Cruise Weekly 061009

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Record season starts next week Australia’s international cruise season kicks off next weekend with more local ports, ships and destinations than ever – and a record number of people sailing in the next six months.

consumers, with new homeports, a lot more new and interesting itineraries, and of course, more new ships.”

Carnival’s upcoming cruise season will see its 12 ships making a record 217 visits to ports around the country.

Highlights include the maiden Fremantle and Adelaide visits of Queen Mary 2, the debut of superliner Pacific Jewel in Dec and the inaugural Australian visit of the world’s newest luxury cruise ship, Seabourn Odyssey.

The four new ports for the season are

THE NATION’S LARGEST CRUISE OPERATOR, CARNIVAL Australia, has revealed that a record 190,000 passengers will sail on its ships “Carnival’s upcoming cruise season locally during the next six months.

The figure is almost double the number will see its 12 ships making 217 of passengers carried by Carnival five visits to ports around the country.” years ago, when the company began Christmas, Norfolk and Phillip islands and “planting the seed” to attract more Newcastle.

Australians to cruising.

“We think it will be a very exciting six Jenny Lourey (pictured), senior vice months, not only for passengers at sea but president, Carnival Australia, which operates also for spectators on land, as there’ll be a Cunard, P&O, Yachts of Seabourn and continual parade of ships through our Princess Cruises, told Cruise Weekly that this ports,” Lourey said, adding: “It’s very exciting summer was set to be a “bumper season”. for people to have new places to go.”

“Cruising has come a long way in The expansion of cruise itineraries also Australia and its popularity is higher than means economic benefits will be delivered ever,” she said. outside major ports, with cruising expected “It was only 2007 when we launched to contribute about $1 billion to the Pacific Dawn, bringing in the first modern Australian economy in 2009. ship with balconies, and Sun Princess was The season kicks off on 16 Oct when launched here in the Dawn Princess arrives in Sydney, returning same season; then last from her 104-night world voyage. year was Dawn Princess and this year it’s all about Pacific SINGAPORE’S NEW INTERNATIONAL CRUISE TERMINAL Jewel. officially started construction on Fri, bringing “So we’ve been the island state closer to its aspiration to be planting the seed of the cruise hub of the Asia-Pacific region. growth for five years.”

The terminal, set for completion by the Lourey said that end of 2011, will double Singapore’s cruise ultimately she would like to see cruises as capacity - and is big enough to handle even part of every Australian’s holiday. the massive Oasis-class vessels currently “We now have ships from all ports in under construction.

Australia and offer more choice for

Singapore starts terminal

TUESDAY 06 OCTOBER 2009

www.cruiseweekly.com.au Ph: 1300 799 220 Fax: 1300 799 221 Email: info@cruiseweekly.com.au Editors: Louise Goldsbury & Bruce Piper

Last Minute Deals

THIS WEEKLY COLUMN HIGHLIGHTS HOT DEALS ON cruises departing in the next 60 days – ideal for our spontaneous readers!

Check out this week’s cruise bargains!

15 nights – Fl y/Cr uise to Asia Fly/Cr y/Cruise on Costa Allegra • Departs: 17 Oct & 14 Nov 2009 • From: $1549pp • Includes: flight from Melbourne to Singapore; 1 night in hotel; cruise via Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand • 2 kids cruise free (just pay port charges) • CLICK HERE or call 1300 369 848

2 nights – Syd ney to Mel bour ne Sydney Melbour bourne on Dawn P rincess Princess • Departs: 16 Nov 2009 • From: $239pp • Leave Sydney at 6pm, spend next day at sea; arrive Melbourne at 8am • Call 1300 366 268 or see www.eseacruising.com.au

8 nights – Fl y/Cr uise to Hawaii Fly/Cr y/Cruise on NCL ’s Prid e of America NCL’s ride • Departs: 31 Oct & 7, 14, 21 Nov • From: $2795pp • Includes: 7-night cruise; return airfares from Sydney to Honolulu + 1 night at Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber hotel • For bookings, contact your travel agent • CLICK HERE for Cruise Abroad info

TODAY’S CRUISE WEEKLY uise W eekl Today’s issue of Cr Cruise Weekl eeklyy has four pages of news and photos, plus a pg. 5 page of cruise specials (pg.

5).

Yangtze River Cruise Special Only $999 per person, 5-night cruise only on board Viking Century Sun.

Viking River Cruises offers a never-before-seen $999 per person offer for a 5-night ‘cruise only’ river cruise on its award-winning Yangtze River ship the 5-star Viking Century Sun. Offer is available for departures on the 17th, 22nd and 27th of November, 2009, Chongqing – Wuhan or reverse, twin share and includes daily shore excursions, all meals as well as shipboard gratuities and port charges.

Contact your travel agent today or call Viking toll free 1800 829 138 or email australia@vikingrivercruises.com For more information visit www.vikingrivercruises.com.au Conditions apply. Contact Viking River Cruises for details. Fare is per person and in Australian dollars, based on double occupancy and include port charges and shipboard gratuities. Gratuities for Program Directors and local city guides are not included. For pricing notes, offer restrictions and other booking terms and conditions, see page 94 in 2010 River Cruise Journeys brochure.

cruise weekly Tuesday 06 October 2009

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This week at sea...

WELCOME TO THE FIRST EDITOR’S COL UMN! COLUMN After a few months “below deck”, it’s time for me to greet my fellow passengers on the good ship Cruise Weekly. Every Tuesday I’ll be sharing snippets of inside information about cruising and what you need to know for your next, or first, cruise.

If you think I look too young to be a cruiser, it’s a sign that you need to try cruising for yourself. Cruises have changed so much, even in the past year – from the typical passengers to the ships’ designs, activities and destinations.

So what are you picturing? A “floating casino” full of old people and Americans?

Being stuck on a ship with nothing to do?

Tiny cabins? You couldn’t be more wrong.

For a start, there’s nothing wrong with mature travellers or Americans – they’re often the most fun people onboard! But on plenty of cruises, you’ll find people in their 30s and 40s, families and lots of Aussies.

Today’s ocean liners also have separate areas for kids, teens and adults-only sanctuaries.

Floating casino? Only the bigger vessels have pokies and roulette wheels, and they blend into the background these days. The latest onboard features include ice-skating rinks, merry-go-rounds, rockclimbing walls, open-air cinemas and grass lawns for picnics. It’s a whole new world at sea.

Stuck on a ship? Cruises stop almost every day at a different port, or a different country, and you usually get to spend the whole day on land. Go for a walk, find a café for lunch, join a shore excursion – it’s just like normal travelling except you don’t have to get yourself from A to B. Sometimes the ship docks overnight so you can enjoy the local nightlife, then walk back to your bed before it sails away at dawn.

Nothing to do? Are you joking? When you get bored of the pools, spa, gym, restaurants, disco, cinema, library and games rooms, there are classes in everything you can imagine – languages, photography, dancing, cooking...

Ships also have a daily timetable of free activites, often starting with yoga at sunrise and finishing with a cocktail party.

As for the cabins, the average stateroom is better than your average hotel room.

Plus, the ever-changing view is unbeatable.

Perhaps this “wave season”, which kicks off next weekend, is finally the time for you to find out what cruising is really all about!

Louise Gol dsbur Gold sburyy Ed itor uise W eekl itor,, Cr Cruise Weekl eeklyy Editor ation to makeTuesday a booking. cruiseorweekly 06 October 2009

P&O helps tsunami relief P&O CRUISES HAS ASSISTED THE RED CROSS IN relief efforts for earthquake and tsunami victims in the South Pacific by donating 740 pillows, with mattresses and hundreds of light bulbs to come.

Pacific Sun crew handed over the first drop of bedding supplies in Port Vila, Vanuatu, where the ship was docked as relief efforts got underway.

A local shipping company has offered to carry the supplies from Port Vila to Samoa free of charge.

Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, said the cruise line has strong connections with the people of the South Pacific.

“The devastation caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami is heart breaking, and as regular visitors to the South Pacific region, including the islands of Samoa, we want to assist and support those affected,” Sherry said.

Carnival had four ships in the region at the time of the incident but no cruises were affected.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Travel has advised Australians to postpone travel to Samoa after last week’s tsunami and four earthquakes in the region.

&58,6( & $/(1'$5 Each week Cruise Weekly summarises which ships are in town.

PACIFIC SUN Brisbane

Sat 10 Oct

DAWN PRINCESS Dar win Darwin

Sun 11 Oct

Ships damaged in crash TWO CRUISE SHIPS WERE DAMAGED IN A COLLISION at a port in Mexico last week.

