Awesome foursome
French-flagged cruise company Ponant, noted for combining luxury with expedition-style cruising, has revealed the names of its four new ships that will be launched between mid-2018 and mid-2019. Le Laperouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville and Le Kerguelen are named for notable French explorers and pay tribute to French maritime history and Ponant's reputation for cruising in otherwise inaccessible destinations in Antarctica, the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, and Papua New Guinea. The ships will have reinforced hulls for polar navigation, a Zodiac fleet for shore excursions and a marina for water sports.
Phone 1300 737 178. See ponant.com
Musical meander
Amadeus River Cruises is offering eight-day "Classical Danube" river cruises between April 13 and October 14, 2017, from Passau in Germany to Budapest in Hungary (or the reverse) that explore Austria's Wachau wine region and the cities of Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, among other destinations. There will also be two special "Classical Music on the Danube" sailings departing on April 6 and October 26, 2017, for lovers of classical music, with special programs on board and on shore, including highlight performances at the opera houses of Budapest and Vienna.
Phone 1300 269 228. See amadeus-rivercruises.com.au
The big blue
Heritage Expeditions has small-ship expeditions in the South Pacific next year carrying a maximum of 50 passengers that take in world-class snorkelling destinations off the usual tourist trail and provide underwater marvels for all levels of snorkelling prowess. Snorkelling gear, support staff, Zodiac assistance and warm tropical waters will benefit beginners looking for their first underwater ventures. Among the itineraries is a 13-day "Papua New Guinea Explorer" from Rabaul in April 2017, and a 12-day "Secrets of Melanesia" trip in October 2017 from Honiara in the Solomon Islands.
Phone 1800 143 585. See heritage-expeditions.com
Swanning around
British small-ship company Swan Hellenic is sending its ship Minerva eastwards late next year on 13 cruises covering 26 countries across the Mediterranean, Middle East and Asia. It starts with a voyage from Greece to Oman through the Suez Canal and Red Sea departing on October 27, 2017, followed by a cruise taking in Gulf cities such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Bahrain. Minerva then sails to India, Sri Lanka and south-east Asia and, over Christmas and New Year, departs from Singapore with six calls in Indonesia before heading back towards Portsmouth by April 2018.
Phone 1800 623 267. See discovertheworld.com.au
Pacific pleasures
This month, Regent Seven Seas Cruises begins a comprehensive Asia-Pacific season, with 20 sailings across the region before May 2017 in yet another sign of the growing popularity of cruising in our region. Both Seven Seas Navigator and Seven Seas Voyager are sailing on itineraries of between 12 and 60 nights that include Barcelona to Sydney, Los Angeles to Auckland and Perth to Singapore. A 21-night Singapore to Sydney cruise departing December 22, 2016, which takes in Indonesia, PNG and Australia's east coast, also includes a complimentary three-day pre-cruise visit to Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Phone 1300 455 200. See rssc.com.au
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