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.

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The Magic Of Papua New Guinea With Orion

Orion Expedition Cruises’ award-winning voyage to Papua New Guinea has two departures next year, providing the most rewarding and civilised way to see this fascinating part of the world. The itineraries commence and conclude in Cairns, Queensland, seamlessly incorporating a charter flight direct to or from the ship in Rabaul for boarding or disembarkation.

Bypassing the main towns, as Orion does, many villagers have only been exposed to the modern world through the workings of missionaries and occasional traders. Yet step ashore with members of the ship's specialist expedition team and you will be greeted with broad smiles and warm welcomes from gentle villagers – an eye-opening introduction to a way of life far removed from our Western world.

On these deluxe Orion voyages, guests encounter primitive tribal cultures (and perhaps purchase superb indigenous artwork and carvings), see unique flora and fauna and enjoy snorkelling and fishing in warm indigo and cobalt blue waters, home to some the world’s most prolific marine and coral life.

The 11-night Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights voyage departs on March 16 and 17 and travels between Rabaul and Cairns, visiting the Sepik River, Watam Village, Madang, Tami Islands, Tufi, Kitava, Samarai and Kwato Island and Alotau. 

Book by November 30 and save £1,750 per person, with prices from £5,635, 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, government fees and taxes and free charter flight between Rabaul and Cairns. 

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

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Golf Cruising In New Zealand

Well known for spectacular mountains, towering fjords and lush forests, New Zealand is also renowned as one of the world’s top destinations for golfers. Orion Expedition Cruises’ South Pacific Golf Expedition from Lyttleton to Auckland will open the door to a number of spectacular and challenging New Zealand golf courses. Included on the world’s top 100 list, these courses are on every golfer’s wish list - made all the better by experiencing them from the comfort of a small floating hotel, the highly awarded luxurious expedition cruise ship, Orion.

This voyage includes green fees for five rounds of golf at Royal Wellington, Cape Kidnappers (two rounds) and Kauri Cliffs (two rounds), cart hire and golf club transportation to and from the ship for each golf course visited.

Friends or partners who are not yet keen golfers have not been forgotten as there is much to delight and excite them on this voyage. While golfers may be hitting an Albatross, their partners may be observing nesting gannets at Cape Kidnappers or sipping a crisp white at one of New Zealand’s renowned wineries.

Each day will reveal something special. From Wellington, where colourful Victorian houses grace the steep hills surrounding one of the prettiest harbours in the southern hemisphere, to the dramatic coastlines and extraordinary seascapes.

The eight-night South Pacific Golf Expedition departs Lyttleton on February 16, 2013, and visits Wellington, Marlborough Sound, Napier and Whangaroa before finishing in Auckland. Prices are from £4,385 per person, including eight nights onboard Orion, all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, green fees, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes.

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



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Orion's Kimberley Expeditions

Anyone watching the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics will never forget the uplifting moment when a 35-metre-high aboriginal Wandjina spirit sculpture appeared, the artwork rising out of the ground to float above the enraptured crowd.

Donny Woolagoodja (above), the appointed owner/guardian of the Wandjina rock art in the Raft Point Area of the Kimberley, is the artist responsible for the Wandjina image used at the Sydney Olympics. His direct connection to Wandjina art is inherited, his father having painted the most recent images at Raft Point.  

Now, exclusively, guests on Orion Expedition Cruises' 10-night Kimberley Expedition voyages have the opportunity to meet Donny and several other traditional land-owners at Raft Point. They will be welcomed ashore with a traditional purification smoking ceremony and enjoy indigenous interaction with the traditional owners and authentic interpretation of the precious Wandjina rock artworks that abound in the area.

Additionally, when deluxe expedition ship Orion arrives, local artists travel to Raft Point to display and sell their artworks, providing a unique opportunity for guests to purchase original pieces directly from the artist, thereby supporting local communities through encouraging a continuation of traditional art skills.

