Great deals from ecruising.travel

Hi Cruisers,

What a week, can you believe what happened yesterday in Canberra, one good thing to come out of it, The Australian dollar has risen today!

Mekong Magic has sold like hot cakes in the last week and we now only have one Superior cabin left! Better get in quick if you want it – call Ian on 1300 369 848 or click here for details.

Coast to Coast has also sold well with only a few cabins left, it’s a great holiday and an amazing price, $181.00 a day for just about everything, I’d say never to be repeated in fact! Click here for details.

Have you got plans for September yet? If not – join Dawn Princess from Rome to Sydney on this 39 night package. Sailing 4 September 2013, you’ll begin with a 2 night stay at the Sofitel Rome before joining Dawn Princess on a 37 night voyage as she returns to Australia. You’ll cruise to Livorno in Italy followed by Cannes, Barcelona, Marseille & Malta before leaving Europe and transiting the Suez Canal.

You’ll then spend a day in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and then Aqaba (Petra) in Jordan. Salalah in Oman is next as you leave the Middle East on the way to Asia. Calling in on the Sub-Continent, you’ll visit Mumbai in India as well as Colombo in Sri Lanka. Closer to home, you’ll stop at Kuala Lumpur and finally Darwin before disembarking in Sydney. Lots of great ports and plenty of sea days as well! All from $5,699.00 for an inside or $8,049.00 for an oceanview! Click here for details

The ultra exclusive SeaDream II will be in Asia this year and they’ve announced plans for a very special excursion to visit the ancient temples of Bagan in Myanmar (Burma). This 18 night package sails from Phuket 8 Dec 2013, but first you’ll have a 3 night stay at the amazing Banyan Tree before boarding your ‘Yacht’ for 13 nights of luxury and adventure.

Being a small ship (just 4,260grt and 100 passengers) you’ll visit some unique ports such as Lanta Yai & Racha Yai Islands in Thailand and Pila Kyun Island in the Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar before you arrive in Yangon (Rangoon) for a 3 day call. After breakfast on the second day, you’ll be taken to the airport for a short flight to Bagan.

Bagan was one of the first capitals of an ancient Burmese empire and today is one of the world’s major
heritage sites. With thousands of pagodas and temples dating back more than 1,500 years, ancient Bagan
rivals the temples of Angkor and is one of Southeast Asia’s most memorable sights.

You’ll see numerous temples & pagodas, visit a local village and even enjoy a short ride by local horse & cart at sunset to see the Sunset Temple! You’ll spend the night at Aureum Palace Hotel before returning to Yangon & SeaDream II. You’ll then cruise to Thahtay Kyu, the Similan Islands, Phi Phi Don Island, Langkawi & Pangkor Island before disembarking in Singapore for a 2 night stay at the iconic Raffles Hotel. Oceanview from $12,459.00. Remember – ‘It’s Yachting not Cruising’! Click here for details

Cruising onboard True North is another unforgettable experience and a great way to get a taste of the True North style is with this 8 night cruise from Adelaide departing 15 January 2014. After being collected from your accommodation, you’ll be driven to the famed McLaren Valley wine region where you’ll spend the morning visiting art galleries & local farmers markets and of course wine-tasting followed by a gourmet lunch. Then you will have a scenic drive to meet the ship for welcome cocktails as you cruise to Kangaroo Island and beyond.

Your cruise will take you to some amazing places both on and off shore. You can dive with Great White Sharks (optional!), explore the Gambier Islands, swim with giant southern blue-fin tuna, visit Port Lincoln’s commercial fishing industry, eat the famous Coffin Bay oysters (in Coffin Bay of course) plus any number of included activities along the way. After disembarking in Ceduna, you’ll be flown back to Adelaide by light aircraft for the conclusion of your adventure. A truly unforgettable experience from $6,999.00! Click here for details

Variety Cruises offers a range of unique cruises around Europe on board their fleet of small vessels. Experience it for yourself with this 10 night Classical Greece package departing from Athens 25 April 2014. As well as a 3 night stay at the Royal Olympic Hotel, you’ll enjoy a 7 night cruise on the 55 metre long, 46 passenger Motor Yacht Harmony V.

