Asia and Pacific on Offer in New Seabourn Program

From Penang to the Philippines and Papeete, Australians will be able to explore Asia and the Pacific in ultra-luxury on Seabourn’s fleet next year.

The cruise line has released its latest 2015-16 program, offering guests a world of luxury as its three ships sail on 70 different itineraries visiting the seven continents.

Cruises range from 10 to 97 days and feature 25 destinations which are either maiden visits or ports that Seabourn has not sailed to for some years.  

Highlights include visits to South Korea, China and Japan aboard Seabourn Sojourn as well as the South Pacific on Seabourn Odyssey, while perennial favourites such as Antarctica, South America, Southeast Asia, Arabia, Canada/New England, the Panama Canal and the Caribbean are also on offer. In addition, the schedule includes shore excursions to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as part of a new partnership with UNESCO.

Seabourn Sojourn will offer exciting voyages in Asia in late 2015 and early 2016, with its season beginning with a 14-day roundtrip voyage from Singapore to Malaysia and Myanmar, where the ship will stay in Yangon (Rangoon) for three days to allow ample time for guests to explore the amazing city as well as the 2000-plus temples at Bagan and the fabled city of Mandalay. Fares for the cruise departing December 6, 2015, start from $7999* per person double occupancy.

Other Seabourn Sojourn highlights include a 14-day Vietnam and Thailand voyage from Singapore to Hong Kong, which includes Christmas Day in Cambodia and New Year’s Day in Halong Bay, a 21-day roundtrip cruise from Hong Kong to Korea, China and Japan and cruises from Hong Kong taking in some of the beautiful islands of the Philippine archipelago.

Meanwhile Seabourn Odyssey will sail on a 77-day circumnavigation of the South Pacific, visiting a string of exotic locations, from Tahiti to the Solomon Islands. Her voyage will also bring her to Australia with calls to Hobart, Burnie, Geelong, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in February 2016.

Shorter sectors of the South Pacific journey are available with a 15-day cruise sailing from Sydney to Fiji on February 13, 2016.   Priced from $9500* per person double occupancy, the cruise includes visits to Noumea, the Isle of Pines and Mare in New Caledonia as well as Luganville and Vila in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. 

“From the historic and culturally-rich destinations in Asia to the ‘white continent’ of Antarctica, our ships will sail to many of the most desirable and exotic locales in the world,” said Seabourn Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales John Delaney. “We’re proud to be visiting so many ports with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and through our partnership with UNESCO, our guests will have opportunities to gain privileged insights into these unique cultural and natural places.”

Seabourn’s all-inclusive fares offer tremendous value for one of the world’s finest travel experiences. 

For details of itineraries and fares for Seabourn’s 2015-2016 schedule of cruises see a licensed travel agent, call 13 24 02 or visit www.seabourn.com

*conditions apply, subject to availability. Fares are in AUD.

Information supplied by: Seabourn Cruises.

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Onboard Anzac Services Inspire Western Front Pilgrimage

Inspired by attending moving Anzac Day dawn services on P&O Cruises’ ships, former London policeman and now P&O Cruises’ onboard security officer Dave Yates will soon make a pilgrimage to the Western Front to pay tribute to fallen Australian Diggers. 

When he visits Pozières in northern France next month with a group of retired UK police officers, Mr Yates will lay a wreath at the First Australian Division Memorial in an area where 7700 Diggers were killed or wounded in just four days of bitter fighting in July 1916. 

On leave from Pacific Dawn, Mr Yates’ moving pilgrimage to the Western Front will form one of many ceremonies that are being held to mark the centenary of the start of World War One. Mr Yates will lay the wreath at the Pozières memorial on behalf of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises.

“My fascination with WWI began about 15 years ago when I was a policeman in London and my boss invited me to join a police trip to walk the battlefields of the Western Front,” Mr Yates said. 

“Having worked on P&O Cruises' ships in recent years, and having participated in so many moving ANZAC services onboard, I have a particular interest in the battlefields and memorials to ANZAC troops. 

“As is traditional with ANZAC dawn services, this year I intend to lay a wreath of poppies on the First Australian Division memorial at Pozières as a mark of respect to all the brave Australians who never made it home. 

“The main street in Pozières is called Australian First Division Street because the village was the scene of the first large scale Australian operation on the Western Front. The Division decided to build their first memorial to the fallen on this spot due to the strategic importance of taking the village, the intensity of the fighting that took place there and to mark the sacrifice and gallantry shown,” Mr Yates said. 

Information supplied by: P&O Cruises Australia.

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Ride the never-ending wave on Australia’s first surfing experience at sea

Details of Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas’ multi-million dollar revitalisation revealed! 

5th August, 2014 Sydney: Breaking surf-report: a wave unlike any other is due to hit Australian shores this summer when the newly revamped Voyager of the Seas arrives for her cruising season starting this November. A multimillion-dollar investment will see Australia’s largest ship packed with even more amenities including the region’s first FlowRider surfing simulator, so guests can now ride the perfect wave at any time, even in the middle of the ocean. 

