Royal Caribbean's 2014-15 Australasian season is on sale now

Voyager of the Seas

• Voyager of the Seas' multimillion dollar revitalisation
  brings cruising's latest innovative features Down Under
• Earlybird savings of up to $1,000 per person on offer 

May 14, 2013 – Royal Caribbean International has announced its biggest summer season to date, with its 2014-15 Australasian program on sale from today. The cruise line also revealed news that the biggest ship sailing Down Under, Voyager of the Seas, is scheduled to undergo a major multimillion-dollar "revitalisation" just ahead of the season. Voyager of the Seas will be joined by Rhapsody of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas – which themselves recently enjoyed over $80 million worth of improvements – in a three-ship fleet of superior superliners sailing local waters together for a third consecutive season.

"Royal Caribbean ships unfailingly deliver the "wow'" factor and in 2014-15, we will continue to bring the best and latest cruising innovations to the region.  We began with the revitalisations of Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas in 2011-12, and now we've come full circle as Voyager of the Seas will undergo a bow-to-stern refurbishment to offer even more amazing features.  We'll be able to share further details later this year – but you can be sure that guests will find many of the features found on our newest Oasis Class ships and more," said Adam Armstrong, commercial director, Royal Caribbean International.

"More than 140,000 guests from over 100 countries will enjoy our new summer 2014-15 program of cruises. Guests will experience a truly international style of cruising on the three most modern, amenity-rich freshly-revitalised ships ever to be based in the region."

In the summer of 2014-15, Royal Caribbean will be offering Australian families, groups, couples and singles even more choice with three impressive ships and a wide range of itineraries to choose from. Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas will arrive in Sydney in October 2014 for the start of their season, and sister ship Voyager of the Seas will join them in December 2014. Guests can choose from 55 cruises – more than any other Sydney-based cruise line – ranging from two to 18 nights calling at 37 ports across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, with departures from September 2014 to April 2015.

Now is the time to book for these exciting cruises as Royal Caribbean is offering Earlybird savings of up to $1,000 per person for bookings made by 31 December 2013. With fares starting from $389 per person twin share and a seven-night South Pacific cruise from under $1,000 per person twin share, be quick as the cruises are bound to be sold out way before the deals' deadline. Other Earlybird deals include savings on bookings for balcony cabins, suites, children and third and fourth berths in a stateroom. 

Voyager of the Seas will arrive for her 2014-15 season fresh from her comprehensive revitalisation in October 2014. Guests can expect exciting onboard amenities, including those featured in Royal Caribbean's newest Oasis-class ships.  During her third season down under, Voyager of the Seas will sail from Sydney and Perth, offering four new itineraries along with some favourites:

• NEW A 13-night cruise from Singapore to Sydney on 25 November 2014 which calls at Darwin and Brisbane and has Earlybird fares which start from $1,549 per person.
• NEW Royal Caribbean has added an additional 3-night long weekend sampler cruise departing Sydney with Earlybird prices from $599 per person.
• NEW A spectacular Australia & New Zealand 16-night cruise from Sydney ending in Perth has Earlybird fares from $2,149 per person.
• Six Fiji cruises ranging in duration from 9 to 14 nights, including a NEW 14-night itinerary with Earlybird fares from $2,449 per person.
• One 14-night Pacific Island Fusion cruise which uniquely combine calls to New Caledonia and Fiji with New Zealand; Earlybird pricing for this cruise starts from $1,849 per person.
• Three 11-night cruises to New Zealand – offering a shorter 'express' itinerary than the traditional 14-night option on Radiance of the Seas – with Earlybird fares start from $1,429 per person.
• Voyager of the Seas will return to Asia on a 14-night sailing on 1 April 2015 from Perth to Singapore, via Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City. Guests can experience this cruise from just $1,849 per person if they book before 31 December 2013.

