One Ocean’s 2013 Northwest Passage Voyage From Kangerlussuaq To Cambridge Bay Highlights Wildlife In The Wake Of The Explorers

Roderick Eim photo of One Ocean Expeditions’ Akademik Ioffe with zodiacs in the Northwest Passage 

August 14 – August 25, 2013 (11 nights)

Starting in Kangerlussuaq (Sondre Stromfjord) and ending in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.

One Ocean Expeditions’ Northwest Passage voyage for 2013 sails through one of the world’s most historic and dramatic sea routes, linking the Atlantic and Pacific through Canada’s High Arctic.  Explore, discover and wonder as you sail in comfort through the same areas explored by Barrow, Parry and Franklin almost a century ago. Watching the water move on the horizon as a herd of walrus or a raft of seals approach the bow, or looking into the eyes of a polar bear meandering across the polar pack ice will reveal the advantages of the modern-day expedition cruise.

The Canadian Arctic is host to numerous bird species including the ivory gull, king eider, common eider, thick billed murre, black guillemot, red throated loon, pomarine jaeger, parasitic jaeger, peregrine falcon, gyr falcon, snowy owl, snow bunting, glaucous gull, black legged kittiwake, black backed gull and plover, to name just a few.

As you sail through areas of high marine biodiversity you will be on the lookout for the Arctic seals.  On land, there will plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs on long hikes.  And as these harsh landscapes are home to the shaggy haired, pre-historic looking Muskox you will likely spot them on one of your hikes.

FARES (per person or share)

From $6,990 triple, $7,990 twin semo-private, $9,590 twin private, $11,90 superior, $11,290 Shackleton Suite, $12,090 One Ocean Suite. Single supplement 50% but some shares available on request.

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

August 14, 2013 – Ottawa, Canada, to Sondre Stromfjord (Kangerlussuaq)

Sondre Stromfjord is one of the world’s longest fjords cutting into the interior of Greenland. By charter flight from Ottawa, Canada, into Greenland you will land at a former American Airbase (Bluie West Eight and Camp Lloyd), located just miles north of the Arctic Circle to board your expedition vessel by zodiac

August 15, 2013 – Sisimiut

We will explore the fjord behind the town of Sisimiut before visiting the town in the afternoon. We will hope to meet a few of the traditional Greenlandic kayakers and perhaps see a demonstration of “Eskimo Rolling” by one of the former champions of the Greenland Kayaking Championships.

August 16, 2013 – Ilulissat and Jacobshavn Icefjord

The Jacobshavn Icefjord spews massive tabular icebergs out into Disko Bay. Ilulissat was the hometown of Knud Rasmussen, one of Greenland’s most famous explorers and anthropologists, born here in 1879.

August 17 – August 18, 2013 – Baffin Bay

Your crossing of Baffin Bay will depend on the extent of the so-called ‘middle ice’.  You will  find the edge of this and then follow it around to the coast of Baffin Island.

August 19, 2013 – Fjords of Northeast Baffin Island

Rising straight out of the water and almost blotting out the sky, the cliffs of these fjords are incredible. You will sail along a few looking for a place to get out and stretch our legs

August 20, 2013 – Pond Inlet

You will visit the town of Pond Inlet and make your base at the Natinnak Centre, where a spectacular cultural exhibit will be the background of a display put on by the Elders and youth of Pond Inlet. Inuit carvings, jewellery and other local craft will be available for purchase from local artisans.

August 21, 2013 – Lancaster Sound and Devon Island

Lancaster Sound is a wildlife ‘super-highway’ of the Arctic.  A massive outlet for water from the high Arctic archipelago, the water here is rich in nutrients and is home to a diverse concentration of wildlife that can be staggering.  Stops along the shore of Lancaster Sound will depend on ice conditions and weather.

August 22, 2013 – Beechey Island and Prince Leopold Island

Beechey Island holds great importance in our quest to complete the Northwest Passage. It is here that Franklin’s ill-fated expedition spent its last ‘comfortable’ winter in 1845 before disappearing into the icy vastness. Almost sixty years later, Roald Amundsen stopped at Beechey Island during the first successful complete transit of the Northwest Passage.

