Alaska - A Stunning Cruise Holiday
21 Aug 2015Alaska has some of the most amazing scenery on earth with its emerald forests, snow capped mountains, glistening glaciers and fjords. With more than 1,400 miles north to south and 2,400 miles east to west it is a perfect destination for nature lovers with national parks covering approximately 54 mil...
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The Popularity of APT European River Cruises
15 Jun 2015European river cruises continue to be popular with New Zealand travellers. One river cruise line that has made a significant impact on the New Zealand cruise market is APT (also known as APTouring or Australia Pacific Touring) with its APT and Travelmarvel cruise brands. An APT river cruise can be a...
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Swan Hellenic Cruises
10 Apr 2015by Fine Travel
Swan Hellenic has set the benchmark in ‘small ship’ discovery cruising. Founded back in 1954 by the Swan family when tough currency restrictions were in place in the UK the objective was to offer fully inclusive cruises to the Mediterranean and to have them accompanied by eminent guest speakers to t...
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Windstar Cruises, Tiara and Ball Frock...Not Required
6 Apr 2015by Fine Travel
Life as it should be ... As a seasoned traveller to Tahiti I wasn't sure if I would find too many surprises when I decided to treat my significant other to a trip on Windstar's 'Wind Spirit'. Not being too much of a "flop-&-dropper" I confess I did wonder if perhaps I would get restless on a 7 n...
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Milestone Reached for Holland America Line’s new ms Koningsdam
29 Mar 2015by Fine Travel
Seattle, Wash., March 6, 2015 — Holland America Line celebrated another milestone this week in the construction of ms Koningsdam with the float-out and transfer of the ship from its dry dock to its outfitting dock at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy. At the outfitting dock, final constructio...
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Voyages of Discovery Cruises
17 Mar 2015by Fine Travel
Voyages of Discovery is one of New Zealand’s best kept travel secrets when it comes to cruise holidays but one that is gaining rapidly in popularity as guests return home and spread the word about its unique ‘on board’ style and cruise itineraries. ‘Voyager’ is a small ship by modern day standards b...
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Hurtigruten Cruises Explorer Programme to Antarctica, Iceland, & Greenland
10 Mar 2015by Fine Travel
Hurtigruten is best known in New Zealand for its unique ‘working ship’ journeys along the Norwegian coast, however, there is another little-known travel gem operated by Hurtigruten called ‘Fram’. MS ‘Fram’ was purpose-designed for Hurtigruten as an expedition cruise ship to explore the Arctic region...
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Explore Norway with Hurtigruten Passenger Ships
24 Feb 2015by Fine Travel
The first discovery that I made about Hurtigruten is its uniqueness. Not a cruise in the classical sense and not just another Scandinavian ferry – think more in terms of very comfortable passenger ships used by local Norwegians to get from A to B to C and ‘discovered’ by international visitors to No...
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Hebridean Island Cruises
10 Feb 2015by Fine Travel
‘Hebridean Princess’ is not well known outside the UK which is not surprising given that she only accommodates fifty guests and largely confines her voyaging to the Inner & Outer Hebrides and the Scottish coast. She is small, exclusive & purpose built to sail on the Scottish coast – small en...
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Onboard Holland America's Oosterdam
6 Jan 2015Earlier this week we had our first visit for the season by Holland America Line's Oosterdam. While she was in port in Auckland I had a ship inspection and lunch onboard. Oosterdam is an 85,000 tonne ship and carries approximately 1900 passengers. She is one of Holland America's Vista Class ships and...
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