Jo Rigby - Flexi Cruise

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Jo Rigby - Flexi Cruise Award Winning Cruise Expert with over 23 years experience. Been on 100+ Ships. Contact on 07903 788453 or email at [email protected]

Passionate about Cruising, both Ocean and River. I love experiencing all the different Cruise Lines and Ships, whether it is going on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas - one of the largest Ships in the World, to cruising on one of the Tall Sailing Ships - Star Flyer. The great thing about Cruising is the opporunity to visit different ports daily whilst being on the equivalent of a floating resor

t. Over the past 13 years I have been lucky enough to cruise on or visit the following Ships:

Seabourn Legend & Odyssey, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Holland America Westerdam, Ryndam & Eurodam, Marco Polo, Azores, Norwegian Epic, Star, Gem & Jade, Breakaway, Silver Whisper, Crystal Symphony, Ocean Village, Ocean Village 2, Island Escape, Dawn, Star, Island & Tahitian Princess, Costa Magica, MSC Magnifica, P & O Azura, Oceana, Oriana, Aurora & Arcadia, Carnival Glory, Sunshine & Splendor, Royal Caribbean Adventure, Navigator, Splendour, Independence & Oasis of the Seas, Celebrity Eclipse, Constellation, Millennium, Equinox & Silhouette, Azamara Quest, Queen Mary 2 (transatlantic), Fred Olsen Boudicca, Braemar & Balmoral, Star Flyer, Le Boreal, Amadeus Symphony, Regent Seven Seas Voyager, Viking Emerald, Hurtigruten MS Trollfjord, SeaDream. Future Cruises: Celebrity Solstice, Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas, P & O Britannia.

04/09/2024

Queen Anne - perfect timing - a great video that shows the Ship in all her glory.

Queen Anne - last few photos. Overall one of the best short cruises I have had and just love this ship. If you would lik...
04/09/2024

Queen Anne - last few photos. Overall one of the best short cruises I have had and just love this ship. If you would like any more info on her please email me or give me a call. Last thing to let you know - there is an extra 10% discount off Cunard 2025 sailings, so I am booking mine tomorrow back on this ship 🚢

Queen Anne - sea day and I had pre booked Sir Samuel's for lunch. Great Boston clam chowder to start, followed by steak ...
04/09/2024

Queen Anne - sea day and I had pre booked Sir Samuel's for lunch. Great Boston clam chowder to start, followed by steak for both of us and sherry trifle for pudding. Excellent again and great value at lunchtime.

The Britain's restaurant was also good throughout the cruise and I have to say choice and quality of food in the food hall (buffet) was very good.

Queen Anne - more photos from around the ship. Theatre is lovely. Main pool has the retractable roof which is very hand...
04/09/2024

Queen Anne - more photos from around the ship. Theatre is lovely. Main pool has the retractable roof which is very handy and the other pool is at the aft. Our favourite coffee place was the Carinthia and they did am amazing hot chocolate pot. Also serve light breakfast, lunch and tasty afternoon treats. Afternoon tea is held in the Queens Room daily (also up in the buffet and in the Grills). We did go one afternoon but I forgot to take photos. Amazing young pianist on board as well who entertained. Photo of Andy on one of the deck 4 Balconies - such a large balcony.

Queen Anne - second day in Rotterdam and we decided to make our own way by train to Delft. We spent a lovely half day th...
04/09/2024

Queen Anne - second day in Rotterdam and we decided to make our own way by train to Delft. We spent a lovely half day there and looked at lots of lovely Delftware - might have bought a couple of small items. So easy to do yourself.

Queen Anne - second night and time for speciality dining in the Sushi/Japanese restaurant. You can go for sushi at the s...
04/09/2024

Queen Anne - second night and time for speciality dining in the Sushi/Japanese restaurant. You can go for sushi at the sushi bar or sit at tables for a la carte or the set menu. We decided to stick with sushi at the bar and the chefs made it in front of us. We had paid US 20pp up front and even though we had loads of sushi, we ended up getting 12 US credited back - amazing value! We tried a Sake flight and then decided to try a sparkling Sake from a Cambridgeshire company - fantastic!

Queen Anne - Rotterdam. We arrived into Rotterdam at 3 the next day and Cunard had shuttles running into the centre con...
04/09/2024

Queen Anne - Rotterdam. We arrived into Rotterdam at 3 the next day and Cunard had shuttles running into the centre constantly. We headed out for our first visit and went to look around the Market - fantastic place and we have already picked out where we are eating on the visit next year. Had a really good walk around and did some shopping in the warm weather.

Queen Anne - dining. I wanted to take the opportunity to try out some of the speciality restaurants on board and pre boo...
04/09/2024

Queen Anne - dining.
I wanted to take the opportunity to try out some of the speciality restaurants on board and pre booked before travel. The benefit was a lower price.

First night was at Aranya - nice intimate restaurant with an Indian fusion menu. Great menu, service and would highly recommend.

Queen Anne - around the ship.
04/09/2024

Queen Anne - around the ship.

Cunard's Queen Anne - I had been very excited to sail on the new Queen last week and it didn't disappoint. My husband an...
04/09/2024

Cunard's Queen Anne - I had been very excited to sail on the new Queen last week and it didn't disappoint. My husband and I were joined by 23 of my lovely customers which made it even more special. We sailed on the 4 nighter which sailed from Southampton and we stopped at Rotterdam overnight.

I have cruised on the other Cunard ships several times, but Queen Anne is definitely my new favourite - loved her so much that we are going to book again for next year.

We had an Inside this time, but I got to see the Oceanviews, Balconies and Princess Grill and all were lovely.

Bathroom was spacious and shower was super large.