After Beechey, sail south to Prince Regent Inlet, stopping for a view of the bird cliffs at Prince Leopold Island, home to thick-billed murres, black guillemots, northern fulmars and black-legged kittiwakes. Encounters with polar bear, beluga, narwhal and the occasional bowhead whale have also been known in the summering grounds in this area.

August 23, 2013 – Fort Ross and Bellot Strait

If ice conditions permit, you will sail south through Prince Regent Inlet and approach the eastern end of the Bellot Strait. Fort Ross, located at the southern end of Somerset Island, is a former Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading outpost. Ancient archaeological sites nearby tell a story of more than a thousand years of habitation by the Inuit and their predecessors. Upon leaving Fort Ross, you will attempt the passage of the Bellot Strait, entering at slack water if possible, to avoid a current that can be more than seven knots. Upon exiting Bellot Strait you will turn south in Victoria Strait, taking a bearing for King William Island.

August 24, 2013 – Victory Point, King William Island

Little is known of how the remainders of the Franklin Expedition spent its last months in the frozen Arctic. The vessels, abandoned in the ice of Victoria Strait have left no trace. A lifeboat left abandoned, bits and pieces of copper and iron, cutlery and buttons and a skeleton here and there all tell a story of a desperate race south in search of rescue that never occurred.

August 25, 2012– Cambridge Bay, Nunavut to Edmonton, Alberta

One hopes to visit the community of Cambridge Bay, on the southern shores of Victoria Island.  Cambridge Bay, or Ikaluktutiak, for“good fishing place”, is a centre for hunting, trapping, and fishing and Inuit have had summer camps in the region for centuries. Today, ships bring supplies annually. Amundsen spent two winters here, learning how to master dogsledding.  And McClintock found solid evidence of the Franklin Expedition in 1859, including naval artifacts, sledges, graves and letters.

Dropping anchor in Cambridge Bay, you will for one last time make your way ashore by zodiac for your charter flight to Edmonton and the short flight back to ‘southern’ Canada.

Please note

Specific site visits will depend on ice and weather conditions and the itinerary will be updated throughout the voyage in order to take advantage of favourable conditions.

For further details please contact Miri Lopusna at The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

New Celebrity and Carnival Ships for the UK Market – Other Cruise News: Royal Princess Debut A Prelude To New P&O Ship – British and Spanish Cruise Awards

          THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com

          by Kevin Griffin

     The Cruise Examiner for 27th February 2012

Two lines with different UK connections will each add a ship each to the UK market in 2013 when Celebrity Infinity transfers to Harwich and the Carnival Legend to Dover for next year’s summer season. While Celebrity hopes to expand its UK carryings by 70%, Carnival’s ship will be new to market. At the same time Princess Cruises, another North American-based cruise line with ships in the UK, will introduce its latest Royal Princess in Southampton in June 2013 with two 3-day taster cruises followed by a maiden voyage from Southampton to Barcelona on June 16. This ship will be a precursor to P&O’s new vessel due for delivery in 2015. Finally, we have a look at the differing results of two sets of local British and Spanish cruise awards. In the UK, the once-criticised Thomson Dream takes five awards, Celebrity and Azamara win on best value and P&O, Princess and Cunard don’t score.

THIS WEEK’S STORY                                          (See previous columns)

Last Southbound Cabin Booked for 2012: It Will Now Be 2013 if You Want to Sail by Cargo Ship from Europe to the South Pacific, Australia & New Zealand: Some Northbound Voyages Still Available

Three ships run in an 84-day round voyage from Tilbury to the US East Coast, the Pacific islands of Tahiti, Fiji and New Caledonia, Australia and New Zealand. A twin Owners cabin and two double cabins are offered on each of the CMA CGM Manet, CMA CGM Matisse and CMA CGM Utrillofrom Tilbury, Rotterdam, Dunkirk and Le Havre to Australasia and back. The round trip can also be booked as one-way voyages between Europe and Australia/New Zealand. Each ship carries six passengers but they are heavily booked through to 2013 so bookings have to be made a year or more in advance to be guaranteed of space. We have just been advised of the following availability over the next eighteen months. Book now if you want a cabin on this route:

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Southbound 2012

From Tilbury to Sydney on/about 18th May 2012 in CMA CGM Matisse  NOW BOOKED

However, it is a little easier to obtain northbound space.  Here is what is available to the end of 2012:

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Northbound 2012

Sydney to Tilbury on/about 19th June – Owners Cabin CMA CGMN Manet
Sydney to Europe on/about 14th August – Owners Cabin CMA CGM Utrillo
Tauranga to Europe on/about  14th November – Double Cabin CMA CGM Utrillo
Sydney to New York on/about 4th December – Owners Cabin CMA CGM Manet
Sydney to Le Havre on/about 17th December – Owners Cabin CMA CGM Matisse
Noumea  to Europe on/about 13th December – Double Cabin CMA CGM Matisse

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Northbound 2013

Papeete to Europe on/about 15th January in CMA CGM Utrillo
Melbourne to Europe on/about 31st January in CMA CGM Utrillo
Sydney to Tilbury on/about 11th March in CMA CGM Matisse
Papeete to Europe on/about 7th May in CMA CGM Manet
Sydney Full Round Voyage on/about 3rd June – two cabins in CMA CGM Matisse

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The fare is €110 per person per day including full board, port charges and complimentary French wine with lunch and dinner, so the full round voyage is €9,240, or about £8,495, per person. Non-US and Canadian citizens will need full US visas as cargo ships are not included in the various visa waiver programs (also known as ESTA).

Each double cabin is about 235 sq ft, fitted with a double bed, sofa, desk, chair, wardrobe, a bathroom (wc/shower) and a fridge. The Owners Cabin has twin beds and its own door into the Passenger Lounge. Common areas include a Gymnasium and Library on Deck B, Passenger Lounge on Deck E with: TV, video, DVD and an indoor Swimming Pool.

The port rotation for each voyage is Tilbury – Rotterdam – Dunkirk – Le Havre – New York – Savannah – Kingston (Jamaica) – Manzanillo (Panama) – Panama Canal – Papeete (Tahiti) – Lautoka (Fiji) – Noumea (New Caledonia) – Sydney – Melbourne – Napier – Tauranga – Manzanillo – Kingston – Savannah – Philadelphia – Tilbury.

For further details please call The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

Celebrity Cruises To Base Two Ships in the UK in 2013, at Southampton and Harwich, Giving Them a Fleet of Six Ships in Europe

Celebrity Cruises was delighted to be able to tell us today that due to the award-winning success of Celebrity Eclipse from Southampton, they’re adding a second ship, Celebrity Infinity, which will operate out of the port of Harwich from May 2013.

Celebrity Infinity has just had a makeover to bring her up to “Solstice” class standards and will offer an alluring range of 10-, 11- and 12-night itineraries including Norwegian Fjords, British Isles and European wine cruises.

Dan Hanrahan, president and ceo of Celebrity Cruises in Miami, made the trip over to the UK to announce the good news this week.  “UK holidaymakers are incredibly supportive of Celebrity Cruises and this is demonstrated by Celebrity Eclipse achieving the highest customer satisfaction ratings of all our ships” said Hanrahan. “Our decision to base Celebrity Infinity in Harwich affirms our belief in the strength of the UK business and is in direct response to increased demand for more Celebrity Cruises holiday experiences.”

With this announcement, Celebrity will now have a fleet of six ships in Europe, with the Celebrity Constellation, Equinox and Silhouette, as well as the new Celebrity Reflection cruising from the Continent, and the Celebrity Eclipse and Infinity from the UK. The Celebrity Constellation will also be offering a series of wine cruises from Southampton this autumn.

Harwich, where Celebrity Infinity will be based, has the only cruise terminal in the UK still served by a traditional boat train that pulls into a station right alongside the cruise ships from London’s Liverpool Street Station.

For further details please call The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

Silversea: Exceptional Luxury, Irresistable Fares, from £2,299 Per Person with Free Flights and On Board Credits

Sailing with Silversea has never been more affordable with their fantastic range of all-inclusive fares starting from just £2,299. With most fares featuring complimentary flights and transfers, and up to $1,000 onboard spending credit per suite, there has never been a better time to book a Silversea voyage.

Plus Silversea offers complimentary business class flights on a selection of voyages. Hurry these offers are available for a limited time only!

