Be at the First Ever Beringian Arctic Games - with Heritage Expeditions

   

Images ©ATockston                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ©ACharles

Approximately 14,000 years ago the first people walked from Chukotka (in Eastern Russia), across the Beringia Land Bridge to discover North America and beyond. In July of 2014 people from the seven Arctic nations will return to Chukotka for the first ever Beringian Arctic Games, coming together to celebrate and compete traditional games such as skin boat races and other competitions in the picturesque village of Novoye Chaplino in the Far East of Russia. 

When people made their way across the vast plain of Beringia from the Asian to the American continent, they moved on foot. Then as glacier ice turned to sea and the Bering Strait came into being, people on both sides continued to connect, sailing the waters in large skin boats. Life in these Arctic regions would have been unthinkable and unstainable without these Arctic ships.

The inaugural Beringian Arctic Games will bring together peoples from all around the circumpolar Arctic. It will be a powerful celebration of this environment and a feature event of these games will be the skin boat races in which the various countries will compete.

Your participation will help.... Expedition Travel company Heritage Expeditions is sponsoring transport for 25 students from the 7 Arctic Nations to travel to these Games. Your participation on this expedition will help the students realise their dreams. Travel with them on our ship the Spirit of Enderby, share their journey, support them at the Games and learn from them - a truly unique opportunity that is not to be missed.

Voyage details: 17-25 July 2014. Priced from $5500 USD. Voyage starts in Anadyr, Russia, (optional charter flight seat from Nome, Alaska available at additional cost & subject to availability)

Cruise Murray River's Winter Wonderland and save 25%

Captain Cook Cruises is offering 25% off Murray River cruises, with their Winter Sun sale from June to August 2014. Passengers can discover the winter enchantment and beauty of the Murray River and the taste sensations of the Murray's food and wine trail with prices starting from as little $674 per person.

The cruise experience starts with the ship itself. The PS Murray Princess is a modern replica of the paddle wheelers that cruised the Murray in the 1800's. The PS Murray Princess has two spacious, yet cosy paddlewheel lounges featuring polished wood and gold trimmings, an elegant spiral staircase and spectacular two-story glass windows of the working paddle wheel.

Sit back in the warm paddlewheel lounges and enjoy the amazing views as the Murray Princess cruises past towering limestone cliffs, through picturesque gorges and along riverbanks lined with mallee scrub and red gum forests.

Winter birdlife on the Murray River includes an abundance of Australian favourites including Swans, Swamp Hens and Wood Ducks and their young. Plant life is also thriving with Lignum bushes flowering and rushes and reeds getting a vibrant green colour to them. Led by on-shore guides passengers can enjoy nature walks, eco-tours and learn about the thriving ecology of the river.

Each day features an exciting day trip to historic ports, sacred Aboriginal sites, a sheep station and woolshed and a native wildlife shelter.

Follow the food and wine trial for tastings at a number of vineyards and cellar doors, and in the evening, an Aussie-style campfire barbecue on the riverbank one night.

The Winter Sun sale is valid for travel 02 June to 29 August 2014 and on sale until 29 August 2014.

The three nights Discovery Cruise departs Mannum every Friday at 4.30pm and Winter Sun prices start from $674 per person twin share, normally $899 per person.

The four nights Outback Heritage Cruise departs Mannum every Monday at 4.30pm and Winter Sun prices start from $922 per person twin share, normally $1229 per person.

The seven nights Murraylands and Wildlife Cruise departs Mannum every Friday and Monday at 4.30pm and Winter Sun prices start from $1387 per person twin share, normally $1849 per person.

As an extra bonus Captain Cook Cruises will celebrate Christmas in July on the three night Murray River cruise departing 11 July,2014. A range of Christmas festivities will take place including a traditional Christmas dinner and passenger Christmas Carol sing along.

Prices include all meals, accommodation, most tours, scenic coach transfers from Adelaide or onsite car parking, the use of a spa and sauna, gym, sun deck, two bars, two lounges, single sitting dining saloon and entertainment

For further information and bookings, please contact Captain Cook Cruises on

T: +61-2-9206 1111 or visit www.captaincook.com.au

New look Fiji Princess launching in May

#expeditioncruising

Fiji’s Blue Lagoon Cruises flagship vessel 'Fiji Princess' will return into Port Denarau tomorrow morning on it’s last cruise for the next month as it undergoes a $1.2 million refurbishment.

