Blog Archives
Exhibitor Intro: Cruise Traveller & Avalon Waterways
Today I would like to talk about two of our Exhibitors that will offer you not just the classic river cruises you know and love, but a selection of truly unique cruising opportunities. So lets start with one of what you may call our “Cruise Consolidators”a single company representing many cruise lines
Cruise Traveller has a variety of cruises with ships run by companies like Adventure Canada, American Cruise Lines, Aqua Cruises, Atmosphere, Azamara, Celestyal, Hebridean, Island Escape Cruises, Kararina Line, Locaboat Holidays, Natural Habitat Adventures, One Ocean Expeditions, Pearl Seas Cruises, Ponant, Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer, Sea Cloud Cruises, Star Clippers, True North, Variety Cruises, Voyages of Discovery, Amazon Nature Tours, Antarctica XXI, Assam Bengal Navigation, Australis, Back-Roads Barging, European Waterwaysm Hapag-Lloyd, Jayavarman & Jahan, Linbald-National Geographic, Mahanaahu, Noble Caledonia, Pandaw, Polar Latitudes, Sanctuary Nile Adventurer, Seabourn, Silversea, Swan Hellenic, Uncruise, Voyages to Antiquity and Zegrahm Expeditions.
I would love to talk about all of these incredible cruising options but alas space is limited – so if you really want the information then I suggest coming along to the expo and speaking with the expert in person! I will though talk about one of the cruising options because it is a little different to anything we have previewed before today, or will preview before the expo. So let us talk about Locaboat.
Lakes, rivers, canals, beautiful landscapes, small villages and magnificent but often unknown monuments… Boating holidays with Locaboat provides the opportunity to discover the most beautiful regions of France and Europe during enchanting excursions along the waterways. These are not your typical European River Cruise though as you board and conduct our own voyage on one of Locaboats amazing river boats and barges that journey along not just the major but the minor waterways of France and Europe. Locaboaty offers you a cruising option that lets you travel exactly at your own pace and discover a lot of off the beaten track destinations.
Our other Supplier for today is a stark change, a single operator, who like Locaboat does specialise in Europe but in an entirely different manner …
Avalon Waterways is an incredible, affordable cruising option for Europe and Asia. While it might not include the signature experiences of some of the five star lines, or all your drinks, the cruises operated by Avalon truly cover what most people desire of a river cruise – a fantastic comfortable well appointed ship that people can enjoy the amenities of, a delicious on-board menu of meals for the duration of your travel, incredible sightseeing options for every port of call, and great on-board entertainment options. So if you have had the urge to cruise the Danube, Moselle, Rhine, Rhone, Saone, Seine, Irrawaddy & the Mekong then Avalon gives you a fantastic and affordable alternative.
The upside of travelling with Avalon Waterways is that it is part of the Globus family which means that the river cruises are combinable with pre and post city stays with Monograms, a fantastic provider of short stay independent programmes, or longer tours with Globus or Cosmos who can help you get around to see some of the sights you may have missed while cruising
Also by combining multiple tours and cruises with the Globus family you can also get the added benefit of multiple programme discounts which means should (for example) you wish to combine a Danube Cruise with a Rhine/Rhone Cruise then you can do so and receive a generous discount off the second programme.
So if a cruise that is markedly different or a fantastic affordable river cruise, if either sound appealing why not come and speak with the experts from the Cruise Traveller and Avalon Waterways at My Cruise Expo on the 17th March at Worrigee Ex-Servicemans Club from 5pm!
Register Your Attendance Today!
Exhibitor Intro: Viking Cruises
The name may summon up images of long-ships and harsh weather, but the truth is that the cruise line known as Viking Cruises is a touch of elegance and decadence within a price range for most travellers, and we are proud to have them joining us as an exhibitor at My Cruise Expo on the 17th March 2015 at Worrigee Ex-Servicemans club from 5pm.
For a number of years Viking have been for many a more affordable way of Cruising the rivers of Europe like the Danube, the Rhine, the Rhone and the Volga. Like many of their luxury counterparts they have well appointed vessels, full meal service, daily touring – they just cut back on some of the unnecessary luxuries like unlimited alcohol, or personal butlers. Today Viking continue to offer the same fantastic service at reasonable prices and have extended their cruise range beyond Europe to Asia where their vessels now ply the Mekong, the Yangtze and the Irrawaddy.
