Cruise Wrap: CMV’s ‘Vasco da Gama’ to champion Australian ports, A&K’s Antarctic solar eclipse cruise + MORE!
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Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales came and went in a flash, but don’t fret. This week’s Cruise Wrap has a saving or two, as well as a swathe of FOMO-inducing announcements.
Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ Vasco da Gama to champion domestic ports during inaugural Australasian sailing
Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has welcomed Vasco da Gama to Sydney, as the vessel began her first Australasian season.
The inauguration coincides with CMV’s ten-year anniversary in 2019, and marks the cruise line’s largest Australasian deployment yet.
During Vasco da Gama’s first Australasian season, the cruise line will champion domestic tourism by making key regions like Tasmania, the North West of Australia, and the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia more accessible and more affordable for guests to experience.
The vessel will homeport in Adelaide and Fremantle, also cruising from London (Tilbury), Auckland, Sydney and Singapore.
“Vasco da Gama is expected to carry an extra 5,900 guests throughout the 2019/20 season compared with CMV’s previous Australasian season, though the ship will still have the intimate, country-club-like atmosphere on board that CMV is known for,” CMV Australia managing director Dean Brazier said.
A&K welcomes expert team aboard one-off total solar eclipse expedition to Antarctica
Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) has announced a once-in-a-lifetime expedition cruise on luxury mega yacht Le Lyrial, designed around the total solar eclipse on 4 December 2021 that will plunge parts of the Antarctic Ocean into complete darkness.
A&K’s expedition team has selected the ideal location for its ship to be positioned to allow guests a viewing time of approximately one minute and 40 seconds at the rarely visited South Orkney Islands northeast of the Antarctic peninsula.
Astronomer Dr Massimo Terenghi, former astronaut Kathy Sullivan, scientist David J. Crain, and Paranal Observatory founder Dr Tarenghi will join the journey.
A&K’s 15-day ‘Antarctica & the Total Solar Eclipse Cruise’ sails between 28 November and 12 December 2021 and is priced from $29,685 per person twin share (was $34,910), single supplement from $25,065.
MSC celebrates float-out of MSC Virtuosa
MSC Cruises has celebrated the float-out of MSC Virtuosa, the third major new ship building milestone celebrated in the past month at the shipyard.
The event, marked at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, follows the successful delivery of MSC Grandiosa and the steel cutting ceremony of MSC Europa, the cruise company’s first LNG-powered ship.
MSC Cruises has also announced a “ground breaking” research and development project in conjunction with Chantiers de l’Atlantique – known as PACBOAT – which will focus on the integration of a new fuel cell technology on board the LNG-powered MSC Europa, which the company said is “especially relevant for cruising”.
The cruise line added it is “committed” to contributing to the development of next-generation advanced environmental technology for the benefit of “its own environmental stewardship journey” and “that of the entire cruise industry”.
Crystal Cruises announces 10 new ocean ‘Getaways’ for 2019/20
Crystal Cruises has unveiled 10 brand-new voyages added to its collection of Crystal Getaways – shortened versions of longer itineraries – ranging from four to ten nights, including:
- ‘Haute Caribbean Holiday’ – departing 22 December 2019. This journey includes eight nights from Miami to Turks & Caicos, Antigua, Barbados and St. Maarten
- ‘Timeless Treasures & Ancient Cultures’ – departing 20 March 2020. This journey includes eightnights from Singapore to Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka
- ‘Empires of Past & Present’ – departing 3 April 2020. This journey includes eight nights from Mumbai to Oman, the gulfs of Aden and Aqaba and Jordan
Fares for Crystal’s new Ocean Getaways begin at just $2,935 per guest, double occupancy, and also include alternate sailing dates.
Silversea training academy welcomes Galapagos experts
Silversea has completed its third ‘Expedition Training Academy’ with five accomplished expedition guides from Silver Galapagos and two academy trainers.
