The Top New Small Ship Cruises for 2016

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AdventureSmith Explorations Announces New Line-up of Small Ship Cruises for 2016

Small ship cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations (http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/) has just revealed its list of new trip offerings for next year. These small ship cruises include regions recently opened for cruising, along with new routes and the introduction of state-of-the-art, newly built vessels.

 

“Where there’s curiosity and desire to experience some place new and where we’re seeing our established destinations explored in a new way are two of the major themes in our 2016 new trip line-up,” said Todd Smith, AdventureSmith Explorations’ founder and director.
The Top New Cruises for 2016 Include:

Tahiti

The 24-guest Island Passage sails May through October in Tahiti before returning to New Zealand for the austral summer. The new cruise, Tahitian Affair, sails over eight days round-trip from Bora Bora, also visiting the islands of Tahaá, Raiatea and Huahine. This is an active cruise with kayaking, fishing, swimming, snorkeling and stand-up paddleboarding spliced in with visits to a vanilla plantation, local markets and the Maeva Marae archaeological site. Time will also be spent listening to a local choir and learning how to crack coconuts.

Cuba

The US embargo against Cuba, in place since 1960, once prevented ordinary Americans from traveling to Cuba, but now with a special visa under the provision of a “people-to-people exchange”, US citizens can visit on properly licensed tours. The new Cuba People to People Cruise aboard the 49-guest Panorama sail cruiser focuses on bringing travelers into contact with Cuban people, culture and their communities. Departures start in late December and run through April 2016 for the cruise’s inaugural season. Panorama and Panorama II, with their white sails and masts, provide a romantic yet modern home base.

Peru

According to AdventureSmith, the Amazon River and its tributaries represent a hot destination with travelers right now, with high- and low-water seasons providing a varied travel experience year-round. One new itinerary and vessel recently introduced is the newly built 44-guest Amazon Discovery, an all-suite riverboat that sails round-trip from Iquitos and includes a visit to a private reserve on Monkey Island, home to seven different species. The Amazon Discovery Cruise offers seven-day departures year-round, with the inaugural voyage sailing in December 2015.

Croatia

The Dalmatian Coast Cruise utilizes, among other sister ships, a 2015-built vessel, the 38-guestInfinity, on explorations of the Adriatic Sea coastline between Split and Dubrovnik over eight days. These port towns are featured in the popular Game of Thrones HBO series. The show’s fictional city of King’s Landing is filmed in Dubrovnik, with Split also appearing in scenes. Sailings start at $1,425 per person and start in May 2016.

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The 90-guest Santa Cruz II made its maiden voyage last October and is the star in AdventureSmith’s Santa Cruz Galapagos Cruise, the top pick for what’s new and exciting in the Galapagos for 2016. The completely refurbished vessel has been refitted for the Galapagos Islands’ style of cruising, and it represents a 58 percent increase in passenger space and a 31 percent reduction in fuel consumption over its predecessor. See: 6 New Ways to Cruise the Galapagos

New Zealand

Voted by Lonely Planet as its fifth top region to travel to in 2016, New Zealand’s Waiheke Island is making many travelers’ lists for 2016. The Bay of Islands Explorer cruise aboard the 24-guest Island Passage visits this 36-square-mile island just north of Auckland before sailing farther north to the Bay of Islands region. Highlights of the eight-day itinerary include wine tasting on Waiheke, dolphin watching, dining on the region’s famed green-lipped mussels, a scenic helicopter ride in the Bay of Islands and visiting the wild and enchanting Great Barrier Island, home to the beautiful Fitzroy Harbour.

Costa Rica

A new ship and itinerary to Costa Rica, Uncharted Isthmus: Sloths, Monkeys & Mangroves aboard the 64-guest Safari Voyager, is an eight-day cruise offering guests twice-daily options by skiff, hike, stand-up paddleboard, snorkel and kayak. Itinerary highlights include transiting the 48-mile-long Panama Canal connecting the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, visiting Costa Rica's largest park, Corcovado National Park, and snorkeling the crystalline waters at Panama's Granito de Oro.

