Is it Monday? Is it Thursday? We’re not really sure, but you get an extra cruise wrap today anyway. Surprise!

Discover the best of Western Australia on an Escorted Tour

Discover Western Australia’s beautiful and diverse South West region and visit award winning wineries, stunning beaches, luscious forests and pastoral landscapes on SeaLink’s 10 Day South West Western Australia tour, departing 5 October 2018.

The tour includes all accommodation, breakfast and dinner daily, activities, cruises and coach transfers and is escorted by well-known tour host, Shirley Tamm, who has over 36 years’ experience in the travel industry.

The tour visits Perth, Rottnest Island, the Margaret River Region, Pemberton, Albany and Wave Rock/Hyden. Tour accommodation includes five nights at the Novotel Perth Langley Hotel, and one night at the Quality Inn Margaret River; Karri Valley Resort, Pemberton; Comfort Inn, Albany and Hyden Hotel, Hyden.

Highlights of the tour include visiting Perth and seeing Kings Park Botanical Gardens with its 1700 species of Wildflowers in bloom, Cottesloe Beach, a Captain Cook Cruises scenic river cruise to Fremantle, a full day ‘Famous Wine Cruise’ to the Swan Valley and a day exploring Rottnest Island.

Norwegian Cruise Line extends up to US$1000 onboard spend on select sailings offer

Norwegian Cruise Line has extended their latest offer that sees guests eligible to receive up to US$1,000 onboard spend for bookings made on select sailings between today and 30 April 2018, depending on stateroom category booked. This limited time offer is available on Australia, New Zealand, Asia and South Pacific sailings onboard Norwegian Jewel departing between 13 December 2018 – 13 February 2019.

The onboard spend offer is combinable with Norwegian’s Free at Sea promotion allowing guests to choose up to five free offers, including a free beverage of specialty dining package, delivering up to US$3,800 in overall value.

There has never been a better time to book with Norwegian Cruise Line with this offer expiring on 30 April 2018 – book now to secure your dream cruise!

Windstar Cruises announces return to Asia

Windstar Cruises’ second season for the 212-passenger Star Legend in Asia kicks off in the northern Autumn of 2018 after the vessel’s inaugural Alaska season in the upcoming Summer months.

The return to Asia for Windstar in 2018/19 will bring four new cruises, as well as the recurrence of four of the company’s most popular cruises from its 2017/18 season sailing in the region for a total of 27 sailings.

Windstar has increased departures for popular Japan cruises timed with its famous cherry blossom season and spectacular fall foliage. New Asia itineraries include a comprehensive exploration of greater China; an Asian ‘pop culture’ journey from Tokyo to South Korea and Beijing; a Thailand and Malaysia cruise big on beaches and big cities; and a new itinerary discovering Indonesia, including magical Bali.

Windstar also offers a variety of pre and post cruise packages in Asia, including a foray to Angkor Wat from Bangkok and a visit to Beijing’s Great Wall. In addition, Windstar offers more than 200 shore excursions in Asia in 2018/19, including experiences like visiting a traditional Malay home, exploring Komodo National Park on foot, and participating in a night tour of Shanghai with dinner on The Bund (Asia’s most famous street).

Go better for free with Celebrity Cruises

Guests booking holidays on Celebrity Cruises can delight in spectacular savings this month with the cruise line’s ‘Go Better for Free’ sale. New bookings made in Oceanview Staterooms and above on a range of Caribbean, Asia and Europe sailings departing between 1 June 2018 and 30 April 2019 will receive two free perks in the form of a Classic Beverage Package, USD$150 per person Onboard Credit, Complimentary Unlimited Wifi or an additional US$150 per person Onboard Credit. But hurry, offer ends on 7 May 2018.

Suite bookings on eligible sailings will enjoy even more and receive the ‘Go Best’ option for free, which includes all four free perks with a Premium Beverage Package upgrade. Additionally, third and fourth passengers can sail for up to 50 per cent off.

Choose a 10-night New Zealand cruise departing Auckland on 13 December 2018 onboard Celebrity Solstice. Calling to Tauranga, Wellington, Picton, Akaroa, Dunedin, Dusky, Doubtful and Milford Sounds, and finishing in Sydney, the cruise is priced from just AUD$1,899/NZD$2049 per person, twin share, for a Balcony Stateroom, with two additional free perks.

