Fifty percent larger than her sister ships, the ‘social hub’ of the vessel will feature an array of brand-new venues along with a twist on some passenger favourites.

“Many features aboard the new Royal Princess will be exciting evolutions of the popular and successful features found throughout our fleet and the atrium is no exception,” Princess Cruises executive vice president Jan Swartz said.

“The expansion in size of this space provided us an opportunity to add some brand new venues to what is already a favourite passenger area.”

Some of these venues include Italian cocktail bar ‘Bellinis’s’, the ‘Ocean Terrace’ seafood bar, a gelateria and the ‘Celebrations’ gift shop offering a range of unique gifts for special occasions celebrated onboard.

Passenger favourites the ‘International Café’, ‘Sabatini’s’ trattoria and ‘Crooners’ martini bar will return, along with the ‘Bar Piazza’ complete with over 300 tea and infusion combinations.

Deck 5 Atrium Features

International Café

Serving fresh-baked pastries, sandwiches, salads, specialty coffees and a range of desserts, this popular Princess staple will offer an expanded seating area and new lighting feature aboard Royal Princess.

Celebrations Gift Shop

‘Celebrations’ will offer a range of gift options for passengers celebrating a special occasion onboard including premium chocolates and flower arrangements.

Click here to read more

By Natalie Aroyan, e-Travel Blackboard

As my time in the country’s cosmopolitan capital city was so short I took the shuttlebus from the port to Lambton Quay and then rode the cable car up the hill to the top of the Botanic Garden. Although it was grey and drizzly (apparently not usual for this time of year), the walk down through the gardens was spectacular. I walked past the distinctive Beehive and Parliament buildings and as I made my back through the city streets to the Aotea Quay I did wonder why there were so many people rushing through the rain in an extraordinary array of fancy dress … and it turns out that the Rugby Sevens were being held at the stadium (just opposite where Voyager was berthed) that afternoon.

While I waited for a taxi to the airport I saw Amit, my lovely butler, decked out in civvies and eagerly anticipating his first shore call of the cruise. As always it was sad to say goodbye to the ship and the lovely people I met on board, but I had a wonderful time and if nothing else, I’ve learned two things on this cruise: always pack a flashlight and a light waterproof jacket! I’ll be writing a full report on the cruise in the June issue of Cruise Passenger magazine: don’t forget to order your copy or subscribe here on the website!

Many cruise passengers on world voyages taking in the grandeur of Rio de Janeiro, the glamour of Monte Carlo and cinematic skyline of New York conclude at the end of their journey that cruising into Sydney Harbour was the highlight of it all.

It is possibly no surprise then that Australia is fast becoming the ‘it’ destination of cruising. A feature on trends in 2012 on the Cruise Critic website has even gone so far as to call it the new Mediterranean.

Sydney, now the irrefutable cruise capital of Australia, will welcome a total of 26 ships on 33 visits this month, the highest number of cruise ships to visit in any one month – a month-long Festival of Cruising. Across the entire wave season the city will receive at total of 214 vessel visits. The port city received 150 visits last year.

“That’s a 43 per cent increase, with more to come,” says Duncan Gay, Minister for Roads and Ports. “Indeed, next year we already have bookings for 264 cruise ship visits.”

There are in fact so many cruise ships visiting the city this month that some will moor mid-harbour before ferrying passengers ashore. The big names visiting include Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, which made a romantic entrance for Valentines Day; Queen Elizabeth, arriving on the 26^th February; and UK-based P&O Cruises ships Aurora on February 17, and Oriana on February 23, on which passengers will celebrate P&O Cruises’ 175^th anniversary.

Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which represents 13 of the visiting cruise ships, said the Festival of Cruising emphasised cruising’s contribution as the standout success of the Australian tourism sector.

It’s not just overseas visitors who are attracted to Australia’s unique cruise offerings. There has been a huge increase in the popularity of cruising among the Australian public. Classic International Cruises, for instance, recently reported that its ship Athena has just enjoyed her longest and most successful season here yet, with business up seven per cent and a repeat passenger rate of up to 50 per cent.