Chief Executive Officer Peter Duncan said the small boutique cruise ship would not operate between 5 – 27 April while the refurbishment takes place.

"All interiors will be completely made over, and, paying tribute to the company's long maritime history, the theme is nautically inspired," Mr Duncan said.

"Blue Lagoon Cruises has recently come under our management and we have made several changes based on customer feedback including brand new itineraries with a maximum of four hours cruising each day, more activities and a more personal experience of the Fijian culture," he said.

“Fiji Princess also has a long history cruising Fiji’s islands and it’s high time she had a rest and a makeover,”

“This refurbishment has been a long time in the planning, and is a major investment by Blue Lagoon Cruises not only into our vessel and product offering, but will also raise the bar of cruising experiences available in Fiji,”

“We are using all Fijian businesses to do the work on the vessel in line with our commitment to an all Fijian crew and providing as authentic an experience as we can.”

Fiji Princess will be back and operational on 28 April to be followed by an intensive “re-launch” through the travel trade industry at FTE and through travel media internationally.

"Our cruises are popular with people wanting to experience the ‘real’ Fiji – rather than just sitting in a 5 star resort for their holiday – and being a smaller boutique cruise ship means we can get right up close to the beaches and islands - we even tie up to a coconut tree at our anchorage just off our own private beach,” Mr Duncan said.

“We also work closely with the island communities to give our guests a taste of what life is like for these communities living on remote islands,” he said.

Cruises are based in the Yasawa Islands (now with transfers available from Mamanuca Island Resorts) and range in length from 3 to 7 days.

Pandaw Special Offers April

#expeditioncruising

Check our diverse range of travel offerings at: www.activetravel.com.au

Active Travel   

First Floor Garema Centre, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

T: 02 6249 6122. F: 02 6249 6788

The Chindwin and Upper Irrawaddy, 20 nights into remotest Burma

RV Pandaw 2 on September 4th, 2014 - 20% off!
Price starting at USD 6,271 - per person / main deck cabin sharing

The Golden Land, 10 nights from Mandalay via Pagan to Rangoon

RV Katha Pandaw on January 4th, 2015 - 20% off!
Price starting at USD 3,112 - per person / main deck cabin sharing

NEW EXPEDITION: Ancient Arakan, 7 nights from Sittwe on the Kaladan and Lay Myo Rivers

RV Katha Pandaw starting as of October 2015 onwards - Early Bird 10% off!
Price starting at USD 3,150 - per person / main deck cabin sharing

Pyay to Kalay, 14 nights on the Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers

RV Katha Pandaw on August 16th, 2014 – 20% off!
Price starting at USD 3,508 - per person / main deck cabin sharing

RV Pandaw 2 on August 21st, 2014 – 20% off!
Price starting at USD 3,508 - per person / main deck cabin sharing

Mekong Exploration, 7 nights from Angkor to Saigon

RV Mekong Pandaw July 26th, 2014 – 20% off!
Price starting at USD 1,426 - per person / main deck cabin sharing

Mekong Exploration, 7 nights from Angkor to Saigon

RV Mekong Pandaw October 4th, 2014 – 20% off!
Price starting at USD 2,071- per person / main deck cabin sharing

Mekong Exploration, 7 nights from Angkor to Saigon

RV Mekong Pandaw December 13th, 2014 – 20% off!
Price starting at USD 2,071 - per person / main deck cabin sharing

Silversea's inaugural sailing of Silver Discoverer.

Silver Discoverer in Broome

#expeditioncruising

Silver Discoverer, Silversea's latest addition to its award-winning Expedition Fleet, welcomes her first guests today, exactly 20 years to the day since the company launched its first ultra-luxury cruise ship.

Setting sail at 4:30 p.m. on her inaugural voyage from the port city of Broome, in northern Western Australia, the 120-guest, all-suite expedition ship will spend 10 days exploring the Kimberley Coast's staggering landscapes and ancient human history. A vast, rugged region, the Kimberley is home to towering waterfalls, wildlife-rich wetlands, and fascinating Aboriginal rock art painted over 20,000 years ago. This remarkable maiden journey concludes in Darwin, following a visit to Indonesia's Leti Island.

Travel agents join Silversea to celebrate Silver Discoverer’s
inaugural sailing in Broome. In order from L to R: Julie Lambert,
Travelworks; Ann Hope, Silversea; Sandy Greenwood, Travel Directors; Karen
Christensen, Silversea; Jo-Anne Francis, Global Travel Solutions.