Alaska

New to the company’s wilderness cruise program is the Alaska’s Islands, Whales & Glaciers itinerary, featuring eight days between Sitka and Juneau aboard the intimate 10-guest yacht Misty Fjord. Native culture and off-the-beaten path explorations along with sea kayaking, hiking and zodiacadventures engage guests in the pleasures of exploring Southeast Alaska. A hover flight at Taku Glacier offers a ride on an amphibious vehicle designed to travel over ice, water, sandbars and grasslands.

For a recent blog post about the new season please go to: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/small-ship-cruises-new-2016-tahiti-cuba-new-zealand-costa-rica-amazon-croatia.

For information on all of AdventureSmith’s small ship cruises, itineraries, availability and 2016 reservations, Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free or visit www.adventuresmithexplorations.com.

Pandaw Southeast Asia cruises with MY Andaman Explorer

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Pandaw has announced that it has acquired the MY Andaman Explorer, which the line will deploy on the coasts of Southeast Asia.

MY Andaman Explorer

The Andaman Explorer has a hull built to "ice class" with extra thick plates. The ship is on its way to Rangoon, where it will be redecorated and refurnished in Pandaw's style. A fuller refit will follow in 2017.

Each of the ship's suites consists of a sitting room, bedroom and marble bathroom. There is a saloon, indoor dining room and two teak decks aft, the lower for outdoor dining and the upper with a Jacuzzi for lounging. There is also a forward observation deck below the bridge. The ship comes with two RIB tenders for excursions to islands and beaches.

Pandaw plans an informal recce cruise between Rangoon and Ranong in Thailand in February. Interested agents should get in contact with Pandaw about the recce cruise by emailing angela@pandaw.com.

From June to September 2016 Pandaw will start its first official voyages out of Bali exploring Indonesian coastal waters: Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo Islands and Flores. From October 2016 to April 2017 the yacht will offer cruises on the Burma coast between Ranong and Rangoon, an area that includes the Mergui Archipelago and old colonial seaports like Moulmein.

Visit www.pandaw.com

Crystal Esprit Christened in the Seychelles

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Crystal Esprit Christened in the Seychelles

Ready to Set Sail

Luxury yacht launches Crystal Cruises' next chapter

Crystal Cruises, the world's most awarded luxury cruise line, has officially welcomed Crystal Esprit to its fleet of ultra-luxury vessels, as the sleek yacht was christened in an elegant ceremony held at Eden Island Marina in Mahé, Victoria, Seychelles.  Crystal's president and CEO, Edie Rodriguez, welcomed a distinguished audience of local dignitaries, yacht guests, travel partners and professionals and executives from the line's new parent company, Genting Hong Kong (GHK), for a day of celebration, as Crystal Esprit marks the beginning of one of the most significant brand expansions in luxury travel and hospitality history.

On hand to christen Crystal Esprit was the yacht's godmother, Lady Gaenor Anne Meakes, fiancée of Mark Richards, one of the world's most awarded and recognised yachtsmen. Richards serves as chief executive of Grand Banks yachts, based in Australia, and is an eight-time champion skipper of the 628-mile Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race. Lady Meakes christened the yacht with the traditional breaking of Champagne against the hull – specifically a bottle of Louis Roederer, Cristal Brut, 2004.  The evening culminated with an elaborate fireworks display at sea.

"To say today is a special day is an understatement," said Rodriguez. "Since joining Crystal just over two years ago, a personal goal of mine has been to see Crystal realize the next step in continuing to pioneer luxury travel and hospitality; and today I am seeing that dream fulfilled." She went on to personally thank GHK Chairman and CEO, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, for his and his company's support of her vision for Crystal's future.

Crystal will, indeed, pioneer the luxury travel and hospitality industry far beyond the reaches of ocean cruising, as the line is poised to launch Crystal River Cruises in 2016 and 2017, with five luxury river yachts – more than double the originally planned number – gracing the waterways of Europe include the Rhine, Seine, Danube, Main, Garonne, and Dordogne Rivers. Crystal Luxury Air will take off with all-first-class outfitted Boeing 777-200LR and Boeing 787 Dreamliner taking guests on multi-week journeys to far-off destinations not typically served non-stop by major airlines.

About Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises is the world's most awarded leading luxury cruise provider, having earned more "World's Best" awards than any other cruise line, hotel, or resort in history. In July 2015, Crystal embarked on the most significant brand expansion in the history of luxury travel and hospitality, which will introduce three new classes of cruising – Crystal Yacht Cruises (December 2015), Crystal River Cruises (July 2016), Crystal Exclusive Class Ocean Cruises (late 2018) – and Crystal Luxury Air (late 2017).

For More Information

For additional information contact
Wiltrans International on:


1800 251 174 (Australia)
0800 446 376 (New Zealand)

WIN a spectacular cruise on Star Clippers Tall Ship

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WIN a spectacular cruise on Star Clippers Tall Ship – The sailing trip of a lifetime

Enter now to WIN a $5900 seven-night cruise on Star Clippers Tall Ship from Phuket, and in and around the amazing waters of Thailand and Malaysia.

Hapag-Lloyd to introduce electric Zodiacs

Protecting the environment: the Zodiacs aboard HANSEATIC and BREMEN are being equipped with Torqeedo electric motors

·         A FIRST in the expedition cruise industry: electric motors introduced on rubber boats for expeditions
·         New, innovative and eco-friendly electric motors "Deep Blue" from manufacturer Torqeedo

For guests on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' expedition ships HANSEATIC and BREMEN, the unforgettable experience of taking the Zodiacs into pristine, remote regions will now be even more exhilarating, as well as environmentally-friendly. Gradually, parts of the expedition- suitable Zodiac fleet on board both expedition ships have been equipped with eco-friendly "Deep Blue" electric motors, produced by the German manufacturer Torqeedo. This will make Hapag-Lloyd Cruises the first cruise operator to use this "green" technology on expedition cruises.

The Zodiacs (motor-driven rigid inflatable boats RIBs) are the "secret weapons" of expedition ships HANSEATIC and BREMEN: in the most exotic and remote regions on the planet, such as the Amazon, or Antarctic, they make it possible for guests to land in otherwise inaccessible areas. After a one-year pilot phase in which the electric motors were tested on Zodiacs on board the HANSEATIC and BREMEN, parts of the RIBs of both ships were equipped, bit by bit, with these new and 80 HP "Deep Blue" electric motors from Torqeedo in Starnberg/Germany.

"For years the ships of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises have used low-emissions marine diesel in fragile cruising areas such as the Arctic and Antarctic. Equipping our expedition Zodiacs with electric motors represents another investment in the future of our environment. With their flora and fauna, our cruise destinations are key to the appeal of our itineraries and we want to protect what fascinates us," explains Karl J. Pojer, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

"Torqeedo's "Deep Blue" is an electric propulsion system with a previously unseen level of output. In Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, we are very happy to have found a highly-respected partner that will take on a pioneering role and implement our technology on the rubber boats it uses for expeditions," says Dr Christoph Ballin, CEO of Torqeedo. As a full propulsion system, "Deep Blue" features an electric motor and all other components required to propel the boat – from the lithium battery to the onboard computer. Unlike outboards with combustion motors, electric propulsion systems do not release any emissions, or harmful substances into the water. This will help to protect the vulnerable waters in which excursions take place. Therefore, guests can enjoy more thrilling landings as the new motors cause no smells and are considerably quieter than the Zodiacs' previous 36 horse-powered motors.

Additionally, the principle of slow steaming is applied as part of vessel management. This means that itineraries are calculated using an environmentally-sound average speed, which can cut fuel consumption by around one third. This is currently one of the most effective and best ways to reduce consumption and hence emissions.

Reservations: Landmark Travel +612 99 77 71 00; gerd@landmarktravel.com.au

Victoria Cruises into 2016 with fleet upgrade

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Victoria Cruises has announced its 2016 schedule which includes the popular Three Gorges Highlight and Grand Yangtze Discovery programs.

