travel

Why go now

Leith is Edinburgh’s port district, where people, goods and new ideas have flowed into the city for centuries. Here, the Water of Leith river meets the sea, and on bright days, when pubs and restaurants spill out to the Shore area, there’s nowhere quite like it. I moved here 13 years ago, and it has been a joy to watch the area evolve and reinvent itself. Today it’s the city’s creative heart, full of artists, musicians, designers and startups, with a thriving food and drink scene. The arrival of the tramline from Edinburgh city centre in 2023 has given it a big boost too.

Although the Leith immortalised in Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting is long gone, to call it fully gentrified would be failing to pay attention. Two recent campaigns, both successful, have galvanised locals: one to stop Waterstones opening near the independent Argonaut Books; and the other to return the benches used by day-drinkers on the Kirkgate, which had been removed by the council. There’s space for both in Leith.

What keeps me here is the strong, village-like community spirit, paired with the ever-changing energy of a city. One day I can get stuck into digging on the Community Croft; the next I’m immersed in art galleries, gigs and fine dining. For visitors, Leith offers a slice of real Edinburgh, with no bus tours, shops selling tartan tat, or out-of-tune bagpipes.

Where to eat and drink

Leith’s food and drink ranges from Michelin-starred restaurants to community cafes, old-men’s pubs to smart cocktail bars. Over the past few years there has been a flurry of openings that mirror the creativity of the area. “Leith has the perfect mix of old and new: places that have been here for decades, and new energy coming through,” says chef Barry Bryson. “It’s multicultural, rich and varied, and serves a community of diners, not just one demographic.” Bryson opened his first restaurant, Barry Fish, on the Shore in early 2025. Immediately it became one of my favourite places to eat. I recommend cosying into the calm green interiors and ordering the trout pastrami and lobster agnolotti.

Chef Roberta Hall-McCarron and her husband, Shaun McCarron, opened the cafe-bar Ardfern in 2024, next door to their fine-dining restaurant The Little Chartroom. I’ve eaten there at every hour, enjoying lazy brunches, birthday lunches, early evening oysters and long dinners with friends. The hash browns are non-negotiable, most recently topped with sprout kimchi, fish sauce aioli and nori. “It’s inspiring to be part of a supportive, creative community,” says Shaun.

That emphasis on community is echoed at Dogstar, newly opened by chef James Murray along with Michael Lynch and Kyle Jamieson of Nauticus bar. After years cooking at the highest level and earning a Michelin star at Timberyard, Murray found an increasing sense of disconnect with the world of fine dining. “The next stage for me was wanting to live and work in my community, so choosing Leith was intentional,” he says. “There’s a pride to people down here. If it’s a Leith spot cooking for Leith people, they get behind you.” Sitting at the bar watching dishes spin in the kitchen, eating shellfish straight from the coals, and dunking warm focaccia into anchovy sauce, I’m certainly behind this restaurant.

Cultural experiences

To discover Leith’s artistic community, visit Custom Lane, a collaborative design space in the old Custom House building on the river, with artists’ workshops, galleries and an excellent cafe. Onsite, Bard is a gallery and shop designed to look like the home of a collector. Husbands Hugo Macdonald and James Stevens travel across Scotland bringing contemporary Scottish design to Leith, inviting the curious to explore the integration of high-end design in a domestic environment. Regardless of your interiors budget, it’s not to be missed.

Across the river is Brown’s of Leith, the newest outpost of Custom Lane. This vast three-storey Victorian warehouse has been transformed into a multi-use creative space by GRAS architects. On the ground floor, three food businesses – ShrimpWreck shellfish bar, Haze for wine and top-tier snacks, and Civerinos pizza – share a relaxed dining area, with more residents, events and collaborations imminent. “At Brown’s we identified a need for spaces that genuinely support and celebrate creativity,” says architect Gunnar Groves-Raines of GRAS. The restaurateurs are equally enthusiastic. “Leith has a strong sense of identity: independent, creative and rooted in its history,” says Joseph Radford of Haze. “Our intention is to respond to that rather than overwrite it.” I visit early in the evening when the lights are low, the music perfectly pitched and the atmosphere a relaxed buzz. Soon our table is full of oysters, bowls of mussels and tinned fish on toast. It’s a lot of fun.

