Knowle Travel

Andrew visits Galicia

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 08:35:00 GMT

The post Andrew visits Galicia appeared first on Knowle Travel .

AmaWaterways River Cruising

Wed, 25 Mar 2015 07:48:00 GMT

AmaSonata   One of Ama’s newest ships accommodates 164 passengers featuring twin balcony staterooms, heated swimming pool with swim up bar, hot tub, salon services,fitness room, main dining room plus Chefs Table which offers a more intimate individual dining experience at no extra charge available to enjoy at least once during your stay on board. Plenty of light open airy spaces sophisticated comfortable decor.Spacious staterooms from the lead in category at 170 sq ft with fixed window, balcony staterooms starting at 210 sq ft rising to Suites at 300 sq ft.

In suite facilities include Apple TV offering in suite Internet access which is free throughout the ship including TV News Music & Flims Climate control,bottled Water replenished daily, mini fridge, high quality linen and toiletries.

All dining on board is included and is of the highest standard, all cooked from fresh produce sourced locally. Ama Waterways is the only river cruise line ever inducted into the Confrerie de la Chaine de Rotisseurs ,the oldest and largest food and wine society in the world, simply stated truly outstanding dining experience. Included with your meals is sparkling wine and fresh juices with breakfast,wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner.

During the day to keep you occupied they offer tours and excursions at each destination you choose the pace, gentle regular and active walking tours plus unique to Ama bicycle tours, as they carry their own bikes on board, available only on certain itineraries.
Ama Waterways season starts in the Spring on the Amstel moving down into the Rhine and the Danube. In the French waterways they offer the Seine in the Northeast and the Rhone which stretches from the Swiss Alps to the Mediterranean and in the South West the Garonne and the Dordogne and not to be forgotten The Douro in Portugal designated World Heritage sight.

In addition to these wonderful European destinations they also feature The Chobe in Africa, the Mekong which stretches through Vietnam and Cambodia and The Ayeyarwady to explore Myanmar Burma.

In conclusion a ship which provides comfort, service & dining experience to the highest standard.

The post AmaWaterways River Cruising appeared first on Knowle Travel .

Oceania Cruises – Nautica Ship Visit

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 07:36:00 GMT

Oceania Cruises is a premium cruise line, designed to neatly bridge the gap between the likes of Cunard, Holland America and Celebrity Cruises, and the 5-6* Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn and Crystal Cruises.

It is an American owned line and has been in existence for 10 years. It prides itself on its extraordinary value and is known as having the finest cuisine at sea, port intensive itineraries and country club ambience, ensuring a high level of repeat business. Oceania is very much famed for its gourmet cuisine and is definitely a fantastic choice for foodies.

There are 5 ships in the fleet, 2 contemporary styled mid sized ships , Marina and Riveria, at 66,000 tons respectively and 3 smaller more traditionally styled ships, Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, at 30,000tons each.

I was lucky enough to be invited to have a look round Nautica when she was in Southampton for a day and experienced the luxurious country house ambience for myself.

The tone is set as you board with a string quartet playing and a calming relaxed atmosphere pervading the ship. As the Nautica is a small ship with a maximum capacity of only 680 guests, this makes for a relaxing start to your holiday, no queuing to board or in the restaurants etc. The first impressions are of a traditional country house hotel, with rich wood panelling, deep carpets and high quality furnishings and fittings throughout.

The ship has a very friendly but at the same time quite an exclusive feel . Nautica has recently had a multi million dollar facelift, and is now looking very spick and span, with a new wood panelled dance floor, and new carpets and soft furnishings throughout.

Oceania Cruises places a great emphasis on dining aboard, and claim to have “the finest dining at sea”. The Grand Dining Room is the main restaurant and is inspired by the grand 5*hotel tradition, quite sumptuous and elegant. In addition, there are two smaller restaurants, the Polo Grill which is a classic steakhouse and Toscana which serves Tuscan cuisine, many of the dishes served are from Italian family recipes. Waves and the Terrace Cafe are casual dining at its best, and afternoon tea is served in Horizons.

Suites and staterooms on board all feature the Prestige Tranquility Bed, an Oceania Cruises exclusive. All of the staterooms are very comfortable and stylish, ranging from inside cabins to spacious and luxurious Owner’s Suites.

