Australia Ranks Number One as Cruise Passengers Hit New High

The Australian cruise industry is now ranked number one in the world for market growth and penetration, with latest industry figures revealing a record 833,348 Australians took a cruise last year.

Launched in Sydney today, the 2013 Cruise Industry Source Market Report shows Australian cruise passenger numbers soared 20 per cent in 2013, more than double the growth rate of any other major cruise market.

With the equivalent of 3.6 per cent of the Australian population taking a cruise in 2013, Australia has become the first nation to ever achieve a stronger penetration rate than the world’s largest passenger source market, North America.  In 2013, the equivalent of 3.3 per cent of the North American population took a cruise.

Announcing the report findings, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia Chairman Gavin Smith said Australia was “punching well above its weight” in the international cruise industry.

“Australia is still a relatively young cruise market, yet the number of Australians taking a cruise has grown by an enviable average 20 per cent a year for the last 11 years as a growing number of travellers discover the many joys of cruising,” Mr Smith said.

“That’s a remarkable achievement, particularly when you consider we’re now leading the world in market penetration. With more ships being deployed in Australia in 2014 and 2015, we’ve set course for continued growth over the next few years, so the benchmark of one million annual cruise passengers should be reached by 2016, if not before.”

Mr Smith said the continuing growth of the local cruise industry meant it was playing an increasingly important economic role in many Australian cities and towns, delivering valuable tourist dollars.

The latest CLIA Australasia figures build on the 2012 result which saw Australian passenger numbers rise 11 per cent to 694,062. 

Key findings of the 2013 CLIA Australasia Cruise Industry Source Market Report for Australia include:

* Australia’s passenger growth rate of 20 per cent was more than double other key markets including Germany and France, which grew 9 per cent, the USA (3 per cent) and the UK/Ireland (1 per cent).

* The Australian market penetration rate of 3.6 per cent led the world ahead of North America (3.3 per cent), UK/Ireland (2.5 per cent), Germany (2.1 per cent) and Italy (1.4 per cent).

* The South Pacific continues to dominate as a cruise destination, with almost 80,000 more Australians cruising the region in 2013, taking the total number to more than 330,000 (40 per cent of the market)

* River cruising numbers leapt 25 per cent as almost 50,000 Australians took to inland waterways

* Asian cruising is on the rise again with passenger numbers up 28 per cent  to a record 44,382 as cruise ship capacity starts to expand

* The number of Australians cruising to New Zealand has almost reached 100,000 

* Europe continues to dominate long-haul destinations with numbers surging 34 per cent to more than 77,000 Australian cruisers.  While Mediterranean cruising remains the strongest draw card, Northern Europe numbers rose more than 50 per cent with the region attracting close to 20,000 passengers

* The number of passengers taking cruises of 8-14 days saw a massive spike, rising almost 35 per cent from 353,342 in 2012 to 475,154 in 2013 

* Australians spent an estimated 8.7 million days at sea in 2013, up 22 per cent on 2012, with holidaymakers enjoying 10.25 days on average on an ocean cruise and 14.4 days on river cruises

* NSW remains the leading source of cruise passengers accounting for 41.1 per cent of the market

* Cruise passenger ages continue to be spread broadly across all age brackets, reflecting the diversity of product and itineraries available to Australian holidaymakers.

For more information visit www.cruising.org.au

Information supplied by : CLIA Australasia.

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P&O Cruises Gets Muddy in Mooloolaba as Tough Mudders Join

First Sunshine Coast Sea Break

P&O Cruises has thrown down the challenge to travellers wanting an action-packed break, with a special cruise package combiningits inaugural visit to the Sunshine Coast in August with entry to the local Tough Mudder contest.

Tough Mudder is one of the world’s most popular adventure challenges, featuring a 20-kilometre obstacle course designed to test the physical and mental agility of participants. The Sunshine Coast event on August 16-17, 2014will take place on one of the biggest Tough Mudder courses on the planet, stretching across more than 4000 hectares.

Sailing from Sydney on Thursday August 14, guests will have plenty of time to relax and prepare for the event during the four-night P&OSeaBreakon Pacific Pearl. Along with greatentertainment, dining and onboard activities, guests will be able to do some training with P&O Cruises’ Bootcamp at Sea and get expert workout tips from an onboardTough Mudder team leader before the ship makes its maiden visit to Mooloolaba on August 16.

P&O Cruises Senior Vice President Tammy Marshall said the new package offered a great way to compete in the Tough Mudder event.

“Entrants can keep training on the way to the Sunshine Coast, then after the event can relax and unwind, and soothe their tired muscles with a treatment, sauna or steam in the ship’s Aqua HealthSpaFitness centre as they sail back to Sydney.”

Priced from $619* per person quad share,the special package includes the four-night round trip cruise, main meals, entertainment and activities as well as entry to Tough Mudder, transfers to and from the course and for the finishers, branded merchandise, including a t-shirt and headband.

For more information see a travel agent, call 13 24 94 or visit www.pocruises.com.au

*subject to availability, conditions apply. All prices are per person quad share in $AU.

About P&O Cruises:

P&O Cruises is Australia’s largest and most popular cruise line, servicing the local region for more than 80 years. The company continues to lead the way in cruising, and in May 2014 announced it will welcome two more ships to its fleet in November 2015 to make it the largest fleet of cruise ships homeported year round in Australasia. The cruise line’s current three-ship fleet sails from more Australian ports than any other operator with departures from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Fremantle, Adelaide and Auckland, to more than 60 ports across Australia, South East Asia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. P&O Cruises is a member of Carnival Corporation plc, the world’s largest cruise company.

About Tough Mudder:

Tough Mudder LLC was founded in 2010 by Will Dean and Guy Livingstone. Considered “Probably the Toughest Event on the Planet,” each Tough Mudder challenge tests participants’ strength, stamina, mental grit and teamwork. In 2013, Tough Mudder hosted 53 events in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany. In 2014, Tough Mudder will host more than 60 events in countries worldwide. For the schedule of event dates and locations, visit www.toughmudder.com.au

Information supplied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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Record Carnival Cruise Lines Program Gives Australians More Ways to Have Fun

Carnival Cruise Lines has launched its largest program of Australian cruises yet, with highlights including more cruises to the South Pacific and Tasmania and a variety of weekend getaways.

On sale June 5, the new program features Carnival Legend’s second summer season down under, with the 2680-guest ship joining Carnival Spirit in Sydney to offer a record 143 fun-filled cruise holidays in 2015 and 2016 – an increase of more than 40 per cent over the previous program. 

Cruise fares start from $649* per person twin share for a three-night escape, giving Australians the perfect chance to sample all the fun and relaxation of a Carnival holiday at sea.

Carnival Cruise Lines Vice President Australia Jennifer Vandekreeke said the cruise line had decided to return to Tasmania following the success of its inaugural cruise to the island from Sydney earlier this year. 

Other highlights of the 2015-16 program include:

* Special Melbourne Cup cruises in 2015 and 2016, with Carnival Spirit offering action-packed itineraries including entry to the nation’s most famous race event. Prices start from $1907* per person twin share for the eight-night cruise departing Sydney on October 30, 2015.

* Two 18-night cruises between Sydney and Honolulu including visits to beautiful Tahiti and Fiji. Offering Australian dollars onboard and featuring cuisine and entertainment geared for Australians, the Carnival Legend cruises will sail from Sydney on April 20, 2015 and from Honolulu on September 26, 2015 with fares from $1899* per person twin share for the Sydney sailing.

