White Island – should tour groups have been there?

White Island - should tour groups have been there?

I’ve signed a lot of release forms for shore excursions in my time.  From accepting risk for a coach tour to a Black Forrest cake factory (probably something to do with the cream and cherries) to deep diving with sharks in Malaysia. I rarely hesitate. Why?  Because, without being told of the real risk, I … Read more

Carnival Splendor arrives with an 11.3 metre “human slingshot”

Carnival Splendor arrives with an 11.3 metre "human slingshot"

Australia’s newest and biggest cruise ship Carnival Splendor has arrived in Sydney to take “fun” to a new level thanks to the oversized water features. The 11.3 metre free-fall “Green Lightning” waterslide, with a human slingshot into an 8.2 metre pool is just one of the new ‘fun’ features on board the 3,012 passenger ship … Read more

Fears for Royal Caribbean cruise passengers as New Zealand volcano erupts

A picture of the eruption from @Littlejon_81 on Twitter

At least five people are dead, eight are missing and 31 people injured after Australian passengers from Ovation of the Seas were caught in a volcano eruption in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty today. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told the country to brace for “difficult news” as New Zealand confirmed there were no signs … Read more

Where to cruise in 2020 – by one of Australia’s top travel agents

The roundup: A&K says Iceland is hot and kids sail free offer

Norway, the Northern Lights, the Nile and the South of France will be the hot destinations for 2020, one of Flight Centre’s top selling cruise consultants, Anna Shannon has predicted. “Experienced Australian cruisers who have done the multi-country river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest, are now booking cruises to the South of France and the … Read more

Broken lifts, exploding toilets on the Splendor – how to avoid the horrors of an inaugural cruise

Carnival to add capacity for an extra 800 guests on the Carnival Splendor

As inaugural voyages go, Carnival Splendor’s arrival in her new home country appears to have been par for the course. On her way to Sydney from a two week dry-dock in Singapore, Splendor arrived in Darwin amid tales of an exploding toilet, grounded lifts and a passenger made to walk the plank for bad behaviour. … Read more