Atlantis Events and Holland America will be bringing the first ever all gay cruise from Auckland to Sydney on board the 1,400-passenger Volendam next year, and bookings have just opened for Aussies and Kiwis.

This charted Volendam cruising itinerary begins on the 17th of February, 2010, and sails for 11 nights from Auckland, New Zealand to arrive in Sydney on the 27th of February, just in time for the 2010 Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

“Forward bookings have sold out in the United States,” said Stephen Roth, Atlantis Events Spokesperson, to e-Travel Blackboard. “We’re hoping the response in Australia and New Zealand will be just as good.”

Out of the 1400 passenger spots, a thousand sold in three days, with many berths filling up in the pre-sale period when it was offered to past Atlantis passengers.

A very limited amount of 400 allocations have been put aside for Australiana and New Zealand passengers for sale until the 1st of April, 2009.

“We greatly value the mix of local and international guests that we have on our other cruises, as it creates a cosmopolitan atmosphere that enriches the experience for everyone,” Rich Campbell, Atlantis CEO.

“Our goal is to have approximately one-third of the guests on this cruise originating in the region.  In order to do this we knew that we needed to temporarily set aside a block of rooms to allow new guests in Australia and New Zealand to make their reservations.”

Starting from Auckland, the Volendam will sail by Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Melbourne, before finally coming to a rest in Sydney.

Staterooms on the Auckland to Sydney Mardi Gras cruise start at around AU$2,480 or NZ$3,131, based on double occupancy but not including Port fees, gratuities and airfare are additional.’