G.A.P Adventures, the world’s leading adventure travel company, has launched a new range of Expedition cruises with the purchase of the M/S Expedition. Newly refitted, the M/S Expedition will be plying the waters from April 2009 offering a new and comfortable experience in Expedition cruising. To celebrate the new ship, G.A.P Adventures is pleased to offer travellers $400 off new Expedition trips booked by December 15, 2008 valid for all departures from April to September 2009.
At 105 metres (345 ft) in length and with a top speed of 16 knots, the M/S Expedition can accommodate up to 120 passengers. Guests will have the choice of different categories of cabins ranging from triples to suites, each featuring outside facing portholes or windows. Besides special amenities such as a pub, a fitness centre and a sauna, the ship will boast multiple viewing areas - including a large 360-degree observation deck for wildlife spotting.
“G.A.P Adventures is proud to announce a new line-up of expeditions to some of the most mesmerizing corners of the world including Antarctica, the Azores, the Arctic and around the British Isles,” says Bruce Poon Tip, CEO of G.A.P Adventures. “As each voyage is equipped with a superb team of onboard experts in marine biology, history and geology, we can not only ensure exceptional value for money but also an insightful and unforgettable experience for all travellers.”
G.A.P Adventures’ new thrilling Expedition cruises include:
Explore the Azores
Aboard the M/S Expedition, travel around this captivating and remote archipelago, located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, 1000 miles off the Portuguese coast. Travellers will witness first-hand the stunning azure seas and the natural beauty of these volcanic islands, including Graciosa, Floral, and Faial, and taste the world famous Verdelho wine on Pico Island. Also, this 10-day cruise offers a rare opportunity for wildlife viewing: sailing around the Azores is the best way to see seabirds, dolphins and whales up close!
Price: from $2830 CAD/$2695 USD
For more information:
Arctic Highlights
Sailing from Spitsbergen to Iceland, travellers will follow the breathtaking edge of the ice and witness outstanding wildlife, including polar bears, walruses and reindeers. Navigating south towards Greenland, they will spot whales, orcas and white-beaked dolphins, and venture into Greenland’s untouched tundra aboard a zodiac. After visiting Scoresbysund, one of the largest fjord systems in the world, visitors will complete their journey in Iceland and the steaming hot springs of Reykjavik.
Price: from $4070 CAD/$3875 USD
For more information:
Wild Scotland
Embark the M/S Expedition and begin a 13-day journey into the Scottish wilderness. Travellers will experience the dramatic landscapes of the Hebrides, the tranquility of uninhabited Treshnish and the natural beauty of North Rona, where they can spot colonies of great black-backed gulls, great skuas and puffins. Head on towards mystical Orkney and the Shetland archipelago before returning to the Scottish Highlands with their craggy cliffs bristling with birdlife.
Price: from $4485 CAD/$4270 USD
For more information:
Britain and Ireland in Bloom
This 13-day expedition takes travelers through some of the most beautiful gardens and historic mansions in Great Britain and Ireland. Sailing past the Isle of Wight, visitors will reach the rocky island of St Michael’s Mount and then continue towards Ireland. After visiting historic Kilkenny, they will explore Garinsh Island, one of the most beautiful gardens of the country, the mysterious landscape of Connemara and the imposing Giant’s Causeway. Travellers will end their journey on Scottish shores and visit Iona, the legendary burial grounds of Scottish Kings.
Price: from $4485 CAD/$4270 USD
For more information:
Norwegian Fjords and Polar Bears
A mystical two-week journey, drifting past medieval villages, majestic icebergs and along crystalline fjords. Departing from Edinburgh, travellers will first stop at Orkney then continue northwards to the remote Shetland Islands. Along the Norwegian coastline, visitors will take zodiac and land excursions to get a closer look at some of Scandinavia’
Price: from $4405 CAD/$4195 USD
For more information:
Visit www.gapadventures.com/
* Price quoted is for a Category 1 cabin. Other cabin types are available and can be viewed at www.gapadventures.com/
About G.A.P Adventures
G.A.P Adventures is a world leader in the adventure travel industry offering small group adventures on all seven continents and beyond to more than 85,000 global travellers annually. The award-winning trips, which focus on culture, nature and active travel, are ideal for those with a sense of adventure – people who want to leave the beaten path and authentically immerse themselves in a local culture or environment to experience the real world in a sustainable manner. Demonstrating its ongoing cultural, social and economic commitment to responsible tourism, G.A.P Adventures established the Planeterra Foundation, as a way the company and its passengers can give back to the communities visited. For more information, please visit www.gapadventures.com and www.planeterra.org.
