Ep157 – Explora Journeys, History of Celebrity Cruises and more cruise news

The Big Cruise Podcast
The Big Cruise Podcast
Ep157 - Explora Journeys, History of Celebrity Cruises and more cruise news
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Baz is Back and normal service resumes. Of course, thanks to Chris for taking the helm over the past few weeks, today we are back with the usual Maritime History & Cruise News!
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Maritime History & Listener Questions

David is looking forward to his first cruise on Celebrity Cruises and asks Chris for a quick reminder on the History of Celebrity Cruises.

David also shared some cracking images of Celebrity Apex recently in Scotland – see below.

Just wondered if these photos might be of interest to you. As you know, we’ve booked to go on Apex next year for the first time, so knowing that she was going to be in Greenock yesterday, we took a run up the coast after work last night to see her departing. She looks amazing. Really looking forward to getting on board next May!

As luck would have it our ‘local’ Celebrity appeared just at the right moment; Waverley, the last seagoing passenger-carrying paddle steamer in the world. Quite a sight to see them both on the Clyde at the same time! Managed to get some video footage; these are stills from it.

Cruise News

One Day, Two Exciting Milestones – Explora Journeys
  • Soon, you will have more ways to find your Ocean State of Mind. At a double ceremony in Genoa, Italy, local officials and our executives lauded the moment EXPLORA II first touched water—then, EXPLORA III’s first steel was cut, marking construction’s official start.
  • EXPLORA II will embark on her maiden journey in the summer of 2024, spending her first season in the Mediterranean discovering the most striking locations of the Mare Nostrum.
  • EXPLORA III will enter service in summer 2026 and will run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), the cleanest marine fuel available at scale
An important update regarding Brilliant Lady
  • Because of some unexpected construction, supply chain, and staffing challenges, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone the launch of Brilliant Lady. We know our First Mates & Sailors have high expectations for the award winning service and experience we deliver onboard and until we can meet those standards we won’t deliver Brilliant Lady into service. This change means that our three other gorgeous lady ships will also be shifting their schedules, resulting in some cancellations and revised sailings. We’ll be reaching out to impacted Sailors, but we wanted to make sure that you have the inside intel first.
  • Cancelled Sailings
    • Brilliant Lady’s MerMaiden voyages sailing on December 24th and December 30th, 2023
    • Brilliant Lady’s 7-night Sunsets in the Lesser Antilles departures on January 6th, March 30th, and April 13th, 2024
    • Brilliant Lady’s 7-night Southeastern Caribbean Isles departures on March 23rd and April 6th, 2024
    • Brilliant Lady’s 11-night Transatlantic Puerto Rico to Portugal departing April 20th, 2024
    • Valiant Lady’s 6-night Western Caribbean Charm departures from January 7th, 2024 through March 17th, 2024
    • Valiant Lady’s 8-night Eastern Caribbean Antilles departures from January 13th, 2024 through March 23rd, 2024
    • Resilient Lady’s 7-night Adriatic Sea & Greek Gems departures from July 28th through September 29th, 2024
    • Resilient Lady’s 7-night Greek Island Glow departures from August 4th through October 13th, 2024
  • Revised Sailings
    • Select 2024 winter Caribbean voyages scheduled for Brilliant Lady will now be operated by Valiant Lady.
  • Brand new Itineraries and ports
    • 27 new itineraries and 19 new ports will be launching for the 2024/2025 season on September 11th.
Virgin Voyages Expands Globally, Introduces 19 New Destinations & More Than Two Dozen Mermazing Itineraries
  • Award – winning line postpones Brilliant Lady arrival due to supply chain delays but expands global itinerary options based on Sailor demand, announces new voyages from the UK
  • Resilient Lady
  • After returning from her inaugural season in Australia, Virgin Voyages’ newest Lady will sail three itineraries from her homeport in Athens from May through July 2024. On the agenda are the popular “Greek Island Glow” to the islands of Santorini and Mykonos; “Adriatic Sea and Greek Gems,” sailing along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast before stopping in Kotor and Corfu; and finally “Starry Nights in Greece & Croatia,” which offers a mix of the other two seven – night itineraries.
  • Back by popular demand, Virgin Voyages will also return to its British brand roots with a series of three – to six
  • night sailings aboard Resilient Lady. Kicking off in mid – August 2024 and running through September, highlights include “English Sights and European Delights,” which docks in Le Verdon (Bordeaux), La Coruna and Bilbao. The beautiful cities of Amsterdam and Bruges are also on the docket this fall.
