Cruise destination - Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

We spent a day at Ho Chi Minh City in South Vietnam during our recent weeklong cruise onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas.



This bustling city is quickly growing in popularity as a cruise stop, partly due to the reduction of passenger visa cost. These used to cost US$50.00 and have now been reduced to US$7.00 which the cruise company charges direct to your onboard account..



Market shopping in the city was great, but our tour guide warned us to beware of pickpockets in crowded spaces, so we walked around the central market compound with hands on pocket and handbags firmly secured.



This video is the result of our daytime wanderings in the downtown area of this interesting city. We would gladly return for another visit sometime in the future.

Seaworld Whalewatch - the video!

The whales are early this year

The annual migration of humpback whales passing along the Gold Coast in south east Queensland has started earlier than in previous years, so Seaworld Whalewatch has also successfully commenced its cruise season (normally running June-November) a trifle early.

Last Saturday (May 31) I was invited to join their first cruise for the season aboard their $3.5 million luxury vessel 'Spirit of Migaloo' (pictured above) which was especially built for whalewatching.

We left the cruise terminal outside Seaworld Theme Park at 10am for a short trip north on the Broadwater before entering the bumpy Seaway and out in the open sea.

We didn't have to cruise along the Gold Coast shoreline for too long, or even too far out before spotting a young whale (pictured below) which kept the passengers (including other media representatives and some paying passengers) amused for more than an hour.

The daily cruises leave from the terminal on The Spit at 10am daily (provided the sea is calm enough) and returns around 12.30pm.

There is a cafe in the terminal so it's best to grab a coffee or a drink before departure, as you'll be far too busy sealife spotting for most of the trip to worry about eating or drinking onboard.

Just in case you don't see a whale enroute (although I'm told that's not a common problem), there is a refund guarantee - no whales, no charge!

Seaworld Whalewatch tickets cost $99 for adults, $77 for children/Senior Card holders and a family pass (two adults and two children) will set you back $275.

For more details visit www.seaworldwhalewatch.com.au or phone (07) 5591 6061.

San Francisco city sights

A trip on the local 'Hop on, Hop off' tour bus services is a must...it's the perfect way to get your initial bearings in most cities. San Francisco is no different.

The Big Bus Tour collected us from the cruise ship wharf, just up from the renowned tourist hotspot Pier 39 and showed us most of the city sights in just a couple of hours. We did the full round trip including a return crossing on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Unfortunately the weather changed and the rain started shortly before arriving at the bridge so it became impossible to film or photograph along the way...the wind blew a gale and all passengers on the top deck retreated downstairs for shelter.

Apart from this slight misfortune, the remaining trip was well worth the money.

The video in this post shows some of the city scenes captured from the tour bus as well as Pier 39 and its surrounds, just a short walk from our berthed cruise ship, Celebrity Century.

The next video, to be posted in the near future will highlight our next cruise stop, Monterey.

Santa Barbara, California

Home to many movie stars and other celebrities, beautiful Santa Barbara is on the Californian coast a short drive north of Los Angeles.

I have visited this district a number of times in the past, but most recently it was a daytime cruise stop on our Celebrity Century eight night Pacific Coastal adventure.

Time ashore was limited so we spent most of our visit strolling along State Street and onto Stearns Wharf.

A great facility downtown and along the foreshore is the electric trolley mini-bus which will transport you up and down lengthy State Street and to the wharf and beachfront at very low cost.

Santa Barbara is easy on the eye with a dominant Spanish influence on architecture, as the video shows.

It's a colourful town close to some great wineries and a huge number of quality restaurants and other eateries dotted throughout.

Gothenberg, Fraser Coast cruise, Stuttgart, Jurassic park on Sunshine Coast and Seat61

• Geoff Harrison chats with local guides Ebba Hobolm and Anne Price about Gothenberg, Sweden. www.excellentguiding.com
• Ren Zwiers has details of a new Fraser Coast cruise run by Whalesong Cruises. www.whalesong.com.au.
• Frances Beasley visits Stuttgart, Germany. www.piptravelnews.co.za
• Australian mining magnate and federal politician Clive Palmer has opened a major dinosaur park attraction at his Palmer Coolum Resort on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Ren Zwiers has the details. www.palmercoolumresort.com.au/dinosaurs
• David Gordon discovers a website which carries rail timetables for many parts of the world. he chats with Mark Smith, the man who runs this useful site. www.seat61.com

Brunei, Koh Samui, Bath (UK) and cruise onboard guestspeakers

Geoff Harrison travels to Brunei and chats with Nygu Sur Yen of Bon Asia travel services.

Ren Zwiers discovers a way of getting a cheap stateroom onboard cruiselines departing from Australia and some Asian ports when he speaks with Laurelli Blyth who runs an agency which books onboard guestspeakers.

Host of Around the World Radio/TV, Arthur von Wiesenberger provides an audio picture of his recent visit to Koh Samui (Thailand).

Our 'world destination of the week' is the historic city of Bath, England. Report presented by Geoff Harrison.

Amazonian cruise, lunch in Munich and Paris tour in na Citroen 2CV

In the first edition of our Travelradio Australia podcast for 2013, longtime stalwart John Crook presents an Australian wine review. Host Ren Zwiers follows with details of a five-star seven night cruise in the upper-Amazon reaches aboard Seadream II departing early March 2013. European-based contributor Frances Beasley reviews a business lunch at a popular five star hotel in Munich (Germany). Our man in Ireland, David Gordon visits Paris (France) and enjoys a city tour in a classic Citroen 2CV car.

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Cruise destination: Vigo, Spain

My partner Donna and I recently enjoyed an 11 night cruise from Southampton (UK) to destinations in Spain, Portugal, Gran Canarie and Canary Islands on Royal Caribbean's super-sized ship 'Independence of the Seas'. I had my trusty camcorder on hand to record the many colourful scenes in ports enroute. This is the first episode of my cruise destination video series: featuring the western Spanish port of Vigo. The next destination, Lisbon, Portugal will be 'in the can' in the near future!

Return from halfway around the world

Posing for a snapshot in front of a Paris landmark.

I’ve covered a lot of kilometres (or nautical miles, in some cases) over the past month visiting some great destinations in Europe. The highlight of the epic journey was an 11-night voyage on the huge Independence of the Seas, until recently the world’s biggest cruise ship boasting a full complement of almost 4000 passengers.

Royal Caribbean International treated us to a return cruise from/to Southampton visiting many Spanish and Portugese ports along the way. Our stops included Vigo, Lisbon, Las Palmas, Tenerife and Funchal and La Coruna.

I have always been very impressed with the quality of service delivered by Royal Caribbean aboard its ships and this cruise did not disappoint. Along with great service, good quality food and reasonably priced drinks, the cruise was a memorable event.

Not surprisingly, most of the passengers were British. I’m pleased to say, overall the term of endearment ‘whinging poms’ we often lavish upon Britons here in Australia did not apply. Sure there were a few obnoxious passengers onboard, but their nationality was not identified, they could have been Aussies for all I know!

All jokes aside, it was a very pleasant cruise and we will definitely return for more before we get much older. Thank you Royal Caribbean for providing us with a great time.

Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas moored at Funchal, Madeira.

Praise should also go to Etihad Airways for getting us everywhere on time and safely, although that last leg from Abu Dhabi to Sydney in Economy Class was a task I’m not keen to repeat in a hurry. 

However, if you live in Australia and want to visit Europe, there is no choice but to endure about 25 hours upwards of laborious travel.

And now I’m back at my desk – almost ready to record another podcast in the Travel Radio Australia series. Keep an ear and an eye out for the next show! 

Luckily on the outward route from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow we paid a small fee to upgrade to vacant Business Class seats which also included entry to the Etihad lounge in AD…well worth the money! Unfortunately the finances did not permit another upgrade on the return leg, even though they phoned several times to offer the opportunity to upgrade.

