Last Minute 2-4-1 Fares for Orion Expedition Cruises in New Zealand

Orion Expedition Cruises is still on my "must try" list so I'm always interested in news from this Australian cruise line. This weekend Orion sent out an e-mail offering last-minute 2-for-1 fares on two cruises in and around New Zealand.

Exploration of the Antipodes—Voyage of Discovery

Departing October 24, 2011
14 nights – Auckland to Hobart

The Antipodes sub-Antarctic Islands are a tundra eco-region that includes five island groups in the Southern Ocean: the Bounty Islands, Auckland Islands, Antipodes Islands and Campbell Island groups of New Zealand, and Macquarie Island of Australia. This expedition to the sub-Antarctic islands is designed for nature lovers and photographers alike. The remnants of the old whaling station on Macquarie Island, the high cliffs and numerous caves and arches formed by marine erosion on Campbell Island present dramatic contrast to the prolific bird life, penguins, seals, sea lions, and flora in this remote sanctuary.



New Zealand and Sub-Antarctic Wildlife Adventure

Departing December 20, 2011
14 nights – Bluff to Hobart

Home to over half of the world’s seabirds, some of which exist nowhere else, this wildlife paradise contains 40 percent of the world’s albatross species and 50 percent of the world’s penguin species, including the endangered yellow-eyed penguin, plus hundreds of thousands of other endemic birds—petrels, prions, and cormorants.

For more information, call Orion's reservation department at 1300 361 012 or e-mail info@orionexpeditions.com. Ask for the NZ 2 for 1 offer.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible

Photo courtesy of Orion Expedition Cruises

Orion Expeditions Launches Luxury Ship Orion II

Congratulations to Australia-based Orion Expeditions on the launch of Orion II! This 100-passenger, 50-suite expedition ship spent a few days in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle last week before setting sail on its 24-night inaugural voyage from Vancouver to Otaru, Japan.

Unlike most cruise lines that select a celebrity to act as a ship’s godmother, Orion Expeditions picked three of its most loyal cruisers for the honor. The trio of past passengers christened the ship while it was in Seattle. I’d love to talk with those women about their travels! Imagine the places they’ve explored with Orion!

This year Orion II will visit the Russian Far East, the Inland Sea of Japan, Ryukyu Islands, Borneo, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

The ship actually has a very interesting history. She began sailing the seas as Renaissance Four and was later rebranded as Clelia II. In 2009 the ship benefited from a $19 million refurbishment. Orion II complies with the latest international and U.S. Coast Guard safety regulations and is equipped with retractable fin stabilizers, an ice-strengthened hull for Antarctic voyages, and a fleet of Zodiacs to enable easy shore access in remote locales.

Orion II was meant to visit far-flung, exotic locations. The ship is small, yacht-like, but built to handle anything the sea throws at her. Each suite has ocean views, twin or queen-sized beds, and a sitting area. A well-trained crew of 70 make this all-inclusive option incredibly compelling.

Orion’s Founder and Managing Director, Ms. Sarina Bratton, had this to say:

“Orion Expedition Cruises is now able to provide exclusive expeditions from Antarctica to Asia, and the Kimberley to Micronesia and New Zealand, with the two ships offering a balance of onboard service and luxury combined with unique personal experiences in environmentally and culturally sensitive parts of the region.  Together, Orion and Orion II are two of the most comfortable and capable expedition cruise ships cruising in Australasia.”

If you’d like to learn more about Orion Expeditions, sign up for one of the line’s 30-minute webinars:

Explore South East Asia
June 14 at 8pm EST

Explore Borneo
June 20 at 8pm EST

For more information, talk with your travel agent or Orion Expeditions at 1-(877) ORION US.

New Mid-Voyage Land Excursions Launched by Silversea

On longer luxury cruises, you may be more inclined to embark on day-trip shore excursions or even spend a few days away from the ship in order to delve deeper into the region you're visiting. Silversea is making this easier to do in 2011 with the launch of seven new—and very cool!—mid-voyage land excursions.

According to Silversea, these single- and multiple-day inland adventures provide guests with a more intimate, in-depth, and personal encounter with the local people, history, wildlife, and natural attractions that lie just beyond the ports of call.

"We continue to develop new programs that will allow our guests to enjoy authentic onshore experiences," said Darius Mehta, Silversea's associate vice president of air and land programs. "These mid-voyage adventures are carefully designed to take guests further into a specific region, giving them plenty of time to actively engage in its scenery, activities and cultural heritage."

Here's a snapshot of a few of the mid-voyage land adventures that are available from Silversea in 2011:

Kangaroo Island Luxury Eco Expedition—Widely regarded as Australia's Galapagos, Kangaroo Island is brimming with diverse wildlife and natural beauty. Enjoy luxurious accommodations at the Southern Ocean Lodge and a staff of naturalist guides to lead your exploration of the island's unique attractions. Memorable sightings might include kangaroos, rare Cape Barron Geese, koalas, and sea lions. To join this three-day adventure, guests disembark Silver Shadow in Adelaide and rejoin the ship in Melbourne. Priced at $4,799 per guest, the program is offered on Silver Shadow's January 19 voyage (#3102), sailing roundtrip from Sydney.

Australian Frontiers & Train Journey—Discover the heart of the Australian outback by rail aboard the glamorous Indian Pacific train as you watch unique landscapes unfold. Visit the opal-mining town of Coober Pedy, then travel to Adelaide to enjoy a culinary and wine adventure that takes in the famous Barossa Valley. To join this six-day adventure, guests disembark Silver Shadow in Fremantle and rejoin the ship in Adelaide. Priced at $7,799 per guest, the program is offered on Silver Shadow's January 19 voyage (#3102), sailing roundtrip from Sydney.

