4. THE A STARS
ADVENTURE IS ANOTHER EXPANDING AREA OF THE CRUISE MARKET, AND ANTARCTICA, ALASKA AND THE ARCTIC ALL OFFER VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES…
ANTARCTICA IS THE COLDEST, MOST REMOTE REGION IN THE WORLD, 600 MILES FROM THE NEAREST CIVILIZATION. THE GREAT WHITE CONTINENT IS SEPARATED FROM THE MAINLAND OF USHUAIA, IN ARGENTINA, BY THE INFAMOUS DRAKE PASSAGE. IN 2015, THERE WERE 36,686 VISITORS, COMPARED WITH AROUND ONE MILLION TO ALASKA.
FEWER THAN TEN PER CENT OF THOSE VISITING ANTARCTICA WERE FROM THE UK, BUT FIGURES ARE SET TO RISE WITH CRUISE COMPANIES ADDING NEW SAILINGS DURING WINTER 2016/17.
CHOOSE BETWEEN EXPEDITION OR SCENIC CRUISES TO WITNESS THE MAJESTIC LANDSCAPE, MARVEL AT GIGANTIC ICEBERGS, WATCH PENGUINS AND WONDER AT WHALES BREAKING THE ICY SILENCE. EXPEDITIONS ARE ON SMALLER SHIPS, OFFERING ADVENTURES SUCH AS CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING, SNORKELLING, ICE CLIMBING, KAYAKING AND CAMPING OVERNIGHT, WHILE SCENIC SAILING TENDS TO BE ON LARGER SHIPS WHERE THE EXPERIENCE IS MORE A VOYAGE TO TAKE IN THE SCENERY.
THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL TO ANTARCTICA IS FROM THE END OF NOVEMBER TO THE END OF FEBRUARY. SOME EXPEDITION CRUISES INCLUDE THE FALKLANDS AND SOUTH GEORGIA. THERE ARE USUALLY EXPERT LECTURES ON BOARD, BUT MANY EXCURSIONS COME AT AN EXTRA COST, SO BE SURE TO CHECK WHAT’S INCLUDED.
THE ARCTIC IF YOU WANT THE CHANCE TO SEE POLAR BEARS, CROSS THE ARCTIC CIRCLE ON A CRUISE SHIP TO THE SVALBARD ARCHIPELAGO.
IT’S A BEAUTIFUL SAILING NORTH ALONG THE LENGTH OF NORWAY TO WATCH THE LANDSCAPE CHANGE FROM FORESTED HILLS TO TUNDRA,
AND ON SUMMER CRUISES, PASSENGERS
CAN ENJOY THE 24-HOUR MIDNIGHT SUN.
WATCH FOR WHALES AND WALRUSES THROUGHOUT THE SAILING AND AT LONGYEARBYEN AND NY-ÅLESUND, ON THE ISLAND OF SPITSBERGEN, LOOK FOR THE ARCTIC FOX
AND REINDEER, AS WELL AS THE POLAR BEARS.
NY-ÅLESUND IS THE WORLD’S MOST NORTHERN SETTLEMENT AND WAS THE DEPARTURE POINT FOR HISTORIC EXPEDITIONS TO THE NORTH POLE, SO EMBRACE THE SENSE OF ADVENTURE ON DOG-SLEDDING EXCURSIONS OR ZODIAC TOURS TO GET CLOSE TO THE GLACIERS.
TAKE A WINTER CRUISE TO THE TOP OF NORWAY AND YOU COULD BE REWARDED BY SEEING THE NORTHERN LIGHTS. ALTA IS A FAVOURITE PORT OF CALL AND CRUISE SHIPS OFTEN STAY A NIGHT OR TWO TO MAXIMISE THE CHANCE OF SEEING THE MAGICAL AURORA BOREALIS.
ALASKA IS AMERICA’S LAST FRONTIER – AN UNSPOILT LANDSCAPE OF GLACIERS, WATERFALLS, LAKES AND MOUNTAINS WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF WILDLIFE. DURING SUMMER, TEMPERATURES CAN REACH UP TO 72F, WITH LONG DAYS OF SUNSHINE IN THIS VAST LAND THAT’S NORTH-WEST OF CANADA. THE CRUISE SEASON RUNS FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER, WHEN SHIPS SAIL INTO JUNEAU, SITKA, KETCHIKAN AND GLACIER BAY BEFORE CROSSING THE BORDER INTO VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA.
NATURE RESERVES MAKE UP 85 PER CENT OF THE LANDSCAPE AND VISITORS
CAN JOIN TOURS TO LOOK FOR BEARS, TAKE BOAT RIDES TO GET UP CLOSE TO SEA OTTERS, EAGLES AND SEAL PUPS OR ZIP-WIRE THROUGH TREE CANOPIES. FROM JUNEAU, HOLLAND AMERICA OFFERS GUESTS THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE TO SOAR ABOVE
FIVE GLACIERS IN A DEHAVILLAND BEAVER FLOAT PLANE, FOLLOWED BY A FIRESIDE KING SALMON FEAST AT THE PICTURE-PERFECT TAKU LODGE.
WHEN SAILING, NOTHING BEATS RELAXING IN THE SHIP’S COCKTAIL LOUNGE, SCANNING THE HORIZON FOR WHALES. BUT, IF YOU’RE
TOO BUSY ENJOYING YOURSELF TO SPOT
THEM ON THE CRUISE, YOU’LL HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY ON ONE OF THE MANY WHALE-WATCHING TRIPS ORGANISED BY HOLLAND AMERICA. THE BEST STRETCH OF WATER IS IN VICTORIA, WHERE YOUR ODDS OF SEEING HUMPBACK AND ORCA WHALES CLOSE UP INCREASE TO 90 PER CENT.
W&H INSIDER TIP
HOLLAND AMERICA RUNS FREE PICTURE EDITING WORKSHOPS WITH A RESIDENT “TECHSPERT”. THEY WILL NOT ONLY HELP YOU TAKE GREAT PICTURES FROM THE DECK BUT ALSO TELL YOU HOW TO EDIT THEM, USE PHOTOSHOP AND UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE YOUR CAMERA BETTER – EVEN THE ONE ON YOUR PHONE.