Lindblad's Latest Adventure Options

Starting this month, Lindblad Expeditions' Peruvian Amazon expedition will be the first to offer kayaking in the Upper Amazon, providing guests even more accessibility to the lagoons, small tributaries and creeks of this pristine region.

The intimate and stately vessel, the Delfin II, will be equipped with five 2-person kayaks to provide this in-depth experience. Guests will be able to enjoy the signature Lindblad Expedition, a combination of elegant accommodation, knowledgeable experts and uniquely close encounters with the nature and culture of the region.

Or how about this fabulous itinerary: Vietnam & Cambodia — Along the Mekong River, including Angkor and Saigon. Lindblad's 14-day voyage takes in the sublime temples of Angkor Wat, the floating villages and vibrant markets along the Mekong, and the cities of Phnom Penh and Saigon. Sail aboard the new 48‐guest Jahan, with accommodations of a standard not available here before. Rates begin at $7,980 per person, based on double occupancy.

To find out more, see this link to visit the UK's adventure cruise specialists, the Cruise Line Ltd.

Avalon's New Mekong River Adventures

Luxury river cruise specialist Avalon Waterways has announced the delivery of a new river cruise ship, the Avalon Angkor, as it launches a dedicated Vietnam, Cambodia & China brochure with a fascinating choice of river cruises and tours in the region.

The new brochure will go on sale on November 24, including a tour of Vietnam & Cambodia with a Mekong river cruise as well as two China tours, including a Yangtze River cruise. Tour and cruise departures are from April 2012 to March 2013.

Due for delivery in 2012, Avalon Angkor (above) has been specially designed to be the first ship in the industry to cruise all the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, avoiding more than 7 hours travelling time by coach. Built by local craftsmen with a colonial design, the boat is the first Avalon vessel to be launched outside of Europe but will feature all the modern amenities the company is renowned for.

Accommodating just 32 guests in 16 deluxe staterooms over two decks with a Sun Deck, this small and intimate ship will feature the standard spacious 172sq ft staterooms as on all Avalon ships. The floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors provide an open-air experience without losing any space in the stateroom and are the best way to enjoy the passing scenery.

All Avalon cruises are fully packaged with flights, transfers, airport taxes, port charges and gratuities, as well as a private door-to-door transfer service (within 75 miles of your chosen international airport), local guided sightseeing and a full board cruise with complimentary wine served at dinner.

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out the UK's luxury river cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Uniworld's New Vietnam Venture

River-cruise specialists Uniworld are launching an exciting 14-night itinerary to Vietnam and Cambodia on the Mekong River featuring the new River Saigon cruise ship with a limited capacity of just 60 guests. The comprehensive itinerary starts at Ho Chi Minh City, where guests will stay for three days exploring the city and visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels.

From there, guests sail down the narrow canals of the Mekong River stopping off for excursions at small towns and visiting floating markets and homes. The cruise continues down to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, where guests learn about the violent Khmer Rouge regime, as well as a visit to the National Museum.

Guests continue on their cruise up the Mekong towards Siem Reap, stopping off at small towns along the way. At Siem Reap, two days are dedicated to exploring the UNESCO heritage site of Angkor Wat and then there is a short flight back to Hanoi, where guests will stay in the luxury of the Inter Continental Hotel before departing for home. UK prices for this package are still to be confirmed but will be finalised shortly.

The package will include: 7-night Mekong River Cruise in a riverview stateroom onboard the beautiful new River Saigon; 7 nights in centrally located deluxe hotels featuring luxurious accommodations, buffet breakfast, and all services charges; taxes and porterage; fully escorted excursions with English-speaking local guides made up of more than 20 people; 14 buffet breakfasts, 9 lunches and 11 dinners; complimentary wine with dinner onboard, and complimentary coffee, tea, soft drinks, local beer and local spirits throughout the day; domestic flight from Siem Reap to Hanoi or Hanoi to Siem Reap; all transfers on arrival and departure days.

For more info, see www.uniworldrivercruises.co.uk or luxury river-cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

AMA Launch Second Boat On The Mekong

Award-winning river cruise line AmaWaterways has launched its second new vessel on the Mekong River, the 124-passenger MS AmaLotus.

