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The Independent
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
From breakfast with a Eurovision winner to dancing to Bon Jovi: My wild weekend on a 1980s cruise
The usually grey docks of London Tilbury were positively glowing as my wife and I approached the cruise terminal on an early morning in May. Not from the sunshine, you understand, but from the amount of neon and Lycra-clad passengers about to board Ambassador Cruise Line's Ambience – the most I'd seen in one place since Wham! topped the charts. We stood amongst a sea of passengers in dungarees, technicolour shirts and 'Choose Life' T-shirts, ready to step aboard and rewind to what many describe as the most flamboyant decade of all – the 1980s. I felt wildly underdressed in a plain polo shirt, but we were all there with the same aim: to spend a weekend reliving the decade that brought us MTV, big hair and shoulder pads. Ambassador Cruise Line isn't the most obvious choice for a 'Back to the 1980s' cruise. Despite the average age of cruise passengers falling, Ambassador usually markets its premium value cruises to the over-50s, many of whom enjoy the bridge and knitting rooms on board. My peers in the travel industry raised an eyebrow when I told them who I would be sailing with. But unlike Ambassador, which only launched in 2022, I have foggy childhood memories of the music, the fashion, and the food of the 1980s, as I was born two years after the UK won the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest. That was an anecdote I kept to myself one morning as my wife and I shared a table and slices of toast at breakfast with 1980s pop legend Cheryl Baker, who helped lead Bucks Fizz to that historic Eurovision victory. A legal dispute over the Bucks Fizz trademark means Baker can't use the name in performances anymore, but she now tours alongside original band member Jay Aston as well as Nikk Mager and Matthew Pateman as The Fizz, a headline act during our sailing. During a performance in The Palladium theatre on board, Baker proudly reminded the crowd of her Eurovision success as she belted out a line from this year's entry with slightly less certainty. It may be more than 40 years since Baker and Aston topped the charts, but they haven't lost any of their enthusiasm or energy. My wife and I danced in the aisles to a medley of songs by Queen and Bucks Fizz classics such as 'Land of Make Believe' and, of course, the winning Eurovision tune 'Making Your Mind Up', with the trademark skirt rip from their band members wowing the crowd on board. And the nostalgia trip didn't stop there. The entire ship felt like a floating time capsule. Fancy dress spanned generations – Hi-de-Hi!-like yellow coats mingled with guests wearing Top Gun aviators in the bars, swapping stories about visits to chocolate shops, cheese factories and tulip fields on the ship's stops in Amsterdam and Zeebrugge, while mulleted men channelled Pat Sharp with no sense of embarrassment. I thought that my George Michael leather jacket, tinted glasses and 'Choose Life' T-shirt combo would turn heads, but I was completely outdone by my fellow passengers. The costumes were strong enough to get some passengers on stage in The Palladium theatre. Fellow headliner and former 1980s punk singer Toyah Wilcox invited a duo of Guns N' Roses impersonators to play air guitar while she sang 'Sweet Child of Mine', a mash-up more than four decades in the making. Even dinner got in on the action, with a themed menu of comforting classics from the era. A chicken Kiev brought memories of Saturday afternoon meals before settling down to watch Bananaman or You Bet. For dessert, there was a boozy trifle that positively screamed Christmas, and a tiramisu Viennetta with that perfect 'crack' that had my wife and I reminiscing, moony-eyed about the freezer meals of our youth. While many of the characters and performers we encountered around the ship may have been at their peak while my wife and I were youngsters, nevertheless, this golden age of culture was immense fun to be a part of. These were the meals our parents served us, the programmes they watched and the bands we heard on the radio during the school run. Despite initial concerns about the passenger demographic, we as 40-somethings didn't feel out of place as we spent our evenings at the themed discos dancing along to classics from Bon Jovi and Wham! with groups celebrating their 50th and older birthdays. There were passengers younger than us there too, many trying out a cruise for the first time. From 'Living on a Prayer' to 'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go', these songs still blast from party speakers today; they are the songs that make you sing along even if you weren't there the first time. It made me wonder though… in 40 years, when my kids are reminiscing about their youth, will they board a 2020s-themed cruise? Which artist of today will still feel current? Will they be having breakfast with Ed Sheeran? Or will the bigger miracle be the UK winning Eurovision again?
