ADV E N T U R E
A DV E N T U R E
IN PURSUIT OF
ADVENTURE Want to experience remote coastline, polar regions or get up close to nature? Then adventure cruising is for you. Here’s a quick guide to what’s available. Words Roderick Eime Adventure cruising has its roots deep in
healthy resurgence, adventure cruising, or
the human psyche. It stems from our innate
expedition cruising as it is also called, is
desire to inquire, explore and expand the
booming. This tallies with recent studies
boundaries of our environment. One could
that indicate travellers are more in search
name great navigators such as Magellan,
of “experience-driven travel”. But how do
Cook, La Perouse and Pytheas as some of
you tell an adventure or expedition cruise
the best known “adventure cruisers”.
from the regular fun-afloat type? The following is a list of qualities to watch for:
however, is transported in vastly different vessels to those great adventurers. Gone are the days of deprivation, scurvy and mythical sea monsters. These days you sail with state-of-the-art satellite navigation,
n Products driven by the destination and
experience rather than the allure or cachet of a particular vessel. n Fewer passengers, typically less than
first-rate medical facilities, gourmet cuisine
500, but often as few as a dozen. This
and comfortable bunks.
enables operators to better deliver a
Just as cruise travel is enjoying a 30 spring 2006 www.cruisepassenger.com.au
more personal and fulfilling experience.
Photo courtesy of Tourism Queensland
The 21st-century adventure cruiser,
Learn more about the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem www.cruisepassenger.com.au spring 2006 31
ADV E N T U R E Exploring an island near the Antarctic Peninsula
Photo: Sue Werner - Aurora Expeditions
Many see Orion as a “crossover” product, retaining the glamour and facilities of a big ship whilst pursuing itineraries and destinations usually reserved for smaller, more spartan vessels.
Facilities: Lounges with panoramic views,
of new experiences, places and discovery,
narrow and shallow waterways
dining room, cocktail bar, baby grand,
whilst enjoying the comfort of luxurious
inaccessible to regular cruise ships.
video, elevator, library and gift shop
surroundings”. On board you’ll eat fine
Beginning in 1970 as a day-tripper, dinner
cuisine and drink great wines. Many
take into account changing conditions
and “coffee cruise” company offering trips
see Orion as a “crossover” product,
and opportunities.
around Sydney Harbour, Captain Cook
retaining the glamour and facilities of a
Cruises now has 16 vessels, five of which
big ship whilst pursuing itineraries and
program, often with a choice of several
have sleeping cabins. CCC has vessels
destinations usually reserved for smaller,
disembarkations per day.
in Sydney, Cairns, Mannum in South
more spartan vessels.
n Smaller vessels capable of navigating
n Flexible and adjustable itineraries to
n An extensive shore excursion
n Destinations often have little or no
Australia, and Fiji. Its primary “adventure”
tourism infrastructure and focus
product is Reef Endeavour. It operates out
Company: Coral Princess Cruises
instead on natural, cultural and
of Cairns where naturalist guides and dive
Vessels: Oceanic Princess, Coral Princess I
ecological attractions.
instructors enrich the Great Barrier Reef
and Coral Princess II
and Cape York itineraries.
Capacity: Oceanic Princess carries 72
n Cruise crew includes lecturers
drawn from academia and science
passengers in 36 cabins and suites while
who are able to impart an enriching
Company: Orion Expedition Cruises
Coral Princess I carries 50 passengers in
interpretation during the voyage.
Vessel: Orion
27 cabins and Coral Princess II carries 46
Capacity: 53 suites and staterooms for 106
passengers in 24 cabins
passengers
Facilities: Dining room, library/bar/lecture
Facilities: Fine dining, boutique, sauna,
room, Jacuzzi, Zodiacs, aluminium tenders
Here is a selection of vessels and
Jacuzzi, elevator, library and 10 Zodiacs
and water-sports equipment
itineraries that are within easy reach of
Orion burst onto the scene amid great
Coral Princess Cruises bills itself as a
Australia or New Zealand. They’re often
fanfare in early 2005. Founder and
pioneer of Australian expedition cruising,
accessed by simple domestic airline link.
managing director Sarina Bratton
beginning in 1984 with an ex-World War
brought with her many years of top-level
Two submarine chaser. Currently the
Company: Captain Cook Cruises
cruise industry experience and Orion is
company operates three vessels, with
Vessel: Reef Endeavour
an amalgamation of Bratton’s vision for
the one-year-old Oceanic Princess taking
Capacity: 75 cabins for 150 passengers
“people who seek the mental stimulation
pride of place as its flagship.
n Premium pricing.
Products close to home
32 spring 2006 www.cruisepassenger.com.au
ADV E N T U R E Learn more about other cultures
Replacing the company’s older, smaller
winter, Discovery relocates to Queensland,
Coral Princess I and II, stay close to home,
While the two smaller vessels,
vessel of the same name, the new True
visiting Hervey Bay and Fraser Island with
operating primarily from the company’s
North regularly wins awards for its
a new three-night offering.
base in Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef,
Kimberley cruises. It cruises the area from
Cape York and to the Kimberley, Oceanic
March to September and visits Papua New
International cruises
Princess ventures much further afield.
Guinea from November to December.
