cruiseblogjohnpond.com – Cruise, Travel & Lifestyle

P&O Cruises has made Australian history, with the cruise line’s first female captain sailing into Sydney Harbour at the helm of Pacific Pearl.

Captain Sarah Breton joins four other female senior officers on P&O Cruises’ latest superliner – the biggest group of female senior officers on any cruise ship in the region. The other officers include Hotel Director Jane Herron, Cruise Director Zoltina-J Medwick Daley and Administration, Revenue Director Martina Damonte and Executive Housekeeper Mari Schoon – signaling changing times for women in shipping.

Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, said the cruise line was proud to welcome Captain Breton to Australia at the helm of Pacific Pearl. 

“We are thrilled to finally have a female Captain in charge of one of our great Australian ships and believe that Captain Breton is a fantastic role model for girls who dream of a career on the high seas,” Ms Sherry said.  “P&O Cruises is really proud to be leading the way by bring the first female captain to the region at the head of a team which boasts four other female senior officers.

“She is an outstanding officer and one of only three female captains on major ships anywhere in the world,” Ms Sherry added.

Sarah, now 45, has served on board the former Royal Princess, Sky Princess, Canberra, Pacific Princess, Grand Princess and Star Princess as third officer, second officer, navigator, first officer and safety officer. She was first promoted to staff captain in 2001 on the original Pacific Princess and then went on to serve onboard Coral Princess, Tahitian Princess, the new Pacific Princess, Artemis and most recently Ocean Village.  John Pond  PHOTO:  Captain Sarah Breton with Ann Sherry CEO Carnival Australia

I am a big fan of Four Seasons Hotels and when I received a BLOG from their Beverly Hills Hotel, mostly about food, I had to pass it on.

Charles Hawkins, Chef Concierge at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, has gathered the savviest sightseeing suggestions he could find—his own plus those of other local connoisseurs, including some he works with every day at the Hotel. His picks for the best of Beverly Hills include the hippest boutiques and the hottest tables in town.

Foodies Delight:  Adventurous diners should track down some of the city’s famed gourmet food trucks such as Kogi, for Korean tacos, or Coolhaus, for architecturally inspired ice cream sandwiches. For a more avant-garde experience, dine at The Bazaar by José Andrés, which offers a creative, multi-course Spanish menu. Beverly Wilshire’s The Blvd serves contemporary California cuisine in an elegant, Art Deco-inspired space.

Chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo of Animal have a new seafood-focused spot called Son of a Gun that’s a great alternative to the usual sushi. Also nearby and serving small plates is Suzanne Goin’s A.O.C., a wine bar and restaurant that serves a tasty weekend brunch.

After Dark:  The Sayers Club is the latest hot spot from the folks behind legendary venues such as The Colony and Hyde Lounge. With less glitz than its predecessors, the club is great for live music and low-key hanging out. For bowling with celebrities, there’s The Spare Room in the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Another venue for live music and comedy is Largo at the Coronet (previous performers include Zach Galifianakis and Sarah Silverman).

JP: I love LA and when I lived there I used to hang out in BH. So much great shopping and food.  John Pond.

Orion Kimberleys Day 9  Raft Point / Montgomery Reef.  Up early this morning and after a breakfast of fresh orange juice, fruit, bacon and eggs, pancakes and maple syrup went to view the outdoor aboriginal art of the mythical Wandjina tribe at Raft Point.  Later in the day we repositioned to be closer to Montgomery Reef, where the arrival was timed to meet the falling tide, the reef appears as the tide drops and the water cascades over the top.  Zodiacs, as usual, were working very hard to get us up close.  Saw several sun baking crocodiles and sea-snakes along with lots of birdlife.

This evening the mainly Filipino crew wowed us with their many talents at  a performance in the Leda Lounge.

Orion Kimberleys Day 10  Yampi Sound.  Some went for a swim in the crystal clear fresh water of Crocodile Creek.  Later there was a most popular Bridge inspection with Captain Andrey Domanin.   During the afternoon whales had been sighted and everyone naturally rushed to the rails to see them.

Later in the day there was a presentation from the Expedition Team that included montages of many of the photos taken over the entire voyage.  All were given a DVD of the photos as a souvenir of the trip.

