Australia-bound: Queen Mary 2 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Fit for a Queen
Cruise Express has put together two hosted packages to make the most of the Queen Mary 2's voyage from South Africa to Australia in 2014.
The first is a fly and cruise deal, including a flight from Australia to Cape Town to join the Queen Mary 2 as she sails to Australia.
Golden Door Elysia in the Hunter Valley.
It costs from $3990 a person, twin share, from Perth (16 days), $4790 from Melbourne (21 days), $4990 from Adelaide (21 days including a flight from Melbourne to Adelaide at the end of the voyage), $4990 from Sydney (23 days) and $5490 from Brisbane (25 days).
The other is the Taste of South Africa fly, tour and cruise package. It includes a flight to Cape Town, three nights' accommodation by the waterfront in Cape Town and three days of guided sightseeing around the city, the Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Gardens and the vineyards of Stellenbosch, before boarding the Queen Mary 2 in Cape Town on January 28 for the voyage back to Australia.
The package is available from $4990 a person, twin share, from Perth (19-day package), $5890 from Melbourne (24 days), $6390 from Adelaide (24 days including a flight from Melbourne to Adelaide at the end of the voyage), $5990 from Sydney (26 days) and $6490 from Brisbane (28 days).
Phone 1300 764 509; see cruiseexpress.com.au.
Quaff through California
It's spring in the California wine regions and sonomasneakaway.com has some offers to encourage visitors to Sonoma County in the north of the state. Fifty kilometres from San Francisco, Sonoma has more than 370 wineries and long stretches of Pacific coast.
Stay at Bodega Bay Lodge and receive an upgraded deluxe room with ocean views, a private balcony and fireplace, two complimentary desserts at the Duck Club restaurant, two-for-one flights of wine at Gourmet au Bay wine bar, complimentary wine tasting passes for Russian River wineries, and evening wine in the lodge's lobby, as well as 20 per cent off any spa treatment.
The package costs $US149 ($145) a night from Sunday through Friday, $60 more on Saturdays.
See sonomasneakaway.com.
Way out west
APT has a half-price deal on its nine-day West Coast Air Cruising itinerary, which starts and finishes in Los Angeles and includes Monterey, San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Cedar City, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas.
The deal price is $1497.50 a person (normally $2995), twin share, for daily departures between May and October. To book it, an APT Canada-Alaska land and cruise tour of 17 days or more must also be booked.
The price includes travelling by private plane in the US with a maximum 30 passengers, 14 meals, hotels, guided tours and tipping.
It is valid for sale until March 31.
Phone 1300 229 804; see aptouring.com.au.
Port of call
Stay five nights at Le Cher du Monde in Port Douglas, Queensland, and receive 30 per cent off.
Le Cher du Monde is a self-contained apartment property and is close to Mirage Marina and a stroll from Four Mile Beach. Apartments have spa baths and balconies, some with beach views.
The deal is priced from $95 an apartment a night and is valid for booking and travel before May 31.
See hotels.com.
Easter escape
Bring a friend for half price at the Golden Door Elysia in the Hunter Valley during the Easter long weekend.
The package includes three nights, all spa meals and snacks, group fitness activities and relaxation classes, a daily program of health education seminars and workshops, wellness assessment on arrival, use of facilities including a 25-metre indoor heated lap pool, outdoor exercise pool, floodlit tennis courts and gym, and a choice of a facial or Swedish massage.
Check-in is available from 2pm on March 29, with check-out at 11am on April 1.
Packages start from $2318 for two people, twin share, in a one-bedroom villa.
Phone 1800 212 011; see goldendoor.com.au/elysia.
Great cities for free
Website travel.com.au is offering a round-the-world airfare that includes free stopovers.
The fare, with Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia, involves travelling from Australia to London via Hong Kong, then on to a selected city in the US.
Return to Australia flying out of Los Angeles on-board Virgin Australia.
Prices start at $3089 from Sydney. Valid for travel until December 24. Set travel dates and conditions apply.
Phone 1300 130 483; see travel.com.au.
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