Travel Post is the newsletter of Noble Caledonia, keeping you up to date and informed of our activities and plans for 2010.
Link: Click here to download the latest Travel Post newsletter

As most of you will be aware, Noble Caledonia has now taken ownership of the MS Island Sky. We now have full control over all aspects of the cruises aboard this special ship including the itineraries and onboard management. The two captains, Niklas Peterstam and Dan Wikingson have been working with us closely to assist in designing the best possible itineraries and we are very excited to be working on some new destinations for the next season. The new brochure will be available in May, but in the meantime we can tell you that amongst others, cruises will include Norway and the White Sea, the British Isles, Baltic and the Mediterranean. To enhance the overall experience aboard the MS Island Sky, drinks will be included will all meals from May and we have also included all gratuities in the total cruise price. These aspects have been decided on mainly due to the feedback received from past passengers. A substantial refit will be taking place in May, ready for her first voyage under new management around the British Isles and Ireland. Click here to see some artist’s impressions of the vessel after the refurbishment

We have commenced work on the new itineraries for the MS Johann Strauss for next year. As well as many of the popular cruises such as Amsterdam to the Black Sea and East of Budapest, we will also be offering some itineraries based on the spring flowers in the Netherlands, some cruises on the Rhine and a summer music cruise. We are also looking at customer feedback and hope to offer more added value to the cruises for next year. The new brochure will be sent out towards the end of April.

The 34-passenger Callisto is the last word in sophistication. A beautiful vessel, furnished like a country hotel, featuring 17 outside facing cabins. It is no surprise that all cruises for 2010 have sold out, and we are pleased to announce that for 2011, Callisto will be undertaking some interesting cruises to Libya, the Aegean, Adriatic and a circumnavigation of Sardinia. In addition there will be food and wine themed cruises along the east coast of Italy and Sicily.

For the past few years, the MS Clipper Odyssey has been operating some excellent cruises exploring Alaska’s Inside Passage, cruising around Japan and island hopping in the South Seas. For 2011, new destinations are planned including the Mediterranean and British Isles, therefore 2010 is your last chance to explore these beautiful areas of the world aboard the MS Clipper Odyssey. Cruises to Alaska include ‘Great Land of Alaska’ from 30th June to 15th July and ‘Natural Wonders of Alaska’ from 11th to 28th July. There are two cruises in the South Pacific, one from Easter Island to Tahiti from 17th October to 6th November and one from Tahiti to Fiji from 1st to 20th November. The cruises can also be taken together as one complete voyage. 'Timeless Japan' is from 10th to 24th May. Please ask for details.

Noble Caledonia will be exhibiting at the followings travel shows in 2010:

JANUARY
Friday 15th – Sunday 17th
Belfast Holiday Show
King’s Hall Exhibition & Conference Centre, Balmoral, Belfast
www.holidayworldshow.com

Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th
Dublin Holiday Show
Dublin RDS Simmonscourt, Ballsbridge, Dublin
www.holidayworldshow.com

FEBRUARY
Thursday 4th – Sunday 7th
Destinations – The Holiday & Travel Show
Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London
www.destinationsshow.com

MARCH
Friday 5th – Sunday 7th
Destinations – The Holiday & Travel Show
Birmingham NEC
www.destinationsshow.com

Saturday 27th – Sunday 28th March
CRUISE Show
Olympia Exhibition Centre, London
www.cruisingshow.co.uk

We are also planning more roadshows around the country for 2010. Please keep checking our website for dates and locations.

The magazine of discovery from Noble Caledonia - Winter 2009
Link: Click here to download the latest Odyssey magazine

Noble Caledonia are delighted to have won silver at the British Travel Awards for ‘Best River Cruise Line’. The awards took place on Thursday 5th November 2009. For full details of all winners, click on the link below .

Nominations were gathered between 1 April and 16 June this year via communications to a random 1,000 of last year’s consumer voters, via press releases, e-broadcasts and industry professionals.
Link: www.britishtravelawards.com/tip_rp.php

Please click here for further details

Plans are well advanced for the refit of the MS Island Sky which will take place during the month of May 2010. The brief to our designers is to upgrade all areas but not to change the overall character of the vessel. Features such as the wood panelling and brass fixtures are to remain but all soft furnishings and carpets to be replaced. Each deck of passenger cabins will have a different colour scheme.

However, the most important changes will be the bathrooms which are being totally replaced in all cabins with up to date fittings.The television system is being upgraded to allow the presentations taking place in the main lounge to be viewed in the passenger cabins. There will also be access to films and more television stations than are currently available.

The public areas of the vessel will also receive a complete makeover with new furniture in the main lounge and bar. Likewise the dining room will be much improved with a new colour scheme and lighting. To enhance the presentations by our guest speakers and staff a new AV system is being installed in the main lounge which will improve the sound and vision. Likewise, a new satellite dish will improve the internet connection on board and passenger cabins will benefit from Wi-Fi access. The outside areas will also receive attention with new decking in some areas and a general upgrading of outdoor furniture and the Lido area.

Our aim is to retain the finest assets of the MS Island Sky but at the same time introduce improvements to the vessel that meet the demands of today’s travellers. Past travellers have made some very useful comments which, where possible, will be incorporated into the new designs. However, all past passengers should rest assured that the intrinsic nature of the vessel will not be altered.

In addition to renovations we will also be including some new inclusions on board from 30 May 2010 including wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner as well as gratuities to the crew.

We hope to have drawings of the new designs available to all those interested early in the New Year and will make them available to all those interested. As you can imagine this is an exciting time at Noble Caledonia and we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of an updated MS Island Sky on 30 May 2010.

Noble Caledonia would like to offer their thanks to all those who attended the Sail Away roadshows during 2008. Over the 8 shows, we covered 1,200 miles, met 1,100 clients, served over 2,000 cups of tea and watched as thousands of sandwiches and scones were devoured!
It was a great opportunity to meet many of our travellers and we were very fortunate to have John Carter, Barrie Mon Lloyd, Jannie Cloete and Chantal Cookson working alongside us who each shared a valuable insight into small ship cruising.
Due to the positive feedback received from the shows, Noble Caledonia will once again be visiting different areas across the country during October 2009. Full details of the venues and dates will be available later in the year and we will be writing to all past passengers who reside within the areas with further information. In the meantime, please call 020 7752 0000 to register your interest or email odyssey@noble-caledonia.co.uk