What if you could travel to the next frontier? To depths of the ocean that most people will never have the opportunity to experience in this lifetime?
Thanks to technology, innovation, and a world-class cruise line, you will have the opportunity to travel to this exciting underwater world for the first time. Seabourn, the ultra-luxury cruise line known for its famed expeditions to remote locations, is yet again pushing boundaries and opening up a whole new world for adventure lovers with subs designed specifically for the cruise line.
Both Seabourn Venture and her yet-to-be-named sister ship will sail to the far corners of the Earth carrying two U-Boat Worx Cruise Sub 7 subs.
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Each battery-powered sub will carry six guests as well as one pilot, who will guide the journey up to nearly 1,000 feet beneath the surface to explore sunken wrecks, reefs. and the natural habitat. Guests are seated in two clear acrylic spheres flanking the center pilot’s station, with an awe-inspiring perspective of the marine world just outside. Think 369 degrees, head on a swivel.
If you’re traveling to such extraordinary depths, you surely want to document your remarkable journey. Seabourn leaves no stone unturned when it comes to enhancing the once in a lifetime opportunity. A 4K underwater video camera system will record the world outside the sub while an internal video recording system will capture you inside the sub, set to the backdrop of the vast sea.
Seabourn Venture is expected to visit more than 150 unique and fascinating destinations across the globe – many of which few travelers have ever been – and over 65 new or notable destinations with a multitude of new and compelling expedition experiences.
Africa is home to a variety of rainforests and rivers that provide habitats for endless species of exotic plants and animals. Explore Africa onboard one of these three river cruises.
Viking River Cruises – Cairo to Cairo
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Viking’s MS Antares is a sixty-two passenger river vessel built specifically to sail the Nile river. The Antares features staterooms with French balconies, fifty-five-inch flat screen TVs, private bathrooms with jetted tubs and showers, a stateroom steward and twice daily housekeeping service. All rooms have toiletries, robes, and slippers available and the ship offers a laundry service. The sundeck offers a pool as well as shaded lounge areas and there is an onboard health club, spa, sauna, library, and bar. The Cairo to Cairo cruise offers twelve days exploring ancient Egyptian cities, temples, tombs, and monuments. Egyptologist guided tours are offered for passengers to explore areas and learn about the pyramids and hieroglyphics. Felucca (wooden sailboat) rides down the Nile are offered throughout the trip as well as time to explore local spice markets, bazaars, and museums.
CroisiEurope – Southern Africa River Cruise
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CroisiEurope’s MS African Dream features balcony cabins with exterior lounge chairs and sofas, a sundeck with a jacuzzi. The glass-walled restaurant, bar, and lounge offer unique viewing in an elegant setting. Traditional African foods are served throughout the cruise and passengers will have lunch at a floating restaurant. Africa’s Matusadona National Park with its many islands and inlets will be explored via water safari. Passengers have up-close encounters with elephants, hippos, buffalo, and crocodiles. Big cats, sea eagles, storks, and herons can be seen as well. A helicopter tour of the world-famous Victoria Falls is also an option for cruise-goers.
AmaWaterways – Wildlife and the Falls Cruise
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The Zambezi Queen ship takes passengers through Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. This twenty-eight passenger ship with staterooms and balcony suites with a pool and a bar is beyond comfortable! The cruise offers morning and evening safaris in the Greater Kruger National Park, a 4×4 safari tour through Chobe National Park, and a Chobe River safari. Can’t miss activities include a guided tour of Victoria Falls, with sunset dinner and cocktails onboard a vintage steam train.
If you’re in the mood for a safari adventure or just want to explore the wondrous lands around South Africa, you’ll want to book a luxury cruise that takes you to Cape Town, Cairo, Madagascar, and Mauritania. Several major cruise lines are offering exciting itineraries through 2023 where you can discover sites like Victoria Falls, visit the castles in Ghana, or go shark cage diving in the Red Sea. Here are the top three cruise ships to Africa to keep on your radar.
Cunard Queen Victoria
The 16-Night Africa Cruise departs from Cape Town and takes you to Walvis Bay, Namibia as well as the Canary Islands. The ship was designed to embody classic English traditions and offers some of the best dining experiences of all luxury cruises. You can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea and discover new flavors at the Britannia Restaurant. Shore excursions include guided tours with local expert guides and desert safari adventures.
