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 Posted Friday, 20 August 2010, 05:45 PM By Cruise News Hound |
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Cruise passengers can now sail beyond Vanuatu’s Mystery Island thanks to P&O Cruises’ funding of a 40-seat tender boat, the Island Breeze.
The introduction of Island Breeze will allow local people to transport passengers from Mystery Island to neighbouring Aneityum for two shore tours newly established by the community.
Four members of the local community have been trained to operate the vessel under the supervision of Mark Gooderham, the CEO of the Maritime College of Vanuatu.
The purchase of Island Breeze is one of multiple initiatives taking place across the South Pacific as a result of P&O Cruises’ partnership with Ausaid’s Enterprise Challenge Fund, contributing funds to a programme to assist in building an economic base for South Pacific communities, upgrading cruise facilities and better managing the environment.
Jenny Lourey, senior vice president of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, said Mystery Island was a template for what P&O Cruises is trying to develop at other locations across the South Pacific and a symbol of the cruise line’s ongoing commitment to the area.
“The aim of this programme is to provide an economic foundation for local communities as well as to upgrade jetties and other amenities.
“Initiatives such as the boat and the development of shore tours that feature the local culture are ways of achieving this,” said Ms Lourey
In another joint effort with local communities, P&O Cruises recently constructed a new landing pontoon for cruise ships for Fiji’s Dravuni Island.
Story sourced from Travel Mole
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| Posted Wednesday, 18 August 2010, 11:30 PM By Cruise News Hound |
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Longest Ever Season in Australia by 35 Days - Itineraries from Fremantle and Adelaide.
Calls to Sydney, Darwin, Japan and South Africa are among a season of firsts for Classic International Cruises’ liner, Athena, during her just just-released 2011/12 Australian summer program, which will be the longest-ever for the cruise line and include a return to cruises from Adelaide.
A new brochure for the 2011/12 Australian summer season will be released in early September, with Classic International Cruises to offer 15 cruises lasting from two to 40 nights to and from Fremantle/Perth and from Adelaide. This will be Athena’s third season of cruises from the South Australian capital after the success of Athena’s first seasons there in 2008/09 and 2009/10.
The 2011/12 Australian summer program – the longest ever for Classic International Cruises by 35 days – will be the cruise line’s eighth successive season in Australia’s west since 2004 and the fourth for Athena. The season, extending more than six months from November 15, 2011 to May 24, 2012, will feature:
- A return season from Adelaide, with Athena offering five cruises to and from the SA capital, including round-trip itineraries, in January and February, 2012. The 30-day Adelaide program will be the longest ever season for an Adelaide-based liner. CIC was the first line to ever base a ship in SA in 2008.
- CIC’s first cruise from Fremantle to Japan, including the line’s longest-ever round-trip itinerary from Australia– a 38-night cherry blossom voyage to Japan, The Philippines, China, Malaysia and Indonesia.
- The first-ever round-trip cruise from Adelaide to Sydney.
- CIC’s first-ever line voyage from Fremantle to Europe via South Africa instead of the Suez Canal, with visits to Mauritius, Reunion Island, Ascension Island, the Canary Islands, St Helena Island and Morocco.
- Athena’s first visits to Darwin, Broome and Geraldton as part of a round-trip cruise from Fremantle to Bali and Christmas Island. This will be the first time Darwin has featured in a return CIC cruise from Fremantle and will represent a return to the northern WA coast for the cruise line, which last included Broome in 2006.
- A maiden sail-past for CIC of the seabird-rich Abrolhos Islands off WA – the southern-most coral reefs in the Indian Ocean - as part of a Christmas cruise to Christmas Island and Bali.
Fares for the 2001/12 season start from $450 per person, twin-share, for a two-night cruise aboard the 550- passenger Athena, with children under 18 cruising for free on seven selected cruises next summer, with only nominal taxes to pay. Supplements for solo travellers in selected cabins are as low as 25 per cent, instead of double. The currency onboard Athena is Australian dollars, adding to the savings.
“We are delighted to announce our eighth successive season in Western Australia in 2011/12 and, by popular demand, our return to South Australia, underscoring our ongoing commitment to the growing Australian cruise market,” said Classic International Cruises Managing Director for Australia, Grant Hunter. “This coming summer and in 2011/12 we will again offer our highly successful formula of traditional cruising on a real ocean liner, affordable fares, attractive itineraries, fine cuisine, friendly and personal service and a warm and relaxed atmosphere that you only get on a smaller vessel,” Mr Hunter said.
Originally a transatlantic liner, the classic-styled, 16,000-ton Athena features traditional wooden deck chairs, pool, fitness centre, five bars and lounges, casino, library, cinema and two restaurants. The Portuguese-based Athena has 276 spacious cabins and each boasts a bath – a luxury only found in suites on the latest superliners.
Bookings and copies of the 2011/12 Athena brochure are available via travel agents or visit You must be registered to view this link
Source: CIC Media Release
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| Posted Wednesday, 18 August 2010, 09:24 PM By welove2cruise |
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With an event simply called "Wishes on Wharf 5, Sydney cruisers will also get the opportunity to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation while lunching on Pacific Jewel - Thursday 30th September.
Wishes on Wharf 5
Join fellow seafarers on board P&O Cruises‘ magnificent superliner Pacific Jewel for ‘Wishes on Wharf 5’ on Thursday, September 30 at P&O’s berth at Wharf 5, Hickson Rd, Sydney.
Enjoy the hospitality of the Captain and crew of the Pacific Jewel for an extraordinary four-course luncheon. Those who choose an early check-in at 10am will enjoy a special guided tour of the ship. For those unable to make the early check-in, the official welcome will commence at 10.45am.
Television personality Natalie Barr will be master of ceremonies and P&O Cruises' Pacific Entertainers will present their ‘Pacific Cirque’ Show. There will also be an opportunity to win an eight-night ‘Pacific Escapade’ for two adults and two children on board P&O Cruises' Pacific Jewel during the live auction on the day.
Tickets cost $75 each or $675 for a table of ten and can be purchased by completing the You must be registered to view this link and sending to Make-A-Wish Australia, Level 21, Tower 2, Darling Park, 201 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000 or fax (02) 9006-1260.
RSVP: Thursday, September 16, 2010.
Dress: Afternoon Cocktail
And then join us afterwards for a complimentary beverage at The Loft Bar (200m from Wharf 5 on King St Wharf, above Bungalow 8).
The information is also available on the Make-A-Wish site - You must be registered to view this link
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