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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Luxury and value blend on fabulous Mediterranean and European Riviera cruise holiday from Australia

Here’s a blissful 14-day European fly-cruise-stay holiday with everything going for it: Paris, Rome, Tuscany, the French and Italian Rivieras, Barcelona, Cannes and a visit to glamorous Monte Carlo with the opportunity to attend the Monaco Grand Prix if you desire. Also, drinks on the ship are free.

Named, appropriately, ‘Playgrounds of the Rich & Fabulous’, the holiday is on offer from Worldwide Cruise Centres (worldwidecruisecentres.com.au).

‘Playgrounds of the Rich & Fabulous’ includes an eight-night Tuscany & Grand Prix cruise with Azamara Journey from Rome to Barcelona. Prices for the whole holiday begin at A$6999 twin share per person, including return flights from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth to Paris, atriumand back from Barcelona, travelling with the multi-award-winning airline, Emirates.

Azamara Journey is one of the world’s finest cruise ships, a vessel so exclusive that each suite aboard comes with the services of an English butler. Smaller and sleeker than most ships, Azamara Journey carries no more than 694 passengers and delivers five-star boutique cruising at its very best.

Special touches aboard can save you a lot of money. Tipping is taken care of; it’s  included in the price. All shipboard main meals, plus standard spirits, international beers and wines are complimentary, as are bottled water, soft drinks, speciality coffees and teas. Shuttle to and from the port (where available during cruise) is also complimentary. There’s even a complimentary self-service laundry aboard. Dining options range from casual to elegant, with menus featuring classic to modern cuisine from the world’s great culinary destinations. All shipboard main meals are included.

The holiday begins on 15 May 2014 with a flight from Australia to Paris. On arrival,  you’ll be conveyed by private car from the airport to the four-star Hotel Le Six for a two-night stay. This St Tropezluxury boutique hotel is located in the heart of Paris, on the Left Bank in front of the Luxembourg Gardens near Notre-Dame Cathedral. After breakfast (included on both mornings) set out to explore this elegant and enticing city. The hotel is the perfect base for exploration – it’s a two-minute walk from the nearest Metro subway station.

After Paris, travel to Rome in the classic manner, by train in a first class seat, changing at Milan. A night’s stay in a four-star hotel in Rome gives time to catch the city’s beat, see the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and the Colosseum, sip cappuccino and nibble biscotti.

Now for eight dreamy days cruising the Mediterranean from Rome to Barcelona – visiting superb European cities and international playgrounds all the way. Your arrival in Monte Carlo coincides with the Monaco Grand Prix, the thrilling Formula One motor race held on the city streets. Race tickets are available, at additional cost –  or maybe opt for something quieter, like the world’s most prestigious casino.

In days to come, take it easy and savour the cultural and culinary pleasures of Tuscany, the South of France and Barcelona. Two days in Livorno give time to bike around the city ramparts of Lucca, taste the wines of Chianti, take in great artworks in Florence and Pisa.

Browse the shops and relish the fragrant gardens of easy-going San Remo on the Italian Riviera and lively cafés and chic restaurants on the French Riviera. You’ll rendezvous with Azamara Journey in both Saint-Tropez and Monaco before sailing for cosmopolitan Barcelona, Spain’s home of Gaudi, tapas and flamenco.

In between these fabulous ports of call, perhaps try Azamara Journey’s Spa and Wellness Centre, coffee café, piano bar and wine bar; sample live entertainment and daily enrichment programs (like wine and champagne tasting).

At the end of a wonderful two-week whirl, its time to fly back to Australia.

To find your local Worldwide Cruise Centres agent go to:

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The Expeditionist

The Expeditionist
Venturing to the world's special places