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.

Exodus Now Has 16 Different Polar Itineraries

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Exodus is now the largest operator of small-ship polar expeditions in the UK, with voyages to Spitsbergen and Antarctica from £4,139 (with flights from UK).

If a holiday is not a holiday without experiencing something remarkable, then Exodus’ Polar itineraries are where you need to start looking for your next great escape. If you prefer your ice blue, towering 70m above your head and set in temperatures way below zero instead of crushed in a mojito, then you had better get your trip booked in.

Now the largest operator of small-ship polar expeditions, Exodus’ new 2010-2012 Polar Expeditions brochure is full of trips to Antarctica, Spitsbergen and the Arctic Circle and, while ranging in price, they are all awe-inspiring, once-in-a-lifetime expeditions you are guaranteed never to forget.

Exodus’ Paul Goldstein, an expert guide, wildlife photographer and polar enthusiast, will be hosting a number of the expeditions and is no stranger to the beauty and wilderness of the Polar Regions. He says: “From Spitsbergen adventures, Emperor Penguin Safaris and Antarctic Circle tours, Exodus offers once-in-a-lifetime Polar Expeditions.

"No-one arrives in the Poles by accident and those intrepid enough to cross the Drake Passage or stay up till the early hours in 24-hour Arctic daylight are never short-changed. The Polar Regions are perhaps the last pristine wildernesses left on the planet but your experience of them depends entirely on the ship chosen to take you there. Choose Exodus and you choose the best.”

Check out these two sample voyages:

Spitsbergen Explorer: 12 days (11 days ship-only) from £4,139 including flights; next departure dates are June 16 and 26, 2011. Exclusive departures with photographic specialists are on June 16 and July 16.

Part of the popular Polar Expeditions brochure is the great exploration of Spitsbergen - home to Polar bears, walrus, Arctic foxes and huge colonies of seabirds. There is 24-hour daylight this far north in the summer and Exodus plans to maximise this from the decks of the 100-berth Vavilov or Ioffe.

Easily maneuverable around the ice, these ships are perfect for such adventures and have the added advantage that passengers can be in inflatable Zodiacs in the water at just a few minutes notice – watching a Polar bear and her cubs playing in the ice or perhaps sailing in the same space as a 150-ton whale. Any photographic or wildlife fan should seriously consider these departures, which are guided by award-winning photographer and Polar enthusiast Paul Goldstein.

Journey to the North Pole - 15 days (12 days ship-only) from £16,260 (flight prices on request). The next and only departure in 2011 is June 23.

With only one departure a year and only one ship capable of offering this stunning itinerary – reaching the top of the world aboard the unique icebreaker 50 Years of Victory – this is a rare and rewarding trip which is worth every penny. Travel to the North Pole and, en route, discover polar bears and stunning birdlife, plus visit the fascinating cities of Helsinki in Finland and Murmansk in Russia.

It is a trip that combines the raw power of the ship – cutting through ice metres thick – the use of helicopter flights for aerial viewing and Zodiac landings for intimate wildlife encounters, this is an expedition unlike any other.

To book, visit http://www.exodus.co.uk/. or try the specialist agent The Cruise Line Ltd at http://www.cruiseline.co.uk/.

Photo © Paul Goldstein/Exodus Travels.

Voyage to Murmansk

No sooner, it seems, do we put our focus on adventure-style cruising than all kinds of exciting opportunities for this more offbeat voyaging crop up.

We have already detailed some of them on here at Time Spent At Sea (notably the amazing Chilean Patagonia voyages of Nomads of the Seas), but the latest press release to hit my Inbox highlights yet another aspect of this trend.

Voyages of Discovery have been around for a few years now, using their boutique little MV Discovery (the former Island Princess and 'Love Boat' of Princess Cruises) to explore some of the lesser-known parts of the cruise world.

But the announcement of one special cruise for 2011 really caught my attention, especially for the huge slice of World War II history it represents. Voyage to the White Sea and Archangel is a fabulous-looking opportunity to travel in the wake of the great Northern convoys that played such a big part in winning the War.

It is probably one of the more unusual itineraries, even by Voyages of Discovery standards, and it is certainly one that would pique my interest (if ever I could afford to take 18 days off!). Not only does it include a terrific sequence of ports of call, VoD will also have a superb range of guest speakers to accompany the voyage, including Enigma machine expert Mark Baldwin.

Here is the full press release:

‘Voyage to the White Sea and Archangel’, a new 18 day cruise from Voyages of Discovery departing 15^th June 2011 has sold 10% of its cabins within the first few days of release. For the majority of passengers the cruise represents a journey to the unknown so this is a remarkable feat in the current market. Tellingly, it is one of the best sold cruises from the summer 2011 programme, despite being one of Discovery’s most expensive cruises with prices from £1,899.

In an industry dominated by ever larger ships and crowds, the team at Voyages of Discovery has taken a bold view on the future of cruising which is paying dividends. It has returned to its grass roots by putting product at the heart of its marketing strategy by offering some of the most fascinating, spectacular and unusual destinations available anywhere on the cruise market.

While other brands build ever larger ships, resulting in compromises on destinations, Voyages of Discovery has capitalised on the benefits of a small ship by visiting new, off the beaten track destinations which will appeal to an increasingly sophisticated and well travelled cruise market. While others have cut corners or added hidden charges in order to woo customers with discounts, Voyages of Discovery has focused on providing unique, great-value travel experiences which are planned meticulously to offer more time on shore.

Voyage to the White Sea and Archangel will see Discovery travelling to the lesser-visited Solovestky Islands, a symbol of Russia’s spiritual past; historic Trondheim, Norway’s ’coronation city’; Archangel, where revolution, war and communism have all left indelible marks; and Murmansk, terminus for the most perilous and infamous of the World War II Allied convoys.

On route, passengers will witness the spectacular view of the midnight sun from the North Cape accompanied by experts including Mark Baldwin from Bletchley Park, who will be bringing one of the few original, working 1944 Enigma machines on board. The guest speakers also include a celebrated historian and natural scientist who will unlock the mysteries of wartime espionage, the legacy of revolution and the Soviet Union.

Voyage to the White Sea and Archangel follows the success of Discovery’s ambitious Winter 2010/11 programme which includes a 79-day complete circumnavigation of South America, with opportunities to explore landscapes such as the Amazon, the Orinoco, the Falklands and the magnificent Galapagos.