Voyages of Discovery Down Under

You know it's the New Year when the cruise sale offers pour in thick and fast. Here's a typical example to start the week:

Guarantee yourself some sunshine this year by joining Voyages of Discovery on a last-minute winter cruise.

South East Asia & Australia - from £1,699 per person (based on two sharing an inside cabin), a saving of up to £1,370. Price includes return flights from London, transfers and a 23-day voyage departing from Manila (Philippines, overnight) and calling at Sandakan (Borneo, Malaysia), Bitung (Indonesia), Ambon (Indonesia), Darwin, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Brisbane and Newcastle before arriving at Sydney (overnight stay). Price is based on January 21 departure.

Australia & the Indonesian Islands - from £2,199 per person (based on two sharing an inside cabin), a saving of up to £370. Price includes return flights from London, transfers and a 26-day voyage departing from Sydney and calling at Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Darwin (overnight), Komodo (Indonesia), Bali (Indonesia, overnight) and Semarang (Indonesia) before arriving at Singapore. Price is based on February 7 departure.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Discover The Amazing Art of Arnhem Land

Orion Expedition Cruises has announced details of a fascinating Art of Arnhem Land voyage, tracking the evolution of indigenous art culture along Australia’s Arnhem coastline. Hosted by pre-eminent collectors of Australian art and suitable for experienced and novice collectors alike, this voyage - which has departures on September 13, 2011, and September 20, 2012 - is a “must-do” journey to remote and rarely visited communities.

It will be a truly enriching journey for those interested in the multi-layering of indigenous art. In the Pirlangimpi art community in the Tiwi Islands, view Tiwi ceramics and carved totemic Pukumani funeral poles. Art lovers and collectors will be drawn to the Munupi Art Centre with its contemporary collection of paintings, pottery and carvings celebrating Tiwi cultural heritage and the natural environment.

Maningrida is one of the powerhouse art centres of central Arnhem Land, home of distinctive bark painting, pandanus, weaving and wood carvings. And the Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre in Yirrkala is one of the leading galleries of Northern Australia, along with the adjoining museum that houses the iconic “Church Panels.” Orion’s guests will be introduced to Yolngu art and its guiding presence of the spirit that represents the past, present and future, as well as a visit to Thursday Island, the largest of the 18 islands of Torres Strait.

The September 13 sailing departs from Darwin and visits Pirlangimpi (Tiwi Islands), Maningrida, Elcho Island, Yirrkala, Merauke and Thursday Island before finishing in Cairns, with prices from £3,480 per person. The 2012 sailing (Sept 20) departs from Darwin and visits Pirlangimpi (Tiwi Islands), Maningrida, Elcho Island, Jensen Bay, Yirrkala and Merauke before finishing in Thursday Island, with prices from £2,285 per person. Both cruises include all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes.

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

Rare Papua New Guinea Opportunity

Travellers seeking a path less travelled should seek out Orion Expedition Cruises, who will be operating a short season of cruises to Papua New Guinea and West Papua during 2011.

Two voyages will feature the popular Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights itinerary while the third is an exciting all-new West Papua & Maluku expedition visiting many rarely-visited places across the north of Papua New Guinea and West Papua, where even Google struggles to provide in-depth information!

The two Cultural Highlights voyages (March 23 and April 3, 2011) provide guests with a taste of primitive tribal cultures, unique flora and fauna, the opportunity to purchase superb indigenous artwork, visit isolated villages, enjoy world-class snorkelling and reflect on our recent past at historic World War II sites.

For keen photographers, the April 3 voyage is also a great opportunity to join the photographic workshop of a lifetime, capturing all the action in one of the world’s most photo-opportunistic locations, Papua New Guinea.

In association with Better Photography magazine and the Australian Geographic Society, and under the knowledgeable guidance of internationally recognised photographer Nick Rains and Grand Master of Photography Peter Eastwood, this voyage is designed to appeal to photographers of all levels. Hone photographic skills with the guidance of experts in one of the most photogenic places on earth.

Under the watchful eye of the specialist expedition team, Orion’s guests on the all-new West Papua & Maluku signature Voyage of Discovery expedition, departing April 14, will re-define the word ‘remote’, visiting rarely visited areas across the top of West Papua including Mapia Atoll (just north of the equator) and the marine wonderland of Rajah Ampat, the Bird’s Head Peninsula, Kei and Yamdena Islands in the Tanimbars, concluding in Darwin. Parts of this voyage are to places so remote most of the well-travelled crew onboard Orion have not yet been there!

11-night Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights

Starting with an overnight in Rabaul, this 11-night voyage visits Sepik River & Watam Village, Madang, Tami Islands, Tufi, Fergusson Island, Samarai and Kwato Islands and Alotau (Milne Bay) before finishing in Cairns (April 3 voyage in reverse). Prices from £5,265 per person, including 11 nights onboard Orion, all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes. Two-for-one air is also available on these voyages.

11-night West Papua & Malaku Voyage of Discovery

Starting in Rabaul, this 11-night voyage visits Wewak, Jayapura, Urbanasi, Mapia Atoll, Raja Ampat, McClure Gulf, Kei Islands and Tanimbars before finishing in Darwin. Prices from £4,785 per person including 11 nights onboard Orion, all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes. Two-for-one air is also available on this voyage.

For reservations and enquiries, call 020 7399 7620 or visit http://www.orionexpeditions.com/. Orion also feature in the Adventure Cruise Collection brochure of The Cruise Line Ltd.

New Added Value from Orion

ORION EXPEDITION CRUISES OFFERS OUTSTANDING

EXTRA ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES

Orion Expedition Cruises, the leading operator of five-star expedition cruising in the Australasian region, has launched a range of inclusive value-added accommodation packages aimed at enhancing guest experiences on Orion’s seven-night Australian voyages in November and December 2010. This effectively adds another two or three nights to the holiday experience at no additional cost to the regular Orion expedition fare.

Guests can select from one of the following pre or post voyage accommodation options, staying in some of the finest and most sought after hotel and spa/lodge properties available:

Cairns – Qualia or Pullman Reef Hotel Casino
Sydney – Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort or Four Seasons Hotel
Melbourne – Chateau Yering or Crown Metropol Hotel
Hobart – Saffire, Freycinet or Henry Jones Art Hotel

These premium two- and three-night accommodation packages are worth up to AUS$5,000 and include meals, transfers and private tours, representing significant added value for guests.

The added value promotion applies to new bookings only based on Category A staterooms and above. Only one accommodation package can be chosen for each relevant voyage and it must be chosen at the time of booking. Accommodation packages subject to availability. For guests not wishing to take the inclusive accommodation package, savings of up to 15% are available. Some conditions apply.

Prices for the seven-night voyages start from £2,780 per person cruise only, based on twin share. Price includes seven nights onboard accommodation, all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes.