Cruising from

Australia will never

be the same again.
Contact your travel agent. Call us on 1800 754 500
celebritycruises.com.au | facebook.com/celebritycruisesausnz
View
Celebrity Solstice
at Circular Quay
on Sunday,
9 December
from 6:30am.
Introducing Celebrity Solstice.

Arrives in Sydney on Sunday.
Internationally acclaimed, unlike anything else in Australia and
now available from your doorstep, the Celebrity Solstice is your
new choice in cruising from Australia. Discover the Celebrity
difference with superior service, award winning cuisine and
unparalleled accommodation.
Like us on Facebook for your chance
to win a 12 night cruise on Celebrity Solstice.
Website: www.cruiseweekly.com.au | Phone: 1300 799 220 | Fax: 1300 799 221 | Email: info@cruiseweekly.com.au Page 1
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Tuesday 04 December 2012
TODAYS ISSUE OF CW
Todays issue of CW features four pages of
all the latest cruise news and photos.
PLUS see CWs front full page wrap from
Celebrity Cruises introducing Celebrity Solstice.
Also, see page five for information on APTs
European Wine Cruising in 2013.
4 and 5 star accommodation
International airfares and taxes
Boutique Lifestyle Upgrade
on all Yangtze River cruises
Lunch with a Chinese family
Cruise on Victoria Katarina
And much more ...
Guaranteed Inclusions
Conditions: Prices are per person twin
share ex. SYD, MEL, BNE, ADL, PER &
includes taxes and fuel surcharges, valid for
departures from valid Nov12 to Jun13 and
seasonal surcharge apply. Please check
with Helen Wongs Tours for exact departure
dates. Prices & taxes are current at time of
brochure printing 15 Sep 11. and are subject
to availability and change without notice at
time of booking. All other conditions as per
Helen Wongs Tours current brochure range.
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see your Travel Agent or
helenwongstours.com
APT releases new style of cruises
Free flights and discounts are
on offer for APT's first small
ship expeditions in Australia,
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea,
Japan and Cuba.
THE Australian company has opened
bookings for adventure-based luxury cruises
on its newest investment, UK-based Noble
Caledonia and its specialist ships which include
the 110-passenger Caledonia Sky and Island Sky.
Refurbished in May, Caledonia Sky is the
main vessel featured in the new brochure, APT
Luxury Small Ship Expedition Cruises 2013-14,
specifically tailored for travellers from Australia
and New Zealand.
Fly free deals and discounts of up to $1,050
per person are now available for early bookings.
Highlights include a 14-day South East Asia
Explorer from Darwin to Singapore, following
The Journey of the Krait route of one of the
most successful covert operations in Australian
military history, is priced from $9,995pp, twin
share, departing 25 September 2013.
An 11-day Kimberley cruise departing
September 2013 is priced from $7,995 per
person twin-share, with options to explore
Darwin or Broome, while the 28-day Grand
Kimberley, including the coastal cruise and a
17-day 4WD land tour, starts at $17,395.
The 16-day Japanese Spring Gardens, priced
from $11,995, is organised by APT's sister
company Botanica and sails from Kyoto,
around Japan to South Korea.
The 19-day Beyond the Dragon's Lair, priced
from $13,959, starts in Jakarta and finishes in
Port Moresby.
APT General Manager Marketing Debra Fox
said Caledonia Sky feels like a private yacht or
a fine country club and is equipped with five
different cabin styles, with each suite almost
twice the size of suites on standard big ships.
The ship has 10 onboard zodiacs for
expeditions led by experts, who also conduct
onboard lectures.
Also in the brochure is the 15-day Spirit of
the Spanish Main, aboard Island Sky, from
Nassau in the Bahamas, cruising around Cuba
to Mexico and Belize, priced from $10,295.
Fares include tipping, shore excursions and
house wines, beers and soft drinks with all
lunches and dinners.
Each departure is a one-off, which Fox said
makes the APT expedition program the most
specialised on the seas.
For details, see www.aptouring.com.au.
The Captain is set to visit Lau
NEXT year Captain Cook Cruises is embarking
on the first ever Discovery Cruise to the rarely
visited Fijian Lau Islands.
