PRICE $8.25 (INCL GST) APRIL 2013 ISSUE 82

16TH YEAR OF PUBLICATION ESTABLISHED 1998

Featuring a comprehensive coverage of Global Cruising for Cruise Passengers, the Trade and the Industry www.cruisingnews.com

Editor’s Say an optimist! In the Australian market we’re constantly looking at opportunities to bring more ships here and our motto is “never say never”. The clearest example is when we launched the Voyager class ships; we said that they’d never leave the Caribbean. Now Voyager of the Seas has just debuted in Australia this season and Mariner of the Seas will shortly Pacific Pearl became the first cruise ship to move to Asia. officially use the new terminal facilities at White Q: How about Brisbane? Please comment on Bay following the transfer from Barangaroo its potential. A: “Brisbane is a great port and of cruise ship operations west of the Sydney Queensland has a large cruise market. At the Harbour Bridge. Reports say all went well. moment, only two of Royal Caribbean’s ships can physically navigate upriver to the Portside terminal at Hamilton so we are working closely with Brisbane Ports to find a docking solution for our large cruise ships.” THIS ISSUE It is clear that future expansion depends on HIGHLIGHTSFront Cover: MSC Cruises infrastructure. The Brisbane City Council John & Kerry Treacy recently put aside land at Luggage Point at the mouth of the Brisbane River as a potential Lindbald Acquires Orion...... P4 cruise terminal. The debate regarding a Gold Salute to Summer Heroes...... P5 Coast cruise terminal continues. Cunard Behind the Scenes...... P 1 0 Meanwhile cruise company executives are still Our feature story this issue is the christening Coral Princess II Upgrade...... P14 working with authorities to solve the berthing of MSC Preziosa in Genoa and the ship itself. Places Visited/SeaDream II...... P20-22 needs east of the Harbour Bridge. Recently when MSC Cruises CEO Pierfrancesco Vago told On Board Marina...... P24-26 Lisa Bauer, Royal Caribbean International me that the company was now planning for River Cruising...... P42-44 evp global sales and marketing visited Sydney the future and we may see their next vessel 3 she made comments regarding infrastructure in in about three to four years. We await the Sydney and Brisbane and I asked her to clarify. official announcement. Also on 16 March 2013 “We are a “big the AIDAstella was baptized in a glittering ship” company ceremony in Warnemunde, Germany. and in order to bring our ships to Australia and New Zealand, there is always the question of where do we base them. Our decisions on APRIL 2013 Windstar Expands P4 home porting are based on Congratulations Rhys! The Kimberley Quest a range of team are thrilled that Rhys Badcock, their infrastructure chef of several years, is the winner of the first issues - from passenger terminal Master Chef Professional Series. facilities right up to traffic management.” Q: You talked about huge potential – please expand. A: “We see great potential in Australia, which has a growing cruise market and a stable Norwegian Breakaway Floats Out P8 economy. More and more Australians are starting to discover what other markets like America and Europe have known for a while that cruising is a fantastic way to holiday. That said, in spite of the Australian cruise industry’s growth in the last few years, only 2.5 per cent of Australians have been on a cruise. That Happy Cruising means we potentially have 97.5 per cent more Australian cruisers-to-be. I’ve always been John Treacy Breaking News – Groundbreaking Quantum-Class Ships Revealed Tom Koppel travels the Ganges P46-48 Building on a legacy of more than 40 years of exhilaration of skydiving in a safe, controlled, innovation and creative design, Royal Caribbean and simulated environment. International has unveiled first details of the The June 2013 issue of Cruising News Plus the latest news and next generation of cruise vacations – Quantum will publish a detailed report of these information on Global cruising. The Quantum class of ships will take groundbreaking innovations. Passenger Cruising a dramatic leap forward, introducing more game-changing “firsts at sea” such as a skydiving Proudly Published in Australia by experience, a thrilling adventure that transports guests more than 300 feet in the air on a breathtaking journey above the ocean and over the sides of the ship to deliver awe-inspiring 360-degree views. Venues include the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea with bumper cars, roller skating and more; and the cruise line’s largest and most advanced staterooms ever. Every stateroom on Quantum ABN 71 083 652 019 of the Seas will have a view. Another first the Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every RipCord by iFly, the first skydiving experience at effort is made to ensure the information published is correct sea will allow everyone from first-time flyers to ISSN 1447 - 2112 seasoned skydivers to enjoy the sheer thrill and Windstar Cruises Expands Windstar Cruises has announced that its owner, Xanterra Parks & Resorts®, has reached an agreement with Seabourn to purchase three of their ships: Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Legend, and Seabourn Spirit. Under the project name Global Windstar, the expansion will double the size of Windstar’s recently renovated three luxury sailing yacht fleet. “Windstar Cruises has experienced four straight years of revenue growth. This expansion is the perfect way to build on the momentum following our recent fleet-wide renovation, providing us with the much needed capacity to match the accelerating demand for our intimate style of yacht cruising,” Orion Expedition said Andy Todd, chief executive officer of Xanterra Parks & Resorts, owner of Windstar Cruises. “Global Windstar enables us to extend our unique Cruises Acquired small-ship experience throughout the world.” The delivery of the three 104 all-suite ships, which hold 208 passengers each, will take place over Lindblad Expeditions, the U.S.-based small ship expedition company which partners with the National Geographic Society for expedition cruising, has announced that Orion Expedition Cruises will become part of Lindblad’s existing fleet starting with March 2014 itineraries, offering Orion past and future guests access to expeditions around the globe. “We are extremely excited about the opportunity to offer global expedition cruising to Australians and we intend to bring the full weight of our experience and that of National Geographic to the Orion organization and the ship”, said Sven Lindblad, President and Founder of Lindblad Expeditions. Lindblad Expeditions owns five ships: the National Geographic Explorer, the National Geographic Endeavour, the National Geographic Sea Bird, the National Geographic Sea Lion and the National Geographic Islander. In addition, Lindblad charters five ships – the Delfin II, the Lord of the Glens, the Oceanic Discoverer, the Jahan, and the Sea 4 Cloud for seasonal expeditions. Destinations include Arctic Svalbard, Antarctica, Alaska, Baja California, the next two years in the Mediterranean. The Seabourn Pride will be the Central America, Galapagos, the Amazon, New Zealand, Africa, British first ship to enter into Windstar’s luxury fleet in April of 2014. Following Isles, Egypt, Europe, the Mediterranean, the Pacific Northwest and South a Windstar branded renovation, which will give the ship a new name and America. casually elegant look, the Pride with set sail a month later in May 2014. Trey Byus, Lindblad’s Chief Expedition Officer, said “The geographies that Windstar Cruises will take possession of Seabourn Legend in April 2015 Orion has explored in the past are well known to us through the decades, and Seabourn Spirit in May 2015. but I was very much impressed with the knowledge of the Orion team. It has been a joy working with them to develop compelling ideas for the future.” Summer Cruising Sarina Bratton, the founder of Orion, will leave the business on completion Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV), of her current contract on April 19. “The move is both amicable and operator of the MARCO POLO (ex

APRIL 2013 timely,” she said. “I will welcome a break in which to travel and work on ALEXANDR PUSHKIN) and co- my golf handicap.” operator (in tandem with Voyages of Orion Expedition Cruises pioneered and defined five-star small ship Discovery) of the DISCOVERY (ex expedition cruising in the Australasian market. It has taken thousands ISLAND PRINCESS) will be expanding of people to The Kimberley, Antarctica, Papua New Guinea, Borneo with a three year seasonal charter of and explored the far reaches of the Russian Far East, Japan and SE Asia the 20,606 gt MV ASTOR. The 600-passenger vessel will embark on twice- introducing guests to five-star adventure and creating unsurpassed travel yearly voyages between the UK, South Africa and Australia, in addition memories. to summer cruises from Australia. The ship will be based in Fremantle In addition to the awards won by the company, Sarina herself was named commencing 12 December, 2013. Extensively refurbished in 2010 at a cost Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year, Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of $22 million, Astor is fully stabilised and air-conditioned and offers an of the Year (Services) and Travel Innovator of the Year. intimate country house style ambiance. With seven passenger decks, indoor “Sarina has created something quite wonderful in her 9 years at the helm and outdoor pools, jogging track and spa, ASTOR was built in 1987. She is of Orion Expedition Cruises” says Sven Lindblad. “We respect both her also marketed for summer cruising in the German market by Munich-based and her team immensely for what they have accomplished. It is our job Premicon.CMV. A feature cruise will be a 35 night Grand Round Australian now to ensure that the Orion travellers continue to receive remarkable Circumnavigation Sailing from Fremantle on Tuesday 28 January 2014 calling travel experiences, both on Orion and our other ships. After all, it is their at Kangaroo Island, Adelaide, Hobart & Port Arthur, Melbourne, Eden for full faith and confidence that is the essence of this enterprise.” Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Bali, Lombok, Komodo Island, Broome returning to Fremantle. Oasis of the Sea to Sail Farewell until summer 2013/14 As Voyager of the Seas ended her Australian season Royal Caribbean closed Europe in 2014 what was a stellar debut season. The ship arrived in Singapore - her final Royal Caribbean destination for the Australian summer – at the end of a 14 night cruise and International has carrying 3250 passengers. Voyager of the Seas made waves when she first announced that Oasis of arrived in November last year, being the first single ship to bring more than the Seas will be sailing 3,000 guests to Sydney. For the 2012/13 summer cruise season, Voyager of Europe for a short season the Seas welcomed onboard a whopping 40,000 guests, 85 percent of which in 2014. The sailings will were from Australia and New Zealand, and all cruises sailed full. She also coincide with a routine hosted over 1,600 travel agents on famil trips as well as agent visits in ports maintenance drydock in all around Australia. “As far as debut seasons go, we really couldn’t have asked the Netherlands. A 12 for a better welcome for Voyager of the Seas down under. The response to night eastbound cruise her here in Australia has just been phenomenal, and judging from the feedback from the ship’s homeport from our guests and trade partners, they can’t wait to see her again for the of Port Everglades in 2013/14 summer season,” said Adam Armstrong, Commercial Director at Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona departs 1 September 2014 and a 13 night Royal Caribbean Cruises Australasia. Sailing from Sydney and Perth, Voyager westbound cruise will return Oasis of the Seas to Port Everglades from of the Seas will return for the summer 2013/14 cruise season, with four Rotterdam on 14 Oct. Vacationers also can embark the westbound trans- new itineraries and two additional sailings – a 10 percent extension from Atlantic cruise at Southampton on 15 October. There will be three Europe her maiden season. Some program highlights include a 14-night cruise from sailings with two roundtrip sailings on a five night Western Mediterranean Singapore to Sydney on 24 October 2013, which begins with an overnight itinerary from Barcelona, and a seven night Spain itinerary sailing from in Singapore and calls at Kuala Lumpur (Port Kelang), Malaysia, Darwin and Barcelona to Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Brisbane, and a new two-night weekend sampler cruise departing from Sydney. Two ships in 2014/15 Regional Vice President of Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited Gavin Smith after sailing Celebrity Cruises’s first ever single-voyage crossing of the has announced that Celebrity Cruises will have two ships based in Pacific; a 23 night voyage from San Francisco to Sydney via Hawaii and Australia in 2014/15. Celebrity Century is to join Celebrity Solstice and Tahiti. Her three-month Australia New Zealand season will then feature together the two ships will offer 27 cruises in the region, a 50 per cent 11 sailings, ranging from seven to 23 nights in duration. Highlights include increase from the previous season. These cruises will range from three to the cruise line’s first ever cruise to combine Tropical Queensland with twenty three nights, departing from Sydney, Fremantle and Auckland. The the South Pacific islands, and new Australian itineraries such as an eight- Australian ports of Port Lincoln, South Australia; Burnie, Tasmania; and night South Australian cruise. Celebrity Century will leave Sydney on a Cairns, Queensland will all be welcoming a Celebrity Cruises ship for 14 night cruise to Singapore on 11 January 2015, where she will then the first time. “In 2012, we reshaped Australian cruising by introducing operate a new Southeast Asia program until April 2015. Celebrity Solstice, the newest and most luxurious ship to be based in Celebrity Solstice’s third Australian season will feature a mixture of the region – and one that is usually reserved for other parts of the Trans Pacific, South Pacific, round Australia, as well as Australia and New world. Having a second ship allows us to offer Australians an even wider Zealand itineraries. With a total of 16 cruises on offer, sailings range from range of itineraries and ports: more South Pacific cruises, some shorter three to 18 nights, including two cruises that can be combined into a 34 cruises and more unique itineraries to South Australia. The two ships are night voyage. Celebrity Solstice will arrive in late October 2014 and she different sizes too – so they will appeal to different guests”said Gavin will offer cruises from Sydney and Auckland for almost six months. Smith. Celebrity Century arrives in Sydney on Friday 10 October 2014

Historically an honour reserved for heads of state, politicians and celebrities, godmothers not only break a bottle to christen a ship, but also serve as guiding spirits to its guests and crew. Royal Caribbean looks to capture the essence of the role by choosing women whose life lessons and achievements illustrate the kind of courage, dedication and determination that are an inspiration to all. “Kristin’s effortless grace and dynamic performances align perfectly with our newest class of ships and we could not be more honoured to have her represent Quantum of the Seas,” said Richard D. 5 Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. “Working with Major Milestone such a remarkable and versatile woman for one of maritime’s longest Royal Caribbean International took a major step in the development of standing traditions is an exciting experience.” the cruise line’s next generation of cruise ships when the first piece of “I am so excited to be named godmother of Royal Caribbean steel was cut for the first of two Project Sunshine ships. The steel cutting International’s newest ship, Quantum of the Seas. I have been lucky to took place at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, where play many roles and I am looking forward to this one,” stated Kristin the two ships will be built. To celebrate the milestone, Royal Caribbean Chenoweth. “I think the Royal Caribbean brand is the perfect match for announced the names of the two new ships – Quantum of the Seas, set me, especially with their history of providing exceptional entertainment to debut in 2014, and Anthem of the Seas, which will follow in 2015. They experiences to their guests.” will be part of the Quantum class of ships and will build upon Royal The Quantum class of ships, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, will build upon Royal Caribbean’s legacy of revolutionary ship design

Caribbean’s legacy of revolutionary ship design and bold innovation. “We APRIL 2013 and bold innovation. At 158,000 gross registered tons (GRT) and with a capacity of 4,100 guests based on double occupancy, the ships will debut in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

are extremely excited to celebrate this important milestone for our first Project Sunshine ship. After three years of design and advance planning this is the first step of the construction of the ship and I look forward to ‘Salute to the Summer Heroes’ In a tribute to their tireless efforts this summer, a group of volunteers from seeing it all come together in the coming months,” said Adam Goldstein, Australia’s recent devastating bushfire and flood emergencies arrived in President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “The new ship will be Sydney in style onboard the Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2. Sailing from such a leap forward in terms of vessel design and guest experiences that Brisbane as Cunard’s guests were more than 35 volunteers from the NSW we thought the name Quantum of the Seas was perfectly appropriate.” Rural Fire Service, Tasmania Fire Service, Victoria Country Fire Authority and the Queensland State Emergency Service – who have been at the Kristin Chenoweth in New forefront of natural disasters this summer. Cunard President and Managing Director Peter Shanks said Queen Mary 2’s ‘Salute to the Summer Heroes’, Starring Role which saw the volunteers standing at the bow of the famous ocean liner Triple-threat, Emmy and Tony award-winning Kristin Chenoweth, is adding as she sailed into Sydney, would allow the community to acknowledge the yet another accolade to her impressive resume: godmother to Royal volunteers as well as the overall contribution of volunteer organisations. Caribbean International’s much anticipated new cruise ship, Quantum of “Queen Mary 2 makes a huge impact wherever she goes and we are the Seas. The cruise line announced the appointment, which is steeped in delighted she can play a part in marking the service and sacrifice of maritime tradition, in an unconventional way during a red carpet-inspired volunteers who routinely defend and protect their communities,” Mr commercial that aired during the broadcast of the Oscars. Exemplifying what Shanks said. “It is humbling to know that emergency services volunteers it means to be a leading lady both onstage and off, Chenoweth was chosen risk everything to protect their communities in the most extreme for her effervescent personality and ability to wow audiences. Her versatile conditions and they do it willingly year after year and sometimes at great range of roles made her a natural fit, given that Quantum of the Seas, set personal cost.” to debut in 2014, is poised to introduce unprecedented experiences and A special auction was conducted onboard Queen Mary 2 with more than amenities only attainable on Royal Caribbean International. $30,000 raised for the Australian Red Cross 2013 natural disaster appeals. Another Artania - Sydney Successful Cruise Season Maiden call to Darwin Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 1,350-guest flagship, Balmoral, made her maiden call into Darwin, on 8 March 2013, as part of her longest-ever ‘World Cruise’, of 112 nights. This symbolic event was celebrated with a plaque exchange between Aurora - Sydney Fred. Olsen and Darwin Port Corporation in the ship’s ‘Morning Light Pub’, named after Fred. Olsen’s first ever ship from the company’s inception in 1848. Fred. Olsen is always seeking new and interesting ports around the globe to ensure that its itineraries are as diverse as possible; in the 2013/14 cruise program, there are no fewer than 12 new ports for guests to visit, including Yangon, former capital of Burma (now Myanmar), Osaka and Hiroshima (Japan) and Balmoral - Sydney Nawiliwili, Hawaii.

A commemorative plaque exchange on board Balmoral - Pictured, left to right, Anthony Borradaile, Balmoral’s Cruise Director; Peter Raines, General Manager of City Wharves, Darwin Port Corporation; Captain Robert 6 Bamberg, Master of Balmoral; and Sten Jensen, Balmoral’s Chief Officer.

Europa - Sydney APRIL 2013

Seabourn Quest - Brisbane Bremen – Milford Sound

Asuka II – Brisbane Seabourn Quest turning in Brisbane River

Queen Mary 2 – Sydney

Above photos Jonathan Crabbe & John Treacy

terms of innovation and design,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Chief Norwegian Breakaway Floats Out Executive Officer. “Celebrating her float out brings us closer to her much-anticipated delivery when she will make her debut in Europe before arriving in her homeport of New York City on May 7. We can’t wait.” “This new vessel is a further milestone for us. Its construction complies with the latest safety standards, and the ship meets all valid environmental regulations. Beyond that Norwegian Breakaway includes a lot of unique design elements and technical innovations,” said Bernard Norwegian Breakaway, the largest ship ever Breakaway has an overall length of 324 meters, Meyer, Managing Partner of MEYER WERFT. constructed in Germany, was recently floated and is 39.70 meters wide. The ship’s float out out of MEYER WERFT’s covered building dock represents a major milestone in the vessel’s II in Papenburg, Germany where the 146,600- construction as it denotes that the ship has ton ship has been under construction since now moved into the final phase of construction September 2011. The massive 4,000 passenger with delivery taking place in on 25 April 2013. ship with her signature hull artwork designed by “Norwegian Breakaway represents a pop icon Peter Max, departed building dock II as significant achievement both for MEYER the first ship to depart bow first. Norwegian WERFT and Norwegian Cruise Line in

Cunard’s Program Cunard has announced its new 2014 program, offering a range of new itineraries designed for 8 international travellers, including Mediterranean cruises on Queen Elizabeth. Revealing details of the program onboard Queen Mary 2 in Sydney Cunard President and Managing Director Peter Shanks said the breadth of cruises would appeal to guests from markets around the world from June to November 2014 from Venice, Rome and two “Birthday Crossings” on May 9 and May including Australia. The program commences in and Athens. Travellers will be able to choose 16 to celebrate Queen Mary 2’s 10th anniversary. the northern spring after Cunard’s three liners from 7, 14 and 21-night cruises, with the voyages Queen Mary 2 and her younger sisters Queen finish their 2014 world voyages and features new visiting a selection of 25 different ports, offering Elizabeth and Queen Victoria will meet in Mediterranean itineraries, a twist to Queen Mary a mix of famous cities, iconic sights and intimate Southampton on May 9 for a Three Queens 2’s Transatlantic crossings and a Three Queens islands. Cruise options will include overnight event to celebrate Queen Mary 2’s anniversary. event to celebrate Queen Mary 2’s 10th birthday. stays in Istanbul and Venice and maiden calls to Meanwhile, Queen Victoria will be based in

APRIL 2013 “Our new 2014 itineraries offer added variety seven ports including Elba, Kotor and Palermo. Southampton for the northern summer and will and innovation to our loyal Cunarders as well as With the popularity of Transatlantic crossings on offer a variety of strong itineraries to the Fjords, appealing to today’s luxury traveller,” Mr Shanks Queen Mary 2 continuing to grow, the flagship Baltic, Iceland, Britain, Black Sea and Atlantic Isles, said. liner will undertake 18 crossings between as well as a Round Britain cruise coinciding in Queen Elizabeth’s first full season in the Southampton and New York during 2014. These Liverpool on the 100th anniversary of the first Mediterranean, an increasingly popular cruise will include new eight-night crossings, with some sailing of Cunard’s Aquitania on May 30. destination for Australians, will include departures to include a call to the famous port of Halifax, Legend of the Seas Two Ships for Revitalization 2013-14 Season Royal Caribbean International’s Legend of the Holland America Line will position ms Seas has emerged from a month-long US$50 Volendam and ms Rotterdam in Asia for the million dry-dock in Singapore and will show 2013-14 season, increasing capacity and adding off a new array of features and amenities for more robust itineraries in the popular region. its remaining Asia season before returning to New expanded Singapore sailings will allow Europe. The Vision-class Legend of the Seas is the digital signage and bow-to-stern Wi-Fi all add to exotic calls at destinations like Myanmar and the contemporary guest experience onboard. most recent ship in the fleet to receive Oasis- India. The diverse 14-day itineraries and longer class amenities, extensive upgrades and a bow-to- Through March, guests enjoyed the newly Collectors’ Voyages — that combine back- stern revitalization. Legend of the Seas will “wow” revitalized ship as she sailed Southeast Asia guests with acclaimed industry enhancements, itineraries from her Singapore homeport. At to-back itineraries into longer cruises — also such as popular specialty dining, first introduced the beginning of April the ship sailed a four night feature extended and overnight stays at some of on Oasis of the Seas, and give diners the choice Southeast Asia itinerary roundtrip from Singapore Asia’s most iconic cities and provide travellers to expand their palates with Park Café, Chef’s and then began a repositioning to Europe for with ample time to explore the region’s diverse Table, Chops Grille and Izumi Asian Cuisine, the northern summer season. It will begin by historical and notable landmarks. Two extensive along with new spots for an evening cocktail at sailing 6-night Western Mediterranean itineraries 51- and 53-day Collectors’ Voyages in January the 60’s inspired R Bar or Viking Crown Lounge roundtrip from Rome. Legend of the Seas divides and March, respectively, provide comprehensive nightclub. Onboard entertainment options her 2013 Europe summer between the Italian explorations of the region with visits to now include an outdoor movie screen, perfect homeports of Rome (Civitavecchia) and Venice. Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia while for alfresco movie viewing and the addition From May through August, the ship will sail a sailing from and to Europe. of aerial entertainment experiences in the 7-night Western Mediterranean itinerary, calling “Asia continues to flourish as a popular cruise Centrum, the main gathering place on the ship. at Genoa, Provence (Marseilles),Barcelona, destination, so the timing is right to increase New and updated staterooms, flat-panel TVs, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia. A 9 night our capacity in the region and provide our circumnavigation of the Italian peninsula, guests with a variety of exciting travel options departing 31 August will bring Legend of the to this magical area of the world,” said Richard Seas to Venice, where she will offer vacationers Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, 10 night Greek Isles and 11 night Greece and sales and guest programs for Holland America Turkey itineraries in September and October. Line. “The enhanced itineraries offer guests an The ship will then return to the Caribbean to opportunity to take in the rich Asian culture offer Southern Caribbean and Panama Canal and even go inland to see some of the most sailings. well-known sites.”