-Ren Zwiers

It's travelling time!

The regular Travel Radio Australia podcasts will take a break for a few weeks as I'll be hitting the 'road' (well, actually 'the air', 'the road', 'the train' and 'the ship').

I'll be visiting 'exotic' destinations like Luton and Southampton in the UK, Amsterdam (Netherlands), Paris (yep, the one in France) followed by an 11-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's mighty Independence of the Seas to ports in Spain, Portugal and almost near Africa - the Canaries.

No doubt this trip will provide me with plenty of fodder for both my youtube travel video channel and Travelradio Australia podcast upon my return.

Meanwhile, I'll enjoy some time away from my computer! We'll renew acquaintance late next month!

The new format of Travel Radio Australia is now into its second edition and the latest podcast can be heard on the audio player below this post.

We're pleased with the number of people who have downloaded or listened to the podcast online and we will keep producing new shows as material (and spare time) becomes available.

There will be a break in production for a month from late February, as I'll be travelling the high seas on Royal Caribbean's mighty ship 'Independence of the Seas'. Our itinerary will include a range of Spanish and Portuguese ports.

In addition to the cruise I'll be making independent visits to England, Holland and France.

No doubt I'll get plenty of inspiration from that trip for plenty of new podcast segments upon my return. Meanwhile here's is the latest show:

• Ren Zwiers has info on what's new in the Whitsundays region, Queensland
• Frances Beasley provides some interesting facts on the Bolshoi Ballet.
• From our US sister show, Around the World, Karen Ensign visits China.
• Ren Zwiers gives an insight into the renewed popularity of Bed and Breakfast establishments in Europe.

Listen to podcast on player below

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New format kicks off 2012 season

This week we introduce a new shorter and snappier format for the travel podcast.

Travel Radio Australia is now available only as a podcast via our websites travelradioaustralia.com; travelwithren.com; travelcastnetwork.com and as a download from the iTunes store's free podcast department.

We appreciate all the online listeners we have collected to the show over the past four years and hope to build the audience even more in time to come.

Although the show is no longer a weekly event like it has been for the past decade (and longer), it will appear here on a regular basis, so keep checking back, or even better, subscribe and you'll never miss an episode.

On this edition host Ren Zwiers has some travel news involving a wayward tourism manager in Croatia who has been sacked for her comments about Aussie visitors to her country; Frances Beasley celebrates the Christmas season in Munich, Germany and in the final segment, Ren offers some cruise specials from an Australian-based agency.

Listen to episode on flash player below

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Final radio show but we'll be back!

After more than a decade on the airwaves in Australia we have come to the end of an era. We have produced the final travel radio show to be broadcast on Community Radio Network stations throughout Australia. The show has been taking a few weeks' break over the festive period and will return early in 2012 as a podcast available on this site as well as travelradioaustralia.com and, of course, through the iTunes store. I would like to thank the countless program managers and others who have supported the show in its lengthy career. I look forward to producing and hosting brand  new episodes featuring our regular team of contributors in January 2012. Until then, I hope you enjoy this show!

Here's the rundown on this edition....

• Frances Beasley discovers the popularity of Australian wines in Europe and particularly her home country of Germany.
• John Crook chats with his 'cruise junkie' mate Phil Kirby about his latest adventures on the high seas.
• From our US affiliated show 'Around the World', Arthur von Wiesenberger and Martha Bull discover the Kohala Coasy, Hawaii.

Listen on the flash player below

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A 'seadream' survives its first decade

It's a tough life onboard Seadream II during

a Mediterranean cruise several years ago.

My favourite luxury cruise company, Seadream Yacht Club is celebrating its first decade of cruising its two small luxury liners (holding less than 100 passengers each) to some of the world's favourite destinations. Our Australian contributor on Travel Radio Australia John Crook tells the success story of Seadream Yacht Club which is celebrating its 10th birthday, despite a major setback weeks after it launched trading.

In other segments on this edition, yours truly (Ren Zwiers) lists some of the world's most haunted hotels.

