Expedition Cruise News & Views

An expedition cruise is an excellent next adventure if you are starting to say “been there, done that” about normal cruising.

We all eventually tire of big ships with their large crowds and their limited itineraries and shore tours.

And how many river cruises of Europe can you do before growing weary of castles and day trips to museums?

Traditional South Pacific cruising is still by far the most popular form of a cruise holiday for Australians. A recent survey showed 70% of all Aussie cruisers took a South Pacific cruise in 2016 with the next favourite destination being Asia with 14%.

 

 

The South Pacific option will continue to be a favourite with Australians for several key reasons.

However there comes a point when the kids grow up and everyone tires of the same old places. The big cruise companies have been unable to tap into the huge potential of the South Pacific region because of the lack of facilities at more isolated, unspoilt islands. They are also contract bound to waste a day visiting Noumea on every cruise to New Caledonia.

Thus, the Isle of Pines and Lifou are staples on most South Pacific cruises because they are within a night’s cruise of Noumea.

Despite the repetition, a lot of experienced passengers still sail the South Pacific each year simply because it is easy and affordable. Many have not tried any other kind of cruising; others have ventured out into river cruising or an overseas cruise but soon return to the South Pacific.

I can understand why they return. The South Pacific islands are still miles ahead of any other big ship destination because they are relaxing and laid back

I too was a fan for 20 years. It was only when I went on an expedition cruise to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia that I realised just what an amazing region it is.

 

 

Getting back to the 2016 survey of Australian passengers which showed only 2% took a cruise off the beaten path. This is good news for expedition cruise companies because it means there is a huge audience of potential expedition cruise travellers in the future.

As cruise passengers mature and become more affluent they will naturally seek new cruising horizons in exciting places. The expedition cruise industry is well placed to provide that unique experience.

These passengers will not be cruising alone. Through social media, they will be taking their families, workmates and friends right along with them. They can actually stand on a glacier in Alaska while chatting live to their spellbound audience back home.

And that audience in turn will automatically tick a box in their imagination: “One day soon I’ll be standing on that glacier”.

 

 

So, 2017 is the year to buck the trend and try something new. Let’s break down the barriers to going on an expedition cruise.

For starters, there is the cost. Sure, a 10 day cruise on Western Australia's Kimberley Coast is more expensive than a 10 day big ship cruise to New Caledonia.

However you don’t have to pay for expensive shore tours, you  don’t have days at sea where a few drinks turn into a $100 tab, there is no “speciality” dining which costs you $50 a time and - best of all - there is no on board duty free shopping.

You get to places no normal cruise ship will ever visit. You will have the service of expert guides and wildlife specialists who will become firm friends. On a normal cruise the only friend you will often make amongst the cruise staff is your waiter.

 

 

Then there is accessibility of expedition cruising which balks many people. Indeed, getting to the Amazon, deepest Africa or the tip of South America can seem like a daunting trip compared to flying to Europe to pick up a river cruise.

However, this where an expert agency like Expedition Cruise Specialists comes into its own by helping you plan your adventure to the finest, most meticulous detail.

And so, if you have done a lot of traditional cruising and are “umming and ahhing” about your next challenge, look no further. Expedition Cruise Specialists has the world’s best adventure cruises right here on its web site.

Simply choose your next adventure and give Expedition Cruise Specialists a call. Everything else will be done for you from the moment you book.

 

 

Take the leap. Instead of joining the hordes for yet another visit to Noumea this year, try something completely new and exciting: imagine yourself stepping ashore to view penguins in Antarctica, charging through the Kimberley's Horizontal Falls in a zodiac or walking with elephants in Africa. And take your family and friends with you on Instagram and Facebook.

I promise you that your tired “been there, done that” attitude to cruising will suddenly be replaced by a whole new wide world of adventure.

 

Dallas Sherringham is a media professional, world traveller and regular contributor to our blog.

 

 

The word “Luxury” seems to have a magical attraction amongst travellers worldwide in the new millennium.

If you add the “luxury” tag to any travel product it automatically adds a perceived value to that product.

People are no longer content to take a cruise on Ship A; they have to take a “luxury” cruise on Ship A.

You can see the absurdity of it all. Normal resorts I  enjoyed in the 1990s are almost 30 years older, but they have miraculously morphed into luxury resorts.

Now, luxury is not a word many people associate with expedition cruising. They have a pre-conceived vision of expedition passengers being gristled veterans of the outdoors who sit up the front of icebreakers snapping icicles off their noses.

 

 

And, indeed, there are some expedition cruises that do offer this kind of extreme adventure for those seeking to challenge the wild.

But, in general, nothing could be further from the truth.

