Travel journalist Kaye Holland regales Daniel with stories from the inaugural cruise of NCL's newest ship, Norwegian Luna. Having previously sailed with NCL, Kaye shares advice for repeat and first-time cruisers. Plus, this time she stayed in The Haven - a luxurious enclave onboard the mega ship with exclusive amenities and facilities. Will she ever cruise any other way in the future?

This is Destination Unlocked with me, Daniel Edward.

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Hi, welcome back to Destination Unlocked.

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Great to have you here with us

today where we are going sailing.

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We're gonna be going on a brand new ship.

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It's just been launched by Norwegian

Cruise Line, which has ships of

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all sizes, but they do have some

pretty swish and mega ships.

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Their newer ones are carnivals at

sea, if you'll forgive me for using

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another cruise line's name there.

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But really, very exciting stuff.

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And we are joined by somebody

who I've worked with for a few

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years in the travel writing world.

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We worked together at a magazine

which focuses on cruising itself.

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And so it's a delight to have Kaye

Holland join us today to talk about

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her recent cruise experience on

the brand new ship Norwegian Luna.

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Enjoy.

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So, Kaye, tell us what are

you unlocking for us today?

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Kaye Holland: I am unlocking,

Daniel, Norwegian Luna, Norwegian

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Cruise Line's brand new ship, which

is quite simply outta this world.

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Daniel Edward: It's so exciting

to be out on a brand new ship.

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We're obviously going to get into

the details of the ship itself

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and take us on a bit of a ship

tour and all of that good stuff.

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But let's start with where

you actually went cruising.

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Kaye Holland: Well, we flew to Miami

and we boarded the ship, which is the

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second in the lines new Prima plus class.

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And it was actually more

of a couple of days at sea.

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And then we went to the private island,

Great Stirrup Cay and then back to Miami.

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So short, but very sweet.

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Daniel Edward: Ooh, I've not been to

Great Stirrup Cay, this is something that

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you can only go to on lines, which are

owned by Norwegian Cruise Lines group.

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Kaye Holland: That's right.

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It's a bit Marmite.

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It's a love it or hate it growing

trend in the cruise industry.

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Private islands.

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So this one you can only go to on

a Norwegian Cruise Line sailing.

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Passengers I spoke to, there

were very much two camps.

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As I said, Marmite, they either

absolutely adored it or they

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didn't necessarily get the point.

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It's paradise, but I think it's,

personally, a manicured slice of paradise.

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Daniel Edward: Let's go through

the cruise experience then.

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You mentioned it's, one of two

currently of this Prima Plus.

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I've been on Prima, but not a Prima Plus.

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Do you notice the plus?

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Kaye Holland: You do.

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It's subtle but noticeable if

you have been on the prima class.

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Everything's just a little bit

larger, a little bit more spacious.

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They've taken all the good bits from the

Prima class and just tweaked and elevated

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it to create this new Prima Plus class.

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So it is subtle but noticeable.

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Daniel Edward: What was the

boarding experience like from Miami?

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Kaye Holland: Very, very smooth.

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You know, you see everything that's

happening in the news in the moment in

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America with airport queues and hassle.

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And I thought perhaps that might translate

to a similar experience at the port.

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But no, I was on board

within about 30 minutes.

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And then of course, when you're

actually boarding Norwegian Luna, one

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of the things that really stands out

is this striking, hand painted hull.

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Sort of similar to all of Norwegian

ships, each one's individual.

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And this one was designed by a

California street artist called Elle, and

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features the 12 Zodiac constellations.

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And it was just, just stunning.

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I was on aqua the previous year

I found that, no disrespect to

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the designer, a little bit more

garish and a bit in your face.

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This one, Luna was very, very tasteful.

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Daniel Edward: I must say I've

never seen such a purple ship.

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It's all these gorgeous shades of purple.

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It's a stunning piece of work actually.

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What a huge canvas.

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Kaye Holland: Incredible.

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And as I said, it has the

12 zodiac constellations.

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I'm a Sagittarius, And I was just

standing there for hours looking

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for the archer on the hull.

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It was just gorgeous.

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Daniel Edward: Did you find him?

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Kaye Holland: I did, I did.

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I finally found him.

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Daniel Edward: I've gotta

look for Capricorn now 'cause

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I've, I've looked at pictures.

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I didn't realise it was the zodiacs.

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Now I've got to actually take

a proper close look at it.

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Kaye Holland: You do.

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And actually that sort of space

feeling is being brought on board too.

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So there's a giant silver

sculpture of the moon.

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I think it was on deck eight, out at

the entrance to the Ocean Boulevard.

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So it was sort of outside,

brought inside as well.

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Daniel Edward: Cruise ships have

become floating art galleries.

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This is something that a lot of lines

have really focused on, these huge

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multimillion dollar art collections.

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Kaye Holland: Absolutely staggering.

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I was on Viking, last September.

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Now Viking is the absolute

antithesis of Norwegian Cruise Line.

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They're like chalk and cheese.

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But what they do share is that commitment

to art and the art collection on Viking.

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They, it's just, they have a Munch's

The Scream, everything on board.

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The attention to detail for

art lovers is, is staggering.

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Daniel Edward: And some lines

even do a tour of their collection

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because they're so proud of it.

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Kaye Holland: I bet you've given one.

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Daniel Edward: I certainly have

on, on more than one occasion.

