With Reuben Goossens
Cruise’n’Travel Journalist / Cruise
Reviewer
&
Maritime Historian
Please
Note: Cruise-Australia is a non-commercial and privately owned cruise site and
it is NOT associated with any cruise company or travel agency! Although the
author has been in the passenger shipping industry since 1960 and is currently
semi-retired, but continues to write cruise and ship reviews and articles in
order to better to inform cruise and ship enthusiasts and provide information
for those intending a cruise in the future. Please read my
statement at the bottom of the page!
The
Results Are In
--The Best & Worst Cruise Lines of 2009 -
The New 2010 results due soon!--
Cruise-Australia
presented the official results from our 2009 survey, which were
compiled from 32,758. However, we have just received relies from our new
worldwide survey and these will come online in the near future when the details
have been carefully compiled. But in the meantime the previous survey is still
online. Enter the 2009 “Results” page.
Please Note: our Main-Page is located at: Cruise Australia.com.
Also: There is a list of Special LINKS at the
bottom of the page
Site
Index
Holland America
Line - My
personal favourite Cruise Company in the world & one of the most awarded
cruise companies!
Holland
America Line … Covering a short history of Holland
America Line and a looks at several of their superb luxury ships.
HAL
-News Updates
… Read
Holland America Lines latest news.
Holland America
ships based in Australian waters seasonally …
MS
Volendam … The superb MV Volendam
will be sailing from Australian and New Zealand ports in 2010/11. However as from late
inn 2011/12 she will be joined by her sister the ms Zaandam, being one of the
four R Class ships. The other two are the ms Rotterdam
and Amsterdam.
These are some of the finest ships afloat and come highly recommended having
sailed on the ms Volendam
in October/November 2010!
ms
Volendam - Cruise Review … With the author having sailed on
the superb ms Volendam
in 2010, this review is a result of a most delightful New Zealand,
Hobart Tasmania
and Eden
NSW Cruise. This is
a multi page review also has several photo pages of her interiors, all taken by
the author.
ms Zaandam
… The sister to the ms Volendam will join her
in New Zealand and Australian
waters cruising the Pacific and around New Zealand. Now come and discover
this superb ship and join her next summer!
ms
Oosterdam … NEW – The
82.000-ton luxury ship that will join the ms Volendam in Australian and New Zealand
waters in 2012 and 2013. View her interiors and superb accommodations. This
will be one of Australia
finest two ships, especially if based on a 5 star value for money base -
Guaranteed!
Holland America ships sailing Worldwide
as well as visiting Australia & New Zealand occasionally …
ms Amsterdam Ship Review … The
author visited ms Amsterdam whilst she was in Brisbane
Australia on
November 11, 2010, less than a week after my superb cruise on the luxurious ms Volendam. Although
this ship is identical in layout, she has a very different décor and is a
delight to behold! I am sure that you will enjoy this “Ship-Review!”
MS
Rotterdam … Offering
HAL quality and a reputation other cruise lines simply yearn for!
MS
Nieuw Amsterdam
… This fine new 68,700-ton
accommodates just 2,106 passengers providing more space than other ships of her
size. This is the ship other companies should look at. One of the finest
afloat!!!
MS
Prinsendam … The “Elegant
World Explorer” and after
recent refurbishments she is even better!
Classic
International Cruises - My all time favourite company operating a fine fleet of superb Classic Cruise
Chips!
This Company is part of my “Classic Ocean Voyages” Campaign and Promotion!
MV
Athena Cruise Review
… Come and enjoy my all new Athena
4 page Cruise Review,
which is by fully comprehensive and packed with photographs taken by the
myself. I joined MV Athena
in Fremantle and sailed to Portsmouth UK on March 6,
2011, and wrote a comprehensive 4 page cruise review whilst on board.
MV
Funchal … This
is a very special intimate classic liner that has an atmosphere that is just
not found on many other classic ships still sailing today. The main reason for this
is that they have been radically rebuilt and although they are technically old
ships, but in many cases all that remains is just the hull, for the rest of the
ship will be newly built, and thus lacks that superbly classic feel, something
that Funchal is famed for! Funchal is fully SOLAS 2010 compliant and has
received a massive 12 Million Euro refit in 2011, which will make her almost a
new ship and she will sail on well into the 21sticentury!
