Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 19 January 2026

ACING AMENITIES

Aussie brands Qantas and R.M. Williams have launched a collection of amenity kits for business-class flyers. Kits have long been collectables for Qantas customers, getting a second, everyday life — if they are of good enough design and quality. There are four amenity kits in the new collection, each inspired by a colour palette that reflects the Australian landscape. Each kit is crafted with R.M. Williams trim, has a “frogmouth” opening, and features skincare products from Australian brand Grown Alchemist.

QATAR SALE

Qatar Airways has a sale until January 28 for travel from January 12 to November 30, 2026. As examples, Perth to Milan in economy class is from $1759. The same flight in business class is from $7889. qatarairways.com

LONDON DEAL

We look out for good deals, and I like the three nights that Luxury Escapes has at the Clermont London, Charing Cross, in the heart of London, from $1329 for a three-night stay (yes, with breakfasts included). That’s a good price for a good hotel near Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, the London Eye and the West End. It’s an easy walk to them all. Built in the mid-1800s, the hotel’s French renaissance character still shines through, though the rooms and facilities are all modern and fresh. luxuryescapes.com/au

ADDING HOTELS

I also like the way Bicton Travel has “topped and tailed” a 12-night luxury voyage on Seabourn Encore from Osaka to Tokyo.

Its package, called Imperial Shores: Autumn In Japan (code SBN141), includes two nights accommodation in Osaka with breakfast before the cruise, then a private transfer from the hotel to the port to join the ship. On board, guests are accommodated in suites. There are complimentary premium spirits and other beverages and unlimited wi-fi.

At the end of the voyage, there is a private transfer to a hotel in Tokyo for two nights accommodation, with breakfast. The 16 nights is from $13,599 per person and has to be booked by March 3, 2026. 9339 5199 and bct.cruisehq.com.au

BIG, BIG BOATS

Several cruise lines are building ships of more than 200,000 gross tonnage. Imagine that at more than 360m long. They include Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas (250,800 GT), Disney’s Adventure (208,000 GT) and Carnival’s three new mega-ships (about 230,000 GT) for delivery starting 2029. By 2030, MSC and Norwegian Cruise Line will have ships this size.

A 200,000 GT ship floats because its enormous volume, mostly filled with air, makes its overall density less than water. It displaces a volume of water that weighs exactly the same as the ship, creating enough upward buoyant force to counteract its massive weight. Imagine that. Archimedes did, as it is explained by Archimedes’ principle.

Archimedes of Syracuse was an ancient Greek mathematician and inventor who lived from 287BCE to 212BCE. Way back then, he came up with this principle, among many others.

TINY DRONE

I have mentioned the DJI Neo drone before. It’s the ideal starter drone which is very easy to use and in DJI’s January sale is now $249. It was $299. The DJI Neo weighs 135g and takes off and lands on your palm of your hand — without a remote controller. store.dji.com/au

WALK ENGLAND

Let’s have a short quiz: what’s the longest walking trail in England?

Answer: the South West Coast Path from Minehead in Somerset to Poole in Dorset, with nearly half of it running through Cornwall. It’s a 1000km walk. Also known as The Salt Path, it gives walkers coastal views, dramatic headlands, windswept cliffs, peaceful estuaries and hidden coves. Its route goes through fishing villages and ancient harbours. UTracks has a series of self-guided walking holidays along sections of it. utracks.com

PS UTracks is a division of World Expeditions.

SUNSET ROTTO

Quokka Coaches, which is part of WA’s successful Pinnacle Travel Group, has launched the new Sunset Bayseeker Tour on Rottnest Island. It’s on Fridays and Saturdays only, from 6.15pm until 8pm, until April 18, 2026. Due to the timing, it is only suitable for guests staying on the island or travelling on late-return ferries to Fremantle (not Hillarys). The tour, in an air-conditioned coach, leaves from the island’s main bus stop and takes guests through the middle of the island, passing Wadjemup Lighthouse at dusk, then onto the West End to walk Cape Vlamingh and Cathedral Rocks and see the New Zealand long-nose fur seals. It is $54 for adults, $49 for concessions and $34 for children aged four to 12, and free for infants. quokkacoaches.com.au

PS Quokka Coaches also runs a daytime Bayseeker Island Tour at 9am, 11.15am and 1.45pm daily.