Bales Worldwide launches its new 2012/13 programme

Book before 30 September and save £100pp

Bales Worldwide has launched its new 2012 Escorted Small Groups and Tailor Made Holidays programme for 2012/13. The new brochure covers 40 countries (with an additional 10 included online) throughout Asia, Africa, the Far East, Latin America, Egypt and Arabia, India, Canada, Alaska and Australasia. There are a few countries making a welcome return as well as an increased offering in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Peru, Morocco and throughout Africa. In addition to countless Tailor Made travel ideas and suggested itineraries there are seven new escorted small group tours with prices starting at just £1,095 for the 10 day ‘Wonders of Ancient Egypt’ tour and 11 new select frequent departure tours.,

To celebrate the launch of the new brochure Bales worldwide is offering an exclusive early booking offer. For bookings made before 30 September 2011, Bales is offering £100pp off all new bookings from the 2012/13 programme.*

Exciting features of the new programme for 2012 include:

Back to Myanmar (Burma, ) Egypt and new beginnings,  India Inside Out, Four new Antarctica itineraries and a New ‘Brazilian Wildlife Odyssey’ Journey 

For more information visit www.balesworldwide.com or The Cruise Line

20% late availability discount for all remaining Majestic October cruises.

The Majestic Line have introduced a new 3-night “Taste of Autumn in Argyll” cruise due to popular demand as their two 6-night cruises both have sold out for October. This can be a fabulous month to cruise in and especially this cruise as anchorages are chosen for their autumn colours and the best opportunities for spotting wildlife such as red squirrels and deer. Guests will also have the pleasure of sampling seasonal local produce such as venison from the hills, free range pork and beef and shellfish caught locally.

The other new cruise this season that the company have introduced is a new "Inlets and Islands of Wild Argyll" 6-night cruise with an itinerary chosen for its beauty, tranquility, natural environment and wildlife. There is such a wide selection of stopovers that each cruise itinerary will be unique, depending on guests’ preferences and the local weather and tide conditions. The options include many picturesque sea lochs and the Islands of Bute, Arran and Cumbrae with interesting shore walks on offer each day. Kintyre and Ailsa Craig are also within reach but more weather dependent. “Inlets and Islands of Wild Argyll” departs from Holy Loch once a month from April to September 2012 and is proving a popular choice with August and April already booked out.

Majestic are currently offering a 20% late availability discount for all remaining October cruises. We want people to treat themselves to a last minute opportunity for an idyllic escape and some pampering before winter sets in!

For more infromation visit www.themajesticline.co.uk or The Cruise Line.

World's Cleverest Fountain

Is this the world's cleverest fountain? Taken in Menorca some five years ago now.

Ross sands, Northumberland.

Hello it's a bank Holiday weekend here in UK so I wont be blogging again until Tuesday. This is Ross sands opposite Holy Island in Northumberland. Have a great time yourself!!

Astronaut Carving in Medieval Cathedral

This astronaut is carved in the doorway of Salamanca's medieval cathedral. Unfortunately it's not some great scientific/historical mystery but a modern edition. During the late 1990s the stone work around the doorway was renovated and the mason asked the Bishop if he could carve something to represent the twentieth century.

This was the result, there's also a lion eating an ice cream further down the screen! We had gone to Salamanca as part of the included excursions in Uniworld's Douro River Cruise in northern Portugal. You can find out more at  www.uniworldrivercruises.co.uk or The Cruise Line.

WINDSTAR CRUISES’ 2012 CARIBBEAN SEASON FEATURES THREE ITINERARIES WITH 42 SHORE EXCURSIONS

For 2012, Windstar Cruises is featuring three diverse Caribbean itineraries and 42 shore excursions in some of the most beautiful islands including Martinique, Dominica, Antigua and Guadeloupe.

Windstar’s 2012 Caribbean Voyages:

Flavours of the Caribbean: set sail to a unique collection of islands highlighting the diverse countries, styles, landscapes and cultures of the Caribbean. Seven-night sailings on Wind Surf roundtrip from Philipsburg, St Maarten visit Le Marin, Martinique; Pigeon Island, St Lucia; Roseau, Dominica; Falmouth Harbour, Antigua; and Gustavia, St Barts. Departures: 14th and 28th January; 11th and 25th February; and 10th and 24th March 2012. Cruise only fares start from £1,577 per person, double occupancy.

Yachtsman’s Caribbean: experience the glitter and glamour of the Caribbean’s yachting scene with overnights in Jost van Dyke and Virgin Gorda. Seven-night sailings on Wind Surf roundtrip from Philipsburg, St Maarten visit Soper’s Hole, Tortola; Jost van Dyke, BVI; Virgin Gorda, BVI; Basseterre, St Kitts; Les Saintes, Guadeloupe; and Gustavia, St Barts. Departures: 7th January; 4th and 18th February; and 3rd and 17th March 2012. Cruise only fares start from £1,577 per person, double occupancy.

