TODAY TAKES TO THE SEAS

The TODAY Show will host a ground-breaking television event on Wednesday, November 25, bringing viewers one of Sydney Harbour’s biggest ever maritime events – the live P&O Cruises Five Ship Spectacular.

With celebrations beginning at 5.30am and continuing throughout the morning, viewers will see history in the making when five P&O ships come together for the first time in Sydney Harbour, celebrating the arrival of the Australian cruise line’s latest ships, Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden.  

Karl Stefanovic, Lisa Wilkinson, Sylvia Jeffreys, Tim Gilbert and Ross Greenwood will be positioned on Pacific Aria. Across the water at Fort Denison, Richard Wilkins will host all the entertainment action, joined by the “godmothers” of the two ships – singer Jessica Mauboy and actress Kate Ritchie – who will officially name Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden in a stunning dual christening ceremony during the broadcast. 

Stevie Jacobs will be at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, hosting a big barbecue for those down at the foreshore to watch the Five Ship Spectacular. Those celebrating the morning with Stevie will also have a chance to win some amazing prizes, including a nine-night P&O cruise to the beautiful Pacific Islands.  

Lisa Wilkinson says: “Sydney Harbour is without a doubt one of the most beautiful locations in the world. Watching the sun come up as this magnificent fleet moves into formation off Sydney Heads and then enters the Harbour one by one will be breathtaking.”  Karl Stefanovic says: “Everyone loves a big boat – so five ships in Sydney Harbour will be massive. We’ll have cameras in exclusive vantage points all over Sydney as the ships come in, as well as right in the middle of the action when Jess and Kate name the ships and we see those big champagne bottles smash.”  

P&O Cruises Senior VicePresidentSture Myrmell said the cruise line was excited to partner with TODAY for the historic broadcast. “This is going to be a day like no other on Sydney Harbour, so we’re thrilled that all of Australia will be able to be part of the action with the TODAY Show onboard.”  

Join the TODAY Show to watch maritime history in the making: live from 5.30am Wednesday, November 25

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For more details of P&O’s Five Ship Spectacular visit www.pocruises.com.au/5ships Twitter @pocruises Instagram@pocruises #5Ships and #pocruises

Information suppiled by: Channel Nine And P&O Cruises Australia.

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Australian Workers Suffer From FOTAL: Fear Of Taking Annual Leave

A new survey has found that most Australian workers struggle to completely unwind while on holiday, with eight out of ten workers admitting they feel guilty when they relax - and a third confessing that even the thought of relaxing stresses them out.

According to the survey, two-thirds of Australian workers use their annual holidays to handle personal obligations such as family emergencies, attending medical and dental appointments and running errands.

And while Australia has one of the world’s highest levels of annual leave, with a minimum of four weeks’ holidays a year for full-time workers, the majority of workers (58 per cent) say work commitments have prevented them taking their full entitlements. 

Conducted among 1250 Australian workers, the first Princess Cruises National Relaxation Survey found that almost two-thirds of workers suffered from FOTAL – a Fear of Taking Annual Leave – and would take more time off work if they knew there wouldn’t be negative repercussions.

And while 78 per cent of workers feel bad about relaxing, Gen Y workers suffered the worst, with 86 per cent of workers aged 18 to 34 saying they felt guilty about relaxing. Eighty per cent of Gen X workers felt the same way, with both age groups carrying far more guilt than Baby Boomers (67 per cent).

As many as 67 per cent – or the equivalent of close to seven million workers – say they complete at least one work task while on holidays, with the most common jobs including answering emails (52 per cent) and responding to business calls (31 per cent).

Clinical & Coaching Psychology and Founder of The Positivity Institute Dr Suzy Green said the findings showed that workers needed to ensure they separate their work life from their leisure time.

“It’s concerning that workplace pressures such as increased demands, longer hours and budget constraints all impact negatively on stress levels and cause hesitation to take leave due to the anticipated consequences of a return from holiday. These results highlight the need for Australians to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing by scheduling in annual holidays and seasonal mini-breaks to avoid FOTAL and provide a source of anticipation to buffer against stress and guilt,” Dr Green said.

“Workers need to try to create a ‘holiday gameplan’ to help enhance their time off, which could include things like setting boundaries around email and phone usage and ensuring there is dedicated time slots for physical and mental relaxation.  Research on mindfulness meditation shows that even brief periods of practice can reduce stress and increase wellbeing.”

Asked about their relaxation, 69 per cent of workers say they feel as though they need a holiday from their holiday at some point. The most common areas of dissatisfaction included spending too much time in airports, driving or travelling (37 per cent) and coming back as tired as they went away (36 per cent). Eighty per cent of workers say they found planning a holiday can be stressful, with more than half identifying the need to stay within budget as a particular area of tension. 

A massive 81 per cent of Australians prefer holidays that are relaxing, quiet experiences away from the hustle and bustle, while 70 per cent agree that taking a cruise holiday would be the best way to get life experience and relaxation time in the one holiday.

Other key findings from the study include:

* Gen Y (62 per cent) and Gen X (64 per cent) workers are more likely than Baby Boomers (46 per cent) to say work commitments have prevented them from taking their full annual leave.

* A quarter of workers say they find requesting leave more stressful than asking for a pay rise 

* Twenty-nine per cent  of workers would take more leave if they knew their boss wouldn’t hold it against them

* 27 per cent say they’d opt for more holidays if they knew they wouldn’t have to work longer hours before or right after their leave 

* Parents are the most discontent, with 85 per cent dissatisfied with some element of a holiday compared to 75 per cent of non-parents

* Thirty-nine per cent of parents say that planning a holiday is stressful because they need to find a place everyone can enjoy (compared to 22 per cent for non-parents).

About the survey – The Princess Cruises National Relaxation Survey was conducted by Galaxy Research with 1250 respondents interviewed nationally in September.

Information supplied by: Princess Cruises.

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Stylish Carinthia Lounge For Queen Mary 2

Cunard has unveiled plans to transform Queen Mary 2’s Winter Garden into an elegant, airy and versatile new venue – the Carinthia Lounge – during her refurbishment next year. 

Named after Cunard’s much loved Carinthia ships, the new Carinthia Lounge will take shape during Queen Mary 2’s multimillion pound refit from May 27 to June 21, 2016.

