ALL ABOARD
EXPLORE AN UNSPOILT WILDERNESS OR TAKE COOKING CLASSES AT SEA — YOU’LL BE SURPRISED AT THE RANGE OF DESTINATIONS AND ACTIVITIES ON A CRUISE.
Discover how today’s luxury cruises are much more than just a way to visit multiple destinations.
ONE NIGHT YOU ARE ON A CRUISE SHIP, the next day you’re having lunch at Maggie Beer’s farm in the Barossa. It’s clear that modern day cruising has undergone a revolution — for the better. Gone are the parties at sea, and instead a wide range of interests are catered for. Ships boasting day spas, art galleries and Michelin-star chefs have become destinations in their own right. Health and wellness might sit high on your holiday checklist, and for that, many vessels offer on-board acupuncture, spa treatments and state-of-the-art fitness centres. Travel advisor Maria Paradisis from Smartflyer says many of her clients plan their trips around a particular vessel they would like to experience. “The size, amenities and overall offering varies greatly,” she says. “If you want two weeks of relaxation, look for the cruise that has the best spa at sea. Likewise if you’re a food lover, some ships will have a far superior offering when it comes to dining.” For those more interested in improving their education, some companies, such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Enrichment Series, bring aboard university history and science lecturers and other speakers such as author Adam Tanner, who spent many years as a foreign correspondent in Russia. “I meet a lot of travellers who want to know about itineraries featuring expert talks and workshops, whether on health, food or something more specialised,” says Maria. Garden enthusiasts can sign up for a botanical-themed river cruise with APT’S Botanica World Discoveries to visit Japan during cherry blossom season or take a tour of select English gardens starting at London’s annual Chelsea Flower Show. “Planning a trip around special events is very popular,” says Maria, whose clients have attended Rio Carnival and the Monaco Grand Prix. “It’s particularly important to plan ahead during these busy periods, when cruises can sell out a year prior.” While there’s plenty to see and do, many travellers want to give back while enjoying the sights. “An important theme for Crystal Cruises is voluntourism,” says Karen Christensen, senior vice president and managing director for Crystal Cruises Australasia. For the past decade, the company has run the You Care, We Care program, which allows those on board to contribute to causes in the destinations they visit. Celebrity Cruises’ partnership with World Wildlife Fund provides another opportunity for guests to give back while at sea, educating them on ocean conservation through a range of activities, while several cruise companies are employing eco initiatives to minimise their environmental impact. Connecting with nature is a common thread for a lot of cruise itineraries, and a growing number of expeditions — largely featuring smaller ships and more intrepid itineraries than traditional cruises — are leading the way. “My more adventurous clients are interested in expeditions rather than conventional journeys,” says Maria. “They want to observe the largest humpback whale migrations or kayak among icebergs.” Broome-based True North Adventure Cruises — a luxury expedition ship limited to 36 guests — ventures to remote areas of the Kimberley, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and more. The eight-night Southern Safari cruise along the South
CLOCKWISE, FROM FAR LEFT On a National Geographic Expeditions and Ponant cruise you can sail to Greenland’s Nansen Harbor; explore ancient gorges in the Kimberleys with True North Adventure Cruises; seals at Hanusse Bay in Antarctica; art enthusiasts can see Monet’s Garden firsthand on a Botanica World Discoveries river cruise; the Crystal Cruises River fleet provides six-star service and fine dining; Crystal Symphony’s pool deck; on the luxury Crystal Yacht you can customise your experience. Australian coast includes lunch at Maggie’s place and Champagne and oysters at Coffin Bay — cage diving with great white sharks is optional. Those curious to explore more far-flung regions should look to National Geographic Expeditions, which has partnered with French cruise company Ponant to explore Antarctica and the Amazon River. Closer to home, the 14-night wildlife-focused voyage meanders around Fiordland and the Subantarctic Islands of Australia and New Zealand, where guests can spot penguins patrolling the black, sandy beaches. Of course, for many, cruising the azure waters of the Mediterranean, docking at the picturesque port towns in Italy and France along the way, is the ultimate holiday. “The Mediterranean is a perennial favourite,” says Karen. The 10-night Masterpieces of the Mediterranean voyage — wending from Barcelona to Venice by way of the French Riviera — attracts lovers of architecture, history and coastal enclaves. Proximity to the islands of the South Pacific provides further incentive to set sail, with Tahiti and the Cook Islands luring Australians with their turquoise waters and exotic flora and fauna. “There’s definitely a cruise for everyone,” says Maria. “And these days it’s about so much more than just downtime — just about any passion can be catered for, and travellers can come home not only feeling rejuvenated, but with a sense of personal enrichment.” For more information, visit crystalcruises.com and smartflyer.com