Exclusive: Australian Cruisers back calls to bring back sailings – but only with full vaccinations

Silversea's new Silver Moon is all about the food - and it's "scrumptious"

Australia’s cruise community – which holds the world record for the highest number per head of the population – has strongly backed calls for a resumption of sailings. But they’ve also sent a clear message on vaccination: make sure passengers and crew are fully vaccinated. An exclusive Cruise Passenger sentiment survey of our 140,000 newsletter … Read more

The Aussie holdout: Minister ducks questions on why we’re the last major nation with a cruise ban and no plan

Three Royal Caribbean ships to cruise in Australia in 2021-22

The cruise industry has shifted its campaign to get the government to issue guidelines for a return to sailings, recruiting travel agents to pressure MPs asking why Australia is the last major cruising nation without a restart plan. The shift comes after the hugely popular campaign to persuade passengers to lobby MPs yielded an incredible … Read more

Free at last – Golden Horizon sets sail claiming to be debt free

World's largest sailing ship, expected in Australia, arrested over claims of unpaid debts

We said it sounded like an act straight out of a pirate movie.  And we were right. We also said  the only thing missing was Captain Jack Sparrow. But perhaps that mischievous character was there after all. The Golden Horizon, the world’s largest sailing ship and currently expected to be in Australia later this year … Read more

World’s largest sailing ship, expected in Australia, arrested over claims of unpaid debts

World's largest sailing ship, expected in Australia, arrested over claims of unpaid debts

It sounded like an act straight out of a pirate movie – and the only thing missing was Captain Jack Sparrow.  The Golden Horizon, the world’s largest sailing ship and currently expected to be in Australia later this year for a circumnavigation, has been “arrested” in the British port of Dover at the request of … Read more

Golden Horizon starts maiden voyage before Aussie visit

New five-masted sailing ship will circumnavigate Australia

After two false starts, Tradewind Voyages’ five-masted square rigger, Golden Horizon, embarked on its first sailing from the British port of Portland this week with Sydney still on the schedule for later in the year. The five-night ‘Dress Rehearsal’, operating at 50 per cent capacity in line with England’s Covid restrictions, will sail along the … Read more

Royal Caribbean’s “blockbuster” season called off with regret

Royal Caribbean cancels Australian sailings but remains "hopeful" for 2021

Four months after announcing a “blockbuster” season in Australia, Royal Caribbean has bowed to the inevitable and scratched its big ship sailings Down Under. “We regret the disappointment this will bring to our loyal fans who have supported Royal Caribbean since we suspended cruise operations in March 2020,” said the line in a statement. “We … Read more

Crystal names luxury expedition yacht Endeavor and announces she’s the most expensive per night at $2396

Crystal names luxury expedition yacht Endeavor and announces she's the most expensive per night at $2396

In a first for Germany and a sign of the restart of cruise, Crystal Endeavor was named yesterday in Germany. And her owner also announced another first:  she’s the most expensive per night of any ship. At a ceremony in Stralsund on the ship’s helicopter deck, guests included German federal ministers, Genting Hong Kong’s Group … Read more

Europe’s rivers are reopening: here’s where Aussies are booking and what passengers need to know

Europe's rivers are reopening: here's where Aussies are booking and what passengers need to know

The river fleets of the mighty European waterways are at last cranking up their engines and starting to sail, thanks to the rapid spread of vaccinations across the continent and America, home to the most inveterate river cruisers. Uniworld has even relaunched La Venezia, the former River Countess struck by MSC Opera in 2019 while … Read more

Exclusive Review: Viking UK shows how you can cruise safely post pandemic

Conversations with Anne Diamond

Renowned maritime writer Tony Slinn took one of the first cruises aboard the brand new Viking Venus when the UK restarted cruises this month.  Here’s his review. COVID cancelled our Viking Elbe river cruise. But the cruise company weren’t to be stopped, offering us instead an eight-day UK ‘staycation’ ocean cruise aboard the brand new … Read more