  • Resilient Lady’s European schedule also includes two fantastic repositioning voyages from Portsmouth to Barcelona, adding Morocco to the brand’s roster of new destinations. On the heels of this voyage, Resilient closes her Med season with a Barcelona to At hens voyage, merging the best of the brand’s signature “Irresistible Med” and “Greek Island Glow” itineraries and introducing Catania, Sicily as well.
  • Finally, Resilient Lady will set off on a 44 – night repositioning from Athens to Australia in October 2024, making stops in awe-inspiring, bucket-list destinations like Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore and Bali along the way. Once Down Under, Sailors have the option of 15 brand new itineraries and nine new ports including Broome, Albany, Adelaide, Newcastle, Mooloolaba, Port Douglas, Brisbane, Eden and Kangaroo Island
  • Valiant Lady
  • To start her 2023 winter season, Valiant Lady will return from Barcelona on Oct. 29,2023 and begin her signature itineraries from Miami such as the “Eastern Caribbean Antilles” and “Western Caribbean Charm.” From January through March 2024, she will operate out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, offering two southern Caribbean voyages originally scheduled for Brilliant Lady including “The Southeastern Caribbean Isles”and “Sunsets in the Lesser Antilles.” With Scarlet Lady heading into dry dock next year, sister ship Valiant Lady will trade places starting in April 2024. Departing from Miami, Valiant Lady will continue to offer Scarlet’s four-and five-night Caribbean rotations that Sailors love, along with a special six-night “Holidaze and Nights” voyage.
  • Scarlet Lady
  • Next summer between May and October 2024, Scarlet will soak up the Mediterranean sun, taking on Valiant Lady’s two seven-night itineraries: “Irresistible Med” and “FrenchDaze and Ibiza Nights.” On Nov. 3, Scarlet will embark on an 11-night repositioning voyage from Barcelona to Civitavecchia, stopping in Mallorca, Corsica and Sardinia. After a short period in dry dock for general maintenance, enhancements, and recalibrations, Scarlet Lady will spring back into action with a 16-night Transatlantic voyage from Rome to Miami. This new itinerary boasts calls in Funchal (Madeira, Portugal) as well as Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain).
  • After arriving in Miami on Dec. 14, 2024, Scarlet Lady will offer Valiant’s signature six-and eight-night winter voyages through the spring of 2025 including “Western Caribbean Charm” and the “Eastern Caribbean Antilles.” Originally debuting in the fall of 2022, these longer routes from Miami feature late-night stays in SanJuan, authentic experiences against the beautiful and rugged landscape of Roatan, and a taste of the USVIs with a day-trip to St. Croix.
  • Brilliant Lady
  • While having introduced three mid-sized vessels in less than two years is an industry first, even Cruise Critic’s No. 1 cruise line (voted by readers) is susceptible to global issues. Despite careful planning, Virgin Voyages is facing unexpected construction, supply chain and staffing challenges that have delayed the introduction into service of its new ship, Brilliant Lady. The award-winning brand has established industry leading service and experiences, and given the challenges outlined, has made the tough decision to postpone Brilliant Lady’s highly anticipated launch. Virgin Voyages is evaluating new possible launch dates when it is able to deliver the standards the brand’s Sailors have come to expect
Carnival Legend to sail from San Francisco in 2025
  • Carnival Cruise Line will deploy the 2,124 passenger Carnival Legend to continue its seasonal offerings from San Francisco in 2025, offering alternating 10-day Alaska cruises and four-day Baja Mexico sailings.  In addition, Carnival Legend will sail two Carnival Journeys cruises – a 14-day Panama Canal transit taking guests from Tampa, Fla. to San Francisco and a 15-day voyage that offers a spectacular Hawaiian getaway. These sailings now open for sale.
  • The following is an overview of the new offerings on Carnival Legend from San Francisco beginning in April 2025:
  • Alaska Sailings – Carnival Legend will begin 10-day cruises to Alaska on May 12, 2025. Guests will visit picturesque destinations, including Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and a memorable scenic cruising of Tracy Arm Fjord in Alaska, as well as Prince Rupert, B.C. in Canada.
  • Mexico Sailings – Carnival Legend’s first cruise from San Francisco on May 8, 2025, will bring guests on a four-day Baja Mexico cruise with a stop in Ensenada, Mexico, before the ship’s Alaska series begins. Throughout the summer, Carnival Legend will offer an additional eight of these four-day weekend getaways.
