This was published 8 years ago
Seabourn cruise ships' Asian itineraries for summer 2015/16
Seabourn's signature Caviar in the Surf cruise.
Asian escapades
Luxury small-ship company Seabourn is offering an interesting line-up of Asian itineraries on Seabourn Sojourn this southern summer, including additions to extended cruise-holidays in Myanmar and more ports in Java and Borneo, as well as calls at Boracay, Coron and Puerto Princesa in the Philippines.
Among the itineraries is a 14-day Vietnam and Thailand cruise between Singapore and Hong Kong, departing January 17, that visits Halong Bay and offers an optional two-day shore excursion to Angkor Wat. A stop on Ko Kood Island in Thailand includes Seabourn's signature "Caviar in the Surf" and beach barbecue party.
Spend springtime in Keukenhof gardens with Captain's Choice.
Phone 13 24 02. See www.seabourn.com
Island dreaming
If you like the French flair of Ponant – or want to experience it for the first time – then you won't have to travel too far afield when Le Soleal arrives Down Under next year.
You can cruise through Belgium on the AmaPrima with Captain's Choice.
A nine-night cruise from Sydney to Cairns departs on February 13 and calls in at various islands along the Barrier Reef.
You could even go back-to-back with the next 11-night cruise from Cairns to Darwin on February 22.
It visits remote Stanley Island, the tip of Cape York, Asmat in Papua New Guinea and Yirrkala in Arnhem Land, an acclaimed centre for Indigenous art.
Star Flyer in Cuba with Cruise Express.
Phone 1300 737 178. See www.ponant.com
Cuban cruise
Seems like Cuba is the hot "new" destination of the moment when it comes to cruising. Now Cruise Express has released a cruise-tour to the island of Chevrolets, salsa bars, giant cigars and street music.
The 19-night tour in March 2016 begins with two nights in Mexico City and three in Havana.
Guests board Star Flyer in Cienfuegos on Cuba's southern coast for a 10-night Caribbean cruise that visits towns along the Cuban coast, as well as Trinidad and the Cayman Islands. The tour concludes with a flight and two-night stay in Cancun in Mexico.
Phone 1300 764 509. See www.cruiseexpress.com.au
That's the spirit
Vast improvements in the wine and spirits experience on cruise ships have been apparent in recent years.
Hapag-Lloyd's Europa 2 is a case in point: it now has 450 wine selections from 14 countries (ranging from $23 to $1600 a bottle), and claims the largest collection of gin at sea, with 37 varieties from Germany, France, Austria, the Netherlands, UK and Spain.
Passengers can take part in both wine and gin tastings on board; during the latter guests can learn about the origin, ingredients and various categories of gin.
Phone 02 9977 7100. See www.hl-cruises.com
Western front
Captain's Choice has released a seven-day "Springtime on the Western' Front" cruise-tour departing 7 April 17, 2016, on the 164-passenger river-cruise vessel AmaPrima.
It starts in Amsterdam and winds its way along a series of canals and rivers to Ghent in Belgium, where guests can explore surrounding battlefields before commemorating 101 years since the Anzac battles at the Villers-Bretonneux dawn service.
The cruise then continues to Antwerp, Maastricht, Venlo, Nijmegenand Arnhem before returning to Amsterdam. There's also an opportunity to see Keukenhof gardens at the peak of the famed tulip season.
Phone 1300 176 681. See www.captainschoice.com.au
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