African Odyssey along the Atlantic Coast from Ghana to Cape Town

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<><><><><> GHANA TO CAPE TOWN BOOK BEFORE 30 APRIL 2012 AND SAVE £400 PER PERSON An African Odyssey along the Atlantic Coast from Ghana to Cape Town aboard the MS Island Sky 18 nights from £7595 Explore the Natural World with Noble Caledonia In spite of all its regional difficulties, Africa still captures the imagination like no other continent. Its varied cultures and peoples, its extraordinary wildlife and perhaps most of all, the majesty of its landscapes cast a lifelong spell on all who visit and without doubt the best way to experience all its wonders is by small ship. Join Noble Caledonia for this remarkable voyage as you sail along the coast of West Africa from Ghana to Cape Town. A journey which promises many contrasts from lush landscapes to the vast deserts of Namibia. In Ghana, the former seat of Britain’s colonial power in the Gold Coast you will visit some of the forts and castles built by the earliest of European visitors and in Benin, a former French colony, known as the ‘Latin Quarter of Africa’, visit the birthplace of Voodoo. Further south you will spend time on the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe, famous for its natural beauty and birdlife. In Namibia take to four wheel drive Senegal Flamingos at Walvis Bay, Namibia Dakar, Senegal vehicles to explore the dunes and lagoons of Walvis Bay and watch the sky turn pink as tens of thousands of flamingos take flight. The only way to arrive in Cape Town is by sea, and should you choose our trip  the company have planned an extension to allow for a stay over Christmas in this most beautifully situated of all cities. www.noblecaledonia.co.uk



An African Odyssey along the Atlantic Coast from Ghana to Cape Town

Noble Caledonia have an African Odyssey along the Atlantic Coast from Ghana to Cape Town aboard the MS Island Sky. 18 nights from £7595

In spite of all its regional difficulties, Africa still captures the imagination like no other continent. Its varied cultures and peoples, its extraordinary wildlife and perhaps most of all, the majesty of its landscapes cast a lifelong spell on all who visit and without doubt the best way to experience all its wonders is by small ship.

Join this remarkable voyage as you sail along the coast of West Africa from Ghana to Cape Town. A journey which promises many contrasts from lush landscapes to the vast deserts of Namibia. In Ghana, the former seat of Britain’s colonial power in the Gold Coast you will visit some of the forts and castles built by the earliest of European visitors and in Benin, a former French colony, known as the ‘Latin Quarter of Africa’, visit the birthplace of Voodoo.

Further south you will spend time on the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe, famous for its natural beauty and birdlife. In Namibia you will take to four wheel drive Senegal Flamingos at Walvis Bay, Namibia Dakar, Senegal vehicles to explore the dunes and lagoons of Walvis Bay and watch the sky turn pink as tens of thousands of flamingos take flight.

The only way to arrive in Cape Town is by sea, and should you choose our trip we have planned an extension to allow for a stay over Christmas in this most beautifully situated of all cities. This tour can be combined with Cape Verde to Ghana.

www.cruiseline.co.uk

A Pacific Coastal Odyssey of Chile & Peru aboard the MS Island Sky

22 nights from £7495

Explore the Natural World with Noble Caledonia

This coastal cruise along the Pacific shores of South America will be dominated by the ever present Andes as you make our way from central Chile to Peru. This is one of the world’s great expedition cruises. Few regions in the world offer the diversity and ecosystems of those found in this intriguing part of South America. From the towering snow-capped Andes to barren coastal desert, the landscapes are unparalleled. The  voyage takes us along the nutrient-rich Humboldt Current that is a haven for an amazing concentration of seabirds, marine mammals and wildlife. To highlight the wildlife, we will be visiting the Islas Ballestas Paracas National Reserve, the Humboldt Penguin Nature Reserve and many other remote coastal sites and islands where the use of our Zodiac craft will allow us easy access to the otherwise inaccessible. This trip is as equally rich in geological, archaeological and cultural interest as well. Key highlights will include an optional overland visit to the Atacama Desert, many fascinating museums, an optional flight over the famous Nazca Lines and the opportunity to add a three day visit to the colonial Peruvian city of Cuzco and the dramatically sited Inca remains of Machu Picchu or a cruise of the Galapagos Archipelago. For more information visit the Nobel Caledonia http://www.noble-caledonia.co.uk

A voyage along the coasts of Chile, Peru & Ecuador to Costa Rica aboard Island Sky

Explore the Natural World with Noble Caledonia

You begin your Pacific coastal odyssey in Puerto Montt and as we continue along the coast towards Peru, our cruise will be dominated by the ever present Andes. The voyage takes us along the nutrient-rich Humboldt Current that is a haven for an amazing concentration of seabirds, marine mammals and wildlife. We visit the historic Chilean port of Valparaiso, the Humboldt Penguin Nature Resrve, the Chilean coastal town of Arica, Isla Ballestas and Lima.

