Australia & New Zealand Cruise on Celebrity's Solstice

12 nights from Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia

January 4–16, 2013
Celebrity's Solstice

Join Pied Piper Travel as we celebrate 23 years of gay group cruising! Onboard the beautiful Celebrity Solstice you will travel down under to experience the unmatched beauty of Australia and New Zealand. You'll sail from Auckland, New Zealand, to spectacular Sydney harbor.

Along the way you'll experience some of the most beautiful landscapes and panoramas on the planet. The grandeur and magnificent of the New Zealand countryside and fiords are unparalleled in the size and pristine beauty. This popular Pied Piper gay group cruise is a perfect combination of contemporary urban charm and stunning natural vistas.

All this is yours while you are pampered with gracious service, gourmet dining, and numerous venues for entertainment on one of the newest and most up-to-date luxury cruise ships - Celebrity's Solstice.

Celebrity's Solstice

As you stroll among the expansive decks, you'll experience the rich color palettes illuminated by beautiful natural light, and revel in the extensive amenities - all delivered with the attentive service for which Celebrity Cruises is renowned. Celebrity Solstice is built around you and the way you long to travel. Voyage with us, on the newest of our Solstice-class of ships, and discover a refined level of elegance - an unrivaled experience making a distinctive statement of style and design. We invite you to learn more about the new features and venues as details are revealed.

Celebrity Cruises' largest vessel, the Celebrity Solstice, made her grand debut in winter 2008, offering many genuine cruise industry firsts. Celebrity Solstice is to be the next grand addition to the Celebrity Cruises fleet. And it was to be the first of four Solstice-class ships, weighing a mighty 122,000 tonnes with a capacity of 2,852 passengers.

Let Solstice tantalize your palate with our award-winning cuisine. Prepared by world-renowned chefs, our culinary delights are made from scratch using only the finest, fresh ingredients. From casual eateries like the Aqua Spa Cafe serving light, healthy fare to specialty restaurants where meals are prepared tableside, there are choices sure to please those with even the most discerning tastes. Enjoy indoor dining in our smoke-free environments or outdoor dining poolside. Aboard Celebrity, the choice is yours.

Aboard Solstice, you'll find unlimited opportunities to indulge your interests. Attend an informative onboard lecture, discover unique treasures in our upscale boutiques or test your love for competition. Collect fine pieces of art during an onboard auction.

Celebrity Solstice was the first Celebrity ship to feature AquaClass cabins. These spacious veranda staterooms, located on the prestigious Penthouse Deck, have been designed exclusively for spa lovers. All 130 AquaClass rooms will feature a 53-square-ft balcony and will provide guests with unlimited access to the nearby AquaSpa relaxation room and the Persian Garden – an exotic aromatherapy steam room.

AquaClass passengers will also be entitled to complimentary dining in Blu, a chic boutique restaurant that will be in keeping with the rest of the ship's chic minimalist décor.

If you love to stay active, Celebrity has an abundance of entertaining activities to keep you moving day and night, regardless of your skill level. Whether you're looking for spirited competition, mind-bender challenges or just love the fun of a themed dance party, Solstice has it all. Your vacation experience can be filled with as many activities as you have the energy for. Your "Celebrity Today" daily program is delivered each night and serves as your map to a treasure of fun & exciting activities taking place onboard.

Auckland, New Zealand

In a nation where stunning scenery is taken for granted, this water wonderland sparkles like a freshly polished jewel. Over 48 extinct volcanoes cloaked in wild mountainous scenery encircle the "City of Sails". An undulating succession of bays and inlets stretch along its endless shores. Even the downtown area with its expansive, farm-like parks exudes a sense of spacious beauty.

Auckland Sky Tower
The tower offers 360-degree views of Auckland and its harbour.

Auckland War Memorial
War Memorial Museum - focussing on New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, the museum collection includes an 82-foot (25m) Maori war canoe.

Gannet Colony
Visit a breeding colony of these diving seabirds.

Glow Worm Grotto
Marvel at the twinkling glow worms as small boats glide along the underground waterways.

Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World and Antarctic Encounter
Observe marine life from acrylic walk-through tunnels and visit a re-creation of Captain Scott's Antarctic expedition of 1911.

Matakana Wine District
One of New Zealand's premium wine districts lies 50 miles (80km) north of Auckland.

Mount Eden
An extinct volcano, Auckland's highest point is home to a Maori fort.

Rotorua
Rotorua was already well established as a spa by the end of the 19th century. Today, it remains a geothermal wonderland and a vital centre of Maori culture.