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So when you get on board the

Luna, it's quite a large ship.

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So is it easy to find your way around?

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Kaye Holland: It did

take me a little while.

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I would say expect to spend the

first couple of days exploring

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and getting to grips with it.

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Daniel Edward: Yeah, that's

certainly what I had with Prima.

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I found that the corridors, 'cause they're

long corridors, they do look a little

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bit the same, and I was starting to find

clues to work out if I was going in the

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right direction or the wrong direction.

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Kaye Holland: yes.

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, And it's very well sign posted.

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You do pick it up quite quickly, but

I think if you were new to cruising,

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you could get on board and just feel

very, very overwhelmed quite quickly.

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Daniel Edward: A little trick is I love

the people who decorate their doors, which

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is a little bit of a cruise tradition.

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You don't do this in hotels.

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Can you imagine?

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You turn up in a hotel and

you start designing your door,

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but people do on cruise ships.

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Kaye Holland: They do and they

really go to town and some are

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very, very creative and individual.

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I really admire that as well

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Daniel Edward: for me,

they're the landmarks.

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When you say at home, turn left at

the clock tower, for me it's, if

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you see the door with the balloons

and the this and the that, then

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you're in the right direction.

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Kaye Holland: I'll remember

that for next time.

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Daniel Edward: what sort

of room did you have?

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Kaye Holland: Oh, do you know Daniel?

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You've asked me this and I'm just gonna

sound like I'm showing off and bragging.

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I was very, very lucky and I boarded

with three other journalists from the UK.

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Do not ask me why, for some reason

I was upgraded to the Haven.

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Daniel Edward: Wow.

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Kaye Holland: So I wave goodbye to them

as they're all scowling at me, and I

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went to the Haven, which is Norwegian

cruise line Ship Within a Ship concept.

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This sort of luxurious private

enclave access via your own elevator.

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I went not to my cabin, to my suite.

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As you know, I live in South London.

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I kid you not.

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My suite, which was an entry level suite,

is bigger than my South London flat.

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I had my bathroom kitted out

with toiletries, some L'Occitane.

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It was just unbelievable.

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And then also staying in the

Haven, you have access to your

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own private restaurant bar.

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And what I loved was my private, I say

mine, the Haven Guests' Private Sun Deck.

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So you are not going to the main pool

and struggling to find a sun lounger.

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You're just this private

Sun deck, cocktails on tap.

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It was fabulous.

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I have stayed in a normal cabin.

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May I add when I stayed on

Aqua the previous year, but

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this year I hit the jackpot.

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Daniel Edward: You must have

done something very good on Aqua.

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They must have liked you.

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Kaye Holland: I dunno how it happened.

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Uh, they kept, well, the rest of the

journalists kept saying, how, why?

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I dunno,

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Daniel Edward: I bet they didn't get

nice write-ups from the other two.

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Kaye Holland: I.

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Possibly, I have to look them up as well.

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Daniel Edward: That's amazing.

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I've often wondered what

it's like in the Haven.

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I've wondered whether it's worth

it because it is more expensive

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obviously to get this upgraded area.

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The ship within a ship

where you've got this deluxe

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experience behind locked doors.

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Did you find yourself using the

full ship or did you find yourself

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wanting to stay in this haven?

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Kaye Holland: I probably did

spend 80% of my time in the Haven.

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You're absolutely correct.

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think, obviously I'd been on Aqua

the previous year, which is the

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virtually identical sibling, so

I sort of thought, oh, I've done

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the slider coaster last year.

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Let me stay in the Haven

a little bit longer.

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So that probably influenced,

but I, I spoke to.

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Lots of fellow guests in the Haven um,

it was very, very difficult to leave.

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But I suppose the advantage is that

you have that level of luxury and

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pampering, you can step out and then

take advantage of the restaurants or,

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the shows on board or the attractions.

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But it was very hard to leave.

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Is it worth it?

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You also get with it the perks.

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So you have an excursion, you

have priority access to book the

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excursion, the specialty dining,

all these passengers on board.

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'cause it's a very large ship.

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All these passengers on board, Hey,

the Haven guests have priority booking

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for the Sukhothai Thai restaurant.

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So there's so many perks.

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And when I met these fellow journalists

who are probably still very annoyed

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with me, they said, is it worth it?

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And I was like, absolutely.

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There's no going back.

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And then over a drink one night in

the Metropolitan Bar, which is sort

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of the buzzy bar on board where

there's sort of live music, we

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collectively looked up the price.

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And then it's like, ah, reality dawns.

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So here I am saying there's no going back.

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This is the way to cruise...

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it is three to five times the

price of a standard cabin.

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That's a lot.

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Daniel Edward: That is a lot.

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Kaye Holland: Would you maybe just

pay for a luxury cruise rather

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than a mainstream cruise line?

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It was quite a significant increase.

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Daniel Edward: And that is my

biggest question with it because

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there are some fabulous luxury

lines out there, which just.

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Everybody's on that luxury level.

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There's no two tier system.

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There's no locked doors behind which a

certain card doesn't allow you to go.

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And is that more relaxing or does it make

you feel really special to be the one to

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be able to go behind that locked door?

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Kaye Holland: It does make

you feel special, but I think

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my overall take on it was.

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If it was me personally, I don't have

children, if I was going to spend

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that level of money, I would probably

upgrade and go to a luxury ship.

