V&T Daily
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shipping news
Published in the October-December 2010 issue.
With its central location and world-class facilities, Singapore is a hub for regional cruising. Vivienne Tan brings you highlights for the 2011/2012 cruise season.
Costa Cruises: Costa Romantica
Spend 14 nights exploring the South China Sea aboard this 678-cabin ship. Departing from Singapore, the boat loops around the Indonesian archipelago stopping at Ujung Pandang, Komodo Island, Bali and Jakarta before moving on to Malacca and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Phuket in Thailand. When you’re not in port, onboard diversions range from a casino and double-storey theatre to a Turkish bath and an outdoor jogging track.
Costa Cruises: Costa Classica
The first ship in the Costa fleet to receive a contemporary Italian-style makeover, Costa Classica spends 14 days journeying from Hong Kong to Singapore via Sanya (China’s tropical southern isle) and Bangkok as well as popular Vietnamese ports such as Halong Bay, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City. With seven bars and two restaurants at your disposal, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to wining and dining.
Royal Caribbean International: Legend of the Seas
This huge 2,076-person ship lives up to its name with impressive facilities including a rock-climbing wall, casino, 18-hole mini-golf course, library, day spa and fitness centre. Not that you’ll need entertaining on the ship’s two- to six-night journeys departing Singapore. Explore vibrant Malaysian cities such as Penang and Kuala Lumpur before blissing out on Langkawi and Phuket.
Crystal Cruises: Crystal Serenity
For those keen to see a bit of Australia before they head to Asian waters, this is the cruise for you. Crystal Serenity’s 15-day journey from Sydney stops in on Brisbane, Cairns and Darwin before giving you a taste of Indonesia (Bali and Komodo Island) and terminating in Singapore. You won’t want for anything onboard: hone your golf skills at clinics hosted by PGA pros; tone and twist at yoga, pilates and chi-balancing classes; roll the dice at the casino; and even tinkle the ivories in a piano lesson.
Princess Cruises:
Diamond Princess
Go north for 16 nights on this cruise that takes you from Singapore to Beijing. Stops in between begin tropical (Koh Samui and Bangkok), then call in at the Vietnamese ports of Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang. The 3,100-berth ship moves on to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Nagasaki and Pusan before dropping you off in the Chinese capital.
Star Cruises: SuperStar Virgo
With a handful of itineraries spanning three to six days, this ship is popular with couples and families alike. All excursions depart from Singapore and take you to a host of Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese ports including Penang, Phuket, Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Pulau Redang and Ho Chi Minh City. •
TRAVEL FACTS
• Costa Cruises: Contact Carnival Cruises, 61-2/8424-8800; costacruise.com
• Crystal Cruises: internationalsales@crystalcruises.com; crystalcruises.com
• Princess Cruises: 132-488 (Australia), 0800-951-200 (New Zealand); princess.com
• Royal Caribbean: 1800-754-500; royalcaribbean.com
• Star Cruises: Contact Ecruising, 1300-369-848; starcruises.com
Singapore Tourism Board: 1800-736-2000; yoursingapore.com
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V&T Takeoff
Updates from our editors and writers
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The team from the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau were in town last week to update Australia on some of the BIG things happening in the Texan state. |
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V&T mag dropped into Bali last month and helped the W Retreat & Spa celebrate their 2nd anniversary and what a splash it was. With local and international fashion designers on display, the W Lounge was transformed into a catwalk party zone. 2500 people flowed through the resort late into the night, moving to NYC DJ Sandy Rivera. This was the biggest ticket in Bali for some time and the resorts pulling power is a testament to just how hot this property and international hotel brand actually is.www.vacationsandtravelmag.com/Mca/874/765/3/0/0/#takeoff1 How did we cope the next day? Poolside. Don’t wait until their 3rd anniversary as the vibe, sound and style of this resort makes for a very cool holiday. In the heart of Seminyak and right on the beach, Bali beckons. |
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Thanks to our friends at Air France we got out of the office for the day and enjoyed a great round of golf at the annual Financial Markets Charity Golf Day and Gala Dinner. Held annually in February, this event as well as the Financial and Media Markets Charity Sailing Regatta in October raises AU$1.2 million for a wide range of charities.The ASX Group and Thomson Reuters Australia (formerly Reuters) joined forces in 1999 to form a Charity Foundation with the objective of helping Australian-based children, disability and medical research charities by organising fundraising events in conjunction with the Financial Markets. Pictured here: Thomas Reeves Air France, Middle, Patrick Benhamou, Atout France; Anthony Gallagher Vacations & Travel magazine. |
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Vacations & Travel magazine rubbed shoulders with local and international buyers and sellers of travel from around the globe at 2013 AIME (Asia Pacific's Incentive Meeting Expo). This is the biggest event on the Australian travel industry calendar, where key decision makers congregate to network over a three-day event of hosted parties, trade and leisure travel meetings and press conferences. |
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The who's who of Sydney's entertainment industry turned up for the recent opening of the city's newest hotel to receive a makeover, The Parkroyal. Located in Darling Harbour, the property has just emerged from a milt million-dollar makeover to reveal striking rooms and seriously sexy public spaces. Speaking of sexy, some of the celebs on hand to celebrate the re-launch included Casey Burgess, Danielle Blakey and Amy Milne, not to mention Timomatic who entertained the crowds into the witching hours… |
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