CRUISE DEAL OF THE DAY

We have included details below of a fantastic P&O Ventura deal available to us.
P&O Ventura
16th or 17th December 2011
15 nights Christmas Caribbean Cruise
Flying from Manchester to,
Barbados then sail to St.Maarten, Tortola, St.Kitts,
Antigua, St.Lucia,Dominica, St.Vincent, Barbados

Lead in fare from only... £799pp!!!
Based on lowest Inside stateroom

WOW I hear you all say...
That works out at only £53pppd to spend Christmas in the Caribbean!!

PLEASE HURRY AND TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THIS AMAZING DEAL WITH BLUE SKIES TRAVEL. RING 02920615640 TO BOOK
AS PLACES ARE SELLING REALLY FAST AND WONT BE AROUND FOR LONG!!!

Happy Xmas Everyone!!

New Website

Check our new website www.twocentreholidays.co.uk ! :)

Things you wouldn't expect on a yacht

By Laura Tait There are some things you would expect to find on a yacht. A cabin, a galley (kitchen), somewhere to sit, some navigation equipment. That sort of thing. And then there are things that you’d be pretty impressed to find in a billionaire’s mansion, let alone a boat. Like this lot... A basketball court You’d think a floating court would cause all kinds of problems for any sport, yet basketball appears to be a popular pastime for rich men with big boats. In addition to his two helicopters, seven boats, two submarines, cinema and audio recording studio, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has a basketball court on his 414 foot mega-yacht, Octopus. American film producer David Geffen’s The Rising Sun has one too, which handily doubles up as helicopter pad if it’s needed. A concert hall Little is known about what is inside the Al Said - the yacht owned by the Sultan Qaboos of Oman – in fact, no one outside of the sultan's court has ever been inside it. But one thing that has been confirmed is that aside from the fact it has six decks (with most of the deck space covered because of the hot middle-eastern weather) it also has a concert hall with the capacity to host a 50-piece symphony orchestra. An aquarium If you’re a fan of the water and all it entails – and you probably are if you’re on a yacht – then there’s hours of fun to be had aboard Roman Abramovich’s The Eclipse, which is believed to be the world’s priciest yacht at a rumoured cost of £665 million to the Chelsea Football Club owner. As well as a swimming pool (and a dance floor that turns into another swimming pool), the boat has a submarine and an aquarium. So no need to pack your scuba gear next time he invites you on it. A Grand Prix track Set to take over the title as the world’s most expensive yacht from The Eclipse (costing an estimated £700m to build), The Streets of Monaco is modelled on a section of Monte Carlo, featuring smaller versions of the state’s landmarks including the Hotel de Paris and Monte Carlo Casino and, of course, the famous racetrack. Instead of ‘decks’, the 510-foot boat will have buildings and instead of a swimming platform it will have a beach. A beach The aforementioned Monaco model won’t be the first boat with its own beach however. Despite the fact that by design a yacht should be able to quite easily get you to a coastline, the idea that you can take the coastline with you was used by Saudi Arabian businessman Nasser Al-Rashid, and his spectacular vessel The Lady Moura which has a beach that slides out of one side of the boat. The miniature resort incorporates sand, deck chairs and palm trees. A helicopter It seems that until Chitty Chitty Bang Bang becomes a reality and someone invents a vehicle that has the ability to travel both through wind and water, the solution is to keep your flying machine on your boat, and a chopper is increasingly considered a must-have accessory for yachters. All of the previous yachts we’ve mentioned have one – or at least a landing pad should they want to hire one. Paul Allen’s Octopus actually has TWO of its own. But then who doesn’t need a spare helicopter on their yacht? A massive sculpture of Diane Von Furstenberg’s head A bit leftfield compared to the other features, but makes more sense when you know the yacht is owned by the fashion designer’s husband, Barry Dillon. The media mogul bought the Eos in 2007 for him and his wife, and other features include a glass staircase. While we can’t be one hundred per cent sure, we’re prepared to lay money on the fact that it’s the ONLY yacht in the world that has an enormous Von Furstenberg head in it.

ways to protect your holiday booking

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Events like the Tunisian riots and freak flooding across parts of Australia, Brazil and Sri Lanka bring home how important it is to have holiday protection if things go wrong. And aside from climatic conditions, it could be an airline going bust or holiday company collapse that scuppers your trip. So what can you do to protect yourself and your cash?

1. Don’t cancel

Seems the obvious thing to do if you hear of disturbances or bad weather at your destination; but take the decision to cancel yourself, and you’ll be out of pocket. Wait for your airline or holiday company to ‘cancel’ your trip so you can get a refund or alternative holiday.

