As August approaches, executive staff members at Dream Designs Colchester are beginning to prepare for what will be one of the busiest months in the history of Dream Designs Colchester.

Throughout August Dream Designs Colchester is set to take part in a number of exclusive events, including three ship visits and five official drawing presentations.

August shall begin with our visit to the six star luxury cruise ship, Crystal Serenity at the Port of Dover on August 2nd 2011. Dream Designs Colchester shall be visiting the ship with The Cruise Portfolio, who are the representatives for Crystal Cruises in the United Kingdom, as well as a number of professional travel agents and potential future guests. The Cruise Portfolio have also been kind enough to arrange for us to meet the Captain during our visit aboard, where we shall officially present our drawing of Crystal Serenity.

Later on August 6th 2011 our newest and youngest Volunteer @ Sea, Ben shall board Disney Magic in Barcelona with our drawing of the vessel, before embarking on his 7 night Mediterranean cruise aboard, during which it is hoped he will be lucky enough to have the opportunity to present our drawing to the Captain of the vessel.

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester, said:

“ We are all very excited for Ben. Earlier this week he informed us how impressed he was with the drawing of Disney Magic, after the drawing arrived at his home in Brighton. We really do hope that Disney Cruise Line will be kind enough to give him the opportunity to meet the Captain and present the drawing. We’ll keep our fingers crossed and wish you the best of luck, Ben! ”

On August 17th 2011 Dream Designs Colchester shall join a group of VIP guests board Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ flagship, Balmoral during her inaugural visit to Harwich International Port. Guests shall be welcomed aboard by a Champagne reception, before ‘brunch’ is served in the Observatory Lounge. During this time the official drawing presentation of our drawing shall take place, before joining with the other guests to tour the vessel’s various passengers amenities.

The following day, August 18th 2011, our Volunteers @ Sea, Ernie & Edna shall board P&O Cruises’ Arcadia in Southampton before embarking on their cruise aboard the vessel, around the British Isles and Ireland. During their cruise Ernie & Edna are due to meet with the Master of P&O Cruises’ Arcadia, Captain Peter Philpott, where they shall have the opportunity to officially present our drawing of Arcadia on behalf of Dream Designs Colchester.

Also on August 18th 2011, the staff of Dream Designs Colchester shall be visiting the Reader Offers (ROL Cruise) Cruise Show, the cruise event of the year, which can not be missed! Reader Offers (ROL Cruise) are the United Kingdom’s largest and fastest growing independent cruise retailer and recently opened their first travel branch in Colchester’s town centre. Later that evening, Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester, shall visit the historic maritime town of Harwich to view Hebridean Princess enter the Haven Gateway, before berthing at Harwich International Port and 20:00.

Further more, on August 19th 2011, Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester shall visit the Hebridean Princess, after watching her berth alongside the previous evening. During the visit guests are expected to enjoy morning coffee onboard and it is hoped we will be lucky enough to meet the Captain and present our drawing. We have been informed that Hebridean Island Cruises’ Sales & Marketing Director, as well as the Master, Captain Richard Heaton will be informed of our presence. 

Finally on August 27th 2011, Dream Designs Colchester shall visit Harwich International Port whilst the 101,350 tonne Costa Magica is alongside, where a letter and photographs of our drawing of Costa Magica shall be taken aboard the vessel and passed on to the Captain, on behalf of Dream Designs Colchester. Our intention is to inform the Captain of our drawing and ask about the possibilty of visit the vessel whilst she is docked at Harwich International Port on September 6th 2011.

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester, said:

“ After seeing Costa Magica berthed at Harwich International Port quite a number of times and having one of our first drawings taken aboard the vessel in 2009, it really would be wonderful to finally visit the vessel and present our newest drawing of Costa Magica. ”

The adventures shall also continue into September and onwards, with many other drawing presentations planned, but more will be reveled about these in the coming weeks and months!

