Six Reasons to Cruise on Magellan

I've just returned from a visit to Cruise and Maritime’s ship, Magellan, where we received a warm welcome as we arrived in the glorious sunshine at Dublin port. We were treated to morning coffee and pastries, served in the Hampton Lounge, before we began our tour of the ship. Here are six reasons to consider a trip on Magellan for your next cruise...

1 - Comfortable Cabins

Within a few minutes of being on board, I was escorted by my cabin steward, Sebastiao, who took me to my spacious superior outside cabin on deck 5. My cabin was clean and well equipped with all the necessities you could want, including a comfortable bed, television, safe, wardrobe and tidy bathroom. It was the perfect place to unwind after a busy day of sightseeing or activities on board, and with a conscientious steward to cater to your every need, what more could you want? As a point to note, all cabins, except suites, have a similar layout and size, with category and prices dependent on deck and location. We also visited a Royal Suite, which is totally wheelchair adapted, with a super spacious balcony, but I would recommend booking up early if this is the cabin for you.

2 - Entertainment Galore

Magellan can comfortably carry 1,250 passengers, and has a crew to passenger ratio of 1.9. She has a number of spacious lounges and public areas, so it never feels crowded, with entertainment venues to suit everyone. From Sinatra’s Lounge, to Scott's Nightclub, as well as the Captain’s Club, there are plenty of places to relax and enjoy a coffee or pre-dinner drink, with live entertainment and music throughout the day and night. Here you can enjoy live performances by talented pianists, have fun with games and trivia, or even have a dance with performances by the show team or in the disco. For Showtime, there is of course the Magellan Show Lounge, with everything from comedians to musicals. There is also the Nansen Card Room with organised bridge games and plenty of tables, as well as the traditionally decorated library, a favourite quiet place among many guests. Entertainment reflects British tastes, so it's no wonder she almost always sails at full capacity.

3 - Fantastic Facilities

Magellan has a fully equipped gym and a large spa for a ship of its size. With numerous high spec treatment rooms, a range of unique therapies and of course hairdressers and nail technicians, you can really pamper yourself at the Jade Spa & Beauty Salon, for a competitive price. Why not completely relax with an aromatherapy massage, starting from £38, or rejuvenate with a reviving facial for £52. Get ready for your formal dinner with a trip to the salon for a shampoo and blow dry, starting from £22, and maybe even finish off with a manicure or pedicure. Themed cruises are also in demand, with crafting especially proving most popular. With everything from card making to journal writing, and even making handbags out of crisp packets. It's the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill, develop a new hobby, listen to an inspirational speaker or perhaps meet some famous soap stars, all added value with a Cruise and Maritime voyage.

4 - Food, Glorious Food

Dining options include the two main restaurants, Kensington and Waldorf, as well as the more relaxed bistro style of Raffles. You can even dine al fresco on the pool deck at the Grill, where you can enjoy burgers and hotdogs in the sunshine, weather dependent of course. The elegant restaurants offer a five-course menu in the evenings, with both early and late seating, and everything from the service to the food was to a high standard, and completely delicious. The large majority of guests on board Magellan are from the United Kingdom, so drinks are usually familiar brands, and reasonably priced in pounds. If you like a drink or two, I would recommend a drinks package, with prices starting at just £17 per day.

5 - Enchanting Destinations

Some of her most popular itineraries this year have been cruises around the British Isles, giving passengers a unique opportunity to see places like the Isles of Scilly, or some of the more hard to reach Scottish Islands, as well as a chance to see cities like Dublin and Belfast, which have rejuvenated their appeal for visitors in recent years. There’s also a wide choice of wonderful excursions at most ports of call and all are well planned and reasonably priced. For some ports, there is even a complimentary shuttle service, perfect for those who wish to explore the ports independently. I was lucky to experience a trip to Giant's Causeway, north of Belfast, and our guide could not have been more helpful or informative.

6 - Service With a Smile

Throughout the entire trip, the staff on board Magellan were nothing but wonderful. With a friendly outlook, nothing was too much trouble, making it clear that Cruise and Maritime strive to put their customers first. Magellan also caters very well for the single traveller, with competitive single occupancy rates, starting at +25%, and exclusive opportunities to get together with fellow singles at organised events. If you're planning a special occasion, Cruise and Maritime will go out of their way to make your day special, so be sure to let someone know.

The wide range of destinations, itineraries and choice of UK departure points as well as some amazing early booking offers means that Cruise and Maritime are a very good choice for the British cruiser. See all Magellan departures from Newport here...