Hot cruise deals up for grabs

FROM historic European hotspots to African adventures - grab a hot holiday bargain with the latest cruise deals.

Kick back, relax and leave the stress of getting to your destination to the captain. Picture: Pacific Sun

FROM historic European hotspots to African adventures - grab a hot holiday bargain with the latest cruise deals.

Pacific paradise
P&O Cruises is celebrating its biggest fleet yet by releasing great new deals on cruises from mid-2010.

Now is the time to secure a cabin on the cruise line’s latest superliners, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl, as well as their sister ships, Pacific Dawn and Pacific Sun, with fares available from just $799 a person for a seven-night South Pacific holiday.

When: The new deals are valid until March 31 and include:

- 10-night cruise aboard Pacific Jewel sailing to New Caledonia and Vanuatu, departing Sydney on August 7, with fares from $1599 a person twin share

- An eight-night cruise on Pacific Sun visiting Emerald Bay, Noumea and Isle of Pines in New Caledonia, departing Sydney August 14, with fares from $999 a person quad share

- 10-night cruise aboard Pacific Sun to New Caledonia, departing Newcastle on October 8 and visiting Brisbane, Emerald Bay, Noumea and Isle of Pines, with fares from $999 a person quad share

- An eight-night cruise on Pacific Pearl departing Sydney on March 3, touring Tasmania and visiting Melbourne with fares from $939 a person quad share

Details: Call 132 494

Sydney’s harbour sights
Experience Sydney from a new perspective aboard a small cruise ship.

Captain Cook Cruises’ Explorer takes you off the beaten track to places only the locals know as well as up close to some of the most famous aspects of Sydney Harbour.

Shore visits include street markets, beautiful gardens and Watson’s Bay.

The views are worth the journey alone – a breathtaking sunset over the sails of the Sydney Opera House to a sparkling dawn on the cliffs of the North Shore. Evenings on board are a blend of top-class food and wine, spectacular harbour sights and great entertainment.

When: Valid from April 1 this year to March 31, 2011

Details: Call 1300 737 222

Explore Australia’s coast
Australians who want to explore more of their own coastline will enjoy Pacific Sun’s eight-night WA coastal voyages, visiting Geraldton, Broome and Exmouth.

When: Departing Fremantle on September 30 and October 8 next year, prices start from $1109 a person quad share.

For those keen to experience Australia’s southern coastline, Pacific Sun is offering a nine-night voyage from Fremantle to Sydney, which is also available as three shorter cruises.

Prices start from $259 a person quad share for a two-night cruise from Adelaide to Melbourne.

The 47,000-tonne ship features a child-free Oasis spa retreat, an ocean view gym and coffee bar, five restaurants and cafes, multiple bars and lounges and two pools.

Details: Call 132 494

A Classic program
A maiden visit by the liner Athena to Christmas Island during the Christmas cruise and a return cruise from Western Australia to South Australia will feature in Classic International Cruises’ longest-ever program in Australia next summer.

A new brochure for the 2010/11 Australian summer season has just been released, with the 600-passenger Athena offering 13 cruises to and from Fremantle for four months from November 14 this year to April 14 next year.

Cruises from two to 39 nights will be available, including a Christmas cruise from Perth to Christmas Island and Bali, an 11-night cruise from Perth to the seafood capital of Australia, Port Lincoln, as well as Kangaroo Island, Adelaide and Esperance, an extended Asian cruise, weekend cruises around the WA coastline and two traditional line voyages between Europe and Australia.

Fares start from $445 a person twinshare for a two-night cruise, with children under 18 cruising free on six selected cruises, with only nominal taxes to pay.

Explore the past
Voyages to Antiquity is centred on a series of 15-day and 29-day themed cruises aboard the newly refurbished Aegean Odyssey, which from May will carry a maximum of 380 guests a cruise to a range of historic destinations in countries including Egypt, Greece, Malta and Italy.

A special free flight offer applies to the two launch cruises in the program – Athens to Rome, departing on May 17, and Rome to Venice, leaving on May 30.

With the free air fares included, the Athens-Rome journey is priced from $5295 a person, twin share from Brisbane and includes a comprehensive range of shore excursions, wine with every dinner, gratuities and port charges, while the Rome-Venice cruise is priced from $5575 a person, twin share, with the same inclusions.

When: All bookings must be made by March 8 and are subject to availability.

Details: Call 5575 8094

Royal Egypt
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and Etihad Airways are offering travellers the chance to experience Egypt in royal style without the royal price tag, with the release of the Splendours of Egypt and the Nile Air and Land Package.

Fly return to Cairo for as little as $799 a person, twin share departing from Brisbane with Etihad Airways, when bought in conjunction with Uniworld’s 12-day Splendours of Egypt and the Nile holiday package which is priced from $4599 a person twin share. The total package is priced from $5398 a person twin share.

The package includes return economy class airfares to Cairo, a seven-night Nile river cruise in a category four river-view suite, four nights at the deluxe Cairo Marriott hotel with buffet breakfast, all meals onboard your river cruise, shore excursions and onboard entertainment, internal Egypt flights and airport transfers.

When: The package is only available until March 12 for departures between April 1 and November 30 this year.

Volendam returns
MS Voendam, the beautiful garden-themed liner from the Holland American Line fleet, is returning to our shores in November this year.

When: The 2010 cruise season will begin with a 14-day Pacific Treasures cruise on November 5.

The Volendam will take in the idyllic isles of New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji as it sails to the islands of the South Pacific through some of the most pristine waters in the world. Guests will visit Noumea, Mouli and Ile Des Pins in New Caledonia.

The ship will also call at the island of Vanuatu, as well as Lautoka and Levuka in Fiji.

Earlybird prices start at $2060 a person twin share for an inside cabin with meals, accommodation and entertainment onboard, as well as taxes.

Details: Call 1300 766 566

African package
A top-to-the-bottom African tour package has been released, embracing all the continent’s iconic attractions and climaxing with a voyage home to Australia next year aboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2.

When: The 38-day Cairo to the Cape package departs Australia on January 17, 2011, includes a 13-day tour of Egypt’s pyramids and temples, including a seven-night, luxury Nile River cruise, two nights in exclusive game lodges with wildlife drives in Kruger National Park, three nights at spectacular Victoria Falls, three nights in Cape Town and a voyage back to Australia aboard the QM2.

Flights from Australia, flights in Africa, luxury accommodation, tours and comprehensive sightseeing, the Nile and QM2 cruises and most meals are included in the $12,990 a person twin-share price.

Details: Call 1300 766 537

Head north for savings
Move quick for a 10 per cent saving on a Kimberley Wilderness Cruise aboard boutique expedition ship True North. The cruise runs over March 13-26, exploring the wild coastline of the Kimberley.

True North carries its own helicopter for excursions, as well as six tender boats.

Details: Call [phone]