Carnival Cruise Line has unveiled its latest program of cruises from Australia, revealing that Carnival Spirit will continue to be based in Sydney full-time in 2018.
The cruise line has decided the ship will no longer spend the northern summer in China, as announced earlier this year, but will return to Australia immediately after her scheduled drydock in Singapore in May 2018.
Carnival Cruise Line Vice President Australia Jennifer Vandekreeke said the decision was based on the current success and popularity of the cruise line’s operations in Australia and associated capacity needs.
“Australian guests and travel agents have truly embraced the fun of a Carnival cruise,” Ms Vandekreeke said. “We recently welcomed our 500,000th guest onboard our local ships and our forward bookings are strong for next winter, so a decision has been made to keep Carnival Spirit in Australia throughout 2018.
“It’s a sensible business move and we think it’s one that will be very popular with loyal Australian customers.”
Featuring 35 new cruises to and from Australia from April to December 2018, the new program will go on sale on November 4, 2016.
Unveiling details, Ms Vandekreeke said Carnival Spirit would now offer two fantastic 19-night cruises between Sydney and Singapore, where she will be refurbished during her May 2018 dry dock.
Departing Singapore on June 6, 2018, Carnival Spirit’s return voyage to Sydney will give holidaymakers the chance to experience exotic ports in countries including Thailand and Indonesia before visiting Darwin and Port Douglas and making Carnival’s inaugural call to Gladstone, on the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, en route to Sydney. Fares start from $2449* per person twin share.
Carnival Spirit’s new winter cruises will also include an array of 7-12 night escapes to the tropical islands of Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia as well as a range of three-night short cruises and four-night sailings to Queensland’s popular Moreton Island. Fares start from $649*per person twin share for a three-night weekend sampler cruise departing December 7, 2018. Carnival Spirit will also be lining up for her fifth Melbourne Cup cruise in 2018, setting sail from Sydney on November 4, 2018, with fares priced from $1069* per person quad share.
Meanwhile Carnival Legend will return to Australia in October 2018 for her fifth extended summer season of cruising Down Under, which will see her take her legendary Green Thunder slide and fun-filled water park south again for an encore season of cruising from Melbourne.
Already scheduled to sail from Melbourne for an inaugural series of seven cruises in early 2018, Carnival Legend will offer three more cruises from the Victorian capital in November 2018, including a 10-night cruise to New Zealand, a three-night short break and a four-night cruise to Sydney via Hobart. Fares for the 10-night transTasman cruise, departing Melbourne on November 13, 2018, and including visits to Dunedin, Akaroa and Wellington as well as scenic cruising through Fiordland National Park, start from $1249* per person twin share.
For more information call 13 31 94, see a travel agent or visit www.carnival.com.au
SOURCE: Carnival Cruise Line
PHOTO CREDIT: James Morgan