  • Carnival Journeys – Ahead of its move to San Francisco, Carnival Legend will offer a 14-day Carnival Journeys Panama Canal cruise that departs Tampa, Fla. on April 24, 2025. The ship will visit Cartagena, Colombia before transiting the Panama Canal, followed by visits to Puntarenas, Costa Rica and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, arriving in San Francisco on May 8, 2025.
  • Following its series of Alaska and Baja Mexico cruises, Carnival Legend will sail a unique 15-day roundtrip Carnival Journeys cruise to Hawaii from San Francisco. Departing Sept. 21, 2025, the ship will visit Kahului, Maui; Honolulu, Oahu; Nawiliwili, Kauai; and Hilo, Hawaii; as well as Ensenada, Mexico.
  • Carnival Legend features many of the signature venues guests know and love on board – from Guy’s Burger Joint to the BlueIguana Cantina, the RedFrog and Alchemy bars, as well as WaterWorks Aqua Park and The Punchliner Comedy Club – and offers several accommodation options, including 50 suites and more than 630 balcony staterooms.
Silversea Opens Exclusive Pre-Sale on 206 New Voyages for Summer 2025
  • Silversea Cruises, the leading ultra-luxury cruise line, has opened an exclusive pre-sale on a new collection of 206 voyages for summer 2025 — set to depart between March and November 2025. An expression of the brand’s destination leadership, the new voyage collection includes some of the most diverse regional offerings in ultra-luxury cruising, with multiple ships calling in hidden gems and iconic cities. Expanding its global coverage — which includes well over 900 destinations, more than any other cruise line — Silversea’s 12 ships will unlock 409 destinations in 60 countries in summer 2025, including 24 maiden calls.
  • Silversea’s summer 2025 voyage collection will enable travelers to journey deeper ashore, too, with 66 overnight calls and 421 late departures, with all-new itineraries complementing iconic sailings. Highlights of Silversea’s summer 2025 itinerary collection include:
  • TWO NEW GRAND VOYAGES: MEDITERRANEAN AND THE NORTH ATLANTIC & NORTHERN EUROPE
  • Two new Grand Voyages for 2025 will enable travellers to journey deeper into the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic & Northern Europe on extended voyages. Both itineraries will incorporate calls to iconic cities and off-the-beaten-path destinations — many of which are rarely visited and accessible only to smaller ships.
  • GRAND MEDITERRANEAN 2025: Silver Spirit® will undertake the Grand Mediterranean 2025, departing Fusina (Venice) on September 18 and arriving in Lisbon on November 11. Over 54 days, Silversea’s guests will discover the Mediterranean’s most iconic cities – such as Venice, Athens, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, and Naples – with in-depth explorations of the Adriatic; the Greek Isles; and various other highlight regions in the Eastern, Southern, and Western Mediterranean. A series of lesser-visited gems, such as Palamos in Spain and Syros in Greece, feature among 44 destinations in 12 countries. Overnight calls in Istanbul, Naples, Livorno (Tuscany), and Malaga, as well as 12 late departures, enable travellers to spend longer in port and form meaningful connections with local cultures. Guests can choose from authentic experiences that include engaging with the local culinary culture in Dubrovnik through an immersive farm-to-table dining experience at an historic village estate that has produced wine, brandy, and olive oil for generations.
  • GRAND NORTH ATLANTIC & NORTHERN EUROPE 2025: Departing from New York on June 11, Silver Shadow® will embark on the 83-day Grand North Atlantic & Northern Europe 2025, offering guests an immersive exploration of 55 destinations and 16 countries in the North Atlantic and Northern Europe, which, steeped in history, capture the essence of ancient Viking life. From New York, guests will journey through Eastern Canada to the British Isles, arriving in the Baltic Sea, the Norwegian Fjords, and Iceland at the best time of year, admiring many of the planet’s most striking natural wonders. From Patreksfjordur in Iceland, for example, travelers can journey to witness Dynjandi waterfall and Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier. Traveling aboard one of the most intimate ships sailing in the region, guests will also enjoy access to smaller destinations, such as Geiranger and Flåm.
