Norwegian Fjords

August 13, 2025

Breathtaking Scenery

I went on this great cruise with my husband and parents in May, sailing from Southampton was so incredibly easy - parked the car and onboard within 30 minutes!  

The Virtuosa is a large ship, great for all age groups! With sparkling crystal staircases, lots of entertainment areas and bars so you can join in with the many activities or find a quiet spot it is totally up to you. 

The staff were wonderful, the ship was clean. the food was plentiful and the views were out of this world!

TOP TIP
Sailing through the Fjords, we set our alarm for 3am and so pleased we did, sitting on our balcony we watched in awe at the breathtaking scenery unfolding before our eyes - it was so quiet with just the sound of waterfalls in the distance, made us feel lucky to be alive to witness such wonderful natural beauty.
August 13, 2025
"We had a fantastic time in Zadar, the old town is compact and easy to navigate with little vehicular traffic. The Croatian people are so friendly and we found everyone spoke at least a little English and most were fluent. The sea is warm (we went in July) The beaches are mostly rocky so make sure to pack reef shoes. The food is fantastic and prices are reasonable (we had a whole lobster on pasta for under 40 euros) drinks are also very well priced and the local beer and wine is good! Several of the restaurants do not take bookings, however they turn around really quickly so if you are determined for that table with a view, simply wait at the entrance you won't be disappointed. Do not miss: A boat trip to visit the islands! Greeting to the Sun - is a monument dedicated to the sun which consists of multi layered glass plates on the same level as the stone paved waterfront - spectacular when the sun goes down. Sea Organ - the waves flow through the organ, a wonderful piece of architecture where the waves make music. All this only 2 hours, 30 minutes flying time from the UK. Would we go back? Most definitely!"
August 13, 2025
Karen & Kelly had the time of their lives aboard the new Norwegian Aqua and here's why YOU will too: "The food was absolutely incredible - hot, flavorful and so much variety!" "There were so many places to sit and relax outside - this ship is built for the sunshine" "The Aqua Coaster was a must-try, and the spa - well breathtaking!" "The entertainment is world class, we were speechless by the talent" "With anytime dining, handcrafted cocktails and spacious cabins - this is cruising like never before" So whether you're looking for relaxation, adventure or a little of both, the Norwegian Aqua is your perfect escape!
August 13, 2025
The Room: Swim-Up Bliss We stayed in one of the swim-up rooms, and I can’t recommend it enough. There was nothing better than coming back in the afternoon, slipping straight into the pool from our terrace, and soaking up the sun in peace. The room itself was lovely, cleaned daily, with the fridge restocked too, which was such a nice touch and made everything feel that bit more luxurious Food: Some of the Best All-Inclusive Dining we've had! The food really impressed us. Probably the best we’ve ever had at an all-inclusive resort. So much variety in the evenings, with something new to try each night. I was a bit gutted not to get a booking at any of the à la carte restaurants (note to future self: book early!), but we absolutely loved the Greek and American snack bars for lunch The Pools: Something for Everyone The pools were fab! We mostly gravitated toward the main pool area, but there’s something for everyone; an activity pool, an adults-only pool, and a splash pool that was a big hit with us too. The splash zone had great slides, fountains, and it’s located right next to the park and sports bar, which made it easy for the little ones to play, grab an ice cream, and enjoy the space safely. Entertainment & Activities The resort had a packed schedule when it came to entertainment and activities. There was yoga, water aerobics, football, archery, you name it. The kids’ club was another highlight! Just a heads up: bookings for the kids’ club open the day before on the app and go very quickly, so set a reminder if that’s something you’re planning! Would we go back? Absolutely. We had such a fantastic time - relaxed, well-fed, entertained, and with happy kids. Would we go back? 100%. Top Tip: Private Transfer is Worth it! I’d definitely recommend booking a private transfer from Rhodes Airport. It’s just under an hour by taxi, but standard transfers can take much longer, especially if you're dropping off at multiple resorts Huge Thanks to Expectations Travel We booked through Karen at Expectations Travel and she made the whole process completely stress-free, from initially finding us the perfect family friendly hotel to the room upgrades, organising private transfers and even letting them know it was my birthday during our stay! Massive thank you to the team for making our trip so special!
August 13, 2025
