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AWARDSSPECIAL ISSUE

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Adventure cruising is one

of the fastest-growing

sectors of the industry and

cruise companies are

responding with newer,

more luxurious vessels.

he burgeoning demand for

exploration and adventure is,

perhaps, not surprising given that

so many of us, raised on David

Attenborough's documentaries and concerns

aboul our ptanet, now hunger lo get close

to nalure.

Greg Mortimer is one of Australia's very fewhome grown heroes of Antarctic exploration

- his company was among the ploneers ofmodern commercial expedition cruising some

25 years ago."When I started operating cruises to

Antarctica ln 1990 there were three small

ships involved in the industry, carrying about2,000 people per annum. Now there are

approximately 33 ships carrying about 30,000

56 www.cruisepassenger.com.au

people per annum and 95 per cent ofthesego to the Antarctic Peninsula "

G'eg has retained the authentic exploration

values of his early voyages. "That experierce

has driven me to take Adventure Associates

fhls new company] out to the boundaries, like

the voyage we are doing to Mawsons Huts

with the University of NSW [in December]l'

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Companies like Aurora, Heritage

Expeditions and Adventure Associates are

embracing this "purist"form of expedition

cruising. But not everyone wants to cruise in

a repurposed former Soviet oceanographic

vessel like Polar Pioneer built for the rigours

of the Arctic, robust and reliable but lacking in

many'truise ship" creature comforts.

WORDS: RODERICK EIME

Changing market forces and a growing

public awareness about Antarctic travel

means itt notjust hard-core adventurers

seeking the Antarctic experience.

Enrer the five-slar expedition cru se's,

which inject many of the luxuries and delightsof the big-ship experience into smaller,

adventure-sized vessels carrylng just 200

passengers or fewer.TL^i. -^^^ .,^^-^ h -. -^."ked ar| | rgil opPcoror rLc I ro) )Pol

interestlng debate among those who spend

their holidays in such far flung places about

when an adventure is an expedltion, and

when it is.just a cruise.

Traditional lines like Silversea, Compagnie

du Ponanl, Hapag-Lloyd and ever Celebr'ly

are enticing travellers away from thepredictable big-ship experience and onto

smaller, boutique vessels with a dash ofderring do.

To do this, they are translating thoseaspecl s o[ l he big ship that are'expected" by

their clientele - things like fine dining with

silver service, massages and spa treatrnents.

But cabaret and sland-up comics are

typically replaced by erudite lecturers and

experts in ecological studies like ornithology,glaciology, ethnology or history.

In March, Lindblad Expeditions will rename

its newest vessel /VationalCeographtc Orion.

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Sweden, Finland and Iceland)Why you'd go: To meet indigenouscommunities in remote regions; follow inthe footsteps of famous explorers; exper ience

the midnight sun.

What you'll see: Polar bears, whales, seals,

pufflns, reindeer, muskox; breathtaking ice-

scapes, lords and tundra wildflowers.Who goes there: Adventure Associates,

Aurora, Compagnie du Ponant, G Adventures,Hapag-L loyd Cruises, Heritage Expeditions,Hurtigruten, Lindblad, One Ocean, Peregrine/

Quark, Silversea, World Expeditions.

When to go: May to September.

t. Russian Far East/a7 l I lI t( :ntr-n:Tt?,:t PAnt nal r t: Kol rno

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5trart. Lnul<cnr 5ea)Whyyoud go:The"land of fire and ice"has

only been open to Westerners since 1990;

many of the giant snow-capped voicanoes

WORDS: SALLY MACMILLAN

are still active; to learn about indiqenousculture and Russian history.

What you'll see: Brown bears and reindeer;

nomadic reindeer herders; extraordinarily rich

marine and birdlife in the Kuril lslands.

Who goes there: Hapag-Lloyd, Silversea

Expeditions, Heritage Expeditions.

When to go: May to September.

ll.IndonesiaWhy you'd go: The world's largest

archipelago consists of some 18,000

geographically and culturally dlverse islands,

of which about 12,000 are uninhabited.What you'll see: Orang-utans in Borneo;

Torajan villages in Sulawesi; the boat peopleof Sangliot Dol; Komodo dragons; an infinitevarietv of exotic flora and fauna.

Who goes there: APT, Compagnie duPonant, Hapag-Lloyd, Lindblad, Seabourn,(ihrcr<c: Fvnpditinn<

When to go: May to September.

