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A day with… Planet Cruise

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Hollie-Rae Merrick spends a day in Portsmouth with the team filming Planet Cruise’s new weekly YouTube show

Over the years Portsmouth-based agency Planet Cruise has become well known for its weekly TV show.

It’s been going for eight years, airing on the Ideal World shopping channel, and was one of the key attributes that led to Iglu Cruise acquiring its then rival two years ago.

According to Planet’s general manager Sharon Campbell, the show has gone from strength to strength over the years becoming the “biggest cruise TV show in the UK”, and as a result a new YouTube series has been created to run alongside it.

“The TV show is great for us because it gets key messages out to our audience quickly, with relevant deals. Our audience trusts the advice we give and we’ve built up quite a following,” Campbell says.

“The TV show is at a set time (8pm every Thursday) so we wanted to find a way to target existing and new customers that might need more flexibility on when they watch our show – that’s how Planet Cruise Weekly came about.”Destination and ship content

The new YouTube show is produced and filmed separately from the TV programme – the former is shot in a studio at the cruise specialists offices in Portsmouth, while the latter is filmed at Ideal World’s base in Peterborough.

Hosted by cruise experts Keith Maynard and Glenn Wallis, Planet Cruise Weekly is due to air its 17th show this week.

It started out focusing primarily on deals, but feedback from viewers has led to the introduction of more destination and ship-focused content.

“This is all about engagement for us,” says Sharon. “So when viewers told us they wanted more content we evolved the show and dedicated more time to sharing experiences of new products, ships and destinations.”

The shows are planned in advance and the schedule includes “important dates in the cruise calendar”, such as ship launches and refurbishments.

Last week’s show was all about Thomson Cruises’ ship Tui Discovery and this week’s is around the refit of Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. When Travel Weekly spent the day filming with Planet, the show was all about Disney Cruise Line, following the brand’s recent revelation that it was investing in new ships. Developing talent

While former cruise ship worker Keith Maynard is a professional TV presenter, his co-host Glenn Wallis has been a cruise consultant for Planet Cruise for the past two years.

“Like Keith, Glenn also has a background of working on ships,” Sharon says. “They’re both extremely knowledgeable and they work well together in front of the camera.

“We like to train and grow talent within the Planet Cruise business and we saw an opportunity for Glenn to be a host on the show. He also hosts the TV show slot too and that works really well.”Lights, cameras, action

Each week the team research deals, destinations and ships in advance of filming Planet Cruise Weekly.

Every Wednesday Sharon and the crew get together to discuss the order of the show and fine tune the plan of action for filming each segment.

Cameraman and video editor Gavin Mann has the task of pulling the show together before its cut and edited.

It’s then uploaded every Thursday at 5pm onto Planet Cruise’s YouTube channel.

“It may get loaded on to the site every week like clockwork but the fact it is online means you can tune in at any time and watch it,” Sharon says.

“There’s also the luxury of being able to watch previous shows if it was on a topic of particular interest.”

While viewing figures from the Ideal World show aren’t readily available, Planet’s YouTube show has so far attracted an audience of anything between 2,500 and 8,000 viewers.

“It’s extremely popular and we’re really pleased with how well it has been received,” Sharon says.

“We definitely see a notable spike in people visiting the website once the show has been uploaded online.”

Up close and personal: Keith Maynard, presenter

I’m a self-employed presenter and I live in Kent. I stay in Portsmouth ahead of the show each week.

A day at Planet involves having a production meeting in the morning where we decide on the exact areas of focus. Prior to that meeting I’ll have done some research on the ports of call or the ships that we’re featuring that particular week. The filming usually takes about an hour to an hour and a half.

I worked on cruise ships for 12 years after getting a job on board Sun Cruises’ Sun Dream in 2000. I went from Sun Cruises to Thomson Cruises, most of the time as cruise director, then I went to Cunard and my last ship was Queen Mary 2.

I really enjoy meeting people. Last year we introduced the first ‘Cruise with Keith’ where I do tours with Planet Cruise’s guests and host a meal. It was on Celebrity Cruises and this year’s will be on MSC Cruises.

The most challenging part of the job is trying to effectively and actively diffierentiate cruise lines for viewers because everything moves and develops so quickly in this industry.

The most common question viewers ask me is if I’ve lost weight recently because they think I’m a lot slimmer in real life than on TV!

The essential selfie shot with @beefikeefi @planetcruise #TWontheroad pic.twitter.com/6JfosDVjB4 — Hollie-Rae Merrick (@Hollierae_tw) May 4, 2016

Hollie’s day

Attending the production meeting at Planet Cruises office almost felt like a normal day at Travel Weekly HQ.

The similarities between their meeting and our internal news meetings surprised me.

Having researched the latest news on Disney Cruise Line – the focus of that week’s show – the team discussed what was most important to communicate to viewers.

Like our meetings, they thrashed out various angles for that week’s shows to highlight what existing and potential Disney Cruise fans want to hear. I had always been intrigued about what goes on behind the scenes of a TV show, and watching the action unfold in Planet’s own studio was genuinely interesting.

It showed me a different angle to the various roles travel agents perform. And being able to offer advice and expert knowledge in this way is another string to Planet Cruise’s bow.

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Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and NCL TV Channels (Full Listing)

There’s no one that goes on a cruise to sit around and watch TV, but sometimes it can be a great activity. After a day in the sun and humidity of the Caribbean, we’ll admit that we love nothing more than to chill out in a cool cabin, watching some television or Netflix .

We also know that we are not alone. That’s why we’ve rounded up the channel listings for two of the biggest cruise lines: Carnival and Royal Caribbean.

Below we have full details on the channel listings. One thing to keep in mind is that we’ve never seen the same channels twice on a cruise line. It seems to be that the offerings vary regularly and from ship to ship.

Therefore the channel listings below should give you an idea of what’s available, but could be different from what you see on your cruise.