* Two 15-night cruises to and from Singapore on Carnival Spirit taking in Lombok and Bali in Indonesia as well as calls to Darwin, Brisbane and far north Queensland. The August 1, 2015 departure from Sydney and return sailing from Singapore on August 30, 2015 are both priced from $1499* per person twin share.

* Two 13-night cruises between Brisbane and Singapore will give Queenslanders their first chance to sail on Carnival from their doorstep. Departing August 3, 2015 and August 30, 2015 the cruises are priced from $1499* per person twin share.

The two ships will also continue to offer the cruise line’s trademark cruises to the sun-filled Pacific, which have proved particularly popular with holidaymakers aged 30-50 years looking for a relaxing, fun holiday. Fares for an eight-night cruise to Noumea, Isle of Pines, and Mare start from $1099* per person twin share.

Ms Vandekreeke said the 2015-16 program built on the success of Carnival Spirit, which has carried more than 160,000 Australians since her debut in Australia in late 2012.  The largest and newest ship to be based in Australia year round, 

Carnival Spirit features 12 decks of fun from Green Thunder - the steepest and fastest waterslide at sea - through to its 16 bars and lounges. 

“We’re looking forward to introducing Australians to Carnival Legend this September and we’re thrilled that she’ll be with us for a second summer season in 2015-16, giving us the opportunity to introduce some exciting new cruise itineraries,” Ms Vandekreeke said.

…2/

A sister ship to Carnival Spirit, Carnival Legend has just undergone a revamp and now boasts a Green Thunder slide as well as a host of new features including the Bonsai Sushi restaurant, the Red Frog pub and a Cherry on Top lolly shop.  Carnival Legend will also offer the cruise line’s new Seuss at Sea program including exciting family, dining and entertainment experiences that feature the amazing world and words of Dr Seuss. 

In addition to the new Green Thunder, the ship’s “Aussification” for its local debut includes a focus on food and coffee to meet Australian tastes, as well as the introduction of Australian powerpoints and Australian pricing onboard.

For more information call 13 31 94, see a travel agent or visit www.carnival.com.au

*Fares are per person twin share. Subject to availability, conditions apply

About Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines is the largest cruise line in the world with over four and a half million guests travelling every year. Carnival Spirit is the largest and newest cruise ship to call Australia home and she will be joined by her sister ship, Carnival Legend in September 2014. With 45 activities from zen to adrenalin to enjoy each day, Carnival Spirit offers fun-loving families and couples memorable and great value holidays. For further information or to book your next cruise visit www.carnival.com.au

Information supplied by : Carnival Cruise Line, Australia.

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Up to US$1000 Onboard Credit for Celebrity Century Guests 

Celebrity Cruises rewards guests, including a bonus of up to US$1000 onboard credit for Celebrity Century sailings 

23rd May, 2014: Until 31st May, guests who book a cruise onboard Celebrity Century for the local 2014/15 summer cruise season will be entitled to an onboard credit of up to US$1,000!^  

Celebrity Century arrives in Sydney in October 2014 to commence her Australian 2014/15 local summer cruise season. This intimate ship which epitomizes modern luxury will home port in Sydney and offer a range of itineraries with a focus on sailings to the South Pacific. 

Guests who book to sail on Celebrity Century cruises departing from Sydney until January 2015 are in for a treat as she is one of Australia’s highest rated cruise ships (Berlitz Guide 2014). Plus, they will also be entitled to double the rewards: 

* Interior staterooms  US$200 OBC 

* Oceanview staterooms  US$400 OBC

* Verandah staterooms  US$600 OBC

* Suites    US$1000 OBC

From $1,099 per person twin share, guests can enjoy sailing onboard Celebrity Century for eight-nights, departing Sydney 22nd October 2014 including up to US$1000 onboard credit.** This itinerary is a food lover's delight with port calls at some of Australia's finest culinary destinations including Melbourne, Adelaide and Port Lincoln. There are also four full days at sea during which guests can savour the onboard food and beverage experiences including the impressive two storey dining room, fine French cuisine at Murano and the ship's signature ice topped Martini Bar. 

This generous onboard credit offer comes as part of the popular “Reward Yourself” promotion which also runs until the end of May. The “Reward Yourself” promotion applies to bookings for sailings between July 2014 and March 2015 of seven nights or longer on cruises in: Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Alaska, Caribbean, Bermuda and Asia. The promotion offers onboard credits of up to US$500, dependant on stateroom type:  

* Interior staterooms  US$100 OBC 

* Oceanview staterooms  US$200 OBC

* Verandah staterooms  US$300 OBC

* Suites    US$500 OBC

Plus, Guests who book Choice Air flights can double their onboard credit bonus amount and Captain’s Club loyalty members are also eligible for 50% deposits! 

For more information about Celebrity Cruises or to book a cruise, visit celebritycruises.com.au, call 1800 754 500 or contact your travel agent. 

^ Offer is valid on new bookings made before 31 May 2014 only. Subject to availability and conditions apply. Offer applies only to sailings of seven nights or longer in the countries specified. For full terms and conditions, visit: www.celebritycruises.com.au. 

**Price is a from price only an is applicable to the lowest available interior stateroom. Subject to availability and conditions apply. Reward Yourself promotion runs until 31st May only. For full terms and conditions, visit: www.celebritycruises.com.au.

About Celebrity Cruises: 

Celebrity Cruises’ iconic “X” is the mark of modern luxury, with its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that only Celebrity can provide, all created to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers’ precious time. Celebrity Cruises' 11 ships offer modern luxury vacations visiting all seven continents. Celebrity also presents immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska and Canada. Celebrity is one of six cruise brands operated by global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL). 

For more information about Celebrity Cruises or to book a cruise, visit: celebritycruises.com.au, call 1800 754 500 or contact your travel agent.  

Celebrity Cruises AU & NZ Facebook:  facebook.com/celebritycruisesausnz Celebrity Cruises AU & NZ YouTube:   youtube.com/user/celebritycruisesaunz

Information supplied by : Celebrity Cruises.

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MASSIVE CRUISE SHIP ‘SHOPPING LIST’ HIGHLIGHTS VALUE OF CRUISING

A massive ‘shopping list’ of food and beverage from local suppliers confirms the long value chain of cruising as an economic force, Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry told a Friends of Tourism event last night. 

Ms Sherry said that in a typical year cruise ships ordered huge quantities of meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables providing a significant part of the $3 billion in total economic activity attributed to cruising in 2012-2013.

Speaking at the event in Brisbane, Ms Sherry said that Carnival Australia, which accounts for most of the cruise ships that sail to or from Australia and around 80 per cent of the Australian cruise industry, had a big network of local suppliers.

“Wherever the ships go, economic opportunity follows. Just about everyone benefits from cruising including hotel operators, restaurants and cafes, visitor attractions, transport operators and taxi drivers,” Ms Sherry said.

“But primary producers are among the major beneficiaries as cruise ships take on board extensive supplies of food and beverage when the ships are replenished. When cruising is viewed from a value added perspective you see rolled gold economic opportunity.”