Exceptional luxury. irresistible fares from £2,299

Fares include:

- Roundtrip flights and transfers*
- Up to $1,000 onboard spending credit per suite*
– Butler service for every suite
– Fine wines, spirits and champagne
– All ocean-view accommodation
– In-suite bar stocked with your preferred selections
– 24-hour room service
– In-suite dining served course by course
– All gratuities
– Expedition excursions (Silver Explorer only)
– Transportation into town (most ports)

*most voyages. Excludes Silver Explorer

Fares are in Vista Suites per person double occupancy in Pounds Sterling and On Board Credits are US Dollars per Suite

NORTHERN EUROPE 2012

26-Jul 1219A 9 days London (Tower Bridge) – Reykjavik Silver Cloud £2,799 (E) $1,000
26-Jul 4220A 9 days Southampton – Lisbon Silver Whisper £3,699 (E) $1,000
04-Aug 1219B 9 days Reykjavik – London (Tower Bridge) Silver Cloud £2,799 (E) $1,000
04-Aug 4220B 9 days Lisbon – Southampton Silver Whisper £3,699 (E) $1,000
13-Aug 1220 14 days London (Tower Bridge) – Monte Carlo Silver Cloud £4,499 (E) $1,000
13-Aug 4221 10 days Southampton – Stockholm Silver Whisper £3,699 (E) $1,000
23-Aug 4222 7 days Stockholm – Copenhagen Silver Whisper £2,799 (E) $500
30-Aug 4223 7 days Copenhagen – Stockholm Silver Whisper £2,799 (B) $500
06-Sep 4224 12 days Stockholm – Southampton Silver Whisper £4,099 (E) $1,000

MEDITERRANEAN 2012

23-Jul 5221 11 days Barcelona – Venice Silver Spirit £4,599 (E) $1,000
29-Jul 2223 9 days Piraeus (Athens) – Venice Silver Wind £2,899 (E) $1,000
03-Aug 5222 10 days Venice – Istanbul Silver Spirit £4,199 (E) $1,000
07-Aug 2224 9 days Venice – Monte Carlo Silver Wind £3,299 (E) $1,000
13-Aug 5223 7 days Istanbul – Piraeus (Athens) Silver Spirit £2,699 (E) $500
20-Aug 5224 7 days Piraeus (Athens) – Venice Silver Spirit £3,099 (E) $500
23-Aug 2226 11 days Civitavecchia (Rome) – Piraeus (Athens) Silver Wind £3,199 (E) $1,000
27-Aug 1221 9 days Monte Carlo – Barcelona Silver Cloud £3,099 (E) $1,000
27-Aug 5225 7 days Venice – Monte Carlo Silver Spirit £2,699 (E) $500
03-Sep 5226 7 days Monte Carlo – Barcelona Silver Spirit £2,599 (E) $500
05-Sep 1222 9 days Barcelona – Civitavecchia (Rome) Silver Cloud £3,099 (B) $1,000
10-Sep 5227 7 days Barcelona – Civitavecchia (Rome) Silver Spirit £2,599 (B) $500
17-Sep 5228 7 days Civitavecchia (Rome) – Venice Silver Spirit £2,599 (E) $500
24-Sep 2230 7 days Piraeus (Athens) – Venice Silver Wind £2,299 (E) $500
24-Sep 5229 7 days Venice – Piraeus (Athens) Silver Spirit £2,599 (E) $500
01-Oct 5230 7 days Piraeus (Athens) – Istanbul Silver Spirit £2,599 (E) $500
08-Oct 5231 7 days Istanbul – Piraeus (Athens) Silver Spirit £2,599 (B) $500
10-Oct 2232 9 days Istanbul – Piraeus (Athens) Silver Wind £2,899 (B) $1,000
15-Oct 5232 7 days Piraeus (Athens) – Civitavecchia (Rome) Silver Spirit £2,599 (B) $500
19-Oct 2233 12 days Piraeus (Athens) – Istanbul Silver Wind £3,799 (E) $1,000
22 Oct 5233 7 days Civitavecchia (Rome) – Barcelona Silver Spirit £2,599 (B) $500
29-Oct 5234 9 days Barcelona – Las Palmas Silver Spirit £2,999 (B) $1,000
31-Oct 2234 12 days Istanbul – Piraeus (Athens) Silver Wind £3,499 (B) $1,000
07-Nov 5235 9 days Roundtrip Las Palmas Silver Spirit £2,999 (E) $1,000

