Yes, you read that correctly. Get your coloured pencils ready, or put your kids to work, because there are vouchers up for grabs!

Sydney’s third cruise ship terminal delayed 

The NSW government said it will put the proposed cruise terminal at Yarra Bay “on hold” for at least 18 months.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported Transport and Ports Minister Andrew Constance said all industry and community engagement around the project had suspended and it is not a “priority for government or industry at this time”.

It is speculated that the suspension of the industry and questions about cruise demand post-COVID-19 caused the government to put the terminal on ice, however, state and federal Labor, as well as locals, would like to see the proposal taken off the table altogether.

Carnival Corporation appoints former Walmart exec to company boards

Carnival Corporation has appointed Jeffrey J. Gearhart, retired executive vice president, global governance and corporate secretary for Walmart, to the company’s boards of directors.

In addition to his 15-year leadership tenure with Walmart, Gearhart is a member of the boards of directors at Bank OZK and Mercy Hospital, Central Region. Before joining Walmart, Gearhart was a partner with Kutak Rock LLP, practicing in the corporate, securities and mergers and acquisitions areas.

With a distinguished career that spans almost three decades, Gearhart is credited with building a globally recognized ethics and compliance program that earned Walmart the New York Stock Exchange Governance Services award for the “Best Governance, Risk, and Compliance Program for Large-Cap Companies” in 2016.

Gearhart will serve in a non-executive capacity on Carnival Corporation’s 12-member boards of directors. He will also serve on both the Compliance and the Health, Environmental, Safety & Security (HESS) Committees.

Quark launches Polar Learning Channel 

Quark Expeditions has launched a new Polar Learning Channel (PLC) where it is sharing with travel agents, consumers, and even families the opportunity to learn about the polar regions.

This is not a brand-centric platform, but a place where anyone can go to find out more. No logins needed, it’s a site that can be visited by anyone at any time!

The platform is updated on a weekly basis with new videos, colouring-in competitions, information, interviews, and also two webinars held each week – one for adults, and another which is family-friendly. The webinars are recorded and posted to the website as well so the information is accessible at any time. In the weeks to come, an option to participate in the webinars live in Australian time will be made available.

As a start to the PLC, Quark is running a colouring-in competition open to anyone and everyone in Australia and New Zealand. Travel agents are welcome to share the competition with their client base and communicate this via social media and consumer media.

Colour in either the Penguins or Polar Bears colouring-in sheet which can be found on the Polar Learning Centre website as best you can and send to sarah.arane@quarkexpeditions.com by 5pm on Monday 4 May. In your submission, please include your name, age (under or over 16 is fine), and state/country.

There will be two categories for judging – Under 16 and Over 16 – with three vouchers given away per category.

Your submission could win you a $50 EFTPOS Gift card!

Winners will be chosen by the Quark Expeditions team and announced on 6 May. All winners will also be contacted via email.

P&O Cruises launches ‘Monday Meal Inspiration from Luke Mangan’

P&O Cruises long-standing celebrity chef Luke Mangan is bringing a taste of his popular Salt grill restaurant to home kitchens around the country with a new series of inspirational, virtual cooking classes.

The classes began Monday evening, the acclaimed cooking whizz showed fans of P&O how to recreate some of his famous dishes usually found on Salt grill menus served on board the cruise line’s ships. 

The cooking classes are part of P&O’s mission to provide its guests with a taste of the high seas during this period when most Australians are spending increasing amounts of time at home. 

Luke Mangan is the longest-serving celebrity chef at sea and his renowned Salt grill dining outlets have been a favourite with cruise passengers since they were first introduced to P&O’s fleet in 2009.

Riviera Travel unveils 2021 program

Riviera Travel River Cruises is looking ahead to 2021 by launching its biggest-ever program of river cruises in Europe next year, with a new, five-star ship, a record number of sailings, a brand new cruise itinerary, new-look dining amenities, new VIP benefits and more solo-only cruises.

