Cruise package summary
Package duration: 57 nights Fly, Cruise & Stay
Package starts: 21 October 2024, with flight from Australia to Crete
Cruise starts: 23 October 2024, from Heraklion, Crete
Cruise ends: 18 December 2024, into Cairns, Australia
Package ends: 18 December 2024, in Cairns Australia
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Exceptional package savings!
All prices in AUD per person.
Category 2 – Inside cabin – was $21,415 – your special price: $18,770*pp twin share
Category 6 – Outside cabin with window – was $24,650 – your special price: $21,625*pp
Category 13 – Outside cabin with balcony – was $32,065 -your special price $27,750*pp
Category 15 – Suite with balcony – was $48,985 – your special price: $42,265*pp
Single Category 2 Inside cabin was $35,180 – your special price: $20,830*
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FROM CRETE TO CAIRNS Fly, Cruise & Stay package prices include:
– One way economy class airfare from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth to Heraklion including tax
– One way transfer from Heraklion airport to hotel
– 1 nights accommodation in Heraklion pre-cruise with breakfast
– One way transfer from Heraklion hotel to port
– 56 night cruise aboard Vasco da Gama from Heraklion to Cairns
– All shipboard main meals
– The services of a nicko cruise director and local tour guide
– German and English-speaking service on board
– Comfortable whisper audio system is used on all excursions
– Use of the fitness area, the swimming pool and spa with sauna (spa services additional)
– Entertainment programme and lectures
– All port and government charges
– Shipboard Classic Beverage Package including: • House wine by the glass (white, rose and red) • Sparkling house wine by the glass
• Port, Madeira and sherry • Draft and bottled beers, non-alcoholic beer (excluding Guinness and Somersby Cider) • All non-alcoholic cocktails • Aperitifs (Aperol spritz/orange, Campari soda/orange) • All non-alcoholic house beverages (juices and soft drinks) • Mineral water and still water • All coffee specialties (alcohol-free) • Hot chocolate and tea
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Upgrade your beverage package for an additional AUD $2040 per person to a Premium Beverage Package:
Includes:
• All classic package beverages shown above, as well as the following:
• Cremant by the glass
• Guinness (bottle) and Somersby Cider (bottle)
• All cocktails (alcoholic)
• San Pellegrino mineral water
• Premium mixers (e.g. Elderflower Fever Tree tonic water and Tonic 1724)
• Various scotches and whiskies (e.g. Chivas Regal 12 years, Jack Daniel`s Old No. 7)
• Various gins (e.g. Bombay Star, Tanqueray 10 and Hendrick`s)
• Various vodkas (e.g. Stolichnaya, Absolut Citron, Belvedere, Ketel One and Grey Goose)
• Various rums (e.g. Havana Club Anejo, Mount Gay, Pyrat XO Reserve and Sagatiba Pura Cachaca)
• Various tequilas (e.g. Jose Cuervo Silver and Gold, Patron Silver and Anejo and Don Julio Anejo)
• Various brandies and cognacs (e.g. Armagnac Cles des Ducs, Calvados, Grappa Alexander Cru and Hennessy VSOP)
• Various fruit brandies (raspberry, kirsch, mirabelle, fruit and Williams pear)
• Various liqueurs (e.g. Amaretto, Bailey`s, Frangelico, Galliano, Kahlua and Limoncello)
• Various bitters (Fernet Branca, Jagermeister)
• Various vermouths (e.g. Dubonnet Aperitif and Martini Bianco/Rosso)
