The Quad Berth Expedition

Following recent reports that the price of cruising in the Antarctic is set to rise, adventure travel specialist G Adventures has announced the introduction of its brand new - and better value - quad berths onboard their M/S Expedition.

The new quad berth cabins will be available for the 2012 Arctic and Antarctic season providing more capacity for travellers onboard, welcome news at a time when industry prices are set to rise, due to the recent introduction of new fuel regulations banning the use of heavy oil in this region.

Here's a typical G Adventures Arctic voyage:

Realm of the Polar Bear

Price: £2269pp; category 1A Quad; departure, July 6, 2012; duration, 8 days.
Description: Spot whales and polar bears, explore incredible scenery, brave the Arctic waters swimming, encounter Ny-Ålesund, birdlife and glaciers, discover breathtaking ice-covered fjords, glimpse herds of Svalbard’s many species of reindeer and take in daily lectures.

For more information, visit www.gadventures.com or contact the UK's adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Noble Caledonia's New Arctic Cruises

Svalbard is a remote and spectacular archipelago of immense glaciers, narrow fjords and abundant wildlife, somewhere we have featured several time in World of Cruising in recent issues. And here's a new opportunity to visit it in style and comfort:

Let Noble Caledonia's small but comfortable sister expedition ships, the MS Quest and the MS Ocean Nova, take you on a memorable journey into the realm of the polar bear. In Spitsbergen, there are twice as many polar bears and walrus as there are people. The polar bear population is estimated at more than 3,000 and we hope to encounter some of them during our summer voyages.

Our guests will witness a vast geological spectacle of soaring mountains and immense glaciers. A photographer’s paradise unfolds before us: black basaltic islands rise from shimmering waters punctuated with gleaming ice sculptures, and lush tundra blazes with purple saxifrage and moss campion. Within this dramatic landscape resides a wealth of wildlife: seals, walrus, whales, Arctic foxes and, our ultimate goal, polar bears. The area is also home to hundreds of thousands of breeding seabirds, including kittiwakes, murres, dovekies, puffins and rare ivory gulls.

Guests will take full advantage of the long daylight hours and embark on numerous Zodiac excursions to view the profuse wildlife up close.

In the beginning of the season, Spitsbergen’s flowers are in full bloom and the bird colonies are bustling with life. In the latter part of the season we have very good possibilities of exploring the eastern parts of the archipelago when the ice is slowly starting to lose its grip.

Our expedition ships have the highest ice class and can carefully break through the pack ice, which is also home to seals, walrus and the king of the Arctic, the polar bear.

For more info, visit Noble Caledonia or contact the adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Voyaging To World's Last Frontier

Aurora Expeditions is once again pushing the boundaries of expedition travel with voyages to the Russian Arctic and Russian Far East; a land of complex history, unique cultures, inspiring landscapes and astounding wildlife.

Aurora Expeditions' ‘Voyage to the End of the Earth’ is a 14-day adventure to the Russian Arctic departing Murmansk, with prices starting from $8,080 per person.

Discover a region so remote and wild that few have ever been. The 191 pristine islands that make up Franz Josef Land were the planet's last major landmass to be discovered. Uninhabited, minus a few Russian border guards, this is the realm of the polar bear, walrus, seals and the elusive beluga whale.

Only accessible by sea, the region has been open to foreigners only since 1991. This geological wonder really is the world’s last frontier, virtually untouched and waiting to be explored.

Last Minute offer: Receive 15% off 'Voyage to the End of the Earth'

Aurora's ‘The Ring Of Fire’ voyage will then unlock the mysteries of the Kurils, taking you deep into a wildlife and geological wonderland. Departing Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, this 13-day voyage will showcase the lush valleys, lakes and rivers, and snow-capped volcanoes of Kamchatka’s east coast, where brown bears feast on berries and salmon. The ship's fleet of Zodiacs will take visitors to intimate viewings of spectacular seabirds, Stellar sea lions, whales, otters and seal colonies. Prices start from $7,250 per person.

Special offer: Receive 10% off 'Ring Of Fire – Kuril Islands'

Both voyages will set sail on Aurora Expeditions' brand new ship, Akademik Shokalskiy. This ice-strengthened research ship was built in Finland in 1982. Fully refurbished in 2008, it provides accommodation for a maximum of 54 passengers as well as two dining rooms, lounge bar, lecture theatre, sauna and an ‘Open Bridge’ policy.

For more info, see www.auroraexpeditions.com.au or contact the UK's leading adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Great Arctic Early Booking Deal!

By guest blogger Steve Newman

If it’s your dream to see polar bears, walrus, reindeer and whales in their natural habitat, then look no further than Gap Adventures M/S Expedition. Gap Adventures is offering an early booking bonus of 25% off expeditions to Norway and Spitsbergen in May, June and July 2011.

Terms & Conditions: Promo code is ArcticEBB. Discount is 25% off Arctic expeditions for 2011. Excludes Arctic Highlights (XVAHNX) tour. Valid for new bookings only in a category 2 and higher cabin only. Cannot be combined with any other offer, promotion or discount. Does not apply to air fare, hotels, transfers or other in-country services or on-board ship charges.

The offer is available until January 31.

Realm of the Polar Bear is just one of the amazing deals Gap Adventures has on offer for travellers.