Radiance of the Seas will sail out of Sydney and Perth with a wide variety of seven- to 18-night itineraries to Tasmania, around Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Often referred to as the "Foodies' Ship" for her unmatched 10 restaurants onboard, Radiance of the Seas had a ship-wide revitalisation in 2011 which can be viewed here. Her 2014-15 Australasian season features:

• Two 'Trans-Pacific' cruises between Honolulu and Sydney on 22 September 2014 (18 nights) and 19 April 2015 (17 nights) with calls in Tahiti and New Zealand. Earlybird fares for this cruise begin at $2,549 per person.
• Two 14-night New Zealand cruises with eight ports of call each plus scenic cruising of Milford Sound, Dusky Sound and Doubtful Sound – Earlybird fares start from $1,849 per person.
• Eight South Pacific island cruises ranging in duration from seven to 12 nights – including the inaugural call for Radiance of the Seas into Mare, New Caledonia on the 12-night Christmas cruise. If booked by 31 December 2013, fares start from $1,069 per person for a seven-night cruise departing 12 April 2015.
• Two full circumnavigations of Australia and New Zealand. Guests may choose to sail a 16-night 'Top End' cruise or a 17-night 'South Coast & New Zealand' sailing – or combine the cruises into one majestic 33-night voyage. Cruises depart 20 October 2014 and 26 February 2015 and Earlybird fares start from $2,109 per person for a 16-night Top End cruise.
• A seven-night Tasmania sailing on 13 January 2015 with fares from $1,419 per person.

Rhapsody of the Seas' season will feature a wide variety of itineraries including two new ones, ranging from two to 16 nights, sailing to Tasmania, Queensland, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. The ship also went through an extensive refurbishment in 2012 which added many new features including a restyled seven-deck high Centrum atrium where breathtaking aerial-acrobatic shows take place.  In 2014-15, Rhapsody of the Seas will sail the following cruises out of Sydney:

• Two 16-night 'Trans-Pacific' cruises between Hawaii and Sydney which travel through the South Pacific islands of Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and New Caledonia; departing on 16 September 2014 (ex Honolulu) and 17 April 2015 (ex Sydney) – Earlybird fares start from $1,969 per person.
• Ten South Pacific island cruises ranging in duration from 7 to 11 nights – including three calls to the port of Mare, New Caledonia for the first time. A seven night South Pacific cruise has Earlybird fares from $999 per person.
• NEW A 10-night 'Tasmania & South Australia' cruise which calls at Hobart (overnight), Burnie, Adelaide and Melbourne with fares from $1,309 per person if booked by 31 December 2013.
• NEW A two-night weekend sampler cruise departing Sydney on 3 October 2014 with Earlybird fares from $389 per person.
• Two 12-night South Pacific Fiji cruises New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu; Earlybird fares start from $1,659 per person.
• Four 11-night Queensland sailings which call at Newcastle, Cairns, Airlie Beach and Brisbane. These cruises offer the best of Australia's northeast coast and include a unique 2-day, overnight call in Cairns – allowing plenty of time to explore the city's nightlife as well as the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.  Earlybird fares begin from just $1,459 per person.

Unique amenities already offered on board Royal Caribbean's Australasian fleet include an ice-skating rink, rock-climbing walls, a Royal Promenade of shops, mini-golf courses, water parks, Broadway-style theatre and full sized sports courts. For more details, please visit www.royalcaribbean.com.au .

Southampton to Sydney aboard P&O Arcadia

LOOKING for some time out from the children or grandkids, cruise specialists ecruising.travel has the perfect 48-night package on board the elegant adult only Arcadia ship on a cruise from Southampton to Sydney which has been discounted by up to 52 per cent per person.

Departing on January 8, 2014 the ship calls at Azores in the North Atlantic Ocean on the way to Bridgetown and Willemstad in the Caribbean before transiting the Panama Canal to Guatemala. After visits to San Diego and Los Angeles Arcadia then sails for Papeete and Bora Bora in French Polynesia on the way to the Fijian capital Suva. There are calls at Bay of Islands and Auckland in New Zealand before disembarking in Sydney on February 25.

There is plenty of time at sea to relax and enjoy more than 13 different lounges, bars, pubs and restaurants- including the renowned Ocean Grill Marco Pierre White restaurant. There are a variety of entertainment venues to experience such as "The Screening Room" a 30-seat cinema, "The Globe" with live music and comedy acts as well the casino, three tier showroom, art and photo gallery and much more.