Jewels of the Windward Islands: sail the unspoiled islands of the Southern Grenadines highlighted by visits to St Lucia and St Vincent and overnight in the beautiful Tobago Keys. Seven-night sailings on Wind Spirit roundtrip from Bridgetown, Barbados visit Pigeon Island, St Lucia; Bequia, The Grenadines; Tobago Keys, The Grenadines; Mayreau, The Grenadines; and St George’s, Grenada. Departures: 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th January; 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th February; and 10th and 17th March 2012. Cruise only fares start from £1,419 per person, double occupancy.

Highlights of Windstar’s 2012 Caribbean Shore Excursions:

Basseterre, St Kitts: St Kitts Scenic Railway – circle St Kitts from a double-decker railcar enjoying panoramic views of the island, informative narrative history and island music.

Bequia, St Vincent, Grenadines: Magical Mustique at Leisure – enjoy a rare opportunity to visit exclusive Mustique, a favourite island getaway of movie stars and royalty.

Gustavia, St Barts: Sailing Catamaran Snorkeling Adventure – sail on a catamaran along the beautiful west coast of St Barts before snorkeling at Colombier Bay’s Marine Park.

Les Saintes, FWI: Clear Bottom Kayaking – explore the pristine turquoise waters of Les Saintes onboard a clear-bottom kayak accompanied by a guide and learn about the history of the island and marine life.

Roseau, Dominica: Cooking Caribbean Flavours & Lifestyles – create Caribbean dishes and fruit cocktail blends from local produce while learning about Dominican flavours, traditions and family lifestyles on this Caribbean culinary adventure.

Roseau, Dominica: Champagne Reef Snorkel Trip – a unique snorkeling experience featuring an eco-system of colourful fish and a stream of bubbles that rise from a submerged volcano from the sea floor.

Virgin Gorda, BVI: Baths at Virgin Gorda – discover the Baths – Virgin Gorda’s best known natural wonder – a cluster of enormous granite boulders, partially buried in the sand, which form underwater caves, pools and channels.

Pigeon Island, St Lucia: Rainforest Canopy Adventure – view island birds and plant life in St Lucia’s rainforest soaring high above the ground on this zipline adventure.

Pigeon Island, St Lucia: Helicopter Flightseeing Tour – see spectacular sights of St Lucia, the stunning Pitons, Castries Harbour, Marigot Bay and Soufriere including a view of the island’s volcanic hot springs and tropical rainforest.

St George’s, Grenada: River Tubing Grenada’s Greatest River – a thrilling river tubing experience on the Balthazar River which features exotic views of tropical vegetation and wildlife.

Windstar’s 2012 voyages are available to book now. For more information on Windstar’s 2012 itineraries, visit www.windstarcruises.co.uk or the Cruise Line

Zegrahm Expeditions Sponsors Youth Education Camp in Zambia

Children in the Wilderness Program Seeks to Bridge the Gap Between Communities and Wildlife.

Zegrahm & Eco Expeditions, an adventure travel company, has partnered with Children in the Wilderness to educate youth in Africa on environmental conservation and life skills. The six-day wilderness safari camps hosts rural children between the ages of 8-16 from seven South African countries. Children are paired with park guides, who educate on the importance of conservation and introduce the youth to the beauty and diversity of the natural environment.

“Each year Zegrahm Expeditions has made it a tradition to donate to an organization that does charitable work in a region our expeditions visit or to a cause near and dear to our hearts,” stated Jon Nicholson, President of Zegrahm Expeditions. “I am pleased to sponsor the Children in the Wilderness camp as a thank you to our loyal travelers, travel advisors, and friends for their continued support.”

Zegrahm Field Director Jonathan Rossouw and photographer/videographer Giovanna Fasanelli, were able to take part in the Zegrahm sponsored camp in Zambia in June. The pair participated in the activities set up for the children, which included going on game drives, a scavenger hunt to determine the difference between trash and recyclables, seeing a Thornicroft’s giraffe found only in the Luangwa Valley, and watching elephants feeding. The children also learned life lessons ranging from HIV prevention to the uses of medicinal plants. Other camp activities included arts and crafts, soccer, and potato sack races. The Children in the Wilderness program gave the very best knowledge, and fun, to the youth who participated.

To learn more about the camp, view a short video of the camp experience here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0C7vtU4H4U. To learn more about Zegrahm Expeditions and their small-group expeditions to Zambia that stay in the same camp that hosted the children, please visit http://www.zeco.com/ or for Zegrahm's other expeditions The Cruise Line.

Mist on the Douro River Valley

This is the early morning mist on the River Douro in northern Portugal. The Douro valley has its own micro climate enabling it to grow grapes like nowhere else in the world. Couple this with 17th century British ingenuity and you create Port, that wonderful wine that has graced so many dinner tables.

