38 | CRUISE DESTINATION SPOTLIGHT
Continued from Page 37 Palma Palma, the capital of the Balearic Islands, located on the western Mediterranean Sea is a bustling cruise destination . On the southwestern coast of the island of Majorca, the Spanish influence in Palma is evident since the island became part of Spain in the 15th century. Docking into Palma, travellers can enjoy
a fabulous view of Palma and the Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca, the stand out feature of the island’s horizon. The cathedral is an astounding depiction of Gothic architecture, built in 1229, the main doorway of the cathedral wasn’t completed until 1601. The Cathedral is a place of worship
with astounding character, every corridor representing the significant historical events that were occurring around the building. Travellers can head into the cathedral to view one of the stunning chapels, guided or free tours are available, and visitors can even head to the Cathedral’s rooftop to enjoy a fabulous view over Palma City. Like something out of a fairytale, Palma’s Town has labyrinthine streets and
Old
quirky scenic squares, a trip to Palma truly is like stepping back in time with its rich Mediterranean heritage. In Palma, it is encouraged to set your map to the side and allow yourself to wander through the charming streets, which act like the veins of the city. Palma’s old town is where a lot of the main tourist attractions are situated. This includes the Royal Palace
www.nitravelnews.com
February 2024 Palma Tourist Board Unveil New Gastronomy Plans
THE Palma Tourist Board highlighted
how the destination’s high-value culinary offering and gastronomic heritage allows visitors to immerse themselves in Mediterranean culture and lifestyle. During the presentation,
Palma Palma
announced its involvement in a new project, Culinary Mediterranean Cities. The aim of this initiative is to create an experiential, unique and high-value gastronomic tourism offering, based on common culinary attributes and values of the participating Mediterranean cities – Barcelona, Cartagena, Palma and Valencia. The project will involve hosting memorable experiences around local gastronomy, people, and produce using tastings and marketing campaigns. As such, Palma is committed to multiple
of La
Almudaina, the Royal Palace is located adajcent to the Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca and is the official residence of the Spanish royals upon their visits to Palma. Tourists can actually visit the Royal Residences, as it opens from 10am each day and closes at 6pm in the winter and 7pm in the summer. The tickets to access the Royal Residence are free for forty minutes. However, if you want to visit the Royal Palace for longer, tickets cost roughly around seven euros. Palma is well-regarded for its cafe and dining culture, with al fresco dining lining the winding streets of the Old Town. When in
Spain, it’s almost imperative that you try tapas, a range of small plates that allow you to taste the full spectrum of delightful Spanish cuisine. Or if you only fancy a sweet treat, Palma is known for its ‘ensaimada’ pastry, a puff pastry covered in icing sugar. Why not give it a try? Sometimes
though, exploring a new
destination doesn’t always have to be jam- packed with sightseeing. Palma plays host t o
across Palma’s Did You Know?
Palma de Mallorca has one of Europe’s largest Marinas...
an array of stunning beaches, spreading
diverse coast line. In the warm Spanish sun, perhaps the most attractive option for visitors is to take a dip in Palma’s crystal clear waters. A range of water activities are
available,
including snorkelling and swimming. If you enjoy
exploring the
marine life of the area without taking a dip yourself,
Palma Aquarium is one of the
island’s most popular tourist attractions. Palma Aquarium allows visitors to explore the marine life and eco-systems that flourish in the climate of the Balearic Islands. Tickets to the aquarium cost roughly around 29 euros for adults, and a child ticket costs around 18 euros with children aged 0 to 3 gaining free admission. Relaxation
is in abundance, the sandy
beaches and coastal walk mean tourists can enjoy an afternoon of sun-soaking while at port. Holidays are all about rejuvenation after all!
As a gateway to the rest of Mallorca, cruise
passengers can avail of plenty of excursions provided by the cruise-liner. There are day excursions available that allow visitors to head to the roads less travelled. Options include, mountain climbing in Serra de Tramontana or a visit to one of the many vineyards throughout the island.