What to Know About TV Channels on a Cruise

If you want the full run-down of what to expect from television on a cruise ship, then see our guide here . In general, however, you should set your expectations a little lower than what you might see on land.

Cruise ships typically have a couple of dozen channels, and most of those are related to the cruise itself. There are often channels for port shopping, a guide to what’s going on around the ship, safety channels and more.

Then there are typically channels that you won’t recognize showing everything from kids programming to movies. The number of well-known stations (e.g. ESPN, Travel Channel, Discovery, etc.) can usually be counted on one hand. Local broadcast channels such as ABC, CBS, or NBC aren’t available either.

To give you an idea of what to expect, here are the channel listings from a recent cruise for two major cruise lines: Carnival and Royal Caribbean.

Note: TV lineups seem to change slightly every time you sail. The channels available and the order may vary for your cruise.

Carnival Cruise TV Channel Listings

You can see that there aren’t a ton of channels on Carnival — just about two dozen. In fact, many of the biggest cable channels aren’t available at all, like ESPN. Don’t worry though, if there is a big game you want to watch, it will be shown somewhere on the ship — most likely the SKYBOX Sports Bar that’s on many ships or the casino.

As for the rest of the stations, you have things like Nickelodeon for the kids, Discovery, Travel Channel, and some additional cable channels. Much of the rest is a ton of cruise line-specific stations. Also, the channels start at 11 instead of 2, like you would see on land. Notably absent are any networks like ABC or NBC.

Here are all of Carnival’s TV channels from a recent cruise:

• Channel 11: Channel Guide
• Channel 13: Safety Information
• Channel 14: Cruise Life TV
• Channel 15: Cruise Live TV 2
• Channel 16: Carnival Adventures
• Chanel 17: Choose Shopping
• Channel 18: Choose Fun Ashore
• Channel 19: Ocean View
• Channel 20: Complimentary Movie 1
• Channel 21: Complimentary Movie 2
• Channel 22: CBSN
• Channel 23: TCM
• Channel 24: Cartoon Network
• Channel 25: Nickelodeon
• Channel 26: HGTV
• Channel 27: Food Network
• Channel 28: Travel Channel
• Channel 29: Discovery Channel
• Channel 30: Good to Know
• Channel 31: What’s Happening (Audible)
• Channel 32: Map Channel
• Channel 33: Forward Camera View
• Channel 34: Lido Camera View
• Channel 35: Music Channel

Royal Caribbean Cruise TV Channel Listings

The TV channel lineup on Royal Caribbean is similar to Carnival in that the list is relatively short, along with a number of stations you won’t find anywhere and/or are related to the cruise.

One thing to note is that we find Royal Caribbean to offer more sports programming such as ESPN compared to Carnival. As well, it seems that during football season more games are fed into the cabin TV, allowing you to watch while at sea.

• Channel 1: Royal Entertainment
• Channel 2: Cruise Compass
• Channel 3: On the Map
• Channel 4: Peek-a-Boo TV (Kids 3 and under)
• Channel 5: Junior Cruisers
• Channel 6: Teens Stream
• Channel 7: Health and Safety Channel
• Channel 8: BBC World News
• Channel 9: MSNBC
• Channel 10: Fox News
• Channel 11: NextCruise
• Channel 12: Shore Excursions
• Channel 13: Shopping Ashore
• Channel 14: Daily Deals
• Channel 15: Prime One
• Channel 16: Prime Favorites
• Channel 17: National Geographic
• Channel 18: BBC HD
• Channel 19: Movies Now and Then
• Channel 20: Red Bull TV
• Channel 21: 21
• Channel 22: ESPN (International Feed)
• Channel 23: TVE International
• Channel 24: 24
• Channel 25: Music Videos
• Channel 26: Special Events/Music
• Channel 27: Music Only A
• Channel 28: Music Only B
• Channel 29: Music Only C

Note: We’ve noticed that channel listings change often on Royal Caribbean. We have been on cruises where ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, and SEC Network are all available, while they aren’t available on others.

Norwegian (NCL) Cruise Line TV Channel Listings

Like its rivals Royal Caribbean and Carnival, NCL has a lineup that’s a bit different than what you’d see on land.

As you can see, most channels are content for the cruise line and the ship. Meanwhile, MSNBC, Fox News, and CNBC are the only widely-known U.S. cable channels in the lineup.

The movie channels do show recent release movies 24 hours per day. Sports 24 features international sporting events from nightly NBA games to cricket matches in Australia.

• Channel 10: Safety Channel
• Channel 11: Ship Info
• Channel 12: Bridge Cam
• Channel 13: ShorEx/CruiseNext
• Channel 14: Feel Free
• Channel 15: Port Info Channel
• Channel 16: Activities Channel
• Channel 17: Onboard Offerings
• Channel 18: Shopping Channel
• Channel 19: SkyToday
• Channel 20: Sky TV
• Channel 21: Action Movies
• Channel 22: Drama Movies
• Channel 23: Comedy Movies
• Channel 24: Family Movies
• Channel 26: BBC
• Channel 27: MSNBC
• Channel 28: CNBC
• Channel 29: Fox News
• Channel 30: Sport24
• Channel 31: Prime Journeys
• Channel 32: Special Feed

Bottom Line on TV on a Cruise

While no one goes on a cruise specifically for TV, you should still know that if you do want to relax and watch some of the tube, the options are somewhat limited. 

Given the lack of channels, we suggest bringing your own device to allow you to watch any movies or TV. Most shops offer streaming if you get the premium Internet package. As well, Netflix and other services allow you to download shows beforehand to watch without a connection.

