The best cruise holiday deals

The Dawn Princess will visit South America, New York, Rome, Singapore and Athens on its 104-night world tour. Picture: Timothy Clapin Source: News Limited

TAKE a 24-night voyage from Barcelona with its Gothic Quarter, vibrant La Ramblas and extraordinary Gaudi buildings, to the Adriatic jewel of Venice with its canals, gondolas and St Mark's Square. The holiday includes return flights from Sydney on Singapore Airlines with departures from April to October. The 26-night Magic of the Mediterranean cruise on Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam has port stops at Marseilles in France; Monte Carlo in Monaco; Venice, Naples, Civitavecchia (for Rome) and Livorno in Italy; Dubrovnik in Croatia; Kotor in Montenegro; Katakolon, Lesbos, Thira, Argostoli, Kerkira, Corfu and Piraeus in Greece; and Istanbul and Kusadasi in Turkey. The package is priced from $5999 a person, twin share.

Ph 1300 854 897 or see holidaysofaustralia.com.au

Royal connections

PRINCESS Cruises will have a record presence in Queensland next year with a host of new cruises. Roundtrip cruises from Brisbane range from seven to 104 nights. These include a 35-night Australia and New Zealand cruise on Dawn Princess sailing April 15, priced from $4499 a person, twin share; a 41-night Hawaii, Tahiti and South Pacific cruise on Sea Princess departing April 7, from $5799 a person, twin share; and a 104-night world cruise on Dawn Princess departing May 20, from $18,999 a person, twin share. It will visit ports in South America as well as New York, Rome, Singapore and Athens. Shorter cruises include an 11-night Fijian Jewels itinerary sailing January 22 on Sea Princess, from $1099 a person, twin share, with calls at New Caledonia, Fiji and Vila.

Ph 132 488 or see princess.com

Treasure hunting

CRUISE Express will host a new 21-day Treasures of Northern Europe and Russia cruise in May next, 2014, year aboard Celebrity Eclipse to England, Germany, Scandinavia, the palaces of St Petersburg in Russia and France. Departing Australia on May 22 , 2014, next year, spend a night in an English country manor just outside London then board the 2800-passenger Eclipse in Southampton for a 14-night voyage through the Baltic to Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki with an overnight stay in St Petersburg. The tour calls at Berlin and Paris before guests return to England for three nights in London. With return flights from Australia, the 14-night cruise and four nights' hotel accommodation in England is available from $6490 a person, twin-share.

Ph 1300 764 509 or see cruiseexpress.com.au

Luxury trip around

SAMPLE the famous Cunard service on a trip aboard the Queen Mary 2 when she circumnavigates Australia next February. Sectors are available such as a 15-night cruise from Sydney to Fremantle, departing February 19, priced from $3719 a person, twin share. The full trip calls at Brisbane, Whitsundays, Darwin, Bali, Fremantle, Adelaide and Melbourne and is priced from $5699 a person, twin share, departing Sydney on February 19.

Ph 132 441 or see cunard.com

Fly, cruise and stay

CRUISECO'S new fly, cruise and stay holidays aboard the premium ships of Holland America Line have 15 departures between April and October next year. These 14 to 30- night holidays include return airfares and pre and/or post cruise accommodation. Prices start from $4699 a person, twin share, for an 18-night Rome return package aboard Eurodam departing April 13 to ports in Greece, Turkey, Tunisia and Italy, plus a two night pre-cruise stay at the Empire Palace Hotel Rome. A 14-night Jewels of the Baltic holiday departing London is priced from $5299 a person, twin share, aboard Ryndam, including a two-night pre-cruise stay at the Waldorf Hilton. It departs on May 17 and calls at Copenhagen, Warnemunde (Berlin), Tallinn, St Petersburg for an overnight on board, Helsinki, Stockholm and Aarhus in Denmark. An Adriatic and Ancient Explorer Collectors voyage is a 26-day cruise from Istanbul to Rome aboard Noordam departing on July 12 next year and is priced from $6615 a person, twin share. The package includes two nights pre-cruise stay at the Hilton Istanbul and two nights post-cruise stay at the Empire Palace Hotel in Rome.

See cruising.com.au

Asian adventure

A 32-night cruise on board P&O's Arcadia from Sydney to Singapore plus three nights' accommodation in Singapore, a zoo tour and flight back to Australia departing on February 21, 2015, is available from $6899 (Perth) $7169 (Adelaide and Melbourne), or $7179 (Brisbane and Sydney) a person twin share. Port calls include Kota Kinabalu, Manila, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Laem Chabang and Sihanoukville. Offer is valid to December 31 this year.

Ph 132 757 or see harveyworld.com.au

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Why you need a holiday before baby

Before baby makes three, book a getaway for two. Source: Supplied

RELAXATION is the new buzzword for modern pregnancy.

Health gurus, medical professionals, doulas and women friends who've been there before will tell you: nothing matters more when it comes to growing a baby than keeping your Zen.

That can be easier said than done as your size takes over and sleep becomes increasingly hard. Along with the general discomfort that can be part and parcel of an amazing nine months of your life. And that's why getting away from it all - even just for a night - can be the perfect antidote.

Hello, babymoon! That's just a fancy way of saying short holiday for expectant couples, squeezed somewhere between the time morning sickness eases off and you get too big to want to go anywhere.

Justifying the time and money might be hard at first, especially when you're in the throes of baby organisation.

But remember, as everyone is so fond of telling you, this could be last time you pack a small bag and head off down the road, without needing to worry about anything but yourselves!

Where you stay and what you do on your Babymoon can make all the difference.

