Want it to be the Christmas break already? Well, looking at cruise itineraries might help the time move faster. We’ve avoided doing work all morning!

Three nights free on seven-night Fiji cruises!!!

Book any seven-night Fiji cruise and receive three nights free with small ship cruise specialists, Captain Cook Cruises Fiji’s, annual ‘Three Nights Free Sail’. Offering savings of up to AUD$2100 per person this deal is on sale until 28 February 2019 with travel valid until 31 March 2020 including school holidays.

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji’s seven-night itineraries include the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands cruise which departs every Tuesday and Saturday and the Four Cultures Discovery cruise and Colonial Discovery cruise which depart once a month on alternate months.

The seven-night Yasawa Islands and Mamanuca cruise discovers the beauty of the Southern and Northern Yasawa Island group and cruises through the spectacular passage from Yaqeta Island to the Yasawa’s northern reaches. The cruise visits the islands of Waya, Naviti, Sacred Islands, the private island of Tivua, the Sawa-l-Lau limestone caves and the blue lagoon and Monuriki – the island where Tom Hank’s movie Castaway was filmed.

The seven nights Four Cultures Discovery cruise circumnavigates Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island and visits four distinctive Fijian cultures including Ellice Islanders (Polynesians), Banabans (Micronesia), Fijians and Indians. The cruise visits the islands of Kioa, Rabi, Labasa Town, Kia Island and the world’s third longest barrier reef, “The Great Sea Reef”.

Crystal Cruises’ 2019 Captivating Europe Brochure 

Crystal Cruises has released a new 15-page brochure featuring a selection of enriching European voyages on the newly refurbished Crystal Serenity. From the ancient Mediterranean coastline to fairytale-like castles on the shores of the Baltic Sea, the islands, kingdoms, romance and treasures of Europe await.

Crystal’s all-inclusive luxury, six-star service and specialty dining restaurants, including Umi Uma, the only Nobu restaurant at sea, and Prego fine Italian, is the perfect way to discover the Greek Isles, the French Riveria, Amalfi Coast and the Norwegian Sea – to name just a few of the regions explored on Crystal Serenity in 2019.

Onboard, Crystal’s all-inclusive features include beverages such as select fine wines, Champagne, premium spirits and all non-alcoholic beverages; gratuities for housekeeping, dining and bar staff; complimentary evening of specialty restaurant dining in Prego and at least once in Nobu Matsuhisa’s sea-going restaurants (with additional reservations or visits available for a modest fee); 24-hour room service; complimentary Wi-Fi/Internet access; enrichment workshop series featuring lectures by renowned authors, ambassadors, celebrities and destination experts; fitness programs including yoga, golf instruction and mat Pilates; and much more.

Drinks are on Us promotion 

MSC Cruises, the brand market leader in Europe, South America and the Arabian Peninsula has launched their latest promotion- Drinks are on Us! Savour a morning coffee, a cocktail by the pool or a glass of wine with dinner, with MSC Cruises you’ll enjoy a drinks package included in your cruise!

Book an inside, oceanview or balcony cabin for ‘Easy Drinks’ package included in your cruise for you and your cruise partner. With a dedicated selection of wines, draught beer, spirits and cocktails, soft drinks, water, coffees and chocolate delights, you can enjoy ‘Drinks on Us’ in all onboard bars, restaurants and buffet*. Not including specialty restaurants.

Or book an Aurea Suite or the exclusive Yacht Club and receive $150 onboard credit for you and your cruise partner!

Drinks on Us is available on selected departures from April 2019. Spring is perfect for cruising the Mediterranean. Colourful flowers everywhere, climbing walls, filling fields and sprouting on balconies, it seems there are blooms everywhere you look in this stunning region. And, there is nowhere else where you can cruise to so many different countries and sample its many flavours, cultures and re-trace the footsteps of history.

Share in the gift of discovery with Silversea’s special festive savings

Just in time for Christmas, Silversea Cruises is offering guests a 10 per cent special single supplement on selected cruises, available on bookings made before 20 December 2018. This special festive offer applies to a selection of cruises in Asia on board Silver Muse and Silver Discoverer.

As part of this Festive Fare Event, guests will also receive US$1,000 onboard credit per suite, an extra five per cent off the fare per person, and one-category suite upgrade when booking before 20 December 2018.

