The Cruise Show 2015 Manchester Review
The Cruise Show
Manchester
26-27 September 2015
Reviewed by Gail Dickson
Having never been on cruise we decided to attend the Manchester Cruise show on the 27th September 2015 to find out what cruising was all about.
Parking up in Manchester was really easy and we paid £1.90 for the day, the venue Manchester Central as suggested is right in the middle of the city centre, a huge building easy to find. The staff at Manchester Central were very welcoming and more than happy to point us in the right direction of the Cruise show.
The stands were all easily mapped out once we entered the main hall, although we were surprised that some of the bigger names were not present at this event; that said we had a lot to keep us interested as we leisurely strolled around soaking up the atmosphere of the event.
Each cruise company had its own stand and had brochures displayed which could be taken away and all had helpful staff who competently answered questions on their cruises. We spoke to some lovely representatives who offered us some good advice on cruising and special offers with their respective companies. A bonus of attending this event is that you get some good upgrades and offers on the day. In addition lots of chances to enter free competitions with a chance to win a cruise with most of the cruise liners.
The cruises on offer included ocean cruises, river cruises and luxury cruises and the television sets at each stand played videos of what you could expect on that cruise. This gave an insight into the dining experience, your cabin, destinations and a real overview of what to expect on your cruise. The cruise companies offered free upgrades to All-inclusive packages and most included other offers such as free flights as part of your holiday experience.
Presentations were held throughout the time we were there and the cruise companies had some useful information on what their cruise liners had to offer with staff at hand to answer individual questions about what to expect and giving accounts of their own experiences, tips when visiting certain areas/counties such as visa requirements etc. and this was really helpful.
The cruise show tickets are £6 in advance or £10 on the door, this may seem a little high and we did hear a few people comment on the price. If however if you are going to book a cruise either on the day or after the event, then this is a small price to pay for such good offers and the invaluable hints and tips you will take away.
During the event we had collected a few brochures along with our discount vouchers, so we were a little laden down so the free cloth bag we were given was a welcome gift to save our arms and will come in handy when out shopping especially with the free carrier bags coming to an end!! We had chance to grab a coffee at the venue and browse through our brochures. There are a lot of choices so we will be sitting down taking on board the information we have picked up on the day and we will be planning our first cruise ever!!Recommended not only for first time cruisers like us but for those who enjoy cruising and are looking for some amazing discounts.
Rating: 5/5 
The Cruise Shop stops next at the SECC in Glasgow from 10-11 October 2015. For more information or to book tickets visit www.cruisingshow.co.uk.