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However, if you are a family, or you are

the grandparents travelling with your

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kids and your grandkids too, then great.

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It's that sort of level of refinement.

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And then you can go and join them

in the sort of hub and craziness of

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the mainstream ship when you want.

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So I would say, I think it's perfectly set

up for multi-gen travel, and maybe couples

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that want the luxury, but they do want

that sort of glitz and glamour and razz

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of all the shows, which perhaps you don't

get on the smaller luxury lines so much.

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Daniel Edward: No,

sometimes size does benefit.

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Yeah, those shows are

phenomenal and I was gutted.

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I missed an opportunity to get out to

Tampa which is eo have their studios.

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And I was invited to go and have a look at

the, new show just before it went to the

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ship to see those final days of rehearsal.

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And I couldn't make it.

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I was gutted.

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But tell me, how is the show?

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'cause the headline show for Luna

is an Elton John show, isn't it?

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Kaye Holland: It is, and I think

we both might be a bit biassed with

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Elton because before we started

recording, I've just discovered

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we're both from the Watford area,

obviously elton John's a Watford boy.

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He's the honorary chairman

of Watford Football Club.

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So I think we perhaps feel a

bit of an affinity to Elton.

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Daniel Edward: I always say

he's the man who named me.

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Kaye Holland: I like that.

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but it was absolutely incredible.

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The headline show is Elton,

A Celebration of Elton John.

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I think when you mention the

name Elton John, it's everything

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you'd expect glittering costumes.

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And we were very lucky.

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We had a backstage tour and

saw all the costumes close up.

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they had the, the famous baseball

uniform, the rooster suit.

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and then the show itself had all

these dazzling aerial displays.

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There were multi pianos.

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I'd seen the Prince show on board

Aqua the previous year, and this

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took it even to the next level.

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It was phenomenal.

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I think even if you weren't a

fan of Elton, you couldn't fail

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to appreciate the spectacle.

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Daniel Edward: And this is a show that you

can only see onboard the Norwegian Luna.

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Kaye Holland: Yes, it is

specifically devised for Luna.

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And that is their big headline show.

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I think the entertainment director

was telling me it's about three

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times a week, two showings on those

nights, and it is encouraged to book.

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Daniel Edward: This is something

which I found on the Prima as well,

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that it was the same show multiple

nights because the theatre only.

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Holds a certain fraction

of the guests on board.

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And so to give everybody the opportunity,

it was something that I found very

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important on the first day when I got

on board to go through and they've got a

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box office where certain members of the

crew are essentially a box office team

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for a while, and you can sort everything

out with them pretty much straight away.

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Kaye Holland: Yes, that's right.

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You can do and definitely

I would say be organised.

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Tick off all the things that

you've made a list you want to do.

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Go and get them sorted.

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Go and get them booked.

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Actually, I'll share a tip that the

entertainment director gave to me.

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I was asking him, which

show he would recommend.

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There's the two sittings, so there's

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definitely the 10:00 PM because it's

more of a party atmosphere and everyone,

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whether it's the performers or the

guests, everyone's warmed up a little bit.

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And he also said if you do have a

choice to book later in the sailing.

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Daniel Edward: Okay.

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'cause everybody else is trying to

get in early and so you're, you're,

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in with a bit of a bum fight.

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What is there to do then in the evenings

if the main theatre is being taken

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up with one show for three nights?

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Kaye Holland: There are so many bars.

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I didn't even get to

work my way around them.

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And all the bars have, like I was

mentioning, the Metropolitan Bar.

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There's live music there,

there's DJ sessions, there's a

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champagne bar, there's a wine bar.

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So you can sort of work your

way around all the bars.

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There's also a couple of other like

nightclubs, with other shows on.

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I think it was called Hiko it was

like acrobats, lasers, 3D effects.

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And then when the Elton John show,

isn't on, there's a show that performs

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songs from the Eagles back catalogue.

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and the highlight of that show

for me was this sort of thrilling

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rendition of Hotel California at the

end that had everyone on the feet.

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So there's loads and loads of,

and there's the casino too,

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if you fancy little flutter.

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On sea days, all the

boutiques were open very late.

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There's, lots and lots to do.

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I don't think boredom is an option.

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And then I met a couple that actually

just wanted to have room service

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and watch a film in their room.

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Daniel Edward: Wow.

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Do you know?

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I've never thought to do, I know

there are people who do that, but

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it's something I have never, ever

considered doing on a cruise.

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Kaye Holland: No, I think you're

right because I've always want to

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take advantage, but they said they'd

had such a full on go, go go day.

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They were tired, they were gone.

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I guess they were jet lagged, 'cause

Miami is quite a long flight and

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that was what they wanted to do.

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And I thought, oh it's

your your holiday too.

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Daniel Edward: Well that's true.

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Yeah.

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When I used to work on cruise ships,

I always wanted to pull the data of

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how much time are people sitting with

their television on, when they're

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on this amazing cruise in the middle

of these incredible destinations?

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Nobody gave me access to that information,

but it's being stored somewhere.

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Kaye Holland: And what was

your favourite ship to work on?

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Daniel Edward: Ooooh.

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Kaye Holland: Is, that like choosing a

favourite child or something like that?

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Daniel Edward: Yeah,

it's an interesting one.

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I would say my favourite ship to, I'd say,

I probably have to say two Navigator of

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the Seas, which is a Royal Caribbean ship.

