Over Sixty Spring 2022 Digital

40 ISSUE 2 | 2022 | OVERSIXTY.COM.AU TRAVEL Destinations in demand Cruising is back, but where is everyone going? JOANNA HALL TRAVEL A s travel returns following the pan- demic, there’s been a surge in book- ings for cruise holidays around the world. “One trend we’re seeing globally is the sense of urgency many people have for travel after being cut off during the pan- demic,” says Cruise Lines International Association Australasia Managing Direc- tor, Joel Katz. “Big bucket-list ideas that might once have been in the back of the mind are now things people want to make into a reality.” So what destinations are top of the list for Australian cruise fans? New Zealand Along with its international border final- ly reopening at the end of July, there’s a lineup of good reasons why New Zea- land is back, with P&O’s Pacific Explorer the first ship to be welcomed back into Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour in Au- gust. There are cruises across the Tasman all summer from major Australian ports including Brisbane, Sydney and Mel- bourne, and the bonus of return itinerar- ies which eliminate the need to fly. And the 2022/23 season has something to suit every budget, along with exciting ship de- buts from Holland America’s Westerdam , Celebrity Eclipse and Grand Princess . Antarctica Being trapped at home for over 18 months has revived the desire for adven- ture cruising, with Antarctica being a top pick. It’s a destination that has long fasci- nated travellers thanks to its landscapes, glaciers and rare wildlife, and the White Continent was one of the first destina- tions to successfully reopen to cruising last November, with staterooms selling fast for the next few summers. New for the upcoming season are the two new glamorous Viking Expeditions ships, Vi- king Octantis and Viking Polaris which are both Polar Class 6 ships carrying 378 guests, along with Seabourn’s first lux- ury expedition ship, Seabourn Venture , which launched in Norway in July. South Pacific Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu are popular with cruise fans post-pandemic, thanks partly to being close to home and blessed with a year-round climate suited to cruising. There’s also a wide choice of operators to choose from, and cruises of varying lengths departing from major Australian cities, with some itineraries including bonus stops in New Zealand. P&O’s Pacific Encounter , which returned to Australia in August, offers several South Pacific cruises from Brisbane including 12-night Fiji itineraries. And if expedition cruising is more your style, Scenic Eclipse II has a calendar of cruises exploring the South Pacific region including Indonesia, Polynesia and the Pacific Islands for the first time starting in 2023. Europe Europe continues to entice cruise fans for both high seas and river-based holidays, and there are plenty of new offerings for 2022 and beyond. On the ocean, Norwe- gian Sun returns to Europe from Novem- ber 21 to offer year-round cruises from Lisbon and Malaga. And on the waterways, Travelmarvel has three new river ships for travellers to choose from – Polaris , Capel- la and Vega – each with 91 staterooms equipped with electronic windows which slide down to form a French-style balco- ny. Meanwhile, Viking launched eight new “Longships” in 2022, four purpose-built to navigate France’s Seine River. Alaska After two pandemic-impacted years, Alas- ka resumed a full season of cruising at the end of April 2022, welcoming the return of around 60 ships. In 2023, cruise fans can choose from an impressive lineup of ships including Princess Cruises’ Discovery Princess , which returns for a second sea- son. Also on offer next year is Royal Carib- bean’s Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas , with seven and eight-night itineraries departing from Seattle, and stopping at popular ports of call along the Northwest coastline including Victoria in British Columbia, and Sitka, Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau in Alaska. Clockwise from top: Alaska is one of the most sought- after cruising destinations; the stunning South Pacific seas; Antarctica’s endless allure; a river cruise down Austria’s Rhine river Europe continues to entice for both high seas and river-based holidays CRUISING