The 7-night maiden voyage set sail this week after a traditional Vietnamese praying ceremony at the shipyard. AmaLotus joins MS La Marguerite (2009) in providing distinctive river cruises from Siem Reap, Cambodia, to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, as part of the highly-popular “Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong” programme.

Featuring ultra-spacious 624sq ft Suites; 10 Junior Suites at 290sq ft and standard staterooms at 226sq ft, AmaLotus has outside balconies on 90 per cent of her staterooms.

The décor combines Colonial elegance with regional Khmer accents, with staterooms including comfortable sitting areas, individually controlled air-conditioning, a mini-bar, safety deposit box, kimonos and slippers and luxurious bathtub (in all Suites).

Guests enjoy fine dining consisting of both Asian and Western specialties; complimentary wine and beer at lunch and dinner with complimentary house-brand spirits and soft drinks throughout the cruise. Onboard highlights include folklore dances, musical performances and culture discussion forums. The ship also features two lounges, a fitness room, spa and gift shop.

Launched in 2009, the “Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong” river cruise and land programme includes two nights in vibrant Hanoi followed by an overnight aboard a luxury junk in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay. A short flight then transports guests to Siem Reap, Cambodia, the gateway to the magnificent Angkor Archeological Park. A two-night stay there includes tours of world-renowned sites such as Angkor Wat, Terrace of the Elephants and newly-reopened Baphuon Temple.

From Siem Reap, guests embark on their 7-night odyssey along the Mekong River from Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City.

The 15-night land-cruise option costs from £2,422 per person and includes hotel accommodation, excursions and all meals, wine, beer and soft drinks with meals on board, and the seven night cruise-only option costs from £1,060, including excursions and drinks.

For more info, visit www.amawaterways.co.uk or the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Orion Expedition Cruises Unveil 2012 Programme

Free Flights on Selected Kimberley, Borneo & Vietnam Itineraries plus 15% Early Booking Discounts on Selected Sailings
Orion Expedition Cruises has released an expanded range of path-less-travelled itineraries for 2012, which include free flights from the UK on selected Kimberley, Borneo and Vietnam voyages as well as early booking discounts of up to 15% on most sailings.

Incorporating the first full year of voyages for Orion II, as well as their original boutique cruiser Orion, these expeditions - well off the marine superhighway - include rarely visited destinations from polar ice cap to the tropics.

In addition to existing itineraries, Orion takes a fresh look at New Zealand with new Pure New Zealand and Bay of Islands voyages. Orion II’s new sailings feature the islands of Micronesia and additional voyages to Japan with Art of Japan and Culinary Voyage of Japan itineraries. China is included for the first time, with expeditions that includes the Yangtze Delta (Kobe to Shanghai) and Shanghai to Tawau (Yangtze, Taiwan, Philippines), while an inaugural visit to Java includes Borobudur.

Free flights are available on all Kimberley sailings between April 13 and September 10; on three Vietnam sailings departing March 12, 21, 30 and on one Borneo sailing departing February 17.

In all, 2012 will see the two purpose-built expedition cruise ships undertake 68 voyages to 17 countries and 174 destinations stretching from Antarctica to the Russian Far East, including Borneo, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, the Inland Sea of Japan, Korea, China and Micronesia (onboard Orion II). Australia’s Kimberley coast, Arnhem Land, Great Barrier Reef, the Spice Islands, New Zealand, the Sub Antarctic islands and Papua New Guinea feature in Orion’s range of expeditions.

The complete 2012 Calendar of Sailings is now on sale. Prices start from £1,630 per person, cruise-only, for a five-night Great Barrier Reef voyage on September 27 and from £4,400 per person for a nine-night Vietnam Explorer voyage, including free flights, with departures on March 12, 21 and 30.

For more info, visit http://www.orionexpeditions.com/ or the UK's expedition cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Celebrity's First Asia Season Now On Sale

Celebrity Cruises has announced its first-ever season sailing in Asia in the winter of 2012/13, and the series of voyages on Celebrity Millennium is now on sale, visiting nine countries new to the brand, including Vietnam, Thailand and China.