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That one took a special place for me

because it was my first ever cruise ship

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that I worked on, and that's usually

when you have a favourite ship, I do

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find it's less the ship and it's more

the people that you were with and the

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experiences that you had on board.

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But that one was special.

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I had a wonderful team, I

really had a great time.

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Then at Holland America Line, I really

enjoyed Zaandam, which is one of their

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two smaller ships and the smaller

ships have the best itineraries.

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They can still get into places that

the big, big ships don't go to.

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Kaye Holland: Oh, so the ports

'cause of their smaller size,

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they can access the ports at their

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Daniel Edward: Yeah.

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Kaye Holland: Very true.

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Daniel Edward: And then you realise

what cruising without queuing is like.

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Kaye Holland: Yeah, A dream.

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Daniel Edward: It's amazing.

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And so more recently I've been on luxury

lines; I was on Seaborne for a bit at the

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beginning of this year, end of last year.

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Going on to Explora Journeys in the

this summer and the smaller ships,

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it's a totally different experience

and they are wonderful ships.

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Kaye Holland: Yes.

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People say, oh, cruising isn't for them.

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I would just say you haven't found the

right ship, because as you say, there's

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so many different experiences and there

really is a ship that would suit you.

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Daniel Edward: I agree, there is

a ship for everybody and there

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is a sea for everybody as well.

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Kaye Holland: Mmmmm, good point.

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Daniel Edward: It's a big world

and most of it, I think 80%

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of it or something is ocean.

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Kaye Holland: Yes

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Daniel Edward: And so, people

who stay on land are missing

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this big world that we've got.

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Kaye Holland: very true.

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Daniel Edward: There's There's

a huge amount out there.

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And yes, on this occasion, I suppose

you did what is affectionately

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known as a cruise to nowhere,

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Kaye Holland: Yes.

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Daniel Edward: But in a way that's

perfect because with Norwegian Luna,

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as is the case with many of these mega

ships that are being put out by NCL

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Royal MSC, the ship is the destination.

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Kaye Holland: That's right.

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And even on the sailings

that they're now introducing.

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Week long sailings, there's always a

couple of sea days because you actually

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need that to take advantage of the ship

and enjoy all the facilities on board.

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They are destinations in their own right.

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Daniel Edward: Is there enough

space in the pool for everybody?

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Kaye Holland: Well, Daniel, I

spent most of the time in my

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own private pool in the Haven.

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However, for the purpose of

research I did venture out.

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Daniel Edward: I love that for research.

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Kaye Holland: For research

purposes, I did it.

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It never felt too crowded.

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Admittedly, I was going with myself and a

couple of friends, we weren't a big party

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trying to find loads of sun loungers.

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And also.

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There perhaps weren't as many people

as I thought by the pool just because

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it was a short sailing and people

were trying The Drop, which is

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one of the sort of rides on board.

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They were queuing to

try the slider coaster.

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There was the mini golf, the Glow Court.

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There was so much to do in a short

space of time that you slot in a

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couple of hours for your sun lounger

and then onto the next thing.

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Daniel Edward: If you were to equate

it to a land-based holiday for somebody

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who hasn't tried cruising yet and is

one of those people that says, not for

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me, not for me, what sort of land-based

holiday is the most similar to your

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experience on the Norwegian Luna?

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Kaye Holland: An all inclusive resort.

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I have been to, in Jamaica, a

Hilton all inclusive resort.

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It reminds me very much of that.

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Very tasteful, very comfortable, so many

activities that actually a lot of families

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that go there almost don't venture

outside the gates to explore Jamaica.

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But of course you can.

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You could be there for

entire week and eat somewhere

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different, every single mealtime.

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See a different show every night.

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I think if you are a fan

of big All Inclusives.

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For me, it's a something for

everyone type of holiday.

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That's what I would equate it as.

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If you prefer boutique hotels on land with

everything very individual and you only

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need one restaurant, it's not for you.

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Daniel Edward: Is the haven

close or even then you'd say.

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Kaye Holland: yes, you're right

The haven would be very close.

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You could just go and stay in The Haven

and dine in the Haven Restaurant, and

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go for a post dinner cocktail in the

Haven's bar, which wouldn't be out of

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place in any five star London hotel.

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The entertainment's very low key.

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Just a bit of background music.

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I guess the Haven would be the

equivalent of a boutique hotel.

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Daniel Edward: So you mentioned the Haven

Restaurant and actually the amazing thing

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about NCL is how much food is on board.

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It really is quite staggering.

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When I was sailing on Prima, I was

there for a week and I didn't have

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enough time to go to every restaurant

on board, which is just absurd.

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Kaye Holland: that is quite

insane for a whole week.

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Wow.

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Daniel Edward: There were

more restaurants than dinners.

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Kaye Holland: Well, on Luna

there was 17 dining options.

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So actually, if I think of what you're

saying, it's pretty much similar.

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I mean, 17 Dining Options,

you've only got a week.

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There you go.

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Daniel Edward: So what did you try?

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Kaye Holland: Well, I did

leave the Haven to eat.

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as I said, There's 17 restaurants,

five are complimentary.

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And they're actually brilliant,

the complimentary restaurants.

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Sometimes you think of the complimentary

restaurants as perhaps an afterthought.

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I went to Hudson's.

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I thought it was just gorgeous, Daniel.

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It had these sort of

showstopping chandeliers.

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It was table service.

