Vacation Planning Resource: Cruise Line YouTube Channels

If you're like me, you're taking some time off during the holidays to relax with friends and family. Part of this downtime includes planning vacations for 2012 and beyond. So far, we've booked reservations for getaways to Mexico, Fiji, Switzerland, France, and Thailand. We'll see what other adventures we settle upon for the year!


As we search for new vacation ideas, we're reviewing the YouTube channels of various luxury cruise lines and resorts. If you've got some time to view videos and plan your next trip, check out these YouTube channels:

Abercrombie & Kent

Azamara Club Cruises

Compagnie du Ponant

Four Seasons

InnerSea Discoveries

Oceania Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Seabourn

Silversea | Luxury Cruises

Windstar Cruises

There are some fantastic videos posted by these travel companies and you'll also find links to videos taken by fellow travelers. The combination of marketing videos and real-world experiences will help as you plan your next great escape.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Come and Explore the Magnificent Places of India

India is one of the most beautiful countries preferred by tourists for making tours and travels. It is endowed with mesmerizing attractions in the form of exotic beaches, verdant hill stations, awesome beaches, tranquil backwaters, crystalline lakes, diverse flora and fauna, picturesque landscapes, soothing and refreshing hill stations, sky touching snow laden mountain peaks, meandering rivers, romantic waterfalls, stunning traditions and culture and much more. In this majestic place tourists round from the globe have lots of fun, frolic and adventure during their tours. Visiting a god gifted place like India is really a mesmerizing, unforgettable experience of lifetime. So, make a visit here and experience many magical, enjoyable moments.

India is amazingly bestowed with a number of sight scenic spots which are worth visiting. These spots are blessed with the astounding natural beauty which magnetizes tourists round from the globe to admire the virgin beauty of Mother Nature. The pleasant climatic conditions, hospitable Indian people, glorious culture, rich heritage and perplexing scenic ambience surely make this place an incredible one. There are several India tour packages and travel companies offering excellent services with warm hospitality for its visitors. Some of the famous destinations in India are described here under:

Kashmir- the heaven on earth

Kashmir, located in the north of India, is an exotic state wining the hearts of its visitors with its amazing natural gifts. The snow covered valleys of the Himalayas, scent of wild flowers filling the air, talkative rivers, cascading waterfalls, enchanting gardens and tranquil lakes with floating houseboats are the major bequests alluring the attention of tourists. During your Kashmir tours you can experience a wonderful, delightful and exciting world of fun and enjoyment. This paradise on earth is an abode of fabulous collection of tourist’s places. Especially during the summer, Kashmir is the first choice of travelers for squandering the best part of their life in a delightful manner with their loved ones.

Manali- the queen of hills

Manali is the home of serenity and refreshment. It is located at the north end of Kullu valley in Himanchal Pradesh at an altitude of 2050 meters. It is one such place where you can just forget all the troubles of your life in the magnetic charm of this place. You can experience beautiful manali with several manali tour packages which will give you the wonderful opportunity to explore the picturesque beauty of this majestic place. The walk amidst the hills of manali is equally popular here which takes tourists closer towards the enigmatic beauty of Mother Nature.

Kerala- God’s Own Country

The other exotic state of India which is located at the southwestern part of India is Kerala. This picturesque state has lots of bountiful attractions and destinations luring the attention of tourists round from the globe to explore the mesmerizing its beauty in the form of cascading waterfalls, mesmerizing backwaters, pristine beaches, crystalline lakes, verdant hill station and diverse flora and fauna. One can closely explore the traditional lifestyle of Keralities through a luxurious houseboat cruise. So, if you want to explore the nature closely choose one among the Indian holiday packages and experience many magical moments of your life.

Surbhi is an eminent analyst and writer in Travel & Tourism related topics. She has authored many books on tour guide for Goa Holiday Packages and Kerala

Darjeeling and Manali Tour Experience the Beauty of the Nature and the Himalayas

Creation is an art and so is Darjeeling and Manali. Almighty have dedicated maximum time on creating these premier hill stations whose beauty of the nature and the snow capped Himalayas are beyond comparison to any others. The craggy hills, snow capped Himalayas, vast stretches of the tranquil places adorned magnificently the evergreen carpet and the cool pleasant climatic conditions make these hill stations the perfect gateway to enjoy vacations.