The only American-managed cruise line on China’s Yangtze River enters the new season having upgraded and transformed its entire luxury fleet since the launch of the Victoria Jenna in 2009.

Now returning its attention to the Victoria Jenna, a new series of major upgrades will be implemented to ensure the six-year-old ship remains the flagship at the forefront of the Yangtze service leader’s five-star fleet.

The redesigned Victoria Jenna will be rejoining the fleet in early April 2016, sailing the Three Gorges Highlights itinerary. The program operates daily in 2016 with four-night upstream voyages departing Yichang six days per week excluding Tuesdays, and three-night downstream cruises departing Chongqing every day except Saturdays. Increased departures will run throughout the summer.

While onboard, guests will enjoy informative lectures, nightly entertainment and a world-class dining program designed by Emmy© Award-winning celebrity chef Walter Staib (pictured right filming from the top deck of the Victoria Anna, which was redesigned in 2013).

Passengers will observe stunning views of the Qutang, Wu and Xiling Gorges as well as centuries-old temples and pagodas – all from the vantage point of their own private balcony (featured in all staterooms on all Victoria Cruises vessels).

Prices for 2016 start at $880 per person, based on double occupancy, while some sailings such as the Victoria Jenna begin at $980 per person, double occupancy.

For an additional $200 per person, passengers can enhance their experience with Victoria Cruises’ Luxury Amenities upgrade, which provides access to exclusive ship areas and other VIP perks such as “white glove” service, happy hour, complimentary Wi-Fi internet access and enhanced dining privileges.

Comprehensive shore excursion packages cost an additional $90 per person featuring three standard excursions including a guided tour of the Three Gorges Dam, a visit to Shibaozhai and a scenic voyage along one of the Yangtze’s tranquil tributaries via traditional Chinese sampan (excursions may be substituted based on river conditions and scheduling factors).

Travelers can also choose to participate in Victoria Cruises’ Grand Yangtze Discovery program which sails the full navigable length of the river aboard the five-star Victoria Sophia. The expanded six- and eight-night voyages encompass all the highlights of the three- and four-night cruises with additional sightseeing east of Yichang, including Wuhan, Jiuhuashan and Nanjing (the city of Yangzhou may serve as a temporary substitution for Nanjing at beginning of the season while the dock at Nanjing is being upgraded). Departures are available twice a month during the months of April, May, September and October in each direction, on Fridays (for upstream sailings) and Saturdays (for downstream cruises).

Rates for Grand Yangtze Discovery departures start at $1,610 per person, based on double occupancy, in a private balcony Superior Stateroom. The excursion package costs $240 per person featuring many of the excursions featured in the shorter cruise with additional experiences including the memorial of the Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen in Nanjing as well as Mountain of the Nine Lotuses, one of the four sacred mountains in Chinese Buddhism.

The Luxury Amenities upgrade is available for passengers sailing the Grand Yangtze Discovery from an additional $300 per person.

For more information, call 800-348-8084 or visit http://www.victoriacruises.com/.

In Australia: http://www.helenwongstours.com/

New Year's Eve with Emperors and Kings on the Ultimate Antarctic Cruise

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Revellers with a sense of adventure can ring the change of the New Year by dispensing with their ‘penguin suits’ and meeting the real thing instead on the new Ultimate Antarctica Amongst Emperors & Kings itinerary, from leading polar cruise specialist, One Ocean Expeditions (OOE). In fact, it’s possible to get up close to eight different species of penguin on this 11-night voyage, which takes in the South Shetland Islands, the spectacular Antarctic Peninsula, the vast, ice-choked waters of the Weddell Sea and the beautiful Falkland Islands.

What’s more, the inaugural voyage of OOE’s new programme on board the Akademik Sergey Vavilov is one of several which now incorporate return charter flights from Punta Arenas in Chile. The inclusion of the two-hour flight eliminates the crossing of the infamous Drake Passage, saving up to two days at sea and allowing guests to maximise their time exploring the region.