Voyager of the Seas’ month-long bow-to-stern makeover will add innovative cruising features similar to those found on the cruise line’s newest Quantum and Oasis class ships,  such as inside rooms with real-time virtual balconies, a 3D cinema, new dining options including a sushi restaurant and more, to give guests an unforgettable onboard experience. Highlights of Voyager of the Seas’ revitalisation include: 

* FlowRider 

Onshore or offshore, you never have to wait for good wind conditions to catch the perfect wave on the FlowRider. Whether you surf, boogie board or wake board, test your skills on the 12 metre long surf simulator or watch others take on the challenge from the nearby stadium seating. There are also private lessons for those that want to really hone their skills. For more information about the FlowRider, see the following video: http://goo.gl/WdQz0i

* Virtual Balconies 

Interior rooms with the view of the ocean! Virtual Balconies will provide guests in selected interior staterooms with real-time sights and sounds of the sea, displayed on an 80-inch, high definition screen framed to look like a real balcony. An industry first concept from the Quantum class of ships, the Virtual Balconies onboard Voyager of the Seas will be one of only three ships to offer this unique feature. 

* 3D Movie Theatre  

Already a huge hit on the world’s biggest ships, Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean provides the glasses and the action in the onboard 3D movie theatre – all guests have to do is sit back and prepare to be wowed as new releases from DreamWorks and other studios come to life in stunning 3D! Plus, the ship will also feature a 220-square foot outdoor movie screen by the pool which will screen movies and be used for giant video game challenges. 

* New Dining Options 

A wide array of delectable dining options will be added to Voyager of the Seas, including fresh sushi at Izumi Japanese Cuisine, Royal Caribbean’s signature Chop’s Grille steakhouse, and Giovanni’s Table Italian trattoria. Plus, the ship’s Champagne Bar will be re-conceptualised into Royal Caribbean’s retro-chic R Bar, channelling the sophisticated 1960s era, complete with iconic furnishings and signature cocktails created by savvy mixologists. There will also be a new Diamond Lounge for Crown & Anchor guests to enjoy.  

* Technology 

Voyager of the Seas will have a host of up-to-the-minute technologies added including new digital signage to help guests find their way around the ship and to find out what’s happening onboard, bow-to-stern Wi-Fi service and flat panel televisions in every stateroom. 

In October 2014, Voyager of the Seas will enter dry dock in Singapore for approximately one month before making her way back to Australia for her third local season. Her first port of call in Australia after this

transformation will be on 30th November 2014 in Darwin as she sails her repositioning cruise from Singapore to Sydney for the 2014/2015 summer season. The guests onboard this repositioning cruise will be amongst the first in the world to experience Voyager of the Seas’ new features.

Gavin Smith, Regional Vice President Asia- Pacific, said: “Royal Caribbean International is the world’s largest cruise brand and we are renowned for our first at sea facilities. We can’t wait to be able to offer Aussies, Kiwis and our international cruise guests the chance to catch a wave onboard Voyager of the Seas after her revitalisation in October 2014. Australia’s biggest cruise ship will emerge from her bow to stern make-over looking even more impressive than she does now, including a host of impressive features such as the FlowRider, a 3-D movie screen, virtual balconies and new speciality dining options.”

The Voyager class of ships was the first to introduce the active cruise holiday and the ship will retain popular features such as the iconic ice-skating rink, rock-climbing wall, a full-size basketball and sports court, and the Royal Promenade – an interior boulevard that runs nearly the length of the ship flanked by restaurants, lounges and boutiques where spectacular parades and evening dance parties are held. 

During the 2014/2015 Australia & New Zealand cruise season Voyager of the Seas she will sail on popular itineraries around Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Fares start from just AU$1,599* per person on her 14-night repositioning cruise, departing from Singapore on 25th November, 2014.

For more information about Voyager of the Seas, see www.voyageroftheseas.com.au 

For more information about Royal Caribbean or to make a booking, visit: RoyalCaribbean.com.au, call 1800 754 500 or contact your travel agent. 

For more information about Royal Caribbean International: RoyalCaribbean.com.au Royal Caribbean AU & NZ Instagram:    instagram.com/royalcaribbean_aunz Royal Caribbean AU & NZ Facebook:    facebook.com/rciaustraliaandnz Royal Caribbean AU & NZ YouTube:    youtube.com/rciaustraliaandnz Royal Caribbean International Press Centre:    royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/ 

* Conditions apply and price is subject to change. Price is per person and applies to the lowest available interior stateroom.

For full terms and conditions, visit: RoyalCaribbean.com.au

Information supplied by : Royal Caribbean International.

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P&O Cruises Adds New Homeports, New Destinations and New Itineraries in Biggest Ever Year of Cruising

P&O Cruises today unveiled details of its biggest ever year of cruising in Australia, with a record five-ship fleet opening the way for new cruises from Cairns and Singapore as well as the cruise line’s largest presence yet in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Fremantle, Adelaide and Auckland.

With 250 cruises on offer in the 2015-16 program, P&O Cruises will be sailing into new waters, offering a host of maiden itineraries and inaugural port visits to exotic destinations such as Honiara in the Solomon Islands, Jakarta in Indonesia, and Ko Chang in Thailand as well as local gems like Queensland’s Hamilton Island and Gladstone, Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and Esperance in Western Australia. 

The record program will kick off in a spectacular fashion next year with the cruise line’s latest ships – Pacific Eden and Pacific Aria – joining the existing fleet of Pacific Dawn, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl in Sydney Harbour for an unprecedented five-ship display on November 25, 2015.  

The nation’s cruising gateway, Sydney has never before hosted five cruise ships from one cruise line on the same day. The P&O Cruises’ spectacular will bring more than 15,000 interstate and local passengers and crew to the heart of the city and attract thousands of onlookers.