Celebrity's inaugural Asian season will consist of a series of 14-night open-jaw cruises between Singapore and Hong Kong and includes overnight stays in Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Halong Bay (Vietnam) and Hong Kong. The season also will include two 14-night sailings round-trip from Singapore with overnight stays in Bali (Indonesia) in January 2013.

At either end of Millennium’s Asia season will be two trans-Pacific sailings. The westbound cruise will coincide with the total solar eclipse in November 2012. Guests will be able to view the eclipse while at sea when sailing from Fiji to New Zealand. In April 2013, the ship will reposition from Hong Kong to Shanghai on a cruise featuring overnight calls in Hong Kong and Beijing (Tianjin). Millennium will then continue eastbound across the North Pacific to Alaska and will call at various ports in China, Japan, and Russia.

Guests can also take advantage of one of Celebrity's signature cruise-tours, which combine a cruise with a five-night pre or post-cruise escorted land package out of Hong Kong. They will feature trips to Xian and Beijing to view the famed Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall of China. All of these packages are escorted by a local tour director and include hotel accommodations, transportation, select activities, breakfasts and some additional meals.

While sailing, a variety of shore excursions are available. A number of overnight stays in port will offer the opportunity to enjoy two or three-day excursions, with examples including a two-night/three-day overland experience from Bangkok to Siem Reap to visit Angkor Wat (Cambodia). The tour focuses on the temples of Angkor to see the best examples of stone carvings recovered from temples across Cambodia.

During cruises that include an overnight stay in port at Halong Bay (Hanoi), an overnight shore excursion offers a visit to the Old Quarter of the city; an opportunity to witness unique Vietnamese performing arts at the Hanoi Water Puppet Theatre; dinner at a traditional restaurant; and an overnight stay in a leading hotel.

For more info, see www.celebritycruises.co.uk or contact the cruise agent specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Viking Launches 'Magnificent Mekong' For 2012

Ahead of the launch of its main 2012 brochure, Viking River Cruises has released its 'Magnificent Mekong' programme with massive savings for early bookers. Double discounts, giving savings of up to £1000 per person, are offered on any Mekong departure booked by June 30 for travel in 2012.

The early release of the programme follows huge demand for the 16-day itinerary, which combines a land tour of Vietnam and Cambodia with a seven-night cruise on the 66-passenger RV Tonle, a graceful, French colonial-style vessel hand-finished in brass and teak.

Along the journey, highlights include visits to the ancient Khmer monuments at Angkor Wat; the chance to explore the floating markets of the Mekong Delta and the old city of Hanoi in Vietnam; as well as visits to the elegant French colonial capital of Phnom Penh and the bustling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City.

Other escorted tours include a visit to hilltop Wat Hanchey and the Twin Holy Mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey; a small boat excursion through the Kampong Chhnang wetlands; a Cyclo tour featuring the Royal Palace and National Museum in Phnom Penh with an excursion to the Killing Fields; and a visit to the market of Prek Touch.

Prices start from £2,699 per person (with £1,000 discount) and include return flights from London to Hanoi and from Ho Chi Minh City (or vice versa); a seven-night river cruise with river-view stateroom; two nights' hotel stay in Hanoi, three nights in Siem Reap and two nights in Ho Chi Minh; 14 guided tours with audio headsets; and the internal flight between Hanoi and Siem Reap. A programme of 'Cultural Highlights' featuring a traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony and a visit to the Siem Reap arts and craft school, plus a 'Culture Curriculum' programme giving language lessons and talks are also included.

For those with more time to explore the region further, Viking also has two add-on packages, with two nights at Ha Long Bay priced from £299 per person, or three nights in Bangkok from £599 per person, with escorted tours included throughout.

Full details can by found by visiting www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk or via the river and adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Two AMAWATERWAYS river cruise ships to debut in 2011

River cruise operator AmaWaterways, known for its innovative ships and itineraries, is launching two state-of-the-art river cruisers in 2011.

