Cruise The Northern Lights Thanksgiving Special, 2 for 1 From Only $680.00pp

Step aboard into adventure through the Norwegian fjords.

From dog sledding on frozen fjords to the elusive Northern Lights, this a rare opportunity to live the legend now at unprecedented value with this spectacular once in a lifetime offer.

Usd price per person double occupancy based on cat I for selected 6 day cruises departing Nov09. Bookings to be made by 30nov09, capacity controlled and subject to change without notice. Offer cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion and restrictions apply,port charges & taxes extra, cruise only.

Caribbean Cruising From Less Than $38.00 Per Day!

Caribbean Cruising From Less Than $38.00* u.s.d.Per Day!

Who says you can’t afford to treat yourself to a cruise.

Room, Meals & enterainment from less than $38.00* u.s.d. per day.

Sail from Fort Lauderdale to the Eastern Caribbean, 7 nights of island hopping.

Very limited availability. 

 * Based on double occupancy in lowest cabin category, fares do not include fuel supplement, if any, Govt taxes.

The World’s largest cruise ship has arrived!

The World’s largest cruise ship has arrived:

Oasis of the Seas Delivery

This is an exciting time for us travel agent’s,  The World’s largest cruise ship has arrived!

Just look at these stats:16-deck, 5,400-capacity, complete with a park-at-sea, zipline, handcrafted carousel and multilevel urban-style loft suites. It also offers seven themed areas and an aquatic amphitheatre that is a pool by day and a theatre by night. This ship is the largest cruise ship on the seas, weighing in at 220,000 tons and offering  2,704 – staterooms.

Heading for Florida

The ship  sailed from Turku in Finland on 30th October 2009 for its home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where it will make its debut on November 11.

Why don’t you Follow along with her?

The ship’s progress will be fed onto daily webisodes broadcast on oasisoftheseas.com and via Twitter.

Visitors to the website can view Google Maps applications and follow the ship’s passage, and fans can also follow two blogs about the ship from chairman Richard Fain and President and CEO Adam Goldstein.

Royal Caribbean has innovated hugely within the sector in the last five years, introducing the formerly sedate world of cruise to the onboard FlowRider surf simulator, rock climbing walls, ice-skating rinks and cantilevered whirlpools.

 Big names

And kicking off the entertainment lineup -  Rihanna will perform next month. The November 19 concert will take place during a three-night preview voyage scheduled before the official debut in early December.

The concert is the first to promote Rihanna’s new album, Rated R, the line says. The new album, due out on November  23, is Rihanna’s first since 2007’s Good Girl Gone Bad, which went multiplatinum. 

Staterooms to be had

Royal Caribbean said that sales for the Oasis of the Seas are where they want them to be – but they’re not at capacity, bookings were still available for the Oasis’ inaugural sailing on December 5th 2009, the 7 night  itinerary if you like it is below:

Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Nassau, Bahamas; Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Prices from only: $1,299.00 per person (USD, based on double occupancy, inside stateroom, plus taxes and fees, subject to availability )

For more information visit: http://www.rainbowtravelonline.com/cruisesearch

Cruising – FAQ’s

Rainbow Travel Inc - Your Source for Cruising

Here are responses to common questions about cruising that we often encounter at our travel agency:

Q. Can cruise lines accommodate my special dietary requirements?

A. Cruise lines can accommodate most special dietary requirement, like low sodium, Kosher, low carbohydrates, etc. Make your request in advance with your Travel Consultant at the time of booking.

Q. Will I get seasick?

A. This has becomes an infrequent occurence with the new technological advances in cruise ships today. Their sheer size, the use of stabilizers, and the advanced weather tracking systems enable ships to avoid choppier waters.  If you have any concerns about motion sickness, please consult your doctor prior to sailing.

Q. I booked a Cabin Guarantee, not a specific cabin. When do I find out my cabin assignment ?
 
A. A “Cabin Guarantee” entitles you to a cabin in the category that you booked.  You will find out your cabin assignment when you check-in for your cruise.  If the cabin category category happens to be full at this time, you will receive a complimentary upgrade to a higher cabin category.

Q. How much luggage can I bring onboard the ship?

A. There is no limit on how much luggage you can bring on your cruise. However, if you are flying to your embarkation city, airlines do have limits and may charge fees for check-in luggage.  Ask your Travel Consultant at the time of booking your cruise. 