The first of these charter flights departs Punta Arenas on 29 December, heading for King George Island, where the Vavilov awaits; ready to chart a course along the chain of South Shetland Islands before crossing the Gerlache Strait and navigating the icy waters of the Antarctic Peninsula.

There is a huge diversity of wildlife to be seen on this voyage. Highlights for passengers include visiting well-established Adelie, chinstrap and gentoo penguin rookeries and southern elephant seal haul outs, viewing and photographing the gigantic and elegant king penguins, which range from 18 to 37 inches in height, trying to spot the elusive emperor penguin and watching playful humpback whales enjoying the polar waters.

The landscape is equally impressive, with heavily glaciated mountains permanently covered in ice and snow, rocky outcrops that are home to staggering numbers of penguins, miles of tabular icebergs that offer spectacular photographic opportunities and a vast expanse of steely waters rich in marine life.

The cruise will also appeal to guests interested in the history of exploration in the region. Stops are scheduled at Nordenskjold’s winter hut on Snow Hill Island, built during the 1901-04 Swedish expedition and still standing today, as well as Elephant Island where Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men camped under their upturned lifeboats on the famous HMS Endurance expedition 100 years ago.

As the Vavilov sails across to the Falkland Islands, accompanied by hundreds of magnificent pelagic seabirds, including albatross, petrels, gulls and terns, on-board polar experts are on hand to answer questions about all aspects of the voyage and conduct interesting and informative presentations about the region, its history and wildlife.

The cruise ends in Port Stanley where guests are transferred to the airport for the return flight to Punta Arenas. Guests may choose to extend their trip by taking a connecting flight through to Santiago or one of the other destinations in Chile before returning home to the UK.

Prices for the 11-night Ultimate Antarctica Amongst Emperors and Kings trip start from US$10,595 per person including flights from Punta Arenas to King George Island and from Stanley to Punta Arenas, all food and accommodation on-board, a New Year’s Eve banquet, plus zodiac excursions and landings, ship transfers and foul weather gear.

For further information about the Ultimate Antarctica itinerary or other soft adventure cruises in the region, please contact One Ocean Expeditions www.oneoceanexpeditions.com

Aussies Antarctica bound

Australians are queuing up to cruise the world's southernmost continent with demand for bookings stronger than ever.

Passenger numbers for Chimu Adventures to the Antarctic Peninsula have more than doubled since 2008, says Chimu boss Greg Carter, with the upward trend climbing sharply over the past 18 months.

"This is a destination like nowhere else on the planet," he said.

"Untouched by humans, there is no development, the landscapes are ethereal, the wildlife abundant.

"This is one of the most wildly beautiful places to travel in the world and it is back on the bucket list for Australian travellers."

With limited cabins left for the 2015-16 Antarctica cruise season between now and March, Carter says bookings need to be made soon.

Special guest departures in 2017 are also on sale now:


*          Epic Antarctica with Samuel Johnson       March 2017

            Take a polar plunge with the Aussie actor behind breast cancer awareness charity, Love Your Sister, and help raise funds for the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. $5950 USD

            http://www.chimuadventures.com/tour/epic-antarctica


*          Pure Antarctica with Andrew Denton    Feb 2017

            Join much-loved media personalities and serious Antarctica          

            fans on what will be their 11th trip between them. Enjoy on board lectures from the pair and the rare chance to chat with     the vastly knowledgable world adventurers. From $7595 USD

            http://www.chimuadventures.com/pureantarctica


For this week's Chimu Adventures cruise special deals phone 1300 707 597 or see chimuadventures.com.au

Aurora Expeditions Launches New 24-Day 'Arctic Complete' Adventure

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Expedition cruise specialists Aurora Expeditions have launched a brand new 24-day 'Arctic Complete' expedition as part of their 2017 European Arctic program. Offering passengers an in-depth exploration of Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland's most remote coastlines, the new itinerary is set to provide the ultimate Arctic adventure.

Starting in Spitsbergen – the largest island of the Norwegian archipelago, Svalbard – high above the Arctic Circle, passengers aboard the new 'Arctic Complete'expedition will enjoy the island's glaciers and abandoned settlements before heading north into the pack ice in search for polar bears.

