Simon and Debbie - Not Just Travel

Simon and Debbie - Not Just Travel Personal Travel Consultant

Try a visit to Pulpit Rock but please remember, you’re on the clock… Yesterday we got up early to meet our shore excursi...
15/09/2026

Try a visit to Pulpit Rock but please remember, you’re on the clock…

Yesterday we got up early to meet our shore excursion bus which was leaving at 9am, we booked a hike up to Pulpit Rock which is a beautiful trail with amazing views over the Fjord.

Because the ship leaves at 4:30pm we got told we had around 2 hours to get to the top, 30 mins at the top and 2 hours to get back down.

The hike itself is about 4km each way and the elevation is around 400m from your starting point.

Even with time for pics along the way, we managed to get to the top in 90 mins and thankfully the weather was beautiful so we got some great views.

Coming down was tough on the old knees and I don’t have long to recover before my trip to Alesund today to walk up Aksla view point and the 418 steps to the top

Wish me luck 😬

Celebration night is a beautiful sight… On a seven night cruise with P&O, you get a celebration night where the men get ...
14/09/2026

Celebration night is a beautiful sight…

On a seven night cruise with P&O, you get a celebration night where the men get their tuxedos out and hope they haven’t put on any extra pounds since their last cruise and the ladies put on their best cocktail dresses and get pictures done.

If dressing up isn’t your thing, that’s ok, you just have to have dinner in the buffet and not the normal dining areas.

For us, the evening started with some pre-dinner cocktails and then an evening at the chefs table.

It was a lot less boozy than the previous night as we have a hike today to Pulpit Rock.

I’ll share more in that tomorrow

Day 1 - having a ball doing a pub crawl.. Iona has 12 different bars and after a couple of drinks in, we decided the bes...
13/09/2026

Day 1 - having a ball doing a pub crawl..

Iona has 12 different bars and after a couple of drinks in, we decided the best way to explore the ship was by having a pub crawl.

We opted for the Deluxe package which means that we get access to the full cocktail menu, so we tried ALOT of cocktails to bring to you our recommendations.

My favourite cocktail has to be the Vanilla & Caramel Espresso Martini

Virgin cruiser has gone with the classic Mai Tai. Both of which you can get on the classic drinks package.

Some people have a debate about whether the packages are value for money. I’ve popped a pic of the menu from one of the bars so you can judge if you think you’d spend more than £45 per day for classic or £58 for the deluxe

You also get WiFi included and some dining credit which is definitely worth taking advantage of.

So, I mentioned yesterday whether cruising is a good girly holiday and day 1 did not disappoint, so, call your friends and let them know you’re planning a pub crawl 🥂🍹🍸😉

It’s time to cruiseToday I’ve popped to Southampton to get on board P&O’s Iona ship to the Norwegian Fjords. This week i...
12/09/2026

It’s time to cruise

Today I’ve popped to Southampton to get on board P&O’s Iona ship to the Norwegian Fjords.

This week is a girly trip and I’ll be letting you know whether you should consider a cruise for your girly trips vs other city or beach breaks.

First up as two girls traveling and chatting, we also had to find the ship!
Luckily, girls can multitask and with help from the satnav we found the port 😅

The car park was super easy to drop off the car and take our luggage just a short walk across the road and drop it off.

Next up was checking in, this took less than 10 mins and we then got through security in 2 mins and we were on the ship.
I’m sailing with a virgin cruiser who was wondering why airports aren’t this organised.

Right, we’re now on and it’s time to test the drinks menu. We’re on the deluxe package so there’s plenty of choice, I’m sure it won’t take long to sample our way through 😂

We have a sea day tomorrow so I’ll drunkenly find my way around the ship and take some snaps of cool areas for you to see

First impressions from me, I really like Iona, she feels spacious, modern and clean.

First impressions from the virgin cruiser, she’s had a few drinks and said she’s happily being swept away. There you go - big fan!

11/09/2026

To round off our Celebrity Xcel ship tour series, we saved the absolute best for last: The Retreat! 🌟✨

​We’ve already given you a sneak peek into the breathtaking Edge Villa, but all suites in this VIP sanctuary come with incredible perks:

🥂 Exclusive access to The Retreat Lounge for drinks, snacks, and relaxation

🍽️ Fine private dining at Luminae, featuring menus created by Chef Daniel Boulud

☀️ A multi-level, private Retreat Sundeck with its own pool, bar, and cabanas

🍹 The Ultimate Drinks Package and Premium Wi-Fi included as standard

🧳 Personalised butler service to take care of every single detail

​💡 Our Top Travel Tip for Celebrity Xcel:

If you want to experience all of these VIP perks without paying top-tier suite prices, look at the Magic Carpet Sky Suite! It offers all the luxury, service, and full Retreat benefits, making it absolute top value for money.

