This was published 8 years ago
Lindblad Expeditions' new 2016 Arctic program on National Geographic Explorer
Lindblad Expeditions 2016 program includes eight expeditions to Norway, Svalbard, Iceland, Baffin Island and Greenland.
Into the Arctic
Lindblad Expeditions has floated out its new 2016 Arctic program on National Geographic Explorer, which tempts intrepid travellers to discover the fabled North-west Passage and North Pole. It includes eight expeditions to Norway, Svalbard, Iceland, Baffin Island and Greenland, with departures available between May and September 2016. A new addition is the 13-day Exploring Greenland and the Canadian High Arctic itinerary that explores Greenland's rugged fiords and glaciers, and includes hikes on the wild islands of Canada's northern shores. There's also a greater choice of pre- and post-voyage extensions in Iceland.
Phone 1300 361 012. See www.expeditions.com.
APT wine cruises take in European vineyards such as Zell in Germany.
Ultimate dream
Silversea Cruises is already accepting reservations for its world cruise in 2017, a 116-day ocean voyage from San Francisco to Monte Carlo aboard Silver Whisper. The journey encompasses 62 destinations in 25 countries, with numerous late-night and overnight stays that allow passengers time to sample the sights and sounds of some of the world's most beautiful cities. Departing January 6, 2017, Silver Whisper heads to Hawaii and across the South Pacific to New Zealand and Australia and on to Bali, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore. It also sails to India, the Arabian peninsula and the Mediterranean.
Phone 1300 306 872. See www.silversea.com.
Outdoor Travel has a new Bike & Barge cycling cruise in France's Bordeaux region.
Bike and barge
Active holiday specialist Outdoor Travel has a new Bike & Barge cycling cruise in the Bordeaux region of south-west France in 2016, offering the chance to cycle the paths and back roads of Bordeaux's famous wine regions such as Saint-Emilion, Pomerol and Sauternes. Each day, guests join a guide on a bike tour, or can ride independently using the maps and route information provided. The company provides multi-geared bicycles and e-bikes. Passengers travel on the small 49-cabin charter ship Bordeaux. Tours will depart weekly from May 7 to October 29 next year.
Phone 1800 331 582. See www.outdoortravel.com.au.
Sail the world in style on Silver Whisperer.
Focus on wine
APT has launched new wine cruises in Europe in 2016, with some leading figures in the Australian wine industry acting as wine ambassadors for the river-cruise company. The ambassadors, who travel on board throughout the cruise, will host special wine-pairing dinners, lead excursions to cellar doors to meet local winemakers, oversee tastings and give explanations of the local wine heritage. They include Bruce Tyrrell (Tyrrell's Wines), Cherry Stowman (Taylors Wines) and Darren Davis and Amy White from Seppeltsfield. There are nine such cruises next year in France, Portugal and on the Amsterdam-Budapest river run.
Phone 1300 196 420. See www.aptouring.com.au.
Caribbean queen
Celebrity Cruises is bringing more of the Caribbean to travellers with its Evenings Around the World shore excursions featuring 14 new Caribbean experiences. These include evening jazz, bonfires and exclusive boat parties in Cozumel in Mexico, an exclusive wine tasting at Willemstad in Curacao, and drifting along Aruba's coastline to live Caribbean music on a sunset cruise. There are also evening horse-drawn carriage tours through Cartagena in Colombia and a zip-line experience in Haiti. The cruise line now offers more time in ports and more overnights in the Caribbean than any other cruise line.
Phone 1800 754 500. See www.celebritycruises.com.au.
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