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You have Fox but not MSNBC. No thanks

On Royal Caribbean: Only channel worth watching is TBS but it’s only in Spanish?? Ridiculous! Oceanview Channel would be nice (since our cabin doesn’t even have a window) but it’s not on the lineup. Oh well, guess I’ll just play my iPod/speaker in the room. :-/

Shame on you Carnival!! We are platinum with you and have always sang praises about Carnival but maybe not so much now. You are not going to miss out on casino or drink money just because you have 3 major networks tv in cabins Really Carnival we didn’t expect this from you!!!. None of the other lines have done this. Maybe time to look at Oceania, NCL RCCL,HAL,Celebirty????

Carnival dropped all the network channels for cabin TVs in January. They never said why, but many people believe it’s another cutback. They’ve had a lot of those recently, including the quality of the food in the MDR.

Sorry to tell you, but carnival has apparently dropped all network TV channels. No explanation was given.

That certainly seems to be the case from what we are hearing.

No network tv on royal. bummer!

I was recently on the Liberty and they didn’t have all of those channels in our rooms; the sports bars had local(?) channels and ESPN, but all of the feed from TBS, TNT and TCM were from the Spanish Latin American feed. Not that I’m complaining; I wasn’t there to watch TV the entire time, it jut made for a nice reprieve.

I enjoy watching some tv right before going to bed. I just wish the connections were better. The last cruise, the channels kept going in and out.

We didn’t have that issue, but our last cruise the remote barely worked. Had to press the channel button three times before it registered!

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Discovery tm & animal planet tm bring the spirit of adventure to every princess cruise..

On a Princess cruise, captivating Discovery™ hit series come alive as unforgettable experiences. You can explore coral reefs teeming with life on a  snorkeling  adventure in the  Caribbean , let centuries-old ceremonies at  Edinburgh Castle  in  Europe  transport you through time; or experience life aboard  Alaska ’s  Deadliest Catch  crab boats. Every cruise offers immersive activities the whole family can share: from Discovery and Animal Planet shore excursions, to onboard activities featuring favorites like  MythBusters  and  Shark Week  to guided Stargazing on deck. Don’t just see the world, Discover its wonders.

Immersive Activities and Experiences

Discovery, discovery family & animal planet shore excursions.

We are proud to offer  shore excursions  that are not only fascinating experiences for the whole family, but recommended by two of the most trusted names in exploration – Discovery and Animal Planet.

Discovery and Animal Planet Exclusive Tours are unique tours that cannot be booked independently and are available only through Princess Cruises. Discovery & Discovery Family Recommended Tours provide enriching and immersive once-in-a-lifetime experiences, while Animal Planet Recommended Tours show you the coolest animals around the globe.

Stargazing with discovery at sea

Science Channel™ and Princess Cruises will take you on a cosmic voyage as you look to the skies from our top deck. On this interactive guided tour, a Princess Stargazing Specialist will teach you how to find your bearings and identify the major constellations, hear the secrets of the stars and the folklore around them. Great for explorers of all ages.

Contingent upon weather and light conditions. Excludes Alaska itineraries due to the midnight sun.

Shark week at sea

Inspired by Discovery’s popular Shark Week, Princess has designed special onboard experiences that will entertain adults and kids alike. See Shark Week exclusive programming and take part in games, crafts, trivia and more during your voyage. With a variety of shark-themed activities, there’s something fin-tastic for everyone to enjoy!

Check back for updated information and always get the latest on our social accounts.

High seas heist with detective joe kenda

Calling all mystery lovers. Go on the case with celebrity detective Lt. Joe Kenda, and see if you can solve a heist whodunit. This experience begins with the theft of a rare necklace and ends with the unmasking of the culprit. In between is a journey full of puzzles, clues and activities as you narrow down your suspect list with help from Lt. Kenda via video segments. Develop your theories, and uncover the thief. You could win a special prize package… or, at least, bragging rights.

A game beyond the ordinary

Would you be able to survive Alaska's frozen tundra or Australia's Outback? Now, you'll be able to find out if you've got what it takes! Compete with fellow guests in this survival-style game show celebrating some of Discovery's top survival tales. A game that's truly beyond the ordinary!

Encounters with discovery at sea

Learn the stories behind the destinations you’ll visit from regional residents who know the areas personally. Find out about native plants and animals from naturalists who have studied them for years. And gain insights into events from years past that shape the world we see today. Every Encounters onboard speaker offers enriching discoveries that add to the immersive experience through which Princess Cruises inspires you to come back new.

Animal planet's treehouse masters

On the recent season of  Treehouse Masters , we saw Pete Nelson and his crew build a one-of-a-kind treehouse at Princess Cruises’ Mt. McKinley Wilderness Lodge. The build was highlighted on the finale episode in Denali State Park, Alaska. The treehouse, now open to visitors, is constructed for mountain high relaxation with spectacular views of Denali. Experience it only on a  cruisetour with Princess .

See even more about our new treehouse with these {Behind the Build} and  Timelapse  videos.

Treehouse Masters  is produced for Animal Planet by Discovery Studios.

Fun for the Whole Family

Voyage to the Stars Planetarium:  Experience “Voyage to the Stars Planetarium” bringing a stunning indoor planetarium to the sea, displaying real-time images of constellations, planets and galaxies to complement our live stargazing with "Discovery at SEA" experience. Now available on Caribbean Princess, and Ruby Princess.

Discovery at Sea Trivia Challenge:  Trivia is getting an upgrade with new questions, photos and video footage from  MythBusters ,  Animal Planet ,  How It’s Made ,  Deadliest Catch  and more!

Green Screen Experience:  Step into a scene from hit shows  Finding Bigfoot  &  Shark Week  and capture a great souvenir.

How It's Made:  Take a backstage tour and see how production shows come to life onboard a ship.

MythBusters:  Kids will thrill in uncovering the truth behind popular shark myths and legends using scientific methods and everyday curiosity.

What can kids do?

Our Youth Centers and Teen Lounges are staffed by experienced counselors, who are ready to ensure your kids stay happy all day long. There’s everything from art projects, games, the latest movies, pizza parties, talent shows, and much more. In partnership with Discovery™, Princess has developed engaging new youth programming and wonder-filled center designs for cruisers ages 3 to 17 to play, discover and create.

