Quark's New Arctic Explorations

Quark Expeditions has launched the company’s Arctic 2014 line-up, with an enticing season featuring 15 voyages that include three new Canadian Arctic expedition itineraries exploring the immense territory and majestic scenery of the final frontier, its indigenous peoples, history and diverse wildlife. 

The new 'Canadian Arctic & West Greenland' voyages are also aboard a new ship in Quark’s fleet, the 114-guest Sea Explorer (formerly Corinthian II, sister ship to Quark’s Sea Spirit). This ice-strengthened small luxury expedition ship features spacious ocean-facing cabins, all-inclusive bar and beverages and optional sea-kayaking adventures.

Three New Itineraries: 

• Arctic Quest: Greenland to Churchill – This new 16-day voyage in July and August ventures into the Arctic's far reaches, home of polar bears and walrus, where Inuit communities still maintain traditional ways of life. Explore the fjords of Greenland by ship and Zodiac and navigate the eastern-most channel of Canada’s historic Northwest Passage. Prices start from £5,095 per person for 15 nights (16 days) with three meals a day, all inclusive beverages, shore landings and on-board lectures.
• In the Footsteps of Franklin: Greenland & Canada’s High Arctic – Explore the best of Greenland’s west coast on this 13-day voyage in August and September, including Illulissat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the fastest and most active glaciers in the world. Crossing into Canadian waters en route to Resolute, cruise by spectacular limestone cliffs first sighted by explorer in the 18^th Century. Explore, on foot and by Zodiac, Beechey Island, landing site of the Franklin Expedition and the most notable landmark in the history of exploration of the Canadian Arctic. Prices start from £3,865 per person, including one night's accommodation pre and post-cruise in Reykjavik and Toronto, all inclusive beverages, shore landings and on-board lectures.
• Epic High Arctic: Baffin Island Explorer via Fury & Hecla – Follow a truly epic route explored by very few on this 13-day High Arctic voyage in September that will navigate the challenging Fury and Hecla Strait between Resolute and Iqaluit. Visit with world-renowned Inuit carvers and artists at Cape Dorset, marvel at the bird cliffs and spot walrus and polar bears while Zodiac cruising around Akpatok and Monumental Islands. Prices start from £3,525 per person for 12 nights (13 days), including one night's accommodation pre and post-cruise in Toronto and Montreal, all inclusive beverages, shore landings and on-board lectures.

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

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Lindblad's Iceland & Greenland Spectacular

Lindblad Expeditions will mark the fifth anniversary in 2013 of its flagship National Geographic Explorer, the line’s 148-guest state-of-the-art expedition ship, with seven new itineraries that will connect guests to incredible places, cultures and people around the world – including a pair of special expeditions that combine spectacular destinations and an array of world-renowned special guests to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the National Geographic Society.

Circumnavigation of Iceland : This is a rare opportunity to discover riveting geography in its totality. This multi-faceted expedition creates a cohesive narrative of the amazing geological extremes. Cruise among magnificent icebergs in Jokulsarlon, and spend a day on the Arctic Circle spotting rich birdlife. Kayak into fjords and serene bays, and go hiking on spectacular and remote stretches of the coast. Explore Europe’s largest ice cap and discover the lava-sculpted landscapes of the Westman Islands. Soak in hot springs, and see boiling mud pots and the thundering Godafoss Waterfall. Go whale-watching on the shores of Iceland and its surrounding isles. Cap off the adventure with a soak in Reykjavik’s famous Blue Lagoon. Joining the voyage is Andrew Evans, National Geographic travel writer and author of the Bradt Travel Guide: Iceland. Departs July 10 for 10 days/8 nights on National Geographic Explorer, with rates beginning at $7,990 per person based on double occupancy in a category 1 cabin.