We shall be reporting back from each of our ship visits and drawing presentations and of course will be meeting up or hearing from our Volunteers @ Sea, once they are home from their cruises. Stay tuned!

ENDS

For more information please Contact Us on the following details below

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester

Mobile: 07778940245
E-mail: harry_cotterill@hotmail.co.uk

Earlier this week we were made aware that our Dream Designs Colchester Facebook group page, reached a milestone 400 members. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank each of our members, especially those who follow us, not just on Facebook, but via ‘Our Blog’ too!

The Dream Designs Colchester group page is almost updated daily, with notifications to our latest blog posts, news and developments and even our newest assigned drawings!

We would like to extend our thanks to each one of our Facebook members and we do hope to reach another milestone again soon. Thank you!!!

Dream Designs Colchester are delighted to have this opportunity to announce to you yet another momentous and exciting upcoming event in our illustrious history.

Later this year, Dream Designs Colchester shall join a group of VIP guests aboard Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ flagship, Balmoral during her inaugural visit to Harwich International Port.

The 43,537 tonne vessel is due to berth alongside the cruise terminal at Harwich International Port on August 17th 2011, as part of her ‘Around UK & Ireland’ cruise. A selected group of VIP guests shall board the vessel, welcomed
onboard by a Champagne reception followed by ‘brunch’ served in the Observatory Lounge on Deck 11.

A complete tour of Balmoral’s various passengers amenities will then follow, including her 4 superb restaurants, 8 bars and lounges and the many other magnificent amenities on offer onboard Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' largest ship.

Balmoral was originally built as Crown Odyssey in 1988 and was later purchased by Norwegian Cruise Lines and re-named Norwegian Crown, before being brought by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines in 2007. A major refurbishment of the vessel was carried out and the vessel was also lengthened substantially to her current length of 218 meters, before entering service again in 2008.

In August 2010, Dream Designs Colchester were lucky enough to join Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and a group of VIP guests aboard Black Watch, during her inaugural call to Harwich International Port.

Dream Designs Colchester contacted Mike Rodwell, Managing Director, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines in June 2010 to request permission to visit Black Watch and present our drawing of the vessel to the Captain. We also sent our original drawing of Balmoral, to give Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines an impression of our work. Our drawing was later handed back to us during our time aboard Black Watch, after we were kindly invited to present the drawing to Balmoral during her visit to Harwich International Port in August 2011.

Whilst on much loved Black Watch in August 2010, Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester had the opportunity to present his drawing of the 28,613 tonne vessel to Captain Torbjørn Lund.

Recently we especially assigned a brand new drawing of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ beautiful Balmoral, which we shall be presenting to the Captain of the vessel during our visit aboard in August 2011.

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester, said:

" We were delighted to have invited to visit Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines splendid flagship Balmoral, during our visit aboard Black Watch in August 2010. We are very much looking forward to boarding another member of the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines fleet and feel honoured to have been given this opportunity."

ENDS

For more information please Contact Us on the following details below

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester

Mobile: 07778940245
E-mail: harry_cotterill@hotmail.co.uk

On Sunday 17th July 2011, our drawing of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Pearl was officially presented to the ship, on behalf of Dream Designs Colchester, by our Volunteers @ Sea, John & Marilyn.

Dream Designs Colchester especially assigned the drawing of Norwegian Pearl in March 2011, after John & Marilyn kindly agreed to present the drawing to the ship during their 7 night cruise aboard the vessel in May 2011.

Unfortunately the drawing encountered a delay in shipping and did not arrive in time for John & Marilyn to board with the drawing.

Luckily during their cruise aboard Norwegian Pearl, John & Marilyn had the opportunity to meet with Matthhias Holz, Hotel Director aboard Norwegian Pearl, who later contacted Dream Designs Colchester and arranged for our Volunteers @ Sea to visit Norwegian Pearl during a turnaround visit in their home town of Seattle.