Frances Beasley provides an update on Olympics 2012 in London.

Arthur von Wiesenberger visits Spain.

Listen to the show on the player below.

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How a sea dream survived September 11

The big and the small of cruising: SeaDream I dwarfed by Oasis of the Seas in the Caribbean.

I AM a self confessed cruise 'junkie' and my all-time favourite cruise was a seven night trip from Nice to Rome (via Capri and Sorrento) on Seadream II, several years ago. However, earlier this year I undertook a week-long Caribbean cruise at the other end of the scale - on the almighty Oasis of the Seas, which was also a memorable journey and a great ship. Seadream Yacht Club celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and below is the official story on its first decade history. It makes interesting reading...

NORWEGIAN entrepreneur and cruise industry heavyweight, Atle Brynestad was certain he was on a winner when he bought two small luxury cruise ships that Carnival Corporation no longer needed, and announced that he was going to refurbish and launch them as super-luxury in a “Yachting, Not Cruising” concept.

The critics had a field day. This was the 21^st century and shipping lines were looking to mega-liners that counted their passengers by the thousands, not trifling little things that carried a mere 110 with an expensive almost one crew member for every guest.

And which was why, they pointed out, the little Sea Goddess 1 and Sea Goddess 2 had been sold by Carnival – a company which had forgotten more about the cruise passenger business than most other companies combined had ever learned.

And when Mr Brynestad launched his company, it was brought almost to its knees after just one week sailing the Mediterranean. Not because he’d gone smaller rather than larger, but because he’d chosen as his launch date September 1 2001 – just ten days before the catastrophies of September 11.

The travel industry world-wide came crashing to a halt overnight. Holidaymakers cancelled flights and cruises by their hundreds of thousands; hotels and resorts took on the look of ghost towns.

But Atle Brynestad had both faith in his concept, and past experience to back him up. Because it was he who had founded the highly successful Seabourn Cruise Line which in fact had once owned the Sea Goddesses 1 and 2 and which had been merged into the Cunard company (later acquired by Carnival Corp) in the 1990s.

This had left Atle itching for new cruise opportunities. So when he learned Carnival were selling the 55-stateroom, 95-crew Sea Goddesses he snapped them up, re-naming the mega motor-cruisers SeaDream I and SeaDream II.

Millions of dollars were spent on refurbishments, adding an outdoor “Topside Restaurant” under shade cloths for al fresco breakfasts and lunches, a new Top of the Yacht open-air bar, a new spa and fitness area, a 30-course golf simulator, and “Balinese Dream Beds” on which guests could relax by day – or have made up into beds to sleep on under the stars at night.

Stateroom bathrooms were re-built in marble with shower massage units, new artworks installed throughout the yachts, furnishings replaced.

But after just one sailing came the horrors of September 11.

Undaunted, Brynestad continued to sail their advertised itineraries, no matter how few guests were aboard.

Remarkably within a year guests were clamouring for repeat sailings, and travel agents found well-heeled clients wanting to be pampered aboard a SeaDream yacht as a means of escaping the continuing political and economic turmoils at home.

He continued to push his mantra of only-the-best: with 95 crew (for a now maximum 112-guests after a new over-sized Admiral Suite was added,) 5-star dining, wines with meals, no-charge bars to which to sidle up for anything from Champagne to Coke at virtually any hour, nightly cocktail gatherings, a host of power and sail watersports facilities, movies on deck on select nights – it all added up to super-sea-dreaming.

And hand-picked crew pampered without being fawning, remembered every guest’s name within a day of sailing – and to this day still offer guest’s a spray of mineral water on the back and arms when delivering drinks around the pool, and to clean your sun-glasses at the same time.

The company picked up the highest industry awards hand over fist.

Today Atle Brynestad still runs SeaDream Yacht Club, together with another ex-Cunard man, Bob Lepisto whom he appointed as Senior Vice-President at the company’s inception in 2001 and who is now President.