Along the Viking Trail – From Iceland to Greenland: Follow in the wake of legendary explorers as you discover the dramatic landscapes and rich traditions of Greenland and Iceland. Explore Iceland’s western fjords by Zodiac; kayak among the magnificent icebergs of East Greenland; and hike amid charming northern hamlets. Along the way, get immersed in Nordic history on visits to fascinating Viking sites and settlements with our experts. Explore Reykjavik, the world’s northernmost capital city, and discover the wild western coast of Iceland. Venture to two remarkable sites on the Viking Trail, settled by Erik the Red 500 years before Columbus. Joining the voyage is author and adventurer Tim Severin, one of the last traditional-style explorers. Departs July 18 for 12 days/10 nights. Rates begin at $9,620 per person based on double occupancy in a category 1 cabin.
 

Arctic Quest - Greenland and the Canadian High Arctic: Venture deep into the far reaches of the Arctic, where we will trace the rugged fjords of Greenland and navigate the mouth of Canada’s legendary Northwest Passage. Glide between soaring icebergs at the mouth of the Ilulissat Icefjord, spot polar bears on the pack ice, and watch for a wide variety of whales, from minke and killer whales to the rare narwhal. We will explore Uummannaq, site of Greenland’s impressive mummy find, and visit the historic Inuit village of Sermermiut, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Get up close to massive glaciers, and hike the wild islands that dot Canada’s northern shores. Joining the voyage is Henning Thing, Ph.D. in arctic wildlife ecology. The 17-day expedition departs July 27 and August 10. Rates begin at $16,160 per person based on double occupancy. 

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

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Hapag-Lloyd's Northwest Passage Adventure

This August, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will be offering a rare Northwest Passage itinerary on the only 5-star expedition vessel in the world, the MS Hanseatic. The cruise will be guaranteed bilingual, departing Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, on August 16 for a 24-night voyage cruising north of the Arctic Circle and ending in Nome, Alaska, on September 9. It is one of the most famous sea routes in the world and has been both a myth and challenge for centuries.

The Hanseatic premiered the Northwest Passage for Hapag-Lloyd in 1994. Since then, both the line's expedition ships, Hanseatic and Bremen, have successfully cruised through the Passage 12 times. In summer 2009,  both ships met there for the first time, travelling in opposite directions.

This year's Hanseatic journey starts in Greenland and crosses Disko Bay, where guests can observe the bizarrely-shaped icebergs. The ship will then cross the Canadian Arctic, the heart of the Northwest Passage. Thanks to its shallow draught, Hanseatic is able to sail close to the coast, giving guests box seats for viewing the rugged and icy panoramas of the shores. Guests will be thrilled to encounter caribou, polar bears, musk oxen, bald eagles, and whales, while taking full advantage of the many Zodiac landings to explore the impressive glacial coasts along the route.

Other planned highlights (weather permitting): a visit to a former whaling base on Herschel Island; a landing in Cambridge Bay on Victoria Island, including a visit to the wreck of the Maud, in which Roald Amundsen conquered the Northwest Passage; zodiac landings in Peel Sound, the Franklin Strait and Larsen Sound; and a stop in Barrow, Alaska, the most northern city in the world.

The voyage-only fares lead-in at £13,210 per person, based on double occupancy for an outside cabin. 

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

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Hapag-Lloyd's Expedition Season

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is offering 12 expedition itineraries operated in English/German in the season 2013/2014. Their small and beautifully appointed expedition ships, MS Hanseatic and MS Bremen will be travelling to Alaska, Spitsbergen, Iceland, Greenland, the Northwest Passage, the Amazon, Chilean Fjords, Antarctica, the South Seas, New Zealand, Antarctica, Africa and Madagascar. 

The Hanseatic, a 5-star expedition ship and the Bremen, a 4-star-plus version, were created to provide intensive exploration in elegant surroundings for a maximum of 184 and 164 guests respectively. Here are the highlights.