Further collaborative art spaces across Leith are also worth exploring. Between Drill Hall, The Biscuit Factory and Coburg House Art Studios, there’s always something interesting going on. And there’s more to come – after years of tireless volunteer fundraising and campaigning, Leith theatre has been awarded lottery funding to restore the beautiful 1932 art deco building to its former glory. Pop-ups in the space, including a past Edinburgh international festival residency, have offered a thrilling glimpse of the future.

Where to shop

Leith is home to some great independent shops. Argonaut Books, inside the old train station, is run by people passionate about reading, and has a lovely cafe and regular events. Arty gift shops include Logan Malloch, Flux and Handsel on Leith Walk – all sell work by local artists. For interesting wine, head to the tiny independent Bludge.

Don’t miss

The Royal Yacht Britannia attracts hundreds daily, keen for a glimpse of how the monarchs holidayed. But I prefer the Port of Leith Distillery, an impressive-looking “vertical distillery” where whisky production takes place from top-to-bottom over nine storeys. Tours of the stills are fascinating and the views over the Firth of Forth to Fife from the cafe and bar are unmatched. Take a stroll along the Water of Leith path, perhaps followed by a visit to a taproom for a fresh pint. Leith has a flourishing craft brewery scene, and Moonwake, Campervan and Newbarns all have welcoming taprooms.

Stay

Malmaison Edinburgh has smart riverside rooms (from £77 room-only), or push the boat out (pun intended) and spend the night on board Fingal (cabins from £269 B&B), a former lighthouse tender turned luxury hotel, permanently moored in Leith.

Only a few parts of this long-forgotten railway line remain standing, but it once carried up to 2,000 people a year on their final journeys along with their mourning loved ones clad in black

The Victorians have a reputation for dealing with death in strange ways, from photographing the dead to their obsession with Memento Mori objects, reminding them of the inevitability of death. But one almost forgotten part of Victorian history is particularly creepy and involves a long-abandoned railway line.

Early into Queen Victoria’s reign, the city faced a horrific problem. It had doubled in size thanks to the Industrial Revolution, bringing the population up to 2.5 million, many of whom lived in crowded, unsanitary conditions, causing outbreaks of conditions such as Cholera. London was the largest city in the world, but it also had insufficient sewage facilities and poor water quality, leading to disease and death. A Londoner born in the 1840s had an average life expectancy of just 36.7 years.

London’s churches soon found their graveyards were full to capacity, leading to the horrific practice of exhuming the recently deceased to make way for newer burials. As a solution, a huge new cemetery was planned in Brookwood, Surrey, but the plodding horse and carriages of the time would have taken hours to transport a body to this location. Therefore, the idea for the London Necropolis railway was formed.

The London Necropolis railway station was built next to Waterloo, and had a beautiful, ornate exterior typical of Victorian architecture. Here, the bodies of people of all ages and social classes were readied for their final 23-mile journey to the new Brookwood Cemetery in leafy Surrey, a world away from the grubby streets of London.

Coffins were issued a one-way ticket, while the mourners accompanying them would get a return ticket to take them back into the city after the service. Once the trains arrived in Brookwood, they made two stops in the Anglican and Nonconformist parts of the cemetery, depending on the religion of the deceased.

While all sorts of people were laid to rest in Brookwood, the rich, of course, enjoyed a better class of funeral than the Victorian poor. A first-class funeral came with a choice of burial plots and the ability to erect a permanent memorial. Those who chose a second-class funeral could put up a gravestone or other memorial for an additional cost, but if they failed to do so, the grave could end up being reused.

In third class were people who had a pauper’s funeral, paid for by their local parish. While these people weren’t given their own gravestone, they did get separate graves, which were much more dignified than the horrific burial practices going on at London’s graveyards at the time. The London Necropolis Company (LNC) carried out the burials, and about 80% of the funerals it held were third class, for those whose families couldn’t afford a service.

First and second class passengers had a separate waiting area, and their loved ones’ names were announced as their coffins were carried onto the train, a ceremonial touch not afforded to those headed to unmarked graves.