Cruise lines around the world are trying to get a piece of the Aussie cruise pie. Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Spirit has just emerged from dry dock sporting $7 million worth of upgrades, ahead of her arrival in Sydney later this year, most of which are specifically targeted to the Australian public.

The future looks bright for the cruising scene Down Under.

Plenty of us like to relax on board and explore ports when or wherever the feeling takes us. But cruises taking you to events of international standing that immerse you in the culture of a destination, or dazzle and amaze with sporting prowess, astronomical spectacles or nature’s peculiar delights offer a different type of experience.

This year brings many big events to cruise to, with a variety of itineraries offering enrichment and in-depth exploration of the surrounding regions both before and after the big event.

The Solar Eclipse, South Pacific

In the early morning of November 14, 2012, those of us situated appropriately in the South Pacific will witness a new moon aligning itself perfectly with the sun – two astronomical bodies that extraordinarily appear to be the same size from our vantage point on earth. Ring-shaped shadows will be caste across the planet as a dark moon engulfs the sun and glows with a ring of fire.

The best place to view the spectacle will be at sea. TravelQuest, Celebrity Cruises and Holland America Line (HAL) are offering a number of cruises, with HAL’s 14-night ‘Solar Eclipse Voyage’ on Oosterdam including an astronomical enrichment program and eclipse-related festivities on board.

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

This year commemorates Queen Elizabeth’s 60^th year on the throne so her Diamond Jubilee promises to be big one. With a concert at Buckingham Palace, a ceremony of light beacons throughout the country, a pageant at Windsor Castle and flotilla down the River Thames, the four-day event in early June offers an unmatched opportunity to experience British culture.

The quintessentially British Cunard Cruise Line will bring Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria together for a Royal Rendezvous in Southampton while smaller day-trip operators will be participating in the Thames flotilla.

Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix

The Monaco Grand Prix of Formula 1 is one of the most important events on the auto-racing calendar. The narrow course through the streets of Monte Carlo is considered the most hair-raisingly difficult of the Formula 1 circuits while the city’s sculpted mountainous terrain and yacht-studded harbour provide the perfect location for an event dripping with excitement, glitz and glamour.

Azamara Club Cruises and Silversea Cruises provide Monaco Grand Prix-themed cruises with visits to other ports in the Riviera, but you’ll need to act fast as they’re known to sell out rapidly.

& More…

Other big events this year include the Floriade World Horticultural Expo in the Netherlands (April – October); the 100^th Anniversary of the Titanic Disaster (April 15); the Open Championship of Golf in Lancashire, UK (July 19 – 22); and the Rhine in Flames Fireworks and Wine Festival (August); all of which can be experienced on a cruise.

If there is one thing you can be certain of in life it’s that things never stay the same and this is just as much the case in cruising as anything else. The world is a smorgasboard of cultural, geographical and natural delights and in 2012 changes in passenger demand, political stabilisation and cruise-line initiatives are opening up a number of new areas for cruise passengers to taste and enjoy.

Cuba, West Africa, and the river systems of the Mississippi and Asia are predicted to be the year’s hot spots. Established cruise lines are offering first-time ventures, there is a greater variety of ocean and river itineraries available, and thus more accessibility for the Australian cruise public.

When Fidel Castro ceded control of Cuba to Raul Castro in 2008, Fidel’s decidedly negative attitude to cruising gave way to the more open-armed approach of his brother. Since 2009, Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines, Compagnie du Ponant, Aida Cruises and Tropicana Cruises have been offering port stays in Cuba on Caribbean itineraries, and the gathering of Cuban cruise market momentum combined with a recent relaxation of US regulations, looks likely to make 2012 a big year.

Australians in particular can benefit from the new offerings of Variety Cruises; its recently announced Cuban itineraries for 2012-13 marketed to Aussies with selected cabins at 20 per cent off if booked before June 20, 2012.

The nations of West Africa have for a long time been plagued by political and corporate corruption, violent guerilla warfare, famine and depressed economies. While circumstances are now by no means rosy, the relative political stability of the region has attracted the interest of expedition cruisers seeking to explore this once dangerous territory.