Orion’s Kimberley Expedition voyages include outstanding examples of pre-history Gwion Gwion and Wandjina rock art, landing on remote islands and beaches, exploring vast gorges, climbing to the plateau next to the highest waterfall in the Kimberley, King George Falls, and venturing in Zodiacs into waterways in search of saltwater crocodiles.

The voyages run from late April to early September, alternating between Darwin and Broome, including 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.

Prices start from £4,915 per person, including 10 nights on board 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. In 2013, prices start from £4,575 per person.

For bookings, see this link to our sponsors and the UK's leading adventure-cruise experts, The Cruise Line Ltd. 



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New Edition Now Online

The latest edition of the magazine is now online and can now be seen in full. Starting with our look at the glamour and heritage of Transatlantic cruising and going on to cover the historic Gota Canal in Sweden, luxury barging in Burgundy, the amazing Norwegian Epic of Norwegian Cruise Line and the stylish Orion II of Orion Expedition Cruises in the Far East.

And then there's the French chic of Ponant Cruises, the classic Princess Daphne, the majestic Star Clippers sail-cruising style and the unique world of Blount Small Ship Adventures in America.

Of course, there is also our top cruise blogger, Captain Greybeard, the essential World of Spas, a look at the destination of Santa Monica and the latest Spring Fashions, along with a bumper NINE pages of News and views.

And you can see it all on this link: http://content.yudu.com/A1w6yv/WOC54/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldofcruising.co.uk%2F

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Cruise Shipping Miami - Day One

I promised we would report back 'live' from the big Cruise Shipping Miami convention this week and, a little later than hoped, here is a run-down of Day One at the world's biggest passenger shipping conference.

The convention basically has two main sections, the workship-style conference sessions into various aspects of the cruise business, and the Exhibition hall, split into Cruise Suppliers and Destinations. The exhibition is not open on the first day (they were still setting up when we peeked inside), hence the opening session is all about the workshops.

But first a quick gripe. Much to our surprise there was NO WiFi available to the media today (or, possibly, for the rest of the convention). Apparently it is a cost-cutting measure on the organisers' part. So they obviously don't want us to Tweet, blog and send 'live' reports back from the conference. An odd choice when there is an official Twitter hashtag for the convention (#CSM2012). There was also nothing to eat (apart from plain croissants and muffins) anywhere in the South Beach Convention Center, hence we needed to dash out to the nearest Starbucks to grab a quick sandwich (and get online) during the lunch break. Not very impressive for a so-called 'convention' venue.

Those are obviously minor quibbles, but it does make you wonder if Miami is no longer the ideal choice for this kind of thing. We would certainly give Orlando a big advantage on this score, especially as there is no actual need to be near a port!

Anyway, we did get straight into business mode in the morning, with an excellent seminar on Global Source Market Trends. This two-hour session featured six significant industry experts, including Britain's Bill Gibbons - head of the Passenger Shipping Association - and Tim Marking, the secretary general of the European Cruise Council.

A packed audience (it was standing-room only) heard first from Marking, who offered the latest stats on European cruisers - over 6 million in 2011, up 9% on 2010, and more than double the numbers of just eight years ago. Next up was Gibbons (below), who supplied similar data from the UK market, including the fact British passenger growth has slowed but still hit a record 1.7 million.

Cruising continues to out-perform all other sectors of the UK holiday market, though, with round-Britain voyages showing special growth and the percentage of first-time cruisers up to a whopping 40%.

Brazilian Ricardo Amaral of the South American cruise commission Abremar made some fascinating observations for the potential of growth in his home area, including the likes of MSC Cruises and Costa bringing their largest ships to Brazil this winter, lengthening the season to almost 6 months (when it used to be just three) and making his country the fifth-largest source market ih the world. Clearly, there is room for more significant cruise growth here.

Then we heard from Orion Expedition Cruises (and Australia Cruise Alliance) founder and chief executive Sarina Bratton on the continued strong growth of cruising Down Under while Melvin Yu, from Singapore, spoke about the potential explosion of domestic cruising in Asia, notably in China. Amaral, Bratton and Yu all provided a particularly fresh and dynamic approach to the forum.