In September 2011, the brand-new MS AmaLotus will join AmaWaterways’ first Mekong vessel, MS La Marguerite, to sail the ‘Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong’ itinerary. 

The décor of AmaLotus will combine colonial elegance with local artefacts and regional Mekong touches. The ship features all-outside accommodations and deluxe 226 sq. ft. staterooms with all the amenities of a fine hotel. Some 90 percent of staterooms have a private outside balcony, while suites, at 624 sq. ft., provide the ultimate in onboard pampering.

AmaLotus features a restaurant serving Asian and Western specialties as well as an authentic Vietnamese ‘Lau’ (Hot Pot) dining facility. In addition, there is a beautiful lounge, gift shop, spa, fitness room and sauna. The expansive Sun Deck is a haven for relaxation, where passengers can mingle and observe the unforgettable Mekong scenery from comfortable lounge chairs; take a dip in the outdoor swimming pool or enjoy a cool drink from the Sun Deck bar. 

AmaLotus makes its debut on September 5, 2011 and will sail seven-night Mekong river cruises from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Prices start from £1,224 per person, including all meals on the ship, port charges, all shore excursions as detailed in the itinerary, free-flowing wine, beer and soft drinks with dinner, bottled water in every stateroom and a rich programme of entertainment, from local dancing and music performances to themed dinner and cultural lectures. Flights are extra and a 15 night land-cruise itinerary can also be booked with AmaWaterways from £2442 per person, including two nights in Hanoi, an overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay, 3 nights in Siem Reap, the seven night Mekong cruise and a two night stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

Contact AmaWaterways on 0808 223 5009, www.amawaterways.co.uk

The completely redesigned MS AmaKatarina will be inaugurated on May 10, 2011, debuting as the most luxurious vessel on the Volga-Baltic Waterway travelling from St. Petersburg to Moscow.  The AmaKatarina is being rebuilt starting from the hull and designed to meet AmaWaterways’ demanding specifications. The ship is unequalled in terms of spaciousness, accommodations and enticing public areas. The only luxury vessel in Russia featuring outside balconies in over 70 percent of its staterooms, AmaKatarina’s four suite categories range in size from 280 to 432 sq. ft.  All 76 staterooms feature a sitting area, a refrigerator, hair dryer, safe, TV and phone (onboard communications only) and bottled water is replenished daily.   

Stunning public areas aboard AmaKatarina include two dining rooms offering complimentary wine and soft drinks at dinner; a beautiful Panorama Lounge; bar/nightclub; conference hall and solarium. The ship also features an elevator, gift shop, infirmary and Internet access. 

Prices start from £2,249 per person for 11 nights, including full board on the voyage; free-flowing wine and fruit juice during dinner; bottled water in every cabin; detailed excursion programme; a ballet performance at the Hermitage Theatre in St Petersburg; cultural entertainment and musical performances on board; lectures; Russian language classes; and port charges. Flights are extra.

AmaWaterways produces a dedicated brochure for the UK, with sterling pricing. Visit  www.amawaterways.co.uk, or The Cruise Line

Luxury Expedition Cruises to Australasia

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Qantas Holidays has introduced a new programme of luxury expedition cruises to explore remote areas of Australasia with Orion Expedition Cruises. The cruise options are:

• 2010 Expedition Cruises in Australasia with 7 nights Wild Tasmania from £2,699
• 2011 Expedition Cruises in Australasia with 2 nights New Zealand Expedition Sampler from £959
• 2011 Expedition Cruises in Asia with 7 nights Gulf of Siam Explorer from £3,349

Orion Expedition Cruises is a fantastic way to explore Australasia and Asia, combining luxury cruising with the chance to get up close and personal with the people, wildlife and culture. Many parts of the Asia-Pacific region remain largely inaccessible to conventional touring options but, with Orion, travellers can get to remote areas with experienced expedition leaders, hopping onboard zodiac boats to get into small inlets and islands, returning each night to the luxury of the cruise ship.

