Looking for a more adventurous cruise experience? AOL’s UK website has some suggestions for livening up your next sailing.
“While a cruise might not be the first thing that springs to mind when planning to go off the beaten track, you'll certainly venture to places you never imagined and many that can only be reached by sea,” writes Roshina Jowaheer.
Antarctica
Asia
Galapagos
Walter Christen's insight:
Two of the three suggestions are actually on my bucket list. My order of preference (yours may be different) would be Antarctica, Galapagos, and then Asia.
Check out Cruiseable for more information on these locations and the cruises that you can take.
The Northern Lights are one of the most spectacular sights in the world and it pretty much goes without saying that, when people see them, they will want to capture the image with their cameras. (See Cruiseable's Visual List, In search of the Northern Lights.)
Travel + Leisure’s Jamie Carter has provided a list of tips for those heading out to capture the aurora borealis will not be disappointed with their pictures when they return.
The newly rebranded UnCruise Adventures (notice the missing dash between “un” and “cruise”) is soon to be on its way to Costa Rica and Panama. The small expedition ship cruise line has made waves in Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, the Columbia and Snake rivers and even the Galapagos, and now two Central American destinations are joining its destination portfolio.
Beginning in October 2016, the 62-guest Safari Voyager will begin on its inaugural 7-night "Uncharted Isthmus" itinerary.
Its "Sloths, Monkeys & Mangroves: itinerary covers Costa Rica from the capital of San Jose down to Panama City, Panama, after transiting the famous Panama Canal locks. Along the way, guests will visit Manuel Antonio National Park, Curu National Wildlife Refuge, Osa Conservation Area, Golfo Dulce and Granito de Oro island in Coiba National Park.
A video of the shoreline and beaches at Granito De Oro Island, Coiba National Park, Panama.
Wildlife encounters
Wildlife encounters are so emphasized that UnCruise has even charted in detail the dry and green seasons in both Costa Rica and Panama and when it is best to view iguanas, sea turtles, humpback whales, ruby throated hummingbirds, butterflies, roseate spoonbills, scarlet and western tanagers and more for mating, nesting, hatching and fledgling in its Experience Guide.
The greatest benefits of UnCruise sailings are the ability to take skiff rides, snorkel, kayak and paddle board directly from off the ship. There’s no need to waste any extra time first joining a shore excursion. You can go for a hike immediately after a convenient zodiac landing, for instance.
There are even theme cruises planned on the initial itinerary this year like a photography-centric one on December 3, 2016 and a Chairman’s Cruise with the owners on December 10, 2016.
Itineraries expand in 2017
Come 2017, itineraries expand with 8-night Panama-exclusive sailings conveniently roundtrip from Panama City, 8-night Costa Rica-exclusive voyages roundtrip from San Jose or combo cruises featuring the best of both Costa Rica and Panama for 15 nights between the two ports of embarkation and disembarkation.
Additional experiences available in Panama include Colon, Guna Yala, the Chagres River, Pearl Islands, Darien Jungle and, of course, the Panama Canal itself again. Also featured is Fort San Lorenzo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And on the 8-night Costa Rica roundtrip, Papagayo Gulf and Santa Rosa National Park are also showcased.
There are also land package extensions available like Panama stays at the Bristol Hotel or Costa Rica stays at the Intercontinental Hotel as well as exploring the Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Rainforest in the latter destination.
— From Cruiseable news services
Interested in a cruise?
Interested in a cruise to Central America on UnCruise Adventures? In celebration of UnCruise Adventures’ 20th anniversary, Cruiseable is offering $300 savings per couple on Central America, valid on new reservations made from now through October 28, 2016, on these sailings, departing between Nov. 19, 2016 and April 22, 2017:
Fathom and Airbnb have partnered for a “give and get” opportunity for new Airbnb hosts in the United States. People who sign up to become a new host with Airbnb will receive a $250 credit for a Fathom cruise to the Dominican Republic or Cuba.
A pioneer in social impact travel, Fathom, Carnival Corporation’s 10th and newest brand, sails weekly to the Dominican Republic or Cuba. Cruises are not your everyday voyages but rather a chance for travelers to immerse themselves in enriching and meaningful experiences and participate alongside locals to address community needs.
Expanding on its Galapagos Islands product, Celebrity Cruises is launching new itineraries and expedition ships, upping the fleet to three. Joining the Celebrity Xpedition are the Celebrity Xploration and Celebrity Xperience in March 2017. The trio of ships will provide six itineraries to 15 islands and over 30 total ports.
In preparation, the eight-stateroom Celebrity Xploration catamaran and 24-cabin Celebrity Xperience yacht will each receive multi-million dollar refurbishments to bring them up to Celebrity Cruises standards. The Xploration features window or veranda accommodations, and both come outfitted with luxurious bedding, LCD televisions and high-speed internet connections. Fine dining will also be crafted by the line’s Michelin-starred chef, delivered by attentive service.
You may never have heard of Florø, Stamsund or Øksfjord. But if you visit them, you'll be very glad you did. They are just three of the 34 ports on the historic and visually stunning Hurtigruten coastal voyage.
