We love a midday Cruise Wrap, although it’s more of an early afternoon wrap because we were late and unorganised this morning.

Carnival Cruise Line and Lord Nelson Raise a Glass to ThirstyFrog’s 200,000th Milestone

Carnival Cruise Line has toasted the success of Australia’s first custom-made cruise beer, ThirstyFrog Summer Ale.

Launched three years ago, the specially created Ale – developed in partnership with The Lord Nelson Brewery – has proved one of the most popular beers on Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend. Since launch, guests have enjoyed over 200,000 schooners of the Aussie-brewed Ale at sea.

In celebration of the ongoing partnership and the 200,000 schooner milestone, Carnival’s Lance Dye, Business Development Manager, invited the team from the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel onboard Carnival Spirit to enjoy the Ale in the much-loved, fun-filled, RedFrog Pub.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Vice President Beverage Operations, Eddie Allen, said the local success had seen similar Carnival initiatives in other parts of the world. “As a nation of beer lovers, it’s no surprise that ThirstyFrog Summer Ale has been a huge hit on our Australian-based ships, Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend.”

Windstar Cruises Launches Star Collector Voyages

Small ship cruise line Windstar Cruises has launched a fresh series of back-to-back cruises, where longer and more in-depth voyages from 14 to 34 days feature few repeated ports in the new Star Collector Voyages.
In addition to the elegance of an extended trip with the luxury of unpacking only once, guests also get to take advantage of travelling light for these epic journeys, as all Star Collector Voyages include free daily laundry service.

Star Collector Voyages combine some of Windstar’s most popular itineraries for a longer exploration of the region and feature overnights in port (like Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong, for example), allowing guests to make the most of their trips.

“With dozens of sailings to choose from, and more to be announced for Europe 2018, we are thrilled to now offer an extensive collection of longer voyages designed for the person who wants to sail longer, get closer, and discover the world of Windstar 180 degrees from ordinary,” said Windstar President John Delaney.
Guests can cruise through multiple regions and cross the Atlantic on unforgettable journeys that cover numerous parts of the world on one of eight Star Collector Voyages like the Arabia & Ancient Spice Routes, The Grandeur of South East Asia and Caribbean Beaches and Costa Rica Cloudforests.

Get married on a private Fijian Island with Captain Cook Cruises wedding package

Be married on your own private and picturesque Fijian island, with Captain Cook Cruises Fiji’s new Tivua Island Wedding package, on now until March 2019. Priced at only A$4710 for 30 guests the seven-hour package includes a wedding ceremony and reception in absolute paradise!

The wedding ceremony will be one to be remembered as the bride walks down the aisle to the sounds of a beautiful Fijian singer and guitar accompaniment, before exchanging vows as the sun sets over the sparkling ocean.

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji is also offering a honeymoon bonus. For weddings of 50 guests or more the bride receives half price on a three, four or seven-night cruise honeymoon aboard the Reef Endeavour and for weddings of 80 guests or more the bride’s honeymoon cruise is free.

The Tivua Island Wedding Package is priced at A$157 per person based on a minimum of 30 guests and includes a 90 minute cruise to Tivua Island from Port Denarau on either tall ship Ra Marama, Spirit Of Pacific or sailing Catamaran “Fiji One”; a dedicated wedding planner to ensure the day is perfect and finalise the wedding license; use of a Bure on Tivua Island for the Bride to prepare; a Marriage Ceremony performed by a celebrant on the tropical beach setting of Tivua with a Fijian singer and guitarist accompaniment and more.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Unveils 2020 World Cruise Aboard Seven Seas Mariner

Spanning approximately 33,870 nautical miles across 11 seas in three oceans, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ new 2020 world cruise will deliver infinite, unforgettable opportunities for luxury travellers seeking to experience the world for the first time – or again.

The all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Mariner will host Regent’s new 2020 Navigate the World cruise, a captivating 131-night itinerary, departing January 24, 2020, roundtrip from San Francisco, to idyllic islands of the South Pacific and ancient cultures of subcontinental India and around the Arabian Peninsula, and then plying the halcyon Mediterranean in springtime and cruising the Caribbean and Central America in early summer.

Seven Seas Mariner’s guests will touch on 30 countries on six continents as they circumnavigate the globe, visiting 36 UNESCO World Heritage sites among a total of 66 ports, 13 in which are overnight stays. The Most Inclusive Luxury Experience, Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers up to 330 free, unlimited shore excursions for guests to fully explore each exciting port, and kick off their grand adventure at the exclusive, pre-cruise Gala Dinner Event in San Francisco, as well as revel in three additional authentic shoreside events as they sail the world.

New onboard features for Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International has announced four of the extraordinary new features that will be added to UK and US based Independence of the Seas, as part of her multi-million dollar makeover scheduled for April 2018. The line will add a trampoline park – another first at sea for the innovative cruise line – as well as water slides, an escape room and laser tag.

The bow-to-stern makeover will add other imaginative features similar to those found on the cruise line’s newest and boldest ships. More details of the full makeover will be released in the coming months.

As part of a UK campaign, agents were invited by Royal Caribbean and Travel Weekly UK to share their suggestions for new onboard features, using the hashtag #MYINDY. The trampoline park was the overall winner, however the calibre of entries submitted was so good, Royal Caribbean chose a further three features to add.

Independence of the Seas belongs to Royal Caribbean’s ground-breaking Freedom Class, dividing her homeport between Southampton, UK and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Evergreen Celebrates France in July with Additional $200pp Discount on Selected France River Cruises in 2018

Evergreen Cruises & Tours is celebrating France this month with an extra $200pp discount across all staterooms and suites on France river cruise itineraries of 11 days or over.

