Enjoy a getaway in a classic dhow from the Six Senses Zighy Bay hotel in Oman.
RIVER AND OCEANS UNITED
Evergreen Cruises & Tours has released its 2018 Europe river cruises, and has expanded the company's horizons by featuring numerous river and ocean cruise combinations. Passengers can now do a 15-day Budapest to Amsterdam river cruise and then join either an 11-day Baltic cruise with Princess Cruises, a 14-night Norway cruise with Holland America Line (HAL), or a 14-night Scotland and Iceland cruise, also with HAL. Among other examples, passengers can combine an eight-day southern France river cruise with a seven-night Mediterranean journey with MSC Cruises.
Phone 1300 383 747. See evergreentours.com.au
FAR-FLUNG FORAY
Luxury, French-flagged small-ship company Ponant is providing a single opportunity for travellers to cruise the rarely-visited Sub Antarctic Islands of New Zealand next year. The expedition departs Dunedin on January 5 on L'Austral and visits the World Heritage-listed islands that provide a crucial breeding ground for vast colonies of albatross, penguins and other seabirds, as well as seals and sea lions. The 16-night cruise calls in at Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes, Bounty and Snares islands, and also visits New Zealand's Milford, Doubtful and Dusky Sounds, plus Australia's Macquarie Island.
Phone 1300 737 178. See ponant.com
PORTUGUESE PLEASURE
Scenic's latest river-cruise ship Scenic Azure now has its first season well under way on Portugal's Douro River. The ship was launched at the end of April, with godmother Jean Kittson doing the honours with a bottle of champagne. The 96-passenger ship sails itineraries between Porto and Vega de Terron in Spain and, despite its small size, offers the same all-inclusive, luxury experience found on Scenic's larger vessels, including butler service, full-size private balcony cabins, a vitality spa and inclusive beverages, shore excursions and tipping. Scenic has 16 river-cruise ships across Europe and south-east Asia.
Phone 13 81 28. See scenic.com.au
CRUISE OMAN
Oman hotel Six Senses Zighy Bay is now providing a cruise with a difference: a getaway in a classic Omani dhow through the rugged Musandam fjords. The private cruiser Dhahab hosts up to six guests in one king and two twin cabins and, while the dhow looks like a traditional craft, it isn't short of mod cons such as air-conditioning, cinema, sun decks, dining areas and a crew that includes chef, butler and spa therapist. Sailing from the resort, Dhahab explores the Musandam coast and its backdrop of Hajar Mountains.
Phone +968 2673 5555. See sixsenses.com
FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD
Crystal Cruises' Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity are getting a makeover in October 2017 and October 2018 respectively, with dining options in particular receiving a comprehensive overhaul. The main dining room will become Waterside restaurant and abandon assigned seating and reservations; Lido Cafe becomes open-kitchen concept Marketplace for daytime buffets and Churrascaria for Brazilian-inspired tapas and cocktails in the evening. New restaurant Silk will serve Chinese cuisine, while the dining venue of famed chef Nobu Matsuhisa will be renamed Umi Uma, but remain the only Nobu restaurants at sea.
Phone 02 8074 6500. See crystalcruises.com
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