Seabourn to offer exclusive tours to World Heritage sites as part of UNESCO partnership

As part of Seabourn’s newly formed partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the cruise line is offering excursions to over 160 World Heritage sites around the globe including a number of exclusive Discovery Tours only available on a Seabourn cruise.

  

Example Discovery Tours include: The Great Barrier Reef, Cairns: Travel by luxury reef boat to the world’s richest marine habitat, accompanied exclusively by a UNESCO guest speaker and a marine biologist. Guests will enjoy talks on the reef’s history, complex ecosystems and conservation projects as well as one-on-one discussions throughout the day. 

Taj Mahal and Jaipur mid-cruise journey: The five day mid-cruise exclusive experience includes a visit to the world famous Taj Mahal. Considered to be the greatest achievement of Indo-Islamic architecture, Seabourn guests will enjoy guided visits to the iconic palace at both sunrise and sunset. The Discovery Tour will also include visits to the charming town of Agra, Jaipur and its regal city palace as well as the bustling city of Delhi.

The Alhambra, Malaga  (above):  As one of the world’s most beautiful collections of building and gardens, Seabourn guests will enjoy a guided tour of the Royal Palace, Generalife Gardens and the Fortress of Alcazaba. Dating back to the 14^th century, 

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Paul Gauguin's Papua New Guinea Bonus

Paul Gauguin Cruises remain one of the cruise world's individual stylists in the South Pacific, and any new itinerary with them is something to highlight. Couple the 'something new' factor with the opportunity to visit Papua New Guinea, and you have a very tempting option.

 

The 11-night Fiji to Australia voyage departing June 14 is a unique voyage that charts a course to popular and undiscovered ports alike from exotic Fiji to the Great Barrier Reef. Guests will embark Paul Gauguin in Lautoka, Fiji’s “Sugar City” and heart of its sugarcane industry, and cruise to Vanuatu, the island chain that inspired James A Michener’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Tales of the South Pacific.

 

Next stop is Guadalcanal, whose very name is synonymous with a turning point of World War II, followed by the real highlight of Papua New Guinea, set on the second-largest island in the world. Here, guests will visit the island of Bougainville, with its World War II sites, traditional handicrafts and natural wonders; Samarai Island, a National Historical Heritage Island; and Port Moresby, the capital and most populous city in the country.

 

The cruise will finish in Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Prices are from £4,290 per person for 11 nights accommodation in an ocean view stateroom with all meals, soft drinks, selected alcoholic beverages and gratuities. Also included is airfare from Los Angeles.

Then, the 12-night Australia to Fiji voyage departing August 18 is the same as the above but in reverse. It also includes an additional port of call in the serene island of Malolo where guests will experience the ultimate in relaxation. Special guests include oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau, Nobel Peace Prize winner John E Hay, onboard lecturer Helen Henry, concert rock violinist Aaron Meyer, musicians Seth Taylor and Monica Ripamonti and Polynesian anthropologist Mark Eddowes. Prices are from £4,579 per person for 12 nights accommodation in an ocean view stateroom with all meals, soft drinks, selected alcoholic beverages and gratuities. Also included is airfare from Los Angeles.

More info: call  020 7399 7691 or visit www.pgcruises.com.

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MSC's New Grand Voyage

Asia and the Middle East are increasingly fertile cruise areas in the winter months, and we have just been alerted to another new option in this region from MSC Cruises.

Taking their MSC Orchestra, MSC will be operating a special Grand Voyage in 2015, setting sail from the dazzling deserts of the United Arab Emirates and visiting the iconic sites of south-east Asia before reaching and exploring the enchanting coastlines of Australia. The once-in-a-lifetime 33-night Grand Voyage sets out from from Dubai on February 22 next year and arrives in Perth on 26 March 2015.

During the first part of her journey, Orchestra will call into Mumbai and Cochin, before arriving in Colombo, the gateway to Sri Lanka. She will then visit Phuket, Thailand's most popular and glamorous beach destination, followed by a stop in Langkawi, a true Malaysian tropical gem. Singapore’s skyline will be the ship’s next destination, where she will stay overnight, allowing guests to soak up the charms of this city-state where history and modernity walk hand in hand. Lush Benoa, in Bali, will be the ship’s last stop in Asia, offering travellers the chance to enjoy breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, enchanting temples and white sandy beaches.