Announcing the new 2015-16 program, which goes on sale on August 19, Ann Sherry, CEO of P&O Cruises, said the addition of Pacific Eden and Pacific Aria to the cruise line’s fleet had opened the way for some exciting new cruise options, with the cruise line now offering an unprecedented choice of destinations. 

“With five ships in our fleet we can now meet the growing demand for cruise holidays from around Australia, with extended seasons from existing homeports and the addition of new homeports such as Cairns.  Plus more ships means we can visit some wonderful new towns around Australia and the Pacific, on a fantastic range of itineraries which are looking more attractive than ever,” Ms Sherry said.

The new program will see Pacific Eden sailing from Fremantle, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Cairns and Singapore, while Pacific Aria will enjoy seasons in Sydney and Brisbane. Pacific Jewel will sail from Sydney and Melbourne, Pacific Dawn from Brisbane and Pacific Pearl from Sydney and Auckland.

Fares in the program start from $549* per person quad share for a three-night P&OSeaBreak cruise, while a 10-night island cruise is priced from $1199* per person quad share. 

Highlights include:

* A maiden season of eight roundtrip cruises from Cairns by Pacific Eden from September to November 2016 including four seven-night cruises to Papua New Guinea as well as two 10-night cruises to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands

* A record Fremantle season with Pacific Eden sailing from the WA port between April and July 2016 on 13 cruises.  Options include a new cruise to Indonesia with maiden calls to

Jakarta, Probolinggo and Makassar as well as four P&OSeaBreak cruises and a new four-night cruise visiting Esperance

* P&O Cruises’ largest ever Melbourne season featuring its first summer sailings from the Victorian capital from December 2015 to March 2016. Options include a 12-night Christmas Melanesian cruise, a New Year cruise visiting the south coast of Australia and Tasmania and three 4-night P&OSeabreaks visiting Kangaroo Island 

* P&O Cruises’ biggest ever Brisbane deployment with Pacific Aria spending a total of 8 months during 2015-16 sailing from the Queensland capital alongside the city’s year round ship Pacific Dawn. New cruises include an 18-night P&O Explorer itinerary visiting Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa and a seven night New Year cruise visiting Hamilton Island, Cairns, and Willis Island (scenic cruising) 

* Adelaide’s biggest cruise season featuring five roundtrip cruises including three 4-night P&OSeabreaks visiting Port Lincoln and Melbourne and two 3-night themed cruises

* P&O Cruises’ longest ever Auckland season with 18 roundtrip cruises from February to June 2016. Options include four-night cruises spending a day in Napier or Bay of Islands,  a new 15-night cruise to Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands and a new 10-night roundtrip itinerary circumnavigating New Zealand with a maiden call to Stewart Island

* Pacific Eden will offer a Singapore season from July 2016 featuring five cruises to destinations in some of the most picturesque parts of Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia, with maiden calls to Krabi, Sabang (Palau Weh), Ko Chang, and Sihanoukville

* A record 84 P&OSeabreaks cruises including; anew four-night Hamilton Island cruise from Brisbane, new four-night Kangaroo Island P&OSeabreaks from Melbourne and three-night P&OSeabreaks to Margaret River from Fremantle as well as a four-night cruise to Esperance

For more information on the new program visit pocruises.com.au, see a licensed travel agent or call 13 24 94. 

*subject to availability, conditions apply.

Information supplied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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Isle of Pines and P&O Cruises Celebrate 30 Years of Cruise Visits

P&O Cruises and local Isle of Pines tribal clans joined together this week for a full day of festivities to celebrate 30 years of cruising to the beautiful island.

The cruise line has shared the island’s highlights with hundreds of thousands of travellers over the years, including the 1800 Pacific Pearl guests onboard for the milestone visit. 

Many of the Australians and New Zealanders who have visited Isle of Pines and enjoyed the local community’s warm welcome since 1984 sailed on board P&O Cruises’ ships – more than 200,000 of them in the past year alone. 

This week’s celebration with all Isle of Pines’ eight tribal clans was led by the island’s paramount chief, Hilarion Vendégou, who for the past 30 years has supported cruise ship visits to his community and the economic contribution that they make. 

Pacific Pearl Captain Roger Bilton and his colleagues, Hotel Director Roland Ringwald and Chief Engineer Simon Jewell, were welcomed ashore where there was a customary exchange of gifts with the community at the Kuto Beach landing area. 

“Isle of Pines is known as the ‘Jewel of the Pacific’ and it is one of the most popular island destinations with our passengers,” P&O Cruises Destination Director Michael Mihajlov said. 

“Over the past 30 years, millions of cruise passengers have visited Isle of Pines to be treated to a unique cultural experience and some of the most magnificent scenery in the South Pacific,” Mr Mihajlov said. 

“It was an honour for P&O Cruises to be involved in this week’s celebration of cruise tourism to Isle of Pines and it is rewarding to know that the festival was initiated by the local community.”

Caption: Pacific Pearl Captain Roger Bilton with Hotel Director Roland Ringwald and Chief Engineer Simon Jewell are welcomed ashore at Isle of Pines for 30th anniversary of cruise visits celebration.

Information supplied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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Princess Cruises Debuts “Chocolate Journeys” in Partnership with World-Renowned Chocolatier Norman Love.

Princess Cruises has announced a delectable new partnership with internationally acclaimed master chocolatier and pastry designer Norman Love. 