The line has announced it will offer a record 350 sailings across Europe in 2021 on 20 different itineraries and 14 luxury river ships, including the new, five-star MS Geoffrey Chaucer, named after the 14th Century poet. The 169-guest ship – offering a panoramic lounge, two restaurants, gym, plunge pool (heated in winter) – will reaffirm Riviera Travel’s fleet as one of the youngest in Europe.

Riviera Travel has also unveiled a brand new itinerary for 2021. The eight-day ‘Amsterdam, Cologne and the Best of Holland and Flanders’ river cruise from Amsterdam to Cologne will feature the canals, windmills, palaces and cultural highlights of Holland, the cobbled, medieval streetscapes of Belgium and the Gothic marvels of Cologne in Germany.

New Victorian home for Spirit of Tasmania

TT-Line Company Pty Ltd will move its Victorian port operations for Spirit of Tasmania from Station Pier, Port Melbourne, to Corio Quay, north of Geelong.

The new 12-hectare dedicated site will include a purpose-designed passenger terminal building, a passenger vehicle marshalling area for 600 cars, more efficient passenger vehicle check-in, security facilities, public amenities, a cafe, children’s play area and a pet exercise area.

Aqua Expeditions announces new award-winning Australian chefs for online masterclass series

Following the success of Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino’s Peruvian Ceviche and Pisco sour masterclass at the beginning of April, Aqua Expeditions has announced two of their award-winning Australian consulting chefs for the brand’s new online culinary series.

Striving to bring refreshing and inspiring content from Aqua’s destinations into travellers homes during these unprecedented times, Aqua Expeditions invites viewers to join consulting chefs Benjamin Cross, from the recently launched Aqua Blu (Indonesia), and David Thompson, from the Aqua Mekong, in complimentary cooking sessions via Aqua’s social platforms.

The chefs will guide viewers through the preparation of easy to make, delicious recipes whilst sharing tips and tricks of the trade along the way and their thoughts on how travel has inspired the flavours and ingredients in their dishes.

Avalon Waterways shares new ports and itineraries for 2021

As we all experience this unconventional “layover” together, Avalon Waterways is sharing news about its 2021 season, giving travellers more opportunities to dream about – and anticipate – their next getaway.

The river cruise line has unveiled five new Danube River ports as well as three new 2021 European river cruise holidays that feature Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria.

The Danube River winds and bends through 10 countries to carve a historic path that unites fairy-tale villages, capital cities, cliffside castles and forested slopes for picture-perfect landscapes as far as the eye can see.

Along this legendary path, Avalon Waterways has created a boatload of extraordinary experiences for travellers.

Windstar Cruises extends its suspension of operations 

Due to the continued effects of COVID-19 on the world’s population and expanded travel restrictions enacted by multiple governments, Windstar Cruises is extending its temporary suspension of operations until 30 June 2020. Windstar will begin operating cruises aboard its yachts and small ships again in July 2020.

For those guests with cancelled cruises due to this extension, Windstar is offering a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) valued at 125 per cent of all monies paid to Windstar Cruises on the booking. Guests will have until 31 December 2021 to book and sail with their FCC. Guests may also request to exchange the FCC for a refund of 100 per cent of monies paid to Windstar Cruises on the cancelled booking. Guests have until 31 December 2021 to request the refund.

Norwegian Cruise Line extends suspension of operations

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, has extended its previously announced suspension of global cruise voyages to include voyages embarking between 11 May and 30 June, 2020 for its three cruise brands.

The voyage suspension contributes to global efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. The Company will continue to work in tandem with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. federal government and global public health authorities to take all necessary precautions to ensure the health, safety and security of guests, crew and the communities visited.

Guests who are currently booked on voyages with embarkation dates between 11 May and 30 June 2020 on Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises or Regent Seven Seas Cruises are asked to contact their travel agent or the cruise line for more information.

Ruby Princess departs Port Kembla

As Ruby Princess prepared to sail from Port Kembla, the ship spelt out its thanks to the Illawarra community with a large blue banner on the ship’s stern.

Princess Cruises has also announced a $50,000 contribution to the Mission to Seafarers at Port Kembla, which played a leading role in the community’s support of the crew.

Featured image credit: iStock/MarioGuti