With the huge influx of cruise ships this fall from North America to the land Down Under, vacationing in and around Australia is destined to be cruising’s next big thing. READ MORE at TheTravelMavens.com

Hugging a koala at the Cairns Tropical Zoo, Australia

Koalas have a soft and cuddly look. They make a nice souvenir picture to take home. But finding a huggable Koala is not that easy. I met mine at the Cairns Tropical Zoo. READ MORE at TheTravelMavens.com

Carnival Spirit is now based in Sydney, Australia, newly Aussified with coffee, beer, bacon, and snags on the barbie. READ MORE at TheTravelMavens.com

If you’re thinking about cruising Down Under, visiting Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, or other islands of the South Pacific, READ MORE at TheTravelMavens.com