A WORLD OF CHOICES
A World Of Choices - Luxury Travel Magazine
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A World Of Choices | |||||
| By: Andrew Conway, Issue 26 - Autumn 2006 | |||||
| (World cruises) | |||||
| THIS YEAR’S WORLD CRUISE ITINERARIES WILL HAVE YOU SAILING ON A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY. | |||||
| Old cruise hands will confirm there’s no greater voyage than a World Cruise, and the leading luxury lines are pulling out all the stops next year to ensure the 2007 season is one to remember. Between January 2 and 15, a veritable armada of superliners will set sail from either Fort Lauderdale in Florida or Southampton in the UK and embark on a schedule of spectacular voyages of discovery that would make Marco Polo’s head spin. Some will be ‘maiden’ World Cruises – such as Cunard Line’s majestic Queen Mary 2 and Silversea’s ultra-luxury Silver Shadow – while others, notably Regent Seven Seas Voyager and Crystal Cruises’ dazzling new Crystal Serenity, will be the longest and most extensive ever undertaken by an ocean-going liner. Cunard’s legendary Queen Elizabeth 2 will embark on her 25th circumnavigation of the globe – a royal Silver Jubilee indeed – while others will explore exciting new ports in the Caribbean, South America, the South Pacific, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. A round-the-world voyage is the most leisurely and relaxing of all the great cruise options, allowing passengers to unpack once and let a roll-call of destinations slip by in supreme comfort, style and luxury, each port stamping its own unique character and culture on the ship as it calls into shore. All you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy. One of the world’s great luxury cruise lines, Regent Seven Seas, (formerly Radisson Seven Seas) has taken its clever promotional line, ‘Luxury Goes Exploring’, and turned it into a reality with the launch of Seven Seas Voyager’s 2007 World Cruise program. The longest and most extensive world cruise in the company’s history – covering 111 nights to 46 ports in 26 countries on five continents – the all suite, all-balcony, six-star Voyager will set new benchmarks in luxury cruising when she steams out of Fort Lauderdale on January 9 bound for the Caribbean, South America, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Asia, India, Middle East, Europe and back across the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale, arriving home on April 30. “The 2007 itinerary is a result of feedback from our past guests who are seeking a less traditional World Cruise yet a unique blend of wonderful destinations and cultures,” said Mark Conroy, President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “Taking these valued comments into consideration, we’ve ambitiously responded with an exceptional and exciting round-trip voyage from Fort Lauderdale with a return to Africa.” The sailing will also feature 14 overnight stays in the most popular ports, allowing guests ample time to explore both the immediate city sights plus the interiors of countries through optional multi-day overland tours. Passengers on board the 700-guest Seven Seas Voyager can take the full World Cruise – costing from US$54,995 in a Deluxe Suite to US$194,995 in the top Master Suite – single sectors or combination segments with the flexibility to create your own luxury cruise holiday. And the key word here is luxury, with Seven Seas Voyager boasting the largest standard suites afloat, at 356 square feet, and all the facilities you’d expect of a five-star city hotel or top-drawer resort at sea. This is luxury cruising at its best with private balconies in every suite, king-size beds, walk-in wardrobes, marble bathrooms, in-suite bar and fridge stocked with your favourite drinks, a welcome bottle of bubbly and fresh fruit on arrival, private butlers in the penthouse suites and above, and a staff to passenger ratio of 1 to 1.6, among the highest in the international cruising industry. Add single-seating dining in all four restaurants (as well as 24-hour in-suite dining), Cordon Bleu menus, complimentary fine wines with dinner, outdoor swimming pool, fully equipped gym, luxurious Carita Spa, library, golf nets, internet café, and a terrific on-board enrichment program with leading guest lectures, and the ports start to play second fiddle to the ship itself. Bookings and Details, Wiltrans on (02) 8247 7100, call toll-free 1800 251 174 or www.wiltrans.com.au | |||||
| AROUND THEWORLD IN 8 WAYS - SILVER SHADOW: The first-ever World Voyage by the ultra-luxury Silversea, departing Fort Lauderdale on January 15 and visiting 61 glamorous ports in 126 days. Wiltrans, 1800 251 174 or Cruise Brokers, 1300 880 943, www.silversea.com | |||||
| - QUEEN MARY 2: Embarking on her maiden World Voyage, QM2 will depart Fort Lauderdale on January 10 and set sail on an 81-night adventure visiting 19 fascinating ports on six continents. Cunard, 1300 725 417, www.cunardline.com.au | |||||
| - ORIANA: A 94-day circumnavigation of the globe, departing from Southampton in the UK on January 7 and visiting the Caribbean, Mexico, the South Pacific (including NZ and Australia) and Asia. P&O Cruises, 132 469, www.pocruises.com.au | |||||
| - AURORA: Sailing from Southampton two days after Oriana on January 9, sister superliner Aurora will embark on a 103-night grand voyage, including South America, the Pacific, Asia and Mexico. P&O Cruises, 132 469, www.pocruises.com.au | |||||
| - CRYSTAL SERENITY: This 109-day World Cruise from Miami to Southampton, departing on January 12, will visit 44 ports in 27 countries and be the most extensive voyage in Crystal Cruises' history. Wiltrans, 1800 251 174, www.wiltrans.com.au | |||||
| - AMSTERDAM: A 33,400-nautical mile, 104-night voyage departing from Fort Lauderdale on January 15, and taking in 38 ports in 26 countries as well as the Panama and Suez canals. Travel The World, (02) 8296 7072, www.traveltheworld.com.au | |||||
| - QUEEN ELIZABETH 2: Celebrating her 25th World Cruise, the majestic QE2 will sail from Southampton on January 2 on a 108-night Silver Jubilee odyssey around the world to 41 exciting ports. Cunard, 1300 725 417, www.cunardline.com.au | |||||
| - SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER: Departing from Fort Lauderdale on January 9, the 700- guest, all-balcony suite superliner will embark on a 111-night voyage of discovery to 45 ports in 26 countries. Wiltrans, 1800 251 174, www.wiltrans.com.au | |||||
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