American Canadian Cruise Line
American Canadian Cruise Line
American Canadian Caribbean Line Returns To Belize For Winter 2009
American Canadian Caribbean Line will return to the exotic area of Belize, Central America for the winter 2009 season. Belize is a country with incredible diversity, located by the second largest barrier reef in the world.
In addition, ACCL is celebrating the return of the Niagara Prince - and cruises to the regions only she can navigate including Lake Champlain and the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan.
Clients
who book any Belize or Niagara Prince sailing by September 1, 2008 will receive a 15 percent discount. Offers are not combinable.
If two cabins are booked on the same itinerary and at least one cabin's guests are new to ACCL, then each cabin gets from $250 to $500 discount depending on cruise length.
Website: www.accl.com
AMNH Expeditions
Visit the Historic Ports of Portugal, Spain And France
American Museum of Natural History is offering a cruise that will visit the ports of Portugal, Spain and France next spring. The cruisetour will be from May 8 to May 21, 2009 on the Island Sky and will highlight both the historical and the contemporary of three of Europe's most storied countries. Private wine tastings, museum visits, and the rare opportunity to visit several renowned prehistoric sites of southern France, guided by Dr. Ian Tattersall, AMNH curator and specialist in Ice Age cave art are scheduled.
Doctor Tattersall is curator in the Division of Anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History and an expert on physical anthropology and human evolution. He curated the groundbreaking exhibition Ancestors: Four Million Years of Humanity and the Museum’s highly acclaimed permanent exhibition, the Hall of Human Biology and Evolution. Rates start at $7,990 per person. Optional post-tour extension available.
For more information visit www.amnhexpeditions.org and click Cruises.
American Safari Cruises
American Safari Cruises Offers Air Credit On New Hawaii Inter-Island Itinerary
To help ease the crunch of fuel-induced airfare increases and checked-luggage fees, American Safari Cruises is offering a $150 per person air credit on its new inter-island luxury yacht cruises in Hawaii. July 18 is the air-credit booking deadline for inaugural season cruises December 2008 through early May 2009.
The 145-foot, 36-guest Safari Explorer, the company's new flagship, currently is sailing roundtrip from Juneau in Alaska for the summer season. In November it will relocate to Hawaii and on December 19 begin eight-day, seven-night cruises between the Big Island and Maui. While seeking out wildlife, the Explorer will also visit Molokai, Lanai and snorkel/dive sites. On shore, a helicopter tour over waterfalls and lava flows on the Big Island is among the included excursions. Fares begin at $3,995 per person, double occupancy. There are 21 scheduled departures.
Among the yacht's amenities is an active spa environment with complimentary massages from the onboard masseuse, yoga classes, a sauna, dedicated fitness area and top-deck hot tub. Other new design features include a wine library, two large suites with Jacuzzi tubs and balconies, some triple accommodations and all outside or above-deck staterooms. Like other American Safari Cruises vessels, the new yacht carries double sea kayaks and motorized shore boats for close-up exploration of the islands, snorkeling equipment, a sailboat and mountain bikes. There is a 2 to 1 guest-crew ratio.
More information at www.amsafari.com.
Audubon Nature Odysseys
Visit The Galapagos Up Close In 2009
The Galapagos Islands take center stage in 2009 when the world celebrates the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth; and the 50th year of the Galapagos as a National Park. Audubon Nature Odysseys will explore one of the most unique wildlife areas in the world with its Galapagos My Way cruise tour on board the40 passenger ship Isabella II from June 28 to July 8, 2009. See giant tortoises, nesting Waved Albatross, flightless Cormorants, swimming iguanas and endemic penguins that make these islands unique. Leading the program will be Dr. Michael Burger, Audubon’s Director of Conservation and Science. Rates begin at $7,490 double occupancy. More details at http://travel.audubon.org/details.php?id=620 .
Cruise The Route To Distant Islands From Patagonia to South Africa
Audubon Nature Odysseys is offering a unique voyage with its Route to Distant Islands: The Falklands, South Georgia & Tristan da Cunha aboard the 114-guest Corinthian II from February 29 to March 23, 2009. The cruise, which departs from Buenos Aires, will feature a team of lecturers and expedition of naturalists and scientists who are intimately familiar with the islands visited, introducing guests to the wildlife and historic areas. Rates begin at $10,995. Book by July 18, 2008 and receive complimentary economy jet air fare from Miami. More trip information at 1-212-979-3066 (US). Website: http://travel.audubon.org/
Cruise West
Cruise West Adds Departures Of Popular Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruises
Due to consumer demand, small-ship cruise line Cruise West has announced 20 additional departures of its Columbia River cruises in 2009, for a total of 35 departures. Cruise West was the first cruise line to operate cruises on the Columbia River in 1992 onboard the Spirit of Discovery and has been voyaging there ever since.
With the additional departures and four ships in 2009, the extended season will run later in both the spring and fall. Guests who choose the Taste of the Pacific Northwest itinerary have a choice of four departures in the spring and six departures in the fall onboard the 84-guest Spirit of Discovery. Prices start at $3,299 per person based on double occupancy.
The Voyage of Discovery itinerary is offered onboard the 96-guest Spirit of ’98 and two new ships to this itinerary, the 78-guest Spirit of Columbia and 78-guest Spirit of Alaska. There will be ten spring and 15 fall departures offered of this itinerary. Prices start at $2,199 per person based on double occupancy. Both itineraries are eight-day/seven-night, roundtrip Portland, Oregon.
For additional information on the Columbia & Snake River itineraries visit http://www.cruisewest.com/destinations/columbia_and_snake_rivers or call 1-800-689-1783.
Cruise West's Offers Pacific Northwest & British Columbia Cruises
Cruise West sails along the coasts of British Columbia and Washington state on the 2008/2009 Pacific Northwest Coastal Escape itinerary. The voyages will visit quaint ports, bustling cities, and remarkable wilderness that have changed little since Captain George Vancouver first set foot in the area.
The eight-day, seven-night Pacific Northwest Coastal Escape cruise, with departure dates of September 21, 28 and October 5, 12, 2008 and April 19, 26 and May 3, 2009 will sail on the 102-guest Spirit of Endeavour. Cruising round trip from Seattle, ports of call will include: Nanaimo, "The Harbor City"; Desolation Sound Provincial Marine Park, considered one of the most beautiful cruising areas in British Columbia; Victoria; and historic Port Townsend known for its Victorian architecture. Prices begin at $2,799 per person, round trip.
Guests are offered a variety of adventures, such as walking the paths at renowned Butchart Gardens; exploring the majestic Puget Sound in search of wildlife and sea life; and optional excursions including kayaking and High Tea at the Victoria Empress Hotel. Guests will also enjoy cultural and educational experiences unique to the Pacific Northwest. Highlights include: admiring cultural history and art of the Coast Salish people including totem poles and carving demonstrations at the Capilano Suspension Bridge; an exclusive Aeolian pipe organ recital by renowned Christopher Peacock at Rosario Resort; and viewing the stunning reflection of the more than 3,000 lights off the water from the Parliament Building in Victoria.
The Pacific Northwest Coastal Escape offers the Exploration Leaders Program, unique to the Cruise West experience, in which onboard experts provide guests with a wealth of insider knowledge and a passion for the history of the region. Guests on the itinerary will benefit from the insight of these leaders throughout their journey.
For additional information on the Pacific Northwest itinerary visit http://www.cruisewest.com/destinations/british_columbia or call 1-800-296-8307.
Elegant Cruises & Tours
Elegant Cruises Introducing New Extended Adriatic Itineraries In 2009
For 2009, Elegant Cruises & Tours is introducing new Adriatic itineraries designed to give passengers an opportunity for extended stays in two fascinating, immensely popular European cities-Venice and Dubrovnik.
Elegant's new seven-night/eight-day cruises, debuting April 15, 2009, sail one-way Venice to Dubrovnik and one-way Dubrovnik to Venice. All sailings feature ship overnights in Venice, Dubrovnik, Split and the charming island of Korcula, plus port calls in Sibenik, Mali Losinj and Koper. Cruise only rates begin at $2,895 per person. Elegant is offering NCMA members additional savings of $300 per person for these exciting Adriatic cruises if booked by November 15, 2008. Website: www.elegantcruises.com
Hebridean International Cruises
Hebridean Offers Private Plane Connections To Its Cruises
Cruising on the Hebridean Spirit has always been an exclusive experience. Now, to ensure cruises are as intimate as possible, Hebridean’s private plane now flies from the new Inflite private terminal at Stansted. Itineraries include
-- Seven nights from £3123 pp E Grade Double July 15 to July 22, 2008.
Sail through the turquoise waters of Turkey's south-western coast and the Greek Dodecanese and Cyclades islands and take in the ancient remains of empires and civilizations, including the ruined city of Perge and the sights of Naxos, Kos and Rhodes. As with all our tours, expect the odd white sandy beach and plenty of leisurely lunches in beautiful spots along the way.
-- Seven nights from £3243 pp D Grade Double from July 22 to July 29, 2008
With just 98 fellow guests, you'll find yourself among a select group of like-minded travelers for this tour that takes in ancient sites from the Roman, Hellenistic and Ottoman empires. You'll visit beautiful Byzantine architecture and classical Greek and Roman ruins and the WW1 memorial at Gallipoli before encountering Istanbul - an intoxicating blend of Western and Eastern culture.
-- Seven nights from £3129 pp E Grade Double from August 20 to August 27, 2008.
On this cruise through the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, visit the sites of the once-mighty Classical cities of Phillipi, Maroneia and Troy before final port of call, Mount Olympus, the mythical home of the Greek gods.
-- Seven nights from £3090 pp E Grade Double from August 27 to September 3, 2008
Charting a course through the Agean, Mirtoan and Ionian seas, this tour visits the sites of some of the ancient world's most important centers of power, some dating back to the 11th century BC. Sail the coast of Mount Athos with views of the magnificent monasteries and the Temple of Poseidon as well as the strongholds of Aigai and the Roman capital of the Greek province, Corinth.
More information at www.hebrideancruises.com
‘Hebridean Princess’ to Cruise Scottish Islands & Norwegian Fjords In 2009
Hebridean International Cruises’ Hebridean Princess, which celebrates her 20th year in 2009, will once again cruise the familiar waters of the Scottish islands plus Norwegian Fjords, including ten new cruises. In total, the 49-passenger luxury ship, homeported in Oban, will visit 33 islands. Itineraries include two new walking cruises, Footloose in the Norwegian Fjords and Footloose to Harris and the Outer Isles. Another new venture, Across the Isles of Tiree, features a visit to Loch Harport Oyster Farm on Skye.
For wildlife enthusiasts a new cruise, Nordic Outposts, visits the Fair Isle, lying between Orkney and Shetland, owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
In November the Jewels of English Heritage voyage starts in Poole in November and visits HMS Dryad in Portsmouth during which passengers will see the historic map room, not normally open to the public. It was from there that Operation Overlord was overseen by Montgomery and Eisenhower. The room also contains the chart used during the planning of the Normandy invasion.
From Portsmouth the ship cruises up the English Channel with calls in Newhaven and Dover and down the Thames to Tower Bridge before an end of season gala dinner en route to Tilbury. Website: www.hebrideancruises.com
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten Unveils Seven Convenient North American Segment Options,
Hurtigruten, formerly known as Norwegian Coastal Voyage, is offering North American travelers a convenient way of joining its popular 67-day Longitudinal World Cruise with seven segment departure options from St. John’s, New York and Pt. Canaveral. The company’s 318-passenger MS Fram, travels the east coast of Canada and the US as it makes its way from above the Arctic Circle to Antarctica. Booking a New York and Pt. Canaveral segment departures by July 31, 2008 discounts a companion’s fare by 50 percent, savings of $4,424 to $18,650. This offer is not valid for inside cabins or MG category suites.
Guests can sail on a 13-day segment between Canada’s St. John’s and Port Canaveral, FL, departing October 6, 2008; depart New York on October 14 on a 22-day journey to Callao, Peru, 29 days to Valparaiso, Chile or 46 days expedition to Ushuaia, Argentina; or sail from Pt. Canaveral on October 18, on 18-, 25- and 42-day segments to the same ports as NY. Fares range from $3,849 to $22,049 per person, double, for cabins and $8,649 to $45,999 for suites. Rates include in-depth exploration lectures, expedition guides and all meals on board.
The World Cruise journey begins in Reykjavik, Iceland on September 23, with the MS Fram plying the coasts of the U.K., Canada, U.S., Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama (including a transit of the Panama Canal), Ecuador, Peru and Chile. Additional North American ports of call include Sailor’s Island, Sydney and Halifax in Canada and Bar Harbor, Gloucester, Martha’s Vineyard, Newport, Charleston and Key West in the US.
Optional excursions run the gamut - in Maine, guests can hike along Acadia National Park’s Ocean Trail and take in the stately mansions of Newport, R.I. In Central America, they can travel via jungle boat down the flora- and fauna-rich Costa Rican Tortuguero Canals. In South America travelers can take in Costa Rica’s lush tropical landscapes, and a host of Chile’s grand colonial cities, national parks and wine regions. As MS Fram nears Antarctica, expert guides join the cruise to provide lectures about the mysterious and pristine White Continent. Cruising highlights include the Drake Passage, the body of water between the southern tip of South America and Chile’s Cape Horn and Antarctica’s South Shetland Islands, a visit to Half Moon Island, featuring a chinstrap penguin rookery; the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station on King George Island; and Neko Harbour, one of two areas used for ship in Antarctica.
MS Fram was custom-designed for cruising Arctic and Antarctic waters and is the newest and most luxurious ship in the Hurtigruten fleet. It features comfortable and stylish cabins and a variety of suites and junior suites, a restaurant two bars, panoramic lounges, Internet café, conference rooms, fitness room, sauna, two heated outdoor Jacuzzis, and gift shop
For more information about the cruise and optional excursions, contact Hurtigruten at (800) 323-7436 or (212) 319-1300; fax (212) 319-1390; for brochures, (800) 666-2374, 24 hours a day; www.hurtigruten.us.
Antarctica Sailing Offers Close-Up Views Of Penguins In Marguerite Bay
Marguerite Bay, rarely visited even by Antarctic standards, is dotted with ice-covered islands, is home to the only known breeding colony of emperor penguins on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula, and is the centerpiece of Hurtigruten’s newest 17-day Antarctica itinerary. Guests have multiple chances to go ashore and visit with these elegant creatures during the nine days spent in Antarctica. Other highlights include two nights in the lively city of Buenos Aires and a tour of Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, before departing for the Drake Passage and Antarctica about the MS Fram, the company’s newest and most deluxe expedition ship. Cabin fares are $6,499 to $10,699 per person, double; suites range from $11,299 to $18,799. Optional excursions are offered in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia (all excursions in Antarctica are included).
These once-in-a-lifetime voyages explore the vast and mysterious wilderness of the White Continent, the coldest, driest and windiest destination on earth, replete with gleaming icebergs, blue whales and orcas feeding mere feet from the ships, and penguin populations whose individual rookeries number in the tens of thousands. Although the Marguerite Bay rookery is protected for environmental reasons and cannot be entered, guests are able to get close to the emperors nearby. Marguerite Bay is also home to several research bases, both new and old.
The sailings feature naturalist guides, noted guest lecturers and PolarCirkel boat landings. Other possible Antarctica landings, where even closer encounter with gentoo and chinstrap penguins is possible, include Whaler’s Bay on Deception Island, with its warm springs and black, volcanic sand; Half Moon Island, famous for its large, chinstrap penguin rookery, kelp gulls, Antarctic terns and whale spotting;
Cuverville Island, boasting the largest known colony of gentoo penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula; Antarctic Sound, where huge, mile-long tabular icebergs can be seen as well as an estimated half-million Adélie penguins; and Wilhelmina Bay, feeding ground for whales and seals.
Fares include air between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, transfers, all meals onboard, the services of expert guides, lectures and PolarCirkel boat landings; port charges and cruise taxes. Fuel surcharges are additional. Hurtigruten is a world leader in expedition cruising, sailing to the most remote of destinations including Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic’s Spitsbergen. For more information about the cruise, pre- and post-cruise explorations and optional excursions, contact Hurtigruten at, (800) 323-7436 or www.hurtigruten.us.
International Expeditions
International Expeditions Offers $200 Savings On Fall 2008 Galapagos Voyages
International Expeditions has been leading Galapagos journeys to the world’s most precious islands for over 20 years. A must-see on many an intrepid traveler’s hit list, an exploration of this scientific and natural treasure is even more appealing this fall with $200 per person savings on all October and November departures.
The Galapagos Islands are a haven for nature enthusiasts — home to tortoises that have grown to dramatic proportions, superb bird life and an astounding undersea world all set against a sublime landscape of deserts, beaches, lush highland forests and volcanoes. To help travelers gain a deeper understanding of this ecological wonder, Kitty Coley, noted geologist, naturalist and avid birder, will be aboard the October 24, 2008 expedition as guest speaker.
International Expeditions’ intimate M/V Evolution accommodates a maximum of 32 guests with comfortable cabins and spacious public areas. The ship provides a host of amenities including a dining room that offers Continental cuisine with an Ecuadorian flare. With a high staff-to-guest ratio and naturalist guides licensed at the highest level by the Galapagos National Park, guests enjoy personal relationships with the onboard experts.
On the ten-day Galapagos cruise, travelers have ample time to explore the islands’ diverse terrain and see first hand what Darwin discovered more than 175 years ago — how the isolated animals are evolving and adapting to their unique habitat. The itinerary offers an ideal mix of popular sightseeing spots and less-visited gems. Highlights include Fernandina Island, one the Galapagos' most volcanically active islands, known for its penguins, flightless cormorants and lava flows; Española, noted for its albatrosses and famous blowhole; and the red-footed booby and frigatebird colonies of Genovesa (a.k.a. Tower Island), where only small ships like the M/V Evolution are allowed. A favorite expedition is to “Black Turtle Cove,” where guests cruise silently in a panga (small boat) among the mangroves in search of golden rays and sea turtles. In addition to daily, guided excursions, there is plenty of time throughout the voyage to snorkel alongside sea lions, or relax in the clear waters of the Pacific.
Aboard International Expeditions’ October 24 departure Kitty Coley will share her in-depth knowledge about the Galapagos’ fascinating geology, flora and fauna through a very interactive, enthusiastic approach. A geologist, naturalist and avid birder, Coley spent 15 years as a professional geologist after receiving her MA degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Through her work, she spent extensive time in remote rainforests and rugged geologic settings around the world. She has lead over 80 expeditions to the Galapagos, Amazon, Costa Rica, Panama, Peruvian Andes and Machu Picchu, Antarctica and other worldwide destinations. When not traveling, Coley serves as a consultant to National Geographic magazine and enjoys scuba diving, white water and sea kayaking, and biking.
Per person prices for the ten-day Galapagos voyages departing October 10 and 24; and November 7 and 21 start at $4,298, including the $200 bonus savings, accommodations, most meals, local transportation, guides and group transfers. International and in-country airfare is extra, however flights can be arranged through International Expeditions. Additional Galapagos departures are available on December 19, 2008 and throughout 2009.
A six-day pre-voyage Machu Picchu and Cusco extension ($2,498 per person plus airfare) and one-day Guayaquil pre-voyage extension ($178 per person) are available, as is a three-day post-voyage Quito and Otavalo Market extension ($1,098 per person plus airfare).
For more information on International Expeditions visit www.ietravel.com or call 1-800-633-4734.
For more information or an International Expeditions brochure, call an International Expeditions destination specialist at 1-800-633-4734, see your travel agent, e-mail nature@ietravel.com , or visit www.ietravel.com/brochures.
Orion Expedition Cruises
New Itineraries Announced For Winter (Summer) 2008/09 Cruises
The winter of 2008/2009 is summer in the sailing areas of Orion Expedition Cruises.
It may be cold in the Northern Hemisphere, but Orion Expedition Cruises, based in Australia, has a selection of southern summer expeditionary cruises that include New Zealand and the Antarctic (for those who simply must immerse themselves in ice and snow regardless of season). These include the following sailings:
-- New Zealand South Island Exploration: November 30, 2008, 11 nights. Experience the scenic grandeur of New Zealand including the fjord lands, world famous Milford Sound and the wineries of the Nelson region. From $7216 US per person, twin share.
-- Antarctica - Commonwealth Bay: December 11, 2008, a 16-night expedition that includes World Heritage sub-Antarctic islands and the mainland of Antarctica, exploring in the footsteps of the great polar explorers. From $15,144 US per person, twin share.
Website: www.orionexpeditions.com
Quark Expeditions
Arctic 2009 & Antarctica 2009-10 Itineraries Announced
Quark Expeditions has announced its 2009-2010 itineraries. The expeditions include:
Emperors & Kings: Snow Hill Island and South Georgia—This icebreaker expedition begins in Ushuaia, Argentina, and ends in Santiago, Chile. En route, landings will be made at the Snow Hill Island Emperor Penguin rookery, and the King Penguin rookeries of South Georgia. This is the only itinerary offered that enables encounters with Emperor and King penguins during the same voyage. In addition, landings will be made in the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). Therefore, participants will see Rockhopper and Gentoo Penguins as well. Conservationist and renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman and photographer Birgit Freybe Bateman will be special guests aboard Emperors & Kings: Snow Hill and South Georgia. The Batemans will share their lifetime of experience during two shipboard presentations.
-- Quark’s new Arctic 2009 expedition starts and finishes in Ottawa, Canada. Embarkation is in Resolute, high above the Arctic Circle. Disembarkation is in Iqaluit, the capital of the territory of Nunavut. This icebreaker expedition will transit the Fury and Hecla Strait, on the west coast of Baffin Island. Often ice-packed, ordinary ships seldom sail this route. Learn more.
