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#CruiseHolidays- Starting today is the Holiday World Show, Dublin in the RDS Simmonscourt Complex, Ballsbidge and where Eoghan Corry's Expert Travel Clinics will include talks on those considering taking a cruise.

Over the three day show (25,26 and 27 January) the FREE travel clinic will have expert speakers from the cruise sector and from other holiday options from around the world. They will be on hand to answer consumer questions from the floor.

The following speakers representing the cruise sector are:

Lorraine Quinn, Irish Manager of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCL), which has more than 70% of the Irish cruise market.

Rebecca Kelly, Development Manager of MSC cruises, the Italian cruise line which has become a big favourite of the Irish holiday population.

Sonia Limbrick of Azamara cruises, one of the most luxurious cruise lines in the world which has chosen Dublin as a departure point for a selection of its cruises.

Below is a schedule of the Cruise holiday talks, noting a full listing of holiday topic talk times can be viewed HERE.

Friday 25 January

17.00pm Cruising Rebecca Kelly of MSC Cruises & Lorraine Quinn of RCL

Saturday 26 January

12.30pm Luxury Cruising Sonia Limbrick of Azamara Cruise Line

Sunday 27 January

13.45pm Cruise Opportunities in 2013 by Tom Maher

For further details on opening times and admission rates, visit: www.holidayworldshow.com/visit-page51329.html

Published in Cruise Liners

#HolidayWorldDUBLIN- Thinking of getting away on a ferry-break or cruise, perhaps you should consider visiting Holiday World Show Dublin at the RDS Simmonscourt, Ballsbridge, over next weekend (25, 26 and 27 January).

The World will be your oyster, as the three-day show will offer an extensive range of exhibitors from across the globe with all types of holidays and travel options including those from the ferry and cruise sectors.

Once again Holiday World Show will host the free Eoghan Corry Expert Travel Clinics facilitated by the renowned travel journalist, who will be joined by leading industry experts giving talks and answering visitors' questions on topics such as Cruises and many more holiday topics.

So if you planning a cruising holiday but unsure where to start looking, visit the Holiday World Show, to ask the all those important questions and on discounts on offer.

Enjoy the show's new format where exhibitors are grouped into 9 distinct regions: Ferry & Cruise Sectors, Home holidays, Africa and the Middle East, Europe and the Mediterranean, Caribbean ,The Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Adventure travel and Caravan & Motorhome.

When? 2013 Holiday World Show, (RDS Simmonscourt Complex), Ballsbridge, Dublin: Dates & Times

Friday 25 January 1.00 pm - 7.00 pm Public & Trade

Saturday 26 January 11.00 am - 5.30 pm Public & Trade

Sunday 27 January 11.00 am - 5.30 pm Public & Trade

Admission Prices: Adults €7, Senior Citizens €4, Students €3 and Special Family Price 2 Adults & up to 4 children - €14

So to find out more about the show and its exhibitors – and get in the holiday mood visit: www.holidayworldshow.com As previously reported on Afloat.ie the Belfast Telegraph Holiday World Show is currently open this weekend in the Kings Hall Complex.

Published in Boating Fixtures

#DUBLIN HOLIDAY WORLD SHOW - Following Belfast's hosting of the annual travel event, the Dublin Holiday World Show starts this weekend (Friday 27th to Sunday 29th January) at the RDS Simmonscourt Pavillon in Ballsbridge.

Like its northern counterpart the Dublin Holiday World Show in association with The Sunday Times incorporates Ireland's biggest Caravan & Motorhome Show and the Over 55' Holiday Show.

With 60 countries, some 1,000 travel and tourism professionals will be ready to give advice and detailed, expert information including those representing ferry and cruise ship operators (see LIST).

Also at the show will be the free Expert Travel Clinics hosted by the renowned travel journalist Eoghan Corry who will be accompanied by leading industry experts giving talks, and answering visitors questions on topics such as cruises, travel in the Far East, African holidays, sports trips and holidays, adventure travel, Caribbean holidays and honeymoons, the US Deep South experience, as well as Home Holidays.

President of the Irish Travel Agents Association, Pat Dawson said: "The Irish holiday market is on a very sound footing. We in the ITAA see recession as an opportunity".

"Prices right now are cheaper than ever before and the exhibitors at Holiday World Show 2012 reflect what is happening in the industry, and you will get extraordinarily good value at the show."

For a list of exhibitors at the show they can be viewed  HERE. Admission for children is free, when accompanied by an adult, for further details of the Dublin Holiday World Show click  HERE.

Published in Boating Fixtures

#HOLIDAY WORLD SHOW -The Belfast Telegraph Holiday World Show will be officially opened by actress and comedian Crissy Rock of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here' fame, where she is to 'check in' at the city's King's Hall, this Friday.

The three day show (20th -22nd January) which ends on the Sunday, is Northern Ireland's biggest annual public showcase of travel, tourism and hospitality will offer an array of holiday destinations. Around 30,000 visitors are expected to the show during the weekend.

It will also be the show's 20th anniversary, commenting on the milestone, organiser Edmund Hourican said: "In 2012 we'll be celebrating 20 years of Holiday World Belfast. While much has changed during that time, the event still provides would-be travellers with a hassle-free opportunity to find out about and compare destinations, airlines, travel agencies - and their prices.

