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15 new ships to debut in 2010 This year will see the debut of 15 newly built ships – including the world’s (other) biggest liner and many mind-blowing features never before seen on the seas. 2010 is a big year for cruising, with more new-build vessels to be launched this year than last year, and even fewer on order for next year. First off the docks is the Costa Deliziosa, which will also be the first ever cruise ship to be christened in the Middle East. The naming ceremony will take place in Dubai on 23 February during the ship’s inaugural cruise. According to Costa Cruises, the 92,700 GRT, 2828-passenger Deliziosa will have a 4-D cinema, Grand Prix racing car simulator and exclusive spa suites, and will sail via Oman and the United Arab Emirates. In March, MSC Cruises will kick off a series of Mediterranean voyages onboard the 86,600-tonne, 2550-passenger MSC Magnifica, before it repositions to New York for the line’s first season of Canada and New England cruises, and Caribbean cruises. In the luxury small ships category, French line Compagnie du Ponant will reveal the alloutside cabin, 264-passenger yacht Le Boreal in May, with itineraries to Europe, US, Canada, Caribbean, Amazon River, Antarctica and South America.
Seabourn’s 450-passenger Sojourn, to be named in the UK in June, will offer summer sailings in Europe, including some rivers, and winter sailings in the Caribbean. The most innovative new ship, scheduled for completion by June, is NCL’s 153,000 GRT, 4200-passenger Norwegian Epic. Special features include an Aqua Park with three waterslides, an ice bar, extra-large rockclimbing wall, rappelling wall, 14 restaurants and the largest private villa complex at sea. The year’s other exciting launches are Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, due in October, and Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas – the almost identical sister of the world’s biggest cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas – due in December. There will be three new river vessels – Avalon Waterways’ Felicity and Luminary, and AMA Waterways’ Amabella. Other new ships for 2010 include Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam, Sea Cloud Cruises’ Sea Cloud Hussar, German cruise line AIDA’s AIDAblu, Celebrity Cruises’ Southampton-based Celebrity Eclipse and, also in the UK, P&O Cruises’ Azura. Locally, P&O will unveil its fourth superliner in the Australia/New Zealand region – the 11-deck Pacific Pearl, sailing from Auckland to the South Pacific islands – at the end of the year. * See Cr uise W eekl Cruise Weekl eeklyy next month for an onboar d rreview eview of the first new ship for onboard 2010, Costa Del iziosa. Deliziosa. Norwegian Epic is pictured here taking her bow
Sneak a peek at Deliziosa COSTA CRUISES HAS LAUNCHED A NEW WEBSITE allowing Aussie cruise aficionado’s to sneak a peek onboard its newest vessel, Costa Deliziosa, before her world-first Dubai christening in February. Featuring video interviews with Deliziosa’s captain and crew, the website also offers visitors to browse through exclusive ship photo’s and information, as well as view her brochure and learn about her new innovations- including her 4D cinema and roller skating track. Designed as a user-friendly ‘get to know the ship’ guide, the website is easy to navigate and its menu includes subcategories such as ‘Total Wellbeing’, ‘Life Onboard’, ‘Art’, ‘Magical Nights’, ‘Destinations’, ‘Delighting your Palate’ and ‘Maximum Comfort’. See www.deliziosa.costacruises.com.au.
cruise weekly Tuesday 12 January 2010
TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2010
www.cruiseweekly.com.au Ph: 1300 799 220 Fax: 1300 799 221 Email: info@cruiseweekly.com.au Editors: Louise Goldsbury & Bruce Piper
TODAY’S CRUISE WEEKLY Happy New Year cruisers, and welcome to uise W eekl the first issue of Cr Cruise Weekl eeklyy for 2010! CW is looking forward to the year ahead and all its yet to be discovered cruise news and innovations - as the world warms to a new ‘golden era’ of sea-faring voyages! Today’s CW issue features four pages packed with the latest cruise news and photos.
&58,6( & $/(1'$5 Each week Cruise Weekly summarises which ships are in town.