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The food was absolutely fabulous.

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So I really enjoyed Hudson's.

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The other included one

is the Commodore Room.

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Again, very, very stylish.

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You would almost look at it and dine there

and expect it to be a paid for venue.

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Daniel Edward: What sort of food was that?

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Kaye Holland: sort of modern European,

and the portions, were reasonable.

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You didn't come away groaning or thinking

you don't want to eat again that day.

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I'm vegetarian.

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I had a cauliflower steak.

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It was artfully done.

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It was just all just beautiful.

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What else can I tell you?

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Oh, there's a buffet venue Surfside,

which is your classic buffet.

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I think if you've got kids in

tow or you're rushing out on an

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excursion, that's a good one.

445

If you are a fan of sort of pub

style grub, there's The Local,

446

but the one that I really enjoyed,

it was called Indulge Food Hall.

447

Daniel Edward: I agree , it

really stood out for me.

448

Tell me about the one on Luna, then I

can tell you if it was similar or not.

449

Kaye Holland: Well, it was sort

of very big open plan venue.

450

And there were 10 stations and it's the

kind of one that say we could go and I

451

want to have Spanish tapas and you want an

Indian curry, and I can have what I want.

452

You can have what you want and we

order it from our table on an iPad and

453

then the dishes will get delivered.

454

So each of us can have the food that we

are craving, but still enjoy it together.

455

I had the most incredible paneer

curry, was, oh, it was just as good

456

as anything I'd had at home in London.

457

It was just phenomenal.

458

Daniel Edward: I really enjoy the food I

must admit, I found it a little confusing

459

when I first arrived because I walked

in and I wasn't sure what to do, and

460

I saw these iPads on the tables and on

the iPad there's also a card reader,

461

and I got confused because I thought

that this was an included restaurant.

462

Why are there card readers?

463

It is an included restaurant,

but to get a drink.

464

Then that would go on your account

or on, on your drinks package.

465

And so you tap your card

if you're getting a drink.

466

But I got very confused before

I got the hang of how to order.

467

And I think it was probably

just me overcomplicating things.

468

Kaye Holland: No, I

understand what you mean.

469

So the food is included.

470

But the drinks, you'd need a drinks

package or pay as you go for.

471

Daniel Edward: I was sailing on my own

on that cruise, unexpectedly actually.

472

sometimes I sail on my own,

deliberately and I'd rather enjoy it.

473

But on this occasion, I was going

to be sailing with a friend who

474

wasn't able to get to the port.

475

Kaye Holland: Ooooooh.

476

Daniel Edward: Yeah, it's the first time

I've known someone miss a ship, but there

477

was flooding on the way to Southampton.

478

So I was unexpectedly sailing solo.

479

And one of the nice things about the food

hall was it was one of those venues where

480

you could be a bit social with people.

481

That you hadn't gone with

because there are some tables,

482

which are sort of group tables.

483

And so I did find myself chatting with

other people there and also in Hudson's.

484

That was great.

485

I used to turn up at Hudson's and they'd

always ask, would you like your own table?

486

Would you like a sharing table?

487

Kaye Holland: Oh great

488

Daniel Edward: And I'll

say, put me with anyone

489

I ended up chatting with all sorts

of people at, that's something I

490

like about cruising generally, and I

found that NCL was really good at it.

491

There's a nice social environment

where whether you're with people,

492

whether you're sailing on your own,

whether you started sailing with people

493

and got fed up with them and want

to chat with some new people, there

494

are always people around that you

could have a bit of a chinwag with.

495

Kaye Holland: Very much so, and I think

NCL in particular is very solo friendly.

496

They were the first cruise line to sort of

pioneer studio cabins for solo travellers.

497

So they do have a lot of meetups for

people travelling on their own that

498

perhaps want to meet fellow passengers.

499

Daniel Edward: And they've got a

neighbourhood on certain ships.

500

I dunno if it's on all of their ships,

but they've got an area of studios

501

that has its own little lounge as well.

502

Kaye Holland: So again, you can just

bump into someone, know they're sort

503

of, pardon the pun, in the same boat

as you that's travelling alone, and

504

you can just strike up a conversation.

505

Daniel Edward: If you are not going for

The Haven and you are a solo traveller,

506

I can't recommend their solo suites high

enough because you get a room, which

507

you don't have to pay that extra single

supplement, which annoys so many people.

508

But you also that lounge means

that you could avoid the crowds.

509

Because if it's a busy day at sea

inside and you're looking for a

510

place just to curl up and read a book

a bit, you've got private lounge.

511

It's like the Haven, but

without the price tag.

512

Kaye Holland: How fabulous.

513

Daniel Edward: Yeah.

514

Kaye Holland: No, they've

thought of everything.

515

Daniel Edward: They really have.

516

So you found it pretty easy

being vegetarian on board?

517

Kaye Holland: Yes.

518

The only one I perhaps struggled a little

in was one of the specialty restaurants.

519

It's Cagney's.

520

Daniel Edward: is that the steakhouse?

521

Kaye Holland: Yeah.

522

So Cagney's is the steakhouse

and they didn't have anything

523

vegetarian on the menu.

524

I went with a lot of devout carnivals.

525

I guess perhaps I shouldn't expect to find

something vegetarian on a steakhouse menu.

526

however, what they said is

they just, you order off menu.

527

They chef knew something to

rustle up for the veggies.