2010 Expedition Cruises in Australasia– 7 nights Wild Tasmania from £2,699

Highlights include unrivalled glimpses of the amazing scenery, culture and bio-diversity of Australia and New Zealand. The ‘Wild Tasmania’ cruise starts and ends in Hobart and departs on December 1, taking in the starkly beautiful Flinders Island along with the dramatic, red granite peaks of Wineglass Bay and apple blossom and vineyards of Port Huon.

2011 Expedition Cruises in Australasia – including 2 nights New Zealand Expedition Sampler from £959

From the two night ‘New Zealand Expedition Sampler’ (departing February 24) up to the 20 night ‘Scott and Shackleton’s Antarctica’ (departing January 27, from £12,635), the 2011 programme has something for adventurers of all tastes and budget. The ‘New Zealand Expedition Sampler’ offers a taste of the coastline of bays and white sand beaches of the beautiful Bay of Islands, where the Maoris first arrived.

2011 Expedition Cruises in Asia – including 7 nights Gulf of Siam Explorer from £3,349

Explore Japan’s inland sea, the rainforests of Borneo, the temples of Thailand and the Mekong Delta from the comfort of the Orion II, fresh from an £11million refit. The ‘Gulf of Siam Explorer’ operates from Singapore to Bangkok or in reverse, departing on October 10 and December 22, 2011. Highlights include visiting sublime islands and beaches as well as some of Asia’s major centres, seeing both traditional and modern Asia from a different perspective, often far away from the crowds.

All prices include all taxes, fees and port related charges; Cruise transportation; All meals onboard; 24-hour room service, entertainment and educational programmes; Use of ship’s sporting equipment and facilities; Zodiac excursions and tender transfers.

Fares do not include: travel and medical insurance, laundry charges, shopping onboard, bar expenses, optional shore experiences, medical treatment, telephone and internet charges, international and domestic flights. All prices are ‘from’ prices, per person, based on two adults sharing. Qantas Holidays general booking conditions apply.

For more information, visit http://www.qantasholidays.co.uk/. For more info on a wide range of expedition voyages, including Orion Expedition Cruises, see the Adventure Cruise Collection of specialist agent The Cruise Line Ltd on this link: http://www.cruiseline.co.uk/Adventure-Cruises.

APT River Crusies new Brochure

By guest blogger Steve Newman

As part of APT’s trademark world-class touring collection, they are proud to launch their new 2011 Boutique River Cruise brochure featuring a selection of 19 incredible cruises in Europe, Russia and Egypt and - new for 2011 - Vietnam. APT is also pleased to introduce three distinct touring styles – Premier Plus, Premier and Affordable – so they have just the river cruising holiday to suit every taste and budget.

From cruising the mighty Danube and Rhine Rivers visiting highlights such as Amsterdam, Vienna and Budapest; the impressive Volga that winds between the cities of St Petersburg and Moscow; the majestic Nile, where you’ll enjoy your own Egyptian adventure; to the mystery, beauty and intrigue of the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia – there really is no better time to experience an APT boutique river cruise.

The company are excited to introduce the beautiful region of Vietnam & Cambodia to ther clients. With four tours ranging from nine to 21 days and all including land touring and a seven-night Mekong river cruise, they believe they have a tour to cater to every taste.

And, with APT, there are no hidden extras as all of their cruises are fully inclusive and include return flights from a selection of UK airports; return airport to ship/hotel transfers; all meals as per itinerary with local wines, beer and soft drinks included on all cruises; a full range of small group sightseeing excursions; tipping and port charges.

APT’s lead-in prices for 2011:

Premier Plus Cruising: 15-day Magnificent Europe cruise sailing from Amsterdam to Budapest (also operates in reverse direction) starts from £3375 per person

Premier Cruising: 8-day Tulip Time cruise sailing from and returning to Amsterdam and their 8-day Christmas Time cruise sailing from Nuremberg to Budapest (also operates in reverse direction) both start from £1745 per person

Russia Premier Cruising: 12-day Russian Waterways cruise sailing from Moscow to St Petersburg (also operates in reverse direction) starts from £2765 per person

Egypt Premier Cruising & Land Tour: 10-day Majesty of Egypt cruise departing from and returning to Cairo including a 4 night cruise starts from £2620 per person

Vietnam Premier Cruising & Land Tour: 13-day Angkor, Mekong & Ho Chi Minh City tour travelling from Siem Reap in Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, including a 7-night Mekong cruise (also operates in reverse direction) starts from £3405 per person

There are also special Early Bird savings of up to £930 per couple for all bookings received by 31 December 2010.

