Adventure world
Explore undiscovered waters with Adventure World's top 10 cruise recommendations.
Cruising opens up a world of possibilities, beyond the traditional big ship ocean liners. If the casual nature of small-ship cruising to adventurous destinations appeals to you then let Adventure World open your eyes to a range of unique cruising options:
South America
1. Discover the Amazon River onboard MV Desafio. This three-masted sailing ship offers a fascinating cruise through the world's last unexplored frontiers and evens allows you time for some piranha fishing.
2. The Galapagos Islands offer dramatic landscapes and ancient wildlife, located off the coast of Ecuador. MV Santa Cruise is a must-do in South America; with naturalist guides on board you will gain an in-depth knowledge to these historic islands.
3. Gaze at massive icebergs around the Antarctic Peninsula with G.A.P Adventures, offering over 10 great value Antarctic expeditions varying from 11 to 27 days on board the recently refurbished MS Expedition.
Alaska
4. See the real Alaska, cruising by small ship. Alaska, as it should be seen, is cruising through fjords, sailing so close to glaciers you can almost touch them. Cruise West has more than 60 years' experience in providing the intimate, casual and personal experience.
Mediterranean and Egypt
5. Follow in the footsteps of Agatha Christie as you cruise along the Nile River in luxury on board Oberoi Philae. This deluxe cruise offers comfort with the turn-of-the-century charm and is an idyllic way to discover the Nile's rich history.
6. Greece offers a wonderful balance between conventional cruising and private yachting. Adventure World has a complete range to suit any style and budget.
7. Explore the crystal-blue seas of the Adriatic Sea by taking a relaxing vintage sailing ship along the dramatic Croatian and Montenegrin shoreline with its historical coastal towns, idyllic islands and stunning natural beauty.
Asia
8. China's Yangtze River is a must-see. The world's third-largest river has a wealth of cultural relics and ancient temples best viewed from the comfort of a cruise ship.
9. Journey through the heart of Indochina from Saigon to Siem Reap with one of our seven-night luxury Pandaw ships. These replica colonial river steamers are small enough to access the most remotes areas of the Mekong. A true adventure with extraordinary levels of service.
10. Step aboard a Kettuvallam houseboat as it meanders through the backwaters of Kerala in Southern India. It is like stepping back in history as these boats have been plying the inland waterways for centuries.
Expand your horizons
Expedition cruising is as much about activities for the mind as well as the body.
A hallmark of expedition cruising is learning, discovery and enrichment. Expedition cruise companies excel in providing knowledgeable, expert lecturers and guides to help you extract maximum benefit from your new environment, whether it's the vivid nudibranchs hiding in the coral, a perplexing cultural ritual or a historical overview of a tiny ice-locked island deep in the arctic.
Many lecturers become minor celebrities on board and you can expect to find authors, explorers, veterans, academics, scientists and media personalities filed among the ranks. We speak to three prominent guides and lecturers who regularly travel with cruise vessels around the globe.
Diminutive doctor Nancy Sullivan, a consultant anthropologist, has spent the past 20 years living and working in Papua New Guinea among the people she has grown to love. Nancy's affection for the resilient, colourful and resourceful Melanesian people is obvious in her animated presentations. She speaks in fluent pidgin to the adults and children, and before long you'll see her draped in infant islanders transfixed by her alabaster skin, blue eyes and blonde hair.
"Tourism is good for Papua New Guinea," repeats Nancy, almost as a mantra. "It brings much-needed funds to remote communities, encourages them to maintain a traditional lifestyle and prevents young men, in particular, from having to work in cities where they are subject to many dangerous influences."
The affable Mick Fogg has a background in marine biology, zoology and chemistry, and a seemingly insatiable appetite for more knowledge and research. Despite his arsenal of academic qualifications, Mick has the gift of communicating simply and clearly without condescension. He is a regular aboard MV Orion, but has also guided and lectured aboard Coral Princess vessels.
"People [aboard expedition ships] are looking for a full experience behind their travels," says Mick. "They want the whole story, not just another photo for their album. They're asking questions and filling in gaps in their own understanding and often sharing their knowledge - just don't ask me about global warming!"
Robert (Bob) Headland is a charming anachronism of a man. A specialist in polar history from the august Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge, he's tall, bombastic and possesses a wit as sharp as the katabatic winds. But, you'll quickly find his haughty air is all theatre and he loves nothing more than to chat about his vast wealth of polar experience over a whisky or three.
In the true spirit of adventure, when the Quark Expeditions-chartered icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov attempted its farthest south by vessel, Bob led a second party by Zodiac, which furthered the record. "It took almost 100 years to break Fridtjof Nansen's record, so I wanted to really drive it home. Magnificent seaman as [Nansen] was, I think it's about time an Englishman reclaimed that one!"