Disney Dream - I will post more photos when I get back but all I will say is that it's Pirate Night tonight!
17/08/2024

Disney Dream - I will post more photos when I get back but all I will say is that it's Pirate Night tonight!

And guess who we saw first...
16/08/2024

And guess who we saw first...

Happy Friday... guess where I am.....
16/08/2024

Happy Friday... guess where I am.....

Day 4 - Douro River Cruise Today we are still docked at Vega de Terron, which is right on the Spanish border - literally...
19/07/2024

Day 4 - Douro River Cruise

Today we are still docked at Vega de Terron, which is right on the Spanish border - literally across the road! Today there was the choice to go on a full day tour to Salamanca or a half day tour to a tiny hilltop village - Castelo Rodrigo. Well, it was going to be another hot day in the mid 30s, so we decided to do the half day trip. We had already come to the conclusion the day we arrived in Porto that we would be doing the Douro cruise again, so could do Salamanca next time.

After a leisurely breakfast a small group of about 14 of us headed off with one of the lovely staff from on board - they are all Portuguese, so full of knowledge as well. A very small place, but extremely picturesque and the locals were so welcoming. We also had tastings at one of the local shops out on the terrace, and they were very generous with the tastings. I found an amazing Almond liquer (perfect with sparkling wine) or on its own, and an amazing Pastel de Nata Liquer - bottles of both came home with me.

We headed back to the ship for a light lunch then spent a lovely afternoon on the top deck making use of the little pool as well.

Another great dinner and more entertainment brought on board the ship - Flamenco dancers.

Day 3 - Douro - River of GoldSunday and a full day of cruising the gorgeous Douro Valley from Porto to Pinhao.Breakfast ...
10/07/2024

Day 3 - Douro - River of Gold

Sunday and a full day of cruising the gorgeous Douro Valley from Porto to Pinhao.

Breakfast is buffet style and there is so much choice and every dietary need is catered to. The Chefs will prepare eggs as you wish.

Then it was time to carry on cruising.... there were some magnificent locks to go through and that was always fun on the top deck. The weather was absolutely glorious.

During the cruise there are various enrichment lectures going on and today's was in the afternoon with the Head Chef and Pastry Chef. All the staff are Portuguese on board so all know the areas we are cruising very well. It was Pastel de Nata demonstration today and of course you could help out as well. At the end we all had a sample, together with a cherry wine in a chocolate cup.

Lunch was a lovely buffet again with so much choice. There is also a light lunch on offer in the lounge every day as well, as well as afternoon tea at 4pm with sandwiches and lovely cakes.

Each night before dinner we all get together in the lounge with the Cruise Director to hear all about the next day's plans and then it is into dinner at 7pm. You always get introduced to all the Crew (37 of them on board) and they are a friendly bunch. Each evening there is also different entertainment in the lounge after dinner from singers to flamenco dancers to quizzes.

It was a fantastic day cruising and the scenery was the best I have ever seen. No sooner had I sat down from taken photos, that I had to get up again to take more.

Porto - River of GoldDay 3 - Today we embark on Emerald Radiance for our 7 Night Cruise along the Douro.We went back to ...
09/07/2024

Porto - River of Gold
Day 3 - Today we embark on Emerald Radiance for our 7 Night Cruise along the Douro.

We went back to our new favourite breakfast place and then headed down to the Ship to drop our bags off early at about 11am. This is one great thing about River cruising. We grabbed a coffee in the lounge and then headed off again to make the most of Porto. Official embarkation is 3pm so we had plenty of time to make the most of Porto.

We had another mooch around the market then it was back over to the Gaia side of the river for a spot of lunch in the market there and perhaps a glass of port. We then walked around the corner to do a Port and Chocolate tasting and a couple of bottles might have come on board with us, plus chocolate to have with them.

Then it was time to embark, explore and unpack the bags. We had a window this time and it was lovely and spacious, with plenty of wardrobe and drawer space. There were complimentary bathrobes and slippers in the room, plus an umbrella and walking poles to use if wanted. You also get insulated water bottles (to keep if wanted) and you can fill these at any time from the water machine (still and sparkling) in the lounge.

We had the Welcome meeting and safety briefing at 6pm before sitting down for our first wonderful dinner. It is open seating with tables for 2, 4, 6 and 8. You can sit where you like for each meal. Your daily plan is shown on the screen in reception as well as the TV in your room, in fact you can see the itinerary for the whole cruise.

Porto - River of GoldDay 2 in PortoFound an amazing place for breakfast - short queue but it was worth it.I had booked u...
04/07/2024

Porto - River of Gold
Day 2 in Porto
Found an amazing place for breakfast - short queue but it was worth it.

I had booked us on a cookery course in the morning to make Pastel De Nata. It was a small group of 9 of us from the UK, Netherlands, US and France with a great lady running the class. She went through it step by step with us and we all joined in to make them. Whilst we waited for them to bake, she told us all about the history of the Tarts, and we might have had some Port as well. We bought some tart cases to bring home and have already used them to make our own.

After a really enjoyable time where we might have sampled our own Tarts as well, it was time to head over to Gaia on the other side of the river. It was only about a 15 minute gentle (downhill thank goodness) walk. You can cross the bridge by foot on either level. We took the lower level and arrived into Gaia - this is now the home of the Port Houses. We had a good explore then went to the fantastic market for an amazing lunch - so reasonably priced and it was amazing.

After lunch, I had booked us onto a 3 hour Port Tasting where we went to 3 of the Port Houses - amazing afternoon and we found a few more favourite Ports. We found a lovely place for dinner on the way home - very important to soak up some of that Port.

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Tuesday 09:00 - 20:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 20:00
Thursday 09:00 - 20:00
Friday 09:00 - 20:00
Saturday 09:00 - 20:00
Sunday 09:00 - 20:00

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