Carnival cruises into Asian ports

Carnival Cruise Line has announced plans to set sail for the Asia-Pacific region, with Carnival Adventure and Carnival Luminosa (above) poised to explore Asian ports for the first time.

Asia has long been a favourite holiday destination for Australians.

On sale now, Carnival Adventure will offer two itineraries in 2027, exploring Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The program includes a Sydney to Singapore voyage, stopping in Indonesia and a round-trip cruise from Singapore, featuring ports in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Carnival Luminosa will introduce a 14-day voyage in 2026, sailing from Tokyo to Singapore. This itinerary will visit Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. Carnival Luminosa will also sail on a 14-day voyage from Singapore to Brisbane via Bali and Darwin.

“We're so excited to bring Carnival's fun to Asia for the first time,” said Kara Glamore, Carnival Cruise Line vice president for sales and marketing.

“This is going to give Australians a new, affordable and thrilling way to visit multiple destinations across Asia, all while enjoying the unparalleled fun of a Carnival cruise.

“Asia has bustling cities, breath-taking scenery, ancient temples, and world-famous beaches, and we can't wait for our guests to explore this magical part of the world.

“These itineraries mark a new chapter in cruising for Carnival, just as we prepare to embark on an exciting expansion to four ships in Australia, when P&O's Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter join the Carnival family in March, and are renamed Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter.”

See www.carnival.com.au. 

Thirsty hordes ready to rock downtown Geelong

 

Geelong sounds like a fun place to be this weekend - particularly if you enjoy a beer or two. 

Tickets for the Geelong Beer Festival have been selling at a record pace ahead of the event at Johnstone Park on Saturday, January 18, that is expected to draw 6,000 thirsty people to the centre of Victoria's second city. 

Festival highlights include a performance by British India and Kaiju Collab -a new European style lager that will launch at the festival. 

British India hit the stage at 7pm and headline along with acoustic artist Felipe Baldomir, and comedian Andrew Hansen. 

Festival co-director Kieran Blood says demand for tickets has exceeded all expectations.

"We’ve never seen ticket sales like this before," he said. 

"With accommodation already booked out and limited tickets remaining, we’re gearing up for a record-breaking event that will put Geelong on the map as the ultimate summer destination." 

There will be over 300 craft beverage offerings: beers, spirits, wines and cocktails, along with gourmet food from artisan producers

Lindsy Greig, a certified Cicerone and former cheesemonger, will host beer and cheese pairings and tastings while there will also be family-friendly entertainment from roaming performers, live comedy sessions, DJs and dance-offs. 

The event will run from noon-8pm. 

Limited tickets at https://www.geelongbeerfestival.com.au

How Elon Musk is inconveniencing Qantas customers

Multi-billionaire Elon Musk is the man to blame for delaying multiple Qantas flights to South Africa.

Flights operated by the Australian flag carrier have been disrupted by falling space junk.

Qantas says its Sydney to Johannesburg flights are being delayed because of debris entering the atmosphere in part of the southern Indian Ocean, news portal Travel Mole reports.

The flights cross a section of the southern Indian Ocean that Musk's SpaceX operation uses for re-entry into the atmosphere.

Qantas says it has had "repeated" delays in recent weeks to avoid deliberately decoupled parts of rockets as they return to earth.

Qantas says it gets little notice of this from SpaceX that it is unable to reschedule in advance.

Qantas operations centre boss Ben Holland told Travel Weekly that the unpredictability of the re-entries poses significant challenges for flight scheduling.

“Over the past few weeks we’ve had to delay several flights between Johannesburg and Sydney due to advice received from the US Government regarding the re-entry of SpaceX rockets over an extensive area of the Southern Indian Ocean,” he said.

“While we try to make any changes to our schedule in advance, the timing of recent launches have moved around at late notice which has meant we’ve had to delay some flights just prior to departure. Our teams notify customers of changes to their flight as soon as we know it will be impacted.”

South African Airways flights have also reportedly been impacted by SpaceX’s operations. 

Arrogant Americans thinking they own the planet. Nothing new there. 

Taste a different take on Middle Eastern cuisine

You'll need to head out to Merrylands in Sydney's west if you want to taste a new take on Middle Eastern flavours.

IFTAR, led by chef Jeremy Agha, aims to "deliver authentic Middle Eastern flavours with a fresh, modern twist".

Aghar says each dish reflects his family legacy - particularly his mother Rita's cooking - while offering a modern approach.

