Brisbane to Southampton

About Whitsunday Islands

Fabulous beaches, tropical forests, amazing swimming and snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef – the Whitsunday Islands are the perfect holiday islands.

Situated south of Townsville and off the coast of tropical North Queensland, these magical islands are the perfect place for pure relaxation.

Named by Captain Cook in 1770, the Whitsunday’s number more than 20 islands, many uninhabited. Whitsunday is the largest, followed by Hook, but Hayman to the north and Hamilton to the south are the most developed. Beautiful white sand beaches are an idyllic setting for swimming and sunbathing while the resorts on Hamilton, Hayman and Lindeman islands provide superb retreats.

Catamarans, sailing boats and large yachts weave their way between the islands – many offering snorkelling, diving and whale-watching trips. Ferries provide a lifeline and are a great way to island hop while soaking up the sun.

About Cairns

Capital of Far North Queensland, tourist gateway to the rainforest, and the region’s only major cruise port, Cairns still has a small town feel.  That is because the locals have adopted a quintessentially casual approach to life, probably due to the prevailing tropical conditions which place an emphasis on outdoor activities.

Visitors should follow suit and relax in one of the various open terraced bars, pubs and restaurants or take a boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef for diving or snorkelling.

While you need to travel north from Cairns to find the top beaches, there are any number of other activities within easier reach. These range from high adrenalin bungee jumping and white water rafting to the more sedate Kuranda Skyrail cable car high above the dense rainforest and the Tjapukai Aboriginal Centre where didgeridoo and boomerang displays are top attractions.

About Manila

Truly the city that never sleeps, the Philippine capital and cruise port of Manila promises a real buzz of an experience from the moment you see (and hear!) the first multi-coloured jeepney whiz by. These former US military jeeps are individually customised as the world's most distinctive taxis with all sorts of logos, bells, whistles and horns to add an extra splash of colour and noise to the city's already teeming streets.

Split into business, hotel, residential, shopping and entertainment districts, this sprawling city has a lot to see from fascinating museums (the Ayala Historical and the National are the pick) and cultural centres to the bars, clubs and restaurants of its vibrant nightlife district.  For good beaches, you need to travel outside the city where one of the most exciting experiences is ‘shooting the rapids’ at the fabulous Pasgsanjan Falls.

About Hong Kong

Hong Kong may boast some 236 islands but most of the five million inhabitants of this former British Crown Colony are concentrated on just one, Hong Kong Island, and one city, Kowloon, on the facing peninsula. This makes it one of the most crowded and vibrant places in the world.

Be energised just walking down its teeming streets where you can buy anything from a handmade suit, fancy jewellery and the latest duty-free electronic gizmos to Asian antiques.

Take the Star Ferry between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island and experience one of the worlds busiest crossings.

For one of the steepest journeys, try the tram which travels to the top of Victoria Peak, 1,300ft above the harbour. And for the ultimate taste sensation, head for Aberdeens floating restaurants featuring every kind of Asian cuisine.

About Phu My

In amidst the swarming streets and markets of Ho Chi Minh City, stand numerous landmarks bound in history and tradition: from museums that tell the stories of war to ornamental pagodas that are filled with characters from Buddhist and Taoist religions.

From Phu My you can discover the fascinating tunnel network at Cu Chi, used by the Viet Cong during the war. At their height they stretched from the South Vietnamese capital to the Cambodian border.

About Ko Samui

With its white beaches and inviting seas, Ko Samui has become a bustling island resort. Journeying inland from Na Thon, you can discover the two scenic waterfalls of Na Muang, meaning purple - named after the coloured rocks at their base.

Coconut plantations can be found on the coastal plains, where monkeys scale the palms to pluck coconuts for their handlers. North east lies the remarkable Big Buddha statue at the top of the ceremonial dragon-steps of Wat Phra Yai.

About Singapore

Singapore’s glorious parks have earned it a reputation as the Garden City of the Far East but you will also be cruising into one of the world’s busiest ports.

