Pacific Dawn's Dome nightclub. The ship is booked in for a major facelift.
Pacific Dawn is the latest member of P&O Cruises' fleet to be booked in for a major facelift. The Brisbane-based ship will go into dry dock next February and be fitted with a waterpark, two waterslides, a revamped Dome nightclub and new dining venues. As onboard its sister ships Pacific Aria, Eden and Jewel, Dawn's buffet will be replaced by The Pantry, a collection of nine food outlets, and the renovated pool deck will have a smart new poolside grill.
The refit comes as P&O prepares for its biggest year of Queensland cruising, with two ships sailing from Brisbane year round. Between them, Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria will offer a record 108 cruises in 2017 – up from 98 cruises this year.
Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas will also cruise from Brisbane for the 2017 season, before heading off in February to its new owners, Thomson Cruises in the UK. Legend had an extensive makeover in 2013; the line is constantly "revitalising" its ships, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, and adding features such as FlowRider surf simulators that first appeared on the Oasis-class ships to the rest of the fleet.
NCL's Norwegian Epic.Credit: Michele Verdure
The 686-passenger Azamara Quest, which made its Australia debut last summer and is a member of the Royal Caribbean family, recently received a major makeover in Singapore. Updates include two new Spa Suites; new decor and furnishings for all staterooms, suites, Windows Cafe and Discoveries Restaurant and Bar; and the transformation of the pool grill area into the alfresco dining venue, The Patio. Azamara Journey had a similar facelift earlier this year; it will arrive Down Under in February 2017 and both ships will return in 2018.
Holland America Line is spending $US300 million ($392 million) upgrading entertainment, dining and suites across its fleet over the next two years. The 1924-passenger, Vista-class Noordam, which arrives in Australia for a season in October, will be sporting new furniture and furnishings in all its staterooms; suite passengers will have in-cabin coffee machines, among other enhancements. If only all ships had these!
Luxury line Silversea recently announced the biggest fleet-wide refurbishment plan in its history, worth $US170 million ($222 million), while even more inclusive Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) is spending $US125 million ($163 million) on Seven Seas Navigator, Voyager and Mariner.
A Zodiac lands at Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island.
Having just launched Seven Seas Explorer, RSSC is updating its sister ships with some of the new vessel's most elegant features; I look forward to bringing you first-hand impressions of "the world's most luxurious cruise ship" in the near future.
MEET THE CREW
NAME Mustafa Gulbahar, from Turkey
Hotel director on NCL's Norwegian Epic, Mustafa Gulbahar.
POSITION Hotel director, NCL's Norwegian Epic
MY JOB… is being responsible for hospitality, The hotel department is the biggest on the ship, with 2000 people working in it. That includes front of house and behind-the-scenes inspections and maintenance, daily meetings with the cruise director, food & beverage director and assistant hotel director, liaising with the captain and interacting with our guests.
A TYPICAL DAY The first sea day is the busiest. I start at 7am, check emails, have coffee and meetings, review the previous day's disembarkation and embarkation and meet new crew members. I have lunch in the crew mess – there are 1725 crew on this [Mediterranean] cruise from 68 different countries. There is usually a VIP party to attend, then I Skype my family and go off duty about midnight.
The 49-passenger Hebridean Princess.
FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT Meeting my wife on Norwegian Pearl in 2008.
FAVOURITE CRUISE PORTS Alaska for the nature and wildlife – I love looking at mountains and glaciers at night – and the Mexican Riviera, which has a similar culture to Turkey.
INSIDER TIPS On a sea day, make the most of the adults-only relaxation area; always read the Freestyle Daily so you know what's happening; and explore everything the ship has to offer.
TIP
Old-fashioned paper maps are still useful when you're visiting a new city – even if just as a back-up for your smartphone app. Scrunchable, lightweight, waterproof maps are even better; see palomarweb.com
NEWS
Lindblad's 50th anniversary Antarctic voyage
This October, the sons of two exploration pioneers – Peter Hillary and Jamling Tenzing Norgay – will join Jeremy Lindblad to recreate the historic 50-kilometre South Georgia traverse to mark Lindblad's 50th year expedition anniversary. This spectacular adventure will include a historic rendezvous of National Geographic Explorer and National Geographic Orion for the final six kilometres of the route. Guests can meet the explorers onboard Orion, departing Ushuaia (Argentina) on October 24 and Explorer, departing two days later. Accomplished mountaineers can apply to join the entire three-day traverse; all other guests can hike the final six kilometres from Fortuna Bay to Stromness Bay alongside Hillary, Norgay and Lindblad. Special savings of $1000 and free airfares are available for a limited time. See au.expeditions.com
Best of British
Private tours of English royal palaces, dinner in Scotland's finest medieval castle and journeys aboard the opulent Belmond Royal Scotsman train and the boutique ship Hebridean Princess are highlights of a new cruise tour released by Cruise Express. Departing Australia on August 7, 2017, A Very Royal Affair is a luxurious, 21-night journey by road, rail and sea through England and Scotland. The tour begins with two days in London followed by an in-depth exploration of Scotland, including a private tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia and a ride on Britain's highest railway. The centrepiece of the tour is a seven-night cruise from Invergordon to Oban through the Hebrides Islands aboard the classic, 49-passenger Hebridean Princess. See cruiseexpress.com.au
New-look Scenic Space-Ships
Scenic is redesigning its three France-based ships (Scenic Diamond in Bordeaux plus Emerald and Sapphire on the Rhone and Saone) for the 2017 season, reducing passenger numbers from 167 to 155 and adding two 47-square-metre Royal Owner's Suites, larger wellness centres and the line's first cooking school. One of the dining venues on each ship will be transformed into a culinary centre that will offer hands-on classes based on dishes – and fresh ingredients – from regions the ships sail through. The dedicated space will feature cooking stations, a cheese and wine cellar, and real-time camera and screen to ensure each participant can see every cooking move in detail. Early-bird deals are available for booking until September 30; see scenic.com.au
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Join Celebrity Constellation's 10-night cruise from Barcelona to Venice in May next year and save up to $400 a person with Cruiseco's new fly, cruise and stay package. Prices start from $7330 and include return flights, accommodation in Barcelona and Venice, a Celebrity Concierge Class stateroom with balcony, onboard gratuities and your choice of value-add bonus. Available until sold out; phone 02 9492 8520, see cruising.com.au
MORE DEALS
UNIWORLD Save 50 per cent on select 2017 departures of Uniworld's 15-day European Jewels (Budapest to Amsterdam) all-inclusive river cruises when booked by September 30, 2016. Priced from $4044 for the November 1 departure on River Duchess; phone 1300 780 231, see uniworld.com/au/
BEYOND TRAVEL is offering a selection of great value 2016 Christmas market river cruises on Amadeus ships. Starting from $995, the new four-day Advent on the Rhine cruise departs Cologne, Germany, on November 26 and 29 and December 2; other Rhine cruises are available with generous single supplement reductions. Phone 1300 363 554, see beyondtravel.com.au
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