Designed to be one of the most stylish and talked-about spaces on the Cunard flagship, the Carinthia Lounge will transition seamlessly throughout the day from a serene and cheery lounge serving light breakfast and lunch dishes to an elegant evening destination. It will become the perfect spot to sit and relax, the place to catch up with friends or the venue to enjoy a good book. Its location is perfect for unwinding after a treatment at the Canyon Ranch Spa next door or to relax after a stroll on the widest promenade at sea.

Featuring a fresh colour palette of powder blue, cream and gold, the lounge will include versatile seating layouts including dining chairs and tables near the new patisserie and chic curved lounge seating under decorative lights. The spacious venue will also feature a wine wall, vertical metal Art Deco-inspired screens and a dark walnut timber dance floor.

The Carinthia Lounge will feature a dedicated patisserie and an afternoon tea service, with the option of a special Veuve Cliquot Champagne Afternoon Tea experience. When the sun sets, the lounge will become an inviting evening spot with premium wine, small plates and relaxed entertainment. 

Cunard Director Angus Struthers said in the roaring twenties Carinthia embodied the spirit of travel which saw the rise in popularity of world cruises and winter voyages – a concept Cunard can proudly claim to have introduced among its many innovations and firsts over the last 175 years. 

“It is only fitting to remember the legacy of Carinthia and bestow this name onto our new lounge. We believe this space will truly elevate the Queen Mary 2 experience, adding new innovative culinary options as well as another level of refined relaxation and entertainment for our guests,” Mr Struthers said.

Both Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth feature the popular Carinthia Cafes.

For more details on Cunard visit www.cunard.com, phone 132 441 or see a licensed travel agent.

Information supplied by: Cunard Line.

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P&O Pioneers More Of PNG In Unprecedented Regional Program

One of the most remote island groups in the world – the privately-owned Conflict Islands – is set to be the latest tourism hot spot for Australian holidaymakers with P&O Cruises announcing it will make the first cruise ship calls to the picturesque Papua New Guinea atoll next year.

With its expanded fleet cruising from eight homeports between 2016 and 2018, the cruise line has released details of its latest itineraries which will see P&O continuing to pioneer new cruise destinations including the uninhabited Conflict Islands and Queensland’s Fraser Island.

In June 2016, Pacific Jewel will become the first cruise ship to call at the untouched Conflict Islands as part of P&O’s Papua New Guinea itineraries. A picturesque group of 21 islands surrounding a blue lagoon that is home to one of the world’s most biodiverse reef systems, the name of the archipelago is in stark contrast to the reality, with the Conflict Islands considered one of the most peaceful places on the planet. In a landmark partnership for the region, P&O Cruises has worked with eccentric entrepreneur and passionate conservationist Ian Gowrie-Smith to bring cruise ships to his islands – one of only a few parcels of land owned freehold in Papua New Guinea.

Further bridging the gap with Australia’s exotic neighbour, P&O Cruises will offer its first international sea break in 2017 with Pacific Eden's second Cairns season including four-night roundtrip itineraries to Alotau in Papua New Guinea with scenic cruising through Kawanasausau Strait and Milne Bay.

P&O Cruises Senior Vice President Sture Myrmell said P&O was thrilled to be bringing the wonders of Papua New Guinea within reach of more Australian holidaymakers.

“We have been pioneering cruising in the Pacific for eight decades and are still discovering fantastic cruise destinations for our guests. Papua New Guinea is one of the most extraordinary places on earth and even though it’s our neighbour, its picturesque islands are relatively untravelled – until now,” Mr Myrmell said.

“With the expansion of our fleet between 2015 and 2017, the destination and itinerary possibilities are endless. We’re taking modern Australian cruise holidays to the next level in the coming years – it’s a very exciting time for local cruising.”

The latest program, which goes on sale on November 17, also includes the first cruise calls to Fraser Island, with Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden set to offer short breaks to the pristine Queensland island from Brisbane and Sydney.

Ensuring Queenslanders get a taste of both P&O Cruises’ latest ships, Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden will have stints joining Pacific Dawn cruising from Brisbane between July 2017 and March 2018. Among the unprecedented line up of 30 short break departures, the ships will cruise to Aussie favourites including Hamilton Island, the Whitsundays and Newcastle (for the Hunter).

Satisfying Australians’ increasing desire to recharge with short breaks, Mr Myrmell said cruises of two to four nights were a standout feature of the new program with a record 85 on offer from five home ports.

The latest program is the first to include the expanded fleet, with Pacific Explorer set to join the P&O family in 2017, offering a range of Pacific Island, Sea Break, Australia and Main Event itineraries from Sydney. Three ships (Pacific Dawn from Brisbane and Pacific Explorer and Pacific Jewel from Sydney) will cruise to the 2017 Melbourne Cup while in 2018, Pacific Explorer will make her Australia Day debut in Sydney Harbour alongside Pacific Aria and the cruise line will make its fifth appearance at the Australian Open.

In a coup for Western Australia, Pacific Eden will return for an encore Fremantle season from April to June 2017, offering a series of 10 cruises including a new nine-night itinerary featuring P&O Cruises’ first scenic cruising along the stunning Kimberley coastline as well as the return of popular Indonesian cruises and short breaks to Esperance and Margaret River.

With the largest local fleet opening up a plethora of program possibilities, the cruise line will also offer its longest summer season in Melbourne. Pacific Jewel will call Victoria home for 109 days from November 2017 until March 2018, offering 18 cruises including a new 12-night New Zealand itinerary which features Stewart Island and Fiordland National Park, a New Year’s cruise to the popular Pacific Islands and Sea Breaks to Eden in New South Wales and Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Guests can also combine a six-night Southern Getaway to South Australia and five-night Taste of Tasmania cruise to get the most of the southern coastline.  

Asia cruising is also set to heat up in winter 2017 with Pacific Eden returning to Singapore to offer two week-long itineraries around Thailand and the Andaman Islands including calls to Ko Chang and Krabi in Thailand and Sabang in Indonesia. The week-long itineraries can be combined into a 14-night Asia extravaganza. 

Meanwhile festive holidaymakers can avoid expensive flights and have a fuss free Christmas and New Year with friends and family on one of 12 cruises departing from three Australian ports over the height of the holiday period in 2017.

The first 100 cabins booked on a new program itinerary will receive special extras including priority check-in and tenders, welcome gift packs and onboard credit.

Information supplied by: P&O Cruises Australia.

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P&O Cruises' Australia's NEW Ships Pacific Aria And Pacific Eden Meet For The First Time Spending The Weekend Together In An Historic Double Dry Dock In Singapore.

