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T H U R S D A Y 2 4 J U L Y 2 0 0 8

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Cruise W E E K L Y

Tuesday 28 May 2013

sydneyCarnival Spirit Tue 28 May

dARWInOrion Tue 28 May

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Rail-cruise combos expandingTravellers have greater options for train

journeys linked with ocean and river cruises for extended European holidays.

Australians are being encouraged to add train travel for pre- and post-cruise extensions.

Richard Leonard, manager Australasia, Rail Europe, told Cruise Weekly that more people are using trains before and after Mediterranean, Baltic and river cruises.

“Trains in Europe have become very sophisticated and comfortable, with wider seats and a very modern fleet.

“Speeds are faster, connections are easier and wi-fi internet is available on most trains and stations.”

Leonard said cruise passengers would find a “complementary experience” on trains.

“There’s a similar onboard ambience, you’re meeting people and connecting from city centre to city centre,” he said.

“Adding a train trip also lets you discover more destinations and scenery that you can’t see from a boat.”

Most major European ports conveniently connect with the Rail Europe network, and many countries have improved train services and pricing, he said.

In Italy, the new Italo rail service has introduced “really cheap” fares that link with cruises in and out of Venice and Rome.

“There’s also a push for more high-speed trains into Eastern Europe through Vienna into Budapest and Prague,” he said.

Leonard suggested Switzerland as “a perfect example of how rail lets you really experience a country that you can’t see by cruising”.

The train station at Basel, where many river cruises start or finish, was a good “seamless” option for further Swiss travel, he said.

Additionally, river cruise lines now offer the option of high-speed train services, instead of coaches, to transfer passengers from airports and cities to main cruise departure ports.

“On a bus, you’re going to end up on a nondescript autobahn stopping at service centres, whereas on trains you are getting all the scenery, meeting the locals and others.”

Trains are also an easier option than hiring a car, he said.

“You don’t have to worry about petrol, road tolls, access into city centres and no stress.”

Rail Europe’s local distributors include Rail Plus, Rail Tickets (JTG), CIT Holidays and Infinity Rail (Flight Centre).

For details, see www.railplus.com.au, railtickets.com.au, www.cittravel.com.au or www.infinityholidays.com.au/rail.

Cruise Weekly’s cruise calendar details upcoming port calls of passenger cruise ships at various destinations in Australia.

BRIsBAnePacific Pearl Fri 31 MayPacific Dawn sat 01 Jun

Carnival releases Legend itineraries Carnival Cruise Lines today announced further details of the upcoming Carnival Legend deployment in Australia

The cruise company’s down under capacity will increase by 50% next year, when Legend joins year-round sister ship Carnival Spirit for its own inaugural local summer season.

CCL director Australasia Jennifer Vandekreeke said that Legend would operate 8-12 cruises to Pacific destinations including New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji - which would provide flexibility for some innovations in Carnival Spirit voyages.

Spirit will introduce a series of Sydney-based three-night “cruises to nowhere” - three of which will depart on a Fri night so guests won’t even need to take a day off from work.

Next year, Carnival Spirit will also operate her first Melbourne Cup cruise, an 8 night voyage including three nights in Melbourne.

Vandekreeke said Carnival Cruise Lines was strongly committed to the Australian market, with internal research showing the brand “seems to have tapped into a huge deep well of interest in cruising”.

She said that CCL targets households with a $75,000+ annual income, and in that arena there are strong aspirations to cruise despite only about 30% of people actually having been on board for a holiday.

Carnival Cruise Lines has made much of the “Aussification” of its product, and Vandekreeke said despite extensive preparation, there was still some tweaking to be done after Carnival Spirit arrived for her first season late last year.

Unlike their American counterparts, she said that the cruise line has found that Australian families “actually like to spend time with their children” so the onboard product has been “completely changed” to add more family activities and a rejig of dining times.

Another key change has been the development of the on-board coffee to suit Australian tastes, Vandekreeke added.

So far, Carnival Cruise Lines has carried 55,000 passengers on its Australian cruises, and that number is set to be hit “out of the ballpark” with the extra capacity provided by the Legend deployment.

Carnival Legend will arrive in Sydney on 23 September 2014, staying until April 2015, before returning for a second summer in 2015/16, with further details of the ship’s on-board product available by the end of July.

