MSC Cruises to become the world’s third largest cruise line

The much anticipated launch this month of the MSC Preziosa will push MSC Cruises into the world's third spot for passenger capacity.

It will be the first time the family-owned cruise line has reached such a high position, closing in on first and second placeholders Carnival Cruises and Royal Caribbean International with an annual capacity of 1.45 million guests across its 12 ships.

"We see it as a very significant milestone," said Lynne Clarke, managing director of MSC Cruises Australia and New Zealand.

"When you consider MSC Cruises is a family owned company, it's a great achievement to be positioned so high against such public listed corporations," she said

"MSC Cruises has come such a long way since launching the first cruise ship, the now decommissioned MSC Melody, in 1997.

"In fact, since 2003, we have had an exciting time launching another 11 ships with the MSC Preziosa, about to be officially unveiled."

The newcomer, to be the fourth member of the cruise line's ever-expanding Fantasia class, will be christened by the MSC Cruises' godmother, screen legend Sophia Loren, in a gala event in the Italian port of Genoa on Saturday, March 23.

The delivery of the MSC Preziosa will see MSC Cruises increase passenger capacity to 1.45 million on 12 ships this year, a 9.4 percent capacity increase over 2012, leaving such cruise lines as Costa Crociere, Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line in its wake.

MSC Cruises' "bronze medal" ranking is based on data received from the 2013 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

By market, MSC Cruises is expected to have over 50 per cent of its capacity in the Mediterranean, 14 per cent in South America, 12.5 percent in Northern Europe, and the remainder in Africa, the Caribbean, Canary Islands and Red Sea.

Details: MSC Cruises, phone 1300 028502 (Australia), 0508 4278473 (NZ), www.msccruises.com.au

Oceania Cruises' Ship Marina Sailed into Sydney Harbour Today

Marina, Oceania Cruises' award-winning cruise ship, has sailed into Sydney Harbour for the very first time today after making her debut in ports Melbourne and Hobart.   Marina will be docked at Circular Quay until the 15th of March when she sets sail on her next voyage "Jewels of the Pacific" 25-nights to French Polynesia via New Zealand and the South Pacific.  The ship that redefined the upper-premium cruise market brings a new level of luxury cruising to Australia with her world-class cuisine and unparalleled service.

Elegant yet contemporary in style, Marina exclusively features the first hands-on cooking school at sea, Bon Appétit Culinary Center; the first namesake restaurant at sea of Master Chef Jacques Pépin; the first Ralph Lauren Home furnished Owner's Suites and luxurious accommodations by Dakota Jackson; the first Wine Spectator wine program; and the first Lalique grand stairway.

Carrying 1250 guests, Marina boasts 10 gourmet dining venues, a selection of bars and lounges, a full-service Canyon Ranch SpaClub and fitness centre, swimming pool and hot tubs.

Oceania Cruises sails to Australia with several prestigious awards recently received at the 2013 Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards in the U.S. and the U.K.  Marina was honoured with three top awards in the U.S. for Best Dining, Best Public Rooms and Best Cabins and won Best for Fitness in the U.K.

For more information visit OceaniaCruises.com. Guests can book through their travel agent.

About Oceania Cruises:

Oceania Cruises® offers unrivalled cuisine, luxurious accommodations, exceptional personalized service and extraordinary value. Award-winning itineraries visit more than 330 ports in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and the Americas aboard two pairs of mid-size sister ships: the 684-guest Regatta and Nautica, and 1,250-guest Marina and Riviera.

About Prestige Cruise Holdings:

Prestige Cruise Holdings (PCH) is the parent company of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. PCH manages select assets in Apollo Management's cruise investment portfolio and is led by Chairman & CEO Frank J. Del Rio and President & COO Kunal S. Kamlani. PCH is the market leader in the upper-premium and luxury segments of the cruise industry with over 6,400 berths between the Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands.

 

 

Cruiseco's Cruisin' Country 3 & 4

Rhapsody of the Seas at Circular Quay (R Eime)

Cruiseco, the leading supplier of cruising options in Australia and New Zealand, has launched two more, seven-night cruises tailored for country music lovers.