Behind the Scenes MSC Cruises Adding to its comprehensive catalogue of Returning onboard activities, Cunard is now offering Behind the Scenes Tours for curious guests onboard its MSC Cruises’ MSC Lirica is to return to the ocean liners, Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the 2013/2014 and Queen Victoria. Led by Cunard senior northern winter season, beginning with a 19- officers, the tours offer guests unprecedented day grand voyage from Genoa, Italy to Dubai access to the ships’ private areas, such as the from November 5-22. The maiden cruise will Medical Centre, Engine Control Room, Butcher’s call in Civitavecchia (Rome), La Valletta, Malta, Shop and the Mooring Deck. Topics range from Piraeus (Athens), Port Said and Safaga, Egypt, environmental matters, such as recycling cooking Salalah and Muscat, Oman before reaching its oil, to the logistics of stocking more than 5000 new temporary home. From November 23, destination for cruise travellers,” said MSC lines of consumable products. 2013 until March 29, 2014, MSC Lirica will offer Cruises CEO Pierfrancesco Vago. “As part of “Similar to a feat of magic, our seamless ocean 18 eight-day/seven-night cruises from Dubai, a broad commitment to encouraging future travel experience results from a delicate balance calling in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Khor al Fakkan, growth, the UAE government’s recent decision between what’s seen and not seen,” said Cunard UAE, and Muscat and Khasab, Oman, with an to allow multiple entry visas for cruise ship President Peter Shanks. “Our Behind the Scenes overnight stay in Dubai allowing travellers to passengers has dramatically simplified visa Tours offer guests an intimate glimpse of what procedures, making the region even more goes into the way we run our ships to ensure sample the unique nightlife of this oasis of the attractive to cruise lines and ensuring that many their comfort, safety and satisfaction.” desert. “MSC Cruises’ return to the Emirates During the 222-step tour, guests learn first-hand reaffirms our strong belief in the region’s more travellers can discover this truly unique of the many provisions required to manage potential as an innovative and highly desirable destination with ease.” Cunard’s liners. Tour stops include: the Bridge where the captain and navigational officers greet guests and give a tutorial of all the dials, buttons, SEADREAM II to Visit Myanmar radars and navigational charts that help them safely helm Cunard’s Queens to the Royal Court A survey of Australia and New Zealand’s leading Myanmar’s attractions to discerning travellers Theatre where more than 3000 costumes are luxury travel agencies has seen them vote as “its fascinating culture, people and unspoiled in the costume store. As well light and sound Myanmar (formerly Burma) as the must-see nature… where tourism is still in its infancy.” engineers give hands-on lessons in operating country to visit this year – just as SeaDream SeaDream II will visit Myanmar as part of 13- 10 the stage equipment. Other areas visited include Yacht Club has revealed itineraries for two day voyages embracing 10 ports and islands the Galley and Provisions with stops at the food first-ever visits to the country later this year from Singapore to Phuket on November 25 stores, butcher, freezers and the galley; Mooring by SeaDream II. The travel agencies cited this year, and 9 ports and islands from Phuket Deck; Medical Centre; Burma Road which is the back to Singapore on December 8. Both will only main crew passageway to run the entire include almost a day each at Pila Kyun and length of the ship and the tour gives a behind Thahtay Kyun islands in Myanmar’s 800-island the scenes look at where the crew and officers Mergui Archipelago, and two days in the socialise after work and the Waste Handling former colonial capital Yangon. The other Room for observance of Cunard’s round-the- various islands and ports visited are in Thailand clock waste handling operation, and learning the and Malaysia. differences between five waste sorting streams: SeaDream Yacht Club’s first-ever Asia and hazardous, recyclable, suitable for incineration, Northern Australia season with SeaDream II is APRIL 2013 food waste and suitable for donation. between October this year and April 2014, with Cunard’s Behind the Scenes Tours last three voyages Athens-Mumbai and Mumbai-Athens and a half hours and cost US$120 per person. also available. Currently, one tour with a maximum of 16 guests is available per voyage and can be booked on board through the Tours Office.

Pictured at a recent function in Sydney for Captain Cook Cruises – Brooke Tolar, Jackie Charlton, Alex Raciebe, Amanda House, Richard Doyle & Sue-Ellen Foster

200th Trans-Atlantic Crossing on board to add to the celebratory mood. smaller ensemble pieces. In the course of Queen Stephen Payne OBE, who was largely responsible Mary 2’s 200 Atlantic crossings, Cunard estimates for the overall design of Queen Mary 2, will that passengers have consumed: 8.4 million present a fascinating insight into the construction cups of tea, 980,000 scones, 481,000 bottles of this, the world’s grandest ocean liner, as part of of champagne, 644,000 eggs and 960,000 litres Cunard’s speaker program. Stephen will be guest of milk. In total, 22.4 million meals have been of honour at a gala evening on board which will served. (These figures do not take into account include a commemorative dinner with a special consumption on her annual World Cruise or menu. Also getting into the swing of things will sailings to the Canaries, Fjords, Iceland, the be 16 musicians, plus a band leader and vocalist Low Countries, around Britain, to Montreal and Queen Mary 2 will be marking a major from the world-renowned Juilliard School of Quebec in Canada, or among the islands of the milestone on her July 6 voyage from New York Dance, Drama and Music. The group will perform Caribbean) to Southampton – it will be her 200th Atlantic as a jazz orchestra providing a selection of Big crossing, with special speakers and performers Band, Swing and Glen Miller style music and

New Ports, New Itineraries Oceania Cruises has unveiled its 2014 Summer Collection detailing 90 voyages, 10 new ports of call, an almost entirely new line-up of European itineraries and the highly anticipated return of Insignia. The line’s five ships, Riviera, Marina, Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, will sail to more than 180 destinations throughout the world. The 2014 cruise collection features 70 European cruises, 93 percent of which are new itineraries, plus 10 Alaska voyages, seven all-new Canada/New England cruises and three Panama Hollywood Hits the High Seas Canal voyages. “Our newest cruise collection is the largest in the company’s From Monroe to Gleason to Burton, Crystal Cruises is planning a red carpet history with five ships visiting Europe, Alaska and Canada/New England,” line up for its 2 November Film & Theatre voyage, presented in partnership said Kunal S. Kamlani, the line’s president. “Our guests will love the new and with the award-winning Centre Theatre Group of Los Angeles. A marquis rich exciting options for exploring the world with a wide range of seven- to 24- with Old Hollywood immersion features more than a dozen performers and day cruises, a mix of overnight and extended stays and new ports of call in industry speakers with material created just for Crystal, including a special Albania, France and Greece, to name a few.” Oceania Cruises’ newest ship, spotlight on one of the industry’s most glamorous, and legendary, figures: Riviera, will spend the entire summer in the Mediterranean on a series of 7, Marilyn Monroe. While Crystal Symphony sails along America’s colonial 10 and 14 day cruises, sailing from as far west as Barcelona and the French coast from New York to Miami, playbill highlights include: Legends Brought Riviera, through Italy and Greece, to as far east as the Black Sea. Riviera ends to Life on Stage - Internationally acclaimed Marilyn Monroe tribute artist the season with a transoceanic voyage to Miami. Marina begins the European Susan Griffiths will bring her uncanny talent to sea for the first time with a season in June 2014 with a series of cruises in Scandinavia, Russia and the new live cabaret show created exclusively for Crystal, Marilyn – Memories, British Isles, several of which feature the popular two-night stays in St. Music and Magic. Crystal fan favourite Jim Brochu returns with Character Petersburg. Marina spends the second half of the season in the Mediterranean, Man, his newest tribute to some of Broadway’s greatest character actors, like culminating with a transoceanic voyage from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro. Jackie Gleason and Zero Mostel and LA’s Troubadours Theatre Company, or Beginning in May 2014, Nautica will sail the Western Mediterranean and then “Troubies,” will perform multiple commedia dell’arte productions onboard, head north to Scandinavia, Russia and the British Isles. Featured itineraries including a satirical Shakespeare-meets-cinema-disco musical theatre include two back-to-back 20-day voyages: Viking Odyssey, which explores performance of Midsummer Saturday Night’s Fever Dream. Greenland and Iceland as well as Scotland and Ireland, and Path of the Midnight Presentations from guests such as actress Kate Burton -- daughter of Richard Sun, which ventures as far north as the Polar Ice Barrier. After a two-year and the current U.S. vice-president on hit TV show Scandal -- and Centre charter, Insignia returns to the fleet in May 2014 with cruises throughout the Theatre Group’s artistic director Michael Ritchie will provide insider tales Mediterranean and three voyages that call on cities such as Bilbao, Lisbon and from the show business front. A dedicated in-stateroom television channel Bordeaux along the Atlantic coasts of Spain, Portugal and France. The season will broadcast classic motion pictures, theatre documentaries and theme also features more visits to the Dalmatian Coast, including Insignia’s Adriatic presenter insights throughout the voyage. Interactive trivia games will also Medley sailing, which stops in Albania, Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia. provide opportunities for guests to show off their entertainment knowledge. New ports in Europe include Tirana (Durrës), Albania; Antibes, France; A multi-course dinner in the ship’s Vintage Room, featuring extraordinary Hamburg (Bremerhaven), Germany; Chania (Crete), Kos and Syros, wine pairings, will be hosted by “Marilyn Monroe” (Griffiths) and Marilyn fan Greece; Ullapool, Scotland; Lysekil, Sweden; and Milford Haven, Wales. club president, Greg Schreiner, sharing tales of Tinseltown and the star’s life. Regatta begins and ends the Alaska season with voyages through the Premier red carpet make-up artist William Squire will present celebrity Panama Canal. There are a total of 10 sailings in Alaska, including four new beauty secrets for guests’ everyday lives and onboard photo opportunities, itineraries and several cruises sailing roundtrip from Seattle. Travellers also including ways Marilyn hid flaws and enhanced her beauty to create her get a sneak peek at the winter season with the early release of the new signature style — and how her look still influences style today. 24-day Amazon Odyssey sailing, departing from Miami on Nov 4, 2014. Original costumes from some of Hollywood’s greatest films will be Regatta and Insignia will offer seven autumn cruises along the showcased in a special musical theatre production created just for Crystal, Eastern Seaboard, the most in Oceania Cruises’ history. Voyages featuring Broadway veteran Karen Morrow and other special guests. such as Capitals & Coastlines, 10-day sailings between New York and The Ultimate Kimberley Expedition Cruise 10 Nights Darwin to Broome v.v 2013 Kimberley Early Bird Spring Season Special Earlybirds SAVE 15%* Or Single Travellers cruise at twin share price* (no single supplement)

With Australia’s Coral Princess Cruises you’ll discover all of the icons of the Kimberley Coast over 10 unforgettable nights cruising between Darwin and Broome. In the north, discover the majestic King George River, with its towering 80 metre twin falls and the mysterious Bradshaw Paintings of Bigge Island. Explore the Mitchell Plateau and cruise the Kimberley’s iconic rivers, before exploring SAVE 15%* beautiful King Cascades, remarkable Montgomery Reef and the or No Single Supplement* amazing natural phenomenon of the Horizontal Falls in the south. Cruising aboard your choice of our purpose-built small ships Oceanic Discoverer or Coral Princess, you’ll discover all of the region’s icons, and with two landings most days you’ll enjoy the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the magic of the Kimberley. Aboard our unique ‘Xplorer’ expedition vessel and our fleet of zodiacs, and with the expert local knowledge of our experienced guides you are assured of making the most of every minute of your expedition. Throughout your cruise you will discover the very best of the Kimberley and with Coral Princess Cruises you will do it all in unrivalled style and total comfort.

*Conditions: Offers are subject to availability and not combinable with any other discount, except Xplorers club discount where silver members will save a total of 20%* and Gold/Platinum members will save a total of 25%*. Valid for new bookings only made between 26 April and 31 August 2013, or until sold out on 16 August, 26 August, 06 September and 16 September 2013 departures only. Coral Princess Cruises reserves the right to withdraw the special at any time. No Single Supplement is valid for genuine single travellers only, and is not combinable with any other discount. Enquire for further details. ACN 010 908 417.

*Conditions: Offer is subject to availability and is not combinable with any other discount. Valid for new bookings only from 01 October 2012 or until sold out. 15% savings (for first time travellers) and 25% savings (for Coral Princess past guests) are valid on 05, 12, 15, 22 and 26 April 2013 departures only. No single supplement is valid for genuine single travellers only on selected departures and this special is not combinable with the 15/25% discounts. Prices are per person, twin share and are cruise only. Enquire for further details. ACN 010 908 417.

excursion boat assured OR Single travellers cruise at twin share price (no single supplement)!+

Coral Princess II Re-Enters Service

Coral Princess Cruises’ 35 metre catamaran the ship returned to service in early February. Coral Princess II has recently returned to As part of the refurbishment, the ship’s service on the Great Barrier Reef following a spacious sun deck has also been remodelled major refurbishment and mechanical upgrades. and furnished with stylish teak dining tables, The 44 passenger small-ship, which operates allowing for the unique experience of al fresco 3, 4 & 7 night cruises on the Great Barrier dining under the stars on the Great Barrier Reef year-round from Cairns, has received a Reef. full interior upgrade, whilst noise reduction The refurbishment of Coral Princess II technology has been added throughout and the completes the company’s significant fleet ship’s exterior has been completely repainted. upgrade program, which began with the Coral Princess Managing Director Tony Briggs, refurbishment of sister-ship Coral Princess who along with his wife Vicki is celebrating the during 2012. Briggs said that the completion 30th Anniversary of Coral Princess Cruises in of the fleet upgrade ensures that both Coral 2013, says that the bright and airy public areas, Princess and Coral Princess II offer comparable refreshed décor and revitalised furnishings have amenities and fittings to the company’s flagship, been drawing rave reviews from guests since the 72-passenger Oceanic Discoverer.

Ultimate Antarctica and Patagonia To ensure other lecturers with decades of Antarctic that its guests experience, will share their knowledge, have the best guidance and passion for Antarctica during and most all four voyages aboard Seabourn Quest in memorable 2013 and 2014. The expedition team will Super Thursday Antarctic accompany guests on excursions ashore 14 Sydney Harbour welcomed three Carnival cruise to add valuable insights to the adventure, Australia ships on a day that has been aptly adventure, while award-winning photographers will named “Super Thursday”. Sydney turned on Seabourn has also be onboard to offer digital photography the sunshine for the first of many “super” contracted coaching, helping guests capture the February days which saw three ships berthed some of the visual splendour of the White Continent. in the harbour at the same time. To mark the world’s most Expedition Leader Robin West is a veteran occasion, P&O Cruises’ Pacific Pearl sounded experienced of more than 40 Antarctic voyages. He and her whistle and played Men At Work’s “Down expedition his staff will plan and coordinate the five days Under” as she passed sister ship Pacific Jewel at staff to spent on the Antarctic Continent, plotting Circular Quay and headed under the Bridge to guide the line’s “Ultimate Antarctica opportunities for wildlife sightings from the Barangaroo. Seabourn Odyssey also spent the and Patagonia” cruises aboard Seabourn ship and choosing from numerous available day in Sydney, docked at Glebe Island. Twelve Quest during its first Antarctic seasons. sites for Zodiac landings, based on real-time

APRIL 2013 Carnival Australia ships made 18 visits to The skilled team, consisting of naturalists, weather and wildlife reports. Sydney during February’s “Festival of Cruising”. scientists, political and historical experts and

Email & Photos from reader Lorena Vallance - “What a beautiful ship Le Boreal and what a fantastic expedition to Antarctica, absolutely fantastic”.

Fundraising Program In the February edition we mentioned the shipboard fundraising program introduced by Holland America. Now here are more details. The program “On Deck for a Cause,” was launched in honour of World Cancer Day and is a new shipboard giving program that will benefit six international cancer organisations located in the United States, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, Germany and United Kingdom. On Deck for a Cause invites guests to participate in a non-competitive 5k fundraising walk on every sailing aboard each of the line’s 15 ships, with proceeds to be distributed among the American Cancer Society, Canadian Cancer Society, Cancer Council Australia, Cancer Research UK, Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid) and KWF Kankerbestrijding Dutch Cancer Society. The program will be implemented on ships in the coming month. “With this 16 program Holland America Line supports the global fight against cancer,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line. “Giving back is part of the Holland Maiden Visit America Line culture, and it’s gratifying to be able to support these The 110-passenger expedition cruise ship, Caledonian Sky made its maiden incredible organisations in six countries where the majority of our guests Sydney harbour entry recently, marked by Sydney Port Corporation’s live. This new program will help raise significant funds for cancer research, traditional presentation of education, screening and treatment programs.” Guests of all ages are a plaque to ship operator, invited to donate US$20 to the Holland America Line Foundation, with Australian-owned APT. APT’s a minimum of 80 percent (US$16) to be distributed to the organisations. General Manager Marketing; The remaining 20 percent will cover program and administrative Debra Fox received the expenses. On a day at sea, participants are invited to join in a 5k walk plaque and hosted groups around the ship’s decks. Guests may walk less or not at all, as they prefer.

