NEWSWORTHY - Fall/Winter 2011
*originally published in Cruise and Travel Lifestyles, Fall 2011
ORION TO TRACE FOOTSTEPS OF SCOTT, SHACKLETON
Intrepid cruisers can join an expedition next January that will follow in the Antarctic footsteps of the great explorers Scott and Shackleton. This exciting trip aboard the mv Orion expedition ship will leave New Zealand on January 21 for a thrilling, 21-day voyage to the Auckland islands, Macquarie Island and onto the Antarctic Circle to the Ross Sea. The voyage will mark the centenary of the explorers’ ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition to the frozen wilderness. Orion will attempt a variety of opportunistic Zodiac landings under the guidance of recognized experts and guests can expect to see breeding colonies of penguins in the millions, elephant seals, Hooker sea lions and the endangered wandering Albatross. After five days cruising the Ross region, Orion will head north towards the sub-Antarctic Campbell Island and Snares Island before heading back to New Zealand‘s South Island. The luxury Orion – immeasurably better outfitted than the original expedition ship –will have 75 crew to look after 100 guests. Distinguished speakers will present lectures during the voyage on wildlife, the environment and the history of polar exploration.
WADI RUM — A WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Four natural wonders have been added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, including the Wadi Rum protected area of Jordan (see separate article on Petra in this issue). Wadi Rum, situated north of Aqaba, Jordan’s main port, combines outstanding natural and cultural heritage says UNESCO. Bedouin tribes have lived for generations among the desert’s dramatic rock formations and intricate tangle of canyons. Scattered through the area are 25,000 rock carvings and many other ancient inscriptions. The other new World Heritage sites – the Ogasawara Islands of Japan, home to more than 200 endangered bird species and often compared to the Galapagos Islands as an evolutionary laboratory; the Ningaloo Coast on Australia’s west coast which holds one of the largest inshore coral reef systems in the world; and the Kenya Lake System, in East Africa’s Great Rift Valley, a nesting ground for the white pelican and home to 13 endangered bird species and other animal species such as Rothschild’s giraffe, the black rhino and the greater kudu.
SAFARI QUEST RETURNS TO B.C. ISLANDS
Back on the itineraries for American Safari Cruises next year – the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands on the company’s Northwest Passage itinerary. Starting September 2012, the 22-guest Safari Quest will make ten week-long cruises round trip from Seattle and there’ll be six more in the spring of 2013. Guests will visit Victoria, Jervis Inlet, the Harmony Islands, Princess Louisa Inlet, Nanaimo and communities in Washington State. There’ll be time to search out wildlife such as orca whales, seals and sea lions, eagles, black bears and porpoises. An onboard expedition leader will provide narration while leading water-borne or land-based adventures including kayaking, hiking, beach combing and skiff rides. There’ll also be a visit to the town of Friday Harbor with its boutiques, galleries and a whale museum, hiking along a bluff to Turning Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island, and kayaking among the sheltered Harmony Islands.
STAR FLYER TO HOMEPORT IN MALAGA
Malaga, Spain, is to be a new home port for Star Clippers next year as Star Flyer operates five 7-night round-trip cruises exploring the romantic Moorish heritage of Andalusia and Morocco. Ports of call on the cruises departing between September 15 and October 13 will be Tangier, Gibraltar, Cadiz, Motril and Granada. They will give guests an opportunity to visit such well known landmarks as the magnificent Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, enjoy the flamenco dancing in Seville and go whale and dolphin watching in the Straits of Gibraltar. These sailings are in addition to the ship’s new season of sailing in the Baltic Sea from May 2012.
SILVERSEA RENAMES EXPEDITION SHIP SILVER EXPLORER
The name of Silversea Cruises’ expedition ship Prince Albert IIwas changed to Silver Explorer during a spring dry dock for routine maintenance in Setubal, Portugal before beginning a summer program of cruises in northern Europe and the Arctic. “Our expansion into adventure travel has turned out quite successful and we have to prepare for the possibility of adding more ships,” said Manfredi Lefebvre, Silversea’s chairman. He added that Silversea anticipated “any future expedition ships will bear similar names that evoke a sense of luxurious adventure.” Lefebvre said that Silversea would continue to honor Prince Albert II’s legacy of exploration and environmental conservation by supporting the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and looked forward to hosting future onboard fundraising events.
TWO CUNARD QUEENS PLAN 2012 WORLD VOYAGES
Two of Cunard Line’s three vessels will make world cruises in 2013. Flagship Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoriawill both sail from Southampton, England, on January 10 on epic voyages that will see the ships visit 55 ports of call in 28 countries between them. It will be the sixth world voyage for Queen Mary 2 which will head east to four continents and 34 ports in 18 countries on a 105-day voyage including maiden calls to Abu Dhabi, Colombo, Langkawi, Christchurch and Port Elizabeth. From New Zealand, she will return via South Africa with calls in the Atlantic islands and Spain. Queen Victoria will begin by sailing westward for convenient departures from New York, Fort Lauderdale and San Francisco and on a 106-day voyage visit 34 ports in 23 countries and pass through both the Panama and Suez canals. From her furthest point south in Sydney, Australia she will head home via Hong Kong.
