Expedition Cruise Diary

March 2019 

expedition 

CRUISE DIARY 

2019 | 2020 | 2021 

StowawayMedia.com

THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS 

CELEBRITY NEWS 

EVOLUTION 

MEETS 

REVOLUTION. 

DESIGNED FOR THE MODERN EXPLORER 

Celebrity Flora SM is the first ever ship of its kind to be designed and 

built specifically with the destination in mind – in this case, the 

stunning Galapagos islands. Aboard Celebrity Flora, your guests will 

be indulged with a seamlessly intuitive service and every creature 

comfort possible. 

• All-inclusive 7 night cruises sailing the inner and outer loops 

• Once-in-a-lifetime glamping experience on the top deck allowing 

guests to dine, drink, and even sleep under one of the most 

spectacular night skies in the world 

• Expert lecturers and naturalist guides, onboard and ashore 

LAUNCHING MAY 2019 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT 

CELEBRITYCENTRAL.CO.UK 

Above left: our Darwin Cabanas, for our oncein-a-lifetime 

glamping experience 

Left: Machu Picchu shore excursion 

Above: Sky Suite with Infinite Balcony

THE NEXT GENERATION 

OF EXPEDITION CRUISING 

IT PAYS TO LEARN 

Expedition cruising has grown beyond expectations, with more 

cruise lines entering the sector, record numbers of expedition 

ships on order and exciting new itineraries launching to parts of 

the world only a privileged few ever see. 

Recognising the importance of the sector, Clia UK & Ireland 

has not only formed a new expedition working group but 

organised its first-ever forum dedicated to expedition cruising. 

In October it will also be hosting Luxury and Expedition Cruise 

Showcases in Belfast, Manchester and Norwich. 

It all adds up to one thing: A sector of the cruise industry that 

agents ignore at their peril. There is a lot to learn but with lead 

prices in their thousands of pounds, the rewards are high. 

This year’s Expedition Cruise Diary is packed with information 

about the cruise lines in this sector, their ships and the 

destinations they visit, giving agents the tools to help them 

inspire customers to get off the beaten track. 

CONTENTS 

Keith Ellis, 

Publisher, Stowaway Media 

WHERE 6-STAR LUXURY 

MEETS DISCOVERY 

2019 is the year luxury travel is taken to 

extraordinary new levels. With Scenic Eclipse 

making her maiden voyage in August, the next 

generation of ocean cruising is on the horizon. 

Setting new standards in exploration, discovery 

and truly all-inclusive luxury. 

Scenic Eclipse is built for adventure. From the 

two on board helicopters, submarine and fleet 

of zodiacs and kayaks, to the exclusive Scenic 

Discovery excursions expertly curated by our 

Discovery Leaders, this ground-breaking Mega 

Yacht will take your customers to parts of the 

world that, until now, have been inaccessible to the 

ordinary traveller. 

Our Journey Designers have hand-crafted each 

itinerary for adventure-seekers looking for new 

and unique experiences in some of the world’s 

most awe-inspiring locations. Whether it’s the 

breathtakingly beautiful Polar regions or the 

paradise charms of the Caribbean, Scenic Eclipse 

will transport your customers in unrivalled 6-star 

luxury to incredible locations, where they can 

venture across land, over water and even under 

the ocean. For a travel experience like no other. 

Luxury suites 

Submarine excursions 

TRULY ALL-INCLUSIVE LUXURY 

Return flights from UK airports 

Pre/post-cruise hotel stay 

Spacious all-verandah suite accommodation 

Butler service for every guest 

An almost 1:1 staff-to-guest ratio 

Choice of 10 on board dining experiences 

Unlimited complimentary beverages * 

Extensive choice of all-inclusive shore 

excursions 

Helicopter expeditions 

All-inclusive dining and beverages 

Scenic Enrich unique experiences 

Expert Discovery Team and local experts 

Zodiac, kayak, snorkel and snow-shoe 

adventures 

The freedom of our e-bikes 

Spa Sanctuary, gym, yoga and Pilates studio 

Indoor and outdoor swimming pools 

All tipping, transfers and taxes, on board 

and onshore 

BOOK THE ULTIMATE IN LUXURY, CALL 0808 115 0463 

Get in touch with your local Sales Manager at agencysales@scenic.co.uk 

CONTENTS 

Expedition cruising................................................................................... 6 

The Kimberley...........................................................................................13 

Antarctica...................................................................................................15 

The Arctic...................................................................................................30 

The Galapagos........................................................................................35 

The Russian Far East..............................................................................38 

Brochure rack............................................................................................40 

PROFILES 

Silversea Expeditions.............................................................................17 

Scenic...........................................................................................................32 

Published by ..........................................Keith Ellis, Stowaway Media 

10 Tadorne Road, Tadworth KT20 5TD Surrey 

+44 (0)1737 81 2411, kmellis@btinternet.com 

Written and Edited by: ...................................................... Jane Archer 

Janearc@aol.com 

Creative...........................................Andrew Reeves, Oddsock Design 

Andrew@oddsockdesign.com 

Front cover image courtesy of Celebrity Cruises 

StowawayMedia.com 

Terms and Conditions: *All drinks on board are included except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, champagnes and spirits. ^Helicopter and submarine activities are weather 

permitting, may incur additional costs and are subject to availability. Full terms and conditions can be found at scenic.co.uk. Scenic Tours Pty trading as Scenic. Registered: 05770868 

Stowaway Media | 5

EXPEDITION CRUISING 


DISCOVER: 


Expedition cruising has been on the sidelines of the industry, considered 

something for a small band of adventurous travellers prepared to rough it 

in return for visiting out-of-the-way places, but things are changing fast as 

more cruise lines enter the market with luxurious new ships. 

An unprecedented 30 or more expedition ships are 

being built over the next four years, offering grand 

suites, butlers and upscale restaurants for those 

venturing off the beaten path. 

It doesn’t mean that expedition cruising is a 

mainstream holiday choice yet – most people still 

see a cruise as a time to relax in the sun rather than 

be challenged by new experiences - but it has put 

the sector under the spotlight as never before. 

It means agents who want to grab a share 

of the market need to get to grips with a whole 

new style of cruising and destinations. 

SMALL SHIPS 

Expedition ships are small, holding anything 

from 200 to 500 passengers. That is important 

as it means they can navigate into little bays 

and convey passengers ashore by tender quickly 

and efficiently (there are no ports in many of the 

places these ships visit). 

Size is even more important in the polar regions. 

In Antarctica, only ships with 500 passengers or 

fewer are allowed to offer landings and then only 

100 can be ashore at one time. Many cruise lines 

limit passenger numbers to 200 and allow just an 

hour ashore, ensuring a smooth landing operation 

with the minimum waiting time. 

In the Galapagos, ships are not allowed to 

carry any more than 100 people and itineraries 

are carefully planned so there is only ever one 

vessel at each of the landing sites to ensure the 

wildlife is not disturbed. » 

6 | Expedition Cruise Diary | March 2019 

Stowaway Media | 7


WHEN TO GO 

• Antarctica cruises run in the austral summer, between 

November and March, when much of the sea ice has 

melted. In November the continent is at its most 

pristine (but it will likely also be much colder); December 

and January is the time to see the most plentiful 

wildlife; mid-February to early March is the best time 

to spot whales. 

• Cruises to the Arctic (that’s Spitsbergen, Greenland, the 

Northwest and Northeast Passage) run between June 

and September. In June and July, the days are long as 

the sun never sets. 

• Galapagos cruises operate year-round. The hottest 

weather is January to May, when it is most likely to rain. 

June to December is dry and a bit cooler. 

• The Amazon is warm and humid year-round (between 

21˚C and 31˚C). High water season is December to May, 

low water from June to November, but this is rainforest 

so clients should expect precipitation anytime. Oceangoing 

cruise ships are there in winter between December 

and March. 

• Cruise lines sail in the Kimberley in the dry season, April 

to October, when temperatures average 30˚C. During the 

wet, November to March, temperatures top 40˚C and 

roads become impassable due to flooding. 

A DIFFERENT WAY TO CRUISE 

Expedition cruising is about as different to a traditional holiday at sea as is 

possible. 

For one thing, rather than cathedrals, museums and water parks, outings 

mean visits to glaciers and waterfalls, fishing for piranha fish, tiptoeing 

through basking iguanas, learning about penguins and whales or watching 

out (literally) for polar bears. 

For another, life on board is casual. Dress codes are almost unheard of 

(jeans and t-shirts are more appropriate than dinner jackets and cocktail 

dresses) and rather than production shows, there are lectures about the 

environment and wildlife that passengers will encounter from teams of 

biologists, geologists, historians, marine scientists and other experts. 

There might be talks about whales and penguins on a cruise to 

Antarctica, for instance, or about polar bears in Spitsbergen. In the Amazon 

it’s all about rainforests, wildlife and birds. 

These expedition teams also guide trips ashore (these are included in 

the price, although there might be a charge for special activities such as 

kayaking or camping in Antarctica) and host zodiac cruises up close to 

glaciers, rainforests and wildlife. 

None of this comes cheap. Cruises start at about £6,000 per person for a 

week away excluding the air fare, which is another hefty expense as flights 

are long haul to out of the way places. For the right client, it will be a small 

price to pay for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

SELLING POINTS 

With such high rewards at stake, agents must spend time learning about 

the expedition sector and how to sell it. 

As with everything it is vital to do plenty of research because the more 

they know about the ships and itineraries, the more confident they will be 

suggesting an expedition cruise to clients. 

It will also help them conjure up the image of a truly memorable 

experience, creating a feeling of awe for the customer, who hopefully won’t 

be able to say no. 

The type of client who might like an expedition cruise is wide, from 

seasoned cruisers ready for something more daring than a well-scripted 

two weeks sailing around the Med to clients who have never set foot on a 

ship but are looking for the best way to see Antarctica and the Galapagos. 

Customers who have previously been on an African safari or soft 

adventure holiday are also likely candidates for an expedition cruise. It is 

a fact that whereas on safari you may or may not see much wildlife, on a 

cruise in Antarctica and Galapagos you just cannot miss seeing penguins, 

birds and other animals. 

