Big Thaw: The Great Arctic Ice Melt

From Aurora Expeditions, The Expeditioner, Dec 2012
[get your copy]

In 2012 the smallest Arctic ice pack on record coincided with the northern hemisphere’s warmest recorded summer. This year 500,000 square kilometres of Arctic sea ice melted—more than ever before recorded.

Video: Adventures in East Antarctica

Great memories Dean. I remember being with you when you were shooting some of this.
http://adventurecruiseguide.com/antarctica-frozen-folly-2/

Aurora Expeditions Launch their First Ever Polar Voyages Brochure

 

Aurora Expeditions launches its first ever Polar Voyages Brochure for 2013-14. In keeping with the company's continued efforts to be environmentally friendly, they have produced just one brochure encompassing all of their spectacular voyages to Antarctica and The European Arctic over the next eighteen months.

Available in ebook and printed format, the new brochure showcases some of the most spectacular Polar regions on earth; introducing readers to the concept of enriching travel through close encounters with wildlife, breathtaking scenery, informative talks and small group camaraderie (groups of 54 or less).

Aurora Expeditions voyages Polar voyages 2013 and 2014 are expected to fill fast, with Fly/Sail options to the Antarctic Peninsula already showing strong demand. Departing South America, these voyages have been designed to reduce sea time and increase time at the destination. The New Across the Arctic Circle voyages are also showing particularly strong demand, giving passengers the opportunity to sample the Scottish, Norwegian and Spitsbergen coasts over 14 days. With adventure levels to suit all tastes, exciting activities across the program include sea kayaking, camping, photography, climbing and polar scuba diving.

Aurora Expeditions, the pioneers of ship-based adventures, are committed to small, low-impact groups keen to experience the Polar Regions in many ways whether by walking, scuba diving, sea kayaking or sitting quietly and absorbing the surrounding magnificence.
The 2013-14 itineraries reflect this commitment. Voyages to The European Arctic start from AU$5,900 and to the Antarctic Peninsula from US$6,365.

Aurora Expeditions can also book your full travel arrangements: flights, hotel accommodation, tours and transfers, making them a one stop shop for your trip of lifetime.

Voyage prices include:

• Ship accommodation. All public areas are open to passengers.
• All meals on board ship.
• All Zodiac and shore excursions from the ship
• Lectures, videos, slide and film shows and guide services.
• Medical services. There is a resident medical officer and well equippedclinic on board.
• Port taxes and port charges imposed by government authorities.pre-departure information.

Not included:

• Air transport to and from the ship.
• Visa, passport and vaccination charges and airport departure taxes.
• Hotels and meals not included in ship cruise itinerary.
• Optional excursions not included in ship cruise itinerary.
• Laundry, postage, personal clothing, medical expenses, personal travel insurance and items of a personal nature such as bar charges, phone calls and optional end of voyage tips.
• Credit card surcharge, if making your final payment by credit card.
• Emergency evacuation charges.

SHORTCUT: View online now

Voyages Back in Time to the Lost Paradise of Papua New Guinea

During March and April 2013, the award-winning expedition cruise ship Orion will again provide a very civilised and luxurious way to explore the coast and islands of near-neighbour, Papua New Guinea.

11-night itineraries conveniently commence and conclude in Cairns, Queensland, seamlessly incorporating a charter flight direct to or from the ship in Rabaul for boarding or disembarkation.

Discover the photographer-within or anthropologist-within as you explore this land of over 800 languages and a diversity of largely self-contained cultures that will challenge the imagination. Until relatively recently Papua New Guinea was still perceived as an isolated world of head-hunters; a land of mythology, sorcery and witchcraft.

Bypassing the main towns, as Orion does, many villagers have only been exposed to the modern world through the workings of missionaries and occasional traders. Yet step ashore with members of Orion's specialist expedition team and you will be greeted with broad smiles and warm welcomes from gentle villagers - an eye opening introduction to a way of life far removed from our Western world.

Between 1920 and 1926 famed Australian Antarctic photographer, Frank Hurley, visited New Guinea, returning with a portfolio of stunning black and white images. Men in dugout canoes, women carrying babies in string bags, delicate shell and feather ceremonial decorations, intricate tattoos; amazingly, photos of scenes that could have been taken this year so little has changed in a century, perhaps many centuries.

On these Orion voyages encounter primitive tribal cultures (and perhaps purchase superb indigenous artwork and carvings), see unique flora and fauna and enjoy luxuriant snorkelling and fishing in warm indigo and cobalt blue waters, home to some the world's most prolific marine and coral life.

