“I’m trapped by COVID on an ultra-luxe SeaDream ship in Barbados” – Cruise Passenger writer

The four best ultra luxe super yachts

SeaDream Yacht Club’s ‘Barbados bubble’ has burst, temporarily at least. I’ve been on board SeaDream 1 since Saturday, sailing the Caribbean. This is the first cruise line to restart here so there was a lot at stake – and a great deal of planning had gone into the operation. The sailing, with 53 passengers and … Read more

The world’s most luxurious ship to sail Australia and New Zealand in 2021

The world's most luxurious ship to sail Australia and New Zealand in 2021

Regent Seven Seas has revealed new dates around the arrival of the Seven Seas Explorer for her inaugural Asia-Pacific Season. The world’s most luxurious ship will sail on 14 itineraries in local waters between October 2021 and April 2022. “With the recent disappointment of cancelling Seven Seas Explorer’s three early 2021 sailings in Australia and New Zealand … Read more

Why penguins are such a drawcard for Hurtigruten’s flight-inclusive voyages to Antarctica

The wonders of Antarctica - Hurtigruten's flight-inclusive itineraries

Waddling penguins have always been the bucket list drawcard for curious travellers to the Antarctica. They will brave icy winds and piercing cold of the frozen continent to watch these adorable birds. They come away mesmerised and wanting more. So what is it about these flightless birds that have fascinated travellers all these years? Penguins … Read more

Royal Caribbean cancels 14 Australia and NZ sailings, extending pause to February 2021.

Royal Caribbean extends pause

Royal Caribbean has extended its COVID sailing pause through to the end of January 2021 in Australia and New Zealand, cancelling 14 January sailings. The extension takes the pause from December 31, 2020 to January 31, 2021 and impacts sailings on Sydney-based Ovation of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas, … Read more

Cruise shares soar on news of possible vaccine

P&O are now offering full refunds with an extra 106 days to cancel

Shares in major cruise lines rocketed to new highs on news that the Pfizer company may have discovered a vaccine with early test results showing a 90% success rate. The eight-month halt of cruise ships has seen major lines brought to their knees and forced to borrow billions as ships at anchor cost them up … Read more

Record month of bookings as world’s biggest sailing ship goes on sale

Golden Horizon and Cruise Traveller set sales record for Australian cruise

Cruise Traveller saw a record number of bookings this month as Australians rushed to secure their spot on the world’s newest and largest tall ship, Golden Horizons. Tradewind voyages Australian circumnavigation itineraries for the five-masted, sailing ship have resulted in the busiest booking month of the year for Cruise Traveller. As a small ship cruise … Read more

Dozens lose thousands of dollars in cruise cancellation charges as refund row grows

Dozens lose thousands of dollars in cruise cancellation charges as refund row grows

Cruise passengers who booked holidays with APT and its sister brand, Travelmarvel say they are out of pocket thousands of dollars from “cancellation charges” and “unrecoverable third party costs”. They have complained to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which is currently investigating a number of travel operators who have refused to refund passengers in … Read more

Exclusive: Australian government studies ways to restart cruise

Exclusive: Australian government studies ways to restart cruise

Australian Government departments are considering ways to restart cruise operations in Australia and are studying guidance from America’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The new CDC regime to resume sailings in America was published last weekend. Most cruise lines have yet to comment on … Read more