New Age of Cruise
Ever wanted to swim with turtles in the Galápagos? Go dog-sledding in Alaska? Or indulge in great food and wine in Europe? You can do all this – and much, much more – on a cruise.
Rex Airlines inflight magazine
Gone are the days when cruising meant boarding a ‘floating block of flats’ for a so-organised-it’s-regimented holiday – now, there’s a wealth of choice for discerning travellers to destinations that are accessible only to boutique ocean ships. Here are six of our favourites.
GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS
Close encounters with rare animals and birds in their native habitat; swimming with turtles, sea lions and reef sharks; and meeting people from all walks of life who are passionate about wildlife are among the many highlights of an expedition-style cruise around the Galápagos Islands.
Travelling from Australia to Quito in Ecuador can take more than 30 hours, so it’s definitely worth adding on a side-trip in South America. But even if you don’t, sailing through the Galápagos Islands is one of life’s most extraordinary and unforgettable adventures.
Small ships operate year-round in the archipelago, which is the world’s second-largest marine reserve. Island visits are carefully controlled to preserve the natural environment and wildlife – the native birds and animals here have no instinctive fear of humans, as the islands have been isolated from the mainland for millions of years.
Ecuadorian naturalist-guides take you in small groups on kayaking, snorkelling and hiking trips for astounding wildlife experiences. On Isabel Island, you’ll see giant Galápagos tortoises ambling through the bush mere metres away, while your guide fills you in – quietly – about each tortoise’s age, size and sex.
On shore walks, you’ll learn about the island’s marine iguanas and neon-coloured Sally Lightfoot crabs, and you can join inland hikes to photograph spectacular volcanic rock formations.
The islands are an ornithologist’s dream. As well as spotting Darwin’s famed finches, you’ll see blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies, frigate birds and flightless cormorants – so close that you won’t need binoculars or a zoom lens.
G ADVENTURES – GALÁPAGOS
Our pick: G Adventures’ 15-night fly/cruise/stay package in May 2018 includes a 6-night Galápagos Islands cruise onboard the 20-passenger Montserrat, 1 night stay in Quito & Lima and a 7-night National Geographic Journey to Machu Picchu in Peru.
Phone 1800 917 730, see cruiseaway.com.au
ANTARCTICA
It’s the driest, coldest, windiest continent on the planet, yet this vast frozen wilderness has exerted a powerful fascination for explorers since the early 1800s. Antarctica has no indigenous population – the few people who live there work on international research stations – but during the summer, intrepid travellers can now cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula and beyond to experience mind-blowing mountain scenery, surreal, glacier-studded icescapes and an awesome array of wildlife.
Most 10- and 12-day voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula start from Ushuaia, the ‘Land at the End of the World’, in Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province. Prepare yourself for rocky seas on the two-day crossing of Drake Passage (then it’s a pleasant surprise when it’s almost glassy!) and don’t expect to follow a rigid itinerary. Your captain is likely to change course if he spies humpback or killer whales (orcas), so passengers can see them up close; equally, if conditions don’t allow a scheduled landing, the ship will divert to a safer harbour.
Once the ship is anchored, you can take Zodiac or kayaking trips around majestic bays packed with gigantic icebergs, or go ashore to see colonies of Adelie and Chinstrap penguins; elephant, leopard, crabeater and Weddell seals basking on the ice; and native skua, snow petrels and albatrosses nesting or soaring into the wide open sky.
It’s virtually impossible to convey the sheer majesty of Antarctica in words and photos; it really has to be experienced to be believed.
PONANT — ANTARCTICA
Our pick: The 13-night fly/stay/cruise package is built around a 10-night cruise on Ponant’s luxury expedition ships Le Soleal, Le Lyrial or Le Boreal, with multiple departures between November 2017 to February 2018 and November 2018 to February 2019. Return flights to Buenos Aires, domestic flights to Ushuaia and 3 nights’ accommodation in BA are included.
Phone 1800 917 730, see cruiseaway.com.au
DALMATIAN COAST, CROATIA
Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast is a European hot spot that offers sophisticated, historic cities, unspoilt villages, Roman ruins and beautiful beaches – and one where you don’t have to pay through the nose for coffee or to eat out in style.
Island-hopping on a small ship is the best way to explore this stunningly scenic stretch of the Adriatic – there are 79 islands and some 500 islets in Dalmatia – and a round-trip cruise from Split is a wonderful introduction to its people, places and culture.
Split is the region’s biggest city and fans of Game of Thrones will recognise Diocletian’s Palace, the sprawling Roman ruins that make up the heart of the city and are now home to buzzy bars, restaurants, shops and some 3,000 local residents.
A good cruise itinerary will take in a sprinkling of popular islands – Korcula, Hvar, Brac – as well as the fairytale walled city of Dubrovnik, where you need to spend at least a couple of days.
Every island has its own distinct character. Korcula claims to be the birthplace of explorer Marco Polo and is renowned for its white wines; Mljet’s National Park is a paradise for nature lovers; Hvar’s spectacular waterfront ‘Old Town’ is a magnet for partygoers; and Brac is famous for its beaches. You will find your favourite and be hooked for life.
KATARINA LINE – CROATIA
Our pick: Katarina Line’s Croatian Islands cruise. Enjoy an unforgettable 7-night round-trip cruise from Split on a Deluxe class vessel with multiple departures between May to October 2018.
Phone 1800 917 730, see cruiseaway.com.au
ALASKA
Alaskans are extremely proud of their state and often refer to the rest of America as ‘the lower 48’. There are surprisingly few of them in the country’s biggest state – only about 740,000 people live in 1,717,856 square kilometres of vast open spaces, mountains and forest.
Most mainstream cruise lines follow a similar route through Alaska’s stunning Inside Passage, calling at towns such as Ketchikan, Skagway, Sitka and Juneau – Alaska’s capital, which is accessible only by air and sea. Away from the touristy waterfronts, there’s a wealth of exciting activities on offer: heli-skiing, dog-sledding, fishing, zip-lining and glacier hiking, to name just a few.
You’ll probably spend a day ‘scenic cruising’ in Glacier Bay but if you’re looking for a more in-depth experience of this wild and wonderful place, a small-ship cruise is the way to go.
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve is, arguably, Alaska’s crown jewel, a 13,355 square-kilometre coastal area within the Inside Passage. Flanked by towering snow-capped mountains, the bay is an almost mystical place of deep fjords, massive tidewater glaciers and abundant wildlife.
Three days of hiking, kayaking and Zodiac trips in the Glacier Bay area gives you the chance to see brown and black bears, moose, wolves, humpback whales, seals, sea lions and hundreds of native eagles and seabirds. National Park rangers are on hand to share their expert knowledge of wildlife sightings and geological phenomena; witnessing a glacier calving is one of life’s most memorable experiences.
UNCRUISE ADVENTURES – ALASKA
Our pick: UnCruise Adventures’ Glacier Bay National Park Adventure 7-night round-trip cruise from Juneau. Multiple departures available between April to September 2018 onboard the 60-passenger Wilderness Adventurer.
Phone 1800 917 730, see cruiseaway.com.au
CANADA & THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE
Traversing the Northwest Passage – the formerly frozen sea route between the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans across the roof of Canada – has been described as “the new frontier in soft adventure”. Only in the past few years has this challenging route become navigable by ships other than icebreakers, and even today it’s not a journey for the faint-hearted.
Highlights of a 16-night voyage from Kugluktuk, on Canada’s mainland north of the Arctic Circle, to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland range from the sheer exhilaration of following in the footsteps of famous explorers to seeing polar bears, seals and whales among the icebergs and pack ice. Onboard experts, such as historians and scientists, present lectures and workshops en route, and you’ll learn more than you ever imagined about the culture, wildlife and geography of the Arctic.
Unlike Antarctica, which has never been inhabited, the Canadian Arctic is home to the Inuit (meaning ‘people’), who are thought to have migrated to the region from Alaska several thousand years ago. Their history is much debated by archeologists but today, the Inuit welcome visitors to their fascinating communities, where you can witness traditional drum dancing and throat-singing and buy locally made sculptures and artworks.
