Celebrate Christmas early on Sydney Harbour

This July celebrate Christmas everyday with Captain Cook Cruises Christmas in July Top Deck Lunch Cruise on the MV Sydney 2000 - the official vessel for Pope Benedict XVI for World Youth Day 2008.

While the prestigious, three deck, MV Sydney 2000 cruises the picturesque Sydney Harbour the 'Top Deck Lunch Cruise', will feel just like Christmas again.

Decorated with Christmas trimmings, a two or three course Australian a la carte menu will offer a traditional winter Christmas selection including turkey, ham, Christmas pudding and much more.

As well as experiencing Christmas, passengers will still enjoy personalised service, ambient music and million dollar views of Sydney’s main Harbour sights.

The two and half hour Christmas in July Top Deck Lunch Cruise will depart every day in July from Darling Harbour No 1 Jetty King Street Wharf at 12 noon or from No 6 Jetty Circular Quay at 12.30pm.
Prices are adults $64 for 2 courses or $74 for 3 courses, concession $55 for 2 courses or $65 for 3 courses and children (5-14yrs) $39 for 2 courses or $49 for 3 course. Guaranteed window seating is an additional $15 per person and a bar package including beer, bottled wine and soft drink is available from $18 per person.

For information and bookings, contact Captain Cook Cruises toll free on 1800 804 843 or (02) 9206 1111, or visit www.captaincook.com.au

Sydney-based whale watching cruise back in 2008

With whale watching cruises more popular than ever, Captain Cook Cruises is again operating its daily Whale Watching cruises off the coast at Sydney throughout the Whale Watching season of May 27 to November 15, 2008.

The Whale Watching cruise takes passengers past the Sydney Opera House, Fort Denison and all the beautiful homes located in the bays of Sydney Harbour and then out through the heads and onto the open waters. There the direction of the vessel is totally dependent on where the whales have been sighted – north towards Manly or south towards Coogee. Most whales are found within 2km of shore.

The number of Humpback and Southern Wright whales passing through Sydney on the annual northern migration between Antarctica and their winter feeding grounds as far north the Great Barrier Reef, is expected to reach its traditional peak around the Winter Solstice on June 22.

After calving in the northern waters between August and September, the whales will then again head south through Sydney, making their long journey back to Antarctica.

All Whale Watching cruises are held on a 75-passenger, 16 metre super sea-catamaran purpose built for Whale Watching and featuring two decks both offering spectacular open air viewing and a comfortable all-weather lounge for the entire family.

Captain Cook Cruises offers a whale guarantee - if a whale is not sighted in the months of May to November 2008 passengers can rebook another cruise free of charge or for those cruising in June and July they also have the choice to receive 50% of their money back.

Whale Watching cruises depart daily from Circular Quay at 1.30pm and twice daily from Darling Harbour at 9.00am and 1.15pm from May 27th to November 15th, 2008.

Whale Watching Cruises are priced at: adults $69, concession $59, child (4-14yrs) $39, family (2ad+2ch) $179 and additional child same family $30.

For further information and bookings, please contact Captain Cook Cruises on Tel: 02 9206-1111 or visit www.captaincook.com.au

Small ship cruise lines join forces

• PICTURE: The Reef Endeavour anchored off Lizard Island (Far North Queensland).
AUSTRALIAN small-ship cruise lines Captain Cook Cruises and Coral Princess Cruises have announced plans to join forces to further the growth of their Great Barrier Reef cruise divisions.
According to a spokesperson, the partnership will ensure the ongoing growth of both companies and provide unique opportunities to improve business efficiencies.
The new partnership, a result of long-term discussions between Captain Cook Cruises Executive Chairman Captain Trevor Haworth AM and Coral Princess Cruises Managing Director Tony Briggs, combines over 40 years experience operating multi-night cruises on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef.
“Both companies are excited by the new opportunities this partnership will provide. Both Australian family-owned companies, they share common philosophies and existing cruise itineraries,” the spokesperson said.
The opportunity to consolidate both companies’ Great Barrier Reef cruise operations has progressed joint plans for the design of a new, state-of-the-art, purpose-built small-ship to operate their schedule of three, four and seven night Great Barrier Reef cruises.
Whilst planning for the new luxury vessel continues, both companies will operate their schedules utilising Coral Princess’ fleet of small-ships, whilst Captain Cook’s Reef Endeavour is to be sold following its final Great Barrier Reef cruise on February 22nd.
Captain Cook Cruises Fiji and Murray three, four and seven night itineraries and two night Sydney Harbour itinerary will remain un-effected and continue as scheduled.
Coral Princess Cruises also operates expedition and adventure cruises to the Kimberley, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Melanesia and New Zealand.