Q. Should I purchase the Air/Sea package through the cruise line?
 
A. Once you’ve booked your cruise through your own Travel Consultant, you will be referred to a Cruise Line representative who will take care of the air/sea arrangements . The main benefit of booking the cruise lines’ air/sea package is worry free convenience.  The Cruise Lines is responsible for arranging your flights and the  ground transportation from the airport to the ship and back from the ship to the airport on your return.  

Q. If I book my own airfare with my Travel Consultant, what time should my flights arrive and depart?

A. We recommend arriving at least 1 day before the cruise to minimize any concerns about delayed or cancelled flights.  This becomes especially important during the winter months when bad weather often affects flights.

Return flights can be booked for the late afternoon or evening on the day your cruise returns. We strongly recommend investigating the transportation options between the cruise terminal and the airport before booking your airfare.

Q. Should I splurge on a stateroom with a balcony?

A. It depends. Balconies are great, you have your own private floor to ceiling view of the water and your journey to your next destination.  Plus, it’s nice to be able to getaway from the crowds and enjoy the relaxing ocean breeze in the cabin with a beverage in your hand.  

However, if you like meeting new people, getting involved in the many shipboard activities , taking advantge of the amenities onboard (spa,  swimming pool, basketball, bowling, etc), signing up for the excursions at each port, then a balcony may not be a priority for you.

Talk to your Travel Consultant and let them know what you’re looking for, your budget, and your availability to travel. There may be a sale / promotion available to get a stateroom with a balcony at a discount price.

Cruising – Traditional Versus Freestyle

Norwegian Star

A common question I received from a few articles I wrote about cruising was “what is Freestyle Cruising®?” and “how is Freestyle Cruising® different from Traditional Cruising?”.

Traditional Cruises feature pre-assigned times for meals with the same tables mates in the same restaurant. There are scheduled formal dining nights where everyone will be expected to dress appropriately. Generally, there are a couple of main shows each evening with bar / lounge shows afterwards.

Freestyle Cruising® was pioneered by Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL).  This was in response to feedback from passengers that they didn’t want to have their meals at the same time each day with the same group of people.  Freestyle offers the freedom to do what you want, when you want, and with whom you want.

On a Freestyle Cruise®, passengers have a choice of food and dining options for their meals, from the main dining room for a buffet, or specialty restaurants like French, Mexican, Asian, Steakhouse, etc.  (there may be a cover charge at specialty restaurants).  There are no set times, seating arrangements,  or dress code.  There is usually 1 formal dining night during a cruise on a specific evening and restaurant for those that are interested in participating.

In our opinion, if you prefer a less structured cruise, Freestyling is definitely worth looking into further.

Here are a few suggestions if you choose to freestyle type cruise:

*For adults looking for a quiet / romantic evening, the specialty restaurants are their best option since parents are less likely to bring their children to them.

*We strongly recommend a reservation for at least your first evening meal at a specialty restaurant to avoid the crowds. Most people tend to dine at the main dining room for the buffet on their first night.  This gives you the opportunity to plan your evening meals for the rest of the cruise taking into account onboard activities and excursions you may be interested in.

*If you prefer dining at prime times, we recommend making all your dining reservations at the beginning of the cruise since these are the first to go.

NCL has expanded the Freestyle concept to other areas to make it a truly flexible experience:

*NCL offers a variety of cabins types with interconnecting options to accommodate groups of any size.  For those with a bigger budget, they also offer a ship-with-a-ship concept where a collection of villas and Deluxe Owner’s Suites are located on a private deck with luxurious accomodations and special amenities.

*People can be as active as they want or just relax and sit on the deck reading a book. Passengers have a choice of activities ranging from Broadway style shows, comedy acts, bowling, gambling at a casino, watching a movie in the theatre, rock climbing, basketball, swimming lengths in the pool, and even playing the Nintendo Wii on a two-storey screen.

*Disembarkation is also Freestyle. Passengers have the option to sleep in abit, have a leisurely breakfast, relax in their cabin or on the deck before checking out. For those who want to get back on shore quickly, an Express Disembarkation is available.

