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FLY-CRUISE REPORT

Flights of fancy

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FLY-CRUISE REPORT

With more international options than ever, there’s no reason to limit yourself to local cruises.

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Villefranche Sur Mer, in the French Riviera.

ustralia has the world’s highest proportion of cruise travellers by population. Now, more and more cruisers are opting to fly to destinations further afield to take their journeys.

Last year, over 400,000 Australians took fly-cruise holidays – almost a quarter of all Australian cruisers.

In the same year, Asia surpassed the Mediterranean as our number-one ocean destination for fly-cruise, with the allure of new ships and exotic ports.

Royal Caribbean homeports enormous ships in Asia and offers itineraries between Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China and Japan. Smaller lines also sail in the region, including Star Clippers which regularly visits remote and idyllic places in the Andaman Sea. Europe is the second most popular ocean region for Aussies to fly to – whether it’s a MSC cruise from Venice to Rome, or a transatlantic London to New York voyage aboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, there are so many opportunities to discover the different facets of Europe.

The rivers are still a big year-round drawcard for Australians, with more than 60,000 cruising the Rhine, Rhone, Danube, Douro and Volga Rivers, among others.

Hawaii, mainland USA, Mexico, and the Caribbean collectively attracted 59,000 Australian ocean cruisers last year, drawn by classic warm-weather cruise itineraries.

Meanwhile, Alaska’s burgeoning expedition cruise scene attracted 37,000 adventurous Australians.

So if you’re looking for a holiday outside Australia and New Zealand, there are plenty of destinations out there waiting to be discovered.

Read on to check out some of the best places you can fly to and cruise from... cruisepassenger.com.au

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FLY-CRUISE REPORT

THE ASIAN TIGER ROARS This is the region luring the most Aussies, and with good reason, writes Teresa Ooi.

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sia is flying high. It has returned as Australia’s number one long-haul fly-cruise ocean destination with the latest figures showing 97,000 passengers travelled to Asia for their 2017 holidays.

Whether it is the lure of the Eastern mystique or the region’s dramatic UNESCO heritage sites or even the varied cuisine, Southeast Asia is irresistible to the 97,000 Aussie travellers who headed to the region for an ocean holiday last year. And that’s not even counting the thousands of Australians who took a river cruise somewhere in the continent.

So how did Asia, in particular Southeast Asia, get it so right?

For a start, there are now more and better ships – 66 were deployed in Asian waters last year, five of them mega ships carrying over 3,500 passengers each, and many of them were new or had been recently refurbished.

Another factor which helped grow the Australian fly-cruise market was the cheaper and increased numbers of flights to various cities in Asia.

Plus, some passengers found they could book cruises in Asia on the dates they wanted at more attractive prices than at home.

Princess Cruises, which sails out of Singapore, has a strong following among Australians who often book back to back journeys to explore more of the region. This season, Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess will together offer 45 itineraries visiting Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea and Taiwan.

Another growth area is Asia’s rivers, where companies such as APT, Avalon and Scenic are increasing the numbers of luxury ships on the Mekong, Irrawaddy and Ganges, which offer passengers exciting immersive experiences.

The Lion City leads / Singapore has always been at the forefront of the cruise industry and it’s the main hub for ocean-based Southeast Asian holidays. Singapore’s commitment to cruise has seen it embark on several initiatives including the partnership between international cruise lines, Changi Airport and the Singapore Tourism Board to promote fly cruise. In 2019, Jewel Changi Airport will be launched. Located in front of Singapore Changi Airport’s Terminal One, Jewel will have a range of facilities including a multi-model transport lounge offering baggage transfer services for fly-cruise passengers. The Lion City has two cruise terminals: Marina Bay Cruise Centre which is home to bigger lines including the world’s largest Oasis-class ships, and Singapore Cruise Centre which caters for smaller lines such as Azamara, Crystal, Hapag-Lloyd and Regent Seven Seas.

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CRUISE PLUS: FLY-CRUISE

WHERE TO FLY Singapore Bangkok Kuala Lumpur Manila Ho Chi Minh City Bali Phuket Kota Kinabalu Hong Kong Taipei Tokyo Incheon/Seoul Shanghai Siem Reap

Land of the rising cruise popularity

ASIA

Japan Myanmar Cambodia Vietnam Singapore

/ Japan has the power to enthral even the most jaded traveller. Its unique blend of mountains, ancient temples, shrines, castles and natural hot springs with mega cities, robots and modern design has made Japan one of the hottest travel destinations.

