DECK THE HALLS!
Spoil yourself with a cruise this Christmas
GERMANY & AUSTRIA
Avalon Waterways serves up the ultimate Christmas markethop along the Danube on a riverboat from Germany to Austria. Start the Christmas crawl in Nuremberg (medieval fortifications, gothic churches and palaces – oh my!), spend time in the illuminated Old Town where the Christmas markets serve traditional wares, spiced gingerbread and hot mulled wine. Learn local festive traditions while cruising Regensburg, experience Passau’s charming Christmas markets at St Stephen’s Cathedral, and kick back with a traditional Austrian cookie as you cruise through the wintery landscape of the Wachau Valley. Spend the final day in Vienna, where a tour of the Christmas markets will provide you with a taste of all the best flavours that Austria offers. avalonwaterways.com.au
VANUATU
Sing carols with the seabirds onboard Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Of The Seas on a week-long cruise to Vanuatu! Porting at the capital Port Villa, your Chrissie memories will be of friendly Bislama-speaking locals, streetmarkets, hidden waterfalls, rainforest hikes, palm-lined beaches and local dishes including taro root pancakes and Vanuatu French fries (salted deep-fried coconut flakes). Spend a day at the uninhabited Mystery Island relaxing on the powdery white sand and snorkelling in the warm waters with clown fish, parrot fish, barracudas and majestic sea turtles. Onboard, it’s non-stop fun – adults will love the casino, spas, theatre performances, bars and restaurants, while the kids will lose their minds over the bumper cars, arcade games, skydiving simulator, laser tag, rock climbing wall and the incredible onboard wave pool – where you can surf! royalcaribbean.com
ANTARCTICA
Enjoy the whitest Christmas ever! Go all in on a six-star, all-inclusive 13-day cruise from Argentina to Antarctica. Scenic Eclipse’s round trip from Buenos Aires will have you waking each morning to glittering peaks, sculpted icebergs, pristine waters and remote islands bustling with penguins, seals and whales as you travel along the Antarctic Peninsula. Go kayaking, dive deep into the cold waters in the ship’s submarine, get a bird’s eye view from the helicopter or walk the footsteps of the great explorers with guided shore excursions around Antarctica! With only 200 people onboard, this is a once-in-a-lifetime cruise. scenic.com.au
SOUTH PACIFIC
All aboard for the South Pacific! Carnival Luminosa sets sail for a week from Brisbane across aquamarine waters to a tropical island paradise! Swim the idyllic shore of New Caledonia’s Lifou Isle and walk the white sands of Vanuatu’s untouched Mystery Island before a day in vibrant Noumea – the “Paris of the Pacific”. Christmas is out at sea, enjoying everything onboard – from the marketplace, basketball court and day spa, to high-teas, stage shows, degustations and cocktails. Ditch the kids at Ocean Camp and meet up later for popcorn and a splash at the dive-in movies. carnival.com.au
AUSTRALIA
Could there be a more iconic Christmas than cruising through the Great Australian Bight?! Azamara Quest cruises the coastline from Perth to Sydney for two weeks, passing WA’S golden beaches and stopping for a glass (or three) of merlot at Margaret River. You’ll also drop into Albany for a spot of whale watching. Christmas is two days of feasts and festivities in the middle of the bight before arriving in Sydney to bring in the New Year with fireworks over the Opera House. Finish your great Aussie crawl with a soy flat decaf mocha latte stirred three times clockwise in our nation’s cultural capital, Melbourne. azamara.com
NEW ZEALAND
Spend Christmas with the neighbours on a 13-day round trip to New Zealand on the Grand Princess. Celebrate December 25th in Auckland and Boxing Day in Tauranga where Maori village life, thermal springs, seaside resorts and Hobbiton await. The wine-growing region of Napier calls (as do the beaches!), followed by visits to Wellington, Dunedin and the incredible Fiordland National Park, featuring Milford Sound. Kids will love the onboard pools, movie screenings, sports courts, mini golf and teens-only areas, while adults will have as much fun at the driving range, spa, shops, comedy nights, dancing classes, wine bar and casino. princess.com WD