The Freestyle concept has been imitated by several other cruise lines to varying degrees providing their passengers greater flexibility.  If you are planning a vacation, contact your travel consultant to find out the latest cruise promotions.

How To Save Money During Your Cruise

Now that you’ve booked yourself a cruise, I’d like to share some ideas to help you save money during your cruise. Remember, you are on vacation so you should enjoy yourself, it’s just a matter of finding a good balance between  a little indulgence and watching your pennies.

When you begin your cruise, each adult is given an electronic card to access their cabin but it also serves as their ID for reboarding the ship and as a “charge card” for onboard services (including the casino) and purchases.  At the end of your cruise, you will receive a statement summarizing all your transactions.  The electronic card is very convenient since you don’t have to worry about carrying your wallet/purse with you.

Check Your Cabin Statement During The Cruise – As you can imagine, the convenience of the “charge card” can become too convenient since it’s not difficult to lose track of all your small transactions. We suggest checking the statement at least once if not twice before the end of the cruise. This can be done through the Pursers Desk or possibly using the interactive television in your cabin (depending on the cruise ship).

Beverages – Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are traditionally not included in your cruise fare. Some Cruise Lines offer a sticker or a card that allows you unlimited soda pop and sometimes other non-alcoholic drinks. If you’re a coffee drinker, find out if your cruise offers a “coffee card” which entitles you to a set number of coffee beverages for one price. Before investing in one of these beverage options, realistically think about how much you will actually drink during your cruise.

If you order a bottle of wine with your meal, check with your server to find out if they can cork and store your bottle for the next night if you can’t finish it. Cruise Lines don’t allow passengers to bring their own alcohol onboard.  All luggage is X-Rayed as part of their security procedures.  I heard from a client that they discreetly packed wine in a tetra carton in their luggage/carry-on to enjoy in the privacy of their cabin.

Telephone and Internet – Ship-to-Shore phone calls are possible but expensive. If you don’t need to make a call but want to call someone, consider waiting until you reach the next port of call and use a pre-paid calling card.

Internet cafes and wi-fi hot spots are common on most cruise ships but their accessibility does come at a cost per minute (or a bit less if purchase a package). We all love our tech gadgets like Blackberries, iPhones, etc but don’t forget…you are away on vacation to relax and escape from your day to day hustle and bustle. Similar with the previous suggestion for phone calls, there is likely to be an internet cafe at your next port-of-call.

Bring Your Own Camera – Cruise ships have onboard photographers who can be seen taking photos everywhere.  They offer to sell you photos they’ve taken or offer to take photos of you and your travel companions for a price. You can save money using your own camera to take pictures or offering your camera to a fellow passenger to take a picture of you and your friends. If the onboard photographer has captured a special moment, buy a photo or two but restrain yourself from too many.

Medical Expense – Purchase travel medical insurance before your cruise for peace of mind if your current medical insurance does not cover you. While medical emergencies are rare, they are very expensive, e.g. air transport from the cruise ship or being taken to the hospital in an emergency vehicle from the pier.  I’ve heard that there’s even a cost to see the onboard medical staff.

Booking Your Next Cruise During Your Cruise – All Cruise Lines have a staff onboard who can help you book your next cruise. Find out what incentives they are offering you for a deposit on your future booking. Also their base prices for cruises are typically lower than what you’d find back on shore, some offers allow you to book at a discount with your travel consultant.

Minimize Your Alternative Dining – Eat in the regular dining rooms; they offer a wide variety of options to suit everyone’s tastes. The alternative (aka premium) restaurants will cost you extra so consider these a treat rather than a regular dining option.

Airfare To Your Departure Point – You are you not required to book your airfare with the Cruise Line.  The benefit of booking with them is that if your plane is late or delayed, the Cruise Line will try their best to join you with the next Port-of-Call (check with your Cruise Line for specific details). If you find a better airfare deal with your travel consultant, we strongly recommend arriving at your port of embarkation AT LEAST one day in advance.

If you have any suggestions on how to save money during a cruise, please share them here.

How To Save Money On Your Cruise

Cruising is generally a great vacation value. Being in the travel industry for over 25 years, I’d like to share some ideas on how to save money on your next cruise.

Book Early – Cruise Lines usually finalize their itineraries at least 12 – 16 months before the sailing date. Take advantage of their early booking discounts plus you get your choice of locations and staterooms.