• Aquavit (Bommerlunder and Loiten`s Linie)
Special Conditions
Special Validity Dates
Pre-cruise Itinerary
| Date | Activity | Arrive | Depart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 2024 | Fly from Australia to Heraklion | ||
| 22 Oct 2024 | Arrive Heraklion, transfer to hotel for overnight stay | ||
| 23 Oct 2024 | Transfer to port, embark Vasco da Gama cruise ship |
Cruise Itinerary
| Date | Activity | Arrive | Depart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct 2024 | Heraklion, Greece |
08:00 PM | |
| 24 Oct 2024 | At sea | ||
| 25 Oct 2024 | Limassol, Cyprus |
08:00 AM | 11:30 PM |
| 26 Oct 2024 | At sea | ||
| 27 Oct 2024 | Suez Canal |
03:00 AM | 02:00 PM |
| 28 Oct 2024 | Hurghada, Egypt |
08:00 AM | 10:00 PM |
| 29 Oct 2024 | Safaga (Luxor) |
06:00 AM | 09:00 PM |
| 30 Oct 2024 | At sea | ||
| 31 Oct 2024 | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
07:00 AM | 05:00 PM |
| 01 Nov 2024 | At sea | ||
| 02 Nov 2024 | At sea | ||
| 03 Nov 2024 | At sea | ||
| 04 Nov 2024 | Salalah, Oman |
09:30 AM | 05:00 PM |
| 05 Nov 2024 | At sea | ||
| 06 Nov 2024 | Muscat, Oman |
11:00 AM | 10:00 PM |
| 07 Nov 2024 | Fujairah, United Arab Emirates |
10:00 AM | 08:00 PM |
| 08 Nov 2024 | Ras Al Khaimah |
09:00 AM | 09:00 PM |
| 09 Nov 2024 | Abu Dhabi, UAE |
09:00 AM | 10:00 PM |
| 10 Nov 2024 | Dubai, UAE |
08:00 AM | 10:00 PM |
| 11 Nov 2024 | Khasab, Oman |
06:00 AM | 12:00 PM |
| 12 Nov 2024 | At sea | ||
| 13 Nov 2024 | At sea | ||
| 14 Nov 2024 | Mumbai (Bombay), India |
11:00 AM | Overnight |
| 15 Nov 2024 | Mumbai (Bombay), India |
06:00 PM | |
| 16 Nov 2024 | Marmugao, Goa India |
11.30 AM | 11.30 PM |
| 17 Nov 2024 | At sea | ||
| 18 Nov 2024 | Cochin (Kochi), India |
07:00 AM | 11:30 PM |
| 19 Nov 2024 | At sea | ||
| 20 Nov 2024 | Colombo Sri Lanka |
07:00 AM | 08:00 PM |
| 21 Nov 2024 | At sea | ||
| 22 Nov 2024 | At sea | ||
| 23 Nov 2024 | At sea | ||
| 24 Nov 2024 | Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar |
08:00 AM | Overnight |
| 25 Nov 2024 | Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar |
Overnight | |
| 26 Nov 2024 | Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar |
12:00 PM | |
| 27 Nov 2024 | At sea | ||
| 28 Nov 2024 | George Town, Penang, Malaysia |
10:00 AM | 06:00 PM |
| 29 Nov 2024 | Port Klang, (Kuala Lumpur), Malaysia |
07:30 AM | 05:00 PM |
| 30 Nov 2024 | Singapore |
08:00 AM | Overnight |
| 01 Dec 2024 | Singapore |
12:00 PM | |
| 02 Dec 2024 | At sea | ||
| 03 Dec 2024 | Semarang, Indonesia |
08:00 AM | 08:00 PM |
| 04 Dec 2024 | At sea | ||
| 05 Dec 2024 | At sea | ||
| 06 Dec 2024 | Muara, Brunei |
12:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| 07 Dec 2024 | Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia |
07:00 AM | 05:00 PM |
| 08 Dec 2024 | Sandakan, Malaysia |
10:00 AM | 07:00 PM |
| 09 Dec 2024 | At sea | ||
| 10 Dec 2024 | Ternate Island, Maluka Islands, Indonesia |
12:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| 11 Dec 2024 | At sea | ||
| 12 Dec 2024 | Banda Neira, Indonesia |
07:00 AM | 04:00 PM |
| 13 Dec 2024 | At sea | ||
| 14 Dec 2024 | At sea | ||
| 15 Dec 2024 | Port Moresby PNG |
04:00 PM | Overnight |
| 16 Dec 2024 | Port Moresby PNG |
08:00 PM | |
| 17 Dec 2024 | At sea | ||
| 18 Dec 2024 | Cairns, Qld, Australia |
08:00 AM |
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.