As London grew, and with the building of the London Underground, proper sewage systems, and overground railways, many churchyards stood in the way. The Necropolis Railway took on a huge new project, relocating the bodies from 21 churchyards across the city to the Surrey cemetery

Trains ran daily, and Sundays were a particularly busy day for funerals. It was the only day of the week when many workers had off, and by scheduling their loved ones’ funerals, they could avoid taking an extra day off.

The London Necropolis Railway ran until 1941, when a World War Two bomb destroyed the London station and track. By that point, funeral directors were increasingly using motorised hearses, and in the post-WW2 reconstruction of the city, the destroyed funeral train service wasn’t seen as a priority.

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Visit Westminster Bridge House and you can still see some of the façade of the old station building, although the old sign is boarded up. However, in Brookwood Cemetery, the remains of this unusual chapter of history are still on display. You can still see parts of the track, and plaques commemorate the 200,000 people who reached their final resting place on this unique train line.

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Gwithian Beach forms part of three miles of beach called the Towans, which is Cornish for dunes, and is perfect for all the family and even the dog

A gorgeous spacious beach often overlooked by tourists has received a huge boost after a UK travel content creator visited it and described it as ‘the most underrated beach in the UK’.

Gwithian Beach – also known as Gwithian Towans – is near Hayle, just north of St Ives in Cornwall, and is a beautiful, quiet area that forms part of three miles of beach called the Towans, which is Cornish for ‘dunes’.

Filled with rock pools, dramatic cliffs and miles of sand stretching out to Hayle, this is a great spot for families interested in exploring marine life and untamed wilderness. The beach also has two cafes, toilets and a large car park and is great for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, kite-buggying and rock pooling at low tide.

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Travel content creator Hannah – who posts on social media under the handle, hannahsukwanders – described it as ‘one of her favourite beaches in Cornwall’.

In her review of it, she said: “It’s a beautiful golden sandy beach with stunning cliffs to back it. The beach was dotted with natural sea pools and it’s also a great surfing spot thanks to its Atlantic swells.”

It also has a lifeguard on duty during the summer season and is dog-friendly all year round, except from 10am – 6pm in July and August.

Hannah added: “There are miles of incredible sand dunes ad at low tide you can access other beaches too. If you’re lucky to might spot grey seals and the beach is a great habitat for seabirds too.

“Watching Godrevy Lighthouse turn into a silhouette with the sunset behind is definitely a view to behold.”

Hundreds of Instagram users flooded Hannah’s comments section after her post telling her to keep quiet about her find because it’s such a special place.

One commenter said: “Sshhh don’t tell anyone about this beach, it’s the best sandy beach in the world IMHO.”

Another wrote: “So lucky to say this is just down the road from me. Special memories made since I was little, growing up here and now with my own children. It’s a special place for sure.”

As a first-time visitor to Las Vegas, there were expectations to the vibrant desert city with its towering mega resorts, yet there was something that completely took me by surprise

Las Vegas is a city like no other, with its iconic Strip boasting mega resorts, buzzing casinos, and incredible entertainment venues, offering 24/7 nightlife every day of the week. It never darkens, with its glimmering signs lighting up the roads, yet there was one element of ‘Sin City’ that surprised me, and it was far from what I was expecting.

I was lucky enough to visit Las Vegas for the first time this month – the ideal time to beat the January blues! I was staying for four nights and around five days, excited to experience and immerse myself in the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’.

My first sight of the shimmering city came when I landed on Wednesday evening, capturing a glimpse of the towering buildings lining the Las Vegas Strip and the neighbourhoods scattered beyond in the desert. At first, I was bewildered by the close proximity of the Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) – we were landing adjacent to the Las Vegas Strip, and on my right, I had a spectacular view of The Sphere!

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In other locations, airports are typically situated farther from the main city, so the location of the LAS airport caught me a little off guard. I found myself in the heart of it all from the moment we touched down. But that was just the start.

As I travelled to my hotel and later walked along the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, I was surprised by how much smaller it felt than I had expected. Having never travelled to the Nevada city before, I thought it would feel like a gigantic city, where you get lost finding the nearest supermarket or need public transport to explore different areas.

