Ita Buttrose to host Tauck's French waterways river cruise

Travel the World and Tauck are very excited to announce that Tauck's Australian Ambassador, Ita Buttrose, will be hosting a French Waterways River Cruise from Paris to Lyon in May 2014.

In addition to rubbing shoulders with Ita, guests joining Tauck's French Waterways River Cruise will travel along the Rhône through spectacular French vineyard country, stay at the Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe in Paris, ride the high-speed TGV through the French country side and experience Tauck's newly refurbished ms Swiss Emerald.

Ita will host a fabulous cocktail party for Tauck guests onboard ms Swiss Emerald during the ten day cruise. Guests will also get to experience a private wine tasting in Beaujolais and Châteaneuf-du-Pape, explore Lyon's historic indoor food market, and enjoy an exquisite dinner overlooking the Pont du Gard.

For all earlybird bookings made prior to 31st August 2013, Tauck offers one complimentary night at one of its premium hotels, the day before or after the river cruise.

Ita says, "Ask any Tauck guest and they will tell you that Tauck is their river cruise operator of choice because Tauck takes care of every detail every day – allowing you to relax and enjoy your adventure. Virtually every travel expense is included in one up-front price with no hidden costs."

Ita Buttrose is an Australian icon and was named 2013 Australian of the Year. She is a journalist, author and businesswoman who is greatly admired for her stellar career, her wit and charm and her tireless efforts for charities such as Alzheimer's Australia, of which she is the National President.

Ita is proud to be Tauck's Australian ambassador. "Travel is one of my great passions and it's been a joy getting to know fellow Australians who are long-time 'Tauckers'. These fellow intrepid travellers are equally passionate about exploring the world and their loyalty to Tauck is indeed rare in the highly competitive travel industry. There are good reasons they trust Tauck with their travel dreams...they know through first-hand experience that Tauck not only delivers great value, but superior quality, personal service and insider access on over 100 tours and cruises worldwide."

About Tauck

Established in 1925, Tauck is a world-leader in upscale, escorted travel. Family-owned and operated, Tauck offers guided all-inclusive land journeys, cruises and family travel adventures in 65 countries.  The company showcases the "must-see" attractions in each destination, enhancing guests' experience with in-depth commentary and insights that add perspective and understanding.  Tauck complements visits to must-see sites with insider access to "off-the-beaten-path" locations that deliver authentic cultural experiences and are either unavailable or unknown to most travellers. Tauck travellers can be assured that virtually everything is included in their upfront prices, with no hidden fees or surprise add-ons. Tauck works closely with worldwide partners to ensure that travellers receive the best value deals in the upfront prices offered.

Tauck and Travel the World have been working together for over 25 years to provide Australians with wonderful travel experiences. For further information on Tauck and Travel the World, please visit www.traveltheworld.com.au

ASTOR ready for first season

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ALL inside cabins for two of ASTOR’s highly anticipated celebration cruises in her inaugural Australian season have been completely sold out.

However, there are still suites andoutside cabins available for both theNew Year and the Australia Daycruises. But considering the great interest shown for both itineraries in just nine weeks since going on sale, these are not expected to last long either.

ASTOR

The New Year cruise departs Fremantle on Monday, December 30 (7pm) and sails for three nights at sea before returning on Thursday, January 2 (7am – in time for guests to get to work).

There is likely to be a terrific party atmosphere aboard ASTOR as she sees in 2014, with groups of varying ages having already booked. Fares start from $609 per person.

The Australia Day cruise departs Fremantle on Saturday, January 25 (6pm) and also sails for three nights at sea before returning on Tuesday, January 28 (again nice and early, at 7am).

The Australian flag will fly high above ASTOR and a traditional barbecue will be held pool side as a part of the celebrations. Fares start from $409 per person.

ASTOR is expected to welcome close to the 620-passenger maximum on both cruises, promising a fantastic atmosphere on both voyages aboard this premium ship.