You continue north along the coast of Peru visiting Trujillo, famous for its Spanish Colonial architecture and Chan Chan, a pre-Columbian site (Chimu culture) and the largest adobe city in the world. En-route to Ecuador we hope to make a landing on Lobos de Afuera a tiny island off the Peruvian coast, famous for its abundant marine and birdlife.

In Ecuador you will land at Manta for a day in the Machalilla National Park a protected coastal haven for over 200 species of birds and wildlife. There will also be time to explore Manta, founded by the conquistadors in 1535. Leaving the South American mainland we head out into the Pacific bound for the remote Coco Island. This Galapagos in miniature will be the highlight of the trip for many, its very remote location has left it untouched by tourism.

Our next landfall will be the Central American nation of Costa Rica and for the next three days we will immerse ourselves in the rich wildlife both above and below the water, enjoying the fantastic rain forests, flora and butterflies. It is an untouched magical area of exceptional beauty with all manner of hues, which only nature can deliver. For those who may find it difficult to pull themselves away from the beauty of Costa Rica Noble Caledonia are offering a post-cruise optional trip to the Monteverde Cloud Forest.

For further details log onto www.noble-caledonia.co.uk

To St Kilda with Noble Caledonia

The St Kilda archipelago is one of those places that are close enough to visit for a birding trip but far enough away to put you off the idea. It is also lashed by some of the fiercest Atlantic storms please don’t be put off and do make an effort sometime to go there. Now Noble Caledonia include a visit here as part of their amazing birdwatching cruise along the length of the west coast of Britain.

It’s not the easiest place to get to but it is such an incredible experience and as always depending when you go will get you some great birds. 210 species have been recorded here and you get the most amazing experience even before you get there with the three giant stacks, one of them the island of Boreray, that house the world’s largest gannet colony and you’ll hear and smell the birds from some distance away.

It was a Great Skua that gave us our first drama after having passed through the two stacks when one pounced on a surfacing gannet forcing it to regurgitate the fish it had just swallowed beneath the waves. The gannet just lay on water as if it had been frozen in fright which now on reflection I guess it had.

St Kilda has the largest colony of Fulmars in the British Isles and also the tallest sea stacks and has an estimated population of a million seabirds on its incredible cliffs.  If that isn’t enough at 1400ft, Conachair boasts the highest sea cliffs in Britain but be prepared to be dive bombed by great Skuas if you trying to get to the top of here!

Because of its position St Kilda is used as stop over for species migrating to Iceland and Greenland such as northern wheatears. Each year, in spring and in autumn, the islands are visited by an ever-growing list of migrants and vagrants. Some are on their regular route to and from those northerly breeding grounds, whilst others are blown off course with some 21 American species now being recorded with five or more records for Baird’s sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper and American Golden Plover.

You can now visit the world's largest Gannet Colony on the sea stacks of St Kilda (Above)  with Noble Caledonia or other birding islands on their Hebrides, Orkney's and Shetlands birding cruises. For more info' and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's adventure cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Expedition cruise of the Scottish Isles and the Faroe Islands aboard the MS Clipper Odyssey

10 nights from £2695

Go with Noble Caledonia and see nature in the raw. This expedition cruise will appeal to those who prefer their islands deserted, but with abundant bird and wildlife. You will journey along rugged coastlines and once inhabited islands aboard the 128-passenger MS Clipper Odyssey, venturing far north to the Outer Hebrides, Faroes, Orkneys and Shetlands. We will witness vibrant colours, amazingly prolific birdlife, deserted villages and learn of the history and ancient culture of unique island life. This is the first time Noble Caledonia have combined the Faroe Islands with a cruise of the Scottish Isles. You have two days to explore these idyllic islands with their marvellous scenery.

Such a journey can of course only be undertaken by a special vessel with the self-sufficient qualities of the MS Clipper Odyssey. With the Zodiacs you shall be able to land on remote beaches and cruise close to shorelines and cliffs crowded with birdlife. Tur daily schedule will take advantage of weather conditions and possible sightings to achieve the maximum effect with your time.

For more information visit www.noble-caledonia.co.uk

Silver Travel Advisor Adventure Cruising Offers.

Silver Travel Advisor the popular travel site written by and for mature travellers has some great offers on Adventure cruises this week with some amazing discounts. Including names such as Noble Caledonia, Voyages of Discovery and Viking River Cruises.

So if you're a Silver Traveller aged 50+ have a look at the impartial cruise reviews, and trip advice for mature travellers.

You can find out more on http://www.silvertraveladvisor.com

www.worldofcruising.co.uk

Maiden Voyages of The MS Caledonian Sky

Noble Caledonia have acquired the MS Caledonia Sky sister ship to their MS Island Sky. Her maiden voayages from May to July 2012 include The British Isles, Iceland, Norway and The White Sea.

