Australians are being offered the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to Gallipoli for the centenary of the Anzac landings next year without the crowds, with a new cruise tour visiting Anzac Cove just a month after the milestone anniversary.
To be hosted by Australian travel agency, Cruise Express, the 50-day ‘Voyage to Lone Pine’ will see Australians sail from Sydney on April 17, 2015, aboard the luxury cruise ship, Rhapsody of the Seas, for a 45-night journey to Istanbul via 21 ports in Australia, Asia, Arabia, the Holy Land and the Greek islands.
Cruise Express will help lead a special Anzac Day ceremony aboard the ship on April 25 on approach to Darwin. Other destinations during the voyage include the Great Barrier Reef, Komodo Island in Indonesia – famous for its large dragon-like reptiles, Bali, Singapore, Phuket and the spice-filled Indian cities of Cochin, New Mangalore, Goa and Mumbai. Passengers will also sail to Dubai, the white, marbled domes of Oman, Ashdod and Haifa in Israel for tours through the Holy Land, and the Mediterranean islands of Cyprus and Rhodes.
A tour of the mosques and bazaars of Istanbul is included in the package as well as an overnight trip to Gallipoli for a private and crowd-free commemoration at Anzac Cove on June 1, 2015, little more than a month after the official centenary of the legendary landings. A visit to the ancient ruins of Troy and a two-night stay in Istanbul are also included in the tour before passengers fly home to Australia.
Including the cruise, three-nights’ accommodation with breakfast in Turkey, a tour of Istanbul, a two-day tour to Gallipoli and Troy, a welcome-aboard party hosted by Cruise Express and flight from Istanbul back to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne or Perth (connections available to other cities) with Singapore Airlines, the 50-day ‘Voyage to Lone Pine’ package is available from $9990 per person, twin-share, or from $13,990 for solo travellers. Bookings are available from Cruise Express on 1300 764 509 or visit www.cruiseexpress.com.au.
SOURCE Cruise Express