Manali a charming and cool hill station located in the state of Himachal Pradesh is enigmatically blessed. The cool Himalayas draped in the fairy snow. Verdant natural surroundings, green meadows covered with dazzling flowers and the lively environment make Manali the most sought after holiday destination in India.

Manali is an ideal destination and so there is an inflow of tourists all the year round. During the summer time the hill station is visited by good number of tourists to escape from the scorching heat of the sun, while during the winter time lots of tourists visit this Himalayan paradise to enjoy winter sports and activities. Manali is truly a unique holiday destination where various dreams are realized and are turned into success. So plan your tour booking from the many plethora of Manali tour packages and explore the scintillating charm of the nature and the soaring Himalayas draped in the fairy snow.

Well if you are looking forward to visit northeast India, they a visit to Darjeeling will make your tour enjoyable and complete one. Darjeeling the land of Thunderbolt is home to some of the magnificent sightseeing spots and attractions most importantly being the vast stretches of the tea gardens. Darjeeling tourism takes pride of these tea gardens as they have not just contributed in the boom of tourism but at the same time have helped in the development of the economy of Darjeeling. So if you are planning to explore the very beauty of this hill town located in the comforting lap of the Kanchenjunga, then avail from the many Darjeeling holiday packages.

On Darjeeling tour visit to some of the exciting tourism attractions and sightseeing spots and collect remarkable memories to relish in forever. Darjeeling is one of the favorite hill stations of North east India and offer tourists and visitors to enjoy memorable vacation exploring the pristine beauty of the nature and the golden Himalayas.

New Must Visit Destinations on India Holiday

India is an incredible country with incredible tourist’s places. From east to west or from north to south, India has so many wonderful and tempting places ideal for holiday and tours. So if you are planning to travel India this year, here are some of the lists of alluring and charming tourist’s places that will make your tour to India incredible and memorable.

Top Place to Visit during India tours are listed as under:

Kerala Tours

Kerala has so many wonderful sightseeing spots and travel destinations. Located in the southern part of India, the state offers plethora of tourist attractions that engage the tourists to enjoy vacation amidst the beauty of Mother Nature. Some of the alluring attraction to see and explore during Kerala tours are the Alleppey backwater, Kumarakom backwater, and Munnar hill station, Trivandrum, Idduki, Periyar, Wayanad, Guruvayoor and many others. Kerala is also famous for its rich culture and traditions and more importantly for its arts, Ayurveda therapy and the cool pleasant climatic conditions. So to make the holidays in India truly memorable you can also visit to Kerala the picturesque state lovingly called God’s Own Country.

Kashmir Tours

Located in the northern most part of India, Kashmir is like the jewel in the crown of the Himalayas. Drenched with the refreshing environment and alluring tourism spots, Kashmir tours offers tourists to enjoy and explore some of the finest attractions that include Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Srinagar, Sonmarg, etc. Beside these one can also enjoy fascinating cruise on the Kashmir houseboat over the picturesque Dal Lake and enjoy the heart stirring beauty of the refreshing natural beauty and the lofty Himalayas.

Darjeeling Tours

One of the premier hill stations in India, Darjeeling welcomes tourists from across the globe. Visited by scores and scores of tourists round the year, the quaint little town is very popular among the tourists and offer visitors with exclusive option to explore the scintillating beauty of the nature with joy and happiness. Darjeeling is one of the most sought after holiday destination of almost all the India tour packages and offer tourist to explore its vast stretches of the tea gardens, charming sightseeing spots and magnetizing attractions that include Batasia Loop, Rock Garden, Gangamaiya Park, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, etc. These are some of the alluring tourism attractions and sightseeing spots that one can visit during Darjeeling tours and travels.

India tourism offer much more then what one want to. Tourists looking forward for adventure tours can also quench their thirst by measuring the heights of Rocky Mountains, trekking through the wooded forests or enjoying a white water rafting or simply going for a wildlife tours. India has so many other wonderful sightseeing spots and attractions that make the tour to this incredible country fascinating and alluring. So choose the travel destinations of your choice and enjoy vacation with immense pleasure and joy.

