MS Hamburg to Sail Antarctica

by Kevin Griffin - The Cruise Examiner

Plantours’ Vistamar currently Orient Queen II

Following in the wake of Plantours’ Vistamar in past years, its latest vessel, MS Hamburg, will also be offering a series of Antarctic cruises in 2012/13. The Hamburg will offer three Antarctic cruises this winter, varying from 11 to 16 nights. Plantours’ Vistamar currently Orient Queen II

The first, on December 21, departs Buenos Aires and cruises the Antarctic Peninsula, finishing in Ushuaia. The second departs Ushuaia January 6, 2013 for a round-trip cruise to the Falkland Islands and the Antractic Peninsula. The third departs Ushuaia January 17, 2013, and cruises the Antarctic Peninsula and Chilean Fjords before terminating in Valparaiso.

The two January cruises can also be combined for a 26-night cruise that includes all of the the Falkland Islands, two visits to the Antarctic Peninsula and the Chilean Fjords.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' Columbus currently
Plantours & Partner's MS Hamburg

The MS Hamburg was renamed in her namesake city of Hamburg on June 7. Formerly Hapag-Lloyd’s Columbus, her capacity has been reduced slightly, from 420 to about 400 passengers.Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' Columbus currently Plantours & Partner's Hamburg It is about forty years now since Hamburg had a cruise ship named after it, when German Atlantic Line operated a ship of the same name. The last Hamburg was sold to the Black sea Shipping Company of Odessa and renamed Maxim Gorkiy. The Gorkiy was scrapped in 2009.

(Kevin Griffin is managing director of specialist cruise agency The Cruise People Ltd in London, England. For further information concerning cruises mentioned in this article readers can visit his blog)