The picture was taken from the sundeck of the Douro Spirit on a river cruise organised by Uniworld River Cruises who I can heartily recommend. You can see the navigation bouys in the river, at times were in steep barren rock faced gorges with Golden Eagles flying alongside and other times the high open valley with sides covered with vineyards. Try the white port it's amazing!

You can fine out more at www.uniworld.com or The Cruise Line.

Gap Expeditions see Double in Costa Rica

A 100% increase in bookings to Costa Rica has been reported by the leading independent adventure tour operator Gap Adventures. Bookings for Costa Rica so far in 2011 have more than doubled for the company's small group, guided tours.

Spectacular volcanoes, lush rainforests, unique wildlife and beautiful beaches all contribute to the appeal for the fabulous, versatile destination.

Due to the immense popularity, Gap Adventures has introduced seven new tours for 2011.

Spotting wildlife while cruising through canals, searching for the elusive quetzal bird, hiking through jungles, chilling on the gorgeous Pacific coast, searching for dolphins on a sunset sail and whitewater rafting.and coffee tour, a guided visit to Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve and a Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout.

Costa Rica Learn to Surf Price: £649pp Trip Code: CRLS Departs: 19 November

Highlights: Standing up on your first wave in Costa Rica, breathtaking sunsets over the Pacific and chilling on the beach.Enjoy an eight day trip from just £649 per person. Price includes seven nights’ hotel accommodation, some meals, local transport, surfboard, rashguard and leash for four days, five surf lessons, two "surf safari" excursions to explore different breaks and a Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout.

For full details visit www.gapadventures.com or The Cruise Line

Gluacous Gull in flight

Glaucous Gull. High Arctic in front of a glacier. I have shots of it much closer but somehow this one seems to put in its environment and tells more about its life than a close up of it perched on the ice.

Silver Explorer

Since its introduction to the Silversea fleet in 2009, Silver Explorer has redefined the meaning of small-ship luxury expedition cruising, offering guests authentic, off-the-beaten-track adventures to far flung corners of the world whilst still providing the world-class onboard amenities that set Silversea cruises apart.

The specially designed 132-guest vessel is able to venture deep into uncharted regions that other vessels are unable to reach, providing a unique and one-of-kind experience for all onboard. Although compact, Silver Explorer boasts one of the highest space-to-guest ratios of any expedition ship and features 66 elegantly appointed ocean-view suites and staterooms, each one equipped with a 24-hour dedicated butler.

Other onboard amenities include a choice of dining venues featuring gourmet cuisine by Relais & Chateaux, a full service spa, beauty salon, live entertainment and two whirlpools.

Expedition destinations include the frozen polar regions of Antarctica and the Arctic, Europe’s remote northern isles, Norway’s breathtaking fjords and the tropical beauty of Latin America. New for 2012, Silver Explorer international expeditions include Franz Josef Land in the Russian Arctic and three itineraries that explore the cultures along Africa’s less visited western coast.

Following only a tentative schedule allows for moment-by-moment flexibility. Stay longer at expedition destination sites of particular interest, or make slight detours whenever weather, nature or mere curiosity dictate. The Expedition Leader will work closely with the Captain to ensure opportunities for adventure and exploration are the best possible, based on prevailing weather, wildlife activity and sea/ice conditions.

From the sea level perspective of an authentic Silversea Expedition cruise, Arctic Circle wonders are at their most magnificent. Discover snow-capped mountains and glacier-filled bays. Observe vast colonies of seabirds nesting among coastal cliffs and walrus snoozing. Silver Explorer Arctic expedition cruises venture deep into remote regions at the top of the world in search of reindeer, Arctic fox, seals, walrus, whales and, the most impressive of all – the polar bear.

New for 2012, Silversea’s Arctic cruises explore Russia’s White Sea, Novaya Zemlya and the otherworldly terrain of the Franz Josef Land archipelago. This rare itinerary follows a route once restricted by the Iron Curtain and even now accessible only during summer’s warmest months.

www.silversea.com

InnerSea Discoveries Acquires 76-Guest Wilderness Explorer

On the heels of a sold out inaugural season in Alaska, InnerSea Discoveries announces the acquisition of the 76-guest Wilderness Explorer, formerly the 86-guest Spirit of Discovery. After significant renovations, the ship will sail active, adventure un-cruises between Juneau and Sitka, Alaska beginning summer 2012.

Beginning June 2, 2012, the Wilderness Explorer will sail weeklong un-cruise adventures between Juneau and Sitka, Alaska with three days spent exploring inside Glacier Bay National Park. A National Park Ranger will stay aboard the ship for the full three days to provide interpretation on the area’s history, culture, geography, flora and fauna. The park ranger, along with shipboard expedition guides, will also lead guests on hiking and kayaking expeditions within Glacier Bay. Other areas to be explored include Icy Strait, Chichagof Island and Peril Strait. In May and August, two-week cruises between Seattle and Juneau (and reverse) will be offered.