APRIL 2013 of agents, media and staff on tours of inspection. The Participants will also receive an On Deck for a Cause T-shirt, wristband 2011-refurbished ship had just and a reception following the walk. Depending on the ship, the distance to completed a 25-day cruise reach 5k ranges from nine to 12 laps. “I am delighted that Holland America starting in New Zealand, for Line has generously chosen Cancer Council as a charity of choice,” Regina passengers from the UK. In Sutton, Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Council NSW said. June last year, APT invested in the Noble Caledonia cruise company and its specialists ships Caledonia Sky and Island Sky. Caledonia Sky is the main ship featured in APT’s Luxury Small Ship Expedition Cruises 2013-14, specifically 2014 Collection created for the Australian and New Zealand market for cruises covering the Regent Seven Seas Cruises has unveiled its 2014 Collection featuring regions of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia’s Kimberley coast, and more than 60 itineraries in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska, Japan while the Island Sky offers a circumnavigation of Cuba. Ms Fox said New England, Canada and the Caribbean. The line’s three ships, Seven Seas Caledonian Sky would present APT’s acclaimed standards of style, comfort Mariner, Seven Seas Navigator and Seven Seas Voyager, will visit 17 new and service when it entered service in this region, in August,” she said. Of the ports of call, overnight in 19 popular destinations and sail 23 extended ship, Ms Fox said “it feels like a private yacht or a fine Country Club”, it is voyages from 19 to 44 nights. Highlights include Seven Seas Navigator equipped with an International fine dining restaurant,lounges and sun decks, spending May to August in Alaska, Seven Seas Mariner traversing the offers five different cabin styles, each suite is at least 216 square feet which coastline of the Mediterranean from April to November and Seven Seas is almost twice the size of suites on standard big ships, all cabins have Wi-Fi Voyager beginning the season in Northern Europe and the British Isles and flat screen TV, and an elevator services all decks. On the service side, with stops in several new ports including Kristiansand, Murmansk and all passengers can undertake excursions at the same time because it has Helsingborg and overnight stays in Oslo and Honningsvaag and a two night 10 onboard Zodiacs and expeditions are led by experts (marine biologists, stay in St. Petersburg. The ship will end her season in the Mediterranean historians, geologists, anthropologists, explorers or botanists etc). with a 21 day voyage to Bangkok. The Duchess of Cambridge to Name Royal Princess Princess Cruises has Alan Buckelew, the line’s president and CEO found on board will be a greatly expanded announced that Her said “It is a great honour for Princess Cruises atrium, the social hub of the ship; an over-water Royal Highness The that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway Duchess of Cambridge Cambridge has accepted our invitation to extending 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship; will name Royal Princess, become the Godmother to Royal Princess. plush private poolside cabanas that appear to the newest addition We are delighted that the Duchess will launch be floating on water; the new Princess Live! to the line’s fleet. The our new ship and can think of no better way television studio; the largest pastry shop at sea; ceremony at which The to celebrate our company’s British heritage and a special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining Duchess will name the our commitment to the country.” experience that surrounds diners in a curtain ship will take place in Southampton on Thursday Royal Princess will arrive at the Ocean Terminal of light; and balconies on all outside staterooms. 13 June, and will be the highlight of week-long in Southampton on Friday 7 June where she will The inaugural period of Royal Princess also inaugural celebrations to welcome the vessel commence a series of events for customers and includes two short preview cruises prior to and into service. travel agents, including a special naming gala on following the naming. After her maiden voyage The spectacular ceremony will uphold British the evening of Wednesday 12 June. The ship’s the ship will sail Grand Mediterranean cruises ship-naming traditions including the blessing, a inaugural celebrations will conclude with her throughout the northern summer, followed by performance by the Royal Marines Band and maiden voyage on 16 June. Eastern Caribbean cruises. the pipers of the Irish Guards, together with The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess is a new- contemporary highlights. generation ship. Among the special features

L-R: Adam Armstrong (Commercial Director, Celebrity Cruise Australia), Kylea Tink (CEO, McGrath Foundation), Sara McGrath, Glenn McGrath AM (Chairman & Co-Founder, McGrath Foundation), Clare Sellers, Basil Sellers AM, Ken Moran (Board Director, McGrath Foundation), Tracy Bevan (Foundation Ambassador & Director). Terry Brown (Board Director, McGrath Foundation). Foundation Charity Dinner The grass is always pinker on the other side and the McGrath Foundation hosted an exclusive evening with 80 of its supporters on board Celebrity Solstice with its floating lawn, an occasion to celebrate how far the McGrath Foundation has come on its pink voyage of placing McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities right across Australia – and the support that is needed to continue. Celebrity Cruises Australia Managing Director, Gavin Smith, is proud to continue Celebrity Solstice’s long-standing tradition of supporting breast cancer charities as each new ship introduced into the ‘Solstice Class’ has had a woman who has experienced breast cancer become the ship’s godmother. Stunning Gateway to Hong Over the last 5 years, the ‘Solstice Class’ has held a series of fundraising events in the USA and the UK, both onboard and ashore. “We are delighted Kong and Beyond to extend our support into the southern hemisphere for the very first time onboard Celebrity Solstice, whose godmother is oceanographer, Professor The opening of Hong Kong’s new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in June this 18 Sharon L. Smith. We are thrilled to lend our support to help raise funds for year will herald a new chapter in the city’s maritime history and enhance the important work of the McGrath Foundation in Australia at this unique its status as one of Asia’s leading cruise hubs and tourism destinations. and memorable event,” Mr Smith said. Situated mid-way along the world-famous Victoria Harbour the US$1 Sunset cocktails at the beautiful superliner’s Lawn Club set the tone for the billion terminal is destined to become a stunning new gateway to one-of-a-kind evening. Perched on the top deck of the luxury liner, guests welcome visitors to the city. The new terminal is situated on the site of took in dramatic views of the Sydney Opera House on one side and the the runway of Hong Kong’s former Kai Tak Airport and boasts spectacular Harbour Bridge on the other. Some got into the spirit by kicking off their views of the harbour and skyscrapers with a backdrop of sweeping hills. shoes to feel the real grass under their feet, while others watched as a The terminal will feature two berths, with the first opening in June and the glass vase, in signature McGrath Foundation ‘hot’ pink, took shape under second in mid-2014. Each berth will be able to accommodate the biggest the skilful hands of Celebrity Solstice’s Corning Glass Museum glass artisans cruise vessels in the world, while the three-story terminal building will be in the ship’s unique glass blowing studio. The resulting glass art piece was able to clear 3,000 passengers per hour through immigration and customs donated to the McGrath Foundation as part of the evening’s auction. channels and will feature modern and light-filled service areas and waiting After the lawn party, guests made

APRIL 2013 halls, and a beautiful landscaped roof garden. their way to the ship’s specialty dining The design is highly flexible and will incorporate spaces suitable for restaurant, Tuscan Grille, where alternative functions and enable the building to be used year round, fully Foundation Friend and TV personality, utilising any ‘down time’. The spacious interior spans just over 42 metres Johanna Griggs, MC’ed as guests ate a sumptuous dinner, while The Voice finalist and the waiting areas can be converted into a venue for performances, Darren Percival crooned soulful tunes to events and exhibitions, supported by a variety of restaurants and shops. set off the magical night. The sustainable design also combines a number of energy saving measures, as well as generating power from renewable sources and making use of Darren Percival and Johanna Griggs recycled rain water for cooling.

Rugby League Legend Onboard The MSC Bike Experience This northern summer season, travellers enjoying MSC Magnifica’s Passengers on Pacific Jewel sailed recently with Rugby League ‘royalty’ when northern European adventures will be able to pedal their way through former St George great John Raper and the region’s enchanting landscapes and cities with the new fun and eco- his Welsh-born wife Caryl were onboard. It friendly MSC Bike Experience. From 15 April to 1 September 2013, MSC was 44 years between cruises for childhood Magnifica’s diverse itineraries will offer cycle tours in various ports of call sweethearts John and Caryl, now living in Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, quietly in the heart of St George territory in Sweden and the UK. Bikes will be provided by well-known Italian bike Sydney’s southern suburbs. Their last cruise brand Lombardo, whose technicians will train the MSC Magnifica crew to was in 1969 on board P&O’s Himalaya, a ensure that every bike on board is “shipshape” and ready to roll in each 10-night jaunt to Fiji and New Zealand when John was at the height of his legendary rugby port. Organized bike tours with fixed itineraries, a guide and technical league career. John won the Himalaya cruise assistance on hand have been designed for different levels of ability in a raffle but the couple’s links to shipping and P&O in particular are through various terrains, meaning that there’s a suitable tour available for much stronger than that single cruise to the islands. Caryl migrated to everyone, from the super sporty to those simply looking for a relaxing Australia on P&O’s Oronsay in 1953 in the post war mass migration to ride. What’s more, it will even be possible to buy a bike on board, with Australia from Britain under the assisted passage scheme. The family was new MSC bikes by Lombardo delivered directly to each traveller’s home among the thousands of ‘Ten Pound Poms’ who came to Australia under the following the cruise at a competitive price. program but, given her Welsh heritage, Caryl prefers to call herself a ‘Ten Pound Brit’. “My father, Ronnie James, was the British Empire lightweight boxing champion and he came out to Australia at a time when wartime Itineraries and Ports rationing still applied in Britain,” Caryl said. “My dad saw Australia and Paul Gauguin Cruises has announced its 2014 voyages will feature decided straight away he was going to move his family out here. We lived in new itineraries and ports in Fiji, Australia, Southeast Asia, Europe, Latin Revesby (in Sydney) and John and I met playing tennis.” America, and Costa Rica. There will be an 11-night Fiji to Australia John Raper played in eight of St George’s 11 consecutive Grand Final voyage from Lautoka departing 14 June 2014 to Port Vila, Espiritu Santo, victories. In 2002, he was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Guadalcanal, Kieta, Samurai Island, Rabaul, and Cairns., Australia. From Fame, in 2008 he was named in the list of 100 greatest players of all time and Cairns there will be two 14-night voyages between Australia & Southeast he was also named a member of the ‘Team of the Century’. Asia calling at Thursday Island, Darwin, Komodo Island, Benoa, Semarang and Singapore with departure on 25 June 2014 and a reverse itinerary Last year, P&O Cruises became the first cruise line to screen live NRL available 4 August 2014. games at sea. A 12-night Australia to Fiji voyage will depart Cairns on 18 August 2014.

Hollywood on the High Seas Places Visited on SeaDream II P&O Cruises is bringing a taste of Hollywood to its ships, with a new Our second 7 night adventure on SeaDream II took us along movie-making program based on the animation technology behind the coastline from Nice to Barcelona. After the embarkation Wallace and Gromit and The Pirates! Band of Misfits. The cruise line in Nice our journey started with an early evening sailing to has partnered with animation software developer Stop Motion Pro and Monte Carlo where we spent the night tied up which allowed home entertainment company Sony to launch a new program called us to have dinner on deck with the picturesque Monte Carlo Broad Shorts, giving kids the chance to create their own animated short as a backdrop. A scene you will never forget. movie while at sea. The program is one of a series of new family activities We covered our time in Monte Carlo in a previous edition. After a full day being rolled out across P&O Cruises’ fleet this year, in consultation with in the Monaco capital we set sail late evening for an early morning arrival at internationally-renowned early childhood lecturer Rhonda Davidson- Porto Vecchio, San Remo, a popular resort town on the west coast of Italy Irwin. known for its casino. The harbour is lined with cafes and seafood restaurants Director and Co-creator of Australian-owned Stop Motion Pro, Paul and there are many old and historic buildings and churches and the Old Town which goes back to medieval days. When we left our tender we were Howell, said that while the program was available in some schools across greeted shoreside by members of the local tourism body including a lady the country, the partnership with P&O Cruises will be the first holiday from Abate, a beautiful and exquisite jewellery store who walked us to the program of its kind. town centre pointing out the various tourist attractions. Shops with the latest fashions lined the many streets and alleyways. San Remo is famous for its Italian Song Festival held in late February each year. After a short overnight journey we awoke in Saint-Tropez located on the French Riviera, and it is known today for its famous and extremely wealthy summertime guests. It has been dubbed the ‘playground to jetsetters, fashion models, and millionaires’, and it is known as the place where the iconic Brigitte Bardot was “discovered.” Again it was a tender ride to pass

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“The kid’s creative juices will run wild with the program - it’s an incredibly exciting time for Stop Motion Pro and P&O cruises. We wonder how many of them will go on to be Hollywood movie makers themselves after this unique on board experience.” Broad Shorts has launched in the teen-focused HQ and HQ+ clubs with kids shown how to make their own stop motion movies from a range of puppets. The teenagers will be responsible for all aspects of the film- making process, from designing the puppets, to creating a story and script, APRIL 2013 filming and providing voiceovers. The final stage will involve creating an animation using technology developed by Stop Motion Pro, the Australian company involved in the making of the well-known Wallace and Gromit animation, as well as the Academy Award-nominated The Pirates! Band of Misfits movie. The short films will then be premiered to their families and other passengers at a special screening during their cruise. In the second phase of the program, to be introduced later this year teenage passengers will be given cameras to film content for their movies around the ship. Carnival Australia Vice President Hotel Operations Sture Myrmell said Broad Shorts and the other new family activities reflected P&O Cruises’ leadership in the family cruise market. The Broad Shorts program is the first of its kind for the cruise industry in Australia and we are thrilled to be able to share this activity with aspiring filmmakers,” Mr Myrmell said. “With families making up one third of P&O Cruises’ passenger numbers, we have a well-deserved reputation as Australia’s favourite family cruise line and a commitment to making cruising fun for passengers of all ages,” he said. “Our new activities like Broad Shorts are designed to stimulate kids and leave them feeling that they not only had a great holiday with P&O Cruises, they also had some great new experiences.” All three ships in P&O Cruises’ fleet offer four kids’ clubs – Turtle Cove (3-6 years), Shark Shack (7-10 years), HQ (11-14 years) and HQ+ (15-17 years). Vittoria Coffee Partnership Captain Cook Cruises has partnered with Vittoria Coffee to provide an enhanced coffee product to passengers on their famous Coffee Cruise. Passengers now have the choice of a range of coffees, all included in the cruise price. The coffee range includes Espresso’s, Macchiato’s, Latte’s, Flat White’s and Cappuccino’s and will complement the morning and afternoon tea provided to passengers which ranges from delicious muffins and lamingtons, to biscuits and cakes. “Captain Cook Cruises is very proud to be partnering with Vittoria Coffee. This partnership will allow us to continue to offer our passengers the best quality Harbour sightseeing experience.” said Richard Doyle, Head of Sales and Marketing at Captain Cook Cruises. The original Coffee Cruise began on Sydney Harbour 43 years ago is still the best way to see the sights of Sydney Harbour. Departing at 10.00am and 2.15pm daily, this two hour cruise takes sightseers from Circular Quay to the Watson’s Bay area, past magnificent waterfront homes, beaches and parklands and incorporates all the main Harbour attraction The Coffee Cruise departs from Jetty 6, Circular Quay. Continued page 22

many private yachts of the rich and famous. Our time was spent exploring the small village with its many chic boutiques and brand outlets and a very active marketplace. Along the waterfront artists had on display many paintings for sale. Our next discovery was Sete the largest French fishing port on the Mediterranean, referred to by the locals as the Venice of Languedoc. It dates back hundreds of centuries and is built around the port and a series of canals. Tourist boat rides were available on the canals and a tourist train provided rides around the streets of the town and along the breakwater. The town falls into two parts - the low town, with the port, and criss- crossed by canals and bridges; and the high town on Mont St Clair. In the low town, the harbour front houses, canals and the fishing activity are the main attractions, along with the lovely ‘village within a town’ - the Pointe Courte sector. Along the edges of the canals are attractive buildings housing shops, restaurants and bars and we enjoyed our time exploring. The chapel of Notre-Dame-De-La- 22 Salette stands on Mont St. Clair, built on the site of an ancient fortress built by Louis XIII. Every year Sete hosts the ‘Joutes de Sète’ a jousting tournament from boats rather than horseback. The jousters dress in white and each round is of the bay is lined with modern high rise hotels and apartments blocks. The between two boats, the red team and the blue team. The goal is to use the Citadel, at the eastern end of the town, was built in 1543 as a huge fortified long jousting spear to throw your opponents into the water. enclosure of more than 130,000 square metres. The following morning we arrived in Port-Vendres situated in the south of France on the Mediterranean Sea, close to the Spanish border. It is both Our incredible voyage of discovery was at an end as we made a deep-water commercial port and fishing and yachting harbour working our afternoon journey along a beautiful Spanish coastline all year round. The port has history - Even before it became an important dotted with many towns and villages on the shoreside and harbour of the Kingdom of Majorca during the 13th century, Port-Vendres in the overhanging mountains before reaching Barcelona for APRIL 2013 had already been known since the 6th century BC by Greek navigators as an overnight stay on the vessel. Next morning we sadly said Portus Veneris (the port of Venus). Berthed in the u-shaped port we were our goodbyes and left SeaDream II. It is an adventure we surrounded by old buildings, many housing food outlets and shops. We took will remember for a long time. JT/KT the tourist road train to Collioure, a picturesque coastal resort which has the backdrop of the Pyrenees mountains tumbling into the sea, the old harbour, the impressive castle, old churches, restaurants and narrow old streets featuring a fast flowing waterway. Our return to SeaDream II was over the mountains past the prestigious vineyards of Banyuls, which also produce the Collioure appellation. Our final port of call was Roses, located in the Spanish region of Catalonia on the Costa Brava. It is the biggest resort on the northern stretch of the Costa Brava, just 30 kilometres south of the French border. Roses is steeped in history with origins going back to the 8th century BC when the first settlers arrived from ancient Greece. The 1960’s saw the arrival of international tourists who have since transformed this old fishing port into a modern and popular holiday destination. The town is located at the north eastern end of the wide sweeping bay of Roses and the opposite side

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Oceania Cruises’Marina “In our travels we have spoken to many people who have cruised with Oceania Cruises and they have told us that they will now only cruise with Oceania Cruises – after our six night cruise on Marina we can understand why” JT/KT Marina is an intimate, sophisticated, comfortable mid-size ship (66.084 tons) with quality features and casual country club ambiance and 800 plus crew to look after you. Decorated with stylish decor, elegant furniture and featuring multi-million dollar art works Marina best suits mature age travellers who appreciate the finer things in life.A highlight is the multiple gourmet restaurants on board, supervised by Jacques Pepin, the line’s executive culinary director, and noted French chef, serving mouth watering cuisine with hundreds of imaginative dishes to choose from. An innovation on Marina is the very elaborate Bon Appetit Culinary Centre offering hands-on cooking lessons from the Culinary Institute of America instructors. This is one experience you must book early for as it is most popular. There is 12 cooking stations with 2 guests per station. The accommodation is set over six decks with three Owner’s Suites, eight Vista Suites, 12 Oceania Suites, 124 Penthouse Suites, 20 deluxe Oceanview staterooms, 466 Verandah staterooms and 14 Inside cabins. Wheelchair- accessible accommodations are available in each category. Our well appointed 282 square foot stateroom was most comfortable and featured a marble and granite clad bathroom with shower and separate tub, mini bar 24 with free and unlimited soft drinks and bottled water, vanity desk, breakfast table and private teak veranda. Other features included 24 hour room service, thick cotton robes and slippers, French milled toiletries, signature Belgian chocolates with nightly turndown service, security safe, LCD flat screen television, hair dryer and top quality bedding with a choice of pillows. Self service launderettes are available on accommodation decks as well as dry cleaning and pressing services. An important centre on the ship is the Concierge Desk on deck 5. The concierge assist with your nightly dining arrangements, organising private onboard parties to recommending tours and dining venues in each port and is there to ensure your cruise experience exceeds all expectations. On pool deck Marina features a heated saltwater swimming pool, two freshwater whirlpools and sundeck with chaise lounges and extra large APRIL 2013 towels for use. Complimentary Balinese day beds are available on a first come, first served basis. For activities you can test your skills on the custom designed golf putting greens, practice your swing in one of two golf cages or have a game of ping pong. Also on offer croquet, lawn bowling and shuffleboard. The Monte Carlo style Casino features Blackjack, Roulette, Poker, Craps Table and a variety of slot machines. Every night entertainment of various varieties is available. In the Marina Lounge there could be a Broadway style production show one night and another may feature travelling guest entertainers featuring comedians, cabaret performers, illusionists, multi instrumentalists and other variety acts. Other venues Horizons and the piano bar in Martinis could appeal. Guest lecturers provide a source of enrichment with their personal insights, experiences and expertise. They may discuss politics, historical events, wine, travels and more. The Artist Loft is where you can create your own original works. A dedicated Artist in residence and/or photo coach offer unique multi level hands on workshops, master classes and lectures. You may find that you have talents you didn’t know about and produce a work of art. Quilting, scrapbooking and needlepoint as well as photography are also covered. Shopping is usually part of cruising. There are three boutiques onboard offering an excellent selection of duty free items, clothing, jewellery, perfumes, logo wear and other items. “Food, for me, is inseparable from sharing. There is no great meal unless it is shared with family or friends.”Jacques Pepin

“Having heard so much about Oceania and its ships I eagerly awaited our cruise from Wellington to Hobart. I was not disappointed. The ship was absolutely first class and spotlessly clean. The luxury of having a bath was for me a huge plus and the dining.... The dining experience is always central to a passengers cruise and Marina has four speciality restaurants in addition to the main Grand Dining Room. The Polo Grill had all the warmth and old world charm of a country club; Red Ginger would be equal to any top class Asian restaurant on land; Jacques naturally served French fare and the Italian restaurant Toscana serving Tuscan cuisine was my favourite. The service was the fastest I have experienced on land or 25 sea and the food absolutely delicious. There is a great choice of food in all the restaurants including my favourite, Lobster. Of course all the other protein items are served as well! The pool side Waves Grill was a very popular venue at lunchtime – open 1130am – 4pm after having served breakfast.” KT Fine Dining – On Marina food is an essential part of the cruise. On entering the Grand Dining Room you can’t help but notice the luminous crystal chandelier which crowns the centre of the high ceiling and then take in the tables that are set with European bone china and sparkling Riedel crystal. The menu changes daily with a choice of at least six appetizers and eight entrees at dinner. Breakfast and lunch is also served in the Grand Dining Room.