Yet, what I found was that the span of the Strip, despite its enormous towering resorts and gigantic landmarks, was more compact than I had imagined. There was so much to see and explore, but with its Strip measuring approximately 4.2 miles, you could easily walk its length, something I really didn’t think about until I saw it for myself.

Although it would take around two hours to walk the extent of it, it felt like nothing compared to the streets of New York or London. The population of Las Vegas was 641,903 at the 2020 census, but is thought to have increased since then.

Meanwhile, the Las Vegas metropolitan area has an estimated 2.4 million residents across an estimated 7,891 square miles. This is in contrast to New York, which has an estimated population of 8,478,072, as of July 2024, spanning across a whopping 300.46 square miles.

While I think the Strip was more compact than I had expected, the city stretches far beyond the glitz with neighbourhoods scattered across the desert right to the edge of the mountain backdrop. Plus, there is undoubtedly a lengthy list of attractions to explore in Las Vegas and plenty to do, whether you’re looking to soak in history at the Mob Museum, ride the High Roller at The LINQ, take a Maverick Helicopter ride by night or listen to free music in its popular Fremont Street.

Elsewhere during my trip, I was impressed that I could walk freely through hotels and resorts, despite not being a resident there. Inside, I discovered vibrant, bustling casinos, restaurants, bars, and attractions that felt like I was on board a cruise ship.

Plus, many of the resorts are linked together, so you rarely need to leave as you wander through them, admiring their distinct features, atmospheres, and themes. This made it even easier to travel through the Strip, something that also took me by surprise.

For more information, you can check out the Visit Las Vegas website or book direct flights with Virgin Atlantic.

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The islands are becoming the go-to winter sun destination for UK travellers, with easyJet launching direct flights from London Gatwick and some regional airports

Many of us are well and truly fed up with the January weather, and with warmer days in the UK still a long way off, it may be time to spoil yourself with a winter sun holiday.

Luckily, you don’t have to go long haul to get some warm weather this time of year. Options such as the Canary Islands are popular, but if you want somewhere a bit more off-the-beaten track, then another set of islands are becoming increasingly popular.

Cape Verde has warm weather year-round, and in the next couple of weeks, daytime highs will reach 24C, making it warmer than Tenerife at 20C. With flights clocking in at around six hours, you don’t need to spend an entire day on a plane to enjoy its long days of sunshine.

The islands that make up Cape Verde include Sal and Boa Vista, with the largest airport where most Brits arrive on Sal. Budget airline easyJet launched flights to the archipelago back in March 2025, with the route marking the airline’s first foray into Sub-Saharan Africa. It also became easyJet’s longest route at the time. The airline went on to launch a route from Manchester, and from May 1, passengers will also be able to fly from Bristol.

TUI also flies to the island from the same airports and also offers routes from Birmingham, Glasgow, and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. A seasonal service from the East Midlands is also available to book on dates from April 29.

The islands, positioned off Africa’s west coast, attracted roughly 1.2 million tourists in 2024. However, this figure pales in comparison to the Canaries’ visitor numbers. Tenerife alone drew approximately seven million holidaymakers during the same period, giving Cape Verde a decidedly less crowded atmosphere.

The islands’ biggest selling point is undoubtedly the delightful climate. While February is still winter in Cape Verde, temperatures routinely reach 27 °C during the day, with six to eight hours of sunshine and minimal rainfall. In contrast, Tenerife hovers between 17C and 22C during this period, enjoying roughly six hours of sun, but conditions can be overcast with brief showers.

Flying with easyJet will land you in Sal, an island characterised by its volcanic desert terrain. The majority of holidaymakers stay in Santa Maria on the southern coast, famed for its expansive golden beaches lapped by crystal-clear waters. The resort town has a laid-back atmosphere, with streets adorned by swaying palm trees.

After dusk, the area comes alive with vibrant nightlife featuring live performances and beachfront bars. Travellers can enjoy windsurfing, take boat trips to look for sharks, or explore the disused Pedra Lume salt mine nestled within a dormant volcano. Guests can explore the historical mining site before indulging in a rejuvenating mud treatment and float in the salty pools, which are reputed to leave skin feeling wonderfully soft.

