The Big Fat Cruise Wrap
The sun might have snuck behind the clouds today, but it’s still a beautiful time to be cruising.
On that note, we’ve got all the latest specials, deals, and sneaky offers from the cruise world.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy another glorious Wednesday.
Lindblad passes Europe savings onto customers
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic has announced a special savings offer of AU$1,000 on all their 8-day Europe departures aboard National Geographic Orion in 2016.
The Europe 2016 program offers 11 distinct itineraries departing April 24 through September 18, 2016 — each one week long with myriad options to combine them. The 102-guest National Geographic Orion is a perfect ship for such an endeavour, able to venture into small hamlets, comfortable beyond description, and with the most generous outdoor space imaginable.
Each Europe 2016 itinerary is the same all-inclusive price, and includes all the daily options (except scuba diving), bar tab and crew tips. Rates begin at AU$9,990 per person based on double occupancy in a category 1 cabin. Guests can take any two 2 or more voyages, in any sequence, and save 10%.
Rick Stein from Venice to Istanbul
Viking Cruises has hosted Rick Stein for his new BBC TV show that will be televised on Foxtel’s Lifestyle Food – Rick Stein: From Venice to Istanbul.
Rick will be taking viewers on a culinary journey, bookended by the iconic cities of Venice and Istanbul. Stopping at each destination along the cruise route, Rick creates gastronomic wonders inspired by the local destinations and created with local produce.
The public can also experience Rick’s actual cruising itinerary with Viking Cruises. Viking’s ten day, Empires of the Mediterranean cruise takes guests to eight legendary destinations through the Eastern Mediterranean. Prices From $4,049 for 10 days. For more information visit the website.
Sea Princess gets sporty
Princess Cruises has announced details of Sea Princess’ upcoming refurbishment including the creation of a new sports bar – a first for the cruise line’s Australian-based fleet.
From weekly AFL and NRL matches through to the Australian Open, guests will be able to enjoy a wide range of great Australian sporting moments from the comfort of the new Legends bar, which will feature multiple LED screens.
Meanwhile, in a nod to the popular small bar scene, Sea Princess’ existing Premier Cru bar will be transformed into an intimate new whisky bar ‘The Nook’. The move follows the overwhelming success of Princess’ first whisky bar launched on Dawn Princess in Australia earlier this year.
Creative gets spooky!
Don’t be spooked, there is nothing scary about Halloween with Creative Cruising. Earn a $25 gift card for every cruise cabin booked and deposited between now and 31 October 2015. This is no trick, all treat.
Agents can reap in these rewards from a range of great value packages including Creative Cruising’s 11-night Earlybird Cruise to Europe, at an amazing Earlybird sale price from just $3,569 per person with a bonus land credit valued at $100 included in the price.
This unique fly, cruise and stay offer includes return Economy Class airfares to Venice flying Etihad Airways, 2 night pre-cruise and 2 night post-cruise accommodation at the Rialto Hotel in Venice including breakfast, seven night cruise onboard the Norwegian Jade from Venice roundtrip, meals and entertainment onboard, all port charges, government fees, onboard gratuities and air taxes. Conditions apply
Creative Cruising’s Halloween gift card incentive is available until 31 October, 2015. Gift cards are applicable at Coles and Myer stores nationwide.
Explore beautiful Tassie
Coral Expeditions, will be the first to sail some of Tasmania’s most remote coastlines when it launches seven night Hobart to Hobart cruises on 16 November 2015.
This unique adventure cruise will evoke a sense of nostalgia as guests explore areas unchanged since they were first mapped 200 years ago. Past guests will recognise the elements of a successful Coral Expeditions cruise – exposure to wild natural beauty, deep history, and unique local produce incorporated into the cuisine.
The highlight of this itinerary will be 2 days exploring the pristine region of Port Davey, a 17,000 hectare World Heritage Listed site that is one of the most unique marine reserves in the world.
This adventure itinerary also includes hiking the start of the South Coast Track at Cockle Bay on day two, an early morning walk to a scenic lookout over Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park, and exploring the remarkable beauty and wildlife of rarely-visited Maria Island, including its UNESCO-listed historic town of Darlington, all on day six.