You see, luxury is the very essence of modern expedition cruising.

 

 

Luxury to me is sharing and adventure with just a few fellow passengers while being well looked after.

And indeed, the cruise staff to passenger ratio on most expedition ships is much higher than normal ships. And this one-on-one personal service is very refreshing after the herd mentality of a normal cruise ship.

That is the number one reason expedition cruises are more expense than normal cruises: people expect this kind of service and are willing to pay for it.

 

 

Many newer expedition ships are like having your very own luxury cruiser, like the ones you see in Monaco.

The cabins I have had on expedition ships far exceed the quality available on normal cruise ships that bill themselves as luxury cabins.

If you take a look at some of the ships available through Expedition Cruise Specialists, you will be stunned by their opulence.

 

 

Take a look at Aria Amazon. The cabins have massive full length windows they provide a breathtaking view of the jungle. The public rooms are stunning and will never be crowded like the buffet on a normal ship.

The superb True North is a brilliant small ship with stunning appointments throughout. I really like the wide open decks with quality furnishings. Imagine spending an afternoon here enjoying a nice wine and watching the sun set.

What about the top deck and back on Celebrity Xploration? Stunning! Or the unique Apolon, offering traditional Mediterranean motor yachting with inlaid timbers throughout and all the trimmings of a luxury cruiser experience.

 

 

Then there's the older ships that have all been lovingly restored and maintained to a high degree of craftsmanship. The Andaman Explorer is a perfect example of the kind of quality refurbished ship we have available.

Our very own home-grown expedition ship Coral Discoverer was designed by original owners Tony and Vicki Briggs to offer Australians luxury cruising at a reasonable price. People flocked in droves to experience luxury cruising in the Kimberley in quality surroundings.

 

 

And when it comes to icebreakers, take a look at the very modern Academic Ioffe, purpose-built to offer quality adventures in the High Arctic and Antarctic ice fields.

There is something very intoxicating about this kind of luxury. I have been fortunate to have enjoyed it several times. When I head off on my next cruise, I already know what I will experience and I count down the days with great expectation.

It is like going home to be with friends. To borrow a quote: “Expedition cruising is life, the rest is just waiting”.

 

Dallas Sherringham is a media professional, world traveller and regular contributor to our blog.

Read our blog on the Top 3 Most Luxurious Amazon River ship cabins

 

If you are a child of the Fifties or Sixties there is something about Alaska that draws you in.

In the days before Google Earth and innumerable documentaries, this was a largely unexplored region. It was kind of the Wild West with snow, brown bears and massive glaciers. It was the land of huge pine trees which stretched on forever, pristine waterways, orca whales, and weather that changed by the hour.

 

 

That is what Alaska means to millions of people who dream of going there one day. That is what it means to me.

My very first recollection of The Cold North was a book called Biggles Flies North by Captain W.E. Johns. Biggles was the Luke Skywalker of his day.

My dad used to read me a chapter of Biggles by my bedside every evening and I’d wait all day to see the ex-RAF fighter ace would get out of his latest scrape. The thing about a good book in childhood is the fact that at leaves you with indelible images of a particular region.

Then came Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, a popular TV show in Australia and movies like North to Alaska and Campbell’s Kingdom.

At last we could see what the Great Northern Lands were all about. It only heightened the life dreams of a generation that we too would one day “discover” it for ourselves.

In a roundabout way I’m leading to my blog today featuring cruises to Alaska.

 

 

Now, there are two ways you can see Alaska. One is to jump on a regular cruise ship in Vancouver or Seattle and breeze past the glaciers, stopping at the few cities in the region. You can get a glimpse of what Alaska is all about and if you are lucky, you may see some wildlife.

It’s kind of like taking the Manly ferry and saying you have seen Australia.

The other way to see it is to live it, to immerse yourself in it, to go where the normal cruise ships can never go. And the way to do Alaska properly in to take an expedition cruise.

Expedition Cruise Specialists have a very impressive collection of cruises to British Columbia and Alaska. They are on smaller ships and they are designed to navigate the thousands of bays, rivers, ice-riddled water and quiet little inlets.

They all feature the chance to get up close and personal with the region’s wildlife and experience some of the most amazing scenery on earth. In this way they are all similar. They have expert naturalists and expedition leaders to guide you through the region. The ships have expedition craft to get you into the secluded rivers and waterways.

 

 

However there is quite a difference between the levels of activity on these various expeditions. To encounter bears fishing for salmon or lapping up the rare sunshine you first of all need to be there at the right time of year and you have to walk in on foot. They are not ultra difficult walks but you need to do some work getting fit before you go.

