Say ‘good morning’ to our Big Fat Cruise Wrap! Well, it’s more ‘good afternoon’ since we’re running a bit late.But please enjoy, nonetheless.

SeaLink Travel Group to Operate First Ever Manly to Barangaroo Fast Ferry

The SeaLink Travel Group will commence operation of the ‘Barangaroo Fast Ferry’, the first ever direct ferry service from Manly to Barangaroo from early September 2017. The service will operate daily between Manly Hotel Wharf No 3, and King Street Wharf 1, Barangaroo. It will depart every 30 minutes during peak hours Monday to Friday commencing 6:45am. Weekends the service will operate regularly from 9:30 through to 6pm.

Barangaroo Fast Ferry prices will start from $8.90 one way, with an 11-trip travel pass available from only $7.50 per trip.

This service will cut commuter travel time from Manly to Barangaroo and surrounding city locations significantly and will enhance the use of Sydney Harbour as Sydney’s blue highway”, Anthony Haworth, Captain Cook Cruises, General Manager said.

SeaLink’s announcement comes after Andrew Constance, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure recently announced commercial ferry operators will be allowed to provide direct services between Manly and Darling Harbour without needing a passenger service contract with Transport for NSW.

Silversea’s 2018 Expeditions to the Americas Include first-ever Pacific Coast Explorations 

In 2018 Silversea Expeditions’ Silver Explorer will debut a unique collection of voyages through the Americas, tracing a path north from Ushuaia, the city at the end of the world, all the way up the Pacific coastline to the multicultural vibrant hub of Vancouver.

Each of the seven new expedition voyages will offer unique opportunities for discovery and adventure in destinations overflowing with ancient history, stunning landscapes and amazing wildlife. Led by a team of experienced expedition specialists, many with advanced degrees in their fields, guests will enjoy enriching, immersive explorations designed to expand their global perspective.

Book by August 31st and enjoy free economy class air roundtrip or get AU$3,000 savings per suite* on select voyages for Business Class flights booked through Silversea. Applicable only for double occupancy suites. Single-occupancy suites will receive savings of AU$1,500. Click here for more information.

P&O Cruises Announces it will Sail to Melbourne for 2018 State of Origin Blockbuster

P&O Cruises has announced it will sail to Melbourne for next year’s opening State of Origin blockbuster as part of its line-up of cruises to major Australian sporting events.

The first game of the 2018 Holden State of Origin series is expected to be played to a sell-out crowd at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground next June.

Rugby league fans are being urged to secure their ticket to the biggest sporting event in Australia now on a special four-night roundtrip cruise from Sydney to Melbourne which includes sailing with league legends, tickets and transfers to the game and footy-themed entertainment onboard.

The latest vessel in P&O’s five-ship fleet, Pacific Explorer, will transport more than 2,000 NRL enthusiasts to the landmark fixture, providing the biggest single injection of interstate fans into Victoria for Australia’s greatest rivalry.

Rugby league legend Petero Civoniceva said it was the third year that P&O Cruises, the official cruise line of the NRL, had offered an Origin cruise.

“I’ve been on every one of these cruises because there’s such a great atmosphere on-board, heaps to do, and is an easy way to get to and from the big game. It takes the hassle out of it,” Civoniceva said.

“As a former player, I know how important these games are. The atmosphere at The G will be electric and the cruise will have a great mix of fans from both Queensland and NSW who will all want to see their team get the first victory of the series.”

The last time Origin was at the MCG in 2015, the NRL made history after an unprecedented 91,513 fans filled the ground to the brink.

Arunui 5 launch Cruise as part of the Marquesas Festival 

Tahitian freighter cruise line Aranui Cruises will include a call to the spectacular Marquesas Festival in its final voyage of the year.

The festival is held every two years in the far-flung Marquesas Islands, the northernmost of Tahiti’s five archipelagoes, alternating between a mini festival and the main arts festival. During its 14-day roundtrip cruises from Papeete, the 126-metre long mixed cargo and passenger vessel dispenses cargo while guests disembark and explore nine islands across three striking and distinct Tahitian archipelagoes.

The 2017 mini festival will be a four-day extravaganza of Polynesian music and dance from December 18 to 21, 2017, at Tahuata, the smallest of the inhabited Marquesas Islands.

To coincide with the biennial event, Aranui Cruises’ freighter ship Aranui 5 will make an extended visit to Tahuata on December 20 allowing guests to participate in a community feast and enjoy the cultural festivities well into the night.

Departing on December 14, 2017, the Marquesas Festival cruise is priced from $8670* twin share for a pre-mium suite and $7970* per person twin share for a superior deluxe room, both featuring a balcony.

