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Gold Coast cruise terminal to go ahead Not only will the project proceed, says the mayor, the city may end up with two or three cruise ship terminals. MAYOR Tom Tate has no doubt in his mind: cruising is coming to the Gold Coast. In an interview with Cruise Weekly, Tate confirmed that the plan to build cruise ship facilities on Wavebreak Island was “full steam ahead”, despite the withdrawal of a Singaporean developer. According to media reports on the weekend, Sembawang scrapped its bid for the $4.9 billion “super resort” on Wavebreak Island, which was proposed to include two cruise ship terminals (as pictured at right), but Tate clarified that the project was yet to go out to international tender. “Just because Sembawang pulled out doesn’t mean it’s all over,” the mayor said. “The race hasn’t even started – we’re writing the tender documentation now and will hopefully have it out by the end of the year. “My prediction is we’ll have ten serious tenderers and it will definitely go ahead.” Tate also suggested that another cruise ship terminal could be built at a second location on The Spit. “Wavebreak is one option but it may take until 2018 and I don’t want to wait that long, so I’m also planning a cheaper option, just north of SeaWorld Nara, which is very doable,” he said. “One terminal could be used for ‘boutique’ small ships and we could have the megaliners at the other one.” The proposed Gold Coast terminal, or terminals, would be used for transit not
turnarounds, meaning cruises would not start or finish in the city. “We don’t want to be a home port as the infrastructure is too expensive and we’re not going to be competing with Brisbane,” Tate said. Meanwhile, Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry has advised that the Gold Coast would be added to several of its itineraries if a terminal was ready by September 2015 and the dredging was sufficient.
CRUISE Weekly would like to welcome our Expert for the month of September, Aleisha Fittler, Scenic Tours General Manager of Product for Europe and Canada. Every week we will be calling for questions from our readers which we will pass on for Aleisha to answer. So if you have a burning river cruise question, be sure to email it to us at expert@cruiseweekly.com.au. For Aleisha’s answers click on the Facebook link at the end of each question or visit facebook.com/cruiseweekly. Q1 from Margo Johnson: Do Scenic ships carry bikes. And if so how many are onboard and do you have to reserve them? Q2 from Sebastian Armstrong: Are there kid friendly itineraries with Scenic? Also, are there adult only itineraries?
“It’s still early days, but based on the assurances of the Mayor, we are considering the Gold Coast for both our local fleet and the international brands that visit each year,” Sherry said. A Carnival Australia spokesperson also told Cruise Weekly that it was providing Gold Coast Council with operational details for the P&O Cruises fleet, Diamond Princess and Queen Mary 2, “so that the ships can be put through a simulator activity to ensure the Gold Coast channel can accommodate them”.
New chief for Princess PRINCESS Cruises’ new Commercial Director for Australia has officially taken the reins, with Alan Stuart to be based at the Carnival Australia offices in Sydney. He replaces Stan Birge, who has returned to the USA to take up the new position of Vice President North America for Cunard Line.
Email your questions for Aleisha to expert@cruiseweekly.com.au
Voyager 2013 program VOYAGES of Discovery has launched the 2013 itineraries of its mv Voyager which will see the vessel return after a major refurbishment. Destinations on offer include the Baltic, British Isles, Ireland and France along with the Mediterranean, with the 550 passenger vessel maintaining the philosophy of a “small ship cruising experience”. For more info see the last page of CW today.
TODAY’S ISSUE OF CW Today’s issue of Cruise Weekly features five pages of the latest cruise news, plus a full page from Voyages of Discovery detailing the 2013 programs on mv Voyager.
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Cruise Calendar Cruise Weekly’s cruise calendar details upcoming port calls of passenger cruise ships at various destinations in Australia. SYDNEY Pacific Jewel BRISBANE Pacific Dawn
Wed 26 Sep
Sat 29 Sep
Arison to speak at WTM CARNIVAL Corporation ceo Micky Arison has been confirmed as making a rare public appearance at the upcoming World Travel Market which takes place in London in early November this year. He’ll take part in a Cruise Debate looking back at the tumultuous events of 2012.
