Week in wildlife: a fish dinner and Galápagos wonders
And relax … a sea lion joins in on a beach siesta on San Cristóbal island, Galápagos, Ecuador Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
One of five a day … a giant tortoise snacks at Galápagos national park Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Sooty terns fill the skies as they return to Johnston Island, a tiny outcropping in the Pacific west of Hawaii. The atoll is a wildlife refuge and an important breeding ground for many birds, but it was used extensively by the US air force in the 20th century – as an airbase and a test site for nuclear and biological weapons, and storage for chemical weapons Photograph: Eric Baker/US Fish and Wildlife Service/Reuters
A one-horned rhino and calf in Chitwan national park, Nepal Photograph: Yunish Gurung/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock
A school of fish in Kicker Rock Islet near San Cristóbal island, Galápagos, Ecuador Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Ready for takeoff … an osprey makes a nest near the vehicle assembly building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US Photograph: Gregg Newton/AFP/Getty Images
A sea urchin collects food at Asi bay on the Turkish coast, near Rhodes Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Two great hammerhead sharks swim in Kicker Rock Islet near San Cristóbal island, Galápagos, Ecuador Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Fluff at first sight … great egret chicks snuggle up in their nest at Wakodahatchee wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida, US Photograph: Ronen Tivony/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock
A starfish clings to a rock on San Cristóbal island, Galápagos, Ecuador Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
A rescued macaw is released back into the wild after rehabilitation at an ecological reserve in Brasilia, Brazil, while its fellows wait their turn Photograph: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters
Black-bellied whistling ducks – also known as Mexican squealers – strike a pose at Green Cay wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida, US Photograph: Ronen Tivony/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock
A flock of atherina cut out daylight underwater at Asi bay, Turkey. Fossil-hunters have found evidence that there were atherina swimming in our oceans more than 11m years ago Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
An ancient parasitic wasp preserved in amber, found in Myanmar. Its back end resembles a Venus flytrap plant Photograph: Qiong Wu/AP
A thornback ray glides in Los Túneles, Galápagos, Ecuador Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Migrating frogs anticipate the breeding season as they make their way to a reservoir in eastern Slovakia Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
A dead humpback whale washed up at Følle Strand, Denmark Photograph: Mikkel Berg Pedersen/EPA
A shy brown booby chick peeks out from between its parent's legs on Sand Island, in the Johnston atoll national wildlife refuge Photograph: Ryan Rash/US Fish and Wildlife Service/Reuters
A sally lightfoot crab on the rocks at Galápagos national park, Ecuador Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
A whitetip reef shark near Santa Cruz island, Galápagos Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Bottoms up … a red-crested pochard dives in Mogan Lake, Turkey. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
A curious Galápagos lava lizard Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Fish dinner … an osprey takes its catch home at the Sebastian inlet state park in Melbourne Beach, Florida, US
Photograph: Ronen Tivony/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
12 hours ago
- Scotsman
Superb new spaces and fabulous food on board revamped Majestic Princess
My wife's favourite dessert is crème brûlée, so much so it was the crowning glory of our wedding breakfast. And she's mad on anything almondy - you know, cherry bakewell, marzipan and the like. So when an Amaretto Crème Brûlée was the pudding du jour in the Allegro restaurant on board the Majestic Princess, it was like Mars(ipan) had aligned with Venus as far as Karen was concerned, her eyes nearly as wide as the side plates when she excitedly pointed it out. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A twee intro I confess, but it just about sums up our experience on board this voluptuous vessel, just a couple of months out of dry dock after a major refurbishment. A brand spanking fresh look, sparkling new spaces, fabulous food and an amazing itinerary, all synergistically combined to make for us a fantastic week's foray into the Mediterranean. So, especially if you're new to cruising, let's first talk about what is included in the basic price of a cruise on board the Royal Class Majestic, a more than apt name for this sumptuous 3,560-guest, 18-deck, 143,700-tonner. Gleaming chrome and polished timbers abound, with elegant and contemporary decor, flooring and furnishings continually inspiring your awe and eliciting your gasps at every turn. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Majestic Princess has been refitted for 2025 | Princess All guests can expect a comfortable en-suite stateroom, complimentary dining venues including the three main waiter-service dining rooms Allegro, Symphony and Concerto, and the World Fresh Market place buffet, open from 6.30am until late for continuous consuming (note: take some elasticated trousers). Coffee, tea, tap water, lemonade, iced tea, and juices are also included. The fabled Princess entertainment, including daily activities and West End-quality stage shows in the Princess Theater, also form part of your fare, as is the MedallionClass experience, incorporating a wearable device. This ingenious little Medallion, supplied with a complimentary lanyard (or treat yourself to a watch/bangle from the ship's shop) is all you need to carry around while on board, serving as your room key (it unlocks the door as you near your room!), tallying up any bills or drinks allowances, and also acting as a 'finder' for AWOL co-cruisers. Via the OceanNow® delivery service, available with the Princess Plus and Premier packages, you can order a drink via the app (I'll get to this), go down a deck or five, and your waiter will still find you! The impressive Atrium and Piazza area | Princess Free to download from the Play /App Store is the Princess app, which as well as ordering your favourite cocktail while soaking up the sun, has everything else at the touch of a button, allowing users to access bookings, manage their cruise experiences, and interact with the MedallionClass digital features on board, including what's happening on board the ship, activity and entertainment-wise. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If, like me, you also like a paper version of things, the daily Princess Patter pamphlet, detailing everything in print, is conveniently delivered to your stateroom the evening before. Of course, things like drinks are extra so there are various packages you can buy to suit all tastes. Princess Standard is included in the basic fare and covers the core Princess® MedallionClass® Experience, so you can purchase drinks individually at bars and restaurants on the ship and these are charged to your on-board account. The Hollywood indoor pool | Princess The Princess Plus package offers the MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi (1 device per guest), crew appreciation and the Plus Beverage Package (15 drinks per day up to $15 each), unlimited juice bar, premium desserts (two per day), fitness classes (two per cruise), two casual dining meals per guest, OceanNow® delivery and room service delivery. This costs £50 pp/per day. For £75 pp/per day the Princess Premier Package offers the above plus Wi-Fi for up to four devices per guest, an unlimited Premier Beverage Package with drinks up to $20 each, unlimited premium desserts and fitness classes, a photo package of unlimited digital and three prints, unlimited speciality and casual dining meals and reserved theatre seating (for production shows only). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If you're not on the Princess Premier Package and wish to spoil yourselves, there are a la carte restaurant options onboard. These include The Crown Grill for a surf n turf experience par excellence, The Catch By Rudi, specialising in fine fish and succulent seafood, Alfredo's Pizzeria and Sabatini's Italian Trattoria, formerly Harmony Restaurant. A stateroom with balcony | Princess The latter is Princess' signature authentic Italian trattoria with a taste of Tuscany and beyond, featuring family recipes from handmade pastas to robust sauces and rich slow-braised meats. It's here we sampled the amazing Frescobaldi Grand Tuscan Dining Experience, a special evening dedicated to the heart of Italian hospitality, where we immersed ourselves into an exquisite six-course dining experience paired with Frescobaldi wines, designed to showcase the rich flavours of the Italian region. ($99pp) New spaces, I hear seasoned Majestic cruisers ask? I would first reassure them that the feel of the ship has not been compromised, rather an injection of appealing additions to complement the familiar features regulars look forward to year in year out. So, the former Vines Wines Bar has been given a Gaelic going over and is now O'Malley's pub, offering classic Irish comfort food paired with an extensive drinks choice including a curated selection of beers (including Guinness, obvs) and whiskey flights. Live music makes this place a great gathering place to enjoy the craic. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The clever Medallion! | Dean Mellor It's one of several 'open plan' bars in and around the glorious and ornate Piazza and, so to avoid clashes, when one live act finishes another one starts – a bit like the Jools Holland stages – giving the Piazza the air of a musical hub with many guests even happy to give the production shows a miss and just move their cocktails from bar to bar. The nearby Bellini's Cocktail Bar is another addition to Majestic's drinking venue line-up (10 in total). Inspired by the popular drink, bellinis and cocktails are served up and finessed with Italian flair by snazzily-suited staff. The Ocean Terrace Sushi Bar (extra cost applies) is also new, as are The Shops of Princess, Alfredo's Slice - a poolside pizza lover's paradise serving authentic Neapolitan pizza crafted from scratch and made to order, and the Salty Dog Cafe, a poolside grill serving cooked-to-order burgers, hot dogs, tacos, loaded fries and more. A fabulous fish dish in The Catch, by Rudi | Dean Mellor A unique feature on Majestic is the indoor Hollywood Pool Club. Covered by a glass dome, it provides a comfortable temperature regardless of the weather outside and ideal on cruises to cooler climes and for family swims. It gets its name courtesy of a Tinseltown-themed environment with luxurious loungers, sculptures, and topiaries. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There's so much more to talk about with excellent kids' and teens' clubs, the Grand Casino, Lotus Spa, Fitness Center - the list just goes on to keep everyone of any age entertained on this superb seafarer, but the final mention must go to the efficient, professional and ever-smiling staff who constantly strive for guest satisfaction - scratch that - guest delight. An amazing trip and ship, thoroughly did I mention that Majestic Princess will soon be sailing from Southampton? Keep on reading! One of the delicious desserts served on the Frescobaldi evening in Sabatini's | Dean Mellor So where did we go? We joined the cruise halfway during the voyage on this 10-day itinerary, the ship having already visited Athens, Mykonos, Rhodes and Kusadasi before we joined in Chania, Crete, then cruising on to Katakolon (for Olympia), Corfu, Naples and Civitavecchia (for Rome). There are myriad trips for each destination available from the Shore Excursions Desk, but we enjoyed the following. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Olympia & Archaeological Museum (from cruise port of Katakolon) We put on our walking shoes for a guided tour via headsets through ancient Olympia where the Olympics began over three millenniums ago. Our first destination was the Olympia Archaeological Site, home to the Temple of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Temple of Hera was also ours to explore, as was the stadium where the Olympics began nearly 1,500 years ago. Here's where more than 40,000 spectators would witness contests ranging from foot races to the pentathlon, and after nearly 1,500 years, the 2004 Olympic Games held the shot-put contest. A short walk away, the Archaeological Museum displays amazing artifacts from the site. Olympia, the original home of the Olympic games from 3,000 years ago | Dean Mellor Corfu Town & Cooking Demonstration A tour that wined and dined us! After a scenic 30-minute drive to the Corfu countryside, we arrived at a traditional restaurant, observing demonstrations of traditional Greek cooking before sitting down to a feast accompanied by wine. With a delicious meal behind us it was on to the island capital's Old Fortress, which stands guard over the harbour and Corfu and a guided tour of the town. Pompeii & Time On Your Own In Sorrento We spent a full day visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pompeii, marvelling at the archaeological excavations of a lost city buried beneath ashes from Mount Vesuvius's eruption in 79 AD. Our knowledgeable guide took us on a two-hour walking tour, pointing out the remains that hint at daily Roman life and how they entertained, decorated and lived. Highlights included stunning frescoes and mosaic-inlaid floors of wealthy homeowners' villas. We then travelled onto the beautiful city of Sorrento, where lemons abound! With 2.5 hours of free time there was plenty of opportunity to discover this charming place with splendid views of the sea and the colourful marina below, strolling the flower-filled main street, Corso Italia, lined with quaint boutiques and sidewalk cafes, and enjoying the must-have speciality - pizza! One of the quaint streets in Sorrento, Italy | Dean Mellor How to book Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As I mentioned Majestic Princess will be sailing from Southampton on a 12-night British Isles tour with France & Belfast. The cruise departs on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, calling at Cork (Cobh – for Blarney Castle), Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow (Greenock), Orkney Islands (Kirkwall), Invergordon, Edinburgh (South Queensferry) and Le Havre (for Paris/Normandy). Princess Standard fares start from £1,149pp*, based on two people sharing an inside stateroom. Princess Plus fares start from £2,049pp*, based on two people sharing a balcony stateroom. For more details, click here If you like the sound of the places we visited, sister ship Enchanted Princess will be sailing the Mediterranean next year on a similar itinerary. A 14-night Mediterranean, Aegean & Adriatic cruise, sailing roundtrip from Civitavecchia (for Rome), onboard Enchanted Princess. Cruise departs on Tuesday 26 May 2026, calling at Naples (for Capri & Pompeii), Santorini, Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Katakolon (for Olympia), Civitavecchia (for Rome), Corfu, Dubrovnik, Kotor and Naples (for Capri & Pompeii). Princess Standard fares start from £1,249pp*, based on two people sharing an inside stateroom. Princess Plus fares start from £2,819pp*, based on two people sharing a balcony stateroom. For more details, click here *Correct at time of writing Holiday Extras Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Holiday Extras' is the UK market leader in airport parking, lounges, and hotels – and last year its customers saved an average of £196 per trip by booking their airport parking in advance. Booking an Airport Hotel with Parking means you can enjoy more holiday with less hassle. Plus with Flextras, if you need to cancel, you can without charge. One night's accommodation in a Standard Room at the Premier Inn Heald Green with eight days' Meet & Greet Parking at Manchester Airport (T3) is available for £264.28. Based on arrival on Tuesday 8th July 2025. For more information and to book, visit Escape Lounge Manchester Airport's Escape Lounge is available in all three terminals and offers passengers to chance to put their feet up, catch up on last-minute business, or simply enjoy some peace and quiet as they enjoy the complimentary food and drink on offer. The lounge caters to passengers of all ages and offers fast unlimited Wi-Fi, flight information boards, bar service for complimentary alcoholic and soft drinks, along with buffet service for seasonal meals and snacks. Prices start from £33.99 when booked in advance. For more information or to book visit:
