Ongoing uncertainty surrounding the resumption of cruising in Australia and the projected status of Australian interstate and international borders has forced UK-based cruise line, Tradewind Voyages, to cancel its maiden 2022/23 summer season in Australia of the world’s newest and largest sailing ship, Golden Horizon.
Instead, Australians are being invited to travel to the Mediterranean or Caribbean in 2022 or 2023, when outbound travel regulations allow, to sail aboard the spectacular tall ship.
The recently launched 272-passenger Golden Horizon was originally due to arrive in Australia for her inaugural season in our waters this December but pandemic restrictions forced Tradewind Voyages in August this year to announce plans for the 2021/22 season to be deferred to 2022/23. However, persistent ambiguity surrounding the availability of Australian ports and Australian domestic and overseas borders due to the pandemic has forced Tradewind to make the difficult but unavoidable decision to cancel Golden Horizon’s summer season in Australia for 2022/23 as well.
The British company said long-term planning was needed to operate and market voyages in Australia and ongoing, restrictive conditions and lack of clarity here for cruising and freedom of travel made the season unviable to operate. But there were hopes Golden Horizon could grace Australian shores in the summer of 2023/24 if restrictions cleared well before then.
Tradewind Voyages said Golden Horizon, launched in Europe in July this year, would be based in the Mediterranean from April-October, 2022 and again in the northern summer of 2023, with plans for her to sail in the Caribbean in the northern winter of 2022/23 instead of Australia.
Details of the Mediterranean and Caribbean seasons will be released in coming months with hopes Australians can travel to either destination in 2022 or 2023 to sail on the ship once outbound restrictions are eased.
As the exclusive Australian partner for Tradewind Voyages, Cruise Traveller has already contacted all Australian guests and travel agents affected by the cancellation and is processing full refunds.
“While we have had to advise hundreds of booked guests of the changed program for Golden Horizon, it has been more than encouraging for so many of them to clearly indicate they are keen to sail on her in the Mediterranean in 2022 or 2023,” said Cruise Traveller Managing Director, Craig Bowen. “As I have come to expect from Tradewind Voyages, they have managed the delivery of these unavoidable changes with total professionalism and commitment to the Australian market,” Mr Bowen said.
Designed to recapture the golden era of sailing ships, the new, 162m-long Golden Horizon boasts golden masts that soar 64m above the sea and support 6300 square metres of billowing sails. The majestic square-rigger boasts a gourmet cuisine restaurant, three pools, gym, library, spa sanctuary, four bars and a marina platform.
While brand new and luxurious, the graceful ship retains the charm, adventure and romance of an historic ship with an onboard ambience that is intimate, relaxed and casually elegant. Committed to sustainability, the ship is powered solely by nature whenever possible, providing an authentic sailing experience.
New Mediterranean season for Golden Horizon – April-October 2022
Tradewind Voyages has announced that from April to October, 2022, Golden Horizon will offer 22 different tall ship voyages across the western, central and eastern Mediterranean including visits to Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece and Turkey.
Golden Horizon’s inaugural sailing in the region will be a seven-night voyage from Portugal to Spain with a series of return sailings from Mallorca in May next year. She will then operate round-trip journeys from Rome in June, Split in July and Athens from August to October.
Golden Horizon’s smaller size as a cruise ship will allow her to visit some of the smaller and lesser-known ports across the Mediterranean, including Sete and Cassis in France, Gallipoli in Italy and Korcula in Croatia. These will be complemented with journeys to many other well-known destinations and islands from Sardinia, St Tropez and Santorini to Havr, Venice and Izmir.
Fares and itineraries for Golden Horizon’s 2022 and 2023 Mediterranean seasons and the 2022/23 Caribbean season will be released in coming months with Australians able to book through local travel agents or Cruise Traveller.
Call Cruise Traveller in Australia on 1800 507 777 or visit www.cruisetraveller.com.au
Cruise Traveller is Australia’s leader in the small ship market, representing 57 boutique, luxury, river and expedition cruising operators around the world including Tradewind Voyages. www.cruisetraveller.com.au
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