Merry Christmas and here is to a Very Happy 2017.

I can’t quite believe that I am sat here and we are only a couple of days away from the big day, so I wanted to take a moment to wish all my past, current and future guests a very Merry Christmas and all the best for a Happy 2017. Since starting here at Cruise.co.uk back just under 4 years ago, I have made some very good friends, as those who I have had the pleasure of speaking to you all know I talk to much but for those endless chats its been great, and I look forward to getting to know more of you in 2017. Even if it’s just for a chat, just pick up the phone!

2016 has been an eventful year with the launch of the Ovation of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas earlier in the year, Queen Mary 2 undertaking her much needed refit and the launch of the Regent Seven Seas Explorer which is the most expensive ship built for the Luxury Market!

2017 is what I think set to be a quieter year, Celebrity have announced that they are moving the Equinox out of the Med, no Oasis Class in Europe at all, but we do have a couple of new ships and the most anticipated will be the MSC Meraviglia and MSC Seaside, NCL Joy which will grace the shores of Alaska and the Majestic Princess which will do a short stint in the Med before heading the Far East and not to forgot the Seabourn Encore and the Silver Muse for Seabourn and Silversea’s. We will also see the return of an old favourite to Cruise and Maritime under the name of Columbus, formally the old Arcadia and Ocean Village.

Looking further forward Royal Caribbean are set to launch quite a few more ships with the first being the Forth Oasis Class in 2018, Celebrity will bring out the Celebrity Edge too, Carnival will bring out the New Vista Class – Carnival Horizon. 2018 will see MSC based the MSC Magnifica out of Southampton for a full season and then 2019 she will embark on MSC’s first ever World Cruise, before 2020 which will see P&O bring out a new larger vessel.

The Cruising world is constantly expanding and this old attitude that Cruising is just for the Rich, Old and Boring market really has gone out of the window, and if you are reading this as a Virgin Cruiser why not make 2017 your year when you feel in Love with Cruising and I can assure you that you will be in good company.

So that’s all folks for 2016 from me, so have a very Merry Christmas, over indulge and have fun.

Speak to you all in 2017!