Above all, it is important not to apologise for the price. Instead, sell the 

value and the unique experiences that await on expedition cruises. » 

AWE-INSPIRING ADVENTURES 

FROM SHIP TO SHORE 

Sustainable travel to the ends of the Earth on the G Expedition 

With over 130 years of cumulative experience on the G Expedition, we’re passionate 

about helping travellers experience the beauty of our natural world. And as caretakers 

of the planet, we aim to have no more than a minor or transitory impact on the places 

we visit. That’s why we use environmentally-safe practices everywhere we go, and work 

with partners like the Albatross Task Force, Clean Seas, and the Ocean Health Fund. 

To learn more, visit planeterra.org/oceans or speak to your G Adventures Global 

Purpose Specialist. 


0344 272 2190 

gadventures.co.uk/expedition 

ABTA No. Y6125 

1 0 8 0 8



WHAT TO PACK 

POLAR REGIONS 

• Wellington boots and waterproof trousers are a must for 

Antarctica as you invariably have to step into the sea to get from 

the landing craft to the beach. Most cruise lines have boots for 

hire, either for free or a small charge. 

• Cruise ships might be in Antarctica in summer but it is still very 

cold so passengers will also need warm jumpers, woolly hats, 

scarves and gloves. 

• The Arctic isn’t as chilly but it is still cold so warm clothes are 

needed, as well as stout walking shoes and waterproof trousers for 

trips ashore. 

• Most cruise lines provide complimentary parkas for passengers 

sailing in the polar regions. 

THE MERGUI ARCHIPELAGO 

The Mergui (pronounced mer-gwee) Archipelago is a scattering of 

800 islands, many of them deserted, covered in dense rainforest and 

ringed by sandy beaches, off the southern coast of Myanmar in the 

Andaman Sea. Pandaw alone has seven and 10-night cruises here, on 

the 24-passenger Andaman Explorer. Clients can expect to see monkeys 

and tropical birds ashore, and whales and dolphins at sea. Pandaw’s 

itinerary visits the nomadic Mokken people who live on the sea and 

make a living catching fish and pearl diving. 

GALAPAGOS AND KIMBERLEY 

• These areas are tropical so light clothing, hats and sunscreen are 

needed. Waterproof sandals are useful for wading ashore from 

the Zodiacs. 

WHERE TO GO? 

Antarctica is top of the list for adventure cruises. It’s a long way to travel 

but visitors are rewarded with icebergs the size of houses, hundreds of 

whales and millions of penguins. And of course they’ll have the privilege of 

being among the few people who ever get the chance to set foot on the 

most inhospitable continent in the world. 

Once Antarctica is done, it’s time to swap penguins for polar bears 

on a cruise to the Arctic. There’s lots of choice here, with cruises around 

Spitsbergen, the nearest most vessels can get to the North Pole, and 

voyages along the coast of Greenland and through the Northwest Passage, 

the icy waterway between Greenland and Canada. A new must-do 

itinerary, the Northeast Passage, takes passengers across the top of Russia 

on a journey from Alaska to Norway. 

Those who prefer warmer climes can get close to wildlife in the 

Galapagos, where the animals have no fear of humans, and see gushing 

waterfalls, coral reefs and crocodiles in the Kimberley. 

There are tropical birds, piranha fish and jungle to explore on cruises 

along the Amazon River in Brazil. On cruises through the Mergui 

Archipelago off the west coast of Myanmar, passengers enter the realm of 

the sea gypsies, with kayaking through mangroves and swimming in the 

Andaman Sea. 

Travellers on all these cruises need an adventurous spirit as itineraries 

are often more like guidelines, especially in the polar regions. Captains will 

aim to visit all the places on the schedule but the actual route depends on 

weather and wildlife. Wind, ice and fog will scupper landings in Antarctica; 

in the Arctic, a prowling polar bear will halt plans for a walk ashore. 

IS EXPEDITION CRUISING FOR ME? 

✔ Perfect for those with a sense of adventure keen to see places away from the tourist haunts. 

WHAT’S NEW 

More than 13 new 

expedition ships are slated to 

launch this year and next. 

Aurora Expeditions, Scenic, 

Crystal Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd 

and Hurtigruten are all 

building expedition ships 

with ice-strengthened hulls 

that can sail in polar regions. 

Details can be found in the Antarctica and Arctic pages. 

All offer levels of luxury previously unheard of on expedition ships but 

Scenic and Crystal are going beyond lavish with yachts that offer butler 

service for all and have helicopters and submarines to whisk passengers off 

on adventures above and below the ocean. 

Seabourn is launching its first-ever expedition vessels. Built to PC6 

Polar Class standards, they will accommodate 264 passengers and carry 

a 26-strong expedition team, two submarines, kayaks and Zodiacs. The 

first ship, launching June 2021, will sail a short season in the Arctic before 

relocating to Antarctica. The second vessel will be delivered May 2022. 

French cruise line Ponant launched two warm-water explorer vessels in 

2018 and has another four on the way. Le Bougainville and Le Dumontd’Urville 

enter service in April and August this year, with Le Bellot and Le 

Jacques Cartier following in 2020. All accommodate 184 passengers and 

have a Blue Eye lounge in the hull from which passengers can peek out 

into the ocean. 

✔ Ideal for those who have cruised the Med, Caribbean and Baltic and want to do something different but not miss out on a few weeks at sea. 

✔ A ball for baby boomers who missed out on a gap year and fancy some soft adventure without having to rough it. 

✔ Spot on for those interested in seeing and learning about wildlife, nature and the environment. 

✔ Brilliant for teenagers who do not need constant entertaining. It’s not a cheap holiday, but an experience they will never forget. 

✖ The new generation of expedition ships might be more suitable for disabled passengers than the older vessels still in operation but getting 

ashore will always be a problem. Ask the cruise line for advice before booking. 

THE AMAZON 

The Amazon rises in the Andes 

Mountains and flows 4,000 miles 

through nine countries in South 

America before emptying into the 

Atlantic. The river is so big that 

ocean-going ships can sail nearly 

650 miles upriver from the Atlantic 

to Manaus, taking passengers on a 

real getaway-from-it-all adventure. 

They’ll trek through jungle that’s 

home to sloths, howler monkeys and 

colourful parrots, meet indigenous 

people, maybe kayak along narrow 

tributaries, and see piranha fish and 

caiman (like an alligator) up close. 


Stowaway Media | 11


KIMBERLEY 

TOP FIVE HIGHLIGHTS 

• Watching the Montgomery Reef rise out of the water. 

It’s an illusion of course. What’s really happening 

is the tide is falling. Zodiacs get close to the water 

cascading off it and green turtles hugging the base. 

• A helicopter ride to the Mitchell Falls, where water 

tumbles over four tiers some 80 metres high. 

• A fast boat ride over the Horizontal Falls in Talbot Bay. 

The phenomenon is created by a break in the cliffs 

through which millions of gallons of sea powers in and 

out as the tide ebbs and flows. 

• A boat ride down the Hunter River on the look out for 

fearsome ‘salties’ – the Australian nickname for the 

saltwater crocodiles that lurk in the mangroves. 

• Discovering Aboriginal rock art depicting human 

figures that is believed to be 50,000 years old. 

DISCOVER: 

THE KIMBERLEY 

The Kimberley is a remote area in Northern Australia that’s the size of 

England but with a population of just over 40,000 people and a couple of 

roads that become almost impassable in the wet, between November and 

April, when up to 50 inches of rain falls. 

WHO GOES WHERE 

CRUISE LINE 

Antarctica 

South Georgia 

Falkland Islands 

Spitsbergen 

Greenland 

Northwest Passage 

Northeast Passage 

Galapagos 

Kimberley 

Russian Far East 

Mergui Archipelago 

WEBSITE 

Aurora Expeditions ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ auroraexpeditions.com.au 

Celebrity Cruises ✔ celebritycruises.co.uk 

Crystal Cruises ✔ ✔ ✔ crystalcruises.co.uk 

G Adventures ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ gadventures.co.uk 

SELLING TIPS 

• Read up on the cruise itineraries so you 

can paint such an exciting picture of what 

awaits that clients can’t resist booking. 

• Don’t just offer this to your cruise 

customers. A Kimberley cruise is perfect 

for everyone seeking a holiday packed 

with excitement and adventure. 

• Australia is a long way to go for 10 nights 

so package the cruise around a longer 

stay. Some beach time in Broome, a few 

days in Cairns to visit the Great Barrier 

Reef and a couple of nights in Sydney 

would be great additions. 

• Break the price into a daily cost to show 

what great value it is for such a once-ina-lifetime 

experience. 

Only a handful of cruise lines sail here, which is 

a shame because it is a thrilling holiday offering 

different and unique experiences every day that 

travellers with a sense of adventure will love. 

Many are a result of the region’s huge tidal 

range (up to 12 metres, one of the largest on 

the planet), which creates gushing rapids and 

the bizarre phenomenon of a coral reef rising 

out of the water. The aggressive saltwater 

crocodiles that lurk beneath the waves, curtailing 

swimming and meaning trips ashore are limited, 

add to the excitement. 

And then there is the fact that ships have 

to anchor quite a way out from land in several 

spots because much of the coast is still not fully 

charted. The Kimberley is remote indeed, even by 

Australian standards. 

Over the course of a week your clients will take 

Zodiac cruises through a stunning sandstone gorge 

that leads to the tumbling twin King George Falls, 

see ancient Aboriginal rock art and take a fast 

boat over the Horizontal Falls. A couple of lines 

include flights over the Bungle Bungles - a range of 

beehive-shaped sandstone structures some 250 

metres high in the Purnululu National Park, a vast 

wilderness almost the size of Luxembourg. 

Cruises operate between Broome in Western 

Australia, a town built up on the pearling industry 

but these days most famous for its long sandy 

Cable Beach, and the city of Darwin, which was 

named after the British evolutionist although he 

never actually went there. 

Clients with time in the city at the start or end 

of their cruise can visit the Kakadu National Park, 

dive into the local street culture at Mindil Beach 

Sunset Market (Thursday and Sunday evenings) 

or visit an exhibition at the Museum and Art 

Gallery of the Northern Territory that recreates the 

night of Christmas Eve 1974 when the city was hit 

by a devastating cyclone. 

