Finding a cruise - when you know where to look

Problem-solving makes my job interesting! Just last week a couple - regular clients of ours, but not cruisers - came in to ask whether they could return from a planned visit to Japan by sea rather than by air. I gave a qualified yes, but really was not certain it could be done: the days are gone when booking a sea-passage was a year-round possibility. Today we move freight by sea, and people by air. Cruise ship movements are ruled by the seasons and there are many months on the calendar with no international arrivals. But it can be done, and so I was pleasantly surprised to be able to offer a passage by freighter, from Japan to Brisbane, to suit their preferred dates of travel.

Freighter travel is paid for at a daily rate, plus certain fixed costs - and it usually is more expensive than the equivalent journey made by air. There may not be ships travelling the desired route. The ships may not leave or arrive exactly when scheduled - there are considerations and allowances to be made that do not affect cruise/passenger ships. The facilities on board are spartan; the need for self-sufficiency somewhat greater. But for all that there is an experience to be had that appeals to many - and so we are happy to handle enquiries and bookings, and to provide the opportunity if we can.
And it is always a pleasure to find the answer to a problem.

How cruising has changed - but travel agents still feature

"Most group travel, most cruises, many complicated itineraries and even the majority of lodging reservations still are booked through travel agencies" according to Douglas Quinby of PhoCusWright, a travel industry research company who is quoted in a recent SMH Traveller story on The Decade in Travel. However cruising has changed hugely in the last ten years. I often write about a new ship that has just been, or is about to be, launched.
Ten years ago cruising was not a choice many travellers considered. In the 1970s the industry began to recover from the decline caused by the increased availability of air travel when Cunard introduced one-class travel across the Atlantic and provided entertainment that made the 4-day trip an experience in itself. In the 1980s bigger ships with more facilities were built but as cruising moved into the 1990s ships were built to cater to different markets. Today we have cruise ships that are built to cater for families or for discerning couples, we have ships that are built for expeditions and ships, like Oasis of the Seas, that are floating cities with parks and wave pools and much more. If we in the industry are flat out keeping up to date with what the cruise companies are offering, it is no wonder the traveller who wants to cruise chooses to go with a cruise travel agent.

Silver Whisper, snow and more to come

Today the Silver Whisper arrived at Circular Quay, and tomorrow, Monday, she will depart carrying with her many of my fellow countrymen who have escaped Britain to cruise in luxury through the tropics to Singapore. Her next port of call is Brisbane and from there she will head up to Thursday Island, Indonesia and Singapore where many of the passengers will disembark and fly back to the icy weather that Britain is currently experiencing, along with the rest of Europe. Just for interest I've dropped in the pic at left which was taken by my brother on Beachy Head in Eastbourne, in the south of England, just days ago!
Silver Whisper is part of the Silversea fleet. A luxury 5 star ship she has a crew to passenger ratio of 1 to 3, just 194 cabins and an Italian heritage which means her cuisine is outstanding. All-inclusive fares and the little extras make this ship - and her sister ships popular with the discerning over-50 traveller.
The company is about to launch a sister ship to Silver Whisper. The 540 guest Silver Spirit will be launched on Thursday, January 21 in Fort Lauderdale. It is likely that Silver Spirit will visit Australia in 2011...
Ask me for a brochure if you are interested in finding out more about these beautiful ships!

10 reasons to take a river cruise

Yesterday we had a couple in the agency who were keen to do one of the cruises from Moscow (pictured) to St Petersburg along the Volga River. These cruises are becoming increasingly popular so they were lucky that we found them a cruise, though it wasn't on the date they first wanted. Sometimes it can take half a day to find such a trip and it never ceases to amaze me that so many people want to do this searching themselves on the internet instead of asking a travel agent to do the hard yards for them. The cruise our clients wanted to do is one of the most popular and as these boats take under 200 passengers and only cruise in the warmer weather we were very pleased to find what they wanted.
If you have never considered a river cruise, here are 10 things you might like to know:
1. A river boat is a floating hotel. It is a relaxing and rewarding way to travel through parts of Europe, only unpacking once.
2. Today's river boats are packed with amenities including libraries, spas, access to the internet, bicycles and some even have pools.
3. The staterooms are typically extremely comfortable and have similar beds to those you find in hotels, television and entertainment centres and other plush amenities.
4. Food is gourmet and dressing is casual. Meals are included and on some cruises so is wine.
5. On-board entertainment frequently includes local musicians and talks by experts in the areas you are travelling through.
6. When your boat docks you will be right in the heart of the action where you can explore and shop and enjoy the services of local guides.
7. These boats are smaller than ocean cruises and there are plenty of opportunities to get to know others onboard.
8. You will be able to explore a number of different cities, all without having to de-camp as you would in a coach or overland tour.
9. Canals and waterways criss-cross Europe and Asia and there are many parts of the world that can be explored in this way.
10. It's the perfect way for those who suffer from sea sickness to enjoy all the benefits of a cruise.