Best cruise deals of the week
THE best cruise deals of the week include a European holiday on Athena and a Royal option aboard Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth in Europe.
THE best cruise deals of the week include a European holiday on Athena and a Royal option aboard Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth in Europe.
* Right royal family
SAMPLE life aboard Cunard sisters Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth with a back-to-back cruise package in Europe next year.
On May 1, 2013, passengers will board Queen Elizabeth in Southampton for a 14-night Baltic explorer voyage to Scandinavia, Estonia, Germany and St Petersburg.
On return to Southampton on May 15, guests will join Queen Victoria for a 14-night Adriatic explorer cruise to Italy, Croatia, Greece and Spain, returning to Southampton on June 1 for the flight home to Australia.
The 35-night package, including return flights, seven nights in hotels and the two cruises, is available from $10,999 a person, twin share.
Details: Ph 1300 764 509 or see cruiseexpress.com.au
* Celebrity airfares
CELEBRITY Cruises is marking the arrival of the Celebrity Solstice later this year for its Australian season by offering airfares from $99 for balcony bookings and above for its New Zealand cruises.
Fares start from $2555 a person for a balcony cabin for a 12-night cruise departing Auckland on January 4 next year and finishing in Sydney on January 16.
The airfare offer is available on four of the three-year-old 122,000-ton Celebrity Solstice's NZ cruises departing January 4 and 16, and March 4 and 16 next year, with connecting one-way flight prices at $99 from Sydney.
This offer is available for new bookings made by June 30.
Details: Ph 1800 754 500 or see www.celebritycruises.com.au
* Explore on Athena
NEW fly, cruise and stay packages have been released for the Athena during its voyage from Europe this November to begin Classic International Cruises' ninth annual season in Australia next summer.
The 580-passenger Athena will sail from Rome on November 14 this year, with calls including Kotor in Montenegro, and Durres in Albania, as well as Dubrovnik in Croatia and Port Said in Egypt, where passengers can travel to the Pyramids.
Athena will also call into Aqaba in Jordan, where trips to the ancient city of Petra are available, Salalah in Oman, Penang and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Singapore.
Fly from Perth on November 11 to Rome with Emirates for two nights' accommodation followed by a 34-night cruise back to Perth.
The 36-night package costs from $5799 a person, twin share.
An alternative deal is to fly from Sydney to Rome for two nights' accommodation followed by a 27-night cruise to Singapore with return flight.
The 30-night package is available from $5499 a person, twin share.
Details: Travel agents or see classicintcruises.com
* Book early and save more
SILVERSEA is offering bonus combination savings on two voyages aboard the Silver Wind and Silver Shadow this year. Guests booking before June 30 will enjoy discounted fares and an on-board spending credit of up to $US1500 ($A1550) a suite. On July 20, the 296-guest Silver Wind will embark on an 18-day journey from Istanbul, Turkey to Venice, Italy, taking in ports in Turkey, Greece, Lebanon and Cyprus.
All-inclusive cruise-only fares start from $US7436 a person, twin share, with an onboard spending credit of $US1000 a suite. On September 6, the 382-guest Silver Shadow will depart Vancouver for a 27-day voyage crossing the Bering Strait, cruising the Inside Passage and visiting ports in Alaska, Russia, Japan, South Korea and China. All-inclusive cruise-only fares start from $US12,399 a person, twin share, with an onboard spending credit of $US1500 a suite.