expedition€¦ · E o s n k k y a s n e g e a a a n o s n d s a d m ay u k EQUATOR CANADA SVALBARD...

Stowaway publicationS

e x p e d i t i o n

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Two new hybrid ships MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen herald an exciting new era in greener, quieter, and truly comfortable expedition voyages.

Their pioneering battery technology not only cuts emissions byup to 20%, but also allows the ships to switch to electric powerto explore the dramatic scenery in near silence.

Two new hybrid ships MS Roald Amundsen andNansen herald an exciting new era in greener, quieter, and truly comfortable expedition voyages.

Their pioneering battery technology not only cuts emissions byup to 20%, but also allows the ships to switch to electric powerto explore the dramatic scenery in near silence.

THE FUTUREOF EXPLORATIONTRAVEL

antarcticasvalbard &franz josef land Europe

AMERICA &GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS

Caribbean &Central America Greenland

Alaska, canada& north America

Bridgetown

Kralendijk

GREENLAND

NORTH

AMERICA

SOUTH

AMERICA

AFRICA

EUROPE

NORWAY

N O R T HA T L A N T I C

O C E A N

S O U T HA T L A N T I C

O C E A N

D R A K E P A S S A G E

S O U T HP A C I F I C

O C E A N

66°33'N ARCTIC CIRCLE

Montevideo

South Orkney

Islands

Longyearbyen

Nuuk

Reykjavik

St. Anthony

South Georgia

Canary Islands

Lisbon

Belle-Île

Hamburg

North Cape

AricaCalla

o/Lima

Manta

Puerto Limón

Castro

Cape Horn

Punta Arenas

Ny-Ålesu

nd

Dundas

MyggbuktaScoresbysund

Fjord System

Bonne Bay

Igaliku

Upernavik

EQUATOR

CANADA

SVALBARD

ICELAND

66°33'S ANTARCTIC CIRCLE

Miami

New York

HalifaxYarmontUSA

Cambridge Bay

Beechey Island

Fort Ross

Gjøa Haven

Pond

Inlet

Kangerlussuaq Ilulissat

Magdalen Islands

Hvalsey

Valparaíso

Ushuaia

Puerto Edén

Jan Mayen

Puntarenas

TromsøSvolvær

Bjørnøya

Azores

Madeira

Bergen

Amsterdam

Bilbao

CHIL

EARGEN

TINA

PERU

ECUADOR

PANAMACOSTA RICA

URUGUAY

ANTARCTIC PENINSULA

Thule

Cozumel

MEXICO

San Blas Isla

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ALASKA

RUSSIA

FRANZ JOSEF LAND

RUSSIA

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

BARBADOS

Murmansk

Vancouver

KodiakSt. P

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B E R I N G S T R A I T

Hubbart Glacier

Point

Barrow

Smoking

HillsNome

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Ketchican

Dutch HarborQuébec City

Kragerø

Antofagasta

Umivik

Falkland Islands

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landsFaroe Islands

Puerto

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Machu Picchu

N O R T H P A C I F I C

O C E A N

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Sitka

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Island

Santa Cruz Island

Top to bottom, pole to pole, our planet abounds in beauty and wonder. Come on a journey with us and uncover hidden horizons, fascinating wildlife, and landscapes that will leave you speechless.

Explorer Expedition Voyages // 2019–2020 Discoverthe world

66°33'S ANTARCTIC CIRCLE

Where we sail

MS Fram

MS Roald Amundsen

MS Midnatsol

MS Spitsbergen

MS Nordstjernen

MS Fridtjof Nansen

Order yourGet ReadyTo Explore2019-20brochureCall 0208 846 2666 | VISIT www.hurtigruten.co.uk

Where will your next adventure take you? Image credits: © Rolls Royce; Photodynamic; FloridaStock; Vicky SP; Luis Boucault; kavram; Exclusive Aerials; Patryk Kosmider; Anton_Ivanov; Mads Pihl

Northwest PassageIceland

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(1) PONANT Bonus Fare per person based on double occupancy, subject to change, domestic flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia included, port and air taxes included. PONANT Bonus fare is susceptible to change depending on availability at the moment of the reservation. Exchange rate (04/05/18): 1€ = £0,877132. More information is available at www.ponant.com. Document and photos for illustrative purposes only. Photo credit: © PONANT - Nathalie Michel - François Lefebvre.

Antarcti c 5-star Expediti on CruisesWhales, penguins, breathtaking vistas of the White Continent’s ice flows & icebergs, zodiac expeditions in the company of experienced and passionate guides and naturalists...

All aboard a luxurious yacht on an intimate scale, live the intensity and privilege of a real expedition in 5-star comfort.

A Bilingual French crew, refined gastronomy, included shore landings with a team of experts: discover the treasures of the World by sea with PONANT.

10:45 am62° 56’ 27.35’’ S60° 33’ 19.35’’ W

www.ponant.com

Winter 2019-2020: 24 departures, starting at £ 6,650 pp (1)

Ocean view stateroom with private balcony included

Experience the Ponant Moment

For more information or to book,Call: 0800 980 4027

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c o n t e n t s

CONTENTS

Why take an expedition cruise ........................................................... 7

Antarctica ..................................................................................................12

The Sea of Cortez ...................................................................................17

The Kimberley ..........................................................................................20

The Arctic ..................................................................................................25

The Galapagos .......................................................................................29

The Amazon .............................................................................................34

The Russian Far East .............................................................................36

The Mergui Archipelago .....................................................................39

PROFilES

Ponant ........................................................................................................18

Silversea Expeditions ............................................................................22

Hurtigruten ...............................................................................................24

Scenic ..........................................................................................................28

Published by ............................. Keith Ellis, Stowaway Publications 10 Tadorne Road, Tadworth KT20 5TD Surrey +44 (0)1737 81 2411, [email protected]

Written and Edited by: ..................................................... Jane Archer [email protected]

Creative ..........................................Andrew Reeves, Oddsock Design [email protected]

Front cover image courtesy of Silversea Expeditions

Stowaway publicationS

No one should be surprised that expedition cruising is growing

at an unprecedented rate. it offers travellers the opportunity

to reach oceans, islands and continents not easily accessible

by land and agents great new sales opportunities, appealing

to existing cruise clients seeking exciting new experiences and

those keen on adventure travel, who would consider the ability

to explore remote parts of the planet in comfort and style.

The growth and sales opportunities have not been missed

by the cruise industry. A whole new generation of expedition

ships is being built now that will take exploring the polar

regions and other far away places to new levels of luxury.

This Expedition Cruise Diary will help agents take a share

of this burgeoning market by introducing them to the

existing and soon-to-launch ships in this sector

and the destinations that only these purpose-

designed and built vessels can access.

Keith Ellis, Publisher

https://en.ponant.com

Book the ultimate in luxuryContinuously striving for that which is beyond the horizon, our 2019/20 collection will see a second Scenic Eclipse luxury yacht join our salient fleet. The identical sister ships will explore corners of the globe rarely traversed by explorers throughout history, from the White Sea to the Northwest Passage – these truly remarkable locations are now accessible in 6-star luxury.

Intimate and luxurious, with every amenity your customers could wish for, our Scenic Eclipse fleet has been designed with our guests in mind. Delighting both the keen explorer and elegant traveller, the World’s First Discovery Yachts™ are certain to surpass all their ocean cruising expectations.

THE WORLD’S FIRST DISCOVERY YACHTS™

Terms and conditions: All prices per person, twin share in GBP based on two sharing with economy flights departing London Heathrow, subject to availability. † Prices indicated are for the lowest suite category available with the same name. *All drinks on board are included except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, champagnes and spirits. Prices correct at the time of going to print (April 2018). Offers are valid for new bookings only made between 4 April 2018 and 15 June 2018. Earlybird Fares are strictly limited. Early Payment Discount - save £500 per person off the advertised price of an itinerary of 11 days or longer when the balance is paid in full before 31 October 2018, save £350 off itineraries of fewer than 11 days when the balance is paid in full before 31 October 2018. Pre-departure Night Included on all 2019/20 departures – hotel stay will be allocated and booked by Scenic, includes bed and breakfast. Free Private Door-to-Door Chauffeur Transfers - Private door-to-door chauffeur transfers are complimentary within a 75 mile radius and are subject to availability. For guests who live outside of this 75 mile radius, an additional supplement of £2.00 per mile will be charged thereafter, UK mainland only, book before 15 June 2018 to qualify. ^Helicopter and submarine activities are weather permitting, may incur additional costs and are subject to availability. A 20 minute helicopter or submarine ride is included on all ‘Ultimate Cruises’ for 2019/20, weather permitting and subject to availability – no cash or credit alternative is available.

ORDER YOUR FREE NEW 2019/20 BROCHURE VIA TRADEGATECall: 0808 115 0463 | Email: [email protected] | Or contact your local Sales Manager

Spa Suite On board Helicopter Lumière

Truly All-InclusiveOn board

Return flights from a selection of up to 15 airports

Spacious all-verandah suite accommodation Personal service with an almost 1:1

staff-to-guest ratio Ten dining experiences, from casual to

fine-dining Unlimited complimentary beverages* Butler service for every guest Spa Sanctuary & plunge pools Gym, yoga & Pilates studio Indoor and outdoor swimming pools Expert Discovery Leaders on all cruises Daily entertainment and discovery

presentations Complimentary self-service guest laundry Complimentary Wi-Fi

Onshore Comprehensive choice of shore excursions Exclusive Scenic Enrich experiences Expert local guides Zodiac, kayak, snorkelling and snow shoeing

adventures The freedom of our e-bikes

(electronically assisted bicycles) Two on board helicopters^ and a six-seat

submarine^

Bottled water for all shore excursions Chef-prepared picnics

All tipping and gratuities on board

Maritimes Discovery

13 Day Itinerary

New York City > Halifax

From £6,995† per personDeparts 9 September 2019

Antarctica in Depth

16 Day Itinerary

Buenos Aires > Buenos Aires

From £10,295† per personDeparts 24 Nov, 5 & 6 Dec 2019 & 1, 12, 23 Feb, 5 Mar 2020

Mediterranean Discovery

10 Day Itinerary

Barcelona > Athens

From £4,795† per personDeparts 2 May 2020

Across the Northwest Passage

24 Day Itinerary

Kangerlussuaq > Nome

From £23,915† per personDeparts 14 August 2020

NEW FOR 2019/20

NEW FOR 2019/20

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w h y ta k e a n e x p e d i t i o n c r u i s e

if you are now imagining Russian-built icebreakers, ships with shared cabins and school dinners in the canteen, think again, because the expedition ships being built over the next four years (an unprecedented 26 and counting) are luxurious beyond imagination with grand suites, butlers, balconies and lots of places to eat.

it’s not quite bringing expedition cruising into the mainstream – these ships will still be sailing to places way off the beaten track that will not appeal to all your clients – but it is making this sector the go-to holiday for the growing number of people seeking more excitement, adventure and ever-lasting memories from their vacation.

