On Wednesdays, we do the cruise wrap, then spend the rest of the day being very productive. Fine, we spend the rest of the day looking at 50-day cruise itineraries and daydreaming.

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji Reduces Plastics!!!

After successfully launching their Ocean Ambassador Program in 2017, Captain Cook Cruises Fiji is continuing its environmental friendly policies by eliminating as much single use plastic items onboard small ship MV Reef Endeavour and on Tivua Island.

Plastic drinking straws will no longer be available onboard, with an optional recyclable paper straw available for those particularly elaborate cocktails and plastic cups will be replaced with reusable cups. The company will also recycle all Vai Wai water bottles back to the supplier.

In November 2017 Captain Cook Cruises Fiji launched a new environmental and sustainability initiative, the Ocean Ambassador Program. This program is aimed at removing rubbish pollution in remote Fiji with a focus on plastic and looking after and sustaining the Fijian environment.

The initiative focuses on cleaning up waste from the remote beaches and villages visited on Captain Cook Cruises three, four, seven and eleven-night cruises, and at the same time educating villagers, crew and passengers collecting valuable data about the types of waste found in the Fiji Islands. Since the program started, crew and passengers have collected on average 70-120kg of rubbish per week from the beaches they have visited.

Tauck announces new 2019 Christmas Danube River Cruise for families

Tauck has announced plans to introduce three new European river cruises in 2019 including a new family river cruise along the Danube timed for the holiday season, a 10-day Autumn journey along the Rhine highlighting Oktoberfest in Munich, and an eight-day exploration on the Seine highlighting Paris, Versailles and Normandy’s D-Day Beaches.

The new Tauck family cruise, ‘Holiday Magic: Danube Family River Cruise’, will feature two departures on 22 December 2019 on ms Savor from Vienna to Munich via Budapest and 23 December 2019 on ms Joy from Munich to Budapest.

Along the way, guests will enjoy special holiday-themed activities, including a visit to Oberndorf, Austria (where the song Silent Night was written and first performed in 1818), a workshop highlighting traditional treats in Passau and a memorable European holiday dinner aboard their Tauck riverboat, which will be specially decorated for the season.

Families will also enjoy an exclusive ‘Imperial Evening’ inside a private Viennese palace, medieval games and a scavenger hunt in Bratislava’s Old Town district, and a choice of excursions to the picturesque towns of Durnstein, Melk and Krems in the scenic Wachau Valley. The eight-day cruise is priced from AUD5240 per person twin share, plus airfare.

Uniworld to say cheers to newly transformed S.S Bon Voyage in France’s wine region in Spring 2019

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the world’s most luxurious all-inclusive river cruise line, announces plans to unveil their newest Super Ship during Europe’s spring season – S.S. Bon Voyage.

The River Royale will undergo an extensive transformation to become S.S. Bon Voyage, resuming service on the Dordogne and Garonne rivers as Uniworld’s sixth Super Ship on April 14, 2019. Bon Voyage is the second ship in the line to be upgraded to a Super Ship, following the S.S. Beatrice, which joined the award-winning fleet of floating boutique hotels as a Super Ship in April.

Inspired by the renowned wine and gastronomic expertise of the region, the Bon Voyage will represent the bountiful destination – from the beautiful design on the ship’s bow to the enhanced culinary opportunities onboard.

One of Uniworld’s most intimate ships, S.S. Bon Voyage will add four new luxury suites, and will increase its already high staff to guest ratio when the ship goes from 128 passengers to 124 and adds more staff. Other improvements include an upgrade to all bathrooms from tile to marble; reconfiguration of the gym and spa facilities; and a reimagined top deck with a new outdoor swimming pool, relaxed outdoor lounge and banquette seating all along the edges with lighting designed to enhance the space in the evening.

Cunard’s first ever Australian Special Event Cruise to set sail March 2019

Luxury cruise line Cunard is pleased to reveal details of their first ever Australian special event cruise in partnership with Australia’s longest-running contemporary dance company, Australian Dance Theatre (ADT). Cunard is collaborating with ADT to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s inaugural homeport season Down Under next year, with the ship in local waters for a record 54 days.

Guests can experience two bespoke performances of ADT’s latest international work, “The Beginning of Nature” on board Queen Elizabeth when she sails from Melbourne on March 12, 2019. The six-night Tasmanian voyage is the first time ADT has created a tailor-made piece to be performed at sea.