Zegrahm Expeditions is offering a number of West African itineraries, including ‘Tracing the West Coast of Africa’ in which, cruising from Cameroon to Senegal, passengers will explore such places as Ghana, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. Variety Cruises will also take passengers on week-long explorations of the rivers of The Gambia and Senegal, and Silversea is offering three West Africa itineraries on the 132-guest, luxury expedition cruise vessel Silver Explorer.

River cruising will continue its rapid growth, with experts expecting the river systems of Asia, now plied by deluxe river vessels, to attract experienced river cruisers seeking to venture beyond the familiar hills, valleys and cities of Europe. And the inaugural season of The Great American Steamboat Company will no doubt feature prominently as, come April, guests on the luxurious traditional steamboat American Queen drift through the history, culture and beauty of America’s Deep South.

Akaroa Dolphin Tours

Voyager pulled into the large natural harbour of Akaroa early in the morning. Its name in Maori means ‘Long Harbour’ and it’s the oldest colonial town in the South Island as well as the only French colonial settlement in the country. The lifeboats tendered us ashore and I jumped off one vessel to another to take a ship’s excursion on the harbour with Akaroa Dolphins tours. The comfortable power cruiser headed out towards the mouth of the harbour and along the way we saw pods of Hectors dolphins, the smallest and rarest in the world, and weren’t they gorgeous! Our hosts Patsy and Mark gave excellent commentary and guidance and took the boat extremely close to the rocks so we could have a very close-up view of colonies of fur seals.

We learned some of the history of the Banks Peninsula – there have been some 67 generations of settlement since the arrival of the Polynesian forebears of the Maori – and in Onawe Bay saw the Maori meeting house and wooden church sitting side by side at the waterfront.

After wandering through the picturesque village, which still has French street, shop and house names, I spent an illuminating hour in the museum finding out more about Akaroa’s sealing, whaling and French-British-Maori heritage – an absolute bargain at NZ$4 for the entry fee. Jewellery-lovers will be fascinated by the Blue Pearl Gallery on the wharf in Akaroa, where jewellery incorporating these exquisitely coloured, iridescent pearls is made on the spot.

QM2 on Valentine's Day

Cunard’s world-famous flagship Queen Mary 2 became the Queen of Hearts today, arriving in Sydney on Valentine’s Day with a giant marriage proposal for one lucky Sydneysider.

Sporting a 25-metre long, five-metre high banner with the question “Marry Me Jess?” below her funnel, Queen Mary 2 sailed into the Harbour about 6am, leaving sightseers wondering who Jess was.

Newly engaged Stefan Libon Jess McGarrity

The question on everyone’s lips was answered when pilot Stefan Libon dropped to his knee and proposed to his girlfriend of nearly six years, Jess McGarrity, at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, with Queen Mary 2 in full view.

Photos by James Morgan

Remote, deserted beaches, uninhabited islands, unspoilt coral reefs and vivid cultural encounters – discover a Fiji less travelled aboard Tui Tai. Words: Roderick Eime

Fiji was one of my earliest international travel experiences. Still in short pants, I remember the bustling wharves of Suva and Lautoka and the giant (to me) P&O Himalaya, stark white under the blazing tropical sun. There were the ubiquitous carved wooden swords, shell necklaces and model canoes touted by young kids not much older than me, all the way into town and back.
I still have the blessed things somewhere in a box.

This was the Fijian tourist experience of 1971, a blueprint that remained unchanged for decades. For many Australians, it is a typical memory of their travel to the Fiji Islands and even to this day, many still opt for the resort experience that Fiji does so well.

The relationship between the Fijian and Australian people is strong and easily resists the distracting political ructions at government level. The warm and genuine hospitality of Melanesian people is unmistakable and irresistible and the Fijian welcome is perhaps its best example.

Beyond the manicured lawns, swimming pools and cocktail bars of Denarau Island, there exists another Fiji; one of remote, deserted beaches, hundreds of uninhabited islands, unspoilt coral reefs and vivid cultural encounters. To voyage by small ship from a secret anchorage out into the tropical heaven is the sort of experience that is appearing on more and more ‘bucket lists’. Niche, intimate and enriching, travel by vessels carrying as few as a couple of dozen guests enjoying superior service, cuisine and activities in a sustainable and culturally respectful manner is more and more appealing.

