PHOTO: Oceania Cruises' 684-guest Insignia will operate a third 180-day cruise in 2016. (Courtesy of Oceania Cruises)
Two upscale cruise lines revealed creative new itineraries this week that break the mold of where seagoing vacations can go. Oceania Cruises is finding success with voyages that are six months long, while Crystal Cruises will traverse the Northwest Passage on a 32-day adventure usually only undertaken by expedition ships.
Oceania unveiled its third 180-day journey aboard the 684-passenger Insignia, which will depart on Jan. 4, 2016. Oceania came up with the six-month cruises for the Insignia, which returned to its fleet after a two-year charter and a major renovation. The first "Around the World in 180 Days" cruise will depart Miami on Jan. 10, 2015, and visit primarily warm destinations. The "180-Day World Odyssey" will sail from Miami on July 8, 2015, and visits places too cold for winter cruises, including Greenland, Iceland, Canada, and New England.
The first six-month cruise sold out in eight hours (although some space has since opened up), so the second one was quickly scheduled. And now, a third one will go on sale at 8:30 a.m. EST July 30.
"We're extremely pleased with the guest response to the two 180-day itineraries offered next year, and that positive reaction definitely shaped our decision to offer another 'Around the World in 180 Days' voyage in 2016," said Oceania President Kunal S. Kamlani. "This itinerary is ideal for anyone who ever dreamed of traveling the world in style and comfort. For us, it's not a race around the world; at 180 days we provide guests with the luxury of time so they can venture out and become immersed in the destinations the ship visits, but also have time to relax and enjoy all the incredible amenities offered onboard Insignia."
Departing from Miami on Jan. 4, 2016, Insignia will sail through the Caribbean to South America and then over to African nations including Angola, Namibia, South Africa and Mozambique. Then Insignia will sail for Asia for two-night stays in Yangon, Myanmar, and Shanghai, China, as well as visits to other ports before heading to the South Pacific and Australia, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Aboriginal community of Hopevale.
After sailing through Hawaiian waters, Insignia will stop in Los Angeles before heading down the west coast, through the Panama Canal and completing the journey back in Miami on July 1, 2016.
So who takes a six-month-long ocean voyage?
"With a cruise length of 180 days, guests booking this voyage tend to have a fair amount of leisure time available," Kamlani said. "Most of the guests are typically retired or can operate their business remotely, so they can truly savor the experience of exploring the world for nearly half a year. This is a cruise that tends to attract a large number of repeat guests who are familiar with the high standards for quality and service provided by Oceania Cruises and look forward to exploring the world on Insignia."
Fares start at $39,999 per person, double occupancy. Those who book by Oct. 31 will receive two-for-one cruise fares, free first-class roundtrip airfare from major U.S. and Canadian gateways and early booking savings of up to 71 percent. In addition, guests will receive free pre-paid gratuities (valued at up to $8,300), free onboard medical services, unlimited Internet, laundry services, exclusive shoreside events, visas, free luggage delivery for one or two bags up to 50 pounds, a pre-cruise luxury hotel night, and roundtrip transfers from pre-cruise hotel or within a 50-mile radius of the Port of Miami.
Meanwhile, the Crystal Serenity will maneuver 900 miles through the legendary Northwest Passage, north of mainland Canada and the Arctic Circle, during a 32-day voyage beginning Aug. 16, 2016, from Seward, Alaska, to New York City.
Executive Vice President Thomas Mazloum spearheaded the planning of this itinerary with help from Expedition Voyage Consulting by EYOS Expeditions, a specialist in travel to remote regions. It took almost two years to plan, including reviewing operations with Canadian officials and meetings with Inuit elders in the Arctic.
The itinerary will be flexible, so the ship can follow whales or seek out better weather. Accompanying the cruise will be a 14-person team of experts, including a native Arctic guide, scientists, and wildlife and landscape photographers.
The 1,070-guest Crystal Serenity will have an escort vessel and both will use low-sulfur marine gas oil fuel exceeding environmental regulations. The escort vessel will carry additional safety and environmental protection equipment, as well as personnel specifically trained in its use. It also will serve as a platform for a helicopter and Zodiac rafts, and be manned by a highly experienced crew.
For this voyage, Crystal will relax its onboard ambience. Guests will be provided with complimentary parkas, boot rentals and outfitter recommendations, and will dispense with "black tie optional" nights. The cuisine will be modified to reflect the locale and limited ability to re-supply goods and store waste during the month-long voyage.
Fares start at $19,755 per person, double occupancy, with an additional Crystal Society savings starting at $495 per person and $3,000 in savings if booked by Aug. 29, 2014.
The line will enforce a new booking process for this adventure, requiring a 20 percent initial deposit, of which $500 is non-refundable. Starting July 17, the initial booking window is available only to guests who have sailed with Crystal before. New-to-Crystal customers can add their name to a waitlist, and remaining space, if any, will open to the public on Sept. 2.
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