Kayaking in Alaska with AdventureSmith. Credit: Picasa 2.7
WORLD WANDERINGS
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the latest to roll out its new voyages, offering 113 itineraries around the world between April 2018 and April 2019, and including 28 maiden ports of call. Seven Seas Voyager will sail the Mediterranean on mostly seven-night voyages before moving on to the Caribbean, while Seven Seas Mariner kicks off in Alaska before crossing the Pacific to Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan – including a 36-night Grand Aussie Adventure circumnavigation of our continent from Sydney on December 15, 2018. Seven Seas Navigator, meanwhile, embarks on a 131-night World Cruise to 62 ports.
Phone 1300 455 200. See rssc.com.au
WINTER WONDERS
Cruise Express has a new 15-night Journey to the Northern Lights cruise-tour starting on February 9, 2018, along the Norwegian coastline to the Russian border. It begins with flights from Australia to Oslo and two nights in the Norwegian capital, followed by stays in Voss and Bergen and a ride on the famously scenic Flam Railway. Guests then board Hurtigruten's Kong Harald for a six-day voyage through the fjords to destinations including the Lofoten Islands, Tromso, Trondheim and Ålesund. The cruise ends with a night at the Snow Hotel in Kirkenes.
Phone 1300 764 509. See cruiseexpress.com.au
VIKING IN AUSTRALIA
Viking Ocean Cruises will be sailing Australian and neighbouring waters for the first time from late 2018. The company has announced 17-day Komodo and the Australian Coast cruises between Sydney and Bali (or the reverse) between November 2018 and early March 2019. Eleven ports of call include Lombok, the Whitsundays and Newcastle. The company will also operate 15-day cruises between Sydney and Auckland (or the reverse) between December 2018 and February 2019. By 2019 Viking will have six 930-passenger ocean ships that will also be operating new routes in Asia, Alaska and the Caribbean.
Phone 1800 131 744. See vikingcruises.com.au
INSIDE STORY
AdventureSmith Explorations is adding a new charter ship to its roster this year when it introduces the purpose-built 100-guest expedition ship National Geographic Quest to its itineraries in Alaska. Quest will sail the Inside Passage after launching in Seattle in June this year. AdventureSmith's Seattle to Sitka will explore the coast of British Columbia and Alaska's Inside Passage over 15 days, before spending the northern summer exploring the coves and fjords between Sitka, Glacier Bay National Park, Juneau and Petersburg on an eight-day Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness route. The company also charters other vessels in Alaska.
See adventuresmithexplorations.com
GIRT BY SEA
Cruiseco is offering a voyage around Australia on Ponant's luxury vessel L'Austral. The 40-night circumnavigation departs Sydney on January 25, 2018, and, among other destinations, visits Wineglass Bay (Freycinet), Beauty Point (Tamar Valley) and King Island in Tasmania; Port Campbell (12 Apostles) in Victoria; Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln in South Australia; numerous stops along the WA coastline, including an overnight in Broome; Darwin and Yirrkala Aboriginal Settlement in the Northern Territory; and various islands in Queensland. Α range of overnight excursions away from the ship includes Cape Tribulation and Daintree Rainforest.
Phone 02 9492 8520. See cruising.com.au
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