In one of the last functions for 2011, Sandra and I were invited to spend a couple of hours on this expedition type boat.  The invited guests consisted of travel trade press, some travel agents and their invited VIP guests.  

On boarding we were given two drink vouchers (I thought a bit chintzy) and asked to remove our footwear.  

Some of  the cabins I inspected spacious and comfortable but there was not a lot of outside deck area and I feel this would be taken over by smokers on board.

This boat sails around Australia but concentrates mainly on the Kimbetrley region.  Its size enables it to cruise up the many rivers in the area.  It has a helipad and several motorised runabouts for even closer inspections.

Interesting guests includedf Joost Heymeijer, General Manager of Wolgan Valley Resport & Spa, possibly Australia’s most upmarket resort.

The crew were young and attentive but did not know the difference between sparkling wine and champagne.  This boat  falls short of what I would call luxury, but it would not take much to bring it up to a better standard.

PHOTO: Sandra Tiltman

(Travel Writer) with

Joost Heymeijer GM Wolgan Valley Resort

Helen Wong Celebrations: Helen Wong this week had cause for celebration on several fronts with the opening of her new lounge at her Bathurst Street Sydney office headquarters, where Sandra and I enjoyed drinks and canapes with industry partners and media.

Helen also launched her new China and Vietnam brochures which include many new tours throughout the region.

Special family friendly tours have now been included plus optional independent tours that include private guide and driver, their premium China Program is designed for guests wanting luxury and a bit of pampering.

2012 will see Helen Wong’s Tours celebrate 25 years.  Helen said “We look forward to our Silvery Anniversary as a precious milestone as we journey through 2012 and 2013″.

Helen, a legend in the Asian travel industry, mingled with guests and even managed a few words, though suffering a severe case of laryngitis, a true professional.

www.johnpond.com  VISIT:

Celebrity Solstice will arrive in Australia in exactly 12 months to rival the beauty of her new home port – Sydney. From a real half acre lawn on board the ship to the region’s first glass blowing studio at sea, the glamorous newcomer will offer the most sophisticated facilities this region’s waters has ever seen.  To celebrate the countdown to her arrival, Celebrity Cruises Australia has a very special onboard credit offer of up to US$350 per cabin.

Launched three years ago in late 2008, the 2,850-passenger Celebrity Solstice will be the newest and most stylish superliner ever to be based in Australia and New Zealand.  Guests will be able to walk on real grass in the elegant Lawn Club on top deck of the ship.  AquaClass suites feature spa-related extras and complimentary access to the health-focused specialty restaurant “Blu”. Celebrity Solstice has a Glass Blowing Studio which has live glass-blowing shows by the renowned Corning Museum of Glass. With 85 per cent of the cabins with their own private balcony, Celebrity Solstice has the highest balcony ratio of any superliner in the world.     JP: Can’t wait to sail on her.

It’s been an amazing 12 months for both Hawaiian Airlines and Hawaii as a destination, with visitor numbers to the Hawaiian islands booming thanks to a combination of the strong Australian dollar and sensational value-for-money deals on packages.

Now, with awareness of and demand for Hawaii at an all time high, Hawaiian Airlines is taking the exciting step of introducing daily flights from Australia, year round!  PLUS they are introducing new services from a range of destinations, and acquiring new aircraft to meet the demand.

“We couldn’t be happier with the way our business has gone this year – but we couldn’t have succeeded without Australian passenger  support”. said  Sherilyn Robinson Hawaiian Airlines General Manager, Sales and Marketing Australia.

JP: I have flown on this airline to Hawaii and find them great with sensible pricing. They also continue on to US mainland destinations.

I always have my eyes open for deals relating to single supplements.  Here is a great one  from Avalon Waterways.   They have waived the single supplements on select cruises and launched a new range of fly-cruise specials for some of its most popular European river cruises.

On sale until March 31, 2011, or until sold out, the deals include:

Singles save up to $3520* per person – single supplements have been waived on select departures between March and June 2012, offering a choice of 10 different itineraries. Single prices start from $1259* per person for the 4/5-day Taste of the Danube cruise between Vienna and Budapest.

Fly-Cruise savings of up to $2000* per couple – book select departures between March and June 2012 with an airfare package and save between $800 and $2000 per couple.  Ten itineraries are available, priced from $859* per person twin share for the 4/5-day Taste of the Danube cruise (plus airfare from $2060* per person from Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane, $2100* from Adelaide or $2020* from Perth).

Cruises on offer include some of Avalon’s most popular itineraries on the Rhine, Danube, Rhône and Seine rivers, ranging from four to 15 days.

Flights are available on Avalon’s partner airlines Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Etihad Airways.  *Offers are subject to availability and conditions.

I wish all my readers the most HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON.

May 2012 bring Health, Wealth and Happiness.

Sandra and John.

Went to a function last week organised by Robert Woodgate’s Familclub, an excellent organisation that introduces meeting and event planners to different venues.  The  Sydney Marriott Hotel suffers from an identity problem, firstly on their website it is called the Sydney Marriott then a little further down the page it is called the Marriott Sydney.  There is also The Sydney Harbour Marriott which really confuses taxi drivers and just about everyone else.