SYDNEY Sil ver Whisper Silver
Sun 17 Jan
Pacific Jewel
Tue 19 Jan
MELBOURNE Sil ver Whisper Silver
Thu 14 Jan
BRISBANE Pacific Sun
Sun 17 Jan
FREMANTLE Athena
Fri 15 Jan
Athena
Mon 18 Jan
The W orl d Worl orld
Tue 19 Jan
ADELAIDE True North
Fri 15 Jan
BURNIE Sil ver Whisper Silver
Wed 13 Jan
HOBART Sil ver Whisper Silver
Tue 12 Jan
Nautica
Wed 13 Jan
AUCKLAND Rhapsod Rhapsodyy of the Seas
Tue 12 Jan
Diamond P rincess Princess
Sat 16 Jan
WELLINGTON
Juilliard Jazz hits QMII TOP STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS FROM THE Juilliard School- one of the world’s most prestigious performing arts conservatories, have been secured to perform a series of spectacular jazz performances onboard the Queen Mary II for selected 2010 eastbound transatlantic crossings- as part of a new partnership between Cunard Cruise Lines and the School. Hot on the heels of last year’s successful QM2 Juilliard performance by trumpet player Jumaane Smith, the performances will take place in the Royal Court Theatre.
Rhapsod Rhapsodyy of the Seas
Fri 15 Jan
Dawn P rincess Princess
Sun 17 Jan
Nautica
Tue 19 Jan
Cl ipper Od yssey Clipper Odyssey
Tue19 Jan
NAPIER Rhapsod Rhapsodyy of the Seas
Thu 14 Jan
Dawn P rincess Princess
Mon 18 Jan
TAURANGA Rhapsod Rhapsodyy of the Seas
Wed 13 Jan
Diamond P rincess Princess
Fri 15 Jan
Diamond P rincess Princess
Sun 17 Jan
Dawn P rincess Princess
Tue 19 Jan page 1
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THIS WEEK AT SEA ... SEA... THE summer break has been a busy time for cruising in Australia – and I was lucky enough to be invited onto a few ships while they docked in Sydney. Unfortunately I never succeeded as a stowaway, but I plan to sail on several cruises this year to provide our readers with my first-hand impressions. I was particularly interested to check out The World (featured on page 3), which is currently circumnavigating the country. She’s always intrigued me because people actually live on the ship and use it as their home; and many also work onboard, thanks to the wonders of technology. Her first trip down under in three years, The World has already called in at about 15 Australian ports and still has the West and Kimberley coasts to go. What makes The World special is the sense of community because many people stay onboard for months at a time. They have dinner parties and invite the neighbours; they explore destinations together; they get takeaway from the deli and eat in front of the TV. The feeling is much more like a collection of homes, with each apartment designed differently, according to the owners’ tastes. It was fascinating to peek inside these decadent apartments, some of which were as big as houses! On Friday I looked around Oceania Nautica, which is classified as mid-size but feels as intimate as a much smaller ship. Nautica’s décor is neo-classical and certainly luxurious, with an impressive art collection, and I can vouch for the sensational cuisine and wines in the main dining room. Unusually for this class of vessel, there are no surcharges for its specialty restaurants. She was a delight to walk around, and fully-booked for her cruise to Melbourne, Hobart and New Zealand. Next week I’m having lunch on Silversea’s Silver Whisper and then an evening under the stars on the Kimberley Quest. At the end of the month I’m off to Italy for a five-day preview sailing on the new Costa Deliziosa – a week before her official maiden cruise. It’s only January and already looking like a great new year! I hope you enjoy sharing the journey with me – and please email me about your own adventures on the seas. Louise Gol Gold sburyy dsbur eekl itor uise W Editor itor,, Cr Cruise Weekl eeklyy Ed
cruise weekly Tuesday12 January 2010
Future Orion II out of service Clelia II, the ship to be renamed Orion II next year, has been withdrawn from service for repairs after an accident in the Antarctic Peninsula.
