Cruise Weekly: Soren Larsen on Sail

After spending an afternoon aboard the classic tall ship, Soren Larsen, during her whirlwind visit to Sydney, I felt like I’d had a genuine introduction to life aboard a windjammer, albeit a slightly smaller one. In glorious morning sunshine, prehensile crew scampered up and down the masts unfurling sails bigger than David Jones at stocktake while orders were barked theatrically from the deck.

We followed the breeze supremely up the harbour to Manly, four sheets to the wind, cutting a wake through about a dozen sailing regattas. The on the return leg, the heavens opened, water oozed in through the hatches and all and sundry huddled together in the hold or under the scant cover on deck. All this in about five hours.

Ian Hutchinson, charter manager for the owners, regaled us with stories of her history including a rounding of Cape Horn, a feat that must be completed by sailing from 50 degrees south on both east and west sides of the cape, and her time filming the great TV series, Onedin Line, in the 1970s.

A brigantine built in 1948 in Nykøbing Mors, Denmark, the value of a sturdy oak vessel was underlined immediately after the Second World War when the North Sea was still full of magnetic anti-shipping mines. After a stalwart trading career in Baltic and British waters, she seemed destined for destruction, but was rescued at the last minute by Englishman, Tony Davies, and fully restored with late 19th century sailing rig.

With her television career over, Soren Larsen is now a regular in tall ship events around the world and regularly sails the romantic routes of the South Pacific from her base in Auckland. Regular land-lubbers can also hop aboard for a real life, swashbuckling adventure on the high seas. Itineraries range from 10 to 22 nights and venture as far as Tonga, Fiji and the Kermadec Islands. A berth is roughly NZ$300/night depending on voyage length.

She’s 44m long with 650 sqm of sail, a GRT of 125 tons and accommodates 12 crew and 22 ‘voyagers’. Facilities are, unsurprisingly, shared. Cruising speed? Slow and steady. While this may not be a cruise for everybody, it is certainly the sort of nostalgic reenactment many of us dream about.

Just over 12 months ago Soren Larsen had quite a scare. Heading to the Cook Islands in rough weather when she was hit by a huge rogue wave that smashed her deckhouse and tore away much of the rigging. After two drama-filled days, she made it back to New Zealand and immediately went in for major repairs in Whangarei. What we see now is a meticulously repaired vessel ready for more adventures.

Bookings for her popular voyages fill quickly, especially those in and out of Sydney and Auckland. Martyn Paterson from Outdoor Travel tells me there are still places available for Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Islands early next year.

Contact Outdoor Travel on Toll free 1800 331 582 or visit www.outdoortravel.com.au

New Build for Pandaw

Next month work begins in Saigon on the RV Saigon Pandaw. The Saigon will join Pandaw’s Mekong fleet in December 2011, bringing it up to four vessels plying between Saigon in Vietnam and Angkor in Cambodia.

The Saigon will be identical in design to the Orient and Indochina, the new generation Pandaws built over the past two years in Saigon.

These have thirty main and upper deck staterooms of 200 square feet and combine colonial and modern design.

The Saigon will be the 7th vessel in the Pandaw fleet and finished to the usual high standards appropriate to these 5 star boutique ships. Pandaw also operate river expeditions in Burma and Malaysian Borneo.

Full details in Pandaw Newsletter

Win a 10-night Kimberley Expedition aboard Oceanic Princess

Spend 10 nights exploring the rugged Kimberley coastline, ancient gorges and tumbling waterfalls on board the luxury 72-passenger Oceanic Discoverer.

For your chance to win, write us a slogan promoting Coral Princess Cruises in 25 words or less.

The prize includes a 10-night Kimberley cruise for 2 people PLUS 2 return airfares from your nearest capital city and is valued at over $20,000. Terms and conditions apply.

Enter Now [Entries close on 31-01-2011 at 11.59pm.]

Captain Cook Cruises Announce a ‘One Off’ Renmark Cruise

Captain Cook Cruises has released cabins for their unique seven night Renmark cruise on the Murray River, aboard the PS Murray Princess. The cruise departs on Monday 22nd November, 2010 and with only two Renmark cruises occurring this year this is the last chance to be a passenger on the historic cruise.

The Renmark cruise takes in over 420kms of the Murray River, passing through five locks from Mannum to Renmark which is near the Victorian border. Following in the wake of the great 19th Century pioneers the PS Murray Princess negotiates massive sandbars, hidden reefs and submerged forests on a unique journey that has taken months to prepare.