When boarding Norwegian Pearl, John & Marilyn were greeted by Charlin Zaldivar, Group Services Coordinator, who kindly gave our Volunteers @ Sea  a tour of the Garden Villas aboard Norwegian Pearl.

Unfortunately the Master of Norwegian Pearl, Captain Rune was unavailable to receive our drawing of the vessel, but instead John & Marilyn were able to present our drawing to Julie Valeriote, Cruise Director, aboard Norwegian Pearl.

After the official drawing presentation, John & Marilyn enjoy a delicious lunch in Cagney’s one of the many dining venues aboard Norwegian Pearl.

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester, said:

"The official drawing presentation of Norwegian Pearl is yet another grand achievement for Dream Designs Colchester and further illustrates our continued commitment to fulfil our sometime ambitious objectives and goals which we strive for."

He added:

" If it was not however for the help of others, such as our Volunteers @ Sea and the other individuals who have supported Dream Designs Colchester in recent years this may not be possible. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our utmost appreciation to John & Marilyn for being kind enough to make another dream a reality! "

ENDS

For more information please Contact Us on the following details below

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester

Mobile: 07778940245
E-mail: harry_cotterill@hotmail.co.uk

Today, Sunday 17th July 2011, our Volunteers @ Sea, John & Marilyn are finally set to board Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Pearl, in their home town of Seattle, to present our drawing of the vessel to the ship.

John & Marilyn were originally due to present our drawing to the Captain on behalf of Dream Designs Colchester, during their 7 night cruise aboard the vessel in May 2011.

Unfortunately our drawing encountered quite a delay in shipping and did not arrive in time for John & Marilyn to be able to present the drawing to the Captain during their cruise.

Fortunately, whilst aboard Norwegian Pearl in May, our Volunteers @ Sea, John & Marilyn were able to meet
with Matthhias Holz, Hotel Director aboard Norwegian Pearl, who later contacted Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester and kindly arranged for John & Marilyn to visit Norwegian Pearl today.

Sadly we have been informed that the Master of Norwegain Pearl, Captain Rune will not be able to receive the drawing as he is leaving the ship during the turnaround. However, whilst onboard John & Marilyn will be met by
Stephen Burnham, Assistant Hotel Director and Charlin Zaldivar, Group Services Coordinator and will later have the opportunity to enjoy lunch onboard, whilst docked in Seattle.

ENDS

For more information please Contact Us on the following details below

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester

Mobile: 07778940245
E-mail: harry_cotterill@hotmail.co.uk

Today, Thurday 14th July 2011, our Cruise Ship Drawing of Disney Magic began the first
part of it’s long journey to our Volunteer @ Sea, Ben.

Ben is our newest and youngest Volunteer @ Sea and has kindly agreed to present our drawing of Disney Magic to the Captain of the
vessel during his 7 night Mediterranean cruise aboard the vessel next month.

Our drawing of Disney Magic is set to arrive in Brighton, where our Volunteer @ Sea, Ben lives, in the next few days, before it will be taken to Barcelona to board the ship later this year in August.

Our Volunteer @ Sea, Ben shall board Disney Magic in Barcelona, along with his parents on August 6th 2011 and cruise the Mediterranean for 7 nights visiting ports such as Nice, Rome and Naples. During this time we hope that Ben will be lucky enough to have the opportunity to present our Cruise Ship Drawing to the Captain of the 83,000 tonne vessel.

In a previous post Volunteer @ Sea, Ben said:

" It is a pleasure to be one of Dream Design Colchester’s Volunteer @ Sea. I have always been a huge fan of theirs and now to be given the opportunity to represent them by presenting drawings to various ships is an honour."

ENDS

For more information please Contact Us on the following details below

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester

Mobile: 07778940245
E-mail: harry_cotterill@hotmail.co.uk

Today, Wednesday 13th July 2011, Dream Designs Colchester visited Harwich International Port to meet with employee and keen Ocean Liner enthusiast Mr. Kibblewhite.