A journey with Hurtigruten is unlike any cruise. The ships – they are an intriguing amalgam of cruise liner, ferry and cargo boat – sail up and down the Norwegian coast every day, just as they have done for more than 120 years.
They carry vital goods to isolated hamlets, pick up freshly caught fish and take locals to visit relatives. But a fair proportion of those on board will be travellers eager to admire the breathtaking seascapes on what is arguably the world’s most beautiful voyage.
The ships are nearly always close to the coast, sailing between islands and into slender fjords to hidden villages. It means passengers enjoy incredible vistas, especially in summer when the days barely pause for night. Spring and autumn are also great times to experience this spectacular journey when fares are at their lowest.
Walter Christen's insight:
Cruising in Norway is on my must do cruise list. The scenic beauty of the region and the people and culture are fascinating and as an amateur photographer, the photographic possibilities are endless.
Hurtigruten is the premiere luxury adventure cruise line and is the cruise line I will pick when I plan this cruise.
The allure of maritime exploration beckons to us all at one time or another with the promise of a seafaring voyage to lands afar, perhaps the same charted courses followed by the Vikings and other legendary explorers from the past. I have long dreamed of sailing upon the cresting waves of the North Sea along a rugged Norwegian coast; a majestic setting where spectacular fjords carve their way between the mountains and the only sounds breaking this idyllic silence is the crashing of the waves, thundering waterfalls heard on high, and perhaps a cacophony of seagulls flying alongside my vessel. This is the stuff of dreams, the voyage of a lifetime.
Tracing its roots back 1893 when a fledgling shipping line began operations along the hurtigruten or "swift route," the Hurtigruten line sailed along the western coast of Norway from Trondheim to Hammerfest, far above the Arctic circle. More than a century later, Hurtigruten expeditions venture beyond the Norwegian coast—Spitsbergen, Svalbard; Iceland; Greenland and even to ends of the earth—Antarctica!
Sail upon a Norwegian vessel designed not only for maritime trade and transport but for leisure travel as well. While the ship's operations get underway each day, you and your fellow travelers are off on your next adventure to explore and discover the rich heritage and traditions of each new port of call. And when you arrive, be sure to take a good long look at your surrounds. What sets this port apart from the last? How has the landscape changed? What indelible impressions from the past will you discover? "Connect with your inner explorer" is Hurtigruten's hallmark and it's easy to understand why!
Walter Christen's insight:
A cruise to ports in Norway aboard Hurtigruten is on my bucket list. The picturesque villages and cities, and the stunning landscapes are some of the reasons I want to go to this region. And depending upon the time of year, being able to see the northern lights would be perfect.
At first glance, the Galapagos Islands look like scrubby, desolate bumps of land in the middle of the ocean. But when you actually set foot on the beach, you immediately see an amazing abundance of wildlife.
You’ll see birds called boobies with red feet and blue beaks, napping sea lions, giant tortoises, iguanas and, if you’re lucky, Galapagos penguins. There are also magnificent frigate birds with chests that puff up like red balloons, sea turtles that pop their heads out of the water to look at passing kayakers, finches, bright red crabs, herons and even owls.
Many of these species are found only here in the Galapagos, located in the Pacific Ocean about 600 miles west of Ecuador. And what’s fascinating and almost disconcerting is that the birds and animals look directly into your eyes and don’t fly or scurry off. They have no natural predators and are therefore fearless.
Walter Christen's insight:
I imagine that the Galapagos Islands are on many adventure travelers bucket list. Silverseas 100 guest Silver Galapagos would be a great way to check this off the list.
I am an avid amateur photographer and would love the oppurtunity to capture the wildlife with my cameras.
It's official: Cruise giant Carnival Corp. (CCL) will launch its first voyages from the USA to Cuba in May.
The parent company of Carnival, Princess and eight other cruise brands on Monday said the Cuban government had approved its previously announced plans to begin sailings to the island nation out of Miami.
The cruises, which already are on sale, will be operated bi-weekly by the company's new social impact-focused Fathom brand, which will debut in April with volunteer vacations to the Dominican Republic. The trips will take place on Fathom's 704-passenger Adonia, a former P&O Cruises vessel.
Walter Christen's insight:
Cuba has been on my cruise bucket list for some time. Now at least it is an attainable goal. I want to explore the country, meet the people and yes, see the old American automobiles.
Scuba divers will love this offering from Silversea Expeditions, a branch of luxury cruise line Silversea. On certain voyages this year and next, the line is featuring free scuba trips on 20 voyages in of some of the world’s most remote areas and top diving sites in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Well, here’s a clever promotion for anglers out there who may be taking an Alaska cruise on Princess Cruises this summer: The cruise line is offering to cook whatever you catch.
When I saw the promotion, it brought back a fond memory of a charming Italian captain named Potenzoni, who was master of the long-departed Fairsky cruise ship from the now defunct Sitmar Cruises, which was acquired by Princess. The captain loved to fish in port and would have his chefs prepare what he caught during Mexican Riviera cruises.