“Chocolate Journeys,” the line’s new onboard chocolate experience will entice guests with an impressive array of onboard chocolate offerings among which are custom-crafted desserts, chocolate and wine pairings, and exquisite chocolate bites created by one of the top names in artisan chocolate.

Since debuting Norman Love Confections in 2001 after a notable career as a pastry chef for many luxury resorts, Mr Love has since received wide-spread recognition for his hand-crafted, chocolate-making artistry including being named as one of the “top 10 chocolatiers in North America”. His sea-going chocolate creations will debut this spring aboard the new Regal Princess and will be rolled out across Princess’ Australian fleet by early next year. 

President of Princess Cruises Jan Swartz said there was incredible passion for chocolate around the world, as evidenced by ever-growing consumption and the plethora of specialty varieties.

“We’re excited to partner with one of the best chocolatiers in the world to bring some additional moments of decadence and delight to our guests with truly amazing chocolate experiences that we know they’ll love!” 

Ms Swartz said she believes the partnership with Norman Love was meant to be, because of the 

line's close association with the iconic TV show "The Love Boat" and Princess' reputation for romance. 

"Based on his name alone this is a perfect match," she said. 

“Chocolate Journeys” will offer Princess’ guests the following sweet experiences: 

Decadent Desserts – Norman Love has produced 15 chocolate dessert designs for Princess Cruises that will be offered on a rotational basis in the ships’ main dining rooms, specialty restaurants and Chef’s Table experience. Examples of the desserts include a Chocolate Tart with Vanilla Mousse and Flourless Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Pistachio Dome with Almond and Pistachio Nougatine.

Chocolate & Wine Pairings – In Vines, Princess’ signature wine bar, wine and chocolate enthusiasts alike can sample Norman Love’s exquisite Black™ Single Origin Dark chocolates paired with specific wine varietals designed to enhance the tasting experience, all selected by Love. 

Captain’s Welcome Reception Treats – Guests will be able to toast the start of their cruise with a glass of bubbly along with “Chocolate Love Pop” truffles created by Mr Love, at the signature welcome reception hosted by the Captain. 

Chocolate Libations – Throughout the ships’ lounges and bars, guests can splurge on a number of decadent chocolate drinks including a Chocolate Salted Caramel Hard Shake or a Chocolate Chile Margarita. 

Chocolate Dessert Demonstrations – Princess pastry chefs will treat guests to entertaining and informative demonstrations so they can create tasty chocolate treats for their family and friends. 

Chocolate Petits Fours at Formal Night – Chocolate bites designed by Mr Love will accompany the dessert menu presented to guests following the formal night dinner. 

Norman Love Renowned Boxed Chocolates Available for Purchase – Passengers will be able to purchase these extraordinary creations in the onboard shops as a gift for family and friends at home. 

Chocolate Spa Treatments – Because chocolate is not only for eating, the ship’s Lotus Spa will offer guests the opportunity to relax with the aroma of pure bliss by offering a Chocolate Indulgence Body Treatment combining a chocolate renewal scrub, whipped chocolate body mask and chocolate massage oil. 

Additional information about Princess’ new Chocolate Journeys experience can be found at www.chocolatejourneys.com.

Information supplied by : Princess Cruises.

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Hundreds of guests on Carnival Spirit have struck a pose on the ship's top decks with Carnival Cruise Lines' ambassador Shannan Ponton taking the biggest selfie at sea.

Cruising from Sydney to New Caledonia, more than 600 people packed the ship's top decks for the health and fitness guru's Biggest Bootcamp at Sea.

With gold coin donations going towards Shannan's chosen charity CanTeen, which provides support for young people living with cancer, participants were invited to take part in the epic ship selfie at the end of the high intensity bootcamp.

Money for the CanTeen has also been raised during morning walks around the deck with Shannan and Carnival Spirit Cruise Director Stu Dunn.

The cruise line's first Australian ambassador, Shannan has been onboard the 10-day New Caledonia cruise helping cruisers stay fit and healthy during their sojourn at sea, with special classes, walks and lectures.

His next cruise will be an eight-night cruise to New Caledonia on Carnival Spirit on August 12, 2014.

Information supplied by : Carnival Cruise Line, Australia.

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Princess Cruises Help Students Find Keys to Success with Baby Grand Donation

A Princess Cruises' baby grand piano that has helped entertain many thousands of cruise travellers over the years has found a new home where young talent is nurtured.  The piano – one of two that became surplus on Princess Cruises' Australian-based ships – is now a beautifully refurbished feature at the High School of the Performing Arts at Newtown in Sydney's inner west.  This week, Princess Cruises Vice President Australia and New Zealand Stuart Allison and Princess Cruises' Public Relations Manager Meg Koffel, visited the school to see the piano in its new creative environment, where they were treated to a mini Chopin concert by 15-year-old Year Nine student, Neil Baker. "Neil's performance was fantastic and it is wonderful to see that our baby grand piano has found a good home at the school," said Mr Allison. 

"It is no secret that many of the musicians and entertainers on Princess Cruises' ships are young people from Australia.

"It's nice to know that a piano that was being replaced on one of our ships is now helping a new generation of musicians to make their way towards bright futures in music,” he said. The baby grand piano, now being used for auditions and practice at Newtown, was one of two donated to the school from Sun Princess earlier this year.  The school's piano tuner, Roger Taylor, carefully restored the piano now at the school while the other has become an excellent source of spare piano parts.