Also onboard is the famous Canyon Ranch SpaClub, which is a relaxing , tranquil haven offering many spa treatments, yoga, pilates etc and also has a Ranch SpaClub private Spa Terrace for all Concierge and Suite guests.

There is a comprehensive shore excursion programme, enabling passengers to explore and gain a true insight into every port of call. Oceania offers shore excursion packages prior to sailing, which make substantial savings on excursions purchased on board.

Oceania Cruises also offers guests the option of staying longer in the pre and post cruise hotel programme, to experience staying in various historic, fascinating cities. In addition, the land tour programme is a great way to really experience some of the world’s most interesting destinations, tours last from one to five nights, both before and after the cruise.

Oceania Cruises has the youngest fleet in premium class cruising, 85% of the accommodation features private verandas. Due to the smaller size of the ships, there are more boutique ports of call where the larger ships cannot reach, added to which there are more extended evening port stays and overnight stays to really get a true flavour of the country visited.

The post Oceania Cruises – Nautica Ship Visit appeared first on Knowle Travel .

Madeira

Fri, 17 Jan 2014 10:18:00 GMT

Madeira is often called “the floating garden of the Atlantic. And for good reason! The island is quite small, 35 miles long and 16 miles wide and has a sub tropical climate, giving rise to a great variety of lush vegetation and exotic blooms.

There are a multitude of beautiful gardens in Madeira, an island where everything seems to grow whether native or not! The Madeira Botanical Gardens in Funchal are world renowned, home to more than 2000 exotic plants, and play a part in preserving many endangered plants. The Palheiro Gardens have spacious lawns and lakes, and are home to some of the rarest plants in the world. Quinta da Boa Vista Gardens in Funchal has an orchid collection which has been winning awards for over 20 years.

Madeira is the tip of a huge mountain, so although it is a bit short on beaches, it more than makes up for this with stunning coastal scenery, mountain ranges and idyllic valleys. It really is a very picturesque island, but not much of it is flat! There are many traditional villages dotted around the island, Santana on the north of the island is home to some of the triangular thatched houses Madeira is known for and Monte, high above Funchal is where you will find the Monte Palace tropical garden, home to plants from all over the world.

One way to reach Monte is to take the cable car from Funchal, and either return by cable car or take a ride in one of the traditional wicker baskets which Madeira is well known for. Funchal is a very pleasant town, with a thriving cruise port, a lively old town with lots of traditional bars and restaurants, a famous local fish and flower market and a lovely ambience. It’s a very neat place, quite quirky, especially at Christmas time with its famous illuminations. It’s even possible to take a night bus tour around Funchal to marvel at the intricate and elaborate Christmas decorations and illuminations.

Funchal is home to one of the best firework displays in the world to celebrate New Year, indeed on New Year’s Eve, this is simply one of the places to be to see in the New Year, rivalling Sydney. Not bad for a small town in the middle of the Atlantic! Whilst Madeira only has a few small black sand beaches, most of the hotels have swimming pools , and there are seafront promenades along various stretches of the coast. The interior of Madeira is where the hidden treasures are.

Once you leave Funchal and head up into the mountains, the terrain changes and the forest takes over. The laurel (or Laurissilva) forest is a protected area designated by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site, the only one in Portugal. The laurel forest dates back millions of years and has survived a number of Ice Ages. Travelling further into the interior, the Pico de Ariero, the third highest peak in Madeira is the place to enjoy magnificent views.

The levadas, all 1400 km of them are a man made irrigation system designed to move water to the lower slopes. Nowadays, many of them make great hiking routes through the forests. There’s a wide range of accommodation, to suit all tastes and budgets. From family hotels such as the Vila Porto Mare resort to the Grand Dame of Madeira, Reid’s Palace to the Quintas, converted manor houses to ultra modern hotel The Vine, situated in Funchal (although it wouldn’t look out of place in Miami or New York!)

Madeira is also easy to reach by cruise ship, Funchal is a popular port of call and many ships stay overnight, so passengers can get the most out of this beguiling island. Madeira really does have something for everyone! Great scenery, beautiful gardens and parks, a temperate climate, a refined elegant atmosphere, an interesting history and a cosmopolitan capital city in Funchal.