In Rabaul, volcanic Mt Tavurvur grumbles, expelling smoke, gases, ash and volcanic rocks from deep within the earth. Here Admiral Yamamoto directed much of the Japanese Pacific campaign and the detritus of World War II lies scattered for your examination. Tufi's villages are situated within a picturesque series of jungle clad volcanic fjords, tribal cultures unchanged for centuries; while the colonial town of Madang conjures scenes of a Conrad or Hemmingway sitting in a cane chair well positioned to catch the afternoon breeze, sipping pink gin.

Orion's voyages to Papua New Guinea provide modern day explorers with the opportunity to venture to places far from mainstream tourism, yet to do so in the company of like-minded fellow travellers, in comfort and safety and without sacrificing creature comforts.

Priceless experiences that will stay with you for life.

Putting a price on priceless experiences:

11-night Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights: CAIRNS - optional direct charter flight to RABAUL (overnight onboard), Sepik River & Watam Village, Madang, Tami Islands, Tufi, Kitava (The Trobriands), Samarai and Kwato Islands, Alotau (Milne Bay), CAIRNS. (Or vice versa commencing in Cairns and ending in Rabaul followed by an optional return charter flight to Cairns.)

2013 Departures: 16 March, 27 March

Fares: 11 night fares from $8,070 per person for an ocean view Stateroom /
Junior Suites begin from $9,590 per person / Balcony Suites are $14,205 per person / Owners Suites are $14,560 per person
All prices twin share. Charter flight to or from Cairns/Rabaul $600 per person

Details of Papua New Guinea voyage itineraries available at www.orionexpeditions.com/png

Further information on Orion Expedition Cruises can be obtained by visiting the website www.orionexpeditions.com

For reservations or to obtain a 2013 brochure call Orion Expedition Cruises: 61-2 9033 8777 (Sydney callers) 1300 361 012 (regional and interstate) / 0800 444 462 (New Zealand) or see your travel agent.

Email: info@orionexpeditions.com

Cruiseco offers US$2,000 in air credit for Zegrahm Expeditions

 

To celebrate their new partnership with Zegrahm Expeditions, Cruiseco is offering its passengers US$2,000 air credit when booking any of the below cruises.

Amber Wilson, Cruiseco's National Marketing Manager says that they are proud to partner with Zegrahm Expeditions.

"As one of the most established luxury operators of small ship expedition cruises and overland adventures, we are excited to offer our customers Zegrahm Expeditions' wonderfully unique cruises. These expeditions explore the remote and the exotic. For those travellers who think they have already seen and done it all, Zegrahm certainly has something to offer," says Wilson.

Cruise destinations for the 2013 programme include: Sumatra, Vietnam and Cambodia, Japan and the Far East, Brunei, Indonesia, Melanesia, The Galapagos, South America, Australia and New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Africa, Antartica, South Georgia and The Falklands, Alaska, the Baltic, Black Seas and Russia's Far East. The special offer is valid on each of the below cruises:

Circumnavigation of Sumatra - 3 January until 20 January 2012

Enjoy an 18 days/17 nights' cruise from Singapore (return). Visit the World Heritage Site of Malacca in Malaysia and search for wildlife in Gunung Leuser National Park, known for its population of orangutans. From US$11,980 per person. Terms and conditions apply. Offer is subject to availability.

Vietnam and Cambodia by sea with Angkor Wat - 29 January – 14 February 2013

Enjoy a 17 days/16 nights cruise from Hanoi to Siem Reap. Cruise south along the 1,000 mile-long coast of Vietnam, stopping to discover new wonders including the World Heritage Sites of Hue, My Son, and Hoi An. Highlights of this journey is a two-day exploration of the jungle temples of the Khmer and Champa Empires including Angkor Wat. From $10,980 per person plus. Terms and conditions apply. Offer is subject to availability.

Rainforests and reefs: Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama - 8 March – 22 March 2013

Cruise for 15 days/14 nights from Belize City to Puerto Caldera (for San Jose). The expedition reveals the wonders of five Central American countries: Belize, Honduras, Colomia, Panama, and Costa Rica, two oceans and the Panama Canal. From $11,980 per person. Terms and conditions apply. Offer is subject to availability.

Brunei to Bali - 13 February – 27 February 2013

Cruise for 15 days/14 nights from Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei to Bali. Begin your journey on the island of Borneo to experience the elegant palaces and mosques and observe the gentle organutans in Sabah. Cruise to Sulawesi for a visit to Toraja to view the carved architecture. See the legendary Komodo dragon up-close on Komodo Island. From $11,980 per person. Terms and conditions apply. Offer is subject to availability.