It provided a lot of food for thought - Brazil as a major cruise destination; huge growth in China; more opportunities in Australia and the South Pacific? - and set up an equally enthralling afternoon session looking at New Destination Development.

This provided even more evidence of the 'globalisation' of the cruise business, with Luis de Carvalho of cruise specialists Consult-DC offering an especially intriguing look at possible West and Central African destinations. This was followed by a more traditional destination, the Atlantic Alliance (a conglomeration of cruise ports from Hamburg to Lisbon), with Nadine Palatz highlighting how this region has transformed itself from a 'transit area' to a series of major cruise ports.

Nigel Lingard, formerly of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and now a specialist consultant for AD Cruising (who include Swan Hellenic, Voyages of Discovery and Hebridean Island Cruises) got out his maritime crystal ball to predict a few other intriguing destination possibilities, including Madagascar, north-east South America, Indonesia and the Phillippines, and Anthony Lau of the Hong Kong Tourist Board wrapped things up in style with a fascinating look at major developments in his region, including the fact this could become a major cruise hub to rival the likes of Miami in future.

A Q&A session followed each workshop and there was also input from Royal Caribbean's Middle East expert Helen Beck, who offered some thoughts on the growth of Dubai as a winter cruise hub.

All in all, it was a genuinely insightful and well-presented look at the possible future(s) of cruise shipping, and sets things up nicely for Day Two, which kicks off with the main highlight of the State of the Industry session featuring the likes of the CEO's of Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland America and Norwegian Cruise Line.

In the wake of the recent Costa Concordia tragedy, it will be fascinating to hear what the real head honchos think of things and the apparent dip in cruise bookings since January 13.

Stay tuned, folks...!

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Orion's Photo Focus On Vietnam

Orion Expedition Cruises is delighted to announced that award-winning British wildlife photographer, author and filmmaker, Sue Flood, is to join international photographer Nick Rains as a guest presenter onboard Orion II during a nine-night Vietnam Explorer photographic voyage departing March 30.

This voyage is an opportunity for enthusiasts of all levels to improve their photographic skills while on location in one of the world’s most photogenic settings, Vietnam.

 

Starting in Ho Chi Minh City, this voyage includes four photogenic World Heritage sites - Hue, Hoi An, My Son (above) and Ha Long Bay. There will be ample opportunity to experience and capture the cultural, historic and geographic diversity of Vietnam, including the Saigon River busy with sampans, the traditional fishing village of Baie de Cu Mon, which is rarely seen by outsiders, and Nha Trang’s Communist Party headquarters.

 

Nick and Sue will hold regular workshops onboard before taking guests ashore on location along with members of Orion’s specialist expedition team.

 

Photography workshops include professional advice and instruction on understanding and optimising camera settings, selecting the best lens for the occasion, framing your subject and ‘capturing the moment’ along with instruction on the dark art of digital editing-software and printing.

Explore, experience and shoot from dawn to dusk, with internationally recognised and awarded professional photographers; then relax, compare images and enjoy superb cuisine, wines and company by night onboard Orion II.

 

The nine-night Vietnam Explorer photo expedition departs Ho Chi Minh City to Haiphong (for Hanoi), and includes Nha Trang, Baie de Cu Mon/Bai Nam Beach, Da Nang (for My Son and Hoi An), Chan May (for Hue), Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba.  

 

Book before the end of February and save 30%, with prices from £3,850 per person, including eight nights on Orion II, 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.

 

About Sue Flood

Sue is an award-winning wildlife photographer, author and filmmaker. She joined the BBC Natural History Unit in 1993 and spent 11 years at the BBC, fulfilling a lifelong ambition to work with her childhood (and adult!) hero, Sir David Attenborough. Her experience including working as Associate Producer on the award-winning series The Blue Planet and also Planet Earth and the Disney nature movie Earth. Sue also produced four films for the BBC:  Polar Bears on Thin Ice; A Boy Among Polar Bears; Killer Whale Special; and Life of Mammals. In March 2005 Sue left to pursue her wildlife photography career and she is now a professional photographer, represented by Getty Images. Recognition of Sue’s work includes awards in the following competitions: International Photographer of the Year, Travel Photographer of the Year, the Art Wolfe (Best of Festival) Award in the International Conservation Photography Awards, and Royal Photographic Society Silver Medal.