As Australia’s ‘home brand’ cruise line, P&O Cruises sourced almost 100 per cent of its food and beverage from local suppliers. In a typical year, Australian-sourced P&O purchases included:

* 465,000kg of beef

* 589,000kg of poultry

* 217,000kg of pork

* 148,000kg of bacon

* 3.3 million eggs

* 260,000 bottles of wine (most from Australian wineries)

* 1.1 million kg of fruit

* 341,000kg of vegetables

* 60,000 litres of milk

* 30,000 litres of cream

* 200,000 individual yoghurts

Ms Sherry said that between 1999 and 2013, Princess Cruises purchased US$50 million of Australian beef products to supply its locally based ships as well as its worldwide fleet. For more than 20 years, Princess Cruises has exclusively served Australian lamb on all of its ships.

Other Carnival Australia brands, Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Lines, also extensively sourced local supplies for their ships operating in Australian waters.

“It is clear from Carnival Australia’s experience that cruise line purchases are of great benefit to Australian suppliers and this is likely to grow further as the cruise industry continues to expand,” Ms Sherry said. 

Information supplied by : Carnival Australia.

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Royal Caribbean International’s Legend of the Seas on sale now

Guests can now book their stateroom onboard Legend of the Seas, sailing from Brisbane in 2015 

21st May 2014: Royal Caribbean International recently announced that Legend of the Seas will sail from Brisbane for the 2015/16 summer cruise season and today these cruises go on sale. This is a unique opportunity for Australian and international guests because it’s the first time Royal Caribbean has offered cruises departing from Brisbane. 

On 20th November 2015 Legend of the Seas departs Hong Kong for her repositioning cruises via exotic tropical destinations such as Manila in the Philippines, Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia and Darwin, Cairns and the Whitsundays in Australia before arriving in Brisbane in December 2015 for a five month season.  Cruising from Brisbane, Legend of the Seas will embark on 15 itineraries in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific ranging from two- to 18-nights before repositioning back to Asia in April 2016. 

Highlights of the Legend of the Seas program include: 

* An 18-night cruise from Hong Kong to Brisbane on 20 November 2015 which calls at Manila, Puerto Princesa, Kota Kinabalu, Bali, Darwin, Cairns and Whitsundays. A similar cruise operates in reverse departing Brisbane on 20 April 2016.

* Nine South Pacific cruises ranging from eight- to 10-nights calling at ports in New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Loyalty Islands. And a further two 11-night cruises incorporate the South Pacific islands and Fiji.

* One 14-night cruise to New Zealand which calls at Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Akaroa, Dunedin and Dusky/Doubtful/Milford Sounds.

* Visits to the Whitsundays and Cairns on two seven-night Queensland sailings.

* One two-night sampler cruise, giving cruisers a taste of Legend of the Seas.

Guests can sail onboard Legend of the Seas from just $1,299 per person on an eight-night South Pacific itinerary departing Brisbane on 18th February 2016. Highlights of this cruise include the idyllic tropical ports of Noumea, Mystery Island and Vila.* 

At 70,000 tons Legend of the Seas is one of the largest superliners able to navigate the Brisbane River and dock at Brisbane Cruise Terminal at Portside Wharf. The 2,000-guest Legend of Seas has been selected to homeport in Brisbane to meet the growing demand from Australian and international guests wishing to experience world class cruising from Queensland to the South Pacific. 

Following an extensive $50 million revitalisation in 2013, the ship boasts new “Wow” facilities that guests will not find onboard any other cruise ship sailing from Brisbane: a central Atrium with an acrobatic aerial show, a rock climbing wall, a mini golf course, an indoor swimming pool, a babies nursery and multiple speciality dining venues including a Sushi restaurant and a 12-seat private dining room. She also features a stunning two-deck grand dining room, an 800-seat theatre, the Vitality Spa & Fitness centre, a beauty salon a shopping arcade. 

About Legend of the Seas

* Maiden voyage May 1995

* Revitalised in February 2013

* 2,074 guests 

* 726 crew

* 915 staterooms

* 69,130 tons

* 267 meters long (867 feet)

* 32 feet wide (105 feet)

* 11 decks

* 6 pools and whirlpools

* 8 bars, clubs and lounges

* Speciality dining: Izumi, Chops Grille and Chef’s Table

* Central Atrium featuring aerial show and R Bar

* Royal Babies and Tots Nursery

* World-class theatre with 800 capacity 

* Two pools and four whirlpools

* Rock-climbing wall and jogging track

* Nine-hole mini golf course

* Outdoor movie screen

Royal Caribbean’s biggest ever Australian fleet will comprise of four ships in summer 2015/16: Legend of the Seas in Brisbane and Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas in Sydney.  All four ships boast the benefits of the “Royal Advantage” fleet revitalisation program, which involves bow-to-stern renovations and the addition of many new amenities at a total cost of almost $250 million. Together they will offer a range of over 70 itineraries featuring popular Australian, South Pacific and New Zealand ports. 

For more information about Royal Caribbean International, or to make a booking, guests and travel agents can visit royalcaribbean.com.au or call 1800 754 500.   

*Price quoted in a from price only. Price is per person and applies to the lowest available interior stateroom. Conditions apply and prices are subject to change. For full terms and conditions, visit: royalcaribbean.com.au

Information supplied by : Royal Caribbean International.

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P&O Cruises Helps PNG Princess Find Her ‘Voice’

A bright future in show business can await The Voice Australia contestants even if the celebrity judges don’t necessarily turn at the blind auditions.

Just ask Melanesian princess, Samantha Clark, who didn’t turn any chairs during her audition on the hit show but has been spurred on to cut her first album by guests on P&O Cruises’ Pacific Dawn.

The 22-year-old was invited to sail as a guest entertainer on a Pacific Dawn cruise from Brisbane to Papua New Guinea in April, which included calls to exotic destinations in the beautiful Milne Bay district including Samantha’s home, Kiriwina Island. She will sail again on the 10-night September itinerary this year.

“It was one of the most amazing times I have ever had with so many lovely people onboard the ship,” Samantha said. 

“I had a great response from the passengers and many asked me if I had a CD. Their encouragement gave me the motivation to keep going and to put an album together so I have been writing some songs and working on some ‘covers’ to record.”

Currently based in Cairns, Samantha is a princess in the Trobriand Islands’ matrilineal society where birthright and tribal influence flows from the mother’s side.

“In our clan everything is taken from our mother’s side,” Samantha said. “My grandfather is a very well-known chief on Kiriwina Island and that means my mother is a traditional royal princess -- but it’s nothing like the British Royal Family.”

A P&O Cruises’ team that visited Kiriwina ahead of the cruise line’s return to Papua New Guinea last year played a part in ‘discovering’ Samantha and her singing talent. She did such a great job entertaining the local community that when the Today Show arrived on Kiriwina for a series of live weather crosses, P&O Cruises Destination Director Michael Mihajlov suggested they showcase Samantha to their national audience.

“Samantha grew up on Kiriwina speaking the local language and English and learning traditional songs and dances,” Michael said.  

“When we arrived she was jamming informally with just her guitar and we were all mesmerised by her voice as she sang both in English and her traditional language. I also saw her play at the Kenu and Kundu festival in Alotau where she was the local star. 

“Fast forward to last September when we shot the Today Show weather from PNG and I asked for Samantha to participate. She did a traditional dance and then ended the show with a solo performance. Everyone was impressed, no one more so than (weather presenter) Steve Jacobs. I forwarded Samantha’s details to our entertainment team and then she joined Pacific Dawn as a guest entertainer and was given a star’s reception. That's the story so far and I am sure she will be a big star.”

And that is certainly the view of Pacific Dawn’s guests who were more than happy to ‘turn their chairs’ for the Trobriand Islands singer.