Increasing numbers of international cruise lines are heading to Japanese ports and while Tokyo remains popular, ships are calling at other ports including Beppu, Kagoshima, Hakodate and Kanazawa for a slightly more off-the-beaten track experience.

The best times to cruise Japan are cherry blossom season in late March and early April, when the whole country goes on flower-viewing picnics, and October, when the autumn foliage turns the countryside spectacular shades of red and gold.

Rivers banking it / To experience Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, more and more Australians are opting for a leisurely cruise on the mighty Mekong, the Irrawaddy and the Chindwin. Cruising is by far the best way for passengers to get off the tourist trail and see the region through the eyes of the locals. Lines such as APT, Pandaw, Scenic and Viking offer immersive itineraries with specifically designed vessels. Other rivers in Asia with cruise itineraries include the Yangtze in China and the Ganges in India.

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CRUISE PLUS: FLY-CRUISE

WHERE TO FLY Amsterdam Dusseldorf Barcelona London Moscow Paris Rome Copenhagen Stockholm Milan Athens

Crystal clear waters and sunny weather / The temperate weather, cultural sites, great food and beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean make it a stunning region to cruise. No wonder 61,000 Australians took an ocean cruise in the area last year. Cruises of the western Mediterranean call at eclectic Barcelona, Marseille, France’s oldest city known for bouillabaisse; Monte Carlo with its fast cars and large yachts; and Rome, which visitors often fly in and out of. From Rome, ships also cruise to the islands of Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica on shorter itineraries to explore fishing villages and indulge in local specialties. Eastern Mediterranean voyages stop in ports including bustling Athens, UNESCO-accredited Corfu, scenically dramatic Santorini and party town Mykonos in Greece; Dubrovnik, Croatia where much of Game of Thrones was shot; ultra-romantic Venice, Italy; and medieval Kotor, Montenegro. Whether it’s a large cruise ship from Carnival Cruise Line, a smaller Viking Ocean Cruises vessel or an ultra-luxe line like Seabourn, there are so many different ways to cruise this beautiful, laid-back part of the world.

Scandinavia

EUROPE

France Spain

Mediterranean

FLY-CRUISE REPORT

FOOD, FASHION AND FABULOUS RIVERS Europe’s still got major cruise appeal, writes Bernadette Chua

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urope offers such a vast variety of experiences, from rivers and beaches to soaring cathedrals and castles, that it is still Australia’s favourite overall cruise destination.

The close proximity of Europe’s historic sites and beautiful cities makes it the perfect long-haul fly-cruise holiday destination.

Some 86,000 Australians cruised the oceans of Europe last year. Add the region’s rivers and you have almost 200,000 passengers.

The Mediterranean, which once was the most popular destination for Aussies, has major cruise lines sailing some of their largest ships in the region, offering itineraries such as a Western Mediterranean round-trip cruise departing Barcelona, for luxurious destinations such as Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, Pisa, Rome, and Naples.

Some luxury lines such as Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Ponant and smaller companies like Peregrine and Katarina also offer bespoke itineraries around Croatia and Greece.

The Dalmatian Coast is particularly popular for small-ship cruising with ports such as Split, Hvar, Mljet Island and the walled city of Dubrovnik.

Further north are the less-touristed coasts of the Baltic States and beautiful Scandinavia, which also acts as the gateway to an Arctic adventure from Norway.

River cruisers still love holidays through the heartland of France, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Portugal, with their picturesque villages, local food, and specialty wines, while Russia’s waterways are drawing travellers keen to learn about the biggest country in the world.

Riding the rivers

Vikings, herrings and Scandinavian design / The Baltics and Northern Europe caught the eye of 25,000 Australian ocean cruisers in 2017 and with more lines sending ships, there is a lot more on offer in the Viking region. Cruises in the Baltic Sea will stop at cities such as Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallinn with their spired churches, museums and cobbled streets. On the other side of the continent, a popular voyage is a northward sailing from the town of Bergen, famous for its colourful houses, through the narrow Norwegian fjords to Trondheim, and ending in the Arctic Circle. The major appeal of this itinerary is the opportunity to see the majestic Northern Lights.

