Cruise & Maritime Voyages newest fleet addition, Vasco da Gama, took its first voyage on Australian waters from Sydney to Melbourne on 1 December and will be staying for the summer season.
On board was 20 travel agents from around the country to enjoy a famil uncovering the secret to smaller ship cruising. Most of the travel agents on the famil arrived as strangers but left as friends.
During their short week they mingled while playing trivia in the lounge, watched nightly musical performances from the talented theatre troupe on board (Rock ’n Roll night being a stand out), learned from special guests at educational seminars, and got hands on with craft workshops during days at sea.
Unlike larger, modern cruising vessels, which can carry upwards of 3,000 guests, Vasco da Gama has capacity for 1,220 passengers. That means no queues waiting to get into one of the ship’s four on-board restaurants or bistro, no rubbing shoulders with other guests in the lounges or competing for a sun chair beside the outdoor Oasis Pool.
There’s plenty of space, too, in Vasco da Gama’s cabins, which have all the creature comforts of a boutique hotel on the water. The ship also offers a unique opportunity for solo travellers looking to ‘go it alone’ – with 40 cabins available for solo travellers without the need to pay a single supplement.
Th smaller ship size means it is able to access smaller ports, allowing greater flexibility in the itinerary and more opportunities to disembark somewhere new. Visiting smaller ports is arguably a more responsible way to cruise because it gives back to the local towns rather than more established port cities.
