To get you over this mid-week hump, we’ve got an extra-special wrap for you. Okay fine, it’s just a regular cruise wrap and we do one every week.

P&O Cruises’ Reveals the Newly Refurbished Pacific Aria

P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Aria has completed a 12-day dry dock in Singapore with new features and furnishings including a new-look Dome venue. The popular top-deck space with ocean views has been refreshed to take on a contemporary nautical theme with dark blue and white hues, drapes and soft lighting in keeping with the look of the Dome on sister-ship Pacific Eden.

By day, the Dome is an attractive venue for board games, trivia, dance classes and a favourite place for guests to relax on the lounges with a coffee or read a book. In the evening the Dome transforms into a fashionable dance-spot.

The Elemis Spa has also been enhanced during the dry dock and now sports a new Barber Shop. Complete with luxe curtains, gold framed mirrors and a leather swivel chair, the professional grooming service for the modern gentleman offers hot towel shaves, beard trimming and styling.

The ship’s 28 suites, 120 balcony cabins and Penthouse have been fitted with new carpets and outdoor furniture. Pacific Aria’s finishing touch is the Southern Cross livery emblazoned on her hull – now a signature feature across all five ships in P&O’s fleet.

Crystal River Cruises announces 2020 deployment

Crystal River Cruises, the World’s Most Luxurious River Cruise Line, has unveiled its collection of captivating and picturesque voyages for 2020. The award-winning fleet of five all-suite luxury river ships – Crystal Mozart and the four identical sister ships, Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy, Crystal Mahler, and Crystal Ravel – will sail the legendary waterways of Europe, with an array of seven to 16-day itineraries.

Visiting medieval towns and cosmopolitan cities that have graced riverside skylines for centuries, Crystal River’s 2020 deployment invites travellers to immerse themselves in the distinctive charm, architecture, traditions, festivals, Christmas markets, wines and cuisine of Bavaria and beyond.

New for 2020 will be an exclusive opportunity to attend the once-in-a-decade Oberammergau performance of the Passion Play in conjunction with select Crystal Mahler, Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel sailings. Special itineraries and shoreside experiences highlighting the enchanting Christmas markets of the region will also be offered in 2020, inviting travellers to revel in the wintry wonders of the season in the very place many holiday traditions began.

Triple your adventure with Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean is offering guests the chance to triple their cruising adventure, with huge savings, onboard spending money and free balcony upgrades, as part of a new winter deal.

Guests who book before 29 August 2018 will not only receive massive savings of up to AUD$1000 on their cruise fare, but they’ll also receive up to USD$500 to spend at sea, as well as a Balcony Stateroom for the price of an Oceanview Stateroom on voyages throughout Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific sailing between 17 September 2018 and 20 April 2020.

The incredible offer will see families enjoying all the thrills onboard Royal Caribbean’s three locally-based megaliners. The young and young at heart can master the Flowrider on Explorer of the Seas, rock climb on Radiance of the Seas, or try the iFly skydiving simulator on Ovation of the Seas. Meanwhile, adults can cruise at a more leisurely pace and unwind in the spa, recline poolside with a cocktail, or treat themselves to a meal in one of Royal Caribbean’s signature specialty restaurants.

New Cruise dates for Fiji’s remote North Discovery Cruises

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji has released the 2019 and 2020 departure dates for its two Northern Fiji seven-night Discovery cruises – The Four Cultures Discovery Cruise and Colonial Fiji Discovery Cruise, onboard small ship MV Reef Endeavour.

The Four Cultures Discovery Cruise is the first ever Fiji cruise to circumnavigate Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island and visits four distinctive Fijian cultures, Ellice Islanders (Polynesians), Banabans (Micronesia), Fijian and Indians.

Be taken on a cultural journey through an amazing show of song and dance by the Polynesian’s (Ellice Islanders) of Kioa Island and discover the home and history of the Banabans people on Rabi Island.

Fares include shipboard accommodation, all meals, guided village, school and island tours, snorkelling and glass bottom boat excursions, daily island stopovers and water activities, hikes and Kayak safaris, on board entertainment, kids club (five to nine years old), onboard Wi-Fi, 24-hour self-service tea and coffee bar, post cruise transfers to Nadi and Denarau hotels and Nadi airport and use of the ship’s facilities including a swimming pool, spa’s, mini gym, sun deck, cocktail bar and library.

Coral Expeditions partners with Australian Geographic in an All Australian expedition alliance

Coral Expeditions, Australia’s pioneering expedition cruise line, and the Australian Geographic have joined forces in a new partnership. Bringing together a shared heritage of exploration and conservation of the coastlines around Australia, the new alliance will allow for an even deeper level of guest immersion on board the Coral Expeditions fleet.

The partnership will encompass special Australian Geographic-curated expeditions and the development of year-round Australian Geographic Society “In Residence” programs using the research facilities on the new-built Coral Adventurer, due to launch in April 2019.

The alliance will launch four especially curated immersive expeditions. Each of the four voyages to remote expedition destinations will contribute funds benefiting projects of the Australian Geographic Society.

