DO WE HAVE A CRUISE FOR YOU
Our pick of ocean itineraries for 2020
Andrea Black
SO YOU have earmarked 2020 as the year you’ll take a cruise holiday. But which ship and destination is right for you? It can be a hard choice with more options than ever. There are mega-ships that carry 6000 cruisers and boutique vessels to accommodate just 200. There are cruises that visit familiar ports around Australia and others that go to places you can’t reach any way other than by sea.
Whether you’re a first-time sailor, dedicated cruiser, or one with a passion for food or music, there’s an itinerary for you.
FOR THE FIRST-TIME CRUISER
Keen to give cruising a whirl but don’t want to over commit? Take the easy option and book a short cruise to see what it’s like. There are a number of options on Carnival’s newest ship to be based in Australian waters, Carnival
Splendor. Our pick? The five-night journey from Sydney stopping at Hobart and Port Arthur and returning to Sydney. On-board, expect waterslides for thrill seekers, an aerial illusion show packed with dazzling stunts, and an incredible array of food. Dining includes Guy Fieri’s Burger Joint and 24-hour pizza.
Onshore in Tassie, explore the latest exhibitions at Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) and sample some of the world’s finest wines, cheeses and award-winning whiskies. The cruise departs February 18.
There’s a similar itinerary departing Melbourne on Carnival Spirit on February 22. Weekend sampler cruises on Splendor run from Sydney throughout the year. www.carnival.com.au
FOR STOP AND FLOPPERS
Dreaming of a journey where each day can be spent on a new beach, or sitting by the water in a cafe or taverna? Consider SeaDream’s Dubrovnik to Athens (Piraeus) seven-day itinerary on-board luxury yacht SeaDream I.
This cruise begins in Dubrovnik then travels to Kotor, Montenegro. After this, it’s on to Greece including stops in Itea, Mykonos, Santorini and Hydra before disembarking in Athens.
You can opt for hikes and cultural endeavours along the way or stay put.
SeaDream offers free water sports so when in port guests can choose to frolic in the sea.
The option we like best is to sit at a taverna with a beer after a swim in the sea and watch the world go by. The sailing departs August 15. seadream.com
FOR THOSE WHO LOVE A GOOD SHOW
P&O Cruises is well-regarded for its entertainment offerings, from dedicated comedy cruises to Elvis-themed sailings. It stepped it up a notch with the production
Love Riot on Pacific Explorer and now it’s doing it again with the announcement of
award-winning burlesque show Blanc de Blanc which will be performed all year round on
P&O Cruises’ latest ship Pacific Adventure when she joins the fleet in October.
The sassy spiegeltent production known for its Parisian glamour will be the headline act on the 3000-guest ship. Think high-flying aerial stunts, big tunes, circus cabaret and surprises. See it on the 14-night Bounty Adventure cruise departing Sydney and visiting Norfolk Island, then Nuku alofa, Vava’u, Suva, Isle of Pines and back to Sydney. Cruise departs November 19. pocruises.com.au
TO VISIT UNKNOWN PARTS
Imagine hidden lagoons with turquoise waters all to yourself, where you can dive and be among the world’s most colourful coral. Indonesia’s Raja Ampat islands comprises more than 1500 islands and is yours to explore as part of Coral Expeditions’ full circumnavigation around New Guinea. Sailing aboard brand-new, 120-passenger
Coral Adventurer, experience many diverse cultures from the Spice Islands to the Sepik River, and visit untouched landscapes including this Indonesian archipelago.
You’ll get to dive among the sealife in Raja Ampat’s lagoons at Misool and Wayag.
Other highlights include a Bandanese feast under the stars on the ramparts of historic Fort Belgica, Banda Neira, and the opportunity to climb Mt Pindito for a stunning view of the “gumdrop” Wayag Islands. The voyage departs October 2. coralexpeditions.com/au/
TO BE WHERE THE ACTION IS
Tokyo is the city travellers want to head to in 2020, and not just for the Olympic Games. Think incredible cuisine and mindexpanding cultural experiences. See it for yourself on Regent Seven Seas Cruises Hong Kong to Tokyo itinerary. The cruise on-board 700-guest Seven Seas Voyager begins in Hong Kong, then sails to Keelung near Taipei before cruising to Japan. First stop is Ishigaki in the Sakishima Islands and then to the island of Okinawa. Then head to Kagoshima and Miyazaki before two days in Osaka, with the option to travel to nearby Kyoto. From Osaka the ship sails to Shimizu where unparalleled views of Mt Fuji’s dramatic peak await before ending the journey in Tokyo. Post-cruise tours include a shopping tour of Tokyo for folk art and Buddhist scrolls at Nakamise as well as browsing designer stores in the Ginza district. rssc.com
FOR THE ULTIMATE IN LUXURY
This year brings a new brand to the sea: luxury hotel chain Ritz-Carlton’s super yachts. Think Michelin-starred menus and gorgeous suites with private, spacious terraces. One of the yachts, 298-guest Evrima will sail on an eightnight voyage from Fort Lauderdale Florida to San Juan. Bask on the glorious beaches of the Turks & Caicos and the Dominican Republic.
On-board is an open-air marina platform with direct access to the open sea. Evrima then heads to Puerto Rico with a visit to Ponce before ending in San Juan where you can hike El Yunque to experience Puerto Rico’s natural beauty and take a surf lesson. ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com
FOR FOOD LOVERS
Here’s an itinerary to savour. Cunard is hosting its first Festival of Food and Wine voyage and legendary chef Michel Roux Jr is set to take one of the UK’s Michelin-starred French cuisine restaurants Le Gavroche to sea. The chef will offer a series of hosted dinners on the seven-night Transatlantic crossing on Queen Mary 2. He will be joined by Le Gavroche executive chef Rachel
Humphrey and will hold a cooking demonstration and Q&A. There will be other experts on board including wine critic Steven Spurrier, award-winning wine writer Will Lyons and food editor Lisa Markwell. Sets sail June 7. cunard.com
FOR STARGAZERS
Where could be better to witness a total eclipse of the sun – a phenomenon that occurs around every 18 months – than on the open seas? You can get the chance on Holland America’s South America, Antarctica and Solar Eclipse itinerary. Follow the path of the moon’s shadow on this adventure on-board
Westerdam. The next opportunity for a total eclipse comes on December 14 in the skies over Chile and Argentina. The 22-day sailing departs Santiago on November 27 and also features four days in Antarctica. hollandamerica.com