Celebrity Solstice in New Zealand.
CRYSTAL CLEAR
Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Solstice is sailing our region again during the 2018-19 season, announcing maiden calls at four South Pacific destinations (Apia in Samoa, Pago Pago in American Samoa, and Vava'u and Nuku'alofa in Tonga), plus a new round-trip itinerary from Auckland and overnight stays in Hobart and Tauranga. There's also an itinerary from Western Australia to New Zealand. The newly refurbished Celebrity Solstice will offer 16 cruises in all, ranging from nine to 19 nights in length, with departures from Sydney, Auckland, Fremantle and Honolulu, and calls at 37 ports across the Pacific.
Phone 1800 754 500. See celebritycruises.com.au
Cruiseco Adventurer on the Mekong River.
SAY WAT
Cruiseco is offering 11 and 15-night itineraries on the Mekong River leaving from Saigon, Siem Reap and Hanoi on the 60-passenger Cruiseco Adventurer. Highlights include Cai Be and Sa Dec, with their floating markets and French Gothic cathedral, the Buddhist monastery and meditation centre at Kampong Tralach, and Siem Reap, where guests can tour Angkor Wat and the last capital city of the Khmer Empire, Angkor Thom. Guests can choose to add extensions to enhance their exploration of both Vietnam and Cambodia. There are numerous departure dates both this year and in 2018.
Phone (02) 9492 8520. See cruising.com.au
A Zodiac landing in Antarctica with Abercrombie & Kent Antarctica.
GREAT RACE
Crystal Cruises is offering guests on board Crystal Symphony VIP access to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Formula 1 race in November on its "Indian Ocean Discovery" itinerary. The ship docks overnight in Abu Dhabi for the prestigious event at the city's Yas Marina circuit. There are three options for viewing the race, including an exclusive package with Formula TEAM One Paddock Club access, which includes premier seating and views of the pit lane. The cruise is a 17-night voyage from Dubai to Mauritius that also visits the Seychelles and Madagascar.
Phone (02) 8074 6500. See crystalcruises.com
Sailing the Pacific north-west with Adventure Smith Exploration.Credit: Picasa 2.7
POLAR PLEASURES
Abercrombie & Kent's 2018-19 Antarctic cruise season is offering four expeditions. There are two 11-night "Classic Antarctica" journeys to the Antarctic Peninsula, one themed around understanding climate change, as well as two longer 16-night expeditions that explore the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. The latter include a photographic expedition and a family departure featuring an A&K Young Explorers Guide and special child pricing. The cruises sail on luxury Ponant ship Le Lyrial and will be accompanied by naturalist guides leading regular Zodiac excursions. There are savings on bookings made by 31 March 2018.
Phone 1300 851 800. See abercrombiekent.com.au
ISLAND ESCAPES
AdventureSmith Explorations has a new expedition vessel sailing in the Pacific north-west, and now offers three small-ship itineraries in the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington state north of Seattle, including the new eight-day "Exploring British Columbia & the San Juan Islands" cruise on the 100-passenger National Geographic Quest. The 172 islands feature wildlife such as killer whales, seals, sea lions, black bears and bald eagles, and have also been dubbed the "Gourmet Archipelago" for their culinary festivals, shellfish farms, vineyards and distilleries. Cruises leave either Vancouver or Seattle and include opportunities to kayak, paddleboard and hike.
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