 

About Nick Rains

Nick Rains, studied Zoology at university in Britain which led him to a career in photography. Over the years, Nick has worked with the Australian Tourism Commission, Tourism NSW, Penguin Books, Readers Digest Books, Shell Petroleum, BBC TV, Sports Illustrated, World Heritage Commission, Australian Geographic plus many more. Nick is involved with teaching and writing and is the editor of Better Digital Camera magazine. 

For booking info, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists. The Cruise Line Ltd.

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The Art of Japan With Orion

Orion Expedition Cruises has released details of an exclusive eight-night Art of Japan voyage featuring visits to some of the most culturally significant high points around the Inland Sea of Japan.

Departing Busan, South Korea, on April 19, the itinerary has been tailored especially for art lovers and those with a curiosity about Japanese art seeking to better understand and experience the breadth of the country's art culture, including some fine collections of Western art.                         

Developed in conjunction with the Art Gallery of New South Wales, this tour embraces ancient Shinto shrines, exquisite formal gardens, art complexes and museums, samurai culture, medieval castles and contemporary architecture. From the floating red shrine of Itsukushima to collections of Claude Monet, the formal gardens of Korakuen and the contemporary art of Tatsuo Miyajima, this Art of Japan voyage onboard Orion II promises to be an artistic revelation.

The voyage visits Sakai Ko, Honshu Island; Hagi, Honshu Island; Hiroshima; Miyajima, Inland Sea; Uno Ko, Honshu Island; Naoshima, Honshu Island; and Takamatsu, Shikoku Island; before arriving at Kobe, Japan. Prices start from £3,825 per person (a saving of £670) including eight nights onboard, 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 booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury adventure cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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One Week To The New Edition!

The Winter edition of World of Cruising magazine goes to the printers this week and should be back with us next Monday (Dec 19) for distribution to all our subscribers - just in time for a good Christmas read!

The latest issue is absolutely packed with the exotic and the desirable; long-distance cruising and closer-to-home varieties; winter ideas and festive touches. It journeys from Japan to Alaska and the Caribbean to the Med. And all in the inimitable style and high-quality design you have come to expect from Europe's leading cruise publication.

Our cover story is a unique close-up look at Alaska, through the twin perspectives of Princess Cruises and the new Alaskan Dream Cruises, with some fabulous photography and brilliant story-telling. Then we take a Viking voyage in the company of Fred. Olsen Cruises and head to the FarEast to look at the growing cruise destination of South Korea.

Need some winter sunshine? Go straight to out feature on Caribbean voyaging with SeaDream Yacht Club, a real tropical tonic. Or how about another look at the Asian Far East, this time with Orion Expedition Cruises and their first ever visit to Japan?


Back on home ground, we have a feature-length look at Swan Hellenic's Minerva from her new home base of Portsmouth (and just prior to her big winter re-fit), and then head north again for a look at the Norwegian Arctic of Hurtigruten in the region of Spitsbergen, truly one of cruising's great adventure frontiers.

For river cruising, we head to Russia and a unique journey from Moscow to St Petersburg with Uniworld, while we add a touch of pure luxury aboard Azamara Club Cruises and their unique President's Cruise. We also fofer two Passenger Perspective pieces, looking at Azamara and Cunard's Queen Victoria.

All our regular features are, of course, firmly front and centre, from the inimitable blogging style of Captain Greybeard and the inimitable Admiral, to our Aft View section, the expert Fashion pages, the essential World of Spas section, Readers Letters and the essential Cruise Planner, our annual review of ALL the ships with ALL the lines, so you can sit and plan your next voyage in perfect style.

It is all here, capped off by the best writers on the subject, from Gary Buchanan and Yvonne Horn to cruise historian Peter Newall and adventuring supremo Steve Newman.

