The Sun Princess Country Music Cruise, escorted by John Howie, will be a wonderful opportunity to cruise on the Sun Princess, listen to fantastic music, and see the highlights of New Zealand’s North and South Islands. The cruise is fully escorted and includes sightseeing coach tours in all of the ports of call. Best of all, the John Howie Sun Princess Cruise includes 6 exclusive country music concerts, featuring the stars of Australian and New Zealand country music.

Bay of Islands, Auckland, Rotorua, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Milford Sound De parting from and returning to Sydney

Great cruise inclusions

• 14 days/13 nights on the luxurious Princess cruise liner, Sun Princess.
• Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole, Laura Downing and The Howie Brothers accompany you on the whole cruise. Wayne Horsburgh accompanies you up until Christchurch.
• Exclusive, private on-board concerts.
• Private concerts in New Zealand.
• In addition to our exclusive country music concerts, all other entertainment provided by the cruise ship is included.
• Sightseeing tours of Bay of Islands, Auckland, Rotorua, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
• Fully escorted by John Howie.
• Cruise taxes and port and handling charges.
• All meals on board Sun Princess.
• Gratuities.

Bring your dancing shoes!
There will be two special Old Time Country Dance events on the Sun Princess, exclusively for those who book on the John Howie Country Music Cruise. Music will be provided by The Howie Brothers. We’ve tentatively scheduled the dances for Friday evening Feb. 25th and Tuesday evening March 1st.

Adam Harvey
Country singer Adam Harvey is one of the biggest names in the Australian entertainment industry. Although his voice and style are not unlike Johnny Cash or Elvis, he’s still uniquely Adam Harvey. In recent years he’s won 7 Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards in Tamworth, including Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year awards. With his captivating personality and laconic humour he has already gained significant recognition overseas, performing three times on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and winning the prestigious Country Music Association (of America) Global Artist Award in 2007.

Beccy Cole
Beccy Cole is well known for her outstanding live shows. As well as being a great singer and songwriter, she is an accomplished comedienne. Her wicked brand of humour often has audiences roaring with laughter. She has won many awards, including 7 Golden Guitar awards in Tamworth. Beccy has toured with Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Tom T Hall, The Bellamy Brothers, Glen Campbell and Don Mclean. A divorced, working single mother, she has always had the ability to laugh in the face of adversity. Beccy’s energy and generosity are infectious, and her honesty and lack of pretence are refreshing.

Wayne Horsburgh
Wayne Horsburgh is one of Australia’s most successful country music entertainers. He has a fabulous voice and his Slim Whitman style of yodelling is a real crowd pleaser. Originally from Benalla, Victoria, Wayne is based in Sydney, but has also been performing in the USA for over 25 years, sharing the stages with some of their biggest stars. Wayne has won 5 ‘MO’ Awards and 2 ‘ACE’ Awards for ‘Best Male Country Performer’ in Australia.

Laura Downing
Laura Downing, from Brisbane, is fast becoming one of Australia’s most sought after entertainers. A multi-award winning yodeller, comedienne and balladeer, Laura has toured extensively throughout Australia, New Zealand and Europe and has worked with many well-known performers, including Lee Kernaghan, Beccy Cole and Adam Harvey. She has 5 CDs and 2 DVDs to her credit.

Hamilton County Bluegrass Band
The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band exploded onto the New Zealand folk and country music scene in 1968, the first group to popularize bluegrass music in New Zealand. In its heyday, through regular appearances on TV, the HCBB became one of New Zealand’s best loved musical acts. The band became well-known in Australia after touring extensively with Slim Dusty in the 1970s. Three decades later the band still enjoys a special place in Kiwi hearts, with a finger-pickin’ good traditional and original repertoire. The band that performs for us will probably be a six piece outfit, and we are hoping it will include outstanding fiddle player, Colleen Trenwith.

The Howie Brothers
The Howie Brothers is one of Australia’s leading country music / easy listening acts. Twin brothers John and Graeme Howie have been performing and recording for over 30 years and are renowned for their distinctive vocal harmony sound. They play a variety of instruments, including piano, guitar, accordion, mandolin, ukulele and drums. Their music is essentially Australian country, with bluegrass, Irish/Scottish, easy listening, singalong-type influences. On the cruise John and Graeme will perform with long-time musical partner Robert Edge (electric bass; banjo; guitar; comedy) and Barry Roy (one of Australia’s best country and rock n’ roll lead guitarists).