P&O Cruises’ latest ships Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden have met for the first time, spending the weekend together in an historic double dry dock in Singapore.

In the first look at the sister ships, which are set to become game changers for the Australian cruise industry, images from the dry dock provide a sneak peak at striking design elements including stunning trompe l’oeil visuals creating an optical illusion in Pacific Eden’s lifts.

The extensive transformation of both ships will see more than 900 contractors from 43 different nationalities spend about 250,000 man hours laying an estimated 20,000sqm of carpet and adding 2500sqm of wall covering, more than 300 pieces of art, 2500 pieces of furniture and 2500 signs, as well as 500 litres of paint.

Pacific Eden has left dry dock and is expected to arrive in Fremantle on Tuesday November 10, the same day sister ship Pacific Aria finishes her dry dock at Sembcorp Marine Admiralty Yard.

The ships will meet again in Sydney Harbour for their dual naming ceremony on November 25.

Please see the attached images of Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden in dry dock in Singapore.

Information supplied by: P&O Cruises Australia.

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P&O Cruises’ Pacific Dawn Has Made History As The Largest Cruise Ship To Sail Under Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge.

Carrying 2000 guests, the 47.6 metre high Pacific Dawn passed under the West Gate Bridge, which has a clearance of 50.1 metres, before berthing at Victoria Dock, next to Melbourne’s Docklands early this morning. The central location will give Pacific Dawn’s 2000 guests unprecedented cruise ship access to the city during their two-day stay for the Melbourne Cup. 

The 70,285-tonne superliner is one of a record four cruise ships visiting Melbourne for the Cup. P&O Cruises’ Pacific Pearl and Pacific Jewel are both docked at Station Pier along with Carnival Spirit, from P&O’s sister cruise line Carnival Cruise Line.

Between them, the ships’ 8000 guests will represent around 8 per cent of total attendees at the Melbourne Cup. The four-ship visit is expected to inject more than $7 million into the economy in passenger and crew spending as well as port charges and fees, with the ships spending a combined 12 days in Melbourne.

Please see the attached images of Pacific Dawn sailing under the West Gate Bridge and berthing at Victoria Dock in Melbourne today. Photos by James Morgan.

Also here is a short video clip of Pacific Dawn coming under the Westgate bridge :

COMING IN HOT! Happy Melbourne Cup Day from the P&O Family. Pacific Dawn as the largest ship arriving under Melbourne's West Gate Bridge! https://youtu.be/p4SfIqDk05g

Information supplied by: P&O Cruises Australia.

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P&O Cruises Australia NEW Ships In Singapore Geting Referbished For There New HOME In Australia.

It's ALL HANDS ON DECK during P&O Cruises Australia double ship dry dock as we transform Pacific Aria & Pacific Eden, the newest members of our family! Check out the highlights from dry dock so far in this video.

Australia YOUR NEW ships are getting ready !

https://youtu.be/9ZKe5Uy_5Mk

Information supplied by: P&O Cruises Australia.

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Giant Spider Creeps Into Sydney As Carnival Kicks Off Halloween 

With a new survey finding that Halloween is increasing in popularity down under, Carnival Cruise Line has kicked off this year’s celebrations in a truly Aussie way.

On the eve of Halloween, the cruise line’s Australian-based superliner Carnival Spirit has crept into Sydney with a giant spider on its bow.

But this morning’s spooky visitor is no ordinary spider – to add an Australian bite to the US tradition, it’s a massive Redback that’s two-storeys high (6m) and 10 metres wide.

A recent Halloween survey by Carnival Cruise Line found that half the nation is afraid of spiders, with creepy crawlies topping the list of things that most scare them – well ahead of public speaking, heights and the dark.

The survey of more than 1000 Australians also revealed that a fifth of respondents believe October 31 is about scaring people, with more than a third saying they get dressed up as something scary like a witch or a ghost.

Carnival Cruise Line Vice President Australia Jennifer Vandekreeke said when they realised Australian-based superliner Carnival Spirit would be in Sydney on the eve of Halloween, they couldn’t resist getting in on the act.

“As an American cruise line, we could be accused of going a bit OTT with Halloween. It’s a big event across our 24-ship fleet - including our Australian-based superliners Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend - and we wanted to share some of that frightful fun with Sydneysiders by doing something big that screamed Aussie Halloween,” Ms Vandekreeke said.

Carnival’s Halloween survey found that 71 per cent of Aussies feel Halloween has become more popular in recent years, while a fifth would like to see October 31 become a public holiday.

Other key findings include:

* About a third (31 per cent) of respondents get dressed up and go trick or treating on Halloween

* 42 per cent of respondents believe Halloween is a chance for kids and adults to have fun together

* Almost 40 per cent of respondents celebrate on October 31 by throwing or attending a themed party

* 61 per cent of Aussies have lollies at the ready for trick-or-treaters 

* Almost 60 per cent feel trick or treating is best left to kids aged 13 or younger, although 28 per cent say you’re never too old to get involved

Carnival Cruise Line will also be ‘treating’ one lucky winner and three of their friends to a free cruise, in a one-day-only ‘Name the Spider’ competition run via their Facebook and Instagram accounts. Sydneysiders are invited to come down to Circular Quay between 9am and 3pm to take a photo of the giant spider and give it a name via Instagram using the hashtag #CarnivalHalloween. They can also enter on the CarnivalOz Facebook page by submitting a spooktacular name in a comment on the competition post.

For tips on how to make the most of Halloween, visit www.cruisetips.carnival.com.au

Information supplied by: Carnival Cruise Line, Australia.

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Melbourne Raises The Curtain On Golden Princess – The Biggest Ship To Call Victoria Home

As Australians’ passion for cruising continues to grow, Melbourne today welcomed the largest cruise ship ever to be based in Victoria – the 2600-guest Golden Princess – in spectacular style.

The megaliner was greeted by two massive golden curtains, each measuring 20,000 sq ft, which were flown out to the ship by two helicopters as it sailed down Port Philip Bay.  In a theatrical move, the curtains were then drawn apart, revealing the ship to the city as it made its maiden call to its new homeport.  

At 108,000-tonne, Golden Princess is 40 per cent larger than the previous biggest ship to be based in Melbourne, Dawn Princess, and will carry 23 per cent more guests during her inaugural Melbourne deployment, with 40,000 guests set to cruise on her over the next five months. 

