CRUISING
Sometimes the best way to view the world is from the water. To sit on the deck of a cruise ship, yacht or gullet feasting on an early morning breakfast as the sun rises or sipping on the days specialty cocktail as the sun sets viewing the spectacular ever changing external coastline or perhaps cruising down the many internal rivers surrendering to the inner depths of a country is a magical experience.
Whether you are looking for 5 star luxuries, family friendly ships or something just a little different like the ancient gullets in Croatia or the self chartered yachts of the Greek islands the Travel Avenue team can help you. Remember having the ability to explore a different environ each day allows for an even greater adventure.
5 Star Luxury – Silversea and Oceania
Companies such as Oceania and Silversea pride themselves on offering five star luxury onboard mid size ships enabling these companies to offer a greater staff to guest ratio making your stay just that bit more personalized.
With itineraries ranging from 10-28 days and concentrating on either a small slice of the world or covering a more extensive part of the world’s coastline there is surely one to suit you.
Dining on board these beautiful ships gives you the option of either a romantic dinner for two or dining with fellow guests met during the day. The meals are sumptuous feasts cooked by some of the worlds most renound chefs and with a variety of different styles and cuisines your taste buds will never be bored.
Activities are available but never forced upon you with everything on offer from an on board library to cabanas on deck to power walking and personal training there will definitely be something to suit everyone. Not forgetting the shore excursions on offer whenever you are in port, allowing you to immerse yourself in the local culture of the country you are visiting.
Many of the suites and staterooms on these ships offer everything from a sitting area to allow you to watch up to the minute news shows and DVD’s to private balconies where you can enjoy champagne before dinner.
Family Friendly – Princess
Princess Cruise lines not only offer sailings out of Australia but also larger ships allowing for a larger choice of amenities including restaurants, cafes, a number of pools, bars, lounges and childrens clubs, making this line the choice for families wishing to experience life on board the high seas. In fact both the Sun and the Dawn princess have an entire deck dedicated to children & teens clubs along with their fitness and spa centre.
Dining ranges from pizzas, hotdogs and sundaes to the more traditional fine dining allowing for parents to spend quality time on their own not to mention the special dinner evenings designed for each age group of junior cruisers so they too can spend some additional time on their own.
Departing out of Sydney or Melbourne the Dawn or Sun Princess can take you on a 13 night adventure taking in the beauty of New Zealand.
Gullets & Houseboats & Barges – Croatia, France & India
Maybe you prefer the idea of beginning your new journey as husband and wife surrounded by ancient architecture, in a place steeped in history with a backdrop more in keeping with an old English garden. What could be more romantic then a wedding in Italy? Of course Europe is filled with such beautiful monuments and visions along with a majestic coastline looking out over the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas.
A new “hot spot” emerging onto the scene is the majestic Dalmatian Coast on the Adriatic Sea, taking in the coastline of Croatia. Why not leave the big ships behind and try a smaller motorized vessel or “old timer” as they are fondly known. These vessels range in size from 10 – 18 cabins allowing for only 16 – 36 passengers making this a truly intimate experience. Generally they run under the power of motors however if the conditions are right they have the option of using sails, taking advantage of the power of wind.
If exploring the peace and quiet of the French countryside along with the culinary delights of French cuisine is your preference why not try ‘barge life’ allowing easy access to the wineries of the Burgundy region. With air-conditioned cabins, communal living and dining areas and outdoor covered areas these barges offer all the comforts of home.
The backwaters of Kerala in India also offer this intimate experience. Imagine cruising the intricate network of palm fringed canals experiencing the rural life of India watching the women in brightly coloured saris going about their daily chores whilst children swing from tarzan ropes calling for attention. These houseboats are even more intimate, quite often you are the only guests on board.
Yachting – Greek Islands, Whitsunday’s
Whether you are an avid, experienced sailor yourself or prefer the thought of luxuriating in the sunshine allowing a professional skipper to sail for you, hiring a monohull (single hull vessel) or catamaran (multihull vessel) and yachting around the Islands dotted around Greece, Turkey, Ital, Croatia and even Australia’s own Whitsunday region is another way to experience the open waters of the world.
Allowing for total flexibility and privacy “bareboat” chartering of yachts can be enjoyed either on your own or with a group of friends. What better way to experience life then pouring over navigational charts in the evening deciding what area to explore the next day, putting down anchor wherever the scenery takes your fancy or off the shore of an Island you wish to explore. Yachting allows you to either be totally self sufficient or to take advantage of the facilities on the Island you are moored off.
River Cruising – Internal Europe
Leave behind the vast open seas and oceans to explore the rivers of Europe, Egypt & China allowing you to sail right into the heart of a town avoiding traffic and hectic coastal ports.
Whilst not as intimate as the gullet or barge or as private as yachting, the vessels used for river cruising are smaller then ones used in open waters without losing any of the elegance, features or activities available on larger ships. Cabins range in style from suites to staterooms, with balconies and private bathrooms.
