Fine fleet sails south as cruising booms in Australia

CRUISE lines have hit on Australia, and are offering an unprecedented choice of ships, deals and itineraries.

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THE cruising industry in Australia is almost unrecognisable from a decade ago, when P&O Cruises' Pacific Sky was the only locally based cruise ship.

Cruise lines have hit on Australia, and are offering an unprecedented choice of ships, deals and itineraries.

In a bid to woo the growing local market and bring international passengers here, seven major cruise companies will base 16 ships in Australian waters by the 2012-13 season, including three megaliners of more than 100,000 tonnes.

Whether the lines can fill this capacity remains to be seen but for passengers it is great news.

Travellers leaving local ports will have the choice of midsize, super or megaliners; family fun ships, premium liners or classic cruisers; weekend escapes, week-long sailings or month-long voyages; and all at extremely competitive prices that cover accommodation, food, entertainment and activities.

Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises Australian managing director Gavin Smith says the two lines are constantly assessing where guests want to sail.

"The commitment of five vessels cruising from Australia including megaships like Voyager of the Seas and Celebrity Solstice really demonstrates our tremendous belief in the strength of this region, as well as our confidence that guests will respond positively to our unique offering," Smith says.Whether you want to ply local waters on a short trip, circumnavigate Australia, visit New Zealand, the South Pacific or Asia or take advantage of a re-positioning cruise further afield, the choice is yours.

Among the cruise lines planning to base ships in Australia are:

P&O Cruises
The major player in the local market for some time, P&O now has four ships based here Pacific Sun, Pacific Dawn, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl.

The ships range in size from 47,000 tonnes to 70,000 tonnes, and in capacity from 1800 passengers to 2020. Home ports include Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, Fremantle and Brisbane, and the range of port calls and itineraries has expanded.

Facilities also have expanded, such as introducing celebrity chef Luke Mangan's signature Salt restaurants on three of the four ships.

They also offer multiple swimming pools, bars, show lounges, shops, entertainment and loads of food, and know the Australian market well.

Details: Ph 132 494 or see www.pocruises.com.au

Princess Cruises
The line now has its twin 77,000-tonne superliners, Sun Princess and Dawn Princess each carrying almost 2000 passengers based here year round, and this season will more than double capacity when they will be joined by the 77,000-tonne Sea Princess and the 116,000-tonne Diamond Princess .

Carrying 2680 passengers, Diamond Princess features five dining options, 13 bars and lounges, five swimming pools, a wedding chapel, the Lotus Spa, a mini golf course, an art gallery, jogging track and a gym with a swim-against-the-current lap pool.

Sea Princess and Diamond Princess are scheduled to return for the 2012-13 season and the four-ship fleet will offer 61 cruises in local waters.

Details: Ph 132 488 or see www.princess.com

Holland America Line
HAL is taking much more interest in the Australian market, basing the upmarket liner Volendam here for the past season.

This coming season, the 1432-guest Volendam will be joined by sister ship Zaandam.

In 2012-13, Volendam will return and be joined by the even larger, 1926-guest Oosterdam, which features a culinary arts centre where the ship's chefs offer gourmet cooking lessons.

These are premium liners with a distinct Dutch-American heritage, perhaps better suited to couples and an older crowd rather than raging youngsters.

Details: Ph 1300 950 622 or see www.traveltheworld.com.au

Royal Caribbean International
RCI's 78,500-tonne, 2435-passenger Rhapsody of the Seas has been based in Australia since the 2007-08 season, wooing guests with features such as multiple pools, open atrium with a selection of shops, themed bars and even a rock-climbing wall.

This season it will be joined by the 90,000-tonne, 2500-guest Radiance of the Seas as RCI makes a massive investment in Australian cruising.

Radiance has undergone a complete refurbishment in preparation for her arrival in Sydney on October 15 for the coming season.

It will return for the 2012-13 season.

The ships will offer a series of two- to 36-night cruises around Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

And RCI has another ace up its sleeve the massive Voyager of the Seas is heading Down Under.

The 138,000-tonne ship, which can carry 3840 passengers, will be based here from November next year for a five-month season. It will be the biggest ship to call Australia home so big, its facilities range from an ice-skating rink to 11 dining venues and a 1350-seat Broadway-style theatre.

Details: Ph 1800 754 500 or www.royalcaribbean.com.au

Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity also has suddenly discovered Australia in a big way.

Celebrity Century arrives for a season in Australian waters from November 30, bringing the line's distinctive funnel "X" to local waters.

The 71,500-tonne Celebrity Century, which carries about 1800 guests, will be replaced for the 2012-13 season with the huge 122,000-tonne Celebrity Solstice, which can carry up to 2850 passengers.

The $750 million ship has a top-deck Lawn Club with real grass and 10 restaurants among its many facilities.

Details: ph 1800 754 500, www.celebritycruises.com

Carnival Cruises
The world's biggest cruise line will call Australia home for the first time from October next year, when the 88,500-tonne, 2667-passenger Carnival Spirit will be based out of Sydney for Pacific Islands cruises.

Carnival tag their vessels "the fun ships" and have a firm focus on an upbeat good time that appeals to families and the young at heart.

Carnival plans to "Aussify" the ship during a dry-dock upgrade early next year. It will feature a thrill slide, splash park and a spacious Serenity area, an oasis for adults.

Entertainment will include The Punchliner comedy club, as well as 16 bars and lounges.

There will be three dedicated kids clubs and babysitting services offered from 10pm-3am.

The ship will be fitted with Australian power points.

Details: ph 133 194, www.carnival.com.au

Classic International Cruises
CIC's mid-sized Athena returns to Fremantle this season, and will be based in both Fremantle and Adelaide for the following season.

The 550-passenger Athena is billed as a "classic cruising experience" and has a Portuguese flavour.

Details: travel agents, www.classicintcruises.com

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