India is truly one such country where tourists will return back home with lots of remarkable memories and diary full of friends. So welcome to India, country full with surprises.

Surbhi is an eminent analyst and writer in Travel & Tourism related topics. She has authored many books on tour guide for Goa Holiday Packages and Darjeeling

Important and Charismatic Tourist Places of to Visit on India Holidays

India is a wonderful country and has scores of alluring tourist places and sightseeing spots. It has scintillating beaches draped in the glossary of the adjectives like beguiling, charming, fascinating, magnetizing, picturesque hill stations magnificent blessed with verdant greenery and rich flora and fauna, intricate temples, forts and palaces, rich history and more importantly it has the world’s oldest civilization. India is truly one of the most sought after destination and offer tourists to enjoy vacation with an incredible experiences and memories of lifetime.

India has so many wonderful tourists’ places and all are incredibly blessed by the nature and some are globally renowned for their rich heritage and culture. India is no doubt a wonderful country renowned for its charming natural beauty and sightseeing spots that allures great thousands of hundreds of tourists from across the globe.

Some of the top and exciting tourist places in India are listed as below:

Kashmir
Kashmir is amazingly beautiful and is home to some of the finest tourist places in the world. Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Srinagar, Kashmir houseboats and more importantly the pleasant cool climatic conditions make Kashmir an ideal destination to go for honeymoon vacations.

Kashmir tour packages are very popular as they are the most book packages as well as the beauty of the nature and the view of the lofty Himalayas, scintillating sightseeing spots and tranquil atmosphere make it an ideal gateway to enjoy vacation with astounding experiences of lifetime.
More of all Kashmir holiday packages are also very popular nature tour, honeymoon tours, trekking, adventure tours, and houseboat tours and more importantly for Vaishno Devi Mata tour. Truly its incredible opportunity so come and experience it, feel it and cherish it for lifelong.

Darjeeling
Darjeeling is a beautiful hill town and is globally famous for its outstanding natural beauty and sightseeing spots. The quaint little town is famous for its enchanting natural beauty, vast stretches of the tea gardens, emerald green hills and more. Darjeeling has so many other wonderful sightseeing spots that make it an ideal gateway to enjoy refreshing holidays in the enchanting lap of the Mother Nature.

Darjeeling tourism is also very popular for its toy train journey, rich culture and traditions, enigmatic beauty of the nature and the sprawling tea gardens from where the world’s best tea leaves are produced. So choose from the many Darjeeling holiday packages and enjoy incredible holidays in the inviting and cozy lap of the emerald green nature and nature’s lap.

Lindblad Adds Undersea Divers to Alaska Itineraries

Lindblad Expeditions came up with an incredibly cool addition to its 2012 Alaska voyages—an "Undersea Specialist."


Each Lindblad ship already carries three naturalists, an expedition leader, and a Lindblad-National Geographic-certified photo instructor. The Undersea Specialist will join this team to provide an additional facet to cruises in Alaska.


What will this specialist actually do on each cruise? He or she will dive 40 to 80 feet below the surface to take high-definition photos of what lies beneath the ship. The images and video will be showcased during presentations throughout the cruise.


According to Lindblad, images will range from "...the tiniest organisms on the sea floor to giant octopi, to hulking sea lions to the whales that passengers see majestically breaching the surface." This is a very cool development! I'm just glad no one's asking me to dive the chilly Alaskan waters!


Lindblad will offer 8-night (Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness) and 12-night (Alaska, British Columbia, and San Juan Islands) voyages from May–September 2012 aboard the 62-passenger ships, National Geographic Sea Bird and National Geographic Sea Lion.


Book Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness by March 31, 2012 and you'll receive free roundtrip air between Seattle and Alaska on select May and June departures. Rates for this itinerary start at $5,990 per person based on double occupancy for a Category 1 cabin, and $7,690 for the Alaska, British Columbia, and San Juan Islands cruise.


Lindblad's been sailing Alaskan waters for 30 years, so they really know what they're doing in this region. I love the addition of the Undersea Specialist to its itineraries and hope to explore with the company soon.