Star Clippers offer a taste of Morocco

Star Clippers will be offering a taste of Morocco on its Portugal to Spain itineraries in 2018. The Royal Clipper will carry 227 travellers on 23 April 2018 from Lisbon to Malaga, experiencing the quintessential Western Mediterranean.

Highlights include Lisbon, Portimao, Tangier, Gibraltar, Motril and Malaga.
Star Clippers’ Spain and Morocco cruise from Lisbon to Malaga starts from 1,790 per person, double occupancy including port charges, gratuities and 30% Early Booking Saving when you book before 31 January 2018.

Norwegian Cruise Line Introduce Upgrade Advantage

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) in Australia and New Zealand is offering selected guests the opportunity to bid for stateroom upgrades before setting sail through its new automated Upgrade Advantage Program.

Once invited by NCL, guests keen to participate will be able to choose how much they would like to bid for available options in the one or two meta categories above their booked stateroom. For example, guests with an Ocean View Stateroom booking can seek an upgrade to a Balcony Stateroom or Mini-Suite.

Guests can then view their tentative bids on a scale that recommends how strongly they should bid to secure the upgrade. Guests are notified any time up to at least two days before their sail date whether an offer has been accepted. If it has, their payment will be processed and when they log into My NCL they will see their new stateroom number.

Direct booking guests will be contacted via email by NCL, travel agent bookings will receive an email both to the client and the agency, with agencies able to opt out of the program at their own discretion, in which case their booked guests will not receive bid invitations.

Princess Cruises hosts Majestic Princess group travel agent famil

Princess Cruises recently hosted a group famil for 20 lucky and enthusiastic travel agents from Australia. The group sailed from Xiamen, China to Taipei, Taiwan, visiting Hong Kong.

The group dined at Michelin Star Chef Richard Chen’s Harmony Restaurant onboard and experienced some stunning Asian cuisine. Whilst in Hong Kong the group visited the floating markets, Nathan Road, Lang Kwai Fong and Lantau Island — immersing themselves in all the vibrancy Hong Kong has to offer.

With Majestic Princess soon to call Sydney home in September 2018, the famil gave this group of travel agents a taste of Princess’ newest flagship.

Tauck exclusive access and choice of Shore excursions available on 2018 Europe small ship cruises

Tauck Small Ship Cruising is setting sail with four distinct European itineraries in 2018, part of Tauck’s global portfolio of 17 small ship cruises.

From the warmer waters of the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas to the medieval ports along the Baltic Sea and the rugged coasts of the British and Irish Isles, these Tauck Cultural Journeys offer guests choices of one-of-a-kind shore excursions, extended stays in major port cities and all-inclusive pricing in the luxury of yachts that accommodate no more than 264 passengers.

Tauck has also enhanced its shore excursions in 2018 by adding new choices in many locations to give guests the opportunity to select experiences that best accommodate their interests.

To ensure a sense of exclusivity, cruises range from 40 to no more than 264 guests. Tauck designs each small ship cruise itinerary as a start-to-finish, all-inclusive package including private shore excursions; cruise fare; port charges and taxes; fuel surcharges; luggage handling; airport transfers; entertainment; gratuities to Tauck Directors and ship staff; onboard meals; land dining opportunities; free wifi and complimentary alcoholic beverages.

O, The Oprah Magazine Share the Adventure Cruise Set Sail Featuring Presentations by Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, SuperSoul 100 Visionaries and More

Holland America Line and O, The Oprah Magazine Share the Adventure Cruise set sail from Seattle to Alaska on July 15, 2017, bringing together some of the world’s foremost visionaries for a week of O-mazing talks and activities aboard ms Eurodam.

Throughout the week guests took part in morning meditation with yoga instructor Sara Ivanhoe and explored eating well with Impatient Foodie founder Elettra Wiedemann. O, The Oprah Magazine editor in chief Lucy Kaylin and editor at large Gayle King shared a peek behind the scenes of the award-winning magazine, explaining how they bring the pages to life.

Kaylin, books editor Leigh Haber and Pulitzer Prize-winner and New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Strout led the first O’s Reading Room discussion about Strout’s latest novel, “Anything is Possible.” Creative director Adam Glassman shared fashion trends and practical styling tips on how to dress your best.

Three SuperSoul 100 members brought an incredible energy onboard with their motivating and memorable stories. Four additional Adventure of Your Life cruises with SuperSoul 100 Members (to be announced) will set sail as follows: November 29, 2017 – 11-Day Southern Caribbean Wayfarer roundtrip; March 3, 2018 – 7-Day Tropical Caribbean roundtrip; August 11, 2018 – 7-Day Alaska roundtrip; October 28, 2018 – 7-Day Eastern Caribbean roundtrip.