THE 1,924-guest Noordam will operate 14-night voyages from November 2025 to March 2026, sailing roundtrip from Sydney, or between Sydney and Auckland. The programme will showcase a range of iconic cities and sights, as well as scenic cruising in the Milford Sound. Itineraries comprise: Australia and New Zealand’,
from Sydney
to Auckland, with departures in November, February and March. Calling at Melbourne, Hobart and/or Burnie, Tauranga, Napier and Port Chalmers (Dunedin). Additional New Zealand ports include a combination of Picton, Wellington, Timaru, Lyttelton (Christchurch) and Waitangi. * ‘New Zealand Discovery’, sailing roundtrip
from Sydney, departing December 7, 2025. Calling at Auckland, Waitangi, Tauranga, Gisborne,
Napier, Wellington, Lyttelton
(Christchurch) and Port Chalmers (Dunedin). * ‘South Australia Discovery Holiday’, sailing
roundtrip from Sydney, departing December 21, 2025. Calling at Melbourne, Phillip Island, Eden, Adelaide, Penneshaw, Burnie, Port Arthur and Hobart (late departure). All New Zealand itineraries include scenic cruising in the Milford Sound, located within the Fiordland National Park. Holland America Line is also offering five
Collectors’ Voyages, which combine back-to- back, non-repeating itineraries, on Noordam. These range from 28 to 50 days and merge two 14-day Australia and New Zealand cruises, or one 14-day Australia and New Zealand cruise with a ‘Legendary Voyage’ to the South Pacific.
The Collectors’ Voyages comprise: * 41-day ‘South Pacific Crossing & New
Zealand’, from Seattle to Auckland, departing October 12, 2025. * 28-day ‘New Zealand & South Australia Discovery’, sailing roundtrip from Sydney, departing December 7, 2025. * 42-day ‘South Australia & South Pacific
Islands’, from Sydney to Auckland, departing December 21, 2025. * 42-day ‘South Pacific Islands & New
Zealand’ voyage, sailing roundtrip from Sydney, departing January 4, 2026. * 50-day ‘New Zealand & South Pacific
Crossing’, from Auckland to Seattle, departing March 1, 2026. For a limited time, when guests book select 2025-2026 Australia and New Zealand cruises they will benefit from the ‘Have It All Early Booking Bonus’ package, which includes free upgrades to the Elite Beverage Package and premium Wi-Fi. Karen Farndell, Director Sales & Marketing for Holland America Line, said: “Australia and New Zealand are ideal options for travellers looking for global destinations, iconic cities and wild wonders. “We craft our cruises to showcase the best
of each region. With these voyages, guests can immerse themselves in New Zealand in a port-intensive itinerary that also features scenic cruising through Milford Sound, or they can see wildlife including penguins and kangaroos while exploring South Australia.” For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel agent.
initiatives throughout the year which highlight Palma’s first-class gastronomic offering,
which fuses traditional and
contemporary flavours. One such event is Hidden Kitchen, an innovative concept from Chefs(in) during which chefs prepare a surprise lunch or dinner menu for a small number of diners in an exclusive, secret location. Another initiative highlighted by the tourism board is the Association of Bakers and Pastry Chef of the Balearic Islands’ Llonguet route, a festival held in the last Sunday in April to promote traditional local bread. Those visiting the city in November cannot miss TaPalma, the
Holland America Line Launches New Down Under Cruises
city’s annual tapas and cocktail festival which seeks to boost the city's restaurant sector and position Palma as a Spanish gastronomy hub through a series of gastronomic routes and competitions. Pedro Homar, Manager of the Palma
Tourism Board, claimed that the success of Palma’s culinary scene can be put down to the top-quality local ingredients sourced from the sea and mountains, which tourists can admire at the traditional markets of Mercat de l’Olivar and Santa Catalina. Homar also put this success down to the expert chefs residing in the city who share passion and knowledge for local cuisine and Mediterranean culture, at Michelin-starred
restaurants
including Adrián
Quetglas, Marc Fosh, DINS Santi Taura and Zaranda.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65