Best of Indonesia Voyage 1 - 25 February – 12 March 2013

Enjoy 16 days/15 nights cruising from Benoa (Bali) to Manado. Immerse yourself in the magic of Bali with beautiful temples, scenery and art. Snorkel or dive in the clear waters of the Flores Sea and step ashore on Komodo Island to view the world's largest lizard. From $10,980 per person. Terms and conditions apply.

Best of Indonesia Voyage 2 - 10 March – 27 March 2013

Cruise for 18 days/17 nights from Manado to Port Moresby. Begin adventure begins at Bunaken National Park. Visit the fascinating cultural and historical sites on Ternate Island, long fought over for its bounty of cloves. Explore the Raja Ampat archipelago and visit remote tribal villages. From $11,980 per person. Terms and conditions apply. Offer is subject to availability.

Papua New Guinea, Yap and Palau - 18 April – 1 May 2013

Cruise for 14 days/13 nights from Port Moresby to Palau. This far frontier of the western South Pacific (including the outer islands of Papua New Guinea, Yap and Palau) hosts traditional cultures and tropical landscapes. Experience soaring volcanic peaks to submerged craters teeming with fish and meet with native Melanesian and Micronesian people. From $10,980 per person. Terms and conditions apply. Offer is subject to availability.

Zegrahm Expeditions' fleet of ships have been specially selected for each charter. These include the Clipper Adventure, Clipper Odyssey,Isabella II, Kapitan Khlebnikov, Paulau Aggressor II, Sea Safari VIII, and the newly-added Sea Spirit.

 

Visit www.cruising.com.au or call (02) 9492 8520 for further information and to find details of your local Cruiseco agent.

Tolbachik Volcano Eruption Continues

Russian Far East volcano Tolbachik erupts after lying dormant for 36 years, visit this region on one of our Russia 2013 voyages.

Plosky Tolbachik volcano bursts into life © Sergey Gorshkov

The Plosky Tolbachik volcano (3682m) burst into activity on November 27 with impressive lava flows of up to 10km, volcanic tremors, and ash plumes rising to almost 10,000 feet. The activity has continued with Tolbachik continuing to produce more ash plumes, active lava flows, and lava fountains at the lower vent.

Plosky Tolbachik is one of 29 active volcanoes (of approx 160 in total) scattered over Kamchatka Peninsula – a 1,250km finger of land between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean.  The region is known as the 'Land of Fire and Ice' for very good reason.  Volcanoes and numerous glaciers combine to create a spectacular ever-changing landscape.  Experts predict this recent eruption may increase in magnitude and may last for some time.

Heritage Expeditions 'Russia's Ring of Fire' voyage can take you to witness Kamchatka's impressive volcanic activity for yourself, not to mention the rich wildlife opportunities. As the most experienced and knowledgeable operator in the Kamchatka region, Heritage Expeditions offers expedition-style voyages to one of the most remote and exciting travel destinations on the planet that few have the chance to experience.

'Russia's Ring of Fire' 13-day voyage aboard the 'Spirit of Enderby' departs on 24 May 2013 starting from US $7100.

Berths are still available on this expedition to the Russian Far East.

Adventure Canada looking for EL

Job Description:

Job Title: Sr. Expedition Cruise Manager (12 month contract)

About the Company:

Adventure Canada is a family owned tour operator that specializes in Polar Expedition Cruising in the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Labrador, Newfoundland and other international destinations such as Antarctica, New Zealand and Europe. We are approaching our 25th year of operation and are located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Job Description/Duties:

We are looking for a Senior Expedition Cruise Manager with experience in expedition cruising in remote Polar Regions for a 12-month maternity leave contract.

Applicants must have a minimum of 15+ years in a management position and a minimum of 10 years of expedition travel experience in Polar Regions (Canadian Arctic & Antarctic). The candidate must have direct experience in logistical operations, shipboard operations, accounting, sales office management and human resources. Marketing & sales experience in the UK, Australasian and Russian markets are key for product development.

Candidates with experience in small business environments and family business management will be given preference; as will applicants with direct experience and working knowledge of Sea Adventurer and expedition ships. Expedition field experience as Cruise Director and the ability to operate small watercraft and firearms is an advantage.

Full details:
Contact Name: Alana Faber
E-mail: hr@adventurecanada.com

Orion Focuses on Forgotten Islands

An exciting expedition providing inquisitive explorers and photography enthusiasts alike the chance to improve their photographic skills while on location visiting a string of historically important, though rarely visited, islands just north of Australia. Orion's Forgotten Islands Photography Expedition.

Along a visually stimulating path less travelled there will be ample opportunity to experience cultural, historic and geographic diversity, crossing the trade routes of the early navigators and traders who opened up this new world of spices, gold and pearls.

