Sail Through the World’s Last True Wilderness with APT’s New Antarctica Program

APT has launched its new Antarctica program, which according to General Manager Marketing & Sales, Debra Fox, offers a portfolio of once-in-a-lifetime journeys that enable guests to experience the sheer beauty and magnitude of this frozen wilderness.

The brochure features eight itineraries ranging from 15- to 39-days in length. Guests can choose from either a 10- or 18-night Antarctica Cruise which is then combined with one of a selection of small group South American land journeys and Galapagos or Amazon cruises.

Sailing aboard the Sea Explorer, an all-suite luxury expedition ship built especially for Antarctic exploration, guests will be joined by some of the industry's most experienced expedition guides. Also onboard for the duration of the cruise is a dedicated APT Expedition Leader and a doctor.

The 18-night Antarctica Cruise sets sail from Ushuaia through the Beagle Channel, taking in The Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Shetland Islands. Sailing through a pristine wilderness of snow, ice, mountains and waterways, highlights include: shore excursions aboard zodiacs; wildlife spotting at penguin rookeries, seal wallows, bird colonies and whale feeding areas; and the chance to spot the iconic Emperor penguin.

Small group South America tours for a maximum of 28 guests and ranging from 11 to 20 days in length are combined with the cruise to create a choice of the 30-day Santiago to Buenos Aires with Antarctica Cruise; 38-day Galapagos, Peru & Buenos Aires with Antarctica Cruise; or 39-day Best of South America with Antarctica Cruise.

APT is offering a choice of two SuperDeals. Couples can save up to $3,500 with APT's 'Companion Fly Free, including taxes' deal, available when two people book a South America land tour and an Antarctica cruise, as well as flights from Australia and New Zealand. APT is also featuring a 'Business Class Offer' whereby guests can fly business class return from Australia to South America from $5,595 per person, including air taxes.

SuperDeals are valid on all bookings until 31 May 2014 or until sold out. Terms and conditions apply and offer is subject to availability.

For further information call APT on 1300 196 420, visit aptouring.com.au or see your local business development manager.

APT Mekong cruise 2-for-1 deal extended

APT's two-for-one deal on its Mekong River cruises in December has been extended to January and February departures.

The deal applies to eight, 12 and 13-day Mekong River cruise packages on bookings made before December 31.

The deal marks the launch last month of the Australian company's new 62-suite ship RV AmaLotus (pictured). The deal price for the 12-day Angkor, Mekong and Ho Chi Minh City package, for example, is from $5345 per couple, twin share, which includes a seven-night cruise, guided excursions on the cruise and at Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City, two nights at the award-winning Le Meridien Angkor, two nights at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel and Towers, 29 meals including local wine, beer and spirits with lunch and dinner on the cruise, onboard entertainment, APT Tour Director, port charges, transfers and tipping.

Cruising will be on RV AmaLotus or the 46-cabin RV La Marguerite, launched two years ago.

Consumer Contact: call 1300 229 804, see www.aptouring.com.au or your travel agent.

APT adds Upper Mekong cruising

APT adds Thailand and Upper Mekong cruising in Laos

APT has added Thailand land touring and cruising the Upper Mekong in Laos to its Vietnam holidays.

Upper Mekong cruising will be on the stylish boutique river ship Mekong Sun (pictured), carrying up to 28 passengers.
 
Thailand land touring includes two nights in each of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Bangkok.

Three APT itineraries combine the six-day Upper Mekong cruise which starts and finishes in Luang Prabang with Vietnam and Cambodian land touring and Lower Mekong cruising (from $11,495 per person twin share) where APT operates La Marguerite and ms AmaLotus.

APT has fly free offers including taxes for the 26-day Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & Thailand Discovery package (from $11,495 per person twin share) departing between November 2011 and April 2012, and on the 21-day Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand Adventure (from $9295). The deals apply to bookings before September 30, 2011. A $2000 deposit for a fly free offer is due within seven days of booking.

The 18-day Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand Adventure, from $8195 is billed by APT as the lead-in package. The price includes Ho Chi Minh City, seven-night Mekong cruise, port charges and tipping, 52 meals including Dine Around Dinners, soft drink, local beer and spirits available at all times on the Lower Mekong cruise, small boat excursions to the floating markets in Cai Be, Vinh Long and Sa Dec and on to Siem Reap and its Angkor temples, then to Chiang Mail and Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand, the old kingdom of Chian Sean and to Bangkok and its palaces and temples.

Contact: call 1300 229 804, visit www.aptouring.com.au or see a travel agent.

Free return flights to Russia for 2012 cruise

APT is offering free companion flights to Russia, including air taxes, for booking a holiday that includes a 12-day Russian Waterways cruise between Moscow and St Petersburg next year.

The booking has to be made before November 30, 2011 and applies to three stateroom categories on the 212-passenger ms AmaKatarina, a four-deck, two-restaurant 2011-rebuilt river ship which claims to offer the most spacious accommodation on Russia's waterways and the first of its kind to introduce Outside Balconies, a feature of over 70% of staterooms.

The Russian Waterways cruise is priced from $5695 per person, twin share, (based on Sep. 30, 2012 departure) which includes 11-night cruise, 32 meals, wine and beer with dinner, sightseeing excursions, tipping and transfers as well as Russian language lessons and Moscow Circus and St Petersburg ballet performances.

The ms AmaKatarina cruises along the Volga, Svir and Neva rivers, exploring the forested islands, vast lakes and quaint lifestyles of rural Russia.

Contact: call 1300 229 804, visit www.aptouring.com.au or see you travel agent.

Free flight for Russian river cruise

New brochure: APT Russian River Cruising 2011

Deal – Free return flights to Russia on pre-Nov 30 bookings

APT is offering free return flights to Russia for booking a 12-day river cruise next year.

The deal applies to the 12-day Russian Waterways cruise, for example, which is priced from $5495 per person twin share. That includes cruising, shore excursions and entertainment, airport transfers and tipping, 32 meals on board, wine with lunch and dinner, Russian language lessons, selected Moscow and St Petersburg highlights and ballet performance in St Petersburg.

Cruising is on the newly-rebuilt 212-passenger river ship ms Amakatarina which boasts four decks and two restaurants. It cruises along the Volga, Svir and Neva rivers, exploring the forested islands, lakes and rural Russia.

The deal applies to bookings made before November 30 and requires the traveller to pay airfare taxes of approximately $700.

Contact: call 1300 229 804, visit www.aptouring.com.au or see you travel agent

APT cruises Kimberley in July-August

Gently cruising up Prince Regent and King George rivers for freshwater waterfalls, finding ancient rock art, walking on the exposed Montgomery Reef and zipping over the saltwater Horizontal Falls in a Zodiac are among the highlights of APT’s 11-day small ship cruises along the Kimberley coast.

APT has exclusive departures on this Broome-Darwin trip in July and August, cruising on the 48-passenger Coral Princess.

The price is from $6450 per person twin share which includes cruising, all meals and excursions, featuring the above activities as well as the turtle nursery at Lacepede Islands, Careening Bay’s famed boab tree and Naturalist Island.

Scenic helicopter flights at Naturalist Island are extra.

Contact: call 1300 656 985, visit www.aptouring.com.au or see a travel agent.