And Quark is giving away a cabin for two on the world's largest icebreaker, 50 Years of Victory, on her July 9 to 24, 2009 cruise. The prize (retail value: $45,380) includes return air transportation from Helsinki, Finland to Murmansk, Russia, plus 13 nights on board the vessel. Contest rules and entry form can be found on Quark’s website: www.quarkexpeditions.com
Star Clippers
Star Clippers' New Tahiti Cruise Atlas Highlights Voyages Through Spring 2010
Star Clippers' new Tahiti cruise brochure that showcases Star Flyer's itineraries from fall 2008 through spring 2010 is hot off the press and available to travel agents and consumers. The catalogue focuses solely on the line's Tahiti itineraries and is filled with stunning images of the region and in-depth details about ports of call, pre- and post-cruise packages, special honeymoon options and much more.
With the line's history of solid advanced bookings, the release of the Tahiti brochure will enable travelers to book a cruise with ample time to ensure they get the date and cabin of their choice. And, guests who book by September 30, 2008, will receive a one-category cabin upgrade.
Star Flyer currently is sailing its first full season in French Polynesia with seven-, ten- and 11-night itineraries to the Society Islands and Tuamotu Atolls. Ports of call on the year-round cruises include Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora, Cook Bay and Opunohu Bay (Moorea) in the Society Islands, and Fakarava and Tiputa (Rangiroa) in the Tuamotu Atolls.
Guests will enjoy breathtaking scenery and numerous opportunities to snorkel and dive in some of the most spectacular sites in the world. And shore excursions are designed to introduce guests to the fascinating culture and history of the Polynesian people.
To request a new Tahiti brochure, call toll-free (800) 442-0556 or e-mail brochures. To make a reservation, contact a travel professional. For information, call Star Clippers at (800) 442-0551 or visit www.starclippers.com to view a video about the line or take a virtual tour of the Star Clippers ships.
Variety Cruises
New Ship To Offer Cruises In Greece & The Red Sea
The new 25-cabin Harmony V, being delivered in July 2008, will be the flagship of the Variety Cruises fleet. She will operate seven-day scheduled cruises in Greece
from May to October 2008 before sailing to the Red Sea/Hurghada where she will operate seven-day Red Sea Wonders cruise until March 2009.
The vessel offers flexible bed arrangements in the cabins, in-suite Corian bathrooms, flat screen TVs with satellite channels and attractive outdoor public areas including a mini spa.
In addition, the five-cabin Mega Yacht is the latest addition to the Variety Yachting fleet. Expanding its fleet of luxury yachts, Variety Yachting announced the purchase of the
AK, a 100 ft. Falcon, accommodating 10 Guests in 5 Cabins, all with in-suite facilities and fully air conditioned. The AK is available for charters in Greece and the Mediterranean, ready to take passengers to beautiful destinations where they can experience luxurious living. Website: www.varietycruises.com
Voyages of Discovery
New Antarctica Cruise Brochure Features Passenger Photography
Voyages of Discovery has launched launches a dedicated Antarctica brochure for 2008/9 with a focus on passengers’ photography and comment. Cruise specialist Voyages of Discovery is very focused on the passenger experience aboard Discovery cruises. With the launch of its new 2008/9 Antarctica brochure as much of the photography has been taken by the previous passengers themselves.
Linking with the brochure launch, a new video site has also been developed with a dedicated Antarctica area, www.voyagesofdiscovery.com/Antarctica The new site offers a unique insight into the destination, with video clips again highlighting the passenger experience and what future travelers can expect from their voyage to the white continent. From the comfortable surroundings onboard mv Discovery to the diversity of wildlife and breathtaking scenery that Antarctica offers. Positive feedback from our clients is highly valued and speaks volumes to prospective passengers,” says David Yellow, Managing Director. “There’s nothing more inspiring than reaction from an impartial source and featuring our passengers’ actual photography provides very real and positive images of the Antarctica we know and visit. There is no doubt that focusing on individual experiences provides a unique insight into this fascinating destination.”
Mv Discovery’s expedition team is headed by Dr Peter Carey, a zoologist and founder of the Sub Antarctic Foundations for Ecosystems Research. Six additional research scientists and lecturers, from the fields of biology, ornithology, glaciology and environmental physiology, escort landings ashore and bring every aspect of this remote wilderness to life through a series of informal lectures.
Award-winning Voyages of Discovery features seven voyages aboard the Discovery to the White Continent this coming winter, with more ports of call around the sub-Antarctic Islands, including South Georgia, the South Shetlands and the South Orkneys. The Falklands and South America also feature and all voyages represent excellent value for money.
Bookings made by August 31, 2008 entitle clients to a £500 saving per couple (based on twin occupancy) or £250 saving per person (based on sole occupancy). Additionally, there is no single supplement on selected cabins. Prices start at a competitive £2,995 pp* for the 23-day Cape to Cape voyage departing
February 7, 2009 (full brochure price is £3,750 pp). Beginning in Buenos Aires, the blues and whites of Antarctica await, where you’ll trace Shackleton’s heroic steps. After a visit to the Falklands, the ship then heads to lively Cape Town, via a rare visit to Tristan da Cunha, billed as “the world’s remotest island”.
*The lead-in fare includes early booking savings, and is based on two sharing an inside, twin-bedded cabin. All meals, flights, on-board entertainment, on-board gratuities, port and airport taxes, baggage handling and overseas transfers are included in the price. Optional pre-and post-cruise hotel packages and land tours to Iguassu Falls, the glaciers of Patagonia and Cape Town are also available.
To book or to request a brochure, call Voyages of Discovery on 01444 462 150 or, for further information, visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.com.
Adventure Cruises in Antarctica & Africa Offered
South Georgia Island, Table Mountain, the Taj Mahal and the Valley of the Kings will be highlights of mv Discovery cruises this winter. Passengers will get to know the White Continent and its loveable penguins on a choice of voyages including a 22-night voyage from Cape Horn to Cape Town via Antarctica and Tristan De Cunha. A host of new and exciting ports headline Voyage of Discovery's first foray into the Indian Ocean, with calls at Port Louis on Mauritius; Maputo, Mozambique's coastal capital; Madagascar; the Seychelles and Maldives.
Voyages' Winter 2008/09 itineraries offer free air from New York, San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago and Toronto on eight South America and Antarctica cruises making it a unique, exciting and affordable way to experience the White Continent. Passengers take part in landings ashore and Zodiac cruises of scenic areas where landings are not permitted. Cruisetour packages include pre- and post-cruise hotel accommodations, transfers and sightseeing in Buenos Aires and Santiago, and flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia and Valparaiso/Punta Arenas and Santiago.
Website: www.voyagesofdiscovery.com
Wilderness Adventure Travel
View The Total Solar Eclipse In Polynesia Aboard the ‘Paul Gauguin’
Guests are invited to experience the solar eclipse from July 15 to 29, 2009 aboard the luxurious Paul Gauguin, specifically designed for the Polynesian waters. The voyage, sponsored by Wilderness Travel adventure company, will be led by Alex Filippenko, an award-winning professor of astronomy at University of California/Berkeley along with a team of local guest experts. Being aboard the Paul Gauguin for this event will give guests the opportunity to maneuver to the ideal viewing position on eclipse day on July 21, 2009 and offer an unforgettable journey between the Polynesian islands and lagoons including Bora Bora, Moorea and Taha’a.
The cruise is currently sold out but those interested in taking the cruise should call 1-800-368-2794 to be waitlisted or visit http://www.wildernesstravel.com/itins/evpolyne.html for more information.
The Paul Gauguin, operated by Regent Seven Seas Cruises carries 330 guests, offering a very intimate atmosphere to guests exploring the islands of Tahiti. For other cruises on the Paul Gauguin, visit www.rssc.com. For more information on the Paul Gauguin’s excursion, please visit Total Solar Eclipse on the Paul Gauguin.
Blackbeard Cruises
Orion Expeditions
Quark Expeditions
Star Clippers
Blackbeard’s Cruises/Ocean Blue Education
Dive into the Life of a Marine Biologist in The Bahamas this summer!
Not your typical summer camp experience—20 Days of Bahamas Reef Ecology & Seamanship. Join Ocean Blue Education and Blackbeard's Cruises this summer for the learning adventure of a lifetime. There is no better way to broaden your awareness of the ocean than by experiencing life at sea firsthand. We offer you the perfect platform to master leadership and teamwork skills that will propel you through high school, college and beyond. This summer, imagine yourself at the helm of a 65-foot sailboat, collecting invasive Lionfish, surveying sharks, sleeping under the Caribbean stars and diving among pristine coral reefs.
The Ocean Blue adventure begins the moment you step aboard the Morning Star in Nassau, The Bahamas. This 65-foot sloop sailboat will become your floating home and classroom for the next 20 days. The expedition will take you on a journey through the turquoise waters of the Central and Southern Bahamian Islands—New Providence,
The Exuma Islands Chain, Eleuthera, Concepcion, Little San Salvador, and San Salvador.
From day one, learn basic seamanship and acquire the skills to sail the Morning Star. Living aboard a ship means leaving the familiar behind and taking the exciting unknown head on. The focus of the expedition will be on the ocean and its coral reefs below. It is the dynamic combination of doing current ocean research while learning marine biology in an underwater classroom that gives you the deep understanding of our ocean and its reefs.
Students will be immersed in scuba diving, sail training, marine science, snorkeling and ocean research and marine conservation.
Whether scuba diving or sailing is new to you, Ocean Blue Education has a place for you on-board. Our scuba diving programs offer customized instruction and are taught by the best instructors in a comfortable setting. Our programs emphasize learning and camaraderie, not competition. Our dive programs offer customized instruction-the very best in the industry!
For more information contact: Tyler Korte at Ocean Blue Education email: obeducation@gmail.com or phone (910) 603-5110.
Orion Expeditions/Australia
Orion's 2009 Norfolk And Melanesian Islands Discovery Expedition
Building on the popular inaugural voyage in 2008 this beguiling island meander, is to be further developed in 2009 to include even more remote island cultural experiences. In the spirit of Orion's "paths-less-traveled", this 19-night itinerary includes two new destinations for Orion – Norfolk Island and Malekula (Vanuatu), as well as highlights selected from the 2008 voyage.
Departing Auckland on the February 27, 2009, Orion will explore the picturesque New Zealand coastline around Te Rawhiti inlet (Bay of Islands) and visit the charming township of Russell, before heading to the historic penal settlement of Norfolk Island with its romantic and brutal history of HMS Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives. Next stop, the beautiful Isle of Pines, also once a penal settlement, in the French-Pacific territory of New Caledonia.
The brooding presence of Melanesia's "Ring of Fire" will become apparent as Orion heads to the volcanic islands of Anatom and Tanna Island, home to the still-practicing John Frum cargo cult. Join the expedition team to experience one of nature's most spectacular events – a trip up the side of the active volcano, Mt Yasur, to perch next to the rumbling cavernous mouth as it ejects lumps of molten magma high into the evening sky.
Poignant reminders of the War in the Pacific abound with Orion crossing Iron Bottom Sound, a naval battleground and final resting place for numerous US, Japanese, Australian and New Zealand ships. In Espiritu Santo, scuba divers will be able to experience an unforgettable dive on the world's largest accessible ship, the 22,000 ton President Coolidge. Rabaul has many WWII sites to visit including Admiral Yamamoto's command bunker; hand cut caves still containing remnants of Japanese ships, tanks and armaments are a must-see.
There will be plenty of time to enjoy the gentle sea breezes of Marovo Lagoon,
the world's largest double barrier lagoon – slated for World Heritage status -
swim or snorkel at idyllic Mateana beach or feed the sharks at Uepi.
This voyage concludes in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, with guests invited to see
the Baining Fire Dancers perform their amazing bare-foot dancing and trampling
through a bonfire.
These destinations will appeal to anyone interested in experiencing the broad
cultural and historic diversity of the South Pacific.
Fares Guide:
19 nights Norfolk and Melanesian Islands Discovery departs Auckland
February 27 2009.
Fares begin from $13,435 per person for an ocean view Category B stateroom
Suites begin from $18,525 per person for a Junior Suite
Owners’ Suites with French Balcony are $28,135 per person
With 75 crew and a maximum of just 106 passengers Orion offers the highest staff to guest ratio and guest to public space ratio of any ship based in Australian waters.
Further information on Orion Expedition Cruises can be obtained by visiting the
website www.orioncruises.com.au
For reservations or to obtain a brochure call Orion Expedition Cruises: 61-2 9033
8777 (Sydney callers) 1300 361 012 (regional and interstate) or your travel
agent. Email: info@orioncruises.com.a u
Quark Expeditions
Escape The Summer Heat With Two Unique Adventures To The Arctic
During the Arctic’s warmest time of the year, Quark Expeditions will offer two unique adventures - an 18-day Arctic exploration trip on the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov and a 13-day Northwest passage adventure on the ice-strengthened Akademik Ioffe. Each trip explores a different region of the Arctic.
Four thousand years of history will be revealed on Quark Expeditions’ Arctic Quest from August 25-September 11, 2008. From the coast of Baffin Island to the shores of western Greenland, this remote, under explored area has a long history and a distinct culture that has continually adapted to the harsh environment. Beginning in Resolute, a small village above the Arctic Circle, Kapitan Khlebnikov will sail through Lancaster Sound to Greenland and then on to Ellesmere, Coburg Island and Baffin Islands.
In addition to historical sites, wildlife sightings may include two species of whales, narwhals and beluga, as well as polar bears, Arctic seals and dozens of species of birds. The Kapitan Khlebnikov will crush through thick ice including the nearly impassable Lincoln Sea along the western coast of Greenland. Other highlights include a visit to the massive twin glaciers of Ellesmere Island and the Inuit’s artist colonies of Baffin Island. Prices start at $14,500 per person based on triple occupancy.
-- Highlights of the Northwest Passage will be explored on Quark Expeditions Northwest Passage via Simpson Strait expedition. Taking place from September 6-18, this modified route through the Northwest Passage will attempt a unique sailing through Simpson Strait which was transited by Roald Amundsen in 1905. The shallower draft of Quark’s ice-strengthened Adventure Ship Akademik Ioffe makes possible this rare attempt to transit the strait. Departing from Resolute, the trip ventures to Beechey Island where three of Sir John Franklin’s crew were buried while searching for the Arctic passage to Asia in 1845.
The Akademik Ioffe will then travel through Bellot Strait to King William Island where the remaining members of Franklin’s expedition were beset in ice for two winters. They abandoned their ships Erebus and Terror in 1848. Other highlights include a visit to the Inuit village of Usqsuqtuuq called Gjoa Haven by Amundsen after he wintered there. A visit to the Smoking Hills, an area that has been burning for centuries, is also planned. The constant clouds of smoke that float over the hills gave the region its name. This 13-day active Arctic adventure trip also features kayaking. Prices start at $4,200 per person based on double occupancy.
For more information, call Quark Expeditions at 800-356-5699 or visit www.quarkexpeditions.com.
Quark Expeditions Offering Special Savings On Arctic Cruises This Summer
Quark Expeditions is offering some special rates for Quark friends and family members who wish to experience the high latitudes of the Arctic. This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce the people you care about to expedition travel at savings of up to 75 percent off the regular rates.
The maiden voyage to the North Pole of 50 Years of Victory, June 23 to July 8, 2008, is available at a friends and family rate of $7,495 per person. Arctic Islands, July 21 to August 6, 2008, aboard Kapitan Khlebnikov sails from Murmansk to Franz Josef Land, Svalbard and Greenland, disembarking in Reykjavik. This expedition is available at a rate of $4,995 per person.
Labrador Explorer, July 10 to July 22, 2008, aboard Akademik Ioffe sails from St. John's to Iqaluit along the Labrador Coast. Berths are available at a rate of $3,495 per person.
Baffin Island Explorer, September 18 to 30, 2008, aboard Akademik Ioffe sailing from Resolute to Iqaluit via Ellesmere Island has berths available at a rate of $1,995 per person.
These offers are non-commissionable, and cannot be marked up. There is limited space available at these rates. Accommodation is in twin cabins. The prices are per person in US dollars.
If you or someone in your circle of friends is interested in joining one of these voyages, please contact our office at 1-800-356-5699, or at +1-203-852-5580, or at enquiry@quarkexpeditions.com , and refer to the "Friends & Family" offer.
Star Clippers
Star Clippers Offers Special Savings On 13-Night Far East Cruise Tour Packages
As Asia’s popularity as a tourist destination continues to rise, so does the popularity of Star Clippers’ Far East cruises. Guests flying to the Orient often look to enhance their cruise vacation with a pre- and post-cruise land excursion, and Star Clippers has answered the demand by offering two special 13-night cruise tours that combine a seven-night cruise aboard Star Clipper with four- and two-night pre- and post-cruise land tours.
The seven-day voyages aboard Star Clipper sail round-trip Phuket, Thailand, or between Phuket and Singapore. The four-night land tour explores Bangkok, Thailand, while the two-night land tour takes guests to either Phuket or Singapore, depending on itinerary.
Guests who book select dates for the cruise tour will save $700 per person off of the brochure rate.
Wonders of the Far East 13-night Cruise Tour
For passengers sailing on itineraries between Phuket and Singapore, the Wonders of the Far East’cruise tour includes four nights pre- or post-cruise in Bangkok and two nights pre- or post-cruise in Singapore.
The four-night Vibrant City land tour in Bangkok includes a stay at the five-star Montien Riverside Hotel, breakfast daily, a half-day city tour with a visit to the Grand Palace, the short flight between Phuket and Bangkok, transfers and a cultural dinner show. Optional add-on tours are available, and there will be time to shop independently and explore the many splendors of Bangkok.
During the two-night visit to Singapore, guests stay at the Orchard Hotel Singapore, located in the island’s premier shopping and business districts near the well-known Orchard Road. The tour also includes a half-day city tour, breakfast daily, optional add-on tours and transfers.
The seven-night sailings between Phuket and Singapore include calls at pristine islands such as the Similans, Phang Nga, Ko Adang, Ko Lipe and Ko Miang, Thailand; and Penang or Langkawi and Malacca, Malaysia.
In addition to the beauty that decorates each port of call, many of the islands and their surrounding waters are designated national parks, preserved to explore and enjoy for years to come. Ancient customs and traditions live on in this part of the world, and the mysteries of a little-known region unravel with each adventure ashore.
Fares for the 13-night ‘Wonders of the Far East’ cruise tour start at $3,240 per person, double occupancy, which includes the $700 savings. The savings are valid on the December 1 and 10, 2008, and March 11, 2009, land tour departure dates only. Port charges are additional.
Explore Bangkok and Phuket on ‘Senses of Siam’ Cruise Tour
The 13-night Senses of Siam package combines a seven-night Southern Route or Northern Route round-trip Phuket cruise with a four-night pre-cruise land tour of Bangkok and a two-night post-cruise tour of Phuket. As with the ‘Wonders of the Far East’ tour, the cruise tour on the round-trip Phuket voyages begins with a four-night ‘Vibrant City’ land tour in Bangkok that gives passengers the opportunity to explore this exciting metropolis of more than 10 million inhabitants.
Following the cruise aboard Star Clipper, the unforgettable two-night post-cruise Phuket tour features an evening performance of “Phuket FantaSea,” a spectacular show complete with traditional Thai shadow puppets, dancing elephants and daring acrobats as well as a Thai dinner before the show. The tour also includes a seafront hotel stay at the Merlin Patong Phuket, time to explore independently, optional add-on tours and transfers.
The seven-night round-trip Phuket Southern Route sailing includes calls at Batong Group, Penang, Ko Lipe, Ko Khai Nok, Phang Nga/Ko Hong and Similan Islands. The seven-night round-trip Phuket Northern Route sailing calls at Surin Islands, Similan Islands, Hin Daeng/Ko Rok Nok, Ko Kraden, Phang Nga/Ko Khai Nok and Langkawi.
Guests are greeted at each island by breathtaking scenery enhanced by limestone hillsides and lush emerald-hued forests. Some of the best diving in the world can be found in the clear, tropical waters, and the unspoiled beaches are a tranquil haven for those who prefer to relax and soak up the sun.
Fares for the 13-night Senses of Siam cruise tour start at $3,280 per person, double occupancy, which includes the $700 savings. The savings are valid on the November 24, 2008, and January 5, 19; February 2 and 16, 2009, land-tour departure dates only. Port charges are additional.
Both 13-night cruise tours also include airfare from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Bangkok and the return flight to the United States from Phuket. Reduced air add-on rates are available from select cities.
To request a brochure, call toll-free (800) 442-0556 or e-mail brochures@starclippers.com . To make a reservation, contact a travel professional; or visit www.starclippers.com to view a video about the line or take a virtual tour of the Star Clippers ships.
Star Clippers Opens Bookings Through March 2010
Star Clippers has opened the books and is taking reservations on cruises through March 2010 aboard Star Clipper, Star Flyer and its flagship, Royal Clipper. The diverse itineraries take the three authentic clipper ships around the globe, with cruises in Tahiti, the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Far East and trans-Atlantic and Indian Ocean crossings. Schedules and pricing are posted at www.starclippers.com .
-- With its maiden season in Tahiti under way to rave reviews, Star Flyer will continue to sail seven-, ten- and 11-night round-trip Papeete, Tahiti, cruises through March 2010 (and beyond). Guests will enjoy breathtaking scenery and numerous opportunities to snorkel and dive in some of the most spectacular sites in the world. And shore excursions are designed to introduce guests to the fascinating culture and history of the Polynesian people. Ports of call on the year-round cruises include Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora, Cook Bay and Opunohu Bay (Moorea) in the Society Islands, and Fakarava and Tiputa (Rangiroa) in the Tuamotu Atolls.