The MS Caledonian Sky accommodates a maximum of 114 passengers in 57 spacious outside suites. Many have walk-in wardrobes and some feature tub baths. There will be seven categories of suites and sixteen suites will have private balconies. For those familiar with the MS Island Sky she will feel like a second home, although there are some differences. The dining room, lounge, Lido Deck and bar are all similar. However, the ‘Club’ on the MS Caledonian Sky has been transported to the very top deck. Here, there is a library and bar which leads out on to a lovely forward deck. The ‘Club’ has wonderful views with ceiling to floor windows.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out www.noble-caledonia.co.uk or adventure cruise specialists the Cruise Line.

Whales, Dolphins and Basking Sharks with Noble Caledonian

BOOK BEFORE 28 OCTOBER 2011 AND SAVE £100 PER PERSON

An 8 day expedition cruise to the Isles of Scilly, Ireland and the Channel Islands aboard the MS Island Sky. 7 nights from £2195  18th-25th May 2012.

Join Noble Caledonia for this unusual expedition cruise which will appeal to those who wish to explore our coastal waters, observe the marvellous seabird and marine life and walk across untouched coastal wilderness areas. Although you will set sail with a schedule, it will not be set in stone. The captain and expedition team will keep a flexible approach allowing you the opportunity to fully experience the unexpected, whether it be a sighting of dolphins or any unusual event.

In just eight days you will be able to stroll along the leafy lanes of beautiful Tresco in the Isles of Scilly, visit the neighbouring islands of Bryher and St Agnes, land on uninhabited Great Saltee Island with its huge colony of gannets and explore the bird colonies of little known Les Sept Iles by Zodiac. On Lundy Island you will enjoy the antics of the puffins and later in the day sail around Grassholm, one of the world’s largest gannetries. No coastal cruise in this region would be complete without a visit to the Channel Islands and you begin your island adventure with calls at two of the most attractive, Alderney and Sark.

Your exploration of these protected coastal waters will be made all the more enjoyable by the use of our Zodiac landing craft, similar to those used by Jacques Cousteau. Zodiacs enable us to land in remote places, providing for an unusual perspective and make the otherwise inaccessible readily available. The expedition staff have a wealth of local knowledge, having undertaken numerous expeditions around Britain and Ireland. The experienced team will go ashore with you and provide evening round-ups of the day’s events and briefings on board.

For more information visit www.noble-caledonia.co.uk or adventure cruise specialists The Cruise Line.

Late booking offers from Noble Caledonia only £1995

Noble Caledonia have late booking offers on their "The Lordship of the Isles" cruise aboard the MS Quest from only £1995.   Cruise dates are 29^th September to 6^th October 2011.

For more information visit www.noble-caledonia.co.uk 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.

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.

Noble Caledonia's Arctic Voyages

Svalbard is a remote and spectacular archipelago of immense glaciers, narrow fjords and abundant

wildlife. 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 over 3000 and we hope to encounter some of them during our summer voyages.

We 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.

We 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, home to seals, walrus and the king of the Arctic, the polar bear.

Log on to http://www.noble-caledonia.co.uk/sections/brochure_list.asp?section=brochure&id=589

From wild Scotland to the Norwegian Fiords

This voyage with Noble Caeldonia begins on the west coast of Scotland in the port of Oban. From here, the journey north includes magnificent St Kilda and calls in the Orkney and Shetland Islands where you can immerse in some of the mysterious ancient history. Reaching Sunnfjord, one of Norway's most stunning areas, you will make your way along the coast, visiting the vast swathe of fjord indented coast and through the chain of islands all the way up to the Lofoten group.
It is difficult to imagine a more relaxing setting than coastal Norway. Words cannot describe the awe-inspiring scenery as we take in views of mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, valleys and truly dramatic fjords. The immense size of the fjords and the timeless quality of scenes that have changed little in the past centuries create a unique atmosphere.

The voyage avoids the route of big cruise ships wherever possible and many of the ports of call will be tranquil hamlets of small communities and it will be fascinating to learn of their unique lifestyles. Such a journey can of course only be undertaken by a special vessel with the self-sufficient qualities of the MS Quest. With just 50 fellow passengers, you can enjoy the beauty of this region in small groups and from aboard a small, friendly ship and with  Zodiacs you will be able to land on remote beaches and explore shorelines with their prolific birdlife. The daily schedule will take advantage of weather conditions and possible sightings to achieve as much as possible from your voyage.

For more information visit http://www.noble-caledonia.co.uk/.

Island Sky Noble Caledonia

The thing about Adventure cruising is that the smaller ships let you explore places that the larger juggernauts could never get to. One of these ships  is Island Sky with some 37 cruises with Noble Caledonia this year. MS Island Sky underwent a significant multi-million pound refurbishment in May 2010 to make her one of the finest small ships in the world. With a maximum passenger capacity of only 116, a vessel of her size is capable of carrying many more but instead the MS Island Sky has the benefit of unusually large suites, luxuriously appointed public areas and spacious outside decks.

I really enjoyed my time on her and her full collection of Zodiacs really do get you to those tiny out of the way places.
Have a nice day now wherever you are.