Plus all of the regular features of ASTOR can be enjoyed during the days and nights at sea. Highlights of ASTOR include (but are not limited to):

• A sports deck, with facilities for volleyball, tennis, jogging, golf, chess and yoga.
• 247 cabins, 39 suites and three premium suites.
• The traditional Waldorf Restaurant; Ubersee (Overseas) Club buffet restaurant; Restaurant Toscana and Romantic Dinner (speciality restaurant).
• Three bars and lounges
• Fitness Centre and spa
• Indoor and outdoor swimming pools
• Beauty salon and hairdressing salon
• Boutique shops
• Library and games room

SAVER FARES EXTENDED to JUNE 30: ** Due to the release of a new ASTOR European brochure, Australians have a longer chance to secure great discounts. Saver Fares offer discounts of up to 25% on full published fares, applicable to a limited number of twin cabin bookings made prior to June 30, 2013.

NOTE: This discount is not applicable to the New Year’s Eve celebration cruise. 

Visit: www.cmvaustralia.com

Sail Coast to Coast aboard Norwegian Jewel with ecruising.travel

Cruise specialist ecruising.travel has a new 37-night cruise itinerary for 2013 which takes in Alaska, North America and the Panama Canal on the Norwegian Jewel from Seattle to New Orleans, with discounted prices of up to 50 per cent for last minute bookings before 30 June 2013.

Departing on September 12, you will have a two-day stay in Seattle at the Fairmont Olympic hotel before boarding  the Norwegian Jewel  for a 29-night cruise through Alaska, Canada, California, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama Canal and Colombia with the final destination of New Orleans, Louisiana, for three nights at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.

The itinerary finishes with three nights in Las Vegas to try your hand at the tables or take in a show before flying back to Australia.

Now priced from $6169 (was $14,469) per person twin share, from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Adelaide from $6419 and Perth from $6669 , the package includes return economy airfares, 29 nights cruise accommodation with all meals, entertainment, on board gratuities, two nights hotel accommodation at the Fairmont Olympic in Seattle, three nights hotel accommodation at each the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel and the Las Vegas Hotel and transfers.

For a full list of inclusions and reservations, visit www.ecruising.travel   or call 1300 369 848

Quantum of the Seas on sale now

Quantum of the SeasSM on sale now Quantum of the Seas is a true leap forward – with North StarSM, RipCordSM by iFly®, as well as the most sophisticated cabins in our fleet. Find out more about our groundbreaking new ship below. Sail a range of itineraries throughout the Caribbean and Bahamas, including our very own private beach paradises of Ladadee® and CocoCay®. Book Quantum of the Seas now

RipCord by iFly That’s right: Fly! This skydiving simulator lets you experience the sheer thrill and exhilaration of flying. RipCord by iFly’s air machine will keep you afloat in a safe, controlled environment. So you can feel the wind in your hair, the utter WOW of flying, all without ever having to leave the ship.

North Star The exclusive North Star promises to elevate you both physically and emotionally, revealling 360-degree views! Simply step into the intimate, jewel-shaped capsule and gently ascend over 300 feet above sea level, where you can take in breathtaking views of the ocean, the ship and destinations.

SeaPlexSM SeaPlex is the largest and most groundbreaking indoor active space at sea. By day, you can experience a circus school and flying trapeze, as well as a regulation basketball court. By night, it hosts the first-ever bumper cars and roller skating at sea, with a DJ that hovers above the activity.

Two70°SM Find yourself immersed in spellbinding performance art, mind-blowing light shows, and dazzling digital scenery. During the day, the space is a modern, open area living room with magnificent 270 degree panoramic views. By night, Two70° transforms as the lights go down and the music comes up.

Watch our full Quantum of the Seas video.

Great offers on on exotic Asia cruises

Cruising is on the rise in Asia. And with some of the world’s most stunning and exotic locations, it’s easy to understand why.

Royal Caribbean offers an assortment of itineraries onboard two world-class megaliners, covering this beautiful and culturally diverse continent.

