Cruising allows you to travel the world with ease, unpacking just once and letting a beautiful ship transport you to all seven continents, immersing you in their cultures, cuisine and wildlife. No continent, though, is more spectacular and more diverse than Australasia, with the wonderful little South Pacific islands, together with the mighty Australia and New Zealand.
Where else can you follow the brilliant coral reefs of Rarotonga, as you float in cerulean lagoons; enjoy the sweetness of Sugar City (the sugar-cane-growing region) on Lautoka and discover Ra’iatea’s imposing beauty and the spectacular waters surrounding the Bay of Islands, as well as exploring the glacier-carved Fiordland National Park?
Or relish Dunedin’s eclectic heritage, gateway to Queenstown, sip famed vintages in Wellington, Christchurch and Napier and climb the most famous bridge in the world and overlook the harbours of stunning Sydney?
The luxurious Crystal Cruises fleet offers guests a vast choice of destinations, facilities and activities across the world’s oceans.
Aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, all-inclusive cruising includes speciality dining in restaurants such as Japanese-influenced Umi Uma; fine wines and premium spirits and beers throughout the ship; open-bar service in all lounges; complimentary soft drinks, bottled water and speciality coffees and pre-paid gratuities for housekeeping, bar and dining staff, as well as butler service in penthouses.
New culinary options include open-seating restaurants such as Silk, a Chinese al fresco dining experience.
Further upgrades to the Crystal fleet include redesigned public spaces; complimentary unlimited wi-fi; new suite categories on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, plus one of the best guest-to-space ratios at sea.
In Waterside, the new name for the main dining room, Crystal offers a wide choice of pre-packaged kosher-certified meals, including meat, fish and poultry, as well as white and red kosher wines on a limited basis, on every itinerary.
All chefs, kitchen and dining staff have been trained in kosher food preparation, handling and servicing and only kosher pots, pans and utensils are used, while plates, silverware and glassware are washed separately. (Pre-reservation is a must.)
Activities on board include wine tasting; hands-on cooking classes with celebrity guest chefs and Crystal Visions enrichment lectures.
More than 2,000 trademarked Crystal Adventures shore excursions are available. In Australasia, a great option is the Aussie Wildlife Encounter in Sydney, with a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park, home to Australian native animals and bird life.
Following an introduction to some of the native wildlife, it is time for a “Drover’s Billy” tea break. Water is boiled in a Billy can, mixed with your tea and then swung three times over the head of the maker, mixing the tea with the water. The tea will be sweetened with golden syrup and served with lamingtons (coconut spongecakes) and Anzac biscuits (oaty creations, originally sent to the Anzacs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) serving in Gallipoli.
After the Swing the Billy presentation, participants are invited to explore the sanctuary, feed kangaroos and discover other wildlife, such as the dingo, wombat and emu.
Broadway-style entertainment is staged each evening in the Galaxy Lounge, while recently-released films are shown in the surround-sound Hollywood Theatre, accompanied by freshly popped popcorn.
Close-up magic is performed by members of the Magic Castle and there is also a casino.
Just a few more reasons to choose a cruise as the way to see Australasia.
Katie Worth is director at Atlantis Travel, atlantistravel.co.uk