For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Lindblad at 1-(800)-EXPEDITION.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

What Luxury Cruise Lines Should Say to Lure Younger Travelers

It's been five years since I first set foot on a luxury cruise ship. I was still in my thirties then and was struck by the fact that my husband and I were the youngest travelers on board the ship. We couldn't understand why.

The itinerary was fantastic—visiting unusual ports of call—and the value was clear. We enjoyed a spacious, well-designed suite, attentive service, inclusive food and wine, and a cadre of entertainment options for less than a comparable vacation at a five-star resort on land.

Since that first experience, we've been on dozens of luxury cruise ships and yachts and we're still often among the youngest cruises aboard. All the cruise lines are reaching out to a younger crowd, and here's what they need to be saying to all those professional thirty- and forty-something's who've yet to set sail...

Our itineraries fit perfectly within the structure of your vacation time. Many luxury lines are now offering more 7-, 8-, and 9-night sailings. This makes it easier for a young professional to commit without tapping out his or her allotted vacation time. SeaDream Yacht Club has excellent offers in this regard as does Azamara Club Cruises.

We go to the destinations you want to visit. From close-to-home regions, like the Caribbean and Mediterranean, to more exotic locales such as French Polynesia and Southeast Asia, luxury cruise lines program compelling itineraries all over the world. Cruises enable the traveler to sample many ports across a region in a relatively short amount of time. For the Caribbean, thirty-somethings should check out Windstar Cruises, Compagnie Du Ponant Yacht Cruises offers excellent options in the Med, Paul Gauguin Cruises is the way to go in French Poly, and Crystal Cruises is excellent for Asia.

We offer active expeditions and wildlife-centric adventures. People often joke that cruises are for the newly wed and nearly dead, but that's just not true. More and more companies are offering expeditions that offer active adventures including hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, and more. American Safari Cruises, part of InnerSea Discoveries, has excellent itineraries in Alaska's Inside Passage, Mexico's Sea of Cortes, the Hawaiian Islands, and more. Australia outfit, Orion Expedition Cruises, hits far-flung destinations like Borneo, Papua New Guinea, and Micronesia. And, of course, Silversea's expedition ship, Silver Explorer, is one of the best ways to visit polar bears in the Arctic.

No matter what your age, consider sailing with a luxury cruise line in 2012. It's one of the best vacation values available these days.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photo © Leonard Hospidor

Luxury Cruise Bible’s Gift Guide for Cruise Travelers

This time of year, every blogger posts his or her own “gift guide” for the holidays. Here’s my take on fun—and useful—gifts for cruise travelers…


Must-Have Memberships

Global Entry
My best investment of the year was enrolling in Global Entry. This is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that allows members to speed through Customs when returning to the United States from overseas. Simply apply, pay a $100 fee (which will be refunded if you use your American Express Platinum card), and attend a short interview at your local airport. After that you’ll spend far less time in line when returning from a cruise. In fact, on our last trip from Singapore, we spent a mere 45 seconds at the U.S. Customs kiosk when we returned to Newark Liberty Airport!

MedjetAssist
I’ve renewed my annual MedjetAssist membership every year for the past five years. Access to competent global travel assistance and medical evacuation gives me peace of mind at a very affordable price. (I had to medevac my father from Jacksonville to Boston last year and it cost $16,000. How I wish I had gifted him a MedjetAssist membership before he went on that trip.) Annual MedjetAssist memberships start at $250 and short-term memberships start at $95. This is the perfect gift for a loved one who travels.

InterContinental Ambassador Membership
We find this annual membership quite useful since we often stay at InterContinental hotels pre- and post-cruise. Benefits include guaranteed room upgrades (no matter what rate code you book), fresh fruit and mineral water upon arrival, one complimentary weekend night (buy one, get one), 4pm late check-out, complimentary pay TV film per stay, instant check-out, and a bonus points “accelerator” (earn 20,000 bonus points for every 15 qualifying nights). Ambassador membership costs $200 per year (or 32,000 Priority Club points).