528

Technically speaking, had I been

dining solo, it wouldn't be the

529

most obvious choice, would it

anyway, steakhouse for a vegetarian.

530

I also ate at Sukhothai, which

is the specialty Thai one.

531

It was introduced on Aqua,

it's been brought back on Luna.

532

it was incredible.

533

I had a, this sort of creamy green curry.

534

If I was going to be picky Daniel,

I would say the cover charge is

535

perhaps a little on the steep side.

536

So it was $50, which is what, maybe

38 pounds per person to dine there.

537

Daniel Edward: And you've already paid for

a meal because you've paid for the cruise.

538

Kaye Holland: and as I said, the,

the included venues, Hudson's, the

539

Commodore, they weren't an afterthought.

540

They were amazing.

541

Amazing, so would I pay an extra 38

pound per person to dine the Maybe.

542

I guess it depends, isn't it?

543

If you're a foodie, you would.

544

I was thinking, you know, I live in South

London where I have all these little local

545

Thais on the doorstep, 20 quid a head,

so it probably wouldn't appeal to me.

546

I can't knock the food, I can't

knock the service, but I just

547

thought maybe a little bit steep.

548

Daniel Edward: I do find the cover

charges not just on NCL, but on a few of

549

the major lines, very expensive, and I

feel coming from the UK, I feel like we

550

feel that more intensely than Americans

going on these ships because I do find

551

that the cost of living in the States is

higher when it comes to food than we have.

552

And so, it might be good value

for somebody else, I don't know,

553

but we could get that same meal

at a lower cost off the ship.

554

Without having already paid for a

meal in another restaurant on the

555

ship, which is already included.

556

And so it is something

that sort of grates on me.

557

Kaye Holland: Yeah, I agree with you, but

there are other people who will happily

558

part with the cash, and not bat an eyelid.

559

Daniel Edward: And if you are a foodie

and you think, yeah, I am gonna go and

560

indulge in these restaurants, I'm gonna

go on a 10 day cruise with Norwegian, so

561

I'm gonna have my time to try a load of

different ones, they do some packages,

562

don't they, so that you can still have

it all inclusive whilst you're on board

563

that you've already covered the cost.

564

Kaye Holland: Yes.

565

I suppose it's like the drink packages

in that way you can buy a package

566

which includes specialty dining and

that would bring the costs down.

567

So probably if you are a foodie,

that's important to you to try

568

all the specialty restaurants.

569

That is the way to go.

570

Daniel Edward: I went to the

Teppanyaki Grill on Prima.

571

was fantastic.

572

So much fun.

573

So much fun.

574

Kaye Holland: I passed it.

575

It looked very theatrical.

576

Daniel Edward: It was,

577

actually it was so theatrical.

578

I missed the show that night.

579

The dinner there was a little bit

longer than some of the other dinners

580

because a performance as you go.

581

So you know, you can't rush the artist.

582

Kaye Holland: Nope.

583

You can't.

584

Yeah

585

Daniel Edward: What would you say

was the absolute highlight for you?

586

Kaye Holland: Oh my goodness.

587

I think The Elton Show and.

588

The Vibe Beach Club.

589

Daniel Edward: Ooh, what's that?

590

Kaye Holland: So an adults only.

591

So if you're not staying in the Haven

and you do want a sort of slightly

592

quieter environment, or perhaps you.

593

I'll just say it, perhaps you want to

avoid the patter of little feet then

594

the Vibe Beach Club, is a very strictly

adults only sun deck full of sort of

595

luxurious loungers, those private cabanas.

596

I think you had to buy it for a

whole week and it would've been about

597

185 pound for the week I believe.

598

But if you're not ready to splurge on

The Haven, and you do just want that

599

little bit of an oasis, like what you

were saying with the studio cabins.

600

If you're staying in

those, you get the lounge.

601

If you're not, and you

just want that quiet space.

602

It was gorgeous.

603

Daniel Edward: One of the things

that I think Norwegian has,

604

how how do you put it nicely?

605

They've done this really well.

606

But it can be looked on as nickel and

diming, depending on how you feel.

607

But there is, there the opportunity to

buy into any experience that you want.

608

When you're on board, you

want it a bit noisier.

609

You can buy extra here.

610

You want it a bit quieter, buy extra here.

611

Can you get through, in your opinion,

can you get through a Norwegian cruise

612

without spending anything on board?

613

Kaye Holland: If you don't

drink alcohol, you probably can.

614

If you don't need your specialty coffee,

which I actually don't, the queue for the

615

Starbucks, which is very much the central

hub was insane every day with people.

616

And I was thinking, well, hang on a

minute, wherever you have breakfast,

617

just have coffee there included.

618

But some people do need their cappuccino

with oat milk know, and it's your holiday.

619

Why not?

620

You can, but I think everyone

will pay a little you.

621

You can, if you don't need

to send a WhatsApp home.

622

If you're going to share all your

pictures on Instagram when you

623

get home, which is actually very

sensible, right, for security.

624

Daniel Edward: percent.

625

Kaye Holland: don't do that, you can

get away with not spending anything.

626

However, in this day and age, most

people do want to be able to WhatsApp

627

or phone home on a FaceTime call.

628

I'm not a big drinker, but I like a glass

of Prosecco when I'm watching the show.

629

That will cost you..

630

I think the entry point

is very, very fair.

631

it's staggering and I think you could get

away with not spending too much extra.