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Cruise VIPs visit Australian ports International cruise line executives are inspecting the nation’s key ports this week to help decide where to send ships in the future. FOR the first time, Tourism Australia, Qantas and Cruise Down Under (CDU) have joined forces to showcase the highlights of every state to cruising’s major decision-makers. The contingent includes senior US and UK representatives from Silversea, Seabourn, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line and Oceania/Prestige Holdings. One year in the planning, the concept of a large-scale group familiarisation trip to Australia was first floated at the Cruise Shipping Miami conference.
Royal Caribbean International to drop Dubai cruises ROYAL Caribbean has confirmed that it will suspend its operations in Dubai after the upcoming 2012/13 winter season which is to be operated by Serenade of the Seas. According to a report in cruise industry magazine Seatrade Cruise Review, the company will also modify its Serenade season to a shorter series of 11 seven-night voyages from Dubai to Fujairah, Muscat and Abu Dhabi, with the season commencing 28 Jan 2013. Serenade is due for a makeover after its Dubai deployment, and will then be redeployed to New Orleans for the following winter season 2013/14. Royal Caribbean International’s regional director, Helen Beck, said the move followed sliding demand for the Dubai cruises. “We were initially very pleased with the business development there and expected continued growth; however the demand has declined in recent seasons and as a result we have had to make some difficult decisions, driven by strategic and financial considerations, about discontinuing our program there,” she was quoted as saying. Brilliance of the Seas, which is being replaced in Dubai for the upcoming season, has operated in Dubai since 2008/09 and last year carried around 40,000 passengers during its Middle East deployment.
CDU chairman Chris White told Cruise Weekly they invited the world’s most influential executives who are responsible for deployment and itinerary decisions. “They jumped at the idea of coming to Australia,” she said. “Our over-riding objective is to bring more cruise ships to Australia and to ensure that those ships call at both existing and new ports and destinations.” The week-long event commenced on Sunday with a lunch hosted by Sydney Ports, followed by an evening cocktail function at the Park Hyatt, which was also attended by Minister for Tourism Martin Ferguson. The group has since fanned out across country on separate tours of port facilities, shore excursions and pre- and post-cruise touring opportunities. White said it was “quite a logistical exercise” to host the eight executives. “CDU partnered with Tourism Australia and Qantas and it is this strong relationship that has enabled the eight individually tailored itineraries to be developed. “The State and Territory tourism organisations have been fantastic as they put together amazing itineraries to demonstrate the very best Australia has to offer.” The “cruise VIPs” will return home this weekend, White said.
Last Minute Deals This weekly column highlights hot deals on cruises departing soon – ideal for our spontaneous readers. Check out this week’s cruise bargain: 17-night Mediterranean to Red Sea Odyssey Fly-Cruise package • From: $3,835pp • Departs: 26 October 2012 • Visits: Venice, Santorini, Athens, Montenegro, Turkey, Suez Canal, Egypt and much more. • Includes: All meals and entertainment on board, Captain’s cocktail party and gala dinner, port charges, service charges, airport and fuel taxes, and return economy airfares with Emirates. • Contact: www.msccruises.com.au
Website: www.cruiseweekly.com.au | Phone: 1300 799 220 | Fax: 1300 799 221 | Email: info@cruiseweekly.com.au
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Industry announces more safety action THE global cruise industry has announced the adoption of another safety policy, addressing issues relating to the loading of lifeboats by crew members. US peak body Cruise Lines International Association, and the European Cruise Council, said the new policy exceeds international regulatory requirements, and is an outcome of the Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review which was introduced in January this year following the Costa Concordia disaster. The Life Boat Loading for Training Purposes policy ensures that crew members are fully conversant with lifeboat operations, requiring the launching and full loading of a lifeboat at least once every six months for crew training. During the training exercise the lifeboat is to be filled to capacity with crew members and maneuvered in the water “to facilitate familiarisation with lifeboat operations”.
