Samurai and Snorkelling

Join the Orion Expedition team onboard the newly re-fitted Orion II for her maiden Ryukyu Islands voyage exploring from Japan through the rarely visited sub-tropical Ryukyu Islands to the Philippines and Sabah.

This 14-night voyage on July 28 features diverse elements for adventurous spirits seeking cultural experiences far removed from the predictable tourist hotspots of Asia, including two destinations unique to this voyage, Shimonoseki and Kagoshima, plus a visit to Coron Palawan in the Philippines, the first by a foreign ship.

Guests can try their hand at the fine art of preparing Fugu – poisonous puffer fish - warm their feet in a volcanic-heated foot bath, explore an impressive cave and underground river system and remove their clothes and inhibitions in a very elegant private hot spring onsen (public bath).

Active volcanoes and traditional samurai castles contrast with beautiful bays and islands perfect for snorkelling and diving, while a buffalo cart ride across tidal flats, cultural performances, art galleries and exploring a little township with bars and cafes offer other dimensions to this voyage.

Reminders of World War II abound, including visits to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as a fascinating Kamikaze museum and, in Okinawa, a former Japanese Imperial Navy HQ underground tunnel command centre. The significant red Shuri Castle has many ancient links to the unique system of paying tribute to both Japanese and Chinese emperors and an archaeological dig site guests may visit contains some of the oldest human remains found in Asia.

Orion II’s visit to Coron Palawan will be celebrated with welcoming cultural displays, performances and interaction. Guests will have time for snorkelling, relaxing in hot springs, a village visit and scenic Zodiac cruising to capture the dramatic sunset.

Lecturers in the expedition team include:

Amy Loewen - Japan expert, many years of experience leading groups in Japan

Grace Winer - expert geologist to provide interpretation on the regions stunning and active geology
Justin Friend - to lecture on Filipino and Ryukyu cultures

Expedition Leader Alastair Newton - with many years experience in the region.

The 14-night cruise also visits San Fernando (for Baguio), Puerto Galera and Coron before finishing in Kota Kinabalu. Prices start from £6,680 per person including all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes.

For more info, visit http://www.orionexpeditions.com/ or contact the UK's leading adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

STATEMENT REGARDING CANCELATION OF MS POLAR STAR SPITSBERGEN SEASON

Karlsen shipping the owners of MV Polar Star have been placed into receivership and Hurtigruten has therefore cancelled all MV Polar Star sailings in Spitsbergen for summer 2011. Hurtigruten’s sister company, Spitsbergen Travel AS had chartered the explorer ship MV Polar Star to offer weekly voyages around Spitsbergen.

 

Spitsbergen Travel and Hurtigruten ASA worked together with the creditors of Karlsen shipping to find a solution that would enable them to continue the Spitsbergen voyages in 2011 with Polar Star. Unfortunately, despite best endeavors, it was not possible to reach a resolution. There were also efforts to charter an alternative ship but again, without any success.

Hurtigruten ASA and Spitsbergen Travel are deeply sorry the disappointment and inconvenience that this will causes its guests.

 

857 guests booked on 11 sailings are affected by this incident. 512 guests are Germans, 65 from France, 111 from England, 61 from the US, 87 Norwegians and 21 other nationalities.

Along with a full refund, customers wishing to re-book on to another Hurtigruten products are being offered discounts on other voyages if booked before 31 July 2011. Discounts are as follows:

1. 50% off new bookings made on any Hurtigruten product for travel up to and completed by 31 December 2012 for cruise only products.

2. 40% off new bookings made on any Hurtigruten product for travel up to and completed by 31 December 2012 for flight inclusive products.

This offer is not combinable with any other Hurtigruten offers (e.g. Ambassador Loyalty programme repeater discount, Groups discounts and early booking discounts) and is valid for bookings made up to and including the 31st of July 2011.

For more infopramtion about Hurtigruten cruises vist http://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/ or The Cruise Line.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises announces the arrival of their March 2012 - May 2013 expedition brochure. Their small and beautifully appointed expedition ships, MS HANSEATIC and MS BREMEN, will be offering 12 international (English/German) itineraries next season.