Commencing in Bali, sail in 5 star luxury for 10 nights aboard the expedition ship Orion to Thursday Island in Torres Strait, then head south through the northern Great Barrier Reef to disembark in the north Queensland port of Cairns.

Relive prehistoric times exploring Komodo to see the world's largest lizards. Growing to over 3 metres in length Komodo dragons these dominant predators are an impressive sight. Whereas they don't spit flames like mythical dragons they can be seen dribbling blood-red toxic ridden saliva after feeding - impressive subjects for photography.

Journey to southwest Maluku; virtually inaccessible, these unspoilt islands appear to float on seas of blue and green shot silk. Very few outsiders set foot here and a unique cultural experience is guaranteed on Yamdena Island, the former Dutch trading colony, and the tiny island of Kisar with a heritage of 400 years of European history. Wide angle landscape or portrait lens here?

Enjoy the languorous tropical outpost of Thursday Island in Torres Strait, with its pearling traditions and traditional ice cold XXXX beer. At Orion Reef snorkel (and try your hand at underwater photography) on this remote part of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, before the voyage concludes in Cairns.

Every step of the way, guests will have the experience of professional still and video photographers Nick Rains and Pieter de Vries to help improve techniques and create stunning travel photography. Onboard photography workshops include professional advice and instruction on understanding and optimizing camera settings, framing your subject to capture the moment, printing, post processing methods and file management.

Pieter will be holding workshops and screenings to help improve video skills, including how to create engaging story-telling sequences, filming animals, working from boats, tripod and handheld tips, and how to achieve the best possible audio. Invaluable information for owners of modern DSLR cameras with video capability.

As on all Orion expedition voyages, the specialist Expedition Team, selected for their knowledge and practical experience in fields that include botany, marine biology, anthropology and history, will share their in-depth knowledge to enhance guest experiences.

This 10 night Orion Forgotten Islands voyage provides a heady blend of local culture, European discovery, geology, unique flora and fauna all wrapped and presented in a series of beautiful islands forgotten in time. Priceless experiences that will stay with you for life.

Putting a price on priceless experiences:

2013 Departure: 28 November

10-night Forgotten Islands : BALI - Komodo, Kisar, Sangliat Dol, Thursday Island, Great Barrier Reef, CAIRNS

Fares: from $7,655 per person for an ocean view Stateroom /

Junior Suites begin from $8,975 per person / Balcony Suites are $11,565 per person / Owners Suites are $12,025 per person.

All prices twin share.

Details of Forgotten Islands voyage itinerary available at http://www.orionexpeditions.com/expeditions/spice_forgotten_islands

Further information on Orion Expedition Cruises can be obtained by visiting the website www.orionexpeditions.com

For reservations or to obtain a 2013 brochure call Orion Expedition Cruises: 61-2 9033 8777 (Sydney callers) 1300 361 012 (regional and interstate) / 0800 444 462 (New Zealand) or see your travel agent.

Email: info@orionexpeditions.com

Video: A Windy Day

There's a lot of time to kill on some of the longer expedition cruises. Heritage Expeditions passengers found a particularly amusing timewaster. Enjoy!

Travel & Living Magazine: A New Wave

Open publication Featuring Ponant's L'Austral in Antarctica

What's New in Small Ship Cruising

AdventureSmith Explorations Adds 13 New Small Ship Itineraries for 2013: Reports Next Year's Sales 20 Percent Ahead of Last Year
 
Small ship, expedition cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/ reports that 13 new cruise itineraries have been added to its 2013 portfolio, which now represents more than 65 vessels operating worldwide
 
"Our top new trips have something for everyone, with familiar and easy destinations such as Alaska and Hawaii to exotic locales like the Arctic, Belize and the Adriatic Sea. Some of these trips are active with ample activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkeling while others offer easy wilderness or cultural cruising," said Todd Smith, owner and founder. He noted that the new trips were added to support growing demand from past clients who have indicated their preferences for Alaska, Antarctica and Galapagos.
 
Smith, in late 2012 joined the ranks of Conde Nast Traveler's prestigious 13th Annual Travel Specialists List as the world's top expert on expedition cruising.
 
"Three quarters of our clients this year were experiencing small ship cruises for the first time," said Smith, adding that 2012 sales are up 30 percent over 2011 and that 2013 sales are already 20 percent ahead of this point last year.
 
Following is a sampling of five new itineraries some of which are currently offering booking specials.
 