Cruising with the Ambassador RUSSIAN Travel Centre is promoting a special voyage on the Lower Volga in September next year, featuring Tony Brenton as guest lecturer. Passengers will be able to gain unique insights into Russia and its relationships with the West, because Brenton was Britain’s Ambassador to Russia from 2004-2008. His presentations willl include unique insider knowledge of Russian politics, as well as details of the country’s unique history and culture. The 100-passenger Volga Dream will journey down the Volga River for 13 days, taking in exotic locations such as Kazan (the capital of the Tatarstan Republic), the Space Museum in Samara, Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) and Astrakhan with the fortress of Ivan the Terrible. For more information call 1300 668 844 or see www.eetbtravel.com.
CLIA and the ECC said it was mandatory that all crew members involved in operating or loading of lifeboats attend the drill. “The cruise industry continues to work on a global level to improve the safety of passengers and crew, which is our number one priority,” said Christine Duffy, President and ceo of CLIA. “Since January of this year, and in keeping with our efforts to continuously improve operational excellence, the global cruise industry has voluntarily adopted seven wideranging safety policies. “We remain fully committed to exploring further enhancements in a number of areas that will add to the industry’s excellent safety record,” she added. MEANWHILE Carnival Corporation has appointed Tom Strang as senior vice president of maritime development and compliance, covering safety operations for the Costa Cruises,AIDA and Iberocruceros brands.
Moorings price promise LUXURY yacht charter specialist The Moorings has announced a new Price Promise program, under which it undertakes that if the cost of a customers’ sail, power or luxury private cruise charter decrease in price at any time up to 30 days before departure they will be reimbursed with benefits equal in value. Benefits on offer include water toys, food and beverage options or yacht upgrades, with the move aiming to encourage cruisers to book their voyages early. The Price Promise coincides with the launch of The Moorings 2013 holiday brochures, which also allow flexible charter dates under which customers can make changes to their reservation up to 90 days prior to departure with no amendment fees.
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3 2 5 7 + 2 / ( CRUISERS wanting a really unique experience should consider getting into position to view the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse, which will only be visible in its full glory from off the Queensland coast. The Great Barrier Reef is the place to be from 5.45am to 7.40am on Wed 14 November when the dawn will be completely obscured during the eclipse. Fortunately, the Whitsundays luxury motor yacht DescaradA 2 is still available for booking on that date - so be quick and call 02 9699 2214 or see descarada.com.au. SOCIAL media is everywhere - and you can’t even escape it on a cruise. Norwegian Cruise Line is promoting a special “social media cruise” - naturally using the Twitter hashtag #SeaTweetup. Major sponsors of activities during the Caribbean voyage include the Bahamas Ministry of tourism (@VisitTheBahamas), beer supplier Miller Coors (@MillerCoors), and the Epic Kimpton Hotel in Miami (@KimptonInFl). Fortunately #SeaTweetup passengers will also receive free internet minutes while on board, courtesy of Norwegian and MTN Satellite Communications.
Thieving cruiser walks plank ROYAL Caribbean kicked a passenger off an Explorer of the Seas cruise in Bermuda after he admitted to stealing more than $2500 worth of spa products. Bermuda’s Royal Gazette newspaper said the man had only boarded the ship two days earlier, and had pinched the items when he was left unsupervised in the spa for a period after a massage with his wife. Apparently the passenger also stole an onboard Sea Pass card from one of his fellow cruisers,which he used to purchase cologne from an on-board boutique. Police boarded the ship when it arrived in Bermuda and searched the man’s cabin, where the stolen items were discovered. At a court hearing the man’s lawyer explained that he had an “impulse control disorder” which gave him the urge to steal.