Last Day: Unfortunately our last day had arrived.  After breakfast we disembarked after lots of goodbyes. We decided to stay in Broome for a few days before heading home and discovered many fellow passengers had the same idea.

What a great cruise, the Kimberley region has so much to offer.  All the crew were sensational and helped all those who needed assistance.  No doubt about it – Orion is luxury cruising at its best.

Words and Pictures John Pond.

Emirates, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, announced  that the historic capital city of Rome will be the next destination slated for its flagship A380 aircraft. The announcement of Emirates’ first permanent scheduled A380 service to Italy comes on the back of its momentous June 6th landing at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport to mark the celebrations for its 50th anniversary, while commemorating 150 years of Italian unification.

The new A380 service will enable travellers to enjoy the unparalleled on-board amenities in all classes and the great connectivity of our network via the Dubai hub,” said Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe & Russian Federation. “We would like to express our gratitude to the airport authorities who have strategically upgraded their infrastructure to accommodate the A380.

Rome is currently served twice daily by Emirates. Coupled with a double daily service to Milan and a daily flight to Venice, the 35 weekly frequencies contribute to a US$ 4.6 billion trade relationship between Italy and the UAE.

The A380 service will operate daily as EK 97, departing Dubai at 0910hrs (local time) and arriving at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport at 1235hrs (local). The return flight, EK 98, departs Rome at 1435hrs (local) and arrives in Dubai at 2305hrs (local). The arrival time of the A380 in Dubai will allow passengers from Italy to connect to its extensive network of destinations in the Far East.

Emirates is a favourite airline of mine and I look forward to flying on one of their great planes to Madrid shortly.  John Pond.

I must admit I am an avid MasterChef viewer.  One episode featured French Executive Chef Vincent Gadan, of Patisse, making several incredible pastries.  One in particular caught my eye.  It was a chocolate tart with a caramel base, made from the world’s most expensive chocolate and topped with a small piece of pure gold leaf.

I had to have one.

So I turned off my computer and Sandra and I headed off to their patisserie situated in the PYD Building at 197 Young Street, Waterloo, that is fast becoming Sydney’s funky spot to see and be seen.  There are many designer homeware and furniture shops as well as restaurants, coffee shops and gourmet food suppliers.

After buying three cakes we noticed their blackboard menu featuring light meals, too tempting to resist.  We ordered two Wagyu Ragout Pies served with salad greens and naturally coffee.

Our charming waitress, Ingrid, looked after us very well.  The Manager, Bill Shirley, even came out for a chat.

All in all it was a great experience and we can’t wait to go back again next week to replenish our cake supply. JOHN POND.     http://www.patisse.com.au/

Many industry faithful braved the pouring rain and headed to Pyrmont’s scenic Doltone House for a jam-packed event of entertainment, hosted by South African Tourism, to launch their latest global campaign platform – Leave Ordinary Behind.

Attended by South African sporting stars, the Springboks prior to their match up with the Wallabies the Tri-Nations series, guests were also serenaded by the Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir and internationally acclaimed South African siblings, The Bala Brothers.

Taking guests on an up close and personal journey to South Africa was the aim of the evening with Country Manager, Lalie Ngozi, giving guests a taste of the new global campaign that hopes to entice travellers from across the globe to South African shores.

“We are asking Australians to leave their ordinary behind, to stop thinking about a trip to South Africa ‘one day’ and make it happen now. Our adventure, cultural, culinary and holiday experiences are like no other in the world and we are ready to host travellers on an unforgettable journey,” said Ms Ngozi.

The Leave Ordinary Behind campaign includes a variety of communications platforms, from cinema, print and digital advertising and public relations activity through to a targeted activation during the 2011 Rugby World Cup that highlights South Africa as the ultimate destination to consider for your next holiday.

Guests at the event also enjoyed South African cuisine, and were taken on a journey through the various products and destination experiences on offer within South Africa – including the Western Cape’s Winelands. One lucky attendee also took home the ultimate prize, a 10 night Leave Ordinary Behind trip for two to South Africa courtesy of South African Tourism and South African Airways.   www.southafrica.net, check out the South Africa blog http://blog.southafricantourism.com.au/

MEDIA PERSONALITY TIM WEBSTER TO HOST CHINA TOUR.  Radio and TV personality Tim Webster is to host an exclusive 14-day group tour of China through leading specialist Helen Wong’s Tours.