Fabled Lands of the North
http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/471
The increasingly popular Arctic thrills adventurers with sightings of polar bears, walrus and whales in Arctic Svalbard and Spitzbergen.  While most Arctic trip itineraries focus on Svalbard and Iceland and depart from northern Europe, making them challenging for travelers in North America, Fabled Lands of the North begins in Ottawa and ends in Newfoundland, making it easier for North American travelers to explore the dazzling North. This itinerary explores the Canadian Arctic including Baffin Island and the Labrador Coast combined with the rugged west coast of Greenland. New bookings made by Dec. 31, 2012, can opt for complimentary charter airfare from Ottawa to Kangerlussuaq (a value of $1,200 per person).
 
Alaska Unleashed
http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/22
On the 36-passenger Wilderness Explorer guests spend significant time with the expedition team guiding them into some of Alaska's most scenic and untouched places.  Although the lower passenger counts make the price point higher, the additional activity, says Smith, "makes it all worth it." Combine this with the company's Alaska Ultimate Adventure http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/466 for Alaska's most extreme cruise tour.  New bookings on any Alaska Unleashed 2013 departure receive a $100 per person shipboard credit through Jan. 11, 2013.
 
Belize Ancient Sites, Rain Forests and Coral Reefs
http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/464
With the second largest barrier reef in the world, countless island cayes, accessible rivers and small ports Belize is perfectly suited for small ship cruises. Remote mainland ports allow access to ancient Maya temples, pristine rainforest teeming with wildlife and the diverse cultures of Belize. Guests booking departures from Miami, Atlanta, Houston or Dallas-Ft. Worth can fly free, round-trip economy to Belize City or receive up to a $500 air credit.
 
AdventureBound Hawaii
http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/462
Hawaii is an active travel playground but traditional vacations miss the mark with crowded beaches and rushed activity tours. AdventureBound Hawaii offers an affordable and active small ship cruise experience for travelers seeking to experience traditional culture, meet locals, and discover a Hawaii most never know. All explorations include a slate of activities including stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeling, kayaking, and skiff tours with opportunities to go ashore for touring, hiking, or lose-your-cares beach time.
 
Adriatic Odyssey
http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/472
The Adriatic Odyssey is an exciting new alternative to more traditional Mediterranean small ship cruises. By focusing solely on the eastern Adriatic this cruise offers a unique exploration of the lesser known and less crowded ports and historical sites. Guests who book a cruise departure by January 31, 2013 will receive a 50 percent discount for the second traveler. Solo travelers receive a discount on the single supplement (pay 25% supplement instead of the standard 50%).
 
Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, California along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. For information, availability and 2013 reservations Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free, visit www.adventuresmithexplorations.com or Email: travel@AdventureSmithExplorations.com.

RMS St Helena – New Tours Announced

RMS St Helena

New exciting voyages departing in 2013. Head to the far-flung British outpost, St Helena, in the Atlantic Ocean, onboard the historic and nostalgic, RMS St Helena. There is no journey like it.
Stargazing Tour
Travel in the company of Steve Owens, professional stargazer, dark skies consultant and author of the book, Stargazing for Dummies. Steve has many credentials, not least that in 2009 he set up the first International Dark Sky Park in the UK. He is working with St Helena, looking to protect their nightscape and benefit from dark skies.
St Helena is steeped in astronomical history and this tour will allow you to stargaze from a truly unique place. Among other places, you’ll visit the sites of Halley’s observatory, he of comet fame.

Hideaway Tour
The Hideaway Tour focuses on the many aspects of St Helena’s landscape, from the historical to the environmental. The tour is led by Professor Colin Lewis who has published many books and research papers and specialises in the study of climate change as evidenced by landforms and other features.
He has published articles on the history of St Helena’s natural environment and the carbon content of the ocean surrounding the island, so you couldn’t be in better hands exploring this isolated and wonderful island.

Calling all Birdwatchers
There are only a few places left on this brand new Birding Tour, developed to introduce you to the natural wonders of St Helena. See nesting seabirds and the endemic Wirebird as well as the many endemic and endangered plant species found on the island of St Helena.
The tour is led by Alastair Kilpin who has travelled extensively, soaking up the natural world. He managed a large community-owned wildlife concession in the Serengeti where he trained guides and led walking safaris. He will be accompanied by other enthusiasts from St Helena National Trust. Book now to avoid disappointment.

Exciting Developments onboard the RMS St Helena
The popularity of the RMS St Helena continues to rise and to satisfy the increased demand, seven new passenger cabins were added during its 2012 dry dock. To accommodate the new cabins the doctor’s surgery was relocated and a brand new gym fitted on the funnel deck, offering spectacular views of the South Atlantic Ocean. So you can now pedal or power walk your way to fitness in one of the most amazing and inspiring gym locations.

(www.rms-st-helena.com)