The port engine was used to drive Clelia II off the rocks and a full systems check was conducted.
The luxury expedition vessel, Clelia II, has cancelled voyages until at least 18 January following a collision that damaged a propeller. The ship hit rocks at Petermann Island, Penola Strait in the Antarctic Peninsula where a passenger landing was due to take place. A “stronger than expected” southerly current has been blamed for the Boxing Day crash. Sarina Bratton, Orion Expedition Cruises, which plans to charter and rename Clelia II next year, told CW that the incident would not affect the future Orion II. “It’s unfortunate but it’s not fatal to the ship, so it doesn’t affect us – we don’t take delivery of her until May 2011,” she said. Bratton said she was in close contact with the vessel’s owners, New York-based Travel Dynamics Internationall. “They are currently assessing how many propellers were damaged and if there was any damage to the shaft, but I think she’ll be out for a while,” Bratton said. In a statement, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators said that the impact resulted in the shutdown of the starboard engine and the loss of electrical power aboard the ship.
Clelia II’s captain immediately notified the nearest IAATO ship – Corinthian II, which arrived within an hour and attached a stern line to the bow to stabilise the vessel. Expedition staff proceeded with the landing for 53 passengers using power from the back-up generator. When the port engine was confirmed to be fully operational and normal electrical power was restored, the line to Corinthian II was released. Clelia II returned to Ushuaia, Argentina, escorted by Corinthian II, before going into dry dock. The subsequent sailing, scheduled for 29 December 2009 - 08 January 2010, and a second expedition, on 8-18 January 2010 were cancelled. Any further cancellations will be announced after the inspection is complete. Meanwhile, the ship’s first voyage as Orion II has had a “phenomenal response”, Bratton said. The maximum 100 passengers have placed $1000 deposits while a further 200 are shortlisted for the cruise. “We’re working really hard on getting the itineraries together and we’ll be releasing info in late February,” Bratton said.
“It’s unfortunate, but it’s not fatal to the ship - so it doesn’t affect us - we don’t take delivery of her until May 2011.”
The Sun remembers the ocean’s fallen Hundreds of passengers onboard Pacific Sun recently paused for two minutes as part of a remembrance service to commemorate the 645 Aussie lives that were lost onboard the battle cruiser HMAS Sydney, after an epic WWII clash with the German raider Kormaron. The service took place on Pacific Sun’s deck, and was held at the exact spot where the HMAS Sydney’s wreck was found off the West Australian Coast in March 08 after 67 years of lying silent and unbeknown at the bottom of the ocean. Led by Pacific Sun’s captain, Trevor Lane, the service of remembrance included the hauntingly poignant Naval Ode to the Fallen, and was collaboratively developed with Exservice groups in Western Australia. page 2
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Last Minute Deals
THIS WEEKLY COLUMN HIGHLIGHTS HOT DEALS ON cruises departing in the next 90 days – ideal for our spontaneous readers. Check out this week’s cruise bargains! 10 night – New Y ork rroundtrip oundtrip onboar d York onboard Nor wegian Gem Norwegian • Departs: 24 January 2010 • From: $3,199 per person • Stops at San Juan (Puerto Rico), St Thomas (Virgin Islands), Antigua, St Maarten (Netherlands Antilles) and Tortola (Virgin Islands) • Includes return economy flights from Sydney to New York, one night precruise accommodation and all onboard meals and entertainment, plus taxes and gratuities •See www.ecruising.travel. 14 nights – R oundtrip fr om Syd ney to Roundtrip from Sydney NZ onboar d Rhapsod onboard Rhapsodyy of the Seas • Departs: 21 January 2010 • From: $3,014 per person • Stops in Bay of Islands, Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound • Includes cruise, taxes and onboard meals • See www.eseacruising.com.au. 7 nights – R oundtrip fr om Dubai Roundtrip from onboar d Bril onboard Brilll iance of the Seas • Departs: 15 February 2010 • From $2,799 per person • Stops in Dubai, Muscat (Oman), Fujairah (UAE), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Mina Sulman (Bahrain) • Includes return economy flights to Dubai from Sydney/ Melbourne/ Brisbane, 1 night pre-cruise accom & all onboard meals and entertainment •See www.ecruising.travel.
