Cruise-Australia.com - a Wonderful World of Cruising at its very Best

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A Cruise Site with a Difference

Come and Discover a World of Quality Cruising

With Reuben Goossens, Maritime Historian, Author, Lecturer & Cruise’n’Ship Reviewer

With over 60 Years in the Passenger Shipping & Cruise Industry

Introduction:

Welcome to Cruise-Australia.com a website that has been online since the early 1990’s. Cruise-Australia has been designed especially for Australian’s, New Zealanders and the Asian cruise market, not to forget all those who love heading overseas and joining ships in other countries, therefore many have become worldwide cruise travellers and explorers’ of destinations far-afield.

PLEASE NOTE: As we well know, all Cruise Companies have suspended operations due to the Coronavirus pandemic, until such time it is permitted and completely safe to return, their ships are either berthed, at anchor off various countries, etc. For your information, I am please to provide a complete alphabetical list of ALL Cruise Ships worldwide of where they currently are located, that is based on mid 2020, but there will have been changes of course! To view the page - ENTER HERE. Most cruise lines have now announced that they will not return to service until June 2021.

Great News for Queensland!

On the Australian front, the great news is that luxury small ship company, “Coral Expeditions” has a very special programme of their “Explore the Great Barrier Reef” Cruises from Cairns on their stylish 1,838-ton MV Coral Discoverer from November 2020 through to July 2021. Also announced are new Tasmanian, South Australian and Kimberley cruises.

One of the Coral Expeditions 5 Star Super Yacht is the Coral Discoverer

There is a feature on “Coral Expeditions” just below

For full Information and Details enter Here

Now Meet the Newest Ship in the Fleet

The new Coral Geographer was christened at a dockside ceremony attended by guests who were departing on her Maiden Voyage. In deference to Covid-19 concerns, there was no public ceremony. However, Coral Expeditions’ longest-serving employee, Purchasing Manager Gary Wun-Hym had the honour of christening the new vessel with a bottle of champagne. Gary has recently completed two decades of service with Coral Expeditions and has seen the evolution of the company from an operator of small catamarans on the Great Barrier Reef to a blue-water fleet capable of travelling the oceans of the world.

The Coral Geographer is the newer sister of the Coral Adventurer that entered service in 2019, although the new vessel has a number of improvements, such as having 6 “Bridge Deck Suites”, compared to Adventurer’s 2 Suites. Further information and photographs will come online soon.

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An important message from Reuben Goossens, author of Cruise-Australia:

There is no doubt that 2020 has proven to be such a tragic year for the entire world and of course right here in Australia. obviously due to the sudden arrival of COVID-19 and although Australia has done much better that most of the world, but occasionally the odd outbreak turns up. These are mostly due to the occasional cross infections that occur inside some of our quarantine hotels, where overseas arrivals must isolate. However due to the worldwide situation, cruising has sadly come to a complete halt with all ships having been laid up somewhere. Then there were those companies who were forced to go into administration and close down, whilst those who have survived have been forced to sell many of their excellent ships to new owners, or sadly to the breakers, which is tragic! The latter is such a great and as loss of so many ships were well before their time, and this also included a few of some much loved classic cruise ships, that we hoped to assist in being sold and continue in service as there were buyers for them, but now with the current conditions with COVID-19 flaring up once again around the globe it does not look good for cruising.

I sincerely hope that cruising will recommence soon, however one thing does trouble me, and that is the poor air-conditioning systems on-board most ships, as they tend to be completely outdated and thus should there be an infection on board, no matter how strict the boarding procedures may be, outbreaks can occur on-board and sadly it will spread like wildfire, just as it did with the tragic death ship the Ruby Princess, for that tragedy was nothing short of a Carnival/Princess Cruises debacle! Personally I will no longer go on a cruise until air-conditioning on all ships are either replaced, or fixed to an international safe standard. What does this mean? That the air from the air-conditioning systems will no longer be shared between areas of the ship, especially between accommodations!

We also need to remember that the vast majority of crew are from Asian countries, and although they are a great crew, but the virus may not show when they are cleared to board the ship, as often it does not reveal until weeks later. Thus, we need to force cruise companies to do something with this situation, as well the poor air-conditioning on their ships, or our cruise vacations could be ruined by catching COVID-19, including one of the new strains that are now sadly around!

