Your September 2026 Update from Michael Wilson

It has been another busy month here at Bolsover Cruise Club, but perhaps the biggest news has been the launch of Luxury Journeys, our new dedicated luxury service.

This is something we have been working on behind the scenes for some time, so I’m delighted to finally be able to share it with you. Luxury cruising has become an increasingly important part of our business in recent years, and Luxury Journeys brings together the specialist knowledge and experience we have built in this area.

We know that luxury cruising can mean different things to different people. For some, it might be the space and service found on board a smaller ship, while for others it is the opportunity to combine an exceptional cruise with memorable hotels, destinations and experiences ashore. With so much choice available, having a team that really understands the different cruise lines and what each has to offer can make all the difference.

That is very much the thinking behind Luxury Journeys. At its heart is our team of Luxury Cruise Concierges, who can help you navigate the options, from finding the right cruise line and suite to extending your time away with a hotel stay or a more ambitious land itinerary. It builds on the knowledge and service we have always offered at Bolsover Cruise Club, while bringing our luxury expertise together in one place.

You can find out much more on our dedicated Luxury Journeys page, where Katie introduces the new service and you can meet our Luxury Cruise Concierge team, as well as explore some of the cruise lines and holidays we can arrange. We have also introduced a new telephone number specifically for Luxury Journeys, 01246 813 133, so you can speak directly to one of our Luxury Cruise Concierges.

I’m incredibly proud to see Luxury Journeys come to life and, whether you are already a regular luxury cruiser or are simply interested in seeing what this style of travel has to offer, I’d encourage you to take a look.

It has also been an especially well-travelled few weeks for our team, with colleagues heading far and wide to see some of the ships and destinations we feature first-hand.

Our Product Executive, Kristina, recently returned from Seattle and the wider Washington State, where she explored how customers can make more of an Alaska cruise with a stay before or after sailing. Alongside spending time in downtown Seattle and visiting ships in port, she headed further afield on a four-day journey through Washington State, taking in its mountains, rainforests and Pacific coastline. It highlighted just how much there is to discover beyond Seattle itself and the possibilities for turning an Alaska cruise into a much wider holiday.

The West Coast of the USA is also the setting for another of our team’s current trips, with colleagues sailing aboard Ruby Princess from California, while Abigail and Ellis are exploring Alaska with Holland America Line. Ellis is capturing plenty of content along the way, so I’m looking forward to seeing what they bring back from their time there.

Closer to home, members of the team have recently returned from a short sailing aboard P&O Cruises’ Aurora, visiting Hamburg and Bruges. Having our team regularly spend time on board different ships and in the destinations our customers visit remains incredibly important to me. There really is no substitute for first-hand knowledge when it comes to helping our customers plan their own holidays.

We’ll be sharing much more from these trips across our social media channels, from life on board to the destinations visited along the way. If you don’t already follow us, I’d encourage you to do so on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to keep up with where our team has been and where their travels take them next.

We’ve also had the pleasure of meeting many of you in person at a number of customer events over recent weeks.

We welcomed guests aboard Oceania Cruises’ Vista for the day during her visit to Liverpool, while in Southampton we hosted customers aboard Celebrity Apex. Our time on Apex focused on The Retreat, giving guests the opportunity to look around the suites, see the private Retreat areas and learn more about the additional benefits available to suite guests.

This was particularly timely following the recent launch of Celebrity Beyond’s 2028 sailings from Southampton, which went on sale on 25 August and have already proved popular with our customers. On Celebrity Beyond, The Retreat is arranged across two decks rather than one, making the Apex visit a great opportunity to get a feel for what Celebrity offers its suite guests. 

Celebrity Beyond’s 2028 programme also offers some fantastic itineraries, including a 12-night Arctic Circle sailing departing Southampton on 31 July 2028. At the time of writing, Concierge Class Infinite Veranda fares start from £2,801pp, while a Magic Carpet Sky Suite starts from £5,594pp. If you are interested in Celebrity Beyond’s first season from Southampton, I’d encourage you to speak to one of our Cruise Experts about the options available.

Back at the Cruise Centre, Royal Caribbean and Regent Seven Seas Cruises have both joined us for dedicated customer events. These occasions allow our customers to hear directly from the cruise lines, ask questions and find out more about the ships, destinations and experiences they offer, while our own team are there to help with any further advice.

I particularly enjoy seeing the Cruise Centre full of customers at events like these. So much of our relationship with you naturally takes place over the telephone or online, so having the opportunity to welcome you through our doors, put faces to names and spend some time talking about cruising is something we always value. We have more events planned, so do keep an eye on our emails and social media channels for future opportunities to join us.

I mentioned in a previous update that Queen Mary 2 will undergo a major refurbishment in 2027, and Cunard has since revealed more about what we can expect. The work will introduce 30 new staterooms, including new Oceanview rooms and new accommodation for solo travellers, alongside updates to many familiar spaces on board.

Among the changes will be a refreshed Queens Room, enhancements to the Commodore Club and a reimagined Pavilion Pool area, while the Grills experience will also receive further attention. It is exciting to see more of the plans taking shape ahead of the refurbishment, which is due to take place in March 2027. You can read more about the plans on our website.

Finally, the latest edition of Into The Blue should also be landing with many of you around now, and luxury is a major theme in this edition, too. 

This edition looks at the many different ways luxury can be found at sea, from exceptional dining and thoughtful service to beautiful surroundings, remarkable destinations and simply having the freedom to spend your time exactly as you choose. There is also plenty of destination inspiration, cruise news and first-hand insight from our team, alongside a selection of holidays from our cruise line partners.

I know from speaking to customers just how many of you look forward to receiving Into The Blue through the post, and I hope you enjoy sitting down with the latest edition. If you don’t currently receive Into The Blue, you can sign up for your free copy here and have future editions delivered directly to your door.

To all of you setting sail in the coming weeks, I wish you a wonderful holiday and bon voyage.