By Brian Johnston
Viking Sea is sailing from San Juan.
Iceland bound
Lindblad Expeditions has three new cruises to Iceland with various departures in June and August 2017. One is a seven-day "Hot Springs and Icebergs" cruise on National Geographic Explorer, which starts with an exploration of Iceland including its thermal baths and capital, Reykjavik. A plane then takes guests over Greenland's ice cap, before the Explorer sails along its glacier-lined edge. A 10-day "Wild West Coast" cruise on National Geographic Orion explores Iceland's Westfjord region and sails among icebergs in the world's largest fiord system. It, too, takes in Greenland.
Phone 1300 361 012. See expeditions.com
Choices, choices
Variety Cruises has rolled out new cruises in destinations including Costa Rica, transits of the Panama Canal and the Seychelles. But the new cruises are particularly notable for their focus on the Mediterranean, with offerings in the Greek Islands, Adriatic Sea and Spain, the latter in conjunction with Atlantic-bound Portugal. Next year, Variety's new mega-yacht Callisto also launches an inaugural Icelandic season. All the new itineraries showcase the company's intimate yacht-style of small-ship cruising, with the freedom to explore history, culture, cuisine and notable sights in ports on privately guided tours.
Phone 1800 623 267. See discovertheworld.com.au
Boating life
Le Boat has announced the launch of new Horizon boat models in 2017 for self-boating holidays on Europe's inland waterways. All the new, larger Horizon models will be built to the same high-spec as the company's original cruiser but each will either sleep five, seven or nine people. They will feature the same deck area for barbecues and sunbathing, plus spacious indoor lounge areas. The new model boats will travel on the Canal du Midi and Burgundy in France and the Thames in England, as well as in Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy.
Phone 1800 118 940. See leboat.com.au
European explorer
Regent's just-launched Seven Seas Explorer will be sailing out of London in June 2017 on a couple of interesting northern European itineraries. The 11-night "Discover the Isles" cruise sails around the British Isles to destinations such as Newcastle, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Dublin and Cork, and offers a choice of 43 shore excursions. It will be followed by a 12-night "Baltic Odyssey" to Belgium, the Netherlands and six Baltic countries. Varied shore excursions include sea kayaking, the Russian Ballet, a chocolate-making tour and much more. Three-day, pre-cruise stays in London are also available.
Phone 1300 455 200. See rssc.com.au
Central casting
Viking Cruises has two interesting new cruises in December 2017. The 22-day "From the Caribbean to the Amazon" cruise on Viking Sea sails round-trip from San Juan in Puerto Rico through the Caribbean islands and into the mouth of the Amazon River in Brazil. Viking Sun is meanwhile the latest ship with Cuba in its sights, with a new itinerary round-trip from Miami that takes advantage of the new Cuban entente. The eight-day "Central American Shores and Cuba" cruise visits five countries and five ports, and notably has an overnight in Havana for two days of exploration.
Phone 1800 131 744. See vikingcruises.com.au
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