Canadian cruise operator, One Ocean Expeditions (OOE) continues to strengthen its reputation as a trail blazer, taking expedition cruising to a whole new level by developing exclusive itineraries in the Antarctic, Greenland, Canadian Arctic and Canada’s Maritime East coast.
Its small group, nature-based voyages have customer service and environmental values at their heart. Here’s why OOE’s cruises appeal to travellers with an adventurous spirit and a social conscience:
1) OOE operates expedition cruises using small ships that accommodate no more than 98 guests. The company is proud to offer the highest staff to guest ratio in the industry – 5:1 on most voyages and as high as 3:1 on selected trips – ensuring the needs of individual passengers are met and the highest standards of personalized customer service are provided during every voyage.
2) OOE innovates and develops itineraries that no other operators have featured before. For example, its latest move to incorporate return charter flights from Punta Arenas in Chile into The Ultimate Antarctica – Amongst Kings and Emperors itinerary, has eliminated the need to cross the Drake Passage by sea, giving passengers two more days to explore the region, with its astounding wildlife, which includes eight different penguin species ranging from eight inches up to the elusive Emperor, measuring 37 inches.
Another innovative cruise is Fins and Fiddles, Canada’s East Coast Maritimes,in July 2016. This unique cultural and wildlife safari explores picturesque islands such as Sable Island, visits coastal communities that offer a genuine welcome to travellers and tests physical abilities with diverse excursions such as kayaking, paddle-boarding, biking and even the odd square dance!
3) OOE prefers authenticity to luxury, polar research vessels to large cruise ships. The company is proud to develop and operate what have been described as the world’s most versatile and mobile wilderness lodges! One Ocean Navigator, Akademik Ioffe and One Ocean Voyager, Akademik Sergey Vavilov are designed for polar exploration and, as such, are solid, secure and able to navigate where other larger cruise ships cannot. These ice-strengthened vessels combine modern comforts – including spacious interiors and ample outdoor viewing decks – with first-class safety features and an impeccable safety record.
4) OOE caters to active travellers of all ages, fitness levels and interests with its wide range of activities available on and off the vessel. Seminars given by experts in polar exploration, history, geology, ornithology, marine wildlife and photography take place daily, together with soft adventure excursions such as zodiac trips, hiking, kayaking, wildlife viewing and photography. Intrepid passengers may also enjoy camping on the ice (offered on most voyages at no extra cost) and backcountry ski touring featured on Off the Beaten Track Antarctica in November 2016. Wildlife and photography lovers will be drawn towards the Photography Symposium itineraries during both Northwest Passage and Spitsbergen voyages, as well as on OOE’s select South Georgia Only departures throughout 2016/17. Each Photo Symposium offers a team of five professional world-renowned photographers who provide insight, education and expert advice and who are dedicated to helping guests to obtain their ‘once in a lifetime shot’.
5) OOE reinvents Arctic cruising: by offering shorter Northwest Passage programs of less than 10 days, OOE is helping to enable travellers with less holiday time to escape to the Arctic! The seven-night Wildlife Encounter voyage and eight-night Finding Franklin expedition both take place in August 2016 and August 2017.
6) OOE sets trends by being the first company to develop itineraries in areas that are still unknown to many well-travelled adventurers. Its 2016/17 Antarctica program offers the most departures to South Georgia, the next big polar destination. The new South Georgia In-Depth voyage departing from Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, immerses travellers into the heart of the destination, leaving them with boundless memories of a pristine landscape and its profusion of wildlife.
7) OOE is committed to giving back. In addition to funding and assisting ongoing scientific research on board its vessels, OOE also supports Northern communities across the Arctic. Its collaboration in 2014 with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Parks Canada resulted in the successful discovery of Sir John Franklin’s long lost vessel, the Erebus.
For more information about One Ocean Expeditions, visit: www.oneoceanexpedtions.com
SOURCE: One Ocean Expeditions