  • INCREASED OFFERING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: 84 VOYAGES ON SIX SHIPS – Diversifying and expanding its range of experiences in the region, Silversea has increased its presence in the Mediterranean for summer 2025, offering 84 voyage aboard six ships. A set of signature voyages aboard the intimate Silver Whisper® provides access to some of the smallest ports in the region, such as Milos, Amorgos, Pula, Vlore, and Seville. Brand new Silver Spirit and Silver Whisper itineraries take guests off the beaten path in the Greek Isles, complementing a sequence of immersive sailings aboard Silver Muse®, which take in some of the country’s most iconic destinations. The fleet’s newest addition, Silver Ray℠, will call in such famed destinations as Monaco, Syracuse, and Palma de Mallorca, delivering enriching culinary experiences through Silversea’s S.A.L.T. program. In Portofino, travelers will sample authentic cooking with tasting experiences at the scenic eco farm, La Portofinese. Brand new expeditions aboard Silver Wind® to the most far-flung shores of the Atlantic Isles and Northern Africa add yet another dimension to Silversea’s Mediterranean sailings.
  • ENHANCED ITINERARIES IN THE GALAPAGOS: 26 VOYAGES ABOARD SILVER ORIGIN – Utilizing its more than 10 years of experience in the region, Silversea has enhanced its offering in the Galapagos Islands aboard Silver Origin®, introducing enriched itineraries for deeper immersion and two new destinations.
  • The North Central Itinerary: Silver Origin’s North Central itinerary will feature more time on the islands of Isabela and Fernandina in the summer 2025 season, and a new destination – Isla Lobos, San Cristobal – which offers opportunities for snorkeling with sea lions, paddle-boarding, and birding.
  • The Western Itinerary: in summer 2025, Silver Origin’s Western itinerary will include a call in Bahia Bowditch, a brand new destination for Silversea, in which guests can relax on a pristine, white-sanded beach and explore coastal trails to lagoons.
  • Inspired by the cruise line’s S.A.L.T. culinary program, guests on both Galapagos itineraries will be able to dine on authentic, local cuisine inside a lava tunnel in Santa Cruz. Travelers will also have more opportunities to dive and fish with local operators.
  • 14 VOYAGES TO THE ARCTIC & GREENLAND, INCLUDING SILVER ENDEAVOUR’S FIRST NORTHWEST PASSAGE CROSSING – Silversea has developed a deep and intimate knowledge of the Arctic and Greenland over many years, enabling unparalleled access to the regions’ most remote destinations. The cruise line has developed strong partnerships with local communities — in Coral Harbour, Qaqortoq, and Sisimut, for example — to offer travellers an authentic deep-dive into the local way of life. From May to August 2025, Silver Endeavour℠ and Silver Wind will undertake 14 voyages to rarely visited destinations, providing the chance to experience Inuit cultures, spot rare wildlife, and learn about some of the planet’s most remote environments through the enrichments of Silversea’s leading expedition experts. Silver Endeavour’s first crossing of the Northwest Passage is another highlight of the 2025 Arctic season, during which travelers will journey in the footsteps of many famous explorers over 24 days. With seamless return journeys, the new voyages include more opportunities to explore Svalbard at the best time of year, with nine itineraries ranging from seven to 18 days undertaken by two ships.
  • Other highlights of Silversea’s summer 2025 voyage collection include six voyages to the remote Kimberley region aboard Silver Cloud®; 36 voyages in Alaska aboard the region’s youngest ships; 26 sailings in Northern Europe aboard four ships; and much more.
Australia set for vibrant cruise season this summer
  • Australia will welcome around 70 cruise ships over the 2023-34 season, which is well above the 60 or so scheduled to visit in 2019-20,” Mr Katz said. “Together these ships will spend a total of 1848 port days in Australia – 18% more than in 2019-20 – resulting in billions of dollars in passenger spending in communities around the Australian coast.”
  • A total of 27 CLIA cruise lines will operate ships in Australian waters over the coming summer season and into 2024, including:
  • Azamara Cruises’ Azamara Journey will sail a variety of cruises in the region, arriving in Geraldton in mid-December then sailing the Great Australian Bight with visits to Albany, Esperance and Kangaroo Island before making her way across the Tasman for a series of New Zealand voyages. Journey will also be in Sydney Harbour over the New Year period and will cruise back through the Bight to Hong Kong as she departs Australia in late February. Azamara Onward will also sail in Australian and New Zealand waters from mid-February as a part of a World Cruise itinerary.
  • Carnival Cruise Line is offering fun for everyone with an array of exciting itineraries across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Carnival Luminosa arrives in Brisbane in October for her homeport summer season, while Carnival Splendor is based year-round in Sydney. Carnival Cruise Line delivers fun, memorable holidays to families and couples at great value.