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cruise W E E K L Y

Tuesday 28 May 2013

Advertise with us

For details call us today: 1300 799 220

• Cost Effective • Targeted • Easy

Wiener schnitzel(serves four)

Preparationseason the veal cutlets with salt and pepper. Dip first in flour, then in egg wash, and finally in breadcrumbs. Press bread crumbs lightly on the meat. deep-fry in fresh vegetable oil until golden brown. Place on paper towels to drain. serve with parsley potatoes and

lettuce. decorate with the lemon slices and chives to garnish.

Ingredients• 4 veal cutlets, 6 oz / 180g each

• 2 eggs• 1 cup / 220 grams bread crumbs

• ½ cup / 110 g flour• Salt and freshly ground pepper

• Vegetable oil for frying

Garnish• 4 lemon slices

• Chive sprigs

This week’s recipe comes from APT

(A manageable recipe for everyone from APT’s Executive chef Primus Perchtold)

Recipe of the Month

Another fire erupts on cruise ship Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas was diverted to a Bahamas port overnight after an early morning fire.

Passengers aboard the ship, sailing towards the line’s “private island paradise” CocoCay, were woken and sent to their muster stations at around 3am (Bahamas time) following a fire on deck.

Although no injuries were initially reported, Royal Caribbean International later updated via Twitter that two guests were treated after fainting, with one report of high blood pressure and a person experiencing cramps.

The US Coast Guard escorted the ship, carrying 2,224 passengers, about 35 nautical miles to Freeport, where it will dock overnight for assessment of the damage.

The fire, which began in a mooring area and spread to the fourth deck at the crew lounge, was fully extinguished around 5am.

Guests in affected staterooms will be put up in hotels in Freeport.

Some passengers are staying onboard, while others have chosen to spend the day on shore, the company said.

“Power, propulsion, communications systems - all were able to continue without interruption”, RCI confirmed.

Adam Goldstein, RCI’s president and CEO, and other executives have arrived in Freeport to meet with guests and crew.

“All guest and crew accounted for and safe”, RCI confirmed.

The company has since announced the cancellation of Grandeur’s 31 May departure, with passengers to receive a refund and a 50% cruise credit - more info as it comes to hand.

Sherry to address uni studentsManagIng the rise of the world’s fastest

growing cruise market in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific will be one of the points discussed by Carnival Australia ceo Ann Sherry at a university lecture tonight.

Sherry will be delivering The Griffith Lecture at the Queensland Conservatorium at Griffith University South Bank starting at 6:30pm.

The local Carnival boss will also canvas points such as the company’s contributions to national and regional economies & projections that one-million Australians will be cruising for their holidays by the year 2020, among others.

For more information or to secure a place to attend the lecture (if places are still available), email stephen.ogrady@griffith.edu.au.

Record Star Clipper programEIGHTY-FIVE European itineraries will be

operated by Star Clippers fleet of three ships in 2014, visiting a host of Mediterranean ports inaccessible or not visited by larger liners.

The fleet will operate journeys ranging in length from 5-11 nights in all corners of southern Europe and northern tips of Africa.

Discounts of up to 35% are on offer for Earlybird bookings made before 01 Jan 2014, inclusive of taxes, all meals and entertainment.

hOW on earth did this happen?A number of elephant seals that live off

the coast of California have been detected as having trace symptoms of H1N1 swine flu virus that reached pandemic levels in 2009.

Scientists studying the animals say it is the first time they have seen the flu strain in a sea animal, especially since the virus was borne from, obviously not sea based, pigs.

University of California Wildlife Health Centre associate professor Tracey Goldstein was as perplexed as anyone, commenting “The seals on land in early 2010 tested negative before they went to sea, but when they returned from sea in spring 2010, they tested positive - so the question is, where did it come from?”

Waste released from shipping vessels could be linked to a possible cause.

“We thought we might find influenza viruses, which have been found before in marine mammals, but we did not expect to find pandemic H1N1,” Goldstein said.

P O R T H O L E

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cruise W E E K L Y

Tuesday 28 May 2013

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This week, Cruise Weekly chats with Ann Parker, Cabin Attendant on the American Queen of the American Queen Steamboat Company.

How long have you been working on cruise ships for?since 2005

What is the best thing about working for the American Queen steamboat Company?you get the opportunity to learn about the Mississippi River, but mainly meeting all types of guests.