The Earth’s Most Southern Continent – Antarctica

Antarctica Circle: This 18-day itinerary on Hanseatic is from February 13-March 3, 2013. Rates start at $12,760 per person. The 18-day itinerary on Bremen is from January 9-27, 2014, with rates from $10,890.

Secrets of the Exotic Pacific – New Zealand and The South Seas

New Zealand: This 15-day itinerary on Bremen is from March 4-19, 2013, from Bluff to Auckland, with rates from $7,240.

South Seas Spring

This 17-day itinerary on Bremen, with stops in Australia, New Caledonia and Fiji, is from March 19-April 5, 2013, from Auckland to Fiji, with rates from $8,100.

South Seas Fall

Hanseatic's 22-day cruise in 2013 makes stops in Palau, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Island, from October 15-November 6, sailing from Manila in the Philippines to Fiji, with rates from $11,390 per person.  

Three Adventures in One – Spitsbergen, Iceland, Greenland

This 18-day itinerary is from July 14-August 1, 2013, from Longyearbyen/Spitsbergen to Kangerlussuaq/Greenland, with rates from $11,740.

The World’s Most Mysterious Route – The Northwest Passage

Sailing a 24-day itinerary is this offering from August 16-September 9, 2013, from Kangerlussuaq in Greenland to Nome, Alaska. Rates for this itinerary start at $20,320 per person.

Paradise on Earth – Expedition Madagascar and Africa

This 17-day itinerary is from December 1-18, 2013, from Port Louis in Mauritius to Cape Town, South Africa, with ratyes from $7,020.

For more info on Hapag-Lloyd's adventuring cruises and bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK’s leading adventure-cruise specialists.

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Northwest Passage = Plethora of Wildlife

While the history of the 300-year search for the Northwest Passage, which links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, is well documented, travellers in search of a polar adventure may be less aware of the huge variety and numbers of wildlife to be enjoyed during a voyage through the Canadian High Arctic.

According to Aaron Lawton, a Northwest Passage Expedition Leader with specialist small-ship cruise company One Ocean Expeditions, it is possible to be truly inundated and overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of marine mammals, polar bears and birdlife that appear during such a voyage.

This bombardment of wildlife sightings is by no means an isolated experience as passengers on board the impressive ice-strengthened Akademik Ioffe will discover. Using zodiac inflatable boats with the quietest of motors, travelling upwind of a polar bear, it is possible to safely get within metres of these beautiful creatures as they stroll along the shoreline. And, with a real chance of seeing pods of beluga or bowhead whales, a raft of ringed, harp or bearded seals, a herd of walrus and staggering numbers of birds, many with chicks in various stages of fledging, it is certain to be a wildlife experience to remember.

Today’s adventurers will travel in much greater comfort than the remarkable polar explorers who went before them. Facilities on board include a bar and lounge, a library and media room, plus a theatre-style presentation room, gift-shop and wellness centre with massage, sauna and hot tub, as well as a dining room serving excellent meals throughout the voyage.

Additional highlights of the 14-night trip, which travels between Kangerlussuaq in Greenland and Coppermine in Canada, include majestic, steep-sided fjords and massive tabular icebergs; the chance to visit remote Inuit communities and meet traditional Greenlandic kayakers; and the opportunity to participate in hiking, kayaking, photographic and birding expeditions in the company of expert guides.

One Ocean Expeditions is offering the choice of two 14-night voyages through the Northwest Passage this summer. Departures are on August 12 from Kangerlussuaq, sailing west to Coppermine, and August 26 in reverse.

Prices start from $7,590 per person, based on triple share and from $10,990 for a private twin cabin. Suites and superior cabins are also available and range from $11,990-$13,990. Charter flights between Ottawa and Kangerlussuaq and Edmonton and Coppermine are required for passengers joining these voyages, at an additional cost of $1,850 per person.

Kayaking excursions are also available at a cost of $695 per person. Return transfers between Kangerlussuaq/Kugluktuk airports and the ship, all meals and accommodation and zodiac excursions are included.

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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