Six of the week’s best cruise deals

WHETHER you’re in the market for a quick weekend escape at sea or an epic round-the-world voyage, check out these deals.

The Celebrity Century will start a three-month Australian season on October 10 this year

ESCAPE the daily grind with this week’s best deals on some of the finest vessels to leave port.

LEGEND GETS SPIRIT

Carnival Cruise Lines has launched its 2015-16 program of Australian cruises, featuring Carnival Legend’s second summer season here as the 2680-guest ship again joins Carnival Spirit in Sydney to offer 143 cruise holidays priced from $649 a person, twin share, for a three-night escape. Packages include eight-night cruises to Noumea, Isle of Pines, and Mare from $1099 a person, twin share, and two 18-night cruises between Sydney and Honolulu including visits to Tahiti and Fiji priced from $1899 a person, twin share.

Ph 13 31 94 or see carnival.com.au

STAR JOINS THE SKY

Evergreen Tours second Star Ship European river cruise ship of the 2014 season is now in the water with the inaugural sailing of Emerald Star, identical sister ship to Emerald Sky which launched in April. The 182-guest ships feature a 24sq m heated swimming pool with a retractable roof, and at night, the space transforms into a cinema complete with bar and popcorn. There are two restaurants, onboard hairdresser, massage therapy room and gym. Deals for next year now available with “fly free” offers include a “Splendours of Europe Cruise” over 15 days exploring Europe’s sights between Amsterdam and Budapest, priced from $6925 a person, twin share, valid until October 15.

Ph 1300 383 747 or see evergreentours.com

GRAND ORCHESTRA

Save $1475 a person on MSC Orchestra’s maiden 33-night Grand Voyage from Dubai to Fremantle. The trip calls at Mumbai, Cochin, Colombo, Phuket, Langkawi, Singapore and Bali as well as Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and, finally, Fremantle. Gratuities, port charges and taxes are included. Valid until June 30 for departure on February 21, 2015. NRMA Travel has a discounted deal of $3665 a person, twin share, for an inside cabin.

Ph 1300 279 528 or see mynrma.com.au

NORTHERN DELIGHT

Head off the beaten track and save up to $3000 a couple on a luxury 15-day fly/cruise package this August to Finland, Iceland and Greenland. After flying from Australia on August 10 to Finland for a night’s stay in Helsinki, passengers will fly to Reykjavik in Iceland, famed for its mighty glaciers, volcanoes and hot springs. After a night in Reykjavik guests will board the 5-star Silversea’s ship, the 300-passenger Silver Cloud, for a spectacular 10-night, round-trip cruise to the northern Iceland town of Isafjordur and across to Greenland. After cruising through Greenland’s sheer-walled Prince Christian Sound, passengers will visit the Greenland towns of Nanortalik, Qaqortoq and the capital, Nuuk. Fares are available from $8999 a person, twin share, including return flights from Sydney.

Ph 1300 764 509 or see cruiseexpress.com.au

Passengers soak in the sunshine aboard Celebrity Century.

PACIFIC BREAKS

Celebrity Century arrives in Sydney on October 10 this year after sailing across the Pacific on a 23-night voyage from San Francisco to Sydney via Hawaii and Tahiti. Its three-month Australia season will feature sailings ranging from seven to 23 nights in the South Pacific and Australia, and a repositioning voyage to Asia. Highlights include an eight-night South Australian cruise – from Sydney departing October 22 and visiting Melbourne, Adelaide, Port Lincoln, and back to Sydney, priced from $1099 a person.

Ph 1800 754 500 or see celebritycruises.com.au

ROYALE TREATMENT

An eight-day Bordeaux, Vineyards & Chateaux river cruise on Uniworld ship River Royale is priced from $4484 a person, twin share, and includes all onboard and onshore gratuities, all meals and unlimited beverages onboard including fine wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks, airport transfers on arrival and departure days, shore excursions hosted by English-speaking local experts, all entertainment and Signature Lectures, complimentary internet and Wi-Fi, and onboard entertainment. Departures are available until November 9 this year.

Ph [phone] or see uniworldcruises.com.au

“Like” Escape.com.au on Facebook

Follow @Escape_team on Twitter