This is where Expedition Cruise Specialists come into their own. They can tell you when to go, work out which cruise suits you best and they will be there to support you all the way to Alaska.

I learnt a lot about this region just by reading the various itineraries and I was surprised how attractive the prices are compared to expedition cruises in other regions.

Wilderness Explorer costs $7595 USD for a 15 day package out of Juneau. That is an outstanding price for the trip of a lifetime.

There's also a six day expedition aboard the Sea Wolf, a converted 1941 US war ship, through Glacier Bay National Park starting at $3700 USD. Ably guided by Captain Kimber, this expedition accommodates just 12 explorers at any one time a.

 

 

National Geographic’s itineraries aboard Sea Lion and Sea Bird are ideal for adventurers seeking expert guidance. They are famous for their professionalism and unsurpassed experiences.

If I had a favourite itinerary, it would be National Geographic’s 11 day photographic expedition. Just the photos alone left me spellbound.

Imagine photographing those breathtaking regions under the guidance of expert photographers. You would get to places and capture scenes that most travellers could only dream about.

 

 

So, if you are planning and Alaska trip, there is a lot to consider. I would give Expedition Cruise Specialists a call and narrow down the perfect cruise for you.

It is, after all, the trip of a lifetime so some expert advice is critical in my view. 

 

Dallas Sherringham is a media professional, world traveller and regular contributor to our blog.

 

After exploring the world on cruise ships ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 passengers, it came as quite a surprise to me to experience an expedition cruise.

The very term 'expedition cruise' conjures up myriad visions of abseilling down cliffs, crawling through caves or wading through a swamp.

I had this vision of waking up at 5am to trek through the jungle in search of a rare bird. After eight hours of slashing our way through the jungle covered in leeches we finally come across the last pink bird of paradise in existence.

Now, it is true that you can find really strenuous and challenging expedition style holidays if you want.

However, I soon found out that expedition cruising was nothing like that. The expedition cruises I have been on have been the most relaxing and enjoyable of my 30 year career in travel writing.

 

 

Let me take you through a day aboard a typical expedition cruise.

Today, I have something really special for you. We are visiting one of Australia’s most iconic adventure destinations, the spectacular Horizontal Falls on Australia’s wild Kimberley Coast.

The first thing I notice on rising at 7am is the ship entering the stunning Talbot Bay with high cliffs all around. I race upstairs to get some pics and video as the sun rises over the sea. Many of my fellow expeditioners are already up, enjoying a morning walk. Breakfast is from 7.30am and is a buffet with a wide selection of goodies available.

At 9am we walk on board our 50 seater expedition tender and settle in. I get there early so I can grab my favourite spot for filming and photography.

We go on an exploration cruise through the many striking bays and passages of this massive inlet. The water is very still on this particular day and the huge white clouds above are mirrored in the water giving an amazing photo opportunity.

The tender's engines comes to stop and we glide through the still blue water, allowing us to fully appreciate nature at its most majestic display.

We then head for the world famous Horizontal Falls which most people on board rate as the highlight of our entire cruise. The ship’s two zodiacs are waiting to us through the Falls.

In groups of five clad in life jackets, plus the skipper, we climb from the explorer boat on to the zodiac. It is surprisingly easy to get aboard and perch on the outer inflatable side of the zodiac.

 

 

The 12m tide is really racing through the small gap in the cliffs and looks a bit like the rapids in the Grand Canyon.

We race along bumping and jumping across the angry, swirling monster.

Am I scared? Not really, the exhilaration of that ride soon eliminates any second thoughts you may have about it all.

David Attenborough described the Horizontal Falls “one of the greatest natural wonders in the world”.

 As we surge through the gap at its wildest point, it’s easy to agree with the world’s most famous nature adventurer.

 

 

We enter a wide bay and then discover another horizontal waterfall further on which has the same intensity as the first one.

Our skipper cleverly steers us through the narrow, roaring, raging gap with sheer cliffs on either side. Returning through the two falls is just as exhilarating.

Back on board the explorer tender everyone is excited about the unique adventure they have just experienced.  They cheer each returning group on the zodiac and the zodiac people yell back in excitement. Surgeons from New York and CEOs from Germany are jumping and down like 10-year-olds.

 

 

We return to the ship just after midday and a mouth watering buffet awaits us. How the chefs on board can turn out such sumptuous food in such a small galley is beyond me. I guess it all comes down to forward planning and a natural talent for what their guests like to eat. Most of my fellow travellers have experienced fine dining around the world, so our ship's chefs have to impress with their food.

At 2pm lunch is finished and we climb aboard the explorer boat for another leisurely cruise, this time to Silica Beach on Hidden Island. We revel in its white sands and crystal clear waters. There's even the chance for a cooling dip.