Having sailed for many
years in Australian waters she now sails mostly in the Northern Hemisphere,
thus it may be worth heading to Europe and
join Funchal for a cruise there! Soon
she may even visit Australia
again. This is a comprehensive ship review based on my time on her whilst she
was in Singapore.
MV
Princess Daphne … This is a ship that has a close connection with
both Australians and New Zealander’s as she came to our waters originally
as the famed Port Lines Passenger cargo liner MS Port Sydney. Today, this fine
classic liner has become an ultra modern and greatly loved cruise ship in many
parts of the world! Currently she
operates annual summer Asian fly/cruises with the ship based in Singapore and Hong Kong, and these are proving to be very popular indeed!
MV Arion … An intimate
yacht-like cruise ship that exudes ambience, charm, grace, and loads of style!
Sailing mostly around the Adriatic Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, visiting Croatia and nearby countries and various Middle
East countries including Israel,
Egypt, and Lebanon.
CIC
News
… Keep up to date with the latest news of this remarkable
cruise company, who are proud to be one to be placed within a
“diminishing group of well established and truly independent shipping
companies!” Classic International Cruises operate five superb classic cruise
ships and has been privileged to have given great joy of cruising to well over
200,000 Australian passengers to date.
Classic
Ocean Voyages … This page will keep you up to
date with CIC’s latest news items! This special feature covers all of
Classic International Cruises ships” MV Athena, MV Funchal, MV Princess
Daphne, MV Princess Danae and the delightful MV Arion already loved by
Australians as she sailed around Asian waters some years ago. Also included is
the PV Ocean Mist sailing out of Mombasa.
P&O
Cruises Australia - Australia’s Number
ONE Cruise Company!
Pacific
Dawn … This magnificent
70,000-ton cruise ship departs year round from Brisbane’s
Portside Cruise Terminal. She became largest cruise ship ever to be permanently
based in Brisbane.
When she arrived in Brisbane
on December 19, 2009.
Pacific
Sun
… Pacific Sun has a whole new life,
having had several refits making her a much better ship, and the author has
sampled her after one of these refits and frankly she was “Not bad at
all!” Pacific Sun will noe be sailing annually out of Fremantle,
Newcastle, Auckland New Zealand as well as Sydney, and later in 2011 she will
again operated in tandem with the Pacific Dawn out of Brisbane.
Pacific
Sun Reviews … These two reviews were
written by the author and there is another review by frequent cruisers Barry and Jackie Moore.
It provides an excellent picture of this superbly rejuvenated cruise ship after
her 2008 refit. Western Australia, Newcastle and New Zealand has
something to look forward to as she offers a superb value for money cruise
combined with some of the finest food and service at sea!
Pacific
Jewel … She has now joined the P&O fleet
and commenced cruising out of Sydney whih is her home
port. Just by looking at her, you will know that she is the identical sister to
the Pacific Dawn. The only major internal differences is that this ship has had
been through a number of Carnival companies hands and each have
made major changed t her internally, including the tragic removal of the
“Dome” which is now a massive money making machine known as the
“Lotus Spa,” and fitness centre. But it is the loss of the finest
lounge at sea!
Pacific
Pearl … The new addition to the P&O
Australia fleet will be in 2010, she has
visited our shores before as the P&O UK Arcadia, before that she was
Princess Cruises’ Star Princess. Before entering service she will be
fully refurbished in Singapore
and become part of the New
Zealand and Australian fleet. She will be
P&O Cruises first ship to have an outdoor 7m x 4m “LED Movie
Screen” with a super sound system. Pacific Pearl will first commence
cruising from Auckland New Zealand in December 2010, before heading for Sydney
in March 2011.
P&O/Carnival
News Updates
… All the latest from Carnival
Corporation & plc, which includes; P&O Cruises UK, P&O Cruises
Australia, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, Cunard Line & Costa Cruises. P&O
Australia could teach them a lesson when it comes to food and entertainment!!!
P&O
Celebrates 77 Years
... in December 1932, the elegant three
funnelled RMS Strathaird became first cruise ship to undertake a cruise
out of Sydney.
Now 77 years later, P&O Cruises Australia operates three fine modern ships
out of Sydney,
Brisbane as well as
Fremantle, Newcastle and Auckland with a fourth ship arriving in 2010.
Carnival Cruises Australia - Australia’s new
cruise company, but an well established one and a name that is well known to
all!