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ hl-cruises.com 

Pandaw ✔ fredrivercruises.co.uk 

Ponant ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ponant.com 

Scenic ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ scenic.co.uk 

Seabourn ✔ ✔ ✔ seabourn.com 

Silversea Expeditions ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ silversea.com 

WHO GOES THERE 

Silversea Expeditions 

Ship: Silver Discoverer – 5,218 tons, 116 passengers. 

Itineraries: Ten-day cruises between Broome and 

Darwin or vice-versa from April to June 2019 include a 

flight over the Bungle Bungles and a Zodiac cruise to 

the King George Falls. 

Sample: From £7,600 per person for a 10-night cruise 

from Darwin to Broome departing June 4 2019. 

Excludes flights. 

Ponant 

Ships: Le Lapérouse – 9,900 tons, 184 passengers. 

Itineraries: Eleven-day cruises between Darwin and 

Broome that visit the Lacepede Islands, home to colonies 

of brown boobies, Australian penguins and countless 

other birdlife, and Collier Bay to see the Montgomery Reef. 

Sample: From €8,440 per person for a 10-night Iconic 

Kimberley cruise from Darwin to Broome departing May 8 

2020. Excludes flights. 

Aurora Expeditions 

Ships: Coral Expeditions I – 730 tons, 42 passengers. 

Itineraries: Eleven-day voyages between Broome 

and Darwin that include treks through the bush, a 

Zodiac cruise through the Horizontal Falls and seek out 

crocodiles in Prince Regent Nature Reserve. 

Sample: From Aus$8,690 per person for an 11-day 

Broome to Darwin cruise departing June 10 2019. 



Stowaway Media | 13

ANTARCTICA 

DISCOVER: 

ANTARCTICA 

Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and most remote place on earth; a 

frozen world almost 60 times the size of Britain during the austral summer 

(our winter) that spends half the year in total darkness and is cut off from 

civilisation by the Drake Passage - 1,000km of one of the most feared sea 

crossings in the world. 

Scenic ad 

But it’s also one of the most majestic places 

on the planet, an other-worldly land that is 

all the more captivating because its pristine 

environment is one that man has always tried 

but never quite managed to conquer, even with 

the backing of 21st-century technology. 

This is nature in the raw, where snow-capped 

mountains give way to deep ice fjords, icebergs 

are the size of six-storey buildings and so much 

of the sea freezes in winter, creating a layer up to 

two metres thick, that the continent effectively 

doubles in size. » 

Stowaway Media | 15

ANTARCTICA 

BROUGHT TO YOU BY SILVERSEA EXPEDITIONS 

ANTARCTICA HIGHLIGHTS 

• Half-Moon Island. Only 2km long, but it has dramatic 

rock formations, multi-coloured lichens and a large 

population of chinstrap penguins. Whales are often 

spotted patrolling the shores. 

• Lemaire Channel. This narrow passage – just 1,600 

metres at its widest point - is nicknamed Kodak Gap 

because the scenery is stunning. Think steep cliffs, 

mountain peaks, icebergs and a hangout for minke or 

humpback whales. 

• Petermann Island. Accessed through the Lemaire 

Channel, this is the home of gentoo and Adélie 

penguin rookeries. 

• Paradise Harbour. An aptly-named bay surrounded by 

glaciated mountains and ice cliffs that’s home to a 

rookery of gentoo penguins. 

• Gerlache Strait. Get cameras at the ready because this 

is a likely spot to see humpback and minke whales, 

chinstrap penguins and leopard seals. 

• Elephant Island. The crew from Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 

failed expedition to cross Antarctica via the South Pole 

arrived here in 1916 and 21 of them then waited four 

months while their leader went to South Georgia for help. 

They lived under an upturned boat and survived on seal 

blubber. It is named for its colony of elephant seals. 

• Port Lockroy. The former British base at Port Lockroy 

is now curated by the UK Antarctica Heritage Trust. 

Visitors can look around huts preserved as they were in 

the 1940s and there is a shop for souvenir hunters. 

DISCOVER 

A WORLD LESS VISITED 

FACTFILE 

Climate: Antarctica is in the southern 

hemisphere, which means its seasons 

are the opposite of those in the UK. Our 

winter is summer in Antarctica, while our 

summer is winter at the South Pole. 

When to go: Cruises operate from 

November to March, when there is less 

sea ice. Summer temperatures in the 

Antarctic Peninsula average 2˚C. 

Ice: When the sea ice freezes in winter, 

Antarctica doubles in size, covering 

13,829,800 square kilometres. 

Cold: The lowest temperature recorded 

in Antarctica was minus 129˚C, at Vostok 

Station on July 21 1983. 

Highest mountain: Mount Vinson, 

some 4,892 metres above sea level. 

Number of tourists: 51,707 

(International Association of Antarctica 

Tour Operators, winter 2017/18). 

But Antarctica is not just about scenery. Some 

45 species of birds live here, including albatrosses, 

petrels, skuas, gulls and, of course, penguins. Visitors 

quickly become experts in identifying the Adélies, 

chinstraps, gentoos and macaronis. Seeing them 

waddle awkwardly on land and then dive gracefully 

into the icy water is just magical. 

There are seals, fish and whales, including 

humpbacks and orcas. Plants can’t survive the cold, 

but lichens, mosses and algae have adapted to 

live in the freezing conditions. It’s tough out there 

for them though, so visitors are asked to avoid 

stepping on plant life when they go ashore. 

There was a time when only intrepid explorers, 

seal hunters and whalers went to Antarctica; now 

the hunters are banned and instead it is home to 

scientists from all over the world and a bucket-list 

destination for travellers keen to be among the few 

thousand people who set foot on the continent 

each year. 

A few big ships have sightseeing sailings in 

Antarctica, and it is possible to fly there and skip 

the Drake Passage crossing, but for the ultimate 

once-in-a-lifetime experience nothing beats an 

expedition cruise, braving the Drake (it’s not always 

rough!) and walking through colonies of penguins, 

going kayaking amid the growlers, cruising close 

to icebergs in inflatable Zodiacs, maybe even 

camping ashore. This is the stuff of adventurers, 

the place to come if clients want excitement, fun 

and to be at one with nature. 

Under the rules of the Antarctic Treaty, only ships 

with 500 or fewer passengers can offer landings 

and only 100 people are allowed on land at a time. 

Once ashore, they must stay in marked areas, try 

to walk in tracks made by the expedition team and 

keep 15 feet away from the penguins. Collecting 

stones or other souvenirs is strictly forbidden, as is 

dropping litter. 

Most Antarctic cruises operate round-trip from 

Ushuaia, the town on the southern-most tip of 

Argentina; a few alternatively depart from Punta 

Arenas in Chile. Itineraries are anything from 

10-night jaunts to the Antarctic Peninsula to 23- 

day voyages or longer that combine Antarctica with 

South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. » p25 


Stowaway Media | 17

PROFILE 


Antarctica, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, 

Svalbard, Greenland, the Kimberley, the Galapagos 

Islands, the South Pacific, the Russian Far East, a 

spectacular wilderness closed to westerners for 

decades, where volcanoes smoulder, brown bears 

roam and numerous seabirds swarm. 

And still Silversea Expeditions keeps exploring, 

‘Silversea is the 

acknowledged 

leader in luxury and 

expedition cruising’ 

Richard Fain, 

Chairman and CEO, 

Royal Caribbean Cruises 

What an amazing few months it has been for Silversea Expeditions. 

On June 3 2018, 10 years to the day after stake in Silversea, dubbed a ‘crown jewel 

Silversea’s first expedition ship set sail and acknowledged leader in luxury and 

on its maiden voyage from London’s expedition cruising’ by Royal Caribbean 

Tower Bridge to Svalbard in the Arctic, Chairman and CEO Richard Fain. 

the company celebrated a decade of Within six weeks the deal was done 

exploring the world in all-inclusive and just three months later, Silversea 

luxury with a gala voyage from Tower signed a contract with Dutch shipyard 

Bridge to Dublin. 

De Hoop to build a new luxury 

In a neat piece of symmetry, the gala expedition ship, Silver Origin, to cruise 

was on Silver Cloud, Silversea’s first the Galapagos Islands. 

luxury ship when the company was 

Exciting doesn’t even get close 

founded in 1994 and the newest addition to describing Silversea Expeditions’ 

to the expedition fleet, which it joined in itineraries, which visit the very ends 

2017 after a $40 million refit. 

of the earth, taking intrepid travellers 

Just two weeks later, Royal Caribbean to bucket-list destinations and remote 

Cruises announced it was acquiring a 67% islands that few will even have heard of. 

much to the delight of past and new customers 

seeking excitement and adventure off the grid. 

New this year, an epic 25-day voyage through the 

Northeast Passage from Nome in Alaska to Tromso 

in Norway on Silver Explorer was snapped up so 

fast when it went on sale that it is being repeated in 

August 2020. 

This is a journey beyond thrilling, taking guests 

across the top of Russia, sailing through glistening ice 

and calling into islands where wildlife is king and few 

humans have ever set foot. 

With the help of an expert expedition team, they’ll 

be on the lookout for all manner of seabirds including 

cormorants, murres, kittiwakes, puffins and guillemots, 

as well as walruses, polar bears and reindeer. There’ll 

be intriguing stories of explorers who passed through 

these lands in centuries past, of the geology and 

history of this harsh terrain. And of course plenty of 

treasured memories to take home. 

 

‘We will continue 

to bring innovation 

to the world of 

expedition cruising’ 

Silversea Chairman 

Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio 

In summer 2020, Silver Origin will start 

sailing in the Galapagos Islands. Here’s what 

we know so far about the new ship. 

• Silver Origin is designed specifically to cruise the 

Galapagos. It is being built by Dutch shipyard De 

Hoop, is due to be delivered in Rotterdam in March 

2020 and will start cruising around the islands in 

summer 2020. 

• She will hold 100 guests – the maximum allowed in 

the Galapagos – and have 84 crew members as well as 

an expedition team to host talks on board and guide 

walks ashore. 