Guests of the affectionately named Cruisin' Country will cruise onboard the luxurious Rhapsody of the Seas.  Guests can expect to be entertained by some of the most celebrated artists in country music whilst experiencing the beautiful surrounds of the South Pacific islands.  Amber Wilson, National Marketing a Manager at Cruiseco says that Cruisin' Country 3 and 4 are the only country music cruises currently offered in the region.  

"This series of country-themed cruises are unique, allowing guests to see a wide selection of country artists perform live. Country music fans can listen to their favourite award winning country artists and visit exotic destinations at the same time. What a fantastic holiday combination."

Cruisin' Country 3 will feature a star-studded country music line-up including

Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar-Daley, Adam Harvey, Gina Jeffreys, Amber Lawrence, McAlister Kemp, plus many more. Cruisin' Country 3 departs Sydney on 12th October 2013. Prices for Crusin' Country 3 are per person, based on twin share, and start from $2,127.

Cruisin' Country 4, which will depart Sydney on 5th October 2014, will headline The Bellamy Brothers and feature country music performers Kasey Chambers, John Williamson, Graeme Connors, Beccy Cole, Shane Nicholson and many more.

Prices for Cruisin'Country 4 are per person based on quad share and start from $1,434 or twin share from $1,956.  To receive early bird offers for Crusin' Country 4, book before 31st March 2013. Early bird prices are based on per person, twin share and start from $1,760. Prices for both cruises include seven nights cruising, all meals, entertainment and gratuities onboard, port charges and government taxes.

Entertainment performances will be held in: the Majestic Broadway Melodies Theatre; the Shall We Dance Lounge; the Centrum; the Viking Crown Lounge; and the Schooner Bar & Pool.  Cruisin' Country cruises also offer line, clogging and square dancing lessons, open mic sessions, comedy shows, plus song writing, guitar and bush poetry workshops.

For full details and the name of your nearest Cruiseco cruise-specialist travel agent, visit www.cruising.com.au or call (02) 9492 8520.

MSC Cruises has a hot Caribbean cruise

HOT for 2013-2014 is a series of Western Caribbean cruises aboard the new MSC Divina, prices starting from $699 per person, twin share.

Book a seven-night cruise of the Eastern Mediterranean, also on the MSC Divina, and prices begin at $719pp, twin share.

And for cruise fans who want to merge the two for a 14-night Grand Caribbean experience, prices begin at $1318pp, twin share.

All itineraries begin and end in Miami between November this year and March, 2014, the Western Caribbean cruises calling on such fascinating destinations as the Mexican island of Cozumel, Georgetown in the Hayman Islands, Falmouth in Jamaica and the Bahamas.

The Eastern Caribbean cruises feature visits on St Maarten, San Juan as well as the Bahamas.

Cruises of 10 and 17 nights are also available, the latter priced from $1617pp, twin share.

"These packages allow you to take advantage of our fabulous new ship cruising – to amazing destinations," said Lynne Clarke, managing director of MSC Cruises Australia and New Zealand.

Details: Phone MSC Cruises on 1300 028 502, or visit www.msccruises.com.au

Azamara returns to Europe in 2013 with more inclusive amenities and free upgrades.

Verandah staterooms for the price of Oceanview on select Europe sailings

Azamara Club Cruises clearly strikes a chord among travellers through its distinctive longer stays, more overnights in port to offer guests the opportunity for night touring.  And the cruise line's 2013 Europe season will mark a crescendo in Azamara's evolution as the best choice for truly experiencing the destination, with four new compelling reasons to sail in Europe this summer.

1 - New Night Tours

Beginning March 27 and May 15, newly refurbished Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest will respectively launch AzAmazing Evenings, exclusive, custom-designed evening events which give guests the opportunities to enjoy and explore cultures that intrigue them. The inclusive night touring experiences are tailored, intimate and authentic to the destinations where they take place.