TTG
07-05-2025
- Business
- TTG
Ambassador, Crystal Ski, Domes Resorts: all the latest travel trade people moves
TTG 's weekly round-up of all the latest appointments, promotions, restructurings and farewells from across the trade is the definitive digest of the travel trade people moves you need to know about. Moves this week see Ambassador Cruise Line take on a new business development executive to support agents in the Midlands, while a former Classic Collection head of sales has joined Domes Resorts as its new UK and Ireland sales and marketing manager. Meanwhile, Tui has promoted Scott Britton to head up its ski brand, Crystal Ski Holidays, after his predecessor Chris Logan transitioned into a new UK and Ireland commercial director role earlier this year. Elsewhere, Delta Air Lines has a new UK and Ireland sales manager, while Wavemaker Hospitality has recruited a new sales, marketing and promotions executive. So here are the latest major travel trade hires, promotions and job moves over the past week (Wednesday 30 April to Wednesday 7 May). Have you recently made a new appointment or taken on a new role? Do you have some personnel news for us from your business or organisation? Drop us an email at feedback@ Ambassador appoints new business development exec for the Midlands Ambassador Cruise Line has appointed Laura Holmes business development executive for the South Midlands. Reporting to divisional sales manager for the south, Louise Tansey, Holmes will be tasked with fostering existing commercial relationships while maximising sales opportunities and driving trade partnerships. 'The addition of someone of Laura's experience illustrates just how highly we value our agent partners, who can rest assured Ambassador will be with them every step of the way as we look to continue serving both the business and our partners in the most effective and productive way possible,' said interim head of trade Karen Cameron. Prior to joining Ambassador, Holmes held a number of roles during her 16-year travel career – including spells as a Mid-Counties Co-op branch manager and Tui travel advisor. Holmes's appointment follows Ambassador's merger with French operator Compagnie Francaise de Croisieres earlier this year. Former Classic sales chief returns to travel with Domes Resorts Former Classic Collection head of sales Joanna Moran has returned to travel after joining Domes Resorts as sales and marketing manager for the UK and Ireland. She will report into director of sales and marketing Penny Naoum. Prior to joining Domes, Moran spent nearly 19 years at Classic before stepping away from travel when she joined luxury retailer Harvey Nichols in September 2023. 'Joining Domes Resorts is an exciting new chapter," said Moran. "I've admired the brand's energy, ambition, and uniqueness for years. I'm looking forward to reconnecting with trade partners and contributing to the continued growth of such an inspiring hospitality group.' Naoum added: 'What stood out about Jo was her bubbly and warm personality, extensive knowledge and strong trade relationships. Combined with her strategic insight, professionalism and collaborative mindset, she is the perfect addition to our expanding team. Joanna brings a trusted voice and a dynamic presence to the Domes UK network, and we are all truly thrilled to have her onboard." Long-serving strategy and ops lead to head up Tui ski brand Scott Britton, who joined Tui-owned Crystal Ski Holidays' contact centre more than 15 years ago, has risen through the ranks and will now head up the brand. Tui said Britton had played a "vital role shaping the company's strategy and operations over the years". "Having started my career working in the Crystal contact centre more than 16 years ago, I've gained valuable insights into what our customers truly value. I look forward to working with our talented team to enhance our ski proposition." Britton joined Tui in 2008 and has worked in various roles across the business, from contact centre to key commercial positions. He succeeds Chris Logan, who has taken over from Philip Iveson as Tui's commercial director in the UK and Ireland. Delta Air Lines names new UK and Ireland sales manager Delta Air Lines has promoted Kate Devereux to the role of UK and Ireland sales manager. She joined Delta in March 2016 as leisure sales senior account manager, a role she held until her promotion this month. An industry veteran with nearly 25 years' industry experience, Devereux has worked at some of the biggest names in aviation, including Singapore Airlines, Tui and United Airlines. Her promotion comes after regional sales manager Nadia Clinton stepped down earlier this year after 30 years with the company. Former Travel 2 consultant to head Vista's new touring division Hays Travel has appointed former Travel 2 tours consultant Heather Hutton as the head of its in-house operator Vista's new touring division. Hutton, who has nearly 20 years' industry experience, will lead the dedicated touring team, promoting escorted, independent and small-group tours. 