Viking Cruises Launch New Ocean Cruise Supplement Brochure

Viking Cruises has launched a new 68 page ocean cruise supplement brochure announcing six new itineraries, additional departure dates for some of its most popular itineraries plus three new combination cruises.

New itineraries for 2018 and 2019 are: 13 Day In Search of the Northern Lights from London to Bergen; 12 Day Majestic Fjords and Vibrant Cities from Bergen to Copenhagen; 11 Day Scandinavia & the Kiel Canal from Copenhagen to Amsterdam; 8 Day Viking Shores and Fjords from Amsterdam to Bergen; 11 Day Amsterdam to Catalonia (Barcelona), and 8 Day Iberian Explorer from Barcelona to London.

Viking has also released two new river and ocean combination cruises offering guests the unique opportunity to experience Europe on back to back river and ocean cruises. In addition, guests can enjoy a combination of two Mediterranean ocean cruise itineraries.

One lucky travel agent will also win an 8 Day Turquoise Caribbean Seas ocean cruise in Viking’s recently launched trade incentive. The most ocean cruise deposited bookings made by an agent between 1 July and 30 September 2017 will win this 8 day roundtrip from Miami departing 10 December 2017. The competition closes at 11:59pm AEST, 30 September 2017. Winner will be announced by Friday 14 October 2017.

Azamara Club Cruises launch new brochure

Azamara Club Cruises has launched its brand new 2018/19 brochure, showcasing worldwide Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest voyages departing January 2018 to December 2019. The brochure is the line’s biggest and boldest ever, with 116 itineraries on show, featuring over 300 late night stays and nearly 200 overnights – letting guests stay longer and experience more on a cruise.

Exciting additions include 23 brand new country intensive voyages – which allow guests to completely immerse themselves in one country – such as the highly sought after Japan Intensive and Cuba Intensive voyages.

The line also embarks on its maiden season in Alaska in 2019, beginning with a 10-night Alaska Intensive voyage onboard Azamara Quest departing Vancouver on 25 May 2019, with brochure fares starting from AUD$4,339 per person twin share for an Interior state room.

New Celebrity Cruises Brochure showcase Asia

Celebrity Cruises brand new Asia brochure has hit the racks, featuring 27 of the modern luxury line’s Asia cruises sailing throughout the summer of 2017/18.

The compact brochure’s features include new dining and entertainment highlights on the recently revitalised Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Constellation, such as “A Taste of Film” – where tasting plates inspired by a culinary film are paired with scenes as they play on the Rooftop Terrace’s outdoor cinema screen. Guests can also sample the brand new Infinite Verandahs of Celebrity Edge – launching in December 2018 – on Celebrity Constellation. Exclusive to stateroom 7197, the Infinite Verandah turns guest quarters into a seamless space, from the room’s door all the way to the balcony’s edge.

Highlights for the upcoming season include double overnights in Dubai, Beijing and Bangkok, calls to the captivating ports of Kobe in Japan, Goa in India and Muscat in Oman as well as a special Pingxi Lantern Festival Signature Event Sailing in Taipei, departing February 2018. Itineraries range from 10 to 15 nights, including a 14 night Southeast Asia Immersion cruise on Celebrity Millennium departing 10 December 2017, with fares starting from AU$2,029 per person, twin share for an Interior stateroom.

Viking Launches Trade Incentive

To celebrate the launch of Viking Cruises’ new river and ocean offers, available from 1 July until 30 September, the cruise company is giving travel agents the chance to win an 8-day ocean and an 8-day river cruise.

The most river cruise deposited bookings made by an agent between 1 July and 30 September 2017 will win an 8-day Danube Waltz (Christmas Markets) river cruise, from 24 November to 1 December 2017. This 8-day itinerary reveals the highlights of Passau, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, while cruising leisurely through spectacular scenery and visiting the famous European Christmas markets.

The most ocean cruise deposited bookings made by an agent between 1 July and 30 September 2017 will win an 8-day Turquoise Caribbean Seas ocean cruise, from 10 December to 17 December 2017. Explore the magnificent Mayan treasures of the western Caribbean on this 8-day ocean cruise Miami to Miami.

The competition closes at 11:59pm AEST, 30 September 2017. Winner will be announced by Friday 14 October 2017.

P&O Cruises Animates Guests With New Nickelodeon Channels

The award winning children’s network Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. can now be viewed on the high-seas thanks to a new collaboration with P&O Cruises.

The popular Nickelodeon programming has been specially curated with P&O’s youngest guests in mind and will be available around the clock on TV’s in all cabins and in Kids Clubs across the fleet. Families can also enjoy a special Nickelodeon movie night on the Big Screen on the ship’s upper decks.

The Nick Jr. channel will entertain kids under five years of age with the global phenomenon PAW Patrol, educational STEM series Blaze and the Monster Machines and brand new hit series Nella the Princess Knight.

