Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 3222 October 2016 By Angie Kelly Celebrity Summit Fresh from an $8 million makeover, the ship has two specialty restaurants, a buffet, grand dining room, gelato bar, cafe, martini bar, outdoor bars, three pools, gym, spa, basketball court, theatre, kids’ club and a rooftop movie terrace. ROUTE Cape Liberty (Bayonne) to Bermuda, 7 nights. PASSENGERS 2158 CABINS Top suites got the refurb money — the two-bedroom Reflection suite, Aqua, Concierge and Suite Class rooms now have spacious, modern luxe interiors. The traditionally decorated Verandah Staterooms, 75 per cent of the ship’s digs, have twin or queen beds, plus a bunk in the ceiling. All cabins, including Ocean View (window) and Inside (no window), have twice daily service, flat screen TVs, 24-hour room service and robes. WHAT YOU’RE UP FOR Extra expenses include drinks packages (up to US$60 a day), wifi charges, spa appointments, shore excursions and specialty restaurant surcharges (US$25–$45 per adult, children $10). Drinks and spa treatments are slugged with an 18 per cent service fee. Automatic tips, starting at $13.50 per person per day, are added to your bill — but are not compulsory. DINING Tuscan Grille, which serves housemade pasta and Italian wines, and Qsine, with innovative share plates ordered by iPad, are the top choices. The casual Ocean View buffet has a good selection of international cuisine, a big dessert choice and an ice-cream bar. The two-level Cosmopolitan offers a menu of classics such as French onion soup and New York steak, with changing specials. ENTERTAINMENT Captain Kate McCue sets a good- humoured tone in her daily announcements, with her sense of fun reflected in officers versus passenger games — with senior crew joining in everything from pool volleyball to trivia. Big-cast productions are as slick as a Broadway show, with singers, dancers and aerialists taking on the theatre thrice weekly. Magic shows, late-night burlesque and lido deck dancing keep the fun on high rotation. A new roof terrace with big screen, cabanas and cocktails makes an upscale, movies- under-the-stars experience. GOOD TO KNOW With no DIY washing or ironing on board, laundry can be a costly extra. Pack wrinkle-free fashion. ONE MORE THING You get the best of both ship and shore on this itinerary, docking for two nights at Kings Wharf, Bermuda — and getting three full days to explore the British island territory known for its pink sand, squillionaire yachties and celebrity residents. BOTTOM LINE The contemporary vibe, elegant shopping, fine dining and price point at the upper end puts the focus on professional couples over 35, 50-something parents with adult children and, on our northern summer cruise, a few dozen tween kids. This ship’s family friendliness takes a quieter tone than the zip lines and water slides of the mega ships, offering a light- filled, well‑equipped kids’ club, imaginative activities and respectful staff. Cruise report Shipping news By Angie Kelly Slip and slide Why have one giant waterslide when you can have two? Add lights and sound effects and you have a fun new way to splash your way around the South Pacific. The slides are among a raft of bells and whistles on P&O’s new Pacific Explorer, which also includes a shaded waterpark, barefoot-bowls green and a cabaret supper club, plus Luke Mangan’s Salt Grill restaurant (standard on P&O ships). FARES 10-day inaugural Pacific Island voyage from $1249 per person, departs June 2017. pocruises.com.au Charge it up They’re popping up increasingly in hotels, but mod cons such as bedside USB-charging ports haven’t made their way onto many ships. Holland America’s newly built MS Koningsdam may be the first to have them in all cabins. Currently doing the Med and the Baltic, Koningsdam ups the ante when it comes to modern luxe with chic block colours, frameless glass showers, magnifying make-up mirrors and Egyptian cotton towels across all cabin classes. DEAL Rome to Amsterdam, April 30, 2017, from $3699 per person.  hollandamerica.com Size matters From the super-cruising files, comes news that Royal Caribbean’s latest city at sea, Ovation of the Seas, will arrive in its Australian home port in a few months. The $1billion behemoth will have 18 places to dine, surfing, skydiving, bumper cars, circus school and countless other ways to keep its 4180 guests entertained. Expect major hoo-ha on its arrival day, December 15. ovationoftheseas.com.au Christmas countdown Riverside Europe really knows how to turn on Christmas magic with historic towns dressing up in fairy lights from Budapest to Amsterdam. Wander pretty hamlets, shop at waterfront markets for handmade decorations and stop for a glass of mulled wine. Then see how big cities such as Cologne and Vienna do Yuletide with Scenic’s 15-Day Christmas markets cruise, departing November 30, 2017. FARES From $7695 per person, twin share, including flights on all cabin categories. scenic.com.au