Just for Fun

Scratch-Off Map of the World
I’ve already ordered a bunch of these from Uncommon Goods for my friends with wanderlust. This 32-by-22-inch world map has a “scratch off” component so you can scratch off the areas you’ve visited in order to “color in” the globe. I've never seen this particular item in stores before so I thought it would make for an unusual stocking-stuffer. $24

Vintage Cruise Ship Posters
Art.com has a nice selection of vintage-style cruise ship posters. I’ve got several of these in my office and they look fantastic.

Cruise Ship Ornament from Kyle Design
This is a nice-looking two-sided, engravable holiday ornament with a cruise-ship motif. This would be a great way to invite a loved-one on a Christmas cruise! $19.95




Cruise-Inspired Jewelry

Sextant Pendant from Dolphin Designs
This sextant pendant with an 18-inch box chain can be made with a variety of semi-precious stones, including lapis lazuli (shown), amethyst, turquoise, amazonite, malachite, aventurine, rose quartz, mother of pearl, onyx, and jade. $113.99

Propeller Cuff Links from Cuff Daddy
These three-blade propeller cuff links come in a variety of finishes, including sterling silver and gold. $28.99–$119.00

Have you stumbled upon any cool gifts for cruise travelers? Let me know! I've got many of them on my holiday shopping list this year!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Pandaw River Cruises Pulls Out of Borneo

The latest newsletter from Pandaw River Cruises announces that its ship, Orient Pandaw, will leave Borneo as of March 2012. This is sad news. Borneo is a rich vacation destination with the key draw being the island's orangutan population. Traveling the rivers, as Leonard and I did last month with Orion Expedition Cruises, is an excellent way to see how the Indonesians and Malaysians live and to get as close as possible to the animals, which include the red ape, proboscis monkey, macaques, Borneo bearded pigs, crocodiles, kingfishers, and more.


Here's what Pandaw had to say about its departure from Borneo:

It is with immense sadness that we are pulling out of this fascinating destination. The logistical and operational difficulties of working in so tough an environment have made the project commercially unsuccessful. Despite these challenges the Pandaw Borneo team have a well-run operation and levels of comfort and service on board up to top Pandaw standards. The river and jungle really are amazing and a must for keen river explorers.

There is still some space left between now and March and we highly recommend a stop off in Kuching and even a trip to the Mulu Caves. Visit Pandaw.com for further details.

Despite the challenges of the region (shallow rivers making travel by boat difficult during low tide, the heat and humidity, and availability of Western-style amenities on land), I highly urge you to get to Borneo soon. The people are endearing and the opportunity for animal sightings is amazing!


I'm sorry to see Pandaw leave the region, but hope Orion Expedition Cruises makes a go of it from this point forward.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

$1,000 SeaDream Credit for Just $500

Sniqueaway, a flash sale site, is currently offering a $1,000 SeaDream credit for just $500.


This credit may be used on one of two cruises:

SeaDream I: 6-Night Caribbean Cruise | Departs December 11, 2011

St. John’s, Antigua -> Gustavia, St. Barts -> Marigot, St. Martin -> Sandy Ground, Anguilla -> Soper’s Hole, Tortola -> Great Harbour, Peter Island -> Jost Van Dyke -> San Juan, Puerto Rico

SeaDream II: 7-Night Caribbean Cruise | Departs December 16, 2011

San Juan, Puerto Rico -> Culebrita Island -> Esperanza, Vieques Island -> Sandy Ground, Anguilla -> Gustavia, St. Barts -> Norman Island -> Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda -> Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

Each person can purchase one voucher and a total of two vouchers can be used per stateroom (based on double occupancy). This is an excellent deal if you have time for a quick getaway before the holidays! Act fast because this deal expires in three days.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I wish you and your family the best of everything as we kick off this holiday season! Have a fantastic day, whether you're at sea or on land!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Seabourn Sale with Per Diems from $182 to $442 Ends 10/31

Seabourn runs some pretty decent sales on a regular basis and they've currently extended their "one week" sale, which now expires on Halloween (October 31). Per diem fares for cruises between November 2011 and May 2012 range from $182 to $442 and even includes Quest's World Cruise segments.


Take a look at the chart below, which lists all of the sale fares. Per diems under $250 per night are highlighted in green.