Rosemary Shaw

The post Madeira appeared first on Knowle Travel .

Sandals – Antigua and St Lucia

Wed, 11 Dec 2013 20:05:00 GMT

Sandals – Antigua and St Lucia

Now that the nights are drawing in and winter has arrived, there is no better time to travel to the Caribbean.

I recently returned from a two centre holiday to Antigua and St Lucia and stayed at two Sandals resorts .

Sandals is a Caribbean owned company which has 15 resorts throughout the Caribbean, all of them regularly winning awards and accolades. All the properties are ultra all inclusive, including world class dining options, premium drinks and a myriad of activities and watersports. Your holiday can be as quiet and relaxing or as active as you want!

Sandals Grande Antigua is situated on the best beach in Antigua, Dickensen Bay, no mean feat on an island which has 365 beaches! This resort has been voted the world’s most romantic for the last 14 years and it’s easy to see why. The beach is just beautiful and the tropical gardens adjacent to the beach are amazing.

There are two distinct sides to this resort, the original Caribbean Grove, consisting of rooms, suites nestled in the tropical gardens and the 6* all suite Mediterranean Village, which has drawn its inspiration from Europe, the expansive grounds feature a splendid plaza housing fashionable shops, an art gallery and the largest walk in pool in the Eastern Caribbean.

Add to this a myriad of dining opportunities from all around the world. All very authentic and of a very high standard. For example, the Italian restaurant offers classic Tuscan cuisine prepared by native Italian chefs, this attention to detail is a feature of Sandals.

St Lucia is a short flight away and is a good contrast to Antigua. St Lucia is known for its lush, tropical mountainous scenery and lovely golden beaches.

There are 3 Sandals resorts on St Lucia, all in the north of the island, and benefit from “stay at one, play at three!” There is a shuttle service between the three properties so guests are very welcome to visit and dine at the different resorts.

Sandals Grande St Lucian Spa and Beach Resort is situated on its own peninsula, with the Atlantic on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other. This is a large elegant resort, which numbers Usain Bolt and ex President Clinton amongst its recent visitors! There are 5 pools dotted around the property, the meandering lagoon pool offers a number of swim up rooms. The Olde London Pub is completely authentic, the owner of Sandals purchased an original London Pub, then had it dismantled and shipped to St Lucia!

Sandals Halcyon Beach is a more intimate resort, nestled along an unspoiled stretch of beach, with classic Caribbean architecture nestling in verdant gardens. No building is higher than the coconut palms! This is the ultimate seaside beach resort, but although it’s smaller it still has the Sandals ambience and choice of restaurants, including Kelly’s Dockside which is situated on a pier over the sea.

Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort and Spa has a secluded setting on the 220 acre La Toc Estate with its own 9 hole golf course, on a beautiful crescent shaped golden beach. This resort has an aura of exclusivity, with the Sunset Bluff Millionaire Butler Villa Suites with private pools being the epitome of luxury. This resort has something for everyone, eight top class restaurants including Kimonos teppanyaki restaurant and Soy sushi restaurant. The main pool is the liveliest, with a swim up bar and lots of activities, but there are two other pools with a quieter ambience and of course, the lovely beach where private cabanas can be reserved.

I can highly recommend Sandals for a luxury Caribbean holiday. There are resorts throughout the Caribbean, the latest resorts to join the Sandals family are Sandals Barbados , situated on the stunning Dover Beach, very close to the lively St Lawrence Gap and Sandals LaSource Grenada which will feature Skypool suites, suites on the upper floors of the hotel with their own private pools!

Rosemary Shaw

The post Sandals – Antigua and St Lucia appeared first on Knowle Travel .

Hapag Lloyd Cruises MS Europa 2

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:49:00 GMT

Hapag Lloyd Cruises – MS Europa 2 Ship Visit

I was fortunate in receiving an invitation to spend 24 hours on Hapag Lloyd Cruises newest ship Europa 2.

If you like ultra luxury cruising with a European casually elegant style then Europa 2 will certainly not disappoint.

Hapag Lloyd cruises have introduced this ship very much with an international market in mind, to this end all crew speak both English and German.