-- Star Clipper sails to the wonders of the Far East and Mediterranean. From November 2008 through March 2009 and November 2009 through March 2010, Star Clipper will cruise in the Far East. The two different seven-night round-trip Phuket, Thailand, itineraries call at island jewels throughout Thailand and Malaysia.
The Southern Route includes calls at Batong Group, Penang, Ko Lipe, Ko Khai Nok, Phang Nga/Ko Hong and Similan Islands, while the Northern Route includes Surin and Similan Islands, Hin Daeng/Ko Rok Nok, Ko Kraden, Phang Nga/Ko Khai Nok and Langkawi. The ship also will sail seven-night cruises between Singapore and Phuket.
-- The Mediterranean continues to be an increasingly popular destination, and Star Clipper will sail Greece and Turkey routes during summer 2009. The ship sails two different seven-night round-trip Athens, Greece, voyages, including stops at passenger favorites such as Rhodes, Mykonos and Santorini, Greece, as well as Bodrum and Kusadasi in Turkey. The ten- and 11-night itineraries sail between Athens and Venice, Italy, and call at ports throughout Greece and Croatia, as well as Kotor, Montenegro.
--Royal Clipper sails to Caribbean and Mediterranean favorites. Royal Clipper continues to be the only ship in the fleet to offer Caribbean itineraries through 2010. Carrying just 227 passengers, the size of the ship allows the vessel to visit smaller ports that larger cruise ships cannot reach, making its itineraries some of Star Clippers' most popular.
Royal Clipper sails two different seven-night, round-trip Barbados itineraries from November through March. The Windward Islands itinerary features calls at St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, St. Kitts, Iles des Saintes and Martinique. The Grenadine Islands itinerary includes calls at The Grenadines, Grenada, Tobago Cays, St. Vincent, Bequia, Martinique and St. Lucia.
During the summer, Royal Clipper will return to the western Mediterranean with seven-, ten- and 11-night itineraries. The seven-night cruises sail round-trip Civitavecchia (Rome) and highlight the best of Italy, including an evening sail past the still-active Stromboli volcano. The ten- and 11-night journeys that sail between Civitavecchia and Venice call at ports in Italy, Sicily, Montenegro, Greece and Croatia.
-- For those who truly love the sailing experience while also visiting exciting destinations, Star Clippers is offering Ocean Crossings ranging from 16 to 37 nights.
Trans-Atlantic journeys take Royal Clipper from Barbados to Malaga, Spain, and on to Rome in April 2009, and from Lisbon, Portugal, to Barbados in October 2009. The 37-night Indian Ocean crossings in March 2009 and October 2010 transit the Suez Canal and take Star Clipper between Phuket and Athens, calling at ports in Greece, Egypt, India and Sri Lanka.
Early bookings are strong for Star Clippers' 2008 sailing season, so guests are encouraged to reserve space early to avoid disappointment and ensure they get the cabin of their choice. Website: www.starclippers.com
Blackbeard Cruises
Cruise West
Elegant Cruises & Tours
Hurtigruten Expeditions
Majestic America
Special Cruises
--- American Museum of Natural History
--- Audubon Nature Odysseys
Voyages of Discovery
Windstar Cruises
Blackbeard Cruises
Blackbeard Offers Diving Cruises In Remote Regions of the Bahamas this Summer
Blackbeard's has been diving the Bahamas for thirty years with over 250 sites moored.
Hogsty Reef is one of the deadliest shipwreck traps in the Western Hemisphere! This is a place so untouched by intruders, that it typifies the definition of the word "unspoiled". It was also a dangerous place during the old shipping days before GPS devices existed. Almost invisible beneath deceptively tranquil waters lies a treacherous reef of jagged coral which has claimed hundreds of ships over the last 450 years. Hogsty Reef is one of only three true coral atolls in the Atlantic formed when the volcanic island slowly receded into the ocean. Surrounded by waters that plunge to depths of 6,000 feet or more, two small spits of sand in a horseshoe shaped formation encompass a crystal clear lagoon. The only entrance to the lagoon on the west side keeps the diving pristine. The entire formation of approximately twelve square miles provides a lush habitat for colorful schools of butterfly fish, parrotfish angelfish, grouper and snapper abound. And away from the protect ion of the reef mass, giant sharks and whales prowl the waters over the edge of the shear walls that plunge to the depths of the ocean.
The two visible wrecks are the only things that can be seen of the reef on initial approach. One of these is a WW2 liberty ship, wrecked in 1963 and from a distance looks like an intact ship. It is truly an amazing place. Inside is turquoise water, 25 feet deep over white sand. Outside the wrecks and atolls, there is a sheer drop to over 6,000 feet! So, there is phenomenal shear wall diving which attracts numerous sharks and rays.
The itinerary will be weather dependent and include the best dive sites of the above areas.
Scheduled dates: August 2 to 8 and August 9 to 15. Cost: $929 plus $50 fuel surcharge, $10 marine park fee & $40 port tax. Departing Georgetown, Great Exuma
Other trips scheduled. Call today to book your summer dive vacation! 800.327.9600
Or visit www.blackbeardcruises.com
Cruise West
Scuba Excursions Now Offered On Cruise West’s 2009 South Pacific Itineraries
Cruise West, a leading small-ship cruise line with worldwide journeys, will offer seven distinct SCUBA excursions on its three 2009 South Pacific itineraries. The January- through-March cruises sail on Cruise West’s flagship, the 120-guest Spirit of Oceanus, through the untouched beauty, remote villages and tiny atolls of the South Pacific islands. All three itineraries offer numerous additional activities and excursions with focus on the culture, history and marine biology of these spectacular islands. Guests who book any of the three 2009 South Pacific cruises by June 13, 2008, will save $600 per person and an additional $200 per person if paid in full by June 13, 2008.
2009 South Pacific Itineraries with SCUBA Excursion Options~
-- Pearls of Polynesia—SCUBA divers can explore Beqa Lagoon/Carpet Cove or Taveuni/Rainbow Reef on the Pearls of Polynesia itinerary, a 12-night trip that sails to Polynesia and Melanesia. Beqa Lagoon is renowned for its spectacular soft coral and abundant sealife; Carpet Cove houses a fishing shipwreck, sunk in 1996 and now host to a vibrant array of sealife, including the rare juvenile Blue Ribbon eel. Cost per two-tank dive: $185
The second dive option is in two parts: first is Taveuni, called the “Soft Coral Capital of the World” for its vibrant corals; the second is Rainbow Reef, where divers can expect 60-70 feet of visibility. Cost per one-tank dive: $139
The 12-night Pearls of Polynesia sails between Fiji and Papeete and visits Beqa, Fiji, to watch a traditional firewalking ceremony; the Cook Islands including Atiu, The Land of the Birds, which is not visited by many other tourists; and Tonga to meet with local villagers, participate in a kava ceremony and snorkel in the pristine waters. Pearls of Polynesia travels on January 12 and February 13, 2009, and starts at $5,399 per person with maximum early booking savings.
-- Island Sanctuaries—The 11-night Island Sanctuaries itinerary visits the remote oasis of French Polynesia, where SCUBA divers can choose from two adventures.
The first dive at Bora Bora/Tapu is located on the outside of a lagoon down a mooring line in 30 feet of water filled with dozens of black-tip reef sharks, moray eels, rainbow jackfish, triggerfish and large schools of butterfly fish. Cost per one-tank dive: $135
The second dive will investigate the calm waters of Fakarava’s lagoon, the second largest in Polynesia, and bring divers face to face to dolphins, manta rays, barracudas, blue fin tunas, sharks, angel fish and parrot fish. Cost per one-tank dive: $130
On this round-trip journey from Papeete, guests will visit a local pearl farm in Takapoto and travel through the Marquesas Islands to meet with villagers and explore the plush terrain. This itinerary sails on January 23 and February 2, 2009, and starts at $4,099 per person with maximum early booking savings.
-- Legends of the Pacific—The 16-night Legends of the Pacific journey explores Micronesian islands, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, traveling between Guam and Fiji. SCUBA divers can choose from three separate excursions.
*The Honiara/Guadalcanal trip explores the Western Battlefields of World War II at the beach of Ruanui, where divers will investigate a Japanese transport ship teeming with coral and pelagic fish life; the second dive will search another Japanese transport ship with anti aircraft guns on the wreck. Cost per two-tank dive: $120
*The Chuuk dive explores “Operation Hailstorm,” a battle that sank more than 60 ships more than 60 years ago. Schools of jacks patrol the outside of the ships while stunning soft corals are attached to the ribs and beams. Cost per two-tank dive: $199
*The third SCUBA excursion, at Pohnpei’s largest surrounding lagoon, offers a choice of three world-class dive sites: Palaikir Pass, home to a “shark city” of 100 grey reef sharks; Mwand Pass, with schools of colorful small reef creatures; and Manta Road, an underwater channel located between two reefs where manta rays are spotted nearly every day of the year. Cost per two-tank dive: $185
The Legends of the Pacific brings guests to areas seldom visited by other travelers, on an insider’s expedition of native villages, World War II sites and tiny islands. The itinerary sails on December 28, 2008, and February 26, 2009, and starts at $6,449 per person with the maximum early booking savings.
For additional information on the South Pacific itineraries visit http://www.cruisewest.com/destinations/south_pacific or call 1-800-296-8307.
Elegant Cruises & Tours
Early Booking Savings For New Red Sea Itineraries Aboard ‘MS Monet’
Monasteries of the Lonely Desert is Elegant Cruises new Red Sea cruise/tours aboard the 62-passenger MS Monet. The exciting itinerary sends the Monet through the Gulf of Suez to the beautiful Red Sea with visits and excursions to the Gulf of Aqaba, Safaga, Luxor, Petra and Amman. Explore the early origins of religion across the vast, remote Egyptian desert with a focus on the remarkable desert monasteries of early Christianity, including the Monasteries of St. Anthony & St. Paul, now UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The maiden voyage for Monet's new Red Sea cruise/tour itinerary begins in Cairo with the Monet departing the port of Ein-el Sokha on December 20, 2008, with additional departures January 3, 2009 and February 14, 2009. Dates for the reverse itinerary, departing Aqaba and cruising to Ein-el Sokha, for Cairo, are December 27, 2008, January 10, 2009, January 24, 2009 and February 7, 2009. Book before May 31 and save $300 per person off published rates.
Brochure rates for the 14-day/13-night cruise package including meals onboard, shore excursions, four nights land portion in Jordan, one overnight in Cairo, all transfers, and guest lecturer begin at $3,512 per person, based on double occupancy, exclusive of land portions in Cairo and Jordan. Group and charter rates are available. To qualify for the special savings, early booking deposits must be received by May 31, 2008. NCMA Agent-only bonus commission of $200 for first ever booking with Elegant Cruises & Tours applies. For more details, or to book, contact Elegant Cruises & Tours, (516) 767-9302/ toll-free (800) 683-6767 or email info@elegantcruises.com.
Hurtigruten Expedition Cruises
Savings Opportunities Of Up To $3,600 Per Person On Five Diverse Programs
Hurtigruten, formerly known as Norwegian Coastal Voyage, is offering unprecedented savings, ranging from $1,000 to $3,600 per person, on five distinct Antarctic expeditions in 2008 and 2009 with itineraries ranging from 13 to 22 days. Guests can also take advantage of Hurtigruten’s $849 to $1,049 roundtrip airfare from Miami or New York. These once-in-a-lifetime voyages explore the vast and mysterious wilderness of the White Continent, the coldest, driest and windiest destination on earth, replete with gleaming icebergs, blue whales and orcas feeding mere feet from the ships, and penguin populations whose individual rookeries number in the tens of thousands. This promotion is not combinable with other special offers.
The discounts apply to all five of Hurtigruten’s Antarctica programs including
-- the company’s newest adventure, the 17-day North & South Antarctica expedition aboard the MS Fram, the world’s newest expedition ship. This is Hurtigruten’s longest visit to the White Continent – nine days – and takes participants to the rarely visited Marguerite Bay, an extensive bay dotted with ice-covered islands, surrounded by stunning mountainous icebergs and is home to the only known breeding colony of emperor penguins on the west side of the Antarctica Peninsula. With the discount, fares range from $5,799 to $15,599 per person, double for January 22 and February 3, 2009 departures, a savings of $1,000 to $3,600 per person.
--Another new expedition—the 19-day Antarctica & The Falklands/Malvinas itinerary—- aboard the 350-passenger MS Nordnorge, navigates the western-most outposts of the Falkland Islands and the narrow passage between Booth Island and the Antarctic Peninsula. With savings of $1,100 to $3,100, travelers pay $5,499 to $13,099 for the November 6, 2008 sailing and $300 more for the February 12, 2009 departure.
-- Travelers can take advantage of savings opportunities aboard MS Fram’s 13-day Argentina & Antarctica program, which highlights Buenos Aires and Ushuaia as well as five days in Antarctica. Fares on all departures from November 2008 to February 2009, are $3,999 to $12,749, saving $1,100 to $3,500 per passenger.
-- The 19-day“Antarctica, Argentina & The Chilean Fjords expedition offers the special rates on December 4, 2008 and January 1 and 29, 2009 departures -- $5,599 to $13,499 ($1,100 to $$3,000 in savings).
-- The 22-day Falklands/Malvinas, South Georgia & Antarctica adventure features similar savings on its February 27, 2009 sailing with fares of $6,399 to $14,799.
MS Fram, designed specifically for cruising Arctic and Antarctic waters and accommodating 318 guests in suites and staterooms, boasts a restaurant, two bars, panoramic lounges library, Internet café and conference rooms.
The 350-passenger MS Nordnorge features Art Nouveau and Art Deco embellishments, and a variety of staterooms and suites, restaurant, panoramic lounges, library Internet café and conference rooms
Fares include all meals onboard, the services of expert guides, lectures and PolarCirkel boat landings. Roundtrip air from Miami or New York is offered at between $849 and $1,049 per person; add-on air from dozens of US cities is available. Fuel surcharge and air taxes are $294.70 per person on all sailings.
For more information about the cruise, pre- and post-cruise explorations and optional excursions, contact Hurtigruten at, (800) 323-7436 or (212) 319-1300; fax (212) 319-1390; for brochures, (800) 666-2374, 24 hours a day; website:www.hurtigruten.us .
Majestic America Line
Cruise Alaska Aboard Majestic America Line's ‘Empress of the North’
Majestic America Line gives guests exclusive access to hidden treasures found in Alaska's Inside Passage aboard the distinctive 223-guest Empress of the North.
Alaska is well-known for being an unforgettable experience for visitors. Majestic America Line offers travelers the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking views of Alaska in luxurious comfort. With just 112 staterooms and suites, Empress of the North's intimate, small ship experience provides unique access to the vast wilderness and waterways of Alaska's Inside Passage that most Alaska cruises miss.
All 2008 itineraries, which begin April 28, allow guests to explore up close the spectacular glaciers, natural wonders, the majestic grandeur of Alaska's endless forests, plummeting waterfalls, abundant wildlife, and the rich culture of America's last frontier.
Expert naturalists, cultural representatives, historians and wildlife experts elevate the
Alaskan experience for guests. Enrichment programs and select shore excursions are
included in the cruise price.
And if you are an American citizen, no passports and exchange rates required.
A special Alaska cruise aboard the Empress of the North departing Juneau, May 24, 2008, will be hosted by distinguished sports leader and business entrepreneur Peter Ueberroth. Ueberroth served as sixth commission of Major League Baseball, president of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and was named 1984 Man of the Year by Time Magazine.
For more information, contact a travel agent, call 1-800-434-1232 or visit http://www.majesticamericaline.com.
Special Cruises
American Museum of Natural History Expeditions In 2008
The American Museum of Natural History in New York is offering a variety of expeditionary cruises in 2008. A sampling:
-- Bell’Italia—Ten-day cruise aboard Sea Cloud from September 16 to 27. Explore Rome, Sardinia, Corsica, Elba, Florence, Explore Rome and Florence with private visits to the Vatican and the Duomo and gourmet and artisan walking tours. Experience the exhilaration of Sea Cloud under sail on a five-night cruise with stops at the lovely and historic islands of Sardinia, Corsica and Elba. Rates from $10,995.
--Treasures of the Black Sea—August 04 to August 15, 2008. Nine-day cruise aboard Le Levant. Cruise from ancient Istanbul to Anatolian villages along the Black Sea Coast. Explore the fascinating history of the Crimea, experience the rich folkloric heritage of Ukraine, and visit Bulgaria’s World Heritage site of Nessebur. Observe contrasts in architecture, cultures, and landscapes, from colorful minarets and vibrant bazaars to lovingly preserved Byzantine churches. Rates from $6,995 up.
-- Vietnam & Cambodia aboard the Mekong Pandaw—November 05 to November 18, 2008. Linked by the mighty Mekong River, Vietnam and Cambodia share a complex history. Ruled by successive kingdoms, colonized by Europeans, torn apart by war and revolution—their people have endured much. But the Indochina of today is a far more forgiving and forward-thinking land than you might imagine. On this special program, delve into both ancient and modern Cambodia and Vietnam. Bioarchaeologist Jeffrey Schwartz will be onboard as Study Leader. Rates from $6,595 up.
-- Australia's Great Barrier Reef—October 29 to November 08, 2008. Board the 44-passenger Coral Princess II and explore the world’s largest living organism: Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Learn about the reef’s complex ecosystems and ecology from on board marine biologists. Take advantage of ample opportunities to snorkel and dive in brilliant blue waters or observe of the reef from a glass-bottom boat. On shore, enjoy a traditional beach barbecue and guided nature walks. Rates from $6,990 up.
-- New Zealand: The Last Great Paradise—January 24 to February 08, 2009.
Aboard the Clipper Odyssey, observe the shy and rare yellow-eyed penguin, the bubbling mud pots of geothermal activity, the glacial beauty of Fiordland, and the skilled hands of expert Maori woodcarvers. Learn about the historical, cultural, and natural wonders of New Zealand from AMNH study leader Jim Webster, a curator in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the American Museum of Natural History, and Neville Peat, a native New Zealander, noted naturalist, and award-winning author whose insider perspectives add a special dimension to this program. Rates from $8,790 up.
For more information on other AMNH Expeditions, visit, http://www.amnhexpeditions.org.
Audubon Nature Odysseys Announces The Grand Voyage
From the Strait of Gibraltar to Patagonia—November 20 to December 22, 2008. Take a grand Voyage to West Africa, the Atlantic Islands and South America aboard the 114-guest Corinthian II. The cruise can be purchased in total or opt for one of two segments: Part I—November 20 to December 7 (Malaga to Salvador)
Part II—December 4 to 22 (Salvador to Ushuaia).
Leading the Audubon Group will be Nature Odyssey leader Susan Drennan. Rates from $6,995 double occupancy. Note: If not a member of Audubon, there is an additional moderate membership fee. More information at http://travel.audubon.org
Voyages of Discovery
Cruise Line Begins Fifth Antarctic Season In November
Voyages of Discovery operates the mv Discovery and will begin its fifth Antarctic season in November. The vessel will carry a maximum of 500 passengers on its voyages to Antarctica, the Chilean Fjords, Patagonia, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.
The Discovery’s expedition team is headed by Dr. Peter Carey, a zoologist and founder of the Sub Antarctic Foundation for Ecosystems Research.
Voyages of Discovery’s 2008-09 Antarctica voyages include flights, overseas transfers, all meals and lectures onboard, gratuities and taxes (price are per person). Optional pre- and post-cruise hotel packages and land tours to Iguaçu Falls, the glaciers of Patagonia and Cape Town, South Africa are also available. An additional 5 percent discount is available on bookings made by May 31 2008. Itineraries include:
November 16, 2008: Voyage to Antarctica, 35 nights, Lisbon to Buenos Aires, from £3,275
December 3, 2008: Antarctica & Falkland Islands, 18 nights, roundtrip Buenos Aires, from £3,295
December 16, 2008: Antarctica, Chile and Patagonia, 17 nights, Buenos Aires-Santiago, from £3,395
December 26, 2008: Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica, 21 nights, Santiago-Buenos Aires, from £3,995
January 10, 2009: Antarctica and the Chilean Fjords, 20 nights, Buenos Aires-Santiago, from £3,995
January 24, 2009: Antarctica and the Chilean Fjords, 20 nights, Santiago-Buenos Aires, from £3,995
February 7, 2009: Cape to Cape, 22 nights, Buenos Aires-Cape Town, from £2,795
For further information, contact Voyages of Discovery on 01444 462150 or visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk.
Windstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises Sails the Awe-Inspiring Greek Isles in 2008
Windstar Cruises, which operates a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts that explore hidden harbors and secluded coves of the world's most treasured destinations, offers guests exceptional opportunities to experience the mythical beauty of the Greek Isles aboard 148-guest Wind Star and Wind Spirit. In 2008, travelers on Windstar Cruises can choose from 46 7-day sailings during May through October to these ancient, hauntingly beautiful locales in the Greek Isles.
Windstar is the only cruise line that offers such an extensive season of Greek Isles itineraries. These cruises have traditionally been favorites of Windstar guests who return year after year to sail on the warm, cobalt blue waters of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Ionian Seas. Due to their popularity, the cruises sell out quickly each season.
Itineraries start or end in Venice, Italy; Rome, Italy; Athens, Greece; or Istanbul, Turkey, with one itinerary featuring Sarande, Albania and two itineraries featuring Dubrovnik, Croatia. A variety of Greek ports are offered including Capri, Messina, Gythion, Navplion, Ermoupolis, Katakolon, Gythion, Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Monemvasia, Corfu, Cephalonia and Kythira. Sailing from one magical port to the next, highlights include historic Athens, the lush island of Corfu, the Byzantine ruins in Kythira, fashionable boutiques of Mykonos, the cliffs and white-washed architecture of Santorini and the Acropolis of Rhodes.
