The themed cruises on offer include a seven-night Boutique Gin and Culinary Cruise, a five-night Military History Cruise, and a one-night in-port Fringe World event to take place aboard the newest ship to join the CMV fleet, Vasco da Gama.
“We’re always looking to add value for our guests so we’re excited to be introducing two concepts that we consider a first in cruising,” says Dean Brazier, Managing Director of Cruise & Maritime Voyages Australia.
“Themed cruises in Australia to this scale are a first for us, and we are eager to offer these distinctive cruises on board Vasco da Gama, during her first Australian season.”
Vasco da Gama is a mid-sized ship with room on board for 1,220 guests.
Fringe on the Water
To utilise the sensational entertainment venues available on board Vasco da Gama, and to introduce CMV to a local audience who may not be regular cruisers, the ship will host an in-port festival of the Fringe entertainment in Fremantle.
The exhilarating Fringe performances dreamed up by Fringe World on Saturday 1 February 2020 will include:
- a Fringe World headline act in the main theatre;
- roving performers in the bars and lounges;
- live music and DJs into the early hours; and
- overnight accommodation, breakfast and dinner on board Vasco da Gama.
The exciting headline act will be announced this October, with the release of the Fringe World program.
Boutique Gin and Culinary Cruise
Another of the themed cruises sure to entice guests is the world-first Boutique Gin and Culinary Cruise, which will cruise from Adelaide to Fremantle and will feature delectable experiences designed to showcase the very best local produce from South Australia and Western Australia.
The summer cruise will include:
- cooking demonstrations with Callum Hann (MasterChef runner-up 2010) and Themis Chryssidis from Sprout Cooking School;
- fascinating lectures from gin experts and master distillers at Giniversity and Adelaide Gin;
- optional hosted gin tastings with Giniversity and Adelaide Gin*;
- optional culinary shore excursions*; and
- optional hosted dinners with Callum Hann and Themis Chryssidis*.
The gins available on board will primarily be traditional London dry styles, brought to life with native Australian botanicals. This provides a fitting connection to CMV, as the cruise line offers a traditional British style of cruising, sailing to a range of exciting Australian ports.
Gin has increased in popularity in Australia recently, paving the way for the world-first gin-themed cruise to emerge. Five years ago, there were less than ten gin distilleries in the country but that’s now increased to over 100, thanks to rising demand (ABC News, 2019).
In addition to showcasing some of the best boutique spirits in Australia from Australian Distilling Co and Great Southern Distilling Co, the gin cruise will champion locally sourced produce from Western Australia and South Australia, as showcased by guest chefs Callum Hann and Themis Chryssidis.
Military History Cruise
The Sydney to Adelaide Military History Cruise will be a distinctive voyage of heritage and history, with on-board events programmed around Australia’s involvement in past conflicts and the little-known story of how close they were to arriving on our shores. The cruise will also offer shore excursions focussed on visits to historic monuments and memorials in Melbourne, as well as:
- fascinating lectures from ex-military personnel about war and military conflicts along Australia’s southern coast;
- research workshops with the Virtual War Memorial Australia;
- war and military-themed trivia and films; and
- get-togethers with former service personnel to share stories.
Hosts on board the ship will include: Stephen Larkins (OAM), former army major, Order of Australia Medal recipient and Ambassador for the Virtual War Memorial; Alistair Capp, retired lieutenant colonel in the Australian Army Reserve and former commanding officer of Melbourne University Regiment; and Ron Lyons, retired lieutenant colonel from the Australian Army Reserve and respected military historian.
Cruise & Maritime Voyages is currently celebrating its tenth year of operations and continues to evolve within the Australian market, offering a range of enticing domestic itineraries on board Vasco da Gama that encourage Australians to explore their own backyard.
Vasco da Gama offers a great opportunity to ‘go it alone’ with 40 cabins for solo travellers, passenger meet-ups and a ship full of charming guests and friendly staff. The themed cruises provide the opportunity to meet up with like-minded travellers, and guests often make friends for life while on board.
“We look forward to welcoming our guests onto Vasco da Gama for the first time when she arrives in Australia this December,” says Dean Brazier.
“This season we are eager to welcome gin lovers, foodies, history buffs and arts fiends – some of whom might be enjoying cruising for the first time – on board our ship to experience these uniquely themed cruises.”
V002 Sydney to Adelaide
Military History Cruise
1st December 2019, 5 nights
V009 Adelaide to Fremantle
Boutique Gin and Culinary Cruise
6th Jan 2020, 7 nights
V013 Fremantle
Fringe on the Water
1st Feb 2020, 1 night
For bookings or enquiries visit cmvaustralia.com or contact your local travel agent.
*Supplementary charges may apply
Spokespeople
Western Australian Tourism Minister:
"Not only does Perth offer visitors picturesque beaches and fantastic weather, our city has undergone a transformation and is home to vibrant nightlife, an array of bar, restaurant and hotel options and a variety of events including the Fringe World Festival,” says Western Australian Tourism Minister, Paul Papalia.
“I’m very pleased FRINGE WORLD has partnered with CMV Australia to present the wonderfully unique Fringe on the Water, a one-night-only Fringe performance on board the spectacular Vasco da Gama when it’s home ported in Fremantle early next year. It’s the first time a Fringe show will be featured on board a cruise ship.”