The 11-night cruise onboard the MV Reef
Endeavour is scheduled to depart on 22
October 2013, and will visit the northern island
of Lau, Wailagilala; Lau's largest Island
Vanuabalavu; the most beautiful Island in the
Lau group, Fulaga; the uninhabited Vuaqava;
Kabara known for its wood turning and Tongan
heritage; and the untouched white beaches of
Totoya Island.
On the way to and from the Lau group the
cruise will stop in at Yanuca Island, Savusavu
Bay and Kadavu, famous for its wildlife and
underwater world.
Captain Cook Cruises is so excited to be able
to offer the first ever cruise around the Lau
Group of Islands, said Jackie Charlton, MD of
Captain Cook Cruises, Fiji.
We have worked really hard, using local
knowledge and advice, to put together a
fantastic 11 night itinerary that will not only
show off everything Lau has to offer, but that
will allow passengers to experience a remote
and unspoilt part of Fiji, she added.
The cruise is priced from $3,430 per adult,
$730 per child (kids 5 -17 years sharing with
adults) and $1,200 (under 4 years) which
includes a nanny service.
Voyager celebrates in UK
THE UK-based Voyages of Discovery's
refurbished mv Voyager will have its official
naming ceremony in Portsmouth today.
After a four-day showcase in the city, the ship
will then sail to the West Indies on a five-
month voyage, before returns to Portsmouth
UK in summer 2013 for four other cruises.
Crystal unveils North Europe
CRYSTAL Cruises' new Baltic, Scandinavian
and British Isles program is highlighted by
shorter summer voyages and 25% more
overnight calls.
Beginning 8 June 2013 aboard Crystal Serenity,
three new seven-day itineraries and five 10-day
cruises will explore Norway, Sweden, Denmark,
Finland, Netherlands, Estonia, Germany,
Belgium, Finland, Russia, the UK and Ireland.
Almost all voyages will offer overnight stays,
including two nights in St Petersburg.
Two new cruises sail to and from Dublin for
the first time, and a London-Copenhagen
sailing marks the line's return to Amsterdam,
Zeebrugge and Helsingborg.
See www.wiltrans.com.au for details.
Website: www.cruiseweekly.com.au | Phone: 1300 799 220 | Fax: 1300 799 221 | Email: info@cruiseweekly.com.au Page 2
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ZZZFUXLVHZHHNO\FRPDX Tuesday 04 December 2012
SAVE$2000
PER
COUPLE

ON SELECT 2013
EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISES
*conditions apply
see website

Clickhereforinformationonavailablecruises
MORE EARLYBIRD DEALS AVAILABLE
UP
TO
Cruise
Calendar
Cruise Weeklys cruise calendar details
upcoming port calls of passenger cruise
ships at various destinations in Australia.
BRISBANE
Celebrity Solstice Fri 07 Dec
Pacific Dawn Sat 08 Dec
Costa Neoromantica Sat 08 Dec
Windstars Caribbean plans
WINDSTARS 2014 Caribbean northern
hemisphere winter season will consist of three
eclectic itineraries.
The season will kick off in December 2013
and will run through to March 2014, and will
include a seven-day Wind Surf Flavours of the
Caribbean cruise from Dutch St. Maarten to
French-influenced Martinique, with calls to Le
Marin, Martinique; Pigeon Island, St. Lucia;
Roseau, Dominica; Les Saintes, Guadeloupe;
and Basseterre, St. Kitts.
The Caribbean offering will also include a
seven-day Jewels of the Windward Islands
itinerary onboard Wind Star sailing roundtrip
from Bridgetown, Barbados with stops at
Pigeon Island, St. Lucia; St. George's Grenada;
Mayreau, St. Vincent and the Grenadines;
Tobago Cays, St. Vincent and the Grenadines;
and Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Rounding out the trifecta will be a seven-day
Yachtsman's Caribbean itinerary onboard Wind
Surf from Philipsburg, St. Maarten,
calling on Falmouth Harbour, Antigua (overnight);
Soper's Hole, Tortola, B.V.I; Jost Van Dyke, B.V.I.