©2018 Discovery. All Rights Reserved. Discovery, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Discovery Family, and their respective logos are trademarks of Discovery Communications. Deadliest Catch and related logos are trademarks of Discovery Communications, LLC, used under license. Licensed by FremantleMedia. Onboard programs and schedule subject to change.

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Iglu.com Acquires Planet Cruise

Iglu.com , an online ski and cruise agent has completed the acquisition of Planet Cruise , an online and TV cruise retailer, with backing from Growth Capital Partners . Based in Portsmouth, UK and employing 75 people, Planet Cruise was founded in 2005 by husband and wife team Gary and Jenny West.

PRESS RELEASE

Iglu.com, the UK’s leading online ski and cruise agent today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Planet Cruise, an online and TV cruise retailer, with backing from Growth Capital Partners (GCP). GCP provides blended equity and debt to UK SME’s and invested in Iglu.com in May 2012 in a deal valued at £19 million.

The acquisition will make Iglu.com the largest independent cruise agent in the UK with a combined turnover of around £100 million.

Based in Portsmouth and employing 75 people, Planet Cruise was founded in 2005 by husband and wife team Gary and Jenny West. They initially began marketing the business through the traditional route of newspapers and magazines and then in January 2008 launched a cruise show on the Ideal World Shopping Channel.

Planet Cruise has now built an impressive brand selling cruises on regular TV slots which are shown free on all digital TV platforms such as Freeview, Virgin, Sky and Freesat. The business has experienced strong turnover growth over the past 5 years and is on course to deliver turnover of around £38.0m in the year to August 2013.

Simon Jobson, partner at GCP commented: “This acquisition will make Iglu.com the market leader in its field in the UK. We initially invested in the business having seen how well it capitalised on the huge increase in the popularity of online travel, especially in the cruise sectors and we recognised the potential for developing its online presence and growth by acquisition.”

Richard Downs, CEO of Iglu.com said: “Planet Cruise is an impressive business that has seen a dramatic increase in turnover in the last five years. With suppliers increasingly focusing on their larger, more efficient and proactive retail partners this acquisition will secure Iglu’s place at the front of this strategic group. We also excited that Gary and Jenny are both staying with the business and taking up senior roles in the combined group”

Gary West, managing director of Planet Cruise commented: “Combining Iglu’s online capabilities and our strength on television is an exciting prospect. There is a natural fit in the two businesses coming together and we as a team here at Planet Cruise look forward to creating a new market leader.”

Advisers: Funder – GCP: Simon Jobson, Alexander Thomson, James Blake. Iglu legal – Osborne Clarke: Alisdair Livingstone, Alison Johnson, Hugh Jones, Daniel Barnhouse, Michael Bell. Planet Cruise legal – Shoosmiths: Sean Wright, Lisa Sigalet. Planet Cruise Advisors – BDO: Andrew Lock, Craig Hewitt-Dutton. Financial due diligence – White Hart Associates: Chris Photi. Banking – Barclays: Bianca Dexter-Burnell.

Contact details: Corinna Osborne, Equity Dynamics, +44 (0) 203 651 2151, Mobile: +44 (0) 7825 326 440 [email protected] Emily Weston, Equity Dynamics, +44 (0) 203 651 2153, Mobile: +44 (0) 7825 326 442 [email protected]

NOTES TO EDITORS:

GCP is a provider of blended equity and debt to the UK’s small to medium sized businesses, and recently raised a £160m Fund III, which was oversubscribed.

GCP has nine companies in its portfolio including:

Fishawack, a medical communications business; Scopus Engineering Ltd, Provider of electronic survey and engineering services to the upstream oil & gas sector; Etc venues, a UK conference and training venue businesses; Excelsior Technologies, a flexible packaging manufacturer; Iglu.com, online travel agent specializing in Ski and Cruise holidays; Amor Group, IT software services for the oil and gas sector; Blueberry Group, supplier and distributor of speciality foods; Wrap Film Systems, cling film and foil converter for food service (including BACO Foil); Eldapoint, provider of container handling and storage for shipping.

GCP typically invests in businesses with an enterprise value of between £10m and £50m in management buy-outs, development capital and secondary or tertiary buy-outs.

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5* Luxury Italy, Greece & Adriatic Treasures

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5* Far East Discoveries

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Magical Maldives, Seychelles & Mauritius

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Epic Italy & Greek Islands Escape

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5* Ultimate Miami, Bahamas & Caribbean Odyssey

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6* Islands of Hawaii, Bora Bora & Polynesian Paradise

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Date: Duration:

23rd Mar 2026 20 Nights

Itinerary: Fly to Singapore > Singapore (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Embark Celebrity Solstice in Singapore > At Sea > Bali (Benoa), Indonesia > At Sea > Darwin, Australia > At Sea > Port Douglas, Australia > Cairns (Yorkey's Knob), Australia > Airlie Beach, Australia > At Sea > Sydney, Australia (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Sydney, Australia. Fly to UK > Arrive UK

• 2-Night Deluxe Hotel Stay in Singapore
• 2-Night Deluxe Hotel Stay in Sydney
• FREE Drinks Package (Worth Over $1400pp)
• FREE WiFi Package (Worth Over $280pp)
• Return Flights

14th May 2025 12 Nights

Itinerary: Fly to Rome, Italy (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Rome, Italy (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Embark Celebrity Ascent in Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy > Olympia (Katakolon), Greece > Corfu, Greece > Split, Croatia > Dubrovnik, Croatia > Bar, Montenegro > Messina, Sicily > Naples (for Capri), Italy > Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. Fly to UK