  • Celebrity Cruises’ billion-dollar ship Celebrity Edge will debut in the region from December 9 for its inaugural sailing from Sydney. Itineraries offered onboard this award-winning resort at sea range from six to 13 nights, visiting an impressive collection of 22 ports across Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific, with departures from both Sydney and Auckland.
  • Coral Expeditions operates three Australian-flagged expedition ships in Australia – Coral Discoverer (72 pax), Coral Adventurer and Coral Geographer (120 pax) – which will offer small-group itineraries in the Kimberley, Great Barrier Reef, Tasmania, and the Torres Straits. In addition to an inaugural series of voyages in Asia on Coral Adventurer, Coral Expeditions will offer an extended season between October and March along the West Australian coast, South Australia, and New Zealand onboard Coral Geographer. This year celebrates the line’s 40th year of operations.
  • Crystal will return to Australia and New Zealand in December under the new guardianship of the A&K Travel Group. Following a multi-million-dollar refurbishment, Crystal Symphony will dock in Fremantle on December 6 on the first of five voyages in local waters including overnight stays in Adelaide, Sydney, Auckland and Melbourne for New Year’s Eve. Crystal Symphony will depart from Sydney on January 4 for a 68-night Grand Journey to Singapore via New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, northern and south-east Asia. Crystal Serenity will also visit Australia and New Zealand as a part of her 125-night 2024 World Cruise, arriving in Auckland on March 9 and departing Perth on March 27.
  • Cunard is looking forward a season filled with many highlights including the Great Australian Culinary Voyage featuring chef Karen Martini, the inaugural Sporting Greats and Wellness Voyage with sportsmen Brett Lee and Adam Goodes, as well as sailings to New Zealand, Queensland and the South Pacific. All three Cunard ships, Queen Elizabeth, flagship Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria will call into Australian ports.
  • NEW: Disney Cruise Line is bringing the magic of a Disney holiday to families and fans in Australia and New Zealand during its “Disney Magic at Sea” cruises from late October 2023 through February 2024. Sailing aboard the Disney Wonder, guests can enjoy unique itineraries ranging from two to six nights, departing from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland.
  • Heritage Expeditions offers bucket-list voyages aboard its luxurious 140-guest flagship Heritage Adventurer, sailing from New Zealand to the Subantarctic Islands of Australia and New Zealand, to Antarctica and the Ross Sea, along Australia’s iconic Kimberley coast, and around New Zealand’s three main islands. More intimate and in-depth New Zealand explorations around Fiordland, Stewart Island and Marlborough Sounds are offered on the luxurious 18-guest expedition yacht Heritage Explorer.
  • Holland America Line’s Noordam will kick off its Australia and New Zealand season from November to April, departing from both Sydney and Auckland. Travellers can choose from a range of enticing 7-14 day itineraries along the east coast of Australia and New Zealand, crossing the Tasman Sea. A January 27 sailing from Auckland to Sydney will feature the vibrant “Pub Choir” from Brisbane, known for their lively and participatory performances. As part of a global cruise itinerary, the line’s Zuiderdam will visit in January 2024.
  • Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Spirit will once again home port in Sydney and New Zealand from December  until March, offering a series of seven 12-day open-jaw itineraries, including a festive cruise where guests will celebrate Christmas Day at sea and New Year’s Eve in majestic Milford Sound. Two re-positioning cruises showcasing the South Pacific including Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Samoa Islands and French Polynesia will round out Norwegian Spirit’s 2023-24 local season. 
  • Oceania Cruises is preparing for a return to Australia and New Zealand with three ships sailing in local waters.  Insignia, Regatta and Nautica have been recently re-inspired as part of an ambitious OceaniaNEXT initiative. The fleet will cruise the coast of Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, and New Zealand with further stops in Kangaroo Island, Burnie, Darwin, and Melbourne. Twenty-two destination-intensive itineraries will begin or end in Australian ports, as well as several international voyages sailing through the region. The 656-guest Regatta will be the first to arrive in Broome on December 4.
  • P&O Cruises Australia will have nearly 90 sailings this summer, on its three ships Pacific Adventure, Pacific Encounter and Pacific Explorer, departing from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Auckland. Australia’s favourite cruise line will once again be taking guests on unforgettable holidays to explore their own backyard, and the South Pacific.
