This was published 7 years ago
Sanctuary Retreats is offering special discounts and upgrades for its 2017 Yangtze River cruises
Serge Dansereau and Paul Bocuse with Latitude 33.
World wanderings
Silversea Cruises is offering a "Grande Bellezza" world cruise (though not quite a circumnavigation) on Silver Whisper that departs Los Angeles on January 6, 2018 and finishes 121 days later in Rome, taking in 21 countries and 60 destinations along the way. Seventeen port overnights and 13 late-night stays will allow more immersion in certain destinations. The cruise sails westward across the Pacific before weaving up Australia's east coast through Indonesia and the Philippines, and along the coasts of south-east Asia and India before continuing through the Red Sea and into the Mediterranean.
Phone 1300 306 872. See silversea.com.
The Taj Mahal.
Call of China
River cruise specialist Sanctuary Retreats is offering a range of Yangtze River cruises through the heartland of China aboard its luxury Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer, which carries 124 passengers and one crew member for every guest, the highest passenger-staff ratio on the river. The ship features a spa, east-meets-west restaurant and 24-hour room service. Complimentary on-board activities include traditional performances, lectures, tai-chi sessions and classes in Chinese medicine, calligraphy and dumpling making. The company is offering special discounts and upgrades for 2017 sailings if paid in full three months in advance.
Phone 03 9536 1831. See sanctuaryretreats.com.
The Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer.Credit: uaskme
Christmas is coming
The recently launched Crystal River Cruises is sending its new ship Crystal Mozart down the Danube River on three cruises aimed at getting passengers into the Christmas spirit. The late November and December 2016 departures, round trip from Vienna, include excursions to St Gilgen and St Wolfgang in Austria's Lake District, visits to Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic) and Regensburg and Munich in Germany, and a full day at Salzburg's Christmas markets. Crystal Mozart offers butler service in every suite, fine dining, and complimentary shore excursions, gratuities and beverages.
Phone 1800 251 174. See crystalcruises.com.
India and beyond
Combined cruises and land tours are growing in popularity, and for something out of the ordinary, Ecruising has an offering that combines a visit to India with a cruise on the newest Millennium-class ship from Celebrity Cruises, Celebrity Constellation. The tour departs Australia on April 8, 2017 for a two nights in Singapore and a seven-day India exploration (including Mumbai, Jaipur, Agra and Delhi) before guests fly to Abu Dhabi and embark on Constellation. A 15-night cruise then takes passengers through the Suez Canal and into the Mediterranean, finishing in Rome.
Phone 1300 369 848. See ecruising.travel.
Gourmet pleasures
Elite Australian travel company Latitude 33 has a new gastronomic cruise-tour, in part with renowned chef and owner of the Bathers' Pavilion in Sydney, Serge Dansereau. The 26-night "Culinary Escape with Serge Dansereau" tour features gourmet meals and French vineyard tastings, and begins in Venice on August 6, 2017 with a 12-night cruise on Silver Muse through Croatia, Montenegro and Italy before finishing in Monte Carlo. A gastronomic land tour to Paris follows, including dinner at Paul Bocuse's three Michelin-starred restaurant. Get booking, as the package is limited to just 24 guests.
Phone 1300 636 848. See latitude33.travel
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