In June 2020, Ecruising will offer an intimate 11-night Alaskan adventure, including 10 nights aboard the ultra-luxurious Silver Muse.
Priced from $7259 per person twin-share, including two nights in Vancouver, the ‘Alaskan Wonderland’ itinerary will take passengers from Vancouver to Seward experiencing the breathtaking sights of ocean and landscape along the way.
A must-see for any sailing aficionado will be a cruise through the Inside Passage, renowned for its dramatic beauty, and home to tiny isolated communities located in shoreside villages.
Seals can be spotted basking on ice floes, while the thunderous snap of massive glaciers can be heard breaking in the distance.
Another highlight will be docking in Skagway, home to the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Guests will feel as though they have been transported to another time as they explore the charming surrounds of the Gold-Rush-era town.
With sweeping mountain views, spectacular lakes and forests, North-country folk call this route the Golden Horseshoe.
Phone 1300 369 848 or visit www.ecruising.travel.
With Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival rapidly charging up the straight, it’s time for potential visitors to lock in an appealing rate for accommodation.
Metro Apartments on Bank Place, in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, has released a spring racing offer with rates from $140 per night throughout the racing period.
Book before October 7 and you save up to 15 per cent.
The package includes accommodation for a night in a compact room, complimentary wifi, 25 per cent discount voucher for meals at Mitre Tavern (100 metres from the apartments), early check-in at 1pm and late check-out at 11am.
Visit www.metrohotels.com.au
Lord Howe Island’s top-of-the-line Capella Lodge has reopened following a four-month refurbishment by Baillie Lodges.
The new look includes a refreshment for each of its nine luxury suites, with significant additions to the Makambo Loft and Catalina Suite.
The Capella Spa has a loft setting overlooking the ocean, while additions in the main lodge include a teak-clad bar in a nod to the island’s seafaring heritage, as well as new furniture and soft furnishings which together create a more contemporary feel.
With spectacular views of the island’s dramatic twin peaks. Mount Gower and Lidgbird, the premium Makambo Loft now features extensive outdoor decks offering several lounging options, while a new heated plunge pool and private canopied daybed are ideal for relaxing in the afternoon breeze.
Best-suited to families or friends holidaying together, the Catalina Suite has a light and spacious loft addition, now offering two bedrooms and two bathrooms with flexible bedding.
Phone (02) 9918 4355 or visit www.capellalodge.com.au
One of the first female performers at Australia’s oldest Indigenous tourism business has passed away, with Martha ‘Cookie’ Brim losing her battle with cancer at the age of 44.
“Cookie was among the first group of Djabugay women who joined Tjapukai in 1995 in preparation for the business expanding from a dance theatre at Kuranda to a cultural park offering more Indigenous experiences at Caravonica in Cairns,” Tjapukai General Manager, Shirley Hollingsworth, said.
“Cookie was really proud of her culture and was a very strong female among the Djabugay people.
“Using the knowledge she gained from exploring the Kuranda rainforest with her late grandfather Warren Brim, Cookie was instrumental in developing Tjapukai’s bush food and medicines experiences.
“This included selecting plants to grow in the cultural park which could be used in tours and demonstrations, and creating a manual to teach new staff about the cultural food and medicines of the Djabugay people.
“Cookie was the face of Tjapukai for many years.”
A celebration of Cookie’s life was held on September 28 at Kuranda Pony Club followed by interment at Kuranda cemetery.
APT has launched its 2019/20 Vietnam-and-Cambodia program, which features a host of exciting Mekong River cruises and holidays.
On the popular 13-day Vietnam and Cambodia Highlights tour, for instance, the discovery begins in Siem Reap with an exploration of the famous religious monument, Angkor Wat.
Moving into Vietnam, travellers will uncover local delicacies and history before tying off the journey in Ho Chi Minh City.
During this iconic adventure, there will be seven nights cruising the Mekong River aboard APT’s RV AmaLotus.
Prices for this tour begin at $6695 per person twin-share, including a fly-free deal.
APT’s range of exclusive ‘Signature Experiences’ will ensure authentic experiences of each region.
Indulge in a delicious Vietnamese/Australian dining experience made by APT Ambassador Luke Nguyen, delight in the beauty of Ha Long Bay on a three-day cruise, and say cheers with a bubbling flute over sunrise at Angkor Wat.
Phone 1300 196 420 or visit www.aptouring.com.au.
Sri Lanka & Beyond, part of the Australian-owned Beyond Travel Group, is offering travellers to the Indian Ocean’s ‘tear-drop island’ next year the chance to save over $2000 per couple, plus enjoy a special return-airfare-rate of from $755 per person from all Australian capital cities.
The new ‘Sri Lankan Wonders’ private tour is an 11-day itinerary visiting Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Yala National Park, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya and the beach town of Bentota, with the price reduced to $1995 per person twin-share on select departures when booked by October 15.
Travel by private car with your own driver-guide and stay in historic hotels around the island, including a two-night stop at the five-star eco Cinnamon Lodge Habarana and an overnight break at the four-star Cinnamon Wild Yala lodge in a jungle chalet where guests can watch the local wildlife while lounging beside the swimming pool or indulge in special bush dining experiences.
The package also includes daily breakfast and dinner, sightseeing with entrance fees, an English-speaking chauffeur-guide, return airport transfers and services of a local representative.
Phone 1300 599 005 or visit www.sri-lanka-and-beyond.com.au.