This was published 5 years ago
Cruising news: Silversea Cruises has four new Sub-Antarctic voyages
By Brian Johnston
A Zodiac excursion in Antarctica with Silver Explorer.
GOING WILD
Silversea Cruises has four new Sub-Antarctic voyages departing from Dunedin in New Zealand on expedition ship Silver Explorer between December 2020 and February 2021. New Zealand and Australia's Sub-Antarctic Islands are UNESCO World Heritage listed, with voyages offering the opportunity to see 10 species of penguins and a variety of albatrosses, seals and sea lions. The islands are home to 126 bird species, five of which breed nowhere else in the world. Guests will also have the opportunity to spot minke and humpback whales. Book before April 30 for significant early-booking bonuses.
Phone 1300 306 872. See silversea.com
TASMANIAN TOUR
Coral Expeditions has announced an annual 14-night expedition cruise circumnavigating Tasmania, the first departing Hobart on January 1, 2020, on Coral Discoverer. The cruise will focus on the key themes of wildlife and nature, maritime and convict history, local characters and the culinary flavours of the island state. Highlights include visits to King Island, Martha Lavinia Beach, historic Cape Wickham lighthouse and Strezlecki National Park on Flinders Island. There will also be opportunities to trek off the tourist trail on Fluted Cape and Mount Beattie tracks, and explore Bathurst Harbour by tender.
Phone 1800 079 545. See coralexpeditions.com
PLAN AHEAD
Riviera Travel is launching two new five-star river ships in April 2019, the 169-passenger William Wordsworth and 132-passenger George Eliot, with another ship named Geoffrey Chaucer arriving in 2020, bringing its fleet to 14 ships. The company also has two new itineraries for 2020, a seven-night Seine, Paris and Normandy cruise round-trip journey from Paris, and a seven-night Vienna, Bohemia and Treasures of the Danube cruise return from Vienna. The British-based company launched European river cruises in the Australian market in 2016, and has seen Australian bookings swell by 73 per cent over the past year.
GREEK GIFTS
Cultural and archaeological Europe tour specialist Peter Sommer Travels has a journey in Greece this year by traditional wooden gulet. The eight-day Cruise the Aegean itinerary from Kos to Patmos has departures on June 15 and August 31, 2019, and explores the Dodecanese islands, including mountainous Kalymnos, Pserimos, Nisyros and its brooding volcanic cone, Patmos, crowned by its extraordinary monastery. Expert guide Professor Tony Spawforth will introduce the region's long history. British-based Peter Sommer Travels also offers other gulet cruises in Croatia, Greece and Turkey, with a focus on history, culture, food and wine.
See petersommer.com
RIVERS OF CHOICE
Europe's largest river cruise operator, CroisiEurope, has launched its new 2020 worldwide program featuring 170 itineraries on 39 waterways, with early booking offers available before August 31, 2019. The program includes cruises on popular rivers such as the Rhine, Seine, Danube and Douro, plus more innovative itineraries on the Guadalquivir River in Spain, Po in Italy, Garonne in France and Lake Kariba in southern Africa. The company also cruises French canals and the Adriatic and Mediterranean seas, where a seven-night cruise explores Cyprus and the Holy Land on departures between January and March 2020.
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