TUESDAY 7TH JUNE 2011 www.cruiseweekly.com.au JMAK= Ph: 1300 799 220 Fax: 1300 799 221 :((./< Email: [email protected] Editors: Louise Goldsbury & Amanda Collins P&O plans new ship, 14-day sale P&O is building its biggest ship March 2012, visits the Whitsundays and Cairns, with fares from $799pp (quad share). in the UK. In the meantime, An eight-night cruise onboard the latest grab a bargain to NZ, Qld or addition to the P&O fleet, Pacific Pearl, to Emerald Bay, Isle of Pines and Noumea, is Pacific Islands from $699! priced from $899 and departs from Sydney on 7 December 2011. P&O HAS ANNOUNCED ITS £500 MILLION ($765 For more information, contact a travel million) order of a 141,000-tonne superliner, agent or see www.pocruises.com.au. scheduled to enter service in March 2015. With capacity for 4,370 passengers, the unnamed vessel Pacific Dawn will be the largest in the UK-based P&O fleet and the largest cruise ship built specifically for the British market. Full details are yet to be revealed, but the line is promising “a stylish and innovative new design and an unprecedented number of passenger facilities, along with many of the brand’s classic and iconic features”. Carol Marlow, managing director, P&O Cruises UK, said the newbuild will combine Avalon launches EOFYS the classic features of Oriana and Aurora AVALON WATERWAYS IS TEMPTING AUSSIE CRUISERS with the variety of Azura and Ventura, plus with an End of Financial Year Sale, which several new concepts. offers savings between $800 and $2,000 per Meanwhile, P&O in Australia has couple on select 2011 European river cruises. launched a sale on cruises departing from Travellers who are considering taking Avalon Sydney, Brisbane and Newcastle, valid for up on its offer had better get in quick, as the bookings until 18 June 2011. savings cover 25 cruises departing from July The cheapest deal is a seven-night sailing to August this year, and are on sale until 30 from Brisbane to Noumea, Lifou and Vila, July or until sold out. departing 11 February 2012 on Pacific Dawn. “Almost 80% of our 2011 cruises are either sold out or have limited availability, Fares start at $699 per person quad-share Cruise Weekly Australia/New Zealand and $999 twin-share. but there are still good cabins available on PO Box 428, West Ryde NSW 1685 Ph: 1300 799 220 A 10-night cruise from Newcastle to North many of our peak season departures,” said www.cruiseweekly.com.au Queensland on Pacific Sun, departing 17 Avalon Waterways Marketing Manager Editorsitors: Louise Goldsbury & Amanda Collins Australasia Christian Schweitzer. [email protected] Advertising & Promotions Discounted cruises include a 13-day Blue Lisa Maroun [email protected] TODAY’S CRUISE WEEKLY Danube Discovery itinerary departing on 11 Cruise Weekly is a publication of Cruise Weekly Pty Ltd ABN 731 230 414 85. All content fully protected by copyright. Please obtain written permission Welcome to today’s consumer issue of and 25 July, and 12 and 29 August 2011, from the editor to reproduce any material. While every care has been taken in the preparation of Cruise Weekly no liability can be accepted for errors or Cruise Weekly, featuring four pages of from $3,770pp/ts. omissions. Information is published in good faith to stimulate independent investigation of the matters canvassed. Responsibility for editorial comment cruise news and photos. For details see your local travel agent. is taken by Bruce Piper. The Danube – Europe’s most romantic river In 2012, sail the enchanting Danube River onboard the new sophisticated Viking Odin, featuring Europe’s largest real suites and staterooms. 8-day Romantic Danube from $1,799 per person, twin share* Save $1,500 per person. Book and pay in full by 31 July, 2011. Contact your travel agent or call Viking at 1800 829 138. Visit vikingrivercruises.com.au to learn more. THE WORLD’S LEADING RIVER CRUISE LINE...BY FAR® *Conditions: Price listed in Australian dollars and valid on 2012 sailings only. Must book and pay in full by 31 July 2011. Discounts combinable with Past Passenger Discount and valid for new bookings only. Price is based on 17, 24 Nov 2012 departure in Cat F stateroom. Visit www.vikingrivercruises.com.au for full booking conditions. cruise weekly Tuesday 7th June 2011 page 1 MSC CRUISES NOW AVAILABLE WITH LIVE JMAK= PRICING AT :((./< ECRUISING.TRAVEL ZZZFUXLVHZHHNO\FRPDX 1300 369 848 www.ecruising.travel &58,6( &$/(1'$5 Last-minute bargains on canals Want to skipper your own seaside resort of Lignano Sabiadoro. The fleet comprises 1,000 canal boats and BRISBANE cruise? Le Boat has slashed the more than 40 bases in eight countries Pacific Dawn Mon 11 Jun Pacific Dawn including the UK and Ireland. AUCKLAND cost in Europe this summer. For details, see www.leboat.com.au or call Pacific Pearl Sat 09 Jun EUROPE’S LEADING SELF-DRIVE CANAL BOAT 1800 803 