  • PONANT luxury expedition ships Le Lapérouse and Le Soléal have been operating in the Kimberley region since April this year, as well as the superyacht Le Ponant which is finishing her Kimberley season. Le Lapérouse will finish her Kimberley season early October before starting sailing in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Australia’s east coast and New Zealand’s Fiordlands, and the Chatham and Subantarctic Islands, before her return to the Kimberley for the 2024 season in April. Le Soléal will also remain in the region after October with itineraries in Melanesia, New Zealand and Micronesia. She will also operate two 21-night sailings to Antarctica’s Ross Sea from Dunedin in early 2024.
  • Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess will commence her maiden season in Australia from homeport Sydney on October 23. It will be the first time Princess has had two Royal-Class ships homeported in Sydney, where sister ship Majestic Princess will also be based. During this season, Royal Princess will sail on 14 voyages around Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
  • Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Explorer will return to Australia and New Zealand for the second time in December, offering 12 itineraries including a Festive Sailing from Sydney to Auckland and ports around New Zealand. Meanwhile, Seven Seas Navigator sails into Australia in December on her Singapore to Sydney New Year Down Under sailing, visiting Queensland ports on the way to Sydney.  She also visits New Zealand with two sailings in March including a South Pacific voyage from Papeete to Auckland and a journey to Australia and Bali on her Kiwi & Aussie Brilliance sailing.
  • Royal Caribbean is counting down to its biggest summer ever, with Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas returning to Australia to sail from Brisbane and Sydney. The season also welcomes Brilliance of the Seas for its first season down under, sailing from Sydney. Quantum will offer a choice of cruises between three and 13 nights exploring Queensland’s stunning coast and the untouched beauty of the South Pacific. Ovation will set sail on its fifth season in the region with a mix of 20 cruises, including sailings along New Zealand’s rugged coastline. Highlights of Brilliance’s season in Australia include new destinations for Royal Caribbean including Kangaroo Island and Gladstone.
  • NEW: Scenic Luxury Cruises will operate the ultra-luxury Scenic Eclipse II in Australia and the South Pacific region for the first time from April 2024. The new Discovery Yacht will enable guests to indulge at up to 10 dining experiences, eight bars and lounges, 550sqm Senses Spa with dedicated yoga and Pilates Studio, two vitality pools, spacious suites – all with verandas and butler service. Scenic Eclipse II is the first cruise operator to offer submersible underwater exploration in the Great Barrier Reef and the most expansive discovery program in the Kimberley region, with its two on board helicopters, providing guests with flightseeing experiences to unique landings, directly from the ship.
  • Seabourn cruises allow guests to experience bucket-list destinations while unwinding with stunning views from their suites. Seabourn Odyssey arrives in Auckland on November 23, before a summer of cruising from Sydney, exploring the wonders of Australia and New Zealand.
  • Silversea will bring Silver Muse, Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper to Australia from December to March. The ultra-luxury line offers almost three dozen voyages in Australia and New Zealand, including visits to Tasmania and destinations in the South Pacific region and Asia. Silversea’s cutting-edge ship Silver Nova will arrive in Australian waters at the end of 2024, with revolutionary sustainability credentials and culinary and wellness experiences.
  • NEW: Virgin Voyages, Richard Branson’s award-winning, exclusively adult cruise line, will make its debut in Australia this summer with the maiden arrival of Resilient Lady in December. Resilient Lady will sail around Australia and New Zealand, offering a mix of itineraries ranging from two to 14 nights from her new home port in Melbourne. In late March 2024, the ship will depart Australia for a 44-day repositioning cruise to Athens.
  • Windstar Cruises’ all-suite yacht Star Breeze will return to Australasian waters once again in 2023 in December and January, offering a raft of sailings where luxury, adventure and discovery converge to create the ultimate sailing experience, calling in on iconic gems, from the vibrant Sydney Harbour to the majestic Milford Sound.
  • APT Travel Group will offer voyages with APT aboard Ponant’s ships Le Laperouse and Le Jacques Cartier as part of their luxury expedition cruise program in the Kimberley, and new for 2024 the Travelmarvel brand will partner with Heritage Expeditions and their Heritage Adventurer under a charter program, also in the Kimberley, offering coastal cruising between Broome and Darwin.
  • Other CLIA cruise lines visiting Australian waters this season include Aida Cruises, Costa Cruises, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Hapag-Lloyd, Nicko Cruises, and P&O UK.

and more...

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