Have you missed any recent cruise travel updates? Expert cruise contributor Sally Macmillan helps bring you up to speed with the latest intel in this weekly wrap of what’s making waves in cruising.
Heritage Line Southeast Asian river deals
River cruise travel enthusiasts looking for a boutique luxury experience in Southeast Asia should add Heritage Line to their travel wish list. The Saigon-based company owns and operates seven individually outfitted vessels that are renowned for their premium interiors.
Each ship is decked out with a remarkable collection of antiques and artefacts. Anouvong is the latest to join the fleet this year. She is the first luxury vessel to cruise the Upper Mekong River in Laos.
Heritage Line operates 15 different itineraries on six waterways in four countries: the Lower Mekong River in southern Vietnam and Cambodia, Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay in northern Vietnam, and the Ayeyarwady and Chindwin Rivers in Myanmar.
Right now, Heritage Line is promoting two special deals for bookings made by January 15, 2024.
The ‘Mekong 100’ deal is for seven-night Lower Mekong voyages between June and September 2024 or 2025 and includes US$100 off the cruise fare, a US$100 onboard credit and 100 minutes of complimentary treatments in The Jahan’s fabulous spa.
The ‘Make It Two’ deal is for the seven-night Lower Mekong journey between Saigon and Siem Reap or its adventurous new three-night Upper Mekong sailing between Luang Prabang and Huay Xai can extend their experience with a 25 per cent discount off the cruise line’s popular one and two-night sailings in Vietnam’s Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay.
Plus, guests can take advantage of a complimentary cabin upgrade if available at the time of check-in. This offer is also available for travel between June and September 2024 or 2025.
For more information, visit heritage-line.com
Slow travel with Belmond
According to industry experts Virtuoso, among others, luxury travel in all its forms will continue to boom next year and beyond. Belmond, a long-time operator in the ultra-luxe sector, is launching its new luxury hotel barge Coquelicot in France’s sought-after Champagne region in April 2024.
The beautifully renovated Art Deco-style vessel has three double ensuite guest rooms below, and two lounges, an open kitchen and a shaded dining area on the top deck. A dedicated chef, sommelier and crew are on hand to help make this incredible journey between Epernay and Sillery one that guests who don’t even consider this style of journey as ‘cruise travel’ will remember forever.
To elevate the Champagne sailing experience even further, Belmond has partnered with Maison Ruinart, the oldest and one of the most distinguished Champagne houses in the world. Onboard, the fizz of choice is Ruinart, and after visiting Ruinart’s vineyards and three levels of cellars in Reims, guests will return to their floating villa for a lavish lunch created by Ruinart’s chef chef Valérie Radou and Coquelicot’s own onboard chef.
Local market tours and gourmet cookery classes are available, and guests can tailor Champagne itineraries with the help of Belmond’s Guest Experience Executive.
For more information, visit belmond.com
What’s next for Explora Journeys?
Explora I is one of a notable bunch of new ocean-going ships to set sail in 2023. The most recent include Royal Caribbean’s now world’s biggest cruise ship Icon of the Seas, RSSC’s Seven Seas Grandeur, NCL’s Norwegian Viva, Emerald Cruises’ Emerald Sakara, Viking’s Viking Saturn, Oceania Cruises’ Oceania Vista and Silversea’s Silver Nova.
Explora I is the first of six vessels planned for mainstream brand MSC Cruises’ new ‘luxury lifestyle’ line. Accommodating up to 922 guests, the ship is on the larger end of the luxury-cruise travel spectrum and her identical sister, Explora II, is scheduled to debut in the Mediterranean, in August 2024.
The ship has 461 oceanfront suites, penthouses and residences, six restaurants, 12 indoor and outdoor bars and lounges, four swimming pools, extensive outdoor decks with private cabanas and nearly 1,000 square metres of wellness and fitness facilities.
Since Explora I made her maiden voyage in August 2023, Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman Cruise Division of MSC Group, said MSC Cruises has received “incredibly high levels of satisfaction from the guests that have sailed with us so far”. He added that the company has responded to feedback and added regular seven-night journeys to the 2024-26 itineraries.
For more information, travel advisors can visit explorajourneys.com/traveladvisors
Hear the latest Cunard news onboard the ships Down Under
There’s a lot happening in the grand world of Cunard at the moment. The UK-based cruise line and many thousands of dedicated fans are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Cunard’s fourth queen, Queen Anne, in May 2024.
She will visit Australia and New Zealand on her maiden round-world voyage in February 2025, calling at Auckland, Tauranga, Bay of Islands, Sydney, Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Cairns and Darwin. The voyage is on sale now.
However, local cruise travel fans have been disappointed to learn that Cunard is planning to bypass Melbourne from 2025 onwards, and that Queen Elizabeth, currently homeporting in Australia for her 2023-24 season, will not return for the 2025-26 season.
To find out more, local travel advisors can sign up for ship inspections onboard Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary and Queen Victoria while they are in Australia and New Zealand this season.
The next inspections will be taking place in January 2024 in Sydney and Brisbane, with more to follow in February and March.
To lock in the opportunity to experience a Cunard queen firsthand, agents should join the Cunard Travel Agents Facebook group for RSVP forms and more details.
Want to read more cruise news? Visit previous Karryon cruise coverage here.