The 8 Day Sensations of Southern France River Cruise on Emerald Liberté starts from just $3,745pp* twin share.

The Cruise de France Sale offer applies to the following itineraries: 17 Day Best of Switzerland & Sensations of Southern France Cruise; 11 Day Sensations of Southern France & Barcelona; 16 Day Normandy and Loire Valley with Sensations of Southern France River Cruise; 15 Day Three Rivers Discovery Cruise (EFPC) in Portugal and France; 15 day Rhine & Rhône River Cruise from Amsterdam to Nice (EWAR)

As with all Evergreen’s worldwide cruising and touring programs, the popular “You’re Invited” cultural experiences are complimentary. Pricing includes all onboard meals; unlimited tea and coffee; complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner while river cruising and most shore excursions. Bottled water in cabins is replenished daily and complimentary onboard Wi-Fi, plus tipping and gratuities, port taxes and charges and airport transfers are also included.

Ponant will sponsor the Ponant Sydney Noumea Yacht Race 2018 

Ponant has been confirmed as the title sponsor of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s PONANT Sydney Noumea Yacht Race (PSNYR), due to take place next year.

Embodying the pioneering spirit of Ponant, the 1064 nautical mile, Category 1 race will start on Sydney Harbour on Saturday, 2 June 2018, and be organised and conducted by the CYCA, with the co-operation of the Cercle Nautique Caeldonien (CNC).

Speaking on the confirmation of the sponsorship, Monique Ponfoort, Vice President Asia Pacific for Ponant, said, “We are thrilled to be in this new partnership with the CYCA, a natural fit for us as the Sydney Noumea Yacht Race embodies key aspects of our brand – the French link between Ponant and the destination, Noumea; a link to our origins, still embodied in our three-masted yacht Le Ponant; our current cruise offerings, and the sense of adventure that drives us. We anticipate this will be the start of a long relationship.”

As part of the sponsorship Ponant will hold a series of events in the club, highlighting their extensive global itineraries rich in encounters and discovery.

New itinerary Mediterranean Explorations steeped in romance and history

Step ashore to discover timeless cities and enduring cultures on this far-reaching itinerary. The 15-day cruise stops at 11 ports across Algeria, France, Tunisia, Italy, Spain and Monaco including Valencia, Tunis, Algiers and St. Tropez.

Witness the rustic pleasures of Sicily and Sardinia. Marvel at ancient Carthage during a call on Tunis and experience the dazzling Casbah of Algiers. Learn about the silk trade of Valencia and stroll the historic Vieux Port of Marseille. Absorb the jet-setting ways of St. Tropez and Monte Carlo. With overnights in Rome, Barcelona and Florence, where you will have the chance to fully immerse yourself.

Book a 15-day Mediterranean Explorations ocean cruise, departing and arriving in Rome, and fly return to Europe for $995 per person. Offer valid until 30 Sept 2017. A roundtrip departing Barcelona is also available. Pricing from $6,959 per person for 18 January 2018 departure.

Scenic launches virtual reality tour

Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours is excited to announce the launch of their new virtual reality tour which will give you the full Scenic Space-Ship experience before you get on board. Guests can tour Scenic Diamond, which exclusively cruises the waterways of Bordeaux. After extensive renovations earlier in the year, Scenic Diamond was filmed in April this year.

“For travellers that are new to river cruising, want to check out the various categories of suites as well as the on board facilities, the virtual reality experience is the next best thing to been on board. Guests will be able to walk through our newly built Royal Owner’s Suite and feel like they are taking part in Scenic Culinaire, our exclusive on board cooking school,” Scenic’s Acting General Manager Sales and Marketing Liz Glover said.

Scenic Diamond was chosen as she recently underwent redevelopment, with the additions of a Salt Lounge, the first ever on board a river cruise ship (a Salt Lounge is a room handcrafted out of salt bricks, known for its therapeutic health benefits); the one-bedroom Royal Owner’s Suite, which is 47m2 of truly all-inclusive luxury; and Scenic Culinaire, an exclusive on board cooking class.

To view the virtual reality experience yourself, visit scenic.com.au/vr

A new stage in the construction process of the Ponant Explorers series

Ponant is continuing with the construction of its series of 4 new sister ship yachts, the Ponant Explorers, with the laying of the keels of the 3rd and 4th yachts of the series: Le Bougainville and Le Dumont-d’Urville programmed for 2019.

With delivery of the first two yachts, Le Lapérouse and Le Champlain, scheduled for summer 2018, construction of the last two ships – programmed for June 2019 – started last week with the laying of the keels of Le Bougainville and Le Dumont-d’Urville in the presence of PONANT’s Hugues Decamus, Newbuilding Chief Engineer, in one of the shipyards of Vard, the Norwegian subsidiary of Fincantieri.

Combining moderate size (131 metres in length and just 92 cabins and suites), design and technology, the Ponant Explorers are built to be able to drop anchor in the most inaccessible sites, where other ships do not venture. In this way, they can offer an ever-wider range of destinations, notably in tropical and sub-tropical regions.

The Ponant Explorers series will also be fitted with a world exclusive multi-sensorial underwater lounge, called Blue Eye. Located within the hull beneath the water line, it will allow passengers to see, hear and feel the underwater world. This exclusive concept, a veritable technological achievement, has been designed in collaboration with the architect Jacques Rougerie.