​Have questions about which suite category is right for your 2026/2027 getaway? Send us a DM or drop a comment below—we’d love to help you find the perfect match! 🛳️💬

​📞 0151 659 1388

📧 [email protected]

📱 WhatsApp: 07545 193425

​🔒 ATOL & ABTA Protected

​

Not so long ago in a Galaxi not too far away… There was a team putting on an event that brings together travel agents ne...
10/09/2026

Not so long ago in a Galaxi not too far away…

There was a team putting on an event that brings together travel agents networking with hotel suppliers and tourist boards across the globe.

We managed to bag a ticket to the hottest event in Liverpool yesterday, no it wasn’t the football, Galaxi put on an amazing event that helped us have some great conversations with suppliers from Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus and Dubai.

It was great hearing about hotels in places like El Gouna and how serious they are about security and also ensuring tourists are not hassled when walking past shops or restaurants, the hotels and tourist boards really get how they can provide a great experience not just in the hotel but the wider resort too.

We also got to chat to someone who looks after hotels in Cyprus we are actually in Cyprus in May and now we’ll get to do a hotel visit and meet the team out there to ensure we can give you the best recommendations.

There was so much more, I could go on all day so why don’t I leave you with a hotel to check out if you’re a parent of small children.

Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Antalya sits in Land of Legends which is a huge Theme Park with fun for the whole family.
It’s a super colorful holiday filled with unforgettable family moments in SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, Dora, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Star Trek™

https://www.thelandoflegends.com/en/hotels/nickelodeon-hotel-antalya

What an amazing way to create everlasting memories for the whole family with their favourite TV shows as their hotel room 🥰

09/09/2026

Continuing our Celebrity Xcel ship visit series! 🚢✨

We were lucky enough to step inside one of the flagship staterooms to check out the Infinite Veranda in person.

Now, if you’re a cruiser, you’ll know there is a lot of debate about these! Traditional balcony lovers aren't always sure, but here’s my honest take: I absolutely loved it.

By replacing traditional balcony doors with a seamless glass window that lowers at the touch of a button, the extra indoor floor space you get in the cabin is huge. It completely opens up the room, and the unobstructed views out over the ocean are simply incredible. 🌊🪟

Whether you want an open-air breeze or a climate-controlled sunroom vibe, it gives you the best of both worlds.

Over to you: Are you Team Infinite Veranda (for the extra cabin space & floor-to-ceiling views) or Team Traditional Balcony? Drop your vote in the comments below! 👇💬

📞 0151 659 1388 📧 [email protected] 📱 WhatsApp: 07545 193425

🔒 ATOL & ABTA Protected

✈️Air traffic control issue impacting flights✈️You may have seen in the news about flight cancellations impacting flight...
08/09/2026

✈️Air traffic control issue impacting flights✈️

You may have seen in the news about flight cancellations impacting flights across the UK and also flights coming into the UK.

We have now been able to reach all of our clients impacted.

If you have any questions or concerns we will of course try to help but please be patient as we support those immediately impacted.

🚨 SAVE UP TO £400 PLUS ZERO DEPOSIT🚨Secure your holiday without paying any money today! Dreaming of your next getaway? ✈...
08/09/2026

🚨 SAVE UP TO £400 PLUS ZERO DEPOSIT🚨

Secure your holiday without paying any money today!

Dreaming of your next getaway?
✈️ There has truly never been a better time to book with easyJet holidays!
🧡 You can lock in incredible sunshine, city breaks, or family adventures for less
💰 Save up to £400 on your next holiday package!
🔒 £0 DEPOSIT when you set up an easy Direct Debit plan—meaning you can secure your dream trip today with absolutely nothing to pay upfront!
💳 Spread the cost with interest-free monthly payments.

Whether you're after Spanish sunshine 🇪🇸, Greek island escapes 🇬🇷, or some winter sun, your next adventure is just a click away.
🌴⏰ Don't wait—savings this big won't stick around forever.
Secure your peace of sunshine today! Call us on 01516591388

07/09/2026

On Saturday, I had the privilege of exploring the brand-new Celebrity Xcel! Ships like this don't open their doors to just anyone before launch, so being invited onboard for an early look was an incredible honor.

Here are just a few highlights from my day:
🍽️ World-class dining at Le Voyage by Chef Daniel Boulud
🍸 The electric atmosphere and iconic Martini Bar at the Grand Plaza
☀️ Unbelievable ocean views from the top-deck Resort Pool
🐒 Finding a new garden ornament (though as you’ll see in the video, Debbie has strictly forbidden me from bringing the giant silver monkey home! 🚫😅)

I haven't even touched on The Retreat yet—I’m keeping those exclusive luxury areas under wraps until later this week! Plus, I’ll be dropping full video walkthroughs of the stunning cabins very soon. 🎥✨

Thinking about sailing Celebrity in 2026 or 2027? Drop a 🛳️ in the comments or send us a DM

📞 0151 659 1388
📧 [email protected]
📱 WhatsApp: 07545 193425
🔒 ATOL & ABTA Protected

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