• 2-Night Deluxe Hotel Stay in Rome
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• FREE Upgrade To Oceanview
• FREE WiFi Package (Worth Over $200pp)
• Return Flights & FREE Transfers
• Sail Onboard NEW Celebrity Ascent

17th Sep 2025 12 Nights

Itinerary: Fly to Rome, Italy (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Rome, Italy (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Embark Celebrity Ascent in Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy > Corfu, Greece > Dubrovnik, Croatia > Split, Croatia > Bar, Montenegro > Olympia (Katakolon), Greece > Messina, Sicily > Naples (for Capri), Italy > Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. Fly to UK

• FREE Drinks Package (Worth Over $1170)
• FREE Upgrade to Oceanview
• FREE WiFi Package (Worth Over $200)

23rd Nov 2024 13 Nights

Itinerary: Fly to Miami, USA (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Miami, USA (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Embark Celebrity Eclipse in Fort Lauderdale, USA > Tortola (Road Town), British Virgin Islands > Saint John's, Antigua > Bridgetown, Barbados > Roseau, Dominica > Basseterre, Saint Kitts & Nevis > Fort Lauderdale, USA. Fly to UK > Arrive UK

• 2-Night Deluxe Hotel Stay in Miami
• FREE Drinks Package (Worth Over $1000pp)
• FREE Upgrade to Balcony
• Return Flights & FREE Port Transfers

4th Oct 2025 18 Nights

Itinerary: Fly to Vancouver, Canada (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Vancouver, Canada (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Embark Norwegian Jade in Vancouver, Canada > At Sea > Sitka, Alaska > Skagway, Alaska > Ketchikan, Alaska > At Sea > Seattle, USA > Astoria, USA > At Sea > San Francisco, USA > At Sea > Santa Barbara, USA > San Diego, USA. Fly to Las Vegas, USA (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Las Vegas, USA (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Las Vegas, USA. Fly to UK > Arrive UK

• 2-Night Deluxe Hotel Stay in Vancouver
• 3-Night Deluxe Hotel Stay in Las Vegas
• FREE Premium Drinks Package (Worth Over $1560pp)
• FREE San Diego Tour Included
• FREE Shore Excursion Credit
• FREE Speciality Dining Package
• FREE WiFi Package

19th Jan 2026 22 Nights

Itinerary: Fly to Singapore > Singapore (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Embark Norwegian Dawn in Singapore > Phuket, Thailand > Colombo, Sri Lanka > Malé, Maldives (Overnight Port Stay) > Malé, Maldives > La Digue, Seychelles > Port Victoria, Seychelles > Nosy Bé, Madagascar > Port Louis, Mauritius (Overnight Port Stay) > Mauritius (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Mauritius. Fly to UK > Arrive UK

• 2-Night Deluxe Hotel Stay in Mauritius
• FREE Premium Drinks Package (Worth Over $2050pp)

20th Feb 2025 20 Nights

Itinerary: Fly to Miami, USA (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Miami, USA (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Embark Norwegian Bliss in Miami, USA > Cartagena, Colombia > Colón, Panama > Transit Panama Canal > Puntarenas, Costa Rica > At Sea > Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala > At Sea > Manzanillo, Mexico > Puerto Vallarta, Mexico > Cabo San Lucas, Mexico > Los Angeles, USA (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Los Angeles, USA. Fly to UK > Arrive UK

• 2-Night Deluxe Hotel Stay in Los Angeles
• Add 3-Night Stay in Las Vegas From ONLY £299pp
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24th Sep 2024 12 Nights

Itinerary: Fly to Rome, Italy (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Rome, Italy (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Embark Norwegian Epic in Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy > Santorini, Greece > Athens (Piraeus), Greece > Mykonos, Greece > Corfu, Greece > Valletta, Malta > Messina, Sicily > Naples (for Capri), Italy > Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy > Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. Fly to UK

• FREE Premium Drinks Package (Worth Over $1400pp)

30th Aug 2025 12 Nights

17th Feb 2026 15 Nights

Itinerary: Fly to Singapore > Singapore (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Embark Celebrity Millennium in Singapore > At Sea > Bali (Benoa), Indonesia > Bali (Celukan Bawang), Indonesia > At Sea > Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Malaysia > Penang (Georgetown), Malaysia > Phuket, Thailand > At Sea > Singapore. Fly to UK > Arrive UK

• Discover 2 Port Stops in Bali
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• Return Flights & Airport Transfers Included

3rd Oct 2025 17 Nights

Itinerary: Fly to Miami, USA (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Miami, USA (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Embark Celebrity Beyond in Miami, USA > Perfect Day at Cococay, Bahamas > Cozumel, Mexico > George Town, Grand Cayman > Falmouth, Jamaica > Miami, USA > Nassau, Bahamas > At Sea > Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas > Philipsburg, St Maarten > At Sea > Miami, USA. Fly to UK > Arrive UK

• Awarded 'Best Premium Cruise Ship 2023' - Travel Weekly
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13th Jan 2026 18 Nights

Itinerary: Fly to Sydney, Australia > In Transit > Sydney, Australia (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Embark Norwegian Spirit in Sydney, Australia > Melbourne, Australia > Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound & Dusky Sound, New Zealand > Dunedin, New Zealand > Lyttelton, New Zealand > Wellington, New Zealand > Napier, New Zealand > Tauranga, New Zealand > Auckland, New Zealand (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Auckland, New Zealand. Fly to UK > Arrive UK

• 2-Night Deluxe Hotel Stay in Auckland

28th Sep 2025 19 Nights

Itinerary: Fly to Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Embark Oceania Regatta in Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii > Nawiliwili (Kauai), Hawaii > Kahului (Maui), Hawaii > Kailua-Kona, Hawaii > Hilo, Hawaii > At Sea > Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia > At Sea > Rangiroa, French Polynesia > Raiatea, French Polynesia > Bora Bora, French Polynesia (Overnight Port Stay) > Bora Bora, French Polynesia > Papeete (Tahiti), French Polynesia (Deluxe Hotel Stay) > Papeete (Tahiti), French Polynesia. Fly to UK > Arrive UK

• 1-Night Deluxe Hotel Stay in Papeete
• 2-Night Deluxe Hotel Stay in Honolulu
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• FREE House Beverage Package (Worth Over $1000pp)
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A first-timer's guide to visiting Calais, France

Apr 21, 2024 • 9 min read

Get to know Calais, northern France's arty city, with our guide for first-time visitors © MisterStock / Shutterstock

There is so much more to the small town of Calais  in northern  France than its port where cross-Channel ferries join the dots between dazzling white-chalk cliffs in Dover and the Côte d’Opale, and Brits on booze runs stock up on "cheap" French wine at hypermarchés to drink back home.

