Joanna Hall has left her position as cruise columnist with Fairfax Media to take up a new role as online editor of CruiseGuide.com.au, Australia's newest and most complete online cruise resource for consumers.

One of Australia's leading travel writer/editors with 30 years experience in journalism, and 25 years in the cruise industry as a specialist, Joanna worked for three years as the Sun Herald's cruising columnist and contributed features to Fairfax publications and SMH online. Joanna's final cruising column appeared in yesterday's Sun Herald travel section (April 7).

Established by the Sydney-based Cruise Guide Pty Ltd, CruiseGuide.com.au is Australia's first dedicated cruise resource, and is aiming to be the "first port of call" for people researching their next cruise holiday for regular cruise-goers and cruisenewbies.

Some of the many features on CruiseGuide.com.au include first-hand cruise ship reviews, feature articles, port of call profiles, cruise line profiles, tip sheets and first time cruiser advice, and destination features.

The website also encourages member interactivity, allowing visitors to join discussion forums, ask questions of the "Captain" cruising expert, post their own reviews, set up a personal Cruise Diary to share their holiday with friends and family, and find the cruise of their dreams.

Joanna and her husband and business partner, Ben Hall, have already been working with Cruise Guide to develop content. In a more formal role as online editor, however, Joanna will have a variety of additional responsibilities, including the development of a content strategy, marketing and public relations, and managing social media including Cruise Guide's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CruiseGuide).

As co-owner, publisher and co-editor of UltimateTravelMagazine.com, Australia's first, dedicated online luxury travel magazine established in 2007, Joanna is no stranger to the both the challenges and opportunities of the digital world.

"I am really excited to have the opportunity to help grow Australia's truly first online cruising resource and community," she says. "The digital world is growing and changing rapidly, and the cruising market in Australia is right there with it.

"We've already received an unprecedented level of interest from cruise fans about the website, with people joining in the forums and signing up for our future e-newsletter, and our Facebook page already has nearly 1,400 likes, and is increasing day-on-day."

Joanna will continue to co-run UltimateTravelMagazine.com with Ben Hall, and is based in Sydney's Northern Beaches.


For more information, or an interview request, please contact
Joanna Hall 
j.hall@cruiseguide.com.au
0416 295 878