2 - New Inclusions

Azamara's upcoming Europe season also marks the added inclusion of boutique wines, international beers and select spirits, as standard, in the price of every Azamara cruise. These are in addition to the existing range of inclusions – soft drinks, bottled water, specialty teas & coffees, self-service laundry, shuttle transportation to city centres and tips for housekeeping, dining and bar staff – worth up to $750 per person on a 14-night cruise.

3 - New Verandah Upgrade Offer

Guests eager to experience Europe anew can now take advantage of a brand new limited-time offer: free upgrades from an Oceanview cabin to a Verandah stateroom on 28 of Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest's 2013 Europe sailings. But bookings must be made by 31 March 2013.

4 - Newly Refurbished Ships

Both Azamara Club Cruises ships have recently undergone ship wide refurbishments ready for the 2013 season. The extensive facelift included a new "Azamara Blue" hull, the addition of a new champagne and caviar bar, a Chef's Table concept featuring three wine degustation menus, as well as ship-wide refreshments including new carpets, upholstery, colour pallets, sun loungers and verandah furniture. The Spa and fitness centre was also revitalized with a new steam room, showers, and state-of-the-art Life Fitness cardio equipment, while the Casino Bar was expanded and enhanced with new furniture.

"Travellers should not miss out on Azamara's 2013 European season, where guests will be the first to enjoy our unique AzAmazing Evenings and even more onboard inclusions," said Edie Bornstein, senior vice president of Marketing and Sales for Azamara Club Cruises. "Our longer stays and more overnights in port will provide guests the opportunity to not only see, but join in the celebration".

The cruise line's twin jewel-box ships will sail European waters through to November 2013, calling at familiar favourites such as Monte-Carlo, Ibiza and Santorini, as well as some of the less-trodden gems such as Sochi, Russia, host to the 2014-Winter Olympics; Cassis, France; and Propriano and Palamos, Spain.  For an even more culturally-rich experience, guests can combine two, three or more consecutive voyages that repeat nearly no ports and multiply their choices of AzAmazing Evenings and destination immersion.

All 2013 Europe sailings are available for booking now, with lead fares starting from $2,739 per person for a free upgrade to a Verandah stateroom onboard Azamara Quest's seven-night Cote D'Azur to the Tagus sailing. Departing 23 May 2013from Nice, France and sailing to Lisbon, Portugal via Barcelona, Valencia and Granada (Motril), Spain and Gibraltar, United Kingdom, this sailing also includes an overnight stay in Barcelona with an AzAmazing Evening of flamenco dancing and a tour of Codorniu Cava winery which has been producing Spain's famous sparkling Cava wines since the 16th century.

For more information or to book an Azamara Cruise, contact your travel agent, visit www.azamaraclubcruises.com or call 1800 754 500. Travel professionals can call 1300 754 500 or visit www.cruisingpower.com.

New Med Cruises for Queen Elizabeth in Cunard's 2014 Program

Cunard has announced its new 2014 program, offering a range of new itineraries designed for international travellers, including Mediterranean cruises on Queen Elizabeth.

Cunard President and Managing Director Peter Shanks said the breadth of cruises would appeal to guests from markets around the world including Australia.

The program commences in the northern spring after Cunard’s three liners finish their 2014 world voyages and features new Mediterranean itineraries, a twist to Queen Mary 2’s Transatlantic crossings and a Three Queens event to celebrate Queen Mary 2’s 10th birthday.

“Our new 2014 itineraries offer added variety and innovation to our loyal Cunarders as well as appealing to today’s luxury traveller,” Mr Shanks said.

“By offering the best in cities and destinations, along with the outstanding luxury experience of a Cunard ship, Cunard is a compelling holiday choice for 2014. Our unique international appeal creates a cosmopolitan flavour on board, which appeals to the growing number of luxury travellers around the world who are looking for a discerning holiday experience”.

Queen Elizabeth’s first full season in the Mediterranean, an increasingly popular cruise destination for Australians, will include departures from June to November 2014 from Venice, Rome and Athens.