As ever, World of Cruising is subscription-only, so, to be sure of your copy, make sure you visit our subscription page - Here!

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See Vietnam The Orion Way

From Ho Chi Minh to My Son, Nha Trang to Ha Long Bay, Vietnam is intoxicating. With energy and charm in equal proportions and a regal history of passion, war and conquests to rival any European history, Orion II’s nine-night Vietnam Explorer voyages include not one, two, but four UNESCO World Heritage sites - Hue, Hoi An, My Son and Ha Long Bay. Extraordinary, even by Orion Expedition's standards.

Whether it is the organised chaos of cruising the Saigon River with its junks, exploring the traditional fishing village of Baie de Cu Mon, rarely seen by outsiders, or exploring Nha Trang with its Communist Party headquarters, beach brewery and $1 lobsters for lunch, a voyage with Orion promises - and delivers - the unexpected.

Even Ha Long Bay is explored with fresh eyes. Seen from onboard a traditional junk, wending peacefully through the islands, the soaring limestone karsts are spectacular; venturing into limestone caves with the expedition team on Orion II’s Zodiacs adds another dimension completely.

In both 2011 and 2012 there are three scheduled nine-night Vietnam Explorer voyages, alternating between Haiphong (for Hanoi) and Ho Chi Minh City and including Nha Trang, Baie de Cu Mon/Bai Nam Beach, Da Nang (for My Son and Hoi An), Chan May (for Hue) and Ha Long Bay & Cat Ba. 2011 departures are November 18 and 27 and December 6, while 2012 departures are March 12, 21 and 30.

Prices start from £4,295 per person including nine nights onboard Orion II, 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 contact the UK's leading adventure and luxury-cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Orion Expeditions - Samurai and Snorkelling

Join the Orion Expedition team onboard the newly re-fitted Orion II for her maiden Ryukyu Islands voyage exploring from Japan through the rarely visited sub-tropical Ryukyu Islands to the Philippines and Sabah.

This 14-night voyage on July 28 features diverse elements for adventurous spirits seeking cultural experiences far removed from the predictable tourist hotspots of Asia, including two destinations unique to this voyage, Shimonoseki and Kagoshima, plus a visit to Coron Palawan in the Philippines, the first by a foreign ship.

Guests can try their hand at the fine art of preparing Fugu – poisonous puffer fish - warm their feet in a volcanic-heated foot bath, explore an impressive cave and underground river system and remove their clothes and inhibitions in a very elegant private hot spring onsen (public bath).

Active volcanoes and traditional samurai castles contrast with beautiful bays and islands perfect for snorkelling and diving, while a buffalo cart ride across tidal flats, cultural performances, art galleries and exploring a little township with bars and cafes offer other dimensions to this voyage.

Reminders of World War II abound, including visits to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as a fascinating Kamikaze museum and, in Okinawa, a former Japanese Imperial Navy HQ underground tunnel command centre.

The significant red Shuri Castle has many ancient links to the unique system of paying tribute to both Japanese and Chinese emperors and an archaeological dig site guests may visit contains some of the oldest human remains found in Asia.

Orion II’s visit to Coron Palawan will be celebrated with welcoming cultural displays, performances and interaction. Guests will have time for snorkelling, relaxing in hot springs, a village visit and scenic Zodiac cruising to capture the dramatic sunset.

Lecturers in the expedition team include:

Amy Loewen - Japan expert, many years of experience leading groups in Japan

Grace Winer - expert geologist to provide interpretation on the regions stunning and active geology

Justin Friend - to lecture on Filipino and Ryukyu cultures

Expedition Leader Alastair Newton - with many years experience in the region.

The 14-night cruise also visits San Fernando (for Baguio), Puerto Galera and Coron before finishing in Kota Kinabalu. Prices start from £6,680 per person including 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 contact the UK's leading adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

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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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Orion Expedition Cruises Unveil 2012 Programme

Free Flights on Selected Kimberley, Borneo & Vietnam Itineraries plus 15% Early Booking Discounts on Selected Sailings
Orion Expedition Cruises has released an expanded range of path-less-travelled itineraries for 2012, which include free flights from the UK on selected Kimberley, Borneo and Vietnam voyages as well as early booking discounts of up to 15% on most sailings.