• She will have six inflatable Zodiacs for wet landings 

onto beaches and rocks, and also carry kayaks and 

snorkelling gear that can be borrowed for free. 

• She will have spacious all-suite, all-balcony 

accommodation and every guest will enjoy Silversea’s 

signature butler service. 

• She will have a new Stargazing Lounge, two 

restaurants, a plunge pool, and small spa, hairdresser 

and fitness centre. 

WHY SILVERSEA EXPEDITIONS? 

ALL THIS IS INCLUDED 

CONTACT 

• All suites are oceanview and 80% have a 

private balcony 

• Butler service in every suite 

• Personalised service guaranteed with nearly 

one crew member for every guest 

• Multiple restaurants, diverse cuisine, open 

seating dining 

• Cruises led by a highly-qualified expedition 

team of experts (marine biologists, ornithologists, 

historians and more) 

• Enrichment lectures on related topics enhance 

guests’ knowledge 

• Exclusive partnership with The Royal 

Geographical Society 

• Unlimited Wi-Fi for all guests 

• Alcoholic and soft drinks in suites and throughout 

the ship, including champagne, wines and spirits 

• Room service 

• On-board gratuities 

• Excursions and activities, with Zodiac cruising, 

hiking and kayaking on selected voyages 

• Silversea Expeditions Parka 

Due to local regulations, some services and selections are limited or not available on Silver Galapagos. 

0207 340 0700 

silversea.com, 

silverseaacademy.com or 

salesuk@silversea.com 

18 | Expedition Cruise Diary | March 2019 Stowaway Media | 19

PROFILE 


INTRODUCING 

ANTARCTICA 

INTRODUCING 

THE GALAPAGOS 

IT IS… 

…a frozen continent surrounded by oceans with the South 

Pole at its centre. 

…the coldest, driest and windiest continent on earth. 

…in the southern hemisphere, which means its seasons are the 

opposite to those in the UK. Our winter is summer so that’s 

when the cruise ships visit. 

…rarely much above 2C, and that is in summer. In winter 

temperatures drop below -49C (as a guide, home freezers 

are about -15C). 

…covered in the world’s biggest and thickest ice sheet – it 

blankets 98% of the continent; the mean thickness is 2.16km. 

…home to 17 species of birds including albatrosses, petrels, 

skuas, shags and penguins. 

…home to 235 species of marine mammals including 

elephant, fur and leopard seals, baleen whales, toothed 

whales and orcas. 

IT IS… 

…an archipelago of volcanic islands some 600 miles off the 

coast of Ecuador in South America. 

…made up of 19 main islands and more than 215 rocks and 

islets. 

…famous as the place where visitors can get close to wildlife 

because the animals have no fear of humans. 

…credited with having inspired Charles Darwin’s book The 

Origin of Species when he visited in 1835. 

…the only place in the northern hemisphere where penguins 

live in their natural habitat. 

…home to the only lizards in the world that swim (marine 

iguanas) and the only cormorants that can’t fly. 

…on the equator, which means there is an equal 12 hours of 

daylight and 12 hours of night all year. 

…always good to go. December to May is warmer (highs of 

32˚C) and wetter. June to November is cooler (highs of 

26˚C) and dry. 

IN A NUTSHELL 

MAIN ISLANDS: 

Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, Santa 

Cruz, San Cristobal, Espanola, Floreana 

LOOK OUT FOR: 

Giant tortoises, marine iguanas, land 

iguanas, booby birds, pelicans, sea lions, 

penguins, albatrosses, frigate birds, 

flamingos 

SILVERSEA IN ANTARCTICA 

SILVER CLOUD 

Guest capacity: 240 

Crew capacity: 212 

Last refurbishment: 2017 

Total Expedition team members: Up to 28 

Number of Zodiacs: 18 

Kayak programme: 

Yes 

SILVER EXPLORER 




Total Expedition team members: 12 



No 

SILVERSEA IN THE GALAPAGOS 

SILVER GALAPAGOS 




Total Expedition team members: 8 



Yes 

SILVER ORIGIN 

Replaces Silver Galapagos: 2020 



Expedition team members: TBC 



Yes 


Svalbard Northern Region 

PROFILE 

Dynjandi 

Latrabjarg Cliffs 

Reykjavik 

Cruise Along 

Hornbjarg Cliffs 

Vigur Island 

Cruise Surtsey 

Akureyri 

St Kilda 

Iona 

Jan Mayen 

Vestmannaey Island 

Fort William 

Tromsø 

SECTOR 9 

Svalbard Southern Region 

Cruise Bear Island 

Skarsvåg 

Gverstappen 

Islands 

Cruising Along 

North Cape 

SECTOR 10 

LISBON TO REYKJAVIK 

18 days | June 16-July 3 

Voyage though Iberia, France, 

the UK and Iceland 

REYKJAVIK TO TROMSO 

14 days | July 3-16 

Voyage through Iceland, 

Svalbard and Norway 


ATLANTIC OCEAN 

Pembroke 

Tresco 

St Mary's 

St Peter Port 

La Coruña 

Oporto (Leixões) 

Lisbon 

Portimao 

Sevilla 

London 

Honfleur 

Saint Malo 

Cagliari 

Bejaia 

EUROPE 

Sousse 

Porto Empedocle 

PIRAEUS (ATHENS) TO LISBON AFRICA 

Nafpaktos Itea 

Ksamil Athens (Piraeus) 

Trapani 

Monemvasia 

Folegandros 

15 days | June 2-16 

Voyage through the Mediterranean 

Naxos 

Symi 

Rhodes 

SECTOR 8 

Suez Canal Transit 

Luxor (Safaga) 

SECTOR 7 

Muscat 

Sur 

Salalah 

Cochin 

INDIAN OCEAN 

Colombo 

Mormugao 

SINGAPORE TO COCHIN 

17 days | April 28-May 14 

Voyage through Indonesia 

and the Indian Ocean 

COCHIN TO PIRAEUS (ATHENS) 

20 days | May 

ASIA14-June 2 

Voyage though the Middle East, 

Suez Canal and Greece 

Galle 

Belawan 

Bawemataluwo 

Padang 

Anak Krakatoa 

Ujung Kulon 

National Park 

SECTOR 6 

Anano 

Island 

Garove Island 

Singapore Bau-Bau 

Palopo, Pulau Tellang 

Sulawesi 

Rabaul 

Madang 

Samarang (Java) 

Hunter River Region 

Buccaneer 

Archipelago 

Region 

SECTOR 5 

CAIRNS TO SINGAPORE 

23 days | April 6-28 

Voyage through the 

Kimberley and Indonesia 

Kupang 

Broome 

Kalabahi 

Thursday 

Island 

Darwin 

Cairns 

King George 

River Region 

AUSTRALIA 

Santa 

Ana 

Tami Islands 

Samarai 

and Kwato 

Champagne 

Beach 

Fergusson Island 

Dobu Island 

Nendo Island 

Pentecost 

Island 

Lautoka 

LAUTOKA TO CAIRNS 

15 days | March 23-April 6 

Voyage through Vanuatu, the Solomon 

Islands and Papua New Guinea 

SECTOR 3 

Palmerston 

Island 

Somosono (Taveuni) 

Apia 

Aitutaki 

Rarotonga 

SECTOR 4 

PAPEETE TO LAUTOKA 

13 days | March 11-23 

Voyage through the Cook 

Islands, Samoa and Fiji 

Moorea 

Bora Bora 

Rangiroa 

Atuona 

Fakarava 

Papeete 

Fatu Hiva 

PACIFIC OCEAN 

Adamstown 

SECTOR 2 

NORTH AMERICA 

Easter Island 

VALPARAISO TO PAPEETE 

23 days | Feb 17 to March 11 

Voyage through Chile and 

French Polynesia 

Alexander Selkirk Island 

Robinson Crusoe Island 

Puerto Montt 

Castro 

Tortel 

Cruise English Narrows 

Niebla 

Cruise Chilean Fjords 

Valparaiso 

Ushuaia 

USHUAIA TO VALPARAISO 

19 days | Jan 30-Feb 17 

Voyage to Antarctica and 

through the Chilean fjords 

SECTOR 1 

Antarctic Peninsula 

South Shetland Islands 

Antarctic Sound 

SILVERSEA’S UNCHARTED WORLD TOUR IN NUMBERS 

167 

THE LENGTH 

OF THE CRUISE 

IN DAYS 

30 

THE NUMBER 

OF COUNTRIES 

VISITED 

107 

THE NUMBER 

OF PORT CALLS 

10 

THE NUMBER 

OF SHORTER 

SECTORS 

INTRODUCING 

THE ARCTIC 

IT IS… 

…an area enclosed by a notional circle with the 

North Pole at its centre that crosses seven 

countries (Norway, Greenland, Russia, Canada, 

Alaska, Finland, Sweden) and passes through 

the Icelandic Island of Grimsby. 

…the place to cruise the Northwest Passage, 

the Arctic route between North America and 

Greenland discovered in 1906 by Norwegian 

explorer Roald Amundsen. 

…an average 3-12˚C in summer, falling to an 

average -34˚C in winter. 

…home to about four million people. 

…the place to spot polar bears. It’s also home to millions of 

seabirds, Arctic foxes and Svalbard Reindeer and walruses. 

…home to four species of whales and six species 

of seals. 

…blanketed by so much ice that if it were all to melt the sea 

levels would rise 23.6 feet. 

SILVERSEA IN THE ARCTIC 

SILVER CLOUD 




Expedition team members: Up to 28 



Yes 

SILVER EXPLORER 




Expedition team members: 12 



No 

THE FIRST EVER 

EXPEDITION WORLD CRUISE 

A world cruise is always an adventure 

but imagine how amazing it would be 

to find one that veers away from the 

path well trod and instead calls into 

spectacular places where very few 

people ever set foot. 

Impossible? Not for Silversea 

Expeditions, which has launched the 

first-ever expedition world cruise. 

The 167-day Uncharted World Tour, 

on Silversea’s expedition ship Silver 

Cloud, sets sail on January 30 2021, 

and will take guests on a spectacular 

journey from Ushuaia in Argentina 

to Tromso in Norway by way of 

Antarctica, the Chilean fjords, the 

South Pacific, Papua New Guinea, 

Indonesia, the Mediterranean and 

Norwegian fjords. Ten shorter sectors are planned 

to go on sale nearer to the departure date. 