Website: www.cruiseweekly.com.au | Phone: 1300 799 220 | Fax: 1300 799 221 | Email: info@cruiseweekly.com.au
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Did You Know? Evergreen Tours ♦ Evergreen Tours has been operating for over 32 years and has toured over 60,000 travellers.
♦ The average age of an Evergreen Tours traveller is 59 years old.
Follow us on: Just one click away from keeping up to date with all the breaking news as it comes to hand...
Book for Europe now
Bad report for Veendam
TRAVELMARVEL is reminding prospective European river cruisers for 2013 that 30 November is the booking deadline for the free return air fares deal on its voyages between Amsterdam and Budapest next year. The deal applies to nine itineraries including a range of small group land extensions to Italy, Croatia, France, Switzerland and more. A 15-day Classical Europe cruise starts at $6190 - more info from your travel agent.
HOLLAND America Line’s ms Veendam failed its most recent vessel sanitation inspection conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Inspection. Veendam scored 77 out of 100 during the annual surprise examination, with a score of 86 considered as a passing grade. The report, now available on the www.cdc.gov website, cites a range of infractions including a number of refrigerators and dishwashers needing repair, a cook with facial hair doing food preparation without wearing a beard restraint, and some issues relating to food storage. The 1350 passenger ship has passed each of its previous 32 tests, receiving a score of 93 on its most recent examination in April this year. Holland America said the score “resulted largely from one area of the ship’s overall operation. “All the issues raised in the report were immediately addresed and have now been corrected,” the company said. “We have also ensured that our management and training practices in this area have been refocused to ensure continued success,” the formal statement added.
♦ On an Evergreen Tours river cruise the company uses 6kgs of coffee every morning as well as 1300 eggs per week.
♦ An estimated 90 postcards are sold in the boutique shop per cruise.
Titanic result for Belfast THE Belfast Harbour Authority has proven that “it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good,” after a huge year of Titanic-related tourism, a century after the original disaster. A record of almost 80,000 passengers and crew on board 44 cruise ships have visited the Northern Ireland port this year. A key drawcard has been the Titanic Belfast attraction which opened on 31 March.
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Prime position for the Captain CAPTAIN Cook Cruises is offering a special New Years Eve cruise on Sydney Harbour, with its MV Captain Cook III one of an exclusive group of vessels to be given an ideal spot to view the NSW capital’s famous fireworks. The deal is priced at $890 per person including a seafood buffet, open bar of still and sparkling wine and a DJ, but if you book now you can make a big saving via an earlybird offer of $699pp - 20% off. The prime location is the result of the ship being selected as one of the Ten Best Dressed Vessels for the 2012 Harbour of Light Parade by Sydney City Council - captaincook.com.au.
A 7 NIGHT COSTA CRUISE FOR 2!
Over part of September and October, Cruise Weekly is giving one lucky reader the chance to win a 7 night cruise, courtesy of Costa Cruises. This amazing prize is valued at over $4,000 and includes a 7 night cruise on board Costa Victoria from Singapore to Malaysia and Thailand in an Ocean-view Premium twin cabin. Costa Cruises has been operating for over 60 years and offers the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine. Relax in the sun, shop up a storm in designer fashion boutiques, or be treated to exclusive entertainment, including the world’s most renowned Michael Jackson impersonator! To win this dream holiday, send in the most creative response in 50 words or less to the question below.
Why do you want to win this dream holiday on Costa Cruises? Email your answer to costa@cruiseweekly.com.au
Visit www.costacruises.com.au for more info.
Click here for Terms and Conditions Website: www.cruiseweekly.com.au | Phone: 1300 799 220 | Fax: 1300 799 221 | Email: info@cruiseweekly.com.au
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App, app and sail away! by: Louise Goldsbury Got an iPhone or iPad? Load it up with these handy apps, which I’ve hand-picked especially for cruisers from Australia and New Zealand.
