Greenland + Hurtigruten = Cultural Delight

Hurtigruten prides itself in bringing is guests closer to the local communities where it sails,  and now anyone visiting Greenland this summer on MS Fram will be accompanied by local painter and musician, Miki Jacobsen. With his performances, Miki will introduce the world of Greenlandic culture, with painting, national music, traditional mask dancing and stories from the world of the Inuit, offering unique insights into the country’s life and history. 

Jacobsen’s summer as artist-on-board supports Hurtigruten’s objective to show its guests at first hand the culture and traditions of the region they are travelling through. It is the perfect addition to the ship's existing social events programme in Greenland, which includes guests being invited by local families to partake in a traditional ‘kaffemik’, the Greenland version of a cup of coffee and learn more about their way of life. 

In Uummannaq, there is a welcome by local school children and the chance for them to mingle with guests and, when the ship docks in the Ittileq township, guests, crew and locals join together for a traditional football match that sees sport bringing together different cultures. 

Disco Bay & Southern Fjords – Glaciers and Ice, from £3,356pp:
This 12-day expedition starts in Disco Bay and visits the lesser-known southern parts of Greenland before making its way to Iceland. Available on May 31, the voyage includes 11 night’s full board on the ship, return flight from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, transfers, landings and lectures by expedition team. Flights from UK to Copenhagen are extra and can be booked by Hurtigruten. Price based on two sharing and on unspecified inside cabin. 

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

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Crystal's South American Bonanza

First-time visits to the Chilean Fjords and Puerto Chacabuco, plus nearly 100 Crystal Adventures on shore, highlight Crystal Cruises' new itinerary around the tip of South America on Crystal Serenity next winter. 

Sailing from Lima to Buenos Aires for the first time on February 2, 2013, the Crystal World Cruise segment takes guests on an immersive 24-night journey to some of the most awe-inspiring and culturally exciting sites in the Southern Hemisphere, including the breathtaking Seno Eyre Fjords, the dramatic landscapes and wildlife of Patagonia, the sprawling hillsides of Valparaíso (or “Paradise Valley”) and even the birthplace of the tango.

The many adventures include: 

• A rare visit to Earth’s last great wilderness, Antarctica, with a guided trek on King George Island and zodiac ride to view penguins in their natural habitat.
• Flying over the mysterious Nazca Lines, ancient geoglyph figures in the desert floor that can only be seen from above.
• An overnight option to Perito Moreno Glacier, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Various expeditions offer: 

• Exploration of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego by horseback.
• Hiking to the mouth of the magnificent Iguazú Falls.
• Kayaking through the Strait of Magellan.
• Pitching in at a working Uruguayan ranch.

The cultural and culinary experiences range from: 

• Exploring vineyards and tasting wines to visiting beachfront communities of the “jet set.”
• Perusing local markets and taking cooking lessons with local cuisine experts to browsing the art and homes of renowned Latin American artists such as poet Pablo Neruda.
• Tracing the footsteps of Argentina’s famed “Evita” and dancing the night away at a Buenos Aires nightclub.

As part of Crystal’s 2013 World Cruise, the voyage features expanded enrichment programming and courses in wellness, language and music. The line’s exclusive Ocean Views series will present expert lecturers discussing the day’s hot topics.

Until June 30, all-inclusive Book Now fares for the “Southern Fjord Exploration” start at £10,071 per person fly/cruise and can be combined with other World Cruise segments for greater savings. Crystal’s 2013 complete 74-night Grand South American Exploration sails round-trip from Miami starting January 16 with a Book Now starting price of £19,197 per person fly/cruise.

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

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The Glorious Danube - Final Day

Our epic 11-day voyage along the Danube River on Uniworld's River Duchess comes to an end in Austria... 

Vienna - Day 2 

We had finally come to our last full day on the Glorious Danube in the company of Uniworld's boutique river voyages and the wonderful River Duchess ship, with all her 82 passengers (normal full complement - 130).

We had passed right through the heart of eastern Europe and finished in The City of Music, a fitting finale to a truly memorable voyage. For my first full river-cruise, it had more than lived up to expectations, and my wife and I are keen to do more in future.

For now, our final day was one completely at leisure, to head back into Vienna and sample some more (literally and metaphorically) of this amazingly scenic city.

With a simple four-stop ride on the U-bahn (underground metro; 2 euros per person, per journey), we were at the Rathaus stop (City Hall, above) and able to enjoy a Sunday stroll of the many sights in almost complete uncrowded comfort on a beautiful Austrian morning.

City Hall itself is a stunning Gothic edifice (built from 1872-83) and is fronted by lovely gardens leading up to the main Austrian Parliament building, a Greek Revival style that took shape at the same time as the Rathaus and is ringed by fabulous statuary.

Across the street, the Volksgarten - previously a private preserve of the Habsburgs - is now the city's famous Rose Garden (right), full of magnificent blooms and more neo-classical architecture. 