"We're delighted that Silver Discoverer is embarking on her inaugural voyage on the very day that marks Silversea's 20th anniversary," said Karen Christensen Silversea's General Manager & Director Sales/Marketing, Australasia.

"Over the past 20 years, our company has developed a reputation for exploring exotic locales - the kinds of places that most travellers can only dream about. It seems only fitting that this latest addition to our fleet will be sailing to what are arguably some of the world's most remote, most pristine, and least explored regions."

Silver Discoverer's inaugural season will encompass many of the Pacific Ocean's most isolated corners. In addition to several Kimberley Coast voyages, there will be visits to wild and infrequently travelled lands in Southeast Asia, Micronesia, Melanesia, East Asia, the Russian Far East, New Zealand, and the Sub-Antarctic Islands. In 2015, Polynesia will join the schedule, in addition to a number of other exciting new Pacific destinations, such as the remote Phoenix Islands Protected Area in Kiribati, which includes Nikumaroro, the island some believe to be the final resting place of famed aviator Amelia Earhart.

These exhilarating expedition cruises offer adventure travellers rare opportunities to discover unique cultures, such as the Māori people of New Zealand, with their rich history and timeless traditions; snorkel, dive and admire the incredible ocean habitats in Raja Ampat, considered to be the heart of the world's coral reef biodiversity; witness spectacular natural landscapes, including the massive volcanoes of the Alaska Peninsula or, during an inclusive flight, the breathtaking Bungle Bungle mountain range in Purnulul National Park.

Silver Discoverer offers a comfortable, intimate and convivial onboard lifestyle where guests can feel at home as they explore secluded realms. Guests will enjoy ocean-view suites, gourmet cuisine, the personalised service of a butler, and a generous selection of all-inclusive onboard amenities, including complimentary beverages, wines and spirits served throughout the ship, and stocked in-suite beverage cabinet.

In true Silversea Expeditions style, guests will be enriched by an onboard program of destination lectures, photo presentations and daily recaps. Exploratory Zodiac excursions and interactive walks ashore, led by experts in their field, including marine biologists, ornithologists, geologists, botanists, historians, and anthropologists, are complimentary.

For more information and a brochure contact your travel professional or Silversea Cruises on +61 2 9255 0600 or 1300 306 872 (Australia) or 0800 701 427 (New Zealand) or visit www.silversea.com

National Geographic Orion Explores New Itineraries Throughout The Islands Of The South Pacific

#expeditioncruising

Guests now receive $1,000 air credit on select expeditions

The National Geographic Orion will depart Australian waters to explore the seas, reefs and stunning underwater throughout the South Pacific. To celebrate this exciting milestone, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic is offering $1,000 air-credit on two itineraries – ‘Exploring the Coral Sea: Papua New Guinea to Fiji’ and ‘Reefs, Lagoons and Volcanic Isles: Fiji to Tahiti.’

Fully equipped with new ship enhancements that focus on undersea explorations, guests will be able to maximise their experience with the use of kayaks, a state of the art remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that reaches depths of up to 300 metres, full snorkelling gear, a SCUBA program that can accommodate up to 24 divers at a time with a dive master, a glass bottom boat, additional Zodiacs and more.

The following itineraries are just some of the spectacular island adventures available in 2014. Rates are per person, in Australian dollars based on a double occupancy in a category one cabin:

Exploring the Coral Sea: Papua New Guinea to Fiji

See the location of some of the fiercest battles of the Pacific theatre during World War II. As the National Geographic Orion makes her way from Papua New Guinea to the Solomons, Vanuatu and Fiji, those onboard will snorkel and dive pristine reefs and famous wrecks, trace the history of the Battle of the Coral Sea and the legends of the ancient Melanesians. The 14-day voyage departs 5 November 2014. Rates begin at $12,550, departing Cairns and disembarking in Lautoka, Fiji. Book this expedition before 30 June 2014 and receive $1,000 air credit. Valid on new bookings only, not combinable with any other offers.

Reefs, Lagoons and Volcanic Isles: Fiji to Tahiti

Sail from the sparkling white shores of Fiji to Tahiti’s lush volcanic crags, discovering fascinating geology and an abundance of bird species and marine life. Dive or snorkel among underwater canyons and tunnels formed from lava, meet island communities and explore the far-flung reefs of Kiribati, chosen as part of National Geographic’s Pristine Seas project. The 18-day voyage departs 18 November 2014. Rates begin at $18,420, departing Lautoka, Fiji and disembarking in Papeete, Tahiti. Book this expedition before 30 June 2014 and receive $1,000 air credit. Valid on new bookings only, not combinable with any other offers.