Briefly explain what your job entails and what passengers can expect from your services on board?I am to accommodate any guest onboard. I clean the guest cabins and most of all I make them feel just as comfortable as they would at home.

When did you join the American Queen steamboat Company?2007

What is your favourite cruising destination?Natchez, Mississippi.

What do you enjoy most about your job?People, people, people! I love to see that little glow in their eyes as they feel very comfortable on our vessel.

Who is the most famous person you have served?One of the family members of the tv show ‘Little People, Big World’ (an American reality TV show).

What is the most interesting request you’ve received from a passenger?Just to keep a mix of diet coke and water flowing.

do you have any embarrassing cruise stories you can share with us?Unfortunately not, all experiences have been very pleasant I must say.

How do you spend your holidays/vacation when you return home?

With my family and a visit to the casino.

Crew Profile

Cruise Weekly’s guest expert, Adam Armstrong from Royal Caribbean answers the final crop of your cruising-related queries.

When we were on Rhapsody of the Seas in February, there were NO iPad’s in cabins. I had read that during the refurbishment they were installing them, but we didn’t see any. Can you please clarify.

Unfortunately we have had some technical issues with the introduction of iPads on our ships - so they are not yet available onboard Rhapsody of the Seas. Sorry for the delay.

Do passengers ever get lost wandering around your ships?

Sometimes! Royal Caribbean’s ships are the largest in the world so we’ve come up with a clever way to help our guests navigate their way around - a digital “Wayfinder” system. These are large touch-screen TVs located in every staircase and they help guests locate venues on the ship, as well as their cabin; plus browse up-to-the-minute info on activities, news, menus and restaurant availability. They’re being rolled out across every ship in our fleet, and Rhapsody of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas already have them in Australia.

What are some of the most popular drinks ordered on voyages?

That depends on who you ask! It also depends on where the ship is sailing - and our guest nationality. In our region the most popular drinks are Australian wines and beers - so we have a special Aussie beverage list featuring selections that you wouldn’t get on our ships elsewhere in the world. There’s also a big queue at the coffee shop every morning onboard our local ships - our Aussie guests enjoy a good barista coffee!

Thanks again to Adam Armstrong from Royal Caribbean for his insightful answers.

Ask TheExpertwithAdam Armstrong

Captain Cook changes namesTWO seven-night voyages operated by

Captain Cook Cruises in Fiji on the MV Reef Endeavour will be offered under a new name, the company announced this week.

Effective immediately, the popular Discovery Cultural Cruise will be sold as the Four Cultures Discovery Cruise, while the formerly known Discovery Heritage Cruise will be on sale under the name of the Colonial Fiji Discovery Cruise.

“We decided to change the names of these cruises so they better reflect the actual experience offered on each cruise,” Captain Cook Cruises Fiji gm Jackie Charlton said.

Both voyages will continue to offer all of the inclusions of previous incarnations including swimming, snorkelling all meals & many tours.

MeanWhIle, the company has late last week launched its new 2013/2014 brochure for its multi-day small ship cruising operations.

Each of the two newly renamed voyages are featured along with shorter three and four night products & the new 11-night Lau cruise.

Wedding cruises, sailings for private functions as well as single-day and dinner cruise product are also featured.

Ultimate Celebrity competitionOnlIne e-zine UltimateTravelMagazine.com

has partnered with Celebrity Cruises to launch a competition with a 12-night New Zealand voyage on Celebrity Solstice up for grabs, with the major prize valued at $4570.

The 2850-passenger Solstice will be returning to Australia for the upcoming summer after a successful debut season.

Six departure dates between Nov 2013 and Mar 2014 from either Sydney or Auckland can be chosen by the winners, with more details on how to enter as well as terms available at www.ultimatetravelmagazine.com.

Combine desert with an oceanFrEsH from its glittering New York City

debut, Cruise Abroad has launched a special fly/stay/cruise offer for Norwegian Breakaway combined with a stay in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Priced from $3199 per person twin share, the package includes flights to Las Vegas, a 7-night cruise to Florida and the Bahamas and more.

Phone 1300 669 369 for available departures.

Un-Cruise expanding for 2014nIneTeen different itineraries will be on sale

with Un-Cruise Adventures across eight vessels next year, the company has revealed.

