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44 / Top ten
Small ship
expedition cruising Sailing to some of the most remote parts of the world, these small ship expedition cruises allow passengers to get closer to the action, says Jessica Pook
The Austral Islands: Specialising in cruising French Polynesia, Aranui Cruises will sail the Austral islands, an archipelago south of Tahiti, in 2022. The new 11-day cruise onboard Aranui 5 will visit four of the islands, including Raivavae, with its Bora Bora-like beaches, and Rapa, the most southerly inhabited island of French Polynesia. Passengers will also join villagers for traditional dances or watch Humpback Whales from August to October. The cruise costs from £4,271pp and includes accommodation, meals, and excursions. aranui.com Africa and the Ivory Coast: An 11-night wildlife and cultural discovery of Africa and the Ivory Coast with Crystal Cruises introduces guests to the wilderness and histories of Africa’s lesser-known western shores. Departing April 5, 2022, Crystal Endeavor will sail from
Tema, Ghana to Dakar, Senegal, stopping at Takoradi in Ghana, Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire, Monrovia in Liberia, Freetown and Tokeh in Sierra Leone and Banjul in Gambia. Cruise-only prices start from £8,516pp for a Deluxe Suite. crystalcruises.co.uk Great Barrier Reef, Australia: Coral Expeditions has launched a series of new seven-night round-trip sailings onboard Coral Discoverer from Cairns, Australia. The nature-based expeditions will take small groups to explore the outer reefs and lesser-known islands of the Great Barrier Reef under the guidance of an expert team. Passengers will also have the chance to learn about indigenous culture in Cooktown and sip sundowners on uninhabited islands. Prices start from £3,743pp with sailings in 2022 and 2023. coralexpeditions.com Raja Ampat and West Papua Islands: Aurora Expeditions is hosting a
14-night itinerary to Raja Ampat and West Papua Islands in Indonesia from September 2022. Priced from £10,110pp, Sylvia Earle will transport passengers between the 1,500 tiny forested islands scattered throughout the archipelago. Passengers can dive and snorkel in rich coral reefs, go in search of over 500 species of bird and enjoy a melting pot of cultures. auroraexpeditions.co.uk Norwegian fjords: New cruise line Havila Voyages has designed its ships to be the most environmentally friendly vessels to operate along the Norwegian coastal route. The ships – one still to arrive this year and three more in 2022 – will be fitted with the world’s largest battery packs, meaning they can sail through fjords for up to four hours, quietly and emission free. During the voyage, the ships pass through four UNESCO Heritage sites, cross the Arctic circle twice and offer the chance to see the
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