Photo Caption: Princess Cruises' baby grand piano handover at the High School of the Performing Arts at Newtown in Sydney (left to right) Gemma Thomas, Head Music Teacher, Stephen Grey, Principal, Neil Baker, student, Stuart Allison, Princess Cruises Vice President Australia and New Zealand, and Meg Koffel, Princess Cruises Public Relations Manager.

Information supplied by : Princess Cruises.

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Game On for Families on Carnival Legend

Family game night is about to become larger than life with the arrival of Hasbro, The Game Show on Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest Australian ship, Carnival Legend.

Debuting in Australia in September when Carnival Legend arrives in Sydney, Hasbro, The Game Show allows guests to play giant versions of their favourite childhood games including Connect 4 and Operation with sets measuring more than three metres.

Carnival Cruise Lines Vice President Australia Jennifer Vandekreeke said the game show would be a first for Australia and was guaranteed to bring out the competitive spirit in guests as they team up with friends and family to win great prizes.

“Since the concept was first introduced on our ships in 2012, it has been incredibly popular with guests of all ages,” Ms Vandekreeke said. “The opportunity to be transported into the middle of some of the world’s most beloved childhood games is irresistible for many  guests – and when combined with the opportunity to win prizes, it’s no contest!” she said.

Played on the ship’s theatre stage, Hasbro, The Game Show  will feature six main games: Yahtzee Bowling, with a giant ball and larger-than-life bowling pins; Operation Sam Dunk, where contestants have to get the balls into different slots on the “patient’s” body; Connect 4 Basketball which uses a basketball set-up rather than the traditional checkers format;  Sorry Sliders, which involves a giant shuffleboard court and Simon Flash, where two teams of four guests wear giant light-up colour boxes and shuffle themselves quickly to repeat a colour sequence. Each show ends with a Monopoly-inspired game, which sees guests compete to win the most Monopoly dollars. 

The Hasbro set was installed on Carnival Legend during an extensive upgrade in February and joins a range of exciting Southern Hemisphere cruising and entertainment firsts, including great new live shows from Playlist Productions.

Other family entertainment innovations include the new Seuss at Sea program, which  brings to life the magic of Dr Seuss’ timeless books in a variety of ways, including a special Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with the Cat in the Hat and Friends; an onboard selection of classic Dr Seuss books, toys and themed activities, along with screenings of beloved Dr Seuss movies; and opportunities to meet and interact with favourite Dr Seuss characters onboard and participate in photo opportunities through events and activities such as the Seuss-a-palooza Character Parade. 

Fares on a 10-night roundtrip New Caledonia and Vanuatu cruise on Carnival Legend departing Sydney on October 27, 2014, start from $824* per person quad share or $919* per person twin share. Carnival Legend also has availability on its Christmas and New Year cruises.

For more information call 13 31 94, see a travel agent or visit www.carnival.com.au

*subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply. For bookings made before August 18, 2014.

About Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines is the largest cruise line in the world with over four and a half million guests travelling every year. Carnival Spirit is the largest and newest cruise ship to call Australia home and she will be joined by her sister ship, Carnival Legend in September 2014. With 45 activities from zen to adrenalin to enjoy each day, Carnival Spirit offers fun-loving families and couples memorable and great value holidays. 

CONNECT 4, YAHTZEE, SORRY!, OPERATION and SIMON are all trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. ©2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved. 

Information supplied by : Carnival Cruise Line Australia.

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P&O Cruises Wins Vote for Best Family Cruise Line

P&O Cruises has been voted Best Family Cruise Line for the second year running in the annual Out and About with Kids Best of Family Travel Awards. 

P&O Cruises Senior Vice President Tammy Marshall said the cruise line was delighted to win the family travel magazine award, given its emphasis on providing great value family holidays which everyone enjoys.

“Not only does P&O Cruises attract a lot of families, we also carry a large number of extended family groups, with everyone from grandparents to aunts and uncles and toddlers all cruising with us,” Ms Marshall said.

“It’s important to us that everyone in the family has a wonderful time on their holidays and winning an award like this is fantastic confirmation that we’re hitting the mark on that front.”

The award follows the introduction of a range of new family offerings onboard P&O Cruises’ ships including the largest adventure park at sea, P&OEdge, the popular Broad Shorts film animation experience and racing car simulators.

All three ships in P&O Cruises’ fleet offer four kids’ clubs – Turtle Cove (3-6 years), Shark Shack (7-10 years), HQ (11-14 years) and HQ+ (15-17 years).

The 2014 Out & About with Kids awards feature more than 20 categories across a variety of Australian and international travel products and are voted for by the magazine’s readers. 

For more information on P&O Cruises visit www.pocruises.com.au . 

For information on the awards see the latest issue of Out and About with Kids http://issuu.com/oawkids/docs/oawk_41_ebook_sm

Information supplied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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P&O Pacific Partnership Delivers Healthy Results for Vanuatu Island

The ground has been broken on P&O Pacific Partnership's biggest project to date, with construction set to begin on a new health facility on the remote Vanuatu island of Aneityum.

Medical Superintendant Vila Central Hospital Hensley Garae and Country Director Save The Children Vanuatu Tom Skirrow were among those who attended a symbolic turning of the sod ceremony to mark the start of the project. A sandalwood tree was planted to bring prosperity to the site and a woven mat and a walking stick were presented to the cruise line to offer support and strength during the construction of the vital health facility.

