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Website: www.cruiseweekly.com.au | Phone: 1300 799 220 | Fax: 1300 799 221 | Email: [email protected] Page 1
T H U R S D A Y 2 4 J U L Y 2 0 0 8
www.cruiseweekly.com.au
Ph: 1300 799 220 Email: [email protected]
Editors: Bruce Piper & Katrina Archer
Cruise W E E K L Y
Tuesday 9 July 2013
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Sunken tug diverts ConquestCARNIVAL was forced to disembark
passengers aboard the Carnival Conquest at Mobile, Alabama instead of the intended port at New Orleans after the Mississippi River was closed due to a sunken tugboat.
The line said in a statement that the United States Coast Guard was “working to locate to determine if it posed a hazard for other vessels transiting the river”.
Due to the nine-hour cruising time required to reach Mobile, the decision was made to disembark there rather than continue to wait.
Passengers were bused back to New Orleans, with those due to join Conquest for its next sailing transported to Mobile and offered 1-day pro-rata refunds of their cruise fare.
Two crew members aboard the tug were rescued, with the US Coast Guard assessing for how much longer the river will remain closed.
Conquest is expected to depart from Mobile for its next scheduled departure today.
Eden blooms as next cruise hot spotAn extended pier and more ship visits are planned for the NSW south coast town.
FedeRAL Government funding for the port of Eden is expected to lead to a rise in calls by local and international superliners.
The $10 million grant will be used to lengthen the pier, allowing these larger ships to dock at the only safe deep-water port between Sydney and Melbourne.
Australia’s largest cruise operator has welcomed the upgrade as good news for cruise passengers and the coastal community.
“True to its name, Eden is a beautiful port to visit but current infrastructure restrictions mean only smaller ships can safely disembark their passengers there,” Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry said.
“Extending the pier to a total 260 metres will make a big difference, enabling us to add Eden to itineraries on short cruises and longer voyages for many of our brands.”
Sherry predicted the local economy would receive several hundred thousand dollars with each ship visit.
“We are already working with local tour operators, tourism bodies and the Chamber of Commerce to discuss our passengers’ requirements, so we’re really looking forward to putting this piece of paradise on the cruise map,” she added.
Eden has previously been visited by Princess Cruises’ 680-passenger Pacific Princess and Holland America’s Volendam and Amsterdam, with Seabourn Sojourn set to make its inaugural call next February.
The new pier enables potential visits by other ships from these brands, as well as P&O and Cunard Line.
“Now that we know that our larger ships can also visit Eden, we’ll be reviewing our itineraries for P&O Cruises from 2016 with a view to adding Eden on our short break cruises out of Sydney and potentially Brisbane and Melbourne,” Sherry said.
“We’ll also be talking with our international brands to let them know Eden will soon be open for their passengers.”
Port Lincoln seeks more shipsBRUCe Green, the Mayor of the South
Australian town of Port Lincoln has earmarked a plan to attract more cruise ship visits after meeting recently with the South Australian Tourism Commission.
Five different ships are scheduled for a visit to the port in coming years, with Green saying he wants to attract more in the future.
Port Lincoln City Council chief executive officer Geoff Dodd said the city was working on a plan to improve the visitor experience.
SS Catherine launch upcomingUNIWORLd Boutique River Cruises will
launch its new-build vessel SS Catherine in March next year, while the development of the SS Alexandra is now on hiatus.
The company will now commence operating the Catherine on France’s Rhone and Saone rivers and will be modelled in a similar style to its sister vessel, the River Royale, which itself will be relocated to the Bordeaux region of France to operate eight-day departures.
Once operating, Catherine will be the largest in the Uniworld fleet with capacity for 159 passengers and will offer three full decks with spacious staterooms with marble bathrooms.
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Tuesday 9 July 2013
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Fatality aboard Carnival MagicA MAN has died after accidentally falling over
the railing of his cabin aboard the Carnival Magic, landing three levels below on an open deck.
Magic was mid-way through a seven-night departure from Galveston, Texas when the accident happened, with the company saying it was working to provide assistance and support to the man’s travelling companions.
Witnesses to the accident said the man was sitting on the balcony railing and fell off.
Intrepid sailing Burma islandsTWO new sailing adventures around some
of the more remote islands off the coast of Burma has been launched by Intrepid Travel.
The adventure tour operator will offer its first of the nine-night departures from Nov.
One of the itineraries will depart from the the former Burmese capital city of Yangon, with the other leaving from Bangkok, not far from Burma’s southern coastline, with both including flights to Ranong and bus transfers to the port at Kawthoung.
Tours include two nights hotel accom, six nights onboard a crewed yacht, snorkelling equipment, excursions and more, priced from AU$1,895pp twin share ex Bangkok and AU$2,295pp twin share departing Yangon.New ships for AIDA Cruises
CONSTRUCTION has started on the first of two “new generation” cruise ships to be operated by Carnival Corp brand AIDA Cruises.
The keel has been laid on the 124,500 gross tonnage ships, which are being built at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd shipyards in the Japanese city of Nagasaki.