Pricing from AUD$3,990 per person, inclusive of all meals, shore excursions, Captain’s welcome, farewell drinks, ports and Parks fees.
Uniworld one of the best
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection continues to add to its collection of very recent awards and accolades with the eighth annual Cruise Critic® Editors’ Picks Awards.
After reviewing the industry’s most celebrated cruise products, ships and services, an international team of Cruise Critic editors named Uniworld the “Best Overall River Line.” Cruise Critic also awarded Uniworld “Best New River Cruise Ship, S.S. Maria Theresa,” and “Best Shore Excursions” in the river cruise category.
Disney visits old favourites
In early 2017, Disney Cruise Line returns to favorite destinations in the Caribbeanand Bahamas on a variety of itineraries, most from popular Florida ports. Limited-time engagements in San Juan, Puerto Rico, andGalveston, Texas, complete the line-up for the first part of the year.
During these sailings, Disney Cruise Line guests will visit timeless tropical locales, dive into charming island cultures, sunbathe on golden beaches and revel in local marketplaces. Most cruises feature a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island paradise reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests.
Bookings open to the public on Oct. 8, 2015. More details on 2017 itineraries can be found on the Itineraries and Ports for 2017 page of disneycruise.com.
Celebrate with Silversea
Silversea Expeditions, the ultra-luxury cruise line, will be operating a series of unique voyages to Antarctica in 2015 and 2016 to mark the centenary of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance expedition. World-renowned explorers, Rebecca Stephens MBE and Michael Palin CBE, will be supporting this historic event with Silversea Expeditions and the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).
In November 2015, marking 100 years since the stricken expedition team managed to endure 138 days in one of the most inhospitable places on earth, the first in a series of unique Silversea Expedition voyages will depart Ushuaia, Argentina, to retrace Shackleton’s journey to Antarctica.
Guests booking one of the Antarctica 18-day voyages in November 2015 or January, February, and December 2016, will hear from distinguished historians on board and visit iconic areas of the Antarctic including, Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands, where Shackleton and his crew were stranded for 105 days.
The Antarctica voyages will call at South Georgia, where Shackleton and five of his crew first touched land after crossing 8,078 miles (13,000 kilometres) of ocean. Guests will also be able to visit Shackleton’s burial site in Grytviken.
Azamara announcements
Boutique cruise brand Azamara Club Cruises is excitedly counting down to the debut of its first ever season in Australian waters. The 686-guest Azamara Quest arrives in Darwin, the brand’s first ever Australian port, in less than three months’ time on 28 December 2015.
Every Azamara Club cruise offers an exclusive, complimentary and bespoke AzAmazing Evening to showcase a destination and its culture during the voyage.
Azamara has revealed that guests sailing on the 16-night Australia & New Zealand cruise which departs Sydney on 15 January 2016 and sails to Auckland, will be treated to a night with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in Hobart on the wharf during her overnight stay in the city.
Azamara has also unveiled the exclusive AzAmazing Evening event during the 13-night New Zealand sailing from Auckland to Sydney on 31 January 2016, which will allow guests to discover the rich culture of the Maori people during an evening of entertainment at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington.
Other AzAmazing Evening events include an evening at Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin as part of the 14-night Bali and Barrier Reef sailing, departing Indonesia on 22 December and arriving in Cairns for the beginning of Azamara Quest’s maiden season.
The cruise line has also recently confirmed it will deploy a ship to the region for another two seasons, with Azamara Journey coming for the first time in 2017 and Azamara Quest returning in 2018, following extensive revitalisations that will see the ships undergo multimillion dollar facelifts.
Fathom restructures fares
Today Fathom announced its complete schedule of pricing for its seven-day, purpose-driven voyages. In determining its pricing framework Fathom aimed to create a simplified price structure, consolidating the number of core fare options into four straightforward categories based on stateroom type.
The four categories include interior stateroom, ocean view stateroom, balcony stateroom and suite stateroom. The company also streamlined pricing for single, double and triple occupancy, offering competitive pricing formulas to entice travelers to book a future Fathom experience.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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