By Joanna Hall
MSC Splendida.
SEE France and enjoy not one river cruise but two, on this hosted tour offered by Cruise Express. The 26-day package, departing from Australia on May 5, begins with a seven-night cruise on the Rhone River on Avalon Scenery through Burgundy and Provence, and continues with a seven-night bus tour to the Loire Valley and the mediaeval walled city of Carcassonne. Finally, you board Avalon Creativity to cruise the Seine River to the beaches of Normandy, ending the trip with a two-night stay in Paris.
The package features return flights, most meals and sightseeing, including Claude Monet's gardens at Giverny and the town of Arles, where Vincent van Gogh spent many years.
It is priced from $13,990 a person, twin share. 1300 766 537, cruiseexpress.com.au.
Costa presence
Costa Cruises is set to increase its presence locally, with new cruises scheduled for Costa neoRomantica and visits to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth by Costa Deliziosa in February 2012.
There are also two Asia specials on Costa Victoria. The first is an 18-night fly-cruise-stay package departing from Australia on April 30, featuring a 17-night cruise from Singapore to Shanghai and overnight stays in ports including Hong Kong and Bangkok. Priced from $3799 a person, twin share, it includes flights and a one-night pre-cruise stay.
The second is a 24-night package departing from Australia on April 7, featuring a 20-night cruise from Dubai to Singapore to Mumbai, Cochin and Goa. Priced from $5399 a person, twin share, it includes flights and a three-night pre-cruise stay in Dubai. 1300 887 590, cruiseaway.com.au.
Alaska in style
Silversea Cruises' Silver Shadow is heading back to Alaska in 2012, operating 14 cruises between May and September with a duration of between seven and 16 days.
Options include a seven-day cruise from Vancouver to Seward departing on June 7, visiting Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Sitka, with scenic cruising to Tracy Arm Fiord and the Sawyer Glacier. This cruise is priced from $3782 a person, twin share.
Another option is an 11-day round trip from Vancouver departing on July 5, which has the additional ports of Wrangell, Prince Rupert and Victoria in British Columbia, priced from $6178 a person, twin share. Both cruises also have the bonus of an onboard spending credit of $US1000 ($960) per suite. (02) 9255 0600, silversea.com.
In brief
P&O Cruises has launched a series of Cruise Experience videos featuring ports of call and examples of shore excursions. pocruises.com.au/videoexperiences.
Royal Caribbean is extending its DreamWorks Experience to Voyager of the Seas next year. The ship, which debuts in Australia on November 5, 2012, features characters Po and Shrek. www.royalcaribbean.com.au.
Star Clippers has complimentary yoga and meditation classes on its 2012 transatlantic crossing on Royal Clipper. The 21-night cruise, from Barbados to Civitavecchia (Rome) departs on April 7. starclippers.com.
Profile: MSC Splendida
LAUNCHED: July 2009. PASSENGERS: 3952. REGULAR HAUNTS: Western Mediterranean. BEST FOR: Couples and families. THE DETAILS: A seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise, a round trip from Genoa, is priced from $659 a person, twin share, for a departure in November 2012. 1300 028 502, msccruises.com.au.
1 Facilities include a 4D cinema, four pools and nightly entertainment featuring Broadway-style performances, including a circus extravaganza and dancing-on-ice show. Kids are well catered for with a children's area and facilities for teens.
2 Accommodations range from affordable inside staterooms to luxurious balcony suites, with the decor varying from green and cream to rich reds and gold. The ship also has an exclusive Yacht Club area with 24-hour butler service.
3 There are numerous dining venues, with popular ones being L'Olivio Restaurant, which serves delicacies from 14 Mediterranean countries, and the Tex Mex Santa Fe Restaurant, specialising in spicy food and tequila.
4 Splendida is one of two ships in MSC's Fantasia class with features that include a bowling alley, mini squash tennis courts and a formula one simulator.
5 The lavish Aurea Spa has a Turkish bath, saunas, a solarium and a thermal suite while a relaxation room offers everything from Balinese massage to holistic water treatments. Wellness programs are also available.
Q&A
When is the best time to take a cruise in Alaska?
A. Hodge, Harbord.
The Alaska season is from May to mid-September but the best time to cruise there depends on several factors. The warmest months are July and August but these are also the months with the most mosquitoes. They are also the most crowded, being the North American summer holidays. If you like the autumn colours, however, the best time to see them is in September and, if budget is a consideration, the best time for good deals is at both the beginning and the end of the season.
Port watch: Nagasaki, Japan
Need to know This city, surrounded by mountains, is on the south-east coast of the third largest island of Japan, on the mouth of the Urakami River. It was founded by the Portuguese in 1542, growing into an important trading port. Today, cruise ships dock in the heart of the city at the Matsugae pier, with popular sights within walking distance and public transport close by.
Do not miss A city tour will take in most of the sights but they can also be covered independently. They include Glover Garden, the beautiful 19th-century home of a British merchant; and the Peace Park, including the Atomic Bomb Museum, which commemorates the 1945 nuclear tragedy. Top pick of excursions would be a trip to Mt Unzen, an active volcano.
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