Lindblad Expeditions announced recently that it will redeploy National Geographic Orion to Europe in 2016 after its next Antarctica season. The reaction has been mixed, with some commentators talking about the venerable expedition company "abandoning" the southern hemisphere.
However, Lindblad's Australian spokesman Jeremy Lindblad says reaction from existing Orion guests and local travel operators has been positive. "While this part of the world is incredibly intriguing and is still very much on our radar, many of our guests have indicated they're looking for a change. Sixty-five per cent of our guests have visited the Kimberley, 75 per cent and upwards have travelled around Indonesia and more Orion past passengers are now booking expeditions on our other nine ships around the world," Lindblad says.
Lindblad Expedition Cruises has a unique expedition heritage and National Geographic Orion's European cruises will host speakers who are experts in ancient and modern history, political science, art and viniculture.
Cycling, hiking and kayaking are also on the agenda and a National Geographic photographer will be on board to run workshops and advise seasoned snappers and keen amateurs on how to best record their experiences.
Where will Orion be heading in Europe? "We are beefing up our Baltic and British Isles itineraries," Lindblad says. "We'll also be calling at smaller ports in Portugal, Spain, France and Scandinavia." The cruises will be seven nights and Lindblad anticipates that Australian travellers will either book back-to-back cruises on non-repeating itineraries, or add a week or two of cruising to a regular trip to Europe.
As for a return to Australasia, Lindblad says it would never rule out operating in any part of the world, as long as it was of interest to the guests and to Lindblad.
Meanwhile, other operators such as APT's Noble Caledonia and Silversea Expeditions are increasing their presence in the Kimberley, Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia. Sarina Bratton, original founder of Orion Expeditions and now Australasian chairman of Ponant, knows the region well. "Darwin and Broome will doubtless miss the income from Orion's sailings in the Kimberley," she says. "However, the gap left by National Geographic Orion will be readily filled by Noble Caledonia, Silversea ... and maybe even Ponant."
Q&A Meet the crew
NAME Stu Dunn, from Australia
POSITION Cruise director, Carnival Spirit
MY JOB I oversee all the entertainment onboard Carnival Spirit and provide guests with information about daily events, shows and going ashore in our beautiful ports. I am one of the most recognised faces on the ship and I'm always available to answer guests' questions and guide them in the right direction. As cruise director I MC shows, host activities, and set the fun tone of the cruise.
MY TYPICAL DAY starts with a 7am walk around the deck with our early-rising guests. Shortly afterwards I host a TV show, present information talks onstage, host afternoon activities, then introduce comedy and variety entertainers on the main stage. By midnight it's time to call it a day. Somewhere in between I answer emails, prepare schedules and attend meetings.
FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT Being a part of the team that sailed on Carnival Spirit from the US to introduce Carnival Cruise Lines to Australia was pretty special. During that sailing we performed the traditional "equator crossing ceremony" for our guests and team members. I was dressed as King Neptune and with the captain, crew and guests all playing a part, it was one of the best and funniest moments of my life.
FAVOURITE CRUISE PORTS Having cruised Alaska and Hawaii for three years, I have a fondness for Skagway, Alaska. The hiking in the mountains is sensational.
TIP FOR PASSENGERS Read the daily program and attend the information talks presented by the cruise director. Not only do cruise directors have a habit of making an informative talk into a funny and entertaining show, being "in the know" before you arrive in a port can make all the difference to your experience there.
TIP If you're travelling any distance to the port where you'll be embarking on your cruise, it's a good idea to stay in town the night before to make quite sure you'll make the ship on time. Delayed flights, heavy traffic or bad weather could mean you miss the boat – this way you have time up your sleeve to start your holiday thoroughly relaxed.
NEWS
New ship on the block
Princess Cruises is sending the 3082-passenger Emerald Princess to Sydney in late 2016 to join the four other Princess ships that will be operating locally in the 2016-17 season. Launched in 2007, it will be the line's newest and biggest ship to be based in Australia. Highlights include 13 dining options, four swimming pools and two nightclubs, as well as signature Princess offerings such as the child-free Sanctuary, poolside Movies Under the Stars and the lavish Lotus Spa. See princess.com.
Scenic ship in Asia for 2016
Home-grown international river cruise line Scenic Tours has started building Scenic Spirit, a luxury vessel especially designed to cruise the Mekong. It will launch in 12 months and will operate eight-day itineraries between Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and Siem Reap in Cambodia. Scenic Spirit will have 34 spacious suites – the largest and impressive four-room, 80 square metre royal panorama suite – four dining venues, a resort-style pool deck and bar, and open-air cinema. Earlybird bookings made by April 30 include free return flights to Asia. See scenictours.com.au.
MSC Grand Tour
MSC Cruises has launched the MSC Grand Tour, a package combining either two, three or four itineraries in one voyage aboard up to four different MSC cruise ships. There's a choice of MSC Grand Mediterranean and MSC Grand Northern Europe Tours, which will range from 14 to 28 days in the Mediterranean and will be 14 nights in Northern Europe. MSC Cruises will arrange free transfers between ships as well as deliver luggage between ships. Passengers booked on a Grand Tour including more than one ship will enjoy priority check-in from the second cruise onwards and other perks, such as free shore excursions in select ports, will also apply. See msccruises.com.au.
DEALS
OFFER OF THE WEEK
Save up to $5000 a person on ecruising.travel's 33-night fly/stay/double cruise package in Alaska, North America and the Panama Canal. The trip starts in Seattle on September 17 and includes a 10-day Norwegian Jewel cruise to Vancouver, flight to San Francisco, 17-night Norwegian Pearl cruise to Miami, and return flights to Australia. From $7609 when booked by February 28. Phone 1300 369 848, see ecruising.travel.
MORE DEALS
CAPTAIN COOK CRUISES FIJI Take a seven-night Yasawa Island or Northern Discovery cruise on the 130-passenger MV Reef Endeavour and pay for four nights. Fares start at $1695 until February 2015 and are valid for travel from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016. Phone 1800 804 843, see captaincook.com.au.
AVALON WATERWAYS is extending its bargain airfare deal, offering return flights to Europe from $799 a person when they're booked with any of its 2015 European river cruises. If you've already booked your airfare for an Avalon cruise, the company will give you a $500 credit. Valid until March 31. Phone 1300 230 234, see avalonwaterways.com.au.