Comfort, indulgence, a huge bed and great food will go a long way to making you feel refreshed and a bit 'normal' - especially if you've spent much of your first pregnancy feeling anything but yourself.

Hotels are slowly catching onto this babymoon craze.

And let's face it, the good ones already know what they're doing when it comes to rest and relaxation. But in a time where you're already making a million decisions every single day, how do you choose?

Making a list of your priorities is a great way to start. Being seven months pregnant, room service, swimming pool, massage and a large bed with extra pillows were at the top of my list.

Your next consideration should be 'where'. Depending where you're at in your pregnancy, you probably won't want to spend your whole Babymoon travelling to the destination. For anyone nearing the pointy end, it's probably also a good idea to be in driving distance to home or a hospital!

Here are three excellent selections, one country, one coastal and one city getaway that would all make great choices, especially for New South Wales readers.

THE LANGHAM, THE ROCKS, SYDNEY

The hotel offers fantastic views of Sydney Harbour and its surrounds. Source: Supplied

The Langham at The Rocks in Sydney is old-school opulence at its best. Think of cosy book lined bars, gorgeous marble bathrooms with a huge, long and deep bath tub and staff that will even turn down your bed for you. If you think hotels should be posh, then look no further. The Langham's rooms are also blissfully quiet with fantastic views of Sydney Harbour and surrounds.

PAMPER: The hotel gorgeous on-site day spa a 2.5 hour Pregnancy Pampering package, including massage, deluxe pedicure and facial that leaves you floating back to your room. Plus, the discreet in-house lifts mean you can do it all in a bathrobe and slippers! My favourite extra: The Langham offers guests a generous pillow menu, including a pregnancy full body support pillow. Oh, and whatever you do, don't skip a dip in the gorgeous Grecian style swimming pool.

Old-school opulence at its best. Source: Supplied

WHAT'S TO EAT? Dinner is served in the Galileo restaurant downstairs, or you can do as we did and opt for room service wheeled into your room, accompanied by polished silver and linen napkins. Breakfast is a sophisticated affair complete with beautiful rose covered China tea cups, and an assortment of fresh fruits, yoghurt, eggs, bacon, croissants and preserves.

HE SAYS: "Outstanding service from the staff: valet parking, good gym, harbour views and local to great pubs in The Rocks."

BELLS RESORT, KILLCARE CENTRAL COAST, NEW SOUTH WALES

The Hamptons’ influence is obvious in the laid-back charm of each suite. Source: Supplied

This place is foodie heaven. Situated on acres of green, luscious gardens and oodles of fresh sea air, Bells is a haven for expectant couples. The resort offers a range of private villas, each with their own secluded veranda with views over the lake and natural gardens. It's so quiet here you'll forget there are other people around. The East Hamptons-style villas are generous in size. The king size bed is lined with pillows and there's an enormous, deep bath in the centre of the bathroom that is definitely worth a test drive. You may need a hand getting out!

PAMPER: The day spa is an indulgence all on its own. Boasting the same Hamptons resort style white shutters, endless white towels and an extensive massage and facial menu using Bells own range of botanical products. I tried the hour long pregnancy massage that focused on feet, head, shoulders and lower back. The darkened room and piped music was particularly soothing.

The outdoors are just as inviting as the plush interiors. Source: Supplied

WHAT'S TO EAT? Dinner can be taken in Bells on-site Stephen Manfredi restaurant and if you're not up for going out, they offer a generous in-room dining menu. Breakfast is simply not worth missing. Everything is handmade on premises or cut straight from the resort's own vegetable garden. Homemade Bircher muesli, yoghurt, fresh fruits, jams and pastries and a nice selection of hot meals are all served with terrific cup of strong tea or coffee.

MY FAVOURITE EXTRA: The in-house selection of Bouddi organic body washes, soaps and shampoos that smell divine and the homemade jam.

HE SAYS: "A really secluded and private experience, surrounded by lots of nature and really comfortable, classy accommodation."

PEPPERS MANOR HOUSE, THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS

Immaculate gardens greet you on arrival. Source: Supplied

Fresh country air and green lawns are the first things you notice driving up the impressive entrance to Peppers Manor House. Tucked away in a secluded spot of Sutton Forrest, Peppers Manor House offers Highlands style luxury that's made for comfort. There are three sitting rooms with an assortment of rolled back armchairs and deep seated sofas. A sunny courtyard that looks over the tennis courts, pool and green lawns. The rooms are light and airy, the bathroom with deep spa looking out over the hilly landscape. And the king size bed is heaving with pillows - a heavenly sight for the pregnant woman!

PAMPER: The on-site Ednota Spa offers a 1.5 hour Pregnancy Pamper package that includes: footbath, exfoliation, leg massage. Plus, organic facial and shoulder, head, back and neck massage.

The on-site spa offers a 90-minute pregnancy package ... but only if you ever feel like leaving this bed. Source: Supplied

WHAT'S TO EAT? The Kater Restaurant situated just off the main courtyard serves a fine breakfast, lunch and dinner. And if you feel like exploring the local area there are plenty of wineries and local pubs to keep you feeling satisfied. Breakfast is relaxing affair in the light filled dining room. Among the highlights: the homemade Bircher muesli, local croissants and generous portions of eggs and bacon.

MY FAVOURITE EXTRA: The superbly comfortable bed, fresh Highlands air and windows you can actually open in your room.

HE SAYS: "Feels like being on the set of a James Bond movie. You can arrive by chopper, and drink in the old-school bar with a stack of newspapers and sport on demand."

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