Each vessel will offer capacity for around 3,300 passengers, which will be the largest vessels ever built for the brand.
Advanced technologies to be incorporated into the ship’s construction will include an air lubrication system that reduces carbon emissions and fuel consumption by approx 7% through a process whereby a layer of air bubbles are blown from the bottom of the ship.
The two ships are due to be delivered in the first quarter of 2015 and 2016 respectively.
Most popular river cruise extendedScenic Tours has extended the time spent in Holland on its Budapest to Amsterdam itinerary & included free flights.
AFTeR feedback from its Australian passengers, Scenic Tours has introduced a 19-day version of its top-selling 15-day ‘Jewels of Europe’ river cruise.
The additional four days will allow “a more relaxed pace” and visits to three new destinations in the Netherlands.
Passengers can now discover the Dutch fishing village of Volendam, sample cheeses in Edam, and enjoy a dinner hosted by locals in historic locations around Hoorn.
The company is also offering free flights (including taxes) from Australia to Europe on this itinerary for bookings made by 15 October.
Fares for the new ‘Treasures of Europe’s Waterways’ start at $9,095 per person twin-share including the 19-day tour, flights, unlimited complimentary beverages onboard, all meals, all shore excursions and entertainment, butler service, wi-fi, airport transfers and all tipping.
Other highlights include a night tour of Budapest, a cable car ride up the Niederwald Monument in Rüdesheim, Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, a traditional Slovakian wedding presentation in Slovakia, a private concert at Palais Liechtenstein, the Spanish Riding School, the Czech town of Znojmo and the underground cave system of Seegrotte.
Currently, two departures have been scheduled for 17 Apr 2014 and 06 Oct 2014, and for more information on bookings, contact a travel agent or see www.scenictours.com.au.
Early board program expandsPOPULAR take-up of Carnival Cruise Lines’
early-boarding option is seeing the line expand the program to three more vessels this month.
The company’s “Faster to the Fun” value-add allows passengers priority boarding of vessels with expedited security screening lanes and luggage delivery and first access to tenders for shore excursions and dining reservations, and is priced from $49.95 per stateroom.
Carnival Legend, departing from Dover in the UK, Carnival Inspiration from Long Beach in California and Carnival Miracle from Seattle will now see the program implemented.
Eighteen ships in the Carnival fleet offering departures around the United States already have the program implemented.
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cruise W E E K L Y
Tuesday 9 July 2013
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TOURISTS are clearly not being deterred from enjoying their holidays in the pretty Chinese harbour city of Qingdao, despite a thick green algae growing on waterways in the popular resort town, as this photo of a swimmer (below) clearly demonstrates.
According to the BBC, the algae has been growing since last month, although it is of no threat to humans, according to officials.
Fear not though, authorities are planning to gather up the algae, where it will be ground up into animal food.
P O R T H O L E
This week, Cruise Weekly chats with Hungarian Tamas Szigeti, a Butler aboard Scenic Tours’ Scenic Jewel river vessel
How long have you been working on cruise ships for?
This is my third season on cruise ships, always with Scenic Tours.
What is the best thing about working for Scenic Tours?
The beautiful crew, good systems and can progress within the company.
What is your favourite cruising destination?
Budapest. This is my home country. I also really like Amsterdam.
Briefly explain what your job with Scenic Tours entails and what passengers can expect from your services on board.
My role as a butler to guests involves room service and looking after guests requests. I also work on table service at Portobello’s and Table la Rive.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
It is a huge challenge, I need to have good knowledge and can always be improving on my knowledge.
How do you spend your holidays/vacation when you return home?
I enjoy fishing and will spend half the time on vacation fishing and the other half relaxing. My favourite fishing spot is in Hungary at Merenye.
Crew Profile
Disharmony at Otago wharfRePORTS of unruly and uncompetitive
behaviour from a “trio” of merchants operating at Port Chalmers wharf at Port Otago in New Zealand has led wharf authorities to impose a blanket ban on all tourism operators spruiking their wares directly at the port.
Complaints and expressions of concern had been received from passengers, cruise lines and even Cruise New Zealand, the port said.
According to the Otago Daily Times, increases in competition for tourist business led to a few taking some drastic measures to impact on the successful operation of their competitors.
These actions reportedly included car blocking and one man sleeping in his tour bus overnight to ensure he was first in line for passengers arriving on a ship in the morning.
The new rules stipulate that bookings for shore excursions will be taken by Dunedin City Council, who will take a commission before dividing tour business among the operators who work at the port during peak season.
Renovation for Seven SeasReFURBISHMeNT of Penthouse Suites,
the Horizon Lounge, Observation Lounge, Constellation Theater and the Atrium aboard Regent Seven Seas Voyager will be carried out as part of a multi-million dollar renovation.
Penthouses will also receive new carpeting, lighting, original artwork and curtains, with the Atrium being re-decked with new marble, whilst new teak will be installed on balconies.
The works will take place during a scheduled nine-day dry dock in Oct, before the vessel resumes service on a Rome to Venice voyage.
Sea Cloud 2014 season launchSeA Cloud Cruises has launched its 2014
season of cruises, with voyages departing on the Sea Cloud, Sea Cloud II and River Cloud II.