"Hosting events is an important part of the State Government's strategy to grow visitor numbers to Western Australia, which boosts the economy and creates jobs,” concludes Mr Papalia.
Sprout Cooking School:
“South Australia and Western Australia are fast emerging as two premium destinations for food lovers around the world,” says Themis Chryssidis of Sprout Cooking School.
“Everyone knows that SA started the ‘ginolution’ and is the unofficial gin capital of Australia. We can’t wait to showcase our amazing array of juniper infused spirits to our WA friends and see how their favourite gin labels stack up against our SA greats.
“This is going to be a fun, entertaining foodie experience and we are excited to be a part of it,” concludes Mr Chryssidis.
Australian Distilling Co:
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Cruise & Maritime Voyages for this world-first gin-themed cruise,” says Michael Hickinbotham, founder of Australian Distilling Co.
“Since we launched Adelaide Gin in March, we’ve seen a fantastic response from South Australians who love the floral nature of the gin and the lovely notes of Kangaroo Island lavender. We look forward to showcasing our award-winning gin to those on board Vasco da Gama and allowing them to taste the beautiful and unique spirit of Adelaide,” concludes Mr Hickinbotham.
Great Southern Distilling Co:
“We are looking forward to being part of a world-first cruise itinerary and are excited to showcase our gin to travellers from South Australia and Western Australia,” said Founder and Head Distiller of Great Southern Distilling Co, Cameron Syme.
“Our gin is made in the biodiversity hotspot of Margaret River, South Western Australia, using the finest ingredients, and this means we can capture the essence of this amazing area in our gins.
“Just like with our whisky, we make the most of what the Margaret River region has to offer and when it comes to producing truly World Class Gin, we’ve been using local native botanicals in our Gin for 15 years,” concludes Mr Symes.
Stephen Larkins (OAM), former army major, Order of Australia Medal recipient and Ambassador for the Virtual War Memorial:
“Australians are a very well-travelled demographic compared to our counterparts elsewhere, but the fact is we are often less familiar with our own backyard than with some other parts of the world,” says Mr Larkins.
“Our southern coastline is a case in point. The South East coastline is most often associated with the arrival of the first settlers from the United Kingdom on what was often a high-risk voyage in the days of sail. Many a ship and its human cargo falling foul of wild weather and uncharted waters as close as Sydney Heads and the ill-fated 'Dunbar'.
“Less well-known is the importance of our southern shores in both world wars. War came to Australia in both global conflicts, and it was definitely ‘Closer than You Think’. The security of our island home has been dependant on its isolation and is the primary reason our indigenous population had remained largely undisturbed for 50,000 years. But as our by line, ‘Closer than You Think’ indicates, distance has afforded much less protection in more modern times.
“The French and the Russians cruised around our coast in the 19th Century, but things got much more serious in the 20th with the outbreak of war and the advent of steam powered warships, submarines and aircraft. While most people would be aware of the threat to our north, few would realise the scale of enemy operations off our southern shores. Much of it was censored at the time.
“Ron, Alistair and I look forward to sharing our knowledge of these events in a manner that is both informative and entertaining,” concludes Mr Larkins.
About Cruise & Maritime Voyages
Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) is one of Australia’s leading independent cruise lines, offering a traditional, boutique cruise experience and exceptional value. This year, the company celebrates ten years of global operations. Over the past decade, the cruise line has become known for its relaxed, convivial ambience, exacting standards, and high levels of attentive personal service aboard each of its small to mid-sized ships, reflected by a customer satisfaction rating of 95 per cent.
Nosing into smaller harbours off-limits to many others, CMV offers a range of exciting itineraries around Australia out of Adelaide and Fremantle, as well as through Asia, Africa, South America, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe, visiting Iceland, Greenland, the Baltics, Norwegian Fjords, Northern Lights, British Isles and more.
Cruise & Maritime Voyages is well positioned to look after both couples and solo travellers, with a number of dedicated solo cabins on board its ships. The cruise line visits over 250 destinations worldwide, with its global fleet comprised of Vasco da Gama, Columbus, Magellan, Marco Polo and Astoria, while Astor currently sails exclusively for CMV’s German cruise line, Transocean Kreuzfahrten.
About Vasco da Gama
The newest addition to CMV’s fleet, Vasco da Gama will celebrate her inaugural Australasian season this year, coinciding with CMV’s ten-year anniversary. Homeporting in Adelaide and Fremantle, and also cruising from London (Tilbury), Auckland, Sydney and Singapore, the arrival of the 1,220 guest Vasco da Gamamarks CMV’s largest Australasian deployment yet.
Vasco da Gama offers two gorgeous pools, the state-of-the-art Jade Wellness Centre and Spa, a two-tiered theatre, five inviting bars and lounges, as well as a range of accommodation options, including 40 spacious solo traveller cabins. Six dining venues feature cuisine from around the world and the ‘Chef’s Table’ provides a degustation menu plus an insight into the workings of the galley.
Vasco da Gama will arrive in Australia on 1st of December 2019, when she sails into Sydney. Many frequent cruisers may recognise the ship, as she previously sailed in Australia as Pacific Eden.
For further information contact:
Liberty Petersen P: +61 479 127 011
E: liberty@callierosecommunications.com
For further information contact:
Liberty Petersen P: +61 479 127 011
E: liberty@callierosecommunications.com
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