This shorter excursion is a relaxing wind down after the dramatic events of the morning.

We return to the ship just after 4pm which gives everyone time to sort through their photos or have a quick nap.

At 5.30pm I nip up to the top bar for cleansing ale with my fellow adventurers. At 6pm our Expedition Leader gives us a quick rundown of the day’s events including some photos of all the action. He then lets us know the plans for the next day.

 

 

Dinner is served at 6.30pm and I enjoy a nice Australian Semillon Sauvignon Blanc with a stunning seafood à la carte dinner that would compliment even the most fastidious restaurant ashore. All the talk is about the Horizontal Falls and the amazing day we have just experienced.

An older lady from Hornsby named Madeline on my table confesses she was ready to pull out of the zodiac ride after seeing the falls.

“I never thought I’d do it even though I had dreamt about it for years. But I did it!” she said, her voice wavering. “And now I can tell my grandkids. I really achieved the dream of a lifetime” she said excitedly.

The table went quite for a short time and then I lead a toast: “To Madeline!” Eight wine glasses clinked as one.

“To dreams,” Madeline replied raising her glass.

After dinner I head to the back of the ship where many people are enjoying the warm night air of the Kimberley.  It was just one day in our lives, but what a day it was.

 Like many days on an expedition cruise, it is a day we will remember forever. For Madeline, the dream of a lifetime had come true that very day.

 

Dallas Sherringham is a media professional, world traveller and regular contributor to our blog.

 

You can experience Horizontal Falls for yourself on all of our Kimberley expeditions. For this story, Dallas travelled aboard Coral Discoverer, and you can have similar experiences aboard True North, Great Escape and Kimberley Quest II.

 

Last week I was having a chat with Expedition Cruise Specialists’ general manager Andrew Castles and out of the blue I asked him what he considered to be the most remote and exclusive adventure cruise in the world?

Now, Andrew is an expert on all things small ship cruising so it didn’t take long for him to come with an answer.

“I would say the Amazon cruise aboard Cattleya is the most exclusive adventure. The ship takes only eight guests and its small size allows it to reach the most remote region of the Peruvian section of the Amazon.”

So I immediately clicked www.expeditioncruisespecialists.com/ships/cattleya and there it was!

 

 

The amazing photo of the tiny ship is enough to stir the Indiana Jones in all of us. There it is carefully plying a narrow stretch of water surrounded by the Amazon jungle.

Then you scan down the page and come to unique photo gallery. Wow! How did they cram so much into such a small ship?

This is boutique river cruising at its very best. Cattleya was launched in 2014 but it features a very traditional riverboat design.

There are only four suites accommodating up to eight passengers and 10 staff including two expert guides.

 

 

Cattleya cruises to the very remote point known as Tres Fronteras where guests get to visit three countries in one day – Peru, Colombia and Brazil. Cattleya is the only ship that can reach this point so far up river.

The upper Amazon and the tributaries in the region are also home to age old settlements where the villagers still live in the traditional way. Wildlife in this area is also abundant.

You can choose from a five or an eight day itinerary and bookings are available right now simply by clicking on the web site or by contacting Expedition Cruise Specialists and talking with an expert on 1800 90 20 80.

 

 

If you would prefer to explore the Amazon on a larger vessel, Expedition Cruise Specialists have a wide range of packages and ships available.

Before I give you some examples, there is something important to remember. The Amazon and South America in general is a very complex region. To get to unique places you need the assistance of an expert in planning your trip.

The Delfin I, Delfin II and Delfin III ships are stunning. They have a shallow draft which allows them to explore extensively on the Peruvian Amazon while offering luxury river cruising at its very best. In fact, our recent blog on the Amazon's most luxurious suites rated the Delfin I as the ultimate in luxury! The wildlife parks in this region are stunning.

Alternatively, you can cruise by traditional riverboat aboard the Tucano up Brazil's isolated Rio Negro which is a narrow, winding tributary of the Amazon that flows through three types of rainforest. The region is only visited by a few people each year.

Finally, the outstanding feature of Amazon cruising is that there is a ship to suit every need, every dream, and every call to adventure.

 

 

So, I will be writing a blog on South American and Amazon cruising in the near future where I hope to pass on some info and advice you won’t see anywhere else, so stay posted.

In the meantime, you will find out a lot of information and be able to check out all the South American packages by clicking on www.expeditioncruisespecialists.com/destinations/south-america

There are four pages packed with information and packages, plus some outstanding photos.

 

Dallas Sherringham is a media professional, world traveller and regular contributor to our blog.