"Today's savvy travellers understand that 'best value' doesn't necessarily mean 'cheapest'. Rather, they are looking to find the products and services that best match their requirements. While visitors to Holiday World Belfast are typically prepared to invest in holidays – often heavily - they do want reassurance that they are making the right choices and getting the best deal. The fact that Holiday World is packed with special offers and discounts is a welcome extra bonus!"

Following the popularity of last year's launch by Oasis Travel of the Cruise Pavilion, this part of the show is also to return in 2012, bringing the biggest names in cruising and will include the successful series of cruise lectures suited to both the experienced 'cruiser' and those completely new to this style of holiday.

In addition this year will feature an all new event-within-an-event Over 55s Holiday Show, adding an important new focus to Holiday World Belfast. To read more details of the show, exhibitors including ferry and cruise operators, and for opening times and admission prices click HERE.

Following the Belfast show, it will be the turn of Dublin to host the Holiday World Show in association  with The Sunday Times which opens on the following weekend (Friday 27th-Sunday 29th January) in the RDS Simmonscourt Pavillon, Ballsbridge.

Like the Belfast show there will be an Over 55's Holiday Show plus the Caravan & Motorhome Show. For further details of the show  they can be viewed HERE.

Published in Boating Fixtures
The Holiday World Show in association with The Sunday Times, opened its doors today at the RDS Simmonscourt Complex in Dublin. The three-day show, which runs tomorrow and Sunday, will have numerous exhibitors with worldwide destinations and all types of holidays on offer.
As part of the show, visitors can attend a series of free talks held each day. One of the talks will be about "Cruise Holidays" –All You Need To Know, presented by cruise travel specialist, John Galligan of (John Galligan Travel) which starts at 3pm on Saturday. For a full list of the other speakers click HERE

The following ferry and  cruise operators are exhibiting at the show: Azamara Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Celtic Link Ferries, Cruise & Maritime Voyages, Cruise Holidays, Travel.ie, Hurtigruten, John Galligan Travel, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruise Lines, Pullmantur Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Saga, Silversea Cruises, Thomas Cook and Voyages To Antiquity.

Also exhibiting is Emerald Star for those interested in taking a cabin-cruiser holiday on the Shannon.

For opening times of Holiday World Show (incorporating the Caravan & Motor Home Show) see below

Friday 28 January 1.00 pm - 8.00 pm 

Saturday 29 January 11.00 am - 5.30 pm

Sunday 30 January 11.00 am - 5.30 pm

For a full listing of exhibitors, ticket prices and further information about the show logon to www.holidayworldshow.com

Published in Cruise Liners

Ferry & Car Ferry News The ferry industry on the Irish Sea, is just like any other sector of the shipping industry, in that it is made up of a myriad of ship operators, owners, managers, charterers all contributing to providing a network of routes carried out by a variety of ships designed for different albeit similar purposes.

All this ferry activity involves conventional ferry tonnage, 'ro-pax', where the vessel's primary design is to carry more freight capacity rather than passengers. This is in some cases though, is in complete variance to the fast ferry craft where they carry many more passengers and charging a premium.

In reporting the ferry scene, we examine the constantly changing trends of this sector, as rival ferry operators are competing in an intensive environment, battling out for market share following the fallout of the economic crisis. All this has consequences some immediately felt, while at times, the effects can be drawn out over time, leading to the expense of others, through reduced competition or takeover or even face complete removal from the marketplace, as witnessed in recent years.

Arising from these challenging times, there are of course winners and losers, as exemplified in the trend to run high-speed ferry craft only during the peak-season summer months and on shorter distance routes. In addition, where fastcraft had once dominated the ferry scene, during the heady days from the mid-90's onwards, they have been replaced by recent newcomers in the form of the 'fast ferry' and with increased levels of luxury, yet seeming to form as a cost-effective alternative.

Irish Sea Ferry Routes

Irrespective of the type of vessel deployed on Irish Sea routes (between 2-9 hours), it is the ferry companies that keep the wheels of industry moving as freight vehicles literally (roll-on and roll-off) ships coupled with motoring tourists and the humble 'foot' passenger transported 363 days a year.

As such the exclusive freight-only operators provide important trading routes between Ireland and the UK, where the freight haulage customer is 'king' to generating year-round revenue to the ferry operator. However, custom built tonnage entering service in recent years has exceeded the level of capacity of the Irish Sea in certain quarters of the freight market.

A prime example of the necessity for trade in which we consumers often expect daily, though arguably question how it reached our shores, is the delivery of just in time perishable products to fill our supermarket shelves.

A visual manifestation of this is the arrival every morning and evening into our main ports, where a combination of ferries, ro-pax vessels and fast-craft all descend at the same time. In essence this a marine version to our road-based rush hour traffic going in and out along the commuter belts.

Across the Celtic Sea, the ferry scene coverage is also about those overnight direct ferry routes from Ireland connecting the north-western French ports in Brittany and Normandy.

Due to the seasonality of these routes to Europe, the ferry scene may be in the majority running between February to November, however by no means does this lessen operator competition.

Noting there have been plans over the years to run a direct Irish –Iberian ferry service, which would open up existing and develop new freight markets. Should a direct service open, it would bring new opportunities also for holidaymakers, where Spain is the most visited country in the EU visited by Irish holidaymakers ... heading for the sun!