The Polo Grill with its dark wood furnishings and high back burgundy leather APRIL 2013 chairs sets the scene for a sumptuous meal starting with a classic Shrimp Cocktail, followed by Lobster Bisque, a Caesar Salad prepared tableside and a beef dish or Whole Maine Lobster Gratinee. Jacques resembles a Parisian bistro with heirloom antiques, pickled wood furnishings and art from Chef Jacques Pepin’s personal collection. Simple classic French cuisine is available from Coq Au Vin to Snails to Onion Soup to Frogs Legs and delightful duck. Finish off with a cheese platter. Red Ginger glows with ebony woods, hand blown glass light fixtures and striking, modern Asian artwork. Asian classics such as Salad of Spicy Duck and Watermelon with Cashews, Malaysian Beef Penaeng with Coconut Rice, Lobster Pad Thai with Glass Noodles, Bean Sprouts, Lime, Tamarind and Peanuts are some of the favourite dishes. Toscana is located at the aft of the ship high up on deck 14. Many of the recipes for the dishes on offer have evolved from the grandmothers and mothers of the Italian culinary staff. Presented on elegant, custom designed Versace china, each dish is a masterpiece saluting Tuscan cuisine. Favourites included: Fritto di Calamari con Salse a Scelta (Lightly Breaded Baby Calamari served with Spicy Marinara or Aioli Sauce), Minestrone alla Genovese (Northern Italian Vegetable Soup finished with Fresh Pesto and Chopped Boiled Potatoes), Lasagne al Forno alla Bolognese (A Hearty Dish of Handmade Fresh Pasta layered with Garlic and Fresh Herb Minced Beef Tenderloin, Béchamel Sauce and Grated Parmigiano Reggiano), Risotto all’Aragosta (Arborio Rice sautéed with Roasted Lobster Medallions, Shallots and Chopped Italian Parsley, slowly simmeredin Lobster Broth Reduction), Pollo all’Alfredo (Free Range Chicken Breast cooked in Creamy Parmesan Sauce and served with Rustic Rosemary Roasted Potatoes), and Aragosta Fra Diavolo con Tagliolini Freschi (Succulent Lobster Tail sautéed with Fresh Garlic, Spicy Crushed Chili Peppers, Italian Parsley and Vine Ripened San Marzano Tomatoes, served over Fresh Tagliolini Pasta). At the above restaurants the finest of wines are available.

There are two exclusive venues available – Privee presents a private dining experience for $250.00 for a party of up to ten with wines and alcoholic beverages additional. The grandest of all is La Reserve where a degustation seven course gourmet dinner with each course paired with selected wines is served to a maximum of 24 guests. Menus priced at $95.00 and $165.00 per guest are available. An 18% gratuity is automatically added. Must also mention the Terrace Cafe. It is informal and carefree and open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can dine inside or alfresco at one of the shaded tables on the terrace. And finally afternoon high tea! At four o’clock the daily event is in the panoramic Horizons where a classic string quartet entertains as freshly made sandwiches, colourful petit fours, scones, jam and cream and the day we attended a selection of cup cakes were available plus your tea of choice. An event not to be missed. The Canyon Ranch SpaClub is there for your dose of pampering and exploring a world of healthy pleasure. Services from skin care treatment to various massages or the Canyon Ranch Salon are available. There is a fully equipped gym and a personal trainer to create an exercise plan. If you just want to relax the Library offers a wide variety of book, best sellers, magazines and reference material. Adjacent is the Baristas coffee bar for the finest cappuccinos, espressos, pastries and homemade biscotti. Oceania Cruises has a passion for new discoveries and extend an award winning program of optional shore excursions and tours which visit the most important historical, cultural and artistic gems at each port visited. The variety of tours on offer allows you to choose the best that fits your interests and personal desires. Our time on Marina was most enjoyable with the country club 26 casual experience most appealing, first class accommodation and delicious cuisine available from the many open seating restaurants, we were thoughly spoiled after only six nights on board. JT/KT Ship Specifications • Marina: Debuted in 2011 • Tonnage: 66,084 • Length: 785 feet • Beam: 106 feet • Maximum Draught: 24 feet • Stabilizers: Yes • Cruising Speed: 20 knots • Guest Decks: 11 • Total Decks: 15 • Electric Power or Voltage: 110, 220 AC • Guest Capacity: 1,250 • Staff Size: 800 (Double Occupancy) APRIL 2013

Places Visited Timaru Our 6 night cruise on Marina took us from Wellington to Hobart. The first port of call was Akaroa where we anchored in the harbour and tendered into the town rich in French and British history. Akaroa is a place you can stroll from one end of the town to the other in 15 minutes, however a slow stroll visiting the many arts and craft shops, boutiques and passing numerous cafes and coffee shops can easily take an hour or two. Some fellow passengers ventured further afield to Christchurch and Akaora beyond. Next day we visited Timaru, a major port in the southern Canterbury region of New Zealand. A bus ride took us into the city centre leaving us to walk up and down the many streets checking out the various shops. Others went by chartered plane to the Mt Cook National Park and visits were made to the Central region of the South Island. Milford Sounds It was a rainy rocky ocean day as we made our way to Milford Sound. Wellington However on arrival at 4pm the rainy dark skies disappeared allowing a two hour visit in clear skies and sunshine. We saw Milford Sound in all its beauty with the sheer and steep rock faces, some covered in moss and a number of waterfalls glowing in the sunshine. There was a limited amount of snow on a few mountains. For us it was one of the best visits we have ever had to Milford Sound. Hobart beckoned and as we disembarked fellow passengers visited the city and nearby surrounds. JT/KT MSC Preziosa MSC’s latest exquisite gem unveiled In March 2012 MSC Cruises announced that MSC Preziosa christened in glittering ceremony in Genoa, Italy the company had finalized negotiations with STX France and signed a contract to take over a The Christening of a ship is always a a sequence from Swan Lake, directed by Irina 140,000 ton cruise ship following the termination very special occasion, none are the Kashkova. Star ballet dancer Roberto Bolle of the agreement with the original owner and same and MSC do it in style. Add to this spoke as the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. would be named MSC Preziosa. It would become the thrill of being with Sophia Loren This was followed by Italian singer Gino Paoli the fourth ship in the series of fantasia-class and the anticipation of cruising on a who performed a selection of his classic hits, a ships joining MSC Fantasia, MSC Splendida and brand new ship in all her splendour – performance by the entertainment staff of the MSC Divina. well you know your’re guaranteed a ship and maestro Ennio Morricone conducted “The new ship represents an investment of 550 first class time million euros and will be delivered at the end We were able to join the ship on of March 2013. Negotiations with STX France the day prior to the christening have lasted over nine months; a significant but giving us time to explore, settle understandable period of time considering the into our cabin and enjoy the importance of the investment and the unexpected restaurants and entertainment. nature of the takeover,” said Mr Pierfrancesco The day of the christening is Vago, CEO MSC Cruises. always a busy one – mid morning the ship was blessed wharf side by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco who was accompanied by MSC founder Gianluigi Aponte. This was followed by individual media interviews with Godmother

“STX France is delighted with this successful outcome after months of negotiations. The length 27 of time necessary to settle them is the perfect illustration of the challenges faced by the cruise industry in terms of financing, which impact our industry directly. It’s the new Achilles’ heel, after competitiveness, on which our efforts are now focused,” said Laurent Castaing, STX France General Manager. “In this context, the integration Sophia Loren and mid afternoon an international the 55 piece Roma Sinfonietta Orchestra. of X32 into the prestigious MSC Cruise’s fleet is press conference again with Sophia Loren, Morricone became an international name in a relief and a real pleasure for STX.” maestro Ennio Morricone and MSC management the sixties by composing the music for popular The ship was ready on time and twelve months Pierfrancesco Vago and Domenico Pellegrino and Westerns such as The Good, the Bad and the later on 14 March 2013 was delivered at the Captain Guilano Bossi. During the conference Ugly (1966). A parade of the ship’s officers

STX Saint-Nazaire shipyard in France. During the MSC Preziosa received the 7 Golden Pearls for introduced a spectacular laser and sounds show APRIL 2013 traditional flag ceremony, the shipyard’s pennant environmental care and energy efficiency from which was projected on and from La Lanterna, and the French flag were lowered, accompanied the International Classification Society Bureau Genoa’s famous lighthouse and featured all by the French national anthem, before Laurent Veritas. Mr Vago also commented on MSC three ships. Then it was time for the official part Castaing, General Manager of STX France, expansion program including the moving to of the chistening ceremony. Captain Guilano formally handed the ship over to MSC Cruises’ the Caribbean fulltime of the MSC Divina and Bossi escorted Sophia Loren to the stage for the owner Gianluigi Aponte. Mr Aponte then gave advising that we will see a MSC ship in Australia cutting of the ribbon followed by the breaking of command of the ship to Captain Giuliano Bossi, in 2015 (more in coming editions). a bottle of champagne on the bow of the ship and the flags of Italy and MSC Cruises were raised and this introduced a colourful fireworks display to the sound of the Italian national anthem. The as MSC Opera and MSC Splendida left Genoa honour of cutting the ribbon fell to Alexa Aponte harbour. Vago, MSC Vice President. After the traditional The night was still young as this high profile breaking of a bottle of champagne, three blasts event moved to the Michelin-star gala dinner from the ship’s siren signalled the end of the prepared by a team of Eataly chefs; Ugo Alciati, ceremony. the Michelin-starred chef of Guido, Pollenzo, “We are here today to celebrate MSC Preziosa, Italy, Moreno Cedroni, the two-star Michelin the 12th addition to MSC’s state-of-the-art fleet chef of La Madonnina del Pescatore, Senigallia, and our fourth Fantasia class ship, whose arrival Italy, Pino Cuttaia, the two-star Michelin means that MSC Cruises is now the world’s After evening cocktails over 2,000 invited guests chef of La Madia, Licata, Italy, and Enrico third biggest cruise line,” said MSC Cruises CEO moved to the specially constructed and heated Panero, the chef of Marin Eataly, Genoa, Italy. Pierfrancesco Vago. “MSC Preziosa completes a Crystal Theatre on the dock facing the bow of The menu “Flavours and Aromas of the cycle, crowning an investment programme of over MSC Preziosa. Opposite was MSC Opera and Mediterranean” - Marinated swordfish 6 billion euros started in 2003, through which we facing the other side MSC Splendida. In opening and tuna tartare served with oven dried have realized our ambitious vision of building 10 the event MSC Cruises CEO Pierfrancesco cherry tomatoes, Salina capers and citrus new ships in just under 10 years.” Vago said “This evening we will celebrate MSC emulsion; Courgette flower stuffed with Preziosa: her sparkling beauty and outstanding Robiola cheese mousse, spicy pear preserve After the closing of the flag ceremony, MSC features, from the longest single rider body and balsamic vinegar pearls; Potato ravioli, Preziosa began her pre-inaugural 9 day/8 night waterslide on the waves, Vertigo, to the first green beans and Pecorino cheese served cruise from Saint-Nazaire calling at Lisbon, two Eataly restaurant at sea. And at the very with a light Parmesan fondant, Ligurian Prà Cadiz, Casablanca, Valencia and Marseille heart of tonight’s celebrations is not only this Pesto and toasted pine nuts; Turbot in a soft before arriving in the port of Genoa on Friday magnificent ship, but also the city of Genoa, breadcrumb coating with aromatic Riviera 22 March, ready for her official christening MSC Preziosa’s new homeport and a key herbs, Albenga artichokes, taggiasco olives ceremony featuring screen legend Sophia Loren MSC Cruises homeport since the start of our and thickened fumet with extra-virgin olive the next day. expansion programme in 2003.This year, MSC is oil; Fork-tender Ia Granda veal roast served deploying nine ships from the port and, over the with vegetable cous cous- Eatly Chef Ugo Photo: Donna Anderson course of the year, over 800,000 travellers will Alciati and Preziosa chocolate dessert served embark, disembark or transit during a total of on basil crunch with mixed berry coulis. over 211 calls here. The city continues to show The night continued in the main theatre and a keen understanding of the major economic the various bars with entertainment from top impact that MSC brings to the entire region, and Italian and international performers and guests. tonight is the perfect opportunity to celebrate The early hours of the morning arrived as this unique and longstanding partnership.” guests began retiring to their staterooms after The entertainment was then underway with having enjoyed and been delighted with this the Genoa Russian Ballet College performing spectacular and gala event. JT/KT MSC PREZIOSA - The Mediterranean way of life “To my way of thinking nobody rivals Mrs Raphaela Aponte and tepidarium, a couple’s Harmony Suite and a range of original signature (wife of MSC Founder Gianluigi Aponte) and her creative facial and body treatments inspired by precious minerals. The state-of- attention to detail, especially the choice of colours, use the art fitness centre features an Adidas corner selling sportswear and of space and supervision in the selection of furniture and accessories. (Deck 14) work of arts for the ship’s interior design appointments. As MSC Preziosa boasts the first two Eataly restaurants at sea by the popular with all MSC ships the attention to detail is legendary. For Turin-based chain with the principles of the Slow Food philosophy. The 115 instance in the Diamond Bar , white stones are glistening seat restaurant mirrors Eataly’s original concept, with its stylish, minimalist in the bottom of the lamp stands and the look changes as space where people can eat, buy and learn about the best Italian food, you walk by, a very subtle effect but stunning at the same while the exclusive 30 seat evening only Ristorante Italia offers a different, time. Of course the sign for the Diamond Bar is made of ultra-high-quality ‘table d’hôte’ menu.(Deck 7) Swarovski crystals. The Green Sax Bar was a favourite of Fine dining for all - The main restaurant over two floors, the Golden mine. The variety of green colours on the striped columns Lobster, offers guests the highest standards in gourmet cuisine in an elegant and bar is eye catching, also the green in different shapes setting, with its oak boiseries, Alcantara walls, marble floors, gold textile on the walls and the mass glass bauble shaped lights as chairs, and precious appliques in Murano glass. Panoramic aft restaurant they flow down from the ceiling. An absolute standout l’Arabesque, with its laminated wood and grey, white and peach marble at the aft of the ship is the Safari Lounge. This lounge floors, also offers up delightful decor against a backdrop of beautiful sea is the venue for many functions and is a comfy hangout views. Both restaurants boast daily menus of authentic Mediterranean and throughout the day, truly comes to life at night with its international cuisine and a choice from over 100 fine wines. turtle mottled dance floor, sculpted walls in brushed brass, A new concept is MSC Happy Dinners. In the main restaurants children are leopard print rug and ethnic appliqués. Mrs Aponte brings served their own dinner from the kids menu while parents are enjoying the designs prepared by award winning architects De Jorio their opening courses. The children are then picked up by specialized kids to life with their stunning presentations. KT club staff leaving parents to leisurely savour their different courses and wine. Unique for MSC Preziosa - From the top deck, thrill seekers can The fashionable, panoramic restaurant in the disco, Galaxy Lounge ride VERTIGO, MSC Cruises’ longest waterslide to date. At 13 metres Restaurant & Club, is another fine dining highlight. Designed around a high, with a diameter of 900mm and with 120 metres of fabulous twists colour scheme of black and violet and with impressive light features, and turns, sections of translucent bands of colour which catch the light Galaxy is based on the style of 1950s supper clubs and takes La Dolce Vita 28 for a strobe effect, a nine metre transparent stretch over the edge of as its inspiration. The concept is based on the mix of a spectacular view the ship, and an average rider speed of 6 metres per second- those who and great food and music, offering brunch and a Mediterranean fusion experienced Vertigo gave it the thumbs up. cuisine dinner menu.

Doremi Castle Aqua Park Adventures & La Palmeraie Ristorante Italia Poolside Doremiland boasts a pathway of water features, a drenching bucket and a double and single slide. (Deck 16) Designed around the colourful, fantastical world of pirates, children’s area DOREMILAND is located on deck 15. It is home to the Mini and Juniors’ clubs.

APRIL 2013 The MSC AUREA SPA has a comprehensive thermal area with an exclusive frigidarium

The Garden Pool

Safari Lounge

Arabesque Restaurant

The Golden Lobster Restaurant A real American food experience for hungry sports fans is the Sports & El Dorado Piano Bar, boasting glossy black walls, a golden onyx floor and Bowling Diner with its rustic wood and metal decor, ten pin bowling, and an amber candelabra in Swarovski crystals, as well as a stylish Martini bar. sports matches played continuously on the bar’s big screens, and a classic The new Diamond Bar & Library is the perfect pre-dinner bar, great for food experience including onion rings, chicken Caesar salad, pork ribs, relaxing with a book or playing board games. (Deck 6) buffalo wings, coconut shrimp, a selection of sandwiches and hamburgers The exclusive ‘molecular cocktail’ menu in the Green Sax Jazz Bar, an ‘the American way’, delicious milk shakes, and a wide variety of draught iconic lounge with stylish urban design, is not to be missed, while La Playa beers and special cocktails. (Deck 7) Preziosa pool bar, with its pearly glass wave-shaped mosaics in seawater Restyled buffet - The Maya and Inca buffet is open non-stop for 20 colours and its list of refreshing Caribbean cocktails, and outdoor bars hours a day and boasts many different speciality stations including pizza, Saphir and Turquoise, each inspired by precious stones. The infinity-style pasta, a Mediterranean corner with a large selection of traditional cheeses Garden Pool and Bar is for pure relaxation, as the infinity edge merges with and cuts of high quality hams, a dessert corner, a children’s section, ethnic the ocean to produce a calming, zen sensation and transcendent views of corner and many more. (Deck 14) clear blue horizons and there is the adult-only Top 18 Exclusive Solarium Multiple casual dining options - La Locanda is a stylish wine bar with its premium deck space, bar menu and delicious, complimentary fruit and pizzeria including pizza by the metre and complimentary tapas and skewers, and a specially tailored menu of express spa treatments. a selection of wines by the bottle or glass, cocktails and 22 different The MSC Aurea Spa Bar is another great spot to relax. varieties of bottled and draught beers and cider. Live shows in the Platinum Theatre- seating just over 1,600 MSC Happy Dinners - There is Nutella corner and its mouthwatering guests in comfort and with unobstructed views you will enjoy six crêpes and the Happy Puppy ice crystal drink stand plus the Gelateria and shows in total each cruise. Guests can watch a popular children’s story Pasticceria boasting the new La Chocolaterie, offering a black and white transformed into a modern circus with acrobats, jugglers and dancers in chocolate fountain and skewers of fresh fruit and marshmallows. They are located in the spectacular Phoenician Plaza - which tells the Roman and Galaxy Lounge Phoenician story of northern Africa through its large trompes l’oeils and the mix of ancient Roman architecture and the timeless elegance of the garden-city of Ghadames. There is always something available for everyone including room service. The ship has 20 diverse bars and lounges each with live music or a special soundtrack. There is the Il Cappuccino coffee bar, designed in rich brown woods and red marbles, which offers a wide selection of hot and cold coffee and chocolate delights. Enjoy pre and post dinner drinks in the Preziosa Bar with its delicious Mediterranean aperitif and surroundings inspired by the theme of water, including shell-shaped 29 lamps, coral patterned bar tops and Nautilus-shaped crystals, or in the

Poolside MSC Yacht Club Top MSC Yacht Club Top Sail Lounge Sail Lounge The Facts: MSC PREZIOSA: She measures 38 metres wide, 333 metres long and is 68 metres tall; She weighs 140,000 tons; She carries 4,345 guests and 1,390 crew; She travels up to 23 knots; She boasts APRIL 2013 1,751 cabins, 30,000 square metres of public spaces, 3 swimming pools, a 120m long waterslide, the 1,700 sq m MSC Aurea Spa, 26 lifts, a design of 43 different colours and 18 decks (14 passenger) and is named after precious stones. To build her it took 80 mega-blocks, 66,000 light points, 30,000 tons of steel, 300 km of piping, 1,800 km of electrical cables and 3.2 million hours of work. She has been awarded 7 Golden Pearls: MSC Preziosa is the only MSC Cruises ship to have received the 7 Golden Pearls for environmental care and energy efficiency.

Reception

Platinum Theatre Green Sax Jazz Bar

Wonderland, there are international operas and Napolitano classics in Tribute. Pandora is spectacular with Places Visited wonderful costumes and make- Eataly The MSC Preziosa took us from Genoa after the christening to Naples, up, the cast pay tribute to Freddy Messina, La Goulette (Tunis), Barcelona and Marseille before returning to Mercury and British rock band Genoa. We have been to those ports many times before so we chose to do Queen in The Show Must Go On, walking tours of each place except La Goulette where we spent some time and Sogno Italiano is a journey of shoreside looking at the many stalls and shops. Italian music from the last 50 years. Try Lady Luck at the Millennium Star Casino with blackjack, poker, roulette, dice and slot machines. (Deck 6) For the perfect gift- The new Fashion Bijoux, a costume jewellery 30 shop with spectacular Swarovski and Pandora Moments displays as well as other brands. (Deck 7) For a shopping experience – There are eleven shops such as the In Naples we walked to the Municipal duty free Mini Mall, La Boutique and the MSC Logo Shop, to exclusive Piazza from where we wandered up and new shops. La Profumeria offers stunning perfumery with ivory art deco down many streets over the next four or inspired interiors, and the popular IL Gioiello is dedicated to high quality so hours looking at the various fashion jewellery and watches. boutiques, shoe shops and general Sports Bar For meetings and incentives stores doing much window shopping. Just beside the disco, the Sky and Others took tours to Sorrento, Pompeii, Stars Conference Room, with a Capri, Vesuvius, the historic centre of capacity of 34. (Deck 16) Naples and the Royal Palace of Caserta.