Windstar's also offers its Connoisseur Collection, which allow guests to combine two Greek Island cruises on Wind Star and Wind Spirit into a 14-day voyage with no repeating ports.
The line recently invested millions in fleetwide enhancements in its Degrees of Difference initiative which focused on structural and technical operations along with upgrades to guest areas, remodeled bathrooms in staterooms and an expanded beauty salon and spa. On Wind Star and Wind Spirit, the Lounge, Veranda and Pool Bar were renovated. In order to take each ship's comfort level to a new degree of luxury, Apple iPod Nanos and Bose SoundDock speakers, flat screen televisions, luxury linens and mattresses as well as L'Occitane bathroom amenities were added in each stateroom across the fleet.
Cruise rates begin at $2,599 per person, based on double occupancy. Website: http://www.windstarcruises.com
Abercrombie & Kent
Hurtigruten
Orion Expeditions/Australia
Quark Expeditions
Star Clippers
Travel Dynamics International
Abercrombie & Kent
Adventure Cruising in Birding Heaven: Explore the Bering Sea and Russian Far East
The rich waters of the Bering Sea and the unique diversity of habitats in the Russian Far East combine to create one of the world's most interesting ecosystems for birdwatchers
and nature lovers alike. Join Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) for the adventure of a lifetime as we cross the Bering Sea into the amazing world of Siberian Russia aboard the intimate 118-passenger expedition ship, Clipper Odyssey.
-- Wildlife viewing along the coastline of Kamchatka and the Chukotka
peninsula is unparalleled. On the Russian Far East and Kamchatka (July
2-16, 2008) explore the peninsula that is home to the world's largest
concentration and population of Steller Eagles. Other highlights include
Cape Navarin, one of the most abundant seabird colonies in all of
northeast Russia, and Anadyr Bay, an important breeding area for
waterfowl with some 145 species of birds, 18 of which are listed in the
Russian Red Data Book. Even on days at sea, get your field book out as
you stand on deck to watch birds from six continents migrate across the
Bering Strait.
-- On Bridging the Bering Sea (July 15-29, 2008) follow the islands that
once formed the land bridge between Asia and North America, now home to
hundreds of different bird species including Black-footed Albatross,
Northern Fulmar, several species of Petrel, Cormorant, Auk and Puffins,
to name only a few. Venture by Zodiac, Clipper Odyssey's stable
inflatable boats, to explore the jagged cliffs and rocky shores of
Aghiyuk Island, home to more than 1,000,000 birds. Tiny Hall and St.
Matthew Islands are birders' paradises where many seabirds nest,
including the indigenous McKay's Bunting.
The 118-passenger 'Clipper Odyssey' carries a fleet of Zodiac landing craft so all guests can go ashore on out-of-the-way islands and remote stretches of coastline, not accessible by land or larger cruise ships. Cabins are comfortable and well-appointed, meals delicious and service impeccable. The small size of the 'Clipper Odyssey' allows access to more rewarding and authentic harbors. A customized glass-bottom boat affords a carefree look at the underwater world.
Carefully-crafted itineraries designed by A&K's expedition staff offer an in-depth, personal introduction to unspoiled and otherwise inaccessible regions of the Russian Far East and Alaska, in addition to the South Pacific.
Russian Far East & Kamchatka: Nome to Nome—July 2-16, 2008; $9,795 - $15,795
Bridging the Bering Sea: Nome to Seward--July 15-29, 2008; $8,995 - $14,995
Alaska Inside Passage: Seward to Vancouver--July 28-August 9, 2008; $6,995 - $12,995
Polynesian Paradise: Papeete to Papeete--Oct 24-Nov 8, 2008; $7,395 - $13,995
South Seas Voyage: Papeete to Fiji--Nov 5-22, 2008; $8,695 - $15,595
New Zealand Family Adventure: North and South Island--Dec 17, 2008-Jan 3, 2009; $9,995 - $15,595
Seasoned naturalists, ornithologists, geologists and historians sail on every Clipper
Odyssey voyage. Our Experts provide insight on shore and back on board, conduct informative lectures and recap the day's discoveries during informational get-togethers.
To request a 'Clipper Odyssey' brochure, call Abercrombie & Kent at
(800) 554-7094 or visit www.akodyssey.com.
Hurtigruten
Florida Departure For 41-Day World Cruise Segment To Antarctica
Another first in a decade of firsts for Hurtigruten is the addition of Pt. Canaveral, Florida as the October 18, 2008 embarkation point of a 41-day segment of its 67-day Longitudinal World Cruise aboard the world’s newest expedition ship, the 318-passenger MS Fram. Normally priced at $11,999 to $41,699 per person, double, Hurtigruten is offering 50 percent savings on a companion’s fare when booking selected stateroom and suite categories by April 30, 2008 -- a discount of $5,999 to $13,075. For bookings after April 30, Hurtigruten is offering per person savings of $750 on staterooms and $1,500 on suites.
Taking advantage of the reverse of seasons by passing into the Southern Hemisphere as the North begins winter, the one-year-old expedition ship MS Fram, designed and built especially for up close sailing in polar waters, departs Pt. Canaveral in late fall, stopping in Key West, before leaving the U.S. on its way to the trip’s most prominent feature – Antarctica and the Chilean Fjords. The warm weather and sunny climes of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Columbia’s San Andreas Island, precede the ship’s transit of the Panama Canal – in itself even more fascinating as the size of the ship offers eye-level views of the “mules” that pull the ships.
Stops during the journey down the west coast of South America include many smaller and more unusual ports than can be had by larger vessels – Salaverry, Peru; the pre-Columbian city of Manta, Ecuador; Arica and Iquique, Chile; and Ushuaia, Buenos Aires. Other stops are Peru’s Callao and General San Martin, and Chile’s Coquimbo, Valpraiso, Puerto Montt, Puerto Chacabuco, Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas. Guests are also treated to the stunning scenery, diverse wildlife and glacial environment while cruising the Cockburn and Beagle Channels, Chilean Fjords and spending several days in Antarctica.
Passengers interested in shorter segments may also disembark in Callao (19 days; $5,949-$20,699) or Valparaiso (27 days; $8,299-$28,949). Or head up to Reykjavik, Iceland to take in the full 67-day event, adding the UK, Canada and the U.S. eastern seaboard to the Pt. Canaveral itinerary; priced from $17,499 to $60,899.
Information, brochures and reservations can be obtained from Hurtigruten Inc., (800) 323-7436 or (212) 319-1300; fax (212) 319-1390; for brochures (800) 666-2374, 24 hours a day; www.hurtigruten.us or www.hutrigruten.com.
Orion Expedition Cruises/Australia
Orion Offering Special Gulf Of Siam Cruise In 2009
Orion Expedition Cruises, the Australian-based company Sarina
Bratton launched in 2005 with the 4,000-ton Orion, will make its Asia debut
in 2009. One highlight of the new itineraries is an 11-night Gulf of Siam
Explorer voyage from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City departing September 29, 2009.
Orion is to call at Tioman Island and Kuala Terengganu in Malaysia and Ko
Samui and Ko Kood in Thailand. The ship will stay overnight in Cambodia’s
Kampot for shore excursions to Angkor Wat and in Ho Chi Minh Ci. Website: http://www.orioncruises.com.au
Quark Expeditions
‘50 Years of Victory’s Maiden Voyage to North Pole June 23, 2008
The newest addition to the Quark Expeditions fleet is the largest, most sophisticated, and powerful icebreaker ever constructed. 50 Years of Victory will debut June 23 on its maiden voyage to the North Pole. Built in Russia, the vessel is the first Arktika-class icebreaker (built by the Russian government and operated by Murmansk Shipping Company) to have a spoon-shaped bow
50 Years of Victory will depart on June 23, 2008, July 6 and July 19 for the North Pole. The first two departures are 16-days in length, and the third is 17-days to accommodate the viewing of a total solar eclipse.
50 Years of Victory, offers 64 cabins accommodating 128 passengers. Ample public space includes an Aft Saloon and Forward Lounge, in addition to a bar and library. The Aft Saloon converts from a presentation room during the day to a place to dance and socialize in the evening. For relaxing, there is an indoor pool and two saunas. An on-board gym offers windows so guests can enjoy the scenery while exercising. A shop and massage services are also available.
The vessel has five cabin categories, all with facilities en suite, windows that open to an ocean view along with a television and DVD player. There are 46 standard twin cabins, six mini suites, six suites, one Victory Suite and six Arktika Suites. Special features of the larger Victory and Arktika Suites include bathtub and refrigerator. Website: www.quarkexpeditions.com
Star Clippers
Star Clippers Offers Free Air To Tahiti From L.A.
Star Clippers is offering guests free air travel to Tahiti from Los Angeles, Calif., on seven departures in 2008. Guests flying from other select gateways are eligible for a savings of $800 off of the airfare, and those wishing to book cruise-only will receive a discount of $800 per person off the double-occupancy cruise rate.
Eligible departure dates for the seven-night cruises are June 29, July 6, Aug. 10 and Dec. 14. The 10-night cruises with the special savings depart July 24 and Aug. 28. The 11-night cruise departing Aug. 17 also is included in the offer.
Star Flyer sails round-trip Papeete, Tahiti, cruises year-round where guests can dive and snorkel in some of the most spectacular sites in the world. And shore excursions are designed to introduce guests to the fascinating culture and history of the Polynesian people.
-- The seven-night itinerary calls at Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora, and Cook Bay and Opunohu Bay, Moorea, with an overnight in Papeete before disembarkation.
-- The ten-night cruise takes Star Flyer to the Society Islands and Tuamotu Atolls, with special cruising in the Rangiroa Lagoon. The ship calls at Fakarava, Rangiroa, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Taha'a, Huahine and Moorea. The 11-night voyage adds an overnight call at Huahine.
To request a brochure, call toll-free (800) 442-0556 or e-mail brochures. To make a reservation, contact a travel professional. For information, call Star Clippers at (800) 442-0551 or visit www.starclippers.com to view a video about the line or take a virtual tour of the Star Clippers ships.
Travel Dynamics International
Travel Dynamics Offers Nine Africa Cruises From Fall 2008 To Fall 2009
Observing elephants in Gabon’s Loango National Park, visiting the lush vineyards of Stellenbosch, South Africa, taking in a mask dance performance in Mali’s Dogon Region and exploring ancient ruins in Libya’s Leptis Magna may appear to have little in common, but with cultural and expedition cruise company Travel Dynamics International these are just some of the dramatic excursions to take place on the African continent from winter 2008 through fall 2009.
Among the new and back-by-popular-demand cruises are:
-- Desert Kingdoms and Imperial Cities: A Christmas /New Year’s Voyage from Casablanca to Dakar - The ideal itinerary for holiday adventurers, this December 18, 2008 - January 2, 2009 cruise aboard the 34-guest Callisto embraces exotic culture—including the oral storytellers, jugglers, snake charmers and magicians of Morocco Marrakech’s Djemaa el-Fna Square—and evocative nature, as in the arresting silence of Mauritania’s desert and mountains. Guests will ring in the New Year in tropical Senegal to rhythmic drumbeats and Marche Soumbedioune’s colorful crafts.
-- Coexistence of Cultures and Faiths: Christianity, Islam and Judaism in the Maghreb and al-Andalus – This exploration of the three great monotheistic faiths in North Africa and Southern Spain unfolds in March 2009, with two nights in Marrakech before embarking on Callisto and sailing for the Moroccan towns of Essaouira, Casablanca and Rabat. An overnight excursion to Fez celebrates one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the world. Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar into Spain, where Islamic culture was well entrenched before the 8th-century Moorish invasion, guests will come to know the most treasured cities of al-Andalus: Seville, site of the Alcazar, and Granada, home of the incomparable Alhambra Palace.
-- The Road to Timbuktu and the Rivers of West Africa – This two-week voyage has departures in January and February, 2009. Prior to embarking on Callisto in week two, travelers will savor the dazzling attractions en route to fabled Timbuktu, including the Grand Mosque of Djenne, the bustling city of Mopti and the Dogon region, where mask ceremonies, vibrant rock paintings and mystical cliff dwellings await the culturally inquisitive. Transporting guests to Timbuktu is a chartered plane. Once aboard ship, the group will cruise down the Gambia and Saloum rivers of Senegal and The Gambia, experiencing the extraordinary villages and wildlife of the Kiang West National Park and the Makasutu Culture Forest. The voyage concludes amid the vibrant markets, fine museums and storied slave history of Dakar.
-- West Africa Discovery: Desert Cities, Imperial Capitals and Natural Treasures - This is a unique opportunity to cruise along the west coast of Africa from Dakar to Casablanca, with departures from February – March, 2009. Senegal, the poster country of new urban Africa, will intrigue cultural questers through such attractions as the Marche Soumbedioune, while those seeking the quiet beauty of the desert and mountains will revel in Mauritania’s natural offerings. This 13-night cruise aboard Callisto also features Marrakech’s magical Djemaa el-Fna Square.
-- South Africa by Sea - Beginning with two nights in Cape Town, this March 19-April 3, 2009 voyage aboard the board the all-suite, 114-guest Corinthian II boasts a number of calls not usually available on South African cruises. Travelers will enjoy touring Stellenbosch wine country and the bold Cape Peninsula mountains before tacking west for the acacia woodland of Hluhluwe-Umfolozi National Park, home to rare black rhinos; Addo Elephant National Park; and Port Elizabeth’s Victorian architecture. Humpback whales might be sighted off the bow as the ship forges through Richards Bay into cosmopolitan Durban.
-- A Voyage from the Cape of Good Hope to Gibraltar: Exploring the Cultural & Natural Diversity of Africa – For those who want to do it all, this grand voyage of March 31 - May 4, 2009 follows in the wake of the early explorers and merchant ships of the 18th and 19th centuries. Corinthian II will traverse the length of Africa’s Atlantic coast, calling at ports and exploring destinations largely unknown to travelers. Embarking in Cape Town, the port city near the landmark Cape of Good Hope, guests will explore virtually every country along Africa’s west coast: South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe, Cameroon, Benin, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco, before reaching the Rock of Gibraltar and wrapping up in historic Seville. This is an unprecedented opportunity to observe ancient cultures and tribal customs as well as landscape and animal life, from the dunes of Namibia to the wildlife of Gabon’s rainforests and from the markets of Ghana and Senegal to the medinas of Morocco.
-- Ancient Lost Cities of Libya and Tunisia: Greco-Roman Civilization Between the Desert and the Sea - History buffs and adventure seekers can get up close and personal with the ancient Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans who settled the coastal cities of Libya and Tunisia and turned them into centers of power. This nine-night cruise aboard Corinthian II during May – June, 2009 introduces travelers to Libya’s Leptis Magna--the capital of Roman North Africa--from the Arch of Septimius Severus to the Severan Forum and the Hadrianic Baths. Other attractions include the historic medina of Tripoli, also in Libya, and the impressive Roman amphitheater of El Djem in Tunisia. This voyage culminates in a visit to Crete and its historically rich town of Chania.
-- North Africa’s Mediterranean Coast Through the Centuries – On this expansive journey along North Africa’s entire Mediterranean coast, guests will sail aboard Corinthian II from Egypt to Morocco, discovering marvels like the Roman ruins of Djemila; the old city of Tlemcen; the World War II battlefields of Tubruq; and Libya’s Greco-Roman cities. The 16-night cruise (plus one night in a Cairo hotel) in October-November, 2009 will also explore the walled holy city of Kairouan, Tunisia, the Islamic world’s preeminent pilgrimage site after Mecca and Medina, and consider Tangier’s history of invasions, from the Phoenicians in the 7th century B.C. to the Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Visigoths and, in the 8th century, the Arabs.
-- Passage to Leptis Magna: Exploring Ancient Landmark Sites of the Mediterranean - As the pioneer of cruise travel to Libya, Travel Dynamics is pleased to introduce travelers to its historic shores and monuments. This eight-night cruise (plus one night in an Athens hotel) in October, 2009 begins with an exploration of Athens and Crete’s historically compelling town of Chania before Corinthian II sets sail for North Africa. In Libya, participants will stroll through ancient Cyrene and Apollonia, and on to the Roman ruins of Leptis Magna, the most lavish ancient city of North Africa. They will also visit Tripoli’s Jamahiriya Museum and the remains of coastal Sabratha before sailing back to Athens via Pylos, with a visit to the Mycenaean Palace of King Nestor.
Rates begin at $6,995 per person, including suite accommodations, shore excursions, open bar, with wine served for lunch and dinner, and all taxes. For bookings contact Amalia Ciprijan at email Amalia@travdyn.com. For additional information, call 212 774 1534. Visit the enrichment cruise company’s website at www.traveldynamicsinternational.com.
AMNH Expeditons
Elegant Cruises & Tours
Hebridean International Cruises
Star Clippers
Sunsail Vacations
Traditional Fleet of Indonesia
AMNH Expeditions
Join An American Museum of Natural History Expedition To The Aegean
American Museum of Natural History is offering an itinerary from Istanbul to Athens aboard the 90-passenger Le Levant from October 1 to 12, 2008. Flowers of the Aegean is both a cultural and culinary cruise featuring the wines and cuisine of the region as well as in-depth exploration of the area’s cultural highlights. There is also an optional post-trip extension to Sounio and The Peloponnese from October 12 to 15.
Rates from $9,795 per person do. AMNH membership is required to join this cruise.
If booked by February 15, save $800 per couple, $400 per person. For more information, visit www.amnhexpeditions.org or call 1-800-462-8687 (US). The website offers a breakdown of cruises offered in 2008 either by region or by date preference.
Elegant Cruises & Tours
Diverse Itineraries Offered By Elegant Cruises In Europe
A family-owned and operated company, Elegant Cruises & Tours offers many diverse European itineraries aboard its two handsome vessels, the 105-passenger M.S. Andrea and the 62-pasesnger M.S. Monet.
Both ships have a relaxed, intimate ambiance that niche cruisers expect, and for cruising Croatia's magnificent Dalmatian Coast, Monet delivers a complete and authentic Adriatic experience with her full Croatian crew, Croatian-inspired cuisine and Croatian wines.
Andrea is a wanderer, visiting the coastlines of the Mediterranean, Baltic Sea, British Islands and Adriatic Sea from March through November and exploring Antarctica in January and February. She offers two excellent positioning voyages each winter and spring, between South America and Europe.
New for 2008, the Andrea will be making her maiden voyage to the Gulf of Bothnia with an exciting, expedition-style itinerary visiting the lands of the "midnight sun" including Lapland, above the Arctic Circle, plus ports in Sweden, Estonia, Finland, and ending with a full day and overnight in St. Petersburg. Special fares with savings of $400 p.p. for the July 14 inaugural sailing.
For 2008, Elegant is also introducing air-inclusive pricing for all itineraries, with air credits for cruise-only passengers.
For on-going specials, and updates, visit www.elegantcruises.com.
Hebridean International Cruises
Walking Land Excursions Offered By Hebridean Around Europe
Hebridean International Cruises is offering Footloose itineraries on its Hebridean Spirit.
These cruises have been designed for those who love walking, combining signature sightseeing tours with optional walking expeditions. These wonderful walks vary in length and degrees of challenge, and range from a leisurely morning ramble to a full day’s guided hike with delicious picnic lunch.
-- April 21 to 29, 2008—This cruise is perfect for wildlife lovers, taking walkers into the heart of wetlands, mountain ranges and limestone landscapes, all brimming with fauna and flora.
-- April 29 to May 6, 2008—This cruise offers hikes on the lush southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, following donkey trails past cherry orchards, lemon groves and old Moorish villages.
--May 6 to May 12, 2008—Explore salt lakes where migratory birds gather and hike through the magical forest that encircles a Cistercian abbey.
-- October 8 to 15, 2008—Explore riverside marshes and pretty island villages, and hike up a sixth century road for panoramic views of Dubrovnik.
-- October 15 to 22, 2008—This cruise offers walking in the Balkans. You can trace the circumference of the medieval walled city of Kotor or go deep into the vast site of the labyrinth Palace of Knossos.
More information at www.hebridean.co.uk
Star Clippers
‘Star Flyer’ Begins Cruises From Her Papeete, Tahiti Homeport
Star Flyer arrived at its new homeport of Papeete, Tahiti, last month to begin year-round seven-, ten- and 11-night roundtrip sailings in the azure waters of the Society and Tuamotus islands. Along the way, sunset departures, cruising in crystalline lagoons and opportunities to dive and snorkel in some of the most spectacular sites in the world enhance every itinerary. And shore excursions are designed to introduce guests to the fascinating culture and history of the Polynesian people.
-- Star Flyer sails a seven-night, round-trip Papeete itinerary that calls at Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora, and Cook Bay and Opunohu Bay, Moorea, with an overnight in Papeete before disembarkation.
-- The ten-night round-trip Papeete cruise takes Star Flyer to the Society Islands and Tuamotu Atolls, with special cruising in the Rangiroa Lagoon. The ship calls at Fakarava, Rangiroa, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Taha'a, Huahine and Moorea.
-- The 11-night voyage adds an overnight call at Huahine.
To request a brochure, call toll-free (800) 442-0556 or e-mail brochures. To make a reservation, contact a travel professional. For information, call Star Clippers at (800) 442-0551 or visit www.starclippers.com to view a video about the line or take a virtual tour of the Star Clippers ships.