Of course, there’s no obligation to remain on Sal throughout your holiday. A three-hour ferry journey connects you to Boa Vista, home to a selection of resorts. This quieter island boasts stunning, pristine beaches where lucky visitors might see turtles emerging from the ocean.

Take a quad bike expedition across the arid wilderness, or set sail aboard a catamaran to discover the finest coastal spots. On the island’s northern tip, you’ll also find the wrecked MS Cabo Santa Maria, which has remained grounded in these waters since 1968, providing a fascinating backdrop for photographs.

EasyJet Holidays‘ Chief Commercial Officer, Paul Bixby, previously said in a statement: “Cape Verde is a fantastic destination, providing year-round sunshine and white sandy beaches. That’s why we’re thrilled to be offering our brilliant package holidays, whether it’s a family looking for a resort to enjoy with kids, or a couple looking for adults-only luxury, we have a great range of fantastic resorts across the island of Sal.”

Accommodation options vary from budget-friendly basics to luxurious all-inclusive properties. The Meliá Llana Beach Resort and Spa, an adults-only venue with all-inclusive packages, boasts outstanding reviews. One satisfied guest said: “The resort itself is beautiful, a true oasis of tranquillity and style.” The property also features swim-up rooms for a luxury stay.

For families, the Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort sits in an enviable spot on the vibrant Ponta Sino, a popular destination for kitesurfers. A guest praised their experience: “A lovely stay at Hilton Sal Cabo Verde and would certainly return again. Great location and friendly staff. Extremely clean and good choice of food. Rooms are a great size with comfy beds.”

EasyJet operates flights from London Gatwick to Sal three times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with February fares starting from £148.99 one-way. Current holiday packages feature a seven-night all-inclusive getaway at Sol Dunas Family Fun, departing February 3 from Manchester, priced from £737 per person, based on two adults sharing a double room and using code BIGSALE.

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I’VE been waiting ten years for this moment.

Ever since my first gondola ride — a short jaunt around The Venetian hotel in Las Vegas — I’ve wanted to experience the real thing, in Venice.

Now I am with a group of fellow journalists, so it’s not as romantic as it could be, but two Italians in stripy shirts and wide-brimmed hats are rowing me across the Floating City. Bucket list: tick.

Venice is a place you need to see at least once in your life.

From the breathtaking Piazza San Marco to the mesmerising mosaics of St Mark’s Basilica, astounding architecture of the Doge’s Palace and view from the 323ft high Campanile di San Marco bell tower, your phone’s battery will pay the price as you snap the spectacular sights.

From this Saturday to February 17 the historic Venice Carnival will burst on to the streets — this year’s theme is Olympus, The Origins Of The Game, in honour of the Winter Olympics being hosted in Milan and Cortina.

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Expect masks and dressing up everywhere as locals and visitors embrace the festival, plus parades, performances and themed shows.

Festival aside, winter and spring are brilliant times to explore the city without the crowds.

A tour of the bacari, or wine bars, is a great way to delve into the alleys between the canals and waterways. Over three hours we stop at four wine bars for cicchetti — Italian tapas — washed down with local wines or spritz cocktails.

The latter feature Aperol, Campari or, in Venetian style, Select — a spirit made using juniper berries.

A Bellini in Harry’s bar, though almost £20, is a must — this was Ernest Hemingway’s favourite bar, where the cocktail was invented.

Hawaiian rituals

Then a 25-minute water-taxi ride across the lagoon and a 20-minute cab journey take us to our 5H resort, Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa on the Lido di Jesolo — a purpose-built seaside resort on Italy’s Adriatic coast, with nine-mile sandy beach and vibrant promenade.

I’m staying in one of 50 huge suites, which have one, two and three-bedroom options, with separate bathrooms, living and kitchen areas, TVs and sea-view balconies.

The smell from the ground-floor restaurant is oh, so Italian — pizza, pasta and risotto. With buffet breakfasts and Michelin-starred dinners at the poolside restaurant, luckily I can run along the promenade to work it off.