APRIL 2013 Kids Club, Babytime and The ship was welcomed to Messina by Kids Around the Clock a local singing and dancing group who The Mini Club is for 3 to 6 year entertained the passengers for an hour or more. This time we walked to the olds, 7 to 11 year olds join the main business and shopping area admiring the many old buildings, listening Juniors Club. The Y-Team is for 12 to to the horns of the cars as motorists tried to navigate the thin side streets. 14 year olds and MSC Generation All the major fashion brands were on display along with the local boutique Teens Club is for 15 to 17 year stores. Tours were available and included Mount Etna, Europe’s highest olds. With MSC Babytime, children volcano reaching almost 3,300 m above sea level and to Taormina, one of the jewels of Sicily. There you visit the renowned ancient Greco-Roman theatre, under 3 can access the Mini Club first built by the Greeks before being re-built by the Romans. (with an accompanying adult) for After the ship arrived in La Goulette it almost emptied as passengers two hours every morning, afternoon, headed for the many attractions of Tunis. Some went on a shopping tour, and evening. others to Carthage and Medina as well as exploring the colourful Souks of There is the dedicated disco, Tunis looking for that special souvenir or bargain. Throughout the day on Graffiti’s, and the teen area is the pier there was entertainment in the form of music, camel rides and the equipped with a Microsoft Xbox opportunity to have you photo taken holding a Falcon. Kinetic, Nintendo Wii, games, a El Dorado Piano Bar After a day at sea we arrived on Good Friday in Barcelona. Most shops musical docking station for iPods, iPhones, iPads and USB readers, and a social corner connected to Net TV and with Bluetooth keyboards. Those looking for an extra surge of adrenalin can head to The Virtual World, or the thrilling high-tech Formula 1 Simulator and 4D cinema. Next Issue – Accommodation and the MSC Yacht Club were closed, but the La Rambla was packed with tourists and locals. Food, ice-cream and souvenir shops did a roaring trade. The Red tourist Buses were packed and many passengers were able to join the services at Sagrada Familia church as well as Churches that lined La Rambla. Our final port of call was in Marseille where shuttle buses provided transport to the city centre. The area around the old Vieux port was packed with fresh seafood being sold from stalls and the back of fishing boats and also dotted along the shoreside were other stalls, many selling flowers and plants. The street side coffee shops were busy as clientele read papers, drank their coffee and watched the passing traffic. As we moved into the main bustling shopping area the streets were alive and extremely busy with shoppers. Back street detours took us past all sorts of market stalls. Many fellow passengers chose La Playa Preciosa to visit the Catherdral of Notre Dame de la Garde which stands on the top of the hill overlooking the city. JT/KT

Oosterdam and P&O Visits Jetty upgrade Moreton Island Volendam Return Carnival Spirit Holland America Line’s ms Oosterdam and ms P&O Cruises has become the first cruise line to Volendam will return to Australia, New Zealand visit Queensland’s beautiful Moreton Island with and the South Pacific islands for the 2013-14 the arrival of Pacific Jewel on Saturday 16 March season with a series of sailings that will visit as part of a four-night SeaBreak from Sydney. The more than 50 ports of call. There will be a series passengers were greeted by Queensland Tourism of multiple departures ranging from 10 to 14 Minister Jann Stuckey, Carnival Australia CEO Ann day sailings round-trip from Sydney or Sydney Sherry and Tangalooma Island Resort Director to or from Auckland between October 2013 David James, before heading off to experience the and March 2014. “Over the past few years the Island’s many attractions including dolphin feeding, popularity of the Australia, New Zealand and canoeing and snorkelling. Passengers were also South Pacific region has grown tremendously able to experience the spectacular Champagne because of its beauty and diversity,” said Richard Pools and Honeymoon Bay, sand-duning, quad Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, bike tours and bird-watching. The Port Arthur Historic Site Management sales and guest programs for Holland America The visit by the 1950-passenger Pacific Jewel was Authority (PAHSMA) has been successful Line. “Our array of itineraries includes popular the first of six calls planned for Moreton Island in in securing a $135,000 Federal Tourism ports, stunning island visits, extended stays, 2013 which are expected to inject more than $1 Infrastructure Regional Fund (TIRF) grant for overnight calls and enticing pre and post cruise million into the local economy. a project that will significantly enhance the options to make the trip in this spectacular Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry said she was experience of visiting the site for Cruise ship region a memorable experience.” In 2013-14 thrilled to be introducing Australians to one of passengers. The funds, which will be matched Oosterdam will sail a total of four 14 day Australia the undiscovered gems on Queensland’s coastline. dollar for dollar by the Authority, will be used and New Zealand cruises from Auckland to to extend its current jetty facility at Port Arthur Sydney or reverse. Five additional sailings to with a purpose built landing for visiting craft, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific Pacific Pearl include Oosterdam’s 14 day Pacific Treasures cruises round trip from Sydney 24 November and 22 December 2013 (holiday voyage), and 5 32 January plus 2 and 30 March 2014. Those cruises include the South Pacific islands of Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji. Holland America will also offer several longer itineraries throughout the season, including Volendam’s 34 day Australia Circumnavigation. This voyage is round-trip from Sydney departing 20 October 2013, and features more than 20 ports as well as scenic cruising in to address the specific needs of cruise ship the remote Ribbon Reef and Far North Regions. tenders and also allow simultaneous access (L-R) Queensland Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey, to the berth by tender vessels and their own One-of-a-kind itineraries also are offered at the Pacific Jewel Captain John Foster, Carnival beginning and end of the season sailing from harbour cruise vessel, providing a safer and less Australia CEO Ann Sherry and Tangalooma Island congested experience to more visitors. Design North America to the Pacific region. Volendam’s Resort Director David James work on the project is underway and PAHSMA APRIL 2013 21 or 24 day South Pacific Crossing departs from hopes that the jetty will be ready in time for Los Angeles or Vancouver for Sydney on 25/28 Pacific Pearl the next summer cruise season, Port Arthur’s September 2013. Oosterdam’s 24 or 27 day busiest ever, with at least ten cruise ship visits South Pacific Crossing departs Los Angeles or Passengers Revved scheduled. Seattle for Sydney on 29 September/2 October Up 2013, and includes an overnight call at Honolulu. P&O Cruises’ passengers are in for the ride Largest Ship Visits Oosterdam returns to North America on a 28 of their lives following the introduction or 29 day South Pacific Crossing from Sydney to of revolutionary new V8 Super Car racing Milford Sound Seattle or Vancouver 13 April 2014. simulators on superliner Pacific Pearl. The Queen Mary 2 made history recently becoming simulators provide passengers with a realistic the largest ship to visit Milford Sound in New driving experience across a range of famous race Zealand’s stunning World Heritage-listed New Dress Codes circuits, including Mount Panorama, home to the Cunard Line has renewed its commitment Fiordland National Park. Measuring 345 metres famous Bathurst 1000 road race. Pacific Pearl is to the joy of dressing up onboard “The Most long and reaching 62 metres above the water, the the first in the P&O Cruises’ fleet to have the Famous Ocean Liners in the World” with an 151,400-ton liner cruised the waters of Milford V8 simulators installed, with plans to roll out the update to its dress codes, while at the same Sound as part of her maiden circumnavigation of technology across sister ships Pacific Dawn and time encouraging the loosening of ties on its less New Zealand. Queen Mary 2 also remains the Pacific Jewel later this year. The simulators form formal nights. Research with existing passengers biggest cruise ship to sail to New Zealand. and luxury travellers generally has led Cunard part of a range of new family activities that are to strengthen the Line’s commitment to special being introduced across P&O Cruises’ fleet this occasion dressing three times a week on its year, and follow the recent debut of the Broad Transatlantic Crossings and twice each week on Shorts animated film making program. sailings to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and Carnival Australia Vice President Hotel beyond. However, also in response to growing Operations Sture Myrmell said he was confident travel trends, Cunard is adjusting its advice on the new simulators would appeal to racing fans dress codes for other nights. The result: along with of all shapes and sizes. Passengers can enjoy all two or three formal nights each week, there will the thrills of a simulated high speed race from be four or five “informal” evenings where jackets just $10 a session. are required but ties will now become optional. “The glamour of dressing to the nines is a hallmark Carnival Australia’s Vice President Hotel Operations Sture of travelling with Cunard, and distinguishes Myrmell gets to grips with the new V8 Super Car racing us from the mass of cruise operators where simulators onboard Pacific Pearl dressing up has become a thing of the past,” Cunard Line President Peter Shanks said. Passengers opting out of evening wear on formal nights will be welcome in the ships’ main buffet restaurants and in the adjoining Winter Garden or Garden Lounge bars, but not in other areas of the ship, out of respect for their fellow guests. By day, smart casual remains the style of choice among Cunard’s passengers, as in a five-star hotel ashore.

Aotearoa – Land of the Long White Cloud By Robert Miller At precisely 4.02 pm, the last bow line splashed into the water, followed by a mighty blast from the ship’s whistle, and Sea Princess eased from her berth at Barangaroo. It had been a drizzly morning but the sun struggled out and allowed us a dry if cloudy passage as we headed down the harbour and out to sea. We watched the pilot disembark off Watson’s Bay, always a bouncy business, then we passed through the Sydney Heads into the open water of the Tasman Sea. Embarkation had been a quick and easy process, and in no time we were on board and at the cabin, to find the suitcases already at the door. It was a bright airy room, midships Port side on Baja Deck (deck 10), with a balcony, plenty of clothes space and the usual compact but eminently practical bathroom. The luggage fitted comfortably under the queen size bed. Our cabin steward, Jun from the Philippines, knocked and introduced himself, then we set off to explore our new home for the next two weeks. Starting from the top, Sun Deck 15, we looked into The Sanctuary, a comfortable adults-only retreat with its own pool. Next deck down was Lido, where the huge Movies Under the Stars screen was playing. Forward from this was the airy Horizon Court buffet, where we enjoyed an appealing lunch. This restaurant was open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and was the regular lunch location when the ship was in port and the main restaurants were closed. Not usually a fan of buffets, we found this very good, with tasty, fresh and varied food and friendly service. Deck 12 was the Riviera Deck which housed the swimming pools and hot tubs, with lots of comfortable sun lounges, the beauty salon, Lotus spa, gym, and youth 34 centre. Decks 11 Aloha, 10 Baja and 9 Caribe were all cabin decks; Deck 8 Dolphin housed the Casino and Café Corniche and was the top deck of the spectacular atrium, reached by glass panoramic lifts and floating staircases. The wrap-around Promenade was on Deck 7 and here, aft, we found the delightful Vista Lounge, where several presentations were made, plus bingo and other games, and in the evenings, dancing. Further along were the internet café, the elegant and quiet library with its leather chairs and timbered and glass bookcases, and the Razzmatazz disco on Port side, and photo gallery and Premier Cru for that ever welcome pre-dinner glass of bubbles or cocktail of the day on Starboard. Ahead was the Crooners Bar overlooking the grand floating staircase and atrium, where each night we were treated to a fantastic evening of music from American singer-

APRIL 2013 songwriter Rose Winters from San Diego, who had a seemingly unending repertoire. We were invited by Rose to request our favourite songs and she seemed to know them all – if she didn’t she would Google them, learn them during the day and play them that night. A great voice, amazing talent, a lovely personable lady and great fun. Forward again was the Wheelhouse Bar and Lounge, nautically themed with deep leather and padded armchairs, then the spacious art deco styled Princess Theatre, where movies were shown, presentations given, and terrific shows presented, by both the ships own very talented company of dancers and singers, and by individual performers, of special note Jenifer Green who gave us her own Shirley Bassey show. Emerald Deck 6 was next down, with comfortable lounges on each side around the atrium, Latitudes and Reflections, leading into the Traviata Dining Room, and below, on Plaza Deck 5, the Rigoletto Restaurant, Explorers Bar, Grand Plaza and Pursers Office. Looking upward from here we had a great view of the spectacular atrium, and where a gentle string quartet daily played some lovely classical music, Handel, Bach, Mozart etc. The first two days were spent relaxing and savouring the special ambiance of a ship at sea, and tucking into that wonderful food that cruise ships do so well. Our waiter, Laszlo from Budapest and his assistant Niwat from Bangkok, looked after us extremely well, and recommended various wines to accompany the main courses. There was a great selection of dishes to choose from and they were always hot and tasty. He would also let us know of specials coming up the next day, such as French onion soup (thick and delicious), tender lobster, and escargots, a great favourite. Our first visit was the New Zealand Fiordlands, one of the great untouched wilderness areas, carved by age-old glaciers, where we leisurely cruised through Milford, Dusky and Doubtful Sounds. A little overcast with broken sunshine but fortunately dry, the views were spectacular, with still some winter snow on the higher peaks, many capped with low hanging wispy clouds, and waterfalls gushing down. The sun came fully out and as we sailed back along Milford Sound we enjoyed a champagne, smoked salmon, and crab quiche breakfast on our balcony – yes, decadent I know but someone had to do it. The first port we stopped in was Port Chalmers, port for historic Dunedin, which is a lovely small town. Excursions were available to the elegant Victorian Larnach Castle, Olveston House or by train through the dramatic Taieri Gorge. We chose to walk through the city and bought a new camera, which thanks to our favourable exchange rate, we got at a terrific price, especially after some hearty bargaining. There are some lovely old buildings here, reflecting its Scottish heritage, the famous railway station, an attractive Chinese garden, a park with a somewhat austere statue of Queen Victoria (did she ever smile?), and a number of churches, including St. Pauls Cathedral where we were entertained with a wonderful half hour classical concert played by the resident organist. There was also a feel of the art deco in some of the buildings. An overnight sailing took us to sunny Akaroa, now the port for Christchurch. Lyttleton is normally the port but it was the epicentre of the 2011 earthquake which almost destroyed it and Christchurch, and is no longer used for the time being. Having been to the beautiful city of Christchurch just a couple of years earlier, and climbed to the top of the spire on the lovely cathedral, we did not want to see the city again in its sad and broken state so we took the ships tender ashore and spent a couple of hours strolling along the waterfront of this pretty town, up to the lighthouse on the point overlooking the bay. We were welcomed by some fierce looking Maori warriors with a Haka. Our sister ship Dawn Princess was also anchored in the Bay, on her way south. Next day we arrived in the NZ capital Wellington, fortunately not as windy 35 as its reputation asserts. Taking the tram to the top of the Peak, we had a spectacular view across the city, and then walked back to town through the Botanic Gardens and the beautiful Lady Northwood Rose Gardens, where we found a greenhouse full of exotic and brilliantly colourful blooms, in warm sunshine. Some attractive old buildings here, and the modern Parliament House, known as the Beehive due to its unique shape. Another overnight at sea and we arrived in Napier. We took the first shuttle into town and arrived before the crowds and even before most of the shops were open, so we were able to take some great photos, without people. Napier was destroyed by an earthquake in 1931 and has been completely rebuilt in the art deco style of its original form, and is a really lovely waterside town, with parks and wide tree lined streets. We visited the rebuilt Cathedral, again dedicated to the ubiquitous St. Paul, and were fascinated if saddened APRIL 2013 by the exhibition there about the quake, which happened on a Sunday as Communion was being given. A newspaper clipping states that a doctor gave a lady parishioner trapped under a huge and immovable timber beam a “merciful” dose of morphine as the building was burning. Distressing, but hopefully the lady gained some comfort knowing she was near her God. There were some beautiful and striking stained glass windows here. Many of the shop people dress in the Jazz-age style of the twenties and thirties and each year there is an art deco festival in the town which attracts people from all over the country and indeed from overseas, many from Australia, Canada and the US. There are some wonderful examples of the geometric art deco style, including the cathedral, and the theatre, which we were fortunate to be able to get in to see and take some photos. It is a really charming town with great ambiance. Tauranga was our next stop, the nation’s leading export port and fastest growing provincial city. It was Captain Cook who fittingly named this area Bay of Plenty and it is an area rich in the history of the Maori people, showing many pre-European fortifications. From here excursions headed off to Wai- O-Tapu Valley and Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve in Rotorua where the “must-see” boiling mud pools bubble and spectacular geysers shoot skywards. In the pleasant town of Tauranga were a number of open air coffee shops to catch your breath after a 3.4 km walk around the base of Mt. Maunganui, a stroll well worth the effort with expansive views, including the Sea Princess docked right in the heart of town. Also here is The Elms, part of the Te Papa Mission dating back to the 1840s, a lovely old home and tiny chapel set in a quiet garden, and further on another rose garden. Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, was our next port and again we were able to dock right on the edge of the CBD, allowing a short walk into town. Many passengers chose an excursion to Waitomo where boats quietly sail through ancient limestone caverns lit by millions of glow worms. We wandered through the shops then took a lift to the top of the Auckland Sky 36 Tower, where we enjoyed 360 degree views of the city and its harbour, called the City of Sails. It was here that my partner decided to take the 192 metre bungee jump, hurtling to the ground in about 20 seconds, stopping briefly outside the observation deck for tourists to take photos before plunging downwards to Mother Earth! Our final visit was to the beautiful Bay of Islands, way up on the Northern point of New Zealand. In bright sunshine, tenders took us to shore from our anchorage, and we walked around the point to the historically and culturally significant Waitangi Treaty House where the British signed a pact with the local Maori chieftains, guaranteeing them tribal authority and a relatively harmonious blending of the two disparate cultures, which remains to this day. Here we saw the 117 foot long Maori war canoe hand carved from three giant Kauri trees. Again it was Captain Cook who, in 1769, claimed

APRIL 2013 this territory for Britain. A shuttle bus then took us the few minutes into Paihia, an attractive waterfront village where we strolled through the bustling markets selling all sorts of crafts. A number of people took helicopter flights across the Bay, offering spectacular vistas. Nearby were the Waimate Mission House, a Pioneer village, Cape Reinga, NZ’s most northern point with its lighthouse, and the forests of Waipoua and Puketi, home to the massive Kauri trees, some estimated upwards of 2,000 years old, with heights reaching 170 feet and girth of 50 feet. To round off this relaxing and most enjoyable cruise, we had another two sunny days at sea to be greeted with a misty rainy Monday morning home in Sydney with a quick and easy disembarkation. I have sailed with Princess before and would happily do so again. The Sea Princess was immaculately clean, very comfortable, with excellent food and first rate service from friendly but never familiar staff, who always had a smile and cheery “Hello”. The entertainment was good and varied, and included a galley tour, a Dining Experience with the Executive Chef and Maître D’, who were lots of fun, a couple of wine tastings and lively shows. It is so good to be able to step aboard in Sydney, do the cruise, then step off again without those long tedious flights, and New Zealand is the ideal destination, lots to see and close to home. The Princess Cruises motto is “Escape Completely” and that is exactly what you do. P & O Cruises –World Voyages on Classic Aurora by Tim Ryan

Each year during the Northern Aurora is a larger version of Oriana, built in 1995, the ship sculpting the open terraced decks aft and Hemisphere winter P & O Cruises’ also by Meyer Werft, but with many additional the wide teak promenade deck with its wooden Aurora makes a round world voyage refinements with both ships incorporating many steamer chairs. Tillberg was also responsible for from the UK which includes a visit to of Canberra’s distinctive features into their designing a number of the main public rooms Australia giving locals the opportunity design including wide wrap around promenades such as the Crow’s Nest Bar, theatre, cinema and of joining a sector and experiencing and extensive deck spaces and terraces. Modern the sidewalk deck café, together with providing traditional British service upon a features on Aurora include four decks of balcony luxurious finishes to the cabin corridors and classic P & O liner. cabins, four pools, four jacuzzis, a coffee and stairways which also feature many outstanding This year Aurora circumnavigated the globe chocolate bar and six restaurants and cafes, works of modern art. 37 westabout visiting the Caribbean before including one sponsored by celebrity chef Marco As part of six dining options aboard Aurora is transiting the Panama Canal and concluding its Pierre White. the celebrity chef Marco Pierre White’s bistro first world voyage sector in San Francisco. From The interior design of Aurora was entrusted to Café Bordeaux on D Deck which provides San Francisco Aurora crossed the Pacific visiting renowned Swedish marine architectural firm a fine dining experience to complement the Honolulu and Nawiliwilli in Hawaii, Papeete in Tillberg Design, created by distinguished Swedish traditional Medina and Alexandria Restaurants Tahiti as well as Auckland, Napier and Wellington Architect Robert Tillberg while the overall design on E Deck. The Orangery buffet, providing a in New Zealand. The third sector commenced in was developed with Petter Yran of Norway and more casual dining experience, is located on Lido Sydney with visits to Brisbane and Cairns before John McNeece of London. The architects were Deck and is a light and bright deck restaurant heading north to Hong Kong and Shanghai. given the responsibility for designing a ship with offering breakfast, lunch and dinner with a choice Aurora then headed down to Singapore via the best elements of worldwide cruise ship of indoor or outdoor seating. In the evenings a Vietnam, then over to Dubai before returning innovation whilst retaining the essence of P&O’s separate section is cordoned off to become the to Southampton via the Suez Canal and the classic traditions. Pennant Grill while the Sidewalk Cafe serves