Some are seasoned cruisers who like life at sea and are ready to try something more adventurous than a well-scripted two weeks sailing around the Mediterranean; others are not too bothered about ships and sailing but have discovered the best way to see amazing places such as Antarctica and the Galapagos is on a cruise.

T H E W O N D E R F u l W O R l D O F E x P E D i T i O N C R u i S i N G

Swimming with penguins, kayaking through icebergs, hunting for crocodiles.

They are not the usual activities holidaymakers get up to on a cruise but

then setting sail on an expedition ship is not your usual holiday afloat.

https://www.scenic.co.uk

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SizE DOES MATTER

Expedition ships are small, accommodating anything from 200 to 500 passengers.That is important as it means they can navigate into little bays and get passengers ashore by tender (there are no ports in most of the places these ships visit) both quickly and efficiently.

it is even more important in Antarctica as only ships carrying 500 people or less are allowed to take passengers ashore and then only 100 can be on land at one time. As a result, many cruise lines limit passenger numbers to 200 and allow just an hour ashore, ensuring a smooth landing operation with the minimum hanging about.

in the Galapagos, ships can carry a maximum 100 people and itineraries are carefully planned so there is only ever one vessel at each of the landing sites to ensure the wildlife is not disturbed.

CHAlK AND CHEESE

Expedition cruising might be moving several notches upmarket, but it is still about as different to a traditional holiday at sea as is possible.

For one thing, rather than cathedrals, museums and water parks, outings mean visits to glaciers and waterfalls, fishing for piranha fish, tiptoeing through basking iguanas, learning about penguins and whales or watching out (literally) for polar bears.

For another, life on board is very different. Dress codes are almost unheard of (jeans and t-shirts are more appropriate than dinner jackets and cocktail dresses) and rather than singers, dancers and production shows, there are lectures about the wildlife and environment that passengers will encounter on their cruise from teams of biologists, geologists, historians, marine scientists and other experts.

There might be talks about whales and penguins on a cruise to Antarctica, for instance, or about polar bears in Spitsbergen. Marine life and geography figures high in the Sea of Cortez; in the Amazon it’s all about rainforests, wildlife and birds.

These expedition teams also guide trips ashore (these are included in the price, although there might be a charge for special activities such as kayaking or camping in Antarctica) and host zodiac cruises that take passengers closer to the glaciers, rainforests and wildlife.

None of this comes cheap of course. Cruises can be anything from £5,000 per person upwards for just a week away. That excludes air fares, which is another hefty expense as most flights are long haul. But don’t let that put you off selling these cruises. Remember, it is a small price to pay for the once-in-a-lifetime experiences your clients will be enjoying.

WHERE TO GO

Antarctica is top of the list for adventure cruises. it’s a long way to travel but visitors are richly rewarded with icebergs the size of houses, hundreds of whales and millions of penguins. And of course they’ll have the privilege of being among the few people to ever get the chance to set foot on the most inhospitable continent on this planet.

Once Antarctica is done, it’s time to swap penguins for polar bears on a cruise to the Arctic. There’s lots of choice here, with cruises around Spitsbergen, the nearest most vessels can get to the North Pole, and voyages along the coast of Greenland and through the Northwest Passage, the icy waterway between Greenland and Canada.

Those who prefer warmer climes can get close to wildlife in the Galapagos, and see gushing waterfalls, coral reefs and crocodiles in the Kimberley.

There’s whale-watching and desert landscapes in the Sea of Cortez, off Baha California, and tropical birds, piranha fish and jungle to explore in the Amazon. New cruises through the Mergui Archipelago off the west coast of Myanmar will take your clients into the realm of the sea gypsies and swimming in the Andaman Sea.

Travellers on these cruises need an adventurous spirit as itineraries are often more like guidelines, especially in the polar regions. Captains will aim to visit all the places on the schedule but the actual route depends on weather and wildlife. Wind, ice and fog will scupper landings in Antarctica; in the Arctic, a prowling polar bear will halt plans for a walk ashore.

And all that is just for starters. There are expedition cruises to the remote islands off the west coast of South America, through the Northeast Passage, a route that leads over the top of Russia, and to Russia’s White Sea.

WHAT’S NEW

Expedition cruising has always been on the sidelines of the industry, considered something for a small band of adventurous travellers prepared to rough it in return for visiting out-of-the-way places, but things are changing as cruise lines focusing on this sector upgrade their tonnage and build more luxurious ships.

Ponant is launching the new 184-passenger ships le lapérouse and le Champlain in June and October respectively. The duo, part of an order for six sister ships (the others launch in 2019 & 2020), will have a lounge in the hull with views of life beneath the ocean. Come 2021, Ponant is launching an icebreaker powered by liquefied natural gas that it says will be capable of reaching the true North Pole – something only the Russian icebreaker 50 Years of Victory can do at the moment.

New in September, Scenic is launching Scenic Eclipse, an expedition yacht with an ice-strengthened hull capable of

WHEN TO GO• Antarcticacruisesrunintheaustralsummer,

between November and March, when much of the sea ice has melted. in November the continent is at its most pristine (but it will likely also be much colder); December and January is the time to see the most plentiful wildlife; mid-February to early March is the best time to spot whales.

• CruisestotheArctic(that’sSpitsbergen,Greenland, the White Sea and through the Northwest Passage) run between June and September. in June and July, the days are long as the sun never sets.

• Galapagoscruisesoperateyear-round.Thehottest weather is January to May, when it is most likely to rain. June to December is dry and a bit cooler.

• TheAmazoniswarmandhumidyear-round(between 21C and 31C). High water season is December to May, low water from June to November, but this is rainforest so clients should expect precipitation anytime. Ocean-going cruise ships are there in winter between December and March.

• CruiselinessailintheKimberleyinthedryseason, April to October, when temperatures average 30C. During the wet, November to March, temperatures top 40C and roads become impassable due to flooding.

Please also contact our Sales Representative for UK and Ireland: Aishling McLoughlin, mobile +44 7852 488471, [email protected]

Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten GmbH, Ballindamm 25, 20095 Hamburg, GermanyFree phone UK: 08000 220459hl-cruises.com, [email protected]

Get to know the Wave Awards Winner 2018: Best Adventure/Expedition Cruise Line

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using your Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ agency number. Should you not have an agency number, please use 222222 to register.

It may seem as though the entire world has been explored, however, genuine voyages of discovery are still possible. The 230-guest, state-of-the-art HANSEATIC inspiration, which will be launched in October 2019 in Antwerp, will be cruising not only in the Arctic and Antarctic but also in warmer water destinations such as Cape Verde, the Great Lakes, South America and Amazon, with numerous expedition activities and Zodiac landings. After almost a decade, we will be returning in the summer of 2020 to the Great Lakes in North America.

FOLLOW THE CALL OF ADVENTURE!

• NEW as of 2019: HANSEATIC inspiration• Explore untouched regions: a small ship on spectacular

routes

• Expand your horizons: crew and scientists with worldwide expertise

• Feel the thrill of expeditions: on numerous Zodiac rides and landings

• Experience safety in the polar regions: thanks to the highest ice class for passenger ships

• Travel respectfully: committed to protecting the natural environment

• Enjoy magical moments as an explorer: with highest standards in terms of service and facilities

• Even closer to nature: plenty of deck space, a deck track at the bow, glass balconies and an on-board marina

• Inspired by nature: innovative and inviting design concept

• The freedom to choose: creative cuisine, a spacious spa area and a wide range of sports activities – always with an ocean view

For further information, please see our website hl-cruises.com/new-expedition-ships

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sailing in the polar regions. The vessel will have all-balcony suites, butler service for all, 10 places to eat and carry a helicopter and seven-man sub for exploring above and below the waves. Sister ship Scenic Eclipse ii follows in 2020.

Canada’s One Ocean Expeditions is expanding its fleet in November, when it takes delivery of RCGS Resolute. Formerly Hapag-lloyd Cruises’ expedition ship Hanseatic, the vessel accommodates 146 passengers and will be sailing in Antarctica this winter before heading north to spend summer in the Arctic, Scotland and iceland.

New ships coming in 2019 include Hurtigruten’s Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, each with capacity for 500 passengers, ice-strengthened hulls, on-board science centres and suites with hot tubs on the balcony.

Hapag-lloyd Cruises will also have a new expedition ship next year. Called Hanseatic inspiration, it will have three restaurants, a Grand Suite with a shower that transforms into a steam room, and glass balconies 15 metres above the ocean that fold away – a rather important feature as it is sailing through the locks on America’s Great lakes on a couple of cruises in 2020.

in the Galapagos, Celebrity Cruises will have the first-ever ship specially built to sail around the islands. Celebrity Flora launches in May 2019 with capacity for 100 passengers and will offer your clients a luxurious base (think all-suite

accommodation and stylish lounges for briefings and enjoying the views) from which to explore the islands. Technically, it will have dynamic positioning, which allows the vessel to hold its position without using an anchor.

Among exotic expedition itineraries coming up, Silversea’s Silver Cloud Expedition will be cruising the west coast of South America from Callao Peru to Punta Arenas in Chile in October this year – a journey that visits little-known islands teeming with wildlife and vast glaciers.

Silver Cloud Expedition was converted from a classic to an expedition ship at the end of 2017 in a $40 million refit that added an ice-strengthened hull, observation lounge and photo studio where passengers can edit their photographs, installed new windows that would keep out the cold in polar regions and equipped her with 16 zodiacs and 10 kayaks.

Silversea’s Silver Explorer, meanwhile, will be island-hopping from Guam through the Marianas in the western Pacific as it sails to Kobe in Japan in April 2019, while Ponant’s le lapérouse will be scouting the islands of the Banda Sea on a 12-day voyage from Darwin to Bali in August next year.

New from Scenic for 2020, its ships will be navigating the Northwest Passage, exploring the east coast of Canada and the uS and sailing through Russia’s White Sea.

WHAT TO PACK

Polar regions

Wellington boots and waterproof trousers are a must for Antarctica as you invariably have to step into the sea to get from the landing craft to the beach. Most cruise lines have boots for hire, either for free or a small charge.

Cruise ships might be in Antarctica in summer but it is still very cold so your clients will also need warm jumpers, woolly hats, scarves and gloves.

The Arctic isn’t quite as chilly as Antarctica but it is still cold so plenty of warm clothes are needed, as well as stout walking shoes and waterproof trousers for trips ashore.

Most cruise lines provide complimentary parkas for passengers sailing in the polar regions. One Ocean Expeditions goes a step further, offering a pack of expedition gear at no cost that includes a water and wind-proof jacket, rubber boots, binoculars, backpack and trekking pole.

Galapagos and Kimberley

These areas are tropical so light clothing, hats and sunscreen are advisable. Waterproof sandals are useful for wading ashore from the zodiacs.

iS ExPEDiTiON CRuiSiNG FOR ME?

✓ Perfect for those with a sense of adventure keen to see places away from the tourist haunts.