One of the reasons that river cruising is so popular is that as a form of touring it is the perfect way to relax, while being able to get about and see a lot of different sites, not have to worry about meals, and enjoy being able to unpack once and not need to worry over the repacking for bus trips every night or two.
Viking Cruises have been doing this on the rivers of the world for some time but in 2015 took the entire concept one step further and introduced their own Ocean Cruise Vessels and Cruising range – ocean cruises that in many way mirror river cruises. They take you from one incredible destination to the next (such as Stockholm to St Petersburg), they include all your meals, they include not only all your touring but onboard talks and lectures by the experts in the sights and places you can see and the history surrounding them, plus like a river cruise you unpack once and enjoy the journey!
Viking Ocean Cruises have a number of fantastic sailings around the Baltic, North Atlantic and Mediterranean regions of Europe that will leave you desiring more. From short week-long cruises to their epic 50 day Istanbul to Stockholm Sailing they have something for everyone.
So does a Viking Cruise sound like something to get the blood pumping and the gears going? Come down and speak with the experts from Viking Cruises at My Cruise Expo on the 17th March at Worrigee Ex-Servicemans Club from 5pm!
Register Your Attendance Today!
Exhibitor Intro: Tempo Holidays
While this exhibitor may be known for its ability to organise trips for individuals with day tours, hotels, transfers and short tours throughout Europe and the Middle East, Tempo Holidays has a fantastic array of Cruising options available and we are proud to say they will be attending My Cruise Expo on the 17th March at Worrigee Ex-Servicemans Club from 5pm til 8pm.
One of the fantastic destinations Tempo has on offer is cruising along the Nile with a range of vessels where you can hop on and do the 4 day Luxor-Aswan Cruise (or visa versa) or spend an extended 8 days cruising in both directions. They also have a range of Lake Nasser Cruises operating between the incredible Abu Simbel and Aswan.
Tempo also has a range of European Cruises starting with River Cruising aboard the incredible Amadeus Ships – a veritable 5 star floating hotel. They also offer an array of voyages around the Greek Islands and Turkish Coastlines by Cruise, Gulet and event Island Hopper passes where you travel by Ferry and sleep overnight in hotels. They offer a wide range of cruises in the Mediterranean with regular trips around Cyprus, Croatia, Italy, France and Egypt.
On a different track Tempo also have a stunning range of tours that take in some of the worlds most unique natural locations with a range of 4 to 8 day cruises that will take in the Galapagos Islands where one can experience a truly unique landscape and set of flora and fauna. They also offer Amazon River Cruises with departures in Ecuador, Peru and Brazil.
They also have access to some of the most incredible voyages around the Patagonia and Cape Horn with visits to Punta Arenas, Ushuia and more with a range of fantastic expedition vessels including the always popular Steller Australis.
So if cruising with a bit more freedom to choose what you want to do around it sounds like the way to go, then why not come and speak with the experts from Tempo Holidays and My Cruise Expo on the 17th March at Worrigee Ex-Servicemans Club from 5pm!
Register Your Attendance Today!
Exhibitor Intro: Princess Cruises
One of the Cruise Lines that many people seem to know the name of for Cruises in and around Australia, as well as for the Inside passage is Princess Cruises – though their sailings cover more than those areas! We are excited to announce that Princess Cruises will be one of the Exhibitors that will be at My Travel Expo on the 17th March 2016 at Worrigee Ex-Servicemans Sports Club from 5pm.
Princess Cruises offer a fantastic array of voyages from Australia to New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, around Australia up into South East Asia and beyond. They have regular cruises operating in Alaska and Canada journeying up the Inside passage, they have ships stationed in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and throughout the world at any given moment. Princess Cruises also annually offer the traveller an opportunity to Cruise The World – leaving and departing from Sydney on a voyage of over a hundred days.
While Princess Cruises run smaller ships than the mega-liners that are starting to come to Australia, the level of indulgence, facilities and on-board activities rival them making room for a more intimate and less crowded cruising option, and while children are welcomed aboard and have a fantastic kids club available, Princess do limit the number of children on each sailing making it the perfect cruise for the elderly couple, young honeymooners or those seeking a break away from their families. Princess Cruises combines casual elegance with day to day comfort in an appealing blend that will have you appreciating the small things that make your cruise more enjoyable.