Legends of the South Pacific: Tahiti to Easter Island

The tropical seas that stretch from French Polynesia to Easter Island have seen missionaries, mutineers and explorers pass their way. Guests will encounter volcanic landscapes in Bora Bora and trace the legend of the ill-fated H.M.S Bounty from Tahiti to Pitcairn Island, ending the voyage among the moai of Easter Island. The 19-day voyage departs 4 December 2014. Rates begin at $17,410, departing Papeete, Tahiti and disembarking on Easter Island.

The recently expanded expedition team now includes a National Geographic photographer, a Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor, and a video chronicler on all departures; an undersea specialist/dive master on many voyages, plus guest speakers on select voyages as part of the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic ‘Global Perspectives’ program.

For more information on Lindblad Expeditions visit www.expeditions.com.

Nordic cruise: See breathtaking natural wonders

Bentours Nordic cruise – witness breathtaking natural wonders

Be awestruck by the beauty of the Norwegian fjords with this Bentours package and take a friend for half price

Bentours, Australia's specialist in travel to Russia and Scandinavia has a fantastic cruise offer that will excite and inspire you and if you book now you will receive 50% off the price of the second passenger.

The 6 day Classic Voyage South begins in Kirkenes and heads south, traversing along the rugged Norwegian coast where you will be exhilarated by the shimmering glaciers, stunning mountains and spectacular fjords. Look skywards for a glimpse of the Northern Lights in winter or marvel at the midnight sun during the summer months.

You will visit medieval towns and remote Arctic communities, stop at Hammerfest, the world's  northernmost town and experience a midnight concert in Tromso in the stark yet beautiful Arctic Cathedral.

The 6 day Classic Voyage South will negotiate intricate networks of inlets and isles as it passes through the stunning Lofoten Islands, one of Norway's most beautiful stretches of coastline.
Enter a world of legends and folklore as you cross the Arctic Circle and sail past the famed peaks of the Seven Sisters.

The Classic Voyage South, 6 day cruise is from AUD$2328 per couple* and includes accommodation on board, breakfast daily, six lunches and five dinners. Book now and receive 50% off the price of the second passenger.

Book now to secure places by contacting your local travel agent or Bentours at www.bentours.com.au, 1800 221 712 or enquiry@bentours.com.au.

For more information ask your local travel agent for a copy of the new Bentours Scandinavia & Russia 2014 brochure.

AECO: Rapidly growing Arctic cruise tourism is a myth

Cruise passengers - Svalbard, Greenland, Franz Josef Land, Canada
Sources: Governor of Svalbard, Greenland Statistics and AECO. Numbers for Canada are based on an estimate by researchers from University of Ottawa and Lakehead University.

 

There is a growing interest in the Arctic and Arctic issues are often featured in the media, including stories about a rapid growth in Arctic cruise tourism. At an Arctic Council workshop held in Ottawa in March, these stories were brought into context.

Last week, under the guidance of the Arctic Council's Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) working-group, a workshop was held in Ottawa, Canada to address the topic of Arctic cruise tourism. During the workshop a number of speakers, including researchers, operators and industry representatives helped correct the myth about the supposedly 'large increase' in Arctic cruise tourism. In short - and as demonstrated below - Arctic cruise tourism is not a fast growing industry.

The downfalls of a wrong conception

A false notion of the actual number of visitors has the potential of creating too high expectations both in regards to opportunities and risks. Governments might put too large an emphasis on business opportunities, while authorities may consider the need for new regulations based on incorrect presumptions. This can – in turn – lead to unnecessarily strict regulations and a decline in local tourism and business opportunities. According to Frigg Jørgensen, Executive Director of Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO): "Expedition cruise tourism can be a driver of environment protection and a better local economy – if measures are based on facts and if operators, local communities and regulators work together".

Many Arctic cruise stakeholders represented

The workshop was an initiative undertaken by PAME, and was pursuant to Canada's Arctic Council Chairmanship and their 'Safe Arctic Shipping' initiative. The aim of the workshop was to bring together different stakeholders to discuss emerging trends, impacts, and oversight of marine tourism throughout the Arctic region, and to engage in open and constructive discussion on aspects of Arctic marine tourism. The number of participants was impressive, and both regulators, government agencies, and tour operators were present.