Incorporating the first full year of voyages for Orion II, as well as their original boutique cruiser Orion, these expeditions - well off the marine superhighway - include rarely visited destinations from polar ice cap to the tropics.

In addition to existing itineraries, Orion takes a fresh look at New Zealand with new Pure New Zealand and Bay of Islands voyages. Orion II’s new sailings feature the islands of Micronesia and additional voyages to Japan with Art of Japan and Culinary Voyage of Japan itineraries. China is included for the first time, with expeditions that includes the Yangtze Delta (Kobe to Shanghai) and Shanghai to Tawau (Yangtze, Taiwan, Philippines), while an inaugural visit to Java includes Borobudur.

Free flights are available on all Kimberley sailings between April 13 and September 10; on three Vietnam sailings departing March 12, 21, 30 and on one Borneo sailing departing February 17.

In all, 2012 will see the two purpose-built expedition cruise ships undertake 68 voyages to 17 countries and 174 destinations stretching from Antarctica to the Russian Far East, including Borneo, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, the Inland Sea of Japan, Korea, China and Micronesia (onboard Orion II). Australia’s Kimberley coast, Arnhem Land, Great Barrier Reef, the Spice Islands, New Zealand, the Sub Antarctic islands and Papua New Guinea feature in Orion’s range of expeditions.

The complete 2012 Calendar of Sailings is now on sale. Prices start from £1,630 per person, cruise-only, for a five-night Great Barrier Reef voyage on September 27 and from £4,400 per person for a nine-night Vietnam Explorer voyage, including free flights, with departures on March 12, 21 and 30.

For more info, visit http://www.orionexpeditions.com/ or the UK's expedition cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Orion's World First At Orangutan Foundation

Orion Expedition Cruises have announced securing a world-first marketing association with renowned primatologist Dr Biruté Mary Galdikas and her Camp Leakey-based Orangutan Foundation International.

A scientist, conservationist and educator for four decades, Dr Galdikas has studied and worked closely with the orangutans of Indonesian Borneo in their natural habitat and is today the world’s foremost authority on the orangutan. Like Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey, Dr Galdikas was mentored and inspired by Professor Louis Leakey the famed paleoanthropologist.

Highlights of the agreement and the exclusive experiences afforded Orion guests visiting Borneo on Camp Leakey itineraries include:

Orion II’s first Borneo season, featuring eight voyages, three that include a visit to Camp Leakey, September 30 and December 29, 2011, and January 8, 2012.

Dr Galdikas travelling onboard for all or part of the Camp Leakey voyages as a guest lecturer.

On these visits, Dr Galdikas will personally escort Orion’s guests in small groups while at Camp Leakey to visit the Orion Feeding Station, the Infant Care Centre and Rehabilitation area.

December 29, 2011, marks Dr Galdikas’ 40th anniversary celebration of Camp Leakey and she will sail the full cruise, presenting two onboard lectures with opportunities throughout the cruise to meet her.

Orion Expedition Cruises has donated funds for an orangutan feeding station at Camp Leakey that will be accessed exclusively by Orion II guests. Orion will also purchase an Orangutan Adoption Kit for each guest on any 2011 or 2012 Borneo sailing.

Dr Galdikas has been hesitant to allow third party operators to link with her Camp Leakey rehabilitation project until now. However, a meeting between Dr Galdikas and Orion's environmentally-conscious CEO Sarina Bratton opened the way for a co-operative agreement that will benefit Orangutan Foundation International through support from Orion.

The new Borneo voyages cost from £4,770 per person, including 10 nights on Orion II, 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 further information, visit www.orionexpeditions.com or the UK's leading adventure cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Follow In Captain Scott's Footsteps with Orion

A recent BBC documentary, “The Secret of Scott’s Hut”, saw Ben Fogle join an expedition across Antarctica to find Captain Scott’s Hut, frozen in time for a century. The hut was built to support Scott’s 1911 attempt to be the first to the South Pole and was later abandoned together with 10,000 personal, everyday and scientific items.