57 days | Heraklion • Cyprus • Safaga • Jeddah • Salalah • Abu Dhabi •Dubai • Oman • India • Sri Lanka • Singapore • Java • Brunei • Moluccas • Papua New Guinea • Cairns
Highlights
– Experience the historical relics of Egyptian culture up close or relax on the beautiful beaches on the Red Sea
– Let yourself be enchanted by the fascinating mix of tradition and modernity in the United Arab Emirates
– You have the opportunity to see the most famous proof of love in the world with your own eyes: the mausoleum of the Taj Mahal
– Off to the mangrove jungle in Malaysia, where wild monkeys live and mysterious caves can be discovered
– You can travel through the centuries in Singapore – in just a few minutes: Nowhere else are old and new so close together
– It’s worth taking a look under the surface: on your way to Cairns, you will have several opportunities to go snorkeling in fabulous areas
In its own unique way, VASCO DA GAMA combines the Portuguese explorer tradition with the demands of today’s cruise guests: a wide range of different bars and restaurants in an exclusive setting, lots of public space with a modern interior and tasteful design elements. On board, you’ll find a full range of equipment for spa, fitness and your personal leisure activities. You won’t find any other comparable cruise ship of this size on the market offering such good value for money. The personal atmosphere on board due to the manageable number of guests is key to the sense of well-being. In the very spirit of Portuguese hospitality, our friendly crew remains committed to your welfare.
In today’s cruise ship market, our ship is regarded as small due to the fact that we have limited passenger capacity. The beautiful teak-wood decks exude classic charm, working in perfect harmony with the ship’s elegant and modern appearance. At 219 metres long and with a volume of 55,820 GRT, the ship provides its guests with all the space they need to thrive, spread across nine passenger decks. On board, you’ll feel this spaciousness, for example, in the cabins and suites (16 to 102 sqm in size), five bars and lounges in different designs, five restaurants, an elegant spa area with sauna and steam bath, a large fitness centre, sports areas on the outside decks as well as two pools, one of which has a sliding glass roof. And in our “Hollywood’s” show theatre over two decks, our on-board theatre company provides you with top-class evening entertainment. Bom espetáculo!
Our total of 550 crew members have just one goal: to make you feel comfortable! On top of the generous room-to-passenger ratio and our range of on-board facilities, the ample crew-to-guest ratio means you can find your own personal way to relax on board the ship. Whether you prefer to read a good book with a cool drink under the glass dome in our viewing lounge, the “Dome”, or would like to expend some of your energy in the outdoor sports areas, VASCO DA GAMA has the full range of options to choose from. For families, our children’s area over two decks and our special family cabins provide the ideal basis for an enjoyable holiday together – on family-friendly terms. We also have an attractive programme for singles: we have a cabin allocation for all dates with a single supplement of just 15%. Our chefs are, of course, able to meet all common dietary requirements. The ship also has some cabins for disabled guests and has a dialysis unit.
Ship Profile & Stats
- Length: 219 m
- Tonnage: 55,820
- Maiden Voyage: 1993
- Refurbished: 2021
- Passenger Capacity (dbl): 1000
Ship Amenities
- Individual Climate Control
- Safe
- Satellite TV
- Hair Dryer
Ship Facilities
- Children’s Area
- Sports Area
- Jogging Track
- Nightclub
- Fitness Centre
- Spa
- Al Fresco Grill
- Pool
- Lido Bar
- Cappuccino’s
- Club Bistro
- Hollywood’s
- Photo Gallery
- Wine Bar
- Bondi Conference Room
- Noosa Conference Room
- Waterfront Restaurant
- Waterfront Eurasia
- Waterfront Mediterranean
- Chef’s Table
- The Grill
- Reading Room
- Blue Room
- Captain’s Club
- Casino Lounge
- Shopping Galleria
- Ocean Bar
nicko cruises Schiffsreisen GmbH is one of the most dynamic cruise providers in Germany. In recent years, the company has evolved from a leading river cruise provider with more than 30 years of experience into a well-known provider of small ships with destination-oriented ocean routes. With its fleet, which is as modern as it is comfortable, nicko cruises travels the world’s oceans as well as all domestic waterways and coastal sections that are in demand for tourists. In 2023, the programme includes not only 22 river ships, but also the classic ocean-going vessel VASCO DA GAMA.
