 |  | | Issue 437 | 12 March 2009 | | | Hi Cruisers,
Another great week of best value packages with amazing itineraries so I'm sure there's something for everyone. But first we have a great Queen Mary 2 review from Jessica, Lia and Lauren of their on board experience when she was in our harbour two weeks ago.
On the 26th of February Brett, Philippa, Lauren, Lia & I were lucky enough to board the Queen Mary 2 for a ship inspection & dinner. This was the second time that QM2 had come down under, the first time she was here I saw her from a smaller vessel in the harbour and could only imagine what could be inside the mammoth ship.
Once onboard we did a ship inspection of the public areas starting with Deck 2 and our first stop was the two level Royal Court Theatre. Upon stepping into the theatre I felt like I was stepping back in time, this is where they hold the Broadway style production shows each evening. Then we moved on through the atrium, which is the grandest atrium I have ever seen on a ship – there are even atrium view inside cabins, which I think are a good idea, and have a great view. We then walked past the casino and to the Golden Lion Pub – which was a traditional English pub where you can order a pint & partake in a game of darts or even karaoke.
From there we went up to Deck 3 and had a look at the G32 nightclub which was named after QM2's shipyard hull number. Next door to the nightclub is the most elegant room on the ship in my opinion – the Queens Room, where you will find a different atmosphere to the nightclub, is the largest Ballroom at sea. They have a live Orchestra and hold balls in the evening, every afternoon they also serve afternoon tea. Continuing on our inspection we walked past the Chart Room which is a nautically themed bar, the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar and then onto Sir Samuels, named after Sir Samuel Cunard the founder of Cunard. We then stopped by the Mayfair Shops, a collection of shops including Hermes, Chanel & Chopard. We then briefly went up to Deck 4 to Illuminations, the first planetarium at sea, though unfortunately we were not able to view inside.
From there we went to Deck 7 and walked past the Winter Garden restaurant before entering the spa and gym area. The Canyon Ranch spa is a whopping 20,000 square feet full of pampering including many different massages and treatments. Directly above the gym area on Deck 8 is the library and QM2 bookshop, the Library has over 8000 titles. Above the library on Deck 9 is the Commodore Club where they serve 50 types of Martinis! Next door you can also find the Cigar Lounge.
By this time it was the end of our tour and while we had seen a lot. Unfortunately we weren't able to see the whole ship as there just wasn't enough time and by the end of it all we had already walked 3.5kms. We were also really ready for dinner! Everyone had high expectations as we were dining on the Queen Mary 2 for starters and secondly we were dining in Cunard's signature restaurant, Todd English. We were not disappointed - from the bread to the dessert to the attentive waiters, everything was remarkable. One day I hope that I am able to cruise on Queen Mary 2 as everything onboard surpassed my expectations. I highly recommend this ship and cruise line to everyone. - Jessica
Click for full-size image... HOT OFF THE PRESS - 2 great specials have just arrived!
- 8 night Mexican Riviera fly/cruise with Norwegian Star, Apr 2009 - From $2,149 Click here
- 16 night Alaska fly/cruise with Celebrity Mercury, Apr 2009 - From $6,799 Click here
NEW Europe & Asia Minor 2010 Costa cruises on board Europa and Deliziosa. Over the last two weeks we have released an array of brand new Costa 2010 cruises to Asia. This week we have a new selection of European itineraries and the KIDS CRUISE FREE offer is still applicable to all. Click here for more
RED HOT OFFER - Save up to $1,700! We've put together an 8 night Alaskan cruise on Norwegian Star departing from Seattle starting from just $2,849 including return airfares with United Airlines, 7 nights accommodation at the Crowne Plaza, Seattle and 3rd & 4th passengers in the same stateroom cruise for only $99USD if you book by 15 March 2009. Departure dates between May and June, so to take advantage of this great offer click here.
Another Hot Offer this week is Star Cruises' 7 night package from Singapore with SuperStar Virgo from only $1,699. Your package includes return Qantas flights, 2 nights accommodation at the Novotel Clarke Quay in Singapore, all onboard meals, port and government taxes, plus more – A bargain! So don't miss out, click here for full details. Don't forget Star Cruises' early booking discounts end 31 March. Click here for details
Save up to $500 on our Scenic Splendours package on board Oceania Regatta, departing 14 May for 19 nights. Starting from only $7,599 this fantastic offer includes return Qantas arifare, 1 night at the Crowne Plaza St. Peters, Rome and a great itinerary visiting Rome, Minorca, Seville, Lisbon, Oporto, St. Malo, Bruges, Amsterdam, Kiel Canal Transit, Copenhagen, Gdansk, St. Petersburg, Tallin and finally Stockholm. Click here for more
BANYAN TREE GETAWAY! Your 12 night package includes return flights with Singapore Airlines, 1 night pre-cruise at the Marco Polo Prince Hotel, Hong Kong, 8 nights on board Costa Allegra and 3 nights at the luxurious Banyan Tree Bintan with breakfast included. Your land and ferry transfers between Singapore & Bintan are also included. Prices start from only $2799, click here for more.
Viking River Cruises - Sail to the heart of destinations you can only see on Europe's great rivers. From April to November 2009 we have a great selection of 10 to 15 night packages on some of Viking's deluxe ships starting from only $3,799 for 10 nights including return airfares from selected capital cities, onboard meals, lectures about the region's history you sail to, shore excursions and hotel accommodation. This is great value travel, especially if you prefer to mix both cruise and on-shore experiences. Click here for more
This week's Costa Specials from around the World!
Italy, Sicily & Greece - May to Nov 2010, 8 night package from $2,549 Click here
European Cocktail - April to September 2010, 12 night package from $3,849 Click here
Arabian Nights - Mar to May 2010, 8 night package from $3,449 Click here
Treasures of the Mediterranean - Sep to Nov 2010, 11 nights from $3,499 Click here
P&O Deals of the Week
South Pacific Cruising - 11 nights from $1949 Click here
New Zealand on Pacific Dawn - 13 nights from $1449 Click here
Keep Cruising,
Lavinia & the ecruising team
The secret to humor is surprise.
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This Week's Top 10
2009 Cruise Tours
2010 Cruise Tours
 | | | |  | |  | Mediterranean Classics  | | Save up to 50% - 11 night package with Oceania Insignia including airfare & grats. Departs 15 Nov 2009 | From
$4,149.00 |  | 2009 Med Solstice | | Huge Savings & $300 onboard credit! 12 night Solstice package plus a night in Rome & air. May to Nov 2009 | From
$4,399.00 |  | Eastern Med Getaway | | $300 onboard credit, 11 night Solstice package with a night in Rome, airfare, grats & more. May to Nov 2009 | From
$4,799.00 |  | 2009 Amsterdam Return | | 14 night package with Celebrity Century including airfare & a night in Amsterdam plus more. Departing 14 Jun 2009 | From
$4,899.00 |  | Northern Europe Explorer | | 15 night Celebrity Constellation package with airfare, a night in London & onboard credit! May, Jul & Aug 2009 | From
$5,149.00 |  | Venice to Barcelona | | 13 night Celebrity Summit package with a night in Venice, airfare & onboard credit. Departing 26 Aug 2009 | From
$5,199.00 |  | Mythical Medley | | Price Drop! 13 night package with Insignia, including return air & a night in Venice. Departs 3 Nov 2009 | From
$5,599.00 |  | 2009 Enchanted Escapes | | 13 night package with Insignia including return airfare, grats & a night in Rome. Departs 21 Apr 2009 | From
$5,649.00 |  | 2009 Aegean Adventures | | 13 night package from Istanbul with Insignia, including airfare & a night in Istanbul. Departing Jun & Aug 2009 | From
$5,999.00 |  | Scenic Splendours | | 19 night package, Rome to Stockholm with Regatta including airfare & a night in Rome. Departing 14 May 2009 | From
$7,599.00 |  | Tulips & Windmills | | $500 off per person! 10 night package with Viking, plus airfare & a night in Amsterdam. Departing Apr 2009 | From
$3,799.00 |  | Elegant Elbe | | $500 off per person! 11 night Viking packge from Prague to Berlin including airfare. Departing Apr to Oct 2009 | From
$4,199.00 |  | Footsteps of the Cossacks | | Odessa to Kiev - 11 night package with Viking Lomonosov including airfare. Departing Jun to Sep 2009 | From
$4,399.00 |  | 2009 Grand European | | 15 night package from Amsterdam to Budapest with airfare. Selected departures between Apr & Nov 2009 | From
$5,249.00 |  | Magnificent Europe Special I | | FLY FREE! Last minute 14 night river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest with APT. Departing May 2009 | From
$5,999.00 |  | Magnificent Europe Special II | | FLY FREE! Last minute 14 night river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam with APT. Departing 2 & 24 May 2009 | From
$5,999.00 |  | 2010 Adelaide to Sydney | | 5 nights on board Pacific Sun visiting Burnie and Melbourne. Departing 1 Mar 2010 | From
$799.00 |  | New Zealand on Pacific Dawn | | Quad Special! 13 night cruise with Pacific Dawn. Up to 50% off plus onboard credit. Departs 1 Feb 2010 | From
$1,449.00 |  | Tasmania on Rhapsody | Sydney return, 8 night Tasmania cruise visiting Melbourne, Burnie, Port Arthur & Hobart. Departs 18 Feb 2010
| From
$1,499.00 |  | Queensland Explorer | | 10 nights cruising the North East coast of Australia with Rhapsody. Departs 11 Dec 2009 | From
$1,649.00 |  | Oceanic Explorer | | 13 night package with Diamond Princess including airfare & a night in Auckland. Departs Dec 2009 to Feb 2010 | From
$2,499.00 |  | 2010 Sydney to Auckland | | 13 nights Diamond Princess package with airfare & a night in Auckland. Departs 4 Jan 2010 | From
$2,699.00 |  | 2009 Tasman Transition | | 14 night package with Diamond Princess including airfare & a night in Auckland. Departs 22 Dec 2009 | From
$3,099.00 |  | 5 Night Island Escape | | 5 night Fly/Cruise package on board SuperStar Virgo. Departs selected Sundays between Apr 2009 & Mar 2010 | From
$1,699.00 |  | 5 Night Pearls of the Orient | | 5 night Fly/Cruise package on board SuperStar Virgo. Departs selected Sunday between Apr 2009 & Mar 2010 | From
$1,699.00 |  | South China Sea Voyager | | 12 night getaway! Includes return air, a night in Hong Kong & 3 nights at Banyan Tree Bintan. Departs May 2009 | From
$2,799.00 |  | Asian Delights | | 18 night Shanghai to Singapore package with Romantica including airfare. Departing 21 Oct 2010 | From
$3,349.00 |  | Banyan Tree Sanya Special | | 10 night package with Allegra & Banyan Tree Sanya including airfare & a night in Singapore. Departs May 2009 | From
$3,399.00 |  | Asian Delights & Banyan Tree | | 20 night Shanghai to Singapore package with Romantica & Banyan Tree Bintan including airfare. Departing Oct 2010 | From
$3,949.00 |  | South Pacific Cruising | | 11 night cruise - Up to 50% off & onboard credit! Vanuatu & New Caledonia from Sydney. Departs 26 Apr 2010 | From
$1,949.00 |  | Ocean Tango | | UP TO 45% OFF! 14 nights on board Pacific Sun and up to $100 onboard credit. Departing 6 Mar 2010 | From
$2,399.00 |  | Sydney to Honolulu | | 17 night Rhapsody package with a night in Honolulu and airfare home. Departing 13 Apr 2009 | From
$2,899.00 | |  | Don't forget to check www.ecruising.travel for the best deals or call us on 1300 369 848 for more information on any of these cruises! |
 | | | |  | | | |  | Record Year for Cruising
| The number of Australians taking a cruise holiday rose 26 per cent to 330,949 last year according to figures from the International Cruise Council Australasia.
| | |
| Don't forget to check www.ecruising.travel for the best deals or call us on 1300 369 848 for more information on any of these cruises! |
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Click the "Feedback" link to see how! |
| | | | | | | Brett Dudley - Editor
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Spain & Portugal Islands
New Zealand on Pacific Dawn 
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