The 2124-passenger Carnival Legend hit Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas when strong winds pushed the ship as it pulled out of Cozumel on Wednesday.

Carnival Legend sustained broken glass and minor damage to some open deck areas, while the docked Enchantment had damage to its stern and railings.

No injuries were reported and the vessels were able to proceed with their itineraries after a safety inspection.

Europa named best ship in the world

PICTURED: The pool area of MS Europa (above) and on the high seas (below).

HAP AG -LL OYD Cruises’ MS HAPA -LLO Europa has been named the top cruise ship in the world for the tenth consecutive year.

Known as the “cruising bible”, the Berlitz Cruise Guide ranked Europa as the only fivestars-plus ship, with 1851 points out of a total possible 2000 points.

According to Douglas Ward, editor of the new 2010 Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships, the Europa was the best ship out of the 270 vessels reviewed in the book.

“It’s not just the ship herself and all the facilities that deserve the highest rating, but the myriad details, outstanding cuisine and above all the personal and discrete service offered by the excellent crew,” said Ward, who has reviewed more than 1000 cruises over the past 25 years.

For further details about Europa, call Landmark Travel on (02) 9977 7100 or see www.landmarktravel.com.au. page 2

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Head for South America HOLLAND AMERICA LINE’S MS ROTTERDAM WILL sail three 30-day South American adventures next year, and two more in 2011.

The Incan Empires voyage explores 15 ports along the west coasts of Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica and Peru as well as Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta, and departs 06 Feb, 10 Apr and 23 Oct 2010 as well as 02 Feb 2011.

There’s also a Secret Civilisations voyage departing 17 Apr 2011 which sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida - and this itinerary also includes a double transit of the iconic Panama Canal on the way to and from Callao - from where guests can also take an excursion to Machu Picchu.

More information 1300 766 566.

Cr ew P e Crew Prrofil ofile THIS WEEK CRUISE WEEKLY SPEAKS WITH aT uil oma, Bl ue Lagoon Saula Tuil uiloma, Blue Captain Saul Cr uises Cruises For how long have you been working on cruise ships?

Seven years.

When did you join your current ship?

October 2002 What is the best thing about your job?

Socialising with my guests. I get to meet people from all over the world of different ages and all walks of life.

What is your favourite cruising destination?

Liku Beach and Nanuna Lailai, Blue Lagoon’s private island - both in the Yasawa Islands of Fiji.

What does your job entail?

Overall command of MV Mystique Princess - Blue Lagoon’s vessel that generally sails the four day/three night Gold Club Cruise.

What can passengers expect from your services?

Priceless memories - they enjoy their holidays and never want to leave. This is why we have so many returnees and thus our tag line “the magic of Fiji you can only discover by sea”.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Cruising along the Yasawa group during sunset.

Who is the most famous person you’ve served?

None in particular - all my guests are VIPs! What is the most interesting request you’ve received from a passenger?

When and if I have a job opening available - can I let them know so they never have to return home.

cruise weekly Tuesday 06 October 2009

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By Contributing Editor Roderick Eime

([SHGLWLRQ &UXLVHV Position: 26° 19' N, 92° 08’ E Brahmaputra River, Assam, India TEA AND TIGERS ON THE BRAHMAPUTRA “Ship stuck in sand, foreigners taste the Orient” - The Telegraph (India) It wasn’t an auspicious start. We were on the front page of one of the national Indian dailies even before we’d boarded the vessel.

The famous Brahmaputra River (it’s okay, I had to look it up too) runs from Tibet, through Assam and Calcutta into the Bay of Bengal. Late monsoonal rain had artificially swollen the river and as the level rapidly fell our vessel, the charming MV Charaideo, began to settle on the sandy bottom while waiting for us to arrive. All through the night, two burly little river tugs strained to free us from our plight and by breakfast we were away. Apart from some lost sleep and a few red faces, their was little interruption to our journey.

The Assam-Bengal Navigation Company (ABN) was formed in 2002 as an Indo-British joint venture company by long time UK travel operator, Andrew Brock, and local tea magnate, Ashish Phookan. The company now operates two vessels, the restored MV Charaideo (38m, 24 pax) and the new build, Sukapha, on Indian Rivers including the Brahmaputra and Hugli – the latter a ‘distributary’ of the massive Ganges. Two river lodges adjacent the national parks are also owned by ABN. If you’ve been following this column, you’ll recall my growing fascination with ‘inland cruising’ and the massive growth in this market segment. As the ranks of committed river cruisers grow and they’ve ticked off Danube, Rhine and Amazon, the search for more enriching waterways continues. India is poised to snare a fair slice of this market as operators like ABN, the pre-eminent Indian river cruise operator and newcomer, the SE Asian company Pandaw, work to grow this market.