Which in a way is what Princess Cruises is all about, a great voyage, fantastic sights and an experience to remember. Whether it is dining on a recipe developed by their celebrity chef Curtis Stone, or relaxing to a hot rock massage in their Spa Facilities, or simply enjoying the pool-deck and a cool drink, with Princess the Voyage is as important as the destination.
Princess Cruises also regularly work in tandem with tour suppliers like APT, Scenic and AAT Kings so that you can combine a Princess Cruise with incredible land tours. Combining Top end and Queensland Cruises with the Red Centre and Ghan Tour Programmes, or combining Inside Passage Cruises with Rocky Mountaineer Rail Journeys.
Princess Cruises are an incredible way to discover destinations, or voyage between them in style, comfort and good company!
So if an experience with Princess Cruises sounds like something to consider then why not come and see the Expert from Princess Cruises at at My Cruise Expo, on the 17th March 2017 at Worrigee Ex-Serviceman’s Sports Club from 5pm till 8pm!
Register Your Attendance Today!
Exhibitor Intro: Captain Cook Cruises
We have spoken a fair bit so far on a lot of the larger cruise lines, and river cruises and small ship cruises, but today I thought I would introduce to you a local company who specialises in a little different. Today I would like to let you know about one of our favourite local cruise companies who will be joining us at My Cruise Expo on the 17th March at Worrigee Ex-Servicemans from 5pm. Today I would like to talk about Captain Cook Cruises & Sealink.
Captain Cook Cruises has a select but incredible array of cruising options to choose from – and those options don’t necessarily mean having to spend days away from home either.
The most accessible cruises Captain Cook Cruises have to offer for those living on the South Coast are day Cruises from Sydney Harbour, with regular sightseeing cruises, breakfast and high tea cruises, dinner cruises and sunset cruises operating almost daily. They also run regular themed night cruises for those wanting to get out and celebrate, as well as cruises operating to take advantage of some of Sydney premier events like the upcoming “Vivid Sydney”in May and June.
They also offer regular Ferry and Charter services around Sydney and for those that do love the long pacific island cruises, Captain Cook Cruises now have a ferry service on port days that will help get you to White Bay Cruise terminal and back from Circular Quay .. so just as handy and as a taxi from Central but much more scenic and a perfect way to start your cruise holiday.
Captain Cook Cruises also run the fantastic Murray Princess, a traditional paddlewheel steamer that operates in South Australia from Mannum that cruises the Murray River, travellinga s far as 360km as it takes you through areas filled with scenic highlights such as the towering sandstone cliffs at Big Bend, or historical and cultural sights such as the Ngaut Ngau Aboriginal Reserve. The Murray Princes is the perfect way to explore the scenery, wildlife, heritage and culture of Australia in a relaxing and comfortable environment.
With its home base so close to Adelaide it is also a great opportunity to hop aboard a Sealink Ferry and visit Kangaroo Island for a day or an extended tour. Sealink also run ferry and Tour Services in Queensland at Magnetic and Palm Islands and in the Northern Territory at Mandorah and Tiwi Islands, expanding the range of regional cruising in Australia that is on offer via Captain Cook Cruises and Sealink.
Fiji is a popular destination for Austrailan Tourists, and many go there and spend a week or so at the coral coast, others will drop by Fiji on a Pacific Island Cruise, but few really get to see the smaller islands, local communities and hard to get to places like Captain Cook Cruises do.
Captain Cook Cruises run several 4, 4 and 7 day night programmes to the Yasawa Islands, and well as a 7 day Cruise programme to the more remote northern Islands and an incredible 11 day Lau and Kadavu programme that will take you to the smaller islands and communities of Fijis far east before bring you back to Nadi.
Captain Cook Cruises in Fiji offer the perfect chance to combine a tropical getaway filled with snorkelling and reef activities with a cultural and sightseeing programme that will have you seeing more of Fiji then you ever imagined. So if a day cruise in Sydney, a Murray River Experience, or a new way to see Fiji sounds interesting then why not come and see the Expert from Captain Cook Cruises at at My Cruise Expo, on the 17th March 2017 at Worrigee Ex-Serviceman’s Sports Club from 5pm till 8pm!
Register Your Attendance Today!
Exhibitor Intro: Scenic
Whilst we were enjoying the thrill of our win the other week at the CLIA Awards, we were not the only ones that were enjoying the limelight. One of the others honoured was Glen Moroney, the founder of Scenic – one of the Luxury Cruise and Tour companies we have exhibiting at My Cruise Expo on the 17th March 2016.
