What has loads of great deals, several new ships, an International Women’s Day celebration and took three cups of coffee to write? It’s a bumper cruise wrap!

Coral Adventurer completes successful sea trials

Coral Expeditions, Australia’s pioneering cruise company, has announced the successful and on-time completion of the first sea trials of its new world expedition ship Coral Adventurer.  

A team of 12 senior marine and management staff from Coral Expeditions’ Cairns headquarters joined representatives from the shipyard and various systems manufacturers to put the vessel through her paces amidst rough sea conditions. True to her design intent, she demonstrated impressive stability and sea-keeping characteristics.

The Coral Adventurer will be the fourth ship in Coral Expeditions’ fleet of Australian flagged ships, all purpose-built for expedition-style cruising.

Following final touches, including the installation of a collection of Australian art and photographs, the Coral Adventurer will begin her sold-out maiden voyage from Singapore to Darwin on April 24^th.

Scenic Unveils Best Offers for 2020 Europe River Cruises

Scenic has launched a preview of its 2020 Europe River Cruise program, with a range of limited time pre-release offers providing plenty of motivation for travellers to book now, to secure the best offer for travel in 2020.

Book before 30 April 2019 for these special offers:

• Included flights to Europe year round when booking any suite on a cruise of 11 days or longer;
• Upgrade to business class from $3,995 per person including taxes when booking a Sapphire or Diamond Deck suite on selected cruises of 11 days or longer throughout the year;
• 50 per cent off for the solo traveller when booking a suite on selected departures of 11 days or longer.

Travellers who pay in full by 31 May 2019 will also secure an additional $600 per couple discount when booking cruises of 11 days or longer, and $300 per couple when booking cruises of 10 days or less.

Golden Princess first Australian ship to feature ‘Best wi-fi at sea’ Melbourne-based ship to be activated with Medallionnet during 2019-20 season

Princess Cruises, the world’s largest international premium cruise line, announced today that MedallionNet- The Best Wi-Fi at Sea, will be available onboard Australian homeported Golden Princess from 20 December 2019 during the line’s 2019/2020 summer season.

Cruising out of Melbourne, guests onboard Golden Princess will be the first to enjoy the benefits of fast, reliable, and unlimited internet service locally as they sail on itineraries to New Zealand, South Australia and the South Pacific.

Cunard celebrates the contribution of women in the maritime sector ahead of International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is this Friday (8 March 2019) and celebrating the role of women in the maritime sector has already begun, with a special event on board Cunard’s Queen Victoria over the weekend.

On Saturday (2 March 2019), iconic cruise line Cunard and Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL) combined to invite 120 guests, predominantly women from across the Port of Brisbane precinct as well as others working in the industry, for a special ship tour and morning tea to celebrate the valuable contribution of women in the sector.

Ann Sherry AO, Carnival Australia Chairman, and Jerry Maycock, Port of Brisbane Chairman, hosted Queensland Premier, Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk MP on board Queen Victoria in Brisbane.

Celestyal Cruises announces extended 2019 and new 2020 itineraries including seven new ports of call 

Celestyal Cruises, the award-winning, main home-porting cruise operator in Greece and the preeminent line serving the Greek Islands and the Mediterranean has extended the season with new 2019 and 2020 itineraries.

In 2019 Celestyal Cruises will extend its season through December and return to Istanbul for the first time since 2016 with its new seven-night Eclectic Aegean itinerary, which sails six departures from October 21st, 2019 through November 25th, 2019.

This “eclectic’ cruise includes an overnight stay in Istanbul and calls at Volos, Greece, for excursions to the stunning mountains of Meteora, and to Canakkale, Turkey, for excursions to Troy and Gallipoli. The seven-night “Eclectic Aegean” will also visit Heraklion and Santorini and, during its call at Mykonos, will depart at 2:00 a.m. so guests can fully enjoy the nightlife of this cosmopolitan island.