Sunsail Sailing Vacations
Sunsail Announces Two New Sailing Destinations in Italy
Sunsail Sailing Vacations, the company for sailors by sailors is expanding into the beautiful Mediterranean cruising grounds of Italy and Sicily. The new Sunsail bases, which offer bareboat and skippered sailing vacations, are located in Tropea, on the southwest coast of Italy, and Palermo on the northwest coast of Sicily, perfectly located to explore the beautiful waters of the famous Lipari and Aegadian islands.
Tropea, on the Calabrian coast of Italy, is the ideal departure point to visit southern Italy, Sicily or the magical Aeolian Islands, only 30 miles away. Successfully preserving its 16th century features, Tropea offers both historical and architectural delights. The new Sunsail base is located in the main marina, just an hour from the international airport.
In Northwest Sicily, the capital Palermo offers the cruising grounds of the Aegadian islands, Malta and Tunisia. Sicily is well known for its unique natural beauty and the highest active volcano in Europe, 'Mount Etna'. The coast offers a landscape of fascinating beauty, with smaller islets scattered all around the coast. The Sunsail base is 20 miles from Palermo International Airport, and can also be reached by ferry and hydrofoil from Naples.
Sunsail will offer a fleet of yachts from 31ft to 50ft with double staterooms, complete electronics and fully equipped galleys, for the ideal cruising vacation. One-way charters are also available.
The new Italian locations join recent base openings in Koh Chang, Thailand; Abacos, Bahamas; Orhaniye, Turkey and a new environmentally-friendly location in the British Virgin Islands.
Sunsail offers a wide choice of sailing vacations for all skill levels, with nearly 1,000 yachts in over 28 locations worldwide. In addition to bareboat and skippered sailing vacations, Sunsail provides flotillas, sailing school courses and incentive or team building events. Sunsail was founded in 1974 and is owned by TUI Travel PLC. Visit www.sunsail.com or call 1-800-772-3500 for information.
Traditional Fleet Of Indonesia
Indonesia's Introduces First Fleet of Traditional Bugis Pinisi Schooners
From the exotic ports of Jakarta, Bali, Ambon and Makassar, the black sails of Indonesia's Bugis Schooners carried cargoes of spice and porcelain as far as China and the Middle East. The rich history of the Indonesian Archipelago, the Bugis people and of their historical link to sailing, represents the key to what SongLine-Seatrek Cruises offers you as a vacation experience. The Traditional Fleet of Indonesia operate migratory Adventure Cruises to many different ports throughout the archipelago. These programs provide the traveler with rich cultural and natural science experiences, with accommodations aboard traditional Bugis Pinisi schooners.
The Traditional Fleet also provides a wide range of options for scuba divers and adventurous sailors. Live-Aboard Dive Boats operate short two- and ten-night dive operations to most of the isolated parts of Indonesia's vast island paradise. Dive operations cover Komodo, Raja Ampat, Alor, Wakatobi, Selayar Island.
Wildlife Exploration Cruises provide the traveler with a scientific approach to the natural wonders of Indonesia, with visits to the Komodo National Park, The Ujung Kulon National Park and even bird watching programs to Irian Jaya. Traditional Fleet vessels are always available for Private Charter for those who seek the ultimate in adventure cruising.
If you're into the wilder side of life, and enjoy those big surf breaks that can only be found working the outer reefs of the world, drop into our Surfing Holiday section for one of the finest specialty vessels in the Traditional Fleet. KLM NOMAD has been operating off the Western end of Java in the Panaitan Islands, providing live-aboard surfing holidays for the surfer who demands well deserved comforts and the finest waves in Indonesia. Vessels in this area are limited, but we do have 2 others that often work this destination.
Since the inception of the Traditional Fleet of Indonesia in 1994, the fleet has expanded and many of our vessels service the waters of our Asian neighbors of Thailand and Papua Nugini.
The Traditional Fleet membership has grown to include many of the traditional vessels operating in the Republic of Indonesia. While all of the member vessels of this organization are independently operated, this site provides you with a comprehensive summary and access to most of these fine vessels. Website: http://www.songlinecruises.com/
American Canadian Cruise Line
Coral Princess Expeditions
Cruise West
Hurtigruten/Norwegian Coastal Voyage
Orion Expeditions
Star Clippers
American Canadian Caribbean Line
American Canadian Caribbean Offering Special Rates On Caribbean Sailings
American Canadian Caribbean Line, Inc. (ACCL), a family-operated small ship cruise line that caters to active mature travelers, announces savings of $500 per person on four 11-night select winter 2008 Caribbean cruises with an additional holiday savings offer for single travelers this December.
Passengers can make warm holiday memories traveling from Nassau to Providenciales by small ship on the Beach Lover's Bahamas (December 22, 2007) 11-night cruise, popular with independent travelers. ACCL announces a special singles occupancy savings offer only on this holiday trip so single travelers can enjoy the same price as those who travel with others. ACCL single guests especially enjoy the camaraderie that only a small family-operated vessel can offer.
Four ACCL winter 2008 cruises are priced with a savings of $500 per person (ranging from $2970 - $3795 per person, double occupancy). In addition to the Beach Lover's Bahamas cruise, travelers can choose from three Caribbean itineraries to explore some of the most unspoiled areas of this region as follows:
The Bahamian Out Islands (March 14, 2008) 11-night cruise features visits to Harbour Island's famous pink sand beaches and pastel-painted houses, Staniel Cay known for "Thunderball Grotto" of Bond film fame, along with Warderick Wells Cay, the most popular cay in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, offering four miles of trails leading to rare plants, caves and wells.
The beauty and serenity of unspoiled beaches can also be experienced on ACCL's Yachtsman's Virgin Islands (January 12, 2008 and February 23, 2008) 11- night cruise featuring visits to St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and Norman Island, said to be the "Treasure Island" of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel. Visit the extraordinary grotto at Virgin Gorda or snorkel one of the world's largest coral reefs at Anegada. One can also explore the amazing underwater world via ACCL's exclusive glass-bottom launch.
The Lesser Antilles are featured in the Treasures of the Leeward Isles (January 27, 2008 and February 9, 2008) cruise. Discover the beauty of the British West Indies, French West Indies and Netherlands Antilles on this 11- night cruise offering quiet diversion and outstanding natural and historical sites.
American Canadian Caribbean Line also offers a willing-to-share program, which is very popular with single travelers. This allows an opportunity for a guest to pay a double occupancy rate if they are open to the possibility of sharing a cabin with another single who opts for the willing-to-share program. Contact ACCL for details.
The M/V Grande Mariner, which is servicing the itineraries this winter, is an expedition-style small ship featuring a unique shallow-draft that allows the vessel to land right up on the beach. The patented bow ramp offers accessibility from ship to beach where often the gentle footsteps in the sand are only those of ACCL's guests.
ACCL Reservation Team Members are available to offer assistance Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST) by calling 800.556.7450. ACCL's full 2008 schedule is available online at http://www.accl-smallships.com.
Coral Princess Expeditions
2007/2008 Guest Lecturers Announced For ‘Oceanic Discoverer’
Oceanic Discoverer, which operates New Zealand’s premiere expedition-style luxury cruise series, has announced the 2008 summer season list of guest lecturers, led by a distinguished Pacifica expert, a naturalist guide, and a leading conservation advocate. With five-night (Auckland/Paihia) and 12-night (Auckland/Milford Sound) cruises from December 2007 to March 2008, passengers are taken on a multi-sensory journey, exploring the historical and ecological significance of New Zealand’s rich coast that features glaciers, fiords, rugged mountains, subtropical forests and stunning native wildlife.
Massey University Professor Kerry Howe returns from Oceanic Discoverer’s highly successful 2006/07 series. A 2007 Montana Book Award winner for Vaka Moana-Voyages of the Ancestors, Professor Howe will use his expertise in Pacific history, prehistory and cultures to guide guests in retracing Captain James Cook’s pre-European navigation of New Zealand. Points of interest include Pickersgill Harbour in Dusky Sound where Captain Cook set up an observatory, and the infamous Cannibal Cove in Queen Charlotte Sound.
Another returning lecturer is naturalist Damon Ramsey. An expert on New Zealand physical climate and landforms, seashore ecology, seabirds and marine mammals, Ramsey will guide guests to spot fur seals, sperm whales, Dusky Dolphins and Orcas at the marine mammal capital of New Zealand, Kaikoura. Damon amazed guests last year by identifying an average of 50 species of exotic and native birds on each cruise.
Joining this season’s cruise is Malcolm Anderson. A leader in sustainable tourism, Malcolm offers an interpretive experience, with stories behind New Zealand’s world-famous natural, cultural and historic heritage sites. Highlights include lectures on the North Island’s Tiri Tiri, one of only two Scientific Reserves in New Zealand, Fiordland, the country’s largest national park, and Milford Sound, the most scenic and dramatic of the fiords, featuring Stirling Falls and the highest sea cliff in the world, Mitre peak.
The two year old Oceanic Discoverer accommodates just 72 guests in 36 staterooms and has a cruising speed of 14 knots. The shallow draft of the 63m ship allows it to access isolated places beyond the reach of larger ships. This purpose-built, Eco-Certified expedition cruise ship offers the excursion vessel Xplorer, a fleet of inflatable Zodiacs, a large sundeck and spa pool, reference library, lecture lounge and a dive shop. Gourmet dining is complemented by selected premium Australian and New Zealand wines.
The Oceanic Discoverer New Zealand series starts at AUS$2990 for the 5-night Auckland/Bay of Islands cruise, and AUS$7190 for the 12-night Auckland/Milford Sound cruise. All prices include GST. For more information, visit the website at www.coralprincess.com.au.
Oceanic Discoverer is a member of Navigate Oceania, a new collection of 27 inspired destinations and unique experiences from New Zealand and Fiji’s best boutique hotels and luxury lodges, an exclusive private island, villas, spa destinations, a luxury expedition-style cruise, and a private motor yacht.
Cruise West
Cruise West Warms Up for Winter with South Pacific Itineraries
Cruise West is trading glaciers and brown bears for exotic birds, pearls, and snorkeling this winter in multiple, sun-soaked itineraries. The company that was founded by the late Chuck West, an adventuresome Alaska bush pilot, is taking its distinctive brand of up-close, casual and personal experiential cruising that has become well known in Alaska, and sailing south for the winter with itineraries that allow guests to bask in the warmth of the pristine South Pacific, explore the rich marine life and history in Mexico’s Sea of Cortés or take in the prolific wildlife and beaches of Panama & Costa Rica. All cruises offer onboard naturalists and topical expert lecturers to bring each distinct destination to life.
8008 South Pacific Itineraries Onboard The Luxury Flagship Spirit of Oceanus~
The precious gems of Polynesia and Melanesia are explored on Cruise West’s aptly named Pearls of Polynesia itinerary. This 12-night sailing between Fiji and Papeete visits Beqa, Fiji, to watch a traditional firewalking ceremony; the Cook Islands including Atiu, “The Land of the Birds,” which rarely receives visits from tourists; and Tonga to meet with local villagers, participate in a kava ceremony and snorkel in the pristine waters. Pearls of Polynesia departs on January 23 and February 26, 2008. Standard pricing starts at $5,849 per person, based on double occupancy.
-- The 11-night Island Sanctuaries itinerary, which visits the remote oases of French Polynesia, was designed with nature lovers in mind. On this round trip journey from Papeete, guests will snorkel in Rangiroa, the second largest atoll in the world; visit a pearl farm in Takapoto; and travel through the Marquesas Islands to meet villagers and explore the plush terrain. This itinerary sails on February 2 and 12, 2008. Standard pricing starts at $4,549 per person, based on double occupancy. A post-cruise extension to remote Easter Island is available on February 2nd departure only.
-- The 16-night Legends of the Pacific sailing explores the islands of Micronesia, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, traveling between Guam and Fiji. The Spirit of Oceanus will bring guests to areas seldom visited by other travelers, on an insider’s expedition to native villages, World War II sites and tiny islands. Highlights include snorkeling at Tonoas Island, the center for the Japanese Navy during WWII; meeting native villagers throughout the islands and enjoying performances of their traditional dance and song; and visiting the tropical forest of Pohnpei Island which is home to 40 species of birds, reptiles and deer. This itinerary will sail on January 7 and March 11, 2008. Standard pricing starts at $6,799 per person, based on double occupancy.
Cruise West Offers Winter Escape To Baja Mexico On Upgraded Ship
Cruise West is offering guests the chance to stave off winter chills with distinctive itineraries to Mexico’s Sea of Cortés. Guests this winter will be the first to sail on the upgraded, 138-guest Spirit of Yorktown, which will include four new balcony category cabins, renovations to corridors, lobby areas and the lounge, and a new collection of artwork. As with all Cruise West itineraries, cruises to the Sea of Cortés focus on providing up-close and personal experiences with the environment and cultures of the destination.
On January 5 and 12, 2008 departures, guests will sail in the company of renowned John Steinbeck scholar Dr. Susan Shillinglaw and Marine Biologist Bill Gilly. Shillinglaw, a Professor at San Jose State University and a Scholar-in-Residence at the National Steinbeck Center and Gilly will share the essence of Steinbeck’s journeys in the region through topical presentations. Gilly has retraced the legendary journey made by Steinbeck and biologist Ed Ricketts in 1940 and has lead a research program on the Sea of Cortés since 2001 that is focused on the ecology of the Humboldt squid. The January 12 sailing also includes a special post-cruise philanthropic event at La Paz Children’s School for a painting party January 18-20. This event is offered through Cruise West’s philanthropy program, “Our Bear Cares.”
Photography buffs will enjoy the January 19, 2008 departure. Through an exclusive partnership, PENTAX sponsored professional photographer Kerrick James will be on hand to coach guests on all aspects of photography and help them test drive PENTAX camera gear. Visit www.pentaxslr.com and www.kerrickjames.com for more information.
All Sea of Cortés cruises are eight days, round trip from Cabo San Lucas and include the picturesque seaside village and mission town Loreto and Isla Espiritú Santo, home to several plant and animal species only found on this island. Active guests will enjoy kayaking, snorkeling and nature walks at the serene islands Los Islotes & Isla Partida. Guests may also add-on a spectacular four-night Copper Canyon post-cruise land tour.
Prices start at $2,399 per person and are based on double occupancy. The post-cruise La Paz Children’s School Paint Party is an additional $299 per person and space is limited. For additional information or to book a Cruise West cruise, call 1-800-296-8307 or visit www.cruisewest.com.
Hurtigruten (Norwegian Coastal Voyage)
Hurtigruten Announces Early-Bird Specials On Its “Expedition Voyages”
Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic’s Spitsbergen are destinations probably found on most experienced traveler’s “Life List” and Hurtigruten (formerly known as Norwegian Coastal Voyage in North America) is offering early-booking savings on all of these unique air-inclusive voyages during its 2008-09 season. Booking by December 31, 2007 saves up to $350 per person on all Oct, 2008.-Feb. 2009 Antarctica and June-Aug. 2008 Spitsbergen sailings; booking by January 31, 2008 saves $350 per person on cabins and $500 on suites for all June-Aug. 2008 Greenland cruises. Discounts may be combined with AARP savings of $100 to $150 per cabin.
Antarctica fare savings of $350 per person apply to all itineraries including the new 17-day itinerary, which ventures as far south as Marguerite Bay, a rarely visited region of the White Continent, 13-day Argentina & Antarctica, 19-day Antarctica & The Falklands/Malvinas, 19-day Antarctica, Argentine & The Chilean Fjords, and 21-day or 22-day Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. Weather permitting, landings in Antarctica are made at Half Moon and Deception Islands, Ukrainian Vernadsky and Polish Arctowski Bases, Almirante Brown, Port Lockroy, Neko Harbor and Petermann Island. Regular rates range from $6,799 to $17,699 per person, double aboard the world's newest expedition ship, the 318-berth MS Fram, or the MS Nordnorge. AARP members save an additional $150 per cabin.
Book any 2008 Greenland cruise before January 31, 2008 and receive $500 off all suites or $350 off all cabins. Itineraries are 15-day shoulder-season sailings between Iceland’s Reykjavik and the eastern and southern Greenland coasts; eight-day programs in the Disko Bay region; and 15 days combining the Disko Bay and Thule in Greenland’s northern reaches. The packages offer sea and land-based excursions, presentations on numerous aspects of life in Greenland, and included and optional activities. Prices before discounts range from $3,673 - $21,899.
Booking any nine- or 16-day 2008 Spitsbergen adventures by December 31, 2007, for departures between June and Aug. 2008, saves $200 per person; and $350 on the 12-day voyage. These air-inclusive Expedition Cruises to this remote Arctic island offers guests a hands-on visit to a unique Arctic environment where the Midnight Sun casts a 24-hour spotlight on polar bears, Svalbard reindeer, Arctic foxes, whales, walruses and ringed and harp seals and dozens of other animals and migratory birds still roam the stunning landscapes of their natural habitat. Pre-discounted fares for the Spitsbergen Arctic Adventure (nine-day) are $6,299 - $6,700; 16-day Spitsbergen Ultimate Voyages are $7,399 - $8,399; 12-day Grand Arctic Expeditions are $9,599 to $11,699. AARP members enjoy an additional $100 per cabin savings.
All of these soft-adventure cruises are designed for active, experienced travelers who want to be stimulated with interesting company and take home an appreciation and greater understanding of what they have seen. Hurtigruten uses naturalist guides, noted guest lecturers and PolarCirkel boat landings to focus on exploring these pristine polar regions of glaciers, huge icebergs, abundant wildlife and the historical, cultural and traditional aspects of the local people.
Programs include roundtrip air, first-class hotels and breakfast daily as per itinerary, all meals aboard ship, naturalist guides, shore excursions, port charges, and transfers.
Brochures, information and reservations can be obtained from Hurtigruten., (800) 323-7436 or (212) 319-1300; fax (212) 319-1390; for brochures, (800) 666-2374, 24 hours a day; www.hurtigruten.us or www.hurtigruten.com.
Two-For-One Airfare Offered By Hurtigruten On Select 2008 Coastal Voyages
Hurtigruten is offering a two-for-one airfare special for passengers who book a 2008 Coastal Voyage, excepting June-August, and economy class air from New York by December 31, 2007. Fishing villages in the Lofoten Islands, the town of Alesund with its many art galleries and the bustling cities of Trondheim and Tromso are some of the 34 ports on what is called “The World’s Most Beautiful Voyage,” running between the charming Hanseatic port of Bergen and Kirkenes, close to Russian border. The 11 ships in the fleet that sail this route year-round are a unique combination of deluxe cruise travel and lifelines to remote coastal towns and villages. Cruise-only fares are $1,299 to $5,799 per person, double, for the six-day southbound and seven-day northbound voyages and the 12-day roundtrip is $2,299 to $8,699. Add-on air to New York is available.
Mother Nature provides the entertainment and puts on a dazzling display of scenery year-round. With neither organized entertainment nor a dress code aboard ship, the voyage appeals to active, experienced travelers who love scenery, getting off the beaten track and meeting local people, trying new activities, savoring daily life in a foreign country with a mix of nationalities and take home an appreciation and greater understanding of what they have seen. Ports include Molde, a favorite vacation spot of Henrik Ibsen; Honningsvag, capital of the North Cape; the world’s most northerly town of Hammerfest; and the old trading post of Skjervoy.
Optional excursions showcase Norway’s scenery, culture and history with choices ranging from city tours of Trondheim, Tromso and Alesund to birdwatching, dogsledding, Midnight Sun concerts, the Geirangerfjord, Lofoten Islands and North Cape. Some excursions operate year-round while most run during the summer or winter season.
The cruise includes all meals aboard ship, taxes and port charges. A fuel surcharge of $6 per day and government air taxes and fees, including the Sept. 11th Security Fee, are additional. Brochures, information and reservations can be obtained from Hurtigruten (formerly known as Norwegian Coastal Voyage), (800) 323-7436 or (212) 319-1300; fax (212) 319-1390; for brochures, (800) 666-2374, 24 hours a day; www.hurtigruten.us .
Orion Expeditions
Orion Expeditions Offering Visit To Australia’s Top-Secret WWII Airbase
Orion's expeditions along the remote Kimberley coastline reveal many unexpected treasures including ancient Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) rock art on Jar Island, thought to be the some of the oldest art on earth. Nearby, in total contrast, on the Anjo Peninsula, is a more recent yet unexpected site, the top secret WW II Truscott Air Base.
The airstrip, strategically located in order to launch bomber air raids on the Japanese enemy in Java, was built by the Allies in 1944 with the help of local aboriginals. At its peak the base had 3,000 men stationed there, yet was undiscovered despite Japanese raiders attempts to find Truscott.
The site, on Aboriginal reserve land, forms a fascinating open air museum with numerous relics from the war including the remnants of aircraft parts, bombs, bunkers, trucks, machinery and an RAAF B-24 Liberator which crashed at the end of the strip in May 1945.
Now Heritage-listed, the Mungalalu Truscott Air Base still serves an important role for our border protection forces. Coast watch aircraft patrol an offshore maritime area of around 15 million square kilometers detecting activities such as people smuggling, illegal fishing, marine pollution and drug trafficking.
Visit Truscott Airbase as part of Orion Expedition Cruises' Kimberley voyages operating between late April and early September, 2008.
For the ten-night Kimberley Expedition (Darwin to Broome) and Kimberley Highlights (Darwin/Brome/Darwin) operating April to September, 2008, fares begin from A$7,995 per person for an ocean view Category B stateroom. Suites begin from A$11,030 per person for a Junior Suite and Owners' Suites with French balcony are A$16,755 per person.