Scenic started life in 1986 as an Australian Touring company and grew to include tours in New Zealand, South Africa and more, and in 2008 it launched its first all-inclusive European River Cruise. These days Scenic operate over 500 tours annually visiting up to 66 counties across the globe, and they are one of our most highly recommended partners for all-inclusive and luxury travel.
All Scenic tours are All-Inclusive, and will cover everything from your day to day touring, accommodation in Luxury Hotels and Cruises, all of your meals, all drinks whilst aboard their vessels, optional touring, butler services, and more.
Scenic operate Luxury River Cruises in Europe down the Danube, Rhine, Rhone, Moselle, Seine, Volga and most recently to Duoro in Portugal. In Asia Scenic can take you cruising the Irrawaddy, the Yangtze and the Mekong, and in the Americas can take you down the Mississippi and the Mekong.
If you want to branch out a bit and encounter the oceans in combination with some touring Scenic also offers cruises that brave the wilds of the Galapagos Islands, the ice of the Inside Passage, the historical sights of the Black Sea or the clash of cultures in the Caribbean.
Like any great company though Scenic is not content to rest on its laurels and has recently commissioned a brand new Luxury Expedition Ship that will explore all corners of earth oceans from the Mediterranean to the Antarctic.
The Scenic Eclipse, a luxury discovery Yacht will be decked out with suites, the finest dining, some of the most revolutionary engineering to provide as smooth a sailing as possible, combined with fantastic day tours and discovery expeditions to some of the most incredible ports and locations around the globe!
Coming in 2018 the Scenic Eclipse looks set to revolutionise the way we see and experience small ship and expedition cruising!
So if a luxury break with everything included sounds good, or you want to sign up on one of the inaugural Eclipse Cruises then come and see the Expert at at My Cruise Expo, on the 17th March 2017 at Worrigee Ex-Serviceman’s Sports Club from 5pm till 8pm!
Register Your Attendance Today!
Exhibitor Intro: P&O Cruises
Over this weekend just past we were the winner of the “Agency Promotion Of The Year” at the Annual CLIA Awards (Cruise Lines International Association), which for an agency like ours based in rural Australia is a huge win! Our thanks and our appreciation go out to our cruise Partner who made this possible – one of the Exhibitors at our upcoming Cruise Expo on the 17th of March – P&O Cruises!
For many of those here in Australia, P&O is a well recognised name, and it should be! P&O is a cruise line founded in Britain, but which pioneered cruising from Australia with its first cruise (a Brisbane to Norfolk Island Return Trip for 1100 people) in 1932 selling out in a single day! From these early pleasure cruises to the transport of migrants following World War II to the modern cruise age, P&O have been a presence in Australia for over 70 years!
For Australian travellers, P&O has been the first cruise line of choice for many of those years, and while in the last few decades a lot of competition has arisen for cruising ex-Australian ports there are still a hot of reasons why P&O is still amongst the most popular.
Year Round! Of all the cruise lines operating out of Australian Water P&O offer the most cruises departing year round from their major cruise ports – so when a lot of other ships depart for different waters, this cruise line is still here serving the Australian Community
Varied Departures! P&O Cruises offer a fantastic array of cruises from Australia, short cruises from Capitals to varying areas, three day cruises to no-where, themed cruises, cruises along the Australian Coast, cruises up to Indonesia and South East Asia, cruises to New Zealand, cruises to the Pacific Island and most recently cruises to Papua New Guinea. The variety of destinations and durations leave a huge range of offers for all sorts of travellers from those looking for a weekend break to those looking for a longer voyage.
Good Value! Say what you will about any cruise line, P&O Cruises offers a Good Value cruise product that is within reach of most Australians, for relatively low prices you can get away from 3 to 35 odd days with all accommodation, meals and entertainment included. P&O Cruises also offer a range of well priced land tours on all their cruises, and for those that enjoy a drink or two have recently introduced “Drinks Packages”on their voyages of 7 days or longer.
Forward Looking! Most importantly, no matter the ships age or status, P&O is always refitting and updating their ships to keep up to date with the needs and desires of its travellers – much of which is accomplished through passenger feedback, such as the conversion from the standard Buffet to the new “Pantry”
P&O Cruises is a fantastic Cruise Line for the first time cruiser to get a taste of Cruising, or for a family looking for an affordable getaway, for honeymooners looking for a holiday where they won’t need to worry about looking after anything. So if a good break ex-your favoured Australian Port and P&O sounds good, come and see the Expert at at My Cruise Expo, on the 17th March 2017 at Worrigee Ex-Serviceman’s Sports Club from 5pm till 8pm!
