Escape to Sea on Melbourne’s first Superliner

Princess Cruises, has released full details of the debut Victorian season of the largest cruise ship ever based in Melbourne, the 1950-passenger superliner, Sun Princess, with a new brochure offering Victorians nine summer cruises aboard the luxury 77,000-ton ship between November 2008 and March 2009, including three New Zealand voyages, three South Pacific sojourns, a pair of two-day sampler cruises and a grand circumnavigation of Australia.

Tasmanians and South Australians have not been forgotten either with free return flights from Hobart, Launceston or Adelaide offered to those keen to join the historic first round-Australia cruise from Melbourne in November, 2008.

Free return coach transfers are also offered from Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong and Gippsland for passengers joining the circumnavigation.

“Cruising is now so popular around the world and with Sun Princess soon to be based in Melbourne, holidaymakers in southern Australia will be able to enjoy the pleasure and convenience of cruising in style to exotic destinations from their own doorstep,” said Vice President Sales for Princess Cruises in Australia, John Molinaro.

“This is very exciting news for Victoria’s cruise industry and when she debuts in Melbourne, Sun Princess will pamper local passengers keen to indulge in an exciting holiday at sea but at an affordable cost,” Mr Molinaro said.

The highlight of Sun Princess’ Melbourne season will be her grand 28-night voyage right around Australia on November 20, 2008, which will recreate the first circling of Australia by explorer Matthew Flinders in his tiny 334-ton Investigator from 1801-1803. A far more upmarket experience than Flinders’ trevails, the voyage will visit 13 ports – Adelaide, Albany, Bunbury, Perth, Exmouth, Broome, Darwin, Cairns, Whitsundays, Brisbane, Sydney, Hobart and Burnie. Staterooms are available from A$6795 per person twin share*.

Sun Princess will also offer three 13-night round-trip cruises to New Zealand including a spectacular cruise through Fjordland and calls at Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga and Auckland. Departures are available on December 30, 2008, January 24, 2009, and February 18, 2009 with fares starting at A$2865 per person twin share*.

Three dream cruises direct from Melbourne to the South Pacific are also on offer. The 12-night itinerary, available on December 18, 2008, January 12, 2009, and February 6, 2009, will take passengers to the beautiful New Caledonian destinations of Ouvea, Lifou, Isle of Pines and Noumea plus tropical Vila in Vanuatu. Fares start at A$2675 per person twin share*.

A two-day sampler cruise one way from Sydney to Melbourne on November 18, 2008, and another back to Sydney on March 3, 2009, will bookend Sun Princess’ Victoria season, with fares available from A$495 per person twin share. A special children’s fare of just $99 is also available on the sampler cruises for children travelling with two adults*.

The largest cruise ship ever based in Australia year-round, Sun Princess features more than 400 balcony cabins as well as a grand four-storey atrium, eight restaurants and cafes, personal service, three pools, five whirlpool spas, seven lounges and bars, ocean-view gym, teak-line wrap-around promenade deck, library, spa sanctuary and golf simulator. Sun Princess also offers an onboard currency in Australian dollars.

Bookings are through Princess Cruises on 13 24 88 or visit www.sunprincess.com.au

Report by The Mole