The list of calls en route reads like a who’s who 

of expedition favourites, but with more than a few 

exciting-sounding places that most people will 

likely never even have heard of. 

Weather permitting there’ll be a landing in 

the South Shetland Islands, a day to explore 

Chile’s colourful island capital of Castro, and an 

overnight stay in remote Easter Island, to see the 

extraordinary monumental statues carved more 

than 700 years ago by the Rapa Nui people. 

Guests will be island-hopping through Vanuatu 

and the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, visit 

volcanic Rabaul in Papua New Guinea and seek out 

saltwater crocodiles as they cruise the Kimberley 

in Australia. They’ll see orang-utans in the wild in 

Indonesia, glaciers and polar bears in Svalbard and 

a myriad of seabirds in Norway’s Gjesvaerstappan 

Islands. 

They’ll be accompanied along the way by a 

brilliant line-up of guest speakers who are experts 

in everything from anthropology and archaeology 

to geology, garden design and history. They include 

Jo Ruxton, who produced the documentary A 

Plastic Ocean, Egyptologist Chris Naunton, and 

explorer Felicity Aton, the first and only woman to 

ski across Antarctica alone. 


ANTARCTICA 

THE FALKLAND ISLANDS 

Many people had never heard of these islands until the 

Argentineans invaded in 1982. Now it is a popular add on to longer 

cruises to Antarctica. 

The main port and capital is Stanley, a small town where pubs and 

corner shops are the mainstay of the community. The island itself is 

like the Devon moors, wild and windswept but with penguins instead 

of ponies and signs that warn of minefields. 

Excursions visit colonies of gentoo and king penguin rookeries 

in Bluff Cove, and rockhoppers in Berkeley Sound. There are also 

battlefield tours and trips to working farms to learn about farming in 

this harsh terrain. 

GET POLARISED 

EXPEDITIONS 

LET US TAKE YOU CLOSER 

TO THE AUTHENTIC BEAUTY OF THE 

ANTARCTIC PENINSULA. 

Your clients can explore the unspoiled landscapes of 

Antarctica on an extraordinary voyage with all the comforts 

they love. Aided by a team of world-class experts, 

our ultra-luxury, all-inclusive ships are modern gems 

of design, excelling in both fine living and exploration. 

For more information or for reservations 

please call 0207 340 0700, visit silversea.com 

or email salesuk@silversea.com. 

SELLING TIPS 

• Antarctica cruises aren’t cheap but this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is worth that 

one big splurge. 

• Clients wanting to set foot on Antarctica must choose a ship with no more than 500 

passengers and preferably just 100-200 to avoid long delays getting ashore. 

• If time allows, cruises that combine Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands offer the 

ultimate in expedition cruising. 

• Advise customers to expect the unexpected. This is a big adventure in a hostile climate and 

itineraries are wholly dependent on the weather. 

Stowaway Media | 25

ANTARCTICA 


ANTARCTICA 

SOUTH GEORGIA 

South Georgia, famous as the place where the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton found help to 

rescue his failed mission to reach the South Pole in 1916, is some 800 miles south-east of the 

Falkland Islands and a popular stop for longer expedition cruises through the Southern Ocean. 

Just 100 miles long and 20 miles wide, the island was discovered by James Cook in 1775 

and for the next 200 years was the scene of mass slaughter as first the sealing and then the 

whaling industries moved in and wiped out entire populations of fur seals and cetaceans. 

These days cruise passengers come with far more peaceful intent – namely to see Shackleton’s 

grave in the small settlement of Grytviken, admire the picturesque Alps-like scenery and marvel 

at the abundance of wildlife. 

That includes huge populations of fur and elephant seals, which have returned to the island 

in the 50 years since the sealers and whalers left, millions of penguins and sea birds, and 

thousands of albatrosses. 


Ships: Greg Mortimer (from November 2019) – 7,400 tons; 160 passengers (120 in 

the polar regions). 

Itineraries: Antarctica sailings operate round-trip from Ushuaia in Argentina and 

include 13-day voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula and longer trips that take in 

Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. 

Sample: From US$10,500 per person for the maiden 12-day Spirit of Antarctica 

voyage round-trip from Ushuaia departing October 30 2019. Excludes flights. 


Ship: Silver Cloud - 16,800 tons, 240 passengers; Silver Explorer - 6,072 tons, 144 

passengers. 

Itineraries: Sailings operate round-trip from Ushuaia in Argentina and range from 

10-day cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula to 15 and 18-day voyages combining 

Antarctica with the Falklands and/or South Georgia. 

Sample: From £11,970 per person for a 10-day cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula on 

Silver Cloud departing December 10 2019. Excludes flights. 

Ponant 

Ships: Le Lyrial - 10,992 tons, 244 passengers; Le Boréal, L’Austral, Le Soléal – 

10,944 tons, 264 passengers. 

Itineraries: Sailings round-trip from Ushuaia in Argentina range from 10-night 

cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula to 21-day voyages combining the Falklands with 

South Georgia, the South Orkney Islands and Antarctica. 

Sample: From €10,550 per person for a 10-night Emblematic Antarctica cruise on 

Le Soléal departing February 19 2020. Excludes flights. 

WHAT’S NEW 

• Australia’s Aurora Expeditions is launching new ship Greg 

Mortimer in November. Named after the company’s founder, the 

vessel has a revolutionary X-Bow, which pierces the waves instead 

of rising up and down on them, resulting in a more comfortable 

ride. The majority of cabins have a balcony, almost two-thirds 

can accommodate three people and it has two outdoor hydraulic 

viewing platforms from where passengers can get closer to the 

wildlife and landscape. 

• Crystal Cruises’ new discovery yacht Crystal Endeavor is visiting 

Antarctica for the first time in 2021, but venturing to the 

eastern side of the continent, where few cruise ships go. The 

200-passenger vessel is built for luxury exploration. It will have 

all-suite, all-balcony accommodation serviced by butlers and 

six restaurants, including Nobu Matsuhisa’s Umi Uma, Italian 

Prego and the Waterside main dining room. The vessel will have 

a large spa, a two-storey solarium and carry two helicopters 

and a submarine. 

• Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is launching new expedition ship Hanseatic 

Inspiration in October. The vessel will have three restaurants, a 

Grand Suite with a shower that transforms into a steam room, 

and glass viewing platforms that fold out of the ship’s hull and 

hover 15 metres above the ocean. This is an international ship 

with all cruises conducted in German and English. 

• Hurtigruten is launching the world’s first hybrid cruise ship in May. 

Called Roald Amundsen, it will operate mainly on Liquefied Natural 

Gas but be able to switch to electric power for short periods. The 

vessel, which makes its Antarctic debut in winter 2019/20, has an 

on-board science centre where passengers can interact with the 

expedition team and learn more about the places they are visiting. 

Sister ship Fridtjof Nansen launches in 2020. 

• Scenic’s discovery ship Scenic Eclipse is launching in August an makes 

its Antarctica debut in winter 2019/20. The vessel will have all-balcony 

suites, butler service for all, 10 places to eat and carry a helicopter and 

seven-man sub for exploring above and below the waves. 

Scenic 

Ships: Scenic Eclipse (launches August 2019) – 17,085 tons, 228 passengers (200 

in polar regions). 

Itineraries: Packages range from 16 to 23 days and pair cruises round-trip from 

Ushuaia with pre and post-cruise overnights in Buenos Aires. Voyages visit the 

Antarctic Peninsula and combine Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. 

Sample: From £12,705 per person for a 16-day Antarctica in Depth voyage 

departing March 5 2020. Includes flights 

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises 

Ships: Hanseatic Inspiration (launches October 2019) – 15,650 tons, 230 

passengers (max 199 in Antarctica). 

Itineraries: Cruises of from 12 to 18 days operate round-trip from Ushuaia to the 

Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. 

Sample: From £11,723 per person for a 16-day voyage departing December 1 

2020. Excludes flights. 

G Adventures 

Ship: G Expedition – 6,334 tons, 134 passengers. 

Itineraries: Cruises are from 11 to 22 days round-trip from Ushuaia to the Antarctic 

Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. 

Sample: From £5,099 per person for a 13-day Antarctica Classic in Depth cruise 

departing November 11 2019, based on a triple-share cabin. Excludes flights. 

Seabourn 

Ship: Seabourn Quest – 32,000 tons, 458 passengers (max 430 in Antarctica). 

Itineraries: Offers 21-day cruises between Buenos Aires and San Antonio in Chile 

that include six days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula. Longer 24-day voyages add 

the Falklands and South Georgia. 

Sample: From £8,499 per person for a 21-day Ultimate Antarctica and Patagonia cruise 

from San Antonio to Buenos Aires departing November 28 2019. Excludes flights. 

Crystal Cruises 

Ship: Crystal Endeavor – 20,000 tons, 200 passengers. 

Itineraries: Two 22-day voyages from Tasmania and New Zealand in January 2021 

spend eight days exploring Antarctica’s Ross Sea with visits to Adélie and Emperor 

penguin rookeries, and an ice-free desert. 

Sample: From £28,113 per person for a 22-day Antarctic Splendor cruise from 

Hobart to Christchurch departing January 6 2021. Excludes flights. 


Stowaway Media | 27

GALAPAGOS 

CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR 

WHERE L UXU R Y RO AMS FREELY 

TM 

INAUGURAL SEASON | AUGUST 2020–JANUA RY 2021 

THE WORLD’S PREMIER LUXURY 

EXPEDITION YACHT 

From the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line comes the 

world’s largest and most spacious luxury expedition yacht, 

Crystal Endeavor. With a sleek design built to PC6 Polar Class 

specifications and anchor-free dynamic positioning technology, 

she is set to explore the farthest reaches of Earth, from the 

Russian Far East to the Antarctic and exotic, far-away lands in 

between. 