RCL Cruises farewells Australian summer

‘Explorer of the Seas departed for her winter homeport of Seattle on Sunday, marking the end of an unforgettable season for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises’ six Sydney-based ships. An incredible selection of 96 cruises were offered throughout Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and Asia during the 2017/18 summer season, delivering an injection of around AUD$198 million into the Australian economy in passenger spend alone.

Local season highlights included:

• Royal Caribbean International remained the largest cruise line in Australia in terms of capacity over the 2017/2018 summer season
• Collectively, the three cruise lines offered the most number of beds ever on a local season
• Australia’s biggest, newest and most modern ship Ovation of the Seas returned for her second and longest season yet
• Australia’s Biggest Game of Hide and Seek took place onboard Ovation of the Seas, where both children and adults battled for the title of the country’s best “hider”
• Azamara Club Cruises’ boutique Azamara Journey arrived via Australia’s west coast in January, making maiden calls in Geraldton, Perth, Bunbury, Esperance, Albany, Kangaroo Island and Adelaide
• Azamara launched its very first country intensive voyages – brand new itineraries which focus on a single country, which included an 18-night cruise dedicated to Australia
• Azamara Journey ended her 2017/18 season with the line’s inaugural World Journey, a 102-night extravaganza from Sydney to London, calling at 60 ports in 29 countries along the way
• Australia’s highest rated ship*, Celebrity Solstice made overnight calls to Cairns, Sydney and Melbourne, and kicked off the season with a sampler cruise, back from a three-year hiatus
• South Pacific Sisters Voyager of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas sailed 36 epic South-Pacific itineraries, ideal for families
• More Aussies and Kiwis cruised on local itineraries than ever before, with around 280,000 local cruisers joined by 50,000 overseas guests
• RCL Cruises celebrated its 10 year Australian birthday, offering special surprises to guests and travel agents throughout the season

Save or spend big with Azamara Club Cruises

Azamara Club Cruises is inviting its guests to ‘save or spend’ big with a spectacular new “Spend or Save” offer. Guests making eligible bookings on a range of local and international sailings departing on or after 31 October 2018 will have the choice to receive up to AUD$3,000 off their cruise, or receive the same amount in US dollars onboard spending money per stateroom.

Savings are tiered according to stateroom and are based on double occupancy. Interior and Oceanview Staterooms will receive up to AUD$1,000 savings or onboard credit, Balcony Staterooms will receive up to AUD$2,000 savings or onboard credit, and Suites will enjoy AUD$3,000 savings or onboard credit.

The offer is combinable with back to back savings, onboard booking program, LCV quarterly savings and reduced singles.

Choose a 10-night Thailand and Vietnam Voyage departing Singapore on 26 November onboard Azamara Quest. Visiting Ko Samui, Bangkok (Thailand) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), the round-trip sailing is priced from just AUD$3119 per person, twin share, for an Oceanview Stateroom, as part of Azamara’s new deal.

Evergreen releases 2019 Europe River Cruising brochure featuring new Russian river combinations plus small ship cruises on the Dalmatian Coast

Evergreen Cruises & Tours has launched its 2019 Europe River Cruising Brochure, featuring classic European river cruises and new cruise combinations and destinations. Exceptional value experiences start from only $3,000pp twin share* for the 8 day deluxe Rhine River cruise (Amsterdam to Basel) and from just $4,595pp twin share* for the classic 15 day Amsterdam to Budapest river cruise.

