Cruises

Monday, August 31, 2009

Crystal issued a press release today that they would be offering 6 holiday travelers a new 2-day excursions to the windiest, coldest and least populated continent on the planet: Antarctica.

In below freezing temperatures, the brand new rugged and rare overland excursion will take Crystal guests to King George Island, Antarctica. Brave adventurers will trek through remote villages and a petrified arctic forest once covered by glaciers, to scientific research bases, and to the breeding and stomping grounds of three species of penguin, elephant seals and fur seals. Available with Crystal Symphony's 19-day Christmas/New Year cruise departing December 20 from Buenos Aires, the "Extreme Overnight Adventure in Antarctica" is limited to only six guests. Among other destinations, the voyage features three days cruising Antarctica en route to Valparaiso, Chile.

"Brace for a once-in-a-lifetime excursion that literally exemplifies the type of highly unusual, off-the-beaten-path experiential adventures our guests are seeking," says John Stoll, director, land programs. "Only a handful of people will ever have the chance to see this remarkable region so intimately."

The adventure departs from Ushuaia, Argentina and rejoins Crystal Symphony in Punta Arenas, Chile. Highlights depend on weather conditions, and include:

• Travel by King Air beach craft from Ushuaia to King George Island;
• Overnight accommodations at the Chilean Antarctic Institute;
• Visits to the Chilean Eduardo Frei Antarctic Base and the Uruguayan Base Artigas;
• Snow coach trek to Collins Glacier, which once covered 90 percent of the island;
• Zodiac excursion to Ardley Island and a penguin breeding ground; and
• Two-hour hiking expedition to observe elephant and fur seals, and Villa Las Estrellas.

Other adventures ashore include a helicopter ride to a humpback whale sanctuary, a 4 x 4 expedition to a King penguin colony, and trekking the mountains of Chile. Fares for the "Extreme Overnight Adventure" start at $9,774 per person, double occupancy.

In addition to Buenos Aires and Valparaiso, the cruise visits Montevideo, Uruguay; Puerto Madryn, Argentina; Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; Ushuaia, Argentina; and Punta Arena and Puerto Montt, Chile. Cruise fares start $8,995 per person, double occupancy.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Antarctica is currently the fastest warming area on the planet, with temperatures & related ice-melt increasing at an even faster rate than had been predicted. The effects of global warming will have an impact on marine, animal & human life around the planet.

Join a mission with luxury tour operator, Abercrombie and Kent aboard MV 'Minerva' with award-winning scientist Dr. James McClintock to an Antarctic research station, where they present equipment critical to the monitoring of Antarctic climate change. Along the way, travelers journey in Zodiacs and on land to explore the region's coastline and wildlife.

Book now, and you also save $1,000 per person on this voyage, as well as other 2009-10 Antarctica trips.