2. Look for ATOL bonding

Book a package holiday (including flights) and your cash is protected under the ‘ATOL’ scheme, run by the Civil Aviation Authority. This way you’ll be flown home if your airline or travel operator goes bust and get a refund if this happens before you leave. Check a company’s ATOL license here.

3. Book with an ABTA member

Booking through a tour operator or travel agent? Check they belong to ABTA - The Travel Association. Over 90 per cent of agents and operators are members, which means your money is protected if things go wrong and they’ll investigate any complaints on your behalf.

4. Take out travel insurance

Forced to cancel a trip because you get sick or have an accident? This is when your travel insurance kicks in. But only providing you cancel on the advice of your GP - rather than a self diagnosis; so get something in writing as proof for your insurer.

5. Pay by credit card

This can bump up your bill by around 3 per cent but gives you extra protection under the Consumer Credit Act. If what you’re buying costs £100 or more you can ask your credit card company to stump up if the supplier goes bust. This option proved a lifeline for passengers booked with Swansea based ‘Diamond Coaches’ which recently went into administration; as the company wasn’t ABTA registered.

6. Pay by debit card

There’s no legal protection with this; unlike paying by credit card; but if you use a ‘visa debit’ card you can claim for losses under its ‘chargeback’ scheme. There’s no minimum spend and you’ve up to 120 days to make a claim through your bank.

7. Scheduled airline failure cover

Pays out if the ‘scheduled’ airline you’re booked with goes bust; although in some cases you may already be covered if you’ve booked a package deal. Cover can be an ‘add on’ on travel insurance; although around 20 per cent of insurers include this as standard paying out up to £1,500 per person.

8. Independent traveller insurance

If you’ve organised flights and accommodation yourself you may have no comeback in the event of airline strikes. But ‘independent traveller’ insurance pays out in this case; and covers any additional costs you incur like booking another flight. Companies like M&S Money offer this as standard with annual policies. Compare travel insurance providers here.

9. Read the small print

Tempted to say you’ve read those ‘terms and conditions’ when you haven’t? Don’t - as this is where you’ll find stuff like the fact your airline can increase fares due to higher fuel bills; or that your flight times can be changed which is vital to know if you’ve got connecting flights.

10. Take your contacts

Take all contact numbers with you along with copies of booking forms. And make sure you’ve got ‘calling from abroad’ numbers to avoid the more costly ‘0870’ numbers that will cost a fortune from your mobile.

12 day Grand Rail Circle, Canada

12 day Grand Rail Circle, Canada

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

Return flights

12 Day Grand Rail Circle from Vancouver with 11 nights’ accommodation, 4 days onboard the Rocky Mountaineer in RedLeaf Service, various meals, touring, sightseeing, transport and transfers

Highlights

Vancouver,Kamloops, Banff, Lake Louise, Icefields Parkway, Jasper, Whistler, Rocky Mountaineer

FROM

£ 2729pp

Valid for travel: 9 May 12 - 30 May 12 Book by: 20 Sep 11

DEPARTURES ARE FROM LONDON

Demolishing a Vegas Hotel Before its Grand Opening

By Andrea V. Brambila, Inman News

August 25, 2011

Provided by:

Las Vegas CityCenter's Harmon Hotel tower (center), may be razed before it ever opens.

The days of the Harmon Hotel tower in Las Vegas may be numbered -- even before the hotel welcomes a single guest. Begun during the Las Vegas high-rise condo boom, the hotel tower -- first proposed as a 49-story mixed-use condo and hotel project -- is an empty, if flashy, shell that its owner, MGM Resorts International, seeks to demolish.
The building's downfall has been blamed on massive construction defects and the market downturn. MGM and the building's general contractor, Perini Building Co., are embroiled in litigation over the building's problems -- and the outcome may ultimately decide its fate.
Originally conceived as a 400-room nongaming tower with just over 200 residential condo units, the Harmon was part of the larger CityCenter development on the Las Vegas Strip.
 When MGM put the planned condo units on the market in early 2008, buyers -- mostly owner-occupants -- put down 20 percent deposits on nearly half of the units within a two-month period, said Robert Hamrick, who served from January 2006 to March 2011 as senior vice president and broker at CityCenter Realty Corp. He is currently chairman and CEO of Coldwell Banker Premier Realty in Las Vegas.

Harmon tower (center) and CityCenter during construction. Photo: flickr | Lars Plougmann

"It was a very emotional building. The physicality of it, (the) appearance, the architecture. It was going to be a very high-end luxury building, kind of appealing to the nouveau riche, perhaps. Upscale, classy and a somewhat young environment," Hamrick said.
But structural defects were discovered in the building, and in January 2009 MGM announced that the Harmon's finished size would be cut down to 28 stories, from the 49 stories originally slated. This eliminated the planned condo units entirely. Perini finished the Harmon's core and shell in December 2009.

The Aladdin Hotel on the Vegas strip imploded in April, 1998. Photo: AP

The building currently sits unfinished as MGM and Perini debate the extent of construction defects in the courts. Neither MGM or Perini responded to requests for comment by publication time.
According to a July engineering report, repair of the building may not be possible, and if it is, it could take up to three years to fix from start to finish.
The Perini company fired back in a statement that "MGM is seeking to implode the building to hide the fact that the Harmon is not a threat to public safety and to avoid having the repairs made that Perini and its third-party structural engineers have offered to do."

The New Frontier had seen better days when it imploded in July, 2007. Photo: AP

Perini also accused MGM of "buyer's remorse" due to the downturn of the real estate market. "MGM is now attempting to blow up the Harmon to avoid adding the Harmon as additional glut to its other vacant properties in CityCenter under the guise of 'public safety,'" the company charged.
The proposed plan is subject to approval from the county's building department. If approved, MGM would also seek to lift a court order that prevent alteration or destruction of the building while the litigation with Perini is unresolved. There have been at least a dozen buildings imploded in Las Vegas since 1993, five of them since 2006, according to an implosions page on travel website Vegas.com. The most recent was the New Frontier hotel, the second-oldest hotel on the strip at the time, on November 13, 2007. On May 9, 2006, the precursor to CityCenter, the Boardwalk hotel, was imploded to make way for the new development.

Gills Cruise Centre have ceased trading

  If you have a Gills cruises booking already made then, then your cruise holiday and money should be protected. You should hear from your cruise line shortly. If you would like to contact the cruise line, use the phone number shown on your booking confirmation. ABTA say any cruise booked through Gill’s Cruises would be fully financially protected and cruise companies would “honour all paid-for cruises as normal”.
If you are looking for a great cruise deal now that Gills Cruises are closed, then you are wise to look to The Cruise Service , now the main cruise travel agent in Cardiff.
The Cruise Service is a member of Blue Skies Travel

Oman Air’s Business Class seat

Oman Air’s Business Class seat was confirmed as the best in the world at the World Airline Awards at the Paris Air Show this month.
The national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman was presented with the Best Business Class Seat award at a ceremony attended by more than 50 airlines and held at the Paris Air Show. The awards are based on the views of nearly 20 million air passengers, who were surveyed by Skytrax over the last year.

Oman Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter Hill, commented: “We are delighted that Oman Air has been named as winner in the Best Business Class Seat category of the World Airline Awards, which are the most prestigious accolades available within the global airline industry.
“Our Business Class seat is regularly mistaken for First Class. It offers unparalleled levels of space, comfort and amenity and has proved extremely popular with our customers. Competition at the World Airline Awards for the title of ‘Best Business Class Seat’ is fierce and it is enormously satisfying to know that air travellers regard our seat as the best in the world.
Oman Air’s award-winning Business Class seat offers comfort and luxury within an 82-inch pitch, direct aisle access for every passenger and converts to a 77-inch long fully lie-flat bed. A 17-inch inflight entertainment screen gives access to a huge range of movies, music and games, whilst a universal power point, USB port and iPod sockets enable passengers to personalise their entertainment options by plugging in their laptops, smart phones, tablet PCs or games consoles. Retractable privacy screens, buddy seats and ample storage add to the experience, putting the passenger fully in control of their personal space.
The World Airline Awards, also known as the Passenger Choice Awards, are recognised as the benchmark for excellence in the airline industry. They are informed by a survey carried out over a period of 10 months by renowned independent airline experts Skytrax. The views of 18.8 million air travellers, from more than 100 different countries, are surveyed and responses cover over 200 airlines of all sizes. Standards across nearly 40 different items of airline front-line product and service are measured and analysed, from check-in to boarding, onboard seat comfort and cabin cleanliness to food and beverages, and from IFE to staff service.
Oman Air’s success in the World Airline Awards follows a period of rapid change for the airline, during which it has emerged as a niche luxury carrier. Having introduced a fleet of new Airbus A330 aircraft with outstanding interiors, as well as state-of-the-art Embraer 175 short haul jets, Oman Air has expanded its network to include more than 40 exciting destinations. In addition to offering audio and video on demand and live satellite TV onboard its A330s, Oman Air pioneered inflight mobile phone and Wi-Fi connectivity and has received acclaim for its inflight dining, refreshments and amenity kits.
Having recently unveiled ultra-luxurious First Class and Business Class lounges at Muscat International Airport, the airline has just launched a new First Class lounge-to-aircraft limousine service, with a chauffeur-driven fleet of Audi A8s.

