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18 October, 2017

Big Fat Cruise Wrap

By laurencroft

The office coffee machine is broken so we wrote this without caffeine. Are you impressed? You should be.

Royal Caribbean Reveals New Features On Worlds Largest Cruise Ship: Symphony Of The Seas

Royal Caribbean International has announced the incredible new features debuting on Symphony of the Seas, the cruise ship taking the title of world’s biggest when it launches in March 2018.

The new features will join the line-up of Royal Caribbean’ exclusives – such as robot bartenders at the Bionic Bar; the iconic AquaTheater showcasing high-flying, high diving performances; and the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea – all set in the unique seven-neighborhood concept of the award-winning Oasis-class ships.

The 25th ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, Symphony of the Seas will set sail in April 2018 kicking off a summer season in the Mediterranean calling on ports in Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Provence, France; Florence/Pisa, Rome and Naples, Italy. Beginning 24 November 2018, the adventure-packed ship will make Miami, FL her year-round home, sailing seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages from the state-of-the-art new Terminal A at Port Miami. Symphony of the Seas will span 16 guest decks, encompass more than 230,000 gross registered tons, carry 5,500 guests at double occupancy, and feature 2,774 staterooms.

Plan Your Next Adventure During Cruise Month

Once a niche market, expedition and adventure cruises are increasingly in demand as more and more holidaymakers discover that small ship cruising is the best way to get off-the-beaten-track and see some of the world’s most unspoilt and remote destinations.

From waking up anchored in a secluded bay with nothing but a morning swim on the agenda to opening the curtains to a white wonderland of polar caps and the promise of penguins, expedition cruising is all about the thrill of discovering a far-flung destination.

In some cases, expedition cruises are the only way to explore certain destinations that are often difficult or impossible to access by land such as Antarctica and the Kimberley.

To encourage more Australians and New Zealanders to dip their toe in the wonderful world of expedition cruising, cruise operators are offering value-added extras as part of the world’s largest cruise promotion – Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) annual Plan a Cruise Month.

Dream Cruises to set a new world record for world dream

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Dream Cruises is making a big splash in the market ahead of the much-awaited arrival of World Dream with a grand kick-off celebration showcasing all the new fun experiences that await guests, and getting everyone to take part in breaking a world record.

The excitement begins with Dream Cruises’ innovative “#TogetherWeBuildDreams” campaign, which engages consumers in the building of the world’s largest LEGO® cruise ship. The 8.44-meter cruise ship replica of World Dream is expected to be certified by the Guinness Book of World Records and completed in time for World Dream’s arrival in Hong Kong.

This November, Dream Cruises will take families, couples and groups into a world of wonder on board World Dream with fascinating journeys to exotic and popular destinations in Asia, enhancing every voyage with new world-class entertainment and recreation features, including a state-of-the-art virtual reality and game zone, dazzling laser and fireworks displays and new signature shows, as well as new dining concepts and expanded duty-free shopping and marketplaces.

Luxury Travel Agents Help Deliver Double Revenue for Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) and Oceania Cruises (OCI)– leaders in their own respective luxury and upper-premium categories – have reaffirmed the value delivered by specialist luxury travel agents in supporting the growth of their local business operations.

Australia has emerged as the fastest growing global market for both RSSC and OCI with close to 95% of the business coming from trade – enabling revenue to double within two years of opening a local Australian office.

With high average ticket prices generating top-level commissions across both cruise lines, both RSSC and OCI, have been able to harness the expertise of agents as the first choice for consumer bookings, and – at the same time – leveraging this expertise for the best air and cruise package deals.

Carnival Cruise Line Celebrates five years in Australia with Largest Conga Line At Sea

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Carnival Cruise Line celebrated its fifth anniversary in Australia today with the world’s longest conga line at sea, marking the first ever World Conga Day. Over 60,000 guests took part in the Carnival Conga over the past week, which travelled across 25 Carnival ships, via 13 countries, seven time zones, spanning over 16,000 kilometres.