The introduction of two Nickelodeon channels adds to our broad family offering which already includes three dedicated kids clubs, the P&O Edge Adventure Park with a zip-line, walk the plank and segways, the longest and wildest waterslides on an Australian cruise ship, an interactive waterpark and an outdoor lawn bowls,” P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell said.

Pacific Explorer’s cruises include a 4-night X750 SeaBreak cruise departing Sydney on November 30, 2017. Fares start from $499* per person quad share.

New itineraries added to Crystal Mahler’s 2018 European Spring Season

Crystal River Cruises has unveiled four new 2018 itineraries for its second “Rhine Class” vessel, Crystal Mahler. In April and May next year, the brand new river yacht will sail three seven-day “Danube Serenade” routes between Budapest and Vienna, and one 11-day “Reflections on the Danube” sailing. The new voyages are a shorter complement to Crystal Mahler’s 16-day “Grand Europe” itineraries, which sail between Amsterdam and Budapest for most of the year, cruising the Rhine and Main Rivers.

The newly added itineraries depart April 10, 17, 24 and May 1 and visit European hamlets including Krems, Spitz, Linz and Melk, Austria and Bratislava, Slovakia.

The added itineraries further enhance the all-inclusive Crystal River Cruises experience, which was recently recognised as the “Best River Cruise Line” in the 2017 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. The line’s first ship, the 154-guest Crystal Mozart, currently sails itineraries along the Danube, while the “Rhine Class” new-builds will predominantly sail the Rhine and Main Rivers. Crystal Mahler will embark on her maiden voyage in September from Amsterdam, joining Crystal Bach on the mighty European waterways. Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel will join the luxurious fleet in 2018.

Uniworld Launches the Fly Free Offer for 2018 

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has launched its Ultimate 2018 Air Offer including free economy airfares with every 2018 European voyage.

Guests can fly free from Australia to Europe with an economy class air offer, or for those wanting a little more indulgence, Uniworld has an enticing business class air offer where guests can fly from $4,599.

Making Uniworld’s all-inclusive amenities on European sailings, even more inclusive, this offer is available for sale from now until September 30th, and is sure to make a 2018 European luxury boutique river cruise holiday irresistible for Australians.

The Ultimate Air Offer is available until 30 September 2017 in conjunction with 2018 European itineraries. Consumers are advised to book early.

World-class cuisine on board Scenic Eclipse

Scenic Eclipse invites travellers to rediscover their tastebuds when it launches in August next year. Featuring a choice of 10 exceptional dining experiences inspired by all four corners of the globe, the on board culinary creations will range from casual to fine-dining, ensuring all taste buds are catered for.

Guests will be able to enjoy contemporary French fine dining in Lumiere, sushi and sake at Asian-fusion venue Koko’s, a casual meal in the Azure Bar & Café or the Yacht Club poolside grill, or a perfectly cooked fillet steak in Scenic Eclipse’s elegant Elements main restaurant.

For those seeking a more personal dining experience on board, small and intimate venues, such as the Chef’s Table, which features a private degustation for eight guests or the Teppanyaki @ Koko’s grill with seating for just 10 diners, afford guests the option of privacy at no additional cost. In-suite dining is also accessible 24 hours a day, while chef-prepared picnics are available during onshore excursions.

Complementing the on board dining experience will be eight spacious bars and lounges, offering an extensive selection of beverages from top-shelf tipples, fine wine and cocktails, to freshly-squeezed juices, mocktails and specialty teas and coffee, all included as part of Scenic’s signature all-inclusive promise.

Quark Expeditions Announces New Program for 2018/2019 Antarctic Season

Polar expeditions company Quark Expeditions reveals its new Antarctica program for the 2018-2019 season, which includes the announcement of World Explorer, their new luxury, all-suites ship, an expanded Falklands & South Georgia itinerary, and two brand new photography trips.

Quark has added World Explorer, a luxury vessel to its fleet of expedition cruise ships, continuing to bring a modern and comfortable cruise experience to Antarctica. This new addition to the Quark Expeditions® fleet is an all-suite, all-balcony vessel and will embark on ten voyages during the upcoming season.

Photography fans will be excited to learn that Quark Expeditions® is launching their first-ever Quark Antarctica photography trips for this upcoming season, taking photography novices, hobbyists and pros to the most beautiful corners of Antarctica. On-board photography experts will help guests hone their photography skills through workshops and lectures, and will showcase their skills by joining land excursions with the specific focus to provide photography advice.

A new trip has been added, the Falklands (Malvinas) and South Georgia – Islands of the Southern Ocean.

The complete 2018/2019 Antarctic roster, with 10 different itineraries, includes: Photography Series, new Falkland itinerary, South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula: Penguin Safari, Antarctic Adventures