At time of writing ABN were offering products ranging from three to seven nights incorporating lodge stays and visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Kaziranga NP in the remote Golaghat District of Assam. While tiger and sloth bear sightings are recorded, it’s the equally rare Asian rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) that offers the best chance. Our group made five contacts, including a mother and calf.

Elephants, of course, are also high on the list and rides atop these mighty pachyderms are a highlight of your visit. Those in search of birdlife, native culture, religious and colonial history will also be in their respective elements. Assam, as tea-drinkers will quickly attest, produces some of the world’s finest brew. The sight of dozens of brightly coloured saris moving slowly among the vast plantation is a scene long-remembered.

Before you pick up the phone to book your Brahmaputra River cruise, please understand that the departure port of Guwahati, the Assam state capital, is a remote town even by Indian standards. There is no mobile roaming in place, ATMs are uncooperative and many traders will only accept Rupees. Your ABN bar tab, for example, can be settled in USD, but not credit card. Any travel in India can be a bit of a chore, especially by road.

Having said that, the cruise component of the ABN product is perfectly charming, wonderfully relaxing and a glorious throwback to the days of the British Raj, when the way of England was the way of the world!

Further Information: Active Travel 02 9264 1231 www.activetravel.com.au or www.assambengalnavigation.com.

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Grand voyages for 50 grand 3 2 5 7 + 2 / (

SIL VERSEA has unveiled 17 extended voyages for 2010, with savings for early bookings.

SILVERSEA The cruises range from 30 days to the 91-day ‘Grand Inaugural Voyage’ on Silver Spirit, which departs from Miami on 21 January and visits 45 ports in more than 20 countries.

The fare for this epic journey starts at $47,905 per person (70 days) including excursions, private car transfers, luggage forwarding and onboard spending credits.

See www.silversea.com or a travel agent for details.

%URFKXUH RI WKH ZHHN SCENIC Tours has released its Egypt Jordan & Dubai 2010/ 2011 program.

The tours feature top hotels and multilingual Egyptologists and tour directors in Jordan and Dubai.

For a limited time, when you book one of the selected tours, you can buy one Singapore Airlines airfare and get one airfare free, just paying taxes from $554 per person.

‘The Heart of Egypt Tour’ includes stays at the Palace Hotels of Egypt, a luxury four-night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan and full day guided tours of the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the Valley of the Kings.

The 10-day all-inclusive holiday also includes a half-day tour of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and entry into the Mummies Room plus new Scenic FreeChoice Activities in Cairo.

Cost for the first person starts at $5339, and the second person pays from $4049 including return flights from Australia.

For details, call 1300 723 642, visit www.scenictours.com.au or see your local travel agent.

cruise weekly Tuesday 06 October 2009

Wine book winners!

THE EIGHT WINNERS OF LAST WEEK’S GIVEAWAY the Australian Wine Vintages 2010 Gold Book are: - Rebecca McIntyre - Michelle Elms - John Bellis - Sandi Pittis - Tom Mohr - Veronica Rainbird - Sharon Mihail - Christine Hardcastle The correct answer was: Max Schubert, John Duval, Don Ditter or Peter Gago.

OF

Greek Islands odyssey A CRUISE FROM ATHENS THROUGH THE GREEK Islands to Istanbul in May 2010 aboard the new Seabourn Odyssey will be shared by just 450 people.

A 12-night package, available through www.ecruising.travel, includes the one-week cruise, all meals and drinks onboard, two nights at Athen’s Grand Bretagne Hotel, two nights at the Swissotel’s Bosphorous Hotel Istanbul, a night in Singapore’s Raffles Hotel enroute, tours, transfers and return flights from most Australian capital cities.

The earlybird price is $8349pp twin-share – call 1300 369 848 for bookings.

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

IT’S A SLOW WAY TO SEE THE CARIBBEAN – EVEN more leisurely than a cruise – but a turtle has amazed scientists by swimming from Turks and Caicos to Anguilla.

Suzie, the adult green turtle, took a month to complete the 900km journey and stuck to only British territories.

