- The new Sun Odyssey 409/Sunsail 41 has won the European Yacht of the Year. The SO409 was selected by a jury composed of representatives from leading European marine magazines. The new addition to the Sunsail fleet has a three-cabin, two-head layout, offering a contemporary interior which is light, open and spacious. Features include all the latest navigation equipment from Raymarine and an increased swim platform, unique to Sunsail. The monohull will be available in 2011 for charter from Sunsail bases in the British Virgin Islands, St Martin, Australia, Turkey, Croatia and Greece.
- Captain Cook Cruises is offering 20 per cent off their seven-night Northern Fiji Discovery Heritage cruise, where passengers can enjoy the unique experience of standing on the International Dateline. Passengers are taken beyond the Yasawa Islands to very remote and exotic tropical Fijian islands where they learn about the unique history, art and culture of Northern Fiji. The sale is available until 31 March 2011 and valid for travel until 31 March 2012.
- Orion Expedition Cruises' new ship Orion II will make her inaugural voyage to Japan in June 2011. The ship will visit Kanazawa, one of the few places in Japan where geisha culture is still alive. Guests will enjoy a traditional tea ceremony at Kenrokuen Garden, considered to be one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan. Cruise the moat surrounding imposing Matsue Castle; learn to make Soba noodles; stroll the main street of Sakaiminato with hundreds of bronze statues depicting animated cartoon monsters and enjoy a visit to Sakai's Sake brewery to sample their fine rice wine.
- After suffering minimal damage from dual Cyclones Anthony and Yasi the Whitsundays is returning to normal. The Whitsundays has been extremely lucky not to be a part of Queensland's two major disasters in the past two months, having not flooded nor suffered much damage from two cyclones in a week. Take advantage of low season rates on charter vessels. www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au.
- Moreton Island Adventures are offering 60 flood affected families the chance to enjoy a free trip to Moreton Island on Sunday 27 February. Up to 300 people who have been displaced by recent flooding will participate in a family beach fun day on Moreton Island with free transport to the island on the Micat cruise ship, food, entertainment, beach games, activities and, weather and tides permitting, guided snorkelling for children over eight. Nominations are being sought from the community for families who have been displaced and are really in need of some R&R. Phone 07 3909 3333 or visit the Moreton Island Adventures Family Day Out fan page on Facebook.
- Book a night sailing on Spirit of Tasmania in an Ocean Recliner from just $97 or a Day Ticket on a day sailing from $97 per person each way before 2 May 2011. Day sailings give you the freedom to move around the ship as you please without a seat allocation. Or you can upgrade at the time of booking from a Day Ticket to a Twin or Four Berth Cabin for just $60 extra per cabin and enjoy a mid-afternoon nap. Conditions apply.
- A new northern route has been added to Sunsail Sailing School's Whitsunday rallies for previous guests to experience new and different islands and new guests to get a taste of the islands a little off the 'beaten track'. The five-day, six-night rallies depart from Sunsail’s base at Hamilton Island on the Northern Route on either 10 April or 26 June 2011, or the Southern Route on 23 October or 4 December 2011. Designed to improve sailing skills in a fun, sociable environment, the popular rallies combine expert supervision with enjoyable sailing around the 74 Whitsunday Islands.
- Brisbane's dugongs feed almost exclusively on the seagrass that grows on shallow sandbanks in Moreton Bay. They grow to three metres long, weigh over 400kg and can live more than 70 years. Moreton Bay supports a resident population of around 400 animals but Brisbane floodwaters are forcing dugongs southward to unaffected areas like the Gold Coast Broadwater, which is connected to Moreton Bay by a network of tidal channels. Sea World Cruises vessel Spirit of Migloo has reported a series of close encounters with these elusive marine mammals during their day tours on the Gold Coast Broadwater.
- Captain Cook Cruises is running a special 'Queen's Breakfast' cruise on Tuesday 22 February, 2011 to see the arrival of Queen Mary 2 for her royal rendezvous with her new sister ship Queen Elizabeth on Sydney Harbour. The cruise departs No 1 King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour at 5.30am, and returns at approximately 8.30am.
- Le Boat’s prices are reduced for all vessels and destinations on its self-drive canalboat holidays in Europe, owing to the continuing strength of the Australian dollar. Le Boat's European destinations include: Canal du Midi, Aquitaine, Burgundy, River Lot, Brittany & Camargue (France), Germany, Italy, England, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium and Holland.
Photograph: Sun Odyssey 409/Sunsail 41 saloon