Information supplied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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BREAKING NEWS – MORE SHIPS TO BE ADDED TO P&O CRUISES FLEET

In its biggest ever single fleet expansion, P&O Cruises will welcome two more ships next year to make it the largest fleet of cruise ships home-ported year round in Australia. Today’s announcement is an emphatic statement about Carnival Australia’s confidence and leadership in the Australian cruise market and reaffirmation of P&O Cruises’ status as Australia's iconic 'home brand' cruise line.

The additional ships, which will transfer to P&O Cruises from Holland America Line, will deliver much needed capacity in the world's fastest growing cruise market. "This is a very exciting development for the Carnival Group, P&O Cruises and for our shipside and shoreside teams who have worked so passionately and effectively to build the business and the cruise category," said Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia which operates P&O Cruises.

"The P&O brand set the foundation for the resurgence of cruising in this region making it the most successful sector of Australian tourism. Adding two more ships to the fleet is a signal that the next generation of P&O Cruises is about to commence. It will also accelerate progress in reaching the industry goal of a million passengers a year by 2016 – four years earlier than forecast.

“With the P&O expansion, Carnival Group will have 12 ships home-ported in Australia with fleets from P&O Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises calling Australia home.” The two ships will join P&O Cruises in November 2015. Work is already underway to develop itineraries and home-porting arrangements for the expanded fleet. Both ships are of a similar mid-range size to the three existing P&O Cruises ships, Pacific Dawn, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl with a range of onboard features that will be tailored for Australian and New Zealand cruise customers. "The ships are a perfect size for the Australian market. They are intimate, offering space, comfort and style, giving passengers more destinations to choose from, more onboard experiences to indulge in and more reasons to cruise," said Senior Vice President P&O Cruises Tammy Marshall.

"We face a very busy time in preparing for the arrival of the two ships and their integration into the existing P&O Cruises fleet and look forward to announcing the exciting new itineraries, onboard features and other great additions over the coming months.”

The arrival of Australia’s first superliner Pacific Dawn in 2007 set the scene for P&O Cruises’ leadership in building the cruise category in Australia to record levels.

Pacific Dawn was quickly followed by two more P&O Cruises’ superliners, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl, in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

“This further fleet expansion is entirely appropriate for P&O Cruises, the shipping line that pioneered cruising from Australia more than 80 years ago and has set the pace for the industry ever since,” Ms Marshall said. Having a five-ship fleet will give P&O Cruises greater flexibility in its increased offering of short break cruises, traditional cruises to the South Pacific and cruises to new destinations such as Papua New Guinea and Asia. More than 800,000 Australians cruised last year with a majority travelling with P&O Cruises. Over a five year period between 2007 and 2012, Australian cruise passenger numbers increased 130 per cent.

Carnival Australia accounts for most of the cruise ships that cruise to or from Australia and New Zealand. Carnival Australia’s ‘House of Brands’ comprises P&O Cruises Australia, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, P&O Cruises World Cruising, Holland America Line and Seabourn.

For more information visit www.pocruises.com.au.

Information supplied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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Carnival Corporation to Expand Market Leadership in Australia, Adding Two Ships to Meet Demand in One of World’s Fastest Growing Cruise Markets

MIAMI, May 19, 2014 -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company, today announced plans to significantly expand its market leadership in Australia, one of the fastest growing markets in the cruise industry.

With Australian cruise passenger numbers having increased 130 percent in the past five years and projections of 800,000 cruise passengers in 2013 growing to one million by 2016, P&O Cruises (Australia), one of Carnival Corporation’s 10 brands, will add two ships to its fleet in 2015. With a total of five ships, P&O Cruises will establish Australia’s largest year-round fleet and be well-positioned to continue meeting Australians’ surging demand for cruise vacations.

The expansion leverages Carnival Corporation’s industry-leading scale and underscores its strategy of increased collaboration among its 10 brands, as the two ships will be transferred from the company’s Holland America Line brand to become part of the P&O Cruises fleet. In the meantime, Holland America Line is building its latest and largest ship, to be delivered in February 2016. The new Pinnacle Class ship will be 99,500 tons and carry 2,660 passengers. This new ship will replace the capacity of the two vessels moving to P&O Cruises in Australia. “Australians know a good thing when they discover it, and that speaks to why taking a cruise has become the most popular vacation experience in the Australian tourism industry,” said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation. “By any measure, Australia is one of the top performing cruise markets in the world, with an eye-popping average annual passenger growth rate of 20 percent over the past decade.”

Added Donald: “We are already firmly entrenched as the market leader, and with today’s move we are poised to continue our leadership. At the same time, our ability to work among our brands to make strategic deployment decisions is a great example of our focus on leveraging our scale and increased collaboration. This is an exciting development on many levels.” Carnival Corporation is the largest cruise operator in Australia and the only cruise company to have ships based full-time in Australian waters. Over the past 10 years Carnival Corporation has grown rapidly with its local fleet increasing from two full-time ships, both with P&O Cruises, to six full-time ships from three of the company’s brands – three P&O Cruises ships, two Princess Cruises ships and one Carnival Cruise Lines ship. In 2015, with P&O Cruises adding its two ships and the return of Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess full-time, that number will increase to nine. The company’s ships sail from five Australian cities as well as Auckland in New Zealand. During the past summer cruise season in Australia, the company had a record 20 ships from across seven of its brands sailing in Australian waters.

"The announcement is an emphatic statement of confidence in Australia, one of the most vibrant cruise markets in the world,” said Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia. “Today’s news also underscores how P&O Cruises – which pioneered cruising in the country more than 80 years ago - has been the driving force in making cruising one of the most popular vacation experiences in Australia. We have a great understanding of what Australians are looking for in a vacation, and with cruising more popular than ever among Australians, this is the perfect time to meet demand with increased capacity.”

Today’s announcement follows recent news that Carnival Corporation in 2015 will be the first global cruise company with four ships based in China, also considered one of the world’s fastest-growing cruise markets. Together, the company’s moves highlight its strategy to strengthen its leadership position through the Asia-Pacific region, which includes Australia, and positions the company well to realize the potential market growth. The two ships being added to P&O Cruises, currently sailing as ms Ryndam and ms Statendam in the Holland America Line fleet, are mid-range in size, similar to the three existing P&O ships in Australia -- the Pacific Dawn, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl. The ships will be completely refurbished to offer a new level of comfort and style and will include onboard features tailored for Australian and New Zealand passengers. Full details will be announced in coming months. Having a five-ship fleet will give P&O Cruises greater flexibility in its increased offering of short-break cruises, traditional cruises to the South Pacific and cruises to new destinations such as Papua New Guinea and Asia. The ships will join the P&O Cruises fleet in November 2015 and itineraries are being developed for the expanded fleet.

Information supplied by : Carnival Australia.

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BREAKING NEWS – MORE SHIPS TO BE ADDED TO P&O CRUISES FLEET

In its biggest ever single fleet expansion, P&O Cruises will welcome two more ships next year to make it the largest fleet of cruise ships home-ported year round in Australia. Today’s announcement is an emphatic statement about Carnival Australia’s confidence and leadership in the Australian cruise market and reaffirmation of P&O Cruises’ status as Australia's iconic 'home brand' cruise line.

The additional ships, which will transfer to P&O Cruises from Holland America Line, will deliver much needed capacity in the world's fastest growing cruise market. "This is a very exciting development for the Carnival Group, P&O Cruises and for our shipside and shoreside teams who have worked so passionately and effectively to build the business and the cruise category," said Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia which operates P&O Cruises.

