Cruise W E E K L Y
Tuesday 6 August 2013
NCL target more Australian guests Norwegian Cruise Line has launched a new website tailored to Australians with fares in AUD. With the number of Australian passengers on NCL ships doubling in the past two years, the company has stepped up its effort to assist local cruisers. Overnight, the line unveiled a dedicated new website - www.norwegiancruiseline.com.au featuring content tailored to the local market. For the first time, this new Australian version shows cruise fares in Australian dollars, a toll-free number that connects to NCL representatives, and an online check-in functionality. Full ship information and destination features are also available via the new platform,
replicating the content available on the line’s international websites. Passengers can also book shore excursions and purchase other cruise amenities in AUD, as well as make onboard dining and entertainment reservations. “We have seen significant growth in bookings from Australian guests over the past several years,” said Francis Riley, NCL’s vice president and general manager international. “Recognising this extraordinary growth, the launch of a dedicated website in Australia reinforces our commitment to the Australian market.” The new site will also simplify the job of your local travel agent, who can now book groups through its dedicated agent portal as well as access all the latest marketing materials, company updates and training programs available through the Norwegian Cruise Line University, or NCLU. “Launching an Australian website will help us communicate our brand message to a very large and receptive audience, provide a valuable resource to consumers and travel partners, and make Norwegian Cruise Line more accessible to Australian guests,” he added.
Tall Ship Festival boats arrive
featuring private game lodges, luxury rail & chobe river cruise safaris
2014 brochure out now
companion fly free just pay taxes from $845 per person* CALL 1300 278 278 or visit www.aptouring.com.au *Conditions apply. Contact APT for full terms & conditions. Australian Pacific Touring Pty Ltd ABN 44 004 684 619 Lic. No. 30112 MKT11972_CW
four traditionally rigged tall ships, named Oosterschelde, Tecla, Europa and Lord Nelson have arrived in Fremantle as part of a threemonth visit to Australia incorporating a series of Tall Ship Festivals around the country. The three Dutch and one British ship will be among 21 Tall Ships participating in six events across Australia and New Zealand, including the Royal Australian Navy’s International Fleet Review & the Sydney Auckland Tall Ship Regatta. See www.tallshipfestival2013.com for details.
Monaco packages on Windstar A FORMULA One themed cruise will be operated by Windstar Cruises to coincide with the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix. The voyage will be hosted by former F1 pit lane reporter John Bisignano, with passengers enjoying grandstand seating for both qualifying and the race on May 24 and 25. Operated by the 212-passenger Star Pride, the seven-night sailing will depart the Rome port of Civitavecchia on 21 May and will visit Portofino, Portovenere and Cannes on its way to Monte Carlo - to book, see your travel agent.
Carnival welcomes Shed 10 THE opening of Auckland’s new Shed 10 multi-use cruise terminal/conference centre has been welcomed by Carnival Australia ceo Ann Sherry. “New Zealand is one of the world’s most attractive cruise destinations and Auckland now has a cruise facility that will enhance the city’s popularity with both local and international cruise passengers,” Sherry said. Forecasts from Cruise New Zealand released recently show the country is set to reap nearly a NZ$330m windfall due to an expected jump of 20% in passenger numbers through cruising, which has been assisted by the new terminal. Sherry said the new terminal would help see NZ cruising continue from strength to strength. “The newly refurbished Queens Wharf precinct is a great investment in the future, which adds to Auckland’s lustre with the addition of a cruise facility in keeping with its position as a regional cruise hub,” she added.
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Tuesday 6 August 2013
Uniworld launches 2014 Asia cruises A new tour in China and earlybird discounts are now available in Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ latest program. Uniworld is offering discounts of up to $1200 per couple on all Yangtze and Mekong cruises next year for early bookings and full payment, as the line pushes for more Australian passengers in Asia. “Although Australians have made up only a small portion of in the grand scheme of things, we’re now seeing more past guests taking cruises in China and Vietnam,� John Molinaro, Uniworld’s general manager Australia, told Cruise Weekly. The savings also apply on a new 12-day cruise-tour, ‘Treasures of China & the Yangtze’, which bookends a four-day cruise on Century Paragon or Century Legend, with visits to Beijing and Shanghai – priced from $4,290 per person twin-share. “We’re taking a whole deck of balcony suites, exclusive to Uniworld guests, and they’ll also dine in the ship’s VIP restaurant,� Molinaro said. “We’re also focusing on dining ashore in China, with the chance to have special items such as dumplings in Shanghai, Peking duck in Beijing, and a family-hosted lunch.� On land, the luxury is extended to five-star accommodation at the Sofitel and Ritz-Carlton
in Beijing and the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai. “Because of the geographical size of China, you can’t do it all in a week or see it all by river, so we get you off the ships to places people want to see, like Mao’s Tomb, and do things like walking the Great Wall,� Molinaro continued. The “beautiful coffee table book� brochure also features cruises on the Mekong aboard the 58-passenger River Orchid. Fares include meals, wine and beer with dinners on the cruise, hotel accommodation, all transportation and transfers, guided excursions and the services of a Uniworld tour manager. Pay-in-full savings of up to $1,200 per couple on 2014 Asia cruises are valid until 31 October. Early booking savings of up to $600 per couple are also available to guests who pay a deposit at the time of reservation before 15 January next year. Contact a travel agent for more information or visit www.uniworldcruises.com.au.
