Cunard’s 2022 Season Down Under Offers Luxury Voyages to Explore Australia, South Pacific and Japan

Queen Elizabeth based in Australia for a record 124 days

Luxury cruise line Cunard has announced its 2021 / 2022 collection of voyages, which will allow guests to explore even more inspirational destinations on board the famous Cunard fleet.

Queen Elizabeth returns to Australia for her longest season yet, spanning 124 days from November 2021 to March 2022. Guests can experience unique itineraries including Cunard’s sought after Christmas voyage, the line’s inaugural Fiji and South Pacific round trip, and breath-taking voyages around Japan. Queen Elizabeth’s Australian season finishes with the renowned Royal Rendezvous giving people a rare opportunity to witness Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria, when they meet in Sydney Harbour on March 2, 2022.

Cunard Australia’s Commercial Director, Katrina McAlpine said she was very excited to welcome Queen Elizabeth back for yet another record deployment Down Under with exciting new voyages around Australia, Fiji and the South Pacific and Japan.

The return of Queen Elizabeth, one of the world’s most famous ships, for a record 124 days is testament to Australia’s growing importance to Cunard as the line’s third largest international source market,” Ms McAlpine said.

“Queen Elizabeth is going to 11 different Australian destinations making a total of 30 calls to those ports, she is also making 27 calls across 10 New Zealand ports, injecting upwards of $34m into the Australian and New Zealand economies combined.”

Queen Elizabeth’s home port season includes multiple exciting maiden calls for the ship including Lautoka and Suva in Fiji and also features Cunard’s first call to Eden in NSW.

At the end of the Australian season in March, Queen Elizabeth will travel north to Japan via Southeast Asia. The voyage includes a variety of exotic and iconic destinations such as Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Shanghai and a maiden call to Beijing.

For more information about Cunard and the newly announced voyages, that are bookable from December 18, please visit www.cunard.com.

Luxury cruise ship, Silver Muse inaugural arrival in Hobart

Today, ultra-luxury cruise line, Silversea Cruises, is celebrating the inaugural arrival of its fleet’s iconic flagship Silver Muse into Hobart, following her return to the region earlier this month. Led by Australian, Italian Captain, Alessandro Zanello, the arrival marks the first of a number of maiden calls that Silver Muse will be making during her second, extended season in the region.

Adam Armstrong, Managing Director – Australia and New Zealand, Silversea Cruises, said,

“We are continuing to increase the range of unique destinations on offer to our guests and we are thrilled to add Hobart to Silver Muse’s itineraries this season. The majority of guests travelling onboard this voyage are international visitors and I have no doubt that they will be thrilled with what is on offer as we showcase the very best of our region. We are absolutely committed to the growth of the Australia and New Zealand market, which we expect to soon become our second biggest market globally, and Silver Muse will be making a number of maiden calls this season, including in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.” 

The luxurious Silver Muse will stay in the Australia-Pacific region until the end of March and will make a total of three calls in Hobart during this time. Whilst in Hobart, Silversea’s guests can choose from a number of optional excursions, including a half-day sightseeing excursion by air and sea; an exclusive early-evening sightseeing excursion to the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary; a scenic and invigorating, half-day kayaking excursion in the picturesque harbour; a relaxing, half-day golfing excursion; and a leisurely, half-day culinary excursion of the Coal Valley with tastings at a renowned oyster farm and winery.

Since her inaugural season in the region last year, a number of enhancements have been implemented to upgrade the already exceptional culinary offering on board Silver Muse. In addition to receiving chilled champagne in their suites upon embarkation, guests now have complimentary sustainable Ars Italica caviar at their fingertips 24 hours per day. Comprising between 50 and 70 labels, the largest complimentary wine list at sea has also been upgraded, as Silversea adds more variety to its industry-leading selection, including more regional options to immerse guests in the culinary culture of sailed regions.

