World 49: Cruise Edition

WORLD L I V I N G & T R A V E L

WORLD 49

CRUISE EDITION

Seabourn Quest, Arctic Cruise.

$12.50 Australia & New Zealand

e s i u r Cthe orld W 2O2O

THE LAST WORD

JOE O’SULLIVAN, CO-FOUNDER OF CRUISE WORLD

C

ON CRUISING

ruise World celebrated its 25th birthday in April 2019, but when my brother Donal and I started the business, very few New Zealanders had even considered a cruise holiday. Donal was convinced it was the way of the future and today New Zealand is one of the fastest growing cruise markets in the world.

In 2018 alone, more than 100,000 Kiwis took a cruise in rivers and oceans in all corners of the globe. Recently, cruising in our own beautiful country has become very popular offering guests a unique view of our coastline they would otherwise have missed.

People often tell us they wished they’d discovered cruising years earlier. They love how convenient it is compared to landbased holidays and how much stress is removed from the travel experience. You don’t have to catch a bus to the airport, sit in a taxi in traffic or hire a rental car. You don’t have to pack your bags every few days to travel to a new destination. After a day spent exploring a port city, head back to your floating home and unwind with a cocktail or a coffee. After you’re well rested you can choose a restaurant, relax in a quiet lounge bar, listen to live music, see a show or share a conversation about the culture, architecture or wildlife you’ve seen that day. Wake

218

|

WORLD

up the next day in a stunning new port. How cool is that?

Stepping on board a cruise ship is like stepping into a beautiful bubble where life is a little more carefree. There are few safer places than a cruise ship and if you compare a typical land-based resort to a cruise ship, the service and the value is almost always better at sea. Staying in hotels can be a very transient experience but it’s very easy to develop a rapport with the crew and fellow guests on a cruise.

There’s a large range of cruise styles to satisfy everyone from the most experienced travellers to those who’ve never left home — ultra-luxury, resort, boutique, small ship, large ship, river, adventure and expedition to name a few — and a massive range of itineraries and destinations.

At Cruise World we work with 90 cruise lines and I’m convinced there’s a cruise experience for everyone, from small ships that cater for as few as 16 guests right up to giant ocean liners with 6,500 people on board. Some cruises are more suited to kids and families, some are great for single people or those craving adventures and some are aimed at more sedate travel.

Don’t keep wondering why cruising is loved by so many. Sit down with a cruise expert and discover your options. Cruising is a far better experience than you can ever imagine.

CRUISE WORLD THE

CRUISING IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CATEGORIES IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY AND FOR GOOD REASON. THIS 100+PAGE SPECIAL TELLS YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR THE ULTIMATE LUXURY EXPERIENCE.

LIVING & TRAVEL

|

101

WORLD L I V I N G

&

T R A V E L

CRUISE THE WORLD Your guide to the wonderful world of cruising.

102

101

CRUISE TIPS

DEEP BLUE DINING

Our top 20 tips for novice and experienced cruisers alike.

Foodies are spoilt for choice on cruise ships.

132

123

SEABOURN SOJOURN

OUR WORLD Jon and Tracy Fleming swapped the ‘9 to 5’ for a life at sea.

Michal McKay enjoys her maiden cruise from Barcelona to Rome.

SUBSCRIBE

0800 11 22

|

WORLD

108

WORLD L I V I N G

&

T R A V E L

144

BLUE DANUBE Vienna to Prague by boat is a great introduction to river cruising.

1 158

GEORGIA ON MY MIND Nick Walton discovers the wonders of one of the world’s most remarkable wildlife destinations.

168

184

ADVENTURE TIME

ON THE HORIZON

Roderick Eime with all you need to know about expedition cruising.

Tom Hyde looks forward to some of the new ship builds ready to set sail.

218

192

THE LAST WORD

CRUISE CALENDAR

Joe O’Sullivan of Cruise World on the joys of cruising.

Your month-bymonth guide to the best adventures at sea in 2020.

SUBSCRIBE

0800 11 24

|

WORLD

ADVENTURE ON THE HIGH SEAS RODERICK EIME WITH ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EXPEDITION CRUISING .

168

|

WORLD

LIVING & TRAVEL

|

169

T

he word ‘expedition’ may conjure up images of Ernest Shackleton braving the elements in the Antarctic, or Christopher Columbus coping with a crew on the verge of mutiny on his way to discovering the New World, but fear not. Expedition cruising gives guests a taste of adventure and exploration in off-the-beaten-path destinations but without any of the hardships endured

by Shackleton and Columbus.

The term ‘expedition’ gives cruises a romantic, exotic appeal but the emphasis is very much on providing guests with an immersive experience. They usually involve some level of activity but they are suitable for all ages and abilities.

Passengers aboard expedition vessels have come to expect expert guides and lecturers to help them interpret the rich cultural and natural histories of these exotic destinations. Academics, researchers and noted authors, although formally employed as lecturers and guides, in fact become fellow guests, creating enrapturing dinner conversations.

You should be aware that a true expedition cruise consists of an itinerary with inbuilt flexibility. In the capricious Antarctic waters, all activities and sightseeing are dependent on the weather and ice.

Passengers are reminded of this time and again as it is quite common for completely unscheduled landings to happen at a moment’s notice. The same can be said for expedition cruises in tropical waters. As weather, currents and tides play out in the South Sea archipelagos, an expedition leader and his/her captain must ‘massage’ the itinerary constantly to capitalise on some opportunities and avoid missing out on others.

Often these opportunities are related to random wildlife sightings. It might be a pod of humpback whales bubble feeding or polar bears hunting on an ice floe. Along with the remoteness of the destinations, the indigenous cultures of the regions and the untouched landscapes, wildlife really is central to the awe-inspiring nature of expedition cruising.

Adventure cruising gets you up close with nature.

170

|

WORLD

Wildlife of the world takes centre stage on adventure cruises.

SEABOURN

Seabourn was launched with a philosophy of providing guests with smaller, more luxurious vessels capable of exploring must-see ports and hidden gems that few travellers ever get to see.

Founded in 1988, the line now has five all-oceanfront suite ships with beautifully designed spaces, first-class amenities, and one of the most generous ratios of space per guest in the industry. These ultraluxury cruising ships range from 229 suites through to the newest ships offering 300 all-verandah suites.

Seabourn began Antarctica voyages five years ago offering a fully immersive Antarctic experience with multiple landings on the ice and exploratory missions in Zodiacs. In recent years the Ventures by Seabourn programme has added the opportunity to kayak in Antarctic waters.

Seabourn has recently announced the commissioning of a dedicated expedition ship with 132 allverandah, all-oceanfront suites. Seabourn Venture is due for delivery in 2021 to be followed by a second dedicated expedition ship in 2022. Each ship will have two custom-built submarines capable of holding six people, 24 Zodiacs capable of holding every single guest on board, double sea kayaks, mountain bikes and e-bikes, scuba and snorkelling gear, as well as a 26-person expedition team comprised of veteran wilderness experts, scientists, historians and naturalists.

The new Seabourn expedition ships will cruise to both polar regions as well as the Amazon, the Caribbean and other exotic destinations.

A proper expedition vessel is more than just a smaller ship with Zodiacs piled up on deck; rather it is a vessel fully equipped to maximise your interaction with the natural and cultural world. A well-designed and equipped expedition vessel is fit for the conditions, whether it be weaving through disintegrating pack ice, creeping past vivid coral atolls or coming face to face with animals in their natural habitat.

Expedition cruising may be a niche product, albeit one that is growing rapidly, and even though there is an expedition cruise line to suit everyone, matching them to your needs and desires requires some expertise.

You’ll know instinctively if this type of cruising appeals to you or not but make sure you consult with someone who has experience of expedition cruise lines. Don’t be sold by an uninformed travel consultant. Speak to an experienced agent or specialist operator direct. In the expedition cruise market in particular, the cost isn’t always the best indicator of the standard of the vessel or service you can expect. Here are some of our favourite expedition and small ship cruise lines and why.

Zodiac’s give you shore access to the amazing scenery.

LIVING & TRAVEL

|

173

Smaller expedition ships get you places larger cruise ships can’t access.

LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Lindblad is widely credited with being the leaders in the modern age of expedition cruising thanks to the foresight of the patriarch, Lars-Eric Lindblad, who chartered the first ship for regular passengers to Antarctica in 1966.

Despite some challenging periods, Lindblad has remained at the forefront of the expedition sector by virtue of a large fleet, in-depth itineraries, superior staff and enrichment programmes as well as a long-standing relationship with the highly respected National Geographic Society, founded in 1888.

Lindblad is adding several brand new vessels and tends to attract a mainly American clientele, but their naturefocused itineraries are wide-ranging and suitable for all English-speaking markets.

SILVERSEA EXPEDITIONS

The Monaco-based boutique cruise line was founded in 1994, employing luxuriously appointed smaller cruise ships on exclusive itineraries for well-to-do guests. Silversea responded to the growing luxury expedition market when they acquired the 1989-built, ice-rated MS World Adventurer in 2007, rechristening it Silver Explorer.

Since 2014, Silversea has employed a second vessel, Silver Discoverer, which is due to be retired from the fleet this year. Their third expedition vessel, Silver Galapagos, is used exclusively on itineraries in the islands made famous

by Charles Darwin.

In 2017, the company’s first ship, Silver Cloud, underwent a comprehensive rebuild to bring it up to ice-class as well as major internal and technological improvements. As such, it delivers many big ship luxuries as well as credible expedition itineraries, including a rarely offered round-the-world expedition cruise.

CRYSTAL CRUISES

Another ultra-high-end cruise line making a recent expansion into smaller expedition vessels. Initially, the 1988-built 62-berth vessel, Crystal Esprit, offered small ship itineraries from the Dalmatian Coast and Greek Isles to the Seychelles and West Indies.