ALASKA 2012

07-Jun 3215 7 days Vancouver – Seward Silver Shadow £2,299 £499 $500
30-Aug 3226 7 days Seward – Vancouver Silver Shadow £2,299 Call $500

ARABIA 2012

13-Apr 4209 18 days Dubai – Monte Carlo Silver Whisper £6,099 (E) $1,000
12-Nov 2235 16 days Piraeus (Athens) – Dubai Silver Wind £4,299 (E) $1,000

SILVERSEA EXPEDITIONS 2012

19-Aug 7220 14 days Tromso – Dublin Silver Explorer £4,099 Call for flights
02-Sep 7221 14 days Dublin – Santa Cruz De Tenerife Silver Explorer £3,899 Call for flights
16-Sep 7222 17 days Santa Cruz De Tenerife – Accra Silver Explorer £5,299 Call for flights

E = Complimentary Economy Class flights & transfers B = Complimentary Business Class flights & transfers

To book your ocean-view suite or for more information, please call Gay Scruton at The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

Subject to Silversea’s terms and conditions and subject to availability.

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Cruise From Venice Along the Dalmatian Coast in Compagnie du Ponant’s New Yacht Cruiser L’Austral This Summer

This summer, from May though the September Compagnie du Ponant’s new 264-guest yacht cruiser L’Austral will be sailing along the beautiful  Dalmatian Coast from Venice. Here is your opportunity to explore and enjoy Croatia, Montenegro, and on some cruises Greece as well.

A choice of 6-, 7- and 10-night departures from Venice plus a 10-night itinerary from Venice to Piraeus (Athens) or a special 5-night sailing from Itea to Venice to begin the season in May all beckon.

Consult Compagnie du Ponant’s 2012 Adriatic yacht cruise brochure here.

For further details on any Compagnie du Ponant cruises please call The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

Is a Liverpool Revival in the Works? – Other Cruise News: English-Speaking Opportunity on a French Cruise Ship – The Latest on Costa Concordia

          THE CRUISE EXAMINER at Cybercruises.com

          by Kevin Griffin

     The Cruise Examiner for 20th February 2012

Liverpool has been in the news over the past few months since it applied to be able to handle turnaround cruises at its government-funded Liverpool Cruise Terminal in the Mersey, a facility that has received UK and EU grants on the basis that it be used only for visiting cruise ships and not for embarkations and turnarounds. Liverpool City Council, owners of the facility, now think they have come up with a solution to their problem by paying back the UK part of these grants. While this debate has been going on, however, Liverpool was made to look very foolish last week when a local newspaper announced that Cunard Line would operate a Transatlantic service between Liverpool and New York, only to be rebuffed on Friday in a terse statement from Cunard saying that it had no such intention. Elsewhere, for those English-speaking passengers who would like to be able experience a French-speaking cruise ship in English-speaking company, the Ocean Liner Society will be undertaking its 2012 group cruise on board Croisières de France’s all-inclusive Horizon this May. Finally, we bring you a brief update on the situation with the Costa Concordia.

THIS WEEK’S STORY                                          (See previous columns)

Last-Minute Cargo-Passenger Ship Opportunity Taken Up: Owners Cabin From London Tilbury to Sydney in May 2012 Now Booked

NOW BOOKED

Three ships run in cargo-passenger service from Tilbury to the US East Coast, the Pacific islands of Tahiti, Fiji and New Caledonia and on to Australia. A twin Owners cabin and two double cabins are offered on each of the CMA CGM Manet, CMA CGM Matisse and CMA CGM Utrillo from Tilbury, Rotterdam, Dunkirk and Le Havre to Australia. Each carries six passengers but they are all fully booked through to 2013 so bookings have to be made a year or more in advance.

However, due to a cancellation, the Owners Cabin is once again available on board the CMA CGM Matisse from Tilbury, with departure on or about May 18, 2012. But book it now if you want it as it won’t be available for long.