Orchestra will continue her journey stopping in Cairns, in Australia’s tropical north, a city renowned for its easy access to the wilderness, romantic Port Douglas and its laid back ambience. The second port of call ‘Down Under’ will be Brisbane, with its vibrant atmosphere and excellent shopping scene. An overnight stay in Sydney will enchant travellers with stunning views of the world-renowned Opera House and the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains. MSC Orchestra will then complete its route to Perth via the state capital of Victoria, Melbourne, and Adelaide, recently named one of the world’s top 10 cities to visit, where travellers can sample some of the world’s finest wines on a wine-tasting tour.

It all adds up to a truly amazing one-off voyage and is sure to have great appeal for those who appreciate these more exotic voyages.

More info: call 0844 561 1955 or visit www.msccruises.co.uk/uk_en/MSC/MSC-Orchestra-Grand-Voyages-2015.aspx.

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Crystal's Wine & Food-Themed Cruises

Australasian and Balinese culinary arts will kick off ultra-luxury Crystal Cruises’ 2013 Wine & Food-themed series, with regional star chefs and wine experts headlining two new, 12-night Crystal Symphony itineraries: Australia/New Zealand departing January 17 and Australia/Bali departing February 11.

Connoisseurs can also indulge in optional, intimate Vintage Room dining experiences, offering multiple courses paired with extraordinary wines.

The voyages offer intimate access to each country’s culinary capitals, from the renowned wine regions of South Australia and Wellington to New South Wales’ fine dining and Northern Territory’s outback pubs. The January “Koalas and Kiwis” itinerary explores Brisbane, Newcastle and Sydney (overnight), before sailing through stunning Milford, Doubtful and Dusky Sounds en route to Dunedin, Christchurch/Lyttelton, Wellington, and Auckland. 

The February “Reefs and Rainforest” voyage overnights in Sydney before venturing north through the Great Barrier Reef, Brisbane, the Whitsunday Islands/Hamilton, Cairns, Darwin and Benoa/Bali.

All-inclusive prices are £4,627 per person fly/cruise and £2,610 per person cruise-only respectively. Three additional Wine & Food-themed voyages are also scheduled for May, July and November in other regions.

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

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Voyages of Discovery Down Under

You know it's the New Year when the cruise sale offers pour in thick and fast. Here's a typical example to start the week:

Guarantee yourself some sunshine this year by joining Voyages of Discovery on a last-minute winter cruise.

South East Asia & Australia - from £1,699 per person (based on two sharing an inside cabin), a saving of up to £1,370. Price includes return flights from London, transfers and a 23-day voyage departing from Manila (Philippines, overnight) and calling at Sandakan (Borneo, Malaysia), Bitung (Indonesia), Ambon (Indonesia), Darwin, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Brisbane and Newcastle before arriving at Sydney (overnight stay). Price is based on January 21 departure.

Australia & the Indonesian Islands - from £2,199 per person (based on two sharing an inside cabin), a saving of up to £370. Price includes return flights from London, transfers and a 26-day voyage departing from Sydney and calling at Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Darwin (overnight), Komodo (Indonesia), Bali (Indonesia, overnight) and Semarang (Indonesia) before arriving at Singapore. Price is based on February 7 departure.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Discover The Amazing Art of Arnhem Land

Orion Expedition Cruises has announced details of a fascinating Art of Arnhem Land voyage, tracking the evolution of indigenous art culture along Australia’s Arnhem coastline. Hosted by pre-eminent collectors of Australian art and suitable for experienced and novice collectors alike, this voyage - which has departures on September 13, 2011, and September 20, 2012 - is a “must-do” journey to remote and rarely visited communities.

It will be a truly enriching journey for those interested in the multi-layering of indigenous art. In the Pirlangimpi art community in the Tiwi Islands, view Tiwi ceramics and carved totemic Pukumani funeral poles. Art lovers and collectors will be drawn to the Munupi Art Centre with its contemporary collection of paintings, pottery and carvings celebrating Tiwi cultural heritage and the natural environment.

Maningrida is one of the powerhouse art centres of central Arnhem Land, home of distinctive bark painting, pandanus, weaving and wood carvings. And the Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre in Yirrkala is one of the leading galleries of Northern Australia, along with the adjoining museum that houses the iconic “Church Panels.” Orion’s guests will be introduced to Yolngu art and its guiding presence of the spirit that represents the past, present and future, as well as a visit to Thursday Island, the largest of the 18 islands of Torres Strait.