Tauranga, New Zealand

Known as the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga is located at the entrance to one of the largest natural harbors in New Zealand. You can take a ride on a bush jet boat, go white-water rafting on the Rangitaiki River, or dine on the freshest fish and chips you'll ever taste, served al fresco. If you're looking for a more exotic counter, travel to the Mount Mauganui Hot Salt Water Pools.

Tauranga's majestic Mauao (Mount Maunganui) marks the harbor entrance of the Bay of Plenty region, with Tauranga as its main center. The Bay of Plenty is aptly named – it has a wide range of recreational activities, a mild climate, New Zealand's most popular beaches, and the world's first kiwifruit orchards. The Port of Tauranga has a full range of services available, with only a short stroll to the Mount Maunganui shopping center and banks. Also, within walking distance of the port are two magnificent beaches – the inner harbor has a gentle beach, while on the ocean side is a well-known surf beach.

Wellington, New Zealand

From the new to the old, Wellington offers a bit of everything. Locals are particularly proud of the National Museum of New Zealand- Te Papa Tongarewa. Loosely translated as "our place" from the native Maori tongue, the museum is one of the world's largest and most progressive. A great way to explore the city is on the restored cable cars, which traverse the shopping district. And if you want to experience it all from above, take in the panoramic views from Mount Victoria.

Kelburn Cable Car
Bright red cable cars climb the slopes from Kelburn to Mt. Victoria for spectacular views.

Lady Norwood Rose Garden
The formal rose garden in the Wellington Botanic Garden features over 1,200 types of roses.

Museum of New Zealand
Known as Te Papa or "our place" in Maori, the museum is dedicated to New Zealand's past, present and future.

Old St.Paul's Cathedral
Neo-Gothic style blends with colonial conditions and native hardwoods in this Victorian cathedral built in 1866.

Parliament Buildings
Parliament House, completed 1922, and the 1897 General Assembly stand in contrast to the modern Executive Wing, known locally as the "Beehive".

Christchurch, New Zealand

From the moment you step onshore, you'll understand why locals long ago tabbed this the "Garden City." Lush gardens and parks punctuate well-spaced avenues and squares, all adorned with Victorian architecture. Of particular note is the 57-acre Christchurch Botanic Gardens, which features wide-open lawns, some of New Zealand's oldest trees, and a thriving population of ducks. At the center of town is Christchurch Cathedral, a stunning example of Gothic Revival architecture.

Botanical Gardens
A deep bend of the Avon River cradles the 75-acre (30 hectares) botanical reserve.

Canterbury Museum
The museum's exhibits focus on early colonial life, Antarctic exploration, and the voyages of Captain Cook.

Cathedral Square
This pedestrian plaza lies at the heart of the city.

Christchurch Cathedral
Built of native stone, the cathedral is the finest Gothic-style Church in New Zealand.

Mona Vale Homestead
One of the city's most historic homes features 14 acres (5.5 hectares) of gardens.

Town Hall
Christchurch's centre for civic and cultural activity is a modern marble and glass building.

Victoria Square
A statue of Queen Victoria graces this bustling square near the Town Hall.

Dunedin, New Zealand

Were it not for the absence of the Scottish brogue, you might think you'd landed in Edinburgh. Both the scenery and the architecture borrow heavily from Scotland. You can even shop for kilts or dig into a piece of fresh haggis. Dunedin is also home to New Zealand's only castle, a 15-year construction endeavor complete with the only staircase of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and magnificent woodwork.

Dunedin is a bustling university city, located at the head of the long, narrow and wonderfully picturesque Otago Harbour. Originally a Presbyterian Scottish settlement, this second-largest city in the South Island retains a distinct Scottish ambience. It is known for its grand 19th century public buildings and homes reflecting the wealth derived from the goldfields in the interior of the Otago Province in the 1860s.

The early arrivals of settlers in Dunedin and the anticipated growth of the gold rush obliged the authorities in Britain to undertake some hasty planning. Plans for a classic 19th century English town were quickly drawn-up in England without regards to the actual topography of the land. As a result many of the streets in the city go straight up very steep hills. Dunedin actually boasts the steepest street in the world as recorded by the Guinness Book of Records. Fortunately the city center is largely unaffected.

The Otago Peninsula that protects the harbor is also a haven for wildlife seldom seen so close to a major city. Best known is the royal albatross colony, at Taiaroa Head, and the yellow-eyed penguins, both have received international recognition.

Dusky Sound, New Zealand

Steep cliffs that have been carved over centuries by dozens of waterfalls surround the largest and most complex of the many fjords along the New Zealand coast, Dusky Sound. It's also a wildlife paradise, with seals and dolphins patrolling the water, and birds like broad billed prions, mottled petrels and sooty shearwaters floating on the overhead thermals.

