Tag Archives: Australasia

Explora Announces Winter 2024-25 Program for Explora I

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Explora Journeys today announced its itineraries for the autumn and winter 2024-25 season of Explora I, according to a press release.

Featuring 23 journeys and two grand journeys between September 2024 and April 2025, the itineraries will encompass 73 different destinations in 24 countries, the company said in a statement.

Eight of them will be a first for Explora Journeys, including Macapá, Alter-do-Chaõ and Manaus in the Amazon, and the Devil’s Island in French Guiana.

Sacha Rougier, Head of Itinerary Planning and Destination Experiences, at Explora Journeys, said: “Guests will have the chance to delve into an exhilarating celebration of diversity: From private tours of MoMA in New York City to thrilling boat expeditions up the Amazon; discovering new shades of blue on a hidden Caribbean island or being fully immersed in the biggest show on earth with our exclusive Explora Journeys carnival experience in Rio, where they’ll be granted insider access to join the vibrant performers.”

The voyages start in the far north of North America’s East Coast, then sail to the Caribbean and South America before crossing the Atlantic to Europe.

Highlights include an 8-night Journey to Trailing Whales and Falling Leaves, sailing from New York City on Oct. 8 2024 for Boston, Portland and Halifax, the mystical Whale Corridors and the Gulf of St Lawrence, and finishing in Quebec City.

The ship will offer journeys up the Amazon River and into the Brazilian rainforest, complete with torchlit kayak tours and forest trails to hidden tribal villages.  In Manaus, guests will witness the confluence of where the Rio Negro joins the Rio Solimoes and in Santarem where the Amazon meets the waters of the Tapajos.

Journey into Wild and Wonderful Amazonia will depart Bridgetown, Barbados, on November 22 2024, and sail to French Guiana’s Devil’s Island before heading to Macapá, Alter-do-Chaõ and Manaus in Brazil.

A Journey to the Meeting Waters on the Almighty Amazon will set off on November 29 2024 and travel up the Amazon to Macapá and Bequia before returning to Bridgetown.

A Journey of Tantalising Transatlantic Adventures sails on April 3 2025 from Bridgetown on a 14-night transatlantic crossing. Guests can enjoy leisurely days at sea before exploring Cape Verde, the 10-island Creole-Portuguese archipelago.  EXPLORA I will stop to take in the natural attractions of the Canary Islands, followed by Madeira, before arriving in Lisbon, Portugal on April 18, 2025.

The ship’s grand journeys, A Grand Journey to Amazonia & Tropical Isles (28 nights) and A Grand Transatlantic Odyssey in the Atlantic (32 nights), give guests the opportunity to visit the Caribbean, the Amazon and the vastness of the ocean beyond.

Cunard Reports Busiest Booking Day in a Decade

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Cunard has reported that the first day of bookings for the new ship Queen Anne proves the busiest booking day in a decade, according to a press release.

The company said the first day of sales shows the incredible strength of demand for our new ship and the Cunard brand is at record levels

The maiden voyage, a seven-night sailing from Southampton departing January 4, 2024, has sold out and demand for Princess & Queens Grill Suites proved especially strong across each of the 10 published new voyages, according to a statement. 

“Since we began to unveil details of our fourth ship, the reaction to Queen Anne from guests and travel advisors alike has been phenomenal,” said Matt Gleaves, VP, Commercial, North America and Australasia, Cunard. “The first day of sales shows the incredible strength of demand for our new ship and the Cunard brand is at record levels.”

The three busiest booking periods for Cunard in the last decade have now happened since March 2021, with the launch of the UK sailings as the brand returned to service, the launch of the summer 2023 program and now the launch of Queen Anne’s maiden program.

Norwegian Changes 2019-2020 Itineraries, Pulls Joy From China

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Norwegian Joy
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced changes to its 2019 and 2020 itineraries. Among these, the Norwegian Joy is leaving China to join the Norwegian Bliss, sailing seasonally in Alaska in the summer 2019, and will offer Mexican Riviera and Panama Canal voyages during the winter 2019-2020. The Norwegian Spirit will replace the Joy in China in 2020, leaving Norwegian out of the Chinese market for one year, and the Spirit will only sail there on a seasonal basis.

The Pearl, which is in Alaska now, will sail to Europe as the cruise line’s sixth ship in the region in summer 2019, while the Jade and Jewel will expand Norwegian’s presence in Australasia in winter the 2019-2020 winter season.

The Joy repositions to Seattle in April 2019 to offer seven-day voyages to Alaska, replacing the Pearl as Norwegian’s third ship in the region, joining the Bliss and Jewel. Prior to her arrival in Seattle, the Joy will undergo approximately $50 million in work to match her sister ship, the Bliss.

When she goes to Europe in 2019, the Pearl will be sailing from Amsterdam as well as Civitavecchia, Barcelona and Venice.

With the Joy on the West Coast, the Jewel will go to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, sailing from Honolulu, Papeete, Sydney, Auckland, Singapore, Hong Kong and Yokohama.

In addition, the Jade will offer sailings throughout Southeast Asia departing from Singapore and Hong Kong for the 2019-2020 season.

Norwegian Cruise Line said it remains committed to serving the Chinese cruise market. Prior to her 2020 arrival in China, the 1999-built Spirit will undergo a previously scheduled bow-to-stern revitalization as the final ship to undergo enhancements under the Norwegian Edge® fleet refurbishment program.