Gauguin's 2014 Collection

Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the MS Paul Gauguin, and the newly launched MV Tere Moana (above), has released its new "Voyages by Gauguin 2014 Collection" brochure.

The brochure features 26 itineraries and 62 voyages by the line’s two deluxe small ships, which both offer an elegant yet casual ambiance, luxurious accommodations, gourmet dining, trademark Polynesian hospitality and extraordinary all-inclusive value. Fleet distinctions, dining venues, entertainment, activities, destination guides, deck plans and sailing schedules are also highlighted.

For 2014, seven to 14-night voyages are offered on both ships, with the Gauguin sailing in French Polynesia, the South Pacific and South-east Asia, and Moana offering voyages in Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America.

New itineraries on Gauguin include an 11-night Fiji to Australia voyage, a 12-night Australia to Fiji voyage and two 14-night voyages between Australia and South-east Asia. Maiden ports include: Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands; Kieta, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea; Rabaul, Papua New Guinea; Samarai Island, Papua New Guinea; Thursday Island, Australia; Darwin, Australia; Komodo Island, Indonesia; Benoa, Bali, Indonesia; Semarang, Indonesia; Singapore; and Maupiti, Society Islands.

Returning favourites on Gauguin include: 12 and 13-night Fiji, Tonga, Cook & Society Islands; 7-night Tahiti & Society Islands; 10-night Society Islands & Tuamotus; 11-night Cook Islands & Society Islands; and 14-night Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands.

In 2014, Moana offers a variety of new seven-night itineraries: Round-trip Rome; Rome to Nice; Round-trip Nice; Nice to Barcelona; Colón, Panama to St. Martin; and Round-trip Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica. New ports include: Mahón, Menorca; Palamós; Villefranche; Sanary-sur-Mer; Antibes; Ponza; San Remo; San Blas and Isla Gamez, Panama; Golfito, Drake Bay, Quepos and Isla Tortuga/Curú Wildlife Reserve, Costa Rica.

Moana will again offer a seven-night Colón to St. Maarten, voyage; a seven-night Round-trip St. Maarten itinerary; 14-night Transatlantic cruises; and seven-night European sailings in the Greek isles, Spanish isles, Dalmatian coast, and coastal France, Italy, and Spain.

Paul Gauguin Cruises is also extending included airfare from Los Angeles on Paul Gauguin itineraries. Prices start from £4,001 per person fly/cruise and from £1,497 cruise-only on Moana.

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

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Lindblad's Orion Ventures Further In 2014

Lindblad Expeditions has unveiled its first year of sailings for its new National Geographic Orion, recently acquired from Orion Expeditions, with more adventures in the South Pacific than ever before.

 

The all-new luxury Voyages of Discovery include destinations in Micronesia and the Islands of Moluccas - a heady mix of island cultures, World War II naval and military sites and brilliant snorkelling and diving. All new South Pacific voyages include the Loyalty Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Millennium Atoll, Tahiti, Pitcairn and Easter Island, while voyages to Antarctica will, for the first time, focus on the Antarctic Peninsula and the wildlife sanctuaries of South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.

Popular favourite, Borneo, will again include visits to Camp Leakey for exclusive orangutan and wildlife experiences, and the ship's hallmark voyages to Australia’s Kimberley coastline remain - one with a variation that includes Rowley Shoals. Additionally, there are expeditions that include Komodo, Flores, Asmat, the Spice Islands, Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef.

The itineraries are a carefully constructed blend of undersea (for snorkellers and divers) and terrestrial natural history highlights, along with diverse and fascinating culture, history and anthropology.

The first expedition sails from Auckland to Cairns, through Melanesia (Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea) with time on the Great Barrier Reef. The second voyage includes the Great Barrier Reef before heading up through Melanesia (Papua New Guinea) to Micronesia, visiting Chuuk Lagoon, Yap and many other spectacular islands en-route to Palau. The last week of this voyage presents some of the most spectacular undersea opportunities available on the planet, where the newly installed onboard scuba facilities will come into their own. But there are also plenty of options for dry-landers, too. 