Looking Back:

It is hard to believe, that on my Classic liner site; ssMaritime.com I have written on well over 1,358 ships but sadly I am not able to continue due to my old age and severe illness’ (not COVID-19 related). On the ssMaritime Index you will also find many well-known Classic Liners, but also Passenger-Cargo Ships, including those wonderful Victory - C3 ships, etc, many of which became humble migrant liners, but some of them where given amazing rebuilding programs and became fine modern Liners with excellent facilities, and there are some fine smaller ships, some of which have been rebuilt into luxury cruise ships. There are also Classic Cruise Ships, some have now gone and have been broken up, but there are still some that are currently in lay-up.

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The cruise-australia INDEX below has a great deal of content;

However, there is another Index Bar and a link down the page,

thus why not keep on reading as there is so much on offer!

Enter the - Cruise-Australia.com - INDEX

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In conclusion; countless millions around the world know me well as a Maritime Historian, and a cruise reviewer and writer and this has resulted in having had an amazing 538.7 million readers to these sites to date. I am sure that you will have noted that you will never find any advertising on any of my pages, or asking for donations, for all information and maritime History is provided online for you to enjoy for free, as it is financed 100% by the author! Visit http://ssmaritime.com/.

Please Note: below are a number of interesting cruise companies, operating from small luxury cruise ships to larger ones, and each being highly recommended! Some of these ships operate from our shores.

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Let’s Talk About Cruising

What is New?

Over countless years I have written features and reviews on countless worthy Cruise Ships and their respective companies in order to better inform cruise and ship enthusiasts … 1; for their pleasure, 2; but more so to ensure that you, my wonderful readers will make the best-informed choice possible on what kind of ship, or which ship will be just right for you. Below I am featuring some wonderful small-ship operators that offer as you, as you will soon see some real Magic, and by that I really mean it, for the reviews I received regarding this line are simply outstanding to say the least. In addition they are a highly awarded small ship luxury Cruise Line operating Expedition Yachts and they are an Australian company, “Coral Expeditions” and their fine fleet of ships sail locally as well as internationally! This company is followed the amazing luxury “Aqua Expeditions” the new 5 Star luxury “Aqua Blu”.

Then there is a new addition of a five star luxury Expedition Yacht the M.Y. Kudanil Explorer has eight balcony Staterooms for just 16 guests, who will be well cared for by her highly qualified 21 Indonesian and European crew.

Kudanil Explorer has 1,000 square meters of space exclusively for her guests to use, thus there’s ample room to spread out. You can lounge on the sun-beds on the large aft deck, relax in the Main Lounge and the cosy Library Lounge, or soak in the Jacuzzi on the Top Deck of the ship. Whilst just forward of the huge outdoor lounge, bar and dinning area is the delightful intimate Sky Lounge.

Then come and discover my much loved and HIGHLY RECCOMENDED Scottish “The Majestic Line” which has a remarkable fleet of four small cruise ships which you will simply fall in love with, as they offer an unique style of intimate cruising around the Scottish Isles, and believe me the service and food on the four Glen ships is without a doubt beyond belief!

Please Note:

Remember, we are hoping that in mid 2021 we will see the Return of Cruising, thus let’s stay positive and hope for the best, and do what Queensland is doing, stay strong and keep healthy. I feel that if we open our borders too fast, all I can say is look at the UK and Europe, that is what they did and they are now in a worse state than the first time around, and their populations are sadly dying in large numbers. I hope that will wake us all up! Wash your Hands, Wear a Mask, and keep you distance if and where required! I wish you all a healthy 2021!

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Let’s commence with two New Australian arrivals to the Scene, Luxury Expedition Yachts:

Coral Expeditions:

This is Australia’s small-ship luxury cruise operator, which was established in 1983 and today they are one of Australia’s most awarded companies, with a “Certificate of Excellence” by “trip adviser” and “Cruisers Choice” by “cruise critic,” and also awarded “Quality Small-Ship Cruise Operator” by “cruise-australia.com”.

The Coral Expeditions has grown from having just one small rather basic vessel to operating a fine fleet of glamorous small expedition ships that sail around Australia, Asia and now much further afield into the Indian Ocean and the Pacific!

