BEEN there, cruised that? Seeking fresh frontiers on the horizon?
Cruise lines are constantly looking for new itineraries to entice
intrepid travellers.
Here are some ocean and river routes “off the beaten track”, including
a few never before offered to Australians.
Western Pacific
You’ve done the South Pacific out of Sydney or Brisbane, but this
Western version is ideal for keen bird-watchers. The cruise starts in the
Port of Lyttelton, Christchurch, which allows a rare opportunity to spot
petrels & the Southern Royal Albatross as the ship sails north.
The odyssey continues to Kaikoura Trench, known for its wildlife,
especially the sperm whale, and then through Cook Strait into the
Tasman Sea. Other ports of call include Norfolk Island and the Solomon
Islands, before finishing in Papua New Guinea.
For more information, see www.heritage-expeditions.com.
Ganges River, India
Travelling in India can be hard work, but a river cruise offers an easier
way to explore the iconic waterway between Calcutta and Varanasi.
A new company, Haimark, is building a luxury ship, the 56-passenger
Ganges Voyager, scheduled to debut in 18 months.
Formed by former executives of Pandaw River Expeditions, the
company is hoping to raise the profile of the sacred river. Before it
becomes too popular, take the maiden eight-night journey, ‘Splendors
of Golden Bengal: Cruising the Lower Ganges’, departing 3 January
2015 – details at www.haimarktravel.com.
Irrawaddy, Myanmar
Find ‘the lost Burma’ with several ships visiting Myanmar for the first
time next year. Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Azamara Club
Cruises, Oceania Cruises, SeaDream, Orient-Express and Scenic Tours
are among the more luxurious lines including Yangon on Asian sailings
or trips down the Irrawaddy. The pioneer of the region, Pandaw River
Cruises, has the most options.
West Africa
An epic 32-day expedition from Cape Town to Morocco sails via the
Congo, Sierra Leone, Angola, Benin, Canary Islands, Gambia, Ghana,
Namibia, Senegal, Togo, Sao Tome and Principe.
Excursions explore the local slave trade, voodoo practices and a
chimpanzee sanctuary, as well as wine-tasting, bird-watching and
market-shopping. This 2014 cruise departs in April aboard the MS
Expedition – head to www.gadventures.com.
Seychelles
APT’s new MS Island Sky will operate the 15-day ‘Grand Indian Ocean
Safari’ from Mauritius in February 2014. The small vessel can sail into
atolls of the Seychelles not accessed by other ships, such as Astove
and Aldabra, and the remoter areas of Madagascar. Other ports of call
include St Denis on Reunion Island, Alphonse, Poivre and Mahe – see
www.aptouring.com.au.
Oregon, USA
Offering the only cruises from Portland, the 88-passenger replica
coastal steamer SS Legacy explores the Columbia and Snake rivers.
Seven-day ‘heritage adventures’ trace the paths of early explorers and
Native Americans, passing through eight locks. The trip includes a jet
boat ride into Hells Canyon and tastings at three Oregon wineries.
Head to www.un-cruise.com for details on available departures.