The new Northern Passages & Glacier Bay itinerary will sail from Juneau on Saturdays linking it to the line’s two other vessels—60-guest Wilderness Adventurer and 76-guest Wilderness Discoverer—which sail between Juneau and Ketchikan, AK (and reverse) on weeklong adventures beginning and ending on Saturdays. An all-encompassing three-week voyage combines a two-week roundtrip Juneau cruise with a weeklong cruise on the Wilderness Explorer.

For further information visit http://innerseadiscoveries.com/destinations/alaska/alaska-wilderness-passages-discovery Inner Sea were featured yesterday on Time Spent at Sea World of Cruising magazine's blog.

HURTIGRUTEN BRINGS THE NORTHERN LIGHTS EVEN CLOSER TO THE UK

For many, seeing the Northern Lights is a ‘must do’ on their wish list, and thanks to Norwegian cruise specialist, Hurtigruten, it just got even easier for the people of Yorkshire, Scotland and Greater Manchester to fulfill this once-in-a-lifetime dream. Direct flights from Leeds Bradford and Edinburgh are now featured for the first time, plus an additional Manchester date due to the sell out success of the original date on 5 March. The flights to Bergen tie in with a 12-day cruise along the Norwegian Fjords, where the Northern Lights are regularly spotted during the winter months. This is the first time Hurtigruten as offered cruises with flights direct from Leeds Bradford or Edinburgh.

The cruise is a 12-day voyage from Bergen in the South to Kirkenes in the far north of Norway, just a few miles from the Russian boarder. The ship will call at 34 ports along the way, most of which are never visited by the larger cruise liners. There is no better way to experience the Northern Lights than by sailing through the sheltered coastal waters of Norway, on board a Hurtigruten as the Northern Lights are set against a dark sky, free from artificial light. It is also widely reported that this winter is expected to be one of the best years for solar activity and therefore spotting the Northern Lights.

In addition, throughout the 12 days, a wide range of winter activities can be enjoyed with everything from snowmobiling and husky dog sledging to a trip to North Cape or a Lofotor Viking feast.

CLASIC ROUND VOYAGE – LEEDS BRADFORD – 25 January from £1199 per person including direct return flights from Leeds Bradford Airport to Bergen, 11 night’s full board on the ship, transfers and taxes. Based on two sharing.

CLASIC ROUND VOYAGE – EDINBURGH – 5 February from £1369 per person including direct return flights from Edinburgh Airport to Bergen, 11 night’s full board on the ship, transfers and taxes. Based on two sharing.

CLASIC ROUND VOYAGE – MANCHESTER – 16 February from £1369 per person including direct return flights from Manchester Airport to Bergen, 11 night’s full board on the ship, transfers and taxes. Based on two sharing.

For more information visit www.hurtigruten.co.uk

One Ocean Expeditions - Stunning Once in a lifetime Opportunity

Leading Polar cruise operator, One Ocean Expeditions is proud to sponsor an extraordinary expedition in which the last wish of world-renowned polar adventurer, Frank Wild, to be buried alongside his ‘boss’ and loyal friend, notorious fellow explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, will be carried out at the whalers’ graveyard in Grytviken, South Georgia, a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean.

The special 18-night commemorative voyage to transport Wild's ashes to South Georgia, takes place exactly 90 years after his last voyage with Shackleton in 1921*, and is only possible following a seven-year-long research journey by South African author and polar expert, Angie Butler, who discovered Wild's ashes in Johannesburg. Wild’s wish to be buried bedside Shackleton never materialised due to the outbreak of WWII a week after his death.

Among the confirmed guests on the Frank Wild Expedition to South Georgia, is the Honorable Alexandra Shackleton, Sir Ernest's grand-daughter, and six members of Wild's family.

Angie Butler, whose recently released book, The Quest For Frank Wild, features exclusive publication of his original memoirs covering four expeditions including those on the Nimrod and Endurance, will also be joining the cruise as a guest speaker.

Passengers on the once-in-a-lifetime voyage will depart Ushuaia, the world’s southern-most city in Argentina on 20 November 2011 on board One Ocean Expeditions’ impressive ice-strengthened ship, Akademik Ioffe.

Designed for Polar Research and combining modern comforts and superb amenities with first-class safety features, the ship will chart a course through the Beagle Channel towards the Falkland Islands, where the first planned shore excursion aims to reveal a profusion of seabirds and migratory birds, including the black-browed albatross.