Known as the “last island in Vanuatu”, Aneityum is the home community to nearby Mystery Island, one of P&O Cruises’ most popular South Pacific destinations.

Working with Save the Children, the P&O Pacific Partnership is giving the cruise line and its passengers an opportunity to support island communities, such as the people of Aneityum, who have been welcoming P&O ships and their guests for more than 80 years. 

Around $400,000 has already been raised through the Pacific Partnership and three projects - two kindergartens and an aid post - have already been completed. 

The latest project will see $270,000 from the Partnership devoted to replacing a pre-1970s health facility on Aneityum. The new dispensary will include a consultancy room, treatment room, in-patient room, delivery room for maternity services, a waiting area as well as pharmaceutical and equipment storage. 

Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry said the new project was an exciting example of the P&O Pacific Partnership at work. 

“We have made a commitment to give back to the communities who make our guests so welcome and our partnership with Save the Children is an excellent way to achieve this,” Ms Sherry said.

“The Pacific Islands are among the most beautiful in the world offering truly unique experiences but there is also a significant community need when it comes to health and education facilities. Our guests welcome the opportunity to join with P&O Cruises and Save the Children in addressing these needs, beginning initially in Vanuatu.”

P&O Cruises’ guests are able to support the P&O Pacific Partnership by contributing a dollar from their onboard accounts or participating in the 'Born to Knit' program, which is now exclusive to the cruise line and sees knitted blankets donated to newborns at Vila Hospital.

“The knitting program has been such a great success that quite often our passengers know about it even before they arrive on board and are eager to participate,” Ms Sherry added.

The P&O Pacific Partnership is part of Carnival Australia’s ongoing charity program, Carnival Cares, which also supports Lifeline Australia.

Information supplied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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P&O Cruises Voted One of Australia’s Most Trusted Brands

P&O Cruises has been voted as one of Australia’s most trusted brands for the second year running by Reader’s Digest.

The cruise line has been named the most trusted cruise operator in Reader’s Digest’s 2014 Trusted Brands Survey, building on last year’s success when it won the top accolade in the inaugural category.

P&O Cruises Senior Vice President Tammy Marshall said it was a privilege to be acknowledged as the country’s most trusted cruise line.

“It is testament to the commitment and hard work of our fantastic team that we have taken home this honour for the second time,” Ms Marshall said.

“We are very focused on delivering a modern and contemporary offering and it’s great to see that our product is speaking to all Australians,” she said.

The annual Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Survey has been operating for 14 years as an independent survey of the Australian public. This year 46 categories were featured and more than 2400 people were surveyed. For more information on P&O Cruises visit www.pocruises.com.au

Information supplied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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P&O Cruises Expands its Oasis

P&O Cruises is giving guests even more ways to relax with the expansion of its popular child-free Oasis retreat across two decks on each of its ships.

Holidaymakers can now chill out on new pod-style loungers for two, as well as plenty of cushioned lounges and sun beds, designed to deliver stunning sea views with a relaxed vibe.

Situated at the rear of Pacific Jewel, Pacific Pearl and Pacific Dawn, the Oasis retreats also feature a bar, with guests able to enjoy a refreshing drink and light snacks as they unwind. Pacific Pearl also offers two whirlpool spas.

StureMyrmell, Vice President Hotel Operation for Carnival Australia, which represents P&O Cruises, said the cruise line’s Oasis retreats had continued to grow in popularity since they were introduced a few years ago.

“There’s been a real demand for the space from our guestsso we’re delighted that we can now provide even more room for them to relax and enjoy amazing ocean views,” Mr Myrmell said.

For more information visit www.pocruises.com.au or call 13 24 94.

Information supplied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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Princess Cruises Leads the Way in New Zealand

Princess Cruises is preparing for another bumper season in New Zealand this summer, with latest figures confirming it’s the cruise line of choice for one in two Australians taking a transTasman voyage.

Offering roundtrip cruises to New Zealand on four ships sailing from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, the cruise line will make 210 visits to North and South Island ports in 2014, with the number rising by almost 10 per cent to reach 230 in 2015.

Princess Cruises Vice President Australia & New Zealand Stuart Allison said the cruise line’s New Zealand holidays had become a firm favourite with Australians over recent years.  

According to the latest Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia figures, a record 98,914 Australians took a cruise to New Zealand in 2013.  Mr Allison said the cruise line’s data revealed that half these passengers travelled with Princess Cruises.

“It’s a fantastic result and it shows that Australians really love Princess Cruises’ New Zealand itineraries as well as our great onboard product which features local cultural offerings and cuisine,” Mr Allison said.

The 2014-15 season will see Sun Princess and Diamond Princess sailing from Sydney, Sea Princess cruising from Brisbane and Dawn Princess from Melbourne.  Between them, the four ships will offer more than 30 New Zealand cruises, with fares starting from $1499* per person twin share for a roundtrip cruise on Sea Princess or Dawn Princess visiting seven ports.   

Mr Allison said the key reasons holidaymakers chose to holiday on Princess Cruises’ voyages to New Zealand included:

1. Great ports:  From the spectacular Bay of Islands in the north to scenic cruising through the remote Fiordland in the south, every roundtrip Princess Cruises’ itinerary features visits to seven or eight different ports across the north and south island.

2. Ease of travel: With more than 30 departures from three different homeports, Princess Cruises offers the easiest way to see New Zealand from top to toe without getting on a plane or hiring a car.