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ADVENTURE DESTINATIONSExploring the world's most remote, unspoilt regions on a small ship is

a dream for adventurous cruisers. Check our at-a-glance guide to the hot spots

where key specialist companies are operating next year and beyond.

)lCRUISE

1. AntarcticaWhy you'd go: lts wildlVisitor numbers whocan make landfall are limited for ecologicalreasons. ltineraries vary: check that SouthGeorgia is included. Sea and weatherconditions can be extreme but if you're up forthe challenge it's a life-changing experience.

What you'll see: Wildlife such as penguins,seals, birds, dolphins and orcas; icebergs

calving in a vast frozen icescape; scientificresearch stations.

Who goes there: Adventure Associates,

Aurora, Compagnie du Ponant, G Adventures,

Hapag I loyd Cruises, Heritage txpedilions,Hurtigruten, Lindblad, One Ocean, Peregrine/

Quark, Seabourn, Silversea, World Expeditions.When to go: November to March.

2. The Arctic (Arctic Ocean,. f

^ I npans or Lanaoa. Kussra,

al 1 ^

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58 wwwcruisepassenger.com.au

ADVENTURE cRUrsrNG t*I

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g. Peruvian Amazon RiverWhy you'd go: The Upper Amazon River

can only be navigated by small or expeditionships and it's heaven for naturalists and

ornithologists. Expeditions on remotetributarles are taken on small skiffs and voucan visit riverbank villages.

What you'll see: The Amazon rainforest is

home to the highest concentration of bird

species on the planet, plus unique animal

species such as red howler monkeys and

three toed sloths.

Who goes there: Aqua Expeditions,

Avalon Waterways, Delfin Amazon Cruises,

Hapag-Lloyd, Lindblad.

When to go: Year-round.

6. calapagos IslandsWhyyou'd go: Because the archipelagowas isolated from mainland South Americafor millions of years, the native animalshave no fear of humans - which meansyou can snorkel with sea lions and have

up-close encounters with birds and animalson the islands.

What you'll see: Marine iguanas, gianttortoises, flightless cormorants, blue- and

red-footed boobys; the Charles DarwinResearch Station.

Who goes there: Celebrity Cruises, LindbladSilversea Ixpeditions, Quasar Expeditions.

When to go: Year-round.

J. Micronesia/Western Pacific IslandsWhy you'd go: To explore the distinctidentities and cultures of the four states ofMicronesia (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and

Yap) and snorkel, kayak and dive in pristine

tropical waters.

What you'll see: Lush volcanic islands,

underwater World War ll wrecks, coral

reefs, a diversity of traditional villagelife and ceremonies, ancient ruins

on Pohnpei.

Who goes there: Lindblad, Silversea

Expeditions.

When to go: Ship visits are scheduled in

March and April 2014.

8. Papua New GuineaWhy you'd go: Papua New Guinea is

relatively close to Australia (160km north)but a totally different world. Some 700 trlbeslive there, each with their own customsand languages. Much of this geographicallyand culturally diverse country is untouchedby tourism.What you'll see: Tribal villagers practising

traditional sing-sings and dances; amazingbirdlife (birds-of-paradise are native to PNG);

pristine coral reefs and colourful marinecreatures;World War ll relics.

Who goes there: Coral Princess Cruises,

Heritage Expeditions, Lindblad, North Star

Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Silversea

Expeditions.

When to go: March to December

$. Africa: Atlantic Coast,CapeVerde Islands,MadagascarWhy you'd go: While mainstream cruise

lines visit Africa s major ports, the West

Coast is less visited. The Cape Verde lslands

and Madagascar are emerging destinationsoffering yet more insights into the'darkcontinent':What you'll see: Spectacular coastlines,

tribal villages, relics of slaving history, howvoodoo originated, jungles, rare wildlife,superb dive sites.

Who goes there: G Adventures, Hapag-

Llovd, Lind blad, Silversea Expeditions.

When to go: Year-round, depending onweather zones; expedition cruises are verylimited in number.

lO.The l(imberleyWhy you'd go: The only way to explore thedramatic Kimberley coastline and its bays and

tributaries is bV sea.

What you'll see: Aboriginal rock art; vast

sandstone gorges and waterfalls; the tidalMontgomery Reef; pearl farms; saltwatercrocs and some 300 bird species.

Who goes there: APT, Coral Princess

Cruises, Lindblad, Silversea Expeditions, NorthStar Cruises (for full list of operatorssee kimberlevcruises.com).

