Australia and New Zealand Cruise Odyssey

February 13 – 24, 2015
Holland America's ms Oosterdam

Join us for the 25th anniversary of Olivia Travel in 2015! We'll celebrate by setting sail with 1,900 women for an amazing 12-day celebration on our first-ever all-lesbian cruise to Australia and New Zealand. As always, Olivia have chartered the entire ship so you can be out and free on your vacation!

This cruise is sure to be the vacation of a lifetime. Aside from seven incredible ports of call, you'll also have four wonderful days at sea to rejuvenate, luxuriate and relax. We'll depart from magnificent Sydney Harbor with its stunning views, rich Aboriginal history and the famed Sydney Opera House.

In Hobart, ranked one of the Top 10 cities in the world by Lonely Planet and the capital of Tasmania, you'll have the opportunity to hand-feed Forester kangaroos, visit koalas and see native species such as devils, quolls and wombats in the Bonorong Wildlife Park. Across the Tasman Sea in New Zealand, cruise the scenic and striking Fiordland National Park, filled with jagged mountain peaks, craggy lakes and dramatic rainforests. You'll visit the New Zealand town that resembles Edinburgh – Dunedin – as well as the French and British settlement nestled in the heart of an ancient volcano, Akaroa.

On the North Island, stop in the adventurous city of Wellington, home to the mountains and valleys in scenes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. You'll then have the opportunity to visit Tauranga, your starting point to Rotorua, the geothermal wonderland of fiery heat and magical waters. We'll conclude our celebration in Auckland, one of the world's most fascinating cities, built atop old volcanoes on the narrow isthmus that connects the Northland peninsula to the rest of the island.

Your Entertainment

Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John's appeal seems to be timeless. With a career spanning more than five decades she is still a vibrant, creative individual adored by fans around the globe.

With more than 100 million albums sold, Olivia's successes include four Grammy Awards (including "Record of the Year" and "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" in 1974 for "I Honestly Love You" and the first ever "Video of the Year" Award for "Physical"), numerous Country Music, American Music and Peoples Choice Awards, ten #1 hits including "Physical," which topped the charts for ten consecutive weeks, and over 15 top 10 singles.

In 1978, her co-starring role with John Travolta in "Grease" catapulted Olivia into super-stardom. Her other feature film credits include "Funny Things Happen Down Under" (1965), "Toomorrow" (1970), "Xanadu" (1980), "Two Of A Kind" (1983), "It's My Party" (1996), "Sordid Lives" (2000), "Score: A Hockey Musical" (2010), and "A Few Best Men" (2011).

As a breast cancer "thriver", Olivia has become increasingly well-known and respected for talking openly about her journey with breast cancer and for promoting public awareness of the importance of early detection. After 10 years of fundraising over $200 million the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Center (ONJCWC) opened in June 2012, and provides a comprehensive range of services and facilities for cancer treatment, education, training and research including Olivia's dream of a wellness center to help patients heal - mind, body and spirit.

With her current and ongoing projects and philanthropic endeavors, Olivia's worldwide popularity is as strong as ever!

Beccy Cole
Beccy Cole is the real deal; a working single mother, a successful career woman, an explosive and very funny live performer and is as honest in the lyrics of her songs as she is about her private life. This honesty led to Beccy's revelation on a ratings winning episode of ABC-TV's "Australian Story" that she is gay…after "keeping it under her hat" for 15 years. Beccy received an unprecedented and overwhelming amount of support and encouragement from fans, old and new.

In 2014, Beccy Cole will take the audience on a journey through the trials and triumphs of a woman living the dreams of a little girl. Beccy extends her generosity from the truthful and sometimes very funny lyrics, to the stories behind the songs. "Now that the cat is out of the bag, I can not only be myself, but reveal the true meaning of some of the songs…and you just have to laugh at yourself sometimes!"

In double decades, the sassy Country Queen has shelved 9 Golden Guitars, 3 Gold records, 2 Entertainer of The Year awards, 7 songwriting awards and has peaked at Number One on the country music radio chart a whopping 14 times. Beccy has dedicated her life to touring her own country with an occasional break for entertaining Aussie troops in danger zones worldwide.

DJ Ruby Rose
Ruby Rose landed her first gig in the public eye in 2007 as a VJ for MTV Australia; a role which not only graced her with an ASTRA award for 'favorite female' in less than twelve months, but also the backing of an entire generation of young adults desperate for a role model that didn't fit the mold, and definitely didn't want to.

