Good news from the Anzac centenary front

Good news from the Anzac centenary front

Here's some good news from the Anzac centenary front: New Zealanders can still mark the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli next year with an Anzac Day cruise/tour to the place where it A few places are still available on a fully escorted 14-day cruise/tour to Gallipoli Cove aboard Louis Cruises’ luxury cruise ship M/V Louis Cristal on a trip organised by Sydney-based operator Horizons Cruise and Tours, an affiliated member of the Travel Partners Group. Prices include airfares from Australia and begin at about begin at about NZ$6572*, twin share per person.

Louis Cruises, operator of the M/V Louis Cristal, has taken great care to abide by all the rules governing Anzac Day 2015 and its diligence has been rewarded.

As David Lyons of Horizons Cruise and Tours explains, two important facts distinguish the M/V Louis Cristal • Firstly, the tour does not go ashore at Anzac Cove on Anzac Day. It goes ashore there on the Thursday before Anzac Day. That makes all the difference, meeting the official rules as well as avoiding the crowds.

• Secondly, M/V Louis Cristal will not anchor in the Anzac Cove area on Anzac Day. It will anchor at a designated and respectful distance during the Centenary Dawn Service, a cruise highlight which will be screened live to the ship’s poolside and theatre.

If you have been successful in the official New Zealand Government Anzac Day Dawn Service ballot, Louis Cruises will transfer you ashore (by coach and ferry to the ceremony area at Anzac Cove) and afterwards to Istanbul. New Zealand guests successful in the ballot will be driven from Lone Pine to the site of one of New Zealand's epic stands at Gallipoli, Chunuk Bair, for the Commemorative Service there.

The M/V Louis Cristal cruise forms part of a special 14-day tour centenary cruise/tour package, departing Sydney on 15 April 2015. The package includes eight nights aboard MV Louis Cristal. Sailing from Athens, the ship heads to Turkey, taking in the exotic ports of Istanbul, Limnos, and Izmir – with focus on Gallipoli – a shore excursion to Anzac Cove, North Beach and the Ari Burnu beach cemetery.

After the screening of the Centenary Dawn Service, the ship will return to Istanbul. From there, passengers will fly to Paris for a tour of the Somme battlefield, where so many Diggers fought and lost their lives.
ends

© Scoop Media