Weaving together music and astonishingly powerful contemporary dance, “The Beginning of Nature” is a stunning performance that takes audiences on a journey through the complex symphonies of nature. Alongside the performances, workshops, movement classes and insights seminars will be available for guests, led by the highly skilled performers of ADT and Artistic Director, Garry Stewart.

Offer includes a six-night round trip cruise from Melbourne to Tasmania on Queen Elizabeth, departing March 12, 2019 and priced from $2,029* per person in a balcony stateroom.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announces efforts to reduce single-use plastics

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., a leading global cruise company which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, announced the important next step in its efforts to reduce its environmental impact by eliminating single-use plastic straws across its fleet of 26 ships and two island destinations, Great Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye. The Company anticipates that it will eliminate over 50 million plastic straws each year across its fleet with these changes.

As a member of Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas Alliance, the Company is actively working towards solutions that will mitigate plastic waste entering the ocean. The transition away from single-use plastics across the Company’s fleet and island destinations builds upon the Company’s environmental efforts already underway to increase sustainable sourcing, minimise waste to landfills, invest in emerging technologies and reduce CO2 emissions.

Founded in 2012, the Trash Free Seas Alliance brings together thought leaders from industry, conservation and academia to create a forum for pragmatic, real-world collaboration focused on the measurable reduction of ocean trash.

Free cabin upgrade on Viking Cruises visiting Sydney

Viking has announced a new offer on three of its new Grand Voyages: 32-day Islands of the South Pacific, 29-day Southern Australia to South Africa and 57-day Sydney to London via Africa.

All guests who book a Veranda stateroom on one of these cruises will receive a free upgrade to a Deluxe Veranda stateroom – a saving of up to $7,200 per couple. Guests will also receive a flight deal: one-way flights from $795 per person; either to Santiago or from Durban or London.

Book a Veranda stateroom on the following itineraries and receive a complimentary upgrade to a Deluxe Veranda Stateroom and one-way flights from $795 per person:

• 32-day Islands of the South Pacific, departing 12 February 2019 from Santiago to Sydney on board Viking Sun, now priced from $13,995 per person including a saving of up to $3,600 per person
• 29-day Southern Australia to South Africa, departing 16 March 2019 from Sydney to Durban on board Viking Sun, now priced from $13,995 per person including a saving of up to $3,600 per person
• 57-day Sydney to London via Africa, departing 16 March 2019 from Sydney to London on board Viking Sun, now priced from $28,990 per person including a saving of up to $7,200 per person

Seabourn returns to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific with captivating voyages for the 2018-2019 season

Seabourn, the world’s finest ultra-luxury cruise line, is heading to Australasia again this year with Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Sojourn offering multiple cruises around Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific over the 2018-2019 season. Guests will enjoy hand-selected itineraries headed into boutique ports, sheltered coves and hidden harbours that larger cruise ships cannot access, as well as onboard luxuries and on-shore experiences that has something in store for every type of traveller.

Get set to sail to warm, welcoming, spirited and stunningly beautiful lands beneath the stars of the Southern Cross, with unforgettable sights and experiences all along the way. Guests will have many opportunities to enjoy and explore the region, including via optional for-charge Ventures by Seabourn kayak and Zodiac tours in select destinations in the good company of skilled expedition teams.

Special programming such as Shopping with the Chef excursions allow guests to discover local food markets; and special deck events, dance parties and Movies Under the Stars will keep things lively and engaging. In addition, the itineraries will offer not-to-be-missed shore excursions exploring UNESCO World Heritage Sites with enhanced content available only to Seabourn guests via the luxury cruise line’s unique partnership with UNESCO.

SeaLink Shouts the Drinks on KI Food, Wine & Natural Wonders Tour

Book a two day Food, Wine & Natural Wonders of Kangaroo Island tour on selected August and September 2018 departures and receive a $50 voucher to spend at either Dudley Wines or Kangaroo Island Spirits.

The fully inclusive two-day tour showcases the islands’ much sought after local food and wine, as well as the incredible natural attractions Kangaroo Island is famous for. All tours are in an air-conditioned coach with the driver, a Kangaroo Island local, providing informative and fun commentary.

Accommodation is at Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat, nestled amongst 113 acres of pristine wilderness and adjacent to Flinders Chase National Park.

The Food, Wine & Natural Wonders of Kangaroo Island Tour operates every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and is priced from $725 per person from Adelaide. The $50 voucher is available on the Monday 20th August, Wednesday 29th August, Wednesday 12th September, Monday 24th September and Wednesday 26th September departures.