(overnight); Virgin Gorda, Prickly Pear Beach,
B.V.I. (overnight); and Gustavia, St. Barthelemy.
See your travel agent for details.
SYDNEY
Pacific Jewel Tue 04 Dec
Oosterdam Wed 05 Dec
Carnival Spirit Thu 06 Dec
Pacific Pearl Thu 06 Dec
Rhapsody of the Seas Fri 07 Dec
Voyager of the Seas Sat 07 Dec
Celebrity Solstice Sun 09 Dec
Celebrity Solstice Mon 10 Dec
Costa Neoromantica Mon 10 Dec
CAIRNS
Costa Neoromantica Wed 05 Dec
Rhapsody of the Seas Tue 11 Dec
Berthing row lessening Sydney appeal
The Federal Governments
allocation of limited berthing
rights at Garden Island for
cruise lines in 2012/13 & 2013/
14 will reflect negatively on
Sydney Harbours cruise ship
handling ability, NSW Tourism
Minister George Souris has
predicted.
IN July, it was revealed by Cruise Weekly the
Australian Navy base at Woolloomooloo would
be used by superliners Radiance of the Seas
and Celebrity Millennium, along with Queen
Mary 2 over the next two seasons, due to a
shortage of available docking spaces in the
NSW capital.
Were disappointed we only got six berths
out of the Navy.
We were hoping for more than that, Souris
told Cruise Weekly.
The figure is so low its almost
not an announcement, he added.
Its very disappointing, so I fear that we are
going to see some big oceanliners moored in
the water and passengers ferried by punt.
Souris said the floating pontoon in the
middle of Sydney Harbour alternative, was
not a good solution - its not what A grade
customers have paid for.
He told CW that cruise lines promoting
Sydney now have to rely on selling the Opera
House and Harbour views of the city.
Weve got to get past that, the experience
has to be good too.
He referred to talks with the Navy as an
incomplete chapter but championed Federal
Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson for his
efforts at pushing the case for more Garden
Island berths.
He [Ferguson] did very well for us, but the
end result was unfavourable, Souris said.
The NSW Minister added it was key not to
part with the Navy, with its provisioning bigger
than that of the cruise line industry.
Were not chasing them out, he added.
MEANWHILE, Souris has weighed in on the
debate over the Sydney port price hike which
will see cruise lines charged a $20 per person
levy from 01 Jul next year, rather than the
current $250 per hour fee.
The Minister said he appreciates Sydney
needs additional cruise facilities for the
burgeoning industry, to the extent that if this
fee raises money to enable us to do the
infrastructure, then Im more than OK with it.
In his personal view, Souris said:
Cruise passengers want to come to Sydney
Harbour - thats the main ticket item.
In the grand scheme of things it wont make
much of an impact on a passengers decision
to go or not go on a cruise, he concluded.
Sydney is not without its competition, the
Minister added, acknowledging the recent
Queensland government proposal to build a
$500 million cruise facility on the Gold Coast
(CW 25 Sep), admitting he was baffled where
cash would come from to fund the project.
NORWAY
& Scandinavia
including Western Europe
& British Isles
Tailormade SeaTours
2013
navia
n Europe
les
urr de SeaaTo Tourss
2013 Norway &
Scandinavia brochure
out now
Contact Discover the World Cruising your Hurtigruten Specialist 1800 OCEANS (1800 623 267)
retailres@discovertheworld.com.au | discovertheworldcruising.com.au | or your travel agent
*Prices based on guaranteed inside cabin, are inclusive of the 35% Last Minute Saving on select voyages between 02 Jan & 13 Feb 2013. Last Minute Fares are strictly limited and
may be withdrawn without notice. Travel Agent License: 2TA06929 (Discover the World Marketing Travel trading as Discover the World Cruising)
Experience Antarctica with the world leaders in
expedition cruising, Hurtigruten, and
Save up to 35% on select 2012/13 voyages!