IFTAR means “break-fast” in Arabic and contains all the letters of his mother's name.

“The hidden meaning is, IFTAR can’t be spelt without the letters of her name - there’s no IFTAR without Mum. It’s as much her story as it is mine.”

The menu is structured around small plates and hearty mains designed for sharing in Middle Eastern tradition.

Signature offerings include richly spiced manoush (flatbread), batata harra (potatoes tossed in sauce), lamb shawarma tacos and eggplant fatteh, alongside more modern creations like Wagyu kofta dumplings.

Central to the menu is the woodfired sourdough bread, made using a family recipe.

“Middle Eastern dining is about so much more than food, it’s the experience of filling a table with loved ones, sharing stories and savouring flavours together," says Agha.

"At IFTAR, we want every guest to feel that warmth and generosity, as though they’ve been welcomed into our home.

“IFTAR isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a place to connect. Whether you’re sharing a meal with family, celebrating with friends or simply exploring new flavours, IFTAR is here to create moments and memories.”

Designed by interior architect Matt Woods, IFTAR’s decor mirrors the menu's ethos - rooted in tradition.

IFTAR officially opens its doors on Saturday, January 18.

IFTAR: Main Lane, Merrylands NSW 2160. Trading hours: Monday-Sunday: 7am-3pm.

New scam targets unsuspecting Qantas customers

There is a new scam that targets unsuspecting Qantas flyers.

If you receive an email with an image like the one above from a formresponse.com email then you are advised to immediately delete it and block the address.

Whatever you do make sure you do not click on the link, which will contain malware designed to redirect you to a URL aimed at stealing your information.

My wife received an authentic-looking email this morning, saying that: "Qantas has sent you a Gift Coupon. Use it today or whenever you like, it never expires!

"From: Qantas Gift Coupon. Value: 99.5 AUD.

"This gift coupon can be redeemed only once. Please do not share the link with others. Choose your preferred method for redeeming the coupon."

The dodgy email address was one clue; as was the fact that no name or frequent flyer number was used. The way the dollar sum was written also does not look like it was written by an Australian.

This gift coupon can be redeemed only once. Please do not share the link with others Choose your preferred method for redeeming the coupon.

Newsletter TravelWeekly.com.au reports that Qantas has warned against similar scams. 

“From time to time we are made aware of email scams and social media posts that claim to be authentic Qantas communications," the airline says on its website.

 

" These may ask customers to visit an external site and download a file or confirm customer details.

“We will never ask customers to click a link to download a file about bookings from a website, including our own. We send important documents that relate to your booking as Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files that you can download directly.”

The perfect side trip from the Gold Coast beaches

 

Summer visitors to the beaches of Queensland's Gold Coast are being urged to take a side trip to the vineyards of the nearby Granite Belt.

Local tourism operators say the Granite Belt Wine Country's combination of cool summer nights, farm-fresh produce and natural beauty offer a contrast to the glitter strip. 

Nestled on the Great Dividing Range, the Granite Belt is emerging as a summer escape for foodies, wine lovers, and nature enthusiasts. 

Under a three-hour drive from Brisbane, the Gold Coast, or Byron Bay, the region offers an alternative to the summer heat of the coast.

"Granite Belt Wine Country isn’t just about incredible wine - though we have that in abundance," said Chris Nolan, president of Granite Belt Wine & Tourism. 

"It’s about the cool, fresh nights you won’t find anywhere else in Queensland, paired with seasonal produce, iconic national parks, and cosy accommodation that feels like a home away from home."



The average nightly January temperature drops on average to 4-5 degrees cooler than Brisbane and the Gold Coast. 

For nature enthusiasts, the Granite Belt boasts Girraween National Park, known for its dramatic granite outcrops, wildflowers, and wildlife.

“Summer has been amazing on the Granite Belt, we’ve had an incredible influx of tourists to the region all loving the cooler days and nights, low humidity, as well as seeing the vineyards blooming with life,” said Adam Penberthy, owner of the Ballandean Pub and Dear Vincent Wines.

“The pub has been bustling with out-of-towners coming in for a meal after a day exploring or swimming in our epic water holes, cooling off with a cold beer.

“At the cellar door, we’ve been amazed at how busy the summer season has been. Guests have loved our summer release wines Sunshine and our Pink Fizz Pet Nat, perfect for a long lunch under the shade of the 100-year-old olive tree.”

For more info about planning a Granite Belt getaway visit the Granite Belt Country website here.

Images: Georgie Lillis