AUGUST 2023 ISSUE
PONANT’s 2024-2025 winter program is now offering a world first cruise through the ice of the St Lawrence River.
Onboard Le Commandant Charcot, guests will travel to Québec and the Innu and Micmac communities of Canada.
Hiking, snowshoeing, kayaking, dog sledding and ice fishing are available for adventure seekers during the 13-day expedition. There’s also the chance to see caribou, elk and black bears in their natural habitat.
‘The St Lawrence River in the heart of the Boreal Winter’ is priced from $31,910 per person. There are four sailings from January to February 2025.
MEL MAKES HER RIVER MARK
AN AWARD-WINNING journalist has been named as the Australian ambassador for Avalon Waterways.
Former Sunrise host Melissa Doyle first set sail into the world of luxury river cruising in 2022, sailing down the Danube.
Her time onboard and rave reviews on social media led to her appointment with Avalon, part of the Globus family of brands.
“Avalon Waterways was my first ever river cruise experience and I couldn’t have been more impressed, from the crew’s attention to detail to the Panorama Suites with stunning views and variety of onshore excursions, I was transported,” said Melissa.
“It was a travel experience to remember. I’m very excited to be an official ambassador for the brand and look forward to the partnership to come – I’ll be setting sail again soon!”
In her role as ambassador, Melissa will champion the brand, get back onboard to discover more of the portfolio first-hand and be a spokesperson for Avalon Waterways at various events.
“We are very excited to welcome Melissa to our family and look forward to sharing more of this perfectly aligned partnership for Avalon Waterways with our customers, valued trade and industry partners, and media,” said Gai Tyrrell, Globus family of brands, Managing Director.
“Melissa is one of the best-known and most trusted faces in Australian media and we are delighted to share Avalon Waterways’ stories with Mel’s audience, as she truly embodies Avalon Waterways’ relaxed luxury values, including charity endeavours, something Avalon Waterways is committed to with our Lighthouse Project.”
ENJOY A GRAPE ESCAPE AT SEA
THE WINE and the brine will come together when a four-day ‘Seacation’ takes place aboard an Australian sailing later this year.
Princess Cruises has partnered with Australian wine company Wine Selectors to host a wine-themed event aboard Royal Princess.
The 3,560-guest Medallion-class ship will depart Sydney on November 15, making her maiden call into Hobart on November 17 before returning to Sydney.
Guests onboard the ‘Seacation’ will enjoy a variety of activities hosted by Wine Selectors, such as complimentary tastings of exclusive wines. International wine show judge, winemaker and educator, Dave Mavor, will host a guided masterclass matched with gourmet food for $30 per person.
Also available will be an intimate, five-course dinner with Tasmanian Winemaker Jeremy Dineen at Chef’s Table Lumiere. The menu, complete with expertly matched Tasmanian wine pairings, will be strictly limited to 12 guests at $140 per person.
“Princess Cruises prides itself on offering premium experiences onboard, and this partnership with Wine Selectors on this Royal Princess voyage will really take it to the next level,” said Stuart Allison, Senior Vice President Princess Cruises Australia Pacific, UK & Europe.
“We’re proud of our reputation for having one of the most extensive wine lists in the industry and are delighted to give our guests access to this exclusive, curated collection.”
MANY HAPPY RETURNS NORTH OF THE BORDER
AZAMARA HAS announced its return to Canada for the first time since 2017 and will also give guests special two-night stays in select European ports.
The upmarket cruise line has released 73 itineraries for 2025, including stops in six Canadian ports.
These include Cap-aux-Meules in Quebec, the centre of the Magdalen Islands. This small fishing town boasts fresh seafood, coastal trails and more than 300 species of birds.
The cruise line will also make its debut call to L’Anse Aux Meadows in Newfoundland, the only authenticated Viking site in North America.
“Azamara is known for offering more time in port with late nights and overnights, and now we are taking that even further with our new double night stays, allowing our guests plenty of time to travel further and dive deeper into each destination,” said Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara.
Guests can now spend three days and two nights in Bordeaux or sail seven hours down the Guadalquivir River to enjoy an extended stay in the heart of Seville.
Azamara’s 2025 itineraries also include a record number of 15 golf cruises in collaboration with longtime partner PerryGolf.
Golfers can book the 2025 ‘British Isles Golf Cruise’, which includes weekend attendance to the final two rounds of The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.
EMERALD’S NEW GEM SHINES IN TRIALS
THE SECOND custom-built luxury yacht from Emerald Cruises has successfully completed its sea trials in Vietnam.
All major systems aboard Emerald Sakara were tested and the yacht was certified for guest operations.
The yacht is now preparing for its debut sailing – the eight-day ‘Ionian Sea Adventure’ from Athens to Rome – and will call on Itea, Greece, before transiting the Corinth Canal and sailing to Cephalonia, Sicily, Amalfi, Sorrento and Capri and ending in Rome.
The yacht will be christened on December 2 in Puerto Rico by her godmother Kelly Craighead, President and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
“We are extremely pleased with how well our newest luxury yacht, Emerald Sakara, performed in her sea trials – she exceeded our expectations in every way,” said Glen Moroney, Founder and Chairman, Scenic Group (Emerald Cruises and Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours).
“We look forward to offering our guests wonderful experiences in the Caribbean and Central America later this year.”
Catering to a maximum of 100 guests, both Emerald Sakara and sister ship Emerald Azzurra feature just 50 luxury suites and staterooms, 88 per cent of which have a private balcony or terrace.
“We’ve had a phenomenal response to our luxury yacht cruising program, since March 2022, which has been virtually a sell-out,” said Angus Crichton, Emerald Cruises Director of Sales, Marketing & Product.
YOU’LL SEE STARS IN YOUR EYES
A UNIQUE opportunity just became even more special with the addition of astronomy experts to Holland America Line’s 2024 Solar Eclipse cruise program.
Guests sailing on Koningsdam and Zaandam to experience the total eclipse in spring 2024 will have exclusive access to lectures, demonstrations and first-hand tips on how to make the most of their viewing.
Professor Adam Burgasser from the University of California will join guests on Koningsdam as the ship sails off the coast of Mexico in the thin “path of totality” for the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse.
Burgasser is a professor of astronomy and astrophysics, an observational astrophysicist and the principal investigator at the university’s “Cool Star Lab.”
“We’re positioning our ships in the perfect location for guests to see the eclipse,” said Bill Prince, Vice President of Entertainment for Holland America Line.
“For many, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so being able to receive the guidance of a renowned physicist like Dr. Burgasser is an exciting opportunity for our guests.
“We’re known for creating immersive programming and this will be an unforgettable live event.”
Leading up to the eclipse, Dr Burgasser will educate guests through special lectures on the ship’s World Stage and help them create their own eclipse viewers.
During the eclipse, he will help guests safely view and understand this rare occurrence from unique positions on the ship.
“This first total solar eclipse in North America in seven years is something astronomers – amateur and professional – are all excited to observe, and there’s no better or unique place to observe it than at sea off the coast of Mexico,” said Dr Burgasser.
“I look forward to joining Holland America Line guests aboard Koningsdam to witness this phenomenon and help them better understand the science and history behind it.”