Other highlights of the West Falkland Archipelago may also include bustling rookeries of rare rockhopper penguins, nesting Magellanic penguins, oystercatchers and the flightless steamer duck, followed by a stop in the islands’ charming capital, Stanley, with its brightly painted houses and fascinating history.

During the journey southeast towards South Georgia, passengers will be able to fill their time by scanning the horizon in search of whales and other marine mammals, as well as seabirds. There will also be the opportunity to hear more about the heroic expeditions of the earliest daredevil explorers and to learn about polar conservation, a subject close to the hearts of One Ocean Expeditions.

Majestic glacier-covered mountains herald the Ioffe’s arrival at the rugged island of South Georgia, where visitors are greeted by the staggering sight of hundreds of thousands of king penguins covering every inch of the shoreline.

It is here that the two friends, adventurers and polar explorers, Wild and Shackleton, will finally be reunited during a ceremony at the whalers’ graveyard in Grytviken.

Crossing the Scotia Sea towards Antarctica, ice and weather conditions permitting, passengers will visit the South Orkney Islands, often shrouded in mist and protected by large icebergs and sea ice, and later Elephant Island, which was a place of refuge in 1916 for Shackleton, Wild and crew after their ship was destroyed by pack ice.

Finally, the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic mainland reward visitors with a plethora of wildlife and awe-inspiring scenery from Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins torpedoing through the water, predatory leopard seals and gentle humpback whales, to thousands of colossal icebergs and seemingly endless ice sheets.

The 18-night Frank Wild Commemorative Expedition includes all meals and accommodation plus Zodiac excursions and landings. The One Ocean Expeditions team includes hospitality staff, guides, historians, naturalists, kayak expedition leaders and experts in the Antarctic, all of who bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and fun to the voyage. Prices start from US $12990 per person based on twin share, from $10290pp for triple share and from $16200pp in a One Ocean Suite. For further information, visit www.oneoceanexpeditions.com. or The Cruise Line

SeaDream Yacht Club Receives Top Award from Cruise Critic

In the first annual Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards, SeaDream I has been placed as No 1 for Service in the Small Ship category. “Cruise Critic members who have reviewed the ship are clearly very happy with their cruise experience,” said Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor in Chief of Cruise Critic. “SeaDream I gets excellent ratings for service, which is attentive and formal, without being fussy or intrusive.”

Cruise Critic-issued awards are based entirely on reviews/ratings submitted by cruisers when they posted a cruise review. Cruise Critic, the online guide to cruises, is one of the most influential travel sites on the web. With a world-renowned editorial staff, it provides objective cruise reviews, features, ports-of-call profiles and destination information.

Acknowledging the award, Bob Lepisto, President of SeaDream, said “The crew aboard SeaDream I & SeaDream II are to be thanked for their tireless efforts to ensure each guest is well taken care of. Independent reviews like this reaffirm our claim of providing unbeatable service.”

Just last month SeaDream I was showcased in London, at Tower Bridge, to over 400 UK travel industry professionals and the media, with a series of exclusive invitational events. Following her first time ever visit to London, SeaDream I sailed to Hamburg for a 20-day drydock and now, for the first time, is positioned for her northern-summer season in the Baltic, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

Together with sister vessel SeaDream II, SeaDream I is rated the ‘World’s Best Small Ship Cruise Line’ (source: the Berlitz Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2003-2011). The expression “yachting” is not only a statement about size; it describes a lifestyle aboard the intimate vessels. Chic and stylish, SeaDream’s 56-stateroom twin yachts are favoured for their elegant informality, personal service provided by a crew of 95, state-of-the-art facilities, inclusive open bar and gratuities, ocean-view accommodations, luxury spa and world class cuisine. Itineraries include the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Amazon. “It’s yachting, not cruising” Enjoy the difference.

 

For more information visit www.seadream.com or The Cruise Line

Noble Caledonia's Arctic Cruise

Svalbard is a remote and spectacular archipelago of immense glaciers, narrow fjords and abundant wildlife, somewhere we have featured several time in World of Cruising in recent issues. And here's a new opportunity to visit it in style and comfort:

Let Noble Caledonia's small but comfortable sister expedition ships, the MS Quest and the MS Ocean Nova, take you on a memorable journey into the realm of the polar bear. In Spitsbergen, there are twice as many polar bears and walrus as there are people. The polar bear population is estimated at more than 3,000 and we hope to encounter some of them during our summer voyages.

Our guests will witness a vast geological spectacle of soaring mountains and immense glaciers. A photographer’s paradise unfolds before us: black basaltic islands rise from shimmering waters punctuated with gleaming ice sculptures, and lush tundra blazes with purple saxifrage and moss campion. Within this dramatic landscape resides a wealth of wildlife: seals, walrus, whales, Arctic foxes and, our ultimate goal, polar bears. The area is also home to hundreds of thousands of breeding seabirds, including kittiwakes, murres, dovekies, puffins and rare ivory gulls.