Book Last Minute – It seems contrary to the previous point above but if you are not particular about the stateroom or your location on the cruise ship, you can sometimes save money if they aren’t full a couple weeks before the sailing date.

Pay For It In Advance – Sometimes cruise lines offer an additional discount if it’s paid in full at least 6 months in advance of the sailing date.  Check with your travel consultant to see if it applies for your booking.

Ask Your Travel Consultant About Sales/Promotions – Cruise Lines run multiple sales/promotions at the same time targeting specific demographics and geographic markets. Ask your travel consultant what the current sales / promotions are for the type of cruise you’re interested in and for your situation.

Become a Repeat Cruiser – Cruise Lines offer loyalty programs to encourage their passengers to cruise again. These programs offer benefits like preferential pricing and / or special promotions, onboard member events, and/or upgrade certificates. The more you cruise with a particular cruise, the better the benefits.

Consider an Inside Stateroom – There’s so much to see and do on a cruise ship. It’s like it’s own miniature city with shopping, movies, dancing, casinos, and more. You’ll hardly spend much time in your cabin except to sleep and change your clothes.

Sail During the Shoulder Season - Prices are usually less if you sail at the beginning or towards the end of the season. For example, the Alaska cruise season begins in May and early June and ends in September.

Find Out About Gratuities And Plan For Them – Usually the gratuity is not included in the cost of your fare, check with your travel consultant to confirm. If they are not included in the cost of your cruise, your cabin is usually charged a pre-determined amount each day per person during your cruise. Planning for this amount in advance reduces any surprise of a large bill at the end of your cruise. If you encounter poor service, contact the Purser’s Desk and explain the situation. The amount of your gratuity can be adjusted.

Book a Guaranteed Cabin Category – Ask your travel consultant about booking a specific category of cabin instead of specific stateroom. This guarantees you a minimum cabin category, just not where it is located on the ship.  By choosing this option, there is a good chance the cruise line could upgrade you to a higher category. Since an upgrade isn’t a certainty, we don’t recommend booking a cabin category that you aren’t comfortable sailing in.

The last suggestion doesn’t save you money but it could save your sanity and avoid frustration. If you’re looking to relax and re-energize on your vacation, we suggest booking your stateroom away from triple and quad cabins, elevators, utility rooms, show lounges, casinos, and pool decks.

Check our next blog post with suggestions on how to save money during your cruise.

Cruise Trivia – If you’ve ever wanted to do something different like staying at an ice hotel but either never got around to it, couldn’t afford it, etc.  You have the opportunity to experience the next best thing…the ONLY TRUE ice bar that sails the seas. The NCL Epic launches in the summer of 2010 in the Caribbean and here is NCL’s description of The Ice Bar:

Now this truly is as cool as it gets. Inspired by the original ice hotels in Scandinavia, The Ice Bar is one of only 14 in the world and the only true ice bar at sea. Enter a glistening, frozen, fantasyland where the bar, the walls, the tables, the stools, even the life-size sculptures are made out of ice. Let us help you slip into a faux fur coat to keep you warm in the chilly 17 degrees. Of course, the vodka helps, too.

Blinded by the prices, overwhelmed by the choices

Over the last year, Canadians have seen great prices for airfare, vacation packages, and tours.  Initially because the Canadian dollar was near parity with the American dollar and now because of overcapacity during this uncertain economic climate. Prices are at levels we haven’t seen in years.

Before you purchase that great deal you found online or in the newspaper, be sure you know what you’re getting.  When it comes to purchasing most items, consumers take into account brand, quality/workmanship, value, etc.  However, when it comes to travel, price appears to be the most significant factor.  For example, you see a 7 day all-inclusive vacation for $499 and you’re ready to book the deal and pack your bags.  However, you need to ask yourself several questions first…is this the type of place I really want to stay at? will it have the amenities I want? have i checked the reviews on TripAdvisor.com? is it readily accessible to a beach? what excursions are available from the resort and are they at reasonable prices? etc

Discounts on airfare, tours, and vacation packages

If you compare the cheapest deals available now to the ones last year or the year before…the price reduction is on average 12%.  The best deals out there are actually in the middle to high range vacations.  The margins on those are significantly higher and they can afford to offer deeper discounts. 

