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| The Port of Ushuala 5 in Argentina is one of Crystal Cruises’ more exotic destinations. |
2012 is only halfway over, but Crystal Cruises is already planning for the next few years. Crystal Cruises’ early-2014 preview itineraries are now open for booking. Seventeen voyages visiting 74 ports in 34 countries are available for January to April 2014 on Crystal Serenity and January through May on Crystal Symphony.
Distinctive, less-cruised, less-easily-accessible lands like Ghana, Mauritius, Brunei, Burma, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Sao Tome, Senegal, Namibia and Angola complement vacation favorites like the Cayman Islands, Panama Canal, Thailand and Hawaii. Crystal is not only maiden calling in Luanda, Angola; Lombok, Indonesia; and Malacca, Malaysia, but also returning to several destinations not visited in years, such as the Andaman Islands, India; Okinawa and Tokyo, Japan; the UK’s Pitcairn Islands; and Jakarta, Surabaya and Ujung Pandang, Indonesia.
All voyages but one offer overnights in local ports-of-call, including “double overnights” (two consecutive nights) in Yangon (Myanmar/Burma), Yokohama, Ho Chi Minh City, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. Winter/spring voyages range from 12 to 26 days, in addition to a five-segment, 89-day World Cruise.
As part of its 22nd Annual Sales Achievement Awards Gala, Crystal executives shared with its top-selling agents and the media the details on its 2015 World Cruise.
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| Silversea’s Silver Cloud cruises Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. |
In honor of its 20th World Cruise and 25th anniversary of the company, the ultra-luxe line will be offering its first-ever full circumnavigation of the globe. Cruise line executives hope that being out so early with its 2015 world cruise sailing will enable travel advisors to lock in their clients earlier.
The itinerary sails roundtrip from Miami starting January 15, 2015. The all-inclusive, 108-day voyage will consist of six segments: Miami to Callao/Lima; Callao/Lima to Auckland; Auckland to Perth; Perth to Cape Town; Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro; and Rio de Janeiro to Miami.
Additional itinerary highlights include maiden calls in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Albany, Australia; Ambodifotatra and Taolagnaro, Madagascar; and Richards Bay, South Africa, and stops in Easter Island, Bora Bora, the Cook Islands, Wellington, Sydney, Melbourne, Reunion Island, Buenos Aires, Cartagena, Turks & Caicos and more.
Note: Full world cruisers receive a host of complimentary perks such as private enrichment classes, fitness programs, entertainment and more.
Silversea Cruises’ 2013 World Cruise is an epic 115-day journey from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale aboard Silver Whisper, sailing January 5 to May 1, 2013.
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| Sydney is just one of the many destinations scheduled for Silversea’s World Cruise itinerary. |
Crossing the equator four times, the World Cruise itinerary will follow the tropical belt to 52 destinations in 28 countries with overnight stays in several key ports. Some of the destinations include New Zealand and Australia’s remote west coast; the islands of French Polynesia; Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore; and Africa’s western coast.
In addition to all-inclusive fares, full World Cruise guests will enjoy an array of special amenities, from complimentary air or air credit and transfers to a shipboard credit. There will also be a World Cruise event ashore, a gala bon voyage reception, dinner and overnight at the exclusive Peninsula Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, commemorative gifts and Silver Shore Baggage Valet—even laundry is included.
To complement what is arguably the ultimate globetrotting experience, Silversea has already tapped the following guest lecturers:
Terry Waite: In 1987, while negotiating the release of hostages in Beirut as special envoy for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Waite was himself taken hostage and held in captivity for 1,763 days. He is slated to sail voyages 4301 and 4302, January 5-February 4, Los Angeles to Sydney.
Lynne Truss: This humorist and author, whose bestselling book Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation has sold over three million copies, is slated to sail voyage 4303, February 4-25, Sydney to Hong Kong.
Mary Higgins Clark: Known as America’s Queen of Suspense, this worldwide bestselling author—whose books have sold over 100 million copies in the U.S. alone—will sail voyage 4304, February 25-March 8, Hong Kong to Singapore.
Nigel West: Renowned military historian specializing in intelligence, counterintelligence and security issues, whose many books include At Her Majesty’s Secret Service, will sail voyage 4307, April 5-May 1, Cape Town to Fort Lauderdale.
For more lecturers, visit Silversea’s website.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has released details on its Grand Voyages for the end of 2012 into 2013. The 143-night Cathedrals, Temples & Pagodas Grand Voyage sails from Rome to Beijing and departs October 24.
On Deck: We hear that the Grand Voyage will include a lineup of special guests and events that include lectures from experts. Highlights include presentations from maritime historian Bard Kolltveit during the Mumbai to Bali segment and Steve Wilstein, sportswriter and historian, during the Auckland to Sydney sailing. Other destination experts include Sandra Bowern, Roger Lamm and Dianna Preston.
Regent’s Grand Voyage will hit key ports across the globe, but some of our favorites include Italy, Cyprus, Egypt, Oman, India, Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia, Tasmania, Vietnam, Taiwan and South Korea.
Oceania Cruises’ Grand Voyages can be booked in 36-, 46- or 71-day segments. Those sailing 71 days will depart March 10, 2013 and will hit ports from Beijing to Rome. Sailing the 684-guest Nautica, the Pagodas and Sultans itinerary visits three continents, 19 countries, 35 ports of call and includes overnights in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Singapore, Mumbai, Dubai and Luxor.
The 36-day itinerary departs March 14, 2013 and sails with the Marina from Sydney to Papeete. Among the top destinations include Nuku’alofa, Nuku Hiva, Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea and Rangiroa. Other ports include Sydney, Melbourne, Wellington and Auckland.
Finally, the 46-day journey, known as the Route of the Great Traders, sails from Bangkok to Rome aboard Nautica. The itinerary includes overnights in Bangkok, Singapore, Mumbai, Dubai and Safaga. We hear guests will be able to explore the Taj Mahal, visit Petra, sail the Suez Canal and indulge in Italy’s Amalfi Coast. This sailing embarks April 4, 2013.