"The P&O brand set the foundation for the resurgence of cruising in this region making it the most successful sector of Australian tourism. Adding two more ships to the fleet is a signal that the next generation of P&O Cruises is about to commence. It will also accelerate progress in reaching the industry goal of a million passengers a year by 2016 – four years earlier than forecast.

“With the P&O expansion, Carnival Group will have 12 ships home-ported in Australia with fleets from P&O Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises calling Australia home.” The two ships will join P&O Cruises in November 2015. Work is already underway to develop itineraries and home-porting arrangements for the expanded fleet. Both ships are of a similar mid-range size to the three existing P&O Cruises ships, Pacific Dawn, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl with a range of onboard features that will be tailored for Australian and New Zealand cruise customers. "The ships are a perfect size for the Australian market. They are intimate, offering space, comfort and style, giving passengers more destinations to choose from, more onboard experiences to indulge in and more reasons to cruise," said Senior Vice President P&O Cruises Tammy Marshall.

"We face a very busy time in preparing for the arrival of the two ships and their integration into the existing P&O Cruises fleet and look forward to announcing the exciting new itineraries, onboard features and other great additions over the coming months.”

The arrival of Australia’s first superliner Pacific Dawn in 2007 set the scene for P&O Cruises’ leadership in building the cruise category in Australia to record levels.

Pacific Dawn was quickly followed by two more P&O Cruises’ superliners, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl, in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

“This further fleet expansion is entirely appropriate for P&O Cruises, the shipping line that pioneered cruising from Australia more than 80 years ago and has set the pace for the industry ever since,” Ms Marshall said. Having a five-ship fleet will give P&O Cruises greater flexibility in its increased offering of short break cruises, traditional cruises to the South Pacific and cruises to new destinations such as Papua New Guinea and Asia. More than 800,000 Australians cruised last year with a majority travelling with P&O Cruises. Over a five year period between 2007 and 2012, Australian cruise passenger numbers increased 130 per cent.

Carnival Australia accounts for most of the cruise ships that cruise to or from Australia and New Zealand. Carnival Australia’s ‘House of Brands’ comprises P&O Cruises Australia, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, P&O Cruises World Cruising, Holland America Line and Seabourn.

For more information visit www.pocruises.com.au.

Information supplied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES ANNOUNCES FIRST AUSTRALIAN SEASON IN 2016

Azamara Quest to offer destination immersive sailings during two month Australian deployment

16th May 2014 - Boutique cruise line Azamara Club Cruises has announced that it will deploy Azamara Quest to Australian waters for the first time in early 2016.

Award winning Azamara Club Cruises, which is owned by the same company as the world’s largest cruise line, Royal Caribbean International, is a luxury cruising brand that offers itineraries featuring longer and more overnight stays in port so that guests can truly experience each destination to its fullest. 

For her inaugural Australian season Azamara Quest, one of the cruise line’s two jewel-box ships, will  offer five voyages, ranging from 10- to 17-nights, including: 

* A 14-night Bali & Barrier Reef voyage, sailing from Bali on 22 December 2015 to Cairns;

* A 10-night Great Barrier Reef to Sydney sailing departing Cairns on 5 January 2016;

* A 16-night Australia & New Zealand explorers itinerary departing from Sydney on 15 January 2016 and ending  in Auckland; 

* A 13-night  Australia & New Zealand sailing from Auckland to Sydney  departing 31 January  2016; 

* A 17-night Great Barrier Reef & Bali sailing departing Sydney 13 February 2016.

Azamara Quest will make 25 port visits in Australia and New Zealand over her two months based here including Port Douglas, Townsville, a number of islands on the Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne and Hobart as well as the Bay of Islands, Auckland, Dunedin, and Milford Sound in New Zealand to name a few.

Gavin Smith, Regional Vice President, Asia Pacific for RCL Cruises Ltd, says the arrival of Azamara Club Cruises in Australia and New Zealand is a response to a ‘buoyant’ cruise tourism market and huge interest from Australian guests.

“Australia is the largest growth market for Azamara Club Cruises globally. So it has long been our aim to bring an Azamara ship to Australia and we are delighted to welcome Azamara Quest.” 

Last year the cruise line introduced AzAmazing Evenings, a complimentary night tour on each voyage that provides guests with an exclusive and bespoke slice of a destination’s authentic culture and character.  Details of the 2016 AzAmazing Evening events are yet to be announced however previous events have included samba shows in Rio de Janeiro, exclusive Three Tenors performances in Italy and dining experiences like the French aristocracy at the Chateau Giscours in Bordeaux, France. 

The boutique Azamara Quest is a mid-sized ship which offers its 694 guests exceptional service and fine cuisine  from around the world. The line also offers more included onboard amenities such as English trained butlers, specialty coffees and teas, boutique wines, international beers and select standard spirits. 

Fares for Azamara’s inaugural Australian season start from AU$6,069* per person for a 16-night Australia & New Zealand explorers sailing departing Sydney 16 January 2016. For Australians wishing to get an earlier taste of Azamara’s specialty cruising experience, the luxury line is offering a double stateroom upgrade special on selected global sailings to guests who book a cruise for 2014-15 before May 31, 2014.

Now open for sale, the 2016 programme is an expansive, curated collection of culture-rich metropolises, charming colonial towns, stunning beaches and unsurpassed natural preserves in some of the world’s most intriguing destinations including South America, the West Indies, Europe, the Far East and Australia. The full programme includes 52 voyages, ranging from five- to 18-nights. Catering to up-market travellers, Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest will visit a total of 204 ports in 70 countries, calling at destinations that have been made famous by myths and legends, history and beauty. 

Australian travellers can combine consecutive itineraries for an Azamara Extended Voyage that spans multiple regions and an expansive array of destinations. For example, travellers can embark on the 12 December 2015 voyage from Singapore to Auckland on a 50 night one-of-a-kind odyssey visiting a host of Indonesian, Australian and New Zealand ports and cities as well as multiple small ports and towns that are not accessible to larger ships. Or travellers can embark on the 31 January 2016 sailing in Auckland, on a 107 night itinerary to Athens, via New Zealand, Australia, the Far East to the Arabian Gulf and the Mediterranean.

To make a booking or for further information visit www.azamaraclubcruises.com, phone 1800 754 500 or contact your local travel agent. Travel professionals can call 1300 754 500 or visit: cruisingpower.com.

-ends-

*Price quoted is a from price only and applies to the lowest available interior stateroom. Conditions apply and prices are subject to change. For full terms and conditions, call 1800 754 500.   

Azamara Club Cruises is a brand of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE/OSX: RCL), a global cruise vacation company that also owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, and CDF Croisières de France, as well as TUI Cruises through a 50 per cent joint venture.  Together, the six brands operate a combined total of 41 ships with four under construction.  They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on approximately 460 destinations on all seven continents.  

RCL Cruises Ltd Australia commenced operation in December 2008 as the Australian arm of global cruise holiday company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. The company offers three cruise brands in Australia & New Zealand: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. In the 2014/2015 cruise season, Royal Caribbean International will be the largest cruise operator in Sydney, with three ships sailing in the region: Voyager of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas. This is in addition to two Celebrity Cruises ships, Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Century. In the 2015/2016 local cruise season Royal Caribbean International will increase the local fleet to four ships: Legend of the Seas home porting in Brisbane; along with Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas home porting in Sydney.