Carnival Spirit … This
88,500-ton ship will be the largest ship ever to be permanently based in
Australia year-round and she will operate out of Sydney sailing 8 and 9 day
cruises to New Caledonia, as well as 10 and 11 day cruise to New Caledonia and
Vanuatu, and several itineraries of 12 day Pacific cruises as well as one 13
day cruise around New Zealand from Sydney and two departing Melbourne. She will
have had a complete refit with a brand new exciting Water Park installed, which
is said to be the most exciting at sea with thrill rides galore and a perfect
ship for the family and the young at heart!!
P&O Cruises UK - There is no better
Cruise Company for a World Cruise by far! Beats Princess & Cunard!!!
MV
Aurora … Aurora
2006 Cruise Reivew. Having sailed on her maiden world cruise, there is no
doubt that Aurora
is the perfect cruise ship.
MV
Oriana … 2005 World Cruise review. The author sailed on Oriana for 42 days, from Brisbane Australia to Southampton
UK.
The review includes 162 photographs of all lounges, facilities and decks
spaces. Enjoy!
2008 & 2009 reviews also online.
MV
Artemis … P&O’s
smallest member of the fleet, but a popular one!
Orion
Expedition Cruises - This Company has Won
Cruise-Australia’s “Best Cruise Company of
2009”
MV
Orion
… Australia’s own luxury expedition
cruise ship. In 2011 the Orion II will join the fleet.
MV Orion II … Online in the near future
Royal
Caribbean International - Great value American style
cruising!
Royal
Caribbean Fleet (RCI) … Currently RCI operates 19
magnificent ships, ranging from 48,563 ton Empress of the Seas to the massive
158,000 ton Freedom of the Seas. RCI’s MV Rhapsody of the Seas operates
regularly out of Australian and New
Zealand waters.
RCI-MV
Rhapsody of the Seas … This 2,435
passenger French built 78,491 ton cruise ship operates out of Sydney
during our Summer months and has proven to be reasonably popular. With the massive
success of P&O and Princess Cruises, this is Royal Caribbean’s
attempt to enter our lucrative market! The only complaint to date is that
“she too americanised.”
RCI-
Freedom of the Seas … The
158,000 GRT (ton) Royal Caribbean Cruises super cruise ships. Freedom of the
Seas, was floated out at “Aker
Finnyard” Finland on Friday August 19. She is
339 metres long and 38.6 metres wide and will accommodate 5,740 passengers and
crew. This massive ship will be handed over to Royal Caribbean in April 2006.
with two further ships in the series are due to be delivered in 2007 and 2008.
Thus, as she is now in the water, she officially becomes the largest passenger
ship afloat.
RCI
– Oasis of the Seas … This is the first of the 220,000–ton Project
Genesis ships that set sail mid in 2009, the second in the series, the Allure of
the Seas will arrive in 2010. Oasis is the largest passenger ship ever built
and she is certainly the most revolutionary ship ever conceived. She
accommodates a massive 6,400 passengers in the ultimate of luxury and she has
facilities, some of which have never been heard of before on a ship, let alone
on a land based resort! This page has many images that will leave you astounded
with the grandeur of this ship, or should I say a floating resort, or better
still City, for she has two buildings placed lengthwise on top of her hull, one
starboard and one portside and there are balconies out to sea and the rest into
the interior Boardwalk and Central Park that has real trees. If it sounds all
too American for you, well for many Australian’s and New Zealanders it
may well be! But, it really is some ship, it’s a BIG
Yankee style ship and somewhat gaudy to our taste, but, hey, give it a try! It
is just like going to Disneyland!
Celebrity
Cruises - One of the best luxury
cruise Line operating larger cruise ships!
MV
Celebrity Solstice … This is without a doubt the most
remarkable and the most advanced modern cruise ship in the world. This is a new
class of ship with innovations never seen before, she is certainly not a ship
like we used to know, and will not be liked by the genuine ship lovers, for the
truth is, she is a massive building, a hotel and a resort that happens to float
and take you to places. But, we have to admire the ingenuity that has gone into
this massive floating super luxurious hotel! She may not be my kind of ship,
but I come from another generation, for those who have discovered the new world
of cruising, she will be just “super!” Also visit Celebrity Solstice - Page Two.
This ship will be heading for Australia
late in 2012!
MV Celebrity Century
… This 70,606-ton luxury cruise ship
is heading Down Under in 2011 & 2012, and a new page full of phorographs
has been added online for your enjoyment! She will be followed up bt the
glamerous Solstice in 2012!
