Captain Cook Cruises Amazing Christmas Party Specials

What better place for a staff Christmas party or to celebrate Christmas with your friends than on Sydney's picturesque Harbour, while enjoying delicious food and the incredible harbour views. Even more appealing is that Captain Cook Cruises is offering groups with a minimum of 6 people some amazing Christmas Party specials on board the MV Sydney 2000.  

Indulge in a two course Australian a la carte menu including tea and coffee, with personalised service and ambient music on the two-course Top Deck lunch cruise. The cruise is only $55 per adult, normally $77 per adult, Monday to Friday for groups of 6 people or more from 1 November to 24 December 2011. An open bar of Tooheys beer, Tyrell's still and sparkling house bottle wine and soft drinks is available for $19 per person.

For the ultimate long lunch party, groups can't go past Captain Cook Cruises three-course Top Deck Lunch Cruise. As well as enjoying a three course Australian a la carte lunch, table service and ambient music, guests also are treated to an open bar of Tooheys beer, Tyrell's still and sparkling house bottle wine and soft drinks. The three-course Top Deck Lunch Cruise is available Monday to Sunday from 1 November to 24 December 2011 and is $99 per adult, normally $112 per adult.

All lunch cruises depart Jetty 6, Circular Quay at 12.30pm returning at 2.20pm or 3.45pm or depart No.1 King Street Wharf at 12 noon, returning at 1.45pm or 3.30pm.

Throughout November and December, Captain Cook Cruises is operating a special Buffet Dinner cruise on MV Sydney 2000. The buffet features Virginia baked leg ham, roast turkey, Sydney rock oysters, king prawns, smoked salmon, a wide selection of salads and every Saturday night from 9.30pm guests are entertained by a DJ.

The Christmas Buffet Dinner cruise is $79 per person and operates Sunday to Friday from 13 November to 23 December 2011, departing No.1 King Street Wharf Darling Harbour at 7.30pm and returning at 10.00pm.  An open bar of Tooheys beer, Tyrell's house bottle wine (still & sparkling) and soft drinks is available for $25 per person.

The DJ & Christmas Buffet Dinner cruise is $99 per person and operates every Saturday night from 12 November to 17 December 2011, departing No.1 King Street Wharf Darling Harbour at 7.30pm and returning at 11.00pm.  An open bar of Tooheys beer, Tyrell's house bottle wine (still & sparkling) and soft drinks is available for $35 per person.

Parties can dance the night away to tunes of the Sydney 2000 band on the signature Captains Club Dinner, nightly on the Club Deck of the MV Sydney 2000. Passengers will enjoy magnificent views, a superb three-course contemporary Australian a la carte meal including tea and coffee an open bar of Tooheys beer, premium wines, Yellowglen Vintage Pinot Noir Chardonnay sparkling wine and soft drinks.

The Captains Club Dinner cruise is $125 per person, normally $168 per person and departs Jetty 6, Circular Quay at 7.00pm returning 10.30pm every Saturday and 9.30pm Sunday to Friday. The dinner cruises also depart No.1 King Street Wharf at 7.30pm, returning 11pm every Saturday and at 10pm Sunday to Friday.


For further information and bookings, please contact Captain Cook Cruises toll free from Australia on 1800 804 843; Int +61-2-9206 1111, Email: or visit www.captaincook.com.au.

Marry Me For Free at Tokoriki Island Resort, Fiji

Tokoriki Island Resort is offering all lovers the chance to get married or renew their vows with a free Kavuni Wedding package worth *AUD$960 if they stay for a minimum of six nights in a deluxe beach bure or sunset pool villa at the romantic boutique resort.

This deal is valid for sale until 31 March, 2012 and for travel from 15 January to 31st March, 2012.

The Kavuni Wedding or Renewal of Vows package is ideal for those wishing to tailor make their special day. The packages include flowers for the bride and groom – traditional flower leis and a floral tiara garland, floral welcome decoration in room on arrival, ceremony by a Minister, floral arch, band boy serenade during the ceremony, Champagne toast, three course dinner for two on the deck and a 10 minute relaxing head massage for the bride.