Register Your Attendance Today!
As you can see, even we enjoy what P&O Cruises has to offer!
Discover Cruising @ My Cruise Expo
When it comes to Cruising there is a world of possibilities out there! Dining Cruises on Sydney Harbour with Captain Cook Cruises. Antarctic Voyages in high style with Silverseas. Family Adventures around the Pacific Islands with P&O Cruises. Watching history drift by as you cruise the Mekong with Victoria Cruises. Sailing the coast of Thailand with Star Clippers.
When in comes to Cruising there is something out there for everyone! Which is why for the first time we are hosting a dedicated Cruise Expo. (Please note if the below Video does not appear please visit our blog to watch it live in this post!)
Ocean Cruises, River Cruises & Cruise Tours
The Largest Cruise Expo Expo on the South Coast!
Join us for an evening to learn about the best way to traverse the Oceans, Seas, Rivers and Canals of the World!
On the 17th March 2016, from 5pm til 8pm at Worrigee Ex-Servicemans Sports Club, we will be hosting the largest Cruise Expo to hit the South Coast!
We have 17 Experts attending who will be able to talk about Pacific Island , New Zealand , Asian , African , Mediterranean , Baltic , Scandinavian , Trans-Atlantic , Trans-Pacific, Caribbean, Antarctic, and Round World Ocean Cruises.
Our visiting Experts can tell you about River Cruises including the Zambezi, the Nile, the Danube, the Rhine, the Rhone, the Moselle, the Seine, the Volga, the Mekong, the Yangtze, the Irrawaddy, the Ganges, the Brahmaputra, the Colorado, the Mississippi, the Amazon and many more !
Our Expo will go beyond the standard Ocean and River Cruises and you will be able to learn about Small Ships, Exploratory Vessels, Yachts, Sailing Ships, Ocean Liners and Luxury Ships, Canal Boat Hire, Gulets, Yachts, Small Ships and Expedition Cruises
Between the majestic peaks of Geiranger Fjord
We have 17 Cruise Experts coming down that will be able to speak with you about cruising and specials with Adventureworld, American Cruise Lines, APT Cruising, Aqua Expeditions, Avalon Waterways, Azamara Club Cruises, Captain Cook Cruises, Carnival Australia, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Coral Expeditions, Costa Cruises, CroisiEurope, Cruise & Maritime Voyages, Crystal Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Hapag Lloyd, Heritage Expeditions, Holland America Line, Hurtigruten, Island Escape, Katarina Line, MSC Cruises, North Star Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, P&O Australia, P&O World Cruising, Pandaw River Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Ponant, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Scenic Tours, Sea Cloud Cruises, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, Star Clippers, Star Cruises, Swan Hellenic, The Cruise Team, Un-Cruise Adventures, Uniworld River Cruises, Variety Cruises, Viking River Cruises, Voyages of Discovery, Voyages To Antiquity, Wendy Wu Tours and more!
There will be exclusive specials, door prizes and give aways, including a prize for those that pre-register their attendance!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR ATTENDANCE TODAY!
Holiday Hours
Feliz Navidad ! Or do we say Kala Christougenna, Nollick Ghennal, Maligayang Pasko, Jwaye Nowel, Vroljik Kerstfeest, Nadelek Lowen ,that is to say …
Merry Christmas!
The team at the Shoalhaven Solo Sisters and My Travel Expert would like to take a few moments to thank everyone for a fantastic year, and we hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year break and we look forward to helping you all in the new year when you are ready to start booking your next trip!
Australia is calling …
From cruising the Kimberly Coast, braving the the Bungle Bungles, touring Tasmania, seeing the Swan River, discovering Darwin and more .. there is always something to encounter within Australia. That is why we are having one of the Experts come down to give a presentation on some of the best ways to see the land down under!
If you have been considering a journey through Australia (or New Zealand) and would like to get some ideas from the experts then this is your opportunity. On the 18th November 2015 from 5:30pm for a 6pm start we will have at our offices a representative from AAT Kings to give us a lecture and film presentation on the Kimberly’s, Australia, New Zealand and what there is to see, do and experience across the region.
So, if you would like to join us on the 18th November 2015, just register on the below link!
My Travel Expert and Shoalhaven Solo Sisters 