Once ashore you can enjoy a stroll through the famous Tiger Balm Gardens with its statues of characters from Chinese legend peeping out from the trees. Ornithologists will love the Jurong Bird Park, with its elaborate aviaries, waterfalls and restaurants, while East Coast Park offers hiking and cycling tracks, a marine theme park and beach watersports.

This vibrant city is heaven for shoppers, too. Head for Orchard Road for bargains on international brands, or soak up some local atmosphere and sample foodie treats while you browse the craft and souvenir stalls of Chinatown, Little India and Mosque Street.

For fake designer bargains, haggle your way around Bugis Street market. But don’t forget to leave time for a Singapore Sling amid the colonial splendours of the famous Raffles Hotel.

About Mumbai

Gateway to one of the world’s most vibrant cities, India’s cruise port Mumbai (formerly Bombay) offers so many memorable experiences it is hard to know where to begin.Perhaps a stroll along Marine Drive, the broad seafront promenade, which links the skyscrapers and bustle of Nariman Point with the serene greenery of Malabar Hill, is the best introduction to the sheer variety of this fascinating city.

Or climb to the top of Malabar Hill to visit the terraced Ferozeshah Mehta Gardens, which overlook the Arabian Sea and the famous Towers of Silence. Then make your way to Crawford’s Market (now Jyotiba Phulle), which will take you back in time to Victorian days - the frieze above its entrance was designed by Rudyard Kipling’s father, and Rudyard’s childhood home lies right opposite.

Bargain hunters should not miss the famous Chor Bazaar and the antique shops of Motton Street at its heart, where you can pick up fabulous memorabilia – and do not be afraid to bargain.

About Sharm El Sheikh

A fast-developing Egyptian beach resort, Sharm el Sheikh has become a popular Red Sea cruise call, too. On the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Straits of Tiran, the sheltered waters are simply crystal clear and just asking to be swum, snorkelled or dived in from the pristine, sandy beaches. There are a variety of glass-bottomed and other boat trips on offer, too.

Even better for snorkellers and divers is the Marine National Park, the first in the Red Sea, at nearby Ras Mohammed. Here there are coral reefs and gardens which attract just the most beautiful exotic fish. Other visitors will want to visit St Catherines Monastery in the foothills of Mount Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments.  Founded in the 6th Century, it is the oldest Christian monastery in the world.

About Suez

Lying at the Red Sea end of the Suez Canal, the busy Egyptian port of Suez can also be your starting point for exciting trips to Cairo and the Pyramids at Giza.

If your ship goes through the Canal, be out on deck throughout the transit, as it is one of the world’s most fascinating maritime experiences, creating the bizarre impression that you are sailing right through the dry heart of the desert.

The present, 101-mile-long Canal took 15 years to build, was completed in 1869 and shaved a mere 7,000 miles off the journey from England to India. It is the second to cross the Isthmus of Suez – the first was constructed in the 5th century BC and was in use until the 8th century.

Even if your ship is just calling at Suez, it is well worth strolling along the Corniche to watch the huge ships lined up to transit the Canal on their way to the other side of the world.

About Lisbon

Some of the best views of the Portuguese capital come as your ship cruises along the Tagus River. You pass the Belem Tower and the impressive Monument to the Discoveries with its statue of Henry the Navigator before arriving at the Lisbon cruise terminal.

Although small for a European capital, this city does sprawl a little so you would do best to concentrate on three districts - Baixa, Bairro Alto and Alfama, each with its own distinctive style.

Baixa has busy streets of inviting shops, cafés and restaurants while Alfama is the atmospheric old town with narrow cobblestone streets, medieval and Moorish-style buildings, wrought-iron balconies with trailing flowers and a mix of small shops and bars.  Bairro Alto is another historic district with narrow streets and is a steep climb from Baixa so look out for the 100-year-old lift (Elevador do Carmo) near Rossio Square.