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quote:Celebrity releases Solstice scheduleRoyal Caribbean-owned Celebrity Cruises has revealed details of the Celebrity Solstice’s debut Australia season in 2012/13.The cruise line announced earlier this month that the 2,850-capacity Solstice will replace the Celebrity Century in December 2012.Royal Caribbean and Celebrity commercial manager Adam Armstrong claimed the release of the program represented a “new chapter in local cruising”.The Solstice will become the youngest and largest vessel to be based in Australia when it arrives in Brisbane on December 7 and Sydney on December 9, he said.Its inaugural program features 11 itineraries and 17 departures ranging from one night 'cruises to nowhere' to 35 night journeys.Among the voyages are five 12-night New Zealand cruises sailing from two ports, Auckland and Sydney, a 13-night voyage around New Zealand departing from Sydney and an 11-night Queensland cruise, also departing from Sydney.A 35-night circumnavigation of Australia is also planned which can be broken into two sectors; an 18-night Australia New Zealand cruise and a 17-night Top End voyage.In addition, a Singapore to Sydney repositioning cruise is available which includes a stop in Bali while an 18-night Trans-Pacific Hawaii and Tahiti cruise from Sydney to Honolulu is also featured.The season is now open for bookings.Travel Today
Royal Caribbean-owned Celebrity Cruises has revealed details of the Celebrity Solstice’s debut Australia season in 2012/13.
The cruise line announced earlier this month that the 2,850-capacity Solstice will replace the Celebrity Century in December 2012.
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity commercial manager Adam Armstrong claimed the release of the program represented a “new chapter in local cruising”.
The Solstice will become the youngest and largest vessel to be based in Australia when it arrives in Brisbane on December 7 and Sydney on December 9, he said.
Its inaugural program features 11 itineraries and 17 departures ranging from one night 'cruises to nowhere' to 35 night journeys.
Among the voyages are five 12-night New Zealand cruises sailing from two ports, Auckland and Sydney, a 13-night voyage around New Zealand departing from Sydney and an 11-night Queensland cruise, also departing from Sydney.
A 35-night circumnavigation of Australia is also planned which can be broken into two sectors; an 18-night Australia New Zealand cruise and a 17-night Top End voyage.
In addition, a Singapore to Sydney repositioning cruise is available which includes a stop in Bali while an 18-night Trans-Pacific Hawaii and Tahiti cruise from Sydney to Honolulu is also featured.
The season is now open for bookings.
Travel Today
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Cheers
I might just have to try Celebrity and see what they are like. Have always wanted to try a non Carnival brand so looks like this is my chance.
Booked an oceanview stateroom forward facing on Vista deck. 12 night cruise in March 2013 from Sydney to Auckland.
Pricing and booking process online is outstanding. It had the price in Australian dollars, you could select from a variety of cabin numbers as well as dining options. You could prepay gratuities with the full fare (which I am sure will Australians wont have a problem with).
The good thing about it is the price offered at sole occupancy is allot cheaper than my recent cruises on Oriana and Azura for an inside cabin on both of them.
quote:Originally posted by Sutho:Just booked a cruise on Celebrity Solstice.Booked an oceanview stateroom forward facing on Vista deck. 12 night cruise in March 2013 from Sydney to Auckland.Pricing and booking process online is outstanding. It had the price in Australian dollars, you could select from a variety of cabin numbers as well as dining options. You could prepay gratuities with the full fare (which I am sure will Australians wont have a problem with).The good thing about it is the price offered at sole occupancy is allot cheaper than my recent cruises on Oriana and Azura for an inside cabin on both of them.
Impressive you are able to book so well in advance. If you don’t mind me asking how do you find cruising solo? I have considered this in the past, but have always thought I'm best off waiting until someone becomes avalable. However I want to go on the 29th December Diamond Princess cruise this year. I have a couple of people interested but they have other commitments this year so perhaps I may need to go by myself. Just a bit spectacle about that
quote:Originally posted by Sutho:Going solo is easy and you always find people to mix with. Besides that you have more flexability to do things you want to do and it sometimes has advantages like getting into shore excursions with one place left on the first bus to depart etc.
Well thanks for the advice. the main factor bothering me is...my age (24). when ive been on princess majority of passengers are older. which I obviously dont mind as princess is my favourite line to date. Traveling solo may mean im the only 24 year old onboard however... though the more i think about it the more im not caring.
i presume anytime dining would be the best option. giving you exposure to as many people as possible?
P&O UK is a big favourite of mine particularly Aurora, Oriana and Arcadia when they do line voyages. There are still a few young ones on them close to Australia on the World Cruises.
I favour P&O UK out of Southampton for Europe, Baltic and other cruises due to it being a round trip from Southampton and simplified return flights from London.
Now that the competition to P&O is coming to Australias doorstep with good ships and good offers, I am tempted to try them. Celebrity got in first here with an excellent ship. Had it not been the Solstive I would have paid no attention to it. In effect Celebrity releasing these has got my business now rather than Carnival Spirit class ship coming down here.
I made the big mistake and chose costa last year for my med cruises ... Costa Pacifica and costa fortuna... Pacifica being the worst... I now see how important the space ratios are... For this reason if I was to go on p&o uk I would chose one of the ships you mentioned along with Adonia... Princess I will try and stay away from there latest ruby etc..
I've always found the p&o uk ships very attractive...Perhaps I'll look into a short segment cruise to try the product out.
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