The season is expected to deliver around $15 million to the Victorian economy in passenger and crew spending as well as supplies and port charges.

The decision to base the megaliner in Melbourne for her maiden Australian season from October 2015 to March 2016 follows growing demand for cruise holidays from Victorians over recent years.  Industry figures show that more than one million Australians took a cruise in 2014, including more than 175,000 Victorians. With numbers increasing by 24 per cent compared to 2013, Victoria is one of the fastest growing cruise states in Australia.

Golden Princess is also an appropriate choice for Melbourne as it was recently selected to be the first vessel in Princess Cruises’ 18-ship fleet to offer a selection of Curtis Stone menu items in its main dining room. The Melbourne-born international chef and restaurateur has just formed an exclusive partnership with Princess Cruises which will see “Crafted by Curtis” menu items featured across the fleet, while a number of Princess’ ships will also offer Curtis’ first restaurant at sea, SHARE.

In all, Golden Princess features more than a dozen different dining options – as well as four swimming pools, a large spa, a child-free Sanctuary retreat and more than 1300 staterooms, with 55 per cent offering private balconies.  

With her 290-metre length almost equal to the height of Melbourne’s Eureka Tower, the ship also boasts the spectacular Skywalkers Nightclub suspended at the rear of the ship and reached by a moving walkway above the decks. 

Golden Princess’ five-month Melbourne season will feature 15 roundtrip cruises to New Zealand, the South Pacific and Tasmania and is a key feature of Princess’ largest ever summer Down Under with a record five Princess ships based in Australia.

Speaking in Melbourne today, Princess Cruises Vice President Australia & New Zealand Stuart Allison said the cruise line had sailed from Melbourne every summer since 2008-09.

“Over that time a growing number of Victorians have come to appreciate the ease of cruising from their doorstep, and recognise the great value that a cruise holiday offers.  There’s no question that a grand-class Princess ship like Golden Princess, with all its beautiful features, will entice even more Victorians to holiday at sea,” he said.

Golden Princess fares start from $1699* pp twin share for a 13-night cruise to New Zealand departing January 23, 2016.

For more information and bookings see a licenced travel agent, call 13 24 88 or visit www.princess.com

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

Information supplied by: Princess Cruises.

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As a US-based Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line knows How To Make The Most Of Halloween.

During a sales blitz this week, the cruise line’s Aussie sales team got into the spirit of the American tradition and dressed as ghoulishly and scarily as possible during visits to nearly 100 travel agencies in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

The blitz is promoting the cruise line's “Spooktacular Sale” offering half price deposits and onboard credit of up to $400 per cabin until November 9, 2015.

Continuing the celebrations in the lead up to October 31, the cruise line’s Australian-based superliner Carnival Spirit will kick off Sydney’s Halloween celebrations tomorrow (Friday October 30th) in a very big and very Australian way, creeping into the Harbour with a giant Redback spider on her bow.

Measuring two-storeys high and 10-metres wide, the spider, with glowing red eyes and the fearsome red stripe along its back, will be one of the biggest Sydney has ever seen.

Sydneysiders are invited to come down to Circular Quay to take a photo of the giant spider and give it a name via Instagram using the hashtag #CarnivalHalloween. They can also enter on the CarnivalOz Facebook page by submitting a name in a comment on the competition post. The most creative name will win a 10 day cruise to the South Pacific.

The giant Redback will remain on Carnival Spirit’s bow until 3pm on Friday October 30, 2015.

Please see the attached image of Carnival Cruise Line’s Australian sales team at Flight Centre Narellan during their Spooktacular Sales Blitz this week.

Information supplied by: Carnival Cruise Line, Australia.

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P&O Cruises Announces First Cruise Calls To Fraser Island 

In another spectacular development in its suite of cruise itineraries, P&O Cruises today announced that it will next year make two calls to World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island located off the southern Queensland coast. 

Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden -- the two latest additions to the P&O Cruises fleet -- will call at Fraser Island on April 3 and December 12 respectively, the first of a number of calls to the Island which boasts some of the world's most magnificent scenery, wildlife and visitor experiences.

The calls to Fraser Island, one of 15 regional destinations in Australia pioneered by P&O Cruises in recent years, are an exciting part of the line’s soon to be released cruise program for its five-ship fleet (with the arrival in November of Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden). 

The first two Fraser Island cruises will be on the 1500-guest Pacific Aria on a roundtrip itinerary from Brisbane in April and on the 1500-guest Pacific Eden on a roundtrip cruise from Sydney in December. 

Both cruises are being conducted in conjunction with the world renowned Kingfisher Bay Resort which 

offers a range of eco-friendly four wheel drive tours of the island along its beaches and 1500km of tracks. 

“Fraser Island's Indigenous inhabitants gave their island home a name that means paradise and our cruise passengers will have the opportunity to discover this for themselves,” said Ann Sherry CEO of Carnival Australia which operates P&O Cruises, one of seven cruise lines in the company's house of brands. 

“Visiting Fraser Island by cruise ship with its 184,000 hectares of diversity from pristine beaches, lake and sand cliffs to rainforests will be a unique experience for our cruise travellers. We are delighted to be working with the Queensland Government, Queensland National Parks, Kingfisher Bay Resort and the Fraser Coast Region to make sustainable cruise tourism part of Fraser Island's visitor experience.”

Queensland Minister for Tourism Kate Jones welcomed the announcement and said it was great to see P&O Cruises expand its offering to include Fraser Island, off the back of recent announcements of Mooloolaba, Hamilton Island and Gladstone.

“We’ll now see more visitors enjoying Fraser Island’s natural beauty, which is great news for local tourism operators. We hope that the incredible experiences visitors will have on Fraser Island make them want to return to Queensland again,” Ms Jones said.

Kingfisher Bay Resort Group General Manager David Hay said the partnership with P&O Cruises would deliver increased tourism opportunities across the Fraser Coast.

“The domestic cruise market has grown significantly in recent years and we welcome this exciting opportunity to attract more visitors to Fraser Island and the region,” Mr Hay said. 

“The Fraser Coast has some incredible products and experiences to offer our domestic and international visitors and it is pleasing to see this potential being recognised by major companies like P&O Cruises,” Mr Hay said.

For more please visit : www.pocruises.com.au

Information supplied by: P&O Cruises Australia.

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P&O Cruises Announces Name Of Its Latest Ship: Pacific Explorer

P&O Cruises has announced its latest ship will be called Pacific Explorer and will join the fleet in early 2017.