The tough choice is for you to decide…spend abit less on a already cheap vacation or spend abit more on significantly discounted middle to high end vacation.  I think you’ll enjoy the latter option more.

If at all uncertain, do your own research.  If you are still uncertain, contact  your travel consultant.  That’s what they are there for.  They can answer your questions, ease your concerns, and provide you information for questions you might not readily think of.  Plus, your travel consultant may even find you a better deal than the one you found.  Remember, they have access to the latest promotions and a range of sources to find you the best vacation that fits in your budget based on what you want to do and see.

Rainbow Travel Tips & Tidbits – 19 September 2008

Travel Tidbits from Rainbow Travel Inc:

WestJet Eliminates Fuel Surcharges

WestJet has just announced that they are eliminating fuel surcharges effective immediately.  Travelers will save $20 to $45 each way! Fuel surcharges have just been dropped on all routes including these two great fares we came across:

- Calgary -> Las Vegas …. $99

- Toronto -> Las Vegas …. $149

You must book by September 22 2008. This offer is valid for Travel on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday flights through December 17 2008.

Also, WestJet has introduced a new destination from Vancouver to La Ceiba in Honduras.  This begins December 12 2008 using their Boeing 737 800 series planes.  Watch this space for more updates on WestJet.

Air Canada Eliminates Second Bag Fee

In response to decreasing fuel prices, Air Canada is eliminating all second checked-bag charges implemented this spring on North American Tango and Tango Plus fares and they are incorporating fuel surcharges for flights within North America. These initiatives were made possible by the recent relief from all-time high oil prices. Here are the details:

- Effective September 23 2008, the elimination of the $25 fee for second checked bags that was introduced May 15 for Tango and Tango Plus fares within North America.

- Starting September 18 2008, Air Canada is incorporating into its advertised prices the one-way, add-on fuel surcharge that currently ranges between $20 and $60 on domestic and U.S. transborder flights. The company will adjust its published fares to include the total cost of fuel in its advertised base fares. This will provide customers simple, transparent and low fares.

- Starting October 14 2008, Air Canada is simplifying its excess baggage fees by introducing a single $75 fee for travel within North America ($100 international) for overweight and/or oversize pieces. This new policy replaces the standard industry practice of imposing individual fees for each situation. For bags exceeding the free allowance, the excess piece fee will now include any applicable overweight or oversize fees. A 10 per cent discount on excess piece fees is offered when fees are paid while checking-in online or at an airport self service kiosk.

Idol Comes To Disney

An “American Idol” attraction will bring the TV series to life at Walt Disney World in Florida. Located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests will be able to experience auditioning, performing, and getting judged on stage. Guests register in advance to audition in front of a producer.  After backstage preparation work including time with a vocal coach and hair/make-up, registered guests will perform live in front of an audience to get scored.

Free Entrance to Walt Disney Parks & Resorts

Disney announced its marketing theme for 2009 will be “What Will You Celebrate?”.  Disney is encouraging guests to visit the parks for birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, honeymoons, weddings and other celebratory gatherings. As part of that campaign, Jay Rasulo, chairman of Disney Parks & Resorts, announced that everyone who visits a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park on their birthday in 2009 can get in free, as Disney Parks embrace the new trend in family travel called Celebration Vacations. The free birthday admission requires a valid ID including proof of birth date.

Three Special Offers From Norwegian Coastal Voyages

CRUISE ONLY DISCOUNT ON CABINS, INCLUDING SUITES:  When you book selected 12, 7 and 6-day Norwegian Coastal Voyages departing in October, November and December, 2008, you will receive a 20% discount on best available cabins at the time of booking, including suites.  This offer cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. It is valid on the QJ suite rate with best available cabin category up to category MG on MS Trollfjord and MS Midnatsol, M cabin on MS Finnmarken, and Q cabin on MS Polarlys, MS Nordkapp, MS Kong Harald, MS Richard With and MS Nordlys. Offer is valid for bookings made by September 30 2008. Offer is valid for new bookings only. Restrictions apply. Contact us for details.

