Roads Unknown: India
Roads Unknown: India follows Australian adventure rider Jess Zahra, as she embarks on an unforgettable 5,000km motorbike journey across India, experiencing the country's scenic landscapes and cultural richness.
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Posted 27m ago 27 minutes ago Wed 18 Jun 2025 at 2:00am
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Courier-Mail
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How do cruise lines decide where to go? Take a peek behind the scenes
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Ever wondered how a ship manages to be at a set port at a set time, and why there's not a fleet of other cruise ships vying for the same spot on any given day? From a cruiser's point of view, the scheduling seems to work like clockwork, but behind the scenes it takes years of precision planning. Scenic group vice president of ocean deployment, Claudius Docekal, says Scenic is already deep in the planning stages for 2028-29 and beyond. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY 'In the planning stages we start with data, conducting in-depth analysis of market trends, seasonal patterns and guest preferences, alongside a careful assessment of potential destination experiences and operational feasibility,' Docekal says. As an example let's take luxury 228-guest expedition vessel Scenic Eclipse II, which, as you read this, is making her way to Australia. Right now, she is in Indonesia sailing on the 16-night Southeast Asia Cruise and soon she will be in the Kimberley. Later in the year, the ship will voyage to East Antarctica, retracing the path of early explorers in one of the most remote parts of the planet. After that, she will journey through the South Pacific, uncovering hidden islands and rarely visited communities, before crossing all the way to the Panama Canal. Then she sails in Central America and the Caribbean before heading across to explore the Mediterranean. On mapping out a year's worth of itineraries Docekal says that once a rough deployment plan is in place, the next crucial step is securing berth space and operational clearance at each port. 'With global port infrastructure under increasing pressure due to a growing number of vessels, early engagement is key. We work proactively with port authorities and local agents from the earliest stages of itinerary planning to ensure we secure the most desirable berths and timings,' he says. A hallmark of the Scenic Eclipse experience is taking guests to smaller or emerging destinations that don't typically welcome larger cruise ships. According to Docekal, in these cases they work together with local communities, maritime authorities and ground partners to ensure all the necessary infrastructure, permissions and guest services are in place. 'This enables us to safely deliver immersive and authentic experiences in some of the world's most untouched and enriching locations,' says Docekal, who is looking forward to sailing on the 19-night Treasures of French Polynesia & the Marquesas Islands itinerary from Tahiti to Panama. Obviously contingency plans are sometimes needed – due to, say, weather conditions out of anyone's control – and this is something they factor in from the start when designing the deployment, Docekal says. 'We carefully study alternative options in advance and have plan B (and plan C) in place wherever possible,' he says. 'We always aim to deliver an alternative that matches – or even exceeds – the original plan. That said, safety is paramount, and in rare cases, port cancellations may be unavoidable.' Originally published as How do cruise lines decide where to go? Take a peek behind the scenes
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Aussie TV presenter Hannah Hollis lands surprise new gig
Australian TV presenter Hannah Hollis has announced she's departing Fox Sports after 10 years with the sports broadcaster, focusing on her new role as presenter on lifestyle show, Luxury Escapes, which is currently in production. The presenter, who has earned a strong fanbase over the years for her work in sports broadcasting, will farewell Fox with her final appearance on tonight's netball coverage. Hollis is taking on a new challenge with the network, officially joining the lifestyle show Luxury Escapes as its new presenter. The star is no stranger to the show, having already featured on it in the second season. First aired in 2016, Luxury Escapes offers viewers an inside look into the world's best holidays, featuring some of Australia's most beloved locations and international getaways like Singapore, Los Cabos, Bali, the Maldives and Thailand. Nice work if you can get it, and when Hollis speaks to she's just returned from an assignment in the US, which will debut later this year. 