This was published 6 years ago
Cruise lines announce new world cruise itineraries
Seven Seas Mariner will leave San Francisco on January 4 for a 131-night trip.
Several lines have recently announced new world cruise itineraries, or "grand voyages" that spend extended periods in various parts of the world. And if you don't have a spare few months to spend at sea, many world cruises are divided into shorter segments. I recently joined Oceania Insignia's world cruise from Miami to Rome, for an 11-day segment to Lisbon, and it was interesting to observe the camaraderie among the "worlders" who had been on board for four months.
Did they ever get bored, with the company or menu choices? All those whom I met said emphatically not – they were more concerned about how they'd readjust to "real life" when they got home after 180 days. Shopping? Cooking? Making the beds? Horrible! Several had already booked more world cruises for the next couple of years – and they weren't ancient retirees by any means. A Brazilian family with two children was sailing for the full 180 days and the children are now Oceania Cruises' youngest world cruisers – the little girl turned four during the voyage and her brother is six.
Seven Seas Mariner al fresco Sette Mari restaurant.
World cruises generally begin in January, from America or England. The latest to open for bookings is Regent Seven Seas' 2020 world cruise on Seven Seas Mariner, which will leave San Francisco on January 4 for its 131-night round trip. Seven Seas Mariner's guests will touch on 30 countries on six continents as they circumnavigate the globe, visiting 36 UNESCO World Heritage sites among a total of 66 ports, 13 in which are overnight stays.
Viking Ocean Cruises' first world cruise, leaving Miami in December 2017 and finishing in London in May 2018, is sold out; Viking Sun will be the first of the fleet to visit Australia. However, there are still cabins available on Viking Spirit's 92-night voyage from Sydney to Vancouver, leaving on March 10, 2019, and Viking is set to announce a new 2018-29 world cruise within a few weeks.
MSC Cruises' MSC Magnifica will set off on its first world cruise in January 2019; the 118-night itinerary starts and finishes in its home port of Genoa. The ship crosses the Panama and Suez canals and will spend 12 overnights in ports such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Papeete, Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne.
Celebrity Solstice.Credit: Michel Verdure
Meanwhile, Azamara Journey's 101-night Bridge to Bridge cruise (Sydney to London) begins on March 7, 2018. "The Azamara World Journey truly is a trip of a lifetime, filled with limitless authentic cultural opportunities from one side of the world to the other," says Adam Armstrong, managing director, Azamara Club Cruises Australia and New Zealand. "And we couldn't be more thrilled it's kicking off right here in Australia."
SHORE THING
THE PORT Auckland, North Island, New Zealand
WHO GOES THERE Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess, P&O, Ponant, RSSC, Royal Caribbean, NCL, Seabourn, Silversea
WHY WE LOVE IT New Zealand's biggest city is surrounded by natural wonders – bushwalks, beaches, vineyards and volcanoes are (almost) as easy to reach as shops, restaurants and art galleries.
TAKE A TOUR OR GO IT ALONE? If you only have a day and want to get out of town, a guided tour is the easiest option. Local ferry operator Fullers offers tours to Hauraki Gulf islands such as Waiheke (wine-tasting, lunch, zip-lining), Rangitoto (4WD road-train through volcanic terrain) and Tiritiri Matangi, a noted wildlife sanctuary. You'll also find plenty of active tours such as kayaking, hiking, harbour sailing, cycling and off-road driving. City and cultural attractions that are easy to explore independently include the 328-metre-high Sky Tower (sky-jumps available for the truly insane), Auckland Museum for an insight into early Maori culture and Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium ("animal experiences" include diving with sharks and penguin encounters).
MUST SEE Viaduct Harbour bar and eatery precinct, New Zealand Maritime Museum (book a harbour tour on the heritage scow Ted Ashby), and the Poi Room for contemporary art, jewellery and homewares.
MUST EAT Seafood is fresh as; roast lamb is a national favourite; several cheese-makers turn out mouth-watering blue, creamy and vintage cheeses; and you can't go past hokey-pokey ice cream.
NEED TO KNOW Australians can access New Zealand's public health care system in an emergency, but travel insurance is still essential. Bring your Medicare card just in case.
ESSENTIALS newzealand.com/au/
CRUISE SCEPTIC Are cabins claustrophobic? Much depends on how much time you spend in a cabin and how much money you spend on it. Inside cabins (with no window or porthole) are the cheapest and smallest, and good value if you'd rather spend your holiday dollars on other things on and off the ship.
NEWS
Back to base
It's less than three months until Celebrity Solstice returns to Australia for the 2017-18 season – its sixth stint of local sailings. After a weekend sampler cruise from Sydney on October 20, Solstice heads off to the Pacific Islands on the first of three eight-night South Pacific round-trip cruises. Between October and April 2018, Solstice will offer 17 cruises to 34 ports in eight countries, with departures from Sydney, Auckland and Honolulu. New itineraries include a combined Christmas and New Year 12-night New Zealand cruise departing on December 21; a 16-night Fremantle to Sydney cruise departing on March 5, 2018, which visits the South Island of New Zealand; and an 18-night trans-Pacific cruise from Sydney to Honolulu on April 11, 2018. Solstice sells out quickly, so now's the time to book – the two-nighter from Sydney still has balconies and suites available. See celebritycruises.com.au
Star Collector Voyages
Small-ship cruise line Windstar Cruises has launched a new series of back-to-back cruises, where longer and more in-depth voyages from 14 to 34 days feature few repeated ports. Star Collector Voyages combine some of Windstar's most popular itineraries for a longer exploration of the region and feature overnights in ports such as Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong. Guests can sail through multiple regions and cross the Atlantic on journeys that cover numerous parts of the world on one of eight Star Collector Voyages. The longest, at 34 days, departs Athens for Singapore on October 28, 2017, visiting Egypt, Jordan, Oman, UAE, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia. Free daily laundry on Star Collector Voyages is a great incentive to pack light. See windstarcruises.com
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