2 FOR 1 CRUISE ONLY BARGAIN PROMOTION: Book selected 12, 7 and 6-day Norwegian Coastal Voyages departing in October, November and December 2008 and your companion travels FREE. Offer is not valid on suites and cannot be combined with any other discounts. Offer is valid for bookings made by September 30 2008. Offer is valid for new bookings only. Restrictions apply. Contact us for details.

FREE AIR SPECIAL OFFER: Book a selected 12-day Norwegian Coastal Voyage and receive FREE air from New York (JFK) airport or Newark, NJ (EWR) airport or book selected 7 or 6-day Norwegian Coastal Voyages and receive 2 for 1 airfare from New York (JFK) airport or Newark, NJ (EWR) airport. Both offers are good for voyages departing in October, November and December 2008. Offer cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion, is valid for selected departures and restrictions apply. Offer is valid for bookings made by September 30 2008. Contact us for details for select sailing dates and details.

Special Singapore Stopovers From Only $42 CAD

Singapore Airlines is offering stopover holiday packages that include the following:

- 1 night hotel, airport transfers, unlimited rides on the SIA Hop-On bus, free entry to the Singapore Zoo, Sentosa Island, National Orchid Garden, Jurong BirdPark and a River Boat Cruise

Discounts available on food, beverages and more.  What a bargain! So take this opportunity to contact us for details.

Rainbow Travel Tips & Tidbits – 5 September 2008

Travel Tidbits from Rainbow Travel Inc:

Air Transat delivers More Room in Economy:

The space between each row of seats has been increased by about 2 inches from 30 to 32 inches. By doing this, Air Transat has reduced the seating on it’s Airbus 310’s from 259 to 249 seats and on their Airbus 330’s from 362 to 342 seats. Air Transat operates a fleet of 13 Airbus A310’s and four A330’s.

Toy Story Opens at Two Parks

Disney Park guests are now able to enter a wild and wooly 4-D world, Toy Story, featuring Woody, Buzz and other favourite characters. This exciting new feature is available at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. It’s a high energy adventure that puts guests right in the heart of the action as your game play triggers fun surprises that provide a fourth dimention of fun. Upon entering the attraction, guests are welcomed by Mr Potato Head. More than 5ft tall, this state of the art audio animatronics Mr Potato Head makes two way conversation and asks you to ” step right up” for the incredible Toy Story Experience.

Everyone gets a front row seat when they put on their 3-D specs, shrink to the size of a toy, and board Toy Story Carnival tram ride cars.

Players can pair up and shoot at a variety of targets and because of the 4-D special effects, they can be amongst the action on their exciting journey where objects seem to whirl past as they pop out of the 3-D scenes

Very Affordable Tropical Cruises:

Signature Vacations new Tropical Cruise Programme this winter will feature two itineraries in the Caribbean aboard the 1450 pax Thomson Destiny cruise ship. Thomson Destiny will sail every second Sunday from La Romana in the Dominican Republic visiting Grenada, Dominica, Antigua, St Martin and Tortola before returning to La Romana. The second itinerary will feature The Coral Islands, St Lucia, Barbados, Guadeloupe, St Kitts and Tortola due to Monday and Tuesday flights from Vancouver from Nov 10th onwards.

The Thomson Destiny offers a Kitzone with daily activity programmes, two pools, 24Hr per day buffets, two restaurants, Broadway style shows, library, video, gym and sauna, and all the cruises include port taxes and tipping. There is even an option to pre purchase your alcoholic beverages.

La Machine: The Giant spider, La Princess, brings Liverpool to Standstill

Celebrations for European city of culture continue in my home town, Liverpool (U.K.)

A GIANT spider appeared in Liverpool, Lime Street today. Stunned onlookers stared in amazement as the 37-tonne, 50ft creature dangled high above the street from Concourse Tower. The massive arachnid is the first glimpse of the mysterious La Princess, the mechanical creature at the centre of the La Machine extravaganza. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected on the streets of the city, many of which will be closed off, as the five-day street theatre event unfolds this weekend. The Capital of Culture event will see “scientists” arrive in the city to investigate the creature. The spider, named La Princesse, is the brainchild of François Delarozière and his company La Machine. This is his first spider, and its appearance is part of the city’s capital of culture celebrations. La Princesse is a big girl, weighing 37 tonnes, and a marvel of engineering. She has 50 hydraulic axes of movement, took a year to build, and trundles along the road at two miles an hour.