'I've loved it. I've been to some of the most beautiful places around the world experiencing wild indulgence, adventure, food, art and culture all steeped in local tradition. It's a joy to share stories like this,' Hollis said of embracing the new career challenge. But Hollis is keen to stress she hasn't turned her back on sports reporting – it remains her first love, and she's eager to work more in the field in the future. Having finished up with Fox Sports, she will now look for new opportunities, mixing her passion for sport and entertainment. 'I am finishing up with Fox Sports following this weekend's Suncorp Super Netball round, after 10 fulfilling and enriching years,' she said. 'My time with Fox Sports and Foxtel — and the opportunities I've enjoyed over the past decade — have further fuelled my ambition. Now, I feel it's the right moment to explore broader professional challenges. 'Sport is the cornerstone and heartbeat of my career and I've also enjoyed exploring my ambition beyond that and into entertainment. So it's not one or the other.' Her extensive experience over 10 years includes being part of the 2024 Paris Olympics coverage which was recognised at the Aus Sports Commission Awards last year; game day hosting for NRL and various Rugby League entertainment show and WNBL and Suncorp Super Netball coverage to name a few. 'I'm proud of people I've worked with and learnt from and I'm grateful to have spent a decade with a high performing passionate and dedicated team,' she said of her time covering sport. 'My proudest highlights include our award-winning Paris Olympic coverage, the NRL opener in Las Vegas. 'Hosting Fox League and Fox Netball, the latter of which includes building a new team from the ground up and our world first all female NRL show League Life. 'I've relished exploring the world of entertainment over the years interviewing Hollywood stars and now hosting a high end travel show.'
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Indonesia AirAsia launches new direct Adelaide to Bali route
A major Asian airline has just launched another direct route to Bali, giving Aussie travellers more options to pursue their holiday dreams in Indonesia's island paradise. Indonesia AirAsia, a budget carrier associated with the popular Malaysian brand, touched down at Adelaide Airport on Thursday to mark the new direct Adelaide-Denpasar route. The carrier will operate four flights a week from Adelaide using a 180-seat A320-200 aircraft. It will fly into Adelaide every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and depart every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, providing more than 74,000 seats per year through Adelaide. Indonesia AirAsia also uses Bali as a transit hub, which means Aussies can connect through Denpasar to more than 130 other destinations across Asia. It also opens up South Australia to more Indonesian travellers. The massive Southeast Asian nation injected $49m into the state's visitor economy in 2024, an 18 per cent lift from 2023. Indonesia's Ambassador to Australia Siswo Pramono said the new route would foster 'broader exchanges in tourism, education, economy and people-to-people relations'. 'This is more than just the addition of a new route, it is also a meaningful step towards strengthening connectivity between Indonesia and Australia, particularly in the southern region,' he said on Thursday. 'It also holds great significance for Indonesians living in South Australia, providing them with easier access to reconnect with their families and homeland. 'This is diplomacy in its most tangible form by bringing our nations closer not only through policy but also through shared experiences, human connections and cultural ties.' Indonesia AirAsia acting chief executive Achmad Sadikin Abdurachman, meanwhile, said the new route opened up immediate access to all the splendours of Asian tourism. 'We are excited to introduce Adelaide as a new destination for the millions of guests across the AirAsia network while offering South Australians seamless access to many of their favourite destinations across Asia, including Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore, and Phuket via our FlyThru service,' he said. 'Travellers can also take advantage of onward connections beyond Bali to explore other remarkable parts of Indonesia, such as Jakarta, the bustling capital, or Labuan Bajo, home to the iconic Komodo National Park.'. More and more international carriers are launching routes in Adelaide. Earlier this month, Air New Zealand announced it would starting running direct flights from Adelaide to Christchurch on the country's South Island from October. From December, US carrier United Airlines will provide direct flights between San Francisco and Adelaide three times a week until March. Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said the new routes would boost the state's economy. 'These direct international flights to Adelaide add to the record number of international airlines connecting the world to our state, all helping grow our international market, which is currently worth a record $1.3bn to our state,' she said.
