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Hands up who loves to dress up for formal nights on a cruise. Black tie for the guys, full-on frocks and glam accessories for the girls. And hands up again if you can’t stand all of that stuffy stuff.
Yes, we have rather mixed feelings about dress codes on cruises but the important thing is to respect what’s required by the cruise line you’ve chosen to travel with – and your fellow passengers.
If you don’t like dressing up, don’t turn up in the main dining room on a formal night wearing shorts and thongs and expect to be seated – that’s not how it works.
Cunard president Peter Shanks, a sharp dresser whether the occasion is casual or formal, recently introduced the line’s latest policy on dress codes. Feedback from Cunard cruisers and luxury travellers in general has led Cunard to strengthen its commitment to “special-occasion dressing” to three times a week on its transatlantic crossings and twice a week on sailings to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and beyond.
“The glamour of dressing to the nines is a hallmark of travelling with Cunard, and distinguishes us from the mass of cruise operators where dressing up has become a thing of the past,” Shanks says.
SeaDream Yacht Club president Bob Lepisto might beg to differ. “I haven’t worn a tie [on a ship] for years,” he says. The dress code on this five-star line is decidedly smart casual – no ties required at any occasion – which suits a lot of upmarket Aussie cruisers.
So what’s the dress-code deal on premium or budget lines? As always, it pays to do some homework – or ask a Cruise Lines International-accredited travel agent. In a nutshell, most cruises include a formal event, whether it’s a “meet the crew” in the show lounge or an intimate dinner at the top table.
Package of the week
Check out MSC Cruises’ two new ships, Preziosa and Divina, on a fly-land-cruise package this September. The seven-night Divina round-trip cruise from Venice is followed by a seven-night round-trip cruise on Preziosa from Genoa. Divina’s ports of call include Katakolon, Izmir and Istanbul, and Preziosa will visit Naples, Tunis, Barcelona and Marseille.
The 18-night package starts from $4815 a person. Call 1300 028 502 or visit your travel agent.
News in brief
More movement in the world of river cruising: French-owned CroisiEurope launched its 29th ship, MS Cyrano de Bergerac, on May 17. It is now cruising the Garonne and Dordogne rivers in France with its stablemate Princesse d’Aquitaine.
And in the US, the American Queen Steamboat Company (which owns classic paddle steamer American Queen) has bought Empress of the North, which it will rename American Empress. American Queen has revitalised the Mississippi river cruise business since its relaunch last year.
SeaDream II is visiting Asia and northern Australia later this year for the first time, arriving in Singapore on November 9. The five-star-rated ship, which is a strong favourite with Australian travellers, will make two visits to Cairns in January on voyages from Bali.
Shipshape: Nieuw Amsterdam
Launched: 2010 Passengers: 2106 Regular haunts: Europe, Caribbean Best for: Couples, families The details: A 12-day ‘‘Mediterranean Romance’’ cruise from Venice to Barcelona, departing on September 24, 2013, starts at $1848. 1300 987 322, hollandamerica.com.
1. Nieuw Amsterdam is the newest in Holland America Line’s fleet of 15 ships and is one of the four-star-rated Vista-class ships, along with Eurodam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam and Zuiderdam.
2. There are five types of staterooms, ranging from interior (large or standard) to ocean-view, various sizes of verandah staterooms and suites, and the spacious Neptune and Pinnacle suites. Guests cruising in a Neptune or Pinnacle suite have access to the private NeptuneLounge.
3. Several key features from other HAL ships are found on Nieuw Amsterdam – the Culinary Arts Centre (for classes and demonstrations); Pinnacle Grill and Pinnacle Bar; Explorations Cafe; the family-friendly Canaletto Restaurant; and pan-Asian Tamarind Restaurant and Silk DenLounge.
4. Kids aged from three to seven are catered for at Club HAL, kids aged eight to 12 have Club HAL Tweens, and teenagers between 13 and 17 have The Loft and The Oasis at their disposal.
5. Art lovers will appreciate the $US3million worth of contemporary and antique artworks on board that celebrate the cruise line’s links between Holland and New York. Best advice: take the self-guided iPod tour.
Port watch: Ho Chi Minh City
Need to know: The port city (Vietnam’s biggest, with a population of more than 7million) is set on the Saigon River. Small and mid-size ships dock close to the city centre, while big ships dock at Phu My, 129 kilometres away. The dry season is from November to March and temperatures are in the 30s pretty much year-round. The traffic is insane but there are crossing police on some of the biggest roads.
Do not miss: Bargain hunters should head straight for Ben Thanh Market on the corner of Le Loi and Ham Nghi streets. Hundreds of stalls offer faux pearls, ‘‘designer’’ goods, fabric and homewares, as well as fresh produce, spices and takeaway food. Key things to do include having a drink at the Rex Hotel roof bar; dinner at the Majestic Hotel; a visit to the War Remnants Museum (warning: harrowing) and History Museum; and if time permits, a tour of the Cu Chi tunnels.
QA
My wife and I would like to cruise on a traditional sailing ship for our 25th wedding anniversary next year. Which companies run this type of voyage?
- J. Weekes, Allambie Heights.
There are two main companies that run traditional-style sailing ships combining adventure on the seas with all mod cons. Sea Cloud Cruises has Sea Cloud and Sea Cloud II, windjammers that sail in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Star Clippers operates ‘‘the world’s biggest’’ three tall ships (Star Flyer, Star Clipper and Royal Clipper) in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and the Baltic, and Costa Rica. Passengers on Sea Cloud and Star Clippers vessels can help hoist the sails and climb the rigging. Compagnie du Ponant also operates a three-masted sailing ship.
Deals
Travel the World Save 25 per cent on a European cruise on Compagnie du Ponant’s luxury 132-passenger L’Austral. The seven-day round-trip from Lisbon, Portugal, departs on October 23, 2013, and fares start from $3144a person, twin share, in a superior cabin. 1300 950 622, traveltheworld.com.au.
Royal Caribbean Upgrade to a balcony stateroom on Voyager, Rhapsody and Radiance of the Seas for as little as $4a person a night in this 2014-15 Earlybird Balcony sale. Book by December 31, 2013. www.royalcaribbean.com.au, or visit your local travel agent.
Cruiseco Join Cruise Maritime Voyages’ 620-passenger Astor on its inaugural Australian season and save 25per cent on a 21-night Sydney to Fremantle cruise, departing on February 11, 2014. From $2620 a person, twin share. 1800225656, cruising.com.au.
Cruiseabout Save $300a person on a seven-night Christmas cruise on Uniworld’s River Baroness in France, departing Paris on December 13, 2014. From $2695 a person, twin share. 1300769228, cruiseabout.com.au.
sallymacmillan@bigpond.com
Dress to impress
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