Continuing the cruise line’s modern Australian evolution, Pacific Explorer will build on the fresh and contemporary design of this year’s newcomers, Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden.

The 2000-guest ship will offer an array of dining experiences including Angelo’s Italian, Dragon Lady and Waterfront restaurant which also feature on Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden.

Taking entertainment to a whole new level, Pacific Explorer will feature new and exciting entertainment concepts and spaces which are guaranteed to excite and surprise passengers. 

The ship will offer more than 400 balcony rooms as well as resort-style pool areas and the incredibly popular dining experience, The Pantry. 

P&O Cruises Senior Vice President Sture Myrmell said his team was busy working on the design of the latest member of the fleet. 

“Just as we’re preparing to welcome Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden next month, we’re thrilled to have another ship on the horizon that will continue the exciting evolution of our modern Australian cruise product. We have grand plans for Pacific Explorer and we think her new features are going to cause a lot of excitement in the local industry,” Mr Myrmell said.

The 77,000-tonne ship, currently sailing as Princess Cruises’ Dawn Princess, is scheduled to enter the P&O fleet in May 2017 and will sail from Sydney during its inaugural season. The first program featuring Pacific Explorer will be  released early next month. For more details on the ship visit www.pocruises.com.au/ships/pacific-explorer

Information supplied by: P&O Cruises Australia.

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Princess Cruises Introduces ‘The Salty Dog’ Gastropub Princess Cruises is debuting The Salty Dog Gastropub onboard Crown Princess, pairing gourmet small dishes inspired by pub favourites with craft beers, cocktails and wines. 

The Salty Dog menu offerings, including a signature burger, were developed in collaboration with Ernesto Uchimura, former executive chef of Umami Burger and current chef of Plan Check Kitchen + Bar in Los Angeles, who was recently awarded “Chef of the Year: The Comfort Master,” in Los Angeles Magazine.

Presented each night within the Wheelhouse Bar, in refreshed surroundings and with live entertainment, guests will have the choice of three small plates from The Salty Dog Gastropub menu featuring new twists on classic pub dishes. Plates include Pale Ale Pork Cheeks, Spicy Stout Short Ribs, Wild Mushroom Sauté, and Lobster Mac & Cheese, among other delicious options. 

The pièce de résistance is “The Ernesto” burger from Chef Uchimura – a rib eye and short rib beef patty, grilled pork belly, caramelized kimchi, beer battered jalapeño and charred onion aioli, topped with cave-aged gruyere cheese. 

Princess Cruises Executive Vice President of Guest Experience Rai Caluori said The Salty Dog Gastropub was an enticing addition to the cruise line’s onboard culinary offerings and brought another unique dining option to its guests.

“Chef Uchimura’s signature burger is sure to be savoured, along with pub favourites reinvented for a more upscale dining experience,” Mr Calouri said.   

Chef Ernesto Uchimira said the ‘gastropub at sea’ was an innovative concept that had inspired him to get creative in the galley.

“The Salty Dog Gastropub’s menu will not only satisfy comfort food cravings but also offer guests new pub food flavours and tastes, perfectly paired with a craft beer or fine whiskey,” said Mr Uchimura.

Adjacent to The Salty Dog Gastropub, also in the Wheelhouse Bar, is an expansive new, international whiskey bar, featuring some of the best Scotch whiskeys, American Bourbons and international whiskeys from countries including Japan, Ireland and Australia. Offerings include Johnny Walker Blue, Bakery Hill Classic (Australia), Connemara Whiskey Irish Cask (Ireland) and Hakushu 12 year (Japan). The menu offers daily specialised whiskey flights, allowing guests the opportunity to taste and compare selections from around the world. 

The Salty Dog Gastropub and new international whiskey menu, both available in the Wheelhouse Bar, have just launched onboard Crown Princess, and will be onboard Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess in mid-December. A food charge of US$19 per guest applies.  

The whiskey menu will also be available in the Wheelhouse Bar onboard Dawn Princess, Sea Princess, Sun Princess, Diamond Princess and Golden Princess by the end of 2015, and onboard all ships with the exception of Pacific Princess by the summer of 2016. 

For more information about The Salty Dog Gastropub, including the full menu, visit http://www.princess.com/gastropub.

Information supplied by: Princess Cruises.

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Carnival Australia’s Melbourne Cup ‘Megafleet’ Prepares To Sail

It’s a Melbourne Cup quaddie made in punters’ heaven, with a record four Carnival Australia cruise ships carrying 8000 passengers plus a host of Cup personalities and entertainers, heading to the race that stops the nation next month. 

Working out just where to put four superliners – P&O Cruises’ entire current fleet, Pacific Jewel, Pacific Pearl and Pacific Dawn, and Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Spirit -- is a challenge in itself for Melbourne’s port authorities. 

Three of the ships will be at Station Pier but the marine experts have had the slide rules and tidal charts out to enable the fourth ship, the 70,285-tonne Pacific Dawn, to become the first cruise superliner ever to sail under Melbourne’s iconic Westgate Bridge which has a clearance of 50.1 metres and berth well upstream in the Yarra River at Victoria Dock, close to the heart of Docklands. 

With a soaring air draft of 47.6 metres, Pacific Dawn will safely pass under the bridge around 7am on Tuesday November 3, with a handy clearance giving passengers a ‘bridge experience’ comparable to sailing under the Sydney Harbour Bridge or Brisbane’s Gateway Bridge.

Getting so many eager punters to Flemington for their Cup experience is another logistics challenge that would have Army planners scratching their heads but a cavalcade of 164 coaches will take care of transport from wharf to track.

“Cruising is all about fantastic experiences and having a record four ships sailing to the Melbourne Cup offers thousands of eager racegoers a unique way of experiencing all the excitement of the race that stops the nation,” said Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which accounts for P&O Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line among its seven iconic cruise brands.

“Sending a megafleet to Melbourne delivers the biggest single contingent of interstate visitors to the Cup. It really demonstrates Melbourne’s reputation for being the events capital of Australia, with our ships also sailing to the Australian Tennis Open and the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.”

Between them, the four ships’ 8000 passengers will be contributing around 8 per cent of the total attendees at Flemington on Cup day – with the megafleet delivering the biggest single contingent of interstate visitors to the Cup (about 14 per cent).

Ms Sherry said the four ships would inject more than $7 million into the economy in passenger and crew spending as well as port charges and fees, with the ships spending a combined 12 days in Melbourne.