From Guernsey to the Scilly Isles,  Kew Gardens to Flor og Fjære, enjoy the ethereal beauty of Europe’s gardens in spring with PONANT

Planning to be in Europe during April and May? Then why not add a 7 or 8-night PONANT small ship luxury cruise taking in a range of picture postcard ports featuring an array of stunning landscapes and public and private gardens?

PONANT offers a choice of itineraries including:

7 nights, Portsmouth to Dublin aboard L’Austral, featuring Celtic highlights and including Guernsey, the Scilly Isles, Cobh in County Cork and the fascinating Isle of Man. A voyage taking in little ports of call, less visited islands, Blarney, the old port of Liverpool and UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Giant’s Causeway near Belfast.

22 April and 29 April 2019 departures – From AU$3,820pp in a deluxe Stateroom with private balcony. Bonus savings apply PLUS, for first-time PONANT travellers an introductory A$800 discount per person when booked before 31^st March 2019.

Or an 8 night cruise, London to Bergen voyage aboard Le Boreal. Your voyage starts with a private tours of the famed Kew Gardens and Chelsea Physic Garden. After boarding Le Boreal, moored in the very heart of London, set sail to pass between the historic towers of Tower Bridge, the bridge raised specially to allow Le Boreal to pass through. Then on to the charming townhouses and canals of Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp. From Ostend, you may travel to Kasteel van Oostkerke while Newcastle offers the opportunity to visit Alnwick Castle and Herterton House. Norway’s Stavanger is home to the exotic gardens of Flor og Fjære.

Throughout this horticultural journey your guide will be Holly Shimizu, recently retired chief of the U. S. Botanical Gardens in Washington, D.C. and acting director of the American Horticultural Society, one of the most accomplished and respected botanists in the world.

14 May 2019 departure. From AU$5,940pp deluxe Stateroom with private balcony. PONANT Bonus savings apply PLUS, for first-time PONANT travellers an introductory A$800

discount per person when booked before 31^st March 2019.

NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT fares apply for this voyage.

Norwegian Cruise Line releases new Hawai’i and Aisa-Pacific cruising guides

Norwegian Cruise Line has just released its latest Hawai`i 2019-2022 and Australia, New Zealand, Asia & South Pacific 2019-2020 Cruising Guides. Each showcases Norwegian’s raft of cruise itineraries and unique product selling points for that region.

Norwegian’s 2019-2022 Hawai`i Cruising Guide features information on Pride of America’s award winning seven-day roundtrip cruise from Honolulu – Voted Best Hawaii Itinerary 13 years in a row by Porthole Cruise Magazine.

The brochure features Pride of America departures from March 2019 – April 2022 and is a must-read for anyone wanting to visit the Aloha State – with Norwegian being the only cruise line visiting four islands in seven days.

Norwegian’s new Australia, New Zealand, Asia & South Pacific Cruising Guide features an array of exciting itineraries departing from November 2019 – December 2020.

Guests will be able to take in mesmerising local destinations in Australia and New Zealand including Milford Sound, Bay of Islands, Eden and Burnie from aboard the recently refurbished Norwegian Jewel.

Asia itineraries aboard Norwegian Spirit and Norwegian Jade departing from November 2019 – April 2020 are also featured and include exotic ports such as Colombo, Phuket, Langkawi and Penang, to name but a few.

Adam Goldstein to address Cruise360

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has confirmed its recently appointed Global Chair Adam Goldstein will be among key speakers at this year’s Cruise360 Australasia conference, the industry’s peak annual forum for sharing ideas, knowledge and visions for the future.

Mr Goldstein, the Vice Chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, will visit Sydney to join a full-day line-up of expert speakers and panel sessions on Friday August 30.

Cruise Line Treats Guests to an Exclusive Daryl Braithwaite Concert in Darwin

Guests on a luxury international cruise line will be treated to what might just be the most iconic Aussie experience imaginable on an upcoming voyage – an exclusive concert with Daryl Braithwaite and his band in Darwin.