MSC Orchestra
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A 30 day, 29-night cruise will take you all around the east coast of Africa as you travel around the Indian Ocean from Europe to Durban. Excursions include underwater adventures, guided tours by locals, and exploring nature parks and gardens.
Azamara Quest
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If you want to spend almost an entire month at sea, take the 24-Night Indian Ocean Adventure aboard the Azamara Quest to discover parts of India as well as Africa on your cruise. The cruise departs from Mumbai and takes you to the Seychelles Islands, Namibia, Kenya, Mozambique and Richards Bay in South Africa. You’ll enjoy relaxing in the spacious staterooms, luxury spa experiences and world-class dining along the way. The ship also offers poolside service and you can sample all types of menus at one of the seven restaurants, cafes, and lounges on board.
With the importance of food in Italian culture you would expect dining to be a high priority at Silversea. And it most assuredly is. Moreover, gastronomic excellence is a given, thanks to our recipes that reflect heritage and revamp tradition. No matter where you dine, destination influence is readily apparent in the great diversity and freshness of your selections. And every ship also features an array of dining venues. The main dining room, The Restaurant, is an open-seating venue where you can dine whenever you please, and where impromptu dinners with new-found friends is a matter of course. After all, with our worldly crowd of international travellers, socialising is one of the things people love most about our luxury cruise ships. Per guest reservation fee for specialty restaurants. Please visit MySilversea to make your reservations.
Instantly recalling images of the sea in all her watery majesty, the Atlantides are the seven nymph daughters of Atlas. Creative muses, known for their wisdom and beauty, the sisters were granted immortality in the form of stars and can be seen today in the constellation of Taurus. Pivotal to Silver Muse dining experience, this elegant bar and grill incorporates the best that the sea has to offer. Created to temper your taste buds, designer dishes such as royal crab, blue lobster and Verbena infused red snapper in a sea salt crust are showcased alongside the best steaks offshore.
Evoking a sense of exotic mystery, the Asian-accented Indochine embarks you on an exquisite journey of culinary discovery. Unlock the hidden treasures of the spice markets of Mumbai, whet your appetite with the exoticism of Thailand and temper your taste buds with the cuisine of Vietnam. Elegant and exquisite dishes bursting with Asian essence awaken your gastronomic senses and immerse you in an expansive tapestry of the palate. Savour the fusion of flavours of a vast continent that defies definition — in a stylish restaurant that pays homage to its delectable cuisine.
Whether it’s the cultural mélange of a civilization that dates back to the time of Pharaohs or exploring an epicurean bounty of Mediterranean fares such as shawarma or grape leaves, Egypt is exploding as a hot spot for travelers looking to abandon the ordinary. And, Viking River Cruises has taken note. “Egypt has inspired explorers for generations, and it remains a top destination for many of our guests,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. Looking to meet the demands of the growing market, Viking recently announced an expansion of its Egypt program for the 2020 season, which will include the launch of a new ship and more Pre-Cruise Extensions.
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Viking Osiris
Inspired by the design of the award-winning Viking Longships and built specifically for the Nile River, Viking Osiris is currently under construction and set to debut in September 2020. “We remain committed to Egypt, and we look forward to introducing the historical treasures of the region to even more Viking guests,” adds Hagen.
The new Viking Osiris will host 82 guests in 41 staterooms. The state-of-the-art ship bestows the clean, elegant Scandinavian design for which Viking is known – and will join the company’s other ship on the Nile, Viking Ra, which launched in 2018. Viking is the first and only Western company to build, own and operate vessels on the Nile.
New Pre-Cruise Extensions
In addition to the new ship, Viking is also launching two new Pre-Cruise Extensions next year. With guests continuing to express a keen interest in Egypt, these five-day extensions to Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary will allow guests privileged access to archives and exhibits in London and Oxford that are generally not accessible to the public.