 

www.aeco.no

Stella Australis to Cape Horn (The Telegraph)

#expeditioncruising 

The Stella Australis at anchor near the Aguila Glacier. Picture: Jenny Stevens

 
Welcome to The Far Side of the World: From Ushuaia, Argentina to Cape Horn on Stella Australis 

SPRAY rose into the air, clearly visible against the black rock of the forbidding headland in front of the ship. This was the legendary Cape Horn, the sailors’ nemesis and the southernmost tip of South America.

Two great oceans collide here at 55 degrees south and 900km north of Antarctica, and the rocky outcrop that marks the spot feels all the fury of the roughest stretch of water in the world.


Read the full story at The Telegraph

Name-dropping five days from Monte Carlo to Rome on SeaDream II

SEADREAM Yacht Club still has space available on a 5-day sailing in the Mediterranean in May of this year that will have you name-dropping for years – it begins in Monte Carlo and embraces the French and Italian Riviera's, the famed UNESCO-listed Cinque Terre, and picturesque Elba Island.

And remarkably it is priced from a low US$2804pp twin-share, SeaDream II departing Monte Carlo on May 26 – the day after this year's Monaco F1 Grand Prix – and

included are all 5-star dining, wines with lunch and dinner, drinks from the open bars, sail and power water-sports in ports where permitted, use of a 30 championship course golf simulator and state of the art fitness centre, gratuities and port charges and taxes.

The mega motor-cruiser SeaDream II has just 56 staterooms for a maximum 112 guests served by 95 crew.

For full details see travel agents or visit www.seadream.com

ADDITIONAL ITINERARY DETAILS: After departing Monte Carlo on May 26, SeaDream II will visit St Tropez for a day and not depart until midnight, Portofino "the resort of the rich and famous" and in which cars are banned, Portovenere in the heart of the spectacular Cinque Terre for an overnight, picture-postcard Portoferraio on Elba where Napoleon was once exiled, and will end her sailing in Civitavecchia, the port for Rome.

For bookings and further details, see SeaDream specialist Cruise Express

Compagnie du Ponant - Discover Luxury Yacht and Expedition Cruises In All Corners of The World

#expeditioncruising 
 


Cruise Traveller is excited to now represent Compagnie du Ponant in Australia. Compagnie du Ponant offer luxury yacht & expedition cruises in all corners of the world. They have a modern fleet of three, soon to be four, elegant boutique vessels and a sailing ship, venture to rare destinations only accessible by small ships, all with an intimate ambience, attentive service and gourmet cuisine.

The Managing Director of Cruise Traveller, Craig Bowen said: “After 15 years of developing our boutique cruise and voyage portfolio, this is an exciting addition.”

With the first Compganie du Ponant ship on its way to Australia & New Zealand next summer, their existing programs cover a wide range of exciting destinations; The Mediterranean, Northern Europe & the Baltic, Arctic Great North & Canada, South America, Caribbean & Central America, Asia, Antarctica & South Georgia and West Africa.

Their range of itineraries appeal to those looking for luxurious, stylish and casually elegant voyages in an intimate environment, are priced in AUD, and offer exceptional value and inclusions. Additionally they offer low or no single supplements and extremely small premiums on balcony staterooms, subject to availability.

Three new exciting voyages aboard L’Austral include: Bali to Cairns, 16 days, departing 12 December 2014; normally $10,067, now from $7,808 per person twin share, save $2,259, in a deluxe stateroom and only 30% single supplement.

Alternatively, cruise Auckland to Darwin, 18 days, departing 15 February 2015; now from $7,179, per person twin share, save $2,561.

Or board a voyage closer to home and cruise Darwin to Hong Kong, 17 days, departing 4 March 2015; now from $6,435 per person twin share, save $2,274. Both Auckland to Darwin and Darwin to Hong Kong are based on a superior stateroom and have no single supplement.

Call our friendly boutique voyage & cruise specialists at Cruise Traveller on 1800 507 777, 07 5575 8094, via email, sales@cruisetraveller.com.au or visit www.cruisetraveller.com.au for further information.

What you need to know about taking an expedition cruise (Herald Sun)

#expeditioncruising 

Coral Princess Cruises passengers are taken for a zodiac ride
through the Horizontal Waterfalls at Talbot Bay in the Kimberley. Source: Supplied

 
THERE are grand and fun ocean cruises, relaxed and fascinating river cruises – and then there are expedition cruises. 
 
For those who like to go off the beaten path in the water world, expedition cruises head across the water less travelled.

Read full story at Herald Sun