Guests will take full advantage of the long daylight hours and embark on numerous Zodiac excursions to view the profuse wildlife up close.

In the beginning of the season, Spitsbergen’s flowers are in full bloom and the bird colonies are bustling with life. In the latter part of the season we have very good possibilities of exploring the eastern parts of the archipelago when the ice is slowly starting to lose its grip.

Our expedition ships have the highest ice class and can carefully break through the pack ice, which is also home to seals, walrus and the king of the Arctic, the polar bear.

For more info, visit Noble Caledonia or contact the adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Late Season Arctic Sailing with Gap

July may be the most popular month to cruise to the Arctic, but Gap Adventures is advising travellers to think again and consider journeying later in the season to see some stunning sights.

The leading adventure tour operator advises that while the daylight hours may be shorter, the sunsets and sunrises more than compensate for this, with lengthy displays overflowing with golds, pinks and purples – all reflected in the ice fields and the alpine mountain tops.

Meanwhile, the sight of the stars in the long clear nights is a magnificent display, only enhanced by the chance to see the aurora borealis. A truly unforgettable experience that can only be witnessed towards the end of the Arctic cruise season.
With Gap Adventures’ industry-first 100% bear-antee, travellers at the end of the season can also be confident the wildlife will live up to mid-season voyages. The company has such confidence in its Expedition Team’s ability to locate polar bears that it now guarantees at least one of our planet’s largest land predators will be spotted during each of its Arctic adventures.

Realm of the Polar Bear
Now: £2730 pp for a category 3 twin cabin (was £3639 – save 25% on this departure)

Trip Code: XVRPNX

Departs: 7 August 2011

Highlights: Spot whales and polar bears, explore incredible scenery, brave the Arctic waters swimming, encounter Ny-Ålesund, birdlife and glaciers, discover breathtaking ice-covered fjords and glimpse herds of Svalbard’s many species of reindeer.

Enjoy an eight day trip from just £2730 per person. Price includes seven nights onboard the M/S Expedition, all meals, Zodiac excursions with expert expedition team, lecture and educational programmes, Longyearbyen airport transfers depending on passengers flight details, live evening entertainment, waterproof boots supplied for men's USA sized 8-14 & women's USA sized 3-9 and Arctic destination guide.

For full details visit www.gapadventures.com or The Cruise Line

AmaWaterways to relocate `AmaDagio’ to the Rhone

Award-winning river cruise line AmaWaterways will relocate its beautiful 150-passenger MS AmaDagio to the Rhone River in Southern France at the start of the 2012 season. The ship will cruise a 7-night Lyon to Arles (and reverse) itinerary from late March through to the end of the year as part of the company’s popular “Provence” river cruise programme.

“We are extremely happy that our guests in France will be able to travel the Rhone on a ship that we custom-designed and built ourselves. The AmaDagio will enable us to deliver the premium onboard experience, and provide the same high level of amenities and services that our passengers have come to expect from an AmaWaterways cruise on the Danube and Rhine,” says AmaWaterways President, Rudi Schreiner.

Highlights of the “Provence” cruise itinerary include excursions to the renowned Beaujolais wine region; visits to a winery, local market and olive farm; tours of Roman ruins; and overnights in the UNESCO Heritage sites of Avignon and Arles, where guests will experience the Provencal landscape that inspired poets, painters and writers for centuries.

A week’s `Best of Provence’ sailing on board AmaDagio in 2012 costs from £1654 per person, based on two sharing, including all meals, free flowing wine with dinner, complimentary use of on board bicycles, free wi-fi and infotainment centre and daily escorted tours.

Visit www.amawaterways.co.uk or The CruiseLine.

Experience Imperial Russia with eWaterways and Luxury River Cruiser Volga Dream

eWaterways the niche and river cruise experts, continue to provide the most unique travel experiences available on water with a new itinerary for 2012 on Europe’s largest and longest river - the Volga. The exceptional 11-day Russian Cruise and Stay package takes place on the Volga Dream, a luxurious ship which journeys along this emblematic river and other important waterways to Russia’s ‘Golden Ring’ cities. Starting in Peter the Great’s ‘Window on the West’ St Petersburg and ending in the medieval yet modern capital Moscow, this cruise promises a real exploration of this vast country’s vistas, history and culture.

The all-inclusive Volga Discovery Holiday is crammed with excursions, informative tours and the best of Russian cuisine. The impressive programme includes visits to the remarkable Palace Square and a tour of the Hermitage Museum at the Winter Palace in St Petersburg; a tour of the magnificent Church of the Transfiguration with its 22 ‘onion’ domes on the island of Kizhi Island; a trip to the Cyrilo-Belozersky Monastery in Goritsy and the 16th-century Monastery of the Transfiguration and Church of Elijah the Prophet in Yaroslavl as well as a city tour of the beautiful 10th century town Uglich - all before a visit to the renowned Kremlin, the Flea Market and the Dmitry Blood Church in Moscow.

