The best cruise deals for the week

All aboard! With summer fast approaching what better way to escape the heat than by boarding a cruise ship and sailing for the horizon.

escape rio

ALL aboard! With summer fast approaching what better way to escape the heat than by boarding a cruise ship and sailing for the horizon.

For all the family
TAKE the whole family from grandparents to children on a cruise to Bali on a special family deal from Classic International Cruises.

The school holiday cruise aboard Athena combining new discounts for pensioners and CIC's "kids under 18 cruise for free" deal means a family of four plus two grandparents can enjoy the 11-night return voyage from Perth to Bali, sailing January 9 next year, from $8390 in total.

The 550-passenger Athena will berth in Bali at 2pm on January 13, and depart at 11.59pm on January 15, allowing passengers to enjoy three days in Bali.

CIC has cut fares for holders of an Australian Pensioner Concession Card on the cruise by up to 20 per cent, allowing pensioners to enjoy the 11-night cruise from $1775 a person, twin share, or $2095 if travelling on their own.

The Bali cruise is one of seven cruises this summer on which CIC allows children under 18 to cruise for free when sharing cabins with adults, with kids paying just $325 in taxes.

Details: Travel agents or see www.classicintcruises.com

Saving's a breeze
CRUISECO is offering some special prices to be aboard Carnival's newest fun ship, the 3690-guest Carnival Breeze, as it starts its inaugural season in Europe from June next year.

An example is the 12-night Barcelona return itinerary, a round trip departing Barcelona on October 25 for Monaco, Livorno, Rome, Naples, Dubrovnik, Venice and Messina. Packaged with return airfare plus two nights' pre-cruise hotel stay at the Melia Hotel Barcelona, the deal is priced from $3780 a person, twin share, in an interior stateroom.

Or for something a little different, there is a 15-night Barcelona to Miami cruise including nine days at sea along with port visits to Palma De Mallorca, Malaga, Las Palmas, then Antigua and St Maarten in the Caribbean.

Prices start from a $4830 a person, twin share, for a balcony stateroom, and include return airfare, one night's pre-cruise stay at the Hilton Diagonal Barcelona and one night's post-cruise stay at the Miami Beach Resort and Spa.

Details: See www.cruising.com.au

Giant brings change
THE 12-month countdown to the arrival of Voyager of the Seas in Australian waters has begun, with officials from Royal Caribbean International saying that the giant ship will change the face of Australian cruising.

The 311m Voyager of the Seas is twice the size of most cruise ships currently based in the region and carries up to 3840 guests.

Features include an onboard ice-rink, a rock-climbing wall, an indoor street the length of a football field lined with restaurants, bars and entertainment, and cabins within the ship that have a view.

Voyager of the Seas will be based in Sydney for a five-month season from November next year.

Its Australia and New Zealand season will feature 12 New Zealand, South Pacific and Australia itineraries ranging from one to 18 nights, sailing from Sydney and Fremantle.

Prices start from $1409 for a nine-night South Pacific cruise.

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

Micronesia magic
EXPEDITION ship Orion II will take a 12-night voyage through Micronesia in November next year.

It will visit some of the world's best snorkelling and diving spots, several World War II battle sites, shipwrecks, isolated coral atolls and remote island cultures far from the tourist mainstream.

Leaving from Cairns, the cruise visits Rabaul, Tingwon Island, Nauna, Lorengau, Truk Lagoon, Satawal Atoll, Ifalik Atoll, Woleai Islands, Sorol Atoll, Ngulu Atoll and Koror.

Fares from $5320 (usually $8870) a person, twin share, for an ocean-view suite are available if booked before Wednesday.

Details: Ph 1300 361 012 or see www.orionexpeditions.com