Your June 2024 Update from Michael Wilson

Hello and welcome to my June update!

I’m delighted to share that we’ve had another busy and successful month; our recent bank holiday bonus cashback promotions were a hit, with many of you securing your future holidays. This leads me to reveal that while business remains strong here at Bolsover Cruise Club, there’s a notable difference to last year: all operators have significantly less capacity available for 2024 sailings due to the prevailing trend of early booking. As a result, fares are strong, and last-minute discount pricing is scarce. If you’re considering cruising in 2024, I strongly recommend exploring your options now to avoid disappointment later.

Since my last update, I attended a very glitzy BAFTA awards ceremony in London. For the second consecutive year, P&O Cruises sponsored the annual BAFTAs at the Royal Festival Hall, and the coverage generated significant interest in the brand, which led to a substantial spike in bookings. I was delighted to join P&O Cruises senior management at the event, where I had the pleasure of mingling with the stars, and even sat next to Martin McCann and Sian Brooke during the ceremony. They’ve recently starred in the BBC One series ‘Blue Lights’, which I highly recommend if you haven’t already seen it.

As I am on the subject of P&O Cruises, I am excited to announce we are once again offering a complimentary hamper (worth over £60) when you book selected sailings. A number of destinations are included in the promotion, including the Caribbean, Norwegian Fjords and Mediterranean, and the deal applies to Select Price or Early Saver fare bookings made before 31 July 2024. You can view the full list of applicable cruises on our website, so take a look and speak to our Cruise Experts on 01246 819819 if there is anything that catches your eye. 

I would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to an article we recently published about how dietary requirements are catered for on P&O Cruises ships. I know this is an area of concern for anyone who needs their allergies, intolerances and special diets to be taken into consideration when they sail, so hopefully this communication will help clarify what happens on board. The best advice I can offer is to make your requirements known at the time of booking so we can relay these to P&O Cruises, and let us know if there are any changes as you count down to your cruise. If you have any questions, please discuss them with your Cruise Expert when making your booking.

A recent case has highlighted another important topic that could impact your holiday plans: the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) when travelling to the United States. To visit any part of the USA visa-free, you must complete an ESTA application before travelling. One of the questions on the application pertains to whether a person has a criminal record; if you answer ‘yes’ to this question, you will not be eligible for ESTA. However, this doesn’t automatically make you inadmissible to the US, as you may still apply for a visa and seek a waiver for permission to travel. Keep in mind that attending a US Consulate interview is part of this process, but due to the Ukrainian crisis, these interviews are currently limited or impossible, which basically means that anyone in this category may not be able to complete the application process. 

It is also important to note that many Caribbean cruises stop at San Juan and St. Thomas, both US ports, and Pacific cruises call at Guam. These are not always immediately recognised as US ports – but like mainland USA, everyone travelling to these ports will need an ESTA. Details of an ESTA and how to obtain one will be provided by us with your cruise documentation.

P&O Cruises is one of the operators we work with that avoids US ports, and recently announced its flight partners for the forthcoming winter Caribbean season. It’s fair to say the cruise line encountered issues with its previous airline, Maleth Aero, so I am delighted to reveal it will be replaced with Virgin Atlantic, Norse Atlantic Airways and TUI Airways moving forward. I trust this will be welcome news for many of you, as each airline will offer economy and premium economy seats, and a provision of in-flight entertainment.

In the wider cruise industry, the biggest story since my last update has been the official naming of the latest Cunard ship, Queen Anne. The prestigious event took place in the cruise line’s ‘spiritual home’ of Liverpool, which, in a break from tradition, was also named the godparent of the new ship. Cunard has a long line of members of the Royal Family who have been godmothers to its ships, so it was widely anticipated that the latest Queen would follow suit – but this did not turn out to be the case! As I mentioned in my last update, I spent a night on board Queen Anne for a special preview event, and she really is an elegant ship that I am sure will be popular with our members. If you would like to experience her for yourself, there is still availability for 2024 and beyond, so I would recommend that you take a look at our website for more details.

Another major announcement from the past couple of weeks has been the Royal Caribbean Group’s decision to introduce a status match programme across its brands. This means that if you are a member of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club or Silversea’s Venetian Society, you will be able to enjoy reciprocal tier status no matter which brand you sail with. This is a positive step for anyone who frequently cruises with these brands, as you will be able to make the most of greater onboard benefits; the even better news is that your status will be automatically matched before you set sail.

This leads me to the official launch of the latest Silversea ship, Silver Ray. The luxury cruise line has gone from strength to strength with the design of its ships over recent years, offering one of the highest space-to-guest ratios at sea, so I cannot wait to see what this latest addition has to offer. Our Head of Sales Wendy is currently on board Silver Ray and you can follow her time on board through our social media channels as she explores the newest Nova Class ship. Make sure you are following us on Facebook and Instagram for a sneak peek. 

My daughter Katie has also just sailed with Virgin Voyages, a cruise line that is growing in popularity among our Cruise Club Members. She embarked on an Elevate Voyage, which incorporates talks, workshops and other activities designed to boost mental and physical wellbeing. Her feedback has been nothing short of glowing, as she has enjoyed a wide range of experiences both on board Scarlet Lady and ashore as she sailed around the Mediterranean. Not only will she be sharing her experiences on social media over the coming days, but also in a future issue of Into the Blue, so make sure you keep an eye out.

I end with the exciting news that we have been nominated in this year’s Agent Achievement Awards. We have reached the shortlist in the Cruise Agency of the Year – Large Agency category, with the results to be announced on 11 July at a ceremony in London. Our industry peers vote for these particular awards and I will, of course, let you know whether we are successful. I am always humbled when we are recognised at prestigious events such as these, and would like to extend my thanks to you all, as without your continued support, this would not be possible.

Once again thank you for following my updates and I wish everyone travelling over the next month Bon Voyage and have a great holiday.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Wilson