Meet Australia’s Newest glamour Ships in the Fleet:

The new 5,599-tonne Coral Adventurer, which has been followed by her new

sister the Coral Geographer that was christened in Cairns on March 30, 2021

Image © Coral Expeditions

Launched in April 2019 and purpose-built to take guests closer to unspoilt vistas in comfort, style and safety, the luxurious Coral Adventurer accommodates 120 guests in 60 spacious staterooms and she has a cruising speed of 13.5 knots. She is a culmination of years of design and three decades of passion for expedition cruising, the Coral Adventurer has over 1000 sqm of open deck space including a wrap-around promenade deck with panoramic views. There are multiple indoor and outdoor bars, including the Explorer bar up on sundeck, she has a well-equipped gym, and a passenger elevator, all of which creates an environment designed for guest comfort. Coral Adventurer has captured the unique requirements for both guests, and the ships crew.

But above all it will be the countless incredible destinations she will visit that will make the cruise, combined with a ship that has the highest quality equipment and technology that will make her perfect ship to sail the Indonesian archipelago, Papua New Guinea, as well as the famed Kimberley coast of West Australia!

Then there is also the state-of-the-art 1,838-ton, MV Coral Discoverer (built in 2005, but completely refurbished in 2016), being an intimate, Australian cruise ship and she has become a much sought after small cruise ship operating at a cruising speed of 14 knots.

The luxurious MV Coral Discoverer currently sailing in and around Australian waters

In Addition there is also the Coral Expedition II, which mostly operates 3 and 4 night Great Barrier Reef cruises, which can be combined as a 7 night cruise. The 3 night cruise heads south from Cairns to Hinchinbrook Island, and the 4 night cruise heads north as far as Lizard Island, with the countless treasures in between! Coral Expeditions II hosts just 42 guests in spacious Staterooms with ocean views and all rooms have private facilities. The ship has a spacious Panoramic Lounge and Bar topside up on A Deck, as well as a fine Dining room and Bar on C Deck. Like all ships she is packed with special expedition facilities, and you can snorkel right from the ship itself as she has a special deck that is at water level aft.

Explore the Magic of the Coral Expeditions a fleet of Intimate Expedition Ships

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Kudanil Explorer:

M.Y. Kudanil Explorer:

The ultra luxury Expedition Yacht the M.Y. Kudanil Explorer

The Kudanil Explorer was constructed in 1978 as a safety an offshore rig support ship, for the oil and gas industry. She also provided offshore rigs with supplies, and thus this extreamly well built very strong ship is able to go anywhere, at any time. She is known to have the very best sea capability to withstand any condition for long periods of time. The truth is that she was built tough much like a hippopotamus, which in Indonesian is translated to “kuda nil”, which means “horse of the river Nile”.

She was given an extensive three-year refit to become a luxury Motor Yacht, and the M.Y. Kudanil Explorer was re-launched in 2018, to become a superb 50 metre long luxury motor yacht. She has been owned by the same family for some 20 years and even her Captain has been with Kudanil Explorer for some 20 years. His genuine love and excitement of the jump from commercial offshore work-ship to the hospitality side is impossible to overlook. Once you board you will discover that he is always on deck to welcome guests back onboard, or from a dive or hike.

During her refit, to ensure the service matched a boutique, five-star luxury motor yacht, when this strong and stable ship was rebuilt from her original guise, her owners enlisted the expert help of an accomplished hotelier to design an complete her interiors. They brought in a professional consultant with experience from properties like “Four Seasons” and other five star hotels to spend three months on board training a fine Indonesian service crew. The result is obvious, for guests on Kudanil Explorer receive service and a staff mindset that are on par with the world’s top hotels and luxury cruise ships!

The Main Saloon, is a Lounge, Bar and the indoor Dinning Room

Enter - M.Y. Kudanil Explorer

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Aqua Expeditions:

M/Y Aqua Blu:

The Highly awarded “Aqua Expeditions” River Ships in Asia and the Amazon and their M/Y Aqua Blu being their 5 Star Luxury Oceangoing Exploration Yacht, which explores new coastal destinations of East Indonesia, including the UNESCO World Heritage site of “Komodo National Park” commenced her maiden voyage on November 16, 2019.

The Company has received a great deal of International Acclaim, including the Gold Award in the Architecture/New Build category in the 2015 “Asia Hotel Design Awards” for the Aqua Mekong. Many VIP guests to have cruised on one or two of the Aqua vessel’s, including leading travel journalists, and have received awards from “Travel + Leisure”, “Virutuaose”, “Financial Times”, “Conde Nast Traveller”, “Forbes and Robb Report”, also Aqua Expeditions has Won Two 2016 “Luxperience” - from the Sydney Australia “Travel Trade Awards”.