The Coral Adventurer has been designed as a specialist tropical expedition ship and will host the Australian Geographic Society Research Room. This is a dedicated interpretive space to host live science, culture and research projects that connect guests and destinations in an engaging format across all voyages. These projects will be integrated into the Coral Adventurer’s offerings all year round with scientists, cultural leaders, artists, adventurers and storytellers in residence joining departures and taking an active role in education of guests.

Uniworld transforms river cruising with new innovative dining experiences

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is excited to share its new, innovative dining options, bringing guests more unique choices across all of its luxurious all-inclusive river cruise ships. This year, Uniworld has launched unprecedented culinary programming such as progressive dinners and cooking lessons with their expert chefs, continuing to push the boundaries on alternative dining on the rivers.

Uniworld’s alternative dining options include:

• Progressive Dinners – Unique to river cruising, Uniworld offers progressive dining on all of its Super Ships sailing throughout Europe.
• Alternative Dining – Several of Uniworld’s restaurants, including Max’s restaurant on the newly renovated S.S. Beatrice, offer intimate cooking classes where guests can create local European cuisines alongside the chef such as wiener schnitzel and goulash.
• Al Fresco Dining – On five of Uniworld’s ships; including River Empress, River Princess, River Countess, River Duchess and River Queen; guests can dine on the top deck, al fresco.
• Farm-to-Ship Cuisine – Uniworld’s “Farm-to-Ship” approach brings the very best local dishes and ingredients onboard, created by their master chefs.
• Room Service Available 24/7 – In addition to experiencing farm-to-ship cuisine at one of Uniworld’s many restaurants, all of Uniworld’s European voyages include room service that is available to guests 24/7, at no additional cost.
• Craft Cocktails and Regional Wine – The cocktails, much like Uniworld’s ships, are one-of-a-kind and inspired by the destinations visited.

Carnival Cruise Line announces second half of 2020 program open for sale

Carnival Cruise Line today announced its full 2020 program is now available for bookings, offering Aussie holidaymakers more fun at sea than ever before on their way to a range of popular destinations across the South Pacific, New Zealand and Tasmania.

With a record number of 75 sailings from Sydney and Brisbane, and the introduction of Carnival Splendor – the newest and largest ship home ported year-round in Australia – Aussies have more options than ever before to experience the fun of a Carnival cruise.

From today, Aussies can book a holiday on Carnival Splendor sailing from Sydney through the end of 2020. Fares on a 10-night cruise to New Caledonia and Vanuatu on Carnival Splendor – sailing from Sydney on 7 November 2020 – start from $1,349 per person, interior twin share.

With 45+ daily activities including, live Broadway-style entertainment, pools, spas and Seuss at Sea, Carnival Splendor is already packed with fun, and guests will also get to enjoy a brand new water-park and dining options when she arrives in Sydney in late 2019. Carnival will be set to announce some details of her refurbishment for her Sydney arrival from late 2018.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Launches New 2019 Europe Destination Brochure

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, The Most Inclusive Luxury Experience at sea, has launched its stunning new 2019 Europe destination brochure for Australia and New Zealand travel agents, who are now able to order their copies through Brochure Flow (within Australia), Travel Marketing (New Zealand) or via Marketing Central at www.rssc.com/agent.

To celebrate the launch of the new brochure, which showcases enticing voyages to more than 190 ports across the region, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is advising their valued travel partners to make the most of their early booking fares and combine two or more sailings to take advantage of further savings. Also, for a limited time only, guests can take advantage of a reduced deposit of 10 per cent, allowing them to secure their preferred suite today.

Highlights for the 2019 Europe season detailed in the new brochure include:

• Regent Seven Seas Cruises returning to Turkish ports including Istanbul, Ephesus (Kusadasi) and Bozcaada
• Overnight stays in some of the most remarkable ports in the region such as St. Petersburg, Jerusalem and Venice
• Late departures for extended explorations in port
• Over 25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Scenic releases its 2019/2020 Wild Wonders of Africa brochures

From Cape Town to Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Kenya, Scenic has developed an exciting program of itineraries to showcase the magic of Arica with its newest brochure – The Wild Wonders of Africa 2019/2020.

New to the 2019/2020 departures is the amazing 30 day Wonders of Africa itinerary, that travels from Cape Town to Nairobi taking in Swaziland and Kruger National Park; Chobe National Park in Botswana; Victoria Falls and then across to Tanzania and Kenya. Starting at $25,995 per person the Wonders of Africa gives you South Africa in detail with a taste of the wild essence of Tanzania and Kenya.

The 2019 program also offers some new extensions that are unique to Scenic:

• Three day extension in Cape Town staying at the award winning Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, including use of The Spa, hydrotherapy pools, sauna and flotation tank with a signature treatment at the outdoor Spa gazebo
• Two day extension at the unique Giraffe Manor where guests can enjoy breakfast with a local herd of Rothschild giraffes
• Four day extension on the luxurious Rovos Rail from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg