French cruise line Compagnie du Ponant launched the first of its new ships, Le Boreal, in France last week.

The 264-passenger Le Boreal is currently sailing her weeklong maiden voyage along the French Riviera from Marseilles to Nice, before spending her first month operating a series of Mediterranean voyages. The ship is the first new vessel for the line in more than a decade, and will be followed in May 2011 by her sister, L’;Austral.

Le Boreal is only 142 metres long and has earned already recognition among passengers and crew for her environmentally friendly design, choice of itineraries and initiatives taken.

GLENDA KWEK – Australian yachtswoman Jessica Watson, 16, crosses the finish line of her unassisted solo voyage around the world in her yacht Ella’s Pink Lady at Sydney Harbour. Photo: Reuters.

Thousands of people clapped and cheered at the Sydney Opera House as they watched live pictures of teen solo sailor Jessica Watson cross the finish line.

The crowds are waiting to welcome the 16-year-old home after a 210-day solo round-the-world voyage.

“I’m completely overwhelmed. I just don’t know what to think at the moment,” she told Channel Ten as her yacht sailed into the harbour.

Wearing a broad grin and looking none the worse for her epic voyage, Jessica battled to answer questions from the Channel Ten commentators.

“It’s going to be very strange to step off the boat and see it from another angle.”

The Queenslander squealed, cried and waved as she saw her family for the first time in seven months on an adjacent boat.

“It’s all a bit much but absolutely amazing,” Watson said. “It’s going to be strange to step off the boat.”

She is expected to make her way down to Sydney Harbour now, with the assistance of  solo sailing record holders Jesse Martin and Mike Perham and while surrounded by hundreds well-wishers on boats.

  

Boasting an onboard currency of Australian dollars, the 600-passenger Athena will depart Rome in November this year for a 35-night cruise, calling in at Naples, Venice, Dubrovnik and Corfu and Port Said in Egypt for a tour to the Pyramids.

Athena will then continue to Sri Lanka, Thailand and Singapore before docking in Perth in mid-December to begin a season of 13 cruises throughout the summer.

Melbourne Hotels

Angela Saurine – The Queen Mary 2 stops over in Sydney in spectacular fashion. Picture: James Morgan

THE largest and most famous cruise ship ever to visit Australia will be based here throughout 2012 and is expected to generate $10 million for the local economy.

Cunard Line announced the Queen Mary 2 will visit five states and the Northern Territory next year, making a world-first circumnavigation of the country.

It will sail from Cape Town to Sydney via Fremantle and Adelaide and stop at eight Australian ports, including Sydney, Fremantle, Adelaide and the Whitsundays as well as maiden visits to Cairns (Yorkeys Knob), Darwin, Melbourne and Brisbane.Her circumnavigation will also include a call at Bali.

Australians will be able to choose from three circumnavigation options starting in February: a 22-night voyage departing Sydney, a 20-night voyage departing Fremantle and a 21-night voyage departing Adelaide.

Fremantle, Adelaide and Sydney will each enjoy two visits from the liner during her 28 days in Australian waters.

Carnival Australia chief executive Ann Sherry said the decision was a sign of confidence in the Australian cruise market.

“This one decision will generate at least $10 million for the Australian economy as the local cruise industry remains on track to contribute more than $3 billion and carry one million Australians annually by 2020,” she said.

Cunard president and managing director Peter Shanks said he expected strong demand for the voyage from Australian and international markets.

The Royal Circumnavigation will not go on sale until mid 2010 to allow the final itinerary details to be finalised with the various port authorities around the country, but the company will be taking expressions of interest from this Friday.

The Queen Mary 2 is currently docked at Woolloomooloo in Sydney on her third round-the-world voyage, before heading to Adelaide tomorrow.

Queen Mary 2 is one of the biggest ships on the planet.

Capable of carrying 2620 guests and more than 1,200 crew, it has 10 restaurants, five pools, the largest ballroom at sea, the largest library at sea and the world’s first floating planetarium.

Head to New Caledonia from Newcastle aboard the Pacific Sun. Picture: Pacific Sun

FROM historic European hotspots to African adventures – grab a hot holiday bargain with the latest cruise deals.

Pacific paradise
P&O Cruises is celebrating its biggest fleet yet by releasing great new deals on cruises from mid-2010.

Now is the time to secure a cabin on the cruise line’s latest superliners, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl, as well as their sister ships, Pacific Dawn and Pacific Sun, with fares available from just $799 a person for a seven-night South Pacific holiday.

When: The new deals are valid until March 31 and include:

- 10-night cruise aboard Pacific Jewel sailing to New Caledonia and Vanuatu, departing Sydney on August 7, with fares from $1599 a person twin share

- An eight-night cruise on Pacific Sun visiting Emerald Bay, Noumea and Isle of Pines in New Caledonia, departing Sydney August 14, with fares from $999 a person quad share

- An eight-night cruise on Pacific Pearl departing Sydney on March 3, touring Tasmania and visiting Melbourne with fares from $939 a person quad share

Details: Call 132 494

Sydney’s harbour sights
Experience Sydney from a new perspective aboard a small cruise ship.

Captain Cook Cruises’ Explorer takes you off the beaten track to places only the locals know as well as up close to some of the most famous aspects of Sydney Harbour.

Shore visits include street markets, beautiful gardens and Watson’s Bay.

The views are worth the journey alone – a breathtaking sunset over the sails of the Sydney Opera House to a sparkling dawn on the cliffs of the North Shore. Evenings on board are a blend of top-class food and wine, spectacular harbour sights and great entertainment.

When: Valid from April 1 this year to March 31, 2011

Details: Call 1300 737 222

Explore Australia’s coast
Australians who want to explore more of their own coastline will enjoy Pacific Sun’s eight-night WA coastal voyages, visiting Geraldton, Broome and Exmouth.

When: Departing Fremantle on September 30 and October 8 next year, prices start from $1109 a person quad share.

For those keen to experience Australia’s southern coastline, Pacific Sun is offering a nine-night voyage from Fremantle to Sydney, which is also available as three shorter cruises.

Prices start from $259 a person quad share for a two-night cruise from Adelaide to Melbourne.

The 47,000-tonne ship features a child-free Oasis spa retreat, an ocean view gym and coffee bar, five restaurants and cafes, multiple bars and lounges and two pools.

Details: Call 132 494

A Classic program
A maiden visit by the liner Athena to Christmas Island during the Christmas cruise and a return cruise from Western Australia to South Australia will feature in Classic International Cruises’ longest-ever program in Australia next summer.

A new brochure for the 2010/11 Australian summer season has just been released, with the 600-passenger Athena offering 13 cruises to and from Fremantle for four months from November 14 this year to April 14 next year.

Cruises from two to 39 nights will be available, including a Christmas cruise from Perth to Christmas Island and Bali, an 11-night cruise from Perth to the seafood capital of Australia, Port Lincoln, as well as Kangaroo Island, Adelaide and Esperance, an extended Asian cruise, weekend cruises around the WA coastline and two traditional line voyages between Europe and Australia.

Fares start from $445 a person twinshare for a two-night cruise, with children under 18 cruising free on six selected cruises, with only nominal taxes to pay.

Explore the past
Voyages to Antiquity is centred on a series of 15-day and 29-day themed cruises aboard the newly refurbished Aegean Odyssey, which from May will carry a maximum of 380 guests a cruise to a range of historic destinations in countries including Egypt, Greece, Malta and Italy.

A special free flight offer applies to the two launch cruises in the program – Athens to Rome, departing on May 17, and Rome to Venice, leaving on May 30.

With the free air fares included, the Athens-Rome journey is priced from $5295 a person, twin share from Brisbane and includes a comprehensive range of shore excursions, wine with every dinner, gratuities and port charges, while the Rome-Venice cruise is priced from $5575 a person, twin share, with the same inclusions.

When: All bookings must be made by March 8 and are subject to availability.

Details: Call 5575 8094

Royal Egypt
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and Etihad Airways are offering travellers the chance to experience Egypt in royal style without the royal price tag, with the release of the Splendours of Egypt and the Nile Air and Land Package.

Fly return to Cairo for as little as $799 a person, twin share departing from Brisbane with Etihad Airways, when bought in conjunction with Uniworld’s 12-day Splendours of Egypt and the Nile holiday package which is priced from $4599 a person twin share. The total package is priced from $5398 a person twin share.

The package includes return economy class airfares to Cairo, a seven-night Nile river cruise in a category four river-view suite, four nights at the deluxe Cairo Marriott hotel with buffet breakfast, all meals onboard your river cruise, shore excursions and onboard entertainment, internal Egypt flights and airport transfers.

When: The package is only available until March 12 for departures between April 1 and November 30 this year.

Volendam returns
MS Voendam, the beautiful garden-themed liner from the Holland American Line fleet, is returning to our shores in November this year.

When: The 2010 cruise season will begin with a 14-day Pacific Treasures cruise on November 5.

The Volendam will take in the idyllic isles of New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji as it sails to the islands of the South Pacific through some of the most pristine waters in the world. Guests will visit Noumea, Mouli and Ile Des Pins in New Caledonia.

The ship will also call at the island of Vanuatu, as well as Lautoka and Levuka in Fiji.

Earlybird prices start at $2060 a person twin share for an inside cabin with meals, accommodation and entertainment onboard, as well as taxes.

Details: Call 1300 766 566

African package
A top-to-the-bottom African tour package has been released, embracing all the continent’s iconic attractions and climaxing with a voyage home to Australia next year aboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2.

When: The 38-day Cairo to the Cape package departs Australia on January 17, 2011, includes a 13-day tour of Egypt’s pyramids and temples, including a seven-night, luxury Nile River cruise, two nights in exclusive game lodges with wildlife drives in Kruger National Park, three nights at spectacular Victoria Falls, three nights in Cape Town and a voyage back to Australia aboard the QM2.

Flights from Australia, flights in Africa, luxury accommodation, tours and comprehensive sightseeing, the Nile and QM2 cruises and most meals are included in the $12,990 a person twin-share price.

Details: Call 1300 766 537

Head north for savings
Move quick for a 10 per cent saving on a Kimberley Wilderness Cruise aboard boutique expedition ship True North. The cruise runs over March 13-26, exploring the wild coastline of the Kimberley.

True North carries its own helicopter for excursions, as well as six tender boats.

Details: Call (08) 9192 1829

Kate Schneider - The luxury Seabourn Odyssey arrives in Sydney Harbour / James Morgan

THE arrival of the opulent Seabourn Odyssey in Australia has everyone asking – is bigger really better when it comes to cruising?

The $300 million ship is one of the most luxurious vessels afloat, according to the company that owns it, the Yachts of Seabourn.

It arrived in Darling Harbour, Sydney this morning as part of its maiden voyage around the world.

The Odyssey will sail to Cairns, Darwin and the South-East Asian ports of Bali, Brunei and Borneo before arriving at her final destination, Athens, in late April.

The 32,000 tonne ship, which began her inaugural world voyage in Venice in June, is limited to carrying 450 passengers, while similar sized ships normally carry 800-900 passengers.

Passengers were being asked to pay up to $US285,000 ($319,000) for the privilege of cruising around the world on the vessel, with the cheaper suites selling from around $33,000.

The 650 foot long and 84 foot wide ship includes 225 ocean view suites measuring 27 to 156 square metres, most of which have private verandas.

The largest suite has 1182 square feet of indoor space and has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a glass-enclosed solarium with tub and daybed, a whirlpool, dining for six, two bars and three flat-screen televisions.

At 11,400 square feet it claims to have the one of the highest space-per-guest ratios in the industry as well as the largest spa on any luxury vessel.

The spa covers two decks and is accompanied by Finnish saunas and aromatic steam rooms.

It also features a mini golf course, giant chess board, stargazing area and the Seabourn Square “concierge lounge” with a casino, library, shops and bars.

Unlike most cruise ships, passengers have flexible dining times and seating arrangements, with drinks included in the price of the voyage.

Many critics have praised the ship, however not everyone is glowing in their reviews.

A review posted on website Cruise Critic says the Seabourn Odyssey is “a four-star experience at best”.

“The restaurant is a disappointing experience in terms of lighting, noise levels and service,” MReport said.

The review went on to state problems with lighting in the suites, bedding, disappointing entertainment and the yacht’s low ceilings.

Another critic said the layout and design of the suites were a disappointment.

“The room was spacious… but I did not like the layout very much. You could tell whoever designed it did not spend a lot of time actually living in one these staterooms,” Lonestarlady53 said.

However these reviews are unlikely to deter travellers excited to get on board the luxury ship.

“Sydney is becoming increasingly popular for cruise ships,” Ports and Waterways Minister Paul McLeay said.

“This season we have already welcomed Carnival Australia’s new home-ported Pacific Jewel and next week Sydney will welcome the third maiden visit of the season when the Balmoral arrives on March 3, 2010.”

After the Seabourn Odyssey docks at Wharf 8 Darling Harbour, she will move to the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

Yachts of Seabourn, the company that owns her, plans on bringing Odyssey’s sister ship, Sojourn, to Australia next year, as part of an 111-day tour between Los Angeles and London.The ship is booked out.