It also leads into the full majesty of the Hofburg, the former Imperial Palace, which stretches across this part of the city like a vast Baroque Lego set. From 1438 to 1583 and 1612 to 1806, it was the seat of the kings and emperors of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, and thereafter the seat of the Emperor of Austria until 1918 (including the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1867). Today it is the official seat of the Austrian Federal President but also houses a variety of museums, public offices, the famed National Library (as visited the previous day) and the even-more-famous Spanish Riding School. 

It was warm enough to require a pre-lunch cafe stop, for which the outdoor terrace of the Hofburg's own Kaffeehaus was ideal (below) before we headed back into the city for another wander along the pedestrianised confines of Stephensplatz, including a stop at St Peter's Church and then lunch at the Wiener Stadtbrau Restaurant for some classic Viennese fare (and another beer!).

The afternoon wandering was beginning to look slightly less promising with more cloud cover, but we pressed on, determined to see as much as we could on foot. An array of street artists enlivened the weekend proceedings (helping to counter the fact that many shops were closed), and, everywhere we went, the mixture of modern and classical architecture provided seemingly endless perspectives.

Eventually, we wandered out to the Ring Road (the extent of the former city walls) and ambled along the Stadtpark, the main City Park, and home to several more eye-catching monuments, including the 1921 Johan Strauss II bronze statue, Franz Schubert Statue and Bust of Robert Stolz.

Here, we also discovered the 19th century Kursalon, the fabulous former Spa pavilion in which 'healing mindreal waters' used to be sold but is now home to a stylish restaurant, garden terrace cafe and music hall. Johan Strauss II gave his first concert here in 1868 but, this afternoon, we were more interested in sampling the local coffee and world-famous Sachertorte (below), which were, truly, world class.

After some more meandering around the Gardens, we decided the weather was beginning to look distinctly more threatening and, with the Captain's Farewell Dinner this evening back on board the Duchess, we decided it was time to head back.

Again, the U-Bahn was quick and easy to navigate and we had plenty of time to get ready for dinner, which was preceded by another typically fun and entertaining reception with Captain Michael Hofmann, Cruise Manager Christine and Hotel Manager Jaroslav.

The set menu was another memorable dinner adventure, a largely set-meal affair crowned by the typical cruise tradition of Baked Alaska on Parade for dessert. The real highlight, though, was dining with six new-found friends from our cruise, with Maitre D' Dimitar organising our eight-seater table in advance and ensuring the final evening went with a swing.

It brought down the curtain on an unforgettable cruise experience that was everything we had hoped it would be, and a lot more besides. The wonderful style of travel, the great cultural experience, the fabulous camaraderie enjoyed on board and the firm friendships that were forged were all firm highlights, but it would be hard to single any one thing out as the over-riding memory.


Suffice it to say, this River Duchess was an absolute royal treat and we can't wait to repeat the experience at some stage in future. 

Next - Danube Epilogue. 

This ‘Imperial Capitals of Europe’ voyage can be booked at www.uniworldrivercruises.co.uk, with Titan Travel (in the UK only) at www.titantravel.co.uk or, for more on river-cruising in general, seek out the luxury cruise-agent specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd on this link.

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Papua New Guinea with Aurora

Aurora Expeditions has launched a special commemorative voyage to Papua New Guinea next April, to mark the upcoming 70th anniversary of Australia’s involvement in Papua New Guinea during WWII. The voyage will encompass visits to historical sites from Alotau to Rabaul, ending with a special dawn ANZAC day service in Rabaul.

Lost in Paradise – Our fallen heroes will depart Alotau on 14 April, 2012, landing at key historic sites such as Samarai Island, Linden Harbour, Jacquinot Bay, Tol and Rabaul. Our onboard historian will interpret the significance of these areas and shine a light on the courage and tragedy of Australia’s unsung heroes – The Lark Force – in the Battle of Rabaul, and the ensuing loss of lives, both troops and civilians, on the Montevideo Maru. The voyage will also include opportunities to snorkel the pristine reefs, witness traditional sing-sings and simply take in the beauty of this natural paradise.

For families wishing to explore PNG, Aurora has created Islands of Smiles. Exploring the islands and coastline of New Guinea, this voyage will visit Milne Bay and its surrounding islands, Lababia, Tami and Tuam islands, Madang and the mighty Sepik River. Parents and children alike can expect to be greeted with friendly smiles and a diverse array of vibrant customs through sing sings, complex rituals and spectacular costumes.

Islands of Smiles will depart Alotau on 2 April, 2012, and expeditioners will have the opportunity to explore PNG, either by snorkelling, swimming, kayaking, bird watching, village walks, or sharing a beach football match with playful locals.

Prices for both 13-day expeditions start from AU$5,690 per person quad-share, including all meals on board, shore excursions and lectures. Sea kayaking surcharge is AU$995 and scuba diving stops will be organised on board. Aurora can also organise all flight, accommodation, transfer and pre and post touring in Papua New Guinea.