988. operator has cut 20% off selected sailings in Sneak peek at Silhouette June, July and August. In addition, Le Boat is offering discounts HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LINED THE SHORES NEAR of up to 40% on some one-way trips as well in Papenburg, Germany recently, to sneak-a- as family discounts for children. peek at Celebrity Cruises’ newest family Cruises for 2012 can also be booked at Classique Star member, Celebrity Silhouette as she 2011 prices, valid until 31 August 2011. left the shipyard (pictured). Mark Windsor, head of distribution for Le Debuting in July this year, Boat Australia & Asia/Pacific, said these Sizzling Venice with MSC the 2,850-passenger savings were significant for people wanting MSC CRUISES IS GIVING AUSSIE CRUISERS THE Silhouette is the fourth to experience the European countryside opportunity to cruise from Venice to Rio for vessel to be launched in from the intimacy of its canals. less than $100 per day, as part of a 25-day Celebrity’s five-ship “No experience is necessary to skipper cruise holiday. Solstice Class fleet. these boats, and with options such as bicycles, Kicking off on 23 November, the Sizzling Highlight features it allows the traveller to have the freedom of Venice to Rio package combines an eight- include the Lawn Club Celebrity Silhouette cruising, while other members of the party can night Mediterranean cruise with a 17-night Grill, Wi-Fi equipped cycle along the canals or venture into the ocean voyage, both onboard MSC Musica. cabanas ‘The Alcoves’ and The Art Studio. many villages along the waterways,” he said. The first eight-night leg is a return cruise Le Boat now operates in Italy’s Friuli from Venice to Bari, Rhodes, Izmir, Piraeus region, opening up Venice’s northern lagoon (Athens), Katakolon and Dubrovnik, whilst towards Trieste and Slovenia. the second leg heads to South America, The new base at Precenicco will operate stopping in Valletta, Malaga, Madeira 17 boats, offering roundtrips and one-ways Island, Salvador, Buzios and Rio de Janeiro. to/from Casale. The package is priced from $2,285pp, Precenicco, on the Stella river which flows with kids only paying taxes of $665 when through the Marano lagoon, is famous for accompanying two paying adults. its nature reserves and is linked to the larger Visit www.msccruises.com.au for details. Aurora brings a little bit of the Arctic to sunny Sydney When people think of Sydney, they think harbour, sunshine and city- what does not immediately spring to mind however, is polar bears. But that’s exactly what trotted into town last week, heralding the start of winter and aiming to raise awareness about global warming and the plight of its endangered brethren. Sponsored by Aurora Expeditions and carved over a few hours by British sculptor Mark Coreth and his team, the bear was fashioned out of a bronze skeleton which was frozen in a block of ice. Speaking to media at the launch, Coreth said that the ice bear was an interactive sculpture where onlookers become part of the sculpting team by touching the bear. Aurora’s Expedition Leader Amanda Till Each touch melts the bear “this is the human with Lisa Bolton in front of the Ice Bear impact” Coreth said, by way of explaining the parallel between the ice bear and the plight currently facing real polar bears. “Aurora believes that taking guests to these Arctic and Antarctic destinations creates life- long ambassadors,” said Aurora Expeditions CEO Lisa Bolton, who described the Arctic as a “precious laboratory”. “Sensitivity to the environments we visit is key to Aurora’s philosophy,” she said, adding that the company takes deliberate steps to preserve and protect the regions it sails. If you want to experience these regions, check out Aurora’s upcoming European Arctic and Antarctic seasons at www.auroraexpeditions.com.au, or see your local travel agent. cruise weekly Tuesday 7th June 2011 page 2 CRUISE UNDER FULL SAIL ABOARD STAR CLIPPERS THE LARGEST MODERN TALL SHIPS JMAK= :((./< PDF FLYER ZZZFUXLVHZHHNO\FRPDX 7 NIGHT WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES AUG-OCT11 SAVE 25% OFF Last Minute Deals True Blue Riband, Fastest Across the Atlantic THIS WEEKLY COLUMN HIGHLIGHTS HOT DEALS ON by Roderick Eime cruises departing in the next 90 days – ideal for our spontaneous readers. The Atlantic Crossing between Europe and the 14 nights – Sydney roundtrip onboard United States is the quintessential ocean voyage. Pacific Pearl Why? • Departs: 06 September 2011 Apart from being one of the historically busiest • From: $1,369pp twin share shipping routes in the world, it is chapter one of • Stops at Isle of Pines, Mystery Island, many of the world’s greatest stories, including the Vila, Port Denarau, Dravuni Island, discovery of what is now the United States of Suva and Noumea America by European navigators.