Princess Cruises 'Cooks Up' New Tropical Cruises
Date: 27 Sep 2007
A superliner 200 times bigger than Captain Cook’s Endeavour will next year take passengers to the far north Queensland town named after him.
Princess Cruises’ luxury 77,000-ton Sun Princess – the largest liner ever based in Australia year-round – will visit the frontier port of Cooktown during two 12-night, round-trip voyages from Sydney on April 6 and September 27, 2008.
New discount earlybird fares on the two tropical Queensland cruises are available from A$1912 per person*.
In 1770, Captain Cook and his 70 crew spent 48 days in what is now Cooktown to repair his 368-ton sailing ship, Endeavour, which was damaged on the Great Barrier Reef at nearby Cape Tribulation, a headland Cook named when his ship scraped the reef.
While the 1950-pampered passengers aboard Sun Princess will spend just one day in Cooktown during their Queensland cruise, they will be able to see Endeavour’s cannon and anchor at the town’s James Cook Museum, cruise up the Endeavour River named by Cook, visit Aboriginal rock art, fish for the area’s legendary marlin and barramundi, or sail to coral reefs along a rainforest-clad coastline that has changed little since Cook’s visit 237 years ago.
The 12-night cruises will also feature visits to the Whitsundays, Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsville and Brisbane with a sail past the Coral Sea bird sanctuary of Willis Island.
Princess Cruises is also offering discount earlybird fares on another 12-night cruise aboard Sun Princess to Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia sailing from Sydney on October 9, 2008.
A highlight of this voyage will be a call at Fiji’s beautiful and remote Dravuni Island – home to travel-brochure beaches, palm-fringed coral lagoons and 200 natives keen to welcome passengers ashore. The cruise will also see Sun Princess visit the Fijian capital of Suva, Lifou and Isle of Pines in New Caledonia and Vila in Vanuatu.
Based permanently in Australia from November 2007 and offering a premium cruise experience, Sun Princess boasts more than 400 balcony cabins, a grand four-storey atrium, eight restaurants and cafes, three pools, five whirlpool spas, seven lounges and bars, ocean-view gym, teak-line wrap-around promenade deck, library, spa sanctuary, internet centre and a golf simulator. The ship also offers an onboard currency in Australian dollars.
Sun Princess’ 12-night cruises to north Queensland on April 6, 2008, is available from A$1912* per person, with balcony cabins available from A$3219* per person. The departure on September 27, 2008, is available from A$2103* per person. The 12-night cruise to Fiji sailing on October 9, 2008, is available from $2103* per person. Fares include all main meals and entertainment onboard. See a travel agent, call Princess Cruises on 13 24 88 or visit www.sunprincess.com.au.
* Fares are based on twin share accommodation and conditions apply. Subject to availability.