I just got back from Indonesia, a destination that Leonard and I first fell in love with during a visit in 2010. If we had the time, I'd book Seabourn Legend's Borobudur, Bali & Orchid Isles voyage in January or February 2012. Alas, time isn't on my side and if we book a Seabourn cruise it will have to be a 7- to 10-day itinerary...tops.

See Seabourn's complete list of sale fares. For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Seabourn.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photo courtesy of Seabourn

Orion II Cancels Two Sailings

We're back from our fantastic Borneo voyage with Orion Expedition Cruises. I'll post more photos and info about our final few days at sea once I'm over my jet-lag. 

Our time in Bali, across Indonesian and Malaysian Borneo, and Singapore was jam-packed and we feel we did as much as we could in a short ten days. If you love wildlife, especially orangutans and proboscis monkeys, this cruise should be on your must-do list.

For now, however, I need to share the news that Orion II has cancelled two sailings. Here's information from Orion...

Due to a number of latent defects that are adversely affecting our guests' comfort (including air conditioning) and limited availability of suitable technicians and specialists, it has become necessary to cancel the Orion II 10 October and 17 October 2011 sailings. While cancelling a cruise is always the last resort, we do believe that these works are necessary to be able to provide our passengers with the level of product that they have come to expect from Orion Expedition Cruises.

Recognising the last minute inconvenience of these cancellations, we are reimbursing all substantiated non-refundable travel expenses not covered by travel insurance. There is also the opportunity to transfer to a similar 7 night itinerary on a future date.

15th December 2011—Thailand, Temples and the Mekong

22nd December 2011—Gulf of Siam Explorer

27th February 2012—Gulf of Siam Explorer

5th March 2012—Thailand, Temples and the Mekong

  

While we were on board there were problems with some air-conditioning systems, a transformer blew between two cabins, the elevator broke down, and one of the ship's industrial washing machines needed repairs. The crew masked these issues well and most did not cause any concern or alarm among guests.

I feel badly for those who've had to put their holiday plans on hold. I hope everyone is able to reschedule their vacations.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photo © Leonard Hospidor

(Tom, the orangutan, at Camp Leakey)

Two Island Hideaways: Pulau Senua and Pulau Bawah

Since our original itinerary shiftedonce we got on board Orion II, our last two days in Borneo were spent as beach bunnieson the Indonesian islands of Pulau Senua, in the Riau Islands Province, andPulau Bawah, at the southern tip of the Anambas Islands (approximately 150nautical miles northeast of Singapore).

Orion II operated in “expedition mode”on both days, which means Zodiacs ran continuously from the ship to the islandwhere guests enjoyed swimming, snorkeling, and a BBQ on Pulau Bawah. We even got to release some baby turtles into the sea!

Disembarking in Singapore

It’s safe to say that Orion’s “CampLeakey: Faces in the Forest” itinerary gifted us with experiences that we neverexpected to have. I knew we’d get close to orangutans, but I had no idea I’d beable to cradle a little baby in my arms or roughhouse with a juvenile! 

Sailingthe rivers of Borneo also put so much into perspective with regard to how theIndonesians and Malays live and how conservation can fit into their frameworkfor the future. Many of us talk about planning a “trip of a lifetime” orputting a destination on our “bucket list.” If you haven’t yet researchedBorneo, do it now. Orion makes it possible for average travelers to easilyaccess this enchanting region of Borneo in style and comfort. This cruise is your chance to make close contact with thegreat red ape!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Bako National Park in Sarawak

Orion II called upon Bako National Park on Friday, October 7. This park is one of the oldest in Sarawak, as it was established in 1957. To that end, the animals are very used to people and it's easy to get great photos here.


The approach by sea is breathtaking as Bako's coastline is one of steep cliffs and sandstone outcroppings.

The morning began with a walk on nearby Pulau Lakei. Leonard did this hike while I stayed aboard to catch up on blogging.


In the afternoon, three walks were offered directly at Bako. Two of them were very intensive and not for the faint-of-heart or the out-of-shape (one was a three-hour hike that included steep inclines). We ended up doing the easiest of the three walks...a stroll along the mangrove boardwalk.