Here is a list of companies offering cruises
Since her launch in early 2005, she has
to various remote parts of the world.
circumnavigated New Zealand and
Company: World Heritage Cruises
Tasmania, visited Papua New Guinea,
Vessel: Discovery
Company: Lindblad Expeditions
Vanuatu, New Caledonia and the
Capacity: 12 suites for 24 passengers
Flagship: National Geographic Endeavour
Solomons and spearheaded itineraries
Facilities: Fine dining, lounge, sun deck,
Capacity: 61 cabins for 110 passengers
in the Kimberley.
two fast tenders and kayaks
Facilities: Dining room, gym, pool, bar/
Based in the idyllic former logging port of
lounge/theatre and Zodiacs
Company: North Star Cruises
Strahan on Tasmania’s rugged west coast,
No coverage of expedition cruising would
Vessel: True North
this small ship company is best known for
be complete without mention of this truly
Capacity: 18 cabins and suites for
its relaxed day cruises along Macquarie
pioneering company. Spawned from his
36 passengers
Harbour into the pristine Gordon River.
father’s (Lars-Eric Lindblad) ground-
Facilities: Dining room, two lounges,
Branching out with a new luxury vessel,
breaking company Lindblad Travel, young
alfresco bar, internet café, sun deck, six
Discovery, the century-old family company
Sven-Olaf Lindblad launched Lindblad
tenders and a helicopter
now offers overnight cruises further up
Expeditions in 1979.
Western Australia’s own North Star
the Gordon River. The five-day expeditions
Cruises operates the much acclaimed
go to remote Port Davey and Bathurst
a fleet of vessels of which the 3100-ton
True North, which was launched in 2004.
Harbour and, during the harsh Tasmanian
National Geographic Endeavour is
34 spring 2006 www.cruisepassenger.com.au
The New York-based company operates
ADV E N T U R E
The Florida-based Ecoventura claims to offset its vessels’ carbon output with a variety of projects including reforestation and methane recapture.
Get close to King George Falls in the Kimberley perhaps the best known. She travels,
“carbon neutral”. The Florida-based
Zodiacs, observation decks, and
quite literally, to all corners of the globe
Ecoventura (previously known as
open bridge
including the South Pacific, Antarctica
Galapagos Network) claims to offset its
This is a Swedish company offering small
and the British Isles.
vessels’ carbon output with a variety
group adventures primarily to remote
of projects including reforestation and
Antarctic and Arctic destinations. It has a
methane recapture.
particularly good Spitsbergen cruise. The
Company: Quark Expeditions Flagship: Kapitan Khlebnikov
company also works in conjunction with
Capacity: 54 cabins and suites for
Company: Heritage Expeditions
112 passengers
Vessel: Spirit of Enderby
Facilities: Two dining rooms, bar, theatre,
Capacity: 24 cabins for 48 passengers
sauna, pool, library, elevator, Zodiacs and
Facilities: Dining room, lounge/bar/library,
two helicopters
Zodiacs and hovercraft
Arguably the most pre-eminent expedition
Formed in 1985 by experienced New
cruising company in the world, Quark
Zealand biologist and naturalist, Rodney
transports passengers to truly iconic
Russ, this family company offers expeditions
destinations such as the deepest Antarctic,
to the Russian Far East, the Antarctic and
the Canadian High Arctic, Siberia and
sub-Antarctic, and southwest Pacific.
even the North Pole. Quark was founded in 1991 and immediately began setting new
Company: Oceanwide Expeditions
benchmarks in adventure travel. It uses
Vessels: Grigoriy Mikheev and
a fleet of seven, predominantly Russian,
Aleksey Maryshev
vessels including world-record-holding
Capacity: 23 cabins for 45 passengers
icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov and the
Facilities: Dining/lecture room, lounge/
world’s most powerful icebreaker, Yamal,
bar/library, infirmary, sauna and Zodiacs This Dutch company operates high-quality
Company: Ecoventura
expeditions to the Antarctic, Arctic and
Vessels: Eric, Letty and Flamingo
Atlantic Ocean destinations. It also
Capacity: Each has 10 cabins for
utilises ships Professor Molchanov and
20 passengers
Professor Multanovskiy.
Facilities: Dining room, lounge/bar/library, kayaks, snorkelling and scuba equipment,
Company: Polar Quest
and tenders
Vessels: Origo and Stockholm
This Galapagos specialist operates
Capacity: 12 cabins for 24 passengers
vessels it recently self-accredited as
Facilities: Dining room, lounge/bar/library,
36 spring 2006 www.cruisepassenger.com.au
other operators mentioned here. n
Get going Booking directly with any of these international companies is possible, but often it is easier if you book via one of the experienced adventure travel tour operators based in Australia. It allows you to maintain personal contact with a specialist consultant and compare similar products, vessels and destinations without pressure or obligations. Here is a list of some of Australia’s most experienced and respected companies: Adventure Associates Ph: (02) 8916 3000, toll free 1800 222 141 www.adventureassociates.com Aurora Expeditions Ph: (02) 9252 1033, toll free 1800 637 688 www.auroraexpeditions.com.au Peregrine Adventures Ph: 1300 854 444 within Australia or (61) 3 8601 4444 outside Australia Fax: (03) 8601 4344 www.peregrine.net.au