‘Casinos, Cathedrals and Camels’ – all three of those crop up in the latest holiday from Worldwide Cruise Centres (worldwidecruisecentres.com.au). The 23-night fly-cruise-and-stay holiday includes stays in Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale, Barcelona and Dubai – plus a 15-night Spanish Passage transatlantic cruise aboard Royal Princess from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona.
Royal Princess, the new-generation cruise liner operated by Princess Cruises, was named by Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, when launched two years ago.
‘Casinos, Cathedrals and Camels’ costs from A$5699 twin share per person, including flights from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne to Fort Lauderdale (via Las Vegas) and return from Barcelona (via Dubai).
The price is valid for booking till the end of October 2015 unless sold out earlier. Onboard credit of US$60 per twin cabin aboard Royal Princess adds to the value.
After Vegas, jet down to Florida, with a night’s stay in Fort Lauderdale before boarding Royal Princess, your home for the next 15 nights. This new-generation, 3600-passenger, 17-deck, 141,000-ton ship exemplifies the best Princess Cruises can offer. Special features include a top-deck, glass-bottomed, over-the-water SeaWalk –an experience you never forget.
The cruise starts with a full week at sea; time to really relax and get to know the ship. Check out the private poolside cabanas that appear to float on the water and the Chef’s Table Lumiere that surrounds diners in a curtain of light. All shipboard main meals (excluding specialty restaurants) are included, as is most entertainment aboard.
First port of call is Funchal, capital of Portuguese Madiera, followed by glorious Seville, the artistic and cultural capital of southern Spain. Next is the Rock of Gibraltar, British territory on the southernmost tip of Europe, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. Look out for the famous apes – actually Barbary macaques. Their population is thriving, with the most popular macaque troop based at the Ape’s Den area in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve.
Next, soak up the atmosphere of Cartagena in Spain’s Murcia region and get to know the picturesque seaport of Malaga, one of the world’s oldest cities and birthplace of Picasso.
Next port is Barcelona, Spain, where you’ll disembark. You’ll spend a couple of nights at a four-star hotel in this great city, one of Europe’s most popular.
Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s fabulous cathedral, is one of the world’s most visited buildings. An included guided tour lets you skip the tourist queues and discover this magnificent interior. Stroll the historic La Rambla pedestrian mall and maybe sample authentic tapas before flying on to Dubai, where you’ll be picked up and conveyed by private car to a lavish, five-star hotel for two nights.
The Desert Safari and Barbecue Dinner you’ll experience in Dubai is a touch of true Arabia, complete with 4WD dune drive, camel rides, henna painting, belly dance show and barbecue dinner. Feel the thrill of a roller coaster ride on the sand dunes and stop on the highest dune at sunset, as the sun shimmers across the desert sands.
A vivid image to relish before you fly on back to Australia.
To find your local Worldwide Cruise Centres agent go to: www.worldwidecruisecentres.com.au
SOURCE Worldwide Cruise Centres