The fare is €4,730 (£4,095) per person including full board, port charges and complimentary French wine with lunch and dinner. Sole occupancy of the same cabin is €5,160 (£4,465). Non-US and Canadian citizens will need full US visas as cargo ships are not included in the various visa waiver programs (also known as ESTA).

The Owners Cabin has twin beds and its own door into the Passenger Lounge. Common areas include a Gymnasium and Library on Deck B, Passenger Lounge on Deck E with TV, video, DVD and indoor Swimming Pool.

Port rotation for this voyage is Tilbury – Rotterdam – Dunkirk – Le Havre – New York – Savannah – Kingston (Jamaica) – Manzanillo (Panama) – Panama Canal – Papeete (Tahiti) – Lautoka (Fiji) – Noumea (New Caledonia) – Sydney.

Please click here to see update and more plentiful availability of northbound cabins.

To book this cabin please call Miri Lopusna at The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 as soon as possible or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

French Asia Line 1 Brings the World’s Largest Passenger-Carrying Container Ships to the Southampton-Far East Trade

CMA CGM is now the third largest container line in the world, but its illustrious history includes some of the world’s greatest ocean liners, such as the Paris, Ile de France,  Normandie, Liberté and France. It was in recognition of this past that, after CMA acquired the state-owned CGM in 1996, CMA CGM chairman and ceo Jacques Saadé instructed that passenger accommodation be installed in a number of their newbuilding container ships. Many CMA CGM ships to this day still carry up to twelve passengers each, the maximum number allowed on a cargo ship.

The Cruise People first announced the introduction to service of the giant container ship CMA CGM Christophe Colomb in November 2009 but in her initial period of service the passenger accommodation was reserved for company guests and VIPs. More recently, the 13,800 TEU CMA CGM Christophe Colomb and sister ships have been operating on French Asia Line 5, but with a recent realignment of Far East schedules with the Mediterranean Shipping Company, these ships are now transferring to the French Asia Line 1.

Voyages now commence in Southampton and calls are made in  Hamburg, Bremerhaven,  Zeebrugge, Le Havre and Malta before the ship sails for Khor Fakkan, Jebel Ali, Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Nansha, Hong Kong, Chiwan and Yantian, returning via Port Kelang and Tanger Med to Southampton, a full round voyage of 77 days.

Along with five ships of the 11,400 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) “Cassiopea” class, five French-flag and two British-flag 13,800 TEU ships, the largest passenger-carrying container ships in the world, have been placed onto the French Asia Line 1 route and a brief description follows:

French flag:  CMA CGM Christophe Colomb, CMA CGM La Perouse and CMA CGM Amerigo Vespucci.  British flag:  CMA CGM Magellan and CMA CGM Corte Real.

Cabins and Suites: Each ship has five passenger cabins on Deck F. Each Cabin or Suite is fitted with: refrigerator, sofa, coffee table, desk, an easy chair, wardrobe and chest of drawers, wall mirror and private lavatory unit with shower, washbasin and WC. Double beds measure 200 x 160 cm (6’6½” x 5’3″) and twin beds 200 x 120 cm (6’6½” x 3’11¼”) each. Suite E-718: about 37 m² (398 sq ft), twin beds, two side windows and three windows aft, plus 14 m² (150 sq ft) Terrace Deck with the cabin; Cabin A-701: about 30 m² (323 sq ft), one double bed, three forward and two side windows; Cabins B-712 & C-714: about 23 m² (248 sq ft), one double bed, three forward windows; Cabin D-716: about 23 m² (248 sq ft), one double bed, two forward and two side windows.

Public Areas: Gymnasium, about 28 m² (300 sq ft), on Deck A, Ping-Pong table, rowing machine, home trainer, darts; Swimming Pool on Deck A; Passenger Lounge, on Deck F, fitted with a game table, TV and DVD reader ;Library on Deck F with a desk; Officers Mess Room (by invitation only). Like the “Christophe Colombe” class ships, the slightly smaller (but still huge)  “Cassiopea” class also feature five double cabins and similar public areas.

Fares: Valid from February 2012 in Euros, per day and per person, covering travel with full board and complimentary wine with lunch and dinner, including port charges.  Cabins €110 per person per day in double occupany, or €110 for single occupancy. For Owners Suite, please contact us for details. Note: For voyages of less than 10 days duration, daily fare is €130 (double occupancy), and €150 (single occupancy).