Appearing as a panelist on Australia's National Network Ten's 7pm Project, Guest Judge and Co-host of the Australia's Next Top Model Finale, before being given her own shows Ultimate School Musical and MTV STYLE, the former door bitch is never one to play by the rules, or even really know them to begin with. Don't be alarmed though- it's all just part of her charm. She's cheeky, clever and always entertaining- Just ask Katy Perry. The two gate-crashed a year twelve formal together after meeting two young fans in a hotel lobby.

Ruby Rose has featured predominantly within mainstream fashion titles, including Vogue Australia, InStyle Magazine, Marie-Claire Magazine, Cleo, Cosmopolitan and New York's Inked Magazine. She is the Australian ambassador of Maybelline New York.

Vickie Shaw
Vickie Shaw is the funniest comedian EVER! She said so herself! Vickie has been making people laugh until their faces hurt and ribs cracked! She has traveled the entire US and many overseas locations making people laugh. She gets her comedy from her life, with her partner Sargent Patch, their three children and now three grandchildren. She has been in movies, "Laughing Matters More", television, Comedy Central, four comedy specials on the LOGO Channel, Late In Life Lesbians, Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, just to name a few. She headlines on Olivia Cruises, HRC events, Lambda Legal, GLAAD, and the list just gets bigger. If you have a chance to see her you absolutely must. Don't miss her.

Karen Williams
Karen Williams is one of today's hottest comedy stars -- with an awesome personality, stunning good looks, and a sterling reputation for delivering laughs each and every time! She is known for her quick repartee, insightful commentary, audience rapport, and sheer likeability! She is a comic craftmaster, a gifted actor, a multitalented writer, and an inspirational lecturer, whose HaHA Institute attracts clients from the public and private sectors. Armed with her "healing with humor" philosophy, Karen is a modern-day alchemist and motivational humorist, whose audiences revel in her cathartic laughter and whose peers consider her a comic's comic!

As a solo entertainer, Karen delights fan-filled audiences from San Francisco to South Beach to Sydney. An international comic favorite - who showcased her talents at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal several times - Karen Williams is a star entertainer and headliner with Olivia Cruises and Resorts, where she's garnered some 150 laugh-filled trips around the globe!

Teresa Trull
Teresa Trull is a fiery haired vocal dynamo who combines a gutsy blues/rock style, topnotch songwriting talents and sharp producing instincts in her many high energy projects. She has made five of her own recordings, including two successful duo pairings both with Higbie and with Cris Williamson (Country Blessed 1990). An accomplished producer of over 30 albums, Trull was named the Best Producer of an Independent Album at the New York Music Awards. She has performed and shared stages with Sheila E., David Sanborn, Joan Baez and many others. "Teresa Trull is absolutely magnificent." (San Francisco Chronicle/Examiner)… " Trull's truly expressive voice projects a clear pure soprano and drops an octave below to achieve an equally clear strong alto…especially humorous…Her stage presence was always needle sharp… a world of talent." ( The Sunday Oregonian)

Barbara Higbie
A Grammy-nominated, Bammy award winning composer, pianist singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Barbara has performed on more than 65 albums, including Carlos Santana's 2007 release.

She has 11 recordings to her credit as well as contributions to 10 compilations that have sold in the millions.

As a cofounder, with Darol Anger, of the acoustic super group, "Montreux", she recorded " Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival" for Windham Hill Records in 1984, a landmark genre defining album. She continued to tour world-wide with Montreux, until leaving to pursue a solo career.

Her 2 CD's with singer-songwriter Teresa Trull on Olivia/Second Wave and Slowbaby Records have won critical acclaim and a large nationwide following.

As a solo artist, Barbara's first solo CD "Signs of Life" was named a Washington Post "Top Ten of the Year". Three other solo releases, "I Surrender", "Variations on a Happy Ending" and 'Alive in Berkeley" followed to critical acclaim.

Sweet Baby J'ai
Few entertainers can command a stage like the indefatigable, Sweet Baby J'ai. She is a critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, producer, arranger and actress who has toured the world with her distinctive sound. Although J'ai is known for her energetic stage presence and powerful vocals, some critics describe her as a "jazz singer", a "soul singer", others as a "blues singer" but all agree that this versatile singer-songwriter is a "storyteller". She can't be contained by one genre of music. Talented both as a vocalist and musician, she takes unconventional instruments, the washboard and spoons, and claims them as her own special sound. As one critic pointed out, "This ain't no backyard hoe down ... she will have you swooning before the concert is over."

Lisa Koch
Picture a fusion of Bette Midler, Lily Tomlin, and Joan Jett... and you've got Lisa Koch. An irreverent Seattle singer/comedian, Koch ("Coke") is a deliciously twisted mix of comedy, theater, and demented songs. She has 4 solo recordings, is one-half of hilarious sketch-comedy duo, Dos Fallopia ("My Breasts Are Out of Control"), and is an alumnus of cult quartet Venus Envy ("I'll Be A Homo for Xmas"). She has shared the stage with a diverse group of artists, including Steve Martin, Dave Brubeck, Janis Ian, The Indigo Girls, Heart, Kate Clinton, and Suzanne Westenhoefer.