Information supplied by : Azamara Club Cruises.

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Cunard’s Three Queens Celebrate Queen Mary 2’s 10th Anniversary.

Cunard Line celebrated the 10th anniversary of its grand flagship Queen Mary 2 with the arrival of the whole three-ship fleet in Southampton, England on May 9. This was a rare occasion to see all three Queens – Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria – together, with the homeport of Southampton the only place in the world to have hosted the three Queens three times.

To view video highlights of Queen Mary 2’s arrival in Southampton, visit: http://bit.ly/1l5IJiY.  For video highlights of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s visit aboard, go to: http://bit.ly/DukeOfEdinburgh.

The ships arrived at first light and began a day of spectacular celebration with an early morning birthday salute to Queen Mary 2 – “Happy Birthday” in ships' whistles (foghorns in common parlance) sounding out across Southampton Water. 

This was followed by a special reception and lunch aboard Queen Mary 2 for invited guests in the presence of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, who last visited the ship when accompanying Her Majesty The Queen to name her in 2004.  Prior to the reception and luncheon, His Royal Highness visited several behind-the-scenes areas to meet with crew who perform different roles onboard.  After meeting officers, he was given a tour of the largest Bridge at sea and was invited to sign the Visitor’s Book.

At the special reception, His Royal Highness unveiled a portrait of Queen Mary 2 by renowned maritime artist Robert Lloyd that was commissioned by Cunard Line to celebrate a decade of service by the flagship.

“We are honoured that His Royal Highness visited our flagship Queen Mary 2 on such a special day in the history of the world's only ocean liner,” Cunard Line CEO David Dingle said. 

“For him to have spent time with many of our 1200 staff was very exciting and highly appropriate, for it is they who have made Queen Mary 2 the great success she is today,” Mr Dingle said.  

As we reflect on her first decade of excellence, we look forward to the next ten years and are delighted to have had His Royal Highness taking part in these celebrations with us, as he was also present at her entry into service in 2004.”

Since entering service, Queen Mary 2 has sailed 1.5 million nautical miles on more than 400 voyages including 213 transatlantic crossings. She has called at 182 ports in 60 countries and carried more than 1.3 million guests.

Information supplied by : Cunard Line.

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CLIA Announces Cruise Week Dates as Campaign Goes Global 

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia has announced its 2014 Cruise Week will be held from September 1-8, with CLIA offices from around the globe collaborating on the major consumer event for the first time.

Announcing the dates, CLIA Australasia General Manager Brett Jardine said the 2014 Cruise Week would feature a new logo reflecting the global partnership and would have a worldwide theme focusing on “new to cruise” passengers.

Mr Jardine said Australia and New Zealand will be the first to conduct Cruise Week, with CLIA offices in the United Kingdom, Europe and the USA to follow.

“We’re very excited by the new approach which reflects the close level of liaison and collaboration happening between CLIA regional offices since we joined together to form CLIA globally,” Mr Jardine said.

“There are a lot of creative ideas and marketing concepts we can share between us which we think will really benefit agents and help build on the success of this promotion.”

Mr Jardine said CLIA member agents would soon have access to a special agent toolkit full of ideas on how to make the most of the week. The new logo will also be launched shortly.

.

“As always we’ll have a big marketing and PR push around the week and our cruise line members will have some fabulous deals, so we urge agents to get in early to organise events and activities that will really help drive sales.

“Agents who want to maximise results need to start planning now to ensure that their local activity fits in with the national marketing push.”

For more information visit www.cruising.org.au in Australia and www.cruising.org.nz in New Zealand. 

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the world's largest cruise association and is dedicated to the promotion and growth of the cruise industry. CLIA is composed of more than 55 of the world's major cruise lines and serves as a non-governmental consultative organisation to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), an agency of the United Nations.

Information supplied by : CLIA Australasia.

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Aussie Mums Given a Special Treat Onboard Pacific Jewels' Mothers Day Cruise.

In an extra special treat for Aussie mums, Australian Idol winner Damien Leith joined the cruise line’s three-night Mother’s Day cruise on the weekend to perform exclusively for Pacific Jewel’s guests.

The Irish-Australian singer-songwriter, who won Australian Idol in 2006, performed a selection of his greatest hits as well as tracks from his latest album Chapter Seven during two shows in the ship’s Marquee theatre.

A select group of guests who won an onboard competition also rubbed shoulders with the multi-platinum Aria-award winning singer during an exclusive cocktail party in the Dome.

Meanwhile every cabin received a copy of Chapter Seven as a special Mother’s Day gift.

While onboard, Damien and his children enjoyed all the ship has to offer including the largest adventure park at sea, P&OEdge.

Information supplied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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Princess Cruises to Screen FIFA World Cup Games on Movies Under the Stars.

Princess Cruises will delight football fans by showing all 64 games of the upcoming FIFA World Cup onboard its Australian-based ships, Sea Princess and Dawn Princess, during June and July.  The matches will air on the line’s signature Movies Under the Stars outdoor screens, which have space for hundreds of guests to enjoy the action.

  Princess Cruises Vice President Australia & New Zealand Stuart Allison said all the excitement of the World Cup would be available to guests while sailing with Princess.  “Watching a big football game at sea is an amazing experience. We're confident that our first-class onboard facilities, combined with the big match atmosphere our screens create, will offer a unique World Cup experience for guests,” Mr Allison said.

  "And if Australia don't emerge from one of the toughest groups in the competition against Spain, The Netherlands and Chile, our guests can always console themselves with a cocktail in one of our lounges, or unwind in our luxury spa."  The tournament, held between June 12 and July 13, 2014, will screen on nine Princess ships in total: Dawn Princess, Diamond Princess, Emerald Princess, Regal Princess, Royal Princess, Ruby Princess, Sapphire Princess, Sea Princess and Sun Princess.  Sea Princess will be sailing from Brisbane on a series of South Pacific and Australian itineraries during June, relocating to Fremantle for a series of Asian cruises in July. Meanwhile, Dawn Princess will be part way through a 104-night round world cruise.

 Football fans will also enjoy themed entertainment and activities, including World Cup trivia, face painting with favourite team flags, team cheering sections and football-themed contests with prizes.  The World Cup is just one of many special events shown on the Movies Under the Stars screens. The giant LED screens are more than 27 square metres in size, with a 69,000-watt sound system and have sufficient lighting power to be seen clearly at midday and heard even while the ship is moving at full speed – offering cruise guests a movie experience comparable to the best shoreside movie theatre. 

Information supplied by : Princess Cruises.

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Cunard's magnificent Queens lined up three abreast for the first time at sea in a dramatic photo shoot as the fleet sailed from Lisbon to Southampton to mark flagship Queen Mary 2's 10th anniversary.

The world's grandest ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, and her sister ships Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria left Lisbon ahead of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh's visit to celebrate the milestone in Southampton on Friday May 9.

“This is the first time all three Queens of the Cunard fleet have been seen together anywhere outside Southampton or New York, and the first time these magnificent ships have been seen together at sea,” Cunard Director Angus Struthers said.

Photographer James Morgan took to the skies in a helicopter to capture the iconic shots of the three ships sailing in formation.
While it may look effortless the images were the result of a long planning operation in which the safety of the vessels and the thousands of people upon them was paramount.
“Most of the work in this type of photography is actually in the preparation beforehand. When you are dealing with the largest ocean liner in the world,  you can't sit in a helicopter asking if it can go left a bit or right a bit because it doesn’t work like that.  A three ship formation like this has to be finely coordinated and choreographed ahead of time.  It's not like directing traffic - this is more like ship ballet,” James said.