There is no nicer place than the adults only Tokoriki island Resort to get married or renew vows. Cast away on a secluded island on the most northern of the Mamanuca islands in Fiji, the boutique resort is ideal for couples or honeymooners seeking affordable luxury in paradise.

All bures and villas are nestled in lush tropical gardens, positioned beach front offering uninterrupted views of the stunning Pacific Ocean and are a fusion of Fijian architecture and modern luxuries and amenities expected in an upmarket island vacation.

Under the shade of the palm trees by day or beneath a blanket of stars on a private deck in the evening, dining at Tokoriki Island Resort is all part of the quintessential romantic honeymoon  experience.

Tokoriki Island Resort offers a range of activities, so honeymooners can do as much or as little as they please. The islands tropical environment lends itself perfectly to exciting water based activities or relaxing leisure pursuits.

For those seeking more adventure, Tokoriki offers scuba diving; game fishing, a Fijian culture village visit, guided snorkelling safaris, a sunset cruise and a private island picnic.

No honeymoon is complete without some pampering and Tokoriki Island Resort's newly built Spa will relax the mind and body. Managed by Senikai Spas Fiji, the beautiful and spacious facility features three individual couples' spa treatment bures with plantation timber shutters, high pitched traditional Fijian bure ceilings and a freestanding volcanic rock wall with gentle falling water and outdoor showers.

Upon arrival unwind in the open plan Spa Lounge with a relaxing foot ritual and then follow the stepping stones to the treatment bure where guests can indulge in therapeutic massage, pampering facials or a specially designed spa package. The Spa pamper is complete with a cleansing sorbet, enjoyed while relaxing on a chaise lounge.

Prices start at *AUD$3342.35 per bure for six nights in a deluxe beach bure and includes a free Kavuni Wedding package valued at *AUD$960.00. *Prices are based on conversion rate as at 14 September 2011

For further information Telephone: 07 5524 5222 or visit www.tokoriki.com


For booking and enquiries please contact: Fiona Wozney on P: 07 5524 5222 Email: sales@wrd.com.au

1996 - 2011: Cruise Passenger Magazine Celebrates 15 Years of Being in the World's Fastest-Growing Travel Business - Cruising!

The stats say it all - despite the GFC and despite the stale misconception that cruising is for fat old people, nearly half a million* Australians took a cruise last year, and those numbers are set to increase big time over the next 15 years.

Why? People are discovering that cruising in the 21st century is a holiday mode that has something for (almost) everyone.

As Grant Hunter, long-time MD of Classic International Cruises, tells Cruise Passenger magazine, "Cruising is no longer just for retirees. All demographic groups, particularly families, have embraced the all-inclusive nature, the value for money and the 'unpack once" advantages that cruising offers."

Looking to the future, industry expert Brett Jardine, GM of the International Cruise Council Australasia, says, "Statistics show Australian passenger numbers have grown by almost 20 per cent a year on average since 2002. That's a fantastic trajectory and we're expecting more growth over the next decade."

Cruise Passenger is the magazine of choice for all cruisers and discerning travellers looking to book exciting, new and different holidays. The Spring issue comes with the free annual River Cruise Guide: all you need to know about river voyages on the Nile, Yangtze, Mekong, Murray and more.

And, as always, Cruise Passenger is packed with fascinating features - the Spring issue includes:

* ADVENTURE: Sailing and scuba-diving in remote Fijian islands; voyage up the Mekong
* REGION SPOTLIGHT Freo, Geraldton, Albany - get to know a slice of Western Australia
* BORNEO, INDONESIA, PNG: Explore this region before it!s overrun by tourists
* MEDITERRANEAN VOYAGE: Snapshots from historic Greece, Malta and Italy
* PLUS: The latest in-depth ship, port and cruise line reviews

Cruise Passenger magazine has had a loyal following since its inception 15 years ago. Its founder, Gil McLachlan, CEO of the McLachlan Travel Group, says, "It is now indisputably the best cruise publication in the world."

