This was published 6 years ago
Princess Cruises' newest ship, Majestic Princess, to arrive in Australia in 2018
Majestic Princess.
I recently enjoyed my first taste of Curtis Stone's SHARE restaurant aboard Emerald Princess, on the last day the ship was in Sydney before it headed off to Alaska. I'd heard plenty of good reports of SHARE but the delicious food we sampled was somewhat overshadowed by the announcement that Princess Cruises' newest ship, Majestic Princess, will be based in Australia between September 2018 and March 2019.
This is great news for cruise fans who are keen to experience new ships in our own region. The season that is now coming to an end was marked by the arrival of the first new-builds to sail in Australia (Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas and Seabourn's Seabourn Encore, both of which proved incredibly popular), and both are returning for summer 2017-18.
The 3560-passenger Majestic Princess sailed its maiden voyage in the Mediterranean earlier this month. "Having just experienced her preview voyage I know Australian cruisers will love all that she has to offer," says Princess Cruises' Stuart Allison. "We're thrilled to be welcoming our newest, most stylish and most luxurious flagship to our shores."
SeaDream ship in Corinth Canal.
Like Ovation of the Seas, Majestic Princess will spend several months sailing out of China before heading Down Under. It is similar in size and layout to Royal Princess and Regal Princess but has new facilities that were added to appeal to Chinese passengers and as an "evolution" from its sister ships. These features include two new restaurants, both designed by Michelin-starred chefs: Harmony by Richard Chen and La Mer by Emmanuel Renaut. Harmony has a gourmet Cantonese menu, while La Mer is French-brasserie style. Majestic has a further 11 dining venues to choose from, including Princess favourites Alfredo's Pizzeria, the International Cafe in the Piazza and the World Fresh Marketplace food-station buffet.
Also new to Majestic are a vastly expanded designer shopping precinct, private karaoke rooms, Chopstick Noodle and Lobster and Dim Sum bars and a redesigned Sanctuary pool area that turns into a nightclub in the evenings.
Majestic will be based in Sydney and will sail 16 cruises in 2018-19, to Fiji and the Pacific islands, Tasmania and New Zealand, plus two Asia voyages between Shanghai and Sydney, and Sydney and Hong Kong. Bookings went on sale on April 27.
Tomislav Ivanovic, Maitre d'Hotel, Sea Dream Yacht Club's SeaDream I.
Looking at the next few months, Sun Princess will cruise out of Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle while Sea Princess begins its 51-night world voyage from Sydney in May. Golden Princess and Diamond Princess return to Australia later this year for the summer; Princess will operate 25 round-trip New Zealand cruises from Australian ports. See princess.com.
MEET THE CREW
NAME Tomislav Ivanovic, from Croatia
POSITION Maitre d'Hotel, Sea Dream Yacht Club's SeaDream I
MY JOB … involves close supervision of passenger service within the Dining Salon and Topside Restaurant and taking care of any special requests. I'm also in charge of all the waiters and bartenders on board.
A TYPICAL DAY … begins with checking the restaurants and bars to make sure they are ready for our guests, plus doing a walkaround of all the decks that are in public use. I have meetings before each meal with staff to provide more personal service and any special needs/request.
FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT Cruising through Greece's Corinth Canal at sunset and also serving guests' favourite cocktails on the open deck at the Top of the Yacht bar.
FAVOURITE CRUISE PORTS Hvar and Dubrovnik in Croatia; Santorini in the Greek Islands; Italy's Amalfi Coast; St Barts in the Caribbean; and Puerto Banús and San Sebastian in Spain.
INSIDER TIPS Book a Balinese bed for sleeping under the stars; go ashore and explore the beautiful ports of call and try the local restaurants and their specialties of the day; or book some of our Yachting Landscape Adventures.
TIP
A well-travelled friend's top tip is simple: get there early. It doesn't matter whether it's for dinner, a shore excursion or a fitness class, you'll arrive relaxed.
NEWS
Avalon Saigon
River cruisers looking for a South-East Asia experience will have even more choice of ships and itineraries when Avalon Waterways boosts its presence in the region next year. In September 2018, Avalon is launching the 36-passenger Avalon Saigon, a sister ship to Avalon Siem Reap. Its 18 spacious cabins all feature beds facing a wall-to-wall, panoramic window that opens to create an indoor-outdoor living area, as well as generous bathrooms and storage space. Avalon Saigon will sail weekly cruises between Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap and two new 18 and 21-day itineraries. Avalon is also introducing a new 16-day itinerary on Myanmar's Irrawaddy River. Book by June 6 for credits of up to $2600 per couple on a range of Asia cruise tours. See avalonwaterways.com.au.
Facelift for Queen Vic
Cunard's Queen Victoria, which made its maiden voyage 10 years ago this December, is heading to Palermo, Italy, for a $54 million refurbishment in May. During the month-long makeover, 43 new Britannia Club staterooms will be added on decks 7 and 8, along with the new Britannia Club Restaurant that Cunard says will offer a "perfect setting for those who prefer a more intimate dining experience in one of the finest restaurants at sea." The ship's grand suites and penthouse suites will be redesigned and a new Chart Room bar will replace the Cafe Carinthia. Following the refurb, Queen Victoria will sail in the Mediterranean until it sets off on a 79-night South American voyage in January 2018. See www.cunard.com .
Stylish spirit
When P&O Cruises' Pacific Explorer sets sail in June, it will sport a cool new bar, The Bonded Store. It will serve cocktails using spirits created by the award-winning Archie Rose Distilling Co, which will also host special gin-making and whisky master-classes onboard. P&O Cruises president Sture Myrmell said the partnership with the Sydney-based Archie Rose was part of the "ongoing evolution of P&O's product, designed to capture the relaxed but stylish spirit of modern Australia". Dawn Princess will go into dry dock next month for a makeover à la Pacific Aria and Eden and emerge as P&O's largest ship, complete with waterslides, barefoot lawn bowls and a spectacular Southern Cross emblazoned across its bow.
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Ecruising.travel has just released an exclusive 17-night fly/stay/cruise package that takes in nine days touring China from Shanghai to Beijing, and a six-night cruise from Beijing to Hong Kong – with an overnight stay in Japan's Kumamoto – on board Ovation of the Seas. Departing Australia on October 3, the package includes return airfares from Australia, accommodation in centrally located hotels and a private tour in China, the cruise, three nights at the Marco Polo in Hong Kong, and more. From $5399; phone 1300 369 848. See ecruising.travel.
MORE DEALS
ISLAND ESCAPE CRUISES recently expanded its New Zealand itineraries and its 24-passenger Island Passage is now sailing in the northern and southern Fiordland National Park, from January to April 2018. Book by June 30 to save NZ$1000 on seven-night cruise packages, round-trip from Queenstown, that include pre and post-cruise accommodation at the Heritage Hotel Queenstown, helicopter transfer to the ship and more. Phone 1800 584 869. See islandescapecruises.com.
SEABOURN is offering onboard spending money of up to US$1000 per suite, reduced deposits and air credits worth up to (AU)$600 per person on select cruises between June 2017 and September 2018, in Alaska, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and New England. Free upgrades are also available on a range of cabin categories; offer valid until June 13, 2017. Phone 13 24 02. See www.seabourn.com .
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