The Arctic is not all about ice, either; during the summer months, when the sun shines for up to 24 hours a day, hikes across the tundra reveal all sorts of lichens, flowers and berries. You’re also likely to see herds of shaggy musk ox, caribou deer and maybe even Arctic foxes and hares.
ADVENTURE CANADA – NORTHWEST PASSAGE
Our pick: The 18-night Into the Northwest Passage in August 2018 or Out of the Northwest Passage in September 2018. Both cruise/stay packages include a 16-night Adventure Canada expedition cruise to the Canadian Arctic and Greenland onboard the 198-passenger Ocean Endeavour.
Phone 1800 917 730, see cruiseaway.com.au
SOUTHEAST ASIAN ISLANDS
An island-hopping voyage that visits West Papua, the Spice Islands, Borneo and the Philippines offers a fascinating insight into ancient and diverse cultures – in West Papua alone, there are more than 300 different tribes and about 40 who have never been in contact with the western world.
When you arrive in Asmat, in West Papua, local tribesmen adorned in war paint and feathers meet the ship in canoes; in sleepy Banda Neira you’ll discover the tragic story of its people as it was colonised by Dutch, French and British spice traders.
Banda Neira is at the heart of the Spice Islands (now known as the Malukus) and is the only island that has a town of any size; it was originally built by the Dutch East India Company, and crumbling colonial buildings, a museum and the 17th-century Fort Belgica stand witness to a turbulent history.
Today, the region’s pristine coral reefs and breath-taking natural beauty attract divers and travellers who are looking for a tropical escape far from the tourist crowds; sailing among the spectacular limestone Kai Islands is like going into another world.
In Borneo’s Sandakan, the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve and Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary offer the best areas for viewing wildlife in Malaysia and a visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is a must for animal-lovers.
This is a voyage of discovery on many levels; L’Austral’s expedition team of naturalists, marine biologists, geologists, an anthropologist and ornithologist organise and accompany excursions; sometimes these are spontaneous, depending on the destination, which adds to the sense of adventure.
PONANT – SOUTHEAST ASIAN ISLANDS
Our pick: Our fly/stay/cruise package is created around a 16-night expedition cruise on Ponant’s luxury expedition ship L’Austral between Cairns and Manilla. Departing in March 2018 it includes accommodation in Cairns and Manila, a domestic flight to Cairns to join your cruise, and return from Manila.
Phone 1800 917 730, see cruiseaway.com.au/
CRUISE INSIDER
Alastair Fernie is MD of CruiseAway, Australia’s leading cruise travel specialist. Here is the lowdown on his hot cruise tips. Travel is Alastair Fernie’s lifelong passion. He has enjoyed a 36-year career in the travel industry and 10 years ago, he discovered the world of cruising.
Q. What are the top five destinations you have experienced on a cruise?
A. Egypt’s Nile River; island-hopping in Hawaii and the Caribbean; anywhere in the Mediterranean; and New Zealand’s South Island.
Q. What makes these places so special and why are they best visited by ship?
A. The life and history of Egypt is all about the Nile, so a river cruise is the best way to experience the country. Sailing from one exotic island to another can only be done by ship and, in Europe, visiting a string of cities in one journey is easy when you take a river or ocean cruise. The glorious vistas of Milford Sound are simply stunning from the sea.
Q. What’s next on your cruise ‘to do’ list?
A. A trans-Pacific voyage from New York to Sydney – my two favourite cities – that sails through the Panama Canal is right up there.
Q. What’s your number one tip for travellers who might think cruising is only for the ‘newly wed, over-fed and nearly dead’?
A. Talk to a travel specialist about the destination and the experience you’re looking for – chances are, travelling by ship will be the ideal way to achieve your travel goals.
Q. Why should clients book with CruiseAway?
A. First and foremost, we are passionate cruise travel specialists – with a website. This is compared to an online agent you can’t even talk to, or a general travel agent who doesn’t have specialist knowledge about cruise travel.
This feature was made possible by CruiseAway by Dreamlines. Visit cruiseaway.com.au/outthere or phone 1800 917 730 to find out about these and many more life-changing adventures.