This was published 4 years ago
Cruising news: Thomas Keneally joins Silversea for two voyages in 2020
By Brian Johnston
Australian author Thomas Keneally will be a 'guest enrichment lecturer' on two voyages.Credit: Paul Jones
NOVEL APPROACH
Silversea Cruises has announced Australian author Thomas Keneally as a guest enrichment lecturer on two voyages in 2020. Keneally will join guests on Silver Muse for a 17-day cruise between Auckland and Sydney departing on 1 February 2020 that visits Milford and Dusky Sounds, numerous New Zealand towns and Burnie and Eden in Australia, with overnights in Melbourne and Sydney. The author also joins an 18-day cruise from Sydney to Singapore on Silver Whisper departing on 20 March 2020, which sails via South and Western Australia and also visits Bali and Semarang.
Phone 1300 306 872. See silversea.com
SEVEN WONDERS
Viking has launched seven new ocean itineraries in 2021 that sail Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Europe, ranging in length from 22 to 41 days. Among them is a 'European Highlights' cruise from Venice to London via Croatia, Greece, Monaco, France and Spain departing 3 May 2021, and a 'Jewels of Australia and Asia' cruise from Sydney to Singapore that visits northern Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand and Cambodia, departing 13 February 2021. A 'Tropical Treasures of the Pacific' cruise linking Los Angeles and Sydney departs on 4 January 2021.
Phone 138 747. See vikingcruises.com.au
CZECH MATES
Guests sailing on 2020 river cruises aboard Crystal Ravel and Crystal Mahler can extend their stay with Crystal River Cruises' new three-night 'Prague Discovery' land program, offered pre- and post-cruise on Danube cruises between Regensburg and Budapest. The extension includes a half-day visit to Prague Castle complex and a full-day excursion to UNESCO-listed Kutná Hora, just east of Prague, which features contemporary culture juxtaposed with royal history. There are also optional special-interest tours in Prague itself. Accommodation is at the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the Czech capital.
Phone 1300 059 260. See crystalcruises.com
MORE IN ALASKA
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has expanded its offerings in Alaska with a new and extensive range of experiences for its 2020 sailings. Destination experts will sail on the ship, commenting on passing landscapes and wildlife from the bridge, and offering presentations and lectures. Meanwhile, a range of 'Go Local' tours invites guests to enjoy local experiences led by community residents. Among them are a walking tour of Sitka, a behind-the-scenes culinary tour of Juneau, and a native Tlingit walking tour in Ketchikan that explores its indigenous history and samples Tlingit dishes.
Phone 1300 455 200. See rssc.com
MORE CHOICES
Windstar Cruises has dramatically expanded its shore excursion program over the last three years, more than doubling its options for guests to some 2,500 choices, with the new offerings partly driven by the cruise line's deployment to new regions such as Alaska, Southeast Asia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt and the Holy Land. The excursions fall into three broad categories, 'Beyond Ordinary Tours' for once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as Michelin-starred meals or helicopter rides; 'Concierge Collection' for small-size tours to off-the-beaten-path destinations; and an 'Essentials Collection' that covers the major sights in ports of call.
Phone 1300 749 875. See windstar.com.au
Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter
Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.