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/ Visiting the heartland of Europe is best done by river, sipping Champagne as you sail past castles and wineries on your luxury vessel. The most popular European river cruise is Amsterdam to Basel, as it stops at ports including Dusseldorf, Cologne and Koblenz to explore historic cities, local produce markets and enticing wineries. Russia’s Volga River is fast becoming a new destination for river die-hard river cruisers where guests will see the impressive cities of Moscow and St Petersburg as well as smaller villages and towns such as Kizhi and Uglich. Lines offer tours and experiences in each port, making it a truly immersive travel style.

FLY-CRUISE REPORT

NORTH AMERICA The incredible allure of Alaska / The most exciting thing in expedition cruising right now is the Alaskan and Canadian itineraries that are taking passengers on adventures in icy climes. Bigger, better ships like Ovation of the Seas and Norwegian Bliss are now sailing there. Most voyages depart from Vancouver or Anchorage, and the most popular itinerary is Alaska’s Inside Passage, through the islands that dot the region from British Columbia to southeast Alaska, visiting small towns, national parks and massive glaciers. The other most popular tour is through the Gulf of Alaska, between Vancouver and Seward, with stops at ports such as Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Sitka. Cruising in this region is some of the most scenic in the world, and as you glide serenely past glaciers, you’ll encounter whales, dolphins, seals and seabirds. These voyages also introduce guests to the culture of indigenous communities. More luxury players are entering the market, and cruisers are enjoying adventure travel in comfort.

The birthplace of cruise / The Caribbean is the birthplace of modern-day leisure cruising, and the pristine beaches, exotic ports and tropical weather draw almost 30,000 Australians to the region every year.

Beyond that, however, is the fascinating mix of African, European and Asian cultures, the lively local music scene and the unique local cuisines. Some of the most popular ports are Barbados, with its nightlife and pink sand beaches; St Lucia, which draws active cruisers looking to scuba dive and hike; Jamaica, where the dance hall music and flavourful cuisines are just as important as the beaches; and, of course, Cuba, which is currently undergoing a fascinating tourism resurgence.

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Alaska WHERE TO FLY Halifax Vancouver Los Angeles San Francisco Seattle Miami New York Buenos Aires Rio de Janeiro Santiago New York

FLY-CRUISE REPORT

THE REGION THAT HAS IT ALL Stretching across both hemispheres, the Americas have everything, writes Hannah Warren.

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rom the wilds of Alaska in the north to the mountains of Patagonia at the southern tip, the Americas offer immeasurable variety when it comes to cruising.

The Caribbean, to the east, is an iconic destination for the US cruising industry, with its lush tropical islands; while, to the west, the coast of Ecuador lures expedition travellers to the rocky outcrops of the Galapagos Islands.

Cruises on both the coasts of the USA and Canada hit big, exciting cities such as Halifax, Vancouver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami and New York, from where the classic transatlantic voyage to London departs aboard Cunard’s QM2.

Inland, US river cruises meander through the Dixie heartland of the deep south, or the canal routes of historic New England.

The exotic South American ports hug the coast from Lima to Valparaiso in the west and Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro in the

east: rich in music, dance, art and ancient history. In the centre of the continent, cruises on the mighty Amazon take you deep into the jungle for an unmatched adventure experience. And in the very south, Ushuaia is the launching point for Antarctica cruises.

Most cruises in the Americas, whether river or ocean, can be combined with immersive land tours to make the most of trips to this wild and weird region. Pre-Colombian ruins in South America, classic US road trips, the Rocky Mountain rail journey or wine and food discovery tours are all popular additions to a ship trip in the Americas.

Together, the Americas and the Caribbean drew almost over 100,000 Australian fly-cruise travellers in 2017, most to Alaska followed by North America and the Caribbean. As the style of cruising and options grow ever more varied, that number is only increasing.

Caribbean SOUTH AMERICA

Amazon

Welcome to the jungle / The Amazon River is the world’s second-longest waterway, and the Amazon Basin covers an area larger than Western Europe. It’s no surprise then, that the biodiversity of the region is unmatched. More than a third of the world’s animal species live in the river and the rainforest around it – monkeys, sloths, pink dolphins, manatees, otters, piranhas and jaguars all make their home here. As well as wildlife, you’ll encounter isolated villages that see few travellers, where you’ll learn about local cultures and languages. You can choose to sail the Amazon in Brazil, starting in Manaus or Rio de Janeiro, or in Peru from Iquitos down smaller tributaries.

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