This was published 7 years ago
The Shipping News: Arctic adventures with Poseidon Expeditions
Poseidon Expeditions is reprising its seasonal, in-depth cruise to Greenland this coming northern spring.Credit: Jason Row
Disko fever
Poseidon Expeditions is reprising its seasonal, in-depth cruise to Greenland this coming northern spring with a nine-day "Disko Bay and West Greenland" voyage in May 2017 on the 114-passenger Sea Spirit. Guests board the ship in the Greenland capital Nuuk and disembark in Kangerlussuaq. Disko Bay is noted for icebergs created by calving glaciers. Humpback, fin and minke whales are active, and guests are introduced to the Greenlandic Inuit culture and traditions in remote villages while exploring Nuuk Fiord, the world's second-largest fiord system. Activities include Zodiac excursions, sea kayaking and a visit to the Inuit Art Museum.
Crystal gazing
Crystal River Cruises has unveiled its itineraries on its new 2018 river ships, which offer all-suite luxury accommodations with private balcony and butler service. Crystal Debussy will sail the Rhine and Moselle rivers between Amsterdam and Basel on cruises such as a seven-night "Tulips & Windmills" journey through the Netherlands and Belgium, while Crystal Ravel will offer varied itineraries along the Rhine, Moselle, Main and Danube rivers, embarking from Vienna, Budapest and Basel. Among them is a seven-day "Danube Serenade" between Vienna and Budapest and a 14-day "Majestic Europe" between Basel and Vienna.
Phone 1800 251 174. See crystalcruises.com
Variations on a theme
Myanmar's The Strand Cruise is offering a series of themed river cruises on the Irrawaddy next year, with two culinary cruises in March 2017, a photography cruise in October, and regular classical music cruises. The first is in February 2017 when eight musicians from the Opéra de Paris and Orchestre de Paris board for a four-day Valentine's Day cruise departing Bagan on February 13. Among the intimate musical events will be an on-board concert featuring Brahms' quintet for clarinet and strings, and a Mozart-themed recital and dinner on a private sandbank.
Phone 0415 955 137. See thestrandcruise.com
Fine fare
Details of the restaurants on Silversea's new flagship Silver Muse, set to launch this April, have just been revealed. The ship will have eight restaurants, including the Relais & Châteaux-branded La Dame for elegant French fare, the Japanese venue Kabuki and a contemporary Asian restaurant Indochine. The more informal Silver Note will provide tapas-style dishes and jazz, and La Terrazza will feature interactive food stations including a salumeria and mozzarella bar. Also Italian-themed is Regina Margherita for poolside pizzas. Seafood and steak restaurant Atlantide and cook-your-own venue Hot Rocks complete the tantalising choices.
Phone 1300 306 872. See silversea.com
Going wild
A leading World Wildlife Fund (WWF) conservation expert will present a series of lectures during the maiden Australian season of the newly refurbished Azamara Journey. Dr Sybille Klenzendorf, a species conservation expert and leader for WWF's Arctic program on polar-bear conservation, joins Azamara Journey's 15-night "Australia & New Zealand" voyage departing Sydney on February 19, 2017. Lecture topics will include climate-change impacts on polar bears and marine species, and wildlife trafficking and trade. Guests will also hear stories of Dr Klenzendorf's interactions with wildlife during her 25-year career in conservation.
Phone 1800 754 500. See azamaraclubcruises.com
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