Tim is a workmate from my days in television, I feel sure that he will make a great host.

The popular presenter from Sydney radio 2UE and Network Ten’s news will host a group tour which begins with a flight from Sydney to Beijing and includes such fascinating highlights as Xian’s archaeological find, the Army or Terracotta Warriors, and a three-night leisurely cruise of the Yangtze River.

The tour – from October 11, 2011 – will culminate with a three-night visit of bustling Shanghai with time for last minute bargain shopping before returning home.

A climb of the Great Wall, a rickshaw ride through Beijing’s historic “hutongs” (back alley residences), an evening of dining on succulent Peking duck, and a ride of the world’s fast train, the Maglev, are among the many other highlights.

“My wife and I have always wanted to go to China and now we have the chance to go with the listeners,” said Tim. “The Terracotta Warriors, the Great Wall, a cruise of the Yangtze – it’s sure to be a wonderful experience.”

Priced from $4970 per person, twin share, the two-week Helen Wong’s Tours Explore China experience includes return economy class air fare from Sydney and domestic air travel in China.

Nine nights will be spent in four to five star hotels, three nights on board the five-star Victoria Cruises ship. Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner are also included along with three evening cultural shows with transfers to and from the hotel, and sightseeing and entrance fees where specified.

The assistance of English-speaking guides, a China visa for Australian passport holders and a travel kit including a 424-page Odyssey China book and cabin bag are other inclusions as well as departure taxes, security charges and fuel surcharges (subject to change) and gratuities for the national guide and local guides.   John Pond.

Details: Helen Wong’s Tours on 1300 788328, (02) 8267 7288 or (02) 92677833, or check out the website www.helenwongstours.com

Australians can now enjoy a taste of cruising in their own home, with P&O Cruises producing its first ever cookbook – aptly named holidays.

Featuring more than 60 delicious recipes from the Australian cruise line’s culinary team, the cookbook is a celebration of the transformation of P&O Cruises’ food and wine offering.

Following a massive overhaul three years ago, the cruise line’s fleet now features a contemporary menu specifically designed for the Australian palate and built around Australian and New Zealand produce and local wines.

The emphasis on freshness and flavour is evident throughout holidays, with recipes ranging from macadamia nut pancakes with mango and maple syrup to wagyu burgers and spatchcock with eggplant salad.

Desserts are also offered– from amaretti baked peaches to apple tarte tatin  – alongside cocktail and canapé options such as lychee mojitos and mustard and sesame seared tuna loin with wasabi.

P&O Cruises Corporate Executive Chef Uwe Stiefel said the holidays collection featured the cruise line’s signature dishes and passenger favourites it  is priced at $40 and is available onboard P&O Cruises’ ships.   John pond, Editor at Sea.

Day 7  Mitchell Falls. What a memorable day.  Although I had been on helicopters before, I was still mildly excited at the thought of flying over Mitchell Falls.  Mitchell River National Park is one of the Kimberleys’ two newest parks and is teeming with wildlife.  We saw several crocodiles lazing on the side of the river.  Lots of bird life too, but I didn’t bring my long lens.

When we boarded the helicopter we were given headphones that enabled us to communicate with each other.   I got lots of great photos as the helicopter had no doors which made me check my safety harness several times.  After landing at the top of the falls we went for a short hike, though quite rocky, I managed well.  Some went for a swim in one of the many rock pools.  In the afternoon the Zodiac expeditions went through the mangroves of the Hunter River and its tributaries.

Orion Kimberleys Day 8 Talbot Bay.  The site of the famous Horizontal Waterfalls which were created by the rapid tides on the ocean side entering gaps in the sandstone cliffs.  Water cannot escape fast enough, creating the horizontal waterfall with waters shooting sideways.  So exciting, the Zodiacs spinning around due to the swirling waters.

This afternoon a galley tour which I always love doing on any ship.  As happens every evening before dinner, our expedition team show photos of the day’s events as well as brief us on events for the next day.  Always a jam packed event.  JOHN POND.