With the Renmark cruise only occurring when river conditions are right, it's the unknown challenges that make this voyage one last great river adventure. Succeed or fail in reaching the destination, passengers will definitely have a whole lot of fun along the way.

The Renmark Cruise departs Mannum on Monday 22nd November at 4.30pm with boarding from 2.30pm and disembarking at Renmark on Monday 29th November at 9.00am. Prices start from $1599 per person twin share.

Prices include accommodation, all meals, guided nature walks and eco-excursions, onboard presentations, use of ship's facilities including spas and saunas, the Captains Dinner and Cocktail Party, live entertainment, 24 hour self-service tea and coffee bar and complimentary scenic coach transfers from Adelaide or car parking in Mannum

For further information and bookings, please contact Captain Cook Cruises toll free from Australia on 1800 804 843; Int +61-2-9206 1111, Email: murray@captaincook.com.au or visit www.captaincook.com.au.

Small Ship Cruising News from Heritage Expeditions

It has been a busy spring for Wild Earth Travel, starting with the “Christchurch Earthquake”, in early September. I had just returned from an expedition through the NW Passage and thought I was back at sea again as the land rolled beneath our feet. Luckily we escaped relatively unscathed and come Monday morning we were on deck at the office and it was business…nearly as usual, with continuing aftershocks over the coming weeks!

Over the southern winter we had a number of travelers who escaped northwards to enjoy the northern hemisphere summer, with travelers venturing into areas perhaps not normally associated with small ship cruising and zodiac excursions, places such as the Baltic, Mediterranean and British Isles. Undisputedly David from Tauranga travelled further north than any other Wild Earth Traveller, venturing to the North Pole aboard the Russian Nuclear powered icebreaker “50 Years of Victory”

In the mail this week is the latest Wild Earth brochure for our Icebreaker Expeditions to Antarctica aboard the MV Polar Star along with the latest news and expeditions from Heritage Expeditions. We have had a great response to the Polar Star expeditions with only limited berths remaining for the 2010/11 summer. There are however still some great deals available for travel this summer especially in January and February with savings up to 25% on selected cabin categories contact us to find out more. Bookings have now opened for the 2011/12 Antarctic expeditions and now is the time to book to secure your preferred dates and cabins!

Hurtigruten Unveils Distinct Antarctica Itineraries, Early Booking Discounts Of Up To 20%

Stunning glaciers, mammoth icebergs, breathtaking tundra and up-close experiences with penguin colonies are par for the course on Hurtigruten's seven Antarctica itineraries; and for guests booking by March 31, 2011, prices for these cruises are discounted up to 20% – a savings of up to $3,421 per person.  The 12- to 20-day itineraries, priced after the discount at $5,858 to $13,684 per person, double, include a night in Buenos Aires before and after the cruise, all meals onboard, the services of expert guides, lectures and PolarCirkel boat landings. These once-in-a-lifetime voyages explore the vast and mysterious wilderness of the White Continent, the coldest, driest and windiest destination on earth, replete with gleaming icebergs, blue whales and orcas feeding mere feet from the ships, and penguin populations whose individual rookeries number in the tens of thousands.

Although all of the itineraries give passengers a rare glimpse of this breathtaking continent, each cruise adventure provides a unique experience.  The 20-day "Shackleton's Antarctica" follows the same path as Shackleton's original Endurance Expedition of 1914, navigating the western-most outposts of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia Island before heading to Antarctica.  The 19-day "Shackleton's Christmas" follows much the same route, but with traditional carols, festive meals, Santa Claus visits and a New Year's gala added in celebration of the holidays.  A 15-day "Chilean Fjords & Antarctica" spends nearly six days in the White Continent and four days along the stunningly scenic Tierra del Fuego and Chilean Fjords, while the 12-day "Antarctic Discovery" focuses solely on the White Continent, sailing through the Drake Passage and down into the southern ocean during Antarctica's gorgeous summer.  Two 15-day options also center on Antarctica: the "Weddell Sea Adventure," following the path forged by the Swedish Antarctica Expedition of 1901-04, and "Polar Circle Quest," which heads to the rarely visited Marguerite Bay – home to a colony of rarely-seen emperor penguins.