With its “time to discover” philosophy, nicko cruises focuses on cruise schedules that are rich in discovery and on intensive travel experiences in the product fields river and ocean. The product features of so-called “slow cruising”, such as small ships and long anchorage times, are combined with emotional moments at nicko cruises. During the cruises, guests always have plenty of time for exploring. Thanks to the large variety of products, everyone will find just the right trip at nicko cruises, individually tailored to their needs. The ships in the fleet are all in the 4 to 5-star category according to German land hotel trade standards. Attractive inland excursions and the varied culinary offers on board round off the travel experience. nicko cruises Schiffsreisen GmbH has its company headquarters in Stuttgart, where it employs roughly 110 highly motivated members of staff.
Select the Deck to view detail.
Select the Cabin to view detail.
•16.8 sqm with window (partially restricted view),maximum occupancy: 2 persons•Double bed (beds can be separated into two singles if desired) and seating area•Bathroom with shower or bath tub & hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, phone & safe, individually adjustable air conditioning
•16.0 – 18.5 sqm with porthole, maximum occupancy: 4 persons•Double bed (beds can be separated into two singles if desired) and seating area•Sofa, can partly be set up as a bed/partly as an additional upper bed•Bathroom with shower or bath tub & hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, phone & safe, individually adjustable air conditioning
•16.4 – 17.0 sqm, maximum occupancy:4 persons•Double bed (can be separated into two singles if desired)•Sofa, can partly be set up as a bed/partly as an additional upper bed•Bathroom with shower & hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, phone & safe, individually adjustable air conditioning
•16.4 – 17.1 sqm, maximum occupancy: 4 persons•Double bed (can be separated into two singles if desired)•Sofa, can partly be set up as a bed/partly as an additional upper bed•Bathroom with shower & hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, phone & safe, individually adjustable air conditioning
•17.5 sqm with window, maximum occupancy: 4 persons•Double bed (can be separated into two singles if desired)•Sofa, can partly be set up as a bed/partly as an additional upper bed•Bathroom with shower or bath tub & hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, phone & safe, individually adjustable air conditioning
•17.7 sqm with window, maximum occupancy: 2 persons•Double bed (beds can be separated into two singles if desired) and seating area•Bathroom with shower or bath tub & hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, phone & safe, individually adjustable air conditioning
•17.6 sqm with window, max. occupancy of two connecting cabins:7 persons
•Family cabins with connecting door: When booking cabin numbers 4066, 4067, 4074, 4075, 4078, 4079, 4090, 4091, 4154, 4155, 4162, 4163, 4170, 4171, 4178, 4179, 4186 or 4187 with at least three people (at least two of whom are paying full price) you get the connecting cabin free for children under 16 years of age.•Double bed (can be separated into two singles if desired)•Sofa, can partly be set up as a bed/partly as an additional upper bed•Bathroom with shower or bath tub & hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, phone & safe, individually adjustable air conditioning
•16.8 sqm with window, maximum occupancy: 2 persons•Double bed (beds can be separated into two singles if desired) and seating area•Bathroom with shower or bath tub & hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, phone & safe, individually adjustable air conditioning
•17.1 – 17.7 sqm with window, maximum occupancy: 4 persons•Double bed (can be separated into two singles if desired)•Sofa, can partly be set up as a bed/partly as an additional upper bed•Bathroom with shower or bath tub & hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, phone & safe, individually adjustable air conditioning