For further details and information on any of these voyages please call Miri Lopusna at The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7273 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

The Magna Carta Steamship Company’s Spirit of Chartwell Set To Become Royal Barge For a Day

Update – September 16, 2012: The Magna Carta Steamship Co has now sold the Spirit of Chartwell to other owners, who will operate 7-day cruises on Portugal’s Douro River.

The 486-ton Spirit of Chartwell is a small Thames cruise ship with eighteen luxury overnight cabins. Built in 2010, this 217-foot luxury cruiser has been designed in the mode of the old railway Pullman carriages popular in the 1920s, a kind of “Orient Express” on the Thames that features items from that famous train.

The Spirit of Chartwell’s owner, the Magna Carta Steamship Company, also owns the Lord of the Glens, cruising in Scotland. The décor on Spirit of Chartwell includes artefacts from the Lalique-designed Orient Express dining car “Côte d’Azur,” highlight of which is a series of exquisite glass panels of classical figures, together with thirty-three original armchairs that have been painstakingly restored.

She also displays fittings from the ocean liners France, including wall lights in most of the cabins, and Windsor Castle, from which have come two magnificent portholes in the main lounge, bathroom fittings, bar stools and a fine clock. Above this, Spirit of Chartwell’s observation deck offers alfresco dining and the ideal vantage point from which to view the passing scenery, with her opulent lounge bar providing a tranquil retreat from English weather.

The  Spirit of Chartwell was used as the Royal Barge for the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, carrying Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II down the Thames in celebration of sixty-years on the throne. The pageant, on Sunday, June 3, 2012, saw almost 1,000 vessels of different kinds either travelling the Thames or greeting the flotilla as it made it way downstream. Up to 30,000 flag-waving members of the public were on board the various passenger-carrying vessels.

Accommodating the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family, Spirit of Chartwell was the centrepiece of the pageant, decorated and adorned for the occasion at the head of the royal section of the flotilla. The Prince of Wales also played a key role as Patron of the Pageant. The Spirit’s owner, Philip Morrell, who founded Voyages Jules Verne in 1978 and sold that firm to Kuoni in 1998, donated the use of Spirit of Chartwell to the Queen for the pageant.

Meanwhile, north of the border, in Scotland, Magna Carta’s third vessel, the 729-ton Lord of the Glens, is another vessel with the appeal of a luxury yacht, with all-round teak-clad viewing and promenade decks and rich mahogany interiors. She features twenty-seven luxury staterooms to accommodate 54 guests, a bar, lounge and a restaurant that accommodates all passengers in one sitting.

The 150-foot Lord of the Glens can navigate both the Caledonian Canal that crosses Scotland and the open sea, and was designed to meet exacting criteria in terms of her dimensions and to satisfy the stringent safety requirements of the UK Marine authorities. To this end, Spanish craftsmen rebuilt the vessel in 2000 using the finest materials and equipment.

The Lord of the Glens’ spring and autumn seasons offer 5-night sheltered water cruising through the Scottish Highlands from £744 per person, while summer offerings include 7-night cruises from Inverness to the Kyle of Lochalsh from £1,481, and 10-night cruises from the Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness from £1,994 per person.

For further details on these departures please call The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

Quark Expeditions Makes Plans For Its Latest Ships: Ocean Diamond and Sea Spirit Join Clipper Adventurer and Kapitan Dranitsyn

In the past couple of years, Toronto-based TUI-owned Quark Expeditions has gone from using largely Russian-supplied tonnage to working more closely with International Shipping Partners of Miami as its main supplier of ships. Starting with the 4,200-ton 114-berth Sea Spirit, which was acquired from Cruise West as the Spirit of Oceanus just before that company’s bankruptcy, Quark has now taken on the 8,282-ton 189-berth Ocean Diamond, more recently acquired by ISP, which is being chartered back to her previous owners, Compagnie du Ponant, for whom she operated as Le Diamant, for the summer of 2012.

Both Sea Spirit and Ocean Diamond will be used in Antarctica, together with a third ISP fleetmate, the 4,376-ton 122-berth Clipper Adventurer, all of which will sail from Quark’s usual base port of Ushuaia, Argentina.