Mediterranean. Each of the architects were involved in the pizzas and hamburgers and other snacks to eat APRIL 2013 A world voyage on Aurora is a special experience designing the internal spaces on Oriana providing beside the pool. with the ship quintessentially British in all respects the opportunity to create the required ambience Between the Sidewalk cafe and the Orangery is and probably the closest chance to replicate the and in particular Tillberg’s highly successful the Crystal Pool which is covered by a retractable traditional P &O line voyages between Australia work with Oriana ensured a continuity of clear glass ‘magradome’ for use during any and the United Kingdom. Aurora and its earlier design flowing through both ships. Tillberg was inclement weather. Forward of the Sidewalk Café running mate Oriana were designed specifically earlier involved with the design of the 1966 built for long haul world voyages and many of their Kungsholm which became P&O’s Sea Princess in design features were inspired by P & O’s beloved 1978 and later renamed Victoria by the company Canberra which served the company and the in 1995. Australian run so well between 1961 and 1997. Tillberg’s greatest mark on the ship is the four Named after the legendary goddess of the deck high atrium which is decorated in warm dawn, the 76,152 ton Aurora was constructed shades of gold, bronze and pale coffee that slowly by the Meyer Werft shipyard at Papenburg in strengthen as the height of the atrium develops. Germany, and christened by Princess Anne at Designed by John Mill, the magnificent Lalique- Southampton in April 2000. The 272m Aurora style sculpture at the forward end of Aurora’s also had the distinction of being the last liner atrium comprises the goddess of the Dawn and built for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam two mythical figures behind a veil of water that Navigation Company before the company was dominates the full height of the Atrium. The foot split up with the cruise ship division transferred of the four deck high waterfall then tumbles over to a new entity P & O Princess Cruises PLC, the graceful steps at the base of the sculpture later renamed Carnival PLC, when the company enhanced with special lighting effects. merged with the US based Carnival Corporation Tillberg Design was also charged with in 2003. streamlining the outstanding external profile of is Aurora’s Riviera pool while the Terrace pool is the Piccadilly Shopping Centre and the Monte located aft on D Deck. Carlo casino while for the juniors the Toybox A second atrium connects the bistro on D Deck and Decibels areas provide excellent facilities for with the Champions sports bar one deck below children and teenagers. and is convenient for passengers dining at any One of the finest public rooms on any vessel time during evening entertainment. A similar afloat is the more formal Andersons bar and grand entrance and staircase to the Medina lounge located on Promenade Deck. Based on 38 Restaurant creates a romantic ambience to the the design of a traditional London gentleman’s Moorish inspired dining room. Adjacent to the club, Andersons is named after one of the bistro is a conference room ideal for meetings founders of the P&O Steam Navigation Co and while next door, the Playhouse Theatre hosts the space creates a warm and inviting ambience classical music concerts and showing first run complemented by paintings of old P&O liners feature films. As with Oriana, a suite of quiet and other company memorabilia. rooms known as Raffles Court are located on D Considered a mid-sized family ship Deck and comprise a card room, writing room Aurora will conduct a similar world and library including the Ocean Book Shop with voyage in 2014 with segments from its furniture designed by Lord Linley. Southampton to San Francisco and Up through two decks of cabins on B and C Sydney and returning to the UK via decks is A Deck which includes a fully equipped Asia and South Africa with sectors gymnasium and aerobics centre. The luxurious available from Shanghai, Singapore and APRIL 2013 Oasis health and beauty spa is situated on Capetown. With a maximum of 1870 Lido deck and includes a salon, treatment guests berthed in 406 balcony cabins rooms and relaxation area. From this deck the and the balance in a mix of inside and Riviera swimming pool is located and which is outside rooms, Aurora is a special ship suspended between the Lido and A decks and fed and offers a unique opportunity to by a waterfall. experience a taste of classic cruising P Located forward on Sun Deck is the traditional & O British style. P&O observation lounge with a bird’s eye view over the ship’s bow and the sea. Named the Crows Nest Bar after a similar concept introduced on Canberra in 1961, the lounge is one of the more favoured locations on Aurora. Other popular rooms nearby include the Cyberstudy and the Uganda meeting room which displays a fine model of the famous British India Liner Uganda which also served in the Falklands War as a hospital ship. Aurora’s extensive facilities also boast 5 lounges and 12 bars including Charlies champagne bar and the Champions sports bar with its cricket and other sporting memorabilia. The Curzon theatre with its own Headliners Theatre Company offer state of the art production facilities while the Playhouse concert hall/cinema and Carmens show lounge and nightclub make up a great entertainment selection. Other features include Sea Shepherd Brigitte Bardot (trimaran)

Hobart Showcases the Australian Wooden Boat Festival Dinghy Spindrift by Tim Ryan

Cruise ship passengers aboard Celebrity trader the Julie Burgess, a 64ft blue gum ketch Julie Burgess ((Ketch white hull) Solstice and Oosterdam visiting built in 1936 for the Burgess family which 39 Tasmania in February were treated has just completed a two year restoration in to a special bonus when they arrived Devonport. Five generations of the Burgess at Hobart’s Macquarie Wharf to find family have owned and operated fishing vessels the famous Australian Wooden Boat in the Bass Strait and the 38-ton vessel will Festival being held right beside their commence a new life as the central feature of berth on Hobart’s fabulous waterfront. the redeveloped Devonport Maritime Museum. Centred around Constitution and Victoria The Julie Burgess was a typical example of Docks on Hobart’s Sullivan’s Cove, the four-day Tasmanian gaff rigged trading ketches built festival brought together one of the largest and over the past century and was used for cray finest collection of wooden boats, ranging from fishing in Bass Strait Tasmania for over fifty majestic tall ships to tiny hand-made wooden years. For most of this time the ketch, named dinghies from right around Australia. after his mother, was skippered by Captain Dick Sloop Una J APRIL 2013 Visitors from the cruise ships mingled with Burgess until it was retired in the mid 1980’s. thousands of locals and interstate and The imposing figurehead on the bow of the international tourists at the festival in viewing Julie Burgess was recovered from an earlier the display of some of Australia’s most beautiful vessel the Mary Burgess, named after Captain wooden boats as well as celebrate Tasmania’s Burgess’s grandmother, which was wrecked in great maritime history, its active boat-building Wineglass Bay in 1914. industry and associated traditional skills. Built at Launceston by E. A. Jack, one of In addition visitors could experience live Tasmania’s leading shipbuilders from the 1880s entertainment and the best local foods and through to the 1930s, Julie Burgess represents wines, as well as participate in many exciting the final development of the Tasmanian waterside activities. ketch design before Bermudan rigs and then Hundreds of fine vessels large and small were powerful engines became the primary source on display and regular visitors from interstate included the Sydney Heritage Fleets’ famous Enterprize (schooner) barque James Craig built in 1874 and the topsail schooner Enterprize from Victoria, an authentic replica of the vessel John Pascoe Fawkner sailed from Tasmania to found the City of Melbourne in 1835. The Royal Australian Navy’s frigate HMAS Sydney, celebrating its 30th birthday this year, was also in attendance and acted as guardship for the Royal Hobart Regatta on the Derwent which celebrates its 175th anniversary this year. The belle of the festival was without doubt the Cray boat Annella reappearance of the pretty little Bass Strait

Cartela (ferry) Storm Bay (with gaff mainsail)

Steam Yacht Preana of propulsion. The Tasmanian ketch rig included topsails on both the main engine will be restored and fitted back into Cartela by 2015 with the vessel and mizzen masts and the use of jib headed topsails to suit the windier resuming its River Derwent excursion cruises once again. conditions in Bass Strait where it operated. This rig allowed fast passage Many of the vessels on display at the festival are not so old and a typical for the catch to be delivered direct to the important fish markets in example is the 88ft long top sail schooner Enterprize, which is a replica of Melbourne. the original Enterprize, built in Hobart in 1829. The first Enterprize was Another fine example of a wooden fishing boat on display at the show was sailed by John Pascoe Fawkner who sailed it from Tasmania to Port Philip the superb Storm Bay which was built in 1925 for fisherman George Bridge Bay and up the Yarra River in August 1835 to found the City of Melbourne. by Percy Coverdale at his boatyard at Battery Point in Hobart. Named The Enterprize was wrecked in New South Wales in 1847 and the current after the infamous Storm Bay where the Derwent River opens to the sea ship was built with traditional methods and launched in Melbourne in 1997, in South East Tasmania, the craft was designed for fishing in this notoriously the first square rigged commercial vessel built there in 120 years. rough area where the large schools of barracouta were once plentiful. With Onshore displays included demonstrations of boat building techniques and no refrigeration, Storm Bay was built with an internal wet well constructed in the newly renovated Princes Wharf Shed a dedicated display of over from 4 inch thick Huon pine and the well was particularly useful in Storm twenty timber dinghies built by iconic Hobart boatbuilder Reg Fazackerly Bay’s later career as a cray fishing craft. (1893-1983) emerged as a major attraction for visitors. Fazackerly worked Storm Bay is rigged as a jackyard topsail cutter with excellent sailing as a shipwright on the Hobart waterfront for many years and also was capabilities and was reputed to have been built for the purpose of winning responsible for the construction of many larger craft especially during sailing regattas as well as being an efficient fishing vessel. The hull has World War Two. only a moderate draft for a vessel of its size and with its long keel and With over 500 vessels on display including many classic yachts and motor centreboard, Storm Bay possesses all the qualities of a fine yacht and was launches it is not possible to do justice in this report to the wonderful maintained as such in immaculate condition for most of its life. Restored by range of craft attending the festival. One classic yacht deserving a special the Wooden Boat Shop in Sorrento Victoria between 2003 and 2007, the mention is the 40foot sloop Una J which was built in 1948 by John Davis in 54 ft long craft is framed in blue gum with the hull and decks planked in Snails Bay at Balmain on Sydney Harbour. Recently restored in Melbourne, Tasmania’s famous Huon pine timber with many of its hull planks being full Una J sailed to Hobart in company with Storm Bay through the Bass Strait length from the stem to the counter stern. Islands and down the East Coast of Tasmania visiting several fishing ports Celebrating its centenary last year was Hobart’s much loved Derwent along the way. ferry Cartela, the last of Tasmania’s river steamers which was active during Attending the Australian Wooden Boat Festival has the festival taking visitors out into the Derwent to watch the Parade of become a must do event for visitors enjoying Hobart’s Sail and the Royal Hobart Regatta. The 123ft long Cartela was built in 1912 many unique and varied tourist attractions. The Festival by the prominent Hobart firm Purdon & Featherstone and has worked is held every second year and combined with the Royal continuously for over 100 years on the Derwent. Originally built as a steam Hobart Regatta, the two events have become a significant 40 ship, Cartela was converted to diesel in 1958 and plans are now underway force on the Tasmanian major events calendar and to re-engine the vessel with its original triple expansion steam engine highlights even more of those special charms the Apple which is still in existence. Along with a new boiler it is expected that the Isle has to offer.

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Celebrity Solstice

Dawn Princess & MV Queenscliff Searoad Ferry

Norwegian Gem at Manhattan Cruise Terminal

Norwegian Jewel at Manhattan Cruise Terminal

Photos by Tim Ryan

Deborah Hutton Names Ship New Virtual Tour Avalon Waterways has announced that popular Australian celebrity American Cruise Lines has added an exciting new feature to its website Deborah Hutton will christen one of its new ships, the luxurious (www.americancruiselines.com) which offers visitors a real-life glimpse into Avalon Illumination. To be launched in Europe in June next year, Avalon the company’s newest vessel, the Queen of the Mississippi. This authentic Illumination has been specifically designed with Australian travellers in paddlwheeler offers eight-day river journeys on the Mississippi River and mind and features two decks of all-suite accommodation with wall-to-wall its tributaries. The new virtual tour gives visitors a 360-degree look at panoramic windows. It will join 12 other Avalon ships. Avalon Waterways various staterooms and public spaces aboard Queen of the Mississippi, Managing Director Australasia Stewart Williams said he was delighted including the Paddlewheel Lounge and the dining room. Plans for virtual that Deborah would name the latest addition to Avalon’s fleet. “Avalon tours of the line’s other ships are in development. In addition to the virtual Illumination will be one of our new Suite Ships, featuring a revolutionary tour, American Cruise Lines has added various multimedia elements, design which Avalon Waterways in Australia helped create, so we are very including maps, images and videos to compliment the descriptions of many excited that Deborah, a well-loved and well-known Australian, will name of the various U.S.-based itineraries which are offered. her,” Mr Williams said. A former international model, Deborah has enjoyed a high profile career as a television host on a range of top rating programs including Channel 2 New Riverboats & 4 New 9’s Location, Location and Looking Good. Currently the host of the popular Foxtel Movie Show, she has also been a brand ambassador for Itineraries In 2014 iconic Australian companies such as Qantas and for more than 10 years Tauck has announced it will welcome two newbuilds into its fleet of was an editor for The Australian Women’s Weekly. In 2012 Deborah European riverboats next year, bringing the total number of Tauck ships on founded ‘Balance by Deborah Hutton’, an on-line community designed Europe’s rivers to six. According to company officials, the new vessels are to help women with practical advice around maintaining balance in their set to launch in March and June of 2014. The new ships, the ms Inspire and lives. ms Savor, will both be 443 feet long, compared to Tauck’s existing ships which Commenting on her role as godmother, Deborah said each measure 361 feet. Despite being 23% longer, the two newbuilds will she was honoured to be invited to take part in such an only accommodate 130 guests each or just 10% more than its current ships. important maritime tradition. “I couldn’t be more delighted to be ‘Godmother’ of such a magnificent In addition Tauck will launch four new river cruise itineraries in Europe next ship - what an extraordinary honour,” Deborah year. “Demand for our river cruises continues to grow, and our guests and said. “Avalon is renowned for offering a premium travel agents love the onboard and onshore experiences Tauck provides,” experience and I’m very much looking explained company CEO Dan Mahar. “We’re excited to be expanding our 42 forward to spending some time enjoying portfolio, and adding more capacity and more choice to travellers who are such a world class holiday.” eager to experience our unique offerings.” Mahar revealed that the two ships are being custom-built for Tauck, and Avalon Illumination will operate a will represent an evolution of its fleet. “The new ships will have features range of cruises on the Rhine and and amenities not found on our existing vessels, but they’ll also retain Danube Rivers in 2014. key elements and the same overall philosophy that have contributed so significantly to our success,” said Mahar. Tauck currently offers 14 different all-inclusive river voyages throughout Europe on four ships – the ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire, ms Swiss Jewel, and ms Swiss Treasures – each carrying no more than 118 passengers. Godmother to AmaVida Itineraries range from 8- to 24- days, with over 100 departures annually on the Rhine, Danube, Main, Rhone, Saone and Moselle rivers. APT-AmaWaterways’ 106-passenger AmaVida which is cruising the Duoro

APRIL 2013 River in Portugal was christened by actress-producer-philanthropist Sharon Stone on 22 March. Uniworld’s Queen Isabel AmaVida has been specifically designed for the Duoro River. It hosts 108 Uniworld River Cruises inaugurated its newest ship, the Queen Isabel, guests, offers the choice of six suite styles and is 79 metres long. APT now in Portugal’s Porto on 22 March 2013 and she was named by one of Hollywood’s leading actresses, Andie MacDowell whose many hits include has a fleet of 11 ships cruising European rivers this year. the academy award nominated Four Weddings and a Funeral; Sex, Lies and APT’s general manager marketing, Debra Fox says the company is offering Videotape; and Groundhog Day. MacDowell has also been the face of L’Oreal three dedicated AmaVida itineraries for Australian passengers, with the for more than 25 years. full range of options. An eight-day cruise sector is common to all. “There has been strong take-up of this new APT cruise, especially from our Uniworld has named the ship Queen Isabel after one of Portugal’s most beloved queens. The Queen Isabel will have a 118 passenger capacity with customers who have already cruised the Rhine-Main-Danube network 18 junior suites at 20 sq. metres and two bigger suites at 30 sq. metres on with us,” she said. the top deck—all with full balconies—and staterooms on the main deck will have French balconies. She will sail Uniworld’s popular 10-night Portugal, Spain and the Douro River itinerary. The Queen Isabel replaces the Douro Spirit.

Scenic Tours has recently released a preview They may also discover the historic town of Sailing to Danube of their Europe River Cruising program for Pecs, Melk’s Benedictine Abbey and Bucharest’s 2014 with a new cruise that sails as far as the Mile Zero Danube Mile Zero. The Danube Mile Zero is the point where the mighty Danube River empties into the Black Sea. The World Heritage-listed Danube Delta is the best preserved of Europe’s deltas and hosts over 300 species of birds and 45 species of freshwater fish. Guests will sail through the passage of Saint George and the magnificent Danube Delta to reach the Black Sea coast taking in the spectacular scenery on the way. This may be enjoyed on the brand new 20 Day Munich & Passau to the Danube Delta River Cruise. This unique itinerary includes three nights in Munich, a 14 night river cruise from Passau to Tulcea plus two nights in Bucharest. Guests will also experience a private Viennese evening concert at the majestic Palais Lichtenstein and a home hosted dinner in Croatia. They will enjoy a horse show in Kalocsa, wine tasting in Arbanassi and an organ concert in Passau’s St Stephen’s Cathedral.