Debuting in 2020, we present 12 remarkable journeys comprising 

her inaugural season. In all-inclusive luxury hosted by an 

eminently experienced Expedition Team of 25, curated voyages 

of 12 to 22 nights explore the wilds of the Russian Far East, the 

coastal wonders of Japan, and the intriguing biodiversity of the 

Philippines, Borneo and Indonesia. There are offshore 

Adventures in Australia and underwater explorations of the Great 

Barrier Reef, immersive explorations of Tasmania and the fjords 

of New Zealand, and expeditions to the Great White Continent. 

Chart a course for inspired discovery and join Crystal Endeavor 

for an adventure of a lifetime. 

CONTACT: 020 7399 7603 

www.crystalexpeditioncruises.co.uk 

ALL-INCLUSIVE SIGNATURE HALLMARKS 

Expansive all-suite accommodations, among the largest in expedition cruising, with 

spacious bathrooms, walk-in wardrobes and high-tech in-suite amenities. 

Award-winning, Michelin-inspired cuisine served in multiple open-seating venues, 

including Nobu Matsuhisa’s only sea-going restaurants. 

Crystal’s acclaimed six-star service, with an industry-leading 1 to 1 staff per guest ratio. 

All gratuities and unlimited fine wines, champagnes and premium spirits. 

Expedition Team of 25 aboard every voyage to provide expert insight and host 

small-group explorations. 

Curated collection of Crystal Expedition Adventures ashore, including cultural and active 

experiences, exploration and landings by Zodiac, and Crystal Unexpected Adventures to 

capitalise on wildlife and wilderness opportunities. 

Complimentary water toys* including kayaks, snorkelling gear, stand-up paddle boards 

and more. 

Dedicated fitness facility with state-of-the-art equipment and instructor-led spinning 

classes, yoga, mat Pilates and more. 

* Use of optional submersible and complimentary marina equipment is based on each destination’s local rules and regulations 

and the discretion of the Captain due to weather, dockage / anchorage, location and sea conditions. Please ask for details.

ARCTIC 

ARCTIC 

DISCOVER: 

THE ARCTIC 

The Arctic and Antarctica tend to be seen as one but are literally poles 

apart. Where Antarctica is a vast uninhabited continent at the bottom of 

the world, the Arctic is a notional area defined by an imaginary circle in the 

Northern Hemisphere with the North Pole at its centre. 

WHAT’S NEW 

• A Norwegian fine-dining restaurant 

called Lindstrøm and a Science Centre 

are to be added to Hurtigruten’s 

expedition ship Fram during a major 

renovation in 2020. During the 

refurbishment, the cabins, suites and 

observation lounge will be refurbished. 

The ship launched in 2007. 

• Aurora Expeditions has launched a 

new voyage exploring West Greenland. 

The 11-day cruise, on new ship Greg 

Mortimer, departs May 2020, and 

sails round-trip from Nuuk. Highlights 

include a day in Ilulissat, to see giant 

icebergs that have broken off the 

icecap, and a Zodiac cruise to the Eqip 

Sermia glacier. New 15 and 16-day 

cruises in July 2020 and 2021 take 

passengers to Franz Josef Land in 

search of polar bears, walruses, whales 

and seals. 

• Ponant has laid the keel for its first 

ice-breaker, Le Commandant Charcot. 

Launching in 2021, the vessel will hold 

270 passengers and operate mainly 

on Liquefied Natural Gas but be able 

to switch to electric propulsion for 

short periods. It will carry two 

helicopters and be capable of 

reaching the true North Pole. 

Radiating out, it encompasses Greenland, 

Svalbard, Norway, Russia and Canada, and 

numerous islands in the Labrador Sea, and is 

home to Inuit, Norwegians, Russians, Canadians 

and a host of other nationalities. 

It is less remote and hostile than the South Pole, 

allowing traditional cruise ships to visit Greenland 

and Spitsbergen and take passengers ashore. But 

for a real adventure in these frozen lands only an 

expedition ship with a hull that’s strong enough to 

break through ice will do. 

Although cruises depart in the summer months, 

when much of the ice has melted, ships heading to 

the northern reaches of the Arctic often have to sail 

through chunks of floating ice, which can damage 

the hulls of vessels not built to sail in frozen waters. 

Cruisers can take their pick from four different 

adventures in this frozen wasteland – either sail the 

coast of Greenland, circumnavigate Spitsbergen, 

or embark on a voyage through the legendary 

Northwest Passage, a sea route between Arctic 

Canada and Greenland that was only properly 

discovered in 1903 and 1906, or through the 

Northeast Passage across the top of Russia. 

GREENLAND 

Legend has it that some 1,000 years ago Icelander 

Erik the Red was banished from his homeland 

for murder and happened upon a place that he 

then called Greenland in the hope it would attract 

other settlers to join him. He probably also wanted 

revenge on his fellow Icelanders, whose island 

sounded very inhospitable in comparison. 

These days Greenland is an autonomous 

country within the Kingdom of Denmark and 

not just the largest island in the world, but also 

one of the most inappropriately-named ones as 

about 80% of its land mass is covered by the only 

permanent ice sheet outside Antarctica. 

Expedition cruises sail up the west coast, 

venturing into Disko Bay, and calling at 

places with tongue-twisting names such as 

Qeqartarsuaq, Uummannaq, Sisimiut and 

Ilulissat, where small boat tours visit the mouth 

of the icefjord to see giant icebergs that have 

broken off the Jakobshaven Glacier and jostle to 

get into the open water. 

SPITSBERGEN 

Some 2,313km from Oslo but owned by Norway, 

Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard 

archipelago and the nearest most expedition 

ships can get to the North Pole, which is 1,338km 

away (currently only the Russian nuclear icebreaker 

50 Years of Victory, sold by Quark Expeditions, can 

get there). 

Spitsbergen cruises generally start in 

Longyearbyen and then attempt to circumnavigate 

the island, stopping at random places en route so 

passengers can go for walks ashore once the area 

has been scouted for prowling polar bears. 

The bears are the main attraction, but there 

is plenty of other wildlife to look out for including 

walruses, seals and whales. 

Trips ashore are hosted by armed teams of 

naturalists and geologists (polar bears are among 

the most dangerous animals on the planet) who 

also give talks about the wildlife, geography, 

climate and ice during sailing time. 

NORTHWEST PASSAGE 

In 1845, British explorer Sir John Franklin set out 

from Greenhithe in Kent to find the sea route 

between Greenland and Arctic Canada. One year 

later, after a last known stop on Beechey Island, he 

and all his men just vanished. 

We’ll probably never know exactly what 

happened to them, but a few years ago 

underwater vehicles operated by Akademik Sergey 

Vavilov, a ship used by Canadian expedition cruise 

line One Ocean Expeditions, located the wreck of 

Erebus, one of the two Franklin vessels. Two years 

later, the second ship, Terror, was located. 

It took another 65 years after the Franklin 

expedition before Norwegian explorer Roald 

Amundsen became the first man to navigate the 

entire Northwest Passage, which 

these days is a route high on the 

must-do list for those in search of the 

ultimate adventure. 

There is no one route through the myriad of 

channels and islands that dot the passage – some 

cruises go from Greenland to Canada, others to 

Nome in Alaska - but the best itineraries spend time 

exploring the icy landscapes. 

Many also call into Beechey Island, where, in 

1850, a rescue expedition found the graves of 

three of Franklin’s crew (it is thought they died from 

a combination of pneumonia, tuberculosis and 

lead poisoning from the cans their food was carried 

in), adding a glimpse of exploration history to the 

excitement of spotting whales, seals and polar 

bears, and getting up close to icebergs and into 

deep fjords. 

NORTHEAST PASSAGE 

This is the latest buzz in Arctic cruising – a voyage 

from Alaska to Norway that takes passengers on an 

epic journey across the top of Russia, visiting frozen 

lands and islands that seabirds, polar bears and 

sea lions call home, and navigating waters where 

whales are known to linger. 

This is one for truly intrepid travellers keen to 

touch base with places where few have gone 

before, such as Cape Dezhnev, the eastern-most 

part of the Eurasian continent, Severnaya Zemlya, 

an ice-bound archipelago that was only charted 

100 years ago, and Wrangel Island, made a 

Unesco World Heritage Site thanks to its rich seam 

of mammals, birds and flora. 

As with all Arctic cruises, the actual route taken 

will depend on the sea ice and weather but if all 

goes to plan, passengers can expect plenty of trips 

ashore and Zodiac cruises, as well as instructive 

talks by the expedition experts 

during sailing time. » p34 


Stowaway Media | 31

PROFILE 

BROUGHT TO YOU BY SCENIC 

10 DINING EXPERIENCES 

• Elements: A favourite for Italian dishes, 

steaks and seafood. 

• Chef’s Table: Private dégustation dining for 

just eight guests. 

• Koko’s: Enjoy Asian fusion dishes with a 

taste of Sake. 

• Sushi @ Koko’s: Casual dining Japanese 

style. 

• Teppanyaki @ Koko’s: Take a seat at the grill 

and enjoy the theatre as Scenic Eclipse’s 

chefs create dinner before your very eyes. 

• Lumière: Be our guest for the best French 

fine dining at sea. 

• Azure Bar & Café: Need to refuel. This is the 

place for all-day grazing. 

• Epicure: A hands-on cooking school where 

guests can hone their cooking skills. 

• Yacht Club: A poolside grill for al-fresco 

dining. 

• In-suite dining: A 24-hour menu is available 

for those who want some time out. 

SIX-STAR VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY WITH 

SCENIC ECLIPSE 

There are just five months to go until the world’s first 

discovery yacht enters service, changing the face of 

expedition cruising forever. 

Scenic Eclipse is being built in Croatia by Scenic, the company that brought all-inclusive 

luxury to the rivers of Europe and Asia. Now they are bringing that same luxury to the 

oceans. The ship is so popular, even though it hasn’t launched yet, that a sister vessel is 

already on order and there is talk of more to come. 

Scenic Eclipse promises to exceed its high expectations. Holding just 228 guests (a 

maximum 200 in polar regions) in spacious all-suite and all-balcony accommodation, 

everyone gets a butler and a magnificent choice of places to eat, ranging from Asian 

cuisine at Koko’s to French fine dining in Lumière. 

And with all dining included in the price, along with alcoholic and soft drinks, gratuities, 

shore excursions and Wi-Fi, not to mention flights and transfers, guests can afford to enjoy 

everything this magnificent vessel offers. 