Aurora Expeditions is renowned for travelling to wild and remote areas of the world, with the aim of creating life-long ambassadors to the environment. They attract small groups of like-minded, enthusiastic people, passionate about our destinations people, wildlife and history.

For more info, visit www.auroraexpeditions.com.au or contact the UK's adventure-cruise specislists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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French Polynesia, The Distant Paradise

The most remote archipelago in the world, the French Polynesian Marquesas Islands have long been an inspiration for artists, writers and adventurers who come for the region’s wild beauty and cultural heritage. Aranui 3, the only ship to sail the 2,200-mile round-trip from Papeete on Tahiti to all six inhabited islands in the Marquesas archipelago, has just released its 2012 and 2013 dates and prices, including some special discounts.

Aranui 3 offers travel in comfort. Doubling as a cozy passenger ship as well as a cargo carrier, she features 86 fully air-conditioned cabins (including 10 large suites with balconies) and can carry more than 2,000 tons of freight. Two comfortable lounges, a swimming pool and gym and a full programme of lectures on Marquesan history, culture and art are all part of the experience.

English is widely spoken onboard and all presentations are given in English and French. The vessel, which has been in operation since 2003, delivers regular supplies, from bulldozers and beer to boats and brake pads to the islands’ remote valleys, some of which are totally secluded and have no road access to the main villages.

While the ship’s crew loads and unloads cargo at each island destination, passengers are taken ashore by wooden whaleboat or barge and welcomed by locals with flower garlands, dancing and music. Four-wheel drive jeeps, driven by locals, then take participants on spectacular safaris over the mountains to explore mysterious, unspoiled jungles and to experience the fascinating and individual culture of each of the islands.

Prices for 2012 start from £3,100 per person sharing a standard twin-bedded outside cabin with private facilities, including all meals with wine, all land-based sightseeing excursions and taxes.

However, during 2012, three departures are being offered at a 10% discount: March 17, June 9 and, for seniors aged over 60 only, September 22, bringing the starting price down to £2,805 per person. For those planning ahead to 2013, there is a 10% early booking discount on sailings between January and March 2013 for bookings received by December 31.

Flights to/from Papeete, Tahiti, are not included in these prices. Air France and Air Tahiti Nui fly to Papeete (via Paris and Los Angeles), with prices from around £1,750 pp return.

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

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Voyages to Antiquity Sail Into 2011

Voyages to Antiquity, the cruise line that combines cultural travel with a sense of fun and style, has launched its 2011 UK brochure today. The programme offers a host of new features, including pre-and/or post-cruise hotel packages, a variety of shorter cruise lengths, new destinations and great value pricing.

New for 2011:

* As well as two-week voyages, there will now be shorter cruises such as a seven-night sailing around the Greek Islands exploring Greek history from the emergence of the Minoans to the rise of Byzantium. These shorter duration cruises are designed to appeal to a wider audience of travellers.

* The majority of itineraries include pre-and/or post-cruise stays in top-class hotels in Rome, Athens (above), Istanbul, and Cairo with the fare. These provide guests with a chance to relax before their voyage or the opportunity to end their holiday exploring one of these remarkable cities. Guests have the flexibility to opt out of the hotel stays and receive a credit against their fare.

* New destinations include a circumnavigation of the Black Sea visiting ports in Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria in July 2011. New itineraries will also include destinations in Corsica and Sardinia as well as a return to Libya as part of two North Africa itineraries. Another exciting new itinerary from Rome to Limassol explores the legacy of the Crusades.

Voyages to Antiquity also continues its commitment to offering outstanding value, including:

· Scheduled economy class flights, usually on British Airways.
· Shore excursions as detailed in each itinerary
· Selected wine with dinner.
· On-board gratuities for cabin and restaurant staff.

Additionally there are bonus offers for those who book early:

For Southern Med, Red Sea & Middle East cruises
· Free cabin upgrade on board within categories N to G and D to C.
· Low rates for singles in selected categories on selected sailings*.

For our Med, Aegean, Adriatic & Black sea cruises
· Free flight upgrade to Club Europe when booking in Concierge Class (cat A to D)
· Free cabin upgrade on board when booking a cabin in categories N to G.
· Low rates for singles in selected categories on selected sailings.

Commenting on the launch of the 2011 brochure, Managing Director David Yellow said: “Our new brochure not only offers new itineraries, but we have now packaged the product to be more flexible and appealing to a wider range of cruisers who may not have as much holiday time or may be looking for a second holiday experience but are still looking for a trip which is culturally stimulating.”

Great value is a hallmark of Voyages to Antiquity, with fares starting from £1,495/person, including shore excursions, gratuities to shipboard staff, and wine, beer & soft drinks at dinner. Guest lecturers and celebrated speakers will continue to bring to life the art, history and culture of the Mediterranean.

More info: visit http://www.voyagestoantiquity.com/ or call 0845 4379737.

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