✓ ideal for those who have cruised the Med, Caribbean and Baltic and want to do something different but not miss out on a few weeks at sea.

✓ A ball for baby boomers who missed out on a gap year and fancy some soft adventure without having to rough it.

✓ Spot on for those interested in seeing and learning about wildlife, nature and the environment.

✓ Brilliant for teenagers who do not need constant entertaining.

✗ The new generation of expedition ships might be more suitable for disabled passengers than the older vessels still in operation but getting ashore will always be a problem. Ask the cruise line for advice before booking.

https://www.hl-cruises.com

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a n ta r c t i c a

But it is also one of the most majestic places on the planet, an other-worldly land that is all the more captivating because its pristine environment is one that man has always tried but never quite managed to conquer, even with the backing of 21st-century technology.

This is nature in the raw, where snow-capped mountains give way to deep ice fjords, icebergs are the size of six-storey buildings and so much

of the sea freezes in winter, creating a layer up to two metres thick, that the continent effectively doubles in size.

But Antarctica is not just about scenery. About 45 species of birds live here, including albatrosses, petrels, skuas, gulls and of course the much-loved penguins. Visitors quickly become experts in identifying the Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo and Macaronis. Seeing these little

creatures waddle awkwardly on land and then dive gracefully into the icy water is just magical.

There are also six species of seal, 100 types of fish and eight types of whale, including humpbacks and orcas. Plants can’t survive the cold, but lichens, mosses and algae have adapted to survive the freezing conditions. it’s tough out there for them though so visitors should avoid stepping on them when they go ashore.

E x P l O R i N G A N T A R C T i C A

Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and most remote

place on earth; a frozen world almost 60 times the size

of Britain during the austral summer (our winter) that

spends half the year in total darkness and is cut off

from civilisation by the Drake Passage - 1,000km of one

of the most feared sea crossings in the world.

ANTARCTiCA HiGHliGHTS

• Half-Moon Island. Only 2km long, but it has dramatic rock formations, multi-coloured lichens and a large population of chinstrap penguins. Whales are often spotted patrolling the shores.

• Lemaire Channel. This narrow passage – just 1,600 metres at its widest point is nicknamed Kodak Gap because the scenery is stunning. Think steep cliffs, mountain peaks, icebergs, the chance to spot minke or humpback whales.

• Petermann Island. Accessed through the lemaire Channel, welcome to the home of colonies of Gentoo and Adélie penguins.

• Paradise Harbour. An aptly-named bay surrounded by glaciated mountains and ice cliffs that’s home to a colony of Gentoo penguins.

• Gerlache Strait. Get cameras at the ready because this is a favourite hangout for humpback and minke whales, Chinstrap penguins and leopard seals.

• Elephant Island. The crew from Sir Ernest Shackleton’s failed expedition to cross Antarctica via the South Pole arrived here in 1916 and 21 then waited four months while their leader went for help. They lived under an upturned boat and survived on seal blubber. it is named for its colony of elephant seals.

• Port Lockroy. The former British base at Port lockroy now curated by the uK Antarctica Heritage Trust. Visitors can look around huts preserved as they were in the 1940s and there is a shop for souvenir hunters.


a n ta r c t i c a

FACTFilE

Climate: Antarctica is in the southern hemisphere, which means its seasons are opposite those in the uK. Our winter is the summer in Antarctica, while our summer is winter at the South Pole.

When to go: Cruises operate from November and March, when there is less sea ice. Summer temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula average 2C.

Ice: When the sea ice freezes in winter, Antarctica doubles in size, covering 13,829,800 square kilometres.

Cold: The lowest temperature recorded in Antarctica was minus 129C, at Vostok Station on July 21 1983.

Highest mountain: Mount Vinson, rising to 4,892 metres above sea level.

Number of tourists: 51,707 (international Association of Antarctica Tour Operators figures, winter 2017/18).

There was a time when only intrepid explorers, seal hunters and whalers went to Antarctica; now the hunters are banned and instead it is home to scientists from all over the world and a bucket list destination for travellers keen to be among the few thousand people to set foot on the continent each year.

A few large cruise ships have sightseeing trips to Antarctica, and it is possible to fly there and skip the Drake Passage crossing, but for the ultimate once-in-a-lifetime experience nothing beats taking an expedition cruise there, braving the Drake (it can also be a millpond!) and walking through colonies of penguins, going kayaking amid the growlers, cruising up close to giant icebergs in inflatable zodiacs, even camping ashore one night like a true explorer. This is the stuff of adventurers, the place to come if clients want excitement, fun and to be at one with nature.

under the rules of the Antarctic Treaty, only ships with 500 or fewer passengers can offer landings and only 100 people are allowed on land at a time, and then only for about an hour. Once ashore, they must stay in marked areas, try to walk in tracks made by the expedition team and keep a 15-foot distance from the penguins. Collecting stones or other souvenirs is strictly forbidden, as is dropping litter.

Most Antarctic cruises leave and return to ushuaia, the southern-most tip of Argentina; a few alternatively depart from Punta Arenas in Chile. itineraries are anything from 10-night cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula to 23-day or longer voyages that combine Antarctica with South Georgia and the Falkland islands.

THE FAlKlAND iSlANDS

Most people had never heard of these islands until the Argentineans invaded in 1982. Now it is a popular add on to longer cruises to Antarctica.

The main port is Stanley, which is like stepping back in time to Britain in the 1950s complete with red phone boxes, post boxes, pubs and corner shops. The island itself is like the Devon moors, wild and windswept but with penguins instead of ponies and signs that warn of minefields.

Tours visit colonies of Gentoo and King penguin colonies in Bluff Cove, and Rockhoppers in Berkeley Sound, the battlefields and working farms to learn about farming in this harsh terrain.

SElliNG TiPS

• Cruisesaren’tcheapbutthisisaonce-in-a-lifetimeexperiencethat is worth that one big splurge.

• ClientswantingtosetfootonAntarcticaneedtochooseaship with no more than 500 passengers and preferably just 100-200 to avoid long delays getting ashore.

• Iftimeallows,cruisesthatcombineAntarctica,SouthGeorgiaand the Falklands offer the ultimate in exploration cruising.

• Passengersneedtoexpecttheunexpected.Thisisabigadventure in a hostile climate and itineraries are wholly dependent on the weather.

SOuTH GEORGiA

South Georgia, famous as the place where the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton found help to rescue his failed mission to reach the South Pole in 1916, is some 800 miles south-east of the Falkland islands and a popular stop for longer expedition cruises through the Southern Ocean.

Just 100 miles long and 20 miles wide, the island was discovered by James Cook in 1775 and for the next 200 years it was the scene of mass slaughter as first the sealing and then the whaling industries moved in and wiped out entire populations of fur seals and cetaceans.

These days cruise passengers come with far more peaceful intent – namely to see Shackleton’s grave in the small settlement of Grytviken, admire the picturesque Alp-like scenery and marvel at the abundance of wildlife.

That includes huge populations of fur and elephant seals, which have returned to the island in the 50 years since the sealers and whalers left, millions of penguins and sea birds, and thousands of albatrosses.

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a n ta r c t i c a

Silversea ExpeditionsShips: Silver Cloud Expedition - 16,800 tons, 254 passengers (limited to 200 in Antarctica); Silver Explorer - 6,072 tons, 144 passengers.Itineraries: Sailings operate round-trip from ushuaia in Argentina and range from 10-day cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula to 15 and 18-day voyages combining Antarctica with the Falklands and/or South Georgia.Sample: From £18,270 per person for an 18-day voyage round-trip from ushuaia departing February 3 2019 that visits the Falkland islands, South Georgia, Elephant island and Antarctica. includes domestic flights. international flights extra.

PonantShips: le lyrial - 10,992 tons, 260 passengers; le Boréal, l’Austral, le Soléal – 10,944 tons, 264 passengers.Itineraries: Sailings round-trip from ushuaia in Argentina range from 10-night cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula to 21-day voyages combining the Falklands with South Georgia, the South Orkney islands and Antarctica.Sample: From €12,250 per person for a 10-night Emblematic Antarctica cruise departing February 7 2019 that spends six days in the Antarctic Peninsula. includes domestic flights. international flights extra.

HurtigrutenShips: Fram – 11,647 tons, 254 passengers (max 200 in Antarctica); Midnatsol – 16,151 tons, 556 passengers (max 500 in Antarctica); Roald Amundsen, Fridtjof Nansen

(launching May and July 2019) – 20,889 tons, 530 passengers (max 500 in Antarctica).

Itineraries: Sailings include 13-day cruises round-trip from ushuaia, 18-day voyages from Punta Arenas in Chile that pair Antarctica with the Falkland islands, 19-day cruises from Valparaiso to ushuaia that combine Antarctica with Patagonia and the Chilean fjords and 23-day expeditions taking in Antarctica, the Falkland islands and South Georgia. Sample: From £5,846 per person for a 13-day Highlights of the Frozen Continent cruise round-trip from ushuaia departing November 11 2019. includes domestic flights. international flights extra.

National Geographic Expeditions Ships: National Geographic Explorer – 6,471 tons, 148 passengers; National Geographic Orion – 3,984 tons, 102 passengers.Itineraries: Clients can take their pick from 14-day cruises that focus on Antarctica and 24-day voyages that combine the White Continent with South Georgia and the Falkland islands. For those who have done the South Pole, a 19-day cruise pairs seven-days in South Georgia with two in the Falklands.Sample: From $13,890 per person for a 14-day Journey to Antarctica cruise round-trip from ushuaia departing November 25 2018 and January 4 2019. includes domestic flights. international flights extra

Hapag-Lloyd CruisesShip: Hanseatic inspiration (launches October 2019) – 15,650 tons, 230 passengers (max 199 in Antarctica).

Itineraries: Cruises of from 12 to 18 days operate round-trip from ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland islands. A 20-day voyage in February 2020 starts in ushuaia and ends in Buenos Aires. Sample: From £8,284 per person for a 12-day voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula departing February 2020. includes domestic flights. international flights extra.

ScenicShip: Scenic Eclipse (launches September 2018) – 17,085 tons, 228 passengers (maximum

200 in Antarctica).

Itineraries: Cruises ranging from 16 to 33 days operate round-trip from Buenos Aires and pair Antarctica with South Georgia and the Falkland islands.Sample: From £11,065 per person for a 16-day Antarctica in Depth voyage departing November 24 2019 including flights.

G AdventuresShip: G Expedition – 6,334 tons, 134 passengers.Itineraries: Cruises ranging from 11 to 22 days operate round-trip from ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland islands.Sample: From £4,899 per person for a 13-day Antarctica Classic in Depth cruise departing November 11 2019. Based on quad-share cabin. Excludes flights.

One Ocean ExpeditionsShips: RCGS Resolute – 8,378 tons, 146 passengers; Akademik Sergey Vavilov – 6,230 tons, 92 passengers; Akademik ioffe – 6,230 tons, 96 passengers.Itineraries: Cruises start and end in ushuaia and Stanley in the Falklands islands, and take passengers to the Antarctic Peninsula, below the Antarctic Circle and to South George and Elephant island. Some itineraries include one-way flights over the Drake Passage.Sample: From $10,995 per person for a 10-night Antarctic Peninsula Adventure and Circle Crossing cruise round-trip from ushuaia departing March 11 2019. Based on triple share cabin. Excludes flights.

SeabournShip: Seabourn Quest – 32,000 tons, 458 passengers (max 430 in Antarctica).

Itineraries: Offers 21-day cruises between Buenos Aires and San Antonio in Chile that include six days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula. longer 24-day voyages add the Falklands and South Georgia.Sample: From £9,999 per person for a 21-day ultimate Antarctica and Patagonia cruise from San Antonio to Buenos Aires departing February 24 2019. Excludes flights.

WHO GOES THERE


s e a o f c o r t e z

Some 900 species of fish and 32 types of whales and dolphins feed and breed in the Sea of Cortez, which makes it a treasure trove for divers and travellers interested in nature and wildlife. The scenery, ranging from rocky crags to cacti-filled desert, is pretty spectacular too.

Clients cruising here can expect to see whale sharks, blue, grey and humpbacks whales, sea lions, leatherback sea turtles and thousands of sea birds that inhabit the 900 or so islands and

islets in the gulf, including blue-footed boobies, tropic birds, pelicans and frigate birds.

Rather than having a fixed route, expedition ships spend several days here, following the wildlife and taking passengers onto the islands by zodiac. Expedition teams also operate zodiac cruises in search of whales and passengers will have time to swim and snorkel with the sea lions, maybe also go kayaking or paddle boarding.

E x P l O R i N G T H E S E A O F C O R T E z

The Gulf of California, known as

the Sea of Cortez after Spanish conquistador

Hernan Cortés, is sandwiched between the Baja California

peninsula and mainland Mexico. it is also known as

Mexico’s Galapagos on account of the rich seam

of marine life found here. Jacques Cousteau once

dubbed it “the world’s largest aquarium”.

SElliNG TiPS

• Chancesareyourclientshavenever heard of the Sea of Cortez so take time to learn where it is and why they should go so you can speak with confidence.

• Don’tworryaboutprices.These cruises are not cheap but your clients would not be considering them if they couldn’t afford to go.

• SelltheSeaofCorteztocustomers interested in nature and wildlife, as well as customers looking for their next big adventure.

• Cruiseshipswillmostlyanchor off the coast and take passengers ashore by zodiac so advise clients they need a good degree of mobility.

WHO GOES THERE

National Geographic Expeditions

Ship: National Geographic Venture – 2,920 tons, 100 passengers (launches June 2018).

Itineraries: A five-day cruise from la Paz spends three days exploring isla Espiritu Santo while an eight-day jaunt delves deeper into the gulf. A 16-day voyage pairs the Sea of Cortez with a cruise along the western coast of the Baja California peninsula.Sample: From $6,380 per person for eight days departing April 14 2019. Excludes flights.

Uncruise Expeditions

Ship: Safari Endeavour – 1,425 tons, 84 passengers.Itineraries: A seven-night cruise includes either a land trip to Bahia Magdalena on Baja’s west coast in search of gray whales (mid-January to early March) or Bahia de la Paz to spy – and maybe swim with – whale sharks (November to mid-January and March).Sample: From $4,095 per person for a seven-night Baja’s Bounty cruise departing between December 22 2018 and March 23 2019. Excludes flights.

Ponant

Ship: le Soléal – 10,944 tons, 264 passengers.Itineraries: Two 14-day voyages from San Diego in the uS to Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala are available in October 2018 and September 2019. Each spends five days exploring the islands in the Sea of Cortez with outings on the zodiacs for snorkelling expeditions and hiking tours. Sample: From €5,440 per person departing September 10 2019. Excludes flights.

p

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E x P E r I E n C E a P o n a n t l u x u r y E x P E D I t I o n

antarctica, australia, the amazon, Vanuatu, aldabra, Vanikoro…

The names probably evoke images of faraway continents, mysterious shores, desert islands and exciting adventure but did you know they are also all places that can be visited on an expedition cruise with Ponant.

resPeCT for The enVironmenT

Ponant is committed to being a leader in environmental protection, which means respecting the oceans and the destinations it visits. Its ships carry the “clean ship” label, which shows it not only complies with environmental regulations in its operations but has also anticipated new regulations relating to recycling and reuse, waste and sewage treatment on board, reduced exhaust emissions and sustainable purchasing practices.

The cruise line is a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), an industry group that governs appropriate, safe and environmentally sound travel to Antarctica.

It is also a member of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), which is dedicated to managing responsible, environmentally friendly and safe tourism in the Arctic, and actively supports Le Cercle Polaire, a think-tank focused on preserving polar environments. Its

members are regular guests on Ponant’s polar cruises and use their time aboard to discuss their projects with passengers.

the only French cruise line to venture to the icy polar regions, Ponant offers its passengers an incredible world of discoveries far from the hustle and bustle of modern life in exceptional comfort, even when sailing to remote regions such as antarctica, Papua new Guinea, the arctic, and the amazon and orinoco rivers.

It is growing fast. It already has five ships and this year launches the first two of its new Explorer-class ships, le lapérouse and le Champlain. another two - le Bougainville and le Dumont-d’urville - follow in 2019, with le Bellot and le Surville to come in 2020.

Small ships with just 92 staterooms (184 passengers), these vessels are designed to reach some of the most inaccessible places on the planet, enabling Ponant to ramp up the number of exotic destinations it offers, including offering new itineraries in tropical and sub-tropical regions.

all six Explorer-class ships will feature Blue Eye, a multi-sensorial lounge in the hull where passengers can see, hear and feel the underwater world. they will also

have two restaurants, a hydraulic platform at

the back from

which passengers can step into the Zodiacs used for trips ashore and go swimming, kayaking and paddle-boarding. there is also a swimming pool, spa, gym and state-of-the-art theatre.

and then in 2021, the company will launch the world’s first hybrid icebreaker. Powered by both liquefied natural Gas and electric, it will position Ponant as a pioneer in environmental protection and add the geographic north Pole to the long list of exciting places and seas the cruise line’s ships can visit.

ExpEdition voyagEs

Cruising the polar regions with Ponant is all about discovering nature and wildlife – humpback whales, seals and penguins in antarctica; fjords, glaciers, icebergs, polar bears, arctic foxes, walruses in the arctic – while its tropical expedition voyages are more focused on culture.

Whether cruising in remote parts of Papua new Guinea, Polynesia or new Zealand, passengers will have time to meet tribes and ethnic groups that keep the rituals and customs of their forefathers alive through visits to their villages and interactions with indigenous peoples.

Passengers on expedition voyages will go ashore by Zodiac (they each hold up to 10 people) and might land on a deserted

beach in the Maluku islands in Indonesia, spend time with remote tribes of Papua new Guinea, or discover the splendour of antarctic glaciers at the South Pole.

these trips are accompanied by biologists, geologists and other experts who will add cultural, environmental and historical dimensions to the outings as well as pointing out local flora and fauna, cultures and interesting landscapes and rock formations. Back on board, they offer cultural, scientific or historical presentations relating to the places being visited.

Zodiac trips are included in the cost of the cruise, as are all meals, alcoholic and soft drinks on board (premium alcoholic beverages are excluded) and lectures. Every guest receives a complimentary parka, while the boots needed for polar expeditions are loaned for free. on cruises that visit regular ports of call, excursions are offered at extra charge.

ConTaCT

• �� To�learn�from�a�team�of�specialists�who�will�share their knowledge and experiences during fascinating outings and lectures

• � �For�a�worry-free�trip�with�all�expeditions�ashore�or in the Zodiacs included in the price.

• �� For�exclusive�opportunities�to�meet�indigenous�people who live according to the customs and traditions of their ancestors

• �� Because�Ponant�is�a�world�leader�in�luxury�expedition cruises

•� �For�an�exceptional,�once-in-a-lifetime�trip�to�some of the most remote places on the planet

• � �To�discover�the�flora,�fauna�and�distant�cultures�in hard-to-reach locations

• � �To�join�Zodiac�outings�and�shore�visits�throughout the cruise

• � �To�cruise�to�the�most�remote�parts�of�the�planet�in total comfort

reservations: 0800 980 4027

www.ponant.com

Why Take an exPeDiTion Cruise WiTh PonanT

p r o f i l e

Only a handful of cruise lines sail in the Kimberley, which is a shame because it is a thrilling holiday offering different and unique experiences every day that travellers with a sense of adventure will love.

Many are a result of the region’s huge tidal range (up to 12 metres, one of the largest on the planet), which creates gushing rapids and the bizarre phenomenon of a reef rising out of the water, but the aggressive saltwater crocodiles that lurk beneath the waves, curtailing swimming and meaning trips ashore are limited and carefully planned, add to the excitement.

And then there is the fact that ships have to anchor quite a way out from land in several spots because much of the coast is still not fully charted. The Kimberley is remote indeed, even by Australian standards.

Over the course of a week your clients will take zodiac cruises through a stunning sandstone gorge that leads to the twin King George Falls towering some 260 feet high, see ancient Aboriginal rock art and take a fast boat over the Horizontal rapids. They’ll also fly over the Bungle Bungles - a range of beehive-shaped sandstone structures some 250 metres high in the Purnululu National Park, a vast wilderness almost the size as luxembourg.

Cruises operate between the town of Broome in Western Australia, which was built up on the pearling industry but these days is most famous for its long sandy Cable Beach, and the city of Darwin, which strangely was named after the British evolutionist although he never actually went there.

Clients with time in the city at the start or end of their cruise can visit the Kakadu National Park, dive into the local street culture at Mindil Beach Sunset Market (Thursday and Sunday evenings) or visit an exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory that recreates the night of Christmas Eve 1974 when the city was hit by a devastating cyclone.


k i m b e r l e y

E x P l O R i N G T H E K i M B E R l E Y

The Kimberley is a remote area in Northern Australia that’s the size of England but with a population of just over 40,000 people (and probably as many beef cattle) and a couple of roads that become almost impassable in the wet, between November and April, when up to 50 inches of rain falls.

THE KiMBERlEY HiGHliGHTS

• WatchingtheMontgomeryReefriseoutofthewater.It’sanillusionofcourse.What’sreallyhappening is the tide is falling. Your clients will be able to get up close in a zodiac, marvel at the cascading waterfalls and look out for green turtles around the base.

• AhelicopterridetotheMitchellFalls,wherewatertumblesoverfourtierssome80metreshigh. Your clients can take a dip in the Mitchell River at the top as there are no crocs!

• AfastboatrideovertheHorizontalFallsinTalbotBay.Thephenomenoniscreatedbyabreak in the cliffs through which millions of gallons of sea powers in and out depending on whether the tide is rising or falling.