Carnival Spirit, Pacific Pearl and Pacific Jewel will sail out of Sydney to arrive in Melbourne in time for the Cup on Monday November 2, while Pacific Dawn sails from Brisbane to arrive early Tuesday. Transfers and general admission to the Melbourne Cup are part of the cruise package for the 8000 passengers aboard the megafleet.

The fleet is also awash with Melbourne Cup personalities and jockeys, Australia’s most famous race caller, fashion and style experts, famous name Australian entertainers and even an actual Melbourne Cup or two with which passengers can get up close and personal.

Attractions on the P&O Cruises’ ships include:

* Legendary Melbourne Cup jockeys John Marshall and Michael Clarke (Pacific Pearl and Pacific Jewel), owner of Cup winning horse Rogan Josh, Wendy Green (Pacific Pearl and Pacific Dawn); and Bart Cummings’ Flemington track rider Joe Agresta (Pacific Dawn).

* Popular Australian personalities including Carmelo Pizzino (Pacific Jewel) from Dancing With The Stars, author and radio personality Bianca Dye (Pacific Pearl), and TV presenter Zoe Sheridan (Pacific Dawn) joining their maiden Cup cruises to host P&O Cruises’ Myer Fashions at Sea events. 

* Fashion designer and stylist Katie Perry (Pacific Pearl), stylist Naomi Bell (Pacific Dawn) and Kylie Sultana from the Style Vine (Pacific Jewel), will also sail on their first Cup cruises, offering styling workshops and taking part in the onboard fashion parade. 

* Fascinator-making classes will be hosted by award-winning milliner Kathleen Watson (Pacific Dawn), Melbourne Cup Ambassador and renowned Australian milliner Kim Fletcher (Pacific Jewel) and Serena Lindeman (Pacific Pearl), who created the infamous “million-dollar hat” which took out the inaugural Fashions on the Field.

* Aussie entertainers Normie Rowe (Pacific Dawn), The Glenn Shorrock Band (Pacific Jewel) and The Tap Pack (Pacific Pearl).

Carnival Spirit will have two of Australia’s leading beauty and style experts onboard – stylist to the stars Penny Hunt and Beauticate website founder Sigourney Cantelo, both former Beauty Editors at Vogue. Other Cup-themed events on Carnival Spirit include:

* A ‘Q and A’ session with Australia’s most gifted race caller John Tapp sharing his vast knowledge of Australian racing and amazing tales of Cups past

* Melbourne Cup tips from popular racing personality Richie Callander with the latest ‘mail’ in passengers’ quests for a likely winner at Flemington

* A special Cup-themed degustation dinner plus a Mad Hatters’ afternoon tea and a post-Cup recovery lunch

“After this year’s Melbourne Cup there will be just two groups of people in Australia – those who sailed to the Melbourne Cup in 2015 on the Carnival Australia megafleet and those who wished they had,” Ms Sherry said. “It’s a quintessential Australian experience that is just too good to miss.”

Information supplied by: Carnival Australia.

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Royal Caribbean International Reveals Top Destinations As Voted By Captains In The Fleet

 Many of the world’s most spectacular panoramas are hidden from normal view, only accessible to the world’s more adventurous travellers. So, in a bid to share some of the world’s best kept secrets, Royal Caribbean has worked with its Captains around the world to uncover their most memorable views and destinations around the world.

The cruise holiday company, which sails to 260 destinations globally, has surveyed the Captains of its 23 ships to identify 12 destinations which even its most seasoned travellers consider to be breath-taking every time they make the journey into port.

Sydney Harbour, Australia 

Regarded as one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the world with more than 240 kilometres of shoreline and meandering waterways, it also plays host to the iconic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.  Captain Rick Sullivan who is now onboard Explorer of the Seas, visited Sydney Harbour during his time onboard  Rhapsody of the Seas and called it “the most iconic harbour in the world.” Explorer of the Seas will make her maiden debut in Sydney this year, on 28 November 2015, crossing in beautiful Sydney Harbour with twin sister Voyager of the Seas.

The Hubbard Glacier, Alaska 

The glaciers of Alaska were chosen as a favourite view by several of the captains surveyed, who commented on the magnitude and scale of the view from Yakutat to Disenchantment Bay. Voyager of the Seas’ Captain Sindre Borsheim, commented that he loves the view because: “it is different every time, as the colours vary with the light” while Captain Juan Caranti, from Radiance of the Seas, added: “when a piece of ice falls into the ocean it makes an extraordinary roar, like a thunderstorm.”

The Hubbard Glacier, located in Eastern Alaska is joined by the Valerie Glacier to the west and joins Disenchantment Bay waters.  

Venice Harbour, Italy 

Chosen by several of the Captains surveyed, Venice’s stunning architecture was considered to be at its best when the sun is rising over it first thing in the morning.

Geiranger Fjord, Norway

The Geiranger fjord is located in the southwestern part of the county of Møre og Romsdal, in Norway.  The deep blue water is surrounded by majestic, snow-covered mountain peaks, wild waterfalls and lush, green vegetation. Captain Espen Been, from Grandeur of the Seas, described how: “where the mountains meet the sea and the snow from the surrounding tops is mirrored, it seems like everything is blooming.”

Stockholm archipelago, Sweden

The archipelago through which ships sail as they come into Stockholm was described as being like “nothing else”  due to the thousands of rocks and tiny islands which have to be navigated on the entry to the port. Captain Espen Been, from Grandeur of the Seas said that “homes look like doll’s

houses” as you sail past. With nearly 30,000 islands, islets and rocks - from Arholma in the north to Landsort in the south - rugged nature blends with wooded islands, rocky cliffs and sandy beaches in the second largest archipelago in the Baltic Sea. 

Vesuvius, Naples, Italy

The landscape of the Mediterranean was regularly cited by the Captains as housing some of the best views in the world. But several identified the view of Vesuvius towering over Naples at sunrise as an extraordinary image to capture from the sea.

Golfo di Poeti, La Spezia, Italy

Lord Byron was so enamoured with Lerici that the bay became known as the Bay of Poets. The Captains commented that it was “easy to see why” it earned such devotion, with comments that the view of the Golfo di Poeti as ships sail out of the port of La Spezia is “enchanting.”