Star Clippers
Star Clippers Ship Makes Line's First Transit Of Panama Canal
Star Flyer made history for Star Clippers this month as the first ship in the fleet to transit the Panama Canal. En route to its new homeport in Tahiti, the tall ship first will undergo Star Flyer's move to year-round cruising in Tahiti enabled Star Clippers to take advantage of the opportunity to sail a ship through the lakes and locks of the man-made engineering marvel. "Because Star Flyer will sail in Tahiti year-round," said Jack Chatham, vice president of sales and marketing for Star Clippers, “who knows when we'll go through the canal again, possibly making this a true once-in-a-lifetime experience for the guests on board."
Following the drydock, Star Flyer will make its way to Papeete, Tahiti, without guests to allow the crew to fully prepare the ship for its new home.
The first official cruise in Tahiti is set to depart December 30, and then the ship will begin sailing three distinct products in the region: seven-, ten- and 11-night round-trip Papeete cruises.
During Star Flyer's seven-night itinerary, the ship visits Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora, and Cook Bay and Opunohu Bay, Moorea, with an overnight in Papeete before disembarkation. The 10- and 11-night cruises take Star Flyer to the Society and Tuamotus Islands, with special cruising in the Rangiroa Lagoon. The ship calls at Fakarava, Rangiroa, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Taha'a, Huahine and Moorea.
The four- and five-masted clipper ships feature a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere. Passengers dress in resort-casual attire and dine in one unhurried, open seating. Whether unwinding in the bowsprit net while gazing at the sea below or climbing the mast for a panoramic view of the horizon, a unique sailing adventure awaits.
To request a brochure, call toll-free (800) 442-0556 or e-mail brochures@starclippers.com . To make a reservation, contact a travel professional. For information, call Star Clippers at (800) 442-0551 or visit www.starclippers.com to view a video about the line or take a virtual tour of the Star Clippers ships.
Hurtigruten (Norwegian Coastal Voyage)
Lindblad Expeditions
Quark
Swan Hellenic
Hurtigruten/Norwegian Coastal Voyage
‘MS Fram’ To Repeat Her Unique 67-Day Pole To Pole Cruise In Fall 2008
In 2008 the MS Fram will repeat her inaugural 2007 67-day longitudinal itinerary when she travels from the North Pole to the South Pole—a trip like no other. The 67-day cruise from Iceland to Argentina, with fascinating excursions along the western Atlantic seaboard and the eastern Pacific coast, features PolarCirkel landings and expert guides.
Departing from Reykjavik, Iceland, the MS Fram will cruise the waters of the Arctic, Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific, and South Pole, before completing her journey in Ushuaia, the port capital of Tierra del Fuego, in Argentina.
Along the way, the ship will call at some of the most fascinating and picturesque ports in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, and make a passage through the fabled Panama Canal. See Nova Scotia and New England at the peak of their autumn foliage, cruise the sublime Chilean fjords in glorious spring weather, and luxuriate for several weeks in warm sunny weather in the captivating tropics. As the ship nears Antarctica, onboard expert guides will provide lectures about this magnificent, unspoiled continent.
Rates begin at $10,999. More information at www.hurtigruten.com (click Antarctica Voyage).
February 2008 President Cruise on Hurtigruten’s ‘MS Fram’
Come join Hurtigruten on its first ever President's Cruise. Hans Rood, president of Hurtigruten, will accompany travelers on an unforgettable trip to the White Continent. Included in this very special program are a free hotel room and cabin category upgrade, as well as a fantastic excursion giving you the opportunity to try some Chile's famous seafood and the pisco sour, before trying some of Chile's world renowned wines at a local Santiago winery.
The 13-day Antarctic cruise will depart on February 9 with pricing starting from $6,499 per person will start in Santiago and end in the Antarctic Peninsula with stops along the way to Ushuaia and the Drake Passage. For reservations and information, call 800.582.0835 (US), or visit www.hurtigruten.us.
NOTE: More specials on other Hurtigruten cruises are offered at http://www.hurtigruten.us/news.asp?pageindex=7.
Lindblad Expeditions
Baja Escape: An Exploration of the Sea of Cortez
Guests snorkel and swim in the Sea of Cortez, one of the world's richest marine environments on one of our new four-night expeditions — the perfect extended weekend getaway designed with all the integrity of our traditional expeditions.
On both itineraries there will be a host of activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, hiking, Zodiac cruises, or just relaxing on deck. If there are reports of whales near by, we will cruise out for a search. In December and early January, temperatures are typically in the 70s, the sky is clear blue from sunrise to sunset and the Sea of Cortez is alive with platoons of pelicans, whales and dolphins surfacing and the antics of rays and boobies! This is an extraordinary place, full of endless possibilities.
On each voyage experience a superb expedition team, comprised of an Expedition Leader and charismatic Naturalists. Or, take a break from the activity and relax with a massage or spa treatment.
Departure Dates: January 2 & 6, 2008. Priced from $1,820 per person. (Price listed is per person based on double occupancy in a Category 1 cabin on 4-night Baja Escape expedition and is subject to availability.)
To request a reservation log on to the new travel agent website, or call Expedition Specialists at 1-800-EXPEDITION (1.800.397.3348) and mention code 6EMBA107 for booking a reservation. Website: www.expeditions.com
Lindblad Offers New Expeditions to Greece & the Dalmatian Coast On ‘Panorama’
Lindblad is introducing new expeditions to Greece and the Dalmatian Coast aboard the sailing yacht, Panorama. Silvery olive trees, azure waters, rugged hills, inviting beaches, and the Mediterranean of a bygone era await passengers onboard the three-masted sailing yacht Panorama (accommodating only 41 guests).
From mid-May through October, 2008, Lindblad Expeditions will offer three distinct (and combinable) expeditions to Greece and the Dalmatian Coast:
-- Sailing the Greek Isles (Nine Days/Seven Nights) encompasses both the superstar and lesser traveled Cycladic Islands.
-- Under Sail: Greece to the Dalmatian Coast (12 Days/ten Nights) through the Corinth canal to the storied sites of Delphi and Ithaka and along the Dalmatian Coast to Albania, Montenegro and Croatia.
-- Greece Family Adventure (Nine Days/Seven Nights) is more than a fun vacation with swimming and sailing.
Visit www.expeditions.com/panorama for day-by-day itineraries, available extensions and pricing.
For more information or reservations, call Expedition Specialists at 1-800-EXPEDITION (1.800.397.3348) or browse www.expeditions.com. Be sure to mention code 6EMGR078 when making a booking.
Quark Expeditions
Quark Expeditions is pleased to announce that the Adventure Ship Akademik Shokalskiy will operate Spitsbergen expeditions in 2008. The 48-passenger, ice-strengthened vessel has been part of the Quark fleet in Antarctica for many years. This former research vessel will deliver the same three itineraries as the Akademik Sergey Vavilov: Spitsbergen Explorer, Spitsbergen Total Solar Eclipse, and Spitsbergen, Eastern Greenland, Iceland.
The dates and rates for all our Spitsbergen departures are attached, as are itinerary descriptions.
--On July 10, 2008, adventure ship Akademik Ioffe will sail from St. John's harbor north to Iqaluit, on Baffin Island. En route, the adventurers aboard will visit the Coast of Labrador. They will be some of the first travelers to explore Canada's newest National Park - Torngat Mountains. Torngat is derived from the Inuit word torngait meaning "spirit of wisdom and power". This is a land of deep fjords, polar bears, ancient rocks and steep cliffs where murres and puffin nest.
In its power to awe and excite, Torngat Mountains National Park equals more traditional adventure travel destinations such as Tanquary Fjord and Spitsbergen. This voyage offers a new option for those veteran travelers who believe they have seen all the Arctic has to offer. Website: www.quarkexpeditions.com
Swan Hellenic
Swan Hellenic’s New Award-Winning Antarctic Expeditions For Winter 2008/09
In her new cruise program, Minerva will visit the rugged scenery of South Georgia, the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula itself. Travelling with us will be experts on the region, its wildlife and its climate. Still one of the world's most unique destinations, it pays to do it in style. Minerva previously operated under the name of Explorer II.
Swan Hellenic Launches Second Edition Brochure
Swan Hellenic's Discovery Cruises today launches its second edition brochure, which will also feature a preview section with thirteen new cruises for spring, summer and autumn 2009. “Since announcing in July that we had joined the All Leisure Group and were to recommence cruising with our former 350-berth country style ship Minerva, there has been a remarkable degree of interest from our loyal past passengers,” says Lord Sterling, Swan Hellenic Chairman. “Bookings for the first season to May 2009 have been extremely strong, leading to the early publication of a second edition brochure, featuring new itineraries through to November 2009."
The Minerva commences sailing on 23rd May 2008. Bookings for the first season to May 2009 have been exceptional, with limited cabin availability remaining on several summer/autumn 2008 cruises. The second edition brochure announces the guest-speaker program for the current published itineraries, whilst also introducing a preview brochure with itineraries for May - November 2009.
For reservations, please call Swan Hellenic on 01444 462180 or for brochure requests, call 01444 462170. For further information, visit www.swanhellenic.com.
For reservations, please call Swan Hellenic on 01444 462180 or for brochure requests, call 01444 462170. For further inform
bercrombie & Kent
Captain Cook Cruises/Australia
Cruise West
Quark Expeditions
Voyages of Discovery
Abercrombie & Kent
Adventure Cruising In Russia’s Far East & Kamchatka On ‘Clipper Odyssey’
Just 55 miles separate Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska, from Cape Deshnev, Siberia. Join Abercrombie & Kent for an unforgettable adventure aboard Clipper Odyssey, crossing the International Dateline from Anchorage into the amazing world of Siberian Russia on a 15-day cruise from July 2 to 17, 2008. Explore Chukotka, an area rich in marine life and home to the reindeer-herding, nomadic Chukchi people, descendants of ancient Paleo-Siberian tribes. Observe Chukchi settlers hunting whale in their umiaks (walrus-skin boats), just as they have for centuries.
Kamchatka, a peninsula about the size of Japan, has the highest density of volcanoes and associated volcanic phenomena in the world, with 19 active volcanoes on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Twenty-nine craters host a stunning diversity of flora, fauna and bird species. Native peoples live in nomadic fishing and reindeer-herding communities little changed by time.
Wildlife along the coastline of Kamchatka and the Chukotka peninsula is unparalleled. This is home to more than half of the world's Steller sea eagles, as well as the world's largest population of brown bears (and an abundance of salmon).
Following the International Dateline to the Arctic Circle, Abercrombie & Kent’s ‘Clipper Odyssey’ journeys into the land of the midnight sun, inhabited by abundant wildlife and unique indigenous peoples that have survived for centuries in harmony with their environment.
The intimate, 118-passenger ‘Clipper Odyssey’ carries a fleet of Zodiac landing craft so all guests can go ashore on out-of-the-way islands and remote stretches of coastline, not accessible by land or larger cruise ships. Guests enjoy the personalized attention and superb service possible when guides, staff and crew can focus on just a handful of people and not hundreds of other passengers.
Rates start at $9,795 per person, double occupancy. Book by December 31, 2007 and save $500.
For more information on the Russian Fair East & Kamchatka (July 2-17, 2008), call Abercrombie & Kent at (800) 554-7094. Download the day-by-day itinerary at: www.akodyssey.com. Website: www.abercrombiekent.com
Captain Cook Cruises/Australia
Captain Cook Offering Cruises To Cape York From Cairns in 2008
Australian-based Captain Cook Cruises will operate 14 seven-night round voyages from Cairns to Cape York between April 4 and November 21 in 20008. The cruise will trace the 1770 voyage made by Captain James Cook in His Majesty’s Bark Endeavour, which struck a reef and was repaired near Cooktown before sailing on to Cape York and the Torres Strait.
CCC’s 150-passenger ship, Reef Endeavour, calls at Cooktown, where a major attraction is the James Cook Historical Museum, on her way to Thursday Island in the Torres Strait and Cape York on the northern tip of Australia.
En route the 3,125 gross ton ship visits Stanley Island, renowned for its Aboriginal rock carvings and the remote Bligh Reef and Restoration Island where passengers have the opportunity to go snorkeling or view the marine life from a glass-bottom boat.
Reef Endeavour, which has a swimming pool, sun deck and sauna and a single-sitting dining room, also calls at Morris Island and Lizard Island before returning to Cairns.
Early Booking Saver fares cost from A$2,352 (US$2,049) per person twin-share.
The company also offers other coastal and inland waterway cruises around Australia and to the Fiji Islands. More information at http://www.captaincook.com.au/home.asp.
Cruise West
Cruise West Offers Signature 2008 Alaska Cruises
Cruise West will offer more departures, an upgraded ship, early booking savings, and the debut of the Spirit of Glacier Bay for its signature Alaska cruises in 2008.
A total of 160 Alaska departures will be offered by Cruise West in 2008, up from 146 in 2007. The Spirit of Yorktown will be upgraded this fall with a new cabin category that offers private balconies, a new Alaskan art collection, and a refurbished lounge.
The Spirit of Glacier Bay, formerly known as the Spirit of Nantucket, will make its Alaska debut in 2008 sailing Glacier Bay Highlights cruises, and increasing the number of Cruise West ships sailing in Alaska to eight.
Land tours of the Denali National Park and Preserve, home of towering Mt. McKinley, North America’s tallest peak, can be added to any Cruise West Alaska itinerary, allowing guests to experience Alaska’s pristine interior.
Cruise West offers three distinct itineraries that allow guests to get up-close and personal with the wonders of Southeast Alaska – abundant wildlife, charming ports, jagged peaks, and immense glaciers. Guests who book before December 7, 2007, can save from $200 to $700 on Inside Passage itineraries, and those who book before February 29, 2008, can save from $100 to $350.
-- Alaska’s Inside Passage sails from Ketchikan to Juneau, or reverse, from May thru August. The nine-day cruise takes guests through Misty Fiords National Monument, Frederick Sound, and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Visits to Metlakatla, Alaska’s only Tsimshian community, and the fishing village of Petersburg, where the Leikarring Dancers will perform in the Sons of Norway Hall, are also included. Alaska’s Inside Passage will be offered on the Spirit of ’98, the Spirit of Endeavour, and the enhanced Spirit of Yorktown, and starts at $4,449 per person, double occupancy.
-- Alaska’s Whales & Wilderness is round trip from Juneau, and gives guests the opportunity to see the splendor of Alaska’s wildlife, including humpback whales, sea lions, orcas, harbor seals and porpoise. Guests will visit Sitka, explore the tiny Inian Islands by inflatable craft and visit one of a handful of small Alaskan villages to see what life is like in a wilderness community. The itinerary is nine days, offered May – August on the Spirit of Alaska and the Spirit of Discovery. Rates start at $3,599 per person, double occupancy.
--Gold Rush Inside Passage traces the path of the original stampeders from the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. From Seattle to Juneau, or reverse, guests will see the beautiful San Juan Islands, Strait of Georgia, and the coast of British Columbia. Ketchikan, the Salmon Capital of Alaska, and Haines, renowned for its local artists, are among the ports of call. Gold Rush Inside Passage is 11 days, offered in May, August and September starting at $3,599 per person, double occupancy.
Guests can see the best of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve or Prince William Sound on four- or five-day getaways in 2008. Savings of up to $300 are available if guests book an Alaska Getaway before December 7, 2007, and savings of up to $150 are available for bookings before February 29, 2008.
Glacier Bay Highlights are four or five day cruises that give guests the chance to see this World Heritage Site and Biosphere Preserve. Optional activities in Juneau include flightseeing the Juneau Icefield, zipline adventure or hiking. Glacier Bay Highlights run round trip from Juneau, May – September, on the Spirit of Glacier Bay. Rates begin at $1,799 each person, double occupancy.
Glaciers of Prince William Sound, round trip voyages from Whittier/Anchorage, are also four or five days. Guests will see the fjords, islands, passages, and glaciers of Prince William Sound and the Kenai Peninsula. The five-day includes a stop at the tiny fishing village of Cordova, famous for its Copper River salmon. Glaciers of Prince William Sound is available May – August on the Spirit of Columbia starting at $1,049 per person, double occupancy.
Extended journeys from Vancouver to Nome and points in between provide guests with an unparalleled experience of culture and nature. Guests will enjoy Cruise West’s flagship Spirit of Oceanus, with picture windows or nautical portholes in every suite. Guests who book a Grand Voyage prior to December 7, 2007 will receive $400 - $1,100 off the price of their cabin, and those who book before February 29, 2008 can save $200 - $550.
-- Coastal Odyssey gives guests 13 days of cruising from Vancouver, B.C. to Anchorage, or reverse. Ports of call include Metlakatla, Skagway and Sitka. The Spirit of Oceanus will troll the waters of the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia and Alaska Inside Passage, the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound. The itinerary is available May – September starting at $7,599 per person, double occupancy.
-- Voyage to the Bering Sea is 14 days, and takes guests from Anchorage, around the Alaska Peninsula, and north to the Russian Chukotka Peninsula. The cruise continues to the edge of the Arctic Circle before culminating in Nome, where guests pan for gold on the beach before returning to Anchorage by plane. The itinerary is available July 7 and 19, 2008, starting at $9,749 per person, double occupancy.
-- In Harriman’s Wake provides an extraordinary, 25-day journey from Vancouver to Anchorage along the path of railroad magnate Edward Harriman’s 1899 scientific expedition. The In Harriman’s Wake itinerary combines the Coastal Odyssey and Voyage to the Bering Sea itineraries for a cruise that is beyond comparison. It sails on June 27 or July 19, 2008, starting at $17,149 per person, double occupancy.
Guest capacities aboard Cruise West’s nine ships range from 78-138. Guests may expect personal enrichment through onboard narrative and presentations by local experts. The ships’ forward lounges and ample outdoor deck space provide outstanding viewing opportunities, and inflatable boats allow for up-close exploration and shore landings. For additional information or to book a Cruise West cruise, call 1-800-296-8307 or visit www.cruisewest.com.
Quark Expeditions
Quark Expeditions To Lead Expedition Along Russia’s Remote North Coast
Adventurer travelers can be one of only 108 people in the world to experience the relatively inaccessible Northeast Passage in 2008. From June 28 to July 23, Quark Expeditions will operate a 25-day, 4000-mile voyage through this rarely explored route.
Shrouded in darkness for six months of the year and hampered by extreme ice and weather conditions, the Northeast Passage is open for exploration for only a few months each year. This special Quark Expeditions voyage is one of the company’s International Polar Year celebratory voyages.
The first ever transit of the Northeast Passage took place when Swedish explorer Nils Nordenskjold completed the journey in 12 months, 130 years ago. This fabled trading route, which follows the Arctic coast of Russia from the Bering Strait to the Barents Sea shortens the sea voyage from Asia to Europe by almost 4,200 miles.
In 2008, only a handful of passenger vessels are capable of completing this voyage. Kapitan Khlebnikov, Quark’s polar-class icebreaker, was purpose-built to sail this inaccessible area of the world. Travelers start their journey in Anchorage, Alaska, embarking the icebreaker in Anadyr, Russia. Traveling along the Chukotka Peninsula, anticipated shore landings include the small village of Uelen and the exploration of the uninhabited island of Kolyuchin. Onboard Zodiacs and helicopters ferry passengers to remote shore landings throughout.
The voyage continues to Wrangel Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its diverse flora and impressive herds of musk oxen. The ship then steams on to the New Siberian Islands, where passengers will hike across the tundra, explore old hunting camps, and watch for the infrequently seen Laptev walrus.
A visit to two of the least accessible groups of islands in the Arctic, Severnaya Zemlya and Novaya Zemlya, is a unique experience for those fascinated with early exploration. These islands continually thwarted many early explorers’ attempts to traverse the Northeast Passage. Zodiac landings and aerial sightseeing will give visitors an opportunity to view the unique archipelago of Novaya Zemlya, well above the Arctic Circle. The final leg of the journey includes visits to the most northerly islands of Eurasia, Franz Josef Land. Home to polar bears and Atlantic walruses, in this archipelago a visit is planned to Cape Flora where remains from three historic expeditions can be found. The final days of the voyage are spent on the Barents Sea. Disembarkation is in Murmansk, the home port of the Russian nuclear icebreakers fleet.
The Northeast Passage ranges in price from $24,700 to $35,800 per person. For more information, call Quark Expeditions at 800-356-5600 or visit www.quarkexpeditions.com
The polar icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov is renowned in the field of adventure travel and polar navigation. It is among the few ships in the world that can take travelers through pack ice in the remotest high Arctic. Amenities include outside cabins, two helicopters, a fleet of Zodiac landing craft, presentation room, well-stocked bar and fine dining.
Voyages of Discovery
US Bonuses For Voyages Of Discovery’s Antarctica Cruises
With seven Antarctica expeditions in the coming season, Voyages of Discovery is offering US customers bonus savings of up to 20 percent on the first three departures, free air from the line’s North American gateways and no single supplement in select categories. The special offer is available on the November 26 Antarctica, Falklands and South Georgia departure (20 nights), starting at $4,795; Deccember 12’s Antarctica’ (15 nights), starting at $4,120; and December 21’s Antarctic Peninsula & South Georgia I (19 nights), starting at $4,975.
Voyages of Discovery is also offering US agents a cabin for two on each of the November and December cruises. Agents can register for the free cruise drawings at http://us.voyagesofdiscovery.com/agentcruise . Deadline for entries is Oct.15.
The Antarctica program is detailed at Voyages of Discovery’s new Antarctic website at www.antarcticadiscovery.com where viewers can see photos, video clips and journals from the line’s passengers, lecturers and staff
Cruise West
Norwegian Coastal Voyage/Hurtigruten
Cruise West
Cruise West Announces Distinctive Cruises In Baja Mexico
Early booking savings are available through the leading small-ship cruise line Cruise West as it offers five specialty cruises in the Sea of Cortés in December 2007 and January 2008 onboard the 138-guest Spirit of Yorktown. Guests can save up to $175 on the route that inspired author John Steinbeck if they pay their trip in full by September 14, 2007.