She has been a featured act at the National and Michigan Women's Music Festivals, Bumbershoot, and the Vancouver Comedy Festival. Lisa has co-written such warped shows as "The Carpeters: Uncomfortably Close To You," "Two's Company, I'm a Crowd," "Deja Poo," and "Ham for the Holidays: Lard Potion No. 9."

Roxanna Ward
Roxanna is a beloved member of the Olivia family. Her debut with Olivia was on an Alaska cruise in 1992. Since then, she's joined us several times a year! Her brilliant comedy, writing, musicianship and singing endears her to audiences everywhere. A woman of many talents, Roxanna is a mother, high school teacher, producer, writer and director. Her past credits include work with Dolly Parton, Kirk Douglas and many others. The late Phyllis Hyman, and more recently, Suede, have both recorded Roxanna's song "Remember Who You Are." Whether you are seeing Roxanna for the first time or tenth time, she always makes you laugh and warms your heart.

C. C. Carter
C.C. Carter is a seasoned Chicago Slammer and performance poet who brings the house down whether performing to an intimate crowd of 10 or in a public arena of 10,000. Her poetry and performances make her one of the few spoken word artists to showcase regularly at women's music festivals including the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, National Womyn's Music Festival, and Sistahfest as well as garnering her opening credits for Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, Cheryl Clarke and Dorothy Allison. Her one woman show, Living Large In a Shrinking America – sold out all three shows in Provincetown during women's week; critics deemed it "hilariously funny and perfectly timed."

DJ Rockaway
Born and raised in Queens, NY, DJ Rockaway has been bringing her passion and love for music to dance floors for over a decade performing for audiences in the U.S. and internationally. From nightclubs on both the east and west coasts, to private weddings and events, she is a regular DJ on Olivia cruise and resort vacations and DJ's for national non-profit events such as NCLR, HRC and Equality California, to name a few. She is the founder of PLAY San Francisco and PLAY San Jose, which are monthly events for women who love to dance. A true New Yorker (just listen to her talk), DJ Rockaway's unique mix of music styles – dance, hip-hop, R&B, house, club, retro – allows her to play to all who love to dance and feel the music. For DJ Rockaway, music is more than a blend of sounds, music is an experience – she wants you to feel it, live it, escape into it.

Your Ship - Holland America's ms Oosterdam

Step onboard Holland America's vista-class ship, the ms Oosterdam, for an amazing experience in relaxed cruising. The ms Oosterdam is built with your comfort and pleasure in mind, with details such as string quartet serenades and a plush two-deck Show Lounge where you'll take in great evening entertainment. This ship will truly become your favorite "home away from home".

The ms Oosterdam boasts a casino, multiple bars, a café, a dance club, an internet center, a library, a relaxing full-service spa, Holland America's fine dining Vista Dining Room boasting four-course meals and extensive sea vistas, a Lido deck buffet, The Pinnacle Grill gourmet specialty restaurant, a poolside snack bar, two pools, multiple Jacuzzis, a show lounge, a movie theater, a full wraparound teak promenade deck with padded deck chairs, and so much more. Holland America's well-appointed staterooms and suites are larger than those of most other lines, affording you more room to relax.

The ms Oosterdam is not only known for its comfortable yet elegant atmosphere, but also embraces the latest environmental technologies such as the use of a diesel-electric power plant for optimal energy efficiency.

Welcome aboard for a fantastic journey!

Symbolic of Holland America Line's more than 140-year history of circumnavigating the globe, the centerpiece of the ms Oosterdam is a magnificent Waterford crystal globe, prominently displayed in a three-story atrium. First-time cruisers aboard this ship will quickly recognize the traditional touches that make Holland America cruisers regulars: a warm palette of colors accentuating an extensive use of crystal, marble, inlaid woods and brass, lovely flower arrangements, priceless artwork and antiques and a full wraparound teak promenade deck with padded deck chairs.

Guests on the ms Oosterdam will be able to "show and tell" their vacation memories through the Digital Workshop powered by Windows®. Free workshops led by Microsoft-trained "techsperts" will show even the most novice camera or computer user how to take better vacation photos, make movies, edit pictures and create scrapbooks using a variety of Microsoft Windows and Windows Live services. Guests will learn how to share all their digital memories through email, blogging and social networking — so friends and family can see where they've been cruising even before they return home.