Nice, France

A popular destination for the well-trodden holidaymaker, the Captains commented that the view of Nice as they sail into the neighbouring port of VilleFranche deserved a place in the top 20 thanks to its mountainous backdrop. Captain Tomas Busto, from Adventure of the Seas, said he loved it because: “when the ships arrive in the Mediterranean in April, the mountains are still snow-capped but the beaches are welcoming sunbathers.”

Kotor, Montenegro

Captain Lis Lauritzen, from Vision of the Seas, commented that Kotor in Montenegro deserved a spot in the list of favourite views as it is “completely different in terms of view and environment.”

The port is located in the Gulf of Kotor which is considered to be one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea. The historic town of Kotor has little commercial traffic and is known for its Venetian style architecture set against a mountainous backdrop.

Island of Moorea, French Polynesia

The “beautiful green, jagged volcanic mountains” of the Island of Moorea helped it finds its way into the top views for the ship Captains. The French Polynesian island paradise is known for the juxtaposition of sandy beaches against its dramatic mountain ranges, with rainforest trails and scuba diving popular activities for adventurous travellers.

Vancouver, Canada

Captain Rick Sullivan, from Explorer of the Seas, explained that Vancouver made the list due to the perspective of sailing under the First Narrows Bridge into Vancouver Harbour looking at the city against the backdrop of the mountains.

The English Channel, UK

Captain Henrik Loft Soerensen, from Brilliance of the Seas, commented that his favourite view is of the expanse of English Channel as it is “beautiful and peaceful”. 

For further information or to book a cruise, contact your local travel agent, phone 1800 754 500 or visit www.royalcaribbean.com.au.

Information supplied by: Royal Caribbean International.

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It’s Time! The Transformation Of Pacific Aria And Pacific Eden Begins 

After months of anticipation, the time has finally come – the ships that will become Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden are starting their dry docks in Singapore as P&O Cruises prepares to expand to a record five ship fleet.

Over the next three weeks, more than 900 contractors from 43 different nationalities will work around the clock to transform the ships, which are set to become game changers for the Australian cruise industry.

The work starts on Pacific Eden today with the ship docking at Sembcorp Marine Admiralty Yard this morning, while Pacific Aria arrives on October 31, in what will be Singapore’s first ever double dry dock. 

The extensive nature of the work means about 250,000 man hours will be spent on the ships.  Each ship will spend 11 days in dry dock with work continuing as they sail to Australia in November.

During dry dock, each ship will receive an estimated 20,000sqm of carpet, 2500sqm of wall covering, more than 300 pieces of art, 2500 pieces of furniture and 2500 signs, as well as 500 litres of paint.

About seventy 12-metre shipping containers are waiting at the shipyard, filled with an assortment of nearly 5000 products ranging from forks to furniture. 

Dwarfing the humble weekly grocery list, P&O’s shopping bill for both ships is more than 430 A4 pages long and includes purchases ranging from 47,000 glasses to 74,000 pieces of china and 30,000 items of cutlery. 

As well as the walls being decorated, shelves stocked and drawers filled, the ships will be reconfigured with Australian power points and beer taps will be installed in preparation for their new home down under. 

Pacific Eden is scheduled to emerge from dry dock on November 3 and will cruise via Fremantle and southern Australia en route to Sydney Harbour for her dual naming ceremony with sister ship Pacific Aria on November 25.  Pacific Aria will leave dry dock on November 12 sailing straight to Sydney.

P&O Cruises Senior Vice President Sture Myrmell said the 1500-guest ships would set a new path for the local industry with stunning new features including luxe bars, a plush private dining room, a resort-style pool deck, contemporary dining including Luke Mangan's Salt grill and some of the most spacious rooms across the fleet.

“We can’t wait to introduce Australians to Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden. They’re unlike anything we’ve ever seen in these waters – they’re stylish but relaxed, just like modern Australia, so we think local cruisers will love them,” Mr Myrmell said.

For more information visit www.pocruises.com.au, or see a licensed travel agent.

Information supplied by: P&O Cruises Australia.

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Celebrity Solstice Returns To Australia For Her Fourth Season.

The ultimate way to cruise the idyllic South Pacific, right from Australia’s doorstep.

 Australia’s favourite cruise ship*, Celebrity Solstice, makes her triumphant return to her Sydney Harbour home today as she kicks off her fourth season down under.

“With 15 decks and capacity for close to 3,000 guests, Celebrity Solstice cuts a fine figure at Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal,” said Adam Armstrong, commercial director, Celebrity Cruises Australasia. 

“She is truly one of the most striking megaliners to call Australia home, at 317 metres long and weighing 122,000 tonnes, but she is also just seven years old – making her by far the youngest cruise ship to sail these waters,” he continued.

Celebrity Solstice boasts unique features not found on any other cruise ship in Australia. The local favourite*  is best known for her Lawn Club, a freshly manicured half acre of real lawn on her top deck, as well as an internal atrium that spans 10 decks, and a two story, floor-to-ceiling glass wine tower – capable of holding 2800 bottles of wine. Plus, 85 per cent of her cabins have their own private balcony –the highest ratio of any cruise ship in Australia. 

Her other elegant offerings include spa treatments in the world-renowned Canyon Ranch SpaClub, stylish bars, lounges and ten remarkable dining choices – including Tuscan Grille, Murano Restaurant, Silk Harvest Restaurant and the Grand Epernay Dining Room, with capacity for 1,400 people in a single sitting.   

Returning from an 18 night trans-Pacific voyage from Honolulu via New Zealand, Celebrity Solstice brings with her the brand new Suite Class experience. Launched in April this year, all Suite bookings onboard Celebrity Cruises receive a host of added extras, including complimentary dining at the exclusive Luminae restaurant, a VIP lounge, complimentary beverages and specialty dining experiences, unlimited WiFi and more.

Celebrity Solstice also offers a new style of stateroom, AquaClass, sharing the same deck as the Canyon Ranch SpaClub. This accommodation option incorporates select spa elements into the staterooms including special access to spa amenities, such as complimentary visits to the Relaxation Room and the Persian Garden, an exotic aromatherapy steam room.  AquaClass guests also enjoy exclusive, complimentary seating at Blu specialty restaurant which serves deliciously healthy food in sophisticated surroundings. 

“We believe it’s the little things that make a big difference to your cruising holiday experience. With Celebrity Cruises, the suites are roomier, the champagne is finer, and the grass really is greener. We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Celebrity Solstice back down under,” Adam concluded.

