Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 23 July 2023

HIGHER VIEW

Albany’s Historic Whaling Station will have a whale-spotting plane in its new permanent exhibition, Whales From The Air, which opens on July 26. The Cessna 337 spotter plane, with its 12m wingspan, is the centrepiece of the display, which shows how the use of aerial surveillance has changed over the years. An insider says: “Visitors will be able to read the spotter pilots’ personal stories, and learn how planes and drones are now used for whale conservation. There are more whales shot today than there ever were while whaling — today however, it is with a camera.”

ENTICING BAIT

Denmark’s capital of Copenhagen has a new initiative to encourage tourists to get more involved in the green activities the city is famous for. From riding a bike to volunteering in urban farms or simply taking public transport, 24 attractions will reward visitors with free admission, experiences or treats in exchange for participating in climate-friendly actions during their visit. The promotion runs until August 11. visitcopenhagen.com

WE SOLD OUT

We had a story on our A Nice Day Out With Wildflowers last weekend, and both of our August coach days had sold out by the end of Monday. In fact, we had such a waiting list by noon, that we put on another day, as we didn’t want to disappoint our friends, the readers. I should mention that we announce all West Travel Club events first in our eTravel Digital Edition, as we had done with the coach days before they went to print. eTravel comes to email inboxes for free each Wednesday. Sign up at westtravelclub.com.au/join and you will hear first, too.

TOP DECK ON DECK

Twenty-five cruise industry executives have been in Perth to discuss the industry at WA Cruise Exchange. The WA Government states that cruising injected $333 million into the WA economy last year. Leading cruise lines such as Holland America, Seabourn, Princess and P&O, represented under the parent brand Carnival, in addition to MSC, Royal Caribbean, Coral Expeditions and Ponant cruise lines, are among the 14 companies who have brought executive delegates to the WA Cruise Exchange at Crown Towers Perth. In 2022 to 2023, nearly 30 cruise visits landed more than 36,000 passengers and 17,000 crew in Fremantle.

... and I’ve been hearing from people in Fremantle, who think WA Cruise Exchange should be based there: “We’ve never seen a cruise ship pulling up in Perth.”

BIG DEAL

My Cruises has what surely is one of the best deals of the week — a 17-night fly, stay and cruise through the Greek Isles and Turkey from $14,990 per person twin share. That includes return flights from Australia to Athens, airport lounge access, private airport transfer in Athens, two nights at a luxury hotel in Athens, hotel to cruise port transfer, a 15-night Greek Isle voyage from Athens aboard the new Explora I with Explora Journeys and an overnight stay aboard in Mykonos. A My Cruises spokesperson says: “The ship has nine distinct culinary experiences and gourmet restaurants, each a celebration of culture, passion, and wholesome ingredients to stimulate the senses. Pair your dishes with unlimited beverages, fine wines, premium spirits, specialty coffees, teas, and soft drinks available anytime.” It also has three outdoor swimming pools. Call 1300 924 585 to book by July 31, 2024, for travel in May 2025.

COFFEE & COCKTAILS

Prompted by the arrival of its new ships Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey, boutique Greek cruise line Celestyal has updated its culinary offering to reflect its contemporary fleet. A spokesperson says: “Many of the changes will please Australian food and coffee connoisseurs, including a meaty new line-up at Mediterranean style brasserie, Grill Seekers, including Brazilian Picanha steak, American Wagyu, Argentinian black Angus beef, Danish pork tomahawk and Australian lamb chops.” The new Cafe Nation has opened in partnership with Italian coffee brand illy, with trained baristas. While the Celestyal cruise fare includes house beer and wine, there are also some newly named drink packages covering cocktails, coffee, soft drinks, spirits and mocktails — and the ships have adopted the Alchemy Cocktail Menu.

AUSTRAL-ASIAN

The newly refurbished PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport has a new Asian-Australian fusion menu for all-day dining in Airo Restaurant. Executive chef Jee Whan Lee has brought together locally sourced produce with flavours and spices from Asia in recognition of PARKROYAL’s Singaporean heritage. We’re talking Thai marinated southern calamari and tandoori Yarra quail. Between-flight snacks include Pacific oysters, cheesy Wagyu meatballs, Korean fried chicken and artisan local cheese platters. PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport is the only hotel directly connected to Melbourne Airport across a pedestrian skybridge.

CHANGI DISCOVERY

Changi Heritage Trail, near the airport in Singapore, has 23 sites and 22 community stories telling the area’s history, heritage and modern story.

There’s an environmental story. Its primeval forests were cleared for timber, plantations, and settlements. In the late 1920s, land reclamation and kampong redevelopment began, and the whole eastern coastline was reshaped from the 1970s.

There’s the human story. In the early 19th century, its attractiveness prompted rare interaction between the elite of colonial society and the working-class kampong residents. Changi Cantonment (now known as RAF Changi) was established in 1927, bringing more change to Changi. The British military left in 1971, and Changi Airport grew, bringing more change in the area’s economic and social story.

Changi Heritage Trail includes Changi Village and Changi Cottage, Yan Kit Village Chinese Temple and the Sree Ramar Temple, Changi Prison and the Singapore Navy Museum. Search for Changi Heritage Trail to find the route at roots.gov.sg.

WALKING JAPAN

Japan’s self-guided 1000km Michinoku Coastal Trail takes walkers along the Tohoku coast in the north of Japan’s biggest island, Honshu. They experience four prefectures along rocky cliffs over the Pacific Ocean, walking through pine and beech forests and seaside villages. Visitors can walk part of the trail over six days. It is packaged by walk company Oku Japan for about $2340. okujapan.com.au

AMAZON SHIP

Tour company Abercrombie & Kent is planning to launch a new riverboat on the Amazon River in Peru in mid-2025. The ship, Pure Amazon, is designed by A&K Travel Group’s Milan-based architect Adriana Granato in collaboration with local artisans. It will have 10 suites and two single cabins. It will feature handcrafted furnishings made from locally sourced materials — the textures and hues of the Amazon. Pure Amazon will be used for three and four-night itineraries, or a combination of both on a seven-night cruise.

Pre-registration is open now and sales open in August 2024 for the ship, Pure Amazon.