(Saving shown is based on a saving of £465 per person when booking an Owner’s Suite on 22-day Rivers of the Emperor cruise. Prices shown above include the appropriate Early Bird Discount)

For more information, log on to APT River cruises or visit the river cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd or call them on 0800 008 6677.

AMA's New Brochure

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Award-winning river cruise line AMA Waterways has launched its 2011 UK brochure, featuring luxurious voyages in Europe, Russia, Cambodia and Vietnam with a lead-in price of £1,422pp for a seven-night cruise, including all meals, wine with dinner (in Europe), daily excursions and free Wi-Fi.

Eighteen itineraries take in the Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone, Saone and Moselle, as well as the Volga-Baltic Waterway in Russia and the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia. Next year will also see AMA Waterways introducing two new vessels, special events ashore and a wide range of pre- and post-cruise options.

Steve Williams, managing director of Fred. Olsen Travel, which represents AMA in the UK, says: “We are very excited about the launch of a new brochure for 2011 which embraces the introduction of a new ship, AmaLotus, on the Mekong and the AmaKatarina, destined to be the best ship on the Volga."

For maximum flexibility, as many guests prefer to choose their airline or travel by train to join their ship, AMA offers cruise-only pricing. These prices can, however, also be packaged with flights, train, transfers and hotels. For example, Prague, Budapest or Istanbul can be added to the Grand Danube voyage, while hotels in Paris and Barcelona can be combined with the Provence and Spain itineraries. Guests visiting South-East Asia can choose between an eight-day cruise from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City (or vice versa) or a 16-day itinerary combining the cruise with accommodation in Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City.

Oh, and don't forget to come along to the Cruise Show at the Birmingham NEC this weekend!

River Cruising in Europe and Asia

By guest blogger Steve Newman

In the last five years, River Cruising has increased in popularity tremendously. So much so that is now the automatic choice for many people planning a luxury European holiday. And, if you think about it you can completely understand why.

Combining the history and culture of rivers, towns and cities with practically the ultimate in relaxation, they offer a sedate and enjoyable way to explore an area whilst on holiday. Leading the way and recognised as one of the top players in this market is AMA Waterways.

The company’s fares include all meals, excursions, Internet/Satellite connection in every cabin, and quality wines and beer with every Dinner. Add open seating amidst elegant yet comfortable surroundings, a Grand Panorama Lounge with bar and dance floor, and aft lounge for up to 50 passengers, and you can see why people come back time and time again.

AMA's ships really are something else and it’s quite true to say you would be forgiven for thinking the interiors had been plucked from some grand hotel. You even have the chance to use their complimentary bicycles to explore the towns and cities on your own.

Opportunities exist to travel along the famous rivers of Europe, such as the Rhine and Danube, and also to explore the countryside of Portugal and Provence as you gently drift by. Cities like Lyons, Budapest, Vienna and Amsterdam are all able to be visited. To the north, why not take in a cruise from Moscow to St Petersburg and explore that city’s canals and the wonder that is The Hermitage?

Due to the company expanding its routes, you also now have the chance to explore the mighty Mekong as it flows through Vietnam and Cambodia. Ancient temples, villages and floating markets are all untouched by time on this fascinating journey.

Sixteen and eight-day options are available, both finishing at Ho Chi Minh City. Either way, what you have here is a company offering river-cruise opulence, the highest levels of service and wonderful memories that will stay with you forever.

For more details, contact http://www.amawaterways.co.uk/

It's Orion, Doubled

Having sung the praises of adventure cruising in general just recently - including our truly amazing voyage with Nomads of the Seas in Patagonia last month (of which more in future blogs when the earthquake situation in Chile stabilises) - it was interesting to see various 'adventure' themed press releases roll in this week.

One that really caught my eye was from Australia-based Orion Expedition Cruises, who have announced a second ship to join their highly distinctive and exclusive operations Down Under, but operating in the Far East to the likes of Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia.