This limited-time offer is available on a selection of handpicked voyages, ranging from 13 to 16 days, inviting guests to embrace their inner explorer and embark on an intoxicating voyage of myth and magic. Each voyage will allow guests to discover an array of exotic locations such as the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Myanmar and will encounter a fascinating array of wildlife, spectacular coral reefs, and beaches, tropical rainforests and active volcanoes.

Regal Princess second ship activated with Princess MedallionClass

Princess Cruises announced that it is now preparing Regal Princess as the second ship fully activated with Princess MedallionClassTM experiences that are currently delivering enhanced and personalised cruise holidays to guests onboard Caribbean Princess. Regal Princess will be fully activated for her Caribbean

Season starting February 17, 2019. The Princess OceanMedallion, included complimentary, is a wearable device that elevates the guest experience by delivering enhanced experiences and personalised service resulting in high guest satisfaction scores.

The news follows Princess Cruises’ recent announcement that Regal Princess will be deployed in Sydney for her maiden Australian season from December 2020 to April 2021.

Considered a breakthrough in the cruise industry and recently honoured with a CES® 2019 Innovation Award, the OceanMedallion features leading-edge technology that delivers personalised service through enhanced guest-crew interactions, eliminates friction points and enables interactive entertainment.

The Vikings have arrived!

Viking’s fifth ocean ship, Viking Orion, arrived in Darwin today for the very first time — and travel agents can’t wait to get on board.

As part of Viking’s popular Komodo & the Australian Coast Bali to Sydney itinerary, Viking Orion is currently docked in Darwin. She will then continue on to a selection of other iconic Australian destinations including Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane and Newcastle before reaching her Australian home port Sydney on December 16.

Viking will be hosting a number of ship inspections across Australia and New Zealand and travel agents are clearly keen to get an exclusive look at Viking Orion with over 3,000 having already registered their interest.

From December 16, Viking Orion will spend three months sailing between Sydney and Auckland on Viking’s new Australia & New Zealand cruise route before heading north and recommencing the Komodo & the Australian Coast itinerary in early March 2019.

MSC Cruises World Cruise 2019 – featuring an all-star lineup of international chefs

MSC Cruises, the Swiss-based world’s largest privately-owned cruise company and market leader in Europe, South America and the Arabian Peninsula, revealed today that its upcoming 2019 World Cruise will feature an all-star cast of uniquely international chefs sure to make for an one-of-a-kind gourmet dining experience while on board. This includes current as well as former three-, two- and one-star Michelin chefs, chefs of the year, award-winning cookbook authors as well as recipients of other international culinary recognition.

Guests on board MSC Magnifica, on her epic 2019 World Cruise that will depart in just over a month’s time on 5th January 2019 from Genoa, Italy, will be in for a true gastronomic experience where they can enjoy the circumnavigation of the globe also through unique international on-board dining. Bringing flavours and inspiration from their native countries and beyond, this impressive line-up of all-star chefs will create their own special dishes for MSC Cruises guests and will be on board for part of the cruise. The line-up includes chefs from every corner of the globe representing some of the world’s most popular cuisines, including:

• Michelin-starred Spanish Chef Ramón Freixa
• Decorated Indian-American Chef Vikas Khanna
• Award-winning Italian Chef Carlo Cracco
• Two-time World Champion in pastry, French Chef Jean-Philippe Maury
• Restauranteur, cookbook author and Chef Roy Yamaguchi
• Expert in all four schools of Chinese cooking, Chef Jereme Leung
• Veteran chef and restauranteur, Brazilian Chef Allan Vila Espejo
• MasterChef Colombia jury member Chef Jorge Rausch
• Sydney Morning Herald’s “Chef of the Year”, French-Canadian Chef Serge Dansereau

Getaway summer specials with Scenic

Scenic will star in five of Getaway’s summer specials airing over the next eight weeks on Channel Nine.

Tune in through December and January to watch a recap of some of the most popular segments that aired in 2018 including David Reyne’s journey along the Mekong River in Vietnam; his time in Portugal where he explored the Douro Valley and the colourful city of Porto; Anna Gare’s culinary cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest; Catriona Rountree’s river cruise along the stunning waterways of the Bordeaux region; and her journey through the timeless lands of Egypt.

The Getaway Summer Series will air 13, 20, 23 December and 3, 10 January at 7.30pm on Channel Nine and regionally WIN/NBN.