The best escapes as cruising returns once more
As travel restrictions continue to lift, we’re ready to take to the water. Start with these excellent expeditions to plan your next great adventure.
The chains have come off cruising, the states are unlocking the gates and Australians are returning to the ocean. But this year looks different as a lack of international options combined with some people’s reluctance to travel overseas have boosted bookings for voyages close to home.
The cruise revival is expected to start slowly before overseas itineraries are officially confirmed, according to Joel Katz, managing director Australasia, Cruise Lines International Association.
“Initial sailings in Australia will be on domestic itineraries, but we are seeing excellent progress in discussions with New Zealand around a future trans-Tasman resumption, and discussions are underway with Pacific island destinations around the right way to begin other regional sailings,” Katz says.
Domestic expeditions
With the reopening of the WA border and approval granted for ships carrying up to 350 passengers, Kimberley cruises are back in full swing. Local companies restarted operations in March, with end-of-season plans for spring sailings down the west coast via the fishing and diving havens of Rowley Shoals, the Montebello Islands and Abrolhos Islands.
The big change in the region is the return of international ships after a two-year ban. First to arrive is Ponant’s 184-passenger Le Laperouse, which departs Darwin on April 28, soon to be followed by Le Soleal on May 28. Both of these French-flagged vessels will remain in the Kimberley for winter.
Silversea’s Silver Explorer will resume Kimberley cruises in June, before two August sailings between Darwin and Fremantle. APT has also launched a Coral Coast voyage aboard Caledonian Sky, with the next departure from Perth to Broome via Ningaloo Reef in April 2023.
There is also limited availability on the 36-passenger True North and Reef Prince, the 12-passenger Ocean Dream, and Coral Expeditions’ three small ships. However, here’s a hot tip for spontaneous adventurers to snap up cabins on full cruises: join the waiting list and hope for a cancellation.
Andrew Castles, general manager of Expedition Cruise Specialists, says, “It’s always worth checking on last-minute 2022 availability close to each departure as Covid can free up a couple of cabins at late notice when unfortunate travellers pick up the virus in the week or two before they are due to cruise.”
True North has reintroduced its Over the Top itinerary, spending two weeks sailing from Darwin to Cairns via the remote islands of the Northern Territory and the rainforest-fringed coastline of Cape York. Guests can fish for barramundi, snorkel at Lizard Island, dive in the Great Barrier Reef and visit the ruins of a British settlement on the Cobourg Peninsula.
Recommendations also include Coral Expeditions’ rejuvenated seven-night Great Barrier Reef expedition in November and its summer series exploring the World Heritage areas of Tasmania.
Indian Ocean expeditions
The most exciting overseas trips are Coral Expeditions’ five new voyages to the edge of Africa. Scheduled to depart from Broome on December 13, the inaugural Indian Ocean cruise aboard Coral Geographer sails to Singapore via Sulawesi and Borneo, including an overland safari in Sri Lanka, three days in the Maldives and extended explorations of Mauritius, Zanzibar, Madagascar and the Seychelles. The last cruise of the program, from Zanzibar to Fremantle, departs March 8, 2023. The best chance of finding a cabin is on the 25-night voyage from Singapore to the Seychelles.
Coral Expeditions is planning other adventures in Indonesia’s Raja Ampat and Spice Islands, including the chance to swim with whale sharks in Cenderawasih Bay. The two expeditions between Darwin and Biak are set to depart on March 19 and April 1, 2023. Other destinations include New Zealand’s Fiordlands and Subantarctic Islands in December and January.
International ocean ships
Most luxury lines are set to bring the bigger ocean-going ships back to Australia from November. Arriving earlier is Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess, to be based in Brisbane for the first time from June 16. This inaugural Australian winter season covers Queensland, NSW and Conflict Islands in Papua New Guinea.
Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth will be shared between Melbourne and Sydney for its summer season of 24 itineraries across Australia and New Zealand, ranging from two-night short breaks to a 28-night circumnavigation. The first local voyage is from Fremantle to Sydney, departing November 7. New themed cruises include the Great Australian Culinary Voyage, departing January 28, and Australia’s Gardening Journey, departing February 4.
Viking Mars, which debuts in Europe in May, will spend its maiden season in Australia from December 27, kicked off by a New Year’s Eve cruise from Sydney to Auckland. Viking Orion will also return to its Sydney and Auckland homeports between November 2022 and March 2023. Highlights include cruises to and from Bali and Bangkok via Malaysia and Indonesia.
For the first time, Celebrity Eclipse will be based in local waters from October to April. New itineraries include overnight stays in Hobart, Cairns and Adelaide, transpacific sailings between Sydney and Honolulu, as well as three South Pacific island cruises to Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.
Oceania Cruises’ Regatta returns to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific at the end of the year, starting with a 13-night voyage from Sydney to Bali on December 12. Regatta will undertake another eight sailings until March including a 17-night cruise from Sydney to Tahiti, visiting Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa before Bora Bora, Moorea and Papeete.
Azamara’s first cruise back to Australia in December is an 11-night itinerary from Singapore to Bali, Geraldton and Fremantle. For longer voyages around Australia and New Zealand, Azamara Quest has departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Fremantle and Auckland. The season ends in February 2023 with a 16-night cruise from Perth to Vietnam and Hong Kong, which includes a two-night stay in Ho Chi Minh City and a day in Da Nang (Hue and Hoi An).
After a two-year postponement, Regent Seven Seas Explorer has sold out its inaugural local season in December and January. The festive cruises will visit ports such as Java, Thursday Island and Whitsunday Island.
Holland America Line’s Noordam returns in November after a 33-night crossing from San Diego. The first departure is a circumnavigation from Sydney, followed by seven sailings in Australia and New Zealand. Norwegian Spirit will also be based in Sydney from December to March.
Craig Bowen, managing director of Cruise Traveller, has been busy selling the few remaining berths on smaller ships that grace our shores as part of their round-the-world voyages. The list of luxurious vessels indicates Australia remains a coveted destination.
“Seabourn Odyssey is still scheduled to depart Vancouver on September 30 on the transpacific leg of her 2022 world cruise,” Bowen says. “Silver Shadow is booked out on her Sydney to Fort Lauderdale 140-day trip in January 2023 and is looking the same in 2024. Regent Seven Seas Mariner is due in Cairns on February 20, 2023, and will travel to Darwin before heading back to Asia, but there are only a handful of suites left so we recommend booking a cabin now. Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa 2 will travel from Darwin to Cairns to Airlie Beach and Brisbane, and this cruise does have a few suites left.”
In October, Bowen recommends Ponant’s 21-night voyage roundtrip from Cairns to the Solomon Islands and PNG. In December, Azamara Quest has “fairly good availability” on its New Year’s Eve cruise.
Safety at sea
In a spectacular turnaround compared to 2020, cruising has emerged as one of the safest ways to travel, as all crew and passengers must be fully vaccinated and tested for Covid before embarkation. Cruising has resumed safely in 80 countries around the world, with rates of infection significantly lower than on land.
“Our health protocols encompass the entirety of the cruise experience, incorporating a multi-layered approach to testing, vaccination, mask-wearing, enhanced ventilation, sanitation, and other science-backed measures,” Katz says.
The requirement to wear a mask on Australian cruises is yet to be finalised but will likely be requested where distancing cannot be maintained, such as ships’ indoor theatres. Staggered dining times may be also allocated to avoid crowding in restaurants, and buffets will be served by staff from behind glass screens.
“Cruising will have undergone many changes, but the essential cruise experience that people love will be just as they remember,” Katz says. “There will be the changes that people expect to see – like the vaccination requirements and Covid-19 testing before boarding – but many of the changes are behind the scenes in aspects such as the on-board medical capacity and extensive response procedures.”
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