Realm of the Polar Bear deals Bentours is offering 15% off selected 2014 departures of its Realm of the Polar Bear cruise itinerary, if booked before 31 Aug. The seven-night sailing on the MS Expedition cruises the Norwegian coast and the island of Spitsbergen, priced from $5,227pp twin share.
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DO YOU have some burning questions you would love answered by a cruise industry expert? If so, Cruise Weekly is here to help. We’ve enlisted the expertise of Holland America Line / Seabourn Director of Sales for Australia, Tony Archbold to put an end to your cruise related question quest. So, don’t be shy, you may have questions about safety at sea, shore excursions, food, tipping, booking or even specific Holland America Line or Seabourn ships. Whatever your questions are, we would like to help you answer them. Email your questions for Tony to expert@cruiseweekly.com.au
Drink up on new Costa Victoria AN ALL-INCLUSIVE drinks package is available to guests confirmed to sail on Costa Victoria by 07 Aug, sailing between 19 Nov - 02 Jan 2014. The special promotion has been launched to celebrate the upcoming renovation of the ship ahead of its Southeast Asia deployment. All cruises of seven nights or more in the valid dates are eligible for the drinks package.
Exclusive Russian river cruise A NEW river cruise itinerary along the Volga River from Moscow to Kazan and return in Russia has been launched, with local sales exclusively through Russian Travel Centre. The seven-night voyage is operated by the MS Gorky, with staterooms priced from $1,789 per person twin share. Connections to the famous Trans-Siberian railway are possible through the new itinerary as Kazan is located at one of the embarkation points of the journey. Phone 1300 668 844 for more information.
MIDDLE EAST & ASIA Discovery Cruising onVoyager
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cruise W E E K L Y
Tuesday 6 August 2013
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Explore the Washington coast The Majestic Line cruise deals UN-CRUISE Adventures has launched a new week-long itinerary exploring the inlets of Washington state on the US Pacific Northwest. The itinerary, dubbed Explore! Olympic Wilderness and San Juan Islands, will see 13 departures operated in two blocks between 05 Apr-03 May and 13 Sep-01 Nov next year by the 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer expedition vessel. MEANWHILE, later this week, Un-Cruise Adventures will officially christen its newest vessel - the 88 passenger SS Legacy, which will sail history themed cruises in Alaska and along the Pacific Northwest region of the country.
SCOTTISH small-ship cruise operator The Majestic Line is offering discounts of 10% on two six-night cruise departures in Oct this year. The deals are being promoted in line with “The Year of Natural Scotland” campaign being marketed by VisitScotland, aimed at promoting the country’s natural beauty and scenery. Loch Ness and the Isle of Mull can be visited individually as part of the voyages, along with a number of small towns and villages along the Scottish coast, with both cruises departing from Oban on 12 Oct and sailing aboard sixberth traditional vessels. For more information, CLICK HERE.
Port Review: Key West, U.S.A. By General Manager - Sales, Roger Condon MORE and more Aussies and Kiwis are finding that there’s a whole lot more to the USA east of the Californian border, especially on their 2nd and 3rd escapade to this great land. Cruisers are also flying those extra few hours from the West Coast to sunny Florida to experience a Caribbean cruise. The choice of cruise and ship options is mind-boggling when cruising the Caribbean. What you may not realise is that on some itineraries, there’s a great stop before you head further south towards those idyllic islands. Key West is a great place to visit and you’re still in Florida.
P O R T H O L E Here’s one way to beat a heatwave, although you may want to check with the local authorities first. Police patrolling the German town of Blauenthal on a particularly warm day were surprised when an open-top BMW vehicle drove past, filled to the brim with water with four men splashing about happily inside. Following the vehicle inquisitively, the police saw the occupants of the pool-mobile (below) hastily abandon their vehicle when they noticed the cops were following them. Police said they weren’t investigating the fact the car was full of water, but were more interested in the roadworthiness of the vehicle and whether the driver was intoxicated, which as it turns out, he was.
