Cruises Alert: The cruise fit for a queen… and your dog! Plus other 2016 sailings

If you were considering taking Fido on a trans-Atlantic cruise, the good news is that 10 new kennels will installed on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 as part of a May 27 –June 21 refurbishment next year.

QM2 is the only cruise liner in the world with dedicated kennels and currently carries up to 12 dogs and cats on transatlantic crossings with kennels often sold out.

(Kennel fees for a one week transatlantic crossing range from US$800 for dogs under 12kg to US$1000 for larger dogs, while for cats, which need two kennels (one for a litter tray) the cost is US$1600.)

As part of the refurbishment, 15 single staterooms – for people! – will be built with research showing that increasing numbers of guests are holidaying in multi-generational groups – grandparents, parents and children- with one member of the family travelling as an individual.

This additional accommodation is now on sale for sailings from late June, 2016.

Seven-night east or westbound transatlantic crossings including a New York departure on August 9, 2016 are available from $1539 per person twin share with a Southampton sailing for New York on November 19, 2016 from $1399 per person twin share, subject to availability.

Visit www.cunard.com. Ph: 132 441

Jewels of the Cyclades

Beyond Travel has Earlybird discounts of up to $800 per cabin on a 2016 eight day “Jewels of the Cyclades” cruise in the Aegean Sea if you book and pay by February 25, 2016.

The cruise is aboard the 25 cabin MS Galileo sailing on a round-trip cruise from Athens. Itinerary includes the Greek islands of Paros, Kythnos and Syros as well as Santorini and Mykonos.

Cost is from $2510 per person twin share during the low season and $4090 per person in the high season.

Ph Beyond Travel on 1300-363-554 or visit www.beyondtravel.com.au

Isolated Wonderland

Alaska cruise tours for 2016 combining land and cruise content for departures between May and August are now on sale.

A new product is the 17 night “Isolated Wonderland” package from Vancouver to Fairbanks, Alaska including a cruise aboard Star Princess to Ketchikan, Junean, Skagway, Glacier Bay, College Fjord and Whittier.

Disembarking in Whittier, guests then spend seven nights at Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, McKinley Princess Lodge and Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge.

Departing August 10, 2016, the package is priced from $6,219 per person twin share which includes return economy airfares, and three nights pre-cruise accommodation at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver.

Contact ecruising.travel on 1300-369-848 or visit www.ecruising.travel

So many cruiseliners

Carnival Australia will have a record 22 ships from its seven cruise lines sailing in Australian waters over the coming months with more than 170 calls to Sydney.

The ships will carry more than 530,000 guests over the summer period between now and the end of April.

Three Holland America Line ships will also visit over summer as well as all three Cunard Queens together with one Seabourn ship.

Star Flyer

Cruise on the replica clipper tall ship Star Flyer on an 11 night ocean crossing from Cienfuegos, Cuba, to the island of St Maarten in the Caribbean.

Ports of call include Montego Bay, Port Antonio

Santo Domingo, British Virgin Islands and St Maarten.

The cruise departs on March 26, 2016, with prices starting from $3579 including port charges and a special 25 discount. The Star Flyer takes a maximum of 170 guests.

Ph: 1300 362 599 or visit www.starclippers.com

Cruise the canals of Venice

Le Boat, Europe’s number one self-drive boating company, has launched its 2016 European boating brochure with a number of innovations for the 2016 season.

New is the chance to cruise the canals of Venice as part of a boating flotilla. Each eight boat flotilla features the services of a dedicated host to act as a guide and offer assistance for boating novices.

You can also be guided along the Canal du Midi in France, the 17th century canal linking the Atlantic with the Mediterranean.

For the first time Le Boat is also offering guided voyages for single travellers along the Canal du Midi, in partnership with Intrepid Travel. Singles or couples can now book a cabin and enjoy a shared experience with like-minded travellers.

Visit www.leboat.com.au