Mr. Kibblewhite, who has had an interest in passenger ships for a many many years, first met with Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester in 2009, whilst visiting the cruise terminal.

Mr. Kibblewhite as well as other employees at Harwich International Port have been a great help to Dream Designs Colchester in recent years, helping to present many of our drawings aboard various ships visiting the cruise terminal, including Costa Atlantica, Costa Magica, Thomson Spirit and many others.

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester, met with Mr. Kibblewhite to briefly exchange gifts between each other. Mr. Kibblewhite kindly presented us with a number of items, including a stamped postcard and daily programme from the maiden voyage of Cunard Line’s new Queen Elizabeth, a Queen Elizabeth 2 postcard signed by the Master, Captain Peter Jackson in February 1982, as well as a Celebrity Eclipse postcard signed by the Master, Captain P.N. Skylogiannis.

Berthed at Harwich International Port today was Discovery, which Dream Designs Colchester had the delight of visiting in early September 2009, after our drawing of the vessel was presented to the Captain on our behalf a number of weeks previous by Denholm Barwil Ltd.

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester, said:

" It was great to meet with Mr. Kibblewhite again today whilst visiting Harwich International Port. It was very kind of him to present us with these wonderful items, especially the the signed Queen Elizabeth 2 postcard."

He added:

"Mr. Kibblewhite and many other employees at Harwich International Port have assisted Dream Designs Colchester on many previous occasions, by presenting numerous drawings to the various vessels visiting the cruise terminal at Harwich in the past 2 years. I hope that this will continuing for years to come, when new vessels visit the cruise terminal in the future."

ENDS

For more information please Contact Us on the following details below

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester

Mobile: 07778940245
E-mail: harry_cotterill@hotmail.co.uk

Earlier this week our executive staff members at Dream Designs Colchester took the opportunity to meet with each other to discuss further their plans for the ‘Six Ship Extravaganza’, which Dream Designs Colchester were set to witness on Saturday 16th July 2011.

Dream Designs Colchester were set to visit
Southampton this weekend, to watch the six ships which would be berthed in Southampton simultaneously depart their berths.

Our plans also included especially assigning a brand new drawing of each of the six cruise ships which would be berthed there, including Grand Princess, Crown Princess, Ventura, Balmoral, Celebrity Eclipse and Artania.

After meeting earlier this week, Dream Designs Colchester have decided to cancel the visit to Southampton, as well as the newly assigned Cruise Ship Drawings of each ship, due to unforeseen circumstances which have recently occurred. However, drawings of Balmoral and Celebrity Eclipse have already been assigned which you can view in our Cruise Ship Gallery.

We do apologise for any inconvenience which may have been caused. Please do keep following ‘Our Blog’ for more exciting news and developments from Dream Designs Colchester.

ENDS

For more information please Contact Us on the following details below

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester

Mobile: 07778940245
E-mail: harry_cotterill@hotmail.co.uk

A warm welcome to the fabulous brand new Dream Designs Colchester
website!

We were delighted with the results from our recent ‘Website Quality
Questionnaire’. Over 94% rated the overall quality of our website as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very good’. 56% of our fans and followers who completed the questionnaire visit our website on a regular weekly basis or more often. A pleasing 97% described our website as ‘Very easy’ or ‘Easy’ to navigate. 91% rated the overall layout of our website as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very good’.

A special thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our Questionnaire.

Our new website features a number of new pages to explore and the new layout makes the website even easier to navigate than before! We do hope you enjoy navigating the new website.

ENDS

For more information please Contact Us on the following details below

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester

Mobile: 07778940245
E-mail: harry_cotterill@hotmail.co.uk

Dream Designs Colchester are delighted have this opportunity to announce yet another exciting upcoming event in our history of outstanding achievements and accomplishments.

