Terry Anne Owens Travel Counsellors, UK

Terry Anne Owens Travel Counsellors, UK With Us...... it's Personal !! With over 30 years experience in the travel industry, I am still as passionate about travel as ever.

I am able to offer a bespoke travel service tailored to your own personal needs for both business & leisure. I understand how precious and important your travel plans are & so my number one priority is to deliver exactly what you want. Please contact me with your travel requirements & let me plan the perfect trip for you. With me .....it's personal !!!

It’s interesting watching how people’s cruise preferences change over time.A lot of experienced cruisers naturally start...
15/06/2026

It’s interesting watching how people’s cruise preferences change over time.

A lot of experienced cruisers naturally start moving towards smaller luxury ships after a while — not because they suddenly want anything overly formal or extravagant, but because their priorities shift slightly.

The atmosphere starts mattering more than the scale.

People begin looking for:

* quieter ships
* more space
* better service
* smaller guest numbers
* more interesting itineraries
* and less of the “busy resort” feel onboard

That’s usually where lines like Seabourn, Regent, Silversea or Explora Journeys start becoming really appealing.

And interestingly, I think many people are surprised by how relaxed these ships actually feel once they experience them properly.

Less crowded.
Less structured.
Much calmer overall.

You also tend to get more included, better dining, and itineraries that often feel much more immersive because smaller ships can access ports larger ships simply can’t.

It’s not necessarily about wanting “more luxury” in the obvious sense.

I think it’s often more about wanting travel to feel easier, quieter and more considered overall.

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For me, the destination that feels luxurious without really trying is the Seychelles.And interestingly, I don’t even thi...
14/06/2026

For me, the destination that feels luxurious without really trying is the Seychelles.

And interestingly, I don’t even think it’s about the hotels.

Of course, there are some beautiful places to stay there, but what makes the Seychelles feel special is the destination itself.

The beaches genuinely look like the photos.
The scenery feels dramatic without being overdeveloped.
And the whole atmosphere tends to feel much quieter and more relaxed than many other Indian Ocean destinations.

I also think it suits people who want luxury without everything feeling overly polished or formal.

You don’t necessarily need the most expensive resort on the island to have an incredible experience there. Sometimes a smaller hotel in the right location works just as well because so much of the appeal comes from the surroundings themselves.

And honestly, I think that’s part of why the Seychelles stays with people afterwards.

It feels naturally beautiful rather than manufactured.

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A balcony cabin can completely change a cruise… but interestingly, where that balcony is positioned often matters far mo...
13/06/2026

A balcony cabin can completely change a cruise… but interestingly, where that balcony is positioned often matters far more than people expect.

Most people focus on simply having a balcony.
But once you start cruising more, location becomes a much bigger consideration.

Midship cabins usually work best for people worried about movement because they tend to feel more stable, particularly on longer itineraries or rougher waters.

Aft-facing balconies are a completely different experience again.
Much larger views, quieter atmosphere, and personally, I think watching the wake from the back of the ship is one of the nicest views you can have onboard.

Then there’s deck positioning itself.

Cabins underneath busy pool decks or restaurants can sometimes end up noisier than people expect, whereas the right location can make the whole experience feel much calmer and more private.

Interestingly, this is often one of the things experienced cruisers pay attention to most when booking.

Not because the cabin itself changes dramatically… but because the feel of the trip does.

And once you’ve had a really well-positioned balcony cabin, you become surprisingly picky about it afterwards.

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If I were putting together an Africa itinerary for myself now, I’d still build it around Cape Town, the Winelands, safar...
12/06/2026

If I were putting together an Africa itinerary for myself now, I’d still build it around Cape Town, the Winelands, safari… and then finish in the Indian Ocean afterwards.

That combination just works incredibly well.

Cape Town is one of the easiest long-haul cities to settle into. Great food, beautiful coastline, wine regions nearby, and enough variety that you can keep the trip quite relaxed or make it much more active depending on what you enjoy.

Then the Winelands slows everything down slightly.

Smaller hotels, incredible scenery, long lunches, slower mornings — it changes the feel of the trip completely before moving onto safari.

And safari itself is one of the few travel experiences that still genuinely feels special every single day. Early morning drives, evenings back at camp, wildlife you never really get used to seeing properly… it’s very difficult to explain until you’ve done it.

But I still think the Indian Ocean ending is what makes this kind of itinerary feel properly balanced.

After safari, somewhere like the Seychelles or Mauritius gives you time to completely switch off before coming home. No alarms, no moving around, no constant planning.

And honestly, I think that contrast is what makes combination trips feel so much more luxurious overall.

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If I were building an Africa itinerary for myself now, I’d probably still choose a combination of Cape Town, the Winelan...
12/06/2026

If I were building an Africa itinerary for myself now, I’d probably still choose a combination of Cape Town, the Winelands, safari, and then finish somewhere in the Indian Ocean afterwards.

It’s one of those trips that just flows incredibly well when it’s put together properly.

Cape Town gives you a bit of everything to start with — coastline, incredible food, wine, scenery, and a city that feels very easy to settle into after a long flight.

Then the Winelands changes the atmosphere completely.
Slower pace, beautiful scenery, smaller luxury hotels and a very relaxed few days before moving onto safari.

And safari itself is one of those experiences that’s difficult to explain properly until you’ve done it. Early mornings, wildlife, open landscapes, evenings back at camp… it feels completely different to normal travel.

But interestingly, I still think the Indian Ocean ending is what really makes this style of itinerary work so well.

After safari, somewhere like Mauritius or the Seychelles gives you time to completely switch off before coming home. No moving around, no early starts — just a softer ending to the trip overall.

For me, these combination itineraries often feel far more luxurious than staying in one place throughout because each stage gives you something completely different.