Hurtigruten's deluxe expedition ship, MS Fram, accommodates 318 guests in suites and staterooms and features a restaurant, two bars, panoramic lounges library, and Internet café and conference rooms.   The early-booking savings can be combined with discounts available in the 1893 Ambassador Program, which includes 5% off Explorer Voyages to Antarctica in addition to exclusive discounts and recognition benefits for members.
 
Hurtigruten is a world leader in expedition cruising, sailing to the most remote of destinations including Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic's Spitsbergen as well as year round along Norway's coast and Europe in the spring.  Additional information on all of these adventures, as well as brochures and reservations, can be obtained from travel agents or Hurtigruten's visitor-friendly web site, www.hurtigruten.us; or by phone: (800) 323-7436; fax (888)-524-2145; for brochures (800) 582-0835, 24 hours a day.

Launch of New Travel Wholesaler 50 Degrees North Pty Ltd

The newly established travel wholesaler 50 Degrees North Pty Ltd launched with a glamorous and well attended evening at Denmark House in Melbourne CBD.

After a serve of 'snapas' and canapes Consul General for Norway, Tomm Paulsen cut the ribbon to unveil the 36 page 50 Degrees North brochure with a rich and fresh range of tours, voyages and expeditions specialising on the Nordic, Polar and Russian regions.

Present at the launch was also Consul General of Denmark, Jan Ravnholt, representatives for airlines Finnair, SAS, Thai and LAN, as well as Norwegian Coastal Voyage Company Hurtigruten and a number of travel agents.

Scandinavian founder and owner Tietse Stelma, accompanied by co-founder Jayde Kincaid bring new insight and expertise to the Australian wholesale market with travel offers to this exciting 'last frontier' of the world.

The product ranges from coastal voyages along the Norwegian coast onboard the Hurtigruten fleet; to tours, treks and adventures in Iceland, Greenland and the islands of the North Atlantic.

The fleet of expedition ships used for voyages in the Arctic includes the two masted schooner SV Noorderlicht, which in winter lies frozen in the Svalbard ice taking guest arriving on snow scooters and dogsleds. The 84-berth and ice strengthened MV Antarctic Dream voyages the North Atlantic Islands, around Spitsbergen, and along the Northeast Greenland Coast, as does the 114-berth former Dutch navy vessel MV Plancius.

Russia is covered from St Petersburg in the west to the volcanos of Kamchatka in the far-east. Product in Japan includes a combination culture & ski trip and a Real Food tour, while Mongolia is represented with an all encompassing Mongolian odyssey, a horse riding adventure and a camel trek in the near Gobi.

In addition, and in the footsteps of fellow Norwegian and polar explorer Roald Amundsen, the company has included voyages to the Antarctic, as well as a range of adventures and expeditions to the Antarctic Interior.

Interested travellers can get a free brochure by e-mailing info@fiftydegreesnorth.com.
Visit www.fiftydegreesnorth.com for more information.


About 50 Degrees North:
50 Degrees North Pty Ltd is a newly established wholesale travel operator specialising on the area north of the 50th parallel north, as well as Antarctica (50 degrees south). The company is fully licensed, and a full member of the Travel Compensation Fund.

Island Escape Cruises keen to shake “best kept secret” tag.

Auckland-based boutique small ship cruise company, Island Escape Cruises, is tiring of their status as one of New Zealand and Vanuatu’s best kept tourism secrets.

“Sure, we’re exclusive, niche and out of the mass market, but that doesn’t mean we want to be a secret,” said owner Peter Bissett, “and we certainly don’t want our overwhelmingly satisfied past passengers to keep us all to themselves. They say

“the most amazing cruise and we loved every minute of it”,
“the best experience ever”,
“we had a wonderful time”

“If you’ve already travelled on the big ships, maybe it's time to rethink everything you thought you knew about cruising? Or maybe you’ve been unsure about cruising because you don’t want to feel like you’re travelling in a crowded shopping mall. Our ship, Island Passage, instead offers a relaxed, intimate experience much like a luxury private yacht.”

Don’t be misled by Island Passage’s workboat-like exterior - it hides a meticulously crafted interior. At 42m (137.8ft), this ocean-going catamaran is equipped to access remote areas while delivering the highest level of onboard comfort. She hosts up to 22 guests in 11 spacious ensuite cabins, has a large dining room and saloon lounge and is fitted with rich timber panelling and superb New Zealand Kauri handmade furniture. In the galley, our expert chef works with fresh local ingredients and delicacies to create memorable meals that reflect the day’s adventures. The ship’s spacious outdoor living areas include a covered aft deck and huge upper deck which doubles as a helipad.