In January of this year, Orion Expedition Cruises, the leading operator of five-star expedition cruising in the Australasian region, voyaged to Captain Scott’s hut from which he left for the South Pole, never to return. The 106 guests onboard were all lucky enough to enter the hut, which is a perfectly preserved time capsule of Edwardian England with all the tins of provisions in place and the men’s personal items where they left them.

In January 2012, Orion will again offer guests the opportunity to join a Scott & Shackleton’s Centenary voyage, which will cover some of the polar regions famously charted during the first race to the South Pole by pioneering explorers Scott and Shackleton. The Ross Sea coast extends from the ice shelf northwards until it reaches the very tip of Victoria Land and Cape Adare. While in the Ross Sea Region, a variety of opportunistic landings will be attempted, subject to weather conditions.

Joining guests and the specialist Expedition Team onboard Orion will be renowned scientist and media presenter Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. While onboard, Dr Karl will share his wealth of knowledge with guests through a series of fabulously entertaining and witty talks presented in his inimitable style.

Orion Expedition Cruises’ 20-night Scott & Shackleton’s Antarctica departs January 21, 2012, from Bluff, New Zealand, and visits Auckland Islands, Macquarie Island, the Ross Sea Region, Campbell Island and Snares Islands before arriving back into Bluff. Prices are from £14,625 per person, including 20 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.

For further information and reservations, visit www.orionexpeditions.com or talk to the UK's leading adventure-cruise travel agents, The Cruise Line Ltd, on 0800 008 6677.

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Orion Offers Samurai, Sake and Soba

Orion II (above) the new ship from Orion Expedition Cruises will be making her inaugural voyages to Japan in June and July. The ten-night Inland Sea of Japan voyages live up the promise of a path less travelled, with the specialist expedition team introducing guests to insider experiences, many of which are exclusive to Orion.

Guests will cruise the moat surrounding imposing Matsue Castle; learn to make Soba noodles; stroll the main street of Sakaiminato with hundreds of bronze statues depicting animated cartoon monsters and enjoy a visit to Sakai's Sake brewery to sample their fine rice wine.

Other experiences include traditional drumming with Japan's best Taiko drum troupe, Kodo, and a trip in a Taraibune - round barrel boats traditionally used to collect abalone and other molluscs from narrow coves.

Orion’s three 10-night Inland Sea of Japan voyages depart July 8, 18 and 28. The voyages start in Aomori and visit Sado Island; Kanazawa, Honshu Island; Sakai Ko, Honshu Island; Busan, South Korea; Nagasaki, Kyushu Island; Uwajima, Shikoku Island; Hiroshima, Honshu Island; Miyajima; and Uno Ko, Honshu Island before finish in Kobe.

The July 18 voyage is in reverse. Prices are from £4,770 per person including 10 nights on Orion II, 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 further information, visit http://www.orionexpeditions.com/ or contact the UK's leading adventure cruise experts of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Expeditions to Papua New Guinea and West Papua

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Travellers seeking a path less travelled to neighbouring Papua New Guinea and West Papua during 2011 will need to move quickly as Orion Expedition Cruises will visit this tropical paradise for only one season of cruises on their chic little Orion during March and April.

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

Under the watchful eye of the specialist expedition team, Orion’s guests on the signature Voyage of Discovery expedition, departing April 14, will redefine the word ‘remote’, visiting rarely seen 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.

11-night Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights (March 23 and April 3)

Starting with an overnight in Rabaul, this 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 (April 14)

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, visit http://www.orionexpeditions.com/ or call the UK's adventure cruises specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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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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.

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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Farewell, 2010!

We're bidding a fond farewell to 2010 today after a year that had many highs (and a few lows) for the cruise industry - and a LOT to remember fondly.

For us at World of Cruising magazine, it was a year of Adventure - or adventure cruising, to be more precise.