The itinerary is available from $6669 per person twin share from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, from $6869 from Adelaide and from Perth is priced from $6969.

The price includes one-way economy airfare from Australia to London, two nights' accommodation at St Ermins Hotel in London, a London sightseeing pass, 46-nights cruise accommodation with all meals, on board entertainment, private transfers and port and government charges. Passengers can upgrade their accommodation to stay at the Savoy Hotel in London from an extra $330 per person.

The package is for sale until January 3, 2014 unless sold out, for more details check out www.ecruising.travel or call 1300-369-848

EUROPA 2 Formally Christened at the 2013 HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY in Hamburg

*       The ship was Christened on 10 May near Blankenese in Hamburg
*       The godmother of the ship is Dana Schweiger
*       Maiden voyage from Hamburg to Lisbon

In line with the motto "Great moments. Truly exclusive." the newly- built EUROPA 2 has been christened in celebratory and stylish fashion by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises on 10 May 2013, during the 824th HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY. Godmother Dana Schweiger smashed the champagne bottle against the bow of the ship near Blankenese, Hamburg. The special invitees on board experienced the new ship while attending numerous events with celebrity guests.

At around 19.00 hrs EUROPA 2 embarked on a twilight voyage - with the city of Hamburg as its backdrop - sailing to its launch site near the riverside district of Blankenese. Godmother Dana Schweiger officially gave the new ship her name at 21.36 hrs. "I christen you the EUROPA 2 and wish you and your crew good voyages and safe returns, and may there always be enough water beneath your keel," said Dana Schweiger.

Dr Wolfgang Flägel, Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: "This is a special moment for our company and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for their commitment. I am certain that the EUROPA 2 with raise the bar in the luxury sector with its modern interpretation. We wish the ship and her crew safe journeys and enthusiastic passengers."

Around 700 guests on board enjoyed a brilliant fireworks display to round off the ceremony in style. Afterwards, observing tradition, the godmother presented the neck of the bottle to EUROPA 2 Captain Friedrich Jan Akkermann. After the christening ceremony, the star act Dick Brave & the Backbeats created a party atmosphere with their rockabilly music.

The fully-booked 14-day maiden voyage departs on 11 May from Hamburg and will sail to Lisbon via Amsterdam, Antwerp, Honfleur, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Bilbao and Leixoes (Porto). At the start of the voyage, the EUROPA 2 will cruise in the port with special on-board celebrations. Guests can enjoy the cruise through the lively Port of Hamburg, box seats at the famous Tugboat Ballet and other exclusive surprises. After the big fireworks display at the 824th HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY at around 22.30hrs., the EUROPA 2 will set off on its maiden voyage and leave Hamburg.

The EUROPA 2 is a modern and casual luxury ship, which does away with cruise traditions such as the captain's dinner. With up to 516 guests,EUROPA 2 provides the greatest space per passenger on a cruise ship anywhere in the world. The ship features exclusively suites with verandas and a minimum area of 28 square metres. Eight restaurants and six bars are dedicated to serving up culinary diversity and a large spa and fitness area accommodates the well-being trend on cruises. Its flexible route concept will appeal to professionals and families in the luxury sector in particular.


For more information on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises visit www.hl-cruises.com

Carnival Cruise Lines to deploy Carnival Legend down under

Carnival Cruise Lines has just announced that its Carnival Legend will sail the summer season from Sydney effective from 24 Sep 2014.

Legend is a sister ship to the 2680-passenger Carnival Spirit which already operates year-round from Sydney, with the second vessel heading to Australia after a dry dock in 2014 when she will be upgraded "to ensure she's perfectly suited for the tastes of the Aussie market," according to Carnival Cruise Lines director Australia/NZ, Jennifer Vandekreeke.

"We will be using our valuable learnings from the first year of Carnival Spirit's deployment to decide on the best features and enhancements for Australians," she said.

Vandekreeke said Legend would operate a series of 8-12 day cruises, then spend the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere before returning again to Australia in the spring of 2015.

