Bookings are available only this week for Aussies and Kiwis to get on board the first ever all-gay cruise from Auckland to Sydney, setting off in February next year. Trans-Tasman cruising: Where the gay ship Volendam will visit The 1,400-passenger Volendam departs Auckland on Wednesday 17 February 2010, and sails for 11 nights, visiting Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and across the Tasman to Melbourne, before arriving in Sydney on Saturday 27 February, just in time for Mardi Gras. 400 passengers from Australia and New Zealand are now invited to book, with tickets available only until Wednesday 1 April. Staterooms on the Auckland to Sydney Mardi Gras cruise start at around NZ$3,131, based on double occupancy but not including Port fees, gratuities or airfares to Auckland and returning from Sydney, say the Atlantis cruising crew. "We greatly value the mix of local and international guests that we have on our other cruises, as it creates a cosmopolitan atmosphere that enriches the experience for everyone," says Atlantis CEO Rich Campbell. "Our goal is to have approximately one-third of the guests on this cruise originating in the region. In order to do this we knew that we needed to temporarily set aside a block of rooms to allow new guests in Australia and New Zealand to make their reservations." "Forward bookings have sold out in the United States," says Atlantis Events Spokesperson Stephen Roth. "We're hoping the response in Australia and New Zealand will be just as good."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Sunday, 22nd March 2009 - 9:40pm