Or there’s a gym at the hotel, and yoga and fitness classes. But I’m on holiday to relax, so it’s off to the Acqua Pura spa, which has a panoramic sauna with privacy glass, meaning I can take in the sea view.

An hour-long massage inspired by Hawaiian rituals, which starts with meditation, is, and I don’t say this lightly, the best I’ve ever had.

There is a babysitting service, plus a play room, kids’ pool area and playground on the beach.

Bicycles are available at the hotel, and cycle lanes throughout the town lead us to Europe’s longest shopping street, the Via Bafile — all eight miles of it.

This is a wonderfully relaxing beachside break in a traditional Italian town — as well as a bucket-list trip to the city of romance.

What’s not to love?

HOLIDAYMAKERS are going mad over this beautiful hotel in Ios that they’ve said is the world’s best hotel.

The incredible resort is found on an island in the Cyclades and boasts private infinity pools, cinema rooms, and over the water swing beds.

The five-star resort called Calilo, has been carved into the steep cliffs – it has 36 suites, but none are the same.

The hotel took 20 years to build and each suite was individually designed.

They’re also staggered in amongst the cliff for privacy.

Inside, the rooms have huge beds and are decorated with marble or mosaic.

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No thought has been spared in the bathrooms, which have double sinks, huge showers and deep baths.

Some of the suites even have multiple outdoor pools with bright blue waters underneath wooden walkways and swings – very much like what the Maldives is known for.

Others have secret cinema rooms, heart-shaped pools and romantic outdoor swing beds.

Each has different views; some look out to sea and the hillside or the gardens.

Rooms vary from one to up to three bedrooms.

The resort looks out onto Paralia Papa, which is a very secluded bay – so apart from hotel guests, there is little to no footfall.

On the sand are large complimentary cabanas and shaded beach beds.

Calilo has its own restaurants and one fine dining spot called CHES.

The main restaurant overlooks the vast main pool area and is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

There’s also a spa hotel with a gym that has over 40 machines for cardio and strength use.

It has one indoor and two outdoor pools, as well as a dedicated relaxation space – as if you couldn’t be more relaxed here.

Some treatment rooms have mini waterfalls and beds that are suspended above the water for a calming experience.

There’s even a helipad for those arriving by air.

Unsurprisingly the resort is a hit with visitors, one traveller who stayed at Calilo said: “This place is stunning.

“From the moment you walk in, you’re surrounded by crystal-clear water, golden sand, and these incredible cliffs — it’s like a dream, the hotel is simply out of this world.”

Another wrote in their review: “I cannot even begin to explain how incredible my visit to Calilo was. I was absolutely blown away and I truly believe it was a once in a lifetime experience (unless I return, which I really hope to)!

“The most luxurious bathroom I think I’ve ever seen and the rest of the hotel was also gorgeous.”

Another holidaymaker who made a social media post about their stay captioned it “the most beautiful hotel on earth“.

It’s even had some celebrity guests including singer Jason Derulo, who showed off his stay at the hotel in June 2025 – a post that got 188k likes on TikTok.

The hotel is pretty pricey as you can imagine with the cost in June when the weather is pleasant starting from £340 per night (based on a seven night stay) on Trivago.

That price is for a suite double or twin bed garden view room with its own pool on a room basis only.

To get to Ios, guests can reach the island by high-speed ferry from neighbouring islands Santorini or Mykonos.

From Athens it’s three hours and from Crete it’s two and a half hours – plus another 40 minute transfer.

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A flight attendant has shared the tell-tale signs that a passenger is a nightmare aboard the aircraft

The role of a flight attendant appears simple and glamorous – jetting off to exotic locations, while their main duty involves upholding health and safety standards and providing top-notch service. However, cabin crew frequently deal with entitled and discourteous passengers.

In an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, an anonymous British flight attendant revealed how certain passengers’ disruptive behaviour would disrupt operations and cause problems for staff. This specific type of traveller would be identified using a simple code word.

The cabin crew member explained: “There are a lot of things and icks from passengers that we can overlook, but if we say the word ‘precious’ it generally means that they’re acting like a ****.”

