Golden Horizon, the world’s biggest sailing ship, cancels its Aussie debut
The ongoing uncertainty around Australia’s cruise restart and the status of state border openings has forced the world’s largest sailing ship to cancel its maiden 2022-23 summer season in Aussie waters.
UK-based cruise line Tradewind Voyages had planned for its new luxury ship sailing ship, Golden Horizon – which is considered the world’s largest ship of its kind – to circumnavigate the country between this December and next February, offering a range of sectors from 14 to 73 nights.
In August, the line moved the Golden Horizon’s Aussie debut from 2021-2022 to the summer of 2022-23, before cancelling it altogether.
The British company said long-term planning was needed to operate and market voyages in Australia and ongoing, restrictive conditions and lack of clarity here for cruising made the season unviable to operate.
Tradewind Voyages said it hopes Golden Horizon will be able to visit Australian shores in the summer of 2023-24 if restrictions are clear well before then.
The Line said Golden Horizon would be based in the Mediterranean from April to October 2022, and again in the northern summer of 2023, with plans for her to sail in the Caribbean in the northern winter of 2022-23 instead of Australia.
Details of the Mediterranean and Caribbean seasons will be released in the coming months with hopes Australians can travel to either destination in 2022 or 2023 to sail on the ship once outbound restrictions are eased.
As the exclusive Australian partner for Tradewind Voyages, Cruise Traveller has already contacted all Australian guests and travel agents affected by the cancellation and is processing full refunds.
“While we have had to advise hundreds of booked guests of the changed program for Golden Horizon, it has been more than encouraging for so many of them to clearly indicate they are keen to sail on her in the Mediterranean in 2022 or 2023,” said Cruise Traveller managing director Craig Bowen.
“As I have come to expect from Tradewind Voyages, they have managed the delivery of these unavoidable changes with total professionalism and commitment to the Australian market.”
Designed to recapture the golden era of sailing ships, the brand new, 162-metre-long Golden Horizon has already commenced its inaugural season in the UK and Europe, boasting golden masts 64 metres above the sea and support 6,300 square metres of billowing sails.
The majestic square-rigger boasts a gourmet cuisine restaurant, three pools, gym, library, spa sanctuary, four bars and a marina platform.
From April to October 2022, Golden Horizon will offer 22 different tall ship voyages across the western, central and eastern Mediterranean including visits to Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece and Turkey.
The ship’s inaugural sailing in the region will be a seven-night voyage from Portugal to Spain, with a series of return sailings from Mallorca in May next year.
She will then operate round-trip journeys from Rome in June, Split in July and Athens from August to October.
Featured image source: Cruise Traveller
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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