Cruise Passenger magazine is available by subscription for $29.95 a year (call 1300 668 905,
www.cruisepassenger.com.au), at selected newsagents for $9.95 per issue and, for the first time, through ICCA travel agents across Australia.


Notes for Editors

Cruise Passenger magazine is Australasia"s number one publication for cruise enthusiasts. Launched in 1996, Cruise Passenger has a crew of highly experienced cruise-travel writers and each issue is packed full of must-read features on popular cruise regions, ocean, river and expedition cruising, land-based tour options, plus the chance to win thousands of dollars worth of fantastic prizes.


www.cruisepassenger.com.au


* According to statistics from the ICCA, 466,692 Australians took a cruise in 2010

Save hours on your travel research. Get brochures delivered to your door for free. Digital option too.

Wallaby joeys out for sanctuary's 10th birthday

Moonlit Sanctuary celebrates 10th birthday with dozens of cute wallaby joeys ... and free bag of wallaby food offer 'til Nov 17

Dozens of cute wallaby joeys have emerged on the newly opened Wallaby Walk at Moonlit Sanctuary on the Mornington Peninsula, just as this award-winning wildlife conservation park celebrates its 10th birthday.

The 250 metre-long Wallaby Walk is home to around 80 wallabies and kangaroos which live in a natural bush environment, but are tame enough to hand-feed.

To celebrate Moonlit's birthday – and those of the new joeys – visitors until November 17 will be given a free bag of special wallaby food so they can feed the wallabies and watch the joeys poking their heads out of their mothers' pouches.

"It's quite a sight," says Chief Ranger Michael Johnson. "The joeys perform some great antics as they wriggle around inside the pouches then suddenly pop their heads up or stick their legs out at very amusing angles."

Inspired by the work of famous British conservationist Gerald Durrell, Moonlit Sanctuary is now home to 50 Australian species, some rare and endangered, which live in 10 hectares of bushland.

Day entry to Moonlit Sanctuary costs $15 per adult and $7.50 per child. Coupons for the free wallaby food (valued at $2 per bag) can be downloaded at www.moonlitsanctuary.com

Visitors who plan to experience more of the Peninsula get the best value through the Mornington Peninsula Attractions Pass, which saves up to 45% on admission and bonuses at four attractions and includes discount offers at three more. The pass costs only $55 for adults (more than $100 full retail value), $40 for children, and can be purchased at www.emmp.net.au or at any participating attraction.

The Attractions Pass provides entry to Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park with a koala cuddle, Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Gardens, Cape Schanck Lighthouse, and Peninsula Hot Springs.

Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm, Box Stallion Winery and Rye Hotel all have a special 10% discount offer for pass holders.

Pass holders can also upgrade to the lantern-lit evening tour at Moonlit Sanctuary, when the park comes alive in a remarkable way.

Owls and other night birds are active, tiny feathertail gliders and giant yellow-bellied gliders swoop around, and rare and endangered species such as quolls, pademelons and bettongs forage for food.

Moonlit Sanctuary won the 2010 Victorian Tourism Award for Ecotourism. It was also voted Victoria's best wildlife park experience in the 2009 RACV survey to find Victoria's 101 best tourism experiences.

Contacts: www.moonlitsanctuary.com for free food voucher; www.emmp.net.au for Attractions Pass.

Abercrombie & Kent 2012 Brochure Launch - Africa, Egypt & Arabia

On the eve of its 50th anniversary, luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent is delighted to release its 2012 Africa, Egypt & Arabia Brochure. The bold sleek design reflects just how far the company has come since the early days of pioneering safaris in the African bush. The strong, imposing cover image provides an inkling of the style and calibre of travel presented within.

Core to A&K's success is the provision of seamless and inspiring travel experiences the world over, personally tailored to suit the individual and enhanced by unique Insider Access opportunities. A&K's experience ensures excellence and reliability, which means peace of mind and security for guests – A&K's most important commodity.  All of this is made possible by the wealth of knowledge and experience that the company's collective network brings with it – a handpicked staff of over 2,200 and 60 offices worldwide.

