Your March 2026 Update from Michael Wilson

Hello and welcome to my March 2026 update!

It has been a really great start to 2026, with two extremely strong and positive months. The recent events in the Middle East have, however, come as an unexpected distraction, as much of our focus has been on supporting clients both overseas and those preparing to depart, particularly where flights transit through Dubai.

Fortunately, the number of clients already overseas has been limited, and departing passengers have largely been diverted onto alternative routes. As a result, the overall impact has been much less than I initially anticipated. Our Cruise & Stay team has done a marvellous job supporting clients around the clock, responding to individual needs 24 hours a day. I would like to extend a special thanks to everyone involved here at Bolsover Cruise Club for their dedication and support.

These events also highlight how well the cruise industry can adapt to international developments of this nature. With so many alternative travel options available, it is often possible to avoid areas of concern, and cruise lines themselves can quickly adjust with revised itineraries where necessary. So, it is very much business as usual, with a wonderful range of destinations to choose from across the globe. Flight selections will continue to be carefully managed so that you can travel with confidence and complete peace of mind.

On the subject of holidays, I have just booked a trip to the Maldives in April – a destination long on my bucket list and a perfect place for my wife to recuperate following an upcoming knee operation. I am also delighted to have secured accommodation aboard Silver Ray for the summer, a ship that has been very much on my radar, and I look forward to sharing that experience with you later in the year.

I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight a special weekend flash sale we are currently running, giving our Cruise Club Members the opportunity to secure their next cruise for even greater value. For a limited time, we are offering up to triple Cruise Club Cashback on selected sailings with P&O Cruises, Cunard, MSC Cruises and Ambassador Cruise Line. This applies to a wide range of sailings from the UK departing between now and 31 December 2027, making it an excellent opportunity to plan ahead and enjoy additional savings on your next cruise holiday.

As this is a weekend-only sale, the enhanced cashback offer must end on 16 March, so if you are considering your next cruise, I would encourage you to speak with one of our Cruise Experts on 01246 819 819 while the offer is still available.

In addition, guests booking with P&O Cruises can currently take advantage of a low £50 per person deposit on selected holidays of 23 nights or less, making it even easier to secure your next holiday. This particular promotion is available until 23 March.

In February we launched an updated Blog and News section on our website. I wanted to highlight this as it’s not necessarily somewhere you might navigate to directly unless you arrive via social media or a shared link. However, it’s well worth a visit. I’ve included a link here so you can take a look, and I hope you enjoy the fresh new design created by our Website Manager, Matt.

The section now features a wide range of topical articles, travel insights and cruise-related discussions, designed to appeal to both those who are new to cruising and our many experienced guests. We aim to provide useful inspiration, helpful guidance and interesting behind-the-scenes updates from across the cruise world.

One recent example highlights P&O Cruises’ much-loved ship Ventura, which has just completed her 2026 refit. In the article, we take a closer look at the ship’s latest enhancements, sharing details of the exciting updates and improvements guests can expect to experience when sailing on board.

Turning now to some of the latest cruise news, Princess Cruises has announced an exciting expansion of its Southern Caribbean programme for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, with Barbados set to join San Juan, Puerto Rico as a homeport option. This will be the first time Princess has offered roundtrip cruises from Barbados since 2010, giving guests even more flexibility when planning a Caribbean fly-cruise holiday and making it easier than ever for travellers from the UK and Europe to explore this beautiful part of the world. With the island’s excellent flight connections and warm Bajan welcome, it promises to be a very appealing gateway to the Southern Caribbean.

The programme will include more than 30 voyages visiting 15 destinations, with Crown Princess operating sailings between January and March 2027, followed by Emerald Princess from November 2027 through to March 2028. Itineraries will range from six to nine nights, with the majority offering classic seven-night Caribbean cruises. You can see the full list here.

All of the voyages will include a call to San Juan, while the wider itineraries feature a range of much-loved Caribbean destinations such as Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Martinique, St Lucia, St Kitts and Tortola. With direct flights available from several UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham, Barbados will provide another convenient gateway for exploring the Southern Caribbean. These cruises are available to book now, so please call our Cruise Experts on 01246 819 819 if there is anything we can help with.

