PRICE $8.25 (INCL GST) JUNE 2012 ISSUE 77 15TH YEAR OF PUBLICATION ESTABLISHED 1998 1 MONTH 2012 Featuring a comprehensive coverage of Global Cruising for Cruise Passengers, the Trade and the Industry www.cruisingnews.com Editor’s Say At the end of May I was in Marseille, France as guest of MSC Cruises for THIS the christening of their new ship, MSC Divina and take the first cruise from Marseille to Venice. Turn to page 26 for a five page report on this impressive ISSUE ship and the christening by Sophia Front Cover Loren. Also on page 30 you can read Pictures from how you are able to book the ‘Diva’ MSC Cruises, John Suite which is named in honour of Treacy and Cunard The 2011 Australian and New Zealand Sophia Loren. Our August issue will Cruise Industry Reports compiled review the first cruise. by the International Cruise Council Australasia reveals the extraordinary In other cruising news Carnival Cruise Lines growth of the cruise industry in both has declared its ongoing commitment to the HIGHLIGHTS countries. Australasian market with the announcement of the 2014 itineraries for Carnival Spirit. Mare on the Radar ............................. P12 The number of Australians taking a cruise The ship will continue its successful Former President on Board. ............ P20 holiday surged by a record 34 per cent last Australian deployment with 41 sailings from Anzac Day Observed......................... P20 year to reach an all-time high of 623,294 and its homeport of Sydney in 2014. Building on Seven Seas Voyager Visits .................. P 22 is well on target to reach its goal of one the positive response to Carnival Spirit’s River Cruising ..................................... P32-36 million passengers by 2020. New Zealand current sailing schedule, the focus will be on The Nepean Belle ............................... P 37 cruise passenger numbers grew by 32 per 8-12 day itineraries to the tropical Pacific McIIwraith McEachern’s Kanimabla ... P 47-50 cent from 2010 to 2011, reaching 56,479 Islands of Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. and is on target to reach 100,000 passengers Carnival is also offering three short cruises 3 by 2020. of 3-5 days round-trip from Sydney to ICCA Chairman Gavin Smith attributed the allow those new to cruising to experience growth to the broadening range of cruise Carnival Spirit. ships available locally and overseas, as well The Silversea Group has purchased Canodros as increasing awareness of the great value S.A., the premier Ecuadorian tourism that cruise holidays offer, with all-inclusive company that operates in the Galapagos fares covering accommodation, transport Islands, and their upmarket expedition and meals. ship, Galapagos Explorer II. Silversea plans See the reports on pages 6 and 8. to add Galapagos Explorer II to its ultra- luxury fleet of six ships next year, after JUNE 2012 ICCA Statistics P6-8 Last issue I wrote about the independent the all-suite, 100-guest vessel undergoes review on the future use of the naval a major refurbishment in September 2013 docks at Garden Island in Sydney for cruise and is given a new name. Until that time, shipping. On further reading of the review Galapagos Explorer II will continue on its I believe the logical conclusion is to keep planned schedule of cruises and be operated pushing for the establishment of two berths by Canodros. on the eastern side of Garden Island to support the upgrading of the Overseas P&O Cruises has announced a new overnight Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay. There Pacific Islands experience, providing has been mixed reviews regarding the idea passengers with the rare opportunity to enjoy an extended stay, complete with Riviera Christening P14 of establishing a terminal at Port Botany. Maybe it could work for domestic cruising, evening tours, in Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila. however Australians as well as international The overnight Port Vila visit has been added tourists love cruising in and out of Sydney to three 11 night Pacific Islands cruises on to see the Opera House and the Sydney Pacific Dawn, sailing from Brisbane. During Harbour Bridge. their stay, passengers will be able to choose from three evening tours including a Vila The NSW Government has announced a sunset cruise, Melanesian feast and cultural new $20 per passenger fee for ships visiting performance and the aptly-named A Toast of Sydney Harbour starting in July 2013. The Vila, showing off the best of local cuisine. plan is for the fee to increase by $5 a year until 2015/16 when it will be reviewed. At The mayor of the Gold Coast has revived present an hourly fee for berthing occupancy plans for a Broadwater Parklands cruise Rhapsody of the Seas P45 is charged. terminal and has said he was confident the plans would be ready in 12 months. Plus the latest news and Ports Australia has welcomed