The months of planning included a logistical meeting with the captains and crew of the three ships to schedule down to the minutest detail how the photo shoot would come about.
It took the three ships around an hour to sail out of Lisbon to the site of the shoot.  All shipping in the area had to be totally cleared for the three Queens to ensure absolute safety for the technical manoeuvre.

Queen Mary 2, the only ocean liner in service today and still the fastest passenger ship afloat ten years after she was named by Her Majesty The Queen in 2004, is on the final leg of her world cruise and her sister ships were on hand to escort her home in style.

Since entering service the 151,400-tonne Queen Mary 2 has sailed 1.5 million nautical miles on over 400 voyages including 213 transatlantic crossings. She has called at 182 ports in 60 countries and carried over 1.3 million guests.
The 90,900-tonne Queen Elizabeth is the newest member of the Cunard family, having been named by Her Majesty The Queen in 2010, while Queen Victoria was named in 2007 by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, and is the smallest of the Queens at 90,000 tonnes.

Please see the attached images of Cunard’s Queens sailing in formation at sea for the first time, off the coast of Lisbon. Mandatory photo credit James Morgan/Cunard.

Information supplied by : Cunard Line.

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Carnival Cruise Lines Gets Crafty with Bespoke Beer for Australian Cruisers

Carnival Cruise Lines is tapping into Australians’ thirst for quality craft beer with the launch of its own bespoke ale, available exclusively on its Sydney-based ships.

Created in partnership with Sydney’s award-winning Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, the cruise line’s ground-breaking Thirsty Frog Summer Ale is a refreshing beer which captures the spirit of a holiday at sea.

The 100 per cent natural ale will be on tap across 14 bars on the cruise line’s Sydney-based Carnival Spirit from June 1 as well as onboard its latest Australian ship, Carnival Legend, when it debuts in Sydney in September.

Carnival Cruise Lines Vice President Australia Jennifer Vandekreeke said the beer was sure to be a favourite among guests.

“Carnival Cruise Lines has put a lot of effort into ‘Aussifying’ our ships for the local market, so we are thrilled to create our own authentic craft ale which really acknowledges Australians’ appreciation of a quality beer,” Ms Vandekreeke said.

“As the world’s largest cruise line, it’s been a great adventure to partner with the nation’s oldest pub brewery to create Australia’s first beer for cruising. This really is the ideal beer to relax with as you enjoy all the sun and fun of a South Pacific cruise.”

Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel owner Blair Hayden said the brewery had put a lot of work into crafting the ale, which appropriately combines Australian and American hops.

“Thirsty Frog Summer Ale is a very drinkable beer with subtle malt flavours and floral citrus aromas,” Mr Hayden said. “It’s perfect on its own or with a meal, and the fact that it’s naturally brewed, with no added sugars and preservatives, really adds to its appeal.”

Months in the making, Thirsty Frog Summer Ale takes its name from the Red Frog pubs featured across Carnival Cruise Lines’ fleet. The cruise line’s Vice President Beverage Operations Edward Allen visited Australia to work with the Lord Nelson team to develop the right taste for Australian guests.

Lord Nelson was selected for the partnership because of its experience and reputation for craft beers, with the brewery ranking as one of New South Wales’ biggest craft beer seller.  The creation of Thirsty Frog Summer Ale will make Carnival Cruise Lines the brewery’s biggest outlet in Australia, outside its premises in The Rocks.

About Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines is the largest cruise line in the world with over four and a half million guests travelling every year. Carnival Spirit is the largest and newest cruise ship to call Australia home and she will be joined by her sister ship, Carnival Legend in September 2014. With 45 activities from zen to adrenalin to enjoy each day, Carnival Spirit offers fun-loving families and couples memorable and great value holidays. 

Information supplied by : Carnival Cruise Lines Australia.

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Royal Caribbean International to base its first ship in Brisbane

Legend of the Seas becomes the fourth Royal Caribbean ship based in Australia for summer 2015/16 

7th May 2014: The world’s largest cruise line, Royal Caribbean International will base Legend of the Seas in Brisbane for the 2015/16 summer cruise season. Brisbane becomes the brand’s second Australian home port and takes the brand’s Australian fleet to an unprecedented four ships. The addition of Legend of the Seas, along with the recent announcement that Explorer of the Seas will replace Rhapsody of the Seas represents a total capacity increase of 47 per cent.  

The 2,000-guest Legend of Seas has been selected to homeport in Brisbane to meet the growing demand from Australian and international guests wishing to experience world class cruising to Queensland and the South Pacific. As a global cruise brand, international guests are expected to drive an increase in inbound tourism by travelling to Brisbane to experience Legend of the Seas with an estimated economic impact in the region of $25-30 million.

Legend of the Seas will also make ten calls at the combined Queensland ports of Cairns and Airlie Beach. Additionally Royal Caribbean’s other local ships, Radiance of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas, will make 27 port calls in Queensland during the local 2015/16 season at Cairns, Brisbane, Airlie Beach and Port Douglas. As an industry average, each passenger is estimated to spend approximately $100 per person in a port of call when visiting during their cruise holiday. 

Legend of the Seas arrives in Brisbane in December 2015 for a five-month season.  At 70,000 tons she is one of the largest superliners able to navigate the Brisbane River and dock at Brisbane Cruise Terminal at Portside Wharf.  She offers guests a world class cruising experience from the cruise line responsible for the world’s largest megaliners Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas and the much anticipated Quantum of the Seas. 

Following an extensive $50 million revitalisation in 2013, the ship boasts new “Wow” facilities that guests will not find onboard any other cruise ship sailing from Brisbane: a central Atrium with an acrobatic aerial show, a rock climbing wall, a mini golf course, an indoor swimming pool, a babies nursery and multiple speciality dining venues including a Sushi restaurant and a 12-seat private dining room. She also features a stunning two-deck grand dining room, an 800-seat theatre, the Vitality Spa & Fitness centre, a beauty salon a shopping arcade. 

Gavin Smith, Regional Vice-President Asia Pacific said, “We are thrilled to announce our first program of cruises from Brisbane. Legend of the Seas will provide a new choice in local cruising – and is the logical next stage in Royal Caribbean’s growth in Australia. This move comes off the back of strong demand from both the local and international guests and represents another major investment by Royal Caribbean in the Australian cruise market.”  

This is the second major announcement made by the company in Australia in a month, following the news that the 3,800-guest megaliner Explorer of the Seas will be based in Sydney from November 2015.  “Our Sydney and now Brisbane vessels represent the largest investment made by a cruise line in Australia and demonstrate our absolute commitment to the local cruise market,” said Gavin Smith. 

Royal Caribbean’s biggest ever Australian fleet will comprise four ships in summer 2015/16: Legend of the Seas in Brisbane and Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas in Sydney.  All four ships boast the benefits of the “Royal Advantage” fleet revitalisation program, which involves bow-to-stern renovations and the addition of many new amenities at a total cost of almost $250 million.  Together they will offer a range of over 70 itineraries featuring popular Australian, South Pacific and New Zealand ports. 