"In the 2012 collection we are pleased to present some exciting new travel ideas," says A&K Australia's Managing Director, Sujata Raman. "Perennial safari favourites such as Zambia and Botswana still feature prominently in our portfolio, as do destinations such as Oman and Israel. Sales to East Africa remain a key strength of our business, with A&K recording a 19% year on year increase in sales to Tanzania and an even more impressive 29% growth in business to Kenya."
 
After a tumultuous start to 2011, Raman is also pleased that Egypt is re-emerging as destination of choice for travellers. "A variety of Nile cruise options still remain the favoured way to experience Egypt - especially at this historic time when iconic sights are largely empty of visitors and the place exudes a distinct air of optimism."
 
What's new?

A&K rates multi-generational travel as an increasingly dominant trend. Providing for this, the company has released a family friendly safari in South Africa where wildlife encounters and tailored activities to suit children are part of the excitement at MalaMala Main Camp. A stay in Cape Town adds an urban slant with a cable car ride up Table Mountain, bread baking lessons and a cycling trip through the townships and a portfolio of family friendly safari lodges is also a new feature.

A&K's 'A Family Adventure in South Africa' from $6630 per adult and $3980 per child (based on family of 4).

In Egypt, family recommendations include sailing the Nile on a luxury cruise boat and searching for treasure in the Cairo bazaars or for a special family gathering an exclusive charter of A&K's dahabiya (traditional Egyptian vessel), a delightful alternative to a conventional Nile cruise.

Full 7 night charter onboard Zein Nile Chateau from $37,790.

In Central Africa, Uganda is one of the continent's most surprising destinations. A&K's new programme there includes a variety of different wildlife adventures from chimp observation and traditional game drives to tracking the endangered mountain gorillas of Bwindi.

A&K's 'Primates of Uganda' from $7,655.

 Guests looking to extend after a safari in East Africa have new choices including a short visit to an island camp on Lake Victoria in the far west of Kenya and a relaxing stay at Lake Malawi where the beach is beautiful white sand and the clear waters full of marine life.

A&K's 'Lake Victoria Extension' from $1,550 per person.

In Namibia a highly recommended add-on is the adventure to Serra Cafema in the far north-west of the country. The experience is about dramatic landscapes and the nomadic Himba culture.

A&K's 'Serra Cafema Extension' from $4,355 per person.

Zanzibar's Stone Town is another idyllic location for post-safari rest and relaxation.  Weathered Arabic buildings and fascinating sights give it a unique style.

A&K's 'Stone Town Extension' from $610 per person.

An exciting new addition to the portfolio is a Small Group Journey to Iran. With no more than 14 guests, there is just one exclusive departure and highlights include beautiful Isfahan, ancient Persepolis and the gardens and bazaars of Shiraz.

A&K's 'Pearls of Persia' departs October 2012 and is priced from $3,990 per person.

Lebanon is another fascinating destination open to A&K guests with an abundance of ancient sites including Byblos and Baalbek plus the cosmopolitan attractions of Beirut.

A&K's 'Jewels of Lebanon' from $3,535.

A new addition to the Jordan portfolio is a short stay at Ma'In Hot Springs where the beautiful resort oasis Evason Ma'In complete with Six Senses Spa is home for two nights.

A&K's 'Jordan in Depth' from $3,860.

Nearby the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea is another resort choice to experience the health-giving qualities of the mineral laden waters.

A&K's Dead Sea Extension from $795.

In Morocco there's a new coastal experience to add on to one of the longer explorations of the country combining the ancient port of Essaouira with the charming fishing village of Oualidia and bedding down in exquisite hotels.

A&K's 'Essaouira & Oualidia Extension' from $2,365.

To book or enquire further please contact Abercrombie & Kent on 1300 851 800 or www.abercrombiekent.com.au

Get Up & Go’s big fat Europe special

Get Up & Go magazine, Australia's premier travel magazine for grown-ups – 55 years and over - has just released its spring edition.