The Spa Sanctuary is superb, a huge zen-like space where guests can retreat after 

an exciting day ashore. The indoor and outdoor pools, Jacuzzis and oceanview 

sauna are all just made for relaxing, while a team of highly trained masseurs is on 

hand to pamper and spoil. 

Keen to keep in shape while exploring the ends of the earth? The gym has the latest 

state-of-the-art keep fit equipment, and there are free yoga and Pilates classes in a 

dedicated studio. 

Scenic Eclipse will carry 12 inflatable Zodiacs for landings in the polar regions, as well 

as two helicopters and a seven-man sub so guests can explore above and below the 

waves. They can even go kayaking amidst the icebergs. 

A dedicated expedition team with experts in everything from marine biology to 

history will be on hand to lead trips ashore and also share their in-depth knowledge 

about the places being visited during on-board talks. 

ACCESS ALL AREAS 

Whether guests choose to go penguin-spotting in Antarctica or in search of polar bears 

beyond the Arctic Circle, they will be cruising in frozen regions once inaccessible to all 

but the most intrepid travellers. 

That’s where Scenic Eclipse’s discovery credentials kick in. She is being built 

to comply with the highest ice-class specification available, PC6 Polar Class, and 

makes use of all the latest technology to ensure the environment is cared for as well 

as her guests are. 

GPS dynamic positioning means she doesn’t have to anchor so there is no risk of 

damage to the ocean bed, while zero speed stabiliser fins, which also work when the 

ship is stationary, will vastly improve stability when she is sailing. 

It’s six-star luxury meets discovery as only Scenic knows how. 

CRUISING OFF THE GRID 

Spitsbergen, Greenland, the elusive Northwest 

Passage, Antarctica, South Georgia, the Falkland 

Islands. You name it, Scenic Eclipse is going 

there, taking guests to spectacular places that 

once were inaccessible to the ordinary traveller. 

Here is just a taste of what’s on offer. 

CHILEAN FJORDS AND CAPE HORN 

The scenery is the star on this cruise through 

the Chilean fjords. There are snow-capped 

mountains, deep valleys, a cruise close to the Pio 

XI Glacier, which is almost as big as the city of 

Santiago, and maybe even a chance to set foot 

on Cape Horn. 

22 days departing November 7 2019. 

From £12,065pp all-inclusive 

ANTARCTICA IN DEPTH 

Six days discovering the Antarctic Peninsula, 

following a course dictated by ice and weather 

conditions, awaits on this cruise. There will be 

landings, Zodiac cruises, a chance to kayak 

around icebergs and plenty of penguin and 

whale sightings. 

16 days departing March 5 2020, including pre 

and post-cruise nights in Buenos Aires. From 

£12,705pp all-inclusive. 

ANTARCTICA, SOUTH GEORGIA 

AND FALKLAND ISLANDS 

A wondrous wildlife line-up including penguins, 

whales, elephant seals and seabirds awaits on 

this three-in-one cruise, which explores the 

Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the 

Falkland Islands. 

23 days departing March 16 2020, including pre 

and post-cruise nights in Buenos Aires. From 


CONTACT 

Reservations: 0808 115 0463 

www.scenic.co.uk 

ICELAND & GREENLAND EXPLORER 

Discover the world’s largest island on an 

adventure cruise from Reykjavik in Iceland to 

Kangerlussuaq in Greenland that promises 

icebergs, deep fjords, whales, glaciers and 

Zodiac cruises, as well as kayaking amid the ice 

and hiking ashore. 

14 days departing August 3 2020. From 



Stowaway Media | 33

ARCTIC 


GALAPAGOS 

SELLING TIPS 

• Cruises depart in the summer months, 

when the ice has melted enough for 

ships to navigate around Spitsbergen. 

• Look out for cruise lines that offer 

kayaking from the ship – it’s great fun 

to paddle through the small icebergs, 

known as growlers. 

• Seals, whales, polar bears and the story 

of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition are 

among highlights for those cruising the 

Northwest Passage. 

• Put the price of a once-in-a-lifetime 

adventure against the actual cost of 

the cruise to show what value your 

clients are getting. 


Ship: Silver Cloud - 16,800 tons, 240 passengers; Silver Explorer - 6,072 tons, 144 

passengers. 

Itineraries: Nine to 14-day cruises pair Spitsbergen with Tromso in Norway and/ 

or Iceland, while 16-day Greenland voyages sail round-trip from Kangerlussuaq. A 

sold-out Northeast Passage cruise in August 2019 will be repeated in 2020. 

Sample: From £6,210 per person for a nine-day voyage from Longyearbyen in 

Spitsbergen to Tromso in Norway departing June 21 2020. Excludes flights 

Scenic 

Ships: Scenic Eclipse (launching August 2019) – 17,085 tons, 228 passengers 

(200 in polar regions). 

Itineraries: Voyages of between 11 and 24 nights explore the islands of 

Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland. A 24-night voyage from Copenhagen in 

Denmark to Nome in Alaska crosses the Northwest Passage. 

Sample: From £11,695 per person for a 15-day Arctic Islands cruise from Oslo in 

Norway to Reykjavik in Iceland departing July 12 2020. Includes flights. 


Ships: Hanseatic Inspiration (launching October 2019) – 15,650 tons, 230 

passengers. 

Itineraries: Cruises ranging from 13 to 20 days take passengers through the 

Canadian Arctic, Baffin Bay and along the west coast of Greenland. 

Sample: From £12,075 per person for a 17-day Greenland expedition round-trip 

from Kangerlussuaq departing August 21 2020. Excludes flights. 

G Adventures 

Ship: G Expedition – 6,334 tons, 134 passengers. 

Itineraries: Three eight to 15-day itineraries either circumnavigate Spitsbergen 

from Longyearbyen or focus on its west coast. A 15-night cruise in September 

2019 pairs Spitsbergen with Greenland and Iceland. 

Sample: From £4,349 per person for an eight-day Realm of the Polar Bear cruise 

round-trip from Longyearbyen departing July 24 2019. Excludes flights. 

DISCOVER: 

THE GALAPAGOS 


Ship: Crystal Endeavor – 20,000 tons, 200 passengers. 

Itineraries: A 28-day voyage through the Northeast Passage links Anadyr in 

Russia with Tromso in Norway. 

Sample: From £36,731 per person for 28 days departing August 17 2021. 



Ship: Polar Pioneer – 1,753 tons, 54 passengers; Greg Mortimer (launching 

November 2019) – 7,400 tons, 160 passengers (limited to 120 in polar regions). 

Itineraries: Voyages range from 11 to 25 days and explore Svalbard, Greenland 

and Franz Josef Land. A 25-day Arctic Complete voyage in August 2021 ticks off 

Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland. 

Sample: From £4,800 per person for an 11-day Iceland, Jan Mayen and 

Svalbard voyage from Reykjavik to Longyearbyen departing June 12 2020. 


Ponant 

Ships: Le Boréal, L’Austral, Le Soléal – 10,944 tons, 264 passengers. 

Itineraries: A range of seven to 16-night cruises in 2020 explore Greenland and 

Spitsbergen. A 22-night voyage in August 2020 takes passengers through the 

Northwest Passage from Kangerlussuaq to Nome in Alaska. 

Sample: From €6,580 per person for a seven-night Disco Bay and Inuit Villages 

cruise round-trip from Kangerlussuaq departing July 19 2020. Excludes flights. 

WHAT TO PACK 

• Walking shoes and waterproof trousers 

• Warm jumpers, woolly hats, scarves and gloves 

• A rain and wind-proof coat 

• Cameras, iPhones, chargers and plenty of storage space for pictures 

Cruising the Galapagos Islands 

is one of the most amazing 

experiences imaginable – a way to 

combine a sea adventure with closeup 

encounters with some of the 

tamest and most fascinating wildlife 

on the planet. 

The islands, part of Ecuador but some 600 miles 

off the coast of South America, shot to fame in 

the 1850s, when Charles Darwin published his 

book The Origin of Species based on theories he 

developed on a visit to the Galapagos in 1835. 

He was on a five-year expedition to chart the 

southern half of South America’s coastline and 

went ashore hoping to find volcanoes. Instead he 

observed animals and birds that had adapted to 

the different island environments in which they 

lived. There were lizards that swam, cormorants 

that could not fly, finches with beaks that had 

evolved into different shapes depending whether 

their main food stuffs were fruits, seeds or insects, 

and giant tortoises with shells shaped to suit the 

vegetation they had to eat. 

Some 25,000 people live in the islands, attracted 

there by tourism, which is creeping up even though 

it is supposed to be limited to help preserve the 

fragile ecosystem. 

Many stay in hotels, and that is one way to visit 

the Galapagos, taking boat trips out to different 

islands each day. But a cruise that visits a couple of 

islands, beaches or bays every day is not only a far 

easier way to travel as you just get on board and 

unpack once, but far more rewarding. 

Ships of all sizes and quality sail around the 

archipelago, from small yachts to luxury craft, 

but none is allowed to hold more than 100 

passengers. Most will visit two islands a day 

during a seven-night cruise, each time taking folk 

ashore in small tenders or inflatable Zodiacs to 

see the wonderful wildlife (think dancing booby 

birds, playful sea lions and rather stately giant 

tortoises) which has no predators and therefore 

no fear of humans. 

Some days there might instead be a Zodiac 

cruise around a bay teeming with wildlife. Several 

times there will be a chance to swim or snorkel with 

the animals. Scuba diving can also be arranged but 

at an extra cost. 

There are several rules to know before a first trip 

ashore. Visitors can only set foot on the islands 

with a guide (all ships carry teams of Ecuadorian 

guides who have an intimate knowledge of the 

islands’ flora and fauna and are registered by the 

Galapagos National Park). Puerto Ayora in Santa 

Cruz is an exception. This is the biggest town in 

the islands and passengers are free to explore the 

souvenir shops after a trip to the Charles Darwin 

Research Centre. 

Visitors must also keep a distance from the 

animals, certainly never try to touch them, 

and move carefully and quietly so as not to 

scare them (on some landings they will find 

themselves tip-toeing over marine iguanas). 