A Guest who sailed on the Aqua Blu wrote a review, and in part he said: “All I can say is this, to sail on an Aqua Blu voyage; you can believe me you will experience a cruise adventure of the Indonesian Islands that will be unlike any you will have ever experienced. It is a delight beyond any other”. V; 2019.

M/Y Aqua Blu seen from the air

Inside her five-decks you will discover that the world famous designer Mr. Cor D. Rover has tastefully paired her amazing history with the modern, and therefore you will find a glamorous brass-and-ivory interior theme with spacious and inviting Lounges, Bars and Dining rooms, as well as outdoor social spaces, including a spacious sun deck.

Here we see the Salon and combined Dinning Room on Main Deck

She offers safety and comfort, because Aqua Blu’s is the perfect ship to navigate East Indonesia’s seas, as she has attained the International Safety Regulations, such as being; ISM Compliant, as well as being in RINA Class and SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea) Certified. In addition, she has also been equipped with “Quantum Zero Speed” stabilizers for optimal comfort whilst she stationary or while sailing.

View my Two Page Aqua Blu Feature

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A Much Loved Scottish Line:

“The Majestic Line”

You will discover that on Cruise-Australia there is a vast variety of cruise options available from mini-cruise ships to the giants of the sea; however I will start with four of the most loved and highly awarded mini-cruise ships based in Scotland, owned by the acclaimed “The Majestic Line.” This company which was founded in 2004, offer small comfortable cruise ships that have become known for their intimate and exciting west-coast Scottish ocean going experiences.

MV Glen Massan

Their first two vessels were originally built as Irish wooden Herring Trawlers but they were converted in Scotland into the most beautiful eleven guest cruise vessels with all cabins having private facilities with windows or a porthole. There is a spacious Lounge, Bar, Library, Flat Screen TV and a Dining Room aft on Main Deck, as well as ample outdoor deck spaces.

The spacious Dinning Room, Lounge, library & Bar on the Glen Tarsan

And believe me there is not a fishy smell to be found anywhere, except when that giant fresh seafood buffet is placed on the table! The Bridge on all ships is open to their Guests throughout the day. The first two perfectly designed ships operate cruises around the west coast of Scotland and the Hebrides, and they rapidly became such a huge success not just in Britain, but around Europe as well as worldwide. Thus the owners decided to build two brand new ships based on the first two, but with steel hulls yet with new technology and other improved facilities including stabilisers and Wi-Fi, etc.

The latest ship of the fleet the MV Glen Shiel

The Lounge on the Glen Etive

These vessels looked much the same externally, but on the internally on Main Deck, rather than having the one large main public venue, these new ships had two, with a spacious Lounge, Bar, Library, a flat screen TV located forward with the Dining Room with a smaller Lounge area being located aft. You will find a comprehensive Multi Page Feature online detailing this worthwhile cruise experience with a difference, complete with photographs, reviews and deck plans via the link below.

World famous TV star and vocalist Miss June McDonald cruised on the Glen Tarsan and she loved her experience so much, that she stated, “I will be going again, but next time on the 10 day cruise, for it is the experience of a lifetime, and I just loved it!”

These cruises are of a very high standard and fares for a 3 night cruise are from AU$ 1,976.00, and a 6 night cruise from AU$ 3,838.50, there are also 10 day cruises. The service and cuisine on board a Majestic ship is of the highest standard possible, and this company is highly recommended by the Author, and no I have never been in contact with the company.

“The Majestic Line” fabulous four mini-cruise-ships that will capture you and delight you!

Enter The Majestic Line Feature

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Enter the Cruise Index Below

 Email Me at; info@cruise-australia.com

When emailing please name the ship or company you are requesting information about!

Cruise-Australia.com

Classic Liner Enthusiasts visit …

ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net

Discover over 1,358 Classic Passenger & Humble Converted Migrant Liners & the 1914 built MV Doulos Feature

The Author has been in Passenger Shipping & the Cruise Industry for over 60 years!

Photographs on cruise-australia.com & .net are: 1. By the author. 2. From the author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping Companies and their Publicity Companies as well as by private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are some photographs provided without details regarding the photographer concerned., therefore I hereby invite if owners of those images to be so kind and make them-selves known to me, in order that due credit may be given!

This notice covers all pages, although, I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displayed on each page, that is, when a page is updated!

Cruise-Australia is owned/operated and © Copyright by Reuben Goossens - All Rights Reserved