The new expedition will attempt to circumnavigate the remote island before crossing the Greenland Sea to discover the world's largest National Park as well as the world's largest fjord system in Scoresby Sund. In Iceland, passengers will explore a remote settlement before ending the expedition in Reykjavik, where they will have the option to extend their adventure.

With nearly 24-hours of endless daylight, passengers can expect to enjoy daily shore landings with opportunities to walk across spongy permafrost among summer flowers and to visit a remote Inuit community. Mazes of giant grounded icebergs, a dog sledding trip across Spitsbergen's interior and up-close encounters with the Arctic's myriad of wildlife, including walrus, seals, Arctic fox, and musk ox, all await on this exciting new adventure.

Three other exciting itineraries are also on offer in 2017, including the 14-dayAcross the Arctic Circle, which cruises from Scotland's northern isles before discovering the Norwegian coastline's dramatic fjords and Spitsbergen's polar desert. Three 11-day Spitsbergen Odyssey voyages will venture deep into the domain of the polar bear, and two 14-day Jewels of the Arctic voyages will explore the icy landscapes of Spitsbergen, East Greenland and Iceland.

Travelling aboard the 54-passenger, ice-strengthened expedition ship, Polar Pioneer, each voyage is led by a team of experienced polar specialists, naturalists and historians that will guide passengers through the dramatic landscapes, unique cultures and abundant wildlife that capture the spirit of the European Arctic.

EARLYBIRD OFFER* For a limited time only, all 2017 bookings made on selected Arctic expeditions before 31 January 2016 will pay 2016 prices – giving you the opportunity to save up to $2,000 per person!

Earlybird prices start from $6,380 per person for an 11-day voyage.

For more information contact Aurora Expeditions on 1300 061 490 or visitwww.auroraexpeditions.com.au.

*Conditions apply. Not valid on new 'Arctic Complete expedition'. Contact Aurora Expeditions for full details.

Lindblad Expeditions reveals newbuild contracts

LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS-NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SIGNS NEW BUILD CONTRACTS FOR TWO U.S. FLAGGED COASTAL VESSELS

December 2015 – Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, the global leader of expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences, has announced that it has signed definitive agreements with Nichols Brothers Boat Builders for the new build of two U.S. flagged coastal vessels.  They will be U.S. built at their shipyard on Whidbey Island in Washington State. The first completed ship is scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2017 and the second vessel is scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2018.  The new 100-guest ships were developed with decades of experience of captains, expedition leaders, engineers and designers.

"These new ships mark an exciting step in the long-term growth of the company, and enables us to capitalise on the substantial demand for our expeditions.  With our significant resources we can continue to deliver on our promise of expedition travel at its best," said Sven Lindblad, President and CEO of Lindblad.

"We are pleased to be working with Nichols Brothers on this project given their long history in ship building, including having built our current U.S. flagged ships, the National Geographic Sea Lion and National Geographic Sea Bird."

"This is an important milestone in the company's history as we enter the 50th Anniversary of the birth of expedition travel begun by my father, Lars-Eric Lindblad, with the first laymen expedition to Antarctica in 1966," added Lindblad.

Some key features of the new vessels:

·      50 cabins:  22 with balconies, and eight that can be configured into four adjoining cabins for families.

·      As the primary focus is the world outside, all public spaces are designed for maximum viewing with easy, quick access to decks for inevitable announcements from the bridge of a phenomenal sighting.

·      An outdoor walkway around the entire sun deck, which will feature an al fresco bar and grill, in addition to the restaurant and a lounge with bar and facilities for presentations.

·      A fleet of sea kayaks, paddle boards, and specially designed landing craft - all of which are geared to get guests out and into the wild, remote places being explored.

·      A fully equipped fitness room and a Wellness spa.

·      State-of-the-art expedition technology, including a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), video microscope, and a hydrophone and bow-cam designed for immediate bow deployment to hear and film, for instance, humpback whale vocalisations and see bow-riding dolphins.