One of the best examples of this type of experience is that of Savusavu-based Tui Tai Expeditions. Tui Tai’s delightful three-masted design and generous interior space made her an ideal conversion for boutique itineraries. She was acquired by current owners Tige and Morika Young in 2002 and refitted to carry just 24 guests in comfortable cabins. In 2006, Tui Tai was remodelled again with more luxurious refinements such as a massage/spa studio, private cabanas and deluxe staterooms. There’s plenty of space to flop and relax with a book or just snooze and guests are free to be as active or as lazy as they want.

“Grab your mask and fins,” says our guide Gemma as urgently as she can, her voice never really sounding frantic, “the mantas are here!”

We snatch our snorkelling kit, still wet from the morning’s dive, and trot promptly down to the tender already idling alongside. We sling on our fins while the motor guns us across the wide lagoon.

“The mantas come through here a couple of times a year when the current and tides are right,” says Gemma, “we’ll drop you ahead of them and just hang there while they go past.”

No sooner are we in the water than the great rays start gliding towards us, their massive mouths agape, scooping up the plankton driven along in the current. Two, three, five creatures weave in and out of formation, diving occasionally, then doubling back in a graceful arc to rejoin the team. It’s a mesmerising choreography that quickly has us spellbound, yet in no time they are past us and off on their quest with slow, effortless flaps of their wings. We try to keep pace, but the tide holds us back.

“How was that?” implores Gemma, but we are speechless and puffing and I can only manage a wheezy “wow!”

There’s something about the magical manta rays that sums up Fiji and the
Tui Tai experience. Huge and powerful, they only exert energy when it suits them, instead arranging themselves so the food source comes to them. Graceful and serene, these huge creatures, at least three metres across, simply caress the water as they make their oceanic odyssey.

Although not all guests are ready for the go-go-go, I’m giving it a shot. Next, the mountain bike trek along the coastal road of Rabi sounds arduous, but hardcore peddlers would scoff. The gently undulating dirt road passes through sleepy villages where we exchange greetings in the local language. “Mauri!” (hello!) and the locals are ready with a broad smile and a wave as I wobble through their little hamlets.

Scuba diving is one of Fiji’s great attractions and one of my passions, so I’m using every opportunity to get beneath the waves and there are plenty. The outer reefs attract magnificent rays, dolphins and giant pelagic fish – all against a backdrop of some of the most beautiful hard and soft corals anywhere. Divers of all experience can enjoy these waters and Sebastien, my new French friend is the proud recipient of his PADI Open Water certification obtained on board.

Beyond simply carrying well-heeled eco-travellers into delirious destinations, Tui Tai Expeditions also operates a charitable fund that supports numerous tiny and remote communities with medical, educational, logistic and infrastructure support. Driven by guests’ desire to give back to the communities visited, the project played a crucial role in delivery of relief supplies to cyclone-ravaged villages after last year’s devastating Cyclone Tomas.

Relaxing in one of voluminous lounges on the deck, the gentle flap of a sail in the breeze and a satisfying lunch on top of my morning exercise, I drift off into a carefree, fantasy slumber. Instead of little wooden swords and tacky shell jewellery, my new dreams of Fiji are filled with reefs of colourful fish, majestic manta rays and secluded atolls. “Excuse me Mr Rod, your beer.” Now that’s an interruption I can live with.

BOOKINGS

Tui Tai Expeditions offer 5- or 7-night all-inclusive itineraries ex-Savasavu. Fares begin at US$2,493 per person, twin share for five nights and $2,990 for seven. For bookings, go to www.tuitai.com.

Air Pacific flies daily from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne direct to Nadi with daily connections to Savusavu with Pacific Sun. Call 1800 230 150, or visit www.airpacific.com; www.pacificsun.com.fj.

FACT FILE

Vessel: Tui Tai

Star rating: not rated

Max passengers: 25

Total crew: 10

Passenger decks: 3

GRT: 550 tons

Entered service: 1980; refit: 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008

Facilities: spa, PADI scuba diving, 2 Zodiac tenders, mountain bikes, kayaks, indoor bar/lounge, outdoor dining and kitchen, private cabanas, sun deck.