New for 2014 will be a sailing devoted entirely to the Washington state region, a ship based year-round in Mexico and a series of “Heritage Adventures” with a heavy culture focus on the surrounding area.

The eight ships will operate in Alaska, Hawaii, on the Columbia & Snake Rivers, in Mexico’s Sea of Cortés and along the north west of Washington state and into British Columbia.

The small-ships offer capacity for between 22 and 88 passengers per voyage.

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cruise W E E K L Y

Tuesday 28 May 2013

CAPE Town (http://tourismcapetown.co.za/destination-marketing) stands as a spectacular gateway to southern Africa for both cruisers and land lubbers. With durban on the eastern shore being the commanding port for almost all of Africa, Cape Town is poised to capitalise on the growing interest in cruises heading north to the once forbidden lands of West Africa and the Western Mediterranean. A new, dedicated cruise terminal has been promised. Like so many African ports, Cape Town began as a strategic and economic colonial outpost. Ironically, the port was established on the strength of glowing reports of the bay that reached the opportunistic Dutch East India Company when one of their vessels, Haerlem, foundered there in 1647. The attractive, fertile land and largely cooperative native “Hottentots” enabled a refreshment station to be set up in the 1650s to service the many ships plying the trade routes between Holland and se Asia. As a direct result of its location, function and traffic, a startlingly diverse population gradually evolved, incorporating examples of the many European, Asian and African cultures that were continually traversing its busy harbour. And so it remains today, with the so-called ‘Mother City’ truly the poster icon for South Africa’s ‘rainbow nation’ tagline. Whether you are beginning, ending or going ashore from your cruise, Cape Town is a spectacular city to visit and a full day tour is packed with stunning scenery, great food, wine & delightful people. Most day tours will cover the key points of interest, namely Table Mountain Cable Car, Cape of Good Hope lighthouse, historic Simon Town and the resident rare African penguins, Camps Bay, Kirstenbosch gardens and perhaps quaint Hout Bay. Visiting the

iconic Table Mountain can be tricky as the summit is frequently shrouded in mist, known colloquially as the ‘table cloth’. Local advice is on a clear day, drop everything and go for it as conditions change rapidly. Wine lovers will be in heaven with a visit to the glorious winelands of Franschoek and the Constantia Valley, the oldest vineyards in the southern hemisphere, established in the late 17th century. The landscape, complete with eucalyptus trees, will remind many of the Barossa Valley of South Australia. The Cape’s Shiraz certainly rivals the best reds from anywhere down Under. If you have more time to spare, UNESCO-listed Robben Island, the Garden Route or Harmanus Whale Route are worth exploring. Who Goes There? Cape Town’s superb deepwater port can accommodate any size vessel. The following cruise lines include Cape Town on their itineraries (mostly RTW): Silversea, Oceania, Hapag-Lloyd, Cunard, Crystal, HAL, MSC and Princess. Smaller vessels setting out from Cape Town on a more intimate exploration of the west coast currently include G Adventures, Lindblad and Zegrahm with more set to follow. Staying There: From 5-star to B&B, Cape Town has plenty of accommodation options, but for a real treat (you know you’re worth it) check in to The Table Bay right in the middle of the plush V&A Waterfront. Otherwise you can dine at their superb restaurant, The Atlantic Grill. You’re best to contact an expert CLIA (www.cruising.org.au) for these itineraries. Roderick eime travelled to Cape Town in April and May 2013 with assistance from sA Tourism. (www.southafrica.net)

Cruise Weekly is Australia’s favourite online cruising publication.In production since 2007, Cruise Weekly is published each Tuesday, with a further travel industry update each Thursday.Cruise Weekly is free and is sent to subscribers via email as an Adobe Acrobat PDF document.Sign up for a free subscription at www.cruiseweekly.com.au.PO Box 1010, epping, nsW 1710 Phone: 1300 799 220 Fax: 1300 799 221

Cruise Weekly is a publication of Cruise Weekly Pty Ltd. All content fully protected by copyright. Please obtain written permission to reproduce any material. While every care has been taken in the preparation of Cruise Weekly no liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. Information is published in good faith to stimulate independent investigation of the matters canvassed. Responsibility for editorial comment is taken by Bruce Piper.

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Table Mountain Cable Car

Port Profile: Cape Townby: Roderick Eime

Cruise ship departs Cape Town Swank V&A Waterfront