Dawn at Casablanca PRINCESS CRUISES HAS CONFIRMED THAT DAWN Princess’ 2011 world voyage, departing from Sydney, will include a whopping 12 maiden stops to exciting ports including Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Ashdod (Jerusalem), Bergen (Norway), Cartagena (Colombia), Casablanca (Morocco), Dover (UK), Edinburgh (Scotland), Glasgow (Scotland), Lisbon (Portugal), Fort Lauderdale (US), Petra (Jordan) and Puntarenas (Costa Rica). Dawn Princess’ 2011 world voyage fares start from $20,799, whilst the shorter 51night sector from Dover to Sydney starts at $9,499pp.
cruise weekly Tuesday 12 January 2010
EXPLORE THE KIMBERLEY
How to rent a residence on The World By Louise Goldsbury Cr uise W eekl Cruise Weekl eeklyy was one of the lucky few outsiders granted access to The World in Australia – and as these photos reveal, this is a ship that could pass for a luxury apartment. The World is different from other cruise ships – she has “residents” (not passengers) who own the “residences” (not cabins) and they live (not travel) onboard. What is not widely known is that the owners can only stay on the ship for nine months per year – legally they have to live on land for at least three months. Some pop on and off, staying only a few weeks in total. This means that the rest of the time, anybody with enough money can “rent” one of the 165 apartments and experience the true meaning of life at sea. The residences are surprisingly large and decadent, ranging from studios to threebedders. Some turn the third bedroom into a study and conduct their Million dollar sea views from the comfort of a businesses on the ship; others convert it into a walk-in wardrobe. residential lounge room! The ship has the usual features such as restaurants and bars, a small casino, day spa, library, games room, kids club, two pools, a gym, jogging The World out to sea track, mini-golf course and a fullsize tennis court. There’s also a grocery store and deli to pick up some take-away if you feel like “eating in”. Nightly shows and nightclub dancefloors are non-existent – people leave the ship for that kind of entertainment when they arrive in port – but karaoke is popular in the lounge. Residents come from about 40 different countries, mainly the US, but there are several Australian owners too, and the average age is only in the mid-40s. To purchase, prices start at US$1.5 million to more than US$7 million, plus management fees of another few hundred thousand – annually. The minimum rental is six nights, but many book for several weeks or months, and you can board or disembark at any point on the itinerary. For the first time in three years, The World has spent the past month visiting the east and south coasts of Australia – and this week she heads for the West coast and the Kimberley. In 2010, she will explore every continent, with ports of call including Bali, Phuket, Dubai, Muscat, Venice, Santorini, Dublin, Montreal, New York, Rio and celebrating Christmas with an Antarctic expedition. For details contact Cruise Traveller on Residents get a new World view from the (07) 5575 8094 or visit pool everyday! www.cruisetraveller.com.au. page 3
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Australia Day with Captain Windstar Earlybirds on! CAPTAIN COOK CRUISES HAS RELEASES A SERIES OF specialty Australia Day cruises on Sydney Harbour, including an Australia Day Lunch cruise, a Ferry Race cruise and a Tall Ships Race cruise. Sailing onboard the Captain’s catamaran Aussie Legend, the Australia Day Lunch Cruise ($199pp) treats guests to a seafood buffet and open bar whilst giving them front row seats to the day’s festivities incl. the Ferrython, Awesome Forces - 21 Gun Salute, Best Dressed Vessels Competition, Tall Ships Race, and the 174th Australia Day Regatta. The Ferry Race Cruise ($49pp) follows the competitors up and down the harbour as they jostle and vie for position, whilst the Tall Ships Race Cruise ($49pp) will allow guests to support the majestic vessels as they race from Bradley’s Head to under the Harbour Bridge. See www.captaincook.com.au.