Key West offers a bucket load of reasons why it’s so appealing. (1) Your ship usually docks just a few steps from downtown. (2) The weather is hot and sunny.... most of the time. (3) It’s super easy to get around. (4) The atmosphere is always set on ‘fun’ mode. (5) There’s excellent water activities, including deep sea fishing and snorkelling. (6) The Old Town Trolley tour...so good because it’s delightful and only 90 mins long. (7) Great dining and interesting shopping. The moment you step off your ship’s gangway, you’re in central Key West. In-fact, your ship often docks just a few steps from Duval Street, the main shopping street, with many streets leading from it packed with things to do and see. Just strolling about Key West is pure joy. Make sure you escape the main street and take in the incredible colour of the Key West architecture. The blending of architectural styles is distinctively colloquial Key West, so make sure you look up and around and not just into shop windows. About town I would recommend the Old Town Trolley Tour. It’s short and shows you all the major sights. Among them is Ernest Hemingway’s Home and Museum (and all his cat’s descendants); the Harry S Truman Little Whitehouse, which was used as the White House during the Truman administration; Key West Aquarium and Key West Shipwreck Museum; and the gorgeous Audubon House & Tropical Gardens. If you’re here around dusk, Key West is renowned for stunning sunsets. For the culinary aficionados, one of my favourite restaurants is Louie’s Backyard.
Roger’s Quick Tips
Best Months: Jan - May
Don’t Miss: Strolling Key West streets, sunset
NINE officers and shipping company workers have been convicted by a Greek court on charges of negligence involving the sinking of Louis Hellenic Cruises’ Sea Diamond in 2007. Suspended sentences ranging in length from six months through to 12 years were handed out, with four other defendants acquitted. The vessel struck rocks off the coast of the Greek island of Santorini in Apr of that year, with 1,600 people on board, taking only a couple of hours to sink, with all but two of the passengers rescued.
Exclusive MSC sailing to Africa
Tour or Not: A mix of both or strolling is easy Sightseeing: Old Town Trolley Tour, Duval Street Food: Key Lime Pie... Incredible! Seafood Language: English Shopping: T-shirts, colourful souvenirs, local & Caribbean art Cash or Card: Credit Card and/or USD cash
Nine convicted over Diamond
Key West
By Roger Condon, General Manager - Sales, Discover the World Marketing - with 15 years at sea.
msc Cruises has released two exclusive voyages from Genoa, Italy to Cape Town, South Africa, to be operated by its MSC Opera and MSC Sinfonia vessels. The departures, scheduled for departure on 25 Oct and 11 Nov respectively, will visit a number of ports along the way and are priced from $1,339 per person.
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cruise W E E K L Y
Tuesday 6 August 2013
HAL’s Eurodam: Best of the Baltic by: Louise Goldsbury ITINERARY: Roundtrip from Copenhagen to Tallinn (Estonia), St Petersburg (Russia), Helsinki (Finland), Stockholm (Sweden), Rostock (Berlin) and Kiel (Germany). Best port: St Petersburg An overnight stay in Russia was the major drawcard of this Northern Europe cruise. The opulence of the palaces and monuments is juxtaposed with blocks of Communist-looking housing; Neva River brims with life, from hydrofoils on the water, to locals sunbathing on the shore. Best shore excursion: Evening at the Hermitage The State Hermitage Museum can be a crowded nightmare, with long queues to see the most popular art, but Eurodam passengers get exclusive after-hours access to this incredible gallery, with the largest collection of paintings in the world. It’s your own night at the museum, when all the other tourists have been kicked out. By booking a ship’s tour, Holland America also takes care of the Russian visas (at cheaper cost than organising it in Australia). Best bar (night): BB King Blues Club This is no tribute band – these guys are the real deal. Eight singers and musicians from Memphis, belting out the blues, jamming the dancefloor until closing. Five nights a week, this gig in the Queen’s Lounge is so popular that it’s standing room at the back, and more passengers sitting at the next nearest bar within earshot. By far, the best live music of any ship I’ve sailed on. The rumour is that Holland America Line is bringing them to Australia on one of its ships this summer.
BB Kings Blues Club band
Best bar (day): Sea View Bar In late afternoons after a long day in port, sit back on your deck chair, soak up the sun, listen to the live music, while waiters bring the drinks to you. Best restaurant: Tamarind How to choose between an entrée of “streetside pot stickers” (dumplings) or a satay sampler of lamb pork, beef, chicken and prawn? And a dessert of “mango cloud” (soufflé on sorbet) or chocolate fortune cookie? Mains are divided into the Chinese elements: fire (spicy dishes), water (seafood), earth (vegetarian) & perhaps stretching the theme, wood (duck served on an oak plank). Best quiet spot: Silk Den Hidden away on the Observation Deck, you may have the place to yourself during the day. In the evenings, the bar opens, but with very few customers trekking up there, you can enjoy a cheeky cocktail in peace. The bartender specialises in Asian-themed saké-tinis. Best sailaway: Stockholm Not only is this Swedish port beautiful, the passage through the archipelago is so narrow that you won’t believe how close the ship has to sail past the islands. Breathtaking in every way. Passenger mix: Of the 2,022 guests, only 50 were children, and about half were in their 50’s and 60’s. Most are American and Canadian, with Australians the next largest contingent. Bookings: Call 1300 987 322, see www.hollandamerica.com.au or contact a travel agent.
Church on Spilled Blood, Russia
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Night at the museum
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