Carnival has also commissioned ‘Carnival Conga’, a song released especially for the occasion with all proceeds from the sale of the catchy tune going to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. The release of Carnival Conga is a first for any cruise line globally and can be downloaded from all leading platforms, including, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Play.

Carnival Spirit sailed into the iconic Sydney Harbour this morning at 6.30am with over 1,500 guests and crew ‘conga-ing’ on the top deck at sunrise – five years to the day since she arrived through the heads for the first time in 2012. Captain Vittorio Marchi and on-board characters, Dr Seuss’ Cat In The Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2, also joined in on the fun.

The new RV Sabei Pandaw

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Pandaw are pleased to announce the addition of a third ship to join their Laos Flotilla on the Mekong River in November 2018. This will be the 17th vessel in the Pandaw Fleet that currently ply the waterways of six South-East Asian countries

The double decked vessel to be named RV Sabei Pandaw will be 45 meters long and designed to meet the navigational challenges of shooting the rapids in the Laos gorges. At the same time it will have the shallow draft to enable year round passage across Yunnan into China.

The Sabei will be deployed between Vientiane, the Laos capital, to Jinghong in China. Travellers on this four-country expedition will visit Laos, Thailand, Burma and China. Highlights include the ancient Laos capital of Luang Prabang, visits to tribal villages, national parks and the river itself which is intensely dramatic and wild.

Pandaw were the first to open luxury river expeditions in Laos in 2015 and added a second ship last year extending the programme from Laos to Thailand to continue to China.

Australian Sales Figures Double for Riviera River Cruises

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A major European river cruise line unknown to most Australians until this year, Riviera Travel, has doubled its Australian sales figures for August and September this year, compared to 2016.

And in another boost for Riviera Travel, which offers inclusive, five-star cruises at fares up to 50 per cent lower than most other river operators, UK travel agents have just voted Riviera the best river cruise operator for 2017 for the second year in row as part of Britain’s TTG Travel Awards – the UK’s most prestigious travel accolades.

Riviera Travel’s Sales Manager for Australia, Shelley Davey, said a big push targeting Australia since mid-2016 had paid off with local sales figures for August and September this year twice as high as those for the same time last year.

Riviera Travel – the largest supplier of European river cruises in Britain – is offering 250 cruises on nine European rivers and waterways this year while in 2018, Riviera’s biggest-yet fleet of 11 luxury ships will carry a record number of guests on 300 cruises across 12 different itineraries in Europe.

New hot destinations, small cruise ship charters and iconic cultural events

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Peregrine Adventures has released its latest European brochure with the introduction of brand new destinations and new small ship cruising charters among the highlights of the 2018 program.

The new brochure offers unique European itineraries from the Moors to Transylvania and Central Europe to the Canary Islands, and incorporates iconic cultural events in Scotland and Morocco.

In response to holidaymakers’ desire to get away from the masses, Peregrine’s small-group trips are now even more intimate with 20 new small ship cruising charters added to the 2018 calendar. The inaugural charters will include eight-day cruises from Lisbon to Malaga, around Iceland’s Wild West Cost, Croatia’s Central Coast and the Hidden Gems of Greece. Cruises run from May to October and are priced from $2,735* per person twin share.

Back a Winner with Captain Cook’s Melbourne Cup Cruise

Grab your favourite fascinator and a few friends and celebrate the race that’s stops a nation on Tuesday 7th November 2017, on Captain Cook Cruises Melbourne Cup Lunch cruise.

Soak up amazing 360-degree views of Sydney Harbour from the open-air Star Deck of the Sydney 2000, discuss impending winners, take part in some fun horse auctions and indulge in a three course premium menu including a welcome beer, wine or soft drink.

At 3.00pm experience the excitement of the race in the Show Deck Race Lounge, equipped with a large screen to broadcast all the live action.

