High Adventure On Marco Polo

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday May 17, 1996

ANDREW CONWAY

WITH a name like Marco Polo, it's a safe bet that the flagship of Orient Lines will turn a series of cruises through Europe, Africa and the Indian Ocean this year into voyages of discovery.

Built on classic lines, with spacious decks, comfortable cabins, pool, spa, gym and library, Marco Polo combines the pleasures of old-style cruising, all the facilities of a modern luxury liner and an itinerary featuring some of the world's most interesting ports.

Between now and October, Marco Polo will cruise the Aegean Sea, departing from Athens or Istanbul. The eight-day cruises will take in the ancient wonders of Delos, the beautiful islands of Mykonos, Crete, and Rhodes and the volcanic island of Santorini.

The ship will then sail on to the Turkish cities of Kusadasi, Canakkale and Istanbul, with ample time for sightseeing and shopping. This is a value-for-money cruise with fares starting from $1,250 a person.

On May 25 and October 12, Marco Polo will sail the Aegean and Holy Lands, again departing Athens or Istanbul. This eight-day cruise will combine the highlights of Greece, Turkey and Israel with stops at ports in the Holy Land. Passengers can explore Rhodes with optional excursions to Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth from the port of Haifa. The ship will also take in the whitewashed villages of Mykonos. Cruise fares start from $1,395 a person.

On October 26, Marco Polo sails from Athens on an 18-day voyage to Africa. The cruise will visit Egypt, Jordan and Djibouti, before heading for Mombasa in Kenya.

The cruise concludes with a three-night safari in Kenya, before passengers fly home to Australia, via Singapore. Prices start from $5,995 a person; discounted air fares are available.

The ship's final cruise option for 1996 is a 12-day voyage departing November 12, from Africa to the sun-drenched islands of the Indian Ocean.

The holiday includes four nights in a first-class hotel in Mombasa, an optional pre-cruise safari in Kenya, and two nights' hotel accommodation in Johannesburg. You'll also visit the Seychelles, Comoros and Madagascar. Prices start from $4,995 a person, plus the discounted air fare.

In March next year, Marco Polo will sail for the first time to Vietnam. Cruise options will be released later this year. For further details on Orient Lines' Marco Polo, contact Cruise Abroad on (02) 9955 0759.

SPICE OF LIFE

DISCOVER the exotic Spice Islands of Indonesia with Australian Cruise Lines on a seven-night Bali and Beyond cruise, with three or four nights on the 150-passenger Bali Sea Dancer and the same on the 36-passenger MV Island Explorer. The use of both ships allows passengers to visit Sumbawa and Komodo and then transfer to the smaller ship to explore the remote islands of the Komodo National Park. Twin-share prices cost $2,299 a person, with transfers. Sydney-Bali air fares are available from $399. Details, (02) 9922 7104.

BALTIC BOUND

WILTRANS Australia has released a special fare for Baltic cruises on board the luxury ship Radisson Diamond. There are two seven-day cruises to choose from: the first departs Copenhagen on July 22 and visits Visby, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm; the second is the same cruise in reverse, departing Stockholm on July 29. Fares are US$2,650 a person, twin-share. Bookings: (02) 255 0899, toll-free 1800 251 174.

CARGO CLASS

IF YOU like the idea of cruising but don't relish the crowds, how about a cruise on a cargo ship? Blue Star Line has added comfortable passenger facilities to its freighter services and is offering cruises from Sydney to New Zealand, the Pacific, United States and Panama Canal. An eight-night passage from Sydney to Wellington costs $1,350 a person (twin-share) while a 49-day round-trip to the US West Coast costs $6,319. Full details, Freighter Travel, (02) 262 6422.

WILD AND FREE

EXPLORE the scenic wonders of the Pacific Northwest, the breathtaking coastal waterways between Seattle and Vancouver, with Pacific Northwest Discovery Cruises. The vessels hold only 49 people and can cruise the inner islands and inlets which larger ships can't reach. Seven-night cruises cost from $965 a person (twin-share) on the Wilderness Explorer and from $1,382 on the Executive Explorer, including all meals and activities. Bookings, toll-free 1800 650 075, or (03) 9670 5966.

SAIL AND SAVE

CRUISE the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands and save $265 off the normal fare for departures in May and June. Roylen Cruises is offering four-night passages from Mackay for just $795 a person (twin-share), including all meals, and you can combine the cruise with an island holiday. Details and bookings, toll-free 1800 075 032.

SHINING STARS

SET SAIL on the magnificent tallship, Star Clipper, which departs from Barbados in the Caribbean every Saturday of the year for seven-night cruises in the Grenadines and Antilles. Her sister tallship, Star Flyer, will cruise the Mediterranean between now and July, Greece and Turkey from August to October, and from Phuket and Singapore from November to March next year. Fares cost from US$1,095 a person, twin-share for seven nights. Bookings, (02) 281 9543.

© 1996 Sydney Morning Herald

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