As well as being another endorsement for the brilliant Adventure Cruise Collection recently put out by The Cruise Line Ltd, it highlights yet again how the market for this kind of holiday is expanding almost exponentially. 'Soft' adventure holidays, with an upmarket, boutique style, are definitely a major growth opportunity, and the Orion press release helps to explain why:

Orion Expedition Cruises is to increase the size of its fleet with the addition of a second specialist expedition cruise ship to join the existing 106-passenger Orion.

Orion Expedition Cruises has released details regarding the forthcoming long term charter of Clelia II, a 100-passenger all-suite luxury expedition cruise ship, to be renamed Orion II. The ship, configured to Orion’s exacting requirements, is scheduled to commence expedition voyages under the Orion Expedition Cruises banner in May 2011.

Making the announcement from onboard Orion in Sydney Harbour, Sarina Bratton, Orion’s founder and Managing Director, was upbeat about the expansion of the business she started in 2004, citing a strong existing market – despite tough current worldwide economic conditions – and growing interest from international markets in expedition cruising in this part of the globe.

A loyal Orion past-passenger base, resurgent growth by independent travellers and significant opportunities afforded through charter and incentives markets have provided the platform for the expansion.

Based on thorough research, and following the success of Orion’s recent voyages, Orion II will be based in South East Asia offering a wide range of expeditions that will include Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, the Indonesian archipelago, Japan and Borneo. Details of destinations and itineraries will be released shortly once voyage details and expedition team scouting are finalised.

Recently subject to a €13 million refurbishment, with emphasis on technical enhancements and upgraded environmental systems, the ship will also undergo additional cosmetic enhancements to bring her fully into the Orion style.

Commenting on the additional range of destinations and itineraries, Sarina said Orion Expedition Cruises will be able to provide exclusive expeditions from Antarctica to Asia, and the Kimberley to Melanesia and New Zealand, with the two ships offering a balance of onboard service and luxury combined with unique personal experiences in environmentally and culturally sensitive parts of the region. Together, Orion and Orion II will be two of the most modern and capable expedition cruise ships cruising in Australasia.

The long term charter of a second purpose built ship able to access remote regions in comfort is a further step to fulfilling the company’s original vision to have Orion Expedition Cruises regarded as the operator of choice in the Asia Pacific.

About Clelia II/Orion II

Clelia II will continue to be marketed and operated until April 2011 by Travel Dynamics International, New York, a leading US expedition cruise company serving the American educational and cultural non-profit groups.

Originally launched in late 1990 as Renaissance Four and re-launched in 2009 after extensive technical refurbishment, redecoration and other improvements, the all-suite Clelia II offers fine small-ship cruise travel. In May 2011, the ship will be renamed Orion II.

This private yacht-like cruise ship accommodates only 100 guests in 50 suites, each of which affords ocean views, measuring 215 to 285 square feet, and are appointed with a sitting area or separate living room, twin or queen-size beds, spacious closets, and air conditioning. Each also features satellite TV, DVD/CD player, telephone, mini-refrigerator and marble-appointed en-suite.

Decorated with rich fabrics, handsome wood, polished brass, rare antiquities and fine works of art, the ship’s public spaces are warm and inviting. Bespoke small-ship amenities include:

· Library with Internet access
· Two lounges with audiovisual facilities
· State-of-the-art gym/spa
· Beauty salon
· Boutique
· Hospital
· Elevator serving all passenger decks
· Dining room
· Two sun decks
· Jacuzzi
· Swimming platform

Clelia II complies with the latest international and US Coast Guard safety regulations and is outfitted with the most current navigation and communications technology as well as retractable fin stabilizers for smooth sailing, an ice-strengthened hull for Antarctic voyages and a fleet of Zodiacs to enable easy shore access in remote locations.

Clelia II carries a staff of 65, providing a ratio of over one crew member for every two guests. Taken together with her limited guest capacity, excellence of design, craftsmanship and material, Clelia II's spaciousness and intimate ambience combine to make her ideal for distinctive cultural and expedition voyages.