Earlier this week, our executive staff members decided to booked another voyage with Reader Offers Ltd aboard Cunard Line’s magnificent 148,000 tonne ocean liner Queen Mary 2, later this year in October.

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester and his father Brian Cotterill shall join ‘Volunteer @ Sea’ Stephen aboard Queen Mary 2 in Southampton, for the 2 night voyage departing on October 14th 2011. Queen Mary 2 shall arrive in Cherbourg, France the following morning, before arriving back alongside Ocean Terminal, Southampton on October 16th 2011.

Dream Designs Colchester has had a close relationship with Cunard Line for a number of year, since Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester, met with Stephen Payne ( OBE RDI MNM FREng HonPhD(Science) BScEng(Hons) FRINA Ceng Chief Naval Architect Queen Mary 2 at Calshot, whilst watching the Queen Mary 2 depart Southampton in August 2005.

In July 2007 we had the opportunity to visit Queen Mary 2 whilst she was berthed at Mayflower Cruise Terminal in Southampton, after being invited to join an exclusive VIP tour of the vessel with Stephen Payne ( OBE RDI MNM FREng HonPhD(Science) BScEng(Hons) FRINA Ceng Chief Naval Architect Queen Mary 2.

In July 2009 our ‘Volunteer @ Sea’ Stephen, who will be aboard Queen Mary 2 with us in October, kindly presented our first drawing of Queen Mary 2 to Captain Nick Bates, on behalf of Dream Designs Colchester. Stephen was invited to meet the Captain on the bridge of the vessel whilst berthed in Rotterdam, before watching the vessel depart from the bridge.

Later in November 2009, Stephen presented our Cruise Ship Drawing of Queen Victoria to Captain Paul Wright, during his voyage aboard the vessel. Our drawing of Queen Victoria is now proudly displayed aboard the vessel for her passengers and crew to enjoy for many years to come.

In October 2010, we were lucky enough to have the chance to visit Cunard Line’s newly built Queen Elizabeth, just weeks after she was officially named in Southampton by Her Majesty The Queen. Whilst aboard Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester had the opportunity to meet with Captain Christopher Wells on the bridge to of Queen Elizabeth to present his drawing of the vessel to him personally. Our drawing was very kindly displayed aboard the 92,000 Cunarder, for passengers and crew to enjoy.

November 2010 saw yet another momentous event for Dream Designs Colchester, when Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester and his father Brian Cotterill, voyaged aboard Queen Mary 2 for the very first time. Our respected ‘Volunteer @ Sea’ Stephen also joined Dream Designs Colchester on board.

During the 2 night voyage, whilst alongside in Cherbourg, Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester had the opportunity to meet with Commodore Bernard Warner on the bridge, to present his drawing of Queen Mary 2 to him in person.

Dream Designs Colchester, were very pleased to have booked this voyage aboard Queen Mary 2 with Reader Offers Ltd. Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester, was lucky enough to visit their office at Lexden House in Colchester earlier this year in March, where he met with Peter Beadles, Charmain, Reader Offers Ltd.

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester, said:

" Dream Designs Colchester has had a close relationship with Cunard Line since visiting Queen Mary 2 in 2007 with Mr. Stephen Payne. Our voyage booked with Reader Offers Ltd aboard Queen Mary 2 in October 2011 shall further extend this relationship with Cunard Line. It will be wonderful to also be joined aboard by our honourable ‘Volunteer @ Sea’ Stephen, who has been a vital part in continuing our relationship with Cunard Line. "

He added:

" Next year Dream Designs Colchester shall join Cunard Line aboard Queen Mary 2 for 5 nights, departing from
Southampton during the Royal Rendezvous celebrations to, celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen, which will be another significant event in this very special relationship."

ENDS

For more information please Contact Us on the following details below

Harry Cotterill, President & Managing Director, Dream Designs Colchester

Mobile: 07778940245
E-mail: harry_cotterill@hotmail.co.uk