2019 Earlybird offers with savings pup to $5,300 per couple* are available on the following cruise tours until 31 August:

• 16 day Discover Croatia and the Islands of Dalmatia (Dubrovnik to Budapest) – Over seven nights, guest will enjoy cruising the Dalmatian Coast on a brand new luxury yacht!
• 15 day Three Rivers Discovery River cruise (Portugal and Provence) – Guests will enjoy the best of Portugal and France with this unique deluxe cruise combination.
• 15 day Classic Danube and Lower Danube Waltz River Cruise (Munich to Belgrade) – Here’s a 15 day European river cruise with a difference! Starting from Nuremberg guests will sail to Vienna on a deluxe Star-Ship.
• 17 day Discover Croatia and Enchantment of Eastern Europe River Cruise (Split to Bucharest) – Guest will discover the best of Croatia and Slovenia including guided tours of Zagreb, Budapest, Osijek Fortress, Belgrade and more.
• 19 day Imperial Charms of Russia and Danube Explorer River Cruise (St Petersburg to Budapest) – Evergreen is offering select Russian cruises with limited 2019 departures.
• Eight day Jewels of the Rhine River Cruise (Amsterdam to Basel) – Increasingly popular, this eight day river cruise takes in the highlights of six cities, towns and villages including Cologne and Strasbourg, The Black Forest and sailing through the impressive Rhine Gorge.

Silversea reveals remarkable enrichments for Venetian Society Cruise 2018

Silversea, a world-leading provider of luxury travel experiences, today unveils details of the cruise line’s greatly anticipated Venetian Society voyage in October 2018.

An opportunity for Silversea’s valued Venetian Society to unite, the annual Venetian Society cruise enables guests to make new friends while enjoying bespoke experiences in ultimate comfort. The voyage is designed to benefit Silversea’s returning guests, while introducing first-time guests to the cruise line’s close-knit community of travellers. While open to all, special enhancements will enrich the voyage exclusively for members of the Venetian Society, including unique events, special activities, sophisticated receptions and other privileges – both on- and off-shore. The cruise will be hosted by Fernando Barroso de Oliveira, the Ambassador to the Venetian Society for Silversea’s Chairman.

On October 11, Silver Whisper will arrive in Barcelona, where esteemed members of the Venetian Society will enjoy an unprecedented insight into the local culture as part of a world-first, planned and operated exclusively by the ultra-luxury cruise line. Inspired by Catalan traditions and held in one of Barcelona’s prominent architectural marvels, the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau, the event will encapsulate Silversea’s core values: unlocking authentic experiences and enabling guests to travel deeper in supreme comfort.

With private access to the world heritage site after hours, guests will have the chance to admire the pavilions’ lavish decorations while socialising with like-minded members of the Venetian Society. Then, while sipping cocktails at a hosted reception in the complex’s inner gardens, Silversea’s guests will witness a specially formed human tower exhibition – the very first of its kind in this venue – in which approximately 120 performers will demonstrate a Catalan tradition by forming a vast corporeal structure. To conclude the festivities, members of the Venetian Society will enjoy a Catalan-inspired banquet at the magnificent Sala Hipóstila.

Norwegian’s newest ship debuts in Europe before commencing her inaugural tour around the U.S. and her official christening ceremony in Seattle, Washington

Norwegian Cruise Line took delivery of the 168,028-gross-tonne Norwegian Bliss, from Meyer Werft during a ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany, marking the conclusion of an 18-month building period. In attendance were executives from Norwegian Cruise Line, including Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer, Harry Sommer, executive vice president of international business development, Robin Lindsay, executive vice president of vessel operations for the 16-ship fleet, representatives from Meyer Werft including Bernard and Tim Meyer, managing partners of the German-based shipyard, and the ship’s captain and hotel director.

Before cruising to Southampton, England to begin her transatlantic journey on April 21, Norwegian Bliss will showcase all she has to offer to her first guests during a two-day European inaugural preview cruise hosted by Andy Stuart and Harry Sommer.

Upon her arrival to the U.S. on May 3, the festivities for her U.S inaugural tour will commence with two-night preview events in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, and will conclude with a grand christening ceremony and sailing from her first homeport at Pier 66 in Seattle, Washington on May 30. Following a three-day inaugural voyage with a call into the port of Victoria, British Columbia, she will return on June 2 and will then embark on her first seven-day voyage to Alaska.

