This was published 7 years ago
The Shipping News: Viking announces its first world cruise
The SeaDream II is sailing extra trips this year in response to growing interest in Carribean cruising.Credit: SeaDream Yacht Club
Inside story
Viking Ocean Cruises has announced that its fourth new ship, Viking Sun, will spend its maiden season sailing the company's first world cruise, which will last 141 days and visit five continents, 35 countries and 66 ports, 12 of them with overnight stays. The epic journey leaves from Miami on December 15, next year, and finishes in London, so isn't quite a circumnavigation. The cruise takes in Cuba, the Caribbean, and Panama Canal before crossing the Pacific, visiting Auckland, Sydney and Asian ports, then sailing the Arabian, Red and Mediterranean seas, with complimentary shore excursions in each port.
Phone 1800 131 744. See vikingcruises.com.au
Allure of Alaska
There has been renewed interest in Alaska as a cruise destination and now Celebrity Cruises reports a 65 per cent increase in the number of Australians on its Alaska-bound itineraries. This year 5500 Australians are expected on the three company ships that sail Alaskan waters. Itineraries include a seven-night Northern Glacier cruise from Vancouver on July 22 on Celebrity Millennium, and a seven-night Hubbard Glacier round-trip cruise from Vancouver, leaving August 4 on Celebrity Infinity, which finishes in Seward, in Alaska.
Phone 1800 754 500. See celebritycruises.com.au
Panama to Patagonia
Abercrombie & Kent has released details of its 2017 cruise-tour along the Pacific coast of South America from tropical Panama in the north to the glaciers of Patagonia in the south on Crystal Serenity. The ship transits the Panama Canal and cruises south to Ecuador, Peru and Chile, visiting Guayaquil and the archaeological attractions around Trujillo; the ruins of Machu Picchu; and the notable restaurants of Lima, one of the gastronomic capitals of South America. Group size is limited to 24 and is accompanied by an A&K tour director. The 29-day cruise-tour departs on January 21, next year.
Phone 1300 851 800. See abercrombiekent.com.au
Caribbean dreaming
Until recently, core cruise destination the Caribbean has not been at the forefront for Australians, but non-stop flights from Sydney to Dallas with good onward connections to Puerto Rico are producing growing interest in cruising the region. SeaDream Yacht Club is responding with nearly 40 sailings of between four and 10 days on its two ships this season, with a third beginning or ending in Puerto Rico's San Juan. SeaDream I and SeaDream II each carry 112 guests and notably have power and sail water-sports centres, mountain bikes for shore expeditions, and on-board golf simulators.
Phone 02 9958 4444. See seadream.com
Big easy
Crystal Cruises has rolled out three new 14-day itineraries this November and December in the Caribbean. The voyages on Crystal Serenity take in varied island routes that either begin or end with an overnight stay in New Orleans, with opportunities to experience the Creole and French history of New Orleans' plantations and famed French Quarter. As an example, the November 8 sailing between Fort Lauderdale and New Orleans makes two maiden calls in the British Virgin Islands and French West Indies, and visits the Turks & Caicos islands, St Barts, Montego Bay and Grand Cayman.
Phone 1800 251 174. See crystalcruises.com
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