I have just returned from a fabulous city break in Krakow. WOW what an great time we had and with a flight time of just over 2 hours from the UK was perfect for a few days away. The city itself is full of character with wonderful buildings and sculptures at every turn, with amazing food, great value and friendly locals who could ask for more! I chose a wonderful 4* adult only hotel, located by the train station. Just 10 minutes walk to both the Old Town & The Jewish Quarter so a fantastic location. With a rooftop hot tub, which was great to relax after a day exploring, we watched the sunset over the city with a glass of bubbles .... bliss! Our trip to Auschwitz was the reason behind initially choosing Krakow. I do believe everyone should go once in their lifetime. It w as such an incredibly humbling and thought provoking experience that will certainly stay with me for ever. Another great trip was to the Salt Mines, we almost didn't book this but so pleased we did! Finding landscapes and stunningly beautiful chambers - fascinating us with every turn. We went for 4 nights in early March, was cold but Spring was definitely just around the corner - when the sun was shining we sat outside on the Old Town Square drinking hot chocolate and maybe a little glass of "Grzane Piwo" watching the world go by. Would I go back? DEFINITELY - I would love to go back for the Christmas Markets, they are supposed to be amazing - time to book again I think!
August 13, 2025
"What a fantastic time we had in Agadir, a beautiful long stretch of beach stretching for miles. With a wonderful promenade leading right the way along to the lovely marina. So safe to walk along at any time of day, we loved an evening walk after a meal, Agadir really does come to life after dark! Being on the Atlantic, the waves are great - why not make the most of this with one of the many surfing schools. We stayed at the beautiful Iberostar Hotel, very impressed with spotless grounds and friendly staff. Being All-Inclusive the food and drinks were plentiful - even the buffet didn't get boring! Do not miss: The Cable Car up to the Kasbah ruins, with incredible aerial views of the city. Top Tip - travel up early evening and make the most of it with the views in daylight plus see the most spectacular sunset! Souk El Had, one of the biggest souks in Morocco! Authentic traditional market spread over 13 hectares. Top Tip - if you find yourself going around in circles, take one of the exits and walk around the old walls to another gate! We loved our sand buggies trip for a morning adrenaline rush speeding through the dunes. Top Tip - don't wear white you will get covered in dust! All this only 3 hours, 30 minutes flying time from Bournemouth! Would we go back? YES Its already booked!
August 13, 2025
JET2 Holidays recently launched from our local airport in Bournemouth, so I decided I just had to try it out and booked a cheeky last minute getaway with a few friends and our travel partners from Vindomora Country Lodges and R&R Executive for a few days in the Canarian sunshine. What a wonderful time we all had! The service from JET2 was fabulous: flights, transfers and hotel were faultless We opted for a little 3* Adult only hotel in Playa Blanca and were not disappointed! ✨ Sandos Atlantic Gardens✨ Each bungalow had a bedroom, bathroom, living area & terrace. The hotel itself is located on the beautiful promenade which leads from the Playa Blanca lighthouse to the Rubicon Marina - the stunning Flamingo Beach being only about a 5 minute walk, Playa Blanca centre 30 mins and Marina 45 mins. With 2 pools, (one heated) - restaurant with a great choice of food and bar with evening entertainment we really couldn't ask for more! Flight time (from Bournemouth) just under 4 hours & resort transfer to Playa Blanca about 45 minutes was the perfect choice. The highlight of our week had to be the "Travel Partners Go-Karting Competition" we hired an 8 seater car for the day to get to the track which was close to Puerto del Carmen, the largest track in Europe! In 1st place - Rob, from R&R Executive Travel "YES he will get you to the airport on time!" 2nd & 3rd place - Craig & Harry from Vindomora Country Lodges As we had the car we made the most of the day, and ventured to traditional Teguise village for a celebration lunch - Teguise is definitely worth a visit, especially on market day!
By Karen Holtz August 13, 2025
We have just returned from a 5 night stay in Majorca, with a flight time of just under 2 hours - a perfect choice flying with little ones! I chose the Fergus Club Europa and so pleased I did, resort transfer time of under one hour - the hotel was fantastic with a few pools, great entertainment and friendly staff. We chose to stay in a suite, this upgrade gave us an extra restaurant, bar and pool to choose from! I have to give a special mention to the food though as not only loads to choose from for us adults but my 3 year old has severe allergies and the chefs and staff were fantastic accommodating for this and cooking anything he liked from fresh if needed. The beautiful Paguera beach was just a 5 minute walk away (hotel also provides a shuttle bus) with its crystal clear water - sun loungers and umbrellas were just 20 euros for the day and even had a safe attached to the umbrella pole so you could lock away your valuables whilst taking a dip in the sea - a fantastic idea! We ventured out of the hotel one of the days to visit Palma Aquarium (organised excursion with JET2) what a great day we had - would certainly recommend doing this if you can. TOP TIP - Tuesday is market day, 10am just outside the hotel - its huge and a really good morning out!