Record breaking Airbus order confirmed

Jun 24, 2011 08:14

Airbus yesterday confirmed the biggest single order of commercial aircraft in history with Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia buying 200 A320neos in a deal worth about $18 billion (£11 billion).
The order eclipsed a deal 14 hours earlier when India's IndiGo confirmed a $15.6 billion order for 180 Airbus A320neos and A320s. The new generation A320 model features more fuel efficient engines making them cheaper to operate.
The AirAsia deal made the Malaysian carrier the biggest airline customer for Airbus’s single-aisle product line. AirAsia has now placed total firm orders for 375 aircraft from the A320 family, with 89 already in service.
“With this historic deal, AirAsia has secured its future with the ability to meet the huge growth potential offered by the Asian market," said the carrier’s chief executive Tony Fernandes.
Airbus estimated it has sold more than 700 A320neo jets so far. There is a possibility that we will be at 1,000 by the end of the [Paris Air] show,” said Airbus sales chief John Leahy.

20 genuine ridiculous complaints made by holidaymakers

1. A woman threatened to call police after claiming that she’d been locked in by staff. When in fact, she had mistaken the “do not disturb” sign on the back of the door as a warning to remain in the room.
2. A tourist at a top African game lodge overlooking a waterhole, who spotted a visibly aroused elephant, complained that the sight of this rampant beast ruined his honeymoon by making him feel "inadequate".
3. "The beach was too sandy."
4. A guest at a Novotel in Australia complained his soup was too thick and strong. He was inadvertently slurping the gravy at the time.
5. "Topless sunbathing on the beach should be banned. The holiday was ruined as my husband spent all day looking at other women."
6. "We bought 'Ray-Ban' sunglasses for five euros (£3.50) from a street trader, only to find out they were fake."
7. "No-one told us there would be fish in the sea. The children were startled."
8. "It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England it only took the Americans three hours to get home."
9. "My fiancé and I booked a twin-bedded room but we were placed in a double-bedded room. We now hold you responsible for the fact that I find myself pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked."
10. "I compared the size of our one-bedroom apartment to our friends' three-bedroom apartment and ours was significantly smaller."
11. "The brochure stated: 'No hairdressers at the accommodation'. We're trainee hairdressers - will we be OK staying here?"
12. "There are too many Spanish people. The receptionist speaks Spanish. The food is Spanish. Too many foreigners."
13. "We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure. Your brochure shows the sand as yellow but it was white."
14. "We had to queue outside with no air conditioning."
15. "It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we travel."
16. "I was bitten by a mosquito - no-one said they could bite."
17. "I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts."
18. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' time - this should be banned."
19. "On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don't like spicy food at all."
20. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our swimming costumes and towels."

Source: Telegraph

todays LIVE Funway 241 offers

Here are todays LIVE Funway 241 offers as sourced again by my own fair hand.

Grand Pineapple £846 flying VS

Grand Pineapple £1119 flying BA

Halcyon £1407 flying VS

Grand Riviera £993 flying BA

Beaches Turks and Caicos £1629 flying BA

Beaches Negril £1252 flying BA

Whitehouse £1244 flying VS

Royal Caribbean £1463 flying BA

Royal Bahamian £1624 flying BA

Halcyon £1599 flying BA

Antigua £1659 flying BA

sandals 2 for 1 holiday offer now on!

We have a Sandals 2 For 1 Offer available between 15th & 31st May 2011 on many rooms & suites for 2011 departures!

Get your enquiries in now!