There are also great prizes to be won throughout the afternoon for best dressed, lucky door and sweeps.

Aranui Offers 2018 Agent Incentive

Aranui Cruises is offering travel agents and wholesalers an extra incentive to book their clients on an Aranui 5 cruise in the new year with all bookings made until April 2018 receiving an extra five per cent commission.

All new bookings made on Aranui 5’s February 1, February 20, March 10 and April 17, 2018, departures will be eligible for the bonus commission which can mean hundreds of dollars more in an agent’s pay packet.

Priced from $6,360 in a Stateroom and $8,670 in a Premium Suite with a balcony, Aranui 5’s 14-day cruise offers discerning travellers the adventure of a lifetime across the South Pacific with visits to nine islands across three striking and distinct French Polynesian archipelagoes – the Marquesas, Tuamotus and Society Islands – showing off some of the most naturally beautiful and untouched islands in the world, all with the comfort and ease of cruising.

The destination-rich itinerary includes Bora Bora and its famed blue lagoon; the chance to walk in the footsteps of great artists and authors including Robert Louis Stevenson, Herman Melville and Paul Gauguin on Hiva Oa, Nuka Hiva, Ua Pou, Ua Huka, Tahuata, and Fatu Hiva in the far-flung Marquesas; and the Tuamotu ports of Rangiroa and Fakarava with picturesque white sandy beaches and turquoise waters.

APT Small Ship Expeditions, Polar Opposite Cursing

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Today, leading cruise and tour operator APT, launched their 2019 Small Ships Antarctica, Arctic & Northern Europe brochure detailing the perfect escapes for customers looking to explore the remote corners of the globe.

The new brochure comes paired with multiple Superdeals on all destinations, book clients by 31 July to take advantage of major savings.

A contrast to traditional cruising, small ship expeditions accommodate no more than 200 guests, have a high crew-to-passenger ratio, combined with a focus on niche sightseeing opportunities to provide a unique travel style.

In 2019 APT is offering itineraries in both the northern and southern Polar Regions, as well as small ship expeditions in Northern Europe, covering the Baltic Sea, Norway, Greenland and beyond, while offering land extensions in South America to complement Antarctica cruising.

Exceptional value for deluxe Russian river cruise tour

Russian river cruising specialist Beyond Travel has just released a one-off offer on a special Volga Dream deluxe river cruise in Gold Class departing St Petersburg on May 27, 2018 with a savings of $2000 per couple when booked and deposited by November 30.

This exceptionally priced 14-day “Volga Dream” itinerary is now available from only $3995 per person twin share, offering the best value in Russia with comparable deluxe river cruises at around $8,000 per person next season. Plus the added value of staying in five star hotels perfectly located in the heart of Moscow and St Petersburg with daily sightseeing in an intimate group of no more than 25 guests.

Whilst on board your vessel enjoy all meals -including complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, daily sight-seeing, cultural programs delivered by Russian professors and English-speaking guide.

The cruise makes port visits to Svirstroy, Kizhi Island, Goritzy, Yaroslaval, Uglich before reaching your final destination of Moscow.

Coming Home: Royal Caribbean Sets Return to St. Thomas

A sweet reunion is in sight; Royal Caribbean International has set the date for its much-awaited return to St. Thomas since the Caribbean destination was impacted by the hurricanes last month. On 10 November 2017, the cruise line will make its way to St. Thomas for the first time since early September with Adventure of the Seas.

In partnership with the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Royal Caribbean has also committed to undertaking the complete restoration of Magens Bay, one of St. Thomas’ most popular tourist attractions – with plans for a grand re-opening of the pristine destination during Adventure of the Seas’ visit on 10 November.

