Charter Chatter

 - Spirit of Tasmania is offering fifty per cent off selected fares when you book to travel between Melbourne and Devonport between 1 May and 31 August. Choose from a range of overnight accommodation options – twin, four berth, deluxe cabin or comfortable ocean recliner.

- Three councils have united to position Moreton Bay and Islands as one of Queensland’s premier coastal destinations. Moreton Bay and Islands is home to pristine sand islands, sparkling blue waters, a marine sanctuary, stunning hinterlands and coastal villages offering a myriad of adventure activities, all within 30 minutes travel time from Brisbane’s city centre.

- Captain Cook Cruises’ Fijian cruise vessel, MV Reef Endeavour, now offers a pick-up service for guests staying at Mamanuca Island resorts. The new service will see Endeavour moor off Honeymoon Island at 6pm every Saturday night, allowing guests who are staying on the island to take a small ship to transfer direct to the vessel for the commencement of their three or seven night Yasawa Islands cruise. As a result of the cruise line’s decision other islands are all now offering free boat transfers to the Endeavour.

- The International Maritime Organisation has banned the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil on ships which operate in Antarctic waters. The move effectively bans larger ships from visiting Antarctica. Smaller ships must use light marine gas oil which disperses quickly in water and minimises the environmental impact of any leaks. Check out Cruise Weekly.com.au for more details.

- Noosa Dreamboats offer personalised Noosa River cruises for up to five passengers aboard a six metre handcrafted mahogany runabout, Noosa Dream, built in the style of the classic 1940s and 1950s American powerboats. Cruise around Noosa Sound then pick up speed and head up river towards Tewantin and Lake Cooroibah.

- Whitsunday Rent a Yacht, located at Shute Harbour, was one of the businesses hardest hit by March's Cyclone Ului. But after days without power, phones, and email and a damage bill of more than $2 million, they're now back in business, albeit with a smaller fleet, but new boats are arriving in July.

- The latest edition to the Freedom Fast Cats Fleet is the Freedom Monarch, a new 305-seat luxury catamaran especially designed for cruising Keppel Bay off Central Queensland. Freedom Fast Cats offer transfers to Great Keppel Island from Yepoon, as well as scenic lunch cruises, coral cruises, fish feeding tours and boom netting. The new vessel features three decks, a top deck for sun-bathing, air-conditioning, wheelchair access, a kiosk, large tinted windows, seven LCD screens and extra wide walkways.

- World Heritage Cruises’ 222-passenger cruise catamaran, Eagle, set a new world record of 114 skiiers, towed by a single boat over one mile at Strahan, Tasmania. The 35 metre vessel usually cruises the Gordon River, departing from Strahan.

- Whale and dolphin watching specialist Moonshadow Cruises operates a new ‘Cruising Classroom’ interactive educational cruise on Port Stephens, NSW. Half an hour before the cruise departs students meet onboard with an education officer for an interactive marine life discussion, tailored specifically for the students. They are given workbooks to complete either during the cruise or afterwards at school.

Photograph: Spirit of Tasmania