She was followed by researchers who placed a tracking device on her shell.

Heading east to the waters of the British Virgin Islands, Suzie steered clear of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

She took the long way around to Anguilla, whose government has imposed a 15-year ban on turtle-fishing.

The scientists are baffled as to why the turtle swam against the current to get there, as the mating season is over.

FACEBOOK MEMBERS HAVE A PAGE DEVOTED TO stupid questions asked by cruise passengers.

It’s a list that has appeared on many websites and online chat forums.

Here’s a few of our favourites, so you can make sure you don’t ask them and stand out as a newbie.

What time is the midnight buffet?

Do these stairs go up or down?

Does the crew sleep onboard?

Why does the ship not have cable TV? Has this ship ever sunk before?

Let us know if you need the answers to any of the above.

S OME CRUISE LINES OFFER MORE THAN CABARET as entertainment.

On Splendor of the Seas, the cruise director decided to organise a strip show.

The strippers were men from the cruise staff department, sports staff, youth staff and the cruise director himself.

Inspired by the male stripper group known as the Chippendales, troupe called themselves the Ship N’ Dales.

And no, they didn’t get totally naked – we’re assured they all kept their lifejackets on.

Editorial Editors: Louise Goldsbury & Bruce Piper info@cruiseweekly.com.au

A dvertising & P Prr omotions Advertising & Marketing Manager Lisa Maroun advertising@cruiseweekly.com.au

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SeaDream II - 10 January 2010 Caribbean Virgin Islands From US$3,191pp t/s*

End of season special!

From $999pp t/s*

• 7 nights of SeaDream style • San Juan - St Thomas • Just 56 staterooms and 95 crew • Inclusive of meals, wines with lunch & dinner, open bar, gratuities, motorised water sports and MORE! • Space is limited, book now!

• 6-day ‘cruise only’ • Deluxe Yangtze River Cruise • 5-star Viking Century Sun • Wuhan-Chongqing or v.v.

• All meals and daily sightseeing • Departures 17, 22 or 27 November AILS! • CLICK HERE FOR MORE DET DETAILS!

Contact your travel professsional or email info@seadream.com

Contact your local travel agent or email australia@vikingrivercruises.com www.vikingrivercruises.com.au

www.seadream.com *Airfares extra, and conditions apply.

*Conditions apply.

Christmas & New Year on board The World SAVE from AUD$1,625*pp t/s

21 Day Paris to Prague & Jewels of Europe River Cruise (PACP) From $10,090pp t/s*

From AUD$8,125pp t/s* • 24 Dec 2009 - 01 Jan 2010 • 8 nights cruising on board The World in a luxurious balcony studio • All meals at your choice of fine restaurants • Open bar on board • Gratuities & port charges

• Includes FREE* return airfare • Purchase a March or November 2010 cruise departure • Three nights in Paris & Prague • An unforgettable 14 night river cruise experience onboard the Scenic “Space-Ships”

Please contact your travel professional or Cruise Traveller on 1800 507 777

Call 1300 SCENIC (1300 723 642) or visit your local travel agent

*Prices are converted from USD, subject to currency fluctuations and include the above quoted saving. Special conditions apply.

Special is capacity controlled and can be withdrawn without notice.

www.scenictours.com.au www.cruisetraveller.com.au

Small price for the biggest ship based in Australia this summer

*Conditions apply: limited seats available, book & deposit before 30 Oct 2009 or until sold out

Club Med 2 - Mediterranean

From $3,159pp t/s*

7 nights from $4,950pp t/s*

• 21 February 2010 • 22 night fly/cruise includes a 20night voyage aboard the Diamond Princess from Sydney to Bangkok • Two nights with breakfast in Bangkok’s highest hotel and a Qantas flight home to Australia • Visits to Melbourne, Hobart, Perth, and ports in Vietnam and Cambodia

• Caribbean cruise departing Fortede-France on 20 November 2009 • Accommodation in a Superior Cabin • 3 gourmet buffet meals per day • All day open bar and snacking service • Huge range of sports and activities with expert tuition, and nightly entertainment

Call Cruise Express on 1300 766 537 or email cruiseexpress@travelations.com.au *Conditions apply. Subject to availability.

www.cruiseexpress.com.au

Contact your travel agent or call 1800 258 263 *Terms and conditions apply. Adult (12+)

WHERE HAPPINESS MEANS THE WORLD

www.clubmed.com.au