'We have seen rapid growth in demand for authentic experiences, from safaris in Kenya to wine tours in Australia," said Vista's head of sales Kathleen Molloy. "Agents need someone with experience at the end of the phone to help create bespoke itineraries in response to their customers' requests." Hutton joined Vista in November 2020 after Dnata Travel Group decided to merge its Travel 2 and Gold Medal brands. Great Little Breaks names Chris Cundall's successor Great Little Breaks (GLB) has appointed Stephen Thompson, a former travel agent, as its new national sales manager following the departure of Chris Cundall, who left the business last year. In his new role, Thompson will provide on-the-road support for agents across the country, delivering training events, webinars and fam opportunities. He will report into Catherine Garrett, GLB's head of sales and operations. Thompson said: "We have some exciting things coming up this year and there will be a lot to update and re-engage agents with. In previous years, there were certain areas of the country that got all of our focus, so I'm planning to get out to areas that may have not been covered as much to introduce them to GLB as well as looking after our existing key partners." He added: "My message to our agents is that I'm really looking forward to working with and supporting them, and am always looking for new ways we can help them promote more of UK to their customers." Thompson worked for Bath Travel prior to its acquisition by Hays Travel. He later worked on P&O Cruises' future sales desk before returning to Hays as a branch manager until 2020. He has gone on to hold roles at travel app start-up Orbzii and online family attraction ticket specialist Picniq. Previous Article Is this the ultimate US beach destination?
Forbes
04-05-2025
- Forbes
Not Forgetting The Past, Belfast Cruise Port Now Welcomes The World
Belfast City Hall is a landmark building in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It may not be the first city that springs to mind when you think of a cruise , but guests visiting Belfast cruise port are in for a rich and rewarding experience. Many cruise visitors use Belfast as a gateway to the Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland's famous natural wonder. While the scenic coastal route is stunning, the full excursion requires several hours of driving and a fair amount of walking. For those who prefer to stay closer to the ship, Belfast itself offers more than enough to fill a memorable day ashore. With its grand public buildings, dynamic arts scene, and a history that is both proud and painful, Northern Ireland's capital offers far more than meets the eye. Whether you're drawn to the story of the Titanic, intrigued by the legacy of The Troubles, or simply want to soak up the buzz of a city rapidly reinventing itself, Belfast delivers one of the most thought-provoking port days in the British Isles. While Belfast may not yet rival Europe's busiest cruise hubs, it's quickly gaining momentum as a port of call. According to Belfast Harbour, the city is set to welcome nearly 150 cruise ship visits in 2025, representing 31 different cruise lines. Ten ships are scheduled to call at Belfast for the first time, and Ambassador Cruise Line will begin eight roundtrip itineraries from the port. Belfast frequently appears on British Isles cruises but also serves as a compelling stopover on longer itineraries to and from Iceland, with departures from ports such as Southampton, Amsterdam, and beyond. One downside is the port's location, which sits several miles from both the Titanic Quarter and central Belfast. This means cruise visitors will need to rely on shuttle buses, taxis, or sightseeing tours to reach the city's main attractions. No visit to Belfast is complete without a stop at Titanic Belfast, the city's flagship attraction built on the very site where the ill-fated ocean liner was designed, constructed, and launched. Titanic Belfast is one of Northern Ireland's most popular attractions. This award-winning museum is housed in a striking, angular building that mirrors the scale and shape of Titanic's prow—an architectural landmark in its own right. Inside, nine immersive galleries guide visitors through Belfast's shipbuilding heritage, the grandeur of Titanic's interiors, and the events leading up to the disaster, as well as the legacy that followed. Rather than simply displaying information boards and artifacts in glass cases, the museum offers an immersive experience featuring interactive exhibits, digital reconstructions, and even an amusement park-style ride through a recreated shipyard. It's a powerful, often emotional experience that blends industrial ambition with personal tragedy. Despite the somber subject matter, cruise ship visitors shouldn't hesitate to make the museum a priority. In fact, the final galleries, which explore the Titanic's legacy and the maritime safety improvements that followed, offer a valuable sense of perspective and progress. Cruise visitors should allow at least two hours to explore the museum, and ideally extra time to visit the adjacent SS Nomadic, a restored White Star Line tender ship included in the admission price. At the heart of this is 'The Troubles'—a decades-long conflict that, from the late 1960s to the late 1990s, brought violence and deep division to Northern Ireland, and beyond. The conflict was rooted in political and national identity, primarily between two communities: unionists, mostly Protestant, who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, and nationalists, mostly Catholic, who sought reunification with the Republic of Ireland. Sightseeing bus tours of Belfast include the 'peace walls' and detailed commentary about the conflict known as 'The Troubles'. More