A number of shorter “taster” sailings form part of the season, operating between Budapest and Amsterdam.
MeANWHILe, three voyages operated have been released aimed at cycling enthusiasts aboard the Sea Cloud II and the River Cloud II.
A nine-day departure on Sea Cloud II leaves Malta on 28 Oct offering opportunities to cycle a host of Mediterranean islands.
River Cloud II will operate two 7-night Passau to Budapest sailings on 24 Aug and 21 Sep.
All-inclusive cycling packages can be added on top of cruise-only fares, with more details available through Sales Activation Marketing by emailing [email protected].
Milestone crossing of AtlanticCUNARd’S Queen Mary 2 is currently
midway across what is its 200th transatlantic crossing, to arrive in Southampton on 13 Jul.
The mega-liner celebrated the occasion upon its departure from New York City over the weekend by conducting a sail-by of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbour.
Guests onboard will enjoy special lectures about the history of the vessel along with big band performances and a celebratory gala dinner taking place on 11 Jul.
“Epic” HAL voyages in 2014HOLLANd America Line will operate four
globe-spanning Grand Voyages as part of its 2014 season, with two each to be operated by its MS Amsterdam and MS Prinsendam vessels.
Amsterdam will begin the year with a 113-day voyage visiting 38 ports in five continents, departing from Fort Lauderdale on 04 Jan and exploring the Southern Hemisphere at length.
A daylight transit of the Panama Canal begins the voyage before two days are spent at Callao in Peru before crossing the Pacific and heading up the eastern coast of Australia to Micronesia and into the Indian Ocean.
Prinsendam will depart the same Floridian port one day following Amsterdam, but will instead head on a circumnavigation of South America, spending seven days in the Amazon.
More info on reservations on 1300 987 321.
Uniworld Normandy memorialSPeCIAL memorial events commemorating
the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings at Normandy will be offered on three Uniworld river cruise itineraries in the region next year.
The eight-day Paris round-trip, 15-day Paris to Bordeaux & 15-day Paris to Avignon sailings will offer either the D-Day Museum at Arromanches, the Juno Beach Centre or the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial as optional inclusions to allow passengers to take in the significance of the historic event during departures from Mar/Apr to Oct 2014.
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cruise W E E K L Y
Tuesday 9 July 2013
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MORE surprising than the number of Australians on my Silver Shadow cruise in Asia is the fact that they also make up the most loyal guests. At the Venetian Society cocktail party for the line’s loyalty club members, four of the five most frequent passengers are Aussies. A Melbourne doctor and his wife have sailed 250 days with Silversea; a younger woman travelling solo has clocked up 150; and the top scorer, Cecil Paul, has spent an amazing 744 days on the Silver Shadow, Spirit, Cloud, Wind and Whisper. Cecil, 90, who lives in Woy Woy, NSW, has taken 97 cruises since 1955 – an incredible 61 of them with Silversea. Since 2003, it’s been the only line he’s chosen, and in 2010, he did nine voyages. Most cruises were shared with his wife Barbara, until she passed away, so he now travels with his daughter, son-in-law and sometimes his mate Clive. Cecil most appreciates how well the crew look after people. “We’re not passengers, we’re family. It’s like coming home,” he tells me. “I love the whole set-up: the lovely captains, the lovely ships.” Cecil is planning to spend his 100th cruise sailing from Sydney to Auckland on Silver Shadow. I can understand why. The 382-passenger Shadow is a true delight. The service, the food, the ambience, the décor, the itinerary, and the fun bar scene with our fellow passengers (mostly aged 50-65) are exceptional. So, what sets Silversea apart? One of the main distinctions, even compared to some other luxury
lines, is its butler service for all passengers (Everyone gets a suite). It’s very spacious, with one of the highest passenger space ratios in the industry. The staff to passenger ratio is also greater than most: one crew member to every 1.3 guests. The company prides itself on its Italian heritage, but I found this aspect too subtle: I only noticed the welcome bottle of prosecco, the fantastic cuisine at La Terrazza, and the Venice-themed Venetian Society function. Other perks include a complimentary self-service laundry, which you don’t find on some other ‘all-inclusive’ ships, complimentary drinks, and no surcharges in the restaurants (except for one). Don’t miss dinner at the poolside ‘hot rocks’ grill, where you cook your own steak. Shore excursions cost extra. One of the popular options is the evening activity when staying overnight in a port. On our Vietnam cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore, we had two days in Ho Chi Minh City, where 180 people (more than half the ship) chose the organised dinner ashore. Back onboard, a pool party was held, with live music and a gourmet feast. Silver Shadow returns to Asia from September to November 2013 and will operate itineraries in Australia and New Zealand in December and January. For bookings, see www.silversea.com or call 1300 306 872. Tip: Arrive a day early for Hong Kong departures and extend the luxury at The Peninsula: www.peninsula.com.
Butler service for everyone
Ship Review: Silversea’s Silver Shadowby: Louise Goldsbury
Italian restaurant La Terrazza Venetian Society cocktail party