CroisiEurope guarantees Viking River Cruises Smashes cruises against fuel surcharges. World Record Includes on-board drinks in price CroisiEurope, the Strasbourg-based French river-cruise line and long- time partner of Australian company Cruise Abroad, will protect Australian travellers from any fuel surcharges that may occur next year. Additionally, CroisiEurope has introduced an all inclusive drinks policy at mealtimes and at the bar for 2014. CroisiEurope achieved the first initiative, the guarantee against fuel Viking River Cruises has set a world record with surcharges, by insuring against potential fuel increases. It can thus avoid the christening of 10 new Viking LongshipsTM. The having to pass on to passengers any fuel price rises that may occur on the first-of-its-kind simultaneous christening ceremony cruise. That gives passengers peace of mind as well as making it easier for on 20 March in Amsterdam debuted the ships – travel agents. The second initiative, on drinks, makes bar bills much easier – Viking Aegir, Viking Atla, Viking Bragi, Viking Embla, by virtually eliminating them. From 2014, unlimited wine, beer, fruit juice and Viking Forseti, Viking Jarl, Viking Rinda, Viking Skadi, mineral water will be covered in the cruise price as well, as are tea or coffee Viking Tor and Viking Var – and was certified by a after each meal. Whether the drinks are served by CroisiEurope during on- GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS adjudicator board meals in the restaurant, or consumed in the lounge bar (excluding as ‘The Most Ships Inaugurated in One Day by One Champagne and wines on the exclusive wine list), they are included in Company.’ Playing an integral role in the event were the price. As an additional benefit to travellers, audio phones for all shore 10 distinguished women from around the world, representing the key excursions are included in the cruise price too. Viking brand pillars of history, art, education, exploration and discovery, to CroisiEurope recently announced a new propulsion design for river ships serve as ceremonial godmothers for the new ships. “Today is a proud day that does away with propellers. This new technology, developed specifically for Viking and for river-cruising. We are honoured to showcase 10 of our for a first class CroisiEurope river ship to be launched later this year, will revolutionary new Longships and to have had such a celebrated group of open up shallower European rivers once impossible for cruise vessels women helping us christen them,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking other than smaller barges. Details of the ship are still under wraps, but the Cruises. “Our guests are explorers, just like the ancient Vikings of our Norse 44 development will allow CroisiEurope to offer cruises on the Loire next year. heritage, which is why we deliver authentic and enriching travel experiences Already, CroisiEurope’s Australian partner Cruise Abroad is selling a 12-day like no other cruise line.” cruise combining the Loire and the Gironde rivers for travel next year. A first in modern history, four of the christenings took place in front of a crowd of approximately 700 in Amsterdam, and the remaining six were conducted live via satellite from the Neptun shipyard in Germany. The CroisiEurope opens up Loire celebration concluded with an on board dinner and maiden voyage cruise around the Amsterdam harbour. The Loire Valley is two hours southwest of Paris with some of France’s The Viking Longship class of vessels integrate a patented design and cutting- finest chateaux and vineyards in surroundings so picturesque they are World edge technology with comfortable amenities. These new features include Heritage listed by UNESCO. a revolutionary new all-weather indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace that Cruises on the Loire will begin in 2014. CroisiEurope is also developing reinvents the lounge by bringing panoramic river scenery indoors with other 12-day river cruise itineraries combining two rivers, such as Seine/ retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors, allowing guests to enjoy the views Loire, Loire/Dordogne and Rhine/Rhone. France is CroisiEurope’s mother and dine al fresco. Accommodating 190 passengers in 95 staterooms, Viking APRIL 2013 country and the Loire and Gironde flow through some of France’s most Longships feature two Explorer Suites as well as seven two-room Veranda enchanting regions. Verdant countryside, medieval villages and ancient castles Suites, each with a full-size veranda in the living room and French balcony in the bedroom; 39 Veranda Staterooms with full-size verandas; and 22 French – all are waiting to be explored. Balcony Staterooms. After boarding and meeting the crew over a welcome cocktail the river In 2014, Viking plans to break its own record with the launch of 12 new ship heads off to gems like Nantes, St Nazaire and little villages known for Longships; all of the new ships will sail the line’s most popular European their production of Muscadet wine. In Angers, capital of the Anjou region, th itineraries: Tulips & Windmills (10 days, Amsterdam-Antwerp-Amsterdam); you will visit the 13 -century fortress to see the Apocalypse tapestry. The Passage to Eastern Europe (11 days, Budapest-Bucharest); Romantic Danube grand Chateaux of the Loire Valley include Azay-le-Rideau, listed as a historic (8 days, Budapest-Nuremberg); Grand European Tour (15 days, Amsterdam- monument by UNESCO. Budapest); Danube Waltz (8 days, Passau-Budapest) and Rhine Getaway (8 You’ll also visit Cognac – and no visit there would be complete without a visit days, Amsterdam-Basel). to a major Cognac house, including some tasting. Naturally, that’s included. The Gironde includes Saint Emilion, with a guided visit to the underground Photos: Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises, shows off a certificate of the company's new Guinness World Record for The Most Ships Inaugurated in One Day by One Company. Joining monuments of Saint-Emilion village. Cruise to Cadillac, with an optional him on stage, left to right, are the 10 honorary Godmothers” of the new ships: Sabine Rhabek, guided visit to the Chateau at Roquetaillade and Cadillac. And finish in Geraldine Norman, Eszter Völner, Zhang Ling, Birgit Brandner-Wallner, Marit Barstad, Dertje Bordeaux, home to the great chateaux of Lafite-Rothschild, Latour and Meijer, Agapi Stassinopoulos, Lady Fiona Carnarvon and Alexandra Lobkowicz. Mouton Rothschild. Winter Warmer Sale Winter on the Murray River just got a whole lot warmer with Captain Cook Cruises Winter-Warmer sale. From June to August 2013, passengers can save 25% on most 3, 4 and 7 night Murray River Cruises and discover the winter enchantment and beauty of the Murray River. The Winter-Warmer sale is valid for travel 01 June to 31st August 2013 and on sale until 31 August 2013. The Murray Princess will also celebrate a 3 night Christmas in July cruise departing on July 19. New Murray River Loxton Cruises - Captain Cook Cruises has announced it will, for the first time on the Murray River, operate a seven night Mannum to Loxton cruise departing 29 November 2013 and a Loxton Keel Laying Ceremony to Mannum cruise departing 6 December 2013 on the Murray Princess. On 19 March 2013 Glen Moroney, MD & Owner of Evergreen Tours, laid “We are really excited to be able to offer our new Loxton cruise. It is a very unique cruise and with the very good water levels now on the Murray we the keel of Evergreen’s new ship Riva Royale at the De Hoop Shipyard are able to offer this new area.” said Anthony Haworth, General Manager, Lobith, Northern Holland. Respecting shipbuilding traditions, Moroney Captain Cook Cruises. The Loxton cruise takes in over 339kms of the placed a coin under the block at the keel laying ceremony marking the first Murray River, passing through three locks between Mannum and Loxton. The milestone in Riva Royale’s construction. This old tradition is to bless the Mannum to Loxton cruise visits River View Lodge, Sunnydale, Blanchetown, safe construction of the ship and to bring good luck and safe passage to the Morgan, Waikerie and Kingston-on-Murray before arriving at Loxton where vessel and its passengers. Riva Royale will launch in March 2014, the first of passengers will disembark and travel back to Adelaide by complimentary two new river cruise ships for Evergreen Tours. The second, sister ship Riva coach. An Adelaide pick up service is available too. The Loxton to Mannum Princess, will enter service in April 2014 cruise will pass through New Residence, Kingston-on-Murray via Cobdogla, From Left: Johan Fasel, Director of Operations De Hoop Shipyard; Glen Waikerie, Morgan, Blanchetown, Sunnydale and Younghusband via Ngaut Moroney, MD & Owner Scenic Tours Group; and Fré Drenth Technical Ngaut before arriving at Mannum where passengers will disembark and Director De Hoop Shipyard attend the Riva Royale keel laying ceremony. travel back to Adelaide by complimentary coach.

Along the Mother Ganges by Tom Koppel photos by Annie Palovcik

46 Dozens of men are gathered on the muddy bank of the vast river, close to a precisely arranged pile of wood. With a shrouded corpse placed on top, this funeral pyre will soon be set on fire by a relative of the deceased. For Hindus, cremation on the shores of the holy Ganges assures the departed eternal salvation. A week- long trip along India’s sacred stream affords frequent glimpses of these ceremonial rites, along with ritual

APRIL 2013 bathing, as the river boat glides past close by.

During our deluxe small-ship cruise, passengers gain a wealth of insights into the religious, historical and cultural world of the subcontinent’s largely rural and small-town heartland. Many of the encounters could never be had on a land-based group tour. It is the ideal way to experience the rich tapestry of life along the central artery of northern India.

Arriving at Delhi, and following a day-trip to the Taj Mahal, my wife Annie and I fly on to Patna to begin our downstream Ganges journey. Sukapha (www.wlcvacations.com) is a 12-cabin, 131-ft. shallow-draught vessel built in 2006. Air- conditioned, spotlessly clean and well managed, its staff of over 20 pampers us from the first moments. Cabins have en suite bathrooms with showers and tasteful decor featuring rattan chairs and sofas and elegant hand-woven fabrics. There is a cheerful lounge for relaxing and enjoying a pre-dinner drink. The spacious, partially shaded, topside deck (with tea and cookies, or a cold beer, always available) is ideal for hours spent taking in the passing scenery.

The first evening, we meet our travelling knowledgeable guide, preparing us for the next At a Sikh temple, we remove our shoes, cover companions: Brits, Aussies and fellow Canucks. day’s activities. our heads and join the congregation while We have always loved Indian food, and the an elder reads from the book of scriptures. chef pleases us with a delightful medley of Each morning we are whisked away in Devotees bow, foreheads touching the floor, Continental and Indian cuisine. There are comfortable SUVs on fascinating shore and leave offerings. Sikhs believe that nobody various curries--lamb, chicken, fish and duck-- excursions to religious or historic sites and should go hungry. A communal kitchen is all served with potatoes, rice, dal (lentils) and museums, or to stroll through villages and preparing breakfast for scores of local people. A an assortment of flat breads. The spiciness is markets. The region has seen such a diversity cheerful team of women and men grill parathas slightly toned down for the Western palate. of history that our outings amount to a virtual to serve along with dal and chai (milky tea). Delicious light desserts include orange souffle, crash course in comparative religion and bread pudding and apple mousse. After dinner spiritual architecture. A beautiful marble multi-domed Jain shrine, there is a briefing by Niv, our extremely housing the ashes of a venerated holy man, is set in the middle of a lotus pond. Jains, who practice non-violence towards all living beings, have the highest literacy rate and per capita income in India. A young, bare-headed Jain woman in stylish contemporary clothing asks in impeccable English where we are from. She hands a friend her cellphone, eager to have her photo taken with a couple of visiting Canadians.

Most amazing are the geometrically precise red-brick ruins of two great ancient Buddhist universities, with meditation cells, lecture halls, and niches containing images of Lord Buddha. The larger, at Nalanda, once had 10,000 students and monks from all regions of Buddhist Asia. At the smaller, in Vikramshila, subjects included the tantric teachings of magic, such as flying and walking on water. Both were sacked in the late 12th century by Moslem invaders. Thousands of monks were beheaded or burned alive. The library at Nalanda held so many books that it burned 47 for months. Today, the place is still revered. We watch as elegantly clad Buddhist monks from Thailand chant, pray and leave offerings of coloured cloth, blossoms and money at the large central temple.

Hindu temples, old and modern, are everywhere. We become familiar with the many incarnations of Vishnu and other deities, such as Ganesha, the elephant, and Hanuman, the monkey god. Our daily outings also offer unique opportunities to mingle with villagers, rub shoulders with cattle auctioneers and shop for unique local crafts.

Equally enriching, though, is simply observing the dramatic kaleidescope of life on the river’s waters and nearby banks. Little wonder that the APRIL 2013 Ganges is regarded as a mother and goddess. She is alive and vibrant and ever-changing with the light and weather and seasons. We are there in mid-winter, a cool, dry season when the river is at extreme low water, exposing broad sandbanks that stretch to a distant horizon. During the summer monsoon, the water level is more than 20 feet higher, flooding all the banks and low shorelines. Everything must look entirely different.

Winter low water enables a large population of nomadic peoples to eke out a riverside living in transient, seasonal encampments of thatched huts that have to be abandoned when the monsoon comes. We get to see this busy subsistence economy in its full and fascinating complexity.

Tiny wooden fishing boats flit about, being sailed, paddled or poled upstream in the shallows, most with only one or two people on board. Individuals also wade in and cast simple nets. There are lots of rickety- looking but ingenious bamboo fishing structures set on poles just offshore, each with a large v-shaped net that is raised or lowered by shifting the weight of a single man. Catfish are a prized catch.

The monsoon renews the soil’s fertility each year. On low areas that flood in summer, we pass endless fields of winter rice and the telltale yellow of mustard, grown mainly for cooking oil. Large areas are covered in tall pampas grass and shorter swamp grass, which people harvest and pile up to dry, then bundle and sell for use as thatch and animal fodder.

Local passenger ferries crisscross the river from one crude landing spot to another, heavily laden with bicycles, goats, firewood and bundles of thatch. Adults wave as Sukapha sails by, and kids race along, shouting and trying to keep up. Where the bank is high enough, there are larger, flood- free permanent settlements. One Moslem village has an ornate mosque and a boatyard where dozens of large wooden vessels are pulled up for storage or repairs. Nearby, a game of cricket is being played.

The shallow, shifting navigable channel weaves here and there and is difficult to see in the murky water. Even with two professional pilots on board, we run aground abruptly several times. There are no permanent jetties, so we anchor each night in mid-channel. One morning, we awake in such thick fog that nothing can be seen in any direction. It is impossible for our long, narrow “country boat,” used as a tender, to take us ashore for the planned excursion. Well, this is an adventure cruise after all, with all the uncertainty that entails.

When the fog lifts, there is an abundance of wildlife to see. Our sharp- eyed young naturalist, Babajan, positions himself on the sundeck with his binoculars, spotting and identifying birds and animals. Gangetic dolphins, which are blind, pop up frequently. Otters scurry across the sand bars. Herds of antelope roam the embankments along with countless cattle and goats. A few jackals lope past. The birds include herons, ospreys, ducks, geese, cormorants and storks. Every few minutes brings something new and memorable.

It is sad when the time comes to disembark at the 10-mile long Farakka Barrage, a dam where Sukapha enters a lock for a separate cruise 48 down the Hugli River to Calcutta. But before heading home, we treat ourselves to three nights in Delhi at the Imperial, one of the world’s great classic hotels. Built in the 1930s in a mix of colonial and art deco styles, it embodies the essence of the old Raj. Truly an art museum, its halls and rooms display hundreds of fine paintings, sculptures, lithographs and photographs depicting British India of the early 20th century. We are there on Republic Day, a celebration of India’s Constitution, featuring a flag ceremony with pomp and elegant uniforms. Other traditions live on, such as High Tea (actually an elegant buffet meal) in the bright inner Atrium, where the diplomats of Delhi like to meet and greet. It is the perfect way to end our visit to India in style.

APRIL 2013 If You Go: Sukapha cruises the Ganges and Hugli rivers from July through April. Her sister ship Charaidew cruises the Brahmaputra river in Assam from October through April. For details, see: www.wlcvacations.com For Delhi’s grand Imperial hotel, see: www.theimperialindia.com The Ro The Ro Australian scene. brochure cover issuedinEnglandanddepictingaclassic of asshown inthis1932 toadvertise theirservices Artists The OrientLinewere renowned for their commissioning a regular favourite withP&Opassengers. poster issuedby P&O. asadvertised inthis1932 Fabled andexoticEgypt b Hend b Hend Sincethe1840’s hasbeen Egypt er er so so n n & & DougCreme DougCreme Sydney Harbourinthelate1960’s. takenA classicphotograph ofthepopularORCADES in voyages toandfrom theUnitedKingdomand Australia. days whenanOrientorP&Oshipcalledevery week ontheir popularholidaywas avery destination for Australians, inthe A 1928posteradvertising Ceylon, now SriLanka. The island r Co r Co llecti llecti on on 49 APRIL 2013 Welcome to Port Arthur

The Power of Love “A tale of two sisters” by Jonathan Crabbe

During their heyday in the 1970s and 80s, they were arguably the most recognisable cruise ships in the world. Best remembered for their role in the popular American television series The Love Boat, twin sisters Pacific Princess and Island Princess were not only instrumental in the success of their owners, but the industry as a whole. Now on the wrong side of forty, the attractive sisters are taking diverging courses as one embarks on a new chapter in her long career, while the other languishes in layup, unlikely to cruise again. Built by German shipyard Rheinstahl Nordseewerke, Emden for Norwegian owners, the first of the pair was launched in May 1970, with the second following in March Princess, and her Sea Witch logos were painted out in favour of that of 1971. Part of the first generation of purpose-built cruise ships, the vessels P&O. Instead of repeating the season ‘down under’, Princess scheduled were designed in the late sixties during the period of transition from an annual South Pacific cruise, with Island Princess making her Australian ocean liner to cruise ship. Their lines were a modern interpretation debut in October 1976. At the time of the October 1977 voyage, a of the classic 1960s liner profile and captured the elegance of their television show had just begun that would make Pacific Princess and predecessors while having a contemporary feel. With aft-placed engines Princess Cruises household names, and have an incalculable impact on 50 and a retractable glass Magrodome to cover the midships lido deck, the the entire cruise industry. pair were reminiscent of the ground-breaking Oceanic of 1965, although Each week, millions of viewers around the world tuned in to watch at just under 20,000 grt they were half her size. celebrity guest stars enjoy the delights of a cruise on “The Love Boat”. The first vessel was named Sea Venture and entered service with Flagship The show ran for nine seasons, and whilst it was set on a number of Cruises in June 1971. Her namesake – a seventeenth-century English vessels, it was Pacific Princess that became synonymous with the series. sailing ship – had been run aground in Bermuda in 1609, leading to The publicity generated for Princess Cruises and the industry in general the possession of the islands by the English. The new Sea Venture was was immeasurable, far exceeding anything that advertising dollars could joined by her twin, Island Venture, in February 1972. The sisters cruised buy. So great was its impact, that The Love Boat has been cited as one from New York to Bermuda and the Caribbean, but would spend less of the key contributors to the boom in cruising which followed. Pacific than a year together with Flagship. In November 1972, Island Venture Princess and Island Princess became unlikely Hollywood stars, and their was chartered to fledgling West Coast operator Princess Cruises and role in showcasing cruising to the world remains relevant to this day. dispatched to Los Angeles. Renamed Island Princess, the still new ship Princess continues to exploit the Love Boat connection over a quarter APRIL 2013 donned the company’s distinctive Sea Witch logo – a logo she would of a century after the show ended, employing actor Gavin MacLeod – the help make instantly recognisable around the globe. Island Princess initially Love Boat’s Captain Merrill Stubing – as an ambassador. spent her summers in Alaska, and the remainder of the year plying the By the mid-1980s, the twins’ itineraries were taking them well beyond warmer waters of Mexico and the Caribbean. their traditional haunts in the Pacific and Caribbean. In the years that In a move to increase their share of the rapidly growing North American followed, the pair would cruise to all four corners of the globe, often market, the P&O Group acquired Princess Cruises and Island Princess pioneering new markets for Princess. In October 1986, Island Princess in August 1974. Recognising the benefits of operating both twins, P&O returned to Australia for an extended season of cruising from Sydney, purchased Sea Venture from her Norwegian owners several months later. filling the void left by the retirement of Oriana earlier in the year. The Earlier in the year, Sea Venture had made headlines when she came to the sisters were a regular sight in Australian waters during the first half of aid of Queen Elizabeth 2, crippled by the failure of her boilers some 280 the 1990s, with both ships visiting each summer over four consecutive miles off Bermuda. Sea Venture rendezvoused with the stricken Cunarder seasons. On 18 March 1992, Sydney was treated to a spectacular tandem mid-ocean, and after a laborious transfer operation, ferried the Queen’s arrival of the twins, coinciding with the sixtieth anniversary celebrations stranded passengers to the safety of Bermuda. of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The rendezvous was repeated less than a Sea Venture was renamed Pacific Princess and joined her sister on the year later when the sisters sailed up the harbour side-by-side early one US west coast trade in April 1975. In November 1975, Pacific Princess January morning. crossed her namesake ocean for the first time. Arriving in Sydney on 18 With the introduction of the 77,000 grt Sun-class and 109,000 grt Grand- December, she was based in the harbour city for the next five months, class vessels in the latter half of the nineties, the twins were increasingly becoming the first of the new breed of luxury cruise ship to call the being dwarfed by the rest of the fleet. Yet their intimate size and friendly city home. Her Australian deployment was marketed by P&O rather than on-board atmosphere were their greatest assets, and they remained popular despite their age. Island Princess was the first to leave the fleet, withdrawn from service at short notice in April 1999. Over the preceding twenty-six years, she had helped Princess grow from humble beginnings into one of the industry’s major players, but there was little time for sentimental farewells. During her final year with the company, however, she had unwittingly conducted something of a farewell world tour, which included three separate visits to Australia in the course of globe-girdling voyages. The first of these was billed as Princess’ inaugural world cruise – a 64-day eastbound jaunt from Civitavecchia (Rome) to San Francisco, sold only as a complete voyage. The cruise was so successful that it was repeated in reverse order six months later following the ship’s final Alaskan season. Chartered by South Korea’s Hyundai Merchant Marine, Island Princess was renamed Hyundai Pungak and entered service in May 1999 on what must surely be the world’s most unusual cruise itinerary. Part of an historic and ground-breaking venture between the Hyundai Corporation and the North Korean government, the former Island Princess was deployed on short cruises from South Korea to the North Korean port of Changjon, gateway to the scenic tourist attraction of Mount Kumgang. The ship’s new role got off to a rocky start, however, when North Korean authorities refused her entry to the port on her maiden visit. After a thirteen-hour wait, the vessel was eventually permitted to dock. Pacific Princess remained with Princess, although it was clear that her days too would be numbered. In her final years with the company, she returned to her roots, making seven-night roundtrips from New York waters – her first appearance in thirteen years. After ten successful to Bermuda. She was retired in November 2002 at the conclusion of years sailing under the Voyages of Discovery banner, the former Island her final cruise from New York to Civitavecchia. Exactly thirty years had Princess has embarked on a new phase of her career in 2013. Jointly passed since the Sea Witch first gazed down on her sister. With over marketed by Voyages of Discovery and the UK’s Cruise & Maritime twenty-seven years of service, Pacific Princess is the longest serving Voyages (CMV), Discovery has joined CMV’s 1965-built Marco Polo 51 member of the Princess fleet, and without question the most fondly on a European-based cruise program that commenced in late February remembered. No sooner had she left the fleet than a ‘new’ 30,000 grt with a voyage to view the Northern Lights in Norway. Pacific Princess entered service for the company, the 1999-built former In spite of her fame, Pacific Princess has not been blessed with the same R Three of the defunct Renaissance Cruises. It seemed that Princess did fortune as her sister. With her name abridged to simply “Pacific”, she not want to be without its most famous name for even a moment. It had sailed for Spain’s Pullmantur Cruises between 2003 and 2007. In April found a worthy successor to ‘the Love Boat’, demonstrating that there 2008, she emerged from a Marseille shipyard sporting the livery of a is still a place for small ships in a fleet of modern megaliners. new Spanish operator named Quail Cruises. But after a single season of The former Island Princess was going through changes at the same time. Mediterranean sailings, the vessel was seized over outstanding debts to Following a two-year stint in Korea, the vessel was out of service for an Italian shipyard and has been laid up in the port of Genoa ever since. nearly the same amount of time as she changed hands and received an In early 2012, it appeared the end had come for Pacific when she was extensive refurbishment. She re-entered service in the northern spring sold to Turkish ship breakers, but the deal fell through when the buyer of 2003 as Discovery – the first ship for UK-based Voyages of Discovery.