Cruise Countdown (free)
Marine: Australia & New Zealand ($15.99)
If you’re one of those very excitable travellers who counts down the days until your next cruise, this ticker takes it to a whole new level, counting down the minutes and seconds! Just enter your cruise code and it works out the timing automaticallY. Also includes maps of each deck on your ship, a dayby-day itinerary, and plenty of other information and photos. Best of all, it’s compatible with all the major locally based cruise lines.
Contains the largest database of marine points of interest and all kinds of technical information about cruising destinations: vector charts, tides, currents, wind, sun/moon cycle, and thousands of georeferenced magazine articles and cruising guides from publications around the globe. Arriving at a new location? Tap “Nearby” to learn more from the experts who’ve been there. Also allows route planning, tracking, waypoints and markers, so you can analyse details such as estimated time of arrival. Then share your routes and geo-tagged photos on Facebook, Twitter or email. New content is available every day – pay once to have it fresh forever.
Cruise Cam ($1.99) Updated last month, this is an amazing collection of cameras on ships and in ports around the world. Look up your favourite destination to see a webcam image of the harbour, or check out where your favourite ship is sailing today. Watch vessels pass through the Panama Canal or see which ship is docked at your local terminal, without having to leave your house. The pictures are static, but still fascinating.
Cruise Card Control ($1.99) Designed to save you money on board your ship, this app allows you to create categories and keep track of how much you spend on everything from cocktails to shore excursions. And because it functions independently of your mobile and data network, you can use it without racking up a big phone bill. Handy for checking that your account is correct at the end of the cruise, or to simply avoid ‘bill shock’. Also includes a countdown clock.
Cruise Weekly is Australia’s favourite online cruising publication. In production since 2007, Cruise Weekly is published each Tuesday, with a further travel industry update each Thursday. Cruise Weekly is free and is sent to subscribers via email as an Adobe Acrobat PDF document. Sign up for a free subscription at www.cruiseweekly.com.au. PO Box 1010, Epping, NSW 1710 Phone: 1300 799 220 Fax: 1300 799 221
Berlitz Cruise Ships 2013 ($10.49) The latest Berlitz bible is out now, two weeks before the book version hits the shelves, packed full of reviews, ratings and statistics of 284 cruise ships. It also features the six new ships debuting next year and a wider range of expedition vessels. The app allows you to quickly narrow down your cruise ship search by preference, and find out which ships are best for families, mature couples, solo travellers and explorers. Also contains a lot of practical advice and very frank answers to frequently asked questions.
Cruise Tycoon ($1.99) Ever wondered what it would be like to run your own cruise line? This game lets you can create new routes and sailing schedules, buy new ships and employ new crew. Have fun building your empire!
Publisher/Managing Editor: Bruce Piper Editor: Louise Goldsbury Assistant Editor: Amanda Collins Contributors: Roderick Eime and Chantel Long Email: info@cruiseweekly.com.au Cruise Weekly is part of the Travel Daily Group:
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Cruise Weekly is a publication of Cruise Weekly Pty Ltd. All content fully protected by copyright. Please obtain written permission to reproduce any material. While every care has been taken in the preparation of Cruise Weekly no liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. Information is published in good faith to stimulate independent investigation of the matters canvassed. Responsibility for editorial comment is taken by Bruce Piper.
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ES I R E OV E
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British Isles and the Chelsea Flower Show Portsmouth to Portsmouth 11 nights departing 14 May 2013
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* terms and conditions – Fares listed are in AUD, per person twin share based on Inside Cabins as at 18 September 2012 and include non-commissionable port taxes, government fees and gratuities. Subject to availability, are capacity controlled and can be withdrawn without prior notice. Full details can be found in Voyages of Discovery 2013 Cruise Collection brochure.
For more information contact your Travel Agent or call 02 9959 1381 | www.voyagesofdiscovery.com