They include travel in Antarctica, the Northwest Passage, Greenland, Spitsbergen, Norway, the Amazon, the South Seas and New Zealand. In addition, the expedition itineraries feature new ports of call in Madagascar and Mozambique and a maiden voyage through theSea of Okhotsk inRussia’s Far East. The HANSEATIC, the world’s only 5-star expedition ship and the BREMEN, a 4-star expedition ship, were created to provide intensive exploration in the most elegant surroundings for a maximum of 184 guests on the HANSEATIC and 164 guests on the BREMEN

Expedition Highlights 2012 – 2013 on the HANSEATIC and BREMEN:

SEA OF OKHOTSK - PREMIER EXPEDITIONS

For the first time, the HANSEATIC sets out to circumnavigate the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia’s Far East, taking guests to volcanoes, geysers and glaciers. Zodiac stops on the Sea of Okhotsk include: Iony, a tiny island populated by sea lions and Shantar Islands and Malminskie Islandsnatural sanctuaries for songbirds, birds of prey, seals and sea otters.

Trip Details from June 13-30, 2012, rates for this itinerary start at EUR 9.007 / GBP 6.310 / USD 10.810 per person/ based on double occupancy for an outside cabin

ISLANDS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN – MAIDEN CALLS:

Guests will experience lemurs in pristine nature, animals in the wild, and wonderful beaches on romantic coasts on the HANSEATIC through Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa.This tropic 16-day adventure will make stops at six new ports along the route, which include stops in the following ports in Madagascar: Maroantsetra, Nosy Hara, Morondava, Nosy Ve,and Toliara and a first time stop in Mozambique, at the picturesque city of Ilha dos Portugueses.

Trip Details: from December 3-19, 2012, rates for this itinerary start at EUR 6.451 / GBP 4.520 / USD 7.750 per person/ based on double occupancy for an outside cabin

THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE: In 2012, the popular Northwest Passage will be offered onboard the HANSEATIC. It starts in Nome/Alaska amidst impressive testimonies of the Inuit culture before the HANSEATIC sails through the Canadian Arctic, the heart of the Northwest Passage and ends in Reykjavik/Iceland.

Trip Details: from August 14 - September 8, 2012, rates for this 25-day itinerary start at EUR 16.480 / GBP 11.540 / USD 19.780 per person/ based on double occupancy for an outside cabin

ANTARCTICA;Glaciers, icebergs, deep fjords and bays offer the setting for an unforgettable Antarctica expedition. In addition to observing bird colonies, guests will also have the opportunity to explore the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, bath in the hot springs on Deception Island and observe whales in the Antarctic Sound. All departs include round-trip airfare from Buenos Aires/Argentina to Ushuaia/Argentina. Dates and rates for the Antarctica cruises’ in late 2012 and early 2013: Trip Details: November 30 - December 15, 2012, on the BREMEN, rates starting at EUR 7.680 / GBP 5.380 / USD 9.220 per person/ based on double occupancy for an outside cabin

Trip Details: January 3 - 18, 2013, on the BREMEN, rates starting at EUR 8.580 / GBP 6.010 / USD 10.300 per person/ based on double occupancy for an outside cabin.

Trip Details: February 13 - March 3, 2013, on the HANSEATIC, rates starting at EUR 10.628 / GBP 7.440 / USD 12.760 per person/ based on double occupancy for an outside cabin.

Expedition Travel At Its Best:

Both ships are well equipped for travel in difficult waters, holding the highest ice class ranking for passenger vessels (E4). Also shallow drafts and high manoeuvrability allow the ships to enter waters larger cruise vessels cannot reach. Guests explore the world’s best-kept secrets in zodiacs (small motorized boats) with only 10-12 guests. Onboard experts include a team of experienced scientists, expedition leaders and specialists who guide landings and offer guests the rare opportunity to observe plant and animal life up close. However, what makes these expedition adventures standout for guests is the security of knowing that highly experienced captains are guiding the vessels and have together already traveled to the Arctic and Antarctica more than 200 times.

Educational experiences are the ultimate goals of the expedition trips. Thereby also, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is committed to promoting a responsible way of dealing with nature – among other efforts as a co-founder of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) and member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). In addition, the HANSEATIC and the BREMEN use low-emission diesel oil rather than heavy fuel oil on cruises to Antarctica, and have been doing so long before the introduction of the current, stricter regulations.

Further Information at http://www.hl-cruises.com/.