You’ll cruise to Kea, Delos, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Kythira, Monemvasia, Nafplion & Hydra before disembarking back in Athens. Given the intimate nature of the ship and the fact that there is such a small number of people on board, you get to experience the local cultures in a way that you never would with a floating resort ship! Package including flights with Emirates from $5,779.00! Click here for details

Seabourn is bringing Legend to Asia later this year and here’s a great way to take advantage of the repositioning cruise savings! This 22 night package departs Athens 20 October 2013 and begins with 2 nights at the Royal Olympic before you join Seabourn Legend on an 18 night cruise to Dubai.

After Transiting the Suez Canal, you’ll visit Hurghada in Egypt and Aqaba in Jordan. Next you’ll spend 2 days in Safaga so you can visit Luxor and the Valley the Kings. Next, you’ll spend some time at sea on your way to Salalah & Khsab in Oman before you arrive in Dubai for a 2 night stay at Raffles before your flight home. True indulgence from $6,999.00 for an oceanview suite or $7,799.00 for a balcony suite! Click here for details

Holland America’s ms Prinsendam is heading for the Black Sea & the Aegean in October and this looks to be one not to be missed! This 28 night package onboard the former Seabourn Sun & Royal Viking Sun begins in Athens with 2 nights accommodation before you head off to Volos in Greece then through the Bosphorus into the Back Sea to Sinop in Turkey, Sochi in Russia, Sevastopol in the Ukraine, Constanta in Romania & Nessebur in Bulgaria.

Next you’ll have an overnight call in Istanbul, back to Athens and on to Dubrovnik in Croatia. Then you’re off to Corfu, Katakolon, Santorini & Rhodes in Greece as well as Kusadasi in Turkey. A visit to Mykonos is followed by a further stop in Istanbul and Lesbos culminating in 2 nights alongside in Athens before your flight home. Oceanview from $6,729.00, Deluxe veranda from $9,559.00! Click here for details

We’ve got more great seniors specials on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas. This particular 33 night Sydney roundtrip departs 24 October 2013 and showcases the best of cruising Australia and New Zealand. You’ll head north to Brisbane, Airlie Beach & Darwin before making a stop in Bali. Sailing south, you’ll stop at Port Headland, Geraldton & Fremantle.

Eastbound and you’ll cruise to Esperance, Adelaide & Melbourne before crossing the Tasman to Milford, Dusky & Doubtful Sounds, Dunedin, Akaroa Wellington and finally Picton before returning to Sydney. A comprehensive month or so from just $3,689.00 for an inside, $4,449.00 for an oceanview or $6,789.00 for a balcony! Click here for details

For a different ‘Down Under’ perspective, join Celebrity Solstice & the Indian Pacific on this 25 night package departing 3 February 2014. You’ll fly to Auckland where you’ll have 2 nights at the Stamford Plaza before joining Solstice for an 18 night cruise to Fremantle. After calling in at the Bay of Islands, you’ll also stop at Akaroa, Dunedin & cruise Fjordland National Park.

Back over to Australia and you’ll visit Melbourne, Adelaide & Esperance before disembarking in Fremantle where you’ll have 2 nights at the Esplanade Hotel. Making your way to Perth railway station, you’ll then board the famous Indian Pacific for a 3 night journey across the country to Sydney travelling in the newly upgraded Gold Class which now includes all beverages as well as en-route ‘Off Train Excursions’ at Kalgoorlie, Adelaide & Broken Hill on the way to Sydney. Insides from $4,469.00 or verandas from $5,279.00 Click here for details

Sun Princess will be cruising to Asia from Fremantle in September and we’ve got some great last minute fares on this 26 night cruise departing 3 September 2013. You’l head up to Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, Phuket, Singapore, Saigon, Sihanoukville (Angkor Wat, Cambodia), Bangkok, Koh Samui & Lombok before returning to Fremantle. A great way to warm up after winter! Insides from $3,269.00, oceanview from $3,959.00 or balconies from $5,439.00! Click here for details

Brett & the ecruising team