The special itineraries allow guests to explore in the company of expert scholars, hone photography skills, or celebrate the holidays Mexican-style on either the Christmas or New Year’s sailings. The itineraries are designed to allow guests to become intimately acquainted with Mexico’s family-friendly culture through enrichment-oriented interaction with local residents. Onboard kayaks help provide an up-close experience with the region’s prolific sea and bird life.
The December 22 Whales & Wildlife eight-day holiday sailing offers a traditional Mexican Christmas Eve including the late night feast, Nochebuena. On Christmas Day, guests will unwind on a remote beach with activities, free from the holiday rush. There will also be a gift-giving event in Loreto with local children whose infectious smiles and warmth will long be remembered. Guests on this departure will be the first to enjoy numerous upgrades aboard the Spirit of Yorktown including the remodel of four Deluxe cabins on the Sun Deck and the addition of private balconies, slated to be completed late fall 2007. The ship will ring in Feliz Año Nuevo on the December 29 sailing with a midnight toast and late night buffet. This cruise includes a stop in La Paz where guests celebrate the “Epiphany” or “Three Kings Day” at the La Paz Children’s Home.
Guests will sail in the company of John Steinbeck scholar Susan Shillinglaw of San Jose State University and Marine Biologist Bill Gilly, who will share the essence of Steinbeck’s journey through topical presentations, on the January 5 and 12, 2008 departures. Steinbeck was inspired by this remarkable area to write the book, The Log from the Sea of Cortez. The January 12 sailing also includes a special post-cruise philanthropic event at La Paz Children’s School for a painting party January 18-20. This event is offered through Cruise West’s philanthropy program, “Our Bear Cares.”
Photography buffs will enjoy the January 19, 2008 departure. PENTAX sponsored professional photographer, Kerrick James, will be on hand to coach guests on all aspects of photography and help them test drive PENTAX camera gear. All cruises sail round trip from Cabo San Lucas and include the picturesque seaside village and mission town Loreto and Isla Espiritú Santo, home to several plant and animal species only found on this island. Active guests will enjoy kayaking, snorkeling and nature walks at the serene islands Los Islotes & Isla Partida. Guests may also add-on a spectacular four-night Copper Canyon post-cruise land tour.
Guests who take advantage of the early booking savings of $125 by booking and making a deposit by September 14, 2007, can save an additional $50 by paying in full; total savings $175 for sailings between December 2007 and March 2008. They can save up to $350 on departures in December 2008 when they book and pay in full by October 5, 2007. Prices start at $2,399 per person and are based on double occupancy. The post-cruise La Paz Children’s School Paint Party is an additional $299 per person and space is limited. For additional information or to book a Cruise West cruise, call 1-800-296-8307 or visit www.cruisewest.com .
Cruise West & Pentax Partner For Photography Offerings On Six 2008 Cruises
Cruise West and PENTAX, a leader in digital photography, have created a partnership that will bring PENTAX photography experts and equipment onboard six Cruise West itineraries in 2008. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in onboard presentations and special field events with PENTAX sponsored professional photographer and cruise co-host, Kerrick James. Whether novice or seasoned photographers, and regardless of the camera brand used, guests will receive valuable, hands-on instruction on everything from equipment use and digital image management and composition to tips on how to the get the right shot. Guests onboard these cruises also will enjoy access to a variety of the newest PENTAX products.
Guests who book passage on the Whales & Wildlife itinerary through Mexico’s Sea of Cortés departing January 19, 2008 will be the first to benefit from the new partnership and the workshops with Kerrick James. Guests will keep their cameras focused for shots of common and bottle-nosed dolphins and numerous species of whales. The Whales & Wildlife itinerary is round-trip from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and a Copper Canyon land extension may be added post-cruise. Pack a camera (any brand) and see Alaska thru a lens on two departures of Alaska Whales & Wilderness cruises on May 23 and July 4, 2008. These itineraries are roundtrip from Juneau and include Glacier Bay National Park, Sitka, a port call at a small Alaskan village, and Frederick Sound, where guests will be on watch for the gentle and majestic Humpback Whale. Guests may add-on a fully guided land tour to Denali.
The Pacific Northwest Coastal Escape itinerary roundtrip from Seattle on April 27, 2008 gives guests the opportunity to hone their photography skills while cruising the majestic waters of Puget Sound and British Columbia’s Strait of Georgia. Stops in the beautiful cities of Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. and in the picturesque San Juan Islands will be ideal for trying out PENTAX gear.
The landmark sights of the Panama Canal and exotic Costa Rica will round out the partnership with PENTAX, with departures on the Between Two Seas itinerary on March 26 and December 2, 2008. The March 26 cruise departs from Panama City, Panama and ends in Los Sueños, Costa Rica where guests transfer to San José to return home. The December 2 cruise originates in Los Sueños and ends in Panama City. A five night Costa Rica land tour may be added pre- or post- cruise.
To round out the partnership, PENTAX is sponsoring a photography contest to win a free 2008 Cruise West Photography cruise. To learn more about the contest and enter a favorite travel photo, visit: www.pentaxphotogallery.com/travelphotocontest between October 15, 2007 and January 31, 2008. Second and third place entrants will receive free PENTAX photo equipment. The contest is open to non-professional photographers and the winners will be announced in March 2008.
For additional information or to book a Cruise West cruise, call 1-800-296-8307 or visit www.cruisewest.com. For more information on PENTAX products, visit: www.pentaxslr.com and for additional information on photographer Kerrick James go to: www.agpix.com/kerrickjames.
Norwegian Coastal Voyage/Hurtigruten
NCV Winter Spitsbergen Adventures Offered February To May 2008
In winter this rugged island of massive glaciers, mountains and polar bears, known as Spitsbergen, is magical in Arctic twilight and, when atmospheric conditions are right, the shimmering Northern Lights flash across the sky. Polar nights, dogsled and snowmobile safaris, and the Return of the Sun festival highlight Norwegian Coastal Voyage winter adventure vacations scheduled from February 12 to May 10 on this remote Arctic island, midway between Norway and the North Pole. An early-bird special provides a $150 per person savings on winter bookings made before August 31.
-- The six-to-ten-day Spitsbergen land adventures, priced from $2,999 to $5,199 per person, double, give a choice of a stay in Longyearbyen, capital of the Svalbard Peninsula with 1,900 residents; which can be combined with a two-day snowmobile safari to pristine Kapp Linné; or a five-day dogsled safari to the glacier-covered mountains on the island's east coast. Polar bears are most likely to be seen on dogsled and snowmobile safaris.
-- The six-day/five-night Polar Nights, costing $2,999 for four departures between February 12 and March 12, combines three nights in Longyearbyen at the SAS Radisson Polar Hotel, the world's northernmost full-service hotel; choice of an excursion to the "Ice Grotto" glacial caves or a working coal mine; and two nights in Oslo, the Norwegian capital. Optional excursions in the Arctic wilderness include day trips by snowmobile or dogsled and a polar evening with a traditional dinner in a cozy heated tent.
-- The Return of the Sun departure on March 5, after months of Arctic twilight, celebrates the dawn of the New Year with concerts, exhibitions and outdoor events. The last Polar Nights departure on March 18, priced at $3,119, adds an extra night in Longyearben.
The two six-day/five-night Winter Snowmobile Safari departures, scheduled Feb. 11 and March 10 at $3,999, drive from Longyearbyen through dramatic frozen landscapes to the Russian mining settlement of Barentsburg and Kapp Linné at the mouth of the Isfjord facing the open Arctic Ocean. Participants stay at in comfort at a former radio communications station. Prior snowmobile experience is not required but a valid driver's license is needed.
-- The most adventurous option, costing $5,199, is the 10-day/nine-night authentic Spitsbergen Dogsled Safari on May 3 and 10 with overnights at Spitsbergen Guesthouse and in tented camps. As teams of Polar huskies pull sledges across valleys, frozen fjords and snow-covered mountain passes with breathtaking views, the silence of the wilderness is broken only by the sounds of huskies panting and their paws and sledges on the snow. Weather permitting, the route goes east and north along the coast taking in Bolterdalen, Tverdalen and Reindalen valleys; glaciers at Inglefeldbukta bay calving into the Arctic Ocean; massive glaciers and mountain passes up to 2,300-feet high; and with luck sightings of polar bears and seals on pack ice.
Spitsbergen Adventures provide intra-Norway flights, accommodations on the island and in Oslo, breakfast daily, all meals during safaris, and specified excursions. Transatlantic airfare and airport transfers are not included except in Oslo. Exact itineraries are determined by weather and snow conditions. Safari participants should be in good health, reasonably fit, prepared for extreme temperatures and willing to assist the guides in preparations.
Norwegian Coastal Voyage, also known as Hurtigruten, is a world leader in exploration cruising, sailing to the most remote of destinations including Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic’s Spitsbergen. Information, the winter brochure and reservations can be obtained from Norwegian Coastal Voyage Inc., (800) 323-7436 or (212) 319-1300; fax (212) 319-1390; for brochures (800) 666-2374, 24 hours a day; www.norwegiancoastalvoyage.us.
NCV Announces New Discover-Winter Norway Brochure
Norwegian Coastal Voyage continues to expand its Discover Winter Norway program with a new theme cruise for Bridge Players joining three other popular ones —Winter Digital Photography, Harmony At Sea and Watercolors And Art; special voyages and extended stays in the northern most areas of Norway to catch the magic of the Northern Lights far removed from the interference caused by artificial light; Arctic theme adventures ranging from ice hotel stays to killer whale safaris; and land explorations on the remote Arctic island of Spitsbergen. All of these trips are detailed in a new 36-page brochure entitled “In Search of the Northern Lights,” downloadable at www.norwegiancoastalvoyage.us or sent by mail.
Known for sailing the spectacular fjord-filled west coast of Norway year-round for more than 100 years as well as expedition cruises to the remote destinations of Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic island of Spitsbergen, Norwegian Coastal Voyage, also known as Hurtigruten, is making it easier for Americans to discover the unique scenic beauty of Norway during the winter season by offering the most extensive array of travel possibilities.
Winter vacations include three- and four-star hotels in Oslo and other cities with breakfast; meals on ships and safaris; inside or best available double cabin aboard ship; specified transfers; tour manager on selected departures. The winter brochure and reservations can be obtained from Norwegian Coastal Voyage Inc. at 405 Park Avenue, NY, NY 10022; (800) 323-7436 or (212) 319-1300; for brochures, (800) 582-0835. Website: www.hurtigruten.us
AdventureSmith Explorations
Explore The Galapagos Islands In December And Get 20 Percent Savings
Small ship adventure cruise expert and eco-tourism specialist AdventureSmith Explorations is offering 20 percent off on its 11- day cruise, Isabela Galapagos Cruise, for travel this December. Experience the Galapagos Islands aboard the luxurious 40-passenger motor yacht. “Our tours offer a range of activities designed to bring the active traveler into intimate contact with the unique creatures and ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands while offering the comfort of luxury travel,” says AdventureSmith Explorations founder Todd Smith.
The Isabela Galapagos Cruise adventure begins with a walking tour of colonial Quito, Ecuador. On board the Isabela, passengers have the most knowledgeable naturalist guides at their service. Each evening, guides offer a briefing on the next day’s activities including coastal walks along the Islands, observing native bird colonies, sea lions and marine iguanas. Throughout the tour, there are also opportunities for spotting penguins, tortoises and even whales and dolphins. Snorkeling is available at no additional charge. And for passengers who prefer to remain dry but also want an up close and personal glimpse at the marine life, they too can enjoy the under water view from the glass-bottom boat.
This cruise departs from Quito with rates starting at $4,725 per person. In addition to the city tour and on board excursions throughout the islands, the 11-day program includes three night’s accommodation in Quito, one week’s cruise accommodations, onboard meals and off-vessel activities plus round trip flights from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands.
For reservations or more information, visit www.AdventureSmithExplorations.com. Call 800-728-2875 or e-mail travel@AdventureSmithExplorations.com .
AdventureSmith Explorations is an ecotourism company specializing in small ship cruises and adventure tours founded on the ideal of utilizing travel to create connections with the world’s exotic natural environments and native cultures
American Cruise Lines
Explore America’s Historical Pass with American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines offers a variety of eight-day/seven--night cruises to places along America's magnificent east coast. This November, embark on a very special 15-day/ 14- night East Coast Inland Passage cruise aboard American Cruise Lines' newest and most modern cruise ship. Beginning in Baltimore, MD, this enchanting voyage meanders along the grand Intracoastal Waterway all the way to Jacksonville, Florida, docking in the heart of some of the most historic and scenic ports in America.
This spectacular two-week cruise along the Intracoastal Waterway visits the battlegrounds where colonists fought for their freedom during the Revolutionary War, to sprawling plantations that supplied a growing nation with much of its cotton and tobacco.
For more information or to make a reservation aboard this splendid voyage along the east coast, call 800- 814-6880 or visit online at www.americancruiselines.com
AMNH Discovery Cruises
American Museum Of Natural History Launches 2008 Cruises Booklet
The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York has just published its booklet on its 2008 Discovery Cruises. These voyages inspired by the museum’s history and cutting-edge research offer scientific expeditions across seven continents, mapping the origin and progression of life on this planet and exploring the richness and variety of world cultures. Using small ships—sailing vessels, expedition catamarans and river boats—that range in capacity from 37 to 116 passengers, each expedition is accompanied by scientific experts, who provide formal lectures on board and one-on-one conversation throughout the journey.
A sampling of the 18 diverse trips offered by AMNH Expeditions include:
-- Sicily: Gateway to Antiquity aboard Le Levant—May 8 to 16, 2008.
-- Patagonia: Land of Fire and Fjords aboard Via Australis—March 27 to April 9, 2008
-- Vietnam and Cambodia: Cruising the MekongRiver—November 5 to 18, 2008
-- China: A Summer Expedition—Summer 2008
-- Springtime in Japan aboard Spirit of Oceanus—March 26 to April 9, 2008.
For more information and to book passage, visit www.amnhexpeditions.org or email expeditions@amnh.org.
Canadian Expedition Cruise Lines
Five Expedition Cruise Lines Offer Cruises To Labrador, New Foundland
Five expedition cruise lines – Adventure Canada, Arctic Odysseys, Cruise North Expeditions, Polar Star Expeditions and Wanderbird Cruises – are offering a total of ten itineraries sailing in Labrador and around Newfoundland this summer and fall – with the added bonus of access to Canada’s newest national park. It’s been called “one of the world’s last great frontiers” and “North America’s only remaining unexplored wilderness.” Rugged and remote, Labrador’s terrain of towering mountains, isolated bays, spectacular fjords and stark tundra is home to only 28,000 people and over 700,000 caribou. Polar bears prowl the coast and the seas abound in whale, puffin and icebergs.
Encompassing 28,000 square miles in Northern Labrador and another 18,800 square miles of sea, Nunatsiavut, our beautiful land in Inuttitut, has some of Canada’s most dramatic scenery. The Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve of Canada (Torngats comes from the Inuktitut designation for the region meaning spirits) was officially established in December 2005. Its 3,700-square-mile area extends from Saglek Fjord in the south to the very northern tip of Labrador. With the highest peaks in continental eastern North America, the Torngats reach up to about 6,500 feet. The park is home to a variety of wildlife including the George River Caribou herd – the world’s largest – as well as wolves, arctic fox, golden eagles, peregrine falcons and unusual tundra-dwelling black bears.
This year, four expedition ships will be exploring the coast of this Atlantic Canadian province allowing intrepid travelers the chance to see this virgin land up close and personal. Passengers will visit isolated communities, out ports and archaeological sites and float by huge icebergs and impressive bird colonies. Deep fjords and finger lakes bound by spectacular rock walls cut sharply across the high ranges. Over 70 active glaciers survive here.
Some of the stops on the cruise itineraries include:
-- Battle Harbour – Until the 1992 codfish moratorium, this was a prosperous fishing port. Having undergone extensive restorations, this picturesque community is now considered a national historic district. The surrounding waters are rich in white-sided porpoises, humpback, minke and orca whales.
-- Hebron – This 1833 Moravian Mission was established to minister to the Inuit. While they have since moved south, they return each year to the abandoned settlement to hunt and fish. Set against dramatic scenery, the area has excellent hiking trails of varying difficulty.
-- Hopedale – Called Agvituk, or “place of whales,” this Moravian mission station is a National Historic Site that dates from 1782. Today it is a thriving Inuit community with a store, a church, residences and small huts – including the oldest wood frame buildings east of Quebec.
-- Makkovik – Surrounded by islands, deep bays and several major rivers, the town was settled by a Norwegian fur trader in the early 19th century. The Moravian Mission built a church that was active until 1948. With remains of the pre-Dorset Culture from 4000 years ago as well as the Thule Eskimo who came from the Arctic in 1300 A.D., the town is home to many Inuit people.
-- Nachvak Fjord – Here, the Torngat Mountains tower almost 6000 feet over some of North America’s wildest and most magnificent coastlines. Passengers can explore remote fjords carved by glaciers and view cascading waterfalls and ancient burial grounds.
-- Nain – Labrador’s most northerly settlement and the largest of the Inuit communities has crafts by skilled artisans and delicious scallops and fresh smoked Arctic char harvested locally by the Inuit.
-- L’Anse aux Meadows – One of Newfoundland’s two UNESCO World Heritage sites, this is only authenticated Viking site in North America. Norseman Leif Ericson is thought to have founded “Vinland” here in 1000 AD.
-- Adventure Canada has been sailing the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador for 15 years. From September 9 to 21, the line will offer a 12-night Greenland & Wild Labrador aboard the 104-passenger expeditionary vessel M/S Explorer calling at the Torngats Mountains, Hebron, Hopedale, Battle Harbour and L’Anse aux Meadows. From September 21 to 30 the Explorer will sail a nine-night Newfoundland Circumnavigation. Rates start at $2725 per person, double occupancy. Website: www.adventurecanada.com (Tel: 1-800-363-7566)
-- Arctic Odysseys has two “Newfoundland and Labrador’s Wild Coast sailings aboard the arctic yacht Wanderbird July 31 to August 12 and August 15 to 27. The 12-night itinerary includes St. John’s, L’Anse aux Meadows, Battle Harbour, sailing through Iceberg Alley, ”Hebron and the Saglek Fjord and costs $3500 per person, double. Website: www.arcticodysseys.com (Tel: 1-800-574-3021).
-- Wanderbird Cruises is offering two other cruises aboard this traditional sailing ship. Combining elements of a ketch, a classic yacht and a fishing vessel with opportunities for off-shore adventures, the 12-passenger Wanderbird will sail up the coast of Labrador August 8 to 19 and around Newfoundland July 8 to 19 with rates at $3500 per person, double. Website: www.wanderbirdcruises.com (Tel: 1-866-SEA BIRD, or 732-2473).
-- Cruise North Expeditions is offering an eight-night Labrador North cruise aboard the 122-passenger Lyubov Orlova that departs Goose Bay June 25 and travels up the Labrador coast calling at Makkovik, Hopedale, Nain, Hebron, the Nachvak Fjord, Killiniq and the Button Islands and arriving at Kuujuaq in Quebec. The line is also offering a seven-night “Newfoundland and Labrador,” June 18. Rates start at $2995 per person, double occupancy. Website: www.cruisenorthexpeditions.com (Tel: 1-866-CNE-3220).
-- Polar Star Expeditions will cruise the Labrador coast (“The Viking Trail to the Americas,” September 11 to 28) as well as offer “Around the Rugged Rock,” circumnavigating Newfoundland, September 28 to October 6. For the September 11 departure, passengers will board the 105-passenger Finnish icebreaker and expedition ship M/V Polar Star and sail from Iceland to Greenland, Baffin Island and on to Northern Labrador, Hopedale, Battle Harbor and L’Anse aux Meadows, Bonavista and St. John’s Newfoundland. Cruises start at $4290 per person, double occupancy. Website: www.polarstarexpeditions.com (Tel: 1-800-509-1729)
Cruise West
Savings On Three South Pacific Cruises If Booked By September 7
The small-ship cruise line Cruise West is offering up to $800 off on three itineraries in the South pacific in 2008. Under the promotion, guests who book by September 7, 2007 will save $300 per person, plus an additional $100 if payment is made by that date.
In 2008, Cruise West's 120-passenger Spirit of Oceanus will embark on three South Pacific itineraries from January through March. A 12-night Pearls of Polynesia itinerary, for example, will sail between Fiji and Tahiti, with visits to Beqa, Fiji, the Cook Islands and Tonga.
Pearls of Polynesia is scheduled for January 23 and February 26 departures, with prices starting at $5,049 per person with the maximum early booking savings. For information or reservations, call (800) 689-1783 or visit www.cruisewest.com.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruise Line
Expedition Trip On Hapag-Lloyd's ‘Bremen’ Offered
Imposing glaciers, solemnly clad king penguins and a magical scene of water frozen into both colossal and filigreed rock formations – South Georgia is a true natural paradise in extreme latitudes. Sea elephants, macaroni penguins and fur seals among tussock grass, tundra and grass heaths await the Antarctic summer.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises 4-star expedition ship the MS Bremen with once again return to Antarctica for the summer season starting on November 30. Highlights of this itinerary include: A visit to the Falkland Islands to view five species of penguins as well as sea elephants, fur seals and sea lions; a zodiac landing to the Argentinean research station Esperanza in Hope Bay, a stop in Deception Island, one of the most striking volcano islands on earth; zodiac lands in Neko Harbor on the Antarctic mainland; and travel through the famous Drake Passage.