Overseen by a dedicated director, the academy has the aim of enriching guests’ travels around the world. The following experts participated in Silversea’s third Expedition Training Academy:
- Paulina Aguirre – biologist, naturalist/guide
- Aura Banda – environmental manager, naturalist/guide
- Nicolai Bølling – biologist, naturalist/guide
- Bernardo Galvez – architect, naturalist/guide
- Leandro Vaca – biologist, naturalist/guide
- Nicolas Danyau – naturalist/guide, Silversea Academy lead trainer
- Sarah Merusi – naturalist/guide, Silversea Academy lead trainer.
Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic announce Alaska family offer
Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic have announced a new Alaska family offer, with savings of up to 50 per cent on children’s tickets.
Travellers can also receive free airfares from Seattle to Alaska on select 2020 Alaska departures, when booked by 31 December 2019.
Guests will receive free round-trip airfares on ‘Exploring Alaska’s Coastal Wilderness’, ‘Wild Alaska Escape: Sitka to Juneau’ and ‘Wild Alaska Escape: Juneau to Ketchikan’.
On the other hand, guests can receive free one-way airfares on ‘Treasures of the Inside Passage: Alaska & British Columbia’ and ‘A Remarkable Journey to Alaska, British Columbia & Haida Gwaii’.
P&O Cruises poised for record number of families with 2021 program
A record number of families will sail with P&O Cruises when Pacific Adventure joins the cruise line’s fleet next year, with the cruise line set to carry more than 200,000 people travelling in families or family groups after the 3000-guest ship’s arrival.
In a separate announcement, the cruise line revealed its 3000-guest ship Pacific Encounter will be based in Brisbane from November 2021.
P&O’s new 2021 summer program of itineraries will see Pacific Encounter offer 11 cruises until January 2022 including dedicated itineraries to the South Pacific Islands and Queensland coastal destinations.
The 2500-guest Pacific Explorer will also be based in Cairns for a summer season of four cruises in 2021, including a unique 10-night itinerary to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
With the season beginning on 9 November 2021, guests can also enjoy three dedicated cruises to Papua New Guinea, with the vessel calling at Alotau, Kitava Island, Rabaul, Kiriwina Island and the Conflict Islands.
Adventure Canada’s ‘Scotland Slowly’ savings
Rugged ruins, ancient villages, world-famous distilleries and whales are just some of the highlights of an Adventure Canada expedition voyage of Scotland in 2021.
Adventure Canada and Cruise Traveller are offering a 15 per cent early bird saving on the ‘Scotland Slowly’ cruise as well as a free night’s accommodation, meaning couples can save up to US$4,000 if they book by June 1, 2020.
Additionally, no solo supplement will be charged for single travellers in selected cabin categories, while offers are subject to availability.
Beginning on 13 June 2021, guests will enjoy a free night’s accommodation in Glasgow before boarding Adventure Canada’s 198-passenger, eco-friendly vessel, Ocean Endeavour, for a 10-night cruise from Glasgow to Aberdeen. The journey is available from US$7050 per person.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Cruise & Maritime Voyages cruise wrap lindblad expeditions msc MSC Virtuosa national geographic Vasco da GamaLatest News
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Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash
It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]
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SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024
AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]
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Journey Beyond launches first brand-led campaign during Paris Olympics
Journey Beyond is pushing the boundaries. On The Ghan, you can't even see them!
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Ascott Australia partners with Hotels for Trees
Hoteliers can take a 'Lyf' out of this book and improve their green credentials.
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Victoria’s TAC Top Tourism Town Award winners for 2024
Keep looking in our own backyard. There are plenty of places to go.
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Uniworld partners with Camilla Franks with Egyptian-inspired collection
We are in de-Nile about making puns combining Crocs and leopard prints, given this luxe partnership.
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Aussies at Paris Olympics anxious about travel risks, with incidents already recorded
Fortunately one of our biggest gold medal hopes still held onto his pedals.
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Banyan Tree Seaview Villas elevates Laguna Lang Co
If you've ever played golf in the tropics, start early. LIke way early. It's hot! Damn hot.
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Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales
Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]
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Wendy Wu unveils new Japan travel brochure and itineraries
Get outta town! Off-beat Japan will be a lot less congested we figure than the usual tourist hotspots.