Island Passage cruises the waters of the Marlborough Sounds in November, the Bay of Islands in January and February, the Hauraki Gulf in December and March before relocating north to the waters of Vanuatu from May through until the end of August.

For entertainment and exploration, Island Passage carries purpose-built landing craft with walk on/walk off ramps, three large tenders, sea kayaks, a five-seater helicopter (New Zealand only) sports and game fishing and snorkelling equipment.

Prices are all-inclusive and include all shore excursions superb cuisine, espresso coffee, tea, bottled water, juices and soft drinks, port charges, taxes, fees and onboard services. Alcohol and optional helicopter tours are extra.


For further enquiries, deals, specials, bookings or brochures please contact:
AU: Steve Walker, Island Escape Cruises, Tel: (02) 9389 2224 or steve@islandescape.co.nz
NZ: Peter Bissett, Island Escape Cruises, Tel: +649 358 1717 or peter@islandescape.co.nz
Website: www.islandescape.co.nz

Save over $2,000 per couple in the Galápagos

Voted “Best Islands in the World 2010” by Travel & Leisure magazine, the Galápagos archipelago is one of the world’s most stunning wildlife destinations. A veritable living laboratory of strange and beautiful creatures, extraordinary landscapes, turquoise blue seas - a special place to be protected and conserved - it is easy to see how Darwin was inspired to write ‘The Origin of Species’ after his visit in the early 19th century.

You’ll be similarly inspired when you travel on A&K’s 12 day ‘Sail the Enchanted Isles’, a private journey including a week onboard the delightful Sanctuary MV Eclipse when naturalists escort you by boat and on foot and reveal the story of the islands and their history. There’s also time spent in Ecuador’s capital, Quito, and the rural highlands around Otavalo with a private guide and driver your only companion.

Book your own 'Sail the Enchanted Isles' journey by 22 November 2010 for departures January to March and receive a discount of $1,015 per person.

Valid for departures: 06 January-24 March 2011 inclusive Twin/ Double: From $10,240 per person (includes saving of $1,015) Single: From $11,305 per person (includes saving of $1,015)

Terms and conditions apply, contact A&K for further information.

DON'T MISS THE BIGGEST EVENT ON THE MURRAY RIVER IN YEARS

A limited number of Cabins have been released for Captain Cook Cruises' 7-night cruise over 420kms, through five locks, to Renmark near the Victorian border. This cruise only happens when river conditions are right but it's the unknown challenges that make this voyage one last great river adventure. Succeed or fail in reaching our destination, we'll have a whole lot of fun along the way.

Captains Club Member fares
Inside Cabin 7-Nights $1439pp twin share
Outside Cabin 7-Nights $1856 pp twin share

Departing Mannum Monday 22nd Nov 2010

Reservations & Enquiries
Aust 1800 804 843 or Int +61 2 9206 1111

www.captaincook.com.au

Vote for your favourite expediton cruise line

http://www.cruisepassenger.com.au/cruise-passengers-2010-readers-choice-awards

True North Sells Out Inaugural Solomons Sojourn

Luxury boutique adventure cruise operator, North Star Cruises, have sold out their inaugural Solomons Sojourn aboard their award-winning vessel, True North.

While this not the first time an expedition cruise has visited the Solomon Islands, (both Coral Princess and Orion are also regulars) it is the first dedicated voyage to this destination.

"We are delighted, but not completely surprised, that True North fans have recognised the attraction of the Solomon Islands," said North Star Cruises GM Peter Trembath, "our 'go wild in style' cruise formula sits perfectly with this exciting new destination."

Starting in Honiara, the 7-night exploratory cruise visits Savo Island, Yandina, Gizo, Kennedy Island and the 140km long Marovo Lagoon among many other locations, some of which will be explored from the ship's onboard helicopter.

Fortunately North Star Cruises have space on their second Sojourn sailing 24 November.

The Solomon Islands have waxed and waned with Australian adventurers, but a new campaign led by Richard Hankin's Tropics Tourism and Marketing on behalf of the Solomon Islands VB is about to renew interest with the travel trade with a roadshow in both Sydney and Brisbane next week.

"We are delighted that North Star Cruises have recognised the Solomon Islands as an exciting adventure cruise destination and feel sure this will further spread the word about the unique attractions we have," said Hankin.

More information: www.northstarcruises.com.au, www.visitsolomons.com.sb

- RE