When to go: March to September. *

www.cruisepassenger.com.au 59

Iiis (,','** "t

.tcOnboard experts play

a vital role on any

adventure cruise and thennnd nnoq rnrill I"" , tave you

h,anninn nff thoir A\/Ar\/I rur r:Jrr r:, vr I Lr rLrr L v Lr /

word, rolling in the aislesnr Anffnr\Jtl LJELLgI both.

WORDS

60 www.cTUsepassenger.com.au

hev l'ave becore llc ro, l. s-ar5

ofadventure cruising - the expert

guides who take you to the world's

wild piaces, then enrich thatexperience with their knowledge.They are

now in such high demand that poaching themn \l nnnl I at oalt tror<:n^ Av^. , . i \^ | . ..1-..u ,v L \ucur( rur rcdurt )

is becoming increasingly common in the

adventure-cruise world.Advent.Itrr't.i\er\ don'f l..tt.dve thOuSands

of mi es for the view. They want to touch, feel

and understand the wild ife and environmentthey are visiting.

lecturers, guides and interpreters who have vast

experience in their field.

Whars tle po nt i^ stard,rg ne<t to > r lrresrShackletons grave on South Georgia if you have

no idea who he is and why hes buried there?

What species of penguin lives the farthest

south? Why do wha es go to Antarctic waters?

Why does ice come in different shades of bluear^d low olo .s it?Who !\d5 t"le l sr per)on to

' 11 , oq(rr ,ll', dcnln',:n:i , r ,-l 11 Antarttiro?And, that burning questlon, howdid Shackleton end up buried on South

Georgia?

Justin Friend, of Austronesian Expeditions,ROD EIME So the best expedition cruise lines employ

ADVENTURE CRUISING'RK

Champagne and canapes withthe boffins on a Silversea

Expeditions' Antarctic voyage # xh

says, "The'market'for expedition staff is very

fluid. People are on the move all the time and it

is dictated by two factors: the cruise line, whichneeds someone with expertise in a particular

field and region that matches the itinerary, and

the personal desires ofthe expedition staff"They are just like passengers - they want to

go to new destinations.'All companies must keep a core of full-

time or regular expedition staflThis builds

consistency and client confidence and, often,

clients will follow staffto their new shipsi'

On any trip to the Antarctic Peninsula, you

should expect to find lecturers in history, nature

and perhaps geology to help you digest the

deluge of visual information you witness daily.

Not for nothing does Lindblad leverage

its NationalGeogrcphic connections in all its

marketing. lt means it can deploy geographers,

oceanographers,

historians and scientists

from one of the most

recognised brands in

the world.

And Lindblad promises

certified photographic

instructors on every tripto ensure passengers

capture the memories.

Aurora Expeditions

includes Howard Whelan

among its expeditioncrew Founding editorof Australian Geographic,

Howard runs a media and polar logistics

sPecialtv, but he can' 1 ne vwocrous Dr J\lancy

lecrure wirh rhe besr on

Sullivon conhold o

ship tronsfr xed utith her

descriptions ofthe convoluted KuIa

trading potterns of the

company, and even worked on Happy Feet.

Expedition leader and research fellow Gary

Miller is an expert on polar bears, while historian

Carol Knott specialises in remote communities.

Aboard Notlona I Geographic Orion, Mick Fogg

carefully unrolls his vast knowledge in a way

that everyone can understand and appreciate.

lcan't remember his

such varied scientific

topics as marine biology,

zoology, vulcanology

ano georogy."Donnlo f:hn:rrj

expedition shipsl

are looking for a full

experience behind their

filling in gaps in their own understanding and

often sharing their knowledge - just don't ask

me about global warming!"

The vivacious Dr Nancy Sullivan, a US-born,

Madang-based anthropologist, can hold a

ship transfrxed with her descriptions of the

convoluted Kula trading patterns of the Milne

Bay region aboard Oceanic DBcoverer.

A vocal advocate for responsible tourism in

her beloved PNG, Nancy believes tourism is a

force for good."lResponsible]Tourism is good for Papua

New Guinea, lt brings much-needed funds

to remote communities, encourages them tomaintain traditional culture and prevents theyoung men, in particular, from seeking workin the cities where they're exposed to many

dangerous influencesl' .4

Milne Boy region aboard i"""rrlHa'.t "ur."rr."v

Oceanic Discoverer.' want the whole story,

notjust another photo

for their album.They're

asking questions and

www.cruisepassengetcom.au 61