Those who go snorkelling are not to touch plants 

or animals in the water. » 


Stowaway Media | 35

GALAPAGOS 

GALAPAGOS 

TOP SIX HIGHLIGHTS 

• A trip into the highlands on Santa Cruz to get up close to giant 

tortoises. These were almost wiped out in the 1800s as passing 

sailors took them to eat but numbers are increasing thanks to 

painstaking breeding programmes. 

• Zodiac boat rides around small bays and through dense 

mangroves to get a glimpse of penguins, pelicans and flightless 

cormorants. 

• The fish stall in Puerto Ayora, the capital, where sea lions and 

pelicans sit at the feet of the sellers, hoping a tasty morsel might 

come their way. 

• Selected cruises either circumnavigate Kicker Rock, aka Roca Leon 

Dormino (sleeping lion), or get close on Zodiacs so passengers can 

get a good view of all the birdlife that lives here. 

• A wooden barrel on Floreana Island that has served as a mail box 

since 1793, where passengers on passing ships leave postcards for 

others to collect and deliver. 

• The finches that are said to have inspired Charles Darwin because 

they have developed different-shaped beaks depending on their 

primary foodstuff. 

GOOD TO KNOW 

• As there are no ports in the Galapagos, the only way on and off ships – even 

on embarkation and disembarkation day – is by inflatable Zodiac, often 

landing onto sand or rocks, so your clients need a good degree of mobility. 

• There is time to go snorkelling with sea turtles, penguins and sea lions on 

most days. Snorkels, masks and flippers can usually be borrowed for free. 

• Ships come in all sizes from tiny yachts that hold just 16 passengers to 

luxury vessels that accommodate 100 people in suites with balconies. 

• Clients can charter the small yachts that sail here for a milestone birthday or 

anniversary. It’s certainly unique and guaranteed to be a holiday they will 

never forget. 

WHAT’S NEW 

• Celebrity Cruises is launching new ship Celebrity Flora in the Galapagos 

in May. The vessel, which has been specially-designed to sail around the 

islands, will hold 100 passengers in all-suite accommodation and have 

stylish lounges with floor-to-ceiling windows from which to enjoy the views. 

Technically, it will have dynamic positioning, which allows the vessel to hold 

its position without using an anchor. 

• Silversea is building a new expedition ship to cruise the Galapagos. Silver 

Origin will hold 100 passengers in all-suite all-balcony accommodation. It 

will carry fleets of Zodiacs and kayaks and enter service in summer 2020. 

• Avalon Waterways is offering two 16-day holidays pairing a five-day cruise 

in the Galapagos with a tour taking in Lima, Machu Picchu and Quito. The 

cruise is on the 16-passenger Treasure of the Galapagos. Departures are July 

21 and November 10, with prices from £7,628 per person including flights. 

FACTFILE 

Location: In the Pacific Ocean, 600 miles off the west coast of Ecuador 

in South America. 

Number of islands: 20 islands and 42 islets. 

Capital: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristóbal Island. Puerto Ayora 

on Santa Cruz Island is the biggest town. 

When to go: The islands are on the Equator so there is always 12 hours 

of daylight and 12 hours of night. The temperature averages from 26C 

to 31C. The hottest weather is January to May, when it is also most 

likely to rain. June to December is dry and a bit cooler. Cruises operate 

year-round. 

Getting there: Flights operate from Quito in Ecuador and stop at 

Guayaquil to pick up passengers before continuing to the islands. 

Planes land either at Baltra or San Cristóbal islands. Flight time is just 

over two hours. 

Wildlife specials: The only lizards that swim, cormorants that can’t fly, 

the only penguins in the Northern Hemisphere in their natural habitat, 

the only colony of red-footed booby birds in the world. 



Ship: Silver Galapagos – 4,077 tons, 100 passengers. 

Itineraries: Seven-night cruises operate from Baltra 

to San Cristóbal and vice-versa, calling at a couple 

of islands and bays most days. Among highlights, 

passengers can climb to th e top of volcanic Bartolomé 

for views across the islands, join Zodiac cruises around 

small bays and see flamingos at Punta Cormorant on 

Floreana. 

Sample: From £5,400 per person for a sevennight 

cruise from Baltra to San Cristóbal departing 

September 7 2019. Includes domestic flights from 

Ecuador to the Galapagos. International flights extra. 

Celebrity Cruises 

Ships: Celebrity Flora – 5,739 tons, 100 passengers 

(launching May 2019); Celebrity Xpedition – 2,842 

tons, 100 passengers. 

Itineraries: Seven-night cruises operate round-trip 

from Baltra and visit two islands or coves each day 

where passengers can either go ashore or swim and 

snorkel. Exceptionally, they stay a day anchored off 

Puerto Ayora so passengers can see the giant tortoises 

in the wild and shop. 

Sample: From £8,289 for a 10-night holiday pairing 

three nights in Quito with a seven-night cruise on 

Celebrity Flora departing September 22 2019. Includes 

international and domestic flights. 

G Adventures 

Ships: Monserrat - 20 passengers; Yolita, Estrella del 

Mar, Xavier III, Eden - 16 passengers. 

Itineraries: Cruises range from seven and 14 nights 

and loop around favourite islands including Santa Cruz, 

Floreana, Isabela, Fernandina, Espanola and Santiago. 

Sample: From £5,319 per person for a 17-night 

Complete Galapagos holiday departing June 13 

2020 that pairs a 14-night cruise from Baltra with two 

nights in Quito. Price includes flights from Quito to the 

Galapagos. International flights extra. 


Stowaway Media | 37

RUSSIAN FAR EAST 

Join the 

#NEXTGENERATION 

CONFERENCE 2019 

of Cruise 

DISCOVER: 

THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST 

Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula lies some 4,200 

miles due east of Moscow – that’s more than 

eight hours by air – and is so remote that even 

today there are no roads or railways in or out 

so the only way to visit is by ship or air. 

SELLING TIPS 

• It’s likely most clients will know 

nothing about the Russian Far East. 

Take time to learn where in the world 

it is and the attractions so you can sell 

with confidence. 

• Don’t worry about the price. Your 

clients would not be asking if they could 

not afford to go. 

• Sell the Kamchatka Peninsula and its 

neighbouring islands to clients with 

a sense of adventure and interest in 

seeing nature and wildlife in the raw. 

• Cruise ships navigating these remote 

shores will mostly anchor off the coast 

and take passengers ashore by Zodiac 

so your clients need to be able to climb 

in and out of the boats. 

The peninsula is 780 miles long, spends most 

of the year covered in snow and ice, and is one 

of the highlights of an expedition voyage to the 

Russian Far East. It is home to 160 volcanoes, 

29 of which are still active, thousands of brown 

bears, spotted seals and half the world’s Steller 

sea eagle population. 

The surrounding islands, also part of Russia, 

are teeming with seabirds including puffins, 

kittiwakes, cormorants and gulls, as well as 

seals, sea lions and otters, while the surrounding 

waters are a favourite hangout for whales. 

All in all, it’s no wonder expedition cruise lines 

have come exploring this region of late. 

Danish explorer Vitus Bering helped map the 

region during the 1700s, naming Petropavlovsk, 

the only major city, after his two ships, St Peter 

and St Paul. 

After the Second World War, the Soviets 

declared it a military zone and closed the 

region to both foreigners and Russians, and 

it stayed that way until the Soviet Union 

collapsed in 1990. 

An unintended but happy consequence 

of the ban was that the scenery and wildlife 

were protected, making this a fabulous port of 

call for cruisers looking for a seriously exciting 

once-in-a-lifetime adventure. 



Ship: Crystal Endeavor – 20,000 tons, 200 

passengers. 

Itineraries: A voyage from Otaru in Japan to Seward 

in Alaska visits the Kamchatka Peninsula, and takes 

passengers on a wildlife quest through the Russian Far 

East and America’s Aleutian Islands. 

Sample: From $17,449 per person for 19 nights 

departing June 12 2021. Excludes flights. 


Ship: Silver Explorer – 6,072 tons, 144 passengers. 

Itineraries: Voyages ranging from 12 to 18 days will 

be exploring the Kamchatka Peninsula and islands in 

the Russian Far East in 2020. 

Sample: From £11,700 per person for an 18-day 

Russian Far East cruise round-trip from Otaru in Japan 

departing June 18 2020. Excludes flights. 

Ponant 

Ships: Le Soléal – 10,944 tons, 264 passengers. 

Itineraries: Two options are available in summer 

2020 - a 15-day voyage from Otaru in Japan to 

Petropavlovsk and a 13-day sailing from Petropavlovsk 

to Juneau in Alaska. Both cruises are in partnership 

with National Geographic Expeditions. 

Sample: From €9,450 per person for a 15-day Sea of 

Okhotsk voyage from Otaru to Petropavlovsk departing 

June 26 2020. 

I’M A 

CRUISE EXPERT 

CLIA brings together cruise lines, travel agents and associated travel partners, 

and is dedicated to the growth of ocean and river cruise holidays. 

Join the Cruise Community at a CLIA event near you. 

Book now at cruiseexperts.org 


@CLIAUK CLIAEurope CLIAEuro CLIAEurope

WHERE LUXURY ROAMS FREELY 

INAUGURAL SEASON | AUGUST 2020–JANUARY 2021 

INCLUDES 

2-FOR-1 FARES 

BOOK NOW SAVINGS 

OPEN BARS & LOUNGES 

with Complimentary 

Fine Wines, Champagnes, 

Spirits & Specialty Coffees 

MICHELIN-INSPIRED CUISINE 

SPECIALTY DINING 

IN-SUITE DINING 

ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS 

NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT 

UNLIMITED WI-FI 

PRE-PAID GRATUITIES 

BROCHURE RACK 

Expedition brochures available from your agent. 


Ponant 

G Adventures 


Celebrity Cruises 

Scenic 

CRYSTAL ENDEAVOR 

EXTRAORDINARY 

WORLDS 

The All-Inclusive 

CRYSTAL 

EXPERIENCE ® 

2019 / 2020 

CRUISE COLLECTION 



Seabourn 

40 | Expedition Cruise Diary | March 2019

Expedition Cruise Diary

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?