• AboatridedowntheHunterRiveronthelookoutforbirds,crabsandfearsome‘salties’–the Australian nickname of saltwater crocodiles that lurk in the mangroves.

• Discoveringaboriginerockartdepictinghumanfiguresthatisbelievedtobe50,000yearsold.

WHO GOES THERE Silversea ExpeditionsShip: Silver Discoverer – 5,218 tons, 116 passengers.Itineraries: 10-day cruises from Broome to Darwin or vice-versa that include a flight over the Bungle Bungles and a day in Saumlaki on the island of Yamdena between Australia and Papua New Guinea.Sample: From £5,040 per person for a 10-night cruise from Darwin to Broome departing April 5 2019. Excludes flights.

PonantShip: le lapérouse – 9,900 tons, 184 passengers.Itineraries: Offers 11-day cruises between Darwin and Broome in 2018 (almost full) and 2019. Among highlights, your clients will visit the lacepede islands, home to colonies of brown boobies, Australian penguins, frigate birds, egrets, gulls, terns and countless other birdlife.Sample: From €8,210 per person for a 10-night iconic Kimberley cruise from Darwin to Broome departing May 23 2019. Excludes flights.

Coral ExpeditionsShip: Coral Expeditions i – 730 tons, 46 passengers; Coral Discoverer – 1,779 tons, 72 passengers; Coral Adventurer – 5,536 tons, 120 passengers (launches 2019)

Itineraries: 10-night voyages from Broome to Darwin or vice-versa that include trips to see the ancient rock art, King George Falls and the Montgomery Reef. A helicopter ride to the Mitchell Falls is available as an optional extra.Sample: From $8,690 per person for a 10-night cruise between March and October 2019. Excludes flights.

SElliNG TiPS

• Readuponthecruiseitinerariesofferedsoyoucanpaintsuch an exciting picture of what awaits your clients they just can’t resist booking.

• Don’tjustofferthistoyourcruisecustomers.AKimberleycruise is perfect for everyone seeking a holiday packed with excitement and adventure.

• Australiaisalongwaytogofor10nightssopackagethecruise around a longer stay. Some beach time in Broome, a few days in Cairns to visit the Great Barrier Reef and a couple of nights in Sydney would be great additions.

• Breakthepricesintoadailycosttoshowwhatgreatvalueit is for what really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

It might not sound much but it was a big deal for Silversea, and not just in terms of the multi-million-dollar refit that was needed to turn her into a luxurious ice-class vessel.

Suddenly, instead of cruising to well-trod ports where sightseeing is high on the agenda, the newly-named Silver Cloud Expedition was taking guests to the South Pole in search of penguins, whales and iceberg. this summer she will be cruising

the arctic, seeking out polar bears in Spitsbergen and glaciers in Greenland.

a fleet of four expedition ships meant the cruise line could take its guests on adventure cruises all around the world, introducing them to stunning landscapes, wild animals and bird species in places such as the russian Far East and Kimberley in australia that only a privileged few people would ever encounter.

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E x P E D I t I o n C r u I S I n G W I t h S I lv E r S E a

in november 2017, silversea’s classic ship Silver Cloud crossed the cruising divide and became the company’s fourth expedition ship.

a TyPiCal silVersea exPeDiTions Cruise Passenger

•� �Enjoys�luxury�but�has�a�sense�of�adventure

•� �Wants�amazing�experiences�rather�than a tick-list of must-see sights

•� Is�not�price�conscious

•� �Has�an�interest�in�nature,�wildlife,�culture and history

•� Prefers�small�ships

•� �Enjoys�activities�such�as�hiking�and�kayaking

•� �Has�cruised�before�but�is�looking�for�something different

•� Has�been�on�a�safari�holiday

•� �Is�happy�getting�up�with�the�lark�in�return for unique, exciting once-in-a-lifetime experiences

ConTaCT

•� �Butler�service�in�every�suite

•� �Beverages�in-suite�and�throughout�the�ship,�including select champagnes, wines and spirits

•� �Gourmet�dining�

•� �Gratuities�always�included

•� �Expedition�activities�and�on-board�lectures

•� �Antarctica.�South�Georgia�and� the�Falkland�Islands

•� �Arctic

•� Central�&�South�America

•� �The�Kimberley�in�Australia

•� �Russian�Far�East

•� �The�Indian�Ocean

•� �Micronesia,�Melanesia� and Polynesia

•� �Galapagos�Islands

0207 340 0700

silversea.com or

silverseaacademy.com

WhaT’s inCluDeD on a silVersea exPeDiTion Cruise Where To finD a silVersea exPeDiTion Cruise

Silversea entered the expedition cruise sector a decade ago, bringing luxury to what until then had been a holiday for folk happy to compromise on comfort for the thrill of visiting remote destinations way off the beaten track.

Its first ship was Silver Explorer, a vessel that was given a lavish makeover to bring her up to the high standards demanded by Silversea clients. With room for 144 guests, she is the perfect size for cruising in antarctica, where she’ll spend this coming winter after a summer season in the Pacific.

Expedition ship number two was Silver Galapagos. Based in the Galapagos, she holds just 100 guests and gives passengers a luxurious base from which to enjoy the ultimate wildlife-spotting holiday. She sails one-week island-hopping cruises around the archipelago.

In 2014, Silver Discoverer entered Silversea’s expedition fleet after a multi-million-dollar refurbishment. She accommodates just 116 guests and will spend this coming winter exploring africa and asia and summer

in australia’s remote Kimberley region.

Following her refurbishment, Silver Cloud Expedition is one of the most comfortable ice-class ships sailing to antarctica. She holds just 260 guests (but numbers are limited to 200 in the polar regions to ensure smooth landings), giving her one of the highest space ratios in the expedition cruise sector.

She is equipped with a fleet of 16 new Zodiacs and carries an expedition team of experts in everything from marine biology to Inuit culture to lead trips ashore and host talks during time at sea in a new state-of-the-art lecture theatre.

her all-suite accommodation mostly comes with a balcony and ranges from an entry-level vista Suite to a stylish-apartment-style owner’s Suite. there are butlers for all, a number of bars and

lounges and a spa, where guests can enjoy a variety of relaxing treatments after an exciting day ashore.

Diners can take their pick from four restaurants, including Italian la terrazza and classy la Dame, which serves a menu created by chefs from relais & Châteaux. the restaurant serves international fare and regional cuisine, while the pool-side grill becomes a casual dining outlet in the evening where guests cook their own meats on sizzling lava stones. For those who want a quiet night in, dinner can be served in-suite course by course for no charge.

p r o f i l e

h u r t I G r u t E n : M a D E F o r E x P E D I t I o n C r u I S I n Gmention the words cruise line to hurtigruten and they will quickly put you right. “our ships and the facilities on board are designed to appeal to those who wish to travel and explore new things, not just to promote leisure cruising.”

launched in 1893 to operate ships along the coast of norway between Bergen and Kirkenes, hurtigruten has moved on to become a world leader in exploration travel. the norwegian coastal route is still a huge part of its business, but these days its ships also offer sea voyages to the polar regions, the northwest Passage, Greenland, South america and more.

new in 2019, it will be cruising to alaska, but calling into places the big ships can’t reach, such as St Matthew Island in the Bering Sea between alaska and Siberia, and Geographic harbour, from where passengers will go in search of brown bears in Katmai national Park.

also new in 2019, MS Spitsbergen is venturing to Franz Josef land, just 600 nautical miles from the north Pole, where the norwegian explorers Fridtjof nansen and hjalmar Johansen overwintered in 1895 after attempting to reach the north Pole.

norwegian explorers are hugely important to hurtigruten. not only do many of its voyages follow in their footsteps, but two new ships launching next year are named in their honour.

MS roald amundsen and MS Fridtjof nansen, launching in 2019, will be the world’s first hybrid ships, operating on eco-friendly marine gas oil and electric power. that will not only reduce Co2 emissions by 20% but means they can sail silently among glaciers and inside fjords for a period of time.

the new ships will have a high-tech interactive Science Centre where passengers can learn about the places

they are visiting and the Expedition team will host lectures and offer workshops in photography, biology and more. Both ships will also carry underwater drones so passengers can see what’s going on beneath the waves, and run a young Explorer programme to give children aged seven to 13 a deeper understanding of nature, climate and culture.

the newbuilds, which will increase hurtigruten’s fleet to 16 ships, will have three restaurants, large outdoor observation decks and heated pools.

Protecting the environment is a key concern for hurtigruten. Six of its ships will be retrofitted with hybrid power plants that use a combination of liquefied natural gas and battery power by 2021, reducing emissions by 25% (there is also an option to retrofit another three). By the same date, all ships will be able to connect to shore power in ports where this is available.

the company has also pledged to remove all single-use plastics from its ships and the hotels, restaurants and other establishments in Svalbard, operated by its subsidiary hurtigruten Svalbard, by July 2 this year.

ConTaCT

reservations: 0208 846 2666 hurtigruten.co.uk/agent-web

Working WiTh agenTsWhile�the�Hurtigruten�name�is�known�in�the�UK,�most�agents�and�consumers�associate�it�with the Norwegian Coastal Voyage and are unaware of the exciting destinations its ships visit beyond Norway.

The�UK�office�aims�to�change�that�by�providing agents with the marketing tools and unique selling points they need to promote Hurtigruten�with�confidence�both�to�cruise�enthusiasts seeking the ultimate voyage, and to adventure travellers seeking a base camp for their polar experience.

Key�messages�for�the�trade�are�that�Hurtigruten�doesn’t�sell�cruises�but�offers�adventures, and its ships don’t have rock-climbing walls because if passengers want to go rock-climbing, they have an expedition team member who will take them.

a TyPiCal hurTigruTen Passenger•� �Is�keen�to�get�close�to�nature

•� Cares�about�the�environment

•� Is�an�adventurer�rather�than�a�cruiser

•� �Is�more�interested�in�what�is�going�on�off� the ship than the facilities on board

•� �Wants�to�learn�about�the�places�they� will be visiting

•� �Has�done�the�Norwegian�Coastal� Voyage and wants to try something more adventurous


p r o f i l e


a r c t i c

Radiating out, it encompasses Greenland, the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway, Russia and Canada and numerous islands in the labrador Sea, and is home to inuit, Norwegians, Russians, Canadians and a host of other nationalities.

it is also less remote and not so hostile as the South Pole – indeed traditional cruise ships visit Greenland and Spitsbergen now and then. But for a real adventure in these frozen lands only an expedition ship with a hull that’s strong enough to break through ice will do.

Although cruises depart in the summer months, when much of the ice has melted, ships heading to the northern reaches of the Arctic often have to sail through chunks of floating ice, called growlers, which can damage the hulls of vessels not built to sail in frozen waters.

Cruisers can take their pick from three different adventures in this frozen wasteland – either sail the coast of Greenland, circumnavigate Spitsbergen or embark on a voyage through the legendary Northwest Passage, a sea route between Arctic Canada and Greenland that was only properly discovered in 1903 and 1906

GrEENLaNd

legend has it that some 1,000 years ago icelander Erik the Red was banished from his homeland for murder and happened upon a place that he then called Greenland in the hope it would attract other settlers to come and join him. He probably also wanted revenge on his fellow icelanders, whose island sounded very inhospitable in comparison.

These days Greenland is an autonomous

country within

the Kingdom of

Denmark and not

just the largest

island in the

world, but also

one of the most

inappropriately-

named as about 80% of its land mass is

covered by the only permanent ice sheet

outside Antarctica.

Expedition cruises sail up the west coast,

venturing into Disko Bay, and calling at

places with tongue-twisting names such

as Qeqartarsuaq, uummannaq and

Sisimiut. in ilulissat, your clients can take

small boat tours to the mouth of the

icefjord, where giant icebergs that have

broken off the Jakobshaven Glacier jostle

to get into the open water.

The Arctic and Antarctica are like salt and

pepper – they tend to be served together

but ultimately are (literally) poles apart.

Where Antarctica is a vast uninhabited

continent at the bottom of the world,

the Arctic is a notional area defined by a

imaginary circle in the Northern Hemisphere

with the North Pole at its centre.

E x P l O R i N G T H E A R C T i C


SPItSbErGEN

Some 2,313km from Oslo but owned by Norway, Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago and the nearest expedition ships can get to the North Pole, which is 1,338km away (currently only the russian nuclear icebreaker 50 Years of Victory, sold by Quark Expeditions, can reach the pole, but French cruise line Ponant says a vessel it is launching in 2021, also an icebreaker, will be able to get there).

Spitsbergen cruises generally start in Longyearbyen and then attempt to circumnavigate the island, stopping at random places en route so passengers can go for walks ashore once the area has been scouted for prowling polar bears.

they are the main attraction, but there is plenty of other wildlife to look out for including walruses, seals and whales.

trips ashore are hosted by armed teams of naturalists and geologists (polar bears are among the most dangerous animals on the planet so they have to be careful in case one is nearby) who also give talks about the wildlife, geography, climate and ice during sailing time.

NOrtHWESt PaSSaGE

In 1845, british explorer Sir John Franklin set out from Greenhithe in Kent to find the sea route between Greenland and arctic Canada. One year later, after a last known stop on beechey Island, he and all his men just disappeared.

We’ll probably never know exactly what happened to them, but just four years ago underwater vehicles operated by akademik Sergey Vavilov, a ship used by Canadian expedition cruise line One Ocean Expeditions, located the wreck of Erebus, one of the two vessels that set off from England all those years ago. two years later, the second ship, terror, was located.

It took another 65 years after the Franklin expedition before the Norwegian explorer roald

amundsen became the first man to navigate the entire Northwest Passage, which these days is a route high on the must-do list for those in search of the ultimate adventure.

Calls at beechey Island, where in 1850 a rescue expedition found the graves of three crew (it is thought they died from a combination of pneumonia, tuberculosis and lead poisoning from the cans their food was carried in) put a whole different spin on cruises through the Northwest passage, adding the history of exploration to the excitement of spotting whales, seals and polar bears, and getting up close to icebergs and into deep fjords.

WHAT TO PACK

• Walkingshoesandwaterproof trousers

• Warmjumpers,woollyhats, scarves and gloves

• Arainandwind-proofcoat

• Cameras,iPhones,chargers and plenty of storage space for pictures

SElliNG TiPS

• Cruisesdepartinthesummermonths,whentheicehasmelted enough for ships to navigate around Spitsbergen.

• Lookoutforcruiselinesthatofferkayakingfromtheship– it’s great fun to paddle through the small icebergs, known as growlers.

• Seals,whales,polarbearsandthestoryoftheill-fatedFranklin Expedition are among highlights for those cruising the Northwest Passage.

• Putthepriceofaonce-in-a-lifetimeadventureagainstthe actual cost of the cruise to show what value your clients are getting.

a r c t i c

Silversea ExpeditionsShips: Silver Cloud Expedition - 16,800 tons, 254 passengers (limited to 200 in Antarctica); Silver Explorer - 6,072 tons, 144 passengers.Itineraries: Ten to 14-day cruises pair Spitsbergen with Norway and/or iceland, while 16-day Greenland voyages sail round-trip from Kangerlussuaq. Two September 2019 departures take the ships from Greenland and iceland to Quebec and St John’s in CanadaSample: From £6,750 per person for a 10-day cruise from longyearbyen in Spitsbergen to Tromso in Norway departing July 12 2019. includes domestic flights. international flights extra.

Hapag-Lloyd CruisesShip: Hanseatic inspiration (launches October 2017) – 15,650 tons, 230 passengers.Itineraries: Among options, clients can sail 20 days from Toronto to Kangerlussuaq and explore the coast of Greenland and the Canadian Arctic on 14 and 17-day voyages.Sample: From £8,237 per person for a 14-day voyage round-trip from Kangerlussuaq to Northwest Greenland departing July 21 2020. includes domestic flights. international flights extra.

ScenicShips: Scenic Eclipse (launches September 2018) – 17,085 tons, 228 passengers.Itineraries: Clients can take their pick from 12 to 25-day cruises around Greenland and Spitsbergen and voyages that combine Spitsbergen, Greenland and iceland, and pair Spitsbergen with the Norwegian fjords. A 24-day voyage in August 2020 journeys through the Northwest Passage from Kangerlussuaq to Nome in Alaska.Sample: From £8,295 per person for a 13-day Pristine Greenland cruise from Reykjavik in iceland to Kangerlussuaq departing August 4, 2020. includes international and domestic flights.

HurtigrutenShips: Fram – 11,647 tons, 254 passengers (max 200 passengers in the Arctic); Roald Amundsen (launching May 2019) – 20,889 tons, 530 passengers; Spitsbergen – 7,344 tons, 243 passengers.Itineraries: Cruises of from 12 to 18 days sail the west coast of Greenland from Kangerlussuaq, pair Greenland with iceland or with iceland and Spitsbergen, and journey through the Northwest Passage from Kangerlussuaq to Cambridge Bay in Canada or Nome in Alaska. Ten and 12-day voyages circumnavigate Spitsbergen.Sample: From £5,154 per person for a 17-day iceland and Greenland cruise from Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq departing July 11 2019. includes domestic flights. international flights extra.

PonantShips: le lapérouse, le Champlain – 9,900 tons, 184 passengers; le Boréal, al’Austral, le Soléal – 10,944 tons, 264 passengers.Itineraries: Seven-night cruises circumnavigate Spitsbergen and iceland, while 15-day voyages pair Spitsbergen with Greenland. There are also two-week voyages along the coasts of Greenland and Baffin island, at the mouth of the Northwest Passage, and 23-day journeys through the Northwest Passage between Kangerlussuaq and Nome in Alaska. Sample: From €11,020 per person for a 14-day Baffin Bay Secrets cruise round-trip from Kangerlussuaq departing August 15 2019. includes domestic flights. international flights extra.

National Geographic ExpeditionsShip: National Geographic Explorer – 6,471 tons, 148 passengers.Itineraries: Whether clients want to see polar bears in Spitsbergen or venture over the 80º North latitude, they can with National Geographic Expeditions. Arctic itineraries range from nine to 24 days and include voyages in the Canadian High Arctic and Greenland’s east coast.Sample: From $10,430 per person for an 11-day land of the Polar Bear cruise around Spitsbergen round-trip from longyearbyen departing June 2, 9, 16 and 23 2019. includes domestic flights. international flights extra.

G AdventuresShip: G Expedition – 6,334 tons, 134 passengers.Itineraries: Spitsbergen cruises either circumnavigate the island from longyearbyen or focus on its west coast. A 15-night cruise from longyearbyen in September 2018 and 2019 explores Spitsbergen’s west coast, visits ittoqqortoormiit on Greenland’s east coast and ends in Reykjavik in iceland.Sample: From £2,384 per person for an eight-day Realm of the Polar Bear cruise round-trip from longyearbyen departing June 13 2019. Based on sharing a quad cabin. Excludes all flights.

One Ocean ExpeditionsShip: RCGS Resolute – 8,378 tons, 146 passengers; Akademik Sergey Vavilov – 6,230 tons, 92 passengers; Akademik ioffe – 6,230 tons, 96 passengers;Itineraries: Cruises mostly focus on the Canadian Arctic, sailing either all the way through the Northwest Passage or exploring Baffin island. A nine-night photography-themed Spitsbergen Encounter cruise departing June 19 2019 will have professional photographers to help passengers get that perfect shotSample: From uS$9,090 per person for a nine-night Pathways to Franklin cruise from Resolute to Cambridge Bay departing August 11 2019. Based on a triple-share cabin. includes domestic flights. international flights extra.

THE ARCTiC - WHO GOES THERE



G a l a paG o s

That is a wonderful thing because these islands happen to be one of the most amazing cruise experiences for anyone who fancies combining an adventure at sea with a week coming

face-to-face with some of the most fascinating wildlife on the planet.

The islands, part of Ecuador but some 600 miles off the coast of South America, shot to fame back in the 1850s, when Charles Darwin published his scientific book The Origin of Species based on theories he developed during a visit

to the Galapagos in 1835 while on a five-year expedition on the HMS Beagle to chart the southern half of South America’s coastline.

He went ashore hoping to find volcanoes and instead observed animals and birds that had adapted to the different island environments in which they lived. There were lizards that swam, cormorants that could not fly, finches with beaks that had evolved into different shapes depending whether their main food stuffs were fruits, seeds or insects, and giant tortoises with shells shaped to suit the vegetation they had to eat.

Some 25,000 people live in the islands, attracted there by the number of tourists,

which is creeping up even though it is supposed to be limited to help preserve the fragile ecosystem.

Many stay in hotels, and that is one way to visit the Galapagos, taking boat trips out to different islands each day. But a cruise that visits a couple of islands, beaches or bays every day is a far easier way to travel as you just get on board and unpack once, and therefore is also far more rewarding.

Ships of all sizes and quality sail around the archipelago, from small yachts to luxury craft, but none is allowed to hold more than 100 passengers. Most will visit two islands a day during a seven-night cruise, each time taking folk ashore in

While the rest of the world disappears under concrete and glass, a lot of

effort and millions of dollars goes into protecting the Galapagos islands as

much as possible from the ravages of the 21st century.

E x P l O R i N G T H E G A l A P A G O S

v o ya G E S o F D I S C o v E r y W I t h S C E n I C E C l I P S Eexpedition cruising is reaching new heights of luxury this autumn when scenic’s first-ever ocean-going vessel launches. Dubbed the world’s first discovery yacht, scenic eclipse is currently under construction in Croatia and has proved so popular that a sister ship has already been announced. scenic eclipse ii will enter service in may 2020.

In designing these vessels, Scenic has called on all the expertise it has gained from building and operating some of the world’s most luxurious river ships. the Scenic Eclipse fleet accommodates just 228 passengers (limited to 200 in polar waters), all their cabins are suites with private balconies and there are butlers for all.

there are also so many places to eat that passengers can dine in a different restaurant every day of a seven-night cruise and still not have tried everywhere.