Travellers will be able to choose from 7, 14 and 21-night cruises, with the voyages visiting a selection of 25 different ports, offering a mix of famous cities, iconic sights and intimate islands. Cruise options will include overnight stays in Istanbul and Venice and maiden calls to seven ports including Elba, Kotor and Palermo.

With the popularity of Transatlantic crossings on Queen Mary 2 continuing to grow, the flagship liner will undertake 18 crossings between Southampton and New York during 2014. These will include new eight-night crossings, with some to include a call to the famous port of Halifax, and two “Birthday Crossings” on May 9 and May 16 to celebrate Queen Mary 2’s 10th anniversary.

Meanwhile Queen Mary 2 and her younger sisters Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria will meet in Southampton on May 9 for a Three Queens event to celebrate Queen Mary 2’s anniversary.

As well as the Transatlantic crossings, Queen Mary 2 will offer four New York cruises focused specifically on the North American market, including Canada and New England itineraries.

Meanwhile, Queen Victoria will be based in Southampton for the northern summer and will offer a variety of strong itineraries to the Fjords, Baltic, Iceland, Britain, Black Sea and Atlantic Isles, as well as a Round Britain cruise coinciding in Liverpool on the 100th anniversary of the first sailing of Cunard’s Aquitania on May 30.

The new itineraries go on sale worldwide on April 9. Full details will be released in each market over the next two weeks. For more details on Cunard visit www.cunardline.com.au, phone 132441 or see a licensed travel agent.

This Weeks Great Deals from ecruising.travel

Hi Cruisers,

Queen Mary 2 arrived into Sydney this morning and the sun finally appeared for her arrival. I know we need the rain but hey, I've seen enough of it for a while! Aurora is on QM2 today for lunch and an inspection so I'm sure you'll read her report in next weeks edition.

Speaking of newsletters, we had a problem with our image server last week but we've moved the location of this now so you should not have any more problems... technology!

On my flight back from Melbourne last week, we circled for an hour waiting to get into Sydney airport. I'm sure Julia doesn't circle around waiting to land; my prediction is they'll build a 2nd Sydney airport around the same time we stop using conventional aeroplanes!

Now on with the newsletter... Ian went on Solstice earlier this week, below is his story and photos.

For my next ship inspection it couldn't have been more different. To go from the Queen Victoria to the Celebrity Solstice is about as far apart as it comes in the world of big ship cruising. The former is all about old world elegance of the past, the latter is bright and modern, with all the mod cons of today and into the future. The options these days for cruising are far ranging and this gives the public great options to choose from. I can see why almost every Solstice cruise is sold out for the rest of the year.

Clients who have never tried Celebrity or even cruising at all are jumping on the bandwagon. It's a sure thing, and such great value now the prices are coming down. Celebrity are known as a 5 star cruise, so you need to compare the ship with a top of the line 5 star hotel, then you might be coming somewhere close. Every area of this ship is in impressive. Being so new it's in great shape in all areas. Our group of agents were very impressed as we walked through the public areas and incredible speciality restaurants. When we got to the cabins, particularly the Celebrity Suites, many of our group were crying out wow! I was personally impressed with all the bars, and varied adult areas, many of which have perfect sea views. So much so I've booked a cruise for myself!

 


Masai Magic is selling well, this really is a trip of a lifetime. QM2 speaks for itself but the ground arrangements are first class, as good as you'll get anywhere and with a company you know will deliver. Why not join us and take advantage of the free upgrades, click here for details.

Star of the Rockies is almost sold out, we have a few spaces left in Gold Leaf, if you've been thinking about it, better get onto it! Click here for details.

Diamond Princess will be headed down our way 14 November 2014 and we have some amazing new fares on the Singapore to Sydney sector! This 20 night package starts with a night at the Shangri La Singapore before you join your ship on a 19 night voyage. You'll cruise to Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City) & Benoa (Bali) before bidding farewell to Asia.