From just $4,943* pp/twin share for the 10 Day Classic Expedition
including return ights between Buenos Aires & Ushuaia! Or our
13 Day Weddell Sea Expedition from just $6,428* pp/twin share
Hurtigruten Antarctic
Peninsula Expeditions
d leaders iiiinn
LAST MINUTE SALE
FARES ON
SELECT VOYAGES
Website: www.cruiseweekly.com.au | Phone: 1300 799 220 | Fax: 1300 799 221 | Email: info@cruiseweekly.com.au Page 3
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Tuesday 04 December 2012
Just one click away from
keeping up to date with all
the breaking news as it
comes to hand...
Follow us on:
Free flights to Galapagos
INTREPID cruisers looking to nab a deal to
the Galapagos may want to have a look at the
latest deal from Lindblad Expeditions, which is
offering a free roundtrip airfare to Galapagos
from Miami with selected expeditions aboard
the 96-guest National Geographic Endeavour.
The deal is applicable on the following 2013
departures: 11 January, 25 January, 22
February, 15 March and 05 April, for bookings
made before 31 December 2012.
For details see your local travel agent, or visit
www.wildearth-travel.com.
HMS Bounty investigation
AN investigation has begun into the events
and decisions which led to the sinking of the
HMS Bounty, a replica of the legendary British
navy ship, famous for the 1789 mutiny of crew.
The replica HMS Bounty was built for the
1962 movie Mutiny of the Bounty, starring
Marlon Brando, and after went on to star in
several other productions, including the
Pirates of the Caribbean series.
Of late however, the vessel served as a
training ground for those who wanted to crew
tall ships, and at the time of her sinkage, was
on the market for over US$4 million.
The vessel met her end off the
coast of North Carolina during Hurricane Sandy,
after her Captain, Robin Walbridge, made the
unusual decision to sail her away from the
harbour in New London, Connecticut, as the
Sandy loomed, and into the eye of the storm.
According to reports, had Bounty stayed in
the harbour she would have sustained serious
damage, and speculation has it that Walbridge,
an experienced captain with over 17 years at
sea under his belt, decided to try to save the
ship by sailing it into the Atlantic, to navigate it
out of the storms path.
Bounty sank 144 kilometres off Cape
Hatteras in 18-foot waves, after two rough
days at sea, where she begun to take on water.
The US Coast Guard managed to rescue 14
crew members after they abandoned ship,
however one, Claudene Christian (a relative of
one of the original Bounty mutineers) passed
away after arriving on shore.
Captain Walbridge went down with the ship,
and despite search efforts, he was not located.
The investigation will look into whether
equipment or crew contributed to the tragedy.
HMS Bounty as she went down
Bikes and yachts in Europe
OUTDOOR Travel has secured a limited
number of berths onboard a unique former
gentleman's luxury yacht, built in 1926.
The yacht offers 5-berths all with their own
bathroom, whilst guests enjoy food prepared
onboard by the vessels resident chef.
As an added bonus guests can make use of
onboard bikes for full day self-guided cycling
tours in Europe.
The two 15-day tours depart from Maastricht
to Paris on 21 Sep 2013, and from Paris to
Maastricht on 11 Oct 2013, and are priced
from $2,840pp.
See your travel agent, or call 1800 331 582.
Save up to 35% off sailing
STAR Clippers Royal Clipper, Star Clipper and
Star Flyer, will operate a record 169 cruises in
the Mediterranean, Baltic, Central America,
Cuba and the Caribbean, transits of the
Panama Canal, and six crossings of the Atlantic
Ocean between 2013 and April 2014.
The itineraries are laid out in a new 68-page
brochure, which also includes savings for early
bookings, with several sailings offered at 35%
for bookings before 31 January 2013.
Star Clippers was founded in 1989 by
Swedish entrepreneur, Mikael Krafft, with two
identical four-masted barquentines, the 113m
Star Flyer, which set sail in 1991 and her twin,
Star Clipper, which launched in 1992.
The duo were joined in 2000 by third vessel,
Royal Clipper, with all three being re-creations
of the classic 19th century clipper sailing ships.
Solstice arrives in Darwin
AS the city awoke and began to prepare for
the day, Celebrity Solstice slipped into Darwins
Fort Hill Wharf at 7am on Friday morning,
heralding the commencement of her 2012/13
Australian summer season.