Planning for Europe now or in the near future? We've got some great places covered – cruise the Danube; get arty in Montmartre; learn the lingo in Italy; visit spicy Istanbul; tiptoe through tulips in Amsterdam; go Bohemian in Eastern Europe and find out just what Bruges is all about. We take you on a road trip in Ireland, a volunteering holiday in Thailand and we advise you on spending your kid's inheritance on the grandkids!

Full of flavour, fun, insight and inspiration – this big fat issue of Get Up & Go will get you going. Also WIN a marvellous holiday in Turkey – it can't get much better.

The again, maybe it can – head to the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, some glamour caves in Western Australia and a revitalised landscape in South Australia where the Murray has been well and truly 'topped up' after the rains.

Facebook – GetUpAndGoNow

Visit: www.getupandgo.net.au

Blog: http://getupandgomagazine.blogspot.com

 

 

MasterChef inspired cooking retreat at Byron

In celebration of the Peppers partnership with MasterChef Series 3, Peppers Coorabell Retreat in the peaceful Byron Hinterland is staging a two-night cooking discovery using the region's finest seasonal produce.

Designed and hosted by Head Chef Adam Hall and Leah Roland from the Bangalow Cooking School, the MasterChef inspired Culinary Experience and Food Education Package will be held November 2-4.

The package includes two nights twin-share accommodation, full breakfast daily, three-course dinner at Wilson's by the Creek, hosted local market tour and cooking school with three-course dinner and Foodscapes farm tour plus a take-home copy of the MasterChef Series 2 cookbook and a MasterChef apron.

Priced from $749* per person twin-share, the package will commence on Wednesday afternoon with a kitchen skills class, followed by a discussion of the ingredients and the cooking style of the evening meal at the picturesque Wilson's by the Creek restaurant.

After breakfast on Thursday morning, guests will accompany Chef Hall and Leah to the local farmers market to source the finest seasonal regional produce.

Then it's back to the retreat for a lunch of gourmet sandwiches and to prepare a three-course dinner.

During the cooking class, guests will unlock secret processes and techniques to preparing and cooking seasonal produce plus they'll have the chance to discuss all things food – taste, smell, colours and textures, sauces and accompaniments with Chef Hall.

To complete the ultimate foodie escape, guests will then be met by local tour guide Karen of Foodscapes and continue the discovery of the region with a tour of local farms and lunch along the way.

Peppers Coorabell Retreat is located just 20 minutes from Ballina, an hour south of Gold Coast Airport and two hours south of Brisbane's Domestic and International Airports.

Call 02 6684 7348 or email coorabell@peppers.com.au.

*Subject to availability.

SAMBA FROM RIO TO VENICE - WITH MSC CRUISES

Leading family-owned cruise line MSC Cruises has unveiled an exciting 22-night package which includes a19-day continent-to-continent voyage from vibrant Rio de Janeiro to romantic Venice.

Priced from $4573 per person, twin share, the hot fly/stay/tour/cruise holiday - from March 14, 2012 - includes economy class flight with Emirates from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth with two nights' accommodation in Rio's Copacabana.

A guided tour which focuses on the dominating 710-metre high peak Corcovado with its famous statue of Cristo Redentor or "Christ the Redeemer" and Sugar Loaf Mountain is followed by the cruise aboard MSC Musica, including calls on fascinating Brazilian ports Santos, Ilha Grande and Salvador.

After crossing the Atlantic, the luxury ship will call on Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, as well as Spain's Malaga, Palma in the Balearic Islands and Malta's Valletta before reaching Venice.

"It's a holiday of a lifetime," said Lynne Clarke, managing director of MSC Cruises (Australia and New Zealand), "at a price well below that you would expect to pay if you stayed in each of the ports," she added.

"When you consider all the inclusions and the fact that you are able to enjoy beautiful ports in Brazil and the Mediterranean in one holiday this package is sure to arouse much interest among Australian cruise fans."

