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Quest for adventure takes to the sea Roderick Eime, a committed adventure cruiser, examines some of the main vessels and destinations flourishing in this fertile market. Adventure cruising, and its almost seamlessly interchangeable appellation, Expedition cruising has its roots deep in the human psyche. It stems from our innate desire to inquire, explore and expand the boundaries of our environment while deriving intellectual rewards from the experience. Expanding on this, one could name great navigators like Magellan, Cook, La Perouse and Pytheas as some of the best known Adventure cruisers The 21st century adventure cruiser is transported in vastly different vessels. Complete with stateoftheart satellite navigation, firstrate medical facilities, gourmet cuisine and comfortable beds, gone are the days of deprivation, scurvy and mythical sea monsters. Just as cruise travel is enjoying a healthy resurgence despite the woes of the planet, adventure cruising, as a significant subset of the segment, is booming. This tallies with recent studies that indicate travellers are more in search of Experiencedriven and Transformationalravel. But how do you tell an adventure or expedition cruise from the regular funafloat type¬ The factors that separate adventure cruising from the regular, big ship variety include: flexible and adjustable itineraries to take account of changing conditions and opportunities products driven by destination and experience rather than the allure or cachet of a particular vessel destinations often have little or no tourism infrastructure and focus on natural, cultural and ecological attractions smaller, more manoeuvrable vessels able to navigate narrow and shallow waterways inaccessible to regular cruise ships fewer passengers, enabling operators to deliver a more personal and fulfilling experience, typically fewer than 500, but often only a dozen or so extensive shore excursion programme, often with several disembarkations per day cruise staff include lecturers drawn from academia and science able to impart enriching interpretations during a voyage or shore time, and premium pricing. The polar regions Antarctica is the epitome of the adventure destination. Sailing the mapand to areas only discovered within the last hundred years makes Antarctica an essential itinerary for all serious expedition cruisers. Expeditions to the Great Southern Land take several forms. The simplest are short itineraries of perhaps a week to 10 days to the Antarctic Peninsula from Ushuaia at the very bottom of South America. More ambitious journeys will be by icebreaker, way below the Antarctic Circle to places like McMurdo Sound and Commonwealth Bay. The Arctic is a perfect complement to a southerly expedition, and can be as simple as a cruise to Iceland or Greenland or as heroic as a nuclear icebreaker to the North Pole itself. Recent tales about retreating glaciers and thinning ice pack have created some urgency for visitors to this region as they attempt to see the great polar bear in its diminishing natural environment. The Galapagos Islands Charles Darwin‘s evolutionary playground is a great drawcard for those with a penchant for warmer climes. After a short flight from Ecuador, most visitors will spend about a week cruising among the many islands in this unique archipelago. Following in the footsteps of David Attenborough, visitors will discover the crazy wildlife that makes this place so special. Sinister marine iguanas, fierce land iguanas, delightful giant tortoises and many strange birds and plants make this place a naturalist‘s wonder. The Kimberley The rugged and remