Exodus Set Sail For Arctic, South Georgia & Antarctic

Adventure travel specialist Exodus Travel is offering some fabulous new Polar cruising opportunities this year and in 2014, with some real highlights for those who like to get really off the beaten cruise track.

Here are three of the best:

Baffin Bay Experience

An exploration of the wildlife and culture of the Canadian Arctic, coupled with the glaciers and icebergs of Greenland. The islands visited during this expedition range from the largest in the Canadian Arctic - Baffin Island - through to the world's largest, Greenland. With such diversity found in both the landscape and culture among these two islands, this voyage is a unique and exciting Arctic adventure taking place on the Akademik Ioffe. 

Finnish-built for the Russian Academy of Science, this stable yet manoeuverable ship was designed to travel quietly during hydro-acoustic research. First departure is August 4 and prices start from £4,930 per person for 11 days, including accommodation and most meals. 

Maritime Wildlife Adventure

An expedition cruise in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada visiting Nova Scotia, Quebec and Newfoundland, finishing with a jaunt across to France in Saint-Pierre et Miquelon. Starting in the seaside community of Sydney, Cape Breton, Exodus take every opportunity to discover the Maritimes and the potential for amazing experiences both on and off the ship, the Akademik Ioffe. 

Embracing historical culture, musical talent, a variety of marine mammals and hundreds of thousands of seabirds, this voyage is truly a wildlife adventure. Prices start from £4,000 per person for 10 days, including accommodation and most meals. 

South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula

This journey begins sailing east to South Georgia, where Ernest Shackelton is buried under the spectacular ice-crowned mountains. The ship will thread her way through magical fjords to Salisbury Plain and Gold Harbour, places so remote they have evolved into astonishing wildlife havens boasting 100,000-plus population of King penguins and chicks on their beaches. The island also supports significant populations of Elephant and Fur seals. 

The voyage continues to the South Orkney Islands and then enters an enchanted world of icebergs and ice-covered mountains, approaching the bays and channels of the Antarctic Peninsula. This trip takes place aboard the Sea Adventurer, which underwent a $13m polar conversion in 1998. Her proud reputation is complimented by her well-appointed elegance, and she comfortably supports 122 passengers. Prices are from £10,850 per person for 17 days, including accommodation and most meals.

For more info, visit www.exodus.co.uk and, for more adventure-cruise ideas, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's leading adventure cruising specialists.

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Hapag-Lloyd's International Expeditions For 2014/15

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has announced the arrival of its 2014-2015 expeditions brochure, offering 11 itineraries operated in English and German. 

The small and beautifully-appointed expedition ships Hanseatic and Bremen will be travelling to Siberia, the Chukchi Peninsula and Wrangel Island, Antarctica, the Chilean Fjords, Cape Verde, the Amazon, Alaska and the “small” Northwest Passage. The 184-passenger Hanseatic (above), the world’s only 5-star expedition ship, and the 4-star Bremen, carrying 164 guests, were built to provide intensive explorations in the most elegant surroundings.

Three outstanding sample itineraries are as follows:

New itinerary and destination – Expedition Siberia

During an expedition on the Hanseatic, guests will explore the region of Primorye. This unique itinerary makes stops in Pusan/Republic of Korea, various stops in Siberia/Russia, such as Rimsky Islands, Vladivostok, Petrov Island, and ends in Otaru/Japan. The Hanseatic is one of the few non-Russian ships to set out on this cruising adventure along the Siberian coast. This 15-night itinerary is from May 11-26, 2014, from Shanghai/China to Otaru/Japan, and rates start at £6,090 per person, based on double occupancy, cruise-only. 

The Pursuit of The “Small” Northwest Passage 

This 19-night itinerary on board Bremen is from August 18 to September 6, 2014, from Kangerlussuaq/Greenland to Reykjavik/Iceland and rates for this voyage through the High Arctic and the islands of Canada start at £8,010 per person, based on double occupancy, cruise-only. 

Discovering Antarctica and the Australia/New Zealand Sub Antarctic Region

This 26-night itinerary on Hanseatic is from January 25 to February 21, 2014, from Ushuaia/Argentina to Bluff/New Zealand, with stops in Macquarie Island/Australia and Auckland Island/New Zealand (includes charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia). Rates start at £13,360 per person, based on double occupancy, cruise-only. 

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

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Zegrahm's 2014 Small-Ship Line-Up

Zegrahm Expeditions has announced the company's extensive 2014 ship-based expedition schedule, featuring a fabulous range of destinations on four excellent vessels.

The line-up of adventure cruises features 14 extraordinary voyages that reach all seven continents aboard the Sea Adventurer, Isabela II, Island Sky, and Caledonian Sky. Accommodating between 40-100 guests, the vessels are staffed by an exceptional expedition team of scientists, naturalists, and historians. 

“From Antarctica to the Black Sea and Madagascar to the Galapagos, we are offering travel to some of the world’s most remote and exotic places in 2014,” said Zegrahm president Edwin Blythe. “Not only are we introducing new itineraries and bringing back a few past favorites, but with more voyages aboard the Island Sky and Caledonian Sky, we can simultaneously be exploring several different regions of the world and capitalise on the best time of year to be there.”

Highlights of the 2014 season include:

Circumnavigation of New Guinea: This two-part voyage received great reviews in 2009 and Zegrahm is excited to include it in their line-up once again. Travellers can explore the underwater wonders of the region’s vibrant coral reefs and visit remote villages in the Trobriands, Rabaul, and the Asmat. Voyage I sails March 8-23 and Voyage II follows March 19-April 5.

Mysteries of the Far North: Russia’s White Sea: This new itinerary exposes travellers to an area long closed to Western visitors. Taking place July 20-August 6, the itinerary features sublime beauty, magnificent architecture and fascinating history.

Pearls of Polynesia: Fiji to Tahiti: In 2014, this always-popular itinerary is featuring an exciting new “voluntourism” opportunity that allows travellers to contribute to ecological preservation efforts on Suwarrow Atoll in the Cook Islands. In addition, the 17-day adventure, September 15-October 1, offers a great mix of culture and natural history, from searching for rare endemic species to learning about traditional island life.

Ultimate Aldabra: A Journey through the Seychelles: For the first time, Zegrahm is offering seven full days exploring the island group, which is a world heritage site and has remained largely untouched by humans due to its remoteness. The expedition sets sail November 16, 2014. 

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

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.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.