CRUISING THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR
The new sternwheeler Queen of the Mississippi is to operate Civil War theme cruises for American Cruise Lines when she comes into service in summer 2012. Guests aboard will be able to retrace events of the war, discovering famous museums such as Vicksburg’s National Military Park and the New Orleans Civil War Museum along with historic battlefields including those of Nashville and Vicksburg. There will be Civil War historians and lecturers aboard to enrich each destination. The first new over - night sternwheeler built for Mississippi service in nearly 20 years, Queen of the Mississippi, will have oversize staterooms, private balconies and all modern amenities. The vessel will operate over the entire ississippi River system and be able to cruise at higher speeds than usual to make more itineraries possible.
WICKANINNISH INN CANADA’S NO.1 HOTEL AGAIN
The Wickaninnish Inn on Vancouver Island has again been named Canada’s top resort and the top hotel or resort overall in Canada, and its Ancient Cedars Spa has been voted Best Hotel Spa in Canada by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine in its annual poll. Located on the island’s rugged west coast the 45-room inn is noted for its spectacular coastal views and in-room binoculars for guests. “The Inn’s appeal since its opening in 1996 is due to the synergy between its unique ocean-front and forest-fringed location,” said managing director Charles McDiarmid. Reinforcing the property’s commitment to excellence all accommodations will be re-designed in 2012.
GOURMET CHEFS TO SAIL ABOARD MSC SHIPS
MSC Cruiseswill be carrying some of Europe’s master chefs on five cruises starting this fall to give guests demonstrations and tastings of world class cuisine prepared to gourmet standards by some of the finest chefs in the business. Spain’s Michelin-starred Paco Roncero (shown above) will be aboard MSC Fantasia, November 27-December 8; Mauro Iliassi an Italian chef who has won two Michelin stars will sail on MSC Splendida January7-14; Gilles Epie, a French chef who was formerly at l’Orangerie in Los Angeles will be on MSC Splendida January 28-February 4; Antony Worrall Thompson, a well known UK TV chef, will sail on MSC Splendida, February 4-11; Kolia Kleeberg from Germany, another Michelin star winner, will be aboard MSC Lirica, June 1-12.
SMALLEST CITY … FINEST RESTAURANT
Tiny St. Davids in west Wales may be the smallest city in Britain (by virtue of being the location of the iconic St. David’s Cathedral) but it has the best restaurant in Wales. Cwtch (pronounced “cutsh”), which specializes in local produce from the Pembrokeshire area, was up against some Michelin-starred ompetitors but 28,000 people polled by the prestigious Good Food Guide voted it No. 1. To qualify for the award, restaurants must be independently run, offer regional or local produce where possible and deliver consistently great food and excellent service. An informal, relaxed 50-seat restaurant with Welsh slate floors and chalkboard menus, Cwtch touts itself as being big on simplicity. Says owner Rachel Knott: “Our ever-evolving menu sources … uncomplicated food from quality ingredients that are big on flavor, all made with passion. From Welsh black beef to Pembrokeshire cheeses, all the produce that we do use is as local as we can get.”
PAUL GAUGUIN’S MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR RENOVATION
The South Pacific’s longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship, the m/s Paul Gauguin, has recently announced an extensive US $7 million renovation – the largest in the ship’s 14 year history. All suites and staterooms will feature new carpeting, refinished furniture, new window coverings and bathroom flooring, to name just a few of the upgrades. L’Etoile Restaurant welcomes new video equipment for conferences while alternate dining venues, La Veranda and Le Grill undergo a facelift with details such as new lighting and redesigned entrances, giving the ship a lighter, brighter feel. La Veranda will also receive refinished indoor and outdoor furniture and solar shades throughout while Le Grill’s new decorative partitions and divider walls compliment the new buffet area. La Palette Bar will feature a decorative stone band along the front, an updated lighting system and new outdoor furniture. With an expanded casino, refurbished dance floor and many more enhancements to both the interior and the exterior of the ship, the investment shows Paul Gauguin’s level of commitment to the vessel and the importance they are putting on their overall product and guest experience. Renovations are scheduled for completion in January 2012.
MAJOR EXPANSION PLANS FOR ALL DISCOVERY CRUISING
Britain’s All Leisure Group Inc has recently announced a multimillion dollar investment to develop its three discovery cruise brands. Due to customer feedback and a request to increase the space of the interior and exterior public areas, Swan Hellenic’s mv Minerva, their most popular ship, will undergo major refurbishments as part of their long term strategy. Six staterooms will be removed to free up additional space and a number of staterooms will be increased in size. As well, 32 of the 181 remaining staterooms will have balconies added. All accommodations will receive new bathrooms and there are plans to
improve the public areas of the vessel. A new wrap-around observation lounge to be named the Orpheus Lounge will be added in the forward part of the ship and innovative design will increase the size of the popular Shackleton’s Bar and also create a new internet lounge. Voyages of Discoverywill see the introduction of the new ship mv Voyager to the brand portfolio, operating with 550 guests and more space with a modern hotel feel to its staterooms, of which 86% are outside. Open seating dining is offered in two restaurants and there is also an alternative dining option. The ship will sail her maiden voyage in November 2012, with a series of cruises to the Caribbean, Central and South America and one Amazon journey. Voyages of Discovery also announced significant refurbishment and dry dock plans for the mv Discovery during winter 2012/13. Meanwhile, Hebridean Island Cruises will continue to grow after a successful 2011 season by increasing its product offering, welcoming the Royal Crown to the Rhine in the spring and the Danube in the fall.