Cruise food: APT’s mid-stream Mekong ice cream station.  On the Mekong Delta in Vietnam!  Passengers on APT’s eight-day Mekong River cruises between Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Siem Reap will find Australian Bulla’s Neapolitan ice cream sitting alongside Vietnam’s Vinamilk chocolate, coconut, vanilla, green bean, taro and durian varieties at a sundeck ice cream tasting on board the luxury La Marguerite, the most stylish cruise ship on the Mekong.

Condiments like shredded ginger, dried plum, local cherry, cashew nut, peanut with milk and rich sauces of orange, blackberry and chocolate can be added to cocktail-glass serves of the Neapolitan and the local ice creams. OH BOY.

This makes for an all-round Aussie-Viet taste sensation on the Mekong Delta!

APT has just started its July-April season in Vietnam and Cambodia.

The 12-day Ho Chi Minh, Mekong and Angkor package for example is priced from $4195 per person, twin share which includes the ice cream tasting of course.

I am off on this cruise very soon and LOVE ice cream, so cant wait.  Will write lots more about it on my return.

PHOTO: Sandra Tiltman (associate editor) getting some ice cream practice before cruise.

Orion Kimberleys Day 6  Vansittart Bay.  Our first activity today, after a wet landing, though I rarely got wet feet, was to view the remains of a crashed American wartime DC-3.  A fifteen minute walk across a salt flat saw us at the wreckage.  

The American pilots ferrying two local phone operators from Perth neglected to take their navigator on board for the flight.  Bet they got into trouble for that.  They became lost and running low on fuel, crash landed, fortunately all on board survived. 

The aluminium bodied plane was in almost pristine condition, although many of the parts had been scavenged during the war, by a near by air base.

After lunch we boarded the Zodiacs which took us to Jar Island to view the Aboriginal Gwion Gwion rock paintings also known as Bradshaw Art. 

Orion Kimberleys Day 5  King George River.  After my usual breakfast of fruit and eggs Benedict with a side of bacon,  we arrived at Koolama Bay.  The energetic passengers took off for a tour and hike.   Other tours were offered for the less active, that’s us, without the hike.  We chose the afternoon option, giving us more time to enjoy the buffet lunch on the rear deck. 

As we skimmed the waters in our powerful tender on the King George River, we took many photographs of the amazing red cliffs, which change colour depending on the light.   I was worried that my camera might get wet but the Zodiacs proved to be very dry, no worry at all. 

Soon we were at the King George Falls, the highest single drop falls in the Kimberleys.  Around the next bend we came across another Orion Zodiac where Orion crew handed all on board a chilled glass of champagne, now that’s what I call adventure cruising.

Today, as on most days, fishing was also offered.   An optional helicopter flight for a bird’s eye view of the Falls was taken by many on board.

Afternoon tea, elegantly served in the Leda Lounge, was not to be missed, after which we joined our regular team for our daily dose of trivial pursuits.  

 Dinner in the Constellation Restaurant was followed by the evening’s entertainment, a game of “Name That Tune” which our team won and we were awarded an Orion lanyard to wear with pride.  This was followed by the nightly dancing.

Most get to bed reasonably early as there are so many activities each day.  No need for a midnight disco here!

MSC Launches 2012 Brochure. At a jam packed function attend by travel agents and media, held in MSC’s King Street Wharf office, Lynne Clarke, Managing Director of MSC Cruises (Australia) Pty Limited, announced their soon to be released brochure for 2012.

Lynne highlighted many of the new features to be found on their soon to be launched MSC Divina and her two existing sister ships, Fantasia and Splendida, in the same class.  Divina is due for May 26 launch, this will bring their cruise fleet to 12 ships.

MSC is the world’s leading cruise company in the Mediterranean, South African and Brazilian markets and operates across the globe.  More and more Australians are realising what great value and luxury these ships offer and their market share is increasing yearly.

Some of the special features Lynne & Carly Allen, MSC’s Business Development Executive, highlighted during the presentation were flexible boarding ports to access cruises, this means that passengers may now embark and disembark from a choice of ports visited during the cruise, giving a great deal of flexibility to cruisers.