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UK and Europe event organisers look to venues with sustainability integrity, ICC Sydney survey finds
Here in Sydney, you can even eat the table centrepieces. Although we advise they be cooked first.
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Renos Rologas new general manager ANZ for FCM Travel
Two decades in the travel game! Let's hope Renos is in for the long haul at FCM.
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Untamed Escapes to offer Cultural Day Tour from Port Lincoln in partnership with Maba Idi
International visitors travel thousands of kilometres for this experience. Time to share.
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Luxe Finish Line Penthouses offer the best vantage point for the finish of the Sydney-Hobart
Long have we been following the yachts leavings Sydney Harbour and one day, we will see the finish, from this place!
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In a busy world, proximity to nature is the new luxury
Forget Raffles, treat your nearest and dearest to a stay at the local campsite. They'll be super close to nature.
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Circular Quay welcomes new Korean dining experience to Sydney Place
We once took Korean-American chef David Chang around Koreatown, Eastwood. Not happy about driving rain, loved the food.
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MSC Cruises unveils a new outdoor kid-friendly attraction on World America
Drop your kid down the jaws of a shark and they come out 11 decks below. Sounds good to me.
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Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy
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Australian travellers abandon peer-to-peer stays and gravitate back to big hotels, survey finds
Doom scrolling Airbnb for the best-possible stay options two days out from departure was wearing us down, apparently.
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Quark Expeditions launches the Ultimate Summer in the Arctic sweepstakes for travel advisors
Summer in the Arctic still means it's freezing. But hopefully a winning sweepstakes tickets will warm your cockles.
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‘I bet it smells weird’ – Internet divided over floating restaurant in China
I you are still feeling peckish at the end of your meal, their fish tank is full. But can you eat koi?
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‘Turn up in the Northern Territory this Spring’ campaign deals
Agents and airlines get all hot and sweaty over these enticing deals. Or did someone just turn the air-conditioning up?
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‘Like nothing on earth’: Saudi Arabia’s new Treyam resort set in a Star Wars-style landscape
As long as Jar Jar Binks is not there, we would like a seat at the Mos Eisley Cantina please.
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Raffles Hotels and Resorts is set to open in Tokyo in 2028
Time to get your vision boards at the ready! Raffles is landing in Tokyo!
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‘A true honour’ – Andrew Stark wins Flight Centre Director’s Award for the second time
Congratulations Andrew! If you're a fan of British reality TV you might notice a familiar face.
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Club Med debuts travel agent portal 2.0 with bonus prize for tops sales
See those people by the pool. That could be you. Start selling through the portal people!
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Envoyage announces 2024 Australian Icons and rewards event in the Maldives
We were going to edit our name into the list but we chickened out.
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HIF Global signs collaboration agreement with Airbus on eFuels
We know it's a good thing but can a jet fuel geek out there send in a diagram explaining this please.
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Crystal announces release dates for 2026 itineraries
If you have started collecting 2026 itineraries then here is another one for you.
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Cairns Airport unveils display of support for FNQ youth
If you were craving some winter sun now you have a cultural reason for booking a flight to Cairns.
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Viking announces six new cruise itineraries
Now's the time to start learning Putonghua, Nihongo and Lhasa. Or maybe even know where these are spoken.
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Join Qatar Airways, Celebrity Cruises & Klook – Showcase Your Brand at Click Frenzy Travel August 2024!
Clicking calmly will also be welcome when it comes to this particular deal. Click calmly here to find out more.
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InsideAsia Tours launches new incentive that doubles agent commission
Double commission! We like the sound of that. Hope their system doesn't crash as a result.
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Push to revive Parramatta’s iconic Roxy Theatre into entertainment destination
Long have we wished for this iconic heritage cinema to be revived as a tourist destination. Still waiting.
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Qatar Airways signs an expansion to Boeing 777-9 aircraft order
Known as a quiet rural town in England, the entire global aviation industry now has its eyes on Farnborough.
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Flight Centre shares down following revised profit guidance
The stock market moves fast. What will the rest of the week hold for Flight Centre?