I’m so excited to be finally cruising to the beautiful Norwegian Fjords! I’ve wanted to for years and now I will be ticking off one of my bucket list cruises. I’ve many more I want to tick off but you have to start somewhere!
 
I will be heading to Norway with Gavin, cruising with Cruise & Maritime Voyages on their wonderful flagship Columbus. We spent three nights on board the ship last summer so we’re pretty familiar with the ship and can’t wait to get back on board, this time for a little longer. She's not the biggest or the best ship but she's part of an amazing fleet of smaller more intimate ships with a friendly and welcoming crew.

In April 2018 I spent two nights on board Celebrity Silhouette, sailing from Southampton to Le Havre in France and back. The mini cruise was actually the first time the ship had ever sailed from Southampton and it was also my first time cruising with Celebrity Cruises.

Just eleven days before setting sail I started work on a large-scale drawing of Celebrity Silhouette, which I hoped I would be able to present to the Captain on board during the two night cruise.

I worked very hard to ensure that the drawing was completed on time and ready before we set sail! I finished the drawing just two days before we set sail. Just before I completed the drawing, the PR team from Celebrity Cruises contacted me as they had seen the drawing on social media and asked if I would like to meet with their team on board for a coffee.

The team also helped arrange for me to visit the bridge so that I could meet the Captain and hand over my drawing to him personally. I was invited to the bridge, along with the PR team and some others guests at 08:00 on the second day of our cruise whilst the ship was berthed in Le Havre.

​Everyone looks for a great price on a cruise, right!? Thanks to a friend of mine I found a smashing deal with MSC Cruises for a four-night cruise on board MSC Preziosa.
 
The cruise departs Southampton on 22 May 2019 and cruises to Hamburg, stopping off in Zeebrugge as well as an overnight call into Amsterdam. We’re not too fussed about the ports of call but we love Amsterdam so it will be good to visit once again and have plenty of time to explore.

On 21 April 2018 I was lucky enough to step aboard the brand new Norwegian Bliss during her inaugural visit to Southampton. Just six days before the ship docked in Southampton I secured a place on the visitors list and also completed my large-scale drawing of the ship which measures nearly 2 metres in length.

I was able to get in touch with the Staff Captain, Robert Lundberg, who had met me indirectly three times before when I had presented drawings on board Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Escape during their inaugural visits to Southampton.

The Staff Captain recalled seeing me present my drawings on the three previous ships and was kind enough to grant me permission to visit Norwegian Bliss to present my newest drawing on board the brand new ship. I was a little worried I was going to miss out getting on board so when I received the email from the Staff Captain direct from the ship I was over the moon!!

Admittedly I am not the most adventurous person but I’m about to make my first leap into exploring further than I ever have before and trying lots of new things too. This weekend I’m heading off on an exciting new adventure, which is going to so much fun.
 
The adventure begins Saturday morning when I take to the skies on my first ever flight… I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous but I’m also very exciting knowing what awaits me.

I am absolutely thrilled to officially announce that I will be displaying some of my artwork at the Cruise Show in Birmingham at the NEC on 16 & 17 September 2017. What’s more, I’ll also be drawing live at the Cruise Show too!
 
This year, the Cruise Show is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary so there’s never been a better time to visit Europe’s largest cruise show and I’m so excited to have the opportunity to work with the amazing team.

2017 has been a very busy year for me, full of so many wonderful moments. I’m doing my best to catch up with them all, so please bear with me! 

One of the most memorable moments this year so far, was having the opportunity to spend a night on board the awe-inspiring new MSC Merviglia in Le Harve, France, just one day before the brand new cruise ship was officially christened.

I had the great pleasure of joining a group of selected guests on board the Aegean Odyssey during a turnaround call at London International Cruise Terminal on 08 August 2017.
 
Whilst on board, before touring the charming little ship, I was given the opportunity to meet with the Captain in the Observation Lounge and had a moment to present my drawing of the ship to him, which I had produced a month or so beforehand.

I’m so excited to be given the opportunity to join a small group of selected guests to step on board the classic little gem of a cruise ship, Aegean Odyssey, which is operated by Voyages to Antiquity.
 
Carrying around 350 passengers she’s a much smaller ship than many of the newer more modern cruise ships built today but from what I’ve already know of the ship she’s still just as special if not even more so!

For ages now I’ve wanted to cruise with Celebrity Cruises. I finally just had to give in and book a cruise with the fantastic five star luxury cruise line.
 
I’m so excited to be booked on a two-night mini weekend getaway cruise on the Celebrity Silhouette, sailing from Southampton on 28 April 2018. The cruise will visit Le Harve in France but between you and me, Gavin and I probably won’t be getting off the ship!