Following requests by many Australians, MSC now provides free tea, coffee, water and ice, available 24 hours.

The Aurea suites being introduced in 2012  feature a range of additional benefits and are available for an extra $32 per person per night on a 7 night cruise as an upgrade from a standard balcony cabin.

Other features included 2 for the price of 1 for re-positioning ocean voyages, also there is now a Loyalty Program and once deposit is paid, fare prices are guaranteed, which is good news with our fluctuating dollar.  At the conclusion of the evening, a number of prizes were won.

PICTURES:  Lynne Clarke with Mike Smith, World Trade Travel.

MSC Splendida Yacht Club Suite

Orion Kimberleys Day 4  Wyndham  All on board were looking forward to the day’s events.  Wyndham is the northernmost town in Western Australia and is considered the gateway to the Kimberleys.  We docked at a large wharf where our coaches awaited.

There were several tour options today, some of them clashed, so Sandra and I went our separate ways.  Sandra chose the included flight over the Bungle Bungle Range and the huge Argyle diamond mine.   (I am sure glad that the plane didn’t land at the mine as I am sure Sandra would have liked some samples).  The six seater fixed wing plane allowed great views for all on board.  On the way to the airport we drove through the town of Kununurra.

I chose the full day tour on the purpose built high speed boat exploring the Ord River to Lake Argyle.  We stopped for a great lunch at a specially prepared picnic spot, food appeared out of nowhere.  There were large refrigerated boxes at the rear of our high speed boat full of good things to eat and drink, all enjoyed the fare.

Later we transferred to a coach that took us to the Durack Homestead.  The Duracks were pioneers of the area and their original homestead was flooded as part of the Ord River irrigation development.  Fortunately the homestead was removed stone by stone and re-assembled on higher ground.

A shuttle bus operated throughout the day from the ship to the Wyndham township.

In the evening a special Seafood Extravaganza was served on the aft deck, which included huge fish that had been caught that day by fellow passengers, you can’t get any fresher than that!   After dinner many stayed for dancing under the stars with music from Orion’s resident duo who entertained each evening.

For fuller details on each day go to:  www.orionexpeditions.com

Orion Kimberleys Days 2 and  3  - Jaco Island East Timor plus the next day at sea   Breakfast was served in the main dining room or on the aft deck which was where most passengers chose to eat, as we were fortunate enough to have sunny weather each day.  After eating eggs Benedict plus lots of fresh fruit and juice, we were on our way to Jaco Island, East Timor.  Australia, like many other countries, has this weird ruling that says foreign registered ships have to visit a foreign port during their cruise.  Well East Timor was ours.  We arrived as darkness was falling – but no one was home.  It must have been the officials’ dinner hour.  The Zodiacs were launched and after a couple of circuits of our ship were hauled back on to Orion and we were soon headed back to sea.

The next day was a sea day, no problems here, Sandra and I love sea days as it gives us a chance to explore the ship and meet fellow passengers.  Also more time for leisurely dining.

We enjoyed our first Enhancement Lecture that was held in the Cosmos Theatre entitled “Kimberley – The Great Rock & Roll Show”, given by a member of the expedition crew that was about Kimberley geology and early explorers.  There were other lectures throughout the cruise on a multitude of topics.

I love my TV, the in-house channel broadcast different movies, documentaries and news each day to our cabin, but we were so busy I rarely had the opportunity to view.

The next day we were to dock at Wyndham, the northernmost town in Western Australia, the gateway to the Kimberleys.

For fuller details on each day go to:  www.orionexpeditions.com

One careful driver is currently breathing a huge sigh of relief after completing the first stage of a 26 mile reverse park of a $750 million luxury cruise ship. Longer than three football pitches, the new ship has less than 1.5 metres of room to manoeuvre room in places. The challenging exercise, carried out under the direction of Captain Dimitrios Kafetzis, is necessary to move the new Celebrity Cruises ship, Celebrity Silhouette, from its inland ship yard in Papenburg, Germany to the open sea in Emshaven, Netherlands.

Celebrity Silhouette will take more than 12 hours to complete its first journey, the most complicated it is likely to encounter. The scale of the ship and the geography of the shipyard forces the Captain to steer the ship backwards out of the yard, assisted by tugboats fore and aft, and along the River Ems.