Europa 2 offers clients a modern casual atmosphere an exceptional amount of personal space providing relaxed luxury with high levels of service and a real gastronmic delight.

The interior design is both contempory and stylish and offers state of the art technology. All suites have a balcony and more innovative additions.

Gratuities are included and all suites have a mini bar/fridge with free soft drinks and beer. In addition to this in Spa Suites and above selected spirits are included along with butler service.

There is an exceptional choice of restaurants for a small ship for which there is no additional charge.

Weltmeere, Main Restaurant, International Cuisine

Yacht Club Restaurant, International Buffet, Indoor and Outdoor dining

Elements, Asian Cuisine

Serrenissima, Italian Cuisine

Tarragon, French Cuisine

Sakura, Sushi Restaurant

Speisezimmer for private dinning (extra charge)

Grande Reserve, wine tastings and snacks

Spa & Fitness

On board there is a state of the art fully equipped gym with additional fitness class there are 2 golf simulators with permanent golf pro in attendance and for special departure golf cruises there are also golf clubs provided free of charge.

There are 8 treatment rooms in the spa offering a wealth of treatments and also personal spa areas which offer panoramic sea views with day beds and jacuzzi.

Exclusively arranged shows offered in the theatre with table service, piano bar, jazz club, late bar and night club, there is also a smokers bar.

Families are also welcomed on board and special family cruises are available with creche and kids club facilities with highly trained staff and specific family apartments offered to accommodate families comfortably, on special departures departures children travel free of charge.

Onboard you set your own pace more about lifestyle and less cruise rituals create an informal atmosphere with exceptionally high standards.

The post Hapag Lloyd Cruises MS Europa 2 appeared first on Knowle Travel .

Falklands by Nick Brown

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:31:00 GMT

“I am only here for the birds” was the somewhat disappointing refrain from a Falklands visitor early this month as they settled into their armchair in one of the more comfortable lodges on one of the more diverse and interesting islands comprising this very British archipelago sharing the same southerly latitude as Cheltenham.

And there the similarity ends as the forthcoming referendum holds no fear for the islanders whose confident expectation of an overwhelming “we are British” vote will reinforce their ties to the mother country that go beyond even their groceries being provided by Waitrose and Asda.

So whilst some only came for the bird watching, and happily engaged in banter with laymen as to the differences between birders, twitchers and train spotters, their enthusiasm rubs off and a summer break in this semi-arid wilderness was enriched. But the Falklands are by no means a single interest destination.

For the military historian, or someone just wanting to see another aspect of how the Thatcher government extended its protective arm, there is much to experience. The visiting veterans and their families, from both sides of the conflict ,coming to the lodges and hotels is reflected in the warm welcome they receive whether to meet old comrades, address past experiences or simply to enjoy peace and tranquility despite the persistent wind!

It is the lodges and guest houses that set the tone for visiting the Falklands contrasting with the daily “cruise by” of the big ships disgorging their cagoule-clad contents onto the gift shops along Ross Road in Stanley. The personality of each lodge is expressed through its hosts and environment from the windswept of Pebble and Sea Lion islands to the more rural around Port Howard. Universally, the food is excellent, thankfully orientated to the bracing activity one is undertaking; no coulis, reductions and jus to accompany solid, tasty and plentiful fare.

So despite my original interest in the conflict my head was soon turned to the vastness of this ornithological and wildlife paradise. Pebble Island introduced me to the stinking colonies of Gentoo, Magellanic and Macaroni penguins all within a half hour’s drive across the rough tracks of the island. And en route, giant petrels added a little action as they circled hunting for wayward chicks. And whilst marching across beaches of sand whiter than could ever be imagined one can see rock runs on the mountain sides that challenge the memory of A-Level studies into periglaciation. Naturalists abound, examining every aspect of the landscape. Even though the vegetation grows so slowly that wreckage and scorch marks from 1982 are still not grown over there is a richness in the variety and adaptation to the harsh environment that holds fascination for expert and amateur alike.

But what else does one need in a break to get away from it all but to have one’s horizons opened, enjoy the lack of mobile phones and wireless and to engage with locals who really do appreciate the effort to come to the Falklands that their visitors have made.

By Nick Brown

The post Falklands by Nick Brown appeared first on Knowle Travel .