These Pre -Cruise Extensions grant guests the opportunity to retrace the steps of the world’s most famous Egyptologist, Howard Carter, and his benefactor, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. Guests on the five day British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension will meet their Viking Tour Director in London to experience access to two museums and then a visit to the home of world-renowned architect, Sir John Soane. Here the tour will be illuminated by candlelight, a re-enactment of how Soane entertained guests and showcased his collection of Egyptian antiques, including a 3,000-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus. A few more highlights of the Extension include: a visit to London’s Petrie Museum, a behind the scenes look at Oxford University’s Griffith Institute. Guests will enjoy privileged access to Carter’s archives which detail the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb and a visit to Highclere Castle.
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Guests traveling through April 2020 may also opt for the new five days King Tut & the UK’s Egyptian Collections extension, where they will have the opportunity to visit Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh, a special exhibition at London’s Saatchi Gallery that is presented by Viking.
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Pharaohs & Pyramids
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During the 12-day, Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests experience Egypt’s cultural treasures in seven destinations. The cruise tour begins with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, followed by a flight to Luxor, where they will visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River. Finally, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.
From deserts to exotic lagoons, Africa is home to several adventure-worthy destinations and offers an abundance of unique experiences for all types of travelers. Several major cruise lines send luxury cruise ships to Namibia, Cape Town, and other destinations around Africa on a multi-night voyage where you can look forward to everything from safari excursions to tours of historic sites on your journey. Here are some unique and exciting activities to enjoy on a cruise in Africa:
Tour of Cape Town
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An MSC Cruise to South Africa will take you to Cape Town, the perfect place to enjoy a picnic on the beach, head off on a mountain biking adventure, or explore some of the Georgian and Victorian buildings littered around the urban district. From museum and mosque tours to seeing the indigenous Cape Dutch style buildings in person, Cape Town is a must-visit destination on any cruise to South Africa.
Backcountry and City Explorations
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Plan a luxury cruise to the African backcountry and Cape Town with Azamara Club Cruises. The itinerary could include a trip to Zanzibar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, off-the-beaten-path destinations in Madagascar, and opportunities to see exotic wildlife and charming cities throughout the region. A Micato Safari is the perfect opportunity to see indigenous wildlife and plants along the way.
Desert Tour in Namibia
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For the ultimate luxury cruise adventure, hop aboard the Cunard Queen Victoria to discover the beauty of Namibia, also known as the ‘Diamond of Africa’. You’ll venture through sand dunes around the Namib Desert and get to explore the lagoons of Walvis Bay. The Living Desert excursion includes a guided tour of the desert around Walvis Bay to spot endangered species and catch a glimpse of the Palmato Gecko.
Tour the Monte Cafe Coffee Plantation
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The Silverseas Silver Cloud ship drops anchor near the island of Sao Tome on a luxury cruise all down the west coast of Africa. This part of the journey on the Cape Town to Accra trip includes a guided excursion through the capital city of Sao Tome, swimming in the pools around the Sao Nicolau waterfalls, and heading up to the mountains for a tour of the famous Monte Cafe coffee plantation.
AmaWaterways is gearing up for its most exciting year yet, with the much-anticipated arrival of three new ships, and the company released its 2019 preview brochure. Offering guests and travel professionals a first look at its new ‘Luxury of More’ messaging, the brochure introduces AmaWaterways’ most innovative additions to-date – including many new ways to experience each destination along the rivers of Europe, Asia and Africa.
“Innovation is at the forefront of our business and we’re always challenging our teams to think about ‘what’s next’ in terms of services, itineraries and ship design,” said Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-owner of AmaWaterways. “We can’t wait to see the fruits of our labor and innovation enjoyed by our friends, family and guests!”
In 2019, AmaWaterways will add three new ships to its European fleet – the most in a single year since the company’s 2002 launch – with each meeting a different need of the growing river cruise market. AmaWaterways’ ship, AmaMagna, will be almost twice the width of traditional European river cruise ships, giving guests onboard more space than ever before to enjoy their river cruise experience. Sailing the Danube river, this game-changing ship will welcome just 196 guests offering luxurious living spaces, a majority of staterooms 355 sq. ft. or larger, multiple dining options – including an al fresco restaurant – more onboard activities and enhanced evening entertainment.
“Research has shown that many ocean cruisers and active travelers have yet to experience river cruising because they thought the staterooms were too small, or the dining options and activities too limited. We are confident that AmaMagna, with the additional space and more diverse onboard programs will overcome these objections and open up a whole new market for us,” said Rudi Schreiner, president and co-owner of AmaWaterways. “I’ve had this unique ship on my mind for many years and am confident that now is the time to introduce my vision. I can’t wait to see AmaMagna sailing the Danube in 2019.”
