How about 52 days at sea to sample "slow travel"?

Slow travel, particularly for retirees, or those with time on their hands, is a growing trend. 

How about taking your time and visiting 26 ports on one cruise? One such offering is Windstar Cruises' 52-day sailing from Singapore to Papeete, designed for those who want to take time and chill out. 

The cruise is being promoted as an example of the shift away from short, fast holidays to longer, more immersive travel, particularly for the retiree market - albeit those with cash to splash. 

The cost of this extravagance exploring Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and south-east Asia. comes in at under $500 per person per day. 

The 52-Day Cruise for Travellers Who Finally Have Time, is the Star Collector: Grand South Pacific Adventure. 

With prices starting from $21,553 per person and stops at ports throughout the South Pacific, the deal includes wifi, dining, unlimited select beers, wines and cocktails, gratuities, accommodation and more - if you snap up an "early bird" offer.

Windstar says: "This is slow travel at its most rewarding. Instead of ticking off one or two islands, guests will journey across the entire South Pacific, whether it’s French Polynesia’s biosphere reserves and the Marquesas’ dramatic valleys, or the lagoons of the Cook Islands and Tonga’s royal heritage".

The journey traverses Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea with overnight stays in destinations like Bora Bora, Fiji, Bali and Papeete, plus repeat visits to Moorea. 

The days at sea offers the chance to slow down, recharge and enjoy the simple luxury of uninterrupted time. It all sounds rather enticing. 

For more info see the Windstar Australia website or call 1300 749875. 

The website is a bit glitchy, however. I seriously doubt the cruise calls at Flissengen (Antwerp) on Day 21. That would be a serious diversion.

Fiji Airways adds new Texan route

 

Fiji Airways is boosting its flights to and from the US with Dallas getting a direct route to the South Pacific islands nation  

Flag carrier Fiji Airways will start nonstop Fiji flights from Dallas in December, Travel Mole reports.

Fiji flights will begin December 10 and will operate three times a week from Dallas-Fort Worth international Airport on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

“A direct service between Fiji and Dallas is a really exciting milestone for Fiji Airways,” said airline CEO Andre Viljoen.

It will have capacity for more than 1,000 passengers a week, helping to boost Fiji’s tourism industry.

The airline will deploy 334-seat Airbus A350-900 XWB planes on the 13-hour route.

The Texas city becomes Fiji Airways’ fourth US destination after Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu. 

Time to say farewell to the P&O Cruises Australia brand

P&O Cruises Australia, a leading cruise brand for 90 years, will soon be no more. 

What is described as "strategic brand realignment" by parent company Carnival Corporation will see the end of P&O Cruises Australia brand in March next year with P&O's operations to now happen under the Carnival Cruise Line brand. 

Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure will be re-branded as Carnival Cruise Line ships, with Pacific Explorer to exit the fleet. 

Names for the two re-branded ships are yet to be revealed but both will operate alongside Carnival Splendor - which sails year-round from Sydney - and Carnival Luminosa, which will remain as a seasonal operation from Brisbane.

The change is the latest in a series of strategic moves designed to increase guest capacity for Carnival Cruise Line, the company's flagship brand and the highest-returning brand in Carnival Corporation's global portfolio, Carnival said in a press statement. 

"Despite increasing Carnival Cruise Line's capacity by almost 25% since 2019, including transferring three ships from Costa Cruises, guest demand remains incredibly strong so we're leveraging our scale in an even more meaningful way by absorbing an entire brand into the world's most popular cruise line," said Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation & plc. 

"P&O Cruises Australia is a storied brand with an amazing team, and we are extremely proud of everything we have accomplished together in Australia and the broader region. 

"However, given the strategic reality of the South Pacific's small population and significantly higher operating and regulatory costs, we're adjusting our approach to give us the efficiencies we need to continue delivering an incredible cruise experience year-round to our guests in the region. 

"Carnival Corporation & plc remains committed to Australia and we will continue to be the largest cruise operator in the region."

Current itineraries will operate business as usual, and guests will be notified shortly of any changes to future bookings as a result of this announcement.

# Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest global cruise company with a portfolio including AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises, and Seabourn.

The move does not impact P&O Cruises UK in any way.

What about us? Cook Islands issue appeal to tourists

New Zealand and Fiji are very much on the radar of Australian travellers. Samoa and Tonga less so. And the Cook Islands are sometimes completely overlooked.

With New Zealand allowing quarantine- and isolation-free travel for Australian citizens and permanent residents from April 13, the Cook Islands have also opened up as a potential Pacific Island destination.

“Cook Islanders are waiting with open arms and big smiles to greet their first Australian visitors in just over two years,” said Graeme West, general manager of the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation for Australasia.

“Because tourism is the mainstay of our economy, the last two years has caused significant financial hardship for many people. We are looking forward with much anticipation to welcoming Aussies back to our beautiful islands.”

West describes the Cook Islands as the ultimate South Pacific experience.

"Our tourism infrastructure is well established and offers a wide range of fantastic choices for accommodation, restaurants, and outdoor activities.," he says, pinpointing the spectacular beauty of the lagoons surrounding both Rarotonga and renowned Aitutaki (above).

The Cook Islands has a vaccination rate of 97% of the eligible population but there are some requirements that travellers must comply with.

All visitors over 5 years and 3 months of age (changing to over 16 years of age from May 2) must be fully vaccinated and provide an official International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (ICVC) issued by the Australian Government.

A supervised RAT within 24 hours of departure from Auckland to Rarotonga is required and currently must be taken in New Zealand. From May 2, Australian visitors can take a supervised RAT or PCR test in Australia 48 hours prior to their scheduled flight time from Auckland to Rarotonga.

Visitors must complete a Cook Islands contact form no more than 96 hours prior to the scheduled departure time from Auckland to the Cook Islands.

From April13, Australian travellers can travel to the Cook Islands via Auckland on Air New Zealand and on Jetstar from June 2.

Air New Zealand’s direct service from Sydney to Rarotonga is expected to recommence later this year.

More information and details on entry requirements at www.cookislands.travel