Bookings for the second ship will open next month.

More information in today's issues of Travel Daily and Cruise Weekly.This Cruise Weekly breaking news brought to you by Cruise Weekly.

First pictures of EUROPA 2

With thanks to Gerd from Landmark Travel.

She will be christened on 10th May at 21.00 Hamburg time.

You can watch this life on your computer 

http://www.mseuropa2.de/index.php?intf=taufe

Celebrity Local Solstice Sale

Hi Cruisers,

We are very pleased to announce Celebrity's Local Solstice sale which is offering up to US$300 onboard credit plus 50% reduced deposit. Hurry though, as the deal runs for one week only and finishes on 11 May 2013. Offer is available for Celebrity Solstice Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific itineraries of 5 nights or longer departing between October 2013 and April 2014. Please find below a summary of the upcoming Celebrity Local Solstice sale.



Sale features:

- On sale from Sunday 5 May until Saturday 11 May 2013
- Offer consists of an Onboard Credit & 50% reduced deposit
- Cruise around Australia, New Zealand or to South Pacific on Celebrity Solstice.

(Departing between October 2013 and April 2014)

- Strictly for new individual bookings only made within the sale period

BOOK NOW! Free Call 1300 369 848

Keep Cruising,

Jay & the ecruising team

Mothers Day Cruise a break for 'raw deal' mums

Mothers' Day - Sunday 12 May 2013

 An astonishing two thirds of Australian mums are still expected to do household chores and cook family meals on Mother’s Day, according to a new national survey released by P&O Cruises.

And just to confirm mums are getting a raw deal, when asked if they were treated to breakfast in bed, a romantic dinner or relief from household chores on Mother’s Day, nearly half the mums surveyed said ‘none of the above’.

However, the revealing P&O Cruises survey of more than 1000 mothers also showed that keeping the peace is the byword for mums when it comes to how they are treated on Mother’s Day.

Twenty-five per cent of mums who said they received a Mother’s Day gift they didn’t like said nothing but passed the unwanted gift on to someone else.

Sixty-four per cent put the gift somewhere they were never likely to see it again but five per cent said they would sell it on e-bay and use the proceeds to buy something they liked.

Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, said she was stunned to discover from the survey that not all Aussie mums are being spoilt rotten on Mother’s Day.

nearly half of mums surveyed were still doing chores on Mothers Day

 “On Mother’s Day of all days mums should be getting pampered in every way and given a break from
the usual daily grind,” Ms Sherry said.

“It’s no surprise why women are so likely to choose a cruise holiday where someone else does all the
cooking and cleaning and helps explain why there has been such strong demand for P&O Cruises’
inaugural Mother’s Day cruise.”

Other key findings in the P&O Cruises’ national survey of just over 1000 Aussie mums included:

• 42% had holidayed with their mothers as an adult and based on that experience a resounding
• 82% would do it again
• 22% had holidayed with their mothers-in-law as adults but some – 2.4% -- preferred not to remember the experience
• 17% would definitely holiday with their mothers-in-law again but 22% wouldn’t back up for a second and for 15% it was ‘definitely no’
• 49% would prefer a Mother’s Day getaway with their husband or partner but 16% would prefer to travel solo and 14% preferred a getaway with girlfriends
• 87% thought a Mother’s Day break where they didn’t have to cook, make a bed or do any household chores would be appealing
• 47% who contemplated a Mother’s Day cruise would do it for its complete freedom from domestic chores and obligations

When asked which famous mum they would like to spend Mother’s Day with, Michelle Obama was
the standout choice (22%) followed by Maggie Beer (18%) and Nicole Kidman (15%). Posh Spice was
the least popular Mother’s Day choice (2%).

“Our special Mother’s Day survey is a wake-up call for Aussie families,” Ms Sherry said. “Aussie mums want a better deal and it sounds like a cruise is just the sort of Mother’s Day pampering they have in mind.”

The three-night Mother’s Day cruise on Pacific Jewel leaves Sydney on Friday May 10.

For more information on cruises and bookings contact a licensed travel agent or P&O Cruises on 13
24 94 or visit www.pocruises.com.au