New Antarctic Options

The Antarctic Dream, an 80-passenger expedition cruise ship with an ice-strengthened hull renowned for its long-time service in the Chilean Navy, has unveiled a new “Fly and Sail” programme for the 2011-2012 Antarctica travel season, which began on November 1.

The programme allows travellers to experience the crossing of the Drake Passage, the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, but reduces the regular itinerary by three days by cutting out a second crossing of the Passage.

Lectures are offered by the Expedition Leaders and additional presentations and workshops are offered by geologists, naturalists and special guests, which include celebrated photographers, wildlife experts and award-winning scientists.

For more info, visit www.antarcticdream.com or the UK's adventure-cruise specialist agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Sail ex-UK with Oceania Cruises in 2011

Following her debut in January, Oceania Cruises’ first new-build luxury cruise ship Marina will offer two ex-UK cruises in summer 2011 as part of her inaugural European cruise season, before returning to her current winter destination of the Caribbean for winter 2011/12. The company will offer a further three ex-UK cruises, from Dover and Greenwich, on board their two mid-sized luxury cruise ships Regatta and Insignia.

Regatta will cruise a 12-night sailing from Greenwich through the North Sea to call into ports along Norway’s west coast and down to Copenhagen, with fares from £2,421pp, departing on June 11.

Insignia sails from Dover on July 11 and August 8, offering cruises to ports in Belgium, Holland, the Baltic States, Russia and Scandinavia, with fares from £2,790pp.

The beautifully appointed 1,250-guest Marina will sail from Dover on July 15 on her 14-night 'Northern Knights' round-trip cruise off the coast of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, also calling into Norway, the Shetland Islands and the Isle of Man, with fares from £3,102pp.

Marina's second ex-UK ‘no-fly’ departure, on July 29, leaves Dover for Amsterdam, Bruges and a cruise of France's Atlantic west coast, down to Santander in Spain and returning to Dover 12 nights later. Fares are currently on special offer from just £1,199pp, including a saving of up to 50%, PLUS $1,000 onboard credit per stateroom.

Oceania Cruises voyages include all meals (including speciality restaurants), complimentary soft drinks and bottled water.

To find out more, visit http://www.oceaniacruises.co.uk/ or contact the luxury-cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Hurtigruten's South Pole Anniversary Adventure

By guest blogger Steve Newman

One hundred years after the Norwegians reached the South Pole, Hurtigruten are recreating the sea voyage in the Fram, the same name as the original vessel. The aim is to sail deep into the Weddell Sea, a remote and rarely visited area of the Antarctic Peninsula. Highlights will include the South Shetland Islands and isles along the Antarctic Peninsula, visiting penguin colonies, exploring spectacular ice formations and looking out for whales, dolphins, seals and the dazzling variety of sea birds that call these waters home.

Weather, wind and ice conditions will determine the full programme, but the landing sites will include some of Deception Island, Half Moon Island, Yankee Harbour on Greenwich Island, Antarctic Sound, Brown Bluff, Snow Hill Island, James Ross Island, Vega Island, Trinity Peninsula, Prince Gustav Channel, Cuverville Island, Neko Harbour, Paradise Harbour, Petermann Island, Port Lockroy, Wilhelmina Bay and the narrow iceberg lined Lemaire Channel.
The flight package includes: Return economy class (usually overnight) flights from London Heathrow to Buenos Aires (via Madrid or similar), including applicable taxes and current fuel surcharges (except departure tax from South America, which has to be paid locally). Not included: optional carbon balancing fee (£30 per person). Departures & supplements from other UK airports are available on request.

For more information, visit http://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/ or visit the adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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MS Expedition In Antarctica

By guest blogger Steve Newman

The MS Expedition (above) travels a yearly cycle from Antarctica to the Arctic, also stopping at the islands of the North Atlantic as well as parts of Central/South America. G Adventures have a focus on top of the line safety, comfort and the unique demands of polar travel, the MS Expedition is one of the world's leading polar expedition cruise ships. The expedition team is made up of naturalist, biologist, anthropologists and historians, who give detailed lectured and briefings on all the elements of the trip. Every evening the Expedition Leader will give a briefing on the plan for the next day. All travellers will also be prepared for what they are about to see and experience before any landing or excursion.

Antarctica Classic Duration: 11 days Departures: available throughout 2010 and 2011

Highlights: Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, the South Shetland Islands, the Antarctic Peninsula, amazing wildlife, and immense icebergs. A true adventure to the world's most remote wilderness. This 11-day Antarctica Classic expedition focuses on the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula, home to some of the planet's most impressive wildlife and dramatic landscapes. Throughout the voyage, the team of lecturers and guides will share their knowledge of the region's remarkable natural history.

Enjoy an 11-day trip from £3,249. Price includes accommodation onboard the MS Expedition, meals, ten expedition staff and naturalists, Zodiac excursions, scheduled visits to the modern scientific research stations and one night accommodation with breakfast in Ushuaia.

