With the local dollar at
record highs against the US
and Euro currencies, luxury
cruises have never been
cheaper for Australians.
THE AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR YESTERDAY HIT THE 110
US cent mark – for the first time since 1981
– but weakened slightly after news reports
about the death of Osama bin Laden.
With no guarantee that the exchange rate
will remain favourable, travel agents and
cruise lines are recommending immediate
purchases for cruises priced in US dollars.
Cruise lines with USD pricing include
Seabourn, Seadream, Regent Seven Seas
Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line,
Norwegian Cruise Line and Pandaw Cruises.
A Seabourn spokesperson told Cruise
Weekly that the latest fares (see page 3)
represented unparalleled value.
“We’ve already seen very strong growth in
Seabourn cruises from the Australian market
in the past year and we anticipate this will
continue given the favourable exchange rate
and the wider range of luxury cruise
offerings now available thanks to Seabourn’s
six-ship fleet,” the spokesperson said.
“Not only are many loyal Seabourn
customers taking advantage of the strong
dollar to book extra cruises and longer
cruises, the strength of the Australian dollar
is also attracting new cruise passengers to
the Seabourn brand.”
Bargains can also be found among lines
priced in euros, such as Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
Hapag-Lloyd’s Sydney-based representative,
Gerd Wilmer, director, Landmark Travel, said
fares are about 20% cheaper.
“A 19-day Antarctica cruise on MS
Hanseatic has a lead-in of €10,490 – it was
AU$17,483 at 60 euro cents, and is now
AU$14,570, at 72 euro cents.”
Yesterday the Australian dollar was buying
73.9 euro cents.