The elegant Volga Dream accommodates just 109 passengers in 56 well-appointed, spacious cabins, each of which feature a window, individually controlled air-conditioning, satellite flat screen televisions, mini-bars and a welcome fruit basket. With a crew of 60, including an expert tour guide, the standard of service is impeccable. One of the highlights of the cruise is the onboard dining experience. With the à la carte evening dinner taking a different theme everyday, the Chef brings fine dining to each guest night after night. From the fresh steamed sturgeon to a rack of lamb or steak au poivre, tiger prawns and authentic Russian Borsch, every meal is a chance to marvel at the culinary excellence of the kitchen. The onboard facilities include a single sitting dining room where complimentary wine is served with meals, a chic lounge and bar, fitness centre, spa treatments and library with internet access.

The 11-day Volga Discovery Cruise will run from May through to September 2012. Prices start at £2,059 per person (including taxes) which includes 5-star hotel stays in Moscow (2 nights) and St Petersburg (2 nights), a 6-night deluxe cruise aboard the Volga Dream (full board basis), all transfers, tours and excursions, house wine and soft drinks with meals onboard and lunches and dinners in local restaurants. Flights and visas are not included.

For more information visit www.ewaterways.co.uk or The Cruise Line

SeaDream Yacht Club Receives Top Award from Cruise Critic

In the first annual Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards, SeaDream I has been placed as No 1 for Service in the Small Ship category. “Cruise Critic members who have reviewed the ship are clearly very happy with their cruise experience,” said Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor in Chief of Cruise Critic. “SeaDream I gets excellent ratings for service, which is attentive and formal, without being fussy or intrusive.”

Cruise Critic-issued awards are based entirely on reviews/ratings submitted by cruisers when they posted a cruise review. Cruise Critic, the online guide to cruises, is one of the most influential travel sites on the web. With a world-renowned editorial staff, it provides objective cruise reviews, features, ports-of-call profiles and destination information.

Acknowledging the award, Bob Lepisto, President of SeaDream, said “The crew aboard SeaDream I & SeaDream II are to be thanked for their tireless efforts to ensure each guest is well taken care of. Independent reviews like this reaffirm our claim of providing unbeatable service.”

Just last month SeaDream I was showcased in London, at Tower Bridge, to over 400 UK travel industry professionals and the media, with a series of exclusive invitational events. Following her first time ever visit to London, SeaDream I sailed to Hamburg for a 20-day drydock and now, for the first time, is positioned for her northern-summer season in the Baltic, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

Together with sister vessel SeaDream II, SeaDream I is rated the ‘World’s Best Small Ship Cruise Line’ (source: the Berlitz Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2003-2011). The expression “yachting” is not only a statement about size; it describes a lifestyle aboard the intimate vessels. Chic and stylish, SeaDream’s 56-stateroom twin yachts are favoured for their elegant informality, personal service provided by a crew of 95, state-of-the-art facilities, inclusive open bar and gratuities, ocean-view accommodations, luxury spa and world class cuisine. Itineraries include the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Amazon. “It’s yachting, not cruising” Enjoy the difference.

For more information vist www.seadream.com or The Cruise Line

Svalbard is a remote and spectacular archipelago of immense glaciers, narrow fjords and abundant wildlife, somewhere we have featured several time in World of Cruising in recent issues. And here's a new opportunity to visit it in style and comfort:

Let Noble Caledonia's small but comfortable sister expedition ships, the MS Quest and the MS Ocean Nova, take you on a memorable journey into the realm of the polar bear. In Spitsbergen, there are twice as many polar bears and walrus as there are people. The polar bear population is estimated at more than 3,000 and we hope to encounter some of them during our summer voyages.

Our guests will witness a vast geological spectacle of soaring mountains and immense glaciers. A photographer’s paradise unfolds before us: black basaltic islands rise from shimmering waters punctuated with gleaming ice sculptures, and lush tundra blazes with purple saxifrage and moss campion. Within this dramatic landscape resides a wealth of wildlife: seals, walrus, whales, Arctic foxes and, our ultimate goal, polar bears. The area is also home to hundreds of thousands of breeding seabirds, including kittiwakes, murres, dovekies, puffins and rare ivory gulls.

Guests will take full advantage of the long daylight hours and embark on numerous Zodiac excursions to view the profuse wildlife up close.

In the beginning of the season, Spitsbergen’s flowers are in full bloom and the bird colonies are bustling with life. In the latter part of the season we have very good possibilities of exploring the eastern parts of the archipelago when the ice is slowly starting to lose its grip.

Our expedition ships have the highest ice class and can carefully break through the pack ice, which is also home to seals, walrus and the king of the Arctic, the polar bear.