For full details please visit: www.gadventures.co.uk

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Visit Antarctica Out Of Season, says Gap Adventures

OUT OF SEASON ANTARCTICA IS OUT OF THIS WORLD

Gap Adventures says travel in the outer seasons for some spectacular scenery and wildlife encounters

January and February are the most popular months to travel to Antarctica, but The Great Adventure People advise travellers to think again - and consider travelling earlier and later in the season if they are keen to save some pennies.

Travel to the Great White Continent at the beginning of the Austral summer in November and experience a pristine destination, untouched at the start of the season by fellow travellers. The extraordinarily beautiful pack ice is still intact, offering ideal platforms for resting wildlife, and giant icebergs are still in their full glory. The beginning of the season also offers the astonishing sights and sounds of penguins and seabirds courting as they perform spectacular courtship rituals.

Meanwhile, at the tail end of the season, late February and March provide the best opportunities to catch a glimpse of magnificent Minke and Orca whales in Antarctica. The receding pack ice allows ships to explore further south than earlier in the season and travellers witness the unforgettable sight of penguin chicks fledging and adults moulting.

“Travelling to Antarctica onboard the MS Expedition at any time during the season is a true adventure and an unforgettable voyage,” says Michael Edwards, Gap Adventures Director of Sales and Marketing for UK and Europe. “While mid-season is traditionally the most popular time to visit this area, the beginning and end of the season provides some unique scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities. We travel to Antarctica the full length of the season from November to March and each month brings new and exciting sights to our adventurers.”

Below is just one incredible itinerary that makes the most of the outer season conditions:

Antarctica Classic Package
Duration: 16 days*
Price: From £5049 per person for a category three twin cabin (compared to £5919 per person peak season)
Departure: 4 November 2010

*As a promotional bonus, there are 16 days (not the usual 14 days) for the 4-19 November 2010 departure. This gives you a chance for two extra days of shore landings in Antarctica

Highlights: Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, the South Shetland Islands, the Antarctic Peninsula, amazing wildlife, immense icebergs, penguin colonies, leopard seals and glaciers

Description: Explore the rugged, remote South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula , home to some of the continent’s most dramatic landscapes and impressive wildlife. See huge penguin rookeries rubbing shoulders with seal colonies, while orcas and whales ply the waters offshore. This 14-day trip is identical to the Gap Adventures Antarctica Classic (XVCASX) expedition with the added inclusion of flights, transfers, tours and extra days in Buenos Aires .

Enjoy a 16-day trip from 4-19 November from £5049 per person. Price includes nine nights on board MS Expedition, four nights accommodation on land, all meals onboard the ship, 10 expedition staff and naturalists and all shore landings and Zodiac cruises in Antarctica.

For more information or to book, visit:
http://www.gapadventures.com/trips/antarctica-classic-package/XPCASX/2011/?utm_source=Rooster&utm_medium=PR&utm_campaign=Shoulderseason or call 08444 10 10 90

About MS Expedition
The Expedition takes Gap Adventures travellers to destinations that have inspired bold explorers for centuries. It cruises the coastlines, islands and oceans of some of the most remote destinations on Earth and allows guests to visit secluded rookeries and hidden places that are only accessible by Zodiac landing craft. Accompanied by the Gap Adventures team of experts, travellers can get up close and personal with polar wildlife and cruise through colossal icebergs.

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Princely Visit to Antarctica

By guest blogger Steve Newman

When winter starts to bite here in the UK, the spring is well under way in Antarctica and many dedicated cruisers reach out to experience this vast continent and its astounding beauty. Silversea Cruises have nine departures from November of this year through to March 2011, with a 17-day voyage starting and ending at Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world.

To embark on a luxurious expedition to the best far-flung destinations in the world aboard a ship like Prince Albert II is quite an experience. A purpose-built expedition ship, she was designed specifically for navigating waters in some of the world's most remote areas, including both Polar Regions. The 6,072-ton vessel also boasts a strengthened hull.

The ship's eight Zodiacs (above) allow her 132 privileged guests to visit even the most off-the-beaten path locations. Now you can experience the thrill of a true expedition and venture deep into regions where other vessels cannot go whilst enjoying a privileged lifestyle that is simply second-to-none.

The Prince calls at West Point and Carcass Island in the Falklands before docking at Stanley, the island's capital. Then it's on to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands before visiting Elephant Island in the South Shetlands, the island most famous as the desolate refuge of Ernest Shackleton and his crew in 1916 following the loss of their ship Endurance in the ice of the Weddell Sea.

Onboard, you can savour a warming cosmopolitan ambience and many special amenities usually found only on the larger ships, including a spacious library with an Internet Cafe, boutique shopping, a full-service Spa, beauty salon, fitness centre, sauna, live evening entertainment and two top-deck whirlpools. The Prince Albert II even features Connoisseur's Corner, formerly The Humidor, where connoisseurs can enjoy the finest cigars and cognacs -- a diversion offered by no other expedition ship!

Find out more by visiting http://www.silversea.com/

Silversea Cruises are also exhibiting at The Cruise Show in Birmingham in October.

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