Now: £2339 pp (was £3119 – save 25%) Departs: July 10.

Highlights: Svalbard Islands and Longyearbyen, Isfjorden, whales, Spitsbergen, Hinlopen Strait, polar bears, incredible scenery, Arctic swimming, Ny-Ålesund, birdlife and glaciers.

Enjoy an eight day trip from just £2339 per person. Price includes seven nights aboard the M/S Expedition, all meals onboard, Zodiac excursions with expert expedition team, lecture and educational programmes, Longyearbyen airport transfers depending on passengers flight details, live evening entertainment, waterproof boots supplied and Arctic destination guide.

For full details, visit: http://www.gapadventures.com/. For more great ideas on adventure cruising and the Arctic North, look up the Adventure Cruise Collection.

New Year in Norway with the Northern Lights

By guest blogger Steve Newman

How about ringing in the New Year in Norway with the Arctic landscapes as the backdrop? Hurtigruten are offering a New Year's banquet which can be enjoyed with dancing in the bar after dinner, before heading up on deck at Midnight where there will be fireworks and a toast for the New Year. Depart on December 30 for a five-night ‘Venture into the Arctic’ voyage onboard MS Midnatsol travelling from Bergen in the south to Tromsø in the north and hopefully seeing the Northern Lights along the way. And what better way to kick off 2011 than with a dog-sledding excursion or snowmobiling, which can be added to the trip.

Prices start from £895 per person and include four nights half board on the ship, one night B&B accommodation in Tromsø at the end of the voyage and return flights from Gatwick. No single supplements apply.

To book, log on to http://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/ or visit cruise specialists The Cruise Line.

The Adventure Cruise Collection

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Adventure cruising is the fastest growing section of the market, with more and more people of all ages wanting to 'get up close' to nature.

The Cruise Line have just launched their new Adventure Cruise Collection brochure, and I strongly advise you to get a copy if this is your style of cruising.

From watching bears fishing for salmon in Alaskan rivers to swimming with turtles in the Caribbean, getting up close to polar bears in the Arctic or lying on the snow to snap away at Emperor Penguins, this is a must for any adventure cruiser. Destinations include the Galapagos, Hawaii, New Zealand, Central America and a whole lot more. Find out more by logging on to the http://www.cruiseline.co.uk/ or call them on 0800 008 6677.

Polar Bears and Canaries

By guest blogger Steve Newman

If you think of cruises along the Norwegian coast and the high Arctic, then there’s normally one name that springs to mind first. Now Hurtigruten have announced their new 2011 brochure and the details for their two specialist ships for polar exploration, MS Fram (above) and MS Polar Star.

Polar Star is the first former ice-breaker to be fully converted to expedition cruising, whilst Fram has an ice-classed hull to reduce the risk of grounding and oil spill. The ship has 128 stylish and comfortable cabins and many high standard suites. What you have here is a vessel that was built to handle polar waters but also provides a luxurious cruise holiday environment.

Where Hurtigruten score is the combinations they offer, from classic Norway cruises to 'polar bear discovery' and the breathtaking beauty of Svalbard (where the company actively participates in the eco-friendly ‘Clean Up Svalbard’ campaign).

Spitsbergen, also known as the Svalbard Archipelago (immediately north of Norway) is only 800 miles from the North Pole. The Svalbard wilderness is spectacular, untouched and virginal - almost. Unfortunately, there are beaches which are littered with empty plastic oil drums, fishnets and other waste. Hence guests are invited to take part in volunteer action by collecting rubbish.

New cruises are also on offer to Greenland, Antarctica and the Chilean Fjords and the company have also extended their range closer to home now with voyages in the Baltic, British Isles and even a cruise along the west coast of Europe and North Africa, from Denmark to the Canary Islands, also calling at Casablanca.

Why not find out more at The Cruise Line website?

Antarctic Camping and Hiking

By guest blogger Steve Newman

The sight of the mouth of a humpback whale no more than ten feet away from your Zodiac really epitomises what adventure cruising is all about. As this picture proves, it may not happen that often but, when it does, you're not going to forget it in a hurry.

Zodaics of course are an essential part of this genre and One Ocean Expeditions use them to their full extent. With expedition cruises to both the polar regions, you even have the chance to camp overnight on the Antarctic continent! This night ashore under the midnight sun has proved very popular with the lullaby of ice groaning, whales snorting and the waves gentle lapping on the pebbled shore wafting you gently off to sleep.

Sea Kayaking, whale watching and even hiking are also on offer here. Hiking in Antarctica? Well, yes, why not? Designed for the more active traveller, the trips last for about three hours and cover quite difficult terrain.

As far as the Arctic goes, the star looks to be the 12-day High Arctic and Greenland explorer visiting the amazing seabird colonies at Prince Leopold Island and watching out for Arctic foxes, polar bears and that unicorn of the seas, the narwhal. The human side of this ecosystem is viewed, too, with a visit to the Innuit at Nunavat, a people who still cling to their ancient ways of symbiosis and respect for the land.

One excellent idea is the on-board photographer and multi-media studio where you can download your images to hard drives and be shown how to tweak and improve them using photographic manipulation software. Why don't all cruise companies do that?

Either way I'm sold - it's just a question of which one to do first.