Gavin Smith, Chairman ICCA

Congratulations ICCA Winners!

The ICCA Awards shine the light on the best in the cruise industry.  

As cruise passengers, it pays to take note of the cruise organisations receiving praise from the industry. When cruise options baffle us and indecision plagues us these are the people to turn to for the calming explanations we know are derived from an encyclopaedic knowledge and genuine desire to guide us to the perfect cruise experience.

On Saturday night (February 11, 2012), at a glittering event held at Sydney’s Hilton Hotel, the International Cruise Council of Australasia (ICCA) presented its 2011 industry awards to a capacity trade audience from Australia and New Zealand.

Cruise Passenger magazine was the Gold Sponsor of the event and editor Sally Macmillan presented Awards to the Gold winners of Cruise Agency of the Year in Australia, Bicton Travel of WA, and New Zealand, iCruise in Auckland.

ICCA chairman Gavin Smith (Royal Caribbean International CEO) discussed with the crowd the tragic Costa Concordia sinking, indicating that it had had little effect on cruise bookings in Australia.  This is not the case in Europe and the USA, he said, where bookings are down.

The following awards were given:

ICCA Award Winners

Industry pioneer Phil Hoffmann was awarded the ‘Neil Frazer Award’ for outstanding contribution to the cruise industry by an individual.

The ‘Agency Promotion of the Year – Australia’ went to Just Cruises’ “Cruise Sale Week”.

The ‘Agency Promotion of the Year – New Zealand’ went to Manly United Travel’s “APT River Cruise Group Promotion”.

The ‘Rising Star – Australia’ went to Jamii-Lee Alpen, Ozcruising, ACT.

The ‘Rising Star – New Zealand’ went to Helen Mahoney, Lets Cruise, Auckland.

The ‘Frank Johnson Award for Cruise Consultant of the Year – Australia’ went to Roland Kautzky, Cruiseabout, Port Melbourne.

The ‘Frank Johnson Award for Cruise Consultant of the Year – New Zealand’ went to Sue Grigg, Cruiseabout, Ponsonby.

And the Cruise Agency of the Year awards were as follows:

‘Cruise Agency of the Year – Australia, Bronze’: Phil Hoffmann Travel.

Host Lisa Wilkinson with Roland Kautzky, Cruiseabout Port Melbourne, and Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry

‘Cruise Agency of the Year – Australia, Silver’: Cruiseabout, Turramurra.

‘Cruise Agency of the Year – Australia, Gold’: Bicton Travel, WA.

‘Cruise Agency of the Year – New Zealand, Bronze’: Cruise Republic, Auckland.

‘Cruise Agency of the Year – New Zealand, Silver’: Lets Cruise, Auckland.

‘Cruise Agency of the Year – New Zealand, Gold’: iCruise, Auckland.

Caroline Bay, Timaru

Our first land stop after Hobart and five days at sea was Timaru, a major port in the south Canterbury region of the South Island of NZ. The region is renowned for its proximity to mighty Mount Cook, its scenic beauty, historic country towns and its ‘Food & Wine Trail’, which showcases vineyards and artisan food producers. Timaru and nearby Geraldine have several art galleries worth visiting – I only had time for the McAtamney Gallery in Geraldine (www.mcatamneygallery.co.nz), which specialises in contemporary works (particularly those of noted artist John Badcock) and came away very impressed.

Lucky me was met at Timaru’s tourist centre (i-Site) by one of my best and oldest friends, Jane McKenzie, who runs boutique tours for visitors to the beautiful South Canterbury region. She arranges specially tailored tours for cruise passengers and tourists and you’re sure to have a thoroughly well-informed, entertaining visit with Jane – just check out www.southcanterburytours.co.nz. and bookmark it for the next time you’re visiting the South Island.

Opihi Vineyard, South Canterbury region

The weather wasn’t showing off the mountains and lush green landscapes in their full glory but it was enough to get a glimpse – until next time.

Woodbury, near Geraldine