The best way to experience the Celebrity Cruises difference this season is on a South Pacific voyage. While Celebrity Solstice’s New Zealand cruises are very close to sold out, the best availability remains on South Pacific voyages in March and April. Plus, with the new pricing structure – Go Big, Go Better, Go Best – guests have more freedom to choose the inclusions that suit them best, such as a Classic Beverage Package, unlimited internet, pre-paid gratuities and/or USD$150 in onboard credit.

Celebrity Solstice will offer several South Pacific Cruises this season ranging from 8 to 12 nights, including an eight night roundtrip cruise departing Sydney on 1 April 2016. Calling at Lifou in the

Loyalty Islands as well as Noumea and Isle of Pines in New Caledonia, prices start from just $1,299 per person.

***Watch out for Mighty Cruise Ships on Channel Seven this Thursday at 8:30pm, when Celebrity Solstice opens her doors and decks to viewers for an in-depth look at life on Australia’s youngest and highest rated cruise ship***

For more information about South Pacific cruises, visit www.celebritycruises.com.au, phone 1800 754 500 or call your travel agent.      

*Celebrity Solstice is the highest rated ship in Australia according to the Berlitz Guide and was recently awarded Best Cruise Ship – Domestic 2015 at the AFTA National Travel Industry Awards.

Information supplied by: Celebrity Cruises.

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Global Demand For Cruising Surpasses 22 Million Passengers -

Cruise Tourism Generates Nearly $120 Billion In Global Economic Contributions.

Global demand for cruising reached 22.04 million passengers1 in 2014, up 68 per cent from 13.1 million passengers in 2004, according to a new study from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the largest cruise industry trade association and the leading authority of the global cruise community. 

The study reveals that global demand for cruising has grown by 3.4 per cent from 21.3 million passengers in 2013, with Australia now ranked as the fourth largest cruise market in the world.

CLIA’s 2014 Economic Impact Analysis, an independent study commissioned by CLIA and conducted by Business Research and Economic Advisors (BREA), shows that total contributions2 of the cruise industry to the global economy reached $119.9 billion in 2014, up from $117 billion the previous year. This includes supporting 939,232 full-time equivalent employees earning $39.3 billion in income. Direct expenditures generated by cruise lines, passengers and crews totalled $55.8 billion.

Releasing the study, CLIA acting CEO Cindy D’Aoust said the cruise industry was a truly global and dynamic industry.

“We’ve enjoyed progressive growth over the last 30 years, driven initially by demand from North America, which expanded to Europe, Australia and now Asia. As a result, the cruise industry impacts the global economy, generating jobs, income and business growth in all regions of the world,” Ms D’Aoust said.

According to CLIA’s study, the global cruise industry’s 22 million passengers are sourced from around the world. North America accounted for 55 per cent or 12.2 million cruise passengers. Europe accounted for 29 per cent or 6.4 million passengers. Other regions of the world, including Australia, China, Singapore, Japan and South America, accounted for the remaining 16 per cent or 3.5 million passengers.

 “The potential for new cruise passenger growth is huge,” Ms D’Aoust said. “Apart from North America and Europe, other regions of the world account for nearly 85 per cent of the world’s population, yet represent only 16 per cent of cruisers. That reflects a tremendous opportunity for the cruise industry.”

CLIA’s 2014 Asia Cruise Trends Study shows that cruise tourism in Asia is growing at double-digit rates, both in capacity and as a passenger source market. Between 2013 and 2015, the number of ships deployed in Asia grew at a 10 per cent compound annual growth rate, and the volume of cruises and voyages within and through Asia increased 11 per cent. Passenger capacity in Asia increased 20 per cent. 

1 Ocean cruise passengers, does not include river cruise passengers 2 Total economic contributions include direct, indirect and induced impacts. This includes direct spending by cruise lines and passengers, including food and beverages, fuel, financial and business services and entertainment in support of cruise operations, as well as the goods and services purchased by the directly impacted businesses and employees from other B2B and B2C enterprises.

“Asia is a prime example of the cruise industry’s growth opportunity,” Ms D’Aoust said. “The cruise industry is bringing more cruise visits to Asia and the volume of cruise travellers sourced from Asia for cruise tourism worldwide nearly doubled since 2012.”

CLIA’s study shows that a total of 19.2 million cruise passengers were sourced from the top ten countries, accounting for 88 per cent of global cruise passengers. These top ten countries are located in all major global regions. 

The United States, with 11.21 million passengers, sourced the largest number of cruise passengers, accounting for more than half (51 per cent) of global cruise passengers. Germany and the United Kingdom accounted for 15 per cent of global passengers (3.38 million). Australia, Italy and Canada each had more than 800,000 passengers and accounted for 12 per cent of global passengers. China, France, Spain and Norway combined accounted for nearly 2 million passengers, or about 10 per cent of global passengers. 

CLIA’s research shows that China is a main driver of passenger growth in Asia, adding 480,000 more cruise travellers since 2012 – a nearly 80 per cent compound annual growth rate. And, among the nearly 1.4 million cruise passengers from Asia, China accounted for nearly half of the regional passenger volume in 2014.

Information supplied by: CLIA [ Cruise Lines International Association ].

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Sydney Welcomed A New Princess Into The Harbour Yesterday, When The Stunning Golden Princess Made Her Maiden Call To Australia.

Sydney welcomed a new visitor yesterday, when Princess Cruises’ stunning Golden Princess sailed into the Harbour to make her  maiden call to Australia.

Stretching 290 metres long, the 108,000-tonne, 2600-guest Golden Princess joins four other Princess ships to offer roundtrip cruises in local waters during the cruise line’s biggest ever Australian summer season.

Golden Princess’ many standout features include Skywalkers Nightclub, suspended at the rear of the ship and reached by a moving walkway above the decks, as well as more than 1300 staterooms, four pools, nine whirlpools, two show lounges and 12 dining options.

Golden Princess is also the first ship in the Princess’ fleet to feature Crafted by Curtis menu items in its dining room, following the cruise line’s exclusive partnership with Australian chef Curtis Stone

Arriving after a 28-day cruise from San Francisco via the Pacific, Golden Princess departed on a 10-night South Pacific cruise yesterday afternoon.

She will sail to Melbourne next week for a five-month season of cruising from the city, arriving on October 30 to claim the mantle of the largest cruise ship to be based in Victoria.

For more on Golden Princess please go to: www.princess.com

Photos Credit: Damian Shaw.

Information supplied by: Princess Cruises.

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