Three cruises on a trio of fine ships inspire this exhilarating cruise holiday, which visits Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, French Polynesia and New Zealand before sailing into Sydney.
‘Glaciers, Grass Skirts and Great Southern Land’, as the holiday is named, lasts 41 nights, or almost six weeks.
The latest offering from Worldwide Cruise Centres (worldwidecruisecentres.com.au) uses three very distinctive ships: ms Noordam in Alaska’s famed Inside Passage (seven nights); Disney Wonder across the Pacific to Hawaii (10 nights); and Radiance of the Seas from Hawaii to Sydney (17 nights). There’s a three-night stay in the stylish Fairmont Waterfront Hotel Vancouver and a four-night stay in Honolulu.
‘Glaciers, Grass Skirts and Great Southern Land’ is valid for sale until 30 April 2015 or until sold out. From Sydney, it costs from A$11,499 per person twin share. Prices from other cities start at: A$11,749 from Brisbane; A$11,739 from Melbourne; A$11,899 from Adelaide; and A$12,299 from Perth. Several bonuses apply. On ms Noordam, there’s a bonus US$50 in free onboard credit, per twin cabin. On Radiance of the Seas the bonus is US$75 – and ship’s gratuities to the value of AS232 per person are included in the price.
The fly-cruise holiday gets underway with a flight from Sydney to Vancouver on 28 August 2015. On arrival, transfer to the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel for a night’s rest. You’ll stay another two nights at this elegant hotel after your Alaskan cruise.
Vancouver’s port is next to the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, making it easy to board Holland America Line’s ms Noordam the following day.
Your destination: Alaska’s Inside Passage, with its pristine water, mountains, fjords and forested islands. In the Tracy Arm Fjord region, black and brown bears, deer and wolves roam while arctic terns soar overhead. You’ll visit the historic town of Juneau, the Klondike gold-rush settlement of Skagway, Ketchikan for totem poles and phenomenal Glacier Bay, where 16 glaciers plunge into icy fjords.
ms Noordam is adorned with fine art, photography and valuable pieces of antique furniture. The Vista Dining Room features impeccable service and an extensive wine list. All shipboard main meals (excluding specialty restaurants) are included in the price. The same applies on the other two cruises in this holiday. And aboard ms Noordam, a bonus US$50 in free onboard credit applies, per twin cabin.
Disembarking ms Noordam back in Vancouver, you’ve another two nights based in the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, with plenty of time to explore Vancouver. An included sightseeing tour visits Chinatown, Gastown, Stanley Park, Granville Market and the Vancouver lookout. Sightseeing the following day takes in Grouse Mountain and the Capilano Suspension Bridge.
Now its time to board Disney Wonder, one of the world’s most celebrated and recognisable ocean liners, combining sleek style with a splash of fun. Disney Wonder has 11 massive decks and a total length of 294 metres. The cruise starts with six days at sea, to enjoy the run of the ship and do as much, or as little, as you please.
First port of call is Hilo, capital of Hawaii’s Big Island; then a day at Nawiliwili on Kauai, an island of rainforest, smooth, rounded mountains, impossibly green valleys and waterfalls cascading from ocean cliffs. The following day, Disney Wonder sails for Kahului on Maui, where surfing was once the sport of Hawaiian Royalty.
Next, Disney Wonder docks in Honolulu, giving you a full day to explore, followed by a final night aboard ship. Disembarking next morning, head to the hotel for four more nights in laid-back Honolulu. Don’t miss Waikiki Beach. Catch the waves, browse the International Marketplace. The Honolulu Zoo, Diamond Head, and the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor are all nearby.
Farewelling Honolulu, board Radiance of the Seas, your home for the next 17 nights on the third and final voyage in ‘Glaciers, Grass Skirts and Great Southern Land’.
Several days at sea give time to explore the ship, ride in sleek glass lifts facing the sea, contemplate the rock-climbing wall, African safari-themed solarium, indoor/outdoor country club with golf simulator, or day spa and fitness centre.
The voyage visits three Tahitian gems, with a day in each: Moorea, Tahiti’s heart-shaped atoll, bordered by the Sea of the Moon; Papeete, with its brilliant blue lagoons, inspiration for writer Herman Melville and artist Paul Gauguin; and famously beautiful Bora Bora, the quintessential holiday destination for hopeless romantics.
Sail across the International Dateline now and on to Wellington, New Zealand’s quirky and charming capital, famed for its coffee and art scene. Spend the night docked here, departing the following afternoon for a trans-Tasman crossing. Two days later, the dawn passage through Sydney heads is a world-beater and worth getting up early to enjoy.
To find your local Worldwide Cruise Centres agent go to: www.worldwidecruisecentres.com.au
SOURCE Worldwide Cruise Centre