the new A feasibility study regarding the sand and information on Global ship pricing and advocates a policy that dredging situation and the ability to bring big ports should provide cruise facilities on a ships into the Broadwater should be carried Passenger Cruising commercial basis. out well before plans are drawn up. Proudly Published in Australia by It appears that businessman Clive Palmer Finally there is talk that a cruise intends moving ahead with his Titanic II terminal will be built at the mouth of project. He the Brisbane River. announced in April plans to honour the Until our next issue mid August victims of the famous shipping disaster with a new Titanic to be constructed at the CSC Happy Cruising! Jinling Shipyard in China for launching in 2016. Finnish-based Deltamarin has been John Treacy ABN 71 083 652 019 engaged to ensure the vessel complies with Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every safety and construction regulations. effort is made to ensure the information published is correct ISSN 1447 - 2112 Voyager of the Seas Two Extra Cruises Princess Offers to return in Introduced New Cruise Classic International Cruises has announced a 2013-14 one-week extension of the 2012-13 summer Options Royal Caribbean International has announced season of Athena in Australia, with two new Princess Cruises has launched new offerings its summer 2013-14 Australasian program with short cruises added to the program in April, including exotic sailings between Sydney and Voyager of the Seas returning for a second 2013. The 580 passenger Athena was scheduled Tokyo on Sun Princess and a special eight consecutive season along with Radiance of the to depart Perth and return to Europe at the night voyage to Tasmania on the spectacular Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas. end of Classic International Cruises’ ninth Diamond Princess. The cruise line’s latest In total, the three ships will offer 55 sailings calling annual season in Western Australia on 8 April 2013-14 program also includes more Pacific at 56 Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific 2013, but her 40 night voyage to the UK will Island cruises from Sydney and Brisbane as well ports, with departures from September 2013 to now leave Perth a week later on 15 April 2013, as the return of the popular 35 night Hawaii, April 2014. on the same itinerary via Asia, the Middle East Tahiti and South Pacific itinerary. Princess According to Adam Armstrong, commercial Cruises Commercial Director Stan Birge said manager, Royal Caribbean Cruises Australia, the and the Mediterranean. Classic International 2013-14 program is a further testament to the Cruises Managing Director Grant Hunter said the new program was Princess’ most diverse company’s continued commitment to cruising in that due to strong and increasing demand for offering yet in the Australian market featuring the region. “It’s with great pleasure that we can Athena in Australia and the requirements of her more than 47 cruises on the Australian based confirm that sister ships, Voyager of the Seas, northern summer deployment in Scandinavia Sun Princess, Dawn Princess and Sea Princess Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas, from May, 2013, Athena’s program from Perth as well as Diamond Princess. Mr Birge said the will be back to wow Australian cruisers in summer would be extended by seven days. The one new program included a range of New Zealand 2013-14. We’ve added more cruises on Australia’s week extension means Athena will offer two cruises, featuring Princess’ special onboard New first megaliner Voyager of the Seas and some new new short cruises from Perth: A 5 night round Zealand program of Kiwi food, wine and cultural itineraries across the entire fleet to ensure that trip cruise from Fremantle on 8 April to Albany activities, as well as Sea Princess’ maiden season there are even more options to suit different and Esperance and a two-night weekend cruise of cruising from Brisbane. Highlights include: lifestyles and needs.” said Adam. For her second to ‘nowhere’, sailing from Fremantle on Saturday, An eight-night roundtrip cruise to Tasmania season down under, Voyager of the Seas will sail 13 April. from Sydney on Diamond Princess, departing from Sydney and Perth. Her 2013-14 season will Also the scheduling change means passengers 3 December 2013; Eleven night cruises to Fiji feature four new itineraries and two additional from Brisbane, with departures in 2013 and sailings – a 10 percent extension from her maiden on the line voyage from Perth on 15 April 2013 to the UK will also be able to remain on 2014; A 35 night roundtrip voyage to Hawaii and season. Her program highlights include: A 14 night Tahiti from Sydney on Sea Princess departing 9 4 cruise from Singapore to Sydney on 24 October Athena for the first of her European cruises to Scandinavia.