Cruising: The Shipping News

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This was published 6 years ago

Cruising: The Shipping News

By Brian Johnston
Artist's impression of Scenic Eclipse in Antarctica. The ultra-luxury, 228-passenger ocean ship is due to launch in August 2018.

Artist's impression of Scenic Eclipse in Antarctica. The ultra-luxury, 228-passenger ocean ship is due to launch in August 2018.

TOTAL ECLIPSE

Scenic has released its brochures for its forthcoming "discovery yacht" Scenic Eclipse, its ultra-luxury, 228-passenger ocean ship that launches in August 2018. The itineraries wander from Croatia to Cuba and along the South American coast, but are especially notable for polar voyages, which include visits to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands in the south; and Norway, Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland and the high Arctic in the north. Inclusive shore excursions will enable passengers to kayak, e-bike, snorkel and make sorties by Zodiac, among other active options. Scenic Eclipse will also carry a helicopter and submarine.

Phone 13 81 28. See scenic.com.au

TALL ORDER

UTracks has a new, eight-day "Bike & Sail" journey along the rugged coast of Northern Ireland. The itinerary combines day cycles along the coast between Belfast and Londonderry with accommodation on the tall ship Thalassa, providing sailing enthusiasts the chance to hoist the sails and enjoy the experience of a tall ship at sea. Other highlights include a guided cycle tour around Belfast, a day cycle to the nature reserve on Rathlin Island, and visits to the Giant's Causeway, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery.

Phone 1300 303 368. See utracks.com

ASIAN EXPANSION

Avalon Waterways is increasing its offerings in Asia next year, with new river-cruise itineraries in both Myanmar and Vietnam-Cambodia, as well as a new ship on the Mekong that will double the company's passenger capacity. The 36-passenger Avalon Saigon launches in September 2018 and joins sister ship Avalon Siem Reap on weekly departures and on a variety of cruises, including new 18- and 21-day sailings. There's also a new 16-day itinerary on the increasingly popular Irrawaddy River. Avalon is also expanding in Europe on new eight-day Rhine cruises departing from both Frankfurt and Amsterdam.

Phone 1300 230 234. See avalonwaterways.com.au

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POLE POSITION

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is rolling out five expedition cruises in its 2018-19 season. Among them, Hanseatic will be sailing a round-trip itinerary from Kangerlussuaq in Greenland in August 2018 that, depending on ice conditions, will sail Greenland's west and north-west coasts and the islands of the Canadian Arctic. Bremen undertakes a particularly ambitious expedition from Tromsø in Norway to Nome in Alaska in August 2018 via the Northeast Passage across the Russian Arctic, visiting legendary destinations such as Murmansk, Franz Josef Land and the Wrangel Islands. The ship will also be sailing in Antarctica in early 2019.

Phone 02 9977 7100. See hl-cruises.com

ALASKAN ADVENTURE

Small-ship adventure cruise line UnCruise Adventures has added a new ship and seven new itineraries to its Alaskan cruises in 2018. The 88-passenger, replica coal steamer Legacy, newly outfitted with skiffs and kayaks, brings UnCruise's Alaskan fleet to seven. The company will offer 10 different adventure cruises and 160 departures in Alaska between April and October 2018, ranging from a week to 14 days in length. Among them is a new "Glaciers & Whales" itinerary between Juneau and Sitka, and a new "Glacier Bay National Park Adventure" with opportunities for hiking and kayaking in this spectacular and remote destination.

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