3. The onboard experience: Princess Cruises has tailored its New Zealand cruises so that guests experience the Kiwi touch from the moment they board. Menus and drink selections include plenty of New Zealand offerings, from local lamb to premium wines, while guests can enjoy New Zealand movies, Maori dances and cultural talks during their cruise.

4. Destination experts: Princess Cruises’ focus on New Zealand means it offers a great range of shore tours in each port which reflect its guests’ interests from sea kayaking to winery visits.

5. Value for money: With transport, accommodation, main meals and onboard activities included, a New Zealand cruise provides a great value way to see the land of the long white cloud.

“With its distinct culture and spectacular landscapes, which are vastly different to Australia’s, New Zealand makes for a great holiday and we’re pleased to be taking so many Australian cruisers there each year,” Mr Allison said.

For more information on Princess Cruises to New Zealand call 13 24 88, visit www.princess.com  or see a travel agent.

*Subject to availability, conditions apply. Upgrades to balcony staterooms are available from $49 pp during July and August 2014.

Information supplied by : Princess Cruises.

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 Heavenly Holidays Inspire P&O Cruises’ Latest Ship Names 

After sifting through more than 30,000 suggestions from across Australia and New Zealand, P&O Cruises today drew a line in the sand to reveal the names of its latest ships – Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden.

Port Macquarie artist, Chloe Dickey, 24, unveiled the names in a spectacular 20-metre-wide mural raked into the golden sands of Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach as scores of spectators looked on.

P&O Cruises said while it had been overwhelmed with ideas, the two names, Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden, stood out from the field as they had a contemporary feel that reflected the blissful and indulgent spirit of a P&O Cruises’ holiday at sea.

Eden, suggested by Nikki Smith from Bentley Park, Cairns, was chosen because of the sense of peace and images of paradise and beautiful destinations that the name evoked. In a happy coincidence, Eden is also an idyllic regional port on the cruise line’s latest itineraries.  

Meanwhile Aria, an entry from Katie Luxa from Canning Vale, Perth, conveyed a sense of beauty, grandeur and escapism – all words that could be used to describe a wonderful holiday at sea. 

Ann Sherry, the CEO of Carnival Australia which operates P&O Cruises, said Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden were fresh, vibrant and contemporary names that captured the essence of its cruises.

“With ethereal and heavenly undertones, we thought Aria and Eden conjured up the happy, blissful and indulgent spirit of our cruise holidays, which offer the chance to escape the everyday world,” Ms Sherry said. “They really capture the cruising state-of-mind that hundreds of thousands of Australians experience on our ships each year.”

Chloe spent more than an hour creating the mural at Bondi Beach, carefully timing tides, swell and runners to reveal the names for the very first time.

“It’s not every day you get the chance to reveal the names of two new ships which will call Australia home, so we wanted to do it in an uniquely Australian way at one of the country’s most iconic locations,” Ms Sherry said. “Chloe has an amazing talent and it was a delight to discover her work and bring her to Sydney to create an image that we think will capture Australia’s imagination.”

More than 93 per cent of entries had featured the word “Pacific”, consistent with the current P&O Cruises fleet – Pacific Dawn, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl – so the cruise line decided to maintain the prefix across all of its ships.

Ms Sherry said the extraordinary response to the two week Facebook search underlined P&O Cruises’ place as the region’s first and most popular cruise line.

“We were overwhelmed by the volume of suggestions from Aussies and Kiwis who wanted to put their stamp on our latest ships, which we hope will become as adored as our current fleet.”

The most common entries were gem stones’ Diamond, Sapphire and Opal each suggested more than 500 times. Australians and New Zealanders also showed their creativity by putting forward names like Ozzie and Straya, Kiri Te Kawana, the Minogue sisters Kylie and Dannii as well as Dinky Di and Blinky Bill.

After coming up with the winning names and the most compelling reasons, Ms Smith and Mrs Luxa have each won a cruise for two on the inaugural voyage of the ships they successfully named and will also be invited to attend the naming celebration of the respective ships. 

Pacific Eden and Pacific Aria will debut in Australia in November next year taking the cruise line’s fleet to a record five ships sailing year-round from Australia and New Zealand. The ships’ itineraries and home-porting arrangements will be announced in the coming weeks.

Information supplied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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                                                   P&O Cruises Reveals Names of its Two Latest Ships on Bondi Beach 

                                                                               – Friday July 11 from 11.30am

Australia’s leading cruise line P&O Cruises has chosen iconic Bondi Beach to reveal the names of its two latest ships.

The highly-anticipated names will be revealed as part of a giant sand mural by Port Macquarie artist Chloe Dickey at the southern end of Bondi Beach on Friday morning.

After announcing that it would grow its current three-ship fleet to a record five ships based year-round in local waters, the cruise line put a shout out to the public to name the ships and was inundated with more than 30,000 suggestions on Facebook. 

The winning names, suggested by two separate Australian entrants, were chosen based on a shared theme that captures the spirit of a cruise holiday. 

P&O Cruises’ two latest ships will take on the new names when they debut with the cruise line in November next year.  

What: Sand artist Chloe Dickey to reveal names of P&O Cruises’ two latest ships at Bondi Beach

Where: Southern end of Bondi Beach near Icebergs with good vantage points from the walkway above the beach and areas surrounding Icebergs

When: Artist will commence work at 1130am. The name reveal will take place between approx. 1215-1245pm. 