The English ruled Calais for almost 200 years, from 1347 until 1558, and rich, turbulent histories seep out of every caramel-yellow brick, UNESCO-listed belfry and dot of sand. Calais beach – a seemingly endless swathe of powder-soft gold ribboned with several hundred ancestral beach huts from the 1940s – is breathtaking. Kids love it! Ditto for the new Front de Mer (seafront) following its spectacular, €46 million makeover in 2021.

Traveling in France with kids? Here are some of the country's best family experiences  

Don’t just zip in and out. Linger to fathom contemporary Calais’s metamorphic shift from place of transit to "seaside cool" place to be – a flashback to the glamorous belle époque when fashionable chalets de plage popped up on the beach, only to be destroyed with much of the town in WWII. Trade soulless supermarkets for weekly farmers markets (Wednesday and Saturday mornings on place d’Armes) and specialist wine and cheese shops like La Maison du Fromage et des Vins (1 rue André Gerschel) where shopping includes dégustation (tasting) and stinky, silk rounds of Dôme de Boulogne, Sable de Wissant and Fleur d’Audresselles evoke flavors of the surrounding mer (sea) and terre (land).

Lunch-laze over lavish seafood creations at  Le Grand Bleu or traditional bistro fare at  Histoire Ancienne on Calais’s shop-clad main street rue Royale. At old-school Café du Minck, across from the harbor where fishers still sell their catch in the historic seafaring quarter of Courgain Maritime, sample Calais’s unique contribution to Hauts-de-France’s prized  gastronomic heritage with smoked herrings and t’chien d’mer (sun-dried dogfish shark) washed down with a summertime rosé or picon-bière (beer with a dash of Picon bitters). À nous guifes! (that’s "Cheers!" in the local ch’ti dialect).

Plan your visit to this often overlooked destination with our guide to Calais for first-timers.

Traveling beyond Calais? Here's our guide to getting around in France

When should I go to Calais?

Summer – June to early September – is heaps of fun. Sand-sculpture competitions, outdoor  film screenings, "bubble football" and a smorgasbord of music concerts, evening markets and cultural events spill along the seafront (Digue Gaston Berthe) and two main squares (place d’Armes and place du Grand Théâtre). Local artists and artisans sell handcrafted jewelry, sun hats, espadrilles, all sorts from a dozen pop-up chalets by the beach during Calais’ annual Village d’Été (April to mid-September). Expect festive exuberance, a party vibe and bracing sea dips in spades.

August is the busiest, hottest month – around 20°C (68°F) if you’re lucky, with the water hovering at a frisky but manageable 17.7°C (63.8°F). (Should you be of the cold-water swimming ilk, the sea plummets to a bone-numbing 6°C (42.8°F) January to March.)

Accommodation rates, at their peak in July and August, drop off in the shoulder seasons – May, June and September – making it a good time for budget travelers . Northern France’s precocious weather gods, unpredictable at the best of times, are less likely to play ball out in low season: trade beach life for scenic coastal walks and, on windy or rainy days, museum visits and cockle-warming bowls of moules-frites (mussels and fries). In winter Calais essentially sleeps.

How long do I need in Calais?

Allow two or three days to soak up the main sights. If the sun shines, you can whittle away several more days lizard-lounging on the beach, cruising by boat along Calais’s unsung canal and exploring the surrounding Côte d’Opale.

Weekenders, commence your Calais deep-dive atop  Phare de Calais – the only French lighthouse to hold sentry in the middle of a town. Spiraling up its 271 stone steps dating to 1848 rewards with an unparalleled, bird’s eye view of the city. On clear days, spot Dover’s white cliffs glinting like a beacon across the English Channel. Explore the Courgain Maritime quarter and mooch across Pont Henri Hénon to the grassy mounds of 14th-century Fort Risban and Calais’s famous dragon safeguarding the port entrance. From here, France’s most beautiful urban beach unfurls 8 miles west to the iconic white cliffs of Cap Blanc-Nez (a splendid, 50-minute bike ride) and beyond.

Day two, devote a few hours to your pick of museums and monuments then return to the seashore. Follow the handsome seafront or la digue as Calaisiens call Digue Gaston Berge to sandy Blériot-Plage where three walking itineraries evoke the daredevil escapades of French aviator Louis Blériot, the first person to cross the English Channel by plane on July 25, 1909.

Is it easy to get in and around Calais?

Count three hours by regional TER train (from €34) from Paris Gare du Nord to Calais’s downtown train station ("Calais Ville" on timetables) or two hours by high-speed TGV (from €57) from Paris Gare du Nord to Calais-Fréthun, the city’s TGV train station 6 miles south of Calais and 10 minutes by SNCF bus or TER train (€2.50) to the center. Ferries and the Eurotunnel connect Calais with Dover and Folkestone respectively, on the coast of south England.

Calais itself is small and easily walkable. Calais Ville train station is a 10-minute walk to place d’Armes and another 15 minutes on foot to the beach, Plage de Calais. If you prefer to ride the bus, there's extra good news – all local public transportation in Calais is free ! Public-sharing, blue-and-white  Vel’In bikes (one hour free, then €2/hour), operated by public transport company  Calais Opale Bus , make light work of longer distances. Create an account in advance online and download the app to unlock wheels and check bikes available in real time. 