Here we saw proboscis monkeys, long-tailed macaques, Borneo bearded pigs (and piglets), silvered langurs, and a few birds.

The Zodiac ride back to Orion II was beautiful with the setting sun lighting up the water.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photos © Leonard Hospidor

A Visit to Kuching, Semengoh, and Sarawak Cultural Village

Thursday was a whirlwind as Orion II docked at Kuching, a Malaysian city on Borneo. Guests spent the morning on their own exploring the city. In the early afternoon we all came together at the Riverside Majestic Hotel to catch our bus to Semengoh Rehabilitation Centre for the 3pm orangutan feeding.


I am so glad we had the chance to visit Semengoh. This national park has a very different approach to conservation than Camp Leakey, which we visited earlier in the week. At Semengoh, you can't get as close to the wild orangutans but the setup of the feeding platforms still make it easy to get excellent photographs. 

We saw a large cheekpadder male named Ritchie as well as "Hot Mama" and her baby and another mother and daughter. These orangutans looked different than the ones at Camp Leakey...these seemed to be brighter orange and hairier. Their faces also looked more ape-like.


We lucked out and enjoyed amazing sightings before taking part in a ceremony at which Orion announced their long-term adoption of Ritchie.

After this we loaded back onto the bus and headed to the Sarawak Cultural Village. The guide on our bus was fantastic and told us about the various cultures in the area as we drove to the cultural village where we'd enjoy a show and a Malaysian Banquet.

We arrived just about sunset so we didn't get to explore much of the village, but we all donned sarongs and then settled in for the dinner show. Lots of traditional songs and dances and we sat on pillows on the floor.


It was hot and steamy but once the show got started, everyone forgot about that. Orion II's waitstaff was on hand and made sure everyone had plenty of wine, beer, soda, and juice. The meal was buffet-style and consisted of regional favorites.

This was a long day but it was so much fun. I only wish we had spent another half day or day in Kuching. There was so much we left unexplored.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photos © Leonard Hospidor

Pontianak: The Capital of West Kalimantan at the Equator

Sometimes when you're considering an itinerary, there's a port or two that you're ambivalent about. That's how I felt about Orion II's visit to Pontianak, which is at the Equator. I didn't know exactly what to expect and, therefore, wasn't expecting much. It turned out to be a fantastic day!

Orion II is the first ship of its kind to call upon Pontianak. While the Indonesians here have encountered Westerns before, it's usually just a few backpackers on their way to treks within West Kalimantan. This was the first time so many Westerners descended on the city and the first time so many arrived by boat.

It seemed like every local official was on hand at the port, as were the local media. This was a big event! A landing party consisting of the captain and some guests went ashore and took part in a ceremony.

Afterward, everyone boarded modern, air-conditioned buses for a half-day tour of the area. Here's what we saw…

• State Museum
• Mujahidin Grand Mosque
• Equator Monument

The State Museum was interesting and we were treated to Chinese dragon dances. This was a lot of fun and it was made all the more special because a school field trip was also at the museum at the time. It was great fun taking photos with the kids and watching them enjoy the Chinese dragons!

Next to the museum was a lovely craft shop and we were able to browse as a local musician played and a beautiful Indonesian woman danced. Handicrafts included clothing, wood carvings, beaded jewelry, woven bags, and more.

Many of us also stopped into a local candy shop. I purchased several items to try, including fried basil leaves, aloe vera tea, durian candy, and other assorted crunchy and sweet snacks.

We ended up at the mosque during midday prayer so we could only walk around the building but dozens of children came out to greet us. They were so interested in  meeting us and having their photos taken. Boys and girls mixed freely and the mosque seemed totally integrated. I'm so glad we made this stop.

Finally, we visited the Equator Monument, where you can stand on the line that divides the northern and southern hemispheres… a great photo op!

While we only spent a short while in Pontianak, it was well worth the visit. This was a challenging call to make due to the river depths (1 meter of clearance and at one point Orion II did touch the muddy bottom of the river). We can't thank Orion enough for scouting such a unique port and finding a way to bring us here.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photos © Leonard Hospidor