Choices range from Elements, the main restaurant, to Koko’s, which serves asian fusion dishes. there’s a Japanese teppanyaki, where chefs prepare meals right in front of diners, French fine dining in lumiére, an exclusive Chef’s table and a poolside grill for those times when only casual will do.

the scenery and wildlife are the main attraction of an expedition cruise – the magnificent snow-capped peaks and deep fjords, discovering penguin colonies in antarctica, looking out for polar bears – but both vessels will be putting up stiff competition.

there are eight lounges and bars, a library, four indoor and outdoor swimming pools, Jacuzzis, a theatre and spa where passengers can relax on sunbeds, in the sauna

or steam room. For those keen to stay in shape, a gym has a yoga and Pilates studio.

as the fleet will be cruising in the polar regions, the company is building both ships to the highest ice-class specification possible and making use of all the latest technology to ensure the environment is looked after as well as their passengers.

GPS dynamic positioning means the vessels don’t have to anchor so there is no risk of damage to the ocean bed, while zero speed stabiliser fins, which also work when the ship is stationary, will vastly improve the stability when sailing.

Each ship will also carry 12 Zodiacs for landings in the polar regions, two six-seat helicopters for bird’s-eye views above the ocean and a six-seat submarine for exploring beneath the waves (note that helicopter and submarine use is weather dependent). Excursions ashore will be led by a team of experts in everything from marine biology to the environment, who will also share their insights into the places being visited in talks on-board.

as on the rivers, Scenic’s cruise fares include everything from flights and transfers to drinks, tips and unlimited Wi-Fi. there’s no charge in any of the restaurants and all excursions are included. In fact the only things that will cost extra are trips in the helicopter and submarine, and treatments in the spa.

ConTaCT

reservations: 0808 115 0463

www.scenic.co.uk

suiTe DreamsAll suites have a private balcony, separate living and sleeping areas and come with butler service,�complimentary�mini�bars�and�HDTV�entertainment�systems�with�Bose�speakers.

Verandah�Suites�with�up�to�40�square�metres�of space are impressive enough, but for a real treat�there�are�larger�Spa�and�Panorama� Suites�as�well�as�one�and�two-bedroom�Owner’s Penthouses measuring up to a fantastic�247�square�metres.

Where To go exPloringThe�Scenic�Eclipse�fleet�will�be�exploring�the�ends�of the earth – literally – as their itineraries include voyages�that�visit�Antarctica,�South�Georgia�and�the�Falklands�as�well�as�the�Arctic�islands�of�Spitsbergen�and�Greenland.

New�in�2020,�there�is�a�remarkable�voyage�through the Northwest Passage between Greenland�and�Nome�in�Alaska,�and�a�cruise�that�explores�Russia’s�White�Sea�and�Murmansk.

In between the expedition cruises, the ships will be�sailing�popular�areas�such�as�the�Greek�Isles,�the�US�East�Coast�and�the�Caribbean,�among�many other destinations.

p r o f i l e



G a l a paG o s

small tenders or inflatable zodiacs to see the wonderful wildlife – think dancing booby birds, playful sea lions and rather stately giant tortoises - which have no predators and therefore no fear of humans.

Some days there might instead be a zodiac cruise around a bay teeming with wildlife. Several times there will also be a chance to go swimming or snorkelling with the animals. Whichever your clients choose there is no charge (but if they want to go scuba diving it would be an extra cost).

There are several rules to know before a first trip ashore. Visitors can only set foot on the islands with a guide (all ships carry teams of Ecuadorian guides who have an intimate knowledge of the islands’ flora and fauna and are registered by the Galapagos National Park) and they must always stay behind their guide. Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz is an exception. This is the biggest town in the islands and your clients will be free to explore the souvenir shops after a trip to the Charles Darwin Research Centre.

Visitors must also keep a distance from the animals, certainly never try to touch them, and move carefully and quietly if walking among them so as not to scare them (on some landings they will find themselves tip-toeing over marine iguanas). Those who go snorkelling are not to touch plants or animals in the water.

FACTFilELocation: in the Pacific Ocean, 600 miles off the west coast of Ecuador in South America.

Number of islands: 20 islands and 42 islets.

Capital: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristóbal island. Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz island is the biggest town.

When to go: The islands are on the Equator so there is always 12 hours of daylight and the weather averages from 26 to 31 degrees Centigrade. The hottest weather is January to May, when it is also most likely to rain. June to December is dry and a bit cooler. Cruises operate year-round.

Getting there: Flights operate from Quito in Ecuador and stop at Guayaquil to pick up passengers before continuing to the islands. Planes land either at Baltra or San Cristóbal islands. Flight time is just over two hours.

Wildlife specials: The only lizards that swim, cormorants that can’t fly, the only penguins in the Northern Hemisphere in their natural habitat, the only colony of red-footed booby birds in the world.

TOP Six HiGHliGHTS

• AtripintothehighlandsonSantaCruztogetupclosetogianttortoises. These were almost wiped out in the 1800s as passing sailors took them to eat but numbers are increasing thanks to painstaking breeding programmes.

• Zodiacboatridesaroundsmallbaysandthroughdensemangroves to get a glimpse of animals such as penguins, pelicans and flightless cormorants.

• ThefishstallinPuertoAyora,thecapital,wheresealionsandpelicans sit at the feet of the sellers hoping a tasty morsel might come their way.

• SelectedcruiseseithercircumnavigateKickerRock,akaRocaLeonDormino (sleeping lion), or get close up on zodiacs so passengers can get a good view of all the birdlife that lives here.

• AwoodenbarrelonFloreanaIslandthathasservedasamailboxsince 1793, where passengers on passing ships leave postcards for others to collect and deliver. leave your own card and see how long it takes to be delivered.

• CharlesDarwinissaidtohavebeenmainlyinspiredbythefinches, which had developed different-shaped beaks depending on their primary foodstuff.

SElliNG TiPS

• AstherearenoportsintheGalapagos,theonlywayonandoffships–evenon embarkation and disembarkation day – is by inflatable zodiac, often landing onto beach or rocks, so your clients need a good degree of mobility.

• Thereistimetogosnorkellingwithseaturtles,penguinsandsealionsonmost days. Snorkels, masks and flippers can usually be borrowed for free.

• Shipscomeinallsizesfromtinyyachtsthatholdjust16passengerstoluxuryvessels that accommodate 100 people in suites with balconies.

• Suggestclientscharteroneofthesmallyachtsthatsailhereforamilestonebirthday or anniversary. it’s certainly unique and guaranteed to be a holiday they will never forget.

WHO GOES THERE

Silversea ExpeditionsShip: Silver Galapagos – 4,077 tons, 100 passengers.

Itineraries: Seven-night cruises operate from Baltra to San Cristóbal

and vice-versa, calling at a couple of islands and bays each day. Among

highlights, passengers can climb to the top of volcanic Bartolomé (388

steps) for views across the islands, take a zodiac cruise around Bahia

Elizabeth on isabela island and see flamingos at Punta Cormorant on

Floreana.

Sample: From £5,670 per person for a seven-night cruise from Baltra

to San Cristóbal departing January 26 2019. includes domestic flights

from Ecuador to the Galapagos. international flights extra.

G AdventuresShips: Monserrat - 20 passengers; Yolita, Estrella del Mar, xavier iii -

16 passengers.

Itineraries: Choice of seven and 17-night cruises that loop around

favourite islands including Santa Cruz, Floreana, isabela and Santiago.

Sample: From £3,149 per person for a 10-night North, West & Central

islands cruise round-trip from Baltra departing January 8 2019.

Excludes flights.

UnCruise AdventuresShip: la Pinta – 1,451 tons, 48 passengers.

Itineraries: One-week cruises go in search of blue-footed boobies,

frigate birds, land iguanas, Darwin’s finches and giant tortoises as

la Pinta hops around the islands of Santa Cruz, Rabida, isabela,

Fernandina and North Seymour.

Sample: From $8,345 per person departing April 4 2019 for a seven-

night Darwin’s Discoveries cruise round-trip from Baltra. includes a

night in Guayaquil and local flights. international flights extra.

Avalon WaterwaysShip: Treasure of the Galapagos - 343 tons, 16 passengers.

Itineraries: Nine-day holidays pair a five-night cruise with a couple of

nights in Quito, while 16-day trips add nights in lima, Secret Valley and

Cusco, and a day trip to Machu Picchu.

Sample: From £4,699 per person for a nine-day Ecuador and the

Galapagos holiday departing March 20 2019. includes two nights in

Quito and local and international flights.

Celebrity CruisesShips: Celebrity xpedition – 2,842 tons, 100 passengers; Celebrity

xperience – 1,610 tons, 48 passengers (leaves the fleet in May 2019); Celebrity

xploration – 319.5 tons, 16 passengers (for charter only, leaves the fleet in May

2019); Celebrity Flora – 5,739 tons, 100 passengers (launches spring 2019).

Itineraries: Ships sail a mix of seven-night cruises round-trip from

Baltra that visit two islands or coves each day so passengers can go

ashore and walk among the wildlife or swim and snorkel. Exceptionally,

they stay a day anchored off Puerto Ayora so passengers can see the

giant tortoises in the wild and shop.

Sample: From £3,745 for a seven-night Outer loop cruise on Celebrity

xpedition departing February 3 2019. Excludes flights.

National Geographic ExpeditionsShips: National Geographic Endeavour ii – 2,716 tons, 96 passengers;

National Geographic islander – 1,065 tons, 48 passengers.

Itineraries: Seven and 10-day cruises call at islands including

Bartolomé, Santiago, isabela and Santa Cruz.

Sample: From uS$6,960 per person for a 10-night cruise on National

Geographic Explorer ii. Applies to weekly departures before December

15 2018. Excludes flights.

LET US TAKE YOU CLOSER TO THE AUTHENTIC BEAUTY

OF THE WORLD.

DARE TO BE AMAZED.

Easter Island by Steve McCurry

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO BE AMAZED? You haven’t really seen the world until you’ve seen it on a Silversea Expeditions voyage. Our fl eet of specially equipped luxury vessels will take you to places no other ship can reach. Together with a team of expert leaders you will witness fi rst-hand the secrets that make this planet so beautiful. Authentic beauty is only an expedition away, so how far will you dare to go? #ThisIsSilversea

Discover our remote destinations. For more information contact your travel agent.

ExpeditionCruiseDiaryDPS.indd 1 20/04/2018 10:55

https://www.silversea.com/luxury-expeditions-cruises.html

I’M A

Cruise ExpertCLIA bring together cruise lines, travel agents, associated travel partners,

and we are dedicated to the growth of ocean and river cruise holidays.

