The Shipping News: latest news and deals from the cruise industry

STANDING OVATION

Seabourn has released sales of its maiden voyages on Seabourn Ovation. The company's new ship will cruise itineraries in northern Europe and the Mediterranean between May and November 2018, starting with an inaugural cruise between Venice and Barcelona on May 5D. Also on offer are seven-day Baltic and Scandinavia cruises and longer 14-day itineraries to the Norwegian fiords and British Isles. Seabourn Ovation will be a sister ship to the currently brand-new Seabourn Encore and share similar design elements and innovations, and will similarly carry 600 passengers. Phone 13 24 02. See seabourn.com

PRESIDENT'S PICK

Crystal Cruises has announced its 2017 President's Cruise with company president and CEO Edie Rodriguez aboard Crystal Symphony will sail through the Holy Land and around the Arabian Peninsula. The 18-day itinerary has port calls in Limassol in Cyprus, Haifa and Ashod in Israel, Aqaba in Jordan and Salalah and Muscat in Oman, and also transits the Suez Canal. It features special on-board receptions and parties and a President's shore excursion to Petra archaeological site in Jordan. The cruise sails between Rome and Dubai and departs on 4 November 2017. Phone 1800 251 174. See crystalcruises.com

FANCY A THREESOME?

Cruise Express has offered some impressive cruises over the year, and 2018 will be no different, with the company offering a 37-night journey on all three Cunard liners. The "Three Queens" package features back-to-back cruises aboard Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 in Europe and then across the Atlantic to New York, starting on May 7 2018 with a flight from Australia to London. The cruises take in the Baltic and Norwegian fiords from Southampton followed by a seven-night transatlantic crossing and three nights in New York before a return to Australia on 13 June. Phone 1300 764 509. See cruiseexpress.com.au

ANTARCTIC ADVENTURES

Poseidon Expeditions has two late 2017 cruises into the Southern Ocean on the 114-guest Sea Spirit, which offers all-suite accommodation, two lounges, a restaurant and library. Both cruises are likely to impress visitors with the region's diverse sea and bird life. One cruise travels into the Antarctica Peninsula on a comprehensive, 20-day "Ultimate Wildlife Expedition" round-trip from Ushuaia, while the other explores Patagonia, the Falklands and South Georgia between Puerto Madryn and Ushuaia on a 19-day sailing. Activities are directed by polar guides and educators and include Zodiac excursions, hiking and sea kayaking. See poseidonexpeditions.com

SOCCER SAILING

Celebrity Cruises is reprising a number of its special-events cruises in Europe in 2018, including sailings to the French Open, British Open, Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Cannes Film Festival. But the newest event cruise is the 2018 world soccer tournament in St Petersburg, with a double overnight in the city on Celebrity Silhouette and the opportunity for passengers to attend both the third-place game in St Petersburg, and the final in Moscow via an overland tour. The 14-night cruise departs on July 7 2018 from Southampton and also visits various Baltic ports. Phone 1800 754 500. See celebritycruises.com.au