The Great Ocean Road—Discover one of Australia's great scenic coastline drives. The road was built by some 3,000 returning servicemen and dedicated as a memorial to those killed in World War I. The Great Ocean Road passes through diverse and dramatic scenery with breathtaking mountain ranges, rainforests, national parks, historic ports, and the famous Twelve Apostles, the craggy limestone stacks that rise from the Southern Ocean. This 12-hour program, priced at $269 per guest, is offered on Silver Shadow's January 19 sailing (#3102) and Silver Spirit's voyage of February 12 (#5105). Guests depart from Geelong and rejoin the ship in Melbourne.

Principality of Andorra—Venture into the eastern Pyrenees and visit the tiny, landlocked Principality of Andorra. Although only about half the size of New York City, Andorra comprises a region of seven narrow valleys and is hemmed in by mountain peaks reaching more than 8,800 feet (2,700 meters). This one-and-a-half-day package, priced at $999 per guest, is offered on Silver Spirit's May 3 sailing (#5110) from Athens to Southampton. Guests depart from and rejoin the ship in Barcelona.

Inverlochy Castle & Scottish Highlands—Enjoy a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the legends and lore of the Scottish Highlands and discover what is considered by many to be Scotland's most stunning scenery and important historic sites. A visit to a well-known distillery offers a taste of Scotland's best-known national spirit, malt whiskey. This two-day package, priced at $1,899 per guest, is offered on Silver Cloud voyages of June 25 and August 26 (#1118 and 1123). Participants will depart and rejoin the ship in two different ports, Edinburgh (Leith) and Invergordon, as determined by the voyage itinerary.

Solovki: Pearl of the Russian North—Take advantage of this rare opportunity to visit Big Solovetsky Island, once a former Soviet gulag and today known as the "Pearl of the Russian North." Visit the famous Solovetsky Kremlin and learn the history of the monastery complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 12-hour adventure, priced at $1,299 per guest, is offered on Silver Cloud's July 30 voyage (#1121), sailing roundtrip from Copenhagen. Guests depart from and rejoin the ship in Archangel.

Arequipa & Colca Valley—The great Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa called it the "Valley of Wonders," a land of imposing, snow-capped volcanoes, deep gorges, agricultural terraces, remote traditional villages, and some of Peru's most celebrated wildlife—llamas, vicuñas, alpacas, and the rare Andean condor. This three-day package, priced at $1,829 per guest, is offered on Silver Whisper's December 20 sailing (#4137) from Santiago to Fort Lauderdale. Guests depart from Matarani and rejoin the ship in Callao.

Expedition Antarctica—For most globe trekkers, this is the ultimate destination. Fly by chartered aircraft to King George Island on the Antarctic Peninsula and discover the many natural wonders of the world's last pristine wilderness. Memorable sightings might include penguins, seals, and whales. This 13-hour adventure, priced from $6,899 to $6,959, is offered from Punta Arenas, Chile on Silver Whisper voyages of January 20 and December 4 (#4102 and 4136).

Camp Jabulani—Indulge your senses in this tailor-made adventure trip to Camp Jabulani, set within the Kapama Private Game Reserve of Kruger National Park. Highlights include a ride through the bush atop an elephant's back and an open-vehicle game drive through prime big-game territory that supports elephant, buffalo, rhino, giraffe, zebra, and other species. This three-day package, priced at $4,999, is offered on Silver Wind voyages of February 10, 20 and March 2 (#2104, 2105 and 2106). Guests depart from Richards Bay and rejoin the ship in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Futuristic Brasilia—Visit Brazil's capital and you'll discover a fascinating city designed for the twenty-first century, a masterpiece of modernist architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Brazil's finest designers, architects, and artists were commissioned to create Brasilia's monuments and buildings, which attract architecture aficionados worldwide. This three-day adventure, priced at $1,699, is offered on Silver Whisper's November 8 sailing (#4134) from Fort Lauderdale to Rio de Janeiro. Guests depart from Fortaleza and rejoin the ship in Salvador.

The prices listed above are per person, based on double occupancy. The optional mid-voyage land programs feature deluxe accommodations (if overnight stays are required), all transportation, transfers, guided sightseeing, and some meals.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Silversea directly at 1-(877) 215-9986.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo © Leonard Hospidor

Celebrity Cruises Opens Bookings for Australia & New Zealand

I don't blog about Celebrity Cruises often enough. Yes, it's a tier down from the luxury cruise lines I generally write about. However, Celebrity is one of my favorite cruise lines in the premium category. Its new ships—Solstice, Equinox, and Eclipse—are beautifully designed and the food aboard Celebrity always hits the mark.

That's why I was really excited to learn that Celebrity Century will sail Australia and New Zealand in 2011 and 2012. The line is also offering four- and five-night escorted cruisetours in Australia, which combine a cruise with land adventures. Travelers can choose from 10 itineraries and six different embarkation ports.


Here's one itinerary that looks especially enticing...

12-Night Sydney, Australia–Auckland, New Zealand
November 30, 2011: Sydney, Australia
December 1, 2011: at sea
December 2, 2011: Hobart, Tasmania
December 3–4, 2011: at sea
December 5, 2011: Milford Sound, New Zealand and Doubful Sound
December 6, 2011: Dunedin, New Zealand
December 7, 2011: Christchurch, New Zealand
December 8, 2011: Wellington, New Zealand
December 9, 2011: Napier, New Zealand
December 10, 2011: Tauranga, New Zealand
December 11, 2011: Bay of Islands, New Zealand
December 12, 2011: Auckland, New Zealand

Reservations are now open for Celebrity Century's Australia/New Zealand cruises. Book by December 31, 2010, for special onboard credit and savings on back-to-back sailings. Call your travel agent or Celebrity Cruises at 1-(800) 437-3111.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com