The “precious” passenger will be identified among the entire crew, which may affect the level of service that the individual receives.

However, the anonymous employee stressed that alternative codes might exist across different airlines that she’s never used with her colleagues.

For instance, speaking to The Sun, one flight attendant disclosed: “If you’re labelled a ‘Philip’ then you’ve done something wrong and should probably expect to get bad service for the rest of the flight.

“That name originated from the term PILP – Passenger I’d Like to Punch – but has changed over time to become slightly more subtle.”

Another discreet signal concerns crew members noticing an attractive passenger. The flight attendant, who boasts two years’ experience, disclosed: “This is an old one I’ve heard, but if we find you attractive, we would say ‘cheerio’ when you’re leaving instead of goodbye.

“Obviously, we have to be discreet and can not outwardly be like ‘hey, you’re hot’, but that’s a fun way to secretly flirt.”

The cabin crew member explains that countless codes exist chiefly for operational efficiency. While there are different ways to identify passengers for various reasons, staff will never refer to you by your real name.

She clarified: “If we are referring to passengers, we do not use your name; we use your seat number. So if someone wanted something, we wouldn’t say ‘Mary, sat in row 50, wants a coffee’. We would say, ’50 Delta, 50 Kilo or 50 Charlie’. We use seat numbers and the phonetic alphabet; it’s just easier.”

This shouldn’t spark any concern or intrigue, as cabin crew are simply working out how best to assist you without causing any commotion or gossip. However, do pay attention if you’re being branded a “precious Philip” – you might want to apologise for your behaviour.

The Scenic Eclipse II had to call on the help of Us Coast Guard, Polar Star, to help after it became trapped in pack ice in the Ross Sea

A cruise ship was rescued by a 50-year-old US Coast Guard vessel after it reportedly became trapped in pack ice in Antarctica – as those onboard sipped Champagne and watched the action.

The Scenic Eclipse II sent a distress call out at around 11pm local time on Friday, January 16, after it became stranded in the Ross Sea near McMurdo Sound, approximately 810 miles from the South Pole, it has been reported.

The cruiser liner – which was launched in 2023 and carries 200 guests and around the same number of crew in 114 suites – was freed by the coast guard and escorted for four hours to open water, Cruise Industry News reported.

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OPINION

Milo Boyd

Its passengers were given Champagne and guided onto the observation deck so they could get a first-hand view as the ice was cleared.

The ship and its passengers are currently on a 23-day one-way trip from Hobart, Tasmania, in Australia to Dunedin in New Zealand, calling in at the Balleny Islands and Ross Island in Antarctica on the way.

As a Polar Class 6 vessel, Scenic Eclipse II is well able to handle Antarctic ice, but due to pack changes during the day, the captain requested help to avoid a longer sailing pace at a reduced speed.

The natural movement of the ice changed the following day and the ship was able to carry on as normal. According to a Jan. 23 press release detailing the incident, the U.S. Coast Guard helped “free and escort” the cruise ship that was “trapped in pack ice.”

Thanking the USCG Polar Star for their help, Captain James Griffiths, Scenic Group’s General Manager Ocean Operations said: “ We were grateful for the professionalism and co-operation of the crew of USCG Polar Star during our operations in the Ross Sea. While Scenic Eclipse II was never in need of rescue services, the co-ordination between both vessels ensured we could navigate the changing pack ice safely and efficiently.

“This is a great example of the practical, respectful co-operation that exists in the polar regions, where safety, seamanship and shared responsibility always come first.”

The Polar Star is the USA’s only active heavy icebreaker and has been in service for five decades.

Commander. Samuel Blase, Polar Star’s executive officer said: “At 50 years old, Polar Star remains the world’s most capable non-nuclear icebreaker. That’s a testament to the crews that have maintained it over the decades. With years of service left to give, Polar Star will continue to guide the way in the high latitudes well into the future.”

Despite passengers paying large sums of money to travel to the world’s least visited continent, Antarctica cruise lines rarely give detailed itineraries as the harsh weather conditions and propensity of the sea to suddenly freeze means they are difficult to stick to.

Scenic has been contacted for comment.