Exhibition and cruise to save the Albatross

Artist Leads Fight Back To Save The 18 Species of Albatross Threatened With Global Extinction

BirdLife International has joined forces with artist, writer and printmaker, Bruce Pearson, in a bid to Save The Albatross in the Southern Ocean, which is under serious threat of extinction. As part of their collaboration, The Troubled Waters art exhibition, which follows Pearson’s journey trailing the albatross Across Antarctica, will be held from 26^th November until 1^st December at Artspace Galleries, Maddox Street, London W1.

Sponsored by One Ocean Expeditions, a specialist in nature-based adventure cruises with a strong sense of ecological preservation and conservation, the event aims to bring these magnificent birds into the reach of visitors through powerful visual works of art that depict life at sea.

Bruce Pearson, who has a life-long fascination with the sea and seabirds and who has travelled a number of times across the Southern Oceans, comments: “Seabirds, notably albatrosses, have become increasingly threatened over the past 20 years, and at a faster rate globally than any other species of birds. The threats are many and varied, but the most critical problem is the hundreds of thousands of birds snared accidentally as by-catch on long-line fishing vessels.”

Among the international efforts to reverse the decline in numbers, the work of BirdLife International’s Save the Albatross campaign and Albatross Task Force has resulted in a substantial reduction in seabird mortality.

However, unregulated fishing interests still operating beyond the reach of international treaties and boundaries continue to place 18 of the 22 species of albatross at risk of global extinction.

The Troubled Waters exhibition aims to facilitate the work of Birdlife International alongside fishermen onboard long-line and trawl vessels in a bid to reduce the damage done to the albatross at the hands of the fishing industry. According to the conservation organisation, an estimated 100,000 albatrosses are being killed each year due to long-line fishing – that’s one every five minutes.

For those interested in the opportunity to visit one of the world’s last remote wildernesses, and to witness first hand the wandering, black browed, grey headed and light mantled sooty albatross, One Ocean Expeditions is offering an extensive 18-night wildlife expedition from 22 November to 10 December 2013.

Bruce Pearson will be the ‘artist in residence’ on this voyage to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, during which he will give presentations and hold drawing and painting workshops both on board and ashore.

Accommodation is on board the impressive ice-strengthened ship, Akademik Sergey Vavilov, which has been designed for Polar research and has the comfort and safety of passengers as its first priority. Features include a massage room, hot water spa, sauna, salt water plunge pool, plus bar, lounge, dining room, library and theatre style presentation room.

The adventure cruise departs from Ushuaia in Argentina, and prices start from USD 12,190 per person on a twin share basis and from USD 10,900pp for a triple share cabin. This includes all meals and accommodation plus Zodiac excursions and landings, special hiking programmes, ship transfers, foul weather gear and overnight camping.

For further information please see www.oneoceanexpeditions.comFor further information, please visit www.oneoceanexpeditions.com; www.birdlife.org/seabirds/save-the-albatross.html; www.brucepearson.net

Follow Palin in Brazil with Voyages of Discovery

To mark Michael Palin’s return to our screens with his new four-part series– Brazil, Voyages of Discovery (www.voyagesofdiscovery.com / 0844 822 0820) is giving guests the chance to follow in the footsteps of the nation’s favourite traveller on a South American cruise. Plus, the first 50 bookings made on the 18-day South America’s Discovery Coast cruise will receive a signed copy of Michael Palin’s latest book ‘Brazil’, the perfect accompaniment to his new show and your cruise next year.

Sample what you see on screen on the 18-day South America’s Discovery Coast cruise with costs from £1,999 per person (based on two people sharing an inside cabin). Spend the night in Rio – Brazil’s most vibrant city – venture up the Corcovado and Sugar Loaf mountains, or simply immerse yourself downtown in the city. Sail onto Salvador de Bahia to dance to the samba and finish the cruise in Recife, famous for its old and new skyline. Price is based on 24 February 2013 departure.

Guests can also make the most of a free excursion to Rio’s Botanical Gardens - one of the greatest tropical botanical gardens in the world and home to a variety of tropical birds, fish, mammals and plants from Brazil. This offer is valid on bookings for category DC cabins or above on this cruise.*

Prices include return flights from a major London airport and all overseas transfers, talks by eminent Guest Speakers, meals and entertainment on board, all on board gratuities and all relevant port and airport taxes/fees.

For more information and to book call 0844 822 0820, visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.com, Facebook or follow Voyages of Discovery on Twitter - @Voyagediscovery and view online at www.discoverycruise.tv

Cruise for less than £56.00 per person per day on new ship mv Voyager

Join Voyages of Discovery’s (www.voyagesofdiscovery.com, 0844 822 0820) new ship mv Voyager from just £999 per person – that’s less than £56 per person per day.

As the countdown continues to the launch of new ship mv Voyager in December, the discovery cruise line is also offering a range of special offers across the Winter 2012-13 season including complimentary shore excursions and reduced flight fare upgrades on selected cruises. Plus all those booking an outside cabin will also receive £50 on board credit per cabin.

Winter 2012-2013 sees mv Voyager travel to South America, Central America and the Caribbean for her inaugural season with Voyages of Discovery.

Before joining the fleet the 540 passenger ship will undertake its final month-long refurbishment in Portland Port (UK) before sailing to its home port of Portsmouth in early December 2012.

Highlights of the new offers include:

Voyage to the Caribbean cruise from £999 per person. Cruise departs from Portsmouth (UK) before calling at La Coruna (Spain), Funchal (Madeira), St. Kitts (Basseterre/Nevis), Antigua (British West Indies), Martinique (French West Indies) and Barbados (British West Indies)–overnight. Price is based on a 4 December 2012 UK departure. Guests can take advantage of flight upgrades to Premium Economy for just £100 per person when booking a category BC cabin or above.

South America’s Pacific Shore cruise from £1,999 per person. Cruise departs from Manta (Ecuador)-overnight and calls at Santiago de Guayaquil (Ecuador), Salaverry (Peru), Callao (Peru)-overnight x2, General San Martin (Peru), Arica (Chile), Coquimbo (Chile) and Valparaiso (Chile)-overnight. Price is based on a 21 January 2013 UK departure. A complimentary flight is available (on higher cabin grade bookings only), over the Nazca Lines as part of the shore excursion programme in Peru.

Information on other special offers is available at www.voyagesofdiscovery.com.

Prices include return flights from a major UK airport, relevant transfers, all on board gratuities, service charges and relevant port/airport taxes, a comprehensive Guest Speaker programme and all meals and entertainment on board. Cabins will not be allocated at the time of booking with the fares quoted above.