failed to conclude the purchase. Despite the last-minute reprieve, the APRIL 2013 Her globetrotting schedule would soon bring her back to the South likelihood of the former Hollywood star seeing further service is very Pacific, but it was not until early 2012 that she returned to Australian slim. She has now been idle for over four years, and it is only a matter of time before she makes her final voyage to the breakers – a sad ending to a unique career. The twins will be remembered first and foremost as the original Love Boats, but they were more than just the set of a TV series. At a time when the industry was still in its infancy, they represented the future of cruising. They inspired many a viewer to take their first cruise and endeared themselves to the public in a way that made them almost as popular as the stars they hosted. As the longest serving and most famous members of the Princess fleet, the sisters played a pivotal role in the growth of the company, and indeed the industry. In a stark reminder of their shifting fortunes, the sisters spent the northern winter of 2012-2013 tied up close to one another in Genoa – one receiving a life-extending refit, the other quietly awaiting her inevitable fate. It may have been the final meeting of two of the most influential cruise ships of the twentieth century. INDUSTRY Breaking News Sales Managers Appointed – Carnival Australia has announced the Range of Initiatives appointment of Ryan Taibel to lead the P&O Cruises’ sales team and Brett Carnival Cruise Lines is employing a range of initiatives as part of its ongoing Wendorf has been recruited to head commitment to the Australian cruise market. In the latest news Carnival the Princess Cruises’ sales operation. has announced new agent rates; Seminars at Sea are available for agents to book, and the Carnival Spirit call centre is now open for business 24/7 Photo Ryan Taibel left and Brett Wendorf Carnival has now recruited a dedicated sales team led by Director of Sales, right Anton Loeb, tasked with helping travel agents across the country sell Carnival Spirit holidays to their clients.With the team’s marketing and trade engagement activity now in full swing, Carnival has introduced a suite of services and great new agent rates to encourage agents to experience the ship for themselves. News sales crews announced Agent rates - Carnival Cruise Lines has announced exclusive travel agent P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises has revealed the names of the business rates on a number of Carnival Spirit sailings, helping agents gain valuable development managers who are the faces of the cruise lines’ new brand- hands on experience with all the ship has to offer. Seminars at Sea - Carnival specific sales teams. This announcement follows recent news that Carnival now offers ‘Seminars at Sea’ on a selection of Carnival Spirit sailings Australia would be moving to a new brand-specific sales model designed throughout the year. The Carnival sales team recently accompanied 20 to focus on brand differentiation and streamline relationships with travel lucky agents on the first Seminar at Sea, held over three days when Spirit agents in an increasingly competitive market. P&O Cruises Senior Vice sailed from Sydney to Melbourne (13 – 16 February). 24/7 Call Centre – President, Tammy Marshall, said: “P&O Cruises has some big plans for 2013 The call centre for Carnival Spirit now operates 24 hours a day, seven days to reinforce its position as the market leader for both local and South a week, to provide guests and agents with constant access to the dedicated Pacific cruise holidays. Members of our new sales crew are already popular call centre team. Goccl.com.au - Established late last year, www.goccl.com. with agents, each of them is a passionate ambassador for P&O Cruises and au enables agents to make and manage their Carnival Cruise Lines bookings their combined talents will help ensure our agents continue to stay across in Polar, and provides a resource to make doing business with Carnival all the exciting changes happening onboard our ships.” Princess Cruises Cruise Lines easy and fun. Taking the best of the US trade portal whilst Commercial Director, Alan Stuart, said: “It’s no secret that Princess Cruises being specifically adapted for the Australian market, www.goccl.com.au has some ambitious goals to drive growth in the Australia market and I’m provides agents with sales and marketing tools including customisable flyers, confident our new line up of business development managers means we newspaper co-op templates, logos, itinerary maps, images and Top Deals. have the right team in place to work with our agents to achieve this. In its 52 first 10 years in Australia, Princess Cruises established an extraordinary Aussies Can Now Pack and Go on a Carnival Spirit Holiday - Carnival th Cruise Lines has announced a great new fare program for agents booking loyal passenger base and in its 11 year our new sales team will play a their clients on last minute getaways. Pack ‘N’ Go fares are sharp rates that key role in helping agents to introduce new passengers to the signature have limited availability on selected sailings, and are the ideal option for experience offered on our ships.” clients with flexible travel plans who are looking for a great deal. Carnival’s The business development managers include: P&O Cruises First In fares are always available as an alternative option. “We love how - Jessica Plunkett – NSW/ACT, Angus Mackay – NSW, spontaneous Australians are and the new Pack ‘N’ Go fares offer our guests Dylan Hearne – QLD, Andrew Thwaites – QLD and the chance to be impulsive by taking a fun cruise holiday at short notice,” Kylie Clancy – VIC. Princess Cruises - Cherie Bowman – NSW, Rachael said Jennifer Vandekreeke, Director of Carnival Cruise Lines Australia and Tyrell – NSW, Peter Darby – QLD, Helen Mezzen – QLD, Sally-Anne New Zealand. “These great rates won’t last, so agents will need to get in Matthews – VIC and Emma Pequin – WA/NT/SA. quick.” There are no brand-specific roles in New Zealand given the nature of the market and size of the local team. APRIL 2013 10 Year Anniversary Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services is celebrating in Uniworld Appointment 2013 its 10th Anniversary. Uniworld has announced the appointment of Intercruises was founded in 2003 with a vision of ensuring cruise lines Philippa Walker to the newly created role of Head consistently received high quality ground handling and port agency support. of Marketing for Australia. John Molinaro, General The business started with a single cruise line client in the Port of Barcelona, Manager, Uniworld Australia said: “This is a very but since then has grown to deliver operations to almost all major and exciting time for Uniworld as we continue to develop niche cruise lines, with a global coverage encompassing every continent and and invest in the brand and our people, both globally over 300 sea ports worldwide. “Ships we were handling ten years ago in and domestically. Having spent more than ten years in Barcelona, we are now supporting in destinations worldwide. The progress marketing for parent company, The Travel Corporation, of our organization is due to our teams Philippa brings a wealth of knowledge to Uniworld.” worldwide, the belief we have in the cruise industry, the passion in our service and the Major Move by Ecruising dedication we have to serving our cruise THE Ecruising group of companies, founded by Brett Dudley in 2000, line clients. It has been a truly amazing have expanded their travel interests to complement their established decade and I must thank the worldwide businesses in the key markets of Sydney and Hong Kong. Maniago Safaris Intercruises team, the cruise lines that will be represented exclusively by Ecruising, which will cater specifically trust us to support them and the local for Australian travel to Africa. The new sole representation will focus on partners we work with in delivering high land content across eastern and southern Africa with product designed to quality ground handling services. Here’s to appeal to the MICE and wholesale space as another successful ten years!” said Mark well as special interest groups, those seeking Robinson, Managing Director, Intercruises deluxe tailor-made holidays and unique Shoreside & Port Services. African experiences. The worldwide ground handler and port agent celebrated the ten th Mr Dudley said that Maniago Safaris has more year landmark with an exclusive 10 Anniversary Party in Miami, during than 20 years’ experience on the ground Cruise Shipping Miami in March. in Africa and is exceptionally well-placed to provide superior content for our client’s travel requirements and has appointed Bradley Ellis, who has worked in a number of areas of the travel JTG Launches ‘The Cruise Team’ industry over the past decade, as Maniago Safari Australia’s general manager. Cruise travellers across Australia now have access to The Cruise Team, a new Image L-R: Peter Karanja, managing director Maniago Safaris Kenya, Brett community of over 500 travel agents from more than 150 travel agencies Dudley and Bradley Ellis, who specialise in cruising. Launched by the Jetset Travelworld Group (JTG), the new initiative is powered by a unique website which allows users to Travel the World Expands search for experts by: cruise lines and ships; cruise styles; experience; Travel the World has appointed Justin Montgomery to the role of Joint destinations; regions; and last minute deals. For added convenience, the Managing Director, as part of its current and future plans for expansion. website will provide travellers with details of a specialist cruise agent in Justin joins and strengthens Travel the World’s executive team, comprising their local area. The Cruise Team General Manager, Alastair Fernie, explains Andrew Millmore, who will share the Managing Director role with Justin, as that this is a response to rising consumer demand. “As cruise experts, well as General Manager - Sales and Marketing, Michelle Taylor, and Chief members of The Cruise Team are committed to connecting travellers with Financial Officer, Andrew Zhang. their perfect cruise holiday. We want to provide travellers from across the Justin is a well-known figure in the travel industry, with a successful career country with a one-stop cruise shop for hassle-free planning and booking.” spanning 24 years. He most recently held the key position of General Manager Sales at Virgin Australia. NEWS FROM Installation of It’s Official – ICCA Becomes CLIA Australasia From the CDU The International Cruise Council Australasia new gangway desk: has officially transformed into Cruise Lines The cruise sector International Association Australasia (CLIA continues to deliver at Shed 10 Australasia), adopting a new logo to mark its With Waterfront Auckland’s refurbishment of a very positive new identity. The move follows December’s message of growth, Shed 10 on Queens Wharf nearing completion, announcement that nine regional cruise industry economic benefit Ports of Auckland is beginning to install a new associations from around the world would and development. covered gangway that will service cruise ships band together to form a common global cruise Two key cruise that call at Shed 10.The multi-million dollar organisation under the CLIA banner. Since the infrastructure gangway is a specialist piece of equipment similar initial statement, CLIA Netherlands and CLIA projects reached completion in April, providing to an airport air bridge. It will automatically move Germany have also joined the group, expanding a great stimulus to the industry here. up and down as the ship moves with the tide and will allow the rapid transfer of passengers the number of member associations to 11. between the ship and Shed 10. “Over the next CLIA Australasia General Manager Brett Jardine month, the gangway will be delivered to Queens said the move marked the start of a new era for Wharf in a number of large segments. It will then cruising in Australia and New Zealand, with the be erected onsite and commissioned over the local cruise organisation strengthened by its global next two months,” Ports of Auckland General resources. “The creation of CLIA Australasia is a Manager Infrastructure and Property Alistair milestone for us and a great initiative which will Kirk said. “It is fantastic that we have been able deliver benefits to our cruise line and travel agent to have the gangway made locally,” Shed 10 will members and further boost the local cruise The Hobart Cruise Ship Terminal at Macquarie 53 serve as the primary cruise terminal for Auckland industry,” Mr Jardine said. Wharf No. 2 was opened on the 17th April. and a unique events venue. Auckland plays a key The $7 million facility provides a dedicated role in the New Zealand tourism industry as the multipurpose facility to service the Tasmanian primary exchange point for cruise ships – where CLIA Launches Cruise and Antarctic sectors. The Terminal will passengers embark or disembark their vessel, and enhance the passenger experience arriving Cruise Industry TV in Hobart and enable greater efficiencies for where ships are re-provisioned. This exchange Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has cruise line operators. The building design has role is crucial as it is where the vast majority of launched a YouTube channel, Cruise Industry TV at successfully maintained a link with the strong economic value is captured. youtube.com/cruiseindustrytv to provide visually maritime history of the port. compelling content on the value of cruising and Sydney’s White Bay Cruise Terminal was opened Silversea’s Galápagos industry operational practices. Cruise Industry two days later on the 19th April. The $57 TV highlights the diverse experiences and million terminal provides a dedicated cruise

Program destinations the cruise industry provides for over facility that is capable of handling two cruise APRIL 2013 Silversea Expeditions has introduced new 20 million passengers worldwide each year. It also ships simultaneously. The completed terminal multiple-day land excursions to complement provides a wealth of information on our industry’s and the planned upgrades to the Overseas voyages to the Galápagos Islands aboard Silver operational practices in important areas such as Passenger Terminal will all assist with meeting Galapagos, the luxury expedition ship set to safety, security, health and the environment. The the continued growth demand for cruise ship debut in late September. Silversea guests who youtube.com/cruiseindustryTV channel features visits to Sydney. I have also recently returned from the 2013 have the opportunity to explore the remarkable three primary sections: Cruise Vacationers, Travel Cruise Shipping Miami event. Cruise Down natural wonders of the Galápagos Islands - from Agents and Industry Practices. Under exhibited at the event and held meetings their base of aboard Silver Galapagos - may now The Cruise Vacationers playlist features the with cruise line executives. Australia continues enhance their expedition cruise experience latest cruise trends and innovations that create to be a successful market for both international with extraordinary journeys to South America. memorable holidays, including footage of the and domestic cruise travel. As an industry “Because the Galápagos Islands are such a unique industry’s ships and destinations, as well as we need to be continually developing the destination and on most everyone’s list of must- the latest onboard dining, entertainment and efficiencies and experiences for cruise lines and see places, we wanted to make sure our pre- and stateroom innovations. The Travel Agent playlist their guests. post-cruise land programs would add as rich an includes videos that offer tips and features to With nearly 21 million people around the world experience,” said Karen Christensen, General help holidaymakers book a cruise and features expected to take a cruise in the coming year, the Manager and Director Sales and Marketing information from CLIA’s travel agent training and potential for growth continues for our region. Australasia for Silversea. “These land extensions certification programs. The Industry Practices have been carefully crafted to showcase the playlist includes videos that highlight cruising’s Further Details – and all media enquiries: breathtaking landscapes and intriguing cultures of operational practices in a wide range of areas. Jill Abel the Andes and the Amazon, while delivering the Cruise Industry TV complements CLIA’s robust General Manager, Cruise Down signature comfort and style that Silversea guests social media presence including CEO Blog Under expect.” (cruising.org/ceoblog), Twitter feed @CLIACEO Tel/Fax: +61 3 62237334 The land adventures feature deluxe Mob: 0419 511 966 accommodation, all transportation, transfers, and CLIA’s cruise fan Facebook and Twitter pages. guided sightseeing and some meals and include journeys to Peru’s Amazon basin, the magnificent Andes and Lake Titicaca, the glorious Lost City of Aqua Expeditions Joins CLIA Australasia the Incas, Machu Picchu and a journey to Machu The growing popularity of river cruising among surge in recent Picchu aboard the legendary Hiram Bingham, one Australian and New Zealand travellers has years there is of the world’s top ten rail journeys. prompted luxury river cruise operator Aqua also a great deal Expeditions to join Cruise Lines International of local interest Association Australasia (CLIA Australasia). Aqua in cruising the Expeditions has been offering river cruises since famous rivers of 2007, with two ships, M/V Aqua and M/V Aria, other continents sailing the Peruvian Amazon. The cruise operator’s so we welcome latest vessel, M/V Aqua Mekong, will launch Aqua Expeditions onboard,” Mr Jardine said. Aqua cruises on the Mekong River between Vietnam Expeditions Chief Executive Officer Francesco and Cambodia next year. CLIA Australasia Galli Zugaro said the cruise operator was General Manager Brett Jardine said river cruising excited to be joining CLIA Australasia. “We are was growing from strength to strength in the excited for this new venture and are confident local market, with passenger numbers increasing Aqua Expeditions and CLIA will be a successful by 22 per cent between 2010 and 2011. “Whilst partnership,” Mr Galli Zugaro said. we’ve seen European river cruising numbers LOCATIONS TO SPOT SHIPS Dawn Princess Apr 28: July 13: Rhapsody of the Seas Apr 28: Zealand/New Caledonia/Papua AUSTRALIA Carnival Spirit Apr 29: May Pacific Pearl May 2, 14: June 12, New Guinea Published DARWIN 9, 19, 28: June 7, 17, 28: July 21: July 5, 14, 20: Murray Princess - Cruising February, April, June, Dawn Princess May 5: July 6: 6, 16, 27: Pacific Jewel May 1: June 7, the Murray River throughout PORT DOUGLAS Pacific Pearl Apr 29: May 24: 20: July 2: the year August, October & December Dawn Princess May 2: July 9: June 28: July 1, 8, 17, 26, 29: Pacific Dawn May 20, 27: June Blue Lagoon Cruises – Ships Pacific Dawn May 15: June Sea Princess May 20: 3, 17, 24: July 8, 15: cruising Fijian Islands Publisher/Editor 12: July 2: NEWCASTLE Sea Princess May 17: John Treacy Pacific Pearl May 26: (Data shown, sourced from YORKEYS KNOB FREMANTLE Other Ships: cruise line schedules, port Associate Editor Pacific Dawn May 14: June Dawn Princess May 15: June Orion - Cruising various schedules and brochures, 11: July 2: 10, 26: locations – Kimberleys, Papua is believed to be correct at Kerry Treacy BRISBANE New Guinea, Melanesian & time of printing – schedules Pacific Dawn Apr 27, 30: May Solomon Islands, Australian can change at short notice Advertising 11, 18, 25: June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: New Zealand AUCKLAND Coast, Antarctica, New Zealand and readers should check John Treacy & Associates July 6, 13, 20, 23: Reef Endeavour – The Fiji dates prior to arriving at the Sea Princess May 22: Pacific Pearl Apr 29: May 8, 18, 21: June 5, 15, 24: Islands – year around cruises locations to see ships- some Ph + 61 7 33496788 Pacific Pearl May 31: True North – Cruising the ships will visit other locations Dawn Princess July 15: Kimberly area, Top End, Papua and dates for some ships are PO Box 2005 Mansfield SYDNEY New Caledonia New Guinea and Sydney incomplete) ( Dunedin = Port Queensland Australia 4122 Pacific Jewel Apr 28: May 10, NOUMEA Oceanic Discoverer/Coral Chalmers.) 13, 17, 20, 24, 27: June 10, 14, Carnival Spirit May 5, 15, 23: Princess - Cruising various Email: [email protected] 17, 29: July 9, 18, 22: June 1, 14: July 3, 10: locations- Australia/New Web Site www.cruisingnews.com Pre-Press Queen Mary 2 Returns Motivart

Photos this issue NCL, Meyer-Werft, Orion Expedition Cruises, RCI, CMV, Cunard, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Coral Princess 54 Cruises, Carnival Australia, APT, HKTB, Avalon River Cruises, Scenic Tours, Viking River Cruises, Evergreen River Cruises, Captain Cook Cruises, Uniworld When Queen Mary 2 sailed into Sydney Items from the Cook Collection carried around River Cruises, Port Arthur Authority, Intercruises, e at the end of her historic New Zealand New Zealand on Queen Mary 2 included cruising & Aqua Expeditions. circumnavigation, her arrival marked the : Cook’s tea caddy and a spoon which he had return of some items from the State Library with him on his voyages to New Zealand, Signed of NSW’s renowned Captain James Cook 1768 correspondence about his preparation for collection. They included personal possessions the first New Zealand voyage on Endeavour, the master navigator had with him on his 18th Cook’s letters to mentor John Walker in 1771 century voyages to New Zealand and the South and 1775, which include descriptions of his first Pacific, and were on display in the liner’s library and second voyages around New Zealand and an NEXT ISSUE throughout the inaugural 12 night voyage. excerpt from Cook’s handwritten draft journal APRIL 2013 This is the second time the State Library of from his first voyage to New Zealand including LATE JUNE 2013 NSW has entrusted Queen Mary 2 with items his account of Endeavour’s arrival at Poverty Bay. from its prized collections. In 2012, Queen Mary Queen Mary 2 will return to Australia for her On Board 2 carried Matthew Flinders’ historic journals and second circumnavigation of the country in 2014. map atlas from his circumnavigation of Australia Photos - Curator Paul Brunton with Cunard Commodore Crystal Symphony on the liner’s own maiden circumnavigation of Christopher Rynd and Excerpt from journal the country. Seabourn Quest Sailing from Every Mainland State P&O Cruises’ latest program features cruises night cruise from Fremantle to Singapore with from every mainland state for the first time, calls to Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam. including new holidays to Indonesia from In response to strong demand for its 2014 Fremantle. Offering a record 143 cruises, cruises from Melbourne, P&O Cruises has also highlights of the 2014-15 program include P&O announced a longer Melbourne season in 2015, Cruises’ first roundtrip sailings from Adelaide, featuring five roundtrip cruises including several as well as an extended season of cruises from to South Australia and Tasmania. Pacific Jewel will Melbourne to South Australia and Tasmania, and also offer two roundtrip cruises from Adelaide new ports of call in Papua New Guinea. The with an 11 night cruise or a nine night cruise, cruise line has also announced it will return to taking in highlights of Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia in 2015, basing Pacific Jewel in South Australia. Meanwhile Pacific Dawn will Fremantle for the first time for a program of eight feature more Papua New Guinea cruises from cruises to Asia and Western Australian ports. Brisbane, including an exotic 14-night cruise with The new P&OSeaAsia cruises from Fremantle maiden visits to the ports of Madang, Kavieng will include two 12 night sailings to Lombok, Bali and Rabaul as well as scenic cruising of the Vitu and Komodo Island in Indonesia, as well as a 14 Islands departing 14 February 2015. Special Cruise Opportunity Touring Europe Recently retired radio personality John Kerr is to escort Copenhagen, Denmark and Paris, France, Return flights a cruise of a lifetime on Celebrity Constellation from from Australia, one night’s accommodation in Amsterdam, Plus a comprehensive 22 August to 9 September 2013. The cruise includes three night’s accommodation in Paris, Moulin Rouge sightseeing tours in most of the ports of call and special dinner and show in Paris and return transfers from coverage of global events for tour members. Inclusions include 13 days/12 Amsterdam and the ship and Cruise management by nights on Celebrity Constellation, sightseeing tours of a Travelrite professional Cruise Manager. For more passenger cruising Amsterdam, Holland; Berlin, Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; St information contact Travelrite Toll free: 1800 033 436 or Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; (03) 9729 8722.

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