We’ve hand-picked three of our favourites for you below.

All Japan Explorer Cruise: 12 nights

Enjoy the picturesque beauty of Japan with four stopovers including Sapporo and Tokyo. Then experience South Korea's second largest city, Busan, before finishing the cruise in Beijing.

Voyager of the Seas. Departs 7 September 2013. View itinerary.

Australia & Asia Experience: 14 nights

Cruise from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, with its super-modern buildings juxtaposed with various cultural enclaves. Then on to the northern tropics of Darwin, stopping at Brisbane en route to Sydney. Voyager of the Seas. Departs 24 October 2013.

View itinerary.

Exotic Asia cruise: 5 nights Depart the glittering chaos of Hong Kong, sailing to the history-rich Ho Chi Minh City, then on to the ultra-modern metropolis and sparkilng lights of Singapore.

Mariner of the Seas. Departs 5 November 2013.

View itinerary.



For more Asia cruise options, including with our sister brands Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, view our Exotic Asia brochure.

Carnival Cruise lines now selling 2015 itineraries

Get in quick!

Raising the Costa Concordia - the largest, most expensive salvage plan ever undertaken

Here's The Ingenious $400 Million Plan To Deal With The Wrecked Costa Concordia.
Images:  CBS News
click any image to enlarge



In January, the cruise ship Costa Concordia struck a rock off the shore of Isola del Giglio, in the Mediterranean.

30 people on board the largest passenger wreck of all time lost their lives; two are still missing.

Nearly a year later, the wreck is still sitting off the Italian coast, mostly submerged.

Because the Costa Concordia is in a nationally protected marine park and coral reef, it must be removed from the area before it can be dismantled, posing countless difficulties.

In a report on the efforts to remove the wreck, 60 Minutes' Leslie Stahl visited the site and recounted the remarkable salvage operation, which has a $400 million price tag.

Not only is it the riskiest, most complicated, and most expensive salvage plan ever undertaken, but no one is sure if it will work.

The ship weighs 60,000 tons and is filled with seawater.



It is sitting on two underwater mountain peaks.

65 percent of it is below the surface.



The wreck is an official crime scene.



The operation, which will cost about $400 million, is being paid for by insurance companies.



The plan is to rotate the ship upright, and onto an underwater platform.



Then it will float up, leaving more of its structure above the surface.



And it can be towed away.



Before getting on the inclined ship, workers must take a 4-day mountain climbing course.



The underwater platform is being built in northern Italy.

The steel must be transported through the Adriatic Sea, around the boot of Italy, and up to the wreck.



The steel that makes it up weighs three times as much as the Eiffel Tower.

It will be embedded in the seafloor.



The drill bit will be enclosed in a large tube, to keep debris from contaminating the protected area.



For now, the ship is held in place by steel cables, but strong storms could dislodge it.

Then it would sink to the seafloor, making the salvage operation near impossible.



111 salvage divers are currently working on the salvage operation around the clock, in 45-minute shifts.

They attached the cables holding the ship where it is.



They all live in floating barracks, next to the wreck site.



How exactly will workers rotate Costa Concordia onto the platform?

The plan essentially involves "weld[ing] a new ship onto the shipwreck," Stahl reports.



That new "ship" will consist of huge, hollow steel boxes.



Called sponsons, the biggest are 11 stories tall.



9 will be welded onto the exposed side of the ship, with just 2 inches between them.



Then steel cables will connect the sponsons to the steel platform.



Hydraulic pulleys will pull the 'Costa Concordia' upright.




More sponsons will be welded onto the other side of the ship.



Once the ship is upright, the extra buoyancy should make it float.



The ship will be floated next summer.

Once the process begins, there is no way to stop it, even if something goes wrong.



The backup plan is to break it up where it lies, it a huge cost to the local environment.



If all goes well, the 'Costa Concordia' will be cut up for scrap, far from Giglio.

It is so large, the process will take 2 years.