Information supplied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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P&O Cruises Builds a Great School Holiday with LEGO® Fun

P&O Cruises has been busy building a great school holiday program for family cruisers, with LEGO® Certified Professional Ryan McNaught making special appearances on its ships to teach kids more about the iconic multi-coloured bricks. 

Known as “The Brick Man”, Melbourne-based Ryan is one of only 13 LEGO Certified Professionals in the world – and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Onboard the ships, Ryan has been spending time in the kids’ clubs guiding children through a variety of LEGO activities and also hosting a special presentation for all the family in the Marquee Theatre.

During his presentation he takes guests behind the scenes and through his enviable position as a LEGO Certified Professional to detail, among other things, his greatest builds – including a replica of The Love Boat, made from more than 250,000 bricks. 

Lucky guests have also been able to join Ryan in the "Ultimate LEGO Challenge" where they are shown how to make a perfectly round ball out of straight-edged LEGO bricks. 

Ryan’s appearances follow the introduction of a LEGO program across the P&O Cruises’ fleet last year, with LEGO DUPLO bricks provided in the Turtle Cove kids club and LEGO bricks in Shark Shack. Shark Shack kids can also enjoy a special wall made from LEGO bricks allowing them to express their own creativity as well as regular LEGO activities led by the ships’ youth teams. 

After sailing on Pacific Jewel last week, Ryan will board Pacific Pearl tomorrow (July 8). 

Sture Myrmell, Vice President Hotel Operation for Carnival Australia, which represents P&O Cruises, said Ryan’s appearances had been a huge hit with guests young and old. 

“LEGO activities are fantastic for all ages. The children in the kids’ programs absolutely love having it available to them and during the Ultimate LEGO Challenge you can see the excitement as our older passengers get to relive their childhood,” Mr Myrmell said. For more information call 13 24 94 or visit www.pocruises.com.au  

Information supplied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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P&O Cruises Inundated With Almost 20,000 Names for Latest Ships

From Abracadabra to Zenith, P&O Cruises has been overwhelmed with possible names for its two latest ships, with Australians and New Zealanders putting forward almost 20,000 suggestions in just one week.

With only four days to go until the quest ends, the cruise line says the most common choices have taken inspiration from jewels and gemstones, with the names Opal and Diamond each nominated more than 500 times.

But it seems Aussies and Kiwis also like celestial themes, with other popular names including Dream, Starlight, Moonlight and Twilight, often coupled with the word Pacific.

Other prevalent themes have included flowers, nautical terms, indigenous names and Greek mythology.

There’s also been a range of creative and quirky entries including Skippy and Blinky, Crikey and Croc, Heart and Soul, and Pizzazz and Charisma.  Some people have even drawn inspiration from cult TV show Game of Thrones with suggestions such as Daenerys, Arya and Sansa, as well as The Lion King with Hakuna Matata.

P&O Cruises Senior Vice President Tammy Marshall said the cruise line had been stunned by the number of responses it had received since launching the shout-out last Monday.

“Within one week we’ve had close to 10,000 submissions, most offering two names which means there’s been almost 20,000 ideas. It’s a wonderful reaction which really shows us how much interest and passion Australians and New Zealanders have in their home grown cruise line,” Ms Marshall said.

With entries for the competition closing at 4pm this Friday (July 4), Ms Marshall said P&O Cruises was now starting to narrow the field.

“We’re looking for names that are different and that have never been used before – plus we’re very keen to see ideas that reflect contemporary Australia and New Zealand,” Ms Marshall said.

Ms Marshall said the reasons accompanying the entries would also play an important part in choosing the final winner.

P&O Cruises’ two latest ships will debut in Australia in November next year taking the cruise line’s fleet to a record five ships.  While the last six P&O Cruises’ ships have all shared the word Pacific in their name – including the present fleet of Pacific Dawn, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl – Ms Marshall said the latest ships did not have to follow the same pattern.

Australians can submit their ideas via the cruise line’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/POCruises with the successful names to be announced on July 9.

The person who provides the best names, along with a theme and a reason for their choice, will win a cruise for two on the inaugural cruise of one of the ships with a partner or friend, and will also be a special guest at the naming celebration.

The additional ships, which will transfer to P&O Cruises from Carnival Australia sister line Holland America Line, will deliver much needed capacity in the world's fastest growing cruise market. Work is already underway to develop itineraries and home-porting arrangements for the expanded fleet, with details to be announced in the coming months.

For many decades Australia’s best-known cruise ships have been household names, with ships like Arcadia, Oriana, Canberra and Oronsay delivering great holidays and wonderful memories to tens of thousands of Australians.

In 1997, P&O Cruises introduced its first ship in Australia with a two-word name – Fair Princess – replacing the popular Fairstar. 

Fair Princess was followed in 2000 by the first of the cruise line’s “Pacific” fleet – Pacific Sky. Then came three more ships with a celestial theme – Pacific Sun, Pacific Star and Pacific Dawn.  The next two P&O Cruises’ ships – Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl –retained the Pacific reference but also reflected some of the attributes of their destinations in their names.

Across the world, as the cruise industry has boomed, more ships now feature multiple-word names, often including the cruise line’s name in their title.  

Among the most famous ships in the world are the Cunard Queens, including the current triumvirate of Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria.

Close to 300 ship names are now featured in the current Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships – from Admiralty Dream to Zuiderdam.  Fewer than 60 of those ships have single-word names. 

Information supplied by : P&O Cruises Australia.

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