2013 marks record cruise season for Stockholm

Passengers up by 18,000 year on year

Stockholm finished its cruise season on a high yesterday, celebrating a record number of ships and passengers having called at the port in 2013.

During the six month cruise season from 26 April to 29 October, 278 ships called in Stockholm, bringing 485,000 passengers to the city. This represents an increase of 4% on 2012. The port is also gaining a reputation as a turnaround port, with 47 ships embarking and disembarking in Stockholm during the season.

Welcoming cruise ships ranging from the large Royal Caribbean liners, through to ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises, Stockholm is now a seasoned favourite for international cruise companies and their customers.

The harbours are centrally located and the city is compact and easy to walk around, meaning that cruise passengers are able to cram a lot in to one day – from world-class museums and galleries to incredible architecture and internationally renowned restaurants. It also offers one of the most beautiful transits in the world, through the archipelago, to reach the city.

Another attraction of Stockholm for cruise lines is the port’s dedication to the minimising its impact on the environment. Leading the way amongst cruise destinations, Stockholm is one of the only ports in the world that can receive black and grey water at all piers, and offers cruise companies financial rebates for sorting their waste.

For more information on cruising to Stockholm, visit www.visitstockholm.com/cruise 

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? They have a fabulous offer 

for all new subscribers this year - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to 

win a cruise in their free prize draw offer. See this link!   

Cruise the Kimberley!

Adventure Channel • Ken Duncan & Ray Martin to Cruise the Kimberley! Seen cruising the Kimberley: Cooling off under a waterfall! Enjoying the view!

Ken Duncan & Ray Martin to Cruise the Kimberley! Ken Duncan is one of Australia's most acclaimed landscape photographers. He gained prominence for his pioneering work with panoramic landscapes and limited edition photographic prints and his art now adorns homes and offices around the world. Ray Martin also needs little introduction. The Gold Logie winning journalist has been a familiar face on Australian television screens since starting out as an ABC cadet in 1965. Perhaps lesser well-known is Ray’s keen interest in photography, his friendship with Ken Duncan and, Ken’s great respect for Ray’s emerging talent as a photographer. And North Star Cruises is very excited to announce that both Ray and Ken will be hosting the TRUE NORTH’s maiden Wet Season Adventure in 2014! This exciting new 10 night itinerary has been designed specifically to give everybody on-board unprecedented access to the dramatic theatre that is so much associated with the Kimberley monsoon. During ‘the wet’ the Kimberley’s stunning backdrop is complimented by daily summer storms. With almost clocklike precision, early mornings and late afternoons are painted with spectacular billows of cloud – mountains in the sky that erupt even as you look-on in awe and, always a precursor to blinding forks of lightening that streak from one horizon to another and booming roars of thunder that defy even the hardiest local to hold his ground! Adding to the performance is a seemingly endless parade of thundering waterfalls, swollen billabongs and, a supporting cast of raucous birdlife and ravenous barramundi. The crew will be up before the curtain is called and back on-board only when the stage is completely dark – every scene will be carefully choreographed and the accolades of even the harshest critics are assured. Clearly a landscape photographer’s Shangri-La and, best of all, Ken will be on hand to provide an equally desirable El Dorado of tuition. Regardless of whether you are just starting out, or maybe some of your work already hangs in notable space – this coming together of icons from both in front and behind the lens is an opportunity not to be missed. And not forgetting that wet season mid-days are normally free of rain and that the TRUE NORTH’S more typical array will also be on offer – helicopter flights, scenic walks, rock art viewing, fishing, picnics and much, much more. The Wet Season Adventure itineraries depart on March 26 and April 5 however our traditional Kimberley itineraries continue until September offering numerous sailing dates to choose from. The 13 night Kimberley Ultimate remains as our flagship itinerary whilst the 7 night Kimberley Snapshot captures all the highlights! For all the departure dates and more information please click HERE! Book now to secure your preferred cabin on your preferred sailing - contact your travel representative or North Star’s adventure partners on (+61) 8 9192 1829. See you on the TRUE NORTH! Ray Martin prepares for his Wet Season Adventure.

ADVENTURE CANADA WRAPS UP 25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON FULL OF NEW ARCTIC DISCOVERIES

ADVENTURE CANADA WRAPS UP 25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON FULL OF NEW ARCTIC DISCOVERIES AND UNPARALLELED EXPLORATION Greenland’s underwater canyon, Kap York archeology and rare Bottlenose whales among season’s discoveries

After 25 years of Arctic exploration, Adventure Canada continues to discover something new and novel with each sailing, proving the Arctic is still widely unexplored. This past summer, while scientists found a colossal canyon -- rivaling the Grand Canyon in length – under Greenland’s ice sheet, Adventure Canada guests and guides were busy making their own discoveries, including several undocumented archeological sites, encountering extremely rare wildlife and visiting new areas of the North with every sailing. “The Arctic is full of surprises,” says Cedar Swan, Adventure Canada Vice President. “We’ve had an incredible 25 years and I’m grateful we had the opportunity to share and participate in unprecedented discoveries every step of the way.”

This season, Adventure Canada visited Kap York, on the northwestern coast of Greenland and for the first time, guests were able to explore many archeological sites in the area without the guise of heavy snowfall. Greenland boasted several more opportunities for voyagers to discover the enigmatic island, including a new visit to Uummannaq’s children’s choir and orphanage and an added zodiac cruise to nearby Store Glacier. Among the most notable wildlife sightings of 2013 were a group of bottlenose whales seen mere metres away, baby arctic foxes peeping out from their dens, and even narwhals, the unicorns of the sea.

Guests were also treated to new onboard experiences, such as the “First Annual North of Sixty Adventure Canada Marathon Extravaganza” where voyagers competed in a race around the ship. With Adventure Canada, it’s about making the most of your Arctic journey, on and off the ship. To book for 2014 and for more information, please visit www.adventurecanada.com or call 1.800.363.7566. Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? They have a fabulous  offer for all new subscribers this year - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the  chance to win a cruise in their free prize draw offer. See this link!