Arriving in Australian waters, you'll visit Darwin and Port Douglas, arriving in Sydney for a spectacular daytime arrival, followed by a night in port. We've also included transfers in Singapore and, don't forget, that cruising back to Australia means you don't have to worry about airline excess baggage charges so you can shop as much as you like! From less than $120.00 a day - $2,339.00 for an inside or $3,149.00 for a balcony! Click here for details

This is your last chance to join Queen Mary 2 on her current world voyage. There is an extremely limited number of cabins available from Fremantle to Cape Town departing 26 March 2013. After emabrkation, this 17 night package begins with a week at sea so you'll have plenty of time to soak up the magic of the worlds most famous oceanliner.

First stop after crossing the Indian Ocean is Port Louis in beautiful Mauritius followed by your arrival in South Africa with stops at Durban, Port Elizabeth & Cape Town, where you'll be saying farewell to your ship after an overnight stop in port. You'll then be spending 2 nights at The Westin Cape Town before your flight. We've included a oneway flight back to Perth, but ask us about flights back to other cities. Priced at just $4,669.00! Click here for details

Here's a couple of new itineraries on Radiance of the Seas' next local season. First is this 8 night Queensland cruise departing 19 January 2014. You'll visit Newcastle, Airlie Beach and Brisbane before returning to Sydney. Second is this 7 night cruise to Tasmania departing 27 January 2014. Oddly enough, your first port of call is Newcastle before you head south to Hobart with a final stop at Melbourne on the way back to Sydney. Queensland from $1,009.00 or Tasmania from $999.00!
Click here for Queensland
Click here for Tasmania

Discover more of Europe on board Ruby Princess with this 29 night package from Barcelona to Rome departing 12 October. You'll begin with 3 nights hotel accommodation at the Hilton Diagonal Mar in Barcelona before boarding Ruby Princess for a 24 night cruise on the Mediterranean, Adriatic & Aegean Seas. You'll visit Toulon in France, Livorno, Rome & Naples in Italy.

Cruising through the Ionian Sea, you'll call in at the island of Mykonos on the way to the Aegean where you'll be stopping at Istanbul, Kusadasi & Athens. You'll then be off to Venice for a 3 day visit. This is followed by Dubrovnik in Croatia, Corfu, Katakolon in Greece as well as another stop in Athens, Mykonos & Kusadasi.

You'll then drop in at Santorini & Naples on your way to Rome where you'll disemabark and head to the Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese for a 2 night stay before your flight home. We've also included transfers in Barcelona and Rome from only $5,829.00 for an inside or $7,229.00 for a balcony!
Click here for details

Spoil yourself on board Seabourn Odyssey with this huge 45 night package from Istanbul to Singapore departing 5 October 2013. Begin your life of luxury with a 2 night stay at the Ritz Carlton Istanbul before you join the 6 star all inclusive Seabourn Odyssey for 41 nights of pure indulgence and as always with Seabourn, you'll visit some places that the bigger ships don't often visit.

Your first port of call is Myrina on the island of Nisos Limnos, this is followed by Izmir & Cesme in Turkey and then Patmos, Santorini, Naousa & Athens in Greece. Stop in at Haifa & Ashdod before transiting the Suez Canal calling in at Hurghada in Egypt, Aqaba in Jordan followed by a 2 day visit to Safaga (Valley of the Kings). Next you'll be visiting Salalah & Sur in Oman, Dubai, Khasab & Khor al Fakkan.

Moving toward Asia you'll find yourself on the Indian Sub-continent where you'll spend 2 days in Mumbai and call in at Mangalore & Cochin before crossing the Bay of Bengal with a final stop in Phuket. You will then disembark in Singapore where you'll spend 2 nights at the famous Raffles hotel before your flight home and back to reality. As well as included transfers, for a limited time, if you book an Oceanview Suite, you get a FREE upgrade to a Veranda Suite from $14,899.00 for a 45 night experience! Click here for details

Brett & the ecruising team

"The cure for anything is saltwater – sweat, tears, or the sea"

Isak Dinesen