Additionally, the line will introduce AmaMora, sister ship to AmaLea and AmaKristina, which will sail the Rhine river. AmaDouro, sister to AmaVida, will be a welcome addition to the Douro River as the region’s popularity continues to grow.
In 2019, AmaWaterways’ European fleet will also offer guests several new onboard activities and amenities. The company’s recently expanded Wellness Program will be rolled out to most European ships, giving guests the opportunity to join group exercise activities – including morning stretches, yoga, cardio/core strengthening, resistance band workouts and circuit training – complemented by healthy eating options and relaxation techniques taught onboard.
In addition to further expanding its Wellness Program, AmaWaterways will enhance the company’s popular Wine Cruise Program. In 2019, the line will offer 60 hosted Wine Cruises – the most ever – giving more guests the opportunity to dive into the region’s rich wine culture. AmaWaterways’ Wine Cruises blend the best of both New and Old-World viticulture by offering guests unparalleled access to some of North America’s top winemakers, and the opportunity to experience the iconic wine regions along Europe’s stunning waterways.
Furthering its commitment to bringing guests the most immersive cultural experience possible, AmaWaterways will greatly enhance its land programs in 2019. For the very first time, the company will offer an optional pre-cruise land extension for every cruise, with new ways to experience landmark cities like Amsterdam, Budapest, Lucerne, Munich and Zurich. Adding a two- or three-night pre-cruise land extension provides travelers the chance to adjust to the time change and eliminate jet lag while fully acclimating – and exploring – the destination. AmaWaterways is also adding new pre-cruise extensions in Bilbao and San Sebastian, Spain prior to embarkation on its Taste of Bordeaux itinerary, as well as a post-cruise option in Rwanda, Africa, which may be added to each of its five African itineraries.
The Oberoi Group announced that The Oberoi Philae, featuring 22 luxury appointed cabins and suites, will sail between Aswan and Luxor, offering a four and six night itinerary. The Group already operates another luxury cruiser, The Oberoi Zahra, and will be increasing its presence on the Nile with The Oberoi Philae.
Adding to the luxury provided by The Oberoi Zahra, The Oberoi Philae will offer guests unrivalled views of the River Nile, as they experience the award winning Oberoi service and explore 5,000 years of Egyptian culture.
Mr. P.R.S. Oberoi, Executive Chairman, The Oberoi Group said, “We are pleased to present The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser which offers the highest standards of luxury and hospitality. The Oberoi Group has been consistently recognized as among the best in the world, and I am confident that The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser will continue this tradition and offer travelers an unparalleled experience on the Nile”.
Mr. Mahmoud Nourelden, Boat Manager, The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser added, “The luxury Nile cruiser will offer the discerning traveler an oasis of tranquility with service which is warm, intuitive and personalised. We are confident that the cruiser will add tangible value to the hospitality sector in the Egypt.”
The luxury cruiser will feature some of the most spacious accommodation on the Nile. The 22 cabins and suites feature large French windows that offer picturesque views of the River Nile. The cruiser also incorporates the latest technology including high speed WiFi.
The restaurant offers culinary options of Western, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine with uninterrupted views of the Nile. At the Upper Deck, home to a temperature-controlled swimming pool, guests can enjoy lunch, light meals and snacks at the poolside restaurant. The cruiser is also home to a chic bar and cigar lounge which is furnished with intimate tables, a dance floor and a state-of-the-art movie theater. The ship also offers a 24-hour gymnasium and The Oberoi Spa.
Silversea is offering luxury cruise guests the opportunity to gain unique insights into the culture, history, and people of Ghana as part of Silver Cloud’s 16 March 2016 West Africa cruise, a 16-day sailing from Tema (Accra) to Barcelona. The highlight of this optional six-day pre-cruise “Accra & the Ashanti Kingdom” land adventure is the rare opportunity to participate in the Festival of Akwasidae. Set within the walls of the royal palace in Kumasi, this authentic, centuries-old ceremony, honoring the community’s ancestors, is presided over by the king of the Ashanti people.
