Author: Earl L. Sinclair

Princess Cruises has released a short teaser video all about Emerald Princess – the ship which as of November 15 this year will become the largest ship in the fleet to ever be based for an entire five-month cruise season in Australian waters. The short clip, which can be seen below, looks at the array of exciting…

Make no mistake, river cruising is very different to its ocean counterpart. No less enjoyable, in fact a river voyage delivers the world to you in a totally different way. Whether you’re looking to embark on a culturally immersive adventure in Europe or Asia or something a little different in the USA (on the Mississippi)…

Decision-makers at the cruise lines may be continuing to procrastinate on how to take that big next step forward for Australia’s cruise industry, however despite this, there are still so many exciting developments well past the drawing board for 2017. While most are, not all of these are necessarily new ships. For travellers setting sail…

As the number of Australian passengers taking a cruise grows seemingly without any limitation, ships are in turn growing to meet the masses. Explorer of the Seas, which sails under the Royal Caribbean flag, is the largest ship ever based in Australian waters. I have travelled with Royal Caribbean on two previous occasions and as the…

In a significant change to its cruise fare structure, sailings departing from Australia and New Zealand on Royal Caribbean and its premium sister brand Celebrity Cruises will from early next year have gratuities for stateroom / suite attendants and dining room wait staff built into the fare paid by guests. The move sees the company…

For the expansive array of alternative and specialty dining options available on most major cruise ships around the world, the relative comfort, familiarity and ease of access that comes with the main dining room continues to position them as an endearing and nearly universally popular venue for cruise passengers to visit between one and three…

Travellers love the word “free” – it’s one of those buzzwords that invokes a warm and fuzzy reaction as dreams of just how far one’s holiday budget can stretch. That’s why it’s used so widely and on almost every promotion under the sun. More and more cruise brands are latching on to the “free” hook…

Inspired by the pioneering Thirsty Frog Summer Ale and a wider selection of craft beers available in Australia onboard Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend, Carnival Cruise Line has taken the idea further by unveiling a dedicated brewery which will feature onboard the brand’s newest vessel Carnival Vista, debuting in May this year. Upon its launch, Vista will house the first brewery…

Two of the big selling points about big ship cruising, alongside only needing to unpack your suitcase once, is the ability to do as much or as little as you like. While there are some who will find their favourite poolside lounge chair and barely move from it for the entire voyage, there are also…

Four years have passed since Carnival Cruise Line broke from its primarily North American ranks and stepped up to the game in Australia, sending Carnival Spirit across the Pacific to be basedyear-round in Sydney, Australia. In that time, Aussies have adopted the ship as its own, with the brand returning the love by catering to its…