632

I think if it was me, I would buy wifi.

633

I don't think I'd buy a drinks

package 'cause I'm not a big drinker.

634

But I would buy a couple

of glasses each day.

635

I could probably get away with that.

636

If you're a foodie.

637

No, you need the specialty restaurants.

638

If you're a spa goer, it's not really my

thing, but if you're a spa goer, you are

639

going to pay extra for spa treatments

and access to the thermal suite.

640

So you are right.

641

It's very, very easy for the cost

to soon spiral, but if you are on a

642

budget, you can also keep it under

control if you're disciplined.

643

Daniel Edward: Yeah.

644

'cause one of the amazing things

with NCL for me is you look at their

645

shelf price and staggering value.

646

It's really great.

647

I was looking up prices for this

brand new Norwegian Luna and

648

just looking over this summer.

649

you can get cruises for under 500 pounds,

650

Kaye Holland: yeah

651

if you break that down, three meals

plus snacks a day, entertainment

652

accommodation, is incredible.

653

Daniel Edward: it's wonderful And

654

Kaye Holland: you Couldn't

really compare that in this day

655

and age on land at the moment.

656

Daniel Edward: no, it is a great value

holiday so long as you are careful about

657

what extras if you are looking at the

extras and you've never cruised before.

658

How much do you think people

need to put aside beyond the

659

cruise fa to cover the holiday?

660

Kaye Holland: If you're being careful,

maybe a couple of hundred, perhaps less.

661

Again, it goes back to what we

were saying about packages NCL

662

do this Free At Sea package.

663

I think it's about 22 pound a

person day, but that will include.

664

premium drinks, your specialty

dining, and your wifi.

665

So that's pretty good value actually.

666

The other thing that always,

with any cruise line, pushes

667

the price up is excursions.

668

What I call ship sponsored excursions

are always going to be so much more

669

costly than doing it your own way

or if you haven't got the confidence

670

to perhaps explore independently

and some ports of course don't lend

671

themselves to exploring independently.

672

' cause The port is quite far from

where the main attractions are.

673

Then I would look at a third party site.

674

Viago, there's so many now Viator, and

I think what people used to be worried

675

about and would used to just default

and book the ship sponsored ones was

676

that dreaded fear of missing the ship.

677

So these third party providers

have basically caught on to

678

what the cruise lines do.

679

They now offer a guarantee.

680

They'll get you back to the ship on time.

681

If they don't, they'll pay for

you to get to the next port.

682

So they take all the worry out of

booking with them and their prices

683

are basically a lot more competitive.

684

Daniel Edward: Significantly cheaper.

685

They really are and often

using the same guides.

686

I mean, it's, especially, you go

to the smaller destinations, there

687

are only so many tour guides.

688

Kaye Holland: True.

689

True.

690

That is very true.

691

Of course, there's always going to

be people that would rather just book

692

through the ship and have that peace of

mind and, and less perhaps aggravation.

693

But, I always say, do your homework.

694

Daniel Edward: And a lot of the time,

especially on larger ships like the Luna,

695

I say book before you go, because the

people who are the most keen to get on

696

those excursions have already booked them.

697

Kaye Holland: Right.

698

I think it comes back to what we were

saying about the specialty restaurants

699

and your shows and your spa treatments.

700

Early bird catches the

701

Daniel Edward: Yeah.

702

And these are things that

you pick up as you cruise.

703

You know, the more you cruise, the more

you catch onto everybody's little tips.

704

Kaye Holland: And you're a

seasoned cruiser and I'm doing

705

my best to keep up with you

706

Daniel Edward: Yeah,

707

I think, uh, yes, we're keeping

the cruise lines in business, or at

708

least they're keeping us in business.

709

what would you say is the top thing to

see or do on a Norwegian Luna cruise?

710

Kaye Holland: Top thing to

see or do on Norwegian, Luna,

711

go and see the Elton Show.

712

You won't regret it.

713

And if you are looking for a spot to

have a Sun Downer observation lounge.

714

Very calm, great spot to have

a cocktail and watch the sun do

715

it's incredible sinking thing.

716

Daniel Edward: What would you

say is a tourist trap to avoid?

717

Kaye Holland: On the ship

718

Daniel Edward: Mm.

719

Kaye Holland: probably the casino.

720

Dare I say it,

721

Daniel Edward: The house always wins.

722

Kaye Holland: I, I'll also just say

I don't love the private islands, so

723

I could probably just as comfortably

spend the day on the ship exploring when

724

everyone gets off at the private island.

725

Daniel Edward: That's a good point, what

is there to do on the private island?

726

Kaye Holland: Well, you know what, Daniel?

727

It's really an extension of the onboard

experience, so you can relax on loungers,

728

you can go to an adults only club.

729

There's going to be a water park.

730

It wasn't open when I was there,

but it's opening this summer.

731

It's a six acre water park.

732

It's kind of just a bit of an

extension of Luna, I'd say.

733

For me.

734

If that's a day, I'd rather be

visiting an authentic Caribbean island,

735

trying the food, meeting the people

from that island, the local culture

736

rather than just an amusement park.

737

But as I said, I met other guests

that just absolutely loved it.

738

They had their kids in tow.

739

Absolutely safe, no hassle.

740

I am probably not the

right clientele for it.

741

Daniel Edward: What's your

favourite time of year to cruise?

742

Kaye Holland: Easy.

