Departures Australia Spring 2017

BLACKBOOK An immaculate

BLACKBOOK An immaculate Wintergarden Suite A JAPANESE ADVENTURE The much-awaited “floating Ryokan”, Guntû, will set sail this season, voyaging around the Setouchi Inland Sea – the last frontier of the Japanese archipelago. Designed by award-winning architect Yasushi Horibe, each of its 19 terraced suites offers an exquisitely framed view of the Setouchi seascape. The journey is topped with a culinary experience by the masterchef Kenzo Sato, offering the quintessence of Japanese delicacies. guntu.jp — Hiroko Kamogawa grill, where alfresco pre-prandials are also popular. Of course, no cruise ship would be complete without a buffet and, from breakfast until dinnertime, when the menus are regionally themed, The Colonnade purveys standout rations that are beyond reproach. ON THE GROUND An exclusive multiyear partnership with Unesco enables Seabourn guests to experience everything from a tour of a 13th-century paper mill along the Amalfi Coast to stepping into Stonehenge without the crowds. The Ventures by Seabourn programme, meanwhile, puts the emphasis on adventure in selected ports (think Antarctica, Greenland and Norway, among others), allowing for exploratory treks, kayaking and much more right from her marina. ROUTES Encore travelled from Singapore, where she was christened in January, throughout Indonesia and to Australia and New Zealand before heading to India and the Persian Gulf. She will spend the rest of the spring pinballing around the Mediterranean and Adriatic before decamping for Dubai on 4 October. From there she will once again make the eastward journey and spend the early part of 2018 in the Pacific. THE VERDICT With this new, larger class of ship, Seabourn has sacrificed none of the intangibles for which it is renowned. Indeed, while service remains faultless and friendly, the culinary offerings multifarious and noteworthy, and the itineraries interesting and unusual, Encore has added discriminating amenities and services which will surprise diehard cruisers and entice newbies. seabourn.com ♦ — Farhad Heydari CULINARY CRED Foodie-favourite cruise line Oceania Cruises (oceaniacruises.com) has rolled out more than 250 signature vegan dishes as well as the only cold-pressed raw juice and vegan smoothie bars at sea. It has also introduced Wellness Tours Inspired by Canyon Ranch, which visit spa retreats in the Mediterranean. For more hands-on culinary opportunities, Canadian celebrity chef Massimo Capra has teamed up with Paul Gauguin Cruises (pgcruises.com) to offer gastronomic demonstrations and lectures during the ship’s voyages around Tahiti and the Society Islands. Just the tonic, Anderson’s Gin is P&O Cruises’ (pocruises.com) first-ever exclusive blend of the tipple and is now being served throughout the fleet. Not to be outdone, Cunard (cunard. com) has debuted three varietals of specially distilled Pickering’s Gin – one for each of its ships, which are all named after queens. Launching next year, the Magic Carpet on Celebrity’s Cruises’ Celebrity Edge (pictured below; celebritycruises.com) will rise to its highest elevation on Deck 16 to become a speciality restaurant where 90 guests can savour a panoramic dining experience like no other. ALL THAT GLITTERS No need to bring the bling – The Spa at Seabourn (seabourn.com) offers a 24 Karat Gold Facial, while on Oceania Cruises (oceaniacruises.com) the Wellness Spa offers a Gemstone Anti-Aging Facial. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ERIC LAIGNEL, © GUNTU (2), © CELEBRITY CRUISES 32 DEPARTURES-INTERNATIONAL.COM

THE ROYAL TREATMENT Butlers on board Uniworld’s SS Joie de Vivre are trained to the same standard as those working in Buckingham Palace. uniworld.com UP NEXT Cirque du Soleil is adding its unique artistry to the Carousel Lounge aboard MSC Cruises’ new Meraviglia and on MSC Bellissima in 2019 (msccruises. com); Richard Branson promises his fleet of new Virgin Voyages ships arriving from 2018 will be “sexy”, offering what he calls the most irresistible vacation at sea (virginvoyages. com); Cunard’s Queen Victoria has just emerged from a makeover that added five indulgent penthouse suites (cunard.com). Ponant’s Le Lapérouse, slated for unveiling this summer GOING MOBILE Some of the world’s leading hotel groups offer seagoing renditions of their inimitable hospitality NAME GUESTS USP Six Senses sixsenses.com Aman aman.com Four Seasons fourseasons.com Belmond belmond.com Oberoi Hotels oberoihotels.com Ritz-Carlton ritzcarlton.com 6 The dhow Dhabab conjures up voyages of Sinbad along the rugged Musandam fjords from its base at Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman. 10 Amandira is a recreation of the fabled Phinisi offering an indulgent milieu as it navigates Indonesia’s legendary Spice Islands from Amanwana, Moyo Island, Indonesia. 22 Four Seasons Explorer boasts the ultimate Maldivian diving and snorkelling adventure in the North Malé Atoll for aesthetes at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, Maldives. 8 In 2018 péniche-hôtel Pivoine will cruise the canals and rivers of Champagne, while Lilas will navigate the waterways of Alsace. 54 Though not a newcomer, the Oberoi Zahra still reigns supreme as the jewel of the Nile. 298 Ritz-Carlton has announced three sublime cruising yachts, the first of which is scheduled to take to sea in late 2019. Oceans of Options From jaw-dropping design to show-stealing bravura, there’s nothing cookie cutter about today’s crop of new ships © PONANT Occasionally, in the cruising cosmos, a clutch of new ships scintillate with extraordinary brilliance. This is true for Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Class vessels (celebritycruises.com). The ethos of connectivity with the ocean is dramatically realised in the Magic Carpet, a lounge-like platform, cantilevered from the side of the ship, raised and lowered between decks, as well as in the remarkable Infinite Veranda staterooms. The 2,918-passenger ship’s staterooms were designed by Kelly » DEPARTURES-INTERNATIONAL.COM 33