That ship will be joined by the much-vaunted Crystal Endeavor in 2020. This star-studded 200-passenger ship claims to be the largest and most spacious purpose-built polar class ship featuring Crystal's signature service, Michelin-inspired dining and hospitality with all-suite, butler-serviced accommodations.

Furthermore, Crystal Endeavor will lift the bar in the expedition sector with two helicopters and a seven person submarine in addition to an array of other watercraft and toys.

174

|

WORLD

PONANT

The French-flagged ocean cruise line, founded in 1988, has always devoted itself to a higher class of clientele aboard small ships and since 2010 has embarked on a massive fleet expansion programme beginning with a new class of vessel, Le Boreal.

Four Boreal-class ships and two all-new Explorer-class ships currently comprise the fleet along with the line’s mascot vessel, Le Ponant, a three-masted barque launched in 1991. Four more Explorer-class, expedition-specific vessels are planned along with a revolutionary icebreaker of unique design, the 30,000GT Le Commandant Charcot, due for delivery in 2021. Ponant delivers a sophisticated style of relaxed luxury aboard superbly finished, modern ships with an exhaustive voyage programme.

HAPAG-LLOYD CRUISES

The stalwart German brand can trace its luxury cruising heritage back well over 100 years. Since the 1990s, the line has been regarded by Berlitz World Cruising as the highest-rated expedition cruise line in terms of onboard offerings.

Hapag-Lloyd has recently retired its two long-serving expedition ships, Hanseatic and Bremen, and is ready to launch two brand-new, state-of-the-art vessels — Hanseatic Spirit and Hanseatic Nature — exclusively for the adventure market.

Although a German cruise company, with two of its ships it targets international passengers, the ultraluxurious Europa 2 and the new Expedition class ship Hanseatic Inspiration launching in October 2019.

CORAL EXPEDITIONS

Along with True North Adventure Cruises, Coral Expeditions is one of only two Australian-flagged international expedition cruise lines and has operated in regional waters since 1984, beginning with the Great Barrier Reef.

With the recent arrival of newbuild, Coral Adventurer, the fleet now comprises four vessels, with a fifth planned. Itineraries include Australia’s North West and Kimberley as well as PNG and Melanesia.

Onboard style is relaxed and casual in a modern ‘clubhouse’ feel that has proven popular with the core market of Australian and NZ adventure cruisers.

A key feature of all Coral Expedition vessels is their ‘Xplorer’ tenders, which feature easy and safe passenger boarding from the deck and disembarkation via a ‘landing craft’ style forward drop gangway.

AURORA EXPEDITIONS

Founded in 1991 by acclaimed mountaineer, Greg Mortimer, OAM, and his partner Margaret, the company was later sold but has retained its ethos of low-impact, small group tours with cruises in destinations like the British Isles, Svalbard and the Antarctic Peninsula.

The company operated the former Soviet vessel Akademik Shuleykin as Polar Pioneer but will replace it this year with the arrival of newbuild, Greg Mortimer, a state-of-the-art INFINITY-class expedition ship utilising the revolutionary Ulstein X-Bow design that provides exceptional stability in rough seas such as those often encountered in Antarctic waters.

Aurora typically offers ecologically responsible cruises with a high level of expert interpretation in an informal atmosphere.

176

|

WORLD

WHERE CAN YOU GO ABOARD AN EXPEDITION SHIP?

Well, the answer to that is pretty much anywhere! But most first-time expedition cruisers will find themselves heading to either of the polar regions to explore the icy wonderland of the Antarctic Peninsula with its history, seals and penguins or to he northern hemisphere destinations like Svalbard, Greenland and northern Canada where polar bears and walrus roam.

Closer to home, the South Pacific beckons with visits to seldom seen islands in Vanuatu, the Solomons, PNG, French Polynesia and New Caledonia. Here you can immerse yourself in rich Melanesian and Polynesian culture as well as enjoy scuba diving, snorkelling and pearl shopping.

Kimberly, Australia

New destinations are opening up all the time, including Africa, SE Asia and India.

Australia’s North West is famous for the ancient Kimberley region with its billion-year-old landscape, rich indigenous culture and great fishing. Meanwhile, the entire coastline of New Zealand presents myriad opportunities at the many tiny ports and offshore islands, like the sub-Antarctic group including the Snares, Auckland, Campbell and Enderby. Bird watchers flock (excuse the pun) to these extremes in search of rare specimens such as the endangered Antipodes Island snipe and yellow-eyed penguin as well as the many giant seabirds like petrels and majestic albatross.

New destinations are opening up all the time, so be on the lookout for exciting opportunities along the coast of Africa, SE Asia, India, the Middle East and the Russian Far East. Not forgetting that many superb adventures exist on the inland waters too in places like upper Amazon, Irrawaddy in Burma and Mekong in Cambodia and Vietnam.

For more information about expedition cruises email info@cruiseworld.co.nz or visit www.cruiseworld.co.nz

180

|

WORLD