And when the routing is done properly, the whole thing feels surprisingly effortless considering how much variety you experience within one trip.

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Scenic Eclipse and Silver Endeavour are probably two of the most talked-about luxury expedition ships right now… but the...
11/06/2026

Scenic Eclipse and Silver Endeavour are probably two of the most talked-about luxury expedition ships right now… but they actually feel quite different once you look beyond the headlines.

And interestingly, I think the “better” choice really depends on the type of traveller you are.

Scenic Eclipse feels incredibly sleek and modern.
Very design-led, very contemporary, and probably the closest expedition cruising gets to a true luxury yacht feel in places.

Silver Endeavour feels slightly different to me.
Still extremely luxurious, but with more of a traditional expedition atmosphere underneath it. There’s a stronger sense of exploration and destination focus, whereas Scenic leans more heavily into the ultra-luxury lifestyle side of the experience.

Personally, I’d probably steer someone towards Scenic Eclipse if they wanted:

* ultra-modern design
* spa/wellness focus
* yacht-style atmosphere
* and expedition travel without losing that very high-end luxury feel

Whereas Silver Endeavour works brilliantly for people who are genuinely interested in the expedition side itself as much as the ship.

Both are exceptional… but they attract slightly different travellers once you really look at them properly.

And I actually think that’s where luxury expedition cruising becomes really interesting now — it’s no longer just one “type” of experience.

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Personally, I think some luxury hotels look far more impressive on paper than they actually feel once you’re there.And i...
10/06/2026

Personally, I think some luxury hotels look far more impressive on paper than they actually feel once you’re there.

And interestingly, it’s often not the hotel itself that’s the problem.

Some places have beautiful rooms, incredible facilities and flawless photography… but still somehow feel slightly impersonal when you arrive.

Whereas other hotels immediately feel relaxed, welcoming and memorable without necessarily being the most expensive or over-the-top.

For me, the difference usually comes down to atmosphere and service style.

How natural the service feels.
Whether the hotel has personality.
How calm the environment feels day to day.
And whether it feels like people genuinely enjoy being there rather than everything being perfectly polished but slightly cold.

I actually think this becomes even more noticeable at the higher end of travel.

Because once hotels reach a certain standard physically, the emotional side of the experience matters far more than whether the bathroom is made from marble.

It’s one of the reasons I tend to care much more about how a place feels rather than simply how luxurious it looks in photos.

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I think a lot of people still picture expedition cruising as something quite extreme.Very basic ships.Very uncomfortable...
09/06/2026

I think a lot of people still picture expedition cruising as something quite extreme.

Very basic ships.
Very uncomfortable.
Almost survival-style travel.

And honestly, that really isn’t what modern expedition cruising looks like anymore.

Lines like Silversea Expedition or Scenic Eclipse combine genuinely incredible remote destinations with a very high level of comfort onboard.

You can spend the morning out on a zodiac spotting wildlife or stepping onto landscapes that feel completely untouched… and then come back to a beautiful suite, excellent food and a really relaxed ship afterwards.

Personally, I think that contrast is part of what makes expedition cruising so special.

It feels immersive without feeling hard work.

And interestingly, many people who love luxury travel are now becoming far more interested in experiences rather than just traditional “fly and flop” holidays. Expedition cruising fits that shift perfectly.

For me, it’s one of the few types of travel that still feels genuinely different from everyday life.

Not because it’s uncomfortable or dramatic… but because the places themselves feel so remote and untouched.

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Personally, I think one of the biggest mistakes people make with Mediterranean cruising is automatically booking August ...
08/06/2026

Personally, I think one of the biggest mistakes people make with Mediterranean cruising is automatically booking August because it feels like the “obvious” time to go.

And for some people, it absolutely works — particularly families tied to school holidays.

But if you have flexibility, I’d choose May, June, September or early October over August every single time now.

The difference in atmosphere can be huge.

In peak August, some ports feel extremely crowded, temperatures can become uncomfortable very quickly, and itineraries with constant port days can end up feeling surprisingly tiring rather than relaxing.

Places like Santorini, Mykonos or parts of the Italian coast are beautiful… but in peak heat and heavy crowds, they can feel very different to the version people imagine when they book.

Personally, I think the Mediterranean works best slightly outside peak season.

The weather is often still incredible, the pace feels calmer, restaurants and ports are more enjoyable, and the whole experience tends to feel much more relaxed overall.

Interestingly, I think this is often where smaller ships really come into their own as well. Better port access, fewer guests, and a generally calmer onboard atmosphere changes the feel of Mediterranean cruising completely.

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I actually think Seabourn is probably one of the most misunderstood cruise lines.A lot of people assume luxury cruising ...
07/06/2026

I actually think Seabourn is probably one of the most misunderstood cruise lines.

A lot of people assume luxury cruising means something overly formal, traditional or slightly intimidating… and then they’re genuinely surprised by how relaxed Seabourn actually feels once they step onboard.

Personally, I think that’s what the line does incredibly well.

The ships feel spacious without being flashy, the service is exceptional without feeling stiff, and the whole atmosphere is much quieter and more understated than many people expect.

Regent and Silversea expedition would also be very high on my list for completely different reasons.

Regent because of how seamless everything feels once you’re onboard — particularly when you factor in what’s included overall.

And Silversea expedition because it combines genuine comfort with some incredibly remote and immersive itineraries in a way very few travel experiences really do.

Then there’s Uniworld on the river cruise side, which I also think surprises people. The ships feel much more boutique hotel than “traditional river cruise” once you experience them properly.

Interestingly, I think many people who initially say “luxury cruising probably isn’t for me” are often the ones who end up loving these styles of travel most once they try them.

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