Cruise Weekly for Tue 21 May 2013 - Viking liner, CroisiEurope, Seabourn, Aurora, Blue Lagoon and much more

Website: www.cruiseweekly.com.au | Phone: 1300 799 220 | Fax: 1300 799 221 | Email: [email protected] Page 1 Cruise WEEKLY Tuesday 21 May 2013 Cruise New Zealand & receive pre or post-cruise fights. ~ F l y ree ~ with Celebrity Cruises B o o k b y 3 1 J u l y 2 0 1 3 ~ Terms & conditions apply. Learn more. Cruise Weekly ’s guest expert, Adam Armstrong from Royal Caribbean is back for a second round, answering some of your cruising-relate d queries. Are there are any plans in the near future for Voyager to undergo major refurbishment and are there plans for adding more dining venues and Oasis class features? It’s a coincidence that you should ask. Last week we announced that Voyager of the Seas will undergo a major bow-to-stern revitalisaon in October 2014 – right before she returns to Australia for her summer 14/15 season. While we can’t reveal the full details just yet, you can expect many excing new onboard amenies, including those featured in Royal Car ibbean’s Oasis Cl ass ships. So watch this space, we’ll announce more later this year! How much bigger can cruise ships realiscally get? Royal Caribbean operates the world’s biggest cruise ships - and the technology certainly exists to make cruise ships even bigger. For us, however, it’s less about building the biggest ship & more about what size of ship will we need to accommodate all of the innovave and excing amenies onboard. Bigger ships mean bigger and beer facilies - like the ice-skang rink, Central Park and Boardwalk on Oasis of the Seas. Another very important consideraon is port infrastructure, because many ports are not big enough to dock larger vessels, or to handle increased guest volumes through their terminals. Adam’ s third and nal contribuon this me around will be published next week, so if you have a queson you’d like answered, send it to [email protected] . Ask The Expert with Adam Armstrong Viking unveils ocean cruise line The sister company of Viking River Cruises will share many of its ‘complimentary’ features and a greater focus on desnaons. Viking Ocean Cruises was ocially launched last week, revealing a range of freebies usually seen on river vessels and more expensive luxury ships – but Australians will have to wait in line to book. Open only to the American market for now, the all-inclusive cruises in Europe will see every fare including a balcony stateroom, shore excursions in each port of call, wi- internet, all onboard meals, with beer and wine at lunch and dinner, self-service laundry and 24-hour room service — a value of more than US$2,400 per couple for an average cruise, according to Viking. Another point of dierence is that ineraries have been designed to allow maximum me on land, oen with late evening or overnight stays. Desnaons will include both cosmopolitan cies and “collector ports” with historical and cultural appeal. “It is our view that in the race to build bigger ships, many cruise lines have lost sight of the desnaons to which they sail,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking Cruises. “With our new ocean cruises, we are applying the same principles behind our award-winni ng river cruises to our inerary and ship design; privileged-access excur sions; and onboard experiences to make desnaons the true focus.” The rst newly-built ship, the 928-passenger Viking Star , is set to debut in May 2015, oering maiden voyages in Scandinavia, the Balc and the Mediterranean. A second ship is on order for delivery in 2016, with opons for four more ocean vessels. Viking Star features all balcony cabins, 14 two-room suites, an innity pool, a second pool under a retractable dome, a two-deck lounge at the bow of the ship, ve restaurants, several bars, a theatre, cooking school, and a day spa with saunas and a “snow groo” where snowakes descend from the ceiling through chilled air. Designed with the environment in mind, it also has energy-eci ent hybrid engines, a streamlined hull and bow for maximum fuel eciency , onboard solar panels, and equipment that minimises exhaust polluon. Bookings have opened in the US and will be oered to Australian and New Zealand travellers later this year. Aurora Antarctica rate freeze AURORA Expedions has taken steps to ensure new customers are not aected by the declining AUD to USD exchange rate, imposing a freeze on all 2013/14 Antarcc voyages. All upcoming departures in the season will be available for sale in Australia at even parity if cabins are booked before 14 Jun 2013. Phone Aurora on (02) 9252 1033 for details. Dedicated shore phone hotline SEABOURn has today launched a toll free phone number allowing Seabourn guests soon travelli ng to book in shore excursions and to seek assistance with booking their shore tours. The phone number - 1800 259 679 - is staed from 4:30am to 1pm AEST Monday to Friday and from 4:30am to 11am on Saturdays. Seabourn director of sales in Australia Tony Archbold said the specialist team had extensive knowledge of shore excursion progra ms. “This new toll free number doesn’t cost a cent but provides priceless advice and peace of mind to our guests before they travel” .

Documents

Cruise Weekly for Tue 21 May 2013 - Viking liner, CroisiEurope, Seabourn, Aurora, Blue Lagoon and much more