Silver Muse offers uncompromising levels of comfort, service and quality for the world’s most discerning travellers. On board, guests experience enhanced small-ship intimacy, spacious all suite accommodations, expansive outdoor spaces and the most comprehensive choice of dining options at sea with eight venues, including specialty choices such as Kaiseki and Indochine, plus 24-hour complimentary dining options throughout the ship. The all-suite vessel carries up to 596 guests in all-inclusive luxury with butler service in all suites.

In 2020, Silver Muse will return to Hobart on 22 January and 8 March, and in 2021 she will return on 14 February. Further reinforcing the cruise line’s commitment to Tasmania, Silver Muse will sail into Burnie on 30 December 2019, and on 20 January, 12 February, 7 and 27 March, 12 November and 23 December in 2020.

For more information on Silver Muse’s voyages to Hobart, visit here.

For more information on Silver Muse’s voyages to Burnie visit here.

Norwegian Jewel returns for third local season

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, is celebrating the return of Norwegian Jewel ‘Down Under’, with the ship entering Sydney Harbour for her third Australasian sailing season over the weekend.

Having undergone a multi-million-dollar, bow-to-stern refurbishment in late 2018, Norwegian Jewel has officially commenced her 2019/2020 local cruising season that will see her explore stunning regional ports-of-call including Milford Sound, Akaroa, Picton, Wellington, Eden, Melbourne and Brisbane, to name but a few.

Norwegian Jewel recently underwent a revitalisation as part of NCL’s Norwegian Edge® fleet refurbishment program, reaffirming the company’s commitment to elevating the standard of excellence across its fleet.

Joined in regional waters by Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Spirit; set to undergo an over US$100 million refurbishment, the company’s most extensive bow-to-stern renovation to date, Norwegian Jewel will give both local and short haul AU/NZ fly-cruise travellers even greater access to NCL’s unrivalled freedom and flexibility, world-class dining, award-winning entertainment, immersive itineraries, extensive on-board activities and wide range of accommodation options.

“Local cruisers have really embraced Norwegian Jewel, and with thanks to our valued trade partners, bookings since her first Australasian season in 2017 have exceeded all expectations - one of the key reasons she has already been confirmed for a 2020/21 local sailing season. The additional deployment of the soon-to-be refurbished Norwegian Spirit to Asia further demonstrates NCL’s long-term commitment to providing next level experiences for local cruisers, while continuing to strengthen and elevate our presence in the Asia Pacific region,” said Ben Angell, Vice President and Managing Director Norwegian Cruise Line APAC.

“The recent launch of our newest vessel, Norwegian Encore, the extensive refurbishment of Norwegian Spirit in early-2020, as well as the introduction of six new Leonardo class ships to our fleet from 2022 makes this a truly exciting time for the company both on a regional and international level,” added Mr. Angell.

Norwegian Jewel provides guests access to endless opportunities, with onboard amenities including 16 high quality dining options, ranging from Teppanyaki and sushi to French, Italian, Brazilian and pub classics, as well as a choice of 15 bars and nightclubs, boutique shopping, a library and video arcade. Outdoors, there are swimming pools, hot tubs, jogging tracks, a basketball and tennis court, as well as the Mandara Spa, and a state-of-the-art fitness centre.

With NCL renowned for award-winning entertainment, Norwegian Jewel returns with two amazing shows for guests, ‘Rock You Tonight’, packed with 70s hits from the likes of Queen, Journey and The Who, and exclusive Australian hit musical ‘Velvet’, featuring disco classics, circus acrobatics and cabaret.

During her 2019/20 season, Norwegian Jewel will embark upon scenic Australia and New Zealand voyages, including a 14-day itinerary departing Sydney on 6 December, visiting Dunedin, Marlborough (Picton) and the Bay of Islands and a 14-Day itinerary departing Sydney on 20 December where she’ll be calling on Eden, Burnie and Auckland. February 2020 sees Norwegian Jewel heading to the South Pacific for some immersive itineraries before heading across to Alaska for the 2020 North America summer season.

For more information or to book a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line, please contact a travel professional; call NCL in Australia on 1300 255 200 or in New Zealand on 0800 969 283; or visit www.ncl.com