Luxury Cruises

Specialists in Unique Cruising Destinations & Specialty Ships

To search for (and book) the cruise of your choice -

Click Here :: Travel Masters :: Cruise Search

If you regularly choose to cruise as your preferred style of holiday, you are probably familiar with the South Pacific, Alaska, Mediterranean, South East Asia and the Caribbean. These are the primary cruising areas for Australians where the larger mainstream cruise companies have regular scheduled cruise itineraries. As always, cruising in these areas is a great holiday option, and often travel agencies with some cruising expertise can provide you with generalised advice on popular itineraries and ships. It is still true, however, that the best prices and quality advice can only come from agencies whose resources and staff expertise on world cruising are substantial.

At Travel Masters, The Travel Studio and Lifestyle Travel & Cruise Centre, cruising consultants are trained to the highest possible level (Master Cruise Consultant), and the specialist cruising resources available are among the best in the nation. Cruise Consultants at Travel Masters and The Travel Studio have enjoyed personal cruising on more than 65 different ships in all the major cruising areas of the world.

When you want to look at cruise itineraries in exotic and unique destinations, our specialist cruise knowledge makes a world of difference. Away from the popular and more crowded cruise destinations there are numerous opportunities to enjoy the thrill of an exotic itinerary that takes you somewhere very special. Usually this is on a ship suited specifically to the area concerned, and often with specialist on-board staff to enhance the discovery nature of the experience.

In some cases, smaller ships have tailored their operation to provide incredibly rich holiday experiences in unique ways that maximise the special features of the ships. They choose not to compete with the big ships and big companies but instead have found a niche, and do this brilliantly with great client satisfaction. At Travel Masters and The Travel Studio, we have many such options for you to consider in most parts of the world.

Cruise Holidays are Great Rejuvenators
Great for Romantics and Adventurers
Great for Families Too


Large and Small Cruise Ships

Great cruising holidays can be enjoyed today on huge superliners that carry thousands of passengers on virtual floating resorts. Loads of excitement, fun and friendships. Or at the other end of the spectrum, the smaller much more intimate cruising experiences offered on ships that carry as few as 100 passengers. Click here to search small ship cruising. These are quite different styles of cruising holidays. You need expert advice to select the best holiday options to suit your particular interests and needs. At The Travel Masters Group that's our strength. We use our experience to your advantage and can usually save you money at the same time.

Great River Cruises

River cruising on great waterways of the world is a unique experience. Fantastic scenery and river life on both sides of your ship, all day, every day. These cruises only operate on the very best, most interesting and most scenic parts of the rivers. Usually the ships carry between 50 and 200 passengers in true cruising comfort. Every day is a new experience with stops at romantic river towns and villages. Special guides help you appreciate the history, culture and ecology of these beautifully scenic areas. In most cases, the shore excursions are included in the price, and you never get seasick on a river cruise!

Great rivers to cruise include the Rhine and Danube in Europe, the Nile in Egypt, the Volga and Neva Rivers in Russia, Amazon and Orinoco in South America, Columbia and Mississippi in the USA, St Lawrence in Canada, Irrawaddy, Yangtse and Mekong in Asia, Sepik in New Guinea, Murray in Australia and many more. Our personal experience in river cruising is probably unequalled.

Sail Cruising

Thinking of a cruise, but you really want to sail? The romance of sailing and the comfort of cruising come together in glorious high-tech sail-cruise ships that feature spectacular masts and computer adjusted sails. It's a special type of informal and quite luxurious cruising holiday.

French Canal Barging

This is a real luxury! Gliding along the magnificent French canal system through spectacularly beautiful countryside, visiting marvellous villages, castles, vineyards and more, in 6-star comfort. This style of cruising is likely to be the most relaxing of all, as the barges move slowly and come with a highly skilled crew, including a chef. Meeting the lock keeper is a real highlight, as is cycling off to explore surrounding areas. Bicycles are usually provided. Our personal experience will be invaluable in helping you choose the right area and the best luxury barge for your taste and requirements.

Expedition Ships

Imagine walking on pack ice in the Arctic Circle, exploring a penguin rookery on Antarctica, South Georgia or the Falkland Islands, searching for 'lost' peoples in Melanesia, cruising close to the source of the Amazon, or gazing in wonder on the Galapagos Islands! In these locations, the vessels are often specially equipped to handle conditions in unique, exotic, and often hard to get to places. Expedition cruising is sure to provide you with an unforgettable life experience. 'Orion is Australia's only luxury expedition ship. Custom designed for voyages of exploration, 'Orion' accommodates just 100 guests in the attentive care of 75 crew. She is more like a private mega-yacht than a typical cruise ship. Click here to view Orion's website and her great itineraries.

Freighter Cruising

Hopping on a freighter evokes a romantic image of escape, but you can actually book journeys on many different freighters. These days, they are mostly container vessels rather than bulk cargo handlers. Freighters often spend less time in port and have fewer passenger amenities and activities, but they offer unique opportunities to travel the globe in relative comfort with just a handful of fellow passengers.

Narrowboating in Europe & UK

The fastest way of slowing down! Narrowboats are just as their title suggests, built that way to allow easy navigation of unusually narrow canals. They are usually self-driven and are great for small informal groups of friends or families. They are self-contained and quite comfortable. Along the way, you'll meet hundreds of lovely people, cruising at top speeds of less than 5 km/hr allows you to appreciate the unspoiled countryside, wildlife and lifestyles of the locals.