PHOTO: The Elmina Coast, Ghana. (courtesy G Adventures)

G Adventures promoting a West Africa Cruise Expedition by offering a 20 percent discount on bookings placed by April 30.

The West African Cruise Expedition, first operated in 2013, is a 32-day trip originating in Cape Town, South Africa, and finishing in Marrakech, Morocco. It visits 14 countries along the way. Smaller sections of the trip are also offered as separate purchases.

The first leg of the trip from Cape Town to Accra, Ghana can be taken separately, as can the latter half from Accra to Marrakech. The smaller trips are discounted 15 percent on bookings made through April 30.

The full trip includes 29 days aboard the MS Expedition. Although it is a ship-based trip, it is operated in an expedition style that has little in common with the kind of big ship cruises that dominate the American cruise market.

There are no rock climbing walls, no Vegas-style stage acts. The ship is not a floating resort but is rather an expedition vessel that is designed to take its passengers to remote destinations.

The ship is a rich environment steeped in nautical lore, but unlike the big mass market cruise ships the emphasis is on the destinations, not on the on-board entertainment. The itinerary includes visits to a number of remote villages along the way that would be difficult to reach traveling by land.

The shore excursions are rich encounters with local culture as well as wildlife and the natural environment. On-board activities are extensions of the explorations on land, with lectures and presentations by experts in various subjects relating to the locations visited.

“This trip visits local communities, markets and villages during the day then back on the ship we have historians, wine sommeliers, natural history experts and painters so the learning experience really does continue at sea,” said Steve Lima, the US marketing manager for G Adventures.

The 32-day package includes two hotel nights, one in Cape Town and one in Marrakech. All meals are included on board the ship. To receive the 15 percent discount, use promo code G14WAF15EBB and for the 20 percent discount use G14WAF20EBB as promo code at time of booking.