Adventure seekers are always entitled to discerning tastes, we say, especially when it comes to cruising. For VIP travelers who want thrills along with thread counts, here is a look at some of the top high-end cruise lines that offer adventure itineraries.
Silversea Expeditions, an offshoot of Silversea Cruises, offers cruises that combine exhilaration with luxury. Some of its most touted voyages include those that cross the Polar Circle, the Antarctic, Central America’s jungles and Patagonia region.
These special itineraries are available on the über-luxurious Silver Explorer. Clients accustomed to world-class service will love that all suites and staterooms feature butler service, champagne upon arrival, a choice of nine pillow types, Italian marble bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, personalized stationery, on-demand movies and more. Many Silver Explorer suites also have French balconies or large private verandas. Tip: We hear the Owner’s Suite measures at 626 square feet and can accommodate up to three guests.
When sailing with the Silver Explorer, guests open themselves up to a more interactive journey. Itineraries are unstructured by design and follow only tentative schedules. While in Antarctica, cruisers can encounter penguins, seals and whales in their natural habitat, as well as marvel at the crag-like icebergs that line the landscape. In the Arctic, your clients have the opportunity to cross the Arctic Circle and take in a midnight sun. The Greenland and Canada itineraries cruise into bays and alongside glaciers and allow for up close views of exotic seabirds.
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| Crystal Cruises will sail a special Antarctica itinerary over Christmas and New Year’s. |
Warmer adventures lead cruisers south to Central and South America, where they can swim with marine life and discover monkeys and rare birds. We hear that participants on this itinerary have the opportunity to interact with a native Kuna community. History abounds on the West Coast of Africa tours, which take guests to places that are infamous for their role in the slave trade. Photography buffs will flip over the viewing opportunities in the Namib Desert.
But when not out diving, conquering, photographing, or what have you, cruisers can kick back and enjoy the ship’s library, boutique shopping, spa, beauty salon, entertainment and more.
Reach out to Steve Tucker ([email protected]; 954-663-3036), vice president, field sales North America, with inquiries.
Crystal Cruises offers a myriad of adventurous options for its guests, both in terms of itineraries and its Crystal Adventures shore excursions.
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| Crystal‘s Antarctica sailing circles Cape Horn and ends in Valparaiso, Chile. |
One of its top offerings is the cruise to Antarctica over the Christmas and New Year holidays. The itinerary circles Cape Horn from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Valparaiso, Chile. Stops include Montevideo, Uruguay; Puerto Madryn, Argentina; Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; three days cruising Antarctica; Ushuaia, Argentina; Punta Arenas, Chile; and Puerto Montt, Chile.
For cruisers who opt for one of Crystal’s more traditional itineraries, there are a slew of singular adventures that would be pleasing to even the most well-heeled traveler. Whether it’s rock climbing in Northern Ireland, ziplining in St. Lucia or surfing in Biarritz, Crystal has a lineup of over-the-top adventures that go quite nicely with its theme of superior service. Other adventure options include cliff climbing in Croatia, horseback riding in Helsinki and river rafting in Iceland.
Top Touch: If your clients want a truly epic, “out-of-this-world” experience, we suggest booking Crystal’s extreme adventure opportunities in Russia. Three of its offerings are related to the cosmonaut training facility outside Moscow. Guests can experience a centrifuge G-Force, cosmonaut training in hydrospace, a zero gravity weightlessness adventure in the largest parabola aircraft in the world and flying a MiG jet out of Sormovo air base.
Seabourn Cruise Line is yet another luxury line that offers options for the more adventurous travelers. Perhaps its most notable itinerary is the 15- and 16-day Patagonian Passage cruises between Valparaiso and Buenos Aires.
Guests will have the opportunity to hike in forests among 3,000-year-old Alerce trees (think Sequoias); zipline at the Chucao canyon; fly fish on the Maulin River; sail Beagle Channel in a catamaran; trek to penguin colonies and much more.
Luxury travel advisors can contact Doug Seagle ([email protected]), vice president of sales for the Americas.
Finally, Regent Seven Seas Cruises has already begun accepting reservations for its 2013 cruises from April through September. In fact, the luxury line’s Summer Collection is packed with itineraries that will delight adventure junkies.
One of the highlights of the Summer Collection will be aboard the Seven Seas Voyager as it sails from Iceland to the Baltic for a series of seven- to 10-night sailings between Copenhagen and Stockholm. All cruises will offer two-night calls in St. Petersburg.
Although not new to the 2013 catalog, cruisers can still delight in Regent’s West Coast Passage sailing, which will depart August 22 for a 12-night voyage from Vancouver to San Francisco. With 67 complimentary shore excursions throughout Alaska, Oregon and Western Canada, this is the itinerary we most recommend for adventure seekers. Scenic highlights include cruising the Inside Passage and Outside Passage. Guests can also visit Mendenhall Glacier, sea kayak in Sitka, zip-line through Klondike Adventure Park or mountain bike through the rain forest.
Randall Soy ([email protected]; 954-940-7371), SVP of sales, is on hand to answer questions from luxury travel advisors.