Scotsman
16 hours ago
- Scotsman
Superb new spaces and fabulous food on board revamped Majestic Princess
My wife's favourite dessert is crème brûlée, so much so it was the crowning glory of our wedding breakfast. And she's mad on anything almondy - you know, cherry bakewell, marzipan and the like. So when an Amaretto Crème Brûlée was the pudding du jour in the Allegro restaurant on board the Majestic Princess, it was like Mars(ipan) had aligned with Venus as far as Karen was concerned, her eyes nearly as wide as the side plates when she excitedly pointed it out. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A twee intro I confess, but it just about sums up our experience on board this voluptuous vessel, just a couple of months out of dry dock after a major refurbishment. A brand spanking fresh look, sparkling new spaces, fabulous food and an amazing itinerary, all synergistically combined to make for us a fantastic week's foray into the Mediterranean. So, especially if you're new to cruising, let's first talk about what is included in the basic price of a cruise on board the Royal Class Majestic, a more than apt name for this sumptuous 3,560-guest, 18-deck, 143,700-tonner. Gleaming chrome and polished timbers abound, with elegant and contemporary decor, flooring and furnishings continually inspiring your awe and eliciting your gasps at every turn. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad All guests can expect a comfortable en-suite stateroom, complimentary dining venues including the three main waiter-service dining rooms Allegro, Symphony and Concerto, and the World Fresh Market place buffet, open from 6.30am until late for continuous consuming (note: take some elasticated trousers). Coffee, tea, tap water, lemonade, iced tea, and juices are also included. The Majestic Princess has been refitted for 2025 The fabled Princess entertainment, including daily activities and West End-quality stage shows in the Princess Theater, also form part of your fare, as is the MedallionClass experience, incorporating a wearable device. This ingenious little Medallion, supplied with a complimentary lanyard (or treat yourself to a watch/bangle from the ship's shop) is all you need to carry around while on board, serving as your room key (it unlocks the door as you near your room!), tallying up any bills or drinks allowances, and also acting as a 'finder' for AWOL co-cruisers. Via the OceanNow® delivery service, available with the Princess Plus and Premier packages, you can order a drink via the app (I'll get to this), go down a deck or five, and your waiter will still find you! Free to download from the Play /App Store is the Princess app, which as well as ordering your favourite cocktail while soaking up the sun, has everything else at the touch of a button, allowing users to access bookings, manage their cruise experiences, and interact with the MedallionClass digital features on board, including what's happening on board the ship, activity and entertainment-wise. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If, like me, you also like a paper version of things, the daily Princess Patter pamphlet, detailing everything in print, is conveniently delivered to your stateroom the evening before. The impressive Atrium and Piazza area Of course, things like drinks are extra so there are various packages you can buy to suit all tastes. Princess Standard is included in the basic fare and covers the core Princess® MedallionClass® Experience, so you can purchase drinks individually at bars and restaurants on the ship and these are charged to your on-board account. The Princess Plus package offers the MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi (1 device per guest), crew appreciation and the Plus Beverage Package (15 drinks per day up to $15 each), unlimited juice bar, premium desserts (two per day), fitness classes (two per cruise), two casual dining meals per guest, OceanNow® delivery and room service delivery. This costs £50 pp/per day. For £75 pp/per day the Princess Premier Package offers the above plus Wi-Fi for up to four devices per guest, an unlimited Premier Beverage Package with drinks up to $20 each, unlimited premium desserts and fitness classes, a photo package of unlimited digital and three prints, unlimited speciality and casual dining meals and reserved theatre seating (for production shows only). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If you're not on the Princess Premier Package and wish to spoil yourselves, there are a la carte restaurant options onboard. These include The Crown Grill for a surf n turf experience par excellence, The Catch By Rudi, specialising in fine fish and succulent seafood, Alfredo's Pizzeria and Sabatini's Italian Trattoria, formerly Harmony Restaurant. The Hollywood indoor pool The latter is Princess' signature authentic Italian trattoria with a taste of Tuscany and beyond, featuring family recipes from handmade pastas to robust sauces and rich slow-braised meats. It's here we sampled the amazing Frescobaldi Grand Tuscan Dining Experience, a special evening dedicated to the heart of Italian hospitality, where we immersed ourselves into an exquisite six-course dining experience paired with Frescobaldi wines, designed to showcase the rich flavours of the Italian region. ($99pp) New spaces, I hear seasoned Majestic cruisers ask? I would first reassure them that the feel of the ship has not been compromised, rather an injection of appealing additions to complement the familiar features regulars look forward to year in year out. So, the former Vines Wines Bar has been given a Gaelic going over and is now O'Malley's pub, offering classic Irish comfort food paired with an extensive drinks choice including a curated selection of beers (including Guinness, obvs) and whiskey flights. Live music makes this place a great gathering place to enjoy the craic. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It's one of several 'open plan' bars in and around the glorious and ornate Piazza and, so to avoid clashes, when one live act finishes another one starts – a bit like the Jools Holland stages – giving the Piazza the air of a musical hub with many guests even happy to give the production shows a miss and just move their cocktails from bar to bar. A stateroom with balcony The nearby Bellini's Cocktail Bar is another addition to Majestic's drinking venue line-up (10 in total). Inspired by the popular drink, bellinis and cocktails are served up and finessed with Italian flair by snazzily-suited staff. The Ocean Terrace Sushi Bar (extra cost applies) is also new, as are The Shops of Princess, Alfredo's Slice - a poolside pizza lover's paradise serving authentic Neapolitan pizza crafted from scratch and made to order, and the Salty Dog Cafe, a poolside grill serving cooked-to-order burgers, hot dogs, tacos, loaded fries and more. A unique feature on Majestic is the indoor Hollywood Pool Club. Covered by a glass dome, it provides a comfortable temperature regardless of the weather outside and ideal on cruises to cooler climes and for family swims. It gets its name courtesy of a Tinseltown-themed environment with luxurious loungers, sculptures, and topiaries. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There's so much more to talk about with excellent kids' and teens' clubs, the Grand Casino, Lotus Spa, Fitness Center - the list just goes on to keep everyone of any age entertained on this superb seafarer, but the final mention must go to the efficient, professional and ever-smiling staff who constantly strive for guest satisfaction - scratch that - guest delight. An amazing trip and ship, thoroughly did I mention that Majestic Princess will soon be sailing from Southampton? Keep on reading! So where did we go? The clever Medallion! We joined the cruise halfway during the voyage on this 10-day itinerary, the ship having already visited Athens, Mykonos, Rhodes and Kusadasi before we joined in Chania, Crete, then cruising on to Katakolon (for Olympia), Corfu, Naples and Civitavecchia (for Rome). There are myriad trips for each destination available from the Shore Excursions Desk, but we enjoyed the following. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Olympia & Archaeological Museum (from cruise port of Katakolon) We put on our walking shoes for a guided tour via headsets through ancient Olympia where the Olympics began over three millenniums ago. Our first destination was the Olympia Archaeological Site, home to the Temple of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Temple of Hera was also ours to explore, as was the stadium where the Olympics began nearly 1,500 years ago. Here's where more than 40,000 spectators would witness contests ranging from foot races to the pentathlon, and after nearly 1,500 years, the 2004 Olympic Games held the shot-put contest. A short walk away, the Archaeological Museum displays amazing artifacts from the site. Corfu Town & Cooking Demonstration A tour that wined and dined us! After a scenic 30-minute drive to the Corfu countryside, we arrived at a traditional restaurant, observing demonstrations of traditional Greek cooking before sitting down to a feast accompanied by wine. With a delicious meal behind us it was on to the island capital's Old Fortress, which stands guard over the harbour and Corfu and a guided tour of the town. Pompeii & Time On Your Own In Sorrento We spent a full day visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pompeii, marvelling at the archaeological excavations of a lost city buried beneath ashes from Mount Vesuvius's eruption in 79 AD. Our knowledgeable guide took us on a two-hour walking tour, pointing out the remains that hint at daily Roman life and how they entertained, decorated and lived. Highlights included stunning frescoes and mosaic-inlaid floors of wealthy homeowners' villas. We then travelled onto the beautiful city of Sorrento, where lemons abound! With 2.5 hours of free time there was plenty of opportunity to discover this charming place with splendid views of the sea and the colourful marina below, strolling the flower-filled main street, Corso Italia, lined with quaint boutiques and sidewalk cafes, and enjoying the must-have speciality - pizza! How to book Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As I mentioned Majestic Princess will be sailing from Southampton on a 12-night British Isles tour with France & Belfast. The cruise departs on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, calling at Cork (Cobh – for Blarney Castle), Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow (Greenock), Orkney Islands (Kirkwall), Invergordon, Edinburgh (South Queensferry) and Le Havre (for Paris/Normandy). Princess Standard fares start from £1,149pp*, based on two people sharing an inside stateroom. Princess Plus fares start from £2,049pp*, based on two people sharing a balcony stateroom. For more details, click here If you like the sound of the places we visited, sister ship Enchanted Princess will be sailing the Mediterranean next year on a similar itinerary. A 14-night Mediterranean, Aegean & Adriatic cruise, sailing roundtrip from Civitavecchia (for Rome), onboard Enchanted Princess. Cruise departs on Tuesday 26 May 2026, calling at Naples (for Capri & Pompeii), Santorini, Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Katakolon (for Olympia), Civitavecchia (for Rome), Corfu, Dubrovnik, Kotor and Naples (for Capri & Pompeii). Princess Standard fares start from £1,249pp*, based on two people sharing an inside stateroom. Princess Plus fares start from £2,819pp*, based on two people sharing a balcony stateroom. For more details, click here *Correct at time of writing Holiday Extras Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Holiday Extras' is the UK market leader in airport parking, lounges, and hotels – and last year its customers saved an average of £196 per trip by booking their airport parking in advance. Booking an Airport Hotel with Parking means you can enjoy more holiday with less hassle. Plus with Flextras, if you need to cancel, you can without charge. One night's accommodation in a Standard Room at the Premier Inn Heald Green with eight days' Meet & Greet Parking at Manchester Airport (T3) is available for £264.28. Based on arrival on Tuesday 8th July 2025. For more information and to book, visit Escape Lounge Manchester Airport's Escape Lounge is available in all three terminals and offers passengers to chance to put their feet up, catch up on last-minute business, or simply enjoy some peace and quiet as they enjoy the complimentary food and drink on offer. The lounge caters to passengers of all ages and offers fast unlimited Wi-Fi, flight information boards, bar service for complimentary alcoholic and soft drinks, along with buffet service for seasonal meals and snacks.
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- South Wales Argus
Night Sky column: SpaceX failed launch and much more
It was the sixth and final mission of NASA's illustrious Apollo era on December 19, 1972, that last saw us set foot on another world. With NASA's own Artemis program plagued by technical issues which have subsequently seen the timeframe for a return to the Moon pushed back time and time again, the space agency is also facing spiralling financial costs, having already spent billions more than anticipated, with a total of $93 billion racked up so far. Furthermore, the axe-happy Trump administration who whereas are naturally keen for America to be first in the queue to place a crewed spacecraft on both the Moon and Mars, has cut the very budget that underpins such missions. It seemed the perfect opportunity for the new kid on the spaceflight block Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, to show that the private sector is not punching above its weight when it comes to such aspirations. However, SpaceX's own Starship megarocket, (the most powerful rocket ever built), has again failed during a test flight that was launched from Texas on Tuesday, May 27. After approximately 30 minutes into the flight, Musk's thoroughbred suffered problems with leaking fuel which made Starship spin out of control after having successfully achieved orbit. SpaceX described the subsequent breaking apart of the rocket as a 'rapid unscheduled disassembly' with Mr Musk citing that compared to the last two launches that took place in January and March, it was a 'big improvement' from the previous demonstrations that ended in flaming debris over the Indian Ocean. This was the ninth outing for Starship with each launch costing $100 million. It's the last opportunity to catch artist's Luke Jerram's impressive seven-metre representation of 'the sun' at Dyffryn Gardens near Cardiff. Helios is expected to be on display on the South Lawn on both Saturday and Sunday, but do check ahead with the National Trust first before venturing out. Helios, from the ancient Greek God who personifies the Sun, will then depart to continue its nationwide tour with London, then the West Midlands the next two ports of call. Venus remains on view in the morning sky and at the start of June reaches its greatest distance above the horizon. Currently sat in the constellation of Aries, Venus is unmistakeable as the brightest object on view, totally dominating the eastern portion of the night sky before daybreak. Mars will be the only planet on view in the evening sky in the constellation of Leo, setting an hour or so after midnight but still easily recognisable as a reddish-looking star in the southwest after sunset. The International Space Station's changing orbital path means that this week it cannot be seen from our skies. Send your astrophotography pictures to: thenightsky@
