Falklands Steering Course For Cruise Success

With a refurbished Jetty Visitor Centre and a forecast rise in cruise visitors for the 2013/14 season, it's full steam ahead for the Falkland Islands.

According to latest statistics released by the Islands' Tourist Board (FITB), cruise passenger arrivals are expected to increase by 7% to more than 36,000 in the 2013/14 season (which runs September to April). After a turbulent 2012/13, the trend is set to reverse for the coming year.

The Falklands are ideally located as a port of call on a wider South America or Antarctica voyage, affording cruise visitors unrivalled access to the abundant wildlife which resides on the 770-plus islands that make up the remote archipelago. With a wide variety of shore excursions allowing passengers to get close to nature, this is a dream destination for wildlife lovers keen to hop off, explore and ‘meet the locals'.

The revamped Jetty Visitor Centre is on course to be completed by the beginning of September and is set to improve the visitor experience with enhanced facilities. Located at the head of the Public Jetty, the Centre includes visitor information, a display of aspects of Falkland life, and occasional exhibitions and local artwork, making the perfect pit stop for foot-weary visitors awaiting tenders back to their cruise ship.

"The cruise market is of immense global significance, proving one of the fastest growing in the travel industry with travellers demonstrating a real appetite for holidays to intriguing destinations," says Tony Mason, Managing Director of the FITB. "With over 700 islands, the Falklands offer an abundance of unexplored gems, private nature reserves and hidden coves largely inaccessible to land-based tourists, so coming by sea offers the ultimate taste of this wildlife paradise."

New cruise product includes the ‘magical winter wonderland' holiday just launched by Crystal Cruises. The December 21 Buenos Aires-Valparaiso voyage aboard the award-winning Crystal Symphony sails through Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, the Falklands, Drake Passage, Cape Horn and the Chilean Fjords. The 18-day cruise includes a stop at Port Stanley and the chance to visit working farms in the Islands.

Other ships calling at the Falklands next season include those of Seabourn and Princess Cruises.

For more info on that wonderful Crystal voyage to the Falklands, see this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's leading luxury-cruise specialists.

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Cruise Cowards?

Silversea Cruises is the latest line to pull out of cruise calls to the Falkland Islands following threats of intimidation at Argentine ports.

They join a list of companies, including Holland America, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania Cruises and German Aida Cruises who have all cancelled Falklands visits after being told their "safety" couldn't be guaranteed at the likes of Ushuaia and Buenos Aires if they also called at Port Stanley.

Excuse me? The safety of ships visiting Argentinean ports can't be guaranteed, so you cancel calls to the Falklands?

Doesn't that sound totally twisted in terms of logic? Moral cowardice, even?

If Argentina can't guarantee ship safety at their ports (and somehow makes it a Falklands issue), isn't the answer not to go to Argentina? Exactly like P&O Cruises announced, by cancelling their visits to Argentina.

It's perfectly feasible for ships to miss the likes of Ushuaia and Buenos Aires and instead call at Punta Arenas (Chile), Montevideo (Uruguay), South Georgia and Port Stanley. If they want to.

Why in the name of all that's sane would you go to the "unsafe" ports and cut out the ones that still welcome cruise ships and go out of their way to accommodate them? Isn't that just giving in to a bully?

Silversea's UK general manager, Mike Bonner, in the ultimate example of Orwellian double-speak, insisted: "Due to ongoing political uncertainty, Silversea has taken the decision to cancel scheduled calls at Port Stanley for voyages departing in the coming weeks. These voyages will now include alternate ports of call and, where possible, guests will be notified prior to embarkation. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by these schedule changes. The safety of our crew and passengers remains our foremost concern.”

So, "political uncertainty" in Argentina means you still go there? Really? In the same way that, for example, political uncertainty in Egypt means cruise lines cancelling calls to Alexandria. Do you see a difference?

Come on, Mike. That is absolute baloney and you know it. The cruise lines may think they need Argentina, but that is definitely not the case. And, if you tell your customers the real story, I'm sure the majority will back you up.

Boycott Argentina - NOT the Falklands.

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Seabourn's Antarctica & Patagonia Quest

More than 20 years after the company pioneered an entirely new style of small-ship, ultra-luxury cruising, Seabourn is extending its repertoire to include Antarctica for the very first time. 

Passengers can now book a series of four 21-24-day voyages in 2013 on Seabourn’s newest ship Quest, sailing between Valparaíso, Chile, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The all-suite ship will cruise the Chilean coast, including visits to Puerto Montt for the Chilean Lakes District, Castro on the huge island of Chiloé, and Puerto Chacabuco for the Rio Simpson Valley and Coyhaique. It will also call at Punta Arenas, from where guests can tour the magnificent Torres del Paine National Park.

The ship will then thread the glaciers, peaks and channels of the Chilean Fjords, culminating in a transit of the Beagle Channel and its spectacular Glacier Alley. Weather permitting, following a call at Ushuaia in Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego, Seabourn Quest will cruise by Cape Horn bound for the Southern Ocean.

Guests on board will experience five days in Antarctica, including scenic cruising of highlights such as the breathtaking Lemaire Channel, picturesque Paradise Bay and the Gerlache Strait. An experienced Antarctic expedition staff will ensure guests enjoy the best of the hundreds of available sites for landings and cruising in smaller inflatable boats, based on real-time weather and wildlife reports during their Antarctic adventures. Scientists, naturalists and other lecturers in a number of disciplines will speak on board and accompany guests ashore to add insights to their once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

During the South Atlantic portion of the voyage, guests will enjoy visits to Port Stanley, in the Falkland Islands, and Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital, en route to or from Buenos Aires. A 24-day Holiday version will include two days exploring the sub-Antarctic wildlife Eden of South Georgia Island, renowned for its beauty and its vast, teeming rookeries of king penguins  and other seabirds, as well as breeding elephant and fur seals.

For bookings follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruise specialists.

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100 Days To Voyager

To celebrate 100 days to go until the launch of Voyages of Discovery’s new ship, MV Voyager, guests booking an outside cabin on any winter 2012/13 cruise on board will receive £100 credit per cabin on all bookings made by September 30.

Voyages of Discovery announced just last month that the final refurbishment work on the 540-passenger ship will be carried out in Portland Port in the UK by Northern Ireland-based international contracting company, Mivan, before setting sail on its maiden voyage on December 4.

The celebratory £100 onboard credit offer is available on all winter itineraries on the company's new vessel, including:

• Voyage to the Caribbean – 18-day cruise departing December 4 from £999 per person. Departs from Portsmouth before calling at La Coruna (Spain), Funchal (Madeira), St. Kitts (Basseterre/Nevis), Antigua (British West Indies), Martinique (French West Indies) and Barbados (overnight). 

• A Tapestry of Central America – 21-day cruise sailing January 4 from £2,839 per person. Departs from Montego Bay (Jamaica, overnight) before calling at Progreso (Mexico), Belize City (Belize), Puerto Cortes (Honduras), Puerto Limon (Costa Rica), Cartagena (Colombia), San Blas Islands (Panama), Balboa (Panama) and Manta (Ecuador). 

• Natural Wonders of Latin America – 22-day cruise departing February 5 from £3,049 per person. Departs from Valparaiso (Chile, overnight) before calling at Puerto Montt (Chile), Puerto Chacabuco (Chile), Punta Arenas (Chile), Ushuaia (Argentina), Port Stanley (Falkland Islands), Puerto Madryn (Argentina) and Buenos Aires (overnight).

Key additions to Voyager during the refurbishment include the introduction of an explorer theme across the whole ship, a new piano bar – Scott’s Lounge - a new speciality restaurant, a ‘look-out’ lounge and an al fresco dining terrace with all-weather awning. The ship will offer a choice of 270 cabins, 87% of which are outside and 30 of which have balconies.

NB: Price for all cruises includes return flights to a London airport and overseas transfers (where applicable), talks by eminent Guest Speakers, meals and entertainment on board, all on board gratuities and all relevant port and airport taxes/fees. Onboard credit offer is available on outside cabin bookings only.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's adventure-cruise experts.

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Unique Expedition to Reunite Original Polar Explorers

Leading Polar cruise operator, One Ocean Expeditions is proud to sponsor an extraordinary expedition in which the last wish of world-renowned polar adventurer, Frank Wild, to be buried alongside his ‘boss’ and loyal friend, notorious fellow explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, will be carried out at the whalers’ graveyard in Grytviken, South Georgia, a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean.

The special 18-night commemorative voyage to transport Wild's ashes to South Georgia, takes place exactly 90 years after his last voyage with Shackleton in 1921, and is only possible following a seven-year-long research journey by South African author and polar expert, Angie Butler, who discovered Wild's ashes in Johannesburg. Wild’s wish to be buried beside Shackleton never materialised due to the outbreak of WWII a week after his death.

Among the confirmed guests on the Frank Wild Expedition to South Georgia, is the Honorable Alexandra Shackleton, Sir Ernest's grand-daughter, and six members of Wild's family.

Angie Butler, whose recently released book, The Quest For Frank Wild, features exclusive publication of his original memoirs covering four expeditions including those on the Nimrod and Endurance, will also be joining the cruise as a guest speaker.

Passengers on the once-in-a-lifetime voyage will depart Ushuaia, the world’s southern-most city in Argentina on November 20 on board One Ocean Expeditions’ impressive ice-strengthened ship, Akademik Ioffe.

Designed for Polar Research and combining modern comforts and superb amenities with first-class safety features, the ship will chart a course through the Beagle Channel towards the Falkland Islands, where the first planned shore excursion aims to reveal a profusion of seabirds and migratory birds, including the black-browed albatross.