WINDSTAR CRUISES IS OFFERING SEVERAL earlybird specials on four of its Mediterranean voyages throughout this year, affording savings of around $2,375pp. Earlybird itineraries include a seven night Athens to Rome voyage departing 3 and 17 July 2010 and stopping in Milos, Rethymnon, Gythion, Messina, Capri and Rome from $2,543pp/ts; as well as a seven night Athens to Istanbul adventure departing 4 September, from $3,030pp/ts. Also covered in the special is a seven night Rome roundtrip cruise, from $2,549pp/ts, stopping in Ischia, Sorrento, Cagliari, Port Cervo and Porto-Vecchio; and a seven night Barcelona to Lisbon voyage on 6 November, with stops at Palma de Mallorca, Almería, Málaga, Cádiz and Portimão- from $2,549pp/ts. For further information or to make a booking see your local travel agent or contact Travel the World on 1300 766 566.
Marina enjoys a chilly European Christmas
Despite the rather ‘festive’ winter conditions, work continued on Oceania Cruises new 1,258 passenger flagship, Marina, at Fincantieri’s shipyard near Genoa over the Christmas period. According to the company, workers even installed a Christmas tree on Marina’s funnel to boulster their holiday spirit- the tree was however very quickly ‘dusted’ with a smattering of snow. Slated to debut in January next year, Marina is set to boast a broad range of ‘elegant bars and lounges’ as well as ten seperate dining areas including six open-seating venues. Of special culinary note will be the new restaurant Jacques- the first restaurant at sea for celebrity chef Jacques Pépin. Elegantly designed, Marina will also feature a Grand Stairway and lobby area custombuilt by the world renound French glass design company, Lalique. Inaugural itineraries will be onsale from 18 January,-contact your local travel agent for details, or to learn more about Marina go to www.OceaniaCruises.com.au. Cr uise W eekl ia/New Zeal and Cruise Weekl eeklyy Austral Australia/New Zealand PO Box 428, West Ryde NSW 1685 Ph: 1300 799 220 | Fax: 1300 799 221 www.cruiseweekly.com.au
Editorial Editors: Louise Goldsbury & Bruce Piper info@cruiseweekly.com.au
cruise weekly Tuesday 12 Januar y 2010
A dvertising & P Prromotions Advertising & Marketing Manager Lisa Maroun advertising@cruiseweekly.com.au
3 2 5 7 + 2 / ( SO WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF BEING STUNG BY a jellyfish whilst onboard a vessel, well as it now stands...unlikely but possible! A 45-year old Filipino crew-member serving aboard the bulk coal carrier Konmax, off the coast of North Queensland, has been stung by a irukandji jellyfish 25 metres above sea level, whilst innocently having a fish off the side of the carrier last weekend. Shortly after casting his line, the man began to feel extreme pain, he started to become highly agitated, sweat and eventually began throwing up. Assuming the man was in some kind of cardiac arrest, his fellow workers called intensive care flight paramedics, who swooped onto the scene in an RACQ rescue helicopter . Upon arrival the medical staff quickly ruled out cardiac arrest, leaving them unsure as to the actual cause of the condition... until that is one of the paramedic’s, Brad Watson (a former pearl diver), recalled a similar reaction he had treated in a fisherman from Broome who was stung by the deadly irukandji jellyfish. With that in mind Brad administered a magnesium treatment, which quickly relieved the pain and then flew him to Mackay Base Hospital, where tests revealed the man had indeed been stung by a jelly. Several theories are circulating as to how a 1cm jelly managed to launch itself onto the man, including one that stipulates the jelly was lifted out of the ocean and onto the man in a gust of seaspray and one that hypothosizes that the jellyfish hitched a ride up on the man’s fishing line.
Pictured above is a typical irukandji jellyfish both deadly and barely the size of two matchsticks!
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