•17.3 – 17.9 sqm with window, maximum occupancy: 4 persons•Double bed (can be separated into two singles if desired)•Sofa, can partly be set up as a bed/partly as an additional upper bed•Bathroom with shower or bath tub & hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, phone & safe, individually adjustable air conditioning
•16.8 – 18.3 sqm with window, maximum occupancy: 2 persons•Double bed (beds can be separated into two singles if desired) and seating area•Bathroom with shower or bath tub & hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, phone & safe, individually adjustable air conditioning
101.7 sqm, maximum occupancy: 4 persons•Large balcony with seating•King-size double bed•Seating area including sofa/bed, can be set up as a double bed•Bathroom with shower or bath/whirlpool and hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, DVD player, phone, safe•Individually adjustable air conditioning •Extras for penthouse suite guests:- Welcome fruit bowl, one bottle of wine & water- Laundry & ironing service- Preferred check-in & check-out (wherever possible)- Atlas, binoculars, umbrella & bathrobe for the duration of the cruise as well as towelling slippers
•34.7 sqm, maximum occupancy: 4 persons•Balcony with seating•King size double bed (can be separated into two singles if desired)•Seating area including sofa/bed, can be set up as a double bed•Bathroom with shower or bath tub/whirlpool and hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, DVD player, phone, safe•Options for preparing coffee/tea•Individually adjustable air conditioning•Extras for suite guests (category 15):- Welcome fruit bowl, one bottle of wine & water- Laundry service- Preferred check-in & check-out (wherever possible)- Atlas, binoculars, umbrella & bathrobe for the duration of thecruise as well as towelling slippers
20.9 sqm, maximum occupancy: 3 persons•Balcony with seating•Double bed (can be separated into two singles if desired)•Bathroom with shower or bath tub/whirlpool and hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, phone, safe•Options for preparing coffee/tea•Individually adjustable air conditioning•Extras for all balcony cabin guests – categories 13 & 14:- Welcome fruit bowl, one bottle of wine & water- Preferred check-in & check-out (wherever possible)- Atlas, binoculars, umbrella & bathrobe for the duration of thecruise as well as towelling slippers
•20.9 sqm, maximum occupancy: 3 persons•Balcony with seating•Double bed (can be separated into two singles if desired)•Sofa, can sometimes be set up as a bed•Bathroom with shower or bath tub/whirlpool and hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, phone, safe•Options for preparing coffee/tea•Individually adjustable air conditioning•Extras for all balcony cabin guests – categories 13 & 14:- Welcome fruit bowl, one bottle of wine & water- Preferred check-in & check-out (wherever possible)- Atlas, binoculars, umbrella & bathrobe for the duration of thecruise as well as towelling slippers
•16.4 – 16.9 sqm, maximum occupancy: 4 persons•Double bed (can be separated into two singles if desired)•Sofa, can partly be set up as a bed/partly as an additional upper bed•Bathroom with shower & hairdryer•Flat-screen TV, phone & safe, individually adjustable air conditioning
* Unless otherwise noted all pricing is on a per person twin share basis. All prices based on cash payment - credit card fees may apply. Cruise deposit, amendment and cancellation conditions apply. Special conditions may apply - please ask for full details at time of enquiry. All passports, vaccinations and visas are the responsibility of the travelling guest to secure prior to departure from Australia. Any pricing not in Australian Dollars will be converted on the day of payment into the relevant currency based on our daily rate of exchange. Please note that many of the prices shown on this website are not shown in real time. Whilst we endeavour to keep our pricing as up-to-date as possible, the advertised prices shown here may differ slightly from the live prices in our booking system. All pricing and offers are subject to availability at time of booking. Whilst all information is correct at the time of publication, offers are subject to change. We reserve the right to correct errors without penalty. Please submit any data errors/omissions you may notice on this site.
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