Sample of offfers currently available
Grand Pineapple Beach, Antigua       Oceanview Room      10-30 November 11   7 nights        £699

Grand Pineapple Beach, Antigua            Oceanview Room                01-30 September 11            7 nights            £799
Sandals Grand Riviera, Jamaica              Concierge                             24 Nov to 9 Dec 11              7 nights            £949
Grand Pineapple Beach, Antigua            Oceanview Room                10-30 November 11             14 nights            £1099
Sandals Halcyon, St Lucia                        Luxury Room                        22 Sept to 15 Oct 11            7 nights            £1099
Beaches Boscobel, Jamaica                     Concierge                             10 Nov to 23 Nov 11            7 nights            £1159
Sandals Grand Riviera, Jamaica              Butler                                     24 Nov to 9 Dec 11              7 nights            £1199
Sandals Whitehouse, Jamaica                 Concierge                             29 Sep to 12 Oct 11             7 nights            £1229
Beaches Negril, Jamaica                           Concierge                             29 Sep to 12 Oct 11             7 nights            £1239
Beaches Negril, Jamaica                           Concierge                             29 Sep to 12 Oct 11             10 nights            £1599
Beaches Turks and Caicos                        Concierge                             01-30 September 11            7 nights            £1599
Sandals Royal Bahamian                          Concierge                             01 Sep to 7 Dec 11              7 nights            £1624
Sandals Grande Antigua                           Med Village Concierge       22 Sep to 12 Oct 11             7 nights            £1639
Sandals Emerald Bay, Exumas                Concierge                             01 Sep to 7 Dec 11              7 nights            £1799
Sandals Halcyon, St Lucia                        Luxury Room                        22 Sept to 15 Oct 11            14 nights            £1999
Sandals Whitehouse, Jamaica                 Concierge                             29 Sep to 12 Oct 11             14 nights            £2139

Prices are per person including flights. This is just a selection, other dates, room types, durations will be available (all prices subject to change too).

Portsmouth's new terminal welcomes first cruise passengers

Portsmouth's new terminal welcomes first cruise passengers

Monday, April 18, 2011

The first cruise passengers to use Portsmouth International Port’s newly opened terminal arrived last week.
Classic International Cruises’ ship Athena, arrived on Thursday from Freemantle in Australia on March 6.
The new terminal opened its doors to passengers on April 1 and is designed to accommodate both ferry and cruise ship passengers. The building is part of a £16.5 million investment in new facilities at the port.
Commenting, Martin Putman, port manager said: "This is just the start of a busy season of cruise ship visits for us at Portsmouth International Port. The changes we've made are already attracting more business from cruise ship companies."
The port is expecting around 34 cruise ship calls between now and the end of December, with All Leisure Group basing three ships in Portsmouth for their summer season.
Other visits will include the expedition ship the National Geographic Explorer, and Fred Olsen’s Boudicca.

Ryanair found guilty of disability discrimination case

Apr 15, 2011 07:26

Ryanair left a wheelchair-bound passenger on the runway at Luton Airport because “all it was interested in was getting the plane airborne on time” according to a judge.

Jo Heath, who suffers multiple sclerosis, had to be carried on to the aircraft by her husband Paul using a fireman’s lift. Northampton County Court ruled the airline broke disability discrimination laws and breached its contract with Heath after its staff refused to help the couple in June 2008. The court awarded the Heaths £1,750.

Husband Paul said: “Ryanair tried to brush us under the carpet. They offered us more money than we eventually received but we refused it because they wanted us to sign a confidentiality clause.”

Jo Heath said: “I’m not terribly impressed with the pay-out but it’s not a question of money. It’s about standing up for people with disabilities.”

Judge Paul McHale ruled: “I find as a matter of fact that anything that interfered with the [aircraft] turnaround time was going to be ignored. All the defendant was interested in was getting the plane airborne on time.”

Ryanair said it would appeal on the grounds that Luton Airport was responsible for assisting the passengers under European Union law. The couple had submitted a special requirements request for a hydraulic Ambulift, which failed to turn up on the day.

Dame Shirley Bassey to name P&O Cruises' Adonia

Feb 24, 2011 13:44

Welsh singing legend Dame Shirley Bassey is to name P&O Cruises’ new small ship Adonia.
Famous for the theme songs to James Bond films such as Diamonds Are Forever and Goldfinger, Dame Shirley will act as godmother of the 710-passenger vessel at a naming ceremony in Southampton on May 21.
The adult-only ship is transferring to the British cruise line from sister company Princess Cruises where it has been operating as Royal Princess.
Adonia is seen as a replacement for older mid-size ship Artemis which has been sold by P&O Cruises and is the first in the fleet to run Mediterranean fly-cruises in winter 2011-12.

Dame Shirley said: “I have had the most exciting career imaginable, but to be invited to be Godmother to a cruise ship is something very special and very personal.”

P&O Cruises’ managing director Carol Marlow said: “Dame Shirley is Britain’s most successful female artiste ever, a national treasure who defines the word ‘superstar’.”