Another exciting announcement comes from Disney Cruise Line, which has confirmed that Disney Wish will sail from Southampton in summer 2027, marking the ship’s first-ever visit to the UK and her debut season in Europe.

Disney Wish will offer a programme of European itineraries ranging from three to 10 nights, visiting a variety of fascinating destinations including Zadar in Croatia, Trieste in Italy – close to Venice – and Hellesylt in Norway, a gateway to the spectacular Norwegian Fjords. Alongside the longer sailings, the ship will also operate a series of three-, four- and five-night cruises from Southampton, providing UK guests with the opportunity to experience Disney Cruise Line without the need to fly.

Meanwhile, Celebrity Cruises’ revitalised Celebrity Solstice has returned to service following a major refurbishment programme, marking the start of a wider revitalisation of the Solstice Series ships. The refreshed ship set sail from Singapore on 2 March, unveiling eight new onboard experiences alongside updates across accommodation, dining and entertainment.

New additions include the Italian restaurant Trattoria Rossa, the open-air Sunset Park on the top deck, and entertainment venues such as the Boulevard Lounge and The Parlor. Accommodation has also been enhanced, with updates to every stateroom and the addition of 54 new cabins across four new categories. The revitalised Celebrity Solstice will now sail itineraries across Asia and Australia before making her Alaska debut later this year.

We have also recently launched our exclusive P&O Cruises Best Sellers Sale, giving guests the opportunity to set sail for less while enjoying Double Cruise Club Cashback on selected holidays.

The offer includes a fantastic range of sailings across some of P&O Cruises’ most popular destinations, including the Canary Islands and Caribbean. It’s a great opportunity to secure a memorable cruise holiday at exceptional value, but like all good offers, it won’t be around forever. If you would like to find out more, our Cruise Experts will be delighted to help you plan your next escape at sea.

The Carnival UK group once again hosted its annual travel agent awards in London, and Bolsover Cruise Club was very well represented on the evening. Held at 8 Northumberland Avenue and once again hosted by BBC presenter Sara Cox, it proved to be a fantastic night for the company as we were honoured to receive two major awards.

The first was the Partnership Award from Cunard, recognising the strength of the relationship between our two companies. It reflects the remarkable growth we have enjoyed together in recent years, as more Bolsover clients continue to seek out a trusted British cruise brand that has successfully preserved traditional cruise values while evolving within today’s modern cruise market. Cunard now plays a significant role in our day-to-day business, making this recognition particularly meaningful and an award we are immensely proud to receive.

Speaking of pride, the evening also brought a multi-brand award for Excellent Innovation in Social Media, celebrating the creativity and hard work of our marketing team. In particular, the judges highlighted the hugely popular video reels featuring my children, Katie and Oliver, which capture the spirit of the family business that has always been at the heart of Bolsover Cruise Club. I’ve included a link to a recent post that celebrates this new award and explains a little more about how innovation has always been central to what we do.

Well done to everyone at Bolsover Cruise Club; recognition like this is only possible thanks to the dedication of everyone here, as well as the continued loyalty and support of our customers. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who chooses to book their holidays with us.

If you are signed up to receive a complimentary copy of Into The Blue, your next issue should be arriving shortly. The latest edition features One Holiday, Every Generation, exploring why cruising is such a natural choice for families and groups travelling together.

We also sit down with cruise favourite Jane McDonald for our In Conversation With interview, where she reflects on her latest television series and her enduring love of travel. Elsewhere, we weigh up the appeal of all-inclusive cruise packages and take a look at the stylish new river ship Riviera Radiance. If you haven’t yet registered to receive future issues of Into The Blue, you can do so here.

Finally, to all of you who will be setting sail in the coming weeks, I wish you a wonderful holiday and bon voyage. We look forward to helping many more of you discover the world by sea as we head into what promises to be an exciting spring and summer.