Can you visit Calais as a day trip from the UK?

It’s only 32 nautical miles from Dover to Calais so yes, it’s perfectly feasible (although a city showcasing one of northern France’s best sand beaches, works by celebrated French sculptor Auguste Rodin and some of the finest frites or French fries this side of the Channel merits longer). Disembarking in Calais, hop on the free Balad’in shuttlebus into town or grab a bike at Vel’In’s Terminal Transmanche bike station and cycle the 2 miles.

Count 35 minutes by car-train from Folkstone (via the Eurotunnel with  LeShuttle , no foot passengers) and 90 minutes from Dover by car ferry (plus 90/20 minutes to check-in/disembark). DFDS, Irish Ferries and  P&O Ferries all run 10–15 sailings a day, but the latter is the only operator to take foot passengers. To avoid disappointment (ferries fill up fast year-round), buy tickets well in advance online. Don’t forget your passport, with at least three months validity.

Should you be hitting la belle France for a shopping spree of the alcoholic variety, you’re allowed to bring 42L of beer and 18L of regular wine back into the UK, plus 4L of spirit or 9L of sparkling wine and champagne. Quotas are per adult, not vehicle.

Top things to do in Calais

Lumbering along the seafront on the back of a 12.5m-high (41ft), 25m-long (82ft) sea dragon is as much about admiring the extraordinary craftsmanship behind the fantastical wood-and-metal beast as watching it breathe real fire, hiss water, roar, flare its canvas wings and flounce its tail. The undisputed icing on the cake of Calais’s recent renaissance, the  Calais Dragon (adult/4–11 years €9.50/7.50) is one of three awe-inspiring creatures created by François Delarozière at La Machine in Nantes (where you can  ride an elephant . Or  mount a minotaur in Toulouse).

Post-dragon walkabout (45 minutes; around the dragon forecourt in winter, along a section of the seafront in summer), don’t miss the 4m-long (13ft) Sentinel Iguana lounging on top of a shipping container in the dragon forecourt. Try your hand at manipulating the mechanical creature from the command post – it’s free. End with takeaway frites (fries) in paper and merguez (spicy sausages) or fricadelle (meatballs) from Friterie des Nations (Digue Gaston Berthe). The legendary seaside kiosk sells 200kg (440lbs) of fries a day in high season, twice-fried in vegetable oil as tradition demands and doused in brown vinegar. Picnic with seagulls on the beach or a bench looking out to sea.

It's hard to entice kids away from Plage de Calais. The vast promenade above the urban beach sports three top-drawer playgrounds (up to 14 years), an XXL skate park, multi-sports pitch, workout zone and food village with kiosks selling ice cream, crepes, waffles, donuts, churros, and other treats. On the sand, don’t miss the Banksy artwork on one wall of the lifeguard station, staffed July to September. Dozens more striking murals pepper the town; download a DIY  street-art tour mapped by Calais tourist office, and catch French and international artists at work during June’s  Festival Street Art .

Medieval pilgrims heading south from Canterbury to Rome on foot picked up the Via Francigena in France in front of 13th- to 17th-century Église Notre-Dame (17 rue Notre-Dame) where Charles de Gaulle famously got hitched in 1921. Constructed largely by the English, hence the striking Perpendicular Gothic architecture and resplendent Tudor flower gardens, the church is worth visiting (2–5:30pm July and August). Wander past the  Musée des Beaux-Arts (free admission) and a bronze De Gaulle and Winston Churchill promenading in landscaped Parc Richelieu, to the town’s palatial red-brick Hôtel de Ville (1925). Riding the elevator to the top of its extravagant, Flemish and Renaissance-styled belfry is a highlight, as is an Instagram shoot in its lavish garden with Rodin’s famous Burghers of Calais sculpture (1889).

On bad weather days, little beats a lesson in local lacemaking, the industry that made Calais a textile powerhouse in the 19th century, at canal-side  Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode . Sign up for a thrilling mechanical-loom demo – imagine 3500 vertical threads and 11,000 horizontal threads clattering and clunking in sync with instructions provided by perforated Jacquard cards – when you buy your admission ticket.

How much money do I need for Calais ?

As French cities go, Calais is relatively cheap – there are not that many seaside resorts in Europe where you can lounge over a coffee on a cafe pavement terrace for €1.50 or ride the bus for nothing. The city’s flagship Musée des Beaux-Arts is free to visit, as are its churches and impressive outdoor museum of street art. Here's a guide to daily costs in Calais:

• Double room in three-star hotel: €80
• Bag of fries on the seafront: €3
• Pain frites (chip sandwich): €4.50
• Picon-bière aperitif in a bar or restaurant: €6
• Midrange 2-/3-course lunch/dinner menu: €25/28
• Sun-lounger and parasol rental: €8/16 half/full day

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Earth Day 2024: When did it start; how is it celebrated; what can you do?

Earth Day 2024 FILE PHOTO: EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 29: Surfers gather near debris including a plastic bottle washed up on the beach. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images/Getty Images)

Monday is Earth Day 2024 , and more than 1 billion people across the globe are expected to celebrate with environmentally friendly events.

>> Read more trending news

But what is Earth Day? When did it start? How can you participate? Here’s what you need to know:

When did Earth Day start?

The first Earth Day celebration took place in 1970 after an oil spill in America brought environmental issues to the forefront of public consciousness. According to the Environmental Protection Agency , 22 million people across the country came out in support of environmental reform.

“That day left a permanent impact on the politics of America,” Gaylord Nelson wrote in the April 1980 edition of the EPA Journal. “It forcibly thrust the issue of environmental quality and resource conservation into the political dialogue of the nation.

