Exploring the Poles with Fred

The absurdly-named Fred.\ has launched a new travel brand specialising in Polar Expedition cruises.  Offering a selection of polar expedition cruise holidays from seven specialist expedition operators, Fred.\ Expeditions will act as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for intrepid travellers searching for an expedition cruising holiday.
 
Expedition cruise lines on offer from Fred.\ Expeditions include G Adventures, Hurtigruten, Quark Expeditions, Oceanwide Expeditions, Poseidon Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions and Silversea Expeditions. In addition to the cruises themselves, passengers can take part in on-shore expedition activities including camping, fishing, helicopter tours, hiking, mountaineering, kayaking, photography workshops, polar diving, ski-trekking and exploring the coastlines via Zodiac.

Prices start from around £2,349 per person for a seven night ‘Realm of the Polar Bear’ cruise aboard MS Expedition with G Adventures, departing 1 June 2015. This includes cruise only, onboard accommodation with meals and some beverages included. This itinerary visits Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Spitsbergen:  

A 13 night ‘Journey to Antarctica: the White Continent’ cruise with Lindblad Expeditions aboard National Geographic Explorer, priced from £7,299 per person to include cruise only, onboard accommodation with meals and some beverages included. Itinerary includes Buenos Aires, Ushuaia and Antarctica.  

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Two New Expeditions From Lindblad

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic is introducing two new Arctic expeditions this summer, Impressions of Northern Norway: Arctic Norway to the Northern Fjords, and Heart of the Arctic: Norway to Greenland via Scotland, The Faroes & Iceland, along with two repeating itineraries, Land of the Ice Bears: An In-Depth Exploration of Arctic Svalbard and Norway’s Fjords & Arctic Svalbard. All feature a selection of special offers ranging from free airfare to savings of up to $1,000 on select cabin categories.

The expeditions are set during the Arctic summer when the tundra experiences a warm awakening carpeted with wildflowers and the thunderous sound of glacial ice crashing to the sea. Polar bears, seabirds, reindeer, arctic fox, seals and great pods of walrus are out for up-close viewing, and with temperatures averaging from 30° to 45°F, the weather is good for walks, hikes, kayaking and Zodiac forays under the sun that never sets.

All departures are aboard the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer, a state-of-the-art, ice-strengthened expedition Arctic cruise ship with the best Ice Team on earth, plus a National Geographic Photographer and a Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor.

The two NEW itineraries and special offers are:

· Impressions of Northern Norway: Arctic Norway to the Northern Fjords: The new 13-day voyage is two expeditions in one, starting in Arctic Svalbard, a wilderness region of massive icebergs, deep fjords and ice-capped mountains, and the best place on earth to observe polar bears in their natural habitat — on the pack ice. Then sail southward to Nordland to a land of brilliant greens, warm temperatures, tiny hamlets clinging to steep fjord walls and a radiant profusion of birds, wildflowers and reindeer. Save up to $1000 on select cabin categories, plus receive complimentary roundtrip economy airfare (New York/Oslo) and free charter airfare (Oslo/Longyaerbyen and Tromso/Oslo). Rates begin at $9,990 per person based on double occupancy. Departure is July 13, 2012.

· Heart of the Arctic: Norway to Greenland via Scotland, The Faroes & Iceland: The brilliance of this new 26-day itinerary lies in its many facets and its setting. Hike, kayak and Zodiac cruise amid the classic landscapes of the Norwegian fjords; discover the fairytale villages & jagged peaks of the Lofoten Islands; experience the culture, history & archaeological sites of Northern Scotland; follow the Viking trail to the remote Faroe Islands; see Iceland’s geological wonders: active volcanoes & icy landscapes; explore the Greenland ice sheet, its wildlife and its people, and search for Svalbard’s arctic wildlife. Complimentary roundtrip economy airfare (New York/Oslo) and charter (Oslo/Tromso, Longyearbyen/Oslo). Rates begin at $19,990 per person based on double occupancy. Departure is July 22, 2012.

· Land of the Ice Bears: An In-Depth Exploration of Arctic Svalbard: A wildlife-packed, 11-day expedition, traveling into the world of Arctic Svalbard. Complimentary roundtrip charter airfare on select departures (Oslo/ Longyearbyen). Rates begin at $8,240 per person based on double occupancy. Departures are June 8, 15, 22, 29 and July 6, 2012.

· Norway’s Fjords & Arctic Svalbard: Follow the length of Norway's majestic fjord-carved coast from Bergen to the glaciers and polar bears of the Arctic Svalbard archipelago on this 16-day voyage Complimentary roundtrip charter airfare on select departures (Oslo/ Longyearbyen). Rates begin at $11,470 per person based on double occupancy. Departures are May 27 and August 13, 2012.

In addition to the natural wonders an Arctic voyage promises, there is the extra advantage of exploring with guest speakers providing global perspectives. Travel with Keith Bellows (May 27, 2012) editor-in-chief of National Geographic Traveler magazine; Boyd Matson, Host of Nat Geo’s Wild Chronicles (June 15 & 22); Polar Captain Alfred S. McLaren (June 29); Prof. Paul Arthur Berkman, Oceanographer & Arctic Specialist (July 22), and filmmaker David Wright (Aug. 13, 2012), who shot The Great White Bear in Svalbard for National Geographic.

All offers are valid for new bookings only and must be booked by March 31, 2012. For reservations contact your travel agent, or for additional information on Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic voyages to some of the most beautiful and fascinating places on earth, visit the specialist Lindblad page at The Cruise Line

In today’s travel world, savings never goes out of season. And, with its equatorial temperatures and year-round wildlife, neither does the Galápagos experience. New for 2012, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic is offering lower seasonal rates to those who travel during less traditional vacation periods.

The beauty of this special opportunity lies in the true year-round appeal of one of the world’s most magical destinations. Galápagos is a place defined by its consistency, a place where the sun rises and sets at the same time, and where the temperatures stay in the same range, each and every day of the year. The only reason for labels such as “peak” and “off-peak” is the fact that more people travel at peak periods because of traditional vacation times.

Now with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, by traveling in the Prime season of January through early March, the only Galápagos fluctuation you will experience comes where you want it most…in your pocketbook, making it even more attractive to visit Galápagos.

The new Galápagos Prime season rates begin at $4,750 per person for a 10-day voyage on the 96-passenger National Geographic Endeavour, and start at $5,450 per person on the 48-passenger National Geographic Islander (based on double occupancy in a Category 1 cabin). Both are expedition ships equipped with cool tools for exploration, and add yet another layer of discovery with kayaks and Zodiacs that carry you even closer to worlds of pure natural wonder.

And to make travel to Galápagos even more affordable, book an expedition before March 31, 2012 and receive complimentary roundtrip air on select 2012 departures from either New York or Miami to Galápagos or upgrade to business class on the New York/Guayaquil flights for only $500 round-trip. This offer is limited to new bookings only and subject to availability.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's Adventure cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.