Measuring a whopping 16-storeys in height,
and boasting 10 restaurants, 15 bars (including
a martini bar), a real grass lawn, and capacity
for 2,850-guests Solstice is the largest ever
vessel to call Australia home.
Whilst in regional waters Solstice will depart
on 17 sailings ranging in length from one- to
35-nights, including an 18-night Round
Australia cruise.
For details see your local travel agent, or visit
www.celebritycruises.com.au.
Solstice is pictured below at Fort Hill Wharf.
Carnival gets into the sale spirit
CARNIVAL Cruise Lines launched a one week
Carnival Spirit sale yesterday, offering up to
$300 off per cabin on a range of cruises.
Special fares include a nine-day New
Caledonia cruise priced from $820pp, and a
10-day New Caledonia and Vanuatu cruise
from $885pp.
The sale ends Sunday, see www.carnival.com.au.
THE Duchess and the Queen.
Queen Victorias doting Godmother,
Camilla The Duchess of Cornwall, will visit
her charge on 13 December, to mark the
vessels fifth birthday.
While on board, The Duchess will sign the
Visitors Book, witness the unveiling of a
specially-commissioned portrait of her by
noted Royal artist Richard Stone, and will
also meet 12 Prince's Trust apprentices
who participated in the Trust's Get into
work experience programme at Cunard.
Celebrity Reflection christened
CELEBRITY Cruises named its fifth Solstice
class vessel in a ceremony in Miami last
weekend, assisted by four godmothers fighting
breast cancer.
The godmothers, who have been diagnosed
with breast cancer, are Helen O'Connell,
manager of Celebrity's community relations,
and Rosey Rodriguez, a 17-year company
employee; as well as Jovanka Goronjic,
AquaSpa manager on the Australian-based
Celebrity Solstice, and Megan Mathie, a
glassblower on Solstice, both of whose
mothers have the disease.
The 3,046-passenger Celebrity Reflection is
parent company Royal Caribbean's 42nd ship.
Website: www.cruiseweekly.com.au | Phone: 1300 799 220 | Fax: 1300 799 221 | Email: info@cruiseweekly.com.au Page 4
Cruise Weekly is Australias favourite online cruising publication.
In production since 2007, Cruise Weekly is published each Tuesday,
with a further travel industry update each Thursday.
Cruise Weekly is free and is sent to subscribers via email as an Adobe
Acrobat PDF document.
Sign up for a free subscription at www.cruiseweekly.com.au.
PO Box 1010, Epping, NSW 1710
Phone: 1300 799 220 Fax: 1300 799 221
Cruise Weekly is a publication of Cruise Weekly Pty Ltd. All content fully protected by copyright. Please obtain written permission to reproduce any material. While every care has been taken in the preparation of
Cruise Weekly no liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. Information is published in good faith to stimulate independent investigation of the matters canvassed. Responsibility for editorial comment is taken by Bruce Piper.
Publisher/Managing Editor: Bruce Piper
Editor: Louise Goldsbury
Assistant Editor: Amanda Collins
Contributors: Roderick Eime and Chantel
Long
Email: info@cruiseweekly.com.au
Advertising and Marketing: Magda Herdzik,
Lisa Martin and Christie-Lee Lachance
Email: advertising@cruiseweekly.com.au
Business Manager: Jenny Piper
Email: accounts@traveldaily.com.au
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4RAVEL$AILY
First with the news
The cruise stubbie holder
A Cruisey Christmas gift guide
by: Louise Goldsbury
Bl ing lanyards for cruise cards
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Kiargos nautical swimwear
Advertise with us
For details call us today:
1300 799 220
t$PTU&FDUJWFt5BSHFUFEt&BTZ
Tuesday 04 December 2012
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Twelve summers cruising
Eleven waiters waiting
Ten decks a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight men a-watching
Seven kids a-swimming
Six pokies playing
Five l ifebuoy rings
Four bingo cards
Three course lunch
Two cocktail drinks
And a towel partridge in a towel tree!
If all of that sounds like too much trouble, online shopping is your
answer.
