Our evening will begin with a coach transfer to the Opera House. Located in A-Reserve seats in the theatre, we will then relax for a dazzling performance of The Marriage of Figaro by talented professionals in this unparalleled performing arts venue.

(THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO) - TUESDAY 6th MARCH 2012

The Opera House is situated on Bennelong Point and reaches out to the harbour. Described as the eighth wonder of the modern world, it is certainly one of the most recognisable images, along with the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building – and one of the most photographed.
 

Meet and journey with Chris Darwin in the footsteps of his great-great grandfather Charles through the Blue Mountains exploring the wildlife and landscapes that inspired his theories.
 

Our day will begin with a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park, which houses a great variety of wildlife, including kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, Australian reptiles, Tasmanian devils, wombats and various species of Australian birds. We can enter enclosures for face to face, touch to touch meetings with friendly kangaroos and cuddly koalas – we can even have our photograph taken standing next to a koala (optional, at extra cost).

Leaving our ship, we will take a short walk to board our luxury vessel for an approximate two and a half hour leisurely dinner cruise around this stunning harbour. We will enjoy a seven course menu set to the brilliant backdrop of Sydney by night.

Our evening will begin with a coach transfer to the Opera House. Located in A-Reserve seats in the theatre, we will then relax for a dazzling performance of Turandot by talented professionals in this unparalleled performing arts venue.

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (TURANDOT) - WEDNESDAY 7TH MARCH 2012

This is an exclusive journey of Australian Discovery and is perfect for visitors who are interested in Australian animals and their environment. This special tour has been designed to encourage interaction between visitors and Australian animals.

THIS IS AN EXCLUSIVE TOUR WITH LIMITED NUMBERS - PRE BOOKING IS RECOMMENDED

Joining our coach we will drive west through Sydney to the renowned Featherdale Wildlife Park, one of Australia’s largest private collections of Australian native animals and bird life. Operating since 1972, Featherdale has more than 2200 animals from over 230 species.

We are in for the thrill of a lifetime as we enjoy the experience and romance of a water-based flight!

The original site of Sydney is a place highly valued by the oldest civilisation in the world! For at least 50,000 years, its Aboriginal people fished the waters of its sheltered harbour, and speared the plentiful supply of animals that inhabited its heavily-wooded shores.

The Australian sun can be very hot – it is recommended to wear sunscreen and a hat and carry water at all times.

The official currency in Sydney is the Australian Dollar.
 

Discover the grace and magic of Sydney Harbour, a stunning and unique destination. A cruise on the harbour is a must for all visitors to Sydney, and provides magnificent views of waterfront homes, secluded bays and beautiful beaches.

Experience the exhilaration of climbing to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

Our tour invites us to experience the life of the “Rich and Famous” of the Gold Coast and spend our day at Surfers Paradise, voted one of the best beaches in the world!

Visit the world’s largest koala sanctuary and discover Brisbane – ‘The City of Sun Days’. Our tour today will explore this rapidly growing city built along the winding picturesque Brisbane River.

We shall climb aboard our 4-wheel drive vehicle for an unforgettable journey through the dramatic landscapes of the Gold Coast Hinterland.

Enjoying a semi-tropical climate, this lovely city is lushly landscaped with jacarandas, flame trees, bougainvilleas and numerous other flowers and shrubs. Our tour will take us past the Parliament House, the Treasury Building, the Old Customs House, the Cultural Centre, the magnificent Botanical Gardens and many other historical and landmark sites.

Today we board our coach and head for the Sunshine Coast to spend a thrilling time at Australia Zoo – home of the family of the late ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin. Here we will see some of Australia’s most unique and amazing wildlife, as well as some interesting animals from around the world, including freshwater and saltwater crocodiles, kangaroos, dingoes and snakes.

For reference, the distance from where we shall dock into the city is approximately 10 kilometres (6 miles).

The official currency of Brisbane is the Australian Dollar.

A stop will be made at the Mt Coot tha Look Out, this location is ideal for photos offering us stunning views of the Great Dividing Range, Brisbane City and Moreton Bay with its small islands to the east, and the Glasshouse Mountains and D’Agilar Range to the west.

This is no doubt one of the most relaxing ways to enjoy the city of Brisbane as we travel down the meandering Brisbane River on a marvellous wooden Mississippi-style paddle wheeler.

From Brisbane we will take a drive south and the inland to the Mount Tamborine volcanic plateau, home to rain forest, waterfalls, wineries and orchards. After our sojourn here, we will descend the mountains, travelling through Oxenford, to the Gold Coast, famed for its many resorts, fine shops and dazzling beaches.

We will board a bumboat, for a ride down the Singapore River through a night of glittering buildings, both historical and modern.

Our tour commences with a visit to Arab Street, which showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Malays and relives life in a kampong (small settlement) in the 50s and 60s.

Jurong Bird Park is a 20-hectare, open concept park, which is the largest Bird Park in the Aisa Pacific region. We will be fascinated by its collection of more than 8,000 birds from over 600 species. It is thought to be amongst the largest collection of its kind in the world.

For reference, the distance into the city from our berth is approximately 10 kilometres (6 miles). There is a walk of approximately 10 minutes from our ship in order to reach our tour transport. This is only applicable if the Black Watch is berthed at the Singapore Cruise Terminal.

The official currency of Singapore is the Singapore Dollar, although US Dollars may be accepted.

On this tour we will be able to discover Singapore on top of Asia’s most iconic architectural and engineering marvel – the Singapore Flyer.

This tour showcases the contrast between the old and new, and the blend of East and West.

