WE'RE THE FIRST TO admit it. Luxury cruises aren't for everyone. That’s why SeaCrest Cruises has just launched a whole new way of cruising the world’s oceans in comfort and luxury: the Poetica. You’ll depart from Sydney’s glittering Circular Quay for three inspired weeks, stopping in Vanuatu and Fiji before finishing your cruise in unforgettable Honolulu. The Poetica difference is that each Poetica cruise is created especially for writers. Whether you’re a seasoned pro putting the finishing touches on your manuscript, an aspiring learner needing guidance on your first tentative attempts, or an ambitious up-and-comer working on your MFA portfolio, everything on board a Poetica cruise is designed to help you find your voice. It all begins in your own quarters. Every room has a desk with an ergonomic chair, a dictionary and an ocean view. There’s no sharing – we understand the importance of solitude – but double beds are standard. Procrastinators beware! All rooms are television and internet free. Get your screen fix in our on-board cinema and lending library. There’s even a bookstore selling a wide selection of new and second-hand literary fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry. Our massage therapists are specially trained to relieve accumulated stress in your wrists, forearms and shoulders, while our physiotherapists are specialists in relieving typing-related RSI and can spot poor posture from across the starboard bow. If you’re looking for that breakthrough epiphany, you can attend as many of our writing workshops as you want – there are three daily, from ‘Getting Started’ to ‘Making Your Pitch’ – or if you prefer something deeper you can even make a date with one of three therapists. Of course, if all you want to do is sip daiquiris by the pool, that’s cool. We understand how important procrastination can be to the creative process. You can raise a sweat in our gym, which we call the Writer's Block, or take a shortcut to profound insights in our yoga and meditation room. Foodies, there's no dietary requirement our chefs haven't heard of and, if you need a break, choose from seven cafés and bars, ranging from ‘Dubliners’, an Irish themed pub, to ‘The Rum Diaries’, featuring over 100 rums from across the world. At night, our cinema screens its ‘Celluloid Words’ series, while some of the world’s leading men and women of letters appear as panelists and keynote speakers in our seminar room, which we like to call The ThinkTank. And throughout your journey you have unlimited access to our live-in editors and manuscript assessors. So whether you need some time to take your writing to the next level, or you simply crave more bookish R&R, make your next cruise Poetica!