Other highlights of the West Falkland Archipelago may also include bustling rookeries of rare rockhopper penguins, nesting Magellanic penguins, oyster-catchers and the flightless steamer duck, followed by a stop in the islands’ charming capital, Stanley, with its brightly painted houses and fascinating history.

Majestic glacier-covered mountains herald the Ioffe’s arrival at the rugged island of South Georgia, where visitors are greeted by the staggering sight of hundreds of thousands of king penguins covering every inch of the shoreline. It is here that the two friends, adventurers and polar explorers will finally be reunited during a ceremony at the whalers’ graveyard in Grytviken.

The 18-night Frank Wild Commemorative Expedition includes all meals and accommodation, plus Zodiac excursions and landings. The One Ocean Expeditions team includes hospitality staff, guides, historians, naturalists, kayak expedition leaders and experts in the Antarctic, all of whom bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and fun to the voyage. Prices start from $12,990 per person based on twin share, from $10,290pp for triple share and from $16,200pp in a One Ocean Suite.

For further information, visit www.oneoceanexpeditions.com or the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Sail to the Falklands - And Save With Lindblad Expeditions

Enjoy the unspoiled landscapes and myriad wildlife of the Falkland Islands with Lindblad Expeditions as part of their 24-day journey aboard the National Geographic Explorer - and save money.

Passengers booking the cruise will now receive a £1,230 discount per person on their expedition and a complimentary charter flight between Ushuaia and Buenos Aires. To top it all off, the package also includes two free nights in Buenos Aires.

The expedition starts in Buenos Aires on October 18 and includes a two-day stop in the Falkland Islands. An archipelago comprised of more than 700 individual islands, the Falklands are home to the largest Black-browed albatross colony in the world, thousands of gentoo, rockhopper and Magellanic penguins and herds of sea lions and elephant seals.

In addition to getting up close with the wildlife, passengers will also have the opportunity to go ashore and experience the capital of the Falklands – Stanley – within easy reach of white sandy beaches, relax in one of the local pubs, or learn about the history of this port city.

The itinerary includes a stop at South Georgia Island as well as Peninsula Valdes, which is the main breeding site for the endangered southern wright whales that concentrate in the area to give birth and find mates.

National Geographic Explorer is one of the most technologically advanced expedition ships in the world. Her reinforced ice belt makes it possible to navigate polar passages while also providing exceptional comfort. It also carries 36 kayaks and a fleet of Zodiac landing craft that allow passengers to get up close and experience the region firsthand.

While aboard the ship, guests will enjoy international cuisine with a local flair as well as a host of amenities, including a fitness centre and spa. There are also numerous lectures led by specialists so passengers can learn about the region and its unique wildlife, and every voyage is accompanied by a National Geographic photographer. This voyage will include award-winning filmmaker Keenan Smart, Executive Producer of National Geographic’s “Great Migration” series.

The 24-day journey starts from £8,375 per person, based on two adults sharing, but does not include international flights. For more info, visit www.expeditions.com or contact he UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Cruising to The Falklands

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Each year, thousands of tourists make the journey to the Falkland Islands onboard a cruise ship or expedition vessel. This increasingly popular method of travel allows people to visit many sites that remain largely inaccessible to land-based tourists in the Falklands, all from the comfort and safety of a world-class vessel. Ships have the opportunity to land on the outlying islands of the Falklands archipelago, including Carcass, Saunders and Sea Lion Island.

A wide variety of shore excursions and tours are available for passengers to experience the unique wildlife and fascinating history of the Islands. From the capital, Stanley, join the award-winning Bluff Cove Lagoon Tour, where you can stroll along the white sandy beach, home to 1,000 breeding pairs of gentoo penguins and a growing colony of king penguins and chicks, or watch the sea lions and dolphins often seen swimming in the surf.

Visitors can also take part in tours to Volunteer Point, a cornucopia of bird activity and home to king, gentoo and Magellanic penguins – as well as waterfowl and endemic sub-species like the dark-faced ground tyrant, Falkland pipit and thrush. Or enjoy the acrobatic antics of rockhopper penguins as they navigate and hop over the rocks on the Murrell tour.

New activities and tours for cruise passengers for this season are the Lorenzo Penguin & Nature Tour and the North Pond Penguin Tour. Both take guests on an adventurous 4 x 4 trip with a local guide and close experience of the penguins for which the Falklands are famous. Also recently added is a 2.5 hour guided historical walking tour of Stanley to convey the capital’s pioneering history and its British roots.

For more information, visit http://www.falklandislands.com/. For cruising, day tours and a list of operators who visit the Falklands, visit the Cruise Line Ltd or call 0800 008 6677.

World of Cruising magazine has a special feature on the Falklands in the next (Winter) issue, publishing December 28. Why not get yourself a copy by subscribing online on this link.

(Image of Rockhopper Penguins running by Alan White)

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

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