Salalah, is the capital and seat of the governor or Wali of the southern Omani province of Dhofar. The population of Salalah is 197,169 as of 2009.

This tour will allow us to discover the beauty of Salalah, by driving into the surrounding area to see the contrast between the lush vegetation of the Garden City and the barren, bleak landscape of the desert.

Leaving the port we shall make our way to the Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in Salalah instructed to be built by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said.

The great “Hypostyle Hall” alone is a veritable forest of giant pillars rising 23 metres toward the sky. At the height of its glory, Karnak Temple collected annual tribute from over 65 cities and towns in the region.
 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT SAFAGA

• As a mark of respect to Egyptian customs and religions, shoulders and knees should be covered when visiting holy or historic sites.
• All tours will be escorted by members of the Egyptian tourist Police. (The Tourism Police are the only authority that can decide the number of the Tourist Police Offices that should be escorting the tours. However, we can say that 95 % of the buses are escorted by Tourism Police Officers)
• Passengers must carry their passport at all times. When leaving the ship for tours, you will have to pass through Immigration (and on your return).
• Photography and the use of video cameras is totally prohibited in all areas, including tombs, in the Valley of the Kings.
 

Departing from our ship we shall embark on a memorable trip to the Land of the Pharaohs and the old Capital of Egypt, Luxor.

Upon arrival at the park, considered one of the world’s best snorkelling spots, we will have approximately two and a half hours to explore this underwater haven.
 

A barbecue lunch will be set up in the middle of the desert for us. In this remarkable setting, we are sure to feel like Lawrence of Arabia. The highlight of our tour will be joining the nomadic Bedouins for tea.

Boarding our glass-bottom boat, our journey will commence. We shall enjoy approximately 90 minutes of cruising, during which we can admire the coral reef.
 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• As a mark of respect to Egyptian customs and religions, shoulders and legs should be covered when visiting holy or historic sites.
• All tours will be escorted by members of the Egyptian tourist Police. (The Tourism Police are the only authority that can decide the number of Tourist Police Offices that should be escorting the tours. However, we can say that 95 % of the buses are escorted by Tourism Police Officers)
• Passengers must carry their passport at all times. When leaving the ship for tours, you will have to pass through Immigration (and on your return).
• Toilet facilities may be limited on tours, and therefore queues should be expected. All used buses are equipped with toilet facilities.
 

Our panoramic tour begins with a scenic drive to the Nabq Protected Area, a marine reserve located 22 miles north of Sharm el Sheikh. This site is an outstanding natural area containing varied ecosystems, including protected coral reefs and stands of mangroves.

The monastery stands on the site where tradition has it, Moses saw the burning bush, and dates back to the 6th century AD. Today, it is still occupied by monks following the Greek Orthodox church liturgy and monastic existence.
 

We depart the quayside and begin our tour with a drive along the scenic desert road to Cairo, the capital of Egypt, where upon arrival we proceed to the site of the magnificent Pyramids of Giza.

We will begin our tour and head to Pompey’s Pillar. It is a 27 metre high and two metre thick column of polished Aswan rose granite, which stands before the scant remains of the splendid Temple of Serapis, one of ancient Alexandria’s most important buildings.

Depart the quayside, we begin our tour with a drive along the scenic desert road to Cairo, the capital of Egypt, and upon arrival we proceed to the site of the magnificent Pyramids of Giza.

The second largest city in Egypt, Alexandria, known as the ‘Pearl of the Mediterranean’, has an atmosphere more Mediterranean than Middle Eastern.

Today we will enjoy a guided walking tour in the heart of Cairo. Our tour will begin at the Mosque of Sultan Hassan, here we will admire its grand, soaring architecture and rich decoration, completed in 1363 is one of the finest in Egypt.

Alexandria is a true waterfront city where the desert meets the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ALEXANDRIA

• As a mark of respect to Egyptian customs and religions, shoulders and legs should be covered when visiting holy or historic sites.
• All tour coaches will be escorted by members of the Egyptian tourist Police.
• Passengers must carry their passport at all times. When leaving the ship for tours, you will have to pass through Immigration (and on your return).
• Photography and the use of video cameras is totally prohibited in all areas.
• Toilet facilities may be limited on tours, and therefore queues should be expected.

We shall depart the pier by coach for a drive of approximately three hours to Cairo, the capital of Egypt and the largest city in Africa.

We depart Alexandria and travel towards the small coastal village of El Alamein, which means "the two mountains or the two way-markers” and is a town in the northern Matrouh Governorate of Egypt.

Few people are aware that Gibraltar is one of the best places in the world to view cetaceans the whole year round.

The rock of Gibraltar, overlooking the entrance to the Mediterranean and standing nearly 425 metres (1,400 feet) above sea level, is reputed to be one of the legendary Pillars of Hercules.

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula and Europe at the entrance of the Mediterranean overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. The territory covers 6.843 square kilometres (2.642sq mi) and shares a land border with Spain to the north. Gibraltar has historically been an important base for the British Armed Forces and is the site of a Royal Navy base.

Gibraltar is one of the most densely populated territories in the world, with a population of 29,286 estimated in 2008, approximately 4,290 inhabitants per square kilometre (11,100/sq mi). The growing demand for space is being increasingly met by land reclamation; reclaimed land currently comprises approximately one tenth of the territory’s total area.

The official currency of Gibraltar is the Gibraltar Pound.

On this leisurely tour we can enjoy a panoramic sightseeing drive of Gibraltar followed by English tea!

We depart from the quayside and begin our tour by making our way past the British/Spanish land frontier.

Gibraltar’s purpose-built cable car is one of the best ways to appreciate the great views of the city and its surroundings.