The function was hosted by two of the hotel’s sales team.  Things certainly have changed  since I was a Sales Manager of  a major hotel many years ago.  They didn’t work the group, mainly talking amongst themselves and when approached, had to be asked for business cards, which one of them had run out of.  No sales kits were available.  OH WELL

After a hotel inspection, which showed us the recently renovated rooms which were impressive, I left with a feeling that this hotel offered excellent accommodation, good value with most rooms offering Park & East Sydney views.  Rates were from about $245.  My rating 4 out of 5.

MSC were hosts to trade press this week for festive season drinks and to celebrate the “Float Out” of thir latest cruise ship “DIVINA”.

“We are truly looking forward to the much-anticipated launch and naming of the MSC Divina, the 12^th valued member of our fleet,” said Lynne Clarke, managing director of MSC Cruises Australia and New Zealand.

The latest addition to the MSC Cruises ever-expanding fleet – MSC Divina – will boast a mythological Greek influence when it is launched in France in May, 2012.

John Pond BLOG. AMTRAK ENGINEERS TEST ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE MOCK-UP AT SIEMENS PLANT IN SACRAMENTO  Project on target for 2013 delivery date.  PHOTO: “Interior cab mock-up of new Amtrak electric locomotives at Siemens Sacramento based manufacturing facility.”

 Amtrak awarded Siemens a six-year – US$466 million contract to build 70 electric locomotives to operate on the US Northeast Corridor.The first Amtrak Cities Sprinter ACS-64 electric locomotive is scheduled for delivery in 2013 and will operate at speeds up to 125 mph (201 kph) from Washington, D.C. to Boston and up to 110 mph (177 kph) on the Keystone Corridor from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, Pa. They will replace locomotives in service between 20 and 30 years.

About Amtrak®:  Celebrating 40 years of dedicated service as America’s Railroad, Amtrak is the nation’s intercity passenger rail provider and its only high-speed rail operator.  A record 28.7 million passengers travelled on Amtrak in FY 2011 on more than 300 daily trains – at speeds up to 150 mph (241 kph) – that connect 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian Provinces.  Amtrak operates trains in partnership with 15 states and four commuter rail agencies.  Amtrak also is a strong financial performer achieving an 85 percent cost-recovery ratio in FY 2010 Visit Amtrak.com or your local contact at momentotravel.com.au or call 1 300 300 713 for schedules, fares and more information.   JP:  High speed trains are the way to go. When overseas, I use them as much as possible, they are often faster than planes when you take into account traveling times to airports and the added bonus of scenery.

John Pond BLOG.  HONOLULU, Aston at Papakea Resort invites guests to make the most of their Maui vacation, without even leaving the property. The picturesque, oceanfront condominium property is a perfect playground – offering a wide variety of activities and amenities for kids and adults who simply need a break from sightseeing.

Meet new friends at the putting green and simply say, “Putt-er There” at the property’s Sunday Putting Tournament. Channel your inner Jack Nicklaus, pick up a putter and compete with other guests for prizes and the satisfaction of a hole-in-one.

Drop by the Lanai pool on Mondays or Fridays and participate in the high-intensity, low-impact Swimmercize class.  Match up with other guests at the resort’s round robin tournament on Tuesdays. Lose yourself in the roar of the crowd (aka family and friends), imagine you’re playing match point at Wimbledon and bring that trophy home. Top performers win great prizes and, of course, bragging rights.

Start off Wednesday morning at the Molokai pool with Yogilates. No, not a fancy coffee drink. This fusion of yoga and Pilates will surely challenge both your body and mind. The main challenge – maintaining focus as the eye wanders to the beautiful backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and the neighbour island of Molokai.

Dine next door at The Beach Club restaurant and lounge and have the bill charged back to your room. The Beach Club is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinners of American and Island cuisine. No charge for the breathtaking ocean view.

Gathering the family and new-found friends is easy at Aston at Papakea Resort. Two spacious poolside cabanas, each able to accommodate up to 35 people, can be rented through the front desk. It’s perfect for family parties, receptions, or a sunset barbecue.

JP: I have stayed at Aston Hotel in Hawaii and can highly recommend them.

About Aston Hotels & Resorts  Aston Hotels & Resorts operates a diverse range of condominium resorts and hotels with accommodations from hotel rooms and condominium suites, to villas and cottages that suit any lifestyle, taste or budget. Based in Honolulu, the company manages more than 4,500 units in over 27 properties on the four major Hawaiian Islands, South Lake Tahoe, California, Sun Valley, Idaho and Lake Las Vegas, Nevada.    Visit www.momentotravel.com.au

Celebrity Century sailed into Australian waters for the first time last week, marking modern luxury cruise line Celebrity Cruises’ return to Australia after a three-year hiatus. According to industry bible The Berlitz Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2010, Celebrity Century is the region’s highest rated cruise ship for service, dining and accommodation. She easily blends classic ocean liner glamour with modern innovations such as the first ever “ice bar” at sea, a liquid bar counter frozen into rock-hard ice. The 1,800 passenger Celebrity Century has 900 cabins, about half of which have their own private balcony, and a ratio of one staff member to every two guests.  All guests on Celebrity Century can enjoy award-wining cuisine, the services of pool butlers, and guests in suites have the added luxury of personal European-style butlers. Celebrity Century impressively features a 9,000 square foot floating spa, museum quality art collections including pieces by Warhol, Picasso and Jasper Johns and a spectacular 1,000-seat, two-storey Celebrity Theatre.

I am a big fan of Celebrity, having sailed from New York to Bermuda on one of her ships, some of the best food and service I have experienced,  John.