Azamara Club Cruises boutique 690-guest ship, Azamara Quest, will offer the complimentary show exclusively to guests when the ship overnights in Darwin on 12 March, as part of a 14-Night Australia and Indonesia Voyage – meaning international and local guests can belt out “The Horses” with the legendary singer, included as part of their cruise.

Hosted at the Darwin Convention Centre, guests will be greeted with a cocktail reception on arrival, and a performance by Darwin local sensation, Ali Arjibuk Mills. – renowned for her stunning Kriol rendition of “Waltzing Matilda”. Darryl Braithwaite and his band will then take to the stage with a string of chart-topping hits.

Lindblad Expeditions, Inc. signs agreement with Ulstein Verft for building of second new polar vessel 

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings Inc., a global leader of expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences, announced today that it has signed an agreement with Norwegian shipbuilder and ship designer Ulstein to build a new polar vessel, expanding the line’s National Geographic polar fleet to four ships.

This state-of-the-art vessel will be the next phase of Lindblad’s fleet expansion following the launches of new builds National Geographic Quest in July 2017, National Geographic Venture in December 2018 and the scheduled delivery of National Geographic Endurance in 2020.

The new ship is scheduled for delivery in late 2021. Sister ship to National Geographic Endurance, the polar vessel will be fully stabilised with the highest ice class (PC5 Category A) of any purpose-built passenger vessel, and will feature Ulstein’s signature X-BOW®, a unique design that affords the smoothest, most comfortable ride imaginable, in all sea behaviour, which results in greater fuel efficiency and fewer emissions, for reduced environmental impact.

Attention leap day babies! Carnival offers 50 per cent off with special 2020 cruise deal

Calling all Leapsters! With Leap Day Babies sadly missing their birthday for yet another year in 2019, Carnival Cruise Line is making up for it with a once-in-a-lifetime deal – an amazing birthday-bash at sea.

As an early present to Leapsters, Carnival is offering those born on February 29 the ultimate birthday package and half-price on a cruise that sails over their birthday in 2020.

Departing Melbourne on 27 February 2020, Carnival Spirit will set sail on a four-night cruise to Adelaide, allowing cruisers to sample the best that the Great Wine Capital of Australia has to offer in regions such as the Barossa Valley.

The following deal is exclusively for Leapsters and their loved ones who would like to help celebrate their “once-every-four-years” birthday party.

The unique birthday package includes:
• 50 per cent off cabin fare advertised on Carnival’s website (applies to everyone in one cabin) for the Melbourne–Adelaide cruise on 27 February 2020
• ‘Drinks on Us’* on your birthday, the 29 February 2020
• Leapsters will also be special guests at the exclusive Leap Day deck party
• A Leap Day birthday cake
• Special birthday credit of $150 to spend onboard at the spa, retail and on professional photos

Save on Greek island cruises

SMALL ship cruising specialist Beyond Travel has just released discounts of up to $3350 per couple on a selection of deluxe Mega-Yacht cruises through the Aegean Sea, for select departures in the upcoming summer season in May, July and August.

For those looking to do a cruise only, save up to $3000 per couple with prices starting from $3890 per person twin share.

Book and deposit by March 29 to receive the discounted prices.

Silversea’s tale of tales continues to unlock the world’s authentic beauty with remarkable enrichments

Silversea’s guests continue to enjoy a range of enrichments aboard the Tale of Tales World Cruise 2019, including a range of enrichment events including fascinating lectures from the voyage’s esteemed ‘Tale Tellers.’ Pico Iyer, Saroo Brierley, Harold Koda, and Laksmi Pamuntjak have each joined the Tale of Tales for one segment so far, delivering insightful talks, socialising with guests, and contributing a chapter to the Tale of Tales anthology. Silver Whisper is currently unlocking deep travel experiences for guests on the World Cruise’s fourth segment between Bali and Tokyo.