The September 13 sailing departs from Darwin and visits Pirlangimpi (Tiwi Islands), Maningrida, Elcho Island, Yirrkala, Merauke and Thursday Island before finishing in Cairns, with prices from £3,480 per person. The 2012 sailing (Sept 20) departs from Darwin and visits Pirlangimpi (Tiwi Islands), Maningrida, Elcho Island, Jensen Bay, Yirrkala and Merauke before finishing in Thursday Island, with prices from £2,285 per person. Both cruises include all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes.

For more info, visit www.orionexpeditions.com or the UK's leading adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Rare Papua New Guinea Opportunity

Travellers seeking a path less travelled should seek out Orion Expedition Cruises, who will be operating a short season of cruises to Papua New Guinea and West Papua during 2011.

Two voyages will feature the popular Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights itinerary while the third is an exciting all-new West Papua & Maluku expedition visiting many rarely-visited places across the north of Papua New Guinea and West Papua, where even Google struggles to provide in-depth information!

The two Cultural Highlights voyages (March 23 and April 3, 2011) provide guests with a taste of primitive tribal cultures, unique flora and fauna, the opportunity to purchase superb indigenous artwork, visit isolated villages, enjoy world-class snorkelling and reflect on our recent past at historic World War II sites.

For keen photographers, the April 3 voyage is also a great opportunity to join the photographic workshop of a lifetime, capturing all the action in one of the world’s most photo-opportunistic locations, Papua New Guinea.

In association with Better Photography magazine and the Australian Geographic Society, and under the knowledgeable guidance of internationally recognised photographer Nick Rains and Grand Master of Photography Peter Eastwood, this voyage is designed to appeal to photographers of all levels. Hone photographic skills with the guidance of experts in one of the most photogenic places on earth.

Under the watchful eye of the specialist expedition team, Orion’s guests on the all-new West Papua & Maluku signature Voyage of Discovery expedition, departing April 14, will re-define the word ‘remote’, visiting rarely visited areas across the top of West Papua including Mapia Atoll (just north of the equator) and the marine wonderland of Rajah Ampat, the Bird’s Head Peninsula, Kei and Yamdena Islands in the Tanimbars, concluding in Darwin. Parts of this voyage are to places so remote most of the well-travelled crew onboard Orion have not yet been there!

11-night Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights

Starting with an overnight in Rabaul, this 11-night voyage visits Sepik River & Watam Village, Madang, Tami Islands, Tufi, Fergusson Island, Samarai and Kwato Islands and Alotau (Milne Bay) before finishing in Cairns (April 3 voyage in reverse). Prices from £5,265 per person, including 11 nights onboard Orion, all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes. Two-for-one air is also available on these voyages.

11-night West Papua & Malaku Voyage of Discovery

Starting in Rabaul, this 11-night voyage visits Wewak, Jayapura, Urbanasi, Mapia Atoll, Raja Ampat, McClure Gulf, Kei Islands and Tanimbars before finishing in Darwin. Prices from £4,785 per person including 11 nights onboard Orion, all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes. Two-for-one air is also available on this voyage.

For reservations and enquiries, call 020 7399 7620 or visit http://www.orionexpeditions.com/. Orion also feature in the Adventure Cruise Collection brochure of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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New Added Value from Orion

ORION EXPEDITION CRUISES OFFERS OUTSTANDING

EXTRA ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES

Orion Expedition Cruises, the leading operator of five-star expedition cruising in the Australasian region, has launched a range of inclusive value-added accommodation packages aimed at enhancing guest experiences on Orion’s seven-night Australian voyages in November and December 2010. This effectively adds another two or three nights to the holiday experience at no additional cost to the regular Orion expedition fare.

Guests can select from one of the following pre or post voyage accommodation options, staying in some of the finest and most sought after hotel and spa/lodge properties available:

Cairns – Qualia or Pullman Reef Hotel Casino
Sydney – Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort or Four Seasons Hotel
Melbourne – Chateau Yering or Crown Metropol Hotel
Hobart – Saffire, Freycinet or Henry Jones Art Hotel

These premium two- and three-night accommodation packages are worth up to AUS$5,000 and include meals, transfers and private tours, representing significant added value for guests.

The added value promotion applies to new bookings only based on Category A staterooms and above. Only one accommodation package can be chosen for each relevant voyage and it must be chosen at the time of booking. Accommodation packages subject to availability. For guests not wishing to take the inclusive accommodation package, savings of up to 15% are available. Some conditions apply.

Prices for the seven-night voyages start from £2,780 per person cruise only, based on twin share. Price includes seven nights onboard accommodation, all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes.

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