Cruiseexperts.org is your ultimate travel agent destination with our City & Guilds accredited online learning academy, events registration, Cruise Line contacts and a deckload of exclusive CLIA travel agent tools to build your knowledge and stay up to

date. A fleet of CLIA Cruise Line latest news, ship visits, factsheets and webinars await you plus don’t miss out on our partnership with Zolv Technology who provide the amazing “Full Picture” sales tool free to our members.

In 2018 we are expanding our event calendar to the river shores of Asia and will continue to bring our cruise industry flagship events as we educate and engage cruise travel agents across Europe.

Join the CLIA Cruise Community at cruiseexperts.org

@CLIAUK @discovercruisesCLIAEurope3 4 | E x p e d i t i o n C r u i s e D i a r y | M a y 2 0 1 8

a m a zo n

About one-fifth of all the fresh water that flows into the world’s oceans comes from the Amazon.

The river divides into two parts when it comes to cruising. River cruise vessels explore the upper reaches of the river in Peru or Ecuador, while ocean-going ships (the focus of this Expedition Cruise Diary) sail up river from the Atlantic as far as Manaus as part of a longer cruise along South America’s east coast.

Whichever your clients choose, they will be embarking on a real getaway-from-it-all adventure. They’ll trek through jungle that’s home to poisonous frogs and snakes (don’t worry – guides will make sure they are safe!), meet indigenous people, spy all kinds of exotic wildlife, maybe kayak along narrow tributaries, and see piranha fish and caiman (like an alligator) up close.

Wildlife is definitely the drawcard here. Sharp eyes will likely spot sloths, howler monkeys, river dolphins, turtles, macaws, kingfishers, toucans, colourful parrots, hummingbirds and much more.

On an excursion to the confluence of the Rio Negro and Rio Solimoes, your clients will see the two rivers run side by side, without their different-coloured waters mixing, for miles.

E x P l O R i N G T H E A M A z O N

The Amazon is arguably the greatest river in the world, rising

in the Andes Mountains and flowing 4,000 miles through nine

countries in South America before emptying into the Atlantic.

SElliNG TiPS

• Thinkbeyondcruisingasthisisawildlifeholidaythathappenstobeona ship. Your clients will see everything from sloths and river dolphins to macaws, kingfishers and black herons. A good camera is a must.

• TheAmazoniswarmandhumidyear-round(between21˚Cand31˚C)butas this is rainforest clients should expect precipitation anytime.

• SuggestclientstakeanAmazoncruiseaspartofalongerholiday in South America.

• AnexpeditioncruiseuptheAmazonisagreatadventurebutyourclientsneed a good degree of mobility to get the most from their holiday.

WHO GOES THERE

PonantShip: le Champlain – 9,900 tons, 184 passengers.Itineraries: Three voyages this year and next explore the Amazon River in-depth between Belem on the Atlantic Ocean and Manaus. Passengers will have an overnight in Belem, a trip to the beach at Alter do Chao and hopefully spot toucans, monkeys, river dolphins and other wildlife. Sample: From €7,120 per person for a 13-day Natural Wonders of the Amazon cruise from Cayenne in French Guiana to Manaus departing March 17 2019. includes local flights. international flights extra.

Hapag-Lloyd CruisesShip: Hanseatic inspiration – 15,650 tons, 230 passengers (launches October 2019).Itineraries: This is one of very few ocean-going cruise ships that can navigate beyond Manaus as far as iquitos in Peru. Two sailings are offered in 2020. There’ll be two days to explore Manaus and zodiac trips ashore and through the rainforest in search of wildlife.Sample: From £9,576 per person for a 17-day cruise from Belem to iquitos departing March 25 2020. includes local flights. international flights extra.

SeabournShip: Seabourn Quest – 32,000 tons, 458 passengers.Itineraries: A four-day sailing up the Amazon in March 2019 is available as part of a Brazil cruise or combined with a trip to Antarctica. Sample: From £6,999 per person for a 21-day Beauties of Brazil cruise from Buenos Aires to Manaus departing March 17 2020. Excludes flights.

© 2018 National Geographic Partners, LLC. National Geographic EXPEDITIONS and the Yellow Border Design are trademarks of the National Geographic Society, used under license. © 2018 National Geographic Partners, LLC. National Geographic EXPEDITIONS and the Yellow Border Design are trademarks of the National Geographic Society, used under license.

TO L E A R N M O R E , V I S I T

NATGEOEXPED IT IONS .CO.UK

SMALL GROUP TOURS | SMALL SHIP CRUISES | PRIVATE JET EXPEDITIONS | PRIVATE TOURS | LUXURY ECO-LODGES

When you travel with us, you support the National Geographic Society’s researchers and explorers who work to preserve, protect, and advance our understanding of the planet and its people. To learn more, visit www.natgeo.com/info

A T RU E VOYAG E O F D I S C OV E RYT R A V E L W I T H N A T I O N A L G E O G R A P H I C

Travel has always been at the heart of what National Geographic does. On our expedition cruises, venture into wild and pristine places, from the awe-inspiring Galápagos Islands to the iceberg-scattered bays of Antarctica. Travel in style aboard our fleet of eight National Geographic-Lindblad expedition ships, and discover wildlife and wildernesses that roads—and larger vessels—cannot reach.

• Explore alongside a seasoned team — for example marine biologists and naturalists, as well as a National Geographic photographer (select departures) trained to help you capture the sights

• Experience flexible itineraries that enable us to take advantage of wildlife sightings or other spontaneous opportunities that arise

• Navigate narrow waterways and small harbours aboard our small expedition ships and use our kayaks, Zodiacs and more for close up exploration

NGE_ExpeditionCruiseDiary_210x297.indd 1 08/05/2018 17:30


k a m c h at k a

The peninsula is some 780 miles long, spends most of the year covered in snow and ice, and is home to 160 volcanoes, 29 of which are still active, thousands of brown bears, spotted seals and half the world’s Steller sea eagle population. The islands all around, also part of Russia, are teeming with bird life. No wonder expedition cruise lines have come exploring of late.

Danish explorer Vitus Bering helped map the region during the 1700s, naming Petropavlovsk, the only major city, after his two ships, St Peter and St Paul.

After the Second World War, the Soviets declared it a military zone and closed the region to both foreigners and Russians, and it stayed that way until the Soviet union collapsed in 1990.

An unintended but happy consequence of the ban was that the scenery and wildlife were protected, making this a fabulous port of call for cruisers looking for a seriously exciting once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

E x P l O R i N G T H E R u S S i A N F A R E A S T

Some 4,200 miles due east of Moscow –

that’s more than eight hours by air - lies

the Kamchatka Peninsula, a region that is

so remote that even today there are no

roads or railways in or out so the only way

to visit is by ship or air.

SElliNG TiPS

• There’sagoodchancemostpeople will know nothing about the Russian Far East, the Kamchatka Peninsula or the Mergui Archipelago (see p39) so you have everything to play for. Take time to learn where in the world they are and why clients should go so you can sell them with confidence.

• SelltheKamchatkaPeninsulaandits neighbouring islands to clients with a real sense of adventure and interest in seeing nature and wildlife in the raw.

cont.

WHO GOES THERE

Silversea ExpeditionsShip: Silver Explorer – 6,072 tons, 144 passengers.Itineraries: if clients can pack fast, Silver Explorer is visiting the Russian Far East on two cruises in July. it is back again in 2019, and also visiting Russian islands south of the peninsula, on an 18-day voyage from Otaru in Japan to Seward in Alaska.Sample: From £9,990 per person for a 22-night Russian Far East cruise departing June 14 2019. Excludes flights.

PonantShip: le Soléal – 10,944 tons, 264 passengers.Itineraries: There is just one – a 13-day voyage from Petropavlovsk in the Kamchatka Peninsula to Juneau in Alaska departing June 24 2019 with guest lectures from French writer and explorer Jean-louis Étienne.Sample: From €8,270 per person. includes local flights. international flights extra.

National Geographic ExpeditionsShip: National Geographic Orion – 3,984 tons, 102 passengers.Itineraries: There is just one itinerary - a 22-day cruise from Anchorage to Nome spends two days exploring the Kamchatka Peninsula but it is available on two departures in June or July 2019. Sample: From $25,850 per person. includes local flights. international flights extra.

https://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.co.uk/expedition-cruises/

Cruiselates.com is a frequently updated website

listing late availability on luxury, boutique and

expedition small ships appealing to travellers seeking

high standards of service and dining and often

visiting ports that larger ships simply can’t access.

Looking for lates?

Cruiselates.com

Visit CruiseLates.com for opportunities to sell to cruise regulars

seeking an exciting new cruise experience, retirees ready to sail at

short notice or first timers seeking professional advice. S t o w a w a y P u b l i c a t i o n s | 3 9

m e r G u i

The archipelago is a scattering of 800 islands off the southern coast of Myanmar in the Andaman Sea. Many are deserted, covered in dense tropical rainforest and ringed by thick mangroves and sandy beaches.

Clients can expect to see monkeys and tropical birds ashore, and whales and dolphins at sea, depending on the time of year. Pandaw’s itinerary includes a visit to the sea gypsies, or nomadic Moken tribespeople, who live on the sea and make a living catching fish and pearl diving.

E x P l O R i N G T H E M E R G u i A R C H i P E l A G O

The Mergui (pronounced mer-gwee) Archipelago is the new kid

on the block when it comes to expedition cruising as Asia river

cruise specialist Pandaw only started sailing here at the end of

2017 and so far it has the route to itself.

WHO GOES THERE

Pandaw

Ship: Andaman Explorer – 1,150 tons, 20 passengers.Itineraries: Seven and 10-night island-hopping voyages from the colonial city of Kawthaung, go bird-watching through the mangroves and allow time to swim, snorkel or kayak (equipment provided).Sample: From $3,780 per person for a seven-night Mergui Archipelago cruise round-trip from Kawthaung departing February 10 2019. Excludes flights.

SElliNG TiPS cont.

• Don’tworryabouttheprice.Thesecruises are not cheap but your clients would not be asking if they couldn’t afford to go.

• Cruiseshipsnavigatingtheseremote shores will mostly anchor off the coast and take passengers ashore by zodiac so your clients need to be able to climb in and out of the boats.

http://www.cruiselates.com

Sustainable travel to the ends of the Earth on the G Expedition

AWE-INSPIRING ADVENTURES FROM SHIP TO SHORE

With over 130 years of cumulative experience on the G Expedition, we’re passionate about helping travellers experience the beauty of our natural world. And as caretakers of the planet, we aim to have no more than a minor or transitory impact on the places we visit. That’s why we use environmentally-safe practices everywhere we go, and work with partners like the Albatross Task Force, Clean Seas, and the Ocean Health Fund.

To learn more, visit planeterra.org/oceans or speak to your G Adventures Global Purpose Specialist.

0344 272 2190gadventures.co.uk/expedition

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ABTA No. Y6125

https://www.gadventures.co.uk/travel-styles/cruising/expedition-cruises/?utm_medium=Multi-Medium&utm_source=Vanity-URL-UK&utm_campaign=Expedition-2018

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