In the meantime, two of Quark’s previous mainstays, the 110-berth Russian-owned 6,450-ton Akademik Ioffe and 6,344-ton Akademik Sergey Vavilov, are moving over one at a time to be operated by Vancouver-based independent One Ocean Expeditions.

In her first season with Quark, from November 2012 to March 2013, Ocean Diamond will perform two 19-night cruises to Antarctica, the Falklands and South Georgia, from $9,695 per person on November 3 or $12,795 on December 26, and eight departures to the Antarctic Peninsula, from $4,295 for 9 nights or $4,795 for 11 nights.

As part of her introductory season, Quark is offering a 25% early booking reduction on all Ocean Diamond departures booked by 30th April 2012. Savings of up to $7,000 can be applied to upgrades to larger cabins or shore excursions or simply remain in your bank account.

Sea Spirit will undertake nine cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula and a cruise to Antarctica, the Falklands and South Georgia, at the same starting fares as Ocean Diamond, plus a 13-night departure to the Weddell Sea, from $11,995, and a 14-night cruise to the Peninsula that will cross of the Antarctic Circle, starting at $12,795, and a 15-night early season cruise on October 28 that will concentrate on South Georgia, from $10,295 per person.

Clipper Adventurer, meanwhile, will perform two new expedition voyages for Quark. Known as the “Antarctic Express,” this will involve two charter aircraft flying the Drake Passage to King Edward Island, where passengers will join ship, 7 nights from $7,995 per person. At the beginning of these cruises, the option will be to sail south and fly north, from $9,995 for 9 nights, and at the end fly south and sail north, from $6,395 for 8 nights, for a total of four shorter cruises that will avoid a double crossing of the Drake Passage.

Clipper Adventurer will kick off the season with a single Antarctica, Falklands and South Georgia voyage and will also perform nine Antarctic Peninsula voyages from Ushuaia, with fares similar to Ocean Diamond and Sea Spirit.

Various ships will be chosen to perform different cruises in the Arctic thereafter. For this summer, these will be offered by the Akademik Sergey Vavilov, in her final Quark season, and the chartered Russian icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn, which will be offering two cruises from Murmansk, one to Franz Josef Land, 12 nights from $12,995 per person, and one to both Novaia Zemlia and Franz Josef Land, 14 nights from $15,995. Either the Sea Spirit or Ocean Diamond will be used in the Arctic and Spitsbergen in 2013.

And speaking of Russian icebreakers, efforts are apparently also being made to bring back the Kapitan Khlebnikov for further Antarctic departures in the future as well. While we await further news from Quark, it is quite clear that they are in the course of upgrading their fleet to a higher level of comfort than in past years, with ice-strengthened cruise ships replacing the chartered scientific research vessels used in the past. Both the Sea Spirit and Ocean Diamond are known for having worked for more upmarket concerns during their own past careers.

For further details on any Quark Expeditions departure please call Miri Lopusna at The Cruise People Ltd on 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

The Cruise Examiner for 13th February 2012: Spirit of Chartwell to Become The Royal Barge For a Day– Other Cruise News: Quark Expeditions Makes Plans For Its Latest Ships – New Cargo-Passenger Voyages to Australia and Canada

The three vessels of the UK’s Magna Carta Steamship Company form a rather unusual cruising fleet, with the Spirit of Chartwell and Passepartout cruising the upper and lower reaches of the Thames and the Lord of the Glens the Caledonian Canal in Scotland. The 36-berth Spirit of Chartwell and 54-berth Lord of the Glens accept overnight passengers, with the latter having more recently been in the news as she has been chosen to act as the Royal Barge for this year’s Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in early June. As part of a flotilla of close to 1,000 vessels, she will celebrate sixty years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II by carrying the monarch herself. Elsewhere, TUI-owned Quark Expeditions has added two new ships to its expedition cruise fleet with the 114-berth Sea Spirit, ex-Spirit of Oceanus, and the 189-berth Ocean Diamond, ex-Le Diamant. And finally, for those wishing to travel by cargo ship, Germany’s NSB has opened up two new cargo-passenger routes, between Asia and Australia with the NYK Galaxyand between Europe and Canada with the Hanjin Palermo.

THIS WEEK’S STORY                                          (See previous columns)