Cunard
Line - The
name says it all, although I hate their exterior design!
MV
Queen Mary 2
… The Grand Queen of the
Sea – Includes a comprehensive photo album.
MV
Queen Elizabeth … The new Queen Elizabeth is due to
set sail
MV
Queen Victoria … She is slightly larger
that P&O’s UK Arcadia, but just as ugly looking. She is just another
Carnival Vista Class ship just like those of Carnival, Holland America &
Costa Cruises. She is unattractive, but very nice inside and makes a good hotel
and that is what she is, a hotel, and she is already reputed as a shocker in
rough waters!
Seabourn
Cruises - Luxury
yachts that cruise in style and with all the sublime comforts and with class!
Seabourn
Yachts … The
intimate and luxurious Cruise Line for those who demand nothing than the best!
Star
Clipper
Royal
Clipper … This is the grand
five masted all steel ocean going cruise ship that offers the ultimate of
luxury over four decks. There is no doubts that this is the ultimate of ocean
going experiences! Cruises operate in the America’s,
Europe and even Trans Atlantic.
Princess Cruises
Australia - This
was my favourite cruise company for many years and I am an Elite (platinum)
Captains Club member, but the company has sadly lost its favour with me and
with many of its regular passengers!
Sun
Princess … Sadly this ship replaced the popular
smaller and much better ship, the Pacific Princess. In addition, the service
food and overall cruise experience was 100% better, now Princess Cruises
Australia has lowered the standards to the point that they have become almost
to what I consider it to be a 3 to 3.5 Star product and not the 4 star product
they claim to be, although they do offer some of those services on board, such
as free additional restaurants, etc and 24 hour buffets and room service. But
P&O Cruises Australia may not offer those little extras, but then you get a
lot better cruise experience and for far better value!
Dawn
Princess … Dawn Princess
operated her very first around the world cruise in 2009, and the author
undertook the full voyage and you can take my word for it this is the wrong
ship for such a long voyage. This ship is fine for a week or two, but that is
about it! The comments I made for Sun Princess apply, compared to the American
run Princess ships, the Australia operated ships, Sun, Dawn and soon the Sea
Princess, Australian’s are treated like second class citizens!
Cruise
Review … I
had removed this Dawn Princess 2009 World cruise review but have now returned
it. Below are some of my thoughts, which will have to do and it says it all
really! Sadly I have received many further emails over the past
few years, especially from the 2011 around the world cruise, which obviously
also did not go too well and she again suffered mechanical and other problems!
PS: The American run ships, such as
the Diamond Princess, etc, are by far superior for they are managed by the
Americans and not Carnival Australia and thus you will not be treated like a
second class citizen as so many tell me they feel on the Sun and Dawn Princess
compared with other Princess ships!
MV Royal Princess … A good friend of mine Mr. Stanley
Evans sailed on the delightful and intimate MV Royal Princess in December 2010
and sailed around the beautiful Tahitian and Marques Islands.
He had been so kind as to write this excellent review include his photographs,
which are now online. Like the Pacific Princess, Royal Princess is indeed a
delightful ship and offers an excellent cruise. However,
since the writing of this review, the Royal Princess has been transferred
between Carnival companies and refitted to become P&O Cruises UK’s MV
Adonia offering a different
experience to their larger ships, which are becoming more and more American big
and glitzy. In 2013 there will be a new ship built
for Princess Cruises which will also be named MV Royal Princess, but this
monster of the sea will be massive 140,000 tons and she will take the place of
this intimate and magnificent ship and all I can say that is simply tragic!
This new ship will just be another huge Carnival floating box-like block of
apartments; in fact P&O
UK will have an almost identical
ship built several years later, except for her funnels and slight exterior
differences. America
has taken over Britain, for
both Cunard and P&O are fully controlled by the American Carnival
Corporation in Miami!
Special Links
“Dear
Reuben”
… A series of
questions that have been asked from the author of Cruise Australia with suitable answers
provided.
