Cruise ship submarines now standard

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This was published 7 years ago

Cruise ship submarines now standard

By Sally Macmillan
Crystal Esprit's mini submarine takes three people down to about 300 metres.

Crystal Esprit's mini submarine takes three people down to about 300 metres.

A few years back I had to look up the acronym ROV when reading a review of the latest equipment being installed on an expedition ship. Nowadays, remotely operated underwater vehicles are pretty much standard issue on any self-respecting expedition ship; they are equipped with video cameras so passengers can view footage of what's going on in the ocean far below the ship's hull.

The latest generation of small-scale, luxury expedition ships are being fitted with increasingly sophisticated tools for exploring what lies beneath – and above, in some cases. Crystal Cruises' Crystal Esprit, which started cruising for the luxury line in 2015, boasts a mini-submarine among its extensive collection of water toys.

The 62-passenger ship sails in the Mediterranean and the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. The mini-sub takes three people down to about 300 metres to check out coral reefs and marine life and it costs $US599 a go. Crystal is upping the ante even further with its 200-passenger Crystal Endeavor, which is due to make its debut in August 2018.

Make the most of shore excursions.

Make the most of shore excursions.

Named after Captain Cook's research vessel HMS Endeavour, Crystal Endeavor will operate expedition cruises in polar and tropical regions. As well as featuring two helicopters and two landing pads for flightseeing expeditions, the ship will be equipped with two seven-person submarines, eight electrical amphibious zodiacs and Seabob underwater scooters, as well as more run-of-the-mill jet skis, kayaks and snorkelling and scuba-diving kit.

At the same time that Crystal Endeavor is due to set sail, Australian company Scenic will be launching its first expedition vessel. Scenic Eclipse will carry 228 passengers, and, like Crystal Endeavour, will have two helicopters and a seven-seat submarine on board.

It seems there is a growing market in "tourist" subs; a submersible manufacturer in the Netherlands, U-Boat Worx, has recently launched three new models, with some capable of diving to 1140 metres. The company's founder and chairman, Bert Houtman, said that the "Cruise Sub" series was inspired by the success of its operations on ships such as Crystal Esprit.

Werney Beyer.

Werney Beyer.

French luxury expedition line Ponant recently announced that it has signed a contract with Norwegian shipyard Vard to build four new ships, thereby doubling its fleet. The first is set to launch in 2018 – this is going to be a busy year for the adventure-cruising business – and while these 184-passenger ships won't be toting submarines and choppers, they will feature the world's first underwater lounges. Passengers will be able to sit back with a drink while taking in views of passing marine life. What will they think up next?

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MEET THE CREW

NAME Werney Beyer, from Austria

Hurtigruten fleet.

Hurtigruten fleet.

POSITION Cruise director, Scenic ships sailing from Amsterdam to Basel

MY JOB … is to be on hand to help guests 24/7 – there are always exciting challenges to cope with!

FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT Standing on the sundeck and looking at the countryside passing by, especially in autumn when the vines are being harvested.

Erica Davis.

Erica Davis.

FAVOURITE PORTS Rüdesheim on the legendary Rhine Gorge and Bernkastel-Kues and Cochem on the spectacular Moselle River.

INSIDER TIP Join a bicycle tour from Breisach (the Black Forest in Germany) to Colmar in France – we ride through little French villages in Alsace and have a cheese tasting in a local market in Nieuf Brisach – just stunning!

TIP

Be prepared for showers wherever you're travelling. Rainraps' hooded, rainproof ponchos are lightweight, stylish and come with a pouch for packing. Add $US10 for delivery outside the US; see http://rainraps.com/rainraps.html.

NEWS

Adventure unlimited

Norwegian line Hurtigruten, which has been operating for more than 120 years in Antarctica, the Arctic and along the Norwegian coast, has ordered "up to" four new ships, two of which are scheduled to set sail in 2018 and 2019. They will carry about 600 passengers and will be designed for expeditions in polar waters as well as for the Norwegian coastal route. It is the company's first new ship order for 10 years. Daniel Skjeldam, Hurtigruten's CEO, said, "This is a milestone for us and an expression of our confidence in the growth of the global market for adventure tourism." From 2017, Hurtigruten, which now has 14 ships in its fleet, will offer new adventure cruises to the Amazon Rainforest and Arctic Canada. See hurtigruten.com.

Back a winner

Carnival Spirit will be off and racing to the 2016 Melbourne Cup on October 30 for a six-night cruise that boasts a packed onboard schedule as well as three days of racing festivities in Melbourne. Sydney Weekender's Erica Davis (pictured) will be hosting a fashion presentation with designer Karen Gee, who specialises in dressing women of all shapes and sizes. Well-known race caller John Tapp returns to the ship to share his knowledge, tips and anecdotes. Fares include general admission tickets into Flemington for the Emirates Melbourne Cup and Crown Oaks Day races and transfers on Cup day (November 1) – or you can upgrade your ticket on one or both race days in a range of packages. See carnival.com.au.

Va-va Voom

Voom high-speed Internet – which is fast enough to stream music, movies and videos – is now available on all 24 ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Cruisers can choose from two packages: Surf, which allows you to surf the web, stay in touch via email and share photos on social media, and Surf and Stream, which has the added capacity of streaming movies and music from Netflix or Spotify and connecting with video chat apps such as Skype. Surf packages start at $US12.99 per device per day while Surf and Stream packages cost $US17.99 per device per day. The more devices you add to the package, the cheaper the daily rate.

DEAL OF THE WEEK

Worldwide Cruise Centres' 'Fall Colours, Big Apple and Big Ben' fly, double-cruise and stay deal features seven-night cruises aboard Regal Princess and Queen Mary 2, plus stays in New York and London. The 20-night package includes visits to Rhode Island, Boston and Maine in New England, and St John and Halifax in Canada. Departing Australia on September 30, fares start from $6999; offer valid until June 30. See www.worldwidecruisecentres.com.au.

MORE DEALS

FLIGHT CENTRE Book an oceanview or higher category cabin on Celebrity Solstice's 12-night New Zealand cruise, departing Sydney on February 5, 2017, and you can add a free perk. Choose from a classic beverage package for two, prepaid gratuities for two, up to $US150 worth of onboard credit per person or unlimited internet onboard. From $2249, valid until July 4. Quote code 4066253; phone 1300 939 414, see www.flightcentre.com.au.

OCEANIA CRUISES is offering reduced single supplements of 50 per cent on a wide selection of cruises in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska and South America. Available until June 30 or until sold out. Phone 1300 355 200, see oceaniacruises.com.

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