743

January, February, March.

744

That's 'cause I live in the UK

where we're under a dark, dark

745

blanket of those times of years.

746

So I want to be sailing somewhere sunny.

747

I actually am away quite a lot this

summer in June and July, but really

748

that's our best time of year here.

749

So when it's cold and dark and gloomy

here, that's when I wanna be sailing.

750

What about you?

751

Daniel Edward: I'm totally the same.

752

I will do anything I

can to get outta the UK.

753

January and February,

March, I'm happy to be back.

754

But December, January, February,

particularly February, I cannot

755

stand the darkness and the coldest,

the bitter damp, cold of February.

756

Kaye Holland: December, I don't

mind the buildup for Christmas.

757

London's very magical with the lights,

but January, February, get me out of here.

758

Daniel Edward: What's a book or a

film recommendation for people who

759

want to be inspired by the ocean?

760

Kaye Holland: That iconic programme,

it was set on board a Princess ship,

761

Love Boat, that's what converted to so

many people and initially to cruising.

762

So that could be a good shout.

763

I don't think I have

any books about ocean.

764

I'm just very much destination focused.

765

So I'll read a book about the

destination and I'm someone

766

that's still really old fashioned.

767

I have a Lonely Planet guide

to everything, and then I'll

768

want to go ashore and I'll have

all my little things starred.

769

I'm more of a nonfiction

destination person.

770

Daniel Edward: Me too.

771

Lonely Planet is one of the companies

that does cruise specific guides.

772

If you are cruising in an area which

is very well served by the major

773

lines, so really the Caribbean and the

Mediterranean both have a cruising guide

774

for those areas, which sort of focuses

on what can you do in eight hours?

775

Kaye Holland: Yes, they do.

776

And Cruise Critic are a very good one.

777

You just look up those, The

Telegraph, there's so many ones

778

with cruise ports and I think most

of the cruise line's own websites.

779

What you can do in four hours, what

you can do in eight hours, what you

780

can do if you've got an overnighter.

781

So they're all good resources.

782

Daniel Edward: What would you say

back to the Norwegian Luna was

783

your best or drink experience?

784

Kaye Holland: Best food or drink?

785

I am going to go for the

included one, Hudson's.

786

Absolutely loved Hudson's.

787

Honestly, I could have

eaten at Hudson's every day.

788

I really could have done.

789

The menu changed every day.

790

It was phenomenal.

791

Daniel Edward: And that's their

equivalent of the main dining room.

792

They don't call it that, but it is.

793

Kaye Holland: is the equivalent, the

main dining room and the staff was so

794

smiley and on it, the service, the food.

795

I can't rave it about it enough.

796

For a drink, gonna go

back to my Haven bar.

797

A little quiet oasis, the Haven Bar.

798

And when I wanted something livelier,

I did like The Metropolitan,

799

Daniel Edward: Something about the Haven

Bar, in case people think they can trick

800

the system, because invariably you can't.

801

If you've got, grandma and granddad,

and you've got your kids and you've

802

got their kids, and you think you'll

be able to bring them all in for

803

a drink in the evening, you can't,

804

Kaye Holland: sorry to dash your hopes.

805

You can't.

806

You have to be staying in The Haven.

807

Doesn't matter if you know someone in

The Haven or your best friend or your

808

family member's there doesn't matter.

809

You need a pass yourself to

be able to get into The Haven.

810

That's why it stays exclusive.

811

Daniel Edward: and they're

very strict about that.

812

Kaye Holland: They are very strict.

813

I didn't even try to sneak everyone up.

814

Daniel Edward: They know you didn't try.

815

Final question.

816

What would you say is a great souvenir

that you can pick up onboard the

817

Norwegian Luna to remind you of your trip?

818

Kaye Holland: Ooh, I did get given,

and I'm pretty sure it's in the

819

shops too, a bag made out of towels.

820

It's a , blue towel, and then you just

sort of unfolded it and then you had

821

it on the private island as a beach

towel, and then when you finished

822

it folded up and made a bag again.

823

It was great.

824

Daniel Edward: That is a very clever

design for everybody, apart from people

825

who read books, because by the time you

are putting your soggy bag back together.

826

Kaye Holland: Then your

827

Daniel Edward: Your book won't

survive, but I love the idea because

828

Kaye Holland: you need

another bag within it.

829

You like a plastic within a bag, a ship

830

Daniel Edward: ship the ships.

831

Kaye Holland travel journalist,

thank you so much for unlocking

832

Norwegian Luna for us.

833

Kaye Holland: Thank you!

834

Thanks

835

For having me, Daniel, really enjoyed it.

836

Daniel Edward: Well there you

have it, a brand new ship.

837

Norwegian Luna.

838

Thank you very much again to Kaye

Holland for unlocking that forest

839

and sharing all of her tips from her

inaugural cruise on that brand new one.

840

If you've ever been on an inaugural

cruise, I'd love to hear from

841

you and your experiences as well.

842

And if you are heading out on Norwegian

Luna over her first season, drop

843

me a message and let me know what

you think of it after you've been.

844

Well, if you haven't already, double check

that you have followed the Destination

845

Unlocked Podcast wherever you're

currently listening to this episode.

846

That'll make it nice and easy for you

to get back the next time you want

847

to armchair travel somewhere Lovely.

848

I look forward to it

and I'll see you then.

849

Bye-bye.