Escape to sea in style

Tuesday, 18 October 2005

Escape to sea in style

The new 'Love Boat', the deluxe Pacific Princess, will offer romantics more destinations next year than any other cruise ship sailing from Australia.

Princess Cruises has released a new brochure spanning two seasons of summer cruising aboard the South Pacific's most luxurious liner during 2005-06 and 2006-07.

The programme offers 22 departures from Sydney on the stylish boutique cruise ship from December 18, 2005, to April 11, 2007, including 12 South Pacific cruises, five voyages to ports around New Zealand, two to Queensland, one to Tasmania and two special circumnavigations of Australia.

Itineraries range from eight to 28 nights and embrace 40 different ports - more than any other cruise ship departing from the island continent.

Included in the South Pacific programme are five circumnavigations of New Zealand as part of Pacific Princess's ever-popular cruises to our shores. Destinations include Milford Sound, Dunedin, Christchurch, Picton, Napier, Wellington, Bay of Islands and Auckland.

The new brochure also offers four extended 13-night itineraries to Fiji and cruises to exotic far-flung ports such as Pentecost Island in Vanuatu - the birthplace of bungy jumping and the postcard beaches of the South Pacific's newest cruise port, Ouvea, in New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands.

Highlights include Pacific Princess' memorable 10-night Christmas cruise departing Sydney on December 18, 2005 and also her exciting 12-night New Year's cruise sailing on December 28, 2005. Both cruises will take holidaymakers to New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

The two 28-night round-Australia voyages sailing on November 11, 2006, and February 28, 2007, will see the 670-passenger Pacific Princess trace explorer Matthew Flinders' first voyage around the continent in 1801.

Since pioneering premium cruising from Australia in 2002, Pacific Princess has won a raft of awards and praise from loyal passengers.

"Pacific Princess has clearly met a demand in Australasia for a premium but affordable cruise experience close to home," says the Manager of Princess Cruises in New Zealand, Shannon Currie.

"Pacific Princess is a beautiful, elegant and spacious ship where passengers can be assured they will be pampered and spoiled in the manner they deserve," Mr Currie says.

The romantic Pacific Princess is named after Princess Cruises' famous but now retired television Love Boat and is tailored for couples. She has four intimate restaurants, eight sumptuous bars and lounges, an indulgent spa sanctuary, a grand Titanic-like staircase, a rich country club ambience, ship-top pool and jacuzzis and private balconies adorning more than two thirds of cabins.

A generous ratio of one crew member to every two passengers ensures personal service is available day and night.

Fares for the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons start at NZ$2,470 per person for an eight-night Tasmania cruise. The Christmas cruise on December 18, 2005 is priced from NZ$2,935 per person and the New Year's cruise on December 28, 2005, is priced from NZ$3,745 per person.

The 28-night circumnavigation cruises of Australia are available from NZ$7,810 per person.

Fares are twin share in a complete inside twin cabin and are subject to availability. Conditions apply.

For more details and to book a cruise aboard Pacific Princess, see a travel agent, phone 0800 95 12 00 or visit www.pocruises.co.nz .

ENDS

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