We chose this year to highlight a growing and inspiring trend in expedition-style voyaging, with trips to awe-inspiring Chilean Patagonia (above) with Nomads of the Seas, the Norwegian Arctic with Hurtigruten, the islands of the Pacific North-West with Cruise West, the Brahmaputra River in India, offbeat Alaska with American Safari Cruises and the Canadian Arctic with Inuit Indian company Cruise North Expeditions.

Along we way, we have also highlighted the brilliant opportunities for adventure-cruise excursions with Lindblad Expeditions, Zegrahm Expeditions, Orion Expedition Cruises, Aqua Expeditions and Noble Caledonia.

It all adds up to an unequalled array of choice in this niche area of cruising, but one that is likely to grow still further in 2011.

We have also welcomed a superb line-up of new vessels, notably P&O's Azura, the grand Queen Elizabeth of Cunard, Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam, the amazing Allure of the Seas of Royal Caribbean, the chic Le Boreal of Ponant Lines, NCL's immense Norwegian Epic and the Celebrity Eclipse, the latest of Celebrity's Solstice-class vessels which are quickly establishing themselves as the gold standard in the large premium category.

From the personal point of view, it was hard to beat our trip to Chile with Nomads, where we discovered not only a peerless cruise experience, but a stunning part of the world and unfailingly friendly people.

And then, going from one extreme to the other (arguably the smallest ship in the world to the largest), our time aboard the new Allure of the Seas was also eye-opening, with the entertainment on this colossus of the seas raising the bar in this field yet again.

On the negative side, we were dismayed by the example of the Carnival Splendor, which suffered a fire and major power failure on the Mexican Riviera in November, requiring it to be towed back to port with some seriously disgruntled passengers. One subsequent report suggests Carnival have a problem with their safety procedures for dealing with fires at sea, and we sincerely hope that the right lessons are learned from this incident.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas then hit seriously rough weather in the Med earlier this month, with the ship suffering minor internal damage and a number of passengers being hurt, several with broken limbs. It was a salutary reminder that the sea still has power to make cruise ships distinctly wary about where, and when, they cruise.

Sadly, we also saw the demise of a long-time specialist operator, as Cruise West went bankrupt as they became a belated victim of the big recession that has affected large parts of the travel industry.

Happily, these remain exceedingly rare examples of the negative side of a business that continues to boom and attract new devotees on a daily basis. For the millions now cruising, it is still a source of almost endless fun and fascination; great value for money; and superb travelling style, with the vast array of ports of call now available.

Or, as we like to say at World of Cruising, it is just one more great adventure!

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Sub Antarctic Wildlife Adventure

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Here's a great option to voyage south - WAY south! - on the world’s youngest purpose-built expedition cruise ship, Orion, to the World Heritage listed Sub-Antarctic Islands and mainland Antarctica.

These expeditions particularly suit modern-day adventurers, those with an interest in polar exploration, nature lovers and keen wildlife and seascape photographers, as well as anyone with an adventurous spirit interested in visiting remote places of outstanding historic and ecologic importance.

Surrounded by the Southern Ocean, secluded and seldom visited, these Sub-Antarctic Islands have UNESCO World Heritage status, recognising one of our planet’s most important bio-diverse regions with their volcanic and glacial geological formations and extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna.

The remnants of the old whaling station on Macquarie Island, the high cliffs and numerous caves and arches formed by marine erosion on Campbell Island and the enormous sea stacks on the southern peninsulas of The Snares present dramatic contrast to the prolific bird life, penguins, fur and elephant seals, sea lions, killer whales and unique flora seen in this remote region.

This 13-night cruise departs Jan 15 and Dec 20, 2011, from Dunedin and visits Fiordland, Stewart Island, Snares Island, Auckland Island, Campbell Island and Macquarie Island before arriving in Hobart. Prices from £5,745 per person, including 13 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.

For more information on this and other sub-Antarctic expeditions, visit http://www.orionexpeditions.com/ or see the Adventure Cruise Collection of UK adventure crusie specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

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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