Dusky Sound is a fjord on the south west corner of New Zealand, in Fiordland National Park. One of the most complex of the many fjords on this coast, it is also one of the largest, 40 kilometres in length and eight kilometres wide at its widest point. To the north of its mouth is the large Resolution Island, whose Five Fingers Peninsula shelters the mouth of the sound from the northwest. Along the east coast of the island, Acheron passage connects Dusky Sound with Breaksea Sound, to the north.

Several large islands lie in the sound, notably Anchor Island, Long Island, and Cooper Island. Sightseeing highlights include the hundreds of waterfalls cascading into the sound during the rainy season, seals and dolphins. Bird and wildlife sanctuaries are also attractions with sightings of Curlew, Shag, Petrel, Pigeon and Parrot Isles; Shag River; Seal Rock; Goose, Duck and Woodhen Coves.

Doubtful Sound, New Zealand

Sometimes called the 'Sound of Silence' Doubtful Sound is the deepest (421 metres) and second longest (40 kilometres) of the South Island's fiords. It is a powerful place - serene, mysterious and untouched by the modern world.

The fiord was originally named Doubtful Harbour by Captain James Cook, who didn't sail into the inlet because it looked a bit tight for safe manoeuvring. It was later named Doubtful Sound by whalers and sealers.

Like other fiords in the area, Doubtful Sound contains two distinct layers of water that don't mix. The top few meters is fresh water, fed by runoff from the surrounding mountains. Below this is a layer of salt water from the sea. The difference in refractive index between these two layers makes it difficult for light to penetrate. As a result, many deep-sea species - such as black coral - grow in the comparatively shallow depths.

Doubtful Sound has some splendid waterfalls, particularly during the wetter seasons. In the Hall Arm, the Browne Falls cascades 619 metres; Helena Falls at Deep Cove tumbles 220 metres. Wildlife is another reason to visit this fiord - keep an eye out for bottlenose dolphins, fur seals and penguins.

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Milford Sound, located in the southwest of New Zealand's South Island, is located within the Fiordland National Park. Formed by the erosive effects of a glacier, Milford Sound is in fact a fjord and is in some places up to 400 metres deep. Bounded by steep cliffs and dense rainforest with dramatic rivers and cascading waterfalls Milford Sound is a national icon of New Zealand. It runs 15 km inland from the Tasman Sea and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 1200 m or more on either side. Among its most striking features are Mitre Peak, rising 1,692 m above the sound, the Elephant at 1,517 m and resembling an elephant's's head, and Lion Mountain, 1,302 m, in the shape of a crouching lion. Lush rain forests cling precariously to these cliffs, while seals, penguins and dolphins populate the water.

Hobart, Tasmania

Located at latitude 40 degrees south in the island State of Tasmania, Hobart is Australia's second oldest city. The city is rich in character and history, nestled next to one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world and at the base of majestic Mount Wellington, which rises 4,166 feet (1270 meters) from the sea. Docking in Hobart gives you immediate access to Mount Wellington and its incredibly beautiful surroundings. From there you can look out over the busy harbor, which plays host to yachts from all over the world. The Salamanca Arts Centre also puts the region's incredible artwork on display, including some stunning Aboriginal pieces. Or, if you're looking for something less formal, just wander about the streets listening to street buskers, or stop into a pub and sample local wines.

Sydney, Australia

Considered one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Southern Hemisphere, Sydney offers just about anything-from beaches and wineries to stunning landmarks and world-class shopping. Tour architectural marvels like the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge, view life below the surface from Sydney Aquarium's underwater walkways, or take it all in from above on a tour of the Sydney Tower.

Bondi Beach
Australia's most famous beach draws visitors seeking sun, sand and surf - and also dining, theatre, films and festivals.

Harbour Bridge
Known locally as "the coat hanger," this single span, arch bridge was considered both an economical feat and an architectural triumph upon its completion in 1932.

Mrs.MacQuarie's Chair
The wife of Australia's first governor enjoyed the spectacular views from this point. Visitors and locals alike are drawn here for the sweeping city and harbour views.

Paddington
Dating back to the 1840s, this Sydney suburb of steep hills is lined with classic Victorian-style houses.

Sydney Opera House
The city's most popular tourist attraction, the Opera House is actually a complex of theatres and halls. Its unique sail-like design makes it one of the most recognised buildings in the world.

The Rocks
Given its name due to the sandstone cliffs and bedrock, the site of Australia's first penal settlement is today an area rich in colonial history and vibrant with 5-star hotels, restaurants, pubs, shops, galleries, and museums.