We’ve prepared a special little wrap-up of this week’s cruise industry news to reward all you troopers who are still in the office. How does it differ from a regular cruise wrap? We’ll get back to you on that one.

Carnival commemorates Anzac Day with a dawn service at sea

Carnival Spirit will host an ANZAC Day dawn service at sea on 25 April 2019, during its eight-night cruise to New Caledonia.

The day will commemorate all Australians who served and died in war and on operational service past and present.

Recently retired serviceman, Lieutenant Colonel Campbell Paine, will host the dawn service onboard as a representative of Legacy – a charity that provides support to Australian Defence Force families following the injury or death of a spouse or parent during or after their service.

As part of the service, Lieutenant Colonel Paine will read the well-known ANZAC poem, ‘ANZAC Cove’, written by his great uncle, Leon Gellert.

He will also share his personal perspective on the ANZAC Spirit and offer an insight into the history of Australians in war as part of a special presentation on ANZAC Day eve.

Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a ‘Gunfire Breakfast’, play backyard cricket, a special game of Two-Up and view a screening of Gallipoli throughout the day.

Carnival will also host a special gathering in the RedFrog Pub for veterans, giving them a comfortable environment to get to know one another and share stories.

Two new five-star river ships launched in Europe by Riviera Travel

Riviera Travel launched two new, five-star ships this month – the 169-passenger William Wordsworth and 132-guest George Eliot – continuing Riviera’s tradition of naming vessels after famous British authors.

The new ships bring Riviera’s fleet size to 13 vessels, with another to join the growing cruise line in 2020. Already the biggest river cruise operator in the UK market, Riviera Travel is this year attracting 73 per cent more Australian bookings compared to 2017.

Launched on April 4, 2019, the luxury new ship, George Eliot, offers a restaurant, bistro, lounge, wellness centre and sun deck while the larger William Wordsworth, which began service the day after, offers those facilities as well as a fitness room, splash pool and putting green.

George Eliot will ply the Rhine and Moselle rivers as well as the canals of Holland this year and in 2020, with fares available from $1249 per person, twin-share, for a five-day ‘Enchanting Rhine and Yuletide Markets’ cruise and from $2609 per person, twin-share, for an eight-day ‘Rhine Cruise to Switzerland’.

Meanwhile, the William Wordsworth will sail the Danube River this year and next, with fares available from $2059 per person, twin-share, or for solo travellers, subject to availability, for an eight-day ‘Blue Danube’ cruise through Austria, Hungary and Slovakia.

Save 25 per cent on Brahmaputra River cruises in India

Experience the less-travelled and wildlife-abundant state of Assam in northern India on a boutique river cruise along the sacred Brahmaputra River, with Adventure Resorts and Cruises (ARC) offering 25 per cent discounts.

Boasting views of the Himalayas, abundant wildlife and numerous tea plantations, the Brahmaputra River is one of India’s hidden treasures and Australians can see it for less with this new special offer from ARC.

Guests can save 25 per cent on one of three, seven-night Brahmaputra River cruises aboard ARC’s boutique, 46-guest river ship, MV Mahabaahu. The first departs from Guwahati on September 29, 2019, and the second departs Guwahati on March 29, 2020. Prices begin from $2815 per person, twin-share, in a twin superior cabin – a saving of $938 per person. ARC has not left solo travellers out either with a special, no-single-supplement offer on their December 22, 2019, departure from Guwahati, with prices starting from $2815 in a superior cabin.

Oceania Cruises unveils new Tropics & Exotics itineraries 

Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line unveiled its new 2020-2021 Tropics & Exotics Collection of itineraries which are now open for sale.

2020-2021 Tropics & Exotics Collection Highlights

• 85 itineraries, 69 of them entirely new, including 13 new voyages to Asia & Africa, 8 new voyages to South America, 8 new sailings to the South Pacific, Australia & New Zealand, 7 new Transoceanic journeys, and an extraordinary 31 new voyages to the Caribbean, the Panama Canal & Mexico.
• A dozen new ports of call that reveal a fascinating mosaic of cultures, such as Cuba’s unspoiled Isla de la Juventud, Japan’s traditional seaside town of Miyako, the compelling Indonesian melting pot of Surabaya, and New Zealand’s remote port of Whangarei.
• Explore the treasures of once-forbidden Cuba with two dozen all-encompassing voyages to the island, most of which feature overnights in iconic Havana and many delve into the lesser-known corners of the country with calls in Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba.
• From stunning Hokkaido, the northernmost main island in Japan, to the Tasmanian city of Burnie, travellers can choose from an expanded selection of intriguing ports in Asia and Australia.

Vasco da Gama sets sail on maiden voyage

Vasco da Gama, the latest addition to the fleet of Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), will today set sail on her maiden voyage from Singapore to London Tilbury.

Vasco da Gama is the fifth ship in CMV’s fleet, with the leading independent cruise line this year celebrating 10 years in operation. 

The ship will make destinations such as South Australia, Tasmania, Australia’s north west, and Southeast Asia more accessible and affordable for Australian guests when she arrives in Sydney this December.

Carnival Australia’s record-breaking summer cruise season wraps up 

Another record-breaking summer cruise season wraps up for Australia’s largest cruise operator Carnival Australia on April 21 as Holland America Line’s Noordam sailed from Sydney.

Season highlights included a record 696 port calls in Australia and economic activity estimated at around half a billion dollars.

The spectacular arrival of Majestic Princess on September 15 – the largest Princess ship ever to sail in Australia – kicked off the season.

Cunard based its magnificent Queen Elizabeth in Australia for 54 days, the prelude to 101 days in 2019-20 and 118 days in 2020-21.

Australia’s homegrown P&O Cruises made a record 334 calls to Australian ports during the season – 17 per cent more than the previous summer, nearly half of Carnival Australia’s total port calls.

Twenty-five per cent off Fiji cruise sail and no single supplement

Save 25 per cent on adult cruise fares and solo travellers pay no single supplement, on all Captain Cook Cruises Fiji’s three, four- and seven-night Mamanuca, Yasawa Islands and remote Discovery cruises. This amazing deal is on sale from 1 May to 30 June 2019 with travel until 31 March 2020.

Unpack once and visit parts of Fiji larger ships cannot get to and discover Fijian Culture, deserted beaches and some of the most dramatic scenery in the South Pacific aboard the 130-passenger, fully accommodated MV Reef Endeavour cruise ship.

Offering a truly heart-warming cultural experience visit remote Fijian villages and schools, interact and play with local children, experience a Fijian church service and a traditional village Sevusevu ceremony, Meke and Lovo feast.

As well as being immersed in Fijian culture enjoy amazing daily snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding relaxing on white sandy beaches and swimming in crystal clear waters.

European Waterways offers early bird booking promotions

With an increase in demand for more exclusive experiential holidays driving a surge in hotel barge cruises, European Waterways is offering an ‘early bird’ promotion that lets guests lock in their 2020 cruises at 2019 prices.

Guests can also take an extra 10% off charter prices on select spring 2020 departures on hotel barges that include La Belle Epoque and L’Art de Vivre in Burgundy, Anjodi on the Canal du Midi, and La Bella Vita in Italy. All 2020 cruises must be booked by May 13, 2019 to qualify for these offers. Other restrictions may apply.