With power and water to the island completely restored and most downtown shops, restaurants, bars and tour operators completely operational, guests will be able to experience a diverse and extensive array of dining, shopping and activities. Guests can enjoy boat and catamaran excursions to explore the turquoise blue waters and abundant sea life of the Caribbean and soak in the sun at some of the region’s best beach destinations: Secret Sands Beach, Secret Harbour Beach Club, Lindquist Beach, Abi Beach and Honeymoon Beach on Water Island.

Another way to stay 17 hours on a Dream Liner on the way to London

For almost nine years now, the ex Cunarder Queen Elizabeth 2 or QE2 as she became known, has been in Dubai, having been purchased by Emirati interests.

At one stage, it was intended that she would continue limited sailing schedules including going to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but in the aftermath of the infamous GFC, this did not eventuate, and plans for her conversion to a floating hotel were placed on hold.

Just last month, the 50th Anniversary of QE2‘s launch was celebrated, with some of the UK newspapers lamenting that she was now doomed.

However we can now reveal that the great liner has been receiving the necessary refurbishments and attention to enable her to finally reopen her gangway doors and welcome guests aboard to stay at the Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel from late this year or early next. She is, and will continue to be located next to the new marina complex at Port Rashid. More details to follow, but you heard it here first!

Seabourn announce new extended explorations sailings on Sojourn

Seabourn, the world’s finest ultra-luxury cruise line, is offering new Extended Explorations voyages aboard Seabourn Sojourn during its fall 2018 and winter/spring 2019 season presenting guests with an opportunity to explore more of our extraordinary world.

Ideal for guests who prefer longer cruises and more exotic destinations, the new Extended Explorations voyages will include a range of unique itineraries ranging from 12 to 128 days in length in exotic locales such as the South Pacific, Hawaii, Australia & New Zealand, as well as Africa & Southeast Asia. Seabourn Sojourn, the guests’ “home away from home,” will visit more than 30 new and notable ports during these voyages.

Extended Explorations offers travelers a variety of ways to uncover new destinations by allowing guests to have an in-depth experience in a specific region or effortlessly move from one region to another. Adding a week, month, or an entire season offers many benefits for guests, including the opportunity for overnight stays in major ports with accommodations on board and ashore.

Oceania Cruises introduces 2019 Europe & The Americas itineraries

Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focussed cruise line, introduces the Europe & The Americas 2019 Collection of itineraries which open for sale on October 19 in Australia and New Zealand.

This expansive and diverse set of voyages features more than 85 overnight stays and late departures, affording travellers expansive and in-depth explorations that combine rich, insider travel experiences with the finest cuisine at sea. With six ships spanning the globe from the Adriatic to Alaska, Oceania Cruises offers the widest and most diverse array of destination-focussed itineraries and the most extended port stays of any cruise line in its class.

Voyages range from seven to 44 days featuring a mix of popular destinations, boutique ports, and quaint seaside villages. There are also many combinable voyages for travellers to choose from if they would like to extend their journey, with no unwanted port duplication.

Celebrity cruises invites guess to experience Europe with an Edge

From Athens to Barcelona to Reykjavik, Celebrity Cruises has all of Europe covered with the cruise line’s award-winning fleet that delivers unrivalled modern luxury holidays. In 2019, Celebrity will have five stunning ships sailing in the region, including the newest, Celebrity Edge, and best of all, the 2019 season is now open for sale, in time for Europe Early Bird airfares.

With calls in 27 different countries, overnight stays in 16 cities, and visits to more than 90 ports of call – including three brand new Celebrity-first ports of call: Nauplion, Greece; Rijeka, Croatia; and Santa Margherita, Italy – there’s no better way to experience Europe than with Celebrity.

With its revolutionary, outward-facing design – highlighted by signature features such as the Magic Carpet and the Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda – Europe has never seen a ship like Celebrity Edge before, and guests will have never seen Europe like they will on Celebrity Edge.

In addition to Celebrity Edge, the modern luxury brand will operate four other award-winning vessels: Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Reflection, andCelebrity Silhouette.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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