Celebrity Silhouette is the fourth Solstice-class ship from Celebrity Cruises, and boasts a number of exclusive new features, including the Lawn Club Grill – the cruise industry’s first outdoor interactive grill; The Hideaway – a high-tech tree house-like location for guests to relax inside; the Alcoves – private cabanas overlooking a real grass lawn on the top deck; and the Art Studio – a space where experienced and aspiring artists can participate in hands-on instruction from experts in drawing and painting. The ship will also feature designer boutiques, exclusive restaurants and an Apple dedicated internet café – the Celebrity iLounge – offering guests classes in using iPads and iPhones.

MSC Cruises’ prestigious onboard sanctuary, MSC Yacht Club, has been voted number one by those who count – the passengers. In the first-ever Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards, the exclusive club with the well-appointed suites and 24-hour butler service, won praise in the “best cabins” listing with a near perfect score of 4.9 out of 5. The private club is a cornerstone of success for MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia, each of their clubs boasting 71 luxury suites – all on the foredecks. “We are deeply honoured by this remarkable recognition that comes directly from our guests,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Chief Executive Officer of MSC Cruises. “It is a genuine testament to our MSC Yacht Club concept which makes it possible to combine a club-lounge cruise experience with all of the facilities of a large cruise ship.

It is truly the best of both worlds when travelling as a couple or a family.” His views were mirrored by Lynne Clarke, managing director of MSC Cruises (Australia and New Zealand) who said such an award was also achieved through the dedication of the crew as much as the privacy, luxury and design elements of the club. To be acknowledged in such a way by the passengers says a great deal about the overall quality of our product,” she said. MSC Yacht Club suites are “comfortable islands” in which a guest can relax in privacy and feel at home while taking in the views both at sea and in the vibrant ports. “A luxury home indeed, planned and studied with accuracy and great attention to detail and material selection, with pieces of art created on purpose to ornate the walls.” MSC Yacht Club boasts spacious suites which range in category from Deluxe, Executive and Family to Royal Suites.

www.msccruises.com.au

After a buffet breakfast at our Darwin hotel which included a do it yourself juice bar where you made your own juice from a range of fresh fruit and vegetables (something I had never seen anywhere before), we decided to explore the town.  Orion did not leave till late afternoon and our hotel was kind enough to give us a late checkout.  The Smith Street mall was alive with outdoor cafes and Sandra could not resist going into the elegant Paspaley Pearls shop where we received a very informative lesson on pearl grading.

The Darwin Cruise Ship Terminal, where Orion was berthed, was a short five minute cab ride from the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  We were relieved of our cases and after receiving our ship’s card, which as well as opening our cabin door served as a charge card, we were shown to our cabin.

French doors and heaps of hanging space and drawers were highlights of our very spacious cabin.  Sandra was delighted with the marble bathroom and the toiletries.
 We were soon summoned to the mandatory life boat drill on the aft deck, where we met some of our fellow passengers.  We were surprised to find that although we were
on an expedition cruise, most of the passengers were in the over 50 demographic.  Sailing out of Darwin Harbour we watched the sunset

and enjoyed a glass or two, or was it three, of champagne and canapés supplied by Orion.

Dinner was served at 7.30 pm, a little early for us, but the open seating meant one could arrive later.  There was only one seating each evening which could be taken in the main dining room, or on most nights, an outdoor deck option was offered.  The evening menu consisted of selections created by Serge Dansereau of Sydney’s famous Bathers Pavilion Restaurant, situated at beach side Balmoral.  An alternate choice menu was prepared by Orion’s Chef, under the direction of Hotel Manager, Ian Vella.  Both menus were excellent and most passengers made selections from each menu.  We enjoyed the open seating as it meant dining with “new friends” each evening.

After dinner each night there was entertainment in the Leda Lounge provided by a musical duo, although most went to bed early to get ready for the next day’s adventures. http://www.crowneplaza.com     http://www.orionexpeditions.com/

PHOTOS by John Pond: Crowne Plaza Hotel Darwin, Sandra boarding Orion, Key Card, Our Cabin.