than 3,500 people lost their lives in a conflict that touched nearly every part of life in Belfast. While peace has largely held since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, the legacy of The Troubles remains visible and deeply personal. For visitors, understanding this context in advance helps make sense of the powerful stories found in its streets and public spaces. Hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses are often easy to dismiss as overpriced or inefficient, especially in compact cities. But in Belfast, they're genuinely worth considering, particularly for first-time visitors with limited time ashore. The routes offer more than just a quick overview of the city's landmarks; they provide crucial context for Belfast's complex political and cultural history. Tours include guided narration that explains the legacy of 'The Troubles', taking visitors through the city's most divided neighborhoods. The drive along the Falls Road and Shankill Road reveals a living history of murals, memorial gardens, and peace walls; sites that are powerful, sobering, and deeply informative. It's an experience that's hard to replicate on foot without local insight. The tours also include stops at key attractions like Titanic Belfast, Belfast City Hall, and Crumlin Road Gaol, making them a convenient way to get around while learning about the city's layered identity. Keep in mind that several companies operate sightseeing tours in Belfast, and tickets are not always interchangeable. It's worth checking the route and schedules carefully before buying. In central Belfast, grand public buildings like Belfast City Hall showcase the city's Victorian confidence and are well worth a closer look. Belfast City Hall is a striking landmark in central Belfast. Nearby, the Linen Quarter and Cathedral Quarter are buzzing with cafes, street art, and pubs, blending the old and new, and British and Irish culture, with surprising ease. For those interested in history and architecture, Crumlin Road Gaol offers a guided tour through a former Victorian prison that operated for over 150 years. Alternatively, the Queen's University grounds, Ulster Museum and adjoining Botanic Gardens provide a quieter, more reflective experience and are easily reached from the city center. If time allows, simply walking the streets of central Belfast reveals the city's many contrasts, from regeneration to remembrance, and a creative spirit that continues to define this evolving capital.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Royal Caribbean deals with violent drunk; Tests man overboard tech
It's actually fairly rare that you see drunken idiocy on cruise ships. People will certainly sometimes have too many drinks, but cruise ship security tends to get involved before the situation becomes too serious. Bartenders and servers are also well-trained in observing when someone is nearing their limit or has already had too they just do something subtle like offer the passenger a bottle of water. In other cases, they may just slow walk service to that passenger. It's rare that things become an issue, but bartenders will shut someone off if they're obviously intoxicated. Security only gets involved when the passenger has an issue with that situation. If that happens, the person involved is usually given the option of returning to their room (and staying there for the night) or risking more dire consequences. It's rare that things get more serious, but they did on one recent Royal Caribbean ship and Doug Parker has all the news on Cruise News is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning. Here's your cruise news for Tuesday, April 1. A late-night incident aboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas left passengers rattled on early Monday morning after a reportedly drunk man caused a disturbance on other people's balconies. Yeah, now according to witnesses on the March 27 sailing, the man accessed the Vitality Spa on deck 11, then went outside, hopped a railing, and began moving across the junior suites on 11. Now, around 1 a.m., he started banging on doors, flipping over furniture, and threw a chair overboard. Ship security responded and detained him. No injuries were reported. A reminder to always keep your balcony doors locked, especially at one cruise line is now testing a cutting-edge AI system called ZOE, designed to detect and track anyone who falls overboard. Now, using infrared cameras with a 360-degree view of the ship and smart sensors, ZOE alerts the bridge team in real time. It continuously tracks the person in the water, even in darkness or in rough seas, helping crews respond faster and hopefully saving a life. This new tech that Ambassador Cruise Line is using adds an extra layer of both safety and eyes for the navigational team. 19 people were reported overboard last year. And Morella Cruises, a UK-based cruise line, is entering the Newbuild market for the first time, signing a deal with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for two cruise ships. Now, while less familiar to North American cruisers, Morella is part of the TUI Group, a company that is a joint venture with Royal Caribbean Group. The ships, set for delivery in 2030 and 2032, will target the British market. If you have a lead on a story, let us know. Tips@ Have yourself a great Tuesday. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today.