Recommended Cruise Agents … This page contains a listing of the author’s recommended
cruise specialists in Australia,
New Zealand
and around the world, as well as other cruise/maritime oriented links. Please
note: cruise-australia &
ssmaritime are 100% non-commercial and is a privately owned cruise/maritime
sites and is NOT connected with any cruise/shipping company’s or
travel/cruise agencies, does NOT accept advertising nor commissions, etc. This
is a free service to my readers and all cruise agents have been checked to
ensure they are experts in the industry and provide service and value!
ssMaritime.net … Featuring
the world oldest liner the Doulos built in the USA in 1914 and still sailing the
world. This is a 35 webpage book covers the ships life from conception to her
recent visit to New Zealand
and Australia
in 2008. The author spent a month onboard and sailed on her.
Cruising
News … The magazine “World Wide Cruising News &
Pictorial” is
without doubt one of the best cruise magazines available anywhere in the world
as I have seen it grow over many years. But you need to subscribe to this full
colour quality production that is crammed with information and superb
photographs.
Maritime
Matters … Maritime &
Cruise News with Peter
Knego and martin Cox
Cyber
Cruises.com
… News and other cruise related pages
Work
on Cruise Ships … Seeking
employment on a Cruise Ship, check these links
Dutch
Cruise Site … Harm Brink of the Netherlands
has an excellent cruise site in Dutch and English and has a complete listing of
all cruise companies, accompanied by excellent photographs.
Das
Ruderhaus … A site by well-known
German cruise enthusiast, Raoul
Fiebig. This site has hundreds to
photographs taken by Raoul and will not be seen on any other site.
Tutto
Crociere … An English cruise site by our
Italian friend, Stefano
Fermi.
***************************************
For
all cruise enquiries and reservations contact:
Australia’s first fully dedicated cruise agency –
Established in 1982
The perfect agency
Australia-Wide, Queensland & Northern Territory
Operator
of the “Classical Concert Cruise”
&
“Drama on the High Seas Cruise”
On
Sun or Dawn Princess
Brisbane based “The Cruise Specialists” was Australia very first fully
dedicated Cruise Specialist, and they have been serving the Australian cruise passengers
since 1982. The agencies Director
Corie Lisignoli
looks forward to hearing from you and providing you with the kind of cruise
service and experience that you deserve! You will not only receive quality
service, but the latest and the best information possible.
Are
you a lover of Classical Music and or Drama and Theatre? Then enquire about the
annual or bi-annual Classical Concert Cruise and the Drama & Theatre
cruises all sailing with Princess Cruises.
Email
Corie: info@cruisespecialists.com.au
www.cruisespecialists.com.au
Or
Phone Corie on …
Brisbane &
International – Phone
***********************************
Who
is the Author of Cruise-Australia & ssMaritime?
Commenced
in the Passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960
Contact
the Author …
When
sending an email please name the ship you are requesting information or
speaking about!
Please Note:
Cruise-Australia is a non-commercial and privately owned cruise site. The
author has been in the passenger shipping industry since 1960 and is currently
semi-retired, but continues to write cruise and ship reviews and articles in
order to better to inform cruise and ship enthusiasts and provide information
for those intending a cruise in the future.
However, if you
are interested in a cruise, I am happy to refer you to a dedicated cruise agent
in Australia, New Zealand or
further afield on my recommended “cruise agents” page, for these
are agents that specialise in cruising and they will be able offer excellent
service you and the best fares available! Be assured, I do NOT receive any
commissions or favours from these agents, and in the vast majority of cases
these agents will not even be aware of my, or mu site’s involvement, as I
provide the enquirer with the requested information of the agents (in their
region) including their contact details. Reuben Goossens.
Return
to the - Cruise-Australia.com - INDEX
Cruise-Australia.com
&
Cruise-Australia.net
Classic Liner enthusiasts visit
ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net
Where
the ships of the past make history the 1914 built MV Doulos Story
Visit
our “Classic Ocean Voyages” Campaign
Feature
Photographs on cruise-australia are: 1. By the author. 2. From the
author’s private collection. 3. As provided
by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given
to all contributors. However, there are photographs provided to me without
details provided regarding the photographer concerned. I hereby invite if
owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me, that
due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my
own photographs on other sites, yet they either refuse to give me credit and
even refuse to remove them, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback
when it comes to the net. However, let us show the charlatans up and do the
right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due! Note: I do not credit those who send me photos as they are not the owners
of the photographs concerned, unless the image is part of their private
collection.
This
notice covers all pages, although, I have done my best to ensure that all
photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page,
that is, when a page is updated!
cruise-australia
is owned and © Copyright by Reuben
Goossens - All Rights Reserved