And remarkably one of its great success stories is the Australian market. Since opening representation here in 2003 Australian guest numbers have risen from under one-percent, to almost ten percent of onboard guests in 2011.

For information about sailing SeaDream I and SeaDream II in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Turkey’s Turquoise Coast from April to October, and on the Amazon and in the Caribbean during the remainder of the year, see travel agents or visit www.seadream.com

-Article courtesy of Seadream Yacht Club

The long and the short of cruising!

New South Wales-based travel writer (and good mate) David Ellis has copped the 'short straw' (purely physically speaking) when each of us takes off reviewing different cruise ships in the first quarter of next year. David will be travelling on the five star SeaDream 1 from Athens through the Greek Isles to Malaga in Spain. This five star 'mega-yacht' (along with its identical sister-ship SeaDream 2) offers five star all-inclusive cruising in different parts of the world. Several years ago I enjoyed a week-long Mediterranean cruise on SeaDream 2 which was truly the most wonderful holiday experience I've ever had. Meanwhile I'll be trying out the world's renowned mega-cruise ship Oasis of the Seas on a western Caribbean jaunt from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) to Cozumel (Mexico) and return next March. Just for size comparison, take a look at the above photo showing both SeaDream 1 and Oasis of the Seas, berthed side-by-side at St Thomas and you'll be amazed by the difference in ship-sizes.

-Photo courtesy of Seadream Yacht Club

'Out and about' in Switzerland

On ATW Travelradio Australia, Euro correspondent Frances Beasley goes ‘out and about’ in Switzerland. Ren Zwiers has results of an expedia.com.au survey on which countries are the most holiday deprived. US host Arthur von Wiesenberger takes his sons on a cruise from LA to Mexico onboard Sapphire Princess. Still on cruising, John Crook interviews an Australian-based ’cruise junkie’, Phil Kirby. To hear this podcast click this link.

Radio show takes you travelling far and wide!

Now online at travelradioaustralia.com is our latest podcast. In it John Crook reviews some French champagnes; Arthur von Wiesenberger chats with a well travelled chef, Victoria Allman who has cooked onboard private yachts and boats; Frances Beasley discovers a place in Scotland to get away from it all; John Crook visits Sovereign Hill, Ballarat and interviews Tim Sullivan; Arthur returns to chat with Kent St John about his cruise from Chili to Argentina. Click this link to listen.

Fly, coach, cruise rail and stay South America and Galapagos

Cruise to the Galapagos Islands on the yacht La Pinta.

A truly rare 19-night fly, coach, cruise, rail and stay package to South America and the Galapagos Islands in April of next year has an almost regal touch to it – the just-40 Australians who’ll participate in this tour will have the personal services during a private five-star yacht visit to Galapagos of the guide chosen to escort a British royal there several years ago.

Created by founder and chairman of ecruising.travel, Brett Dudley and his wife Philippa who will jointly lead the tour, it features 12-nights fully-escorted private-coach touring in Chile, Peru and Ecuador with an English-speaking guide, seven-nights private-charter on the yacht La Pinta to Galapagos with all onboard meals, drinks with dinner, daily lectures and briefings, plus sea kayaking, Zodiacs, glass bottom boats, snorkelling, a stargazing program – and  that British royal’s one-time personal guide, Francisco 'Pancho' Dousdebes.

And the visit to Galapagos will coincide with the annual frenetic breeding season of one of the world’s greatest single gatherings of bird- and sea-life.

The package also includes a full-day’s wine-tasting tour on Chile’s Cachapoal Wine Route, and a two-day visit to Machu Picchu aboard the luxury Hiram Bingham Deluxe Train with private English-speaking guides; there is also a day trip to Valparaiso and luxury hotels are used throughout.

The whole 19-nights is priced from $13,399pp twin-share from Sydney on March 31 next year; for a fully-detailed 11-page itinerary and inclusions phone 1300 369 848 or visit www.ecruising.travel

An optional 4-nights to Easter Island is available at extra cost on the way home.

-David Ellis