Also included in the price are transfers, all main meals and entertainment while on board the ship, gala dinners and a captain's cocktail party, port charges and airport taxes and fuel charges. (Tour duration for travellers from Melbourne and Brisbane is 23 days due to return flight arrival the next day).

As with all cruises aboard MSC Cruises ships, children under 18 years cruise free when they share a cabin with two adults (pay only port charges).

Details: MSC Cruises, 1300 028502, www.msccruises.com.au

SOLO TRAVELLER SAVINGS WITH SILVERSEA

Silversea Cruises is offering exceptional savings for single travellers on two Australasian cruises departing January and February 2012 aboard the chic Silver Shadow. Solo travellers will enjoy a single supplement of just 10 per cent above the per-person, double occupancy fare, as well as a Passport to Luxury Onboard Spending Credit of US$500 per suite.

On 5 January 2012, a 15 day voyage will depart Auckland for Sydney. Along the way, Silver Shadow will visit Bay of Islands, Wellington, Akaroa, Port Chalmers (Dunedin) and Stewart Island, before cruising Milford and Dusky Sound and crossing the Tasman Sea to Hobart and Melbourne, where the ship will overnight to allow further time for exploration. Guests will enjoy fascinating enrichment lectures from one of Australia's best-known cinematographers, Pieter de Vries. All-inclusive cruise-only fares start from AU$9,685 per person, single occupancy.

Alternatively, on 4 February 2012, Silver Shadow will depart Auckland for Fremantle on a 19 day voyage, visiting Napier, Wellington and Picton in New Zealand, and Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Port Lincoln and Albany in Australia. Guests on this voyage will enjoy an enrichment line-up that includes gourmet expert Maggie Beer, hostage negotiator and humanitarian Terry Waite, and historian and world affairs expert Philip Hurst. All-inclusive cruise only fares start from AU$12,266 per person, single occupancy.

With a crew-to-guest ratio that is almost one to one, single guests will experience Silversea's highly personalised service, warm hospitality and a convivial ambiance. A welcoming champagne reception is hosted exclusively for solo guests aboard every Silversea voyage, and select voyages are escorted by Gentlemen Hosts, who are available as dance partners or dinner companions and will often participate in other shipboard activities as well as escort shore excursions.

Aboard Silver Shadow, guests will enjoy all-suite ocean-view accommodation and the renowned Silversea lifestyle which includes butler service; gourmet dining with Relais & Châteaux-designed menus; complimentary fine wines, spirits and Champagnes, and all gratuities.

For more information please contact Silversea Cruises on +61 2 9255 0600 or toll free 1300 306 872, or visit www.silversea.com

Shanti Bloody Shanti: An Indian Odyssey

 

Shanti Bloody Shanti: An Indian Odyssey ($25.95, Transit Lounge, November 2011) 

In the travel adventure Shanti Bloody Shanti, writer Aaron Smith flees his shady Australian past and travels to India where he encounters a murder mystery, witnesses the tragic death of a friend, dodges terrorist attacks and a revolution and befriends a colourful cast of fellow characters fit for a Bollywood flick. More than just a funny and warm 'coming of (middle) age' travel tale, Shanti Bloody Shanti allows the reader to sink into the paradox and beauty of India without drowning in sentiment. It's a bit like Sarah Macdonald's Holy Cow but more dramatic or Gregory David Robert's Shantaram but laugh out loud funny.

Author Aaron Smith is an ex-punk rocker and one-time policeman on the Australian television series Blue Heelers, a theatre and script writer, and ex-first world drop out who lived in the favelas of Rio di Janeiro. He works as a freelance journalist writing for a number of Australian and international publications, including most recently Australian Geographic, AG Outdoor, Australian Traveller, Forty Degrees South and The Mercury. Aaron also appears regularly on ABC Radio 936 to talk about travel. He is completing a Masters in Journalism at the University of Tasmania where he lives with his hard-headed no-nonsense Brazilian wife.