·      Full warm and cold water diving gear and underwater cameras for the Undersea Specialist to bring back rare imagery of the undersea world.

·      State-of-the-art A/V system for the highest quality presentations, including National Geographic photography instruction.

Jensen Maritime is serving as the naval architect on the project with interior design work provided by Tillberg Design International. Building of the vessels will commence this year.

Hurtigruten heads for the Amazon rainforest, Canada and the world's longest fjord

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From 2017, Hurtigruten's expedition ships will sail to Viking settlements and the national parks of Newfoundland, explore the World's largest fjord complex in Greenland, undertake Hurtigruten's first ever inland voyage along the Amazon and travel along the Panama canal.

Explore Arctic Canada with a celebrated anthropologist

Four new voyages will incorporate Newfoundland & Labrador with highlights including the provincial capital of St John's, Baffin Bay & Torngat Mountains National Park (pic above), Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, Red Bay and Battle Harbour.

Among the many exceptional landings, passengers will visit L'Anse aux Meadows. The small fishing village on the UNESCO World Heritage List is the place where Norwegians Anne Stine and Helge Ingstad and their daughter Benedicte discovered a Viking settlement in 1960. Today, Benedicte (72) is a researcher and professor of medical anthropology and will join selected Hurtigruten voyages to give lectures about her family's discoveries.

Cruise to the Amazon rainforest

Hurtigruten's first ever inland sailing will travel along the Amazon during a 16 night  'Expedition to the Amazon Rainforest'.  The Amazon voyage starts in Manaus deep inside the Brazilian rainforest. Sailing down the immense river, guests can experience and learn more about the unique nature and wildlife from the expedition vessel itself and canoes and by hikes onshore.

Amazonia is a high-biodiversity wilderness area and on top of a very rich flora, explorer guests may encounter animals such as jaguars, tapirs, howler monkeys, parrots, piranhas and caimans.

Other highlights of Hurtigruten's new voyages include a journey along the Panama Canal and the chance to explore Kangertittivaq in Greenland (also known as Scoresby Sund), the longest fjord in the world, extending 350 kilometers into the vast island.

Hurtigruten's explorer cruises combine active adventures with learning. On board and ashore, popular science lectures will be given from experts in history, zoology, botany and environmental science. The Norwegian company has added a total of 23 new expedition voyages to its programme for 2017/18 and now offers more than 200 ports of call in 18 countries worldwide.

"We want to offer our guests unique and meaningful experiences regardless of the water temperature. Hurtigruten let people follow the tracks of the Vikings, Amundsen and Nansen, and Thor Heyerdahl" says Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam. "People no longer want to spend their vacations being passive spectators. Therefore Hurtigruten offers active and educational voyages. The many unique excursions and lectures give guests genuinely close encounters with the nature and culture of the destinations".

For more information contact your local Travel Agent, email Discover the World on hurtigruten@discovertheworld.com.au or call 1800 OCEANS (1800 623 267).

Le Boreal - update. Some charters cancelled

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ExpeditionCruising.com recently received this update from Ponant PR.

"Le Boréal has recently arrived (under tow) at the Punta Arenas shipyard where she is undergoing inspection to determine precisely what needs to be done and how long it will take. The works schedule is in the process of being finalised. To date, certain cruises marketed as charters have been cancelled however, to date, no cruises with individual passengers have been cancelled."

Certainly the scheduled Dec 10 departure has been cancelled and we all await advice on what  future sailings may also be effected.

Le Boreal sitting low at the stern during rescue

Observers who saw the BBC video noted that the vessel appeared to be listing and sitting low at the stern. It was suggested that this may have been a result of crew employing "boundary cooling", a method for preventing the spread of a serious fire in a contained area of the ship. This method requires large amounts of water which may upset the balance of the ship to a degree.

boundary cooling a shipboard fire

In any case, with combined efforts of the crew involved in fighting the fire and prompt arrival of Royal Navy rescuers, no injuries were reported and the ship was saved. That much is good news.