Anyone who has already visited the ice desert at the end of the world will know that this wilderness is one of the world's most sensitive ecosystems. Antarctic has been assigned special ecological protection. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is an active member of IAATO (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators) – a voluntary union of Antarctic tour operators that have agreed to promote ecologically sustainable tourism in the Antarctic continent and, at the same time, benefit from the experience of the other members.
Hapag-Lloyd's expedition ships the MS Hanseatic (5-star) and MS Bremen (4-star) both have a low draught and were specifically built for this polar region. Modern technology and environmental protection systems were combined to ensure that the ships were certified according to the highest ice class. This allows the expedition ships to pass through pack ice with no problems and even to cross the Antarctic Circle. The entire Antarctic cruise starts off in Ushuaia (Argentina) and heads for the Antarctic peninsular and South Shetland islands. The small group of maximum 180 passengers are guaranteed a real feeling of discovery. Famous expedition leaders such as Sylvia Stevens or David Fletcher and accompanying scientific experts such as biologists, geologists and glaciologists also bring guests a little closer to the fascinating world of the Antarctic.
Landing on King George Island is one of the highlights of an Antarctic cruise. A large number of research stations await the passengers, who can get a direct insight into the work of the researchers and find out, for example, the effect the Antarctic ice has on the world's climate. During a visit to Paradise Bay with Zodiacs, passengers pass glaciers and bizarre ice sculptures before setting foot on the Antarctic mainland. A bathing suit is also recommended for the visit to Deception Island as the warm springs of the volcanic island invite visitors to take a dip in the midst of the icy wilderness.
Trip Logistics:
Dates: November 30-December 19, 2007
Embarkation/Disembarkation: Ushuaia, Argentina
Note: Guests need to fly into Buenos Aires, from there a charter flight (included in the cruise price) will get them to Ushuaia
Port of Calls: Falkland Islands, South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, Melchior Islands
Rates Starting at: $10,700 per person for an outside cabin
A four-star ship known for its comfort and high level of service, the Bremen provides many luxurious amenities onboard with high quality cuisine and service, and now offers its light and healthy menu, in addition to the regular à la carte menu. The ship also includes a panorama lounge, library, sun deck with swimming pool, fitness center and sauna. The ship is also equipped with all the necessary expedition equipment including microscopes, telescopes, warm parkas and rubber boots for all passengers.
All of the dedicated 2007 bilingual cruises ensure English-speaking passengers feel comfortable from the moment they step onboard. Travel Documents and information is provided to guests in English prior to their trip. Documentation in English onboard includes: daily programs, menus, announcements, lectures/video presentations, safety drill instructions. Selected in-room movies are offered in English as well as television instructions. Shore excursions are offered in English on a group and individual basis whenever possible.
International Expeditions
International Expeditions Offers 15-Day Antarctica Expedition February 2008
At the distant “bottom of the world” sits the still-wild continent of Antarctica, a glittering land of icy mountains, immense ancient glaciers and icebergs of gargantuan scale. With its carefully planned February 13 departure, during Antarctica’s austral summer, guests of International Expeditions’ 15-day journey will have nearly continuous daylight to discover the endless landscapes, dramatic fjords, and amazing wildlife of the “White Continent.” The comprehensive itinerary visits the less explored Weddell Sea on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula (which is too icy to navigate earlier in the season), exploring rarely visited islands such as Snow Hill, in addition to must-see sites on the western side of the peninsula.
Eleven nights of the expedition are spent aboard the 96-guest M/V Polar Star, a purpose-built expeditionary ship designed to navigate the icy waters of the polar regions. This spacious Ice Class 1A Super vessel carries guests to remote areas in comfort, and is small enough to enter otherwise inaccessible areas that larger cruise ships can only sail past. For close encounters with wildlife of all kinds, the ship’s fleet of Zodiac landing craft allows guests to make landfalls on the islands made famous by explorer Ernest Shackleton’s epic voyage.
This unique expeditionary experience begins with a city tour and overnight in Buenos Aires, followed by a flight to Ushuaia to embark aboard the Polar Star for the crossing of the famed Drake Passage, where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet. The Drake is also the playground for numerous seabirds including the Wandering and Royal albatross that glide for hours alongside the ship.
Via Zodiacs, guests will explore popular and less-visited Antarctica sites including:
Paulet Island and its colony of more than 200,000 Adelie penguins, leopard and Weddell seals; Snow Hill Island’s spectacular tabular icebergs that lay just off shore, and Antarctica’s oldest building, the 1902 hut from Nordenskjöld’s expedition; Deception Island’s Baily Head across the northern tip of the peninsula, home to an enormous chinstrap penguin population; Whaler’s Bay, where the ship sails into an unearthly looking volcanic crater and guests may take a dip in geothermally heated waters; and Hannah Point on Livingston Island, which boasts macaroni, chinstrap and gentoo penguins plus huge, and noisy elephant seals piled on one another.
The Polar Star cruises Gerlache Strait, which boasts some of Antarctica’s most beautiful landscapes with impressive glaciers, mountains and rocky cliffs on either side. The straight is also a major thoroughfare for humpback whales. Neko Harbour offers excellent Zodiac cruising for intimate encounters with penguins, leopard and crab-eating seals, as well as humpback and minke whales. Here guests can climb the steep, snowy hillside for splendid views of the surrounding calving icebergs and cliff faces.
On the final leg of the journey, the Polar Star returns northward to Ushuaia, rounding Cape Horn and through the protected waters of the Beagle Channel where sea lions, imperial and Magellanic cormorants, giant petrels and skuas will be spotted.
Per person prices for the 15-day February 13, 2008 expedition start from $8,798, including $150 per person savings for bookings made by June 30, 2007. Prices include all accommodations, most meals, local transportation, guides, and group transfers. International and in-country airfare is not included, though flights can be arranged through International Expeditions. Two- to six-day pre/post-cruise extensions to Iguazu Falls, Torres del Paine and Easter Island are also on offer through International Expeditions. For more information call an International Expeditions destination specialist at 1-800-633-4734, see your travel agent, email nature@IEtravel.com , or visit www.IEtravel.com.
Founded in 1980, International Expeditions is committed to preserving natural habitats and improving the welfare of the people and communities it visits.
Lindblad Expeditions
Sea Cloud II To Journey From Atlantic To Lesser Antilles In 2007/08
The exclusive sailing yacht Sea Cloud II will depart for exhilarating voyages across the Atlantic Ocean and into the Lesser Antilles from the fall of 2007 through the winter of 2008. Operating under charter by Lindblad Expeditions, the three-masted Sea Cloud II combines casual elegance with an experience unmatched anywhere at sea. The custom-finished barque is an imposing ship. Five times as large as Columbus' flagship Santa Maria, Sea Cloud II boasts masts as tall as a 20-story building, with 30,000 square feet of billowing white sails rigged across her outstretched yardarms. The hand-sailed ship's crew is constantly engaged, clambering hundreds of feet above the rigging to set and adjust the trim - an inspiring sight to behold. Her richly appointed staterooms, featuring marble baths with gold fittings, rival any at sea.
The hand-sailed Sea Cloud II boasts a storied legacy dating back to 1931. That year, tycoon E. F. Hutton launched the yacht Sea Cloud as a wedding gift to heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post. In later years, the vessel became a passenger ship. Finally in 2001, a new ship—Sea Cloud II—was launched, not as a replica, but as an evolution, with generous deck space perfect for stretching out under the sun and blue skies, and additional guest areas including a rich, mahogany-appointed lounge and comfortable library overlooking the forepeak.
Sea Cloud II will offer the following transatlantic and Caribbean voyages in 2007-2008:
-- Transatlantic departure from Seville, Spain to St. John's Antigua, 20 days/18 nights - Travelers join legendary television news anchor, journalist and author Robert MacNeil, the voyage's featured guest speaker, for a sailing adventure from Seville to Cadiz, Spain to Funchal, Madeira and Antigua, highlighted by a 13-day Atlantic Ocean crossing. The voyage departs November 6, 2007. Per-person, double occupancy rates range from $11,190 to $19,290.
-- Roundtrip departure from St. John's Antigua, eight days/seven nights—guests embark Sea Cloud II in St. John's for a journey the intimate Caribbean islands of Jost Van Dyke, St. Kitts, Dominica and Iles des Saintes. Voyages are scheduled for December 9 and 30, 2007 and January 6 and 13, 2008. Per-person, double occupancy rates range from $5,790 to $8,590.
Roundtrip departure from St. John's Antigua, 11 days/ten nights —guests board Sea Cloud II in St. John's for a journey to the warmth and beauty of Bequia, St. Lucia, Dominica, Iles des Saintes, St. Kitts, Jost Van Dyke and Anguilla. Voyages are scheduled for November 25 and December 20, 2007. Per-person, double occupancy rates range from $7,980 to $12,770.
-- Roundtrip departure from St. John's Antigua, five days/four nights—guests join Sea Cloud II in St. John's for a relaxing voyage to Anguilla, Jost Van Dyke and St. Barts. Voyages are scheduled for December 5 and 19, 2007. Per-person, double occupancy rates range from $3,290 to $4,980.
For more information on Sea Cloud II's 2007 and 2008 voyages, please visit the Lindblad Expeditions Web site at www.expeditions.com .
About Lindblad Expeditions Lindblad Expeditions is an expedition travel company providing voyages in Galapagos, Antarctica, Baja California, Alaska, the Arctic, and beyond.
Majestic America Line
Majestic America Line’s ‘Contessa’ To ‘ Voyage Through Alaska’s Inside Passage
Majestic America Line, one of the world’s premier river cruise lines and the largest river and coastal cruising company in America, welcomed its most intimate ship, the 48-guest Contessa, into service this month. The Contessa, which underwent a full refurbishment will spend the summer months sailing 16 seven-night journeys between Ketchikan and Sitka, offering guests an exclusive, unforgettable Alaskan travel experience that fewer than 800 guests will be able to experience this year. “The Contessa provides the ultimate way to experience a one-of-a-kind Alaskan adventure,” said David A. Giersdorf, President, Majestic America Line. “Cruising aboard the Contessa is like being on your own private yacht. With just 24 newly redesigned staterooms and a fantastic 360-degree viewing platform, we’re able to deliver an authentic travel experience in the Great Land that focuses on the wildlife, environment and culture of one of the most unforgettable destinations in America while traveling in comfort and style. The Contessa has the freedom to visit extraordinary places far off the beaten path and show guests the true beauty of Alaska.”
Guests sailing on the Contessa’s Alaska Adventure voyages embark in the heart of the Inside Passage from either Ketchikan or Sitka, allowing for more time to immerse themselves in the wonder and extraordinary natural surroundings of Alaska from the very first moment of the cruise. The ship’s catamaran hull and the redesigned top deck allow unparalleled access to Alaska’s majestic sights. All of the Contessa’s deluxe staterooms offer outside views and feature at least two large windows that provide spectacular, unobstructed vistas of the magnificent scenery, picturesque ports and wildlife for which the region is renowned.
The Contessa departs from Ketchikan. This week-long sailing will provide guests with stops in rarely visited ports such as Wrangell and Thomas Bay and breathtaking views of some of Alaska’s most active glaciers, which include LeConte Face, Dawes, Endicott and North and South Sawyer. Every sailing during the season will include an entry into the unforgettable Glacier Bay National Park.
An expert onboard naturalist and custom-designed land excursions, many included in the cruise price, enrich the Alaska travel experience and afford a deeper understanding of the region’s natural history and native cultures.
One of the most remarkable shore excursions included in the voyage is the exhilarating jet boat tour of the mighty Stikine River. Known as one of America’s last wild rivers, this glacier-fed waterway was once a major navigation route to the Klondike traveled by multitudes of sternwheelers. Contessa guests will board the enclosed jet boats and traverse the ever-changing river delta, meandering through side sloughs to explore the banks of the river. They will marvel at the mountain peaks, thundering waterfalls and incredible wildlife. The journey will culminate at Shakes Lake, where travelers will take in the awe-inspiring scenery of the lake’s sparkling blue and crystal clear icebergs, before making the return trek to the ship. In addition the jet boat excursion, guests also will have opportunities to experience cruising Behm Canal, as well as a hiking tour and kayaking adventure in Katlian Bay.
With sailings from June through September, rates for the seven-night program start at $1,699 per person with exclusive saving applied based on double occupancy.
In addition to the cruise itself, select shore excursions, soft drinks, specialty coffees, on board enrichments and entertainment programs are all included in the price of every Majestic America Line cruise.
For additional information, contact your Travel Professional or call a reservation specialist at (800) 434-1232 or visit or website at www.MajesticAmericaLine.com.
Norwegian Coastal Voyage/Hurtigruten
Norwegian Coastal Voyage/Hurtigrueten Launches 2007/08 Antarctica Season
Norwegian Coastal Voyage is launching its 2007-2008 Antarctica cruise season with a brand new expedition ship, the 318-berth MS Fram, for its new 13-day Chile and Antarctica program for adventurous travelers with limited time. Featuring 12 departures from November 21 to February 17, guests can combine an eight-night voyage to the frozen White Continent with Santiago, Chile's sophisticated capital, and Ushuaia, Argentina, the world's southernmost city. Air-inclusive fares start at $4,999 per person, double occupancy, for staterooms and $8,599 for suites. Booking before June 30 saves $500 per person which can be combined with an AARP member discount of $150 per cabin.
The expedition voyage includes round-trip flights from New York to Santiago, flights between Santiago and Ushuaia, five-star hotels with breakfast, accommodations in cabin category selected and all meals aboard ship, lectures on Antarctica and shore excursions led by naturalist guides, port charges and transfers. Add-on airfares are available from dozens of North American gateways.
Ushuaia, surrounded by snow-capped mountains on Tierra del Fuego Island, is the attractive port for the Fram's expedition voyages across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula for five awesome days of cruising and exploring the pristine polar landscapes and abundant wildlife with expert naturalist guides. Spectacular glaciers and icebergs, gentoo and chinstrap penguins, humpback and killer whales, elephant seals and a variety of seabirds may be seen as the ship sails the narrow, glacier-lined Lemaire Channel and along the majestic Neumayer Channel. Weather permitting, landings are made at Half Moon and Deception Islands, Ukrainian Vernadsky and Polish Arctowski Bases, Almirante Brown, Port Lockroy, Neko Harbor and Petermann Island.
Built expressly for cruising in polar waters and christened in May, 2007, the 12,700-ton Fram is large enough to be comfortable and small enough to hug the shore and let passengers land in uninhabited regions. She is named after the famous polar ship used on historic expeditions by two Norwegian explorers: Fridtjob Nansen to Greenland in 1893 and Roald Amundsen to the South Pole in 1910.
The ship's interior was inspired by Greenland's Inuit culture and has a Scandinavian feel through the extensive use of wool, leather and oak. Facilities include a glass-enclosed observation lounge with panoramic views, a comfortable restaurant with ocean views, two convivial bars, Internet café, library, conference rooms, fitness room, saunas and two heated outdoor Jacuzzis. Stylish cabins have two lower berths or twin-sized beds and private bath; suites and junior suites a queen-size bed and TV.
The Fram sails along the remote Greenland coast from May 24 to September 3 and on September 18 embarks on a unique 67-day world cruise from the Arctic to Antarctica -- Reykjavik, Iceland to Ushuaia at Argentina's southern tip with visits to 44 ports in 17 countries on four continents.
NCV also offers 19- and 21-day Antarctica programs that add Buenos Aires, the Chilean fjords and/or the Falkland Islands/Malvinas and South Georgia. Information, brochures and reservations can be obtained from Norwegian Coastal Voyage Inc., (800) 323-7436 or (212) 319-1300; fax (212) 319-1390; for brochures (800) 666-2374, 24 hours a day. Website: www.norwegiancoastalvoyage.us
Quark Expeditions
Quark Expeditions Explores The Northeast Passage
In 1878, Swedish explorer Nils Nordenskjöld sailed Vega from Goteborg, Sweden arriving in Yokohama, Japan, in 1879. That was the first successful transit of the Northeast Passage. The feat was not repeated for nearly 35 years. The Arctic summer of 2008 is the 130th anniversary of that first successful transit and Quark is marking the occasion by designating the Northeast Passage its International Polar Year featured expedition. And it is offering a special 4.000 mile voyage from June 29 to July 23, 2008 through the Northeast Passage, departing from Anchorage Alaska.
The voyage includes varied shore landings, flightseeing on shipboard helicopters, visits to Wrangel Island, Severnaya, Novaya Zemlva, and Franz Joef Land. Airfare from Alaska to Russia and from Russian to Finland is also included.
Additional information on this special voyage as well as other Quark expeditions available at www.quarkexpeditions.com.
Smithsonian Journeys Cruises
Tour The Amazon And The Brazilian Coast With Smithsonian Journeys
Washington DC’s famous Smithsonian Institute through its Smithsonian Journeys is currently offering a cruise—From the Amazon to Argentina—aboard the Spirit of Adventure from November 27 to December 20, 2007. The adventure begins in Manaus, Brazil, the chief port and hub for this region's extensive river system. Learn about global interdependence on the rainforests of this region and the many natural wonders of the mighty Amazon. After exiting the Amazon at the international port of Belem, the vessel then sails along the coast of Brazil, visiting many interesting ports of call along the way. The cruise will culminate in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a city that is strongly influenced by European culture and is often referred to as Paris of the South. For information and reservations, visit http://www.smithsonianjourneys.org or email Reservations@SmithsonianJourneys.org.
Voyages of Discovery
Voyages of Discovery Launches Summer 2008 Itineraries
Discovery World Cruises, now renamed Voyages of Discovery, has unveiled 26 cruise vacations that showcase the kaleidoscope of vibrant history, cultures, architecture and shopping found throughout Europe, the Mediterranean for summer 2008. Guest can choose from ten0- to 42-night itineraries, calling at ports as diverse as Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, and Alexandria, with one of the main highlights being a 16-night voyage that includes a total Eclipse of the sun while cruising Arctic waters. Rates begin at $1,695 per person, double occupancy on the ten-night Norwegian Fjords.
Consumers who book early will enjoy savings of up to 50 percent on selected sailings. In addition, the line is offering complimentary Economy Class air to Europe from select East Coast gateway cities. Travelers from other parts of the U.S. may take advantage of deeply discounted air add-on fares of $99 from the Midwest, and $199 from West Coast gateways.
As part of Discovery’s hallmark cruisetour program, passengers enjoy a two-night, pre-cruise hotel stay in London prior to many of the summer and fall voyages, which includes an orientation sightseeing tour of the city’s landmarks. Overnight calls are also scheduled in grand metropolises such as St. Petersburg, Nice, Venice, Istanbul, and Alexandria, among other ports. Guest lecturers will be on each sailing to provide insights into the history, culture and politics of the ports visited and, wherever possible, local performers are invited on board to entertain guests.
Travelers discover Europe’s treasures aboard the intimate and convivial mv Discovery. The 650-passenger liner offers all the comforts and amenities, yet her size enables her to visit out-of-the-way ports, usually restricted from larger vessels.
Beginning April, 2008, Discovery offers 13 Northern Europe voyages, ranging from 10 to 30 days, which offer a choice of opulent Baltic cities or the natural beauty of Norway, Iceland and Greenland. On five sailings, guests will spend up to three full days in St. Petersburg—enough time to catch a performance at the Mariinsky Theatre (formerly the Kirov), devour the famous Hermitage and take an optional air excursion to Moscow. Other ports include Stockholm; Warnemünde, gateway to Berlin; Korsør (maiden call) and Copenhagen, Denmark; Reykjavik, Seydisfjordur and Heimaey, in Iceland; Invergordon and Leith in Scotland – the latter two both being maiden calls; and Ny Ålesund, Longyearbyen and Barentsberg in Europe’s northernmost territory of Spitsbergen. Northern Europe voyages begin at $1,695 per person, double occupancy.
Of particular interest is a 16-night North Cape, Spitsbergen & Eclipse sailing that plays hopscotch across Norway’s islands and inlets on its way to Barentsberg and a total eclipse of the sun.
-- Discovery follows sultry Spanish shores and the French Riviera, hugs the Dalmatian coast, and explores Old World gems on the Aegean coast on four voyages, ranging from 12 to 19 nights. Interesting ports-of-call in Italy include Livorno – gateway to Florence and Pisa, Civitavecchia – gateway to Rome, Venice and Santa Margherita (maiden call); Koper, Slovenia; Zadar, Hvar, and Dubrovnik in Croatia; and the magical Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos. Rates begin at $2,195 per person, double occupancy.
-- From Istanbul, Discovery heads in search of ancient treasures and civilizations on four voyages along the Black Sea and North African coast, with four voyages ranging from 12 to 15 nights. Ports include Odessa, Sevastopol and Yalta in the Ukraine; Trabzon, Antalya and Kusadasi in Turkey; Alexandria, Safaga – gateway to Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza, and Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt; Benghazi, Al Khums, and Tripoli, Libya; and La Goulette, Tunisia. Rates start from $3,095 per person, double occupancy.
-- For travelers with the luxury of time, the line offers seven Grand Voyages, ranging from 24 to 42 nights. Grand Voyages combine itineraries to offer guests more ports-of-call; longer time at each port – like three full days in Venice; and greater savings – such as two-for-one fares. Rates begin at $5,095 per person, double occupancy on the Grand Italian & Byzantine Journey.
To make a reservation on any of Discovery World Cruises’ Northern Europe, Baltic, Mediterranean, Black Sea and Northern African cruises, please contact a travel professional. To request a brochure, call toll-free (866) 623-2689 or visit www.discoveryworldcruises.com.
Voyages of Discovery is a division of All Leisure Group, which is headquartered in London and operates the mv Discovery under the Voyages of Discovery brand in the United Kingdom. Discovery World Cruises was awarded the 2006 “Best Value” in the Specialty Cruises category from the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society.