The cruise passenger in your life is sure to appreciate a present that
helps them prepare for their next trip or to better enjoy their time
onboard.
Many companies have released cruise-related gifts that may appeal
to your friends of family, but you need to order now to receive
delivery before Christmas Day.
For a cheap stocking-filler, Queensland-based Bling Lanyards has a
sale on five-packs in various sparkly designs and colours ($25 with
free postage; www.bling-lanyards.com).
A lanyard, by the way, is like a necklace with a plastic pouch to carry
your cruise card - handy when you are wearing swimwear or clothes
with no pockets.
The Cruisey is a stubbie holder for your drink, also worn around your
neck, so you can have all hands on deck.
Each one has a nautical phrase printed across it - my two favourites
are Ship Shape and Pier Pressure (US$5 each plus postage;
www.thecruisey.com).
Australian swimwear designer Kiargo has a new range of bikinis and
one-pieces, influenced by the glamour of luxury ocean cruising.
Earlier this year, the company held a fashion show aboard a
Silversea ship while docked in Sydney Harbour.
With sizes from 8 to 22, A to G cup, any woman will love one of
these flattering, supportive designs (www.kiargo.com.au).
In the UK, the Cruise Gift Store (www.cruisegiftstore.co.uk) is
dedicated to cruisers.
The site sells hundreds of items under $20: shirts, magnets, luggage
tags, mugs, ties, games, keyrings, pill boxes and much more.
Festive items include Sea-son Greetings cards, Christmas-themed
aprons and chocolate ships.
A few funny options include Gin & Titonic ice-cube trays, lifejacket
wine bottle chillers, and port and starboard cufflinks.
Caf Press (www.cafepress.com.au) also has a wide selection of
cruise clothing, journals, posters, bumper stickers, calendars, coasters,
and some random products such as pet bowls.
If you can't find the perfect present, personalise it.
This site allows you to customise t-shirts, mugs, iPhone cases,
jewellery, water bottles, bathroom products and even pairs of thongs
for the whole group.
Of course, the ultimate present is an actual cruise, so look out for
the summer sales on offer this month.
Have a cruisey Christmas!
C
E
L
E
B
R
AT I N
G
RHINE, RHNE &
MOSELLE RIVER CRUISE
Amsterdam to Arles
15 Days from $6,995*
Departs 8 November 2013
ASK ABOUT OUR
FLY FREE OFFERS
Europe
WINE CRUISING 2013
*Conditions apply. Prices are per person, and are based on Cat. E Stateroom departing 8 November 2013 (EURC15W). Prices correct as at 7 November 2012 and may fluctuate due to changes in availability, surcharges, fees & taxes. A non-refundable deposit of $3,000 is due within 7 days
of booking and final payment due 100 days prior to departure. Australian Pacific Touring Pty Ltd ABN 44 004 684 619 Lic. No. 30112 MKT11080
Join APT for a cruise from Amsterdam in Europes north,
to the sun-drenched Mediterranean in the south of France.
Cruise in absolute luxury aboard your
ve-star APT river ship, as you immerse yourself
in a gourmet discovery that showcases the
premier wine regions and vineyards in Europe.
Ask about our Paris, Barcelona
& Monte Carlo Extensions
or our November 2013
Magnicent Wine Cruise
Swiss Alps
PROVENCE
MS AMACELLO 7
MS AMADAGIO
7
MONACO
Nice
Monte Carlo
Cannes
3
SWITZERLAND
NETHERLANDS
GERMANY
FRANCE
BELGIUM
3
Amsterdam
Basel
Speyer
Heidelburg
Cologne
Rdesheim
Koblenz
Cochem
Avignon
Trvoux
Lake Geneva
Lyon
Tournon
Arles
Viviers
Grignan
Chteauneuf-du-Pape
Vienne
Paris
Gruyres
Strasbourg
Obernai
Rhne River
Rhine River
Rhine
River
Moselle
River
Sane River
SPAIN
Barcelona
Perpignan
3
Les Baux
de Provence
Marseille
Call 1300 278 278
www.aptouring.com.au or see your travel agent