Crystal's Overland Gorilla Adventure

Locking eyes with an almost-500 pound silverback mountain gorilla, with just a few feet of African forest standing in between, might not the thing most people would expect from a luxury cruise.

But Crystal Cruises are increasingly pushing back the boundaries of what's possible on a voyage, and the Gorilla Adventure is the latest possibility in their impressive Overland Adventure portfolio.

With just 600 mountain gorillas left in the world, and only a handful of active guests permitted on the excursion, Crystal’s new “Bwindi Forest Gorilla Tracking Experience” is an ultimate bucket list trip. The five-night journey is available only to guests sailing back-to-back on two of Crystal Serenity’s 2014 World Cruise segments: an 18-night March 10 voyage from Singapore to Cape Town and the following 21-night March 28 cruise from Cape Town to Southampton. From South Africa’s port of Durban, outing participants will travel deep into Uganda, then re-join the ship in Cape Town.

On non-tracking days, the group will also learn about Uganda’s wetland, savannah and forest eco-systems at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, and participate in a mock Batwa Pygmy (considered the “keepers of the forest” for more than 5,000 years) hunting party, including tribal singing and dancing. Luxury accommodation includes two nights at The Lake Victoria Serena Resort, set on the world’s largest tropical lake, and three nights at the silver-service Sanctuary Gorilla Camp.

The Bwindi Forest Gorilla Tracking Experience costs from $11,676 per person. The combined, 39-night cruise itinerary calls in Singapore (overnight); Jakarta, Mauritius/Port Louis, Durban, Cape Town, Walvis Bay, Luanda (maiden call), Bom Bom Island/São Tomé, Takoradi, Dakar, Agadir, Lisbon and Southampton.

Crystal is also offering 10 other Overland Adventures (shore excursions where guests stay inland overnight during a cruise) in Africa next year, taking guests to Nelson Mandela’s former home, through the countryside by Victorian-era railcar and on multiple safaris in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa.

More info: call 020 7399 7601 or visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk.

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Crystal's New 'Extreme Thrill Seekers'

'Extreme Thrill Seekers' and 'Luxury Cruising' don't usually go together, but don't tell that to Crystal Cruises. They have put together a unique onboard programme that promises to deliver 'virtual' thrills while also delivering their usual deluxe cruise style.

During an 18-night segment of Crystal Serenity's World Cruise next year, the line will feature an onboard line-up of special guest speakers who will deliver lots of excitement and stories that all have a thrilling edge and background.

This unique line-up features:

British Round-the-World yachtswoman and adventurer Rona Cant, whose inspiring story takes her from being a middle-aged secretary and single mother to sailing the world’s most difficult yacht race, the BT Global Challenge, to trekking Vancouver’s West Coast Trail (one of the world’s 10 toughest trails).

Shark diver Chris Fallows, who will discuss his thousands of encounters with Great White Sharks around South Africa’s Seal Island and other breeding grounds throughout the world, in an effort to not only capture their striking images on camera, but also to educate others about the realities of the creatures and their conservation.

And “Crocodile" Mick Pitman, considered a real-life Crocodile Dundee, who will share his 30-plus years of dynamic Aussie outback experiences, hunting and capturing crocodiles.

Sailing from Singapore to Jakarta, Mauritius/Port Louis, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town on March 10, Serenity will also deliver dozens of trademark Crystal Adventures ashore, allowing guests to explore wild – and not so wild – life in the destinations, from big game safaris to food and wine. 

All-inclusive fly/cruise fares start from £6,344 per person if booked by January 3, with shorter “Getaway” cruise legs also available from Singapore to Mauritius and Mauritius to Cape Town.

More info: call 020 7399 7601 or visit  www.crystalcruises.co.uk.

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Crystal's Exclusive 'Rhino Excursion'

Well here’s another one to tempt you as we know many of our readers are ardent wildlife watchers when you’re cruising. In fact, it’s something we at World of Cruising are increasingly keen to focus on. So here’s what popped into our inbox recently.

Crystal Cruises’ newest Boutique Adventure promises an ultra-intimate and exclusive, hands-on “Rhino Conservation Experience” in Africa. Offered with Crystal Serenity’s March 10 voyage from Singapore to Cape Town, the excursion offers the opportunity to be a part of the vital local tracking and protection efforts aimed at keeping the animal from extinction. From helping locate rhinos to notching their ears while anaesthetised (enabling researchers to identify the animal and aide in the repopulation process), guests will assist the expert anti-poaching team from beginning to end.

The “Rhino Conservation Experience” is available only to guests also participating in Crystal’s mid-cruise, off-ship Overland Adventure to the Phinda Private Game Reserve. The Overland Adventure, which departs from Durban and returns to Port Elizabeth, features two nights of luxury accommodation and game drives in search of lions, elephants, buffalo and leopards. 

The full 21-night sailing departs Singapore for Jakarta, Mauritius, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town (overnight) with a two-night, inclusive pre-cruise programme to Bangkok and Cambodia beginning on March 7.  All-inclusive fly/cruise prices start from £6,344 per person if booked by January 3. The “Rhino Conservation Experience” costs $1,287 per person.

 

More info: call 020 7399 7601 or visit www. www.crystalcruises.co.uk.

 

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Crystal's Grand Far East Land Programme

Crystal Cruises is offering a new, complimentary inclusive three-night Extended Land Programme to Thailand and Cambodia with its March Asia-to-Africa World Cruise segment.

Prior to sailing from Singapore to Cape Town onboard Crystal Serenity, guests will embark on an exotic overland journey, first exploring Bangkok’s energetic markets, nightlife and heavenward temple spires, and then flying to Siem Reap, Cambodia, where they will visit some of the world’s most awe-inspiring spiritual monuments and landmarks such as:

• Angkor Wat – the world’s largest religious monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 12th century.
• The Grand Palace – a vast complex of buildings, pavilions and gardens, the palace has been the primary residence and official ceremonial site for Kings of Siam since 1782.
• Temples of the Emerald, Golden and Reclining Buddhas – the most sacred temple in Thailand, the world’s largest solid gold statue and one of the largest overall Buddha statues in the world, respectively.
• Angkor Night Market – open until at least midnight with more than 100 shops and merchants, the market sets the perfect scene for post-dinner shopping.
• Khmer Ruins – an array of ancient Cambodian architectural masterpieces, from Bayon Temple, known for its forest of heads and maze of dark rooms and galleries, to Ta Prohm, an Indiana Jones-like lost temple in the jungle, entwined in massive tree roots.
• Apsara Dance Performance – prima ballerinas from the Royal Ballet of Cambodia will perform this elaborate traditional dance exclusively for Crystal guests.

Included for guests sailing on the single “Temples & Safaris” itinerary (the fourth segment of Crystal’s 2014 World Cruise), the land programme begins on March 7 and features meals, inter-Asia transportation and a night at the Peninsula Bangkok, followed by two nights at the five-star Sokha Angkor Wat Resort. The cruise voyage begins March 10 with an onboard overnight in Singapore, then sails to Jakarta, Mauritius, Durban and Jakarta before finishing with an overnight in Cape Town.

With £452 per person in savings if booked by October 31, prices for the 21-night land/cruise itinerary start from £5,129 per person.

More info: call Crystal Cruises on 020 7399 7601 or visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk.

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