For more info, visit Noble Caledonia or contact the adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Weeklong Alaskan Cruises in 2012 for Amercian Safari

Well-known in yachting circles as a favorite for gunkhole cruising— a yachter’s paradise of quiet, scenic anchorages—the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands star in American Safari Cruises’ Pacific Northwest Passage itinerary returning in 2012. The cruise features Washington and British Columbia with a new homeport—Seattle, Washington. 

Beginning September 14, 2012, the 22-guest Safari Quest sails 10 weeklong cruises roundtrip from Seattle. The yacht returns in the spring for six more weeklong cruises beginning March 29, 2013. The Pacific Northwest Passage itinerary explores the inlets and islands of the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands including visits to Victoria, Jervis Inlet, the Harmony Islands, Princess Louisa Inlet, Nanaimo and the Gulf Islands, British Columbia; Friday Harbor, San Juan Island and Stuart Island, WA.

Sailing from Seattle, the yacht passes through the historic Hiram M. Chittenden Locks to Puget Sound.

In Victoria, guests enjoy a tour of Butchart Gardens with a traditional British high tea, a visit to the Royal British Columbia Museum and the historic Empress Hotel. A flexible itinerary allows time to search out and view wildlife such as orca whales, eagles, seals, sea lions, porpoise, black bears and deer. Expedition—or gunkhole—cruising means the yacht freely explores among the inlets and islands of the Pacific Northwest. An onboard expedition leader provides expert narration while leading waterborne or land-based adventures including kayaking, hiking, beachcombing and skiff rides.

Paddle boards are also available for solo adventures in scenic waters. Other highlights of the cruise include exploration by foot or by kayak in Princess Louisa Inlet, only half a mile wide and culminating at the spectacular Chatterbox Falls; scenery and solitude while relaxing in the upper deck hot tub; stroll along Nanaimo’s picturesque waterfront promenade; a visit to the town of Friday Harbor with boutiques, galleries and a Whale Museum; hiking along a bluff to Turning Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island and kayaking among the sheltered Harmony Islands.

Cruise fares start at $3,995 per person based on double occupancy. The inclusive cruise includes all from-the-yacht activities and equipment; transfers; exquisite meals; fine wine, premium spirits and microbrews; and all port charges, taxes and fees. The 22-guest Safari Quest features a hot tub, Tempur-pedic mattresses, heated tile floors in all bathrooms and upper category balconies. An all-American crew has a guest-crew ratio of 2 to 1. Yachts can be booked as a private charter or by individual stateroom.

For more information visit www.americansafaraicruises.com or The Cruise Line

PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES’ SOUTH PACIFIC SALE OFFERS SAVINGS OF UP TO £1,258 PER PERSON

Paul Gauguin Cruises has launched a South Pacific Sale offering fabulous savings of up to £1,258 per person on selected winter 2011/2012 sailings with prices starting from just £3,119 per person if booked before 31st August 2011.

These offers are available on seven-night Society Islands voyages round trip from Tahiti visiting Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora (overnight) and Moorea (overnight) with departures on the following dates: 5th and 12th November 2011; 3rd and 21st December 2011; and 25th February 2012.

Prices start from £3,119 per person fly cruise based on a seven-night Society Islands voyage departing 5th and 12th November including return scheduled flights, transfers, seven nights in an ocean-view stateroom with all meals, soft drinks, selected alcoholic beverages and gratuities.

For further information visit www.pgcruises.com or The Cruise Line.

River Cruise Tours Through China with Viking

Viking's River Cruise Tours Through China now have three major delights for you.

Imperial Jewels of China Shanghai to Beijing From £2,245 / 12 Days

See all of China’s key highlights in just 12 days. Explore cosmopolitan Shanghai and, in Beijing, imperial treasures like the Great Wall and Forbidden City. Cruise the wildly beautiful Three Gorges region of the legendary Yangtze, and admire the engineering marvel of the Three Gorges Dam. You also visit Xian, home of the famous Terra Cotta Army.

Roof of the World Beijing to Shanghai, plus Tibet From £2,850 / 16 Days

Discover the many faces of China on this fascinating 16-day adventure. See the imperial treasures of Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and enjoy a 6-day Yangtze River cruise. Then experience the Tibetan plateau, known as the “roof of the world”. Spend three spiritually enlightening days in Lhasa, visiting Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace and more.

China’s Cultural Delights Beijing to Shanghai From £2,695 / 17 Days

This 17-day odyssey explores China’s cradle of culture with an epic 11-day Yangtze cruise between Chongqing and Nanjing. See all the wonders of Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and the Three Gorges, plus visit the birthplace of porcelain, the elegant classical gardens of Suzhou, a sacred Buddhist mountain and much more.

 

For more information visit www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk or The Cruise Line