The third voyage runs from Palau down through Raja Ampat and the Spice Islands of Indonesia, ending in Darwin. Like the previous two, the undersea is a highlight but the culture and diversity of options on land is also extraordinary. Put simply: guests will see many things on any one of these voyages you cannot find elsewhere on earth; they embody the word ‘exotic’. Following the Kimberley season, between May and August 2014, National Geographic Orion will undertake two expeditions to Borneo, voyaging between Bali and Singapore, both including visits to the orangutan sanctuary Camp Leakey.

It will then take an eastward journey with four voyages starting from Bali travelling all the way across to Easter Island - from the Spice Islands and Great Barrier Reef to New Caledonia, Fiji; then up to Samoa and across to Kiribati and French Polynesia with the fourth itinerary departing Tahiti to visit Ducie, Henderson, Pitcairn and other very hard-to-reach islands, ending in Easter Island. Orion then positions to Ushuaia for expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. 

Combination Savings

Following high demand for back-to-back expeditions, there are again a number of voyages created especially to appeal to those seeking longer expeditions, plus, from the 2014 calendar, the company is doubling the back-to-back savings to 10%.

Solo Travellers

Recognising the growing solo traveller market, there will be dedicated staterooms for solo travellers on each voyage with solo pricing.

Pricing examples for 2014

(All pricing per person, twin share): 
10-night Kimberley Expedition: Cat 1/B Stateroom £5,180, through to Owners Suite/Category 6, £10,840.
10-night Camp Leakey: Cat 1/B Stateroom £5,473, through to Owners Suite/Category 6, £11,460.
16-night Mysteries of Polynesia: Cat 1/B Stateroom £10,640, through to Owners Suite/Category 6, £21,990.
18-night South Pacific Adventure: Cat 1/B Stateroom £11,970, through to Owners Suite/Category 6, £24,740.

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

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Australia's Kimberley By Land, Sea & Air

Orion Expedition Cruises is offering an extended season of 15 ten-night Kimberley voyages from late April to early September, travelling between Darwin and Broome and visiting King George River and Falls, Vansittart Bay, Hunter River (for Mitchell Falls), Montgomery Reef and Raft Point, Talbot Bay/Horizontal Waterfalls, Crocodile Creek and Nares Point. Orion's expedition team understands exploring this region of Australia is best undertaken in a variety of ways, and has selected options to enhance experiences by providing appropriate exploration by land, sea and air.

By land, enjoy plenty of time ashore to see Kimberley coastal highlights, including outstanding examples of pre-history at Gwion and mythical Wandjina indigenous rock art. Land on remote islands and beaches, explore vast gorges and climb to the plateau next to the highest waterfall in the Kimberley, King George Falls. At Raft Point meet Donny Woolagoodja, the appointed owner/guardian of the Wandjina rock art in the area, and other traditional land owners, welcomed ashore with a traditional purification smoking ceremony and authentic interpretation of the rock artworks that abound in the area.

By sea, explore magnificent Montgomery Reef, Horizontal Waterfalls and the mighty rivers of the Kimberley. From the safety and comfort of Orion's 10 Zodiac expedition craft, venture into waterways in search of saltwater crocodiles, turtles and sharks. Then return to the comfort of your five-star floating base camp for expedition cruising among a thousand islands in a region subject to some of the world's greatest tidal movements.

By air, exclusive to Orion, is an inclusive two-hour Bungle Bungle Ranges flight at no additional charge. Brought to the world’s attention only 25 years ago, their remote location ensures the Bungle Bungles remain an elusive destination seen first-hand by just a fortunate few. Optional helicopter sight-seeing provides the opportunity to trace the Hunter River at low altitude, skimming the plateau before touching down to explore the beautiful, triple-drop Mitchell Falls. From an aerial perspective, see the remnants of massive geological structural pressures that have folded and shaped the Kimberley landscape. 

With thousands of kilometres of undeveloped shoreline, the Kimberley - so ancient, much of it pre-dates the existence of fossils - ranks as one of the world’s great environmental wonders, a rare wilderness area worthy of the highest levels of conservation and protection. 

Prices in 2013 start from £5,665 per person, twin share, for an oceanview Category A Stateroom including all meals, lectures, inclusive shore expeditions, gratuities and port fees aboard the deluxe Orion. 

For bookings, follow this link to our sponsors The Cruise Line, the UK's adventure cruising 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.

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