natural disaster like the volcano.

You can book online and save yourself a few coppers maybe, but what price would you pay for a reliable professional service, where you can make all your arrangements with one person who has over 35 years of experience in this fantastic industry? With me and Travel Counsellors your money and your holiday is in safe hands. You will always get to talk to the same person – me; unless I am away on holiday myself – not often - and then a close colleague. You will have financial security too, in fact the only real thing we cannot cover for you is the weather.

Before you book your next holiday on line, why not try my own service first, to see if I can get you your dream break at a price that fits your budget. Don’t get caught out this summer like some will. Remember the saying above.

Oceania cruises - Regatta Ship Visit

I had the pleasure to attend, as a guest, a ship visit yesterday in Dover on board the Oceania Regatta.

It was a pleasure too.
Oceania cruises position themselves just below the super luxury cruise companies like Seabourn, Silverseas and Crystal, offering fantastic value for money cruises to destinations around the world. All their ships are designed with style and comfort in mind, giving the feel of a Country Club Hotel atmosphere. Quiet, sophisticated public areas and cabins generously large and well appointed.
The emphasis of an Oceania cruise is very much on the food quality and the destinations and shore excursions they provide.

The food trust me is exquisite. I show the menu we enjoyed at luncheon, beautifully prepared and presented by staff, well trained in discrete and efficient service. Nothing was too much trouble.

The itineraries Oceania cruises provide their guests offer much more than just the average cruise. Half day excursions will tempt you into exploring a destination further, giving a taster, if you will, of the what is on offer. The full day programme presents you with more of an adventure type experience. Overnight stays during itineraries are not uncommon, which provide ample time to savour the delights of a port at night. I think particularly of Barcelona, which comes to life at night time. Most cruise lines will overnight in St Petersburg, not Oceania cruises. Three days is often offered enabling a more in depth experience of this fascinating and beautiful destination.

Space, relaxation and comfort are the essence of an Oceania cruise. All cabins are larger than most other cruise lines offering concierge class and suite accommodation. I particularly liked the penthouse cabins and would recommend the concierge upgrade on lower deck grades too, as it is well worth the small additional charge.

For those requiring more space still, the Vista and Owner suites will not disappoint, luxuriously appointed with all the trappings of quality you would expect.

There are generous savings to be made at all cabin grades, particularly with on board credit offers and special excursion packages. Be prepared to book early though as all Oceania Cruises book very quickly usually leaving those slow off the mark with only waiting list availability. As a preferred agent for Oceania cruises I am able to offer customers exclusive deals on cruise only and cruise package itineraries.

Watch out for 2011 too with the launch of Oceania's newest vessel the Marina.  At double the size she will not accommodate double the passengers. She has been designed to offer even more space to her passengers with cabins over 30% bigger than her smaller counterparts. the list of her amenities is substantial. So why go larger?
Many perspective cruise passengers want the feel, ambiance and character of smaller ships but are nervous of the small size should they hit choppy waters.  The additional size Marina offers will no doubt belay any such feelings, enabling those new to cruise particularly to book with confidence.

I must mention the food  one more time. I have cruised on 26 different ships in my life time to date and looked over and sampled many many more. All ships offer good quality food, but I can honestly say, hand on heart, I have never sampled food of the quality on board Regatta. The steak I ate simply dissolved in the mouth. I cut it with my fork, it was so tender, and cooked, of course, to perfection.

Oceania Cruise Line in my opinion meets all the essentials that make any holiday a truly memorable experience; quality, choice and value for money.

Coming home for Spring...

Spring Cruise from South Africa


The World Cup will be long gone, the summer season will be coming to a close in South Africa. What will you be doing?
If you are one of the sensible who escape the UK cold winter and return to welcome in the Springtime then this could be a holiday for you.

Why fly when you can cruise?

The Crystal Serenity as part of her world tour in 2011 visits Cape Town on 17th April and then spends 3 leisurely weeks cruising back to Dover for London via the West Coast of Africa. Enjoying multi star award winning facilities you can join her.

Among the many inclusions on board you will also welcome I am sure:

$1000.00 per person on board spend
All gratuities included
FREE flight from London to Cape Town.
Pay before 03October and receive a further 3.5% discount too!

These are exclusive prices only bookable through myself.
At just £6988.00 per person in a deluxe Ocean View cabin or a very tempting £7478.00 per person in a deluxe balcony cabin, the prices are fantastic.

For full details of this once in a lifetime opportunity to do something really special. Contact me today.