Take a closer look at these small-ship cruises that bring your clients up close to nature, whether it’s on land or deep under water.
Navigating Borneo’s Rivers with Pandaw Expeditions
Pandaw Expeditions’ new 7-night Into the True Heart of Borneo river expedition on the Kapuas River System in Kalimantan, Borneo, explores the island’s largest river system, which spans 700 miles and is fringed with rainforest and surrounded by mountain ranges. While traversing the Danau Sentarum system of lakes that connect to the Kapuas River on Pandaw’s 16-guestroom RV Katha Pandaw, guests can view the 140 million-year-old Borneo rainforest, which boasts around 15,000 species of flowering plants with 3,000 species of trees, 221 species of terrestrial mammals and 420 species of resident birds. The rainforest is also one of the few remaining natural habitats for the endangered Bornean orangutan and is an important refuge for many forest species, including the Borneo elephant, the Eastern Sumatran rhinoceros, the Bornean clouded leopard, the Hose’s palm civet and the Dayak fruit bat.
Highlights of the cruise include a boat trip to the Sekayam river to see waterfalls and hot springs, as well as a visit to Sitang’s orangutan rehabilitation center, rock monolith of Bukit Kelam and Sentarum National Park. The RV Katha Pandaw features open deck dining, a self-service bar and panoramic round ship promenade decks. Departures are available from July 2016. Rates for the Into the True Heart of Borneo cruise start at $2,350 USD pp based on two people sharing a Main Deck Twin Cabin. For more information, visit pandaw.com.
Into the Alaskan Wilderness with Alaskan Dream Cruises
Alaskan Dream Cruises is taking guests deep into the Alaskan wilderness this year on a diverse line-up of cruises, including 8-day sailings on board the 10-passenger Misty Fjord expedition vessel. The small 60-ft. vessel with its five guest cabins and spacious salon, allows guests to sail into nooks in Southeast Alaska’s coastline and maneuver in secluded bays where they observe Alaska’s wild landscapes.
For example, the Alaska’s Islands, Whales and Glaciers Adventure itinerary traverses the Inside Passage between Sitka, a small scenic community, and the state’s capital, Juneau aboard the Misty Fjord. The cruise explores the remote coves of Eastern Baranof Island, and takes guests into the Tenakee Inlet for kayaking and exploration on a small, motorized watercraft. In Icy Strait, guests can watch for humpback whales and visit the Tlingit village of Hoonah. A special hovercraft flight will take passengers over Taku Inlet to the Taku Glacier, to experience a day of sailing through Tracy Arm, where guests can also kayak among the icebergs. Additionally, guests will have impromptu opportunities for hiking, wildlife encounters or wilderness discovery. Departure dates include May 21 and 28; June 4, 11, 18 and 25; July 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30; August 6, 13, 20 and 27; and Sept. 3. Rates start at $5,450 pp, and include accommodations on the ship, all meals during the sailing, scheduled shore excursions, airport transfers, use of recreational equipment and standard onboard services. For more information, visit alaskandreamcruises.com.
Silversea Expeditions’ Deep Sea Adventures
Silversea Expeditions has unveiled its collection of Scuba Diving Expedition Voyages for 2016 and 2017, offering diving enthusiasts the chance to explore some of the world’s most remote destinations at top diving sites from the Andaman Islands to the Great Barrier Reef. Guests on board the 120-passenger, all-suite Silver Discoverer, receive acces to this complimentary diving program available on 20 voyages throughout the Maldives, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the Palau archipelago, and the Andaman Islands. In addition to an onboard dive master, these exclusive itineraries feature a team of experts, including marine biologists, environmentalists, ecologists, and geologists, who will teach guests about these regions. Upcoming Scuba Diving Expedition Voyages aboard Silver Discoverer are available on the 14-day Australia (Great Barrier Reef) & Indonesia cruise, departing Oct.4; the 15-day Myanmar & Andaman Islands cruise, departing Dec.2 and the 17-day Maldives, Seychelles (*Aldabra) & Africa cruise, departing Dec. 17. Participating guests need an Advanced Open Water Diver license or equivalent certification and must bring their own BCD vests and regulators. Silversea will provide complimentary weight belts, tanks, masks, and fins. For more information, visit silversea.com/expeditions/specialty-expeditions/scuba-diving-expeditions.