Beginning June 2018, Norwegian Bliss will spend the Northern Hemisphere summer cruising seven-day voyages to Alaska, and the North American autumn season cruising to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles. In the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2018, she will sail the Caribbean from Miami, and in the 2019 North American autumn/winter season she will cruise from New York City to Florida, the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Carnival Commemorates ANZAC Day with a Dawn Service at Sea

Carnival Spirit hosted an ANZAC Day dawn service at sea on 25 April 2018, during its eight night cruise to New Caledonia. The day commemorated all Australians who served and died in war and on operational service past and present.

Sprigs of rosemary were sold on board with all proceeds going to Legacy – a charity caring for defense force service people and their families in need. Guests enjoyed a ‘Gunfire Breakfast’, played backyard cricket, two-up and watched a special screening of Gallipoli throughout the day.

Carnival also hosted a special gathering in the Red Frog Pub for veterans, giving them a comfortable environment to get to know one another and share stories. Carnival Cruise Line’s Vice President Australia, Jennifer Vandekreeke, said the cruise line is proud to be hosting a special ANZAC service for its guests.

Cruising Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast with Peter Sommer Travels

European tour specialist Peter Sommer Travels has a fabulous line up of tours of Croatia planned in June, September and October this year, offering Australian travellers a chance to escape the cooler months and cruise the coast of Dalmatia – with highlights including Dubrovnik, Zadar and Split – on a traditional wooden gulet.

A recent, repeat winner of the UK’s prestigious AITO Tour Operator of the Year gold award, Peter Sommer Travels’ itineraries are led by engaging hosts, each an expert in the region’s local history and culture, while traditional food and wine shared with good company onboard the gulet and at local restaurants make each adventure an unforgettable European experience.

Dalmatia, the southern part of Croatia’s Adriatic Coast, is a region of immense natural beauty and historical significance. A province of mountains, sea and islands, Dalmatia was strategically important and valuable for ancient traders and is ideal for a gulet cruise. Peter Sommer Travels offers four tours exploring the region’s history and local gastronomy:

• Cruising The Dalmatian Coast: From Šibenik to Zadar
• Cruising The Dalmatian Coast: From Split To Dubrovnik
• Walking and Cruising Southern Dalmatia
• A Gastronomic Gulet Cruise in Croatia

Royal Caribbean’s global WOW sale returns

Royal Caribbean’s worldwide WOW sale has launched, with incredible savings of up to 30 per cent on cruise fares and up to USD$400 onboard credit per stateroom. The offer is available for all new bookings on local and international voyages departing after 24 April 2018, excluding China. But be quick, the offer ends on May 3 2018.

Guests who book on eligible sailings will receive onboard credit tiered by stateroom. Interior Staterooms will receive $USD100 onboard credit, Oceanview Staterooms will receive USD$150 onboard credit, Balcony Staterooms will enjoy USD$200 onboard credit and Suite guests can indulge in USD$400 onboard credit.

Choose an 11-night Tropical Delights cruise departing Sydney on 27 November 2018 onboard Explorer of the Seas. Visiting Lifou (Loyalty Islands), Isle of Pines (New Caledonia), Port Vila (Vanuatu), Mystery Island (Vanuatu) and Noumea (New Caledonia), the round trip cruise is priced from just AUD$1,399, per person, twin share.

Or, choose a 10-night New Zealand Journey departing Sydney on 3 January onboard Ovation of the Seas. Priced from just AUD$2,009 per person, twin share, the round-trip cruise visits Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Dunedin, Wellington and Picton.

A one-time cruise opportunity in Myanmar by ASIA DMC & Pandaw

Explore all of Southern Burma with a loop round the Great Irrawaddy Delta on the rivership RV Katha Pandaw and then fly down to Kawthaung, the country’s Southern most top, to sail back up to Rangoon on the glamourous Andaman Explore.

This is a very special cruising opportunity from ASIA DMC HO & Pandaw:

Pandaw is combining two of their usual routings on a one-time journey in Myanmar. This will happen in February 2019 and it combines a cruise in the Irrawady Delta and a cruise along the coast and the amazing Mergui Archipelago. The first part is river cruising, for more of a cultural exploration and the second part is sea cruising with beautiful crystal-clear waters, snorkeling and kayaking.

The journey combines the Coastal and the Delta. Two ships, the Katha Pandaw and the Andaman Explorer. But hurry, because the number of places is very limited!