“It showed political and opinion leadership of the country that the people cared, that they were ready for political action, that the politicians had better get ready, too. In short, Earth Day launched the environmental decade with a bang.”

This year, organizers estimate that more than 1 billion people in 192 countries will participate in events. The day is celebrated each year on April 22.

Is there a theme for Earth Day 2022?

Each year, Earth Day organizers assign a theme for the year’s activism efforts. This year’s theme is “Planet vs. Plastics.”

Organizers hope to raise awareness of the health risks of plastics, rapidly phase out all single-use plastics, urgently push for a strong UN Treaty on plastic pollution, and demand an end to fast fashion, according to EarthDay.org .

How are people celebrating?

Thousands of community cleanups are scheduled in major cities around the world as part of the Great Global Cleanup , EarthDay.org reported.

“The Great Global Cleanup is a worldwide campaign to remove billions of pieces of trash from neighborhoods, beaches, rivers, lakes, trails and parks — reducing waste and plastic pollution, improving habitats and preventing harm to wildlife and humans,” the organization’s website said. “This program aims to continue cleanups every day of the year for a brighter, greener and cleaner planet.”

Interested in volunteering? You can search this map for nearby cleanups, or create your own solo or small group cleanups near where you live and work, the website said.

What are businesses doing?

Google marked Earth Day 2024 with a doodle addressing climate change.

“This annual Earth Day Doodle features aerial photos of the planet’s natural beauty and biodiversity and reminds us of the importance of protecting it for future generations,” Google said of the doodle.

Meanwhile, Apple has announced its overall greenhouse gas emissions have been cut by more than 55 percent since 2015, according to its 2024 Environmental Progress Report .

“The milestone marks important progress on the journey toward Apple 2030, the company’s ambitious goal to become carbon neutral across its entire value chain by the end of this decade. The goal centers on cutting emissions by 75 percent from 2015 levels.”

How can I get involved?

There are multiple ways to get into the Earth Day spirit, even if you just take one “ simple act of green .” Here are some suggestions from EarthDay.org :

• Carry reusable eating utensils instead of using plastic ones.
• Carry a reusable bag instead of using plastic grocery bags.
• Have a plant-based meal.
• Participate in a local cleanup .
• Opt for sustainable fashion instead of fast fashion .
• Register to vote .
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F1 Chinese Grand Prix 2024 race results, standings: Max Verstappen cruises to victory in Shanghai

M ax Verstappen has continued his relentless march towards a fourth consecutive world title, as he claimed his fourth victory from the opening five races with a comprehensive win in the Chinese Grand Prix.

The reigning champion completed a dominant weekend for Red Bull as he cruised to a sprint victory, claimed pole and was never really challenged in first place as teammate Sergio Perez also finished on the podium in third place.

Two separate incidents caused Safety Car interruptions, but Verstappen managed to rebuild his advantage on both occasions to win for the first time in Shanghai as the Grand Prix returned to China for the first time since 2019. 

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Meanwhile, Lando Norris completed an impressive drive to finish in second and claim the 15 th podium of his  Formula 1  career. 

F1 China: Race results and standings from Shanghai

F1 china: pre-race grid order.

1. Verstappen, 2. Perez, 3. Alonso, 4. Norris, 5. Piastri, 6. Leclerc, 7. Sainz, 8. Russell, 9. Hulkenberg, 10. Bottas 

11. Stroll, 12. Ricciardo, 13. Ocon, 14. Albon, 15. Gasly, 16. Guanyu, 17. Magnussen, 18. Hamilton, 19. Tsunoda, 20. Sargeant

MORE: F1 2024 standings

Who won F1 today? Chinese Grand Prix post-race analysis

Verstappen a cut above the rest.

"It’s historic what we’re watching from Verstappen and it’s a historic performance from this car," Nico Rosberg said in commentary as the Red Bull driver cruised to his maiden win in China. 

It's hard to argue with that assessment as Verstappen was twice brought back to the pack due to two Safety Car interruptions, only to brush off any and all challengers. 

Verstappen finished 13-seconds ahead of Norris to seal his fourth win from five races this season. 

"I would like to see him drive for someone else!" Karun Chandhok said on Sky Sports. 

"It would be fun to see. How much is it Max versus this car?"

Norris denies Red Bull 1-2

While Verstappen was removed from all of the drama behind him, Norris was right in the thick of it as he benefitted from the Safety Car phases to nestle his way ahead of Perez and claim second place. 

Norris was one of just three drivers to make one pit stop during the race with the McLaren driver claiming a podium finish, which he admitted came as somewhat of a surprise to himself. 

"He's a little bit the glass half empty guy," Rosberg said. 

"Pre-race betting that Ferrari are going to beat them, I don't think that's the best approach in general. I think positivity would be helpful.

"But, nevertheless, he did a phenomenal drive today. He drove so well. Certainly, together with Max, the best driver of the day for sure." 

Multiple incidents cause chaos in Shanghai

Two Safety Car interruptions punctuated the Grand Prix in China with an engine failure on Valtteri Bottas' Sauber followed by a crash from the restart. 

Lance Stroll collided into the back of Daniel Ricciardo upon the restart, causing the Australian to return to the pits before he retired due to the damage inflicted.

But that wasn't the only drama in the day with Yuki Tsunoda and Kevin Magnussen also colliding. 

F1 Chinese Grand Prix qualifying recap

No one was in touching distance of Verstappen during qualifying, with the Dutchman securing his fifth consecutive pole of the season. The result also marked Red Bull's 100th pole position in F1.

It was a thrilling battle for the other front-row spot, with Perez nabbing it late to secure a 1-2 for Red Bull. Piastri recorded a strong lap at the end of Q3 but was trumped by teammate Norris. Alonso then went even faster before Perez flew home to break Aston Martin's hearts.

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Lewis Hamilton made a costly error that saw him suffer a shock elimination in Q1, while the struggling Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon progressed through to Q2.

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