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 specialist, the Managing Director of Cruise Traveller, Craig Bowen said the company was eager to partner with Tradewind Voyages especially in the post-COVID cruise market.

“We are buoyed by Australians’ unwavering enthusiasm to cruise again. The pent-up demand is palpable. The strong bookings are very welcome this year, of course, and we expect the Australian sectors to sell quickly. We believe, post-COVID, that more travellers will seek the appeal of smaller ships, which has been our prime focus since our launch in 2003,” he said.

During her Australian Debut, Golden Horizons will visit 35 destinations including a host of small and remote places not visited by larger ships, including Noosa in QLD, Trial Bay, Batemans Bay and Jervis Bay in NSW, Darlington Bay in Tasmania, King Island, Coffin Bay and Head of Bight in South Australia and Bremer Bay, Jurien Bay, Monkey Mia and Coral Bay in WA.

“Carrying just 272 guests, this exciting new ship is modern, luxurious and spacious but also graceful, romantic and lightfooted and she’ll call into tiny and remote destinations conventional cruise ships can’t reach. She’s very much a vessel for the times,” Mr Bowen said.

Currently undergoing sea trials in Croatia ahead of her launch in May 2021, Golden Horizon was modelled on the 1913 barque, France II.

The brand new, 162m-long ship will offer modern-day seafarers personal service, a fine dining room, three pools, gym, library, spa sanctuary, four inside and outside bars, a marina platform and a collection of kayaks, waterskis and wakeboards for guests to use. All 140 cabins will offer ocean vistas.

Cruise Traveller is now selling 14 cruise and stay packages around Australia from December, 2021, to February, 2022, ranging in length from 14 to 73 nights.

* 16-night Christmas/New Year package from Cairns to Sydney, December 21, 2021, from A$8395 pp, twin-share * 17-night package from Sydney to Adelaide, January 5, 2022, from A$8430 pp, twin-share

* 14-night package from Adelaide to Perth, January 21, 2022, from A$5995 pp, twin-share

* 15-night package from Perth to Bali, February 3, 2022, from A$6995 pp, twin-share

Bookings made by December 31, 2020, will also receive a bonus saving of between $100 and $800 per person depending on the length of voyage.