Best cruise deals this week
THE best deals this week include a canal barge holiday in France, a cruise on China's Yangtze River and Pacific Island trips from Sydney.
THE best deals this week include a canal barge holiday in France, a cruise on China's Yangtze River and Pacific Island trips from Sydney.
- Millennium special
CELEBRITY Cruises' Celebrity Millennium returns to Australian shores in November following a multimillion-dollar renovation. Returning here en route to Asia for Celebrity's first Asian season, Celebrity Millennium will offer two repositioning cruises, from Hawaii to Sydney and from Sydney to Singapore.
Fares for the 19-night trans-Pacific positioning cruise departing on November 2 this year from Honolulu to Sydney start from $2205 a person, twin share, and fares for the 17-night Australia and Asia cruise departing November 22 from Sydney to Singapore start from $1785 a person, twin share.
Details: Travel agents or see www.celebritycruises.com.au
- Barging benefits
FRENCH Travel Connection is offering lucrative discounts on a range of crewed canal barging holidays in France for bookings made by May 31 for selected travel dates through to October this year. Popular products include La Belle Epoque, a luxury 12-passenger hotel barge showcasing the best of Burgundy's countryside, villages, markets and vineyards.
La Belle Epoque travels between Pouillenay and Tonnerre, with highlights including the World Heritage Cistercian monastery of Abbaye de Fontenay, chablis wine tastings and medieval village Noyers sur Serein. The 39m barge offers a crew of five French and English-speakers including a captain, tour guide, two housekeepers and chef. With the discount, the six-night journey is priced from $3648 a person, twin share, which includes accommodation, all meals, guided touring, entrance fees and use of mountain bikes. Airfares are not included.
Details: Ph 1300 858 304 or see www.frenchtravel.com.au
- Yangtze tour
SINGER-SONGWRITER Glenn Shorrock will entertain Australian travellers during a luxury cruise on China's Yangtze River. The former lead singer of the Little River Band will join a 12-day Helen Wong's Tours Yangtze cruise, which will also include three nights in Beijing and Shanghai.
The tour leaves Sydney on October 31 this year to coincide with Helen Wong's Tours 25th anniversary celebrations, and is priced from $5300 a person, twin share. There will be VIP gatherings in Beijing and Shanghai as well as a one-off show on the cruise from Chongqing through the spectacular Three Gorges to Yichang.
Details: Ph 1300 788 328 or see helenwongstours.com
- Cabin discounts
CARNIVAL Cruise Lines is offering guests who book a Carnival Spirit holiday up to $200 off a cabin until June 2 for all itineraries departing between October 20 this year and March 14 next year, such as the eight-day Sydney to New Caledonia cruise departing November 8 or the 13-day New Zealand cruise departing February 16 or March 1 next year.
Details: Ph 13 31 94 or see carnival.com.au
- Greater variety
PRINCESS Cruises has launched its biggest ever range of cruises, with new offerings including sailings between Sydney and Tokyo on Sun Princess and a special eight-night voyage to Tasmania on Diamond Princess. The 2013-14 program also includes more Pacific Island cruises from Sydney and Brisbane as well as the return of the popular 35-night Hawaii, Tahiti and South Pacific itinerary.
Highlights include: an eight-night round-trip cruise to Tasmania from Sydney on Diamond Princess, departing December 3 next year, with fares from $1299 a person, twin share; 11-night cruises to Fiji from Brisbane priced from $1699 a person, twin share, with departures in 2013 and 2014; and a 35-night round-trip voyage to Hawaii and Tahiti from Sydney on Sea Princess priced from $6249 a person twin share, departing April 9, 2014.
Details: Ph 13 24 88 or see princess.com