Legend of the Seas is currently sailing in Europe and the Caribbean.  Many Australians and New Zealanders will already be familiar with the ship during her recent Asia programs from 2008 to 2013 – and she will return to Asia once more from June to November 2015, offering a series of cruises from Singapore and Hong Kong.  As a prelude to her Brisbane season, Legend of the Seas will also briefly visit east coast Australia in June as she makes her way across the Pacific Ocean from California to Asia.

The Brisbane program will go on sale in mid-May and guests will be able to choose from an array of 17 attractive itineraries ranging from two to 14 nights to the South Pacific islands, Queensland and New Zealand – plus exotic repositioning cruises between Hong Kong and Brisbane.

This announcement is the latest in a number of exciting key changes to Royal Caribbean’s future deployment.  In the last two months the brand has announced its return to Dubai from late 2015; that new ship Anthem of the Seas will be based in the UK when she is launched in April 2015; the world’s largest cruise ship, Allure of the Seas, will sail her maiden season in the Mediterranean in 2015; and brand new ship Quantum of the Seas will be based in China next year.

About Legend of the Seas

* Maiden voyage May 1995

* Revitalised in February 2013

* 2,074 guests 

* 726 crew

* 915 staterooms

* 69,130 tons

* 267 meters long (867 feet)

* 32 feet wide (105 feet)

* 11 decks

* 6 pools and whirlpools

* 8 bars, clubs and lounges

* Speciality dining: Izumi, Chops Grille and Chef’s Table

* Central Atrium featuring aerial show and R Bar

* Royal Babies and Tots Nursery

* World-class theatre with 800 capacity 

* Two pools and four whirlpools

* Rock-climbing wall and jogging track

* Nine-hole mini golf course

* Outdoor movie screen

For more information about Royal Caribbean International, or to make a booking, guests and travel agents can visit royalcaribbean.com.au or call 1800 754 500. 

About Royal Caribbean International 

Royal Caribbean International is an award-winning global cruise brand with a 45-year legacy of innovation and introducing industry “firsts” never before seen at sea.  The cruise line features an expansive and unmatched array of features and amenities only found on Royal Caribbean including, jaw-dropping, Broadway-style entertainment and industry-acclaimed programming that appeals to families and adventurous vacationers alike. Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE/OSE: RCL), the cruise line sails 21 of the world’s most innovative cruise ships to the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, South America, the Far East, and Australia and New Zealand. World renowned for its friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service, delivered by every staff and crew

member, Royal Caribbean has been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 11 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards. 

RCL Cruises Ltd Australia commenced operation in December 2008 as the Australian arm of global cruise holiday company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. The company offers three cruise brands in Australia and New Zealand: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. In the 2014/2015 cruise season, Royal Caribbean International will be the largest cruise operator in Sydney, with three ships sailing in the region: Voyager of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas. In the 2015/2016 local cruise season Royal Caribbean International will increase the local fleet to four ships: Legend of the Seas home porting in Brisbane; along with Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas home porting in Sydney.   royalcaribbean.com.au  

Royal Caribbean International Press centre:  royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com  Royal Caribbean AU & NZ Instagram:  instagram.com/royalcaribbean_aunz Royal Caribbean AU & NZ Facebook:  facebook.com/rciaustraliaandnz Royal Caribbean AU & NZ YouTube:  youtube.com/rciaustraliaandnz

Information supplied by : Royal Caribbean International.

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Carnival Cruise Lines Takes the Fun to Singapore and Hawaii  

Carnival Cruise Lines has announced its latest Australian ship Carnival Legend will sail the warm waters of the Pacific to Hawaii next year, while Carnival Spirit will make the cruise line’s first ever visit to Asia on an exotic voyage from Sydney to Singapore.

The inaugural fly-cruise itineraries will give Australians an exciting new way to visit two popular holiday destinations, while enjoying all the fun of a Carnival cruise on the way.

Fares start from $1049* per person quad share for Carnival Spirit’s 15-day Sydney to Singapore cruise departing August 1, 2015 and including visits to Lombok and Bali in Indonesia and Brisbane, the Whitsundays and Darwin.  Meanwhile, holidaymakers keen to fly to Singapore and sail home can choose the ship’s 15-day cruise from Singapore to Sydney, departing August 30, 2015 and also priced from $1049* per person quad share.

The new cruises will give Queenslanders their first chance to experience Carnival Spirit sailing from Brisbane, with the cruise line offering a 13-day sailing from Brisbane to Singapore on August 3 as well as the return voyage departing Singapore on August 30, with fares  from $1049* per person quad share.

Australians will also be able take in all the onboard entertainment and excitement of the cruise line’s latest ship, Carnival Legend, as she sails across the Pacific to Hawaii in April next year.  Cruising from Sydney on April 20, the 18-day cruise will visit Fiji and beautiful Bora Bora, Moorea and Papeete in Tahiti before heading to Honolulu. Fares start from $1329* per person quad share.

The cruise line is also offering the chance to enjoy a spring sailing from Honolulu to Sydney via Tahiti and Fiji in September 2015 as Carnival Legend returns to Australia for its second summer season. Fares on the 18-day cruise leaving Hawaii on September 26, 2015 start from $1399* per person quad share.

Carnival Cruise Lines Vice President Australia Jennifer Vandekreeke said the new cruises would give Australians a great way to travel to Asia and Hawaii.

“We’re excited to be able to offer our guests these longer itineraries which are perfect for travellers looking to visit some wonderful tropical destinations which are a bit further from home, while enjoying all Carnival has to offer onboard,” Ms Vandekreeke said.

As with all cruises on Spirit and Legend departing from Australia, the cruises to and from Singapore and Honolulu will operate in Australian dollars and feature entertainment and food designed for Australian tastes, with no tipping required.

Both Carnival Legend and Carnival Spirit offer 12 decks packed with plenty of activities as well as relaxation options, including four restaurants, 16 bars and lounges, two theatres, a spa and gym and the wonderful Serenity child-free retreat.

For more information call 13 31 94, see a travel agent or visit www.carnival.com.au

*Fares are per person quad share. Subject to availability, conditions apply

About Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines is the largest cruise line in the world with over four and a half million guests travelling every year. Carnival Spirit is the largest and newest cruise ship to call Australia home and she will be joined by her sister ship, Carnival Legend in September 2014. With 45 activities from zen to adrenalin to enjoy each day, Carnival Spirit offers fun-loving families and couples memorable and great value holidays. 

Information supplied by : Carnival Cruise Line, Australia.

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Carnival Australia CEO and Australian Rugby Union Board Director Ann Sherry hosted Australia's Women's Sevens team on P&O Cruises’ Pacific Jewel last week, following their recent success in the IRB Women's World Series.

Ms Sherry, the first female representative on the ARU board, was making good on a promise to organise a lunch for the team in Luke Mangan’s onboard restaurant, Salt Grill, if the players returned victorious from Brazil.

The Women's Sevens team, ARU CEO Bill Pulver and the team's support group dined in style while Pacific Jewel was on turnaround at White Bay Cruise Terminal in Sydney.
Ms Sherry said she couldn't have been happier to honour her promise to a champion team and wished them well as they prepared for the final round of the series in the Netherlands later this month.
The entire party was given an end-to-end tour of Pacific Jewel and Captain Stefano Ravera treated them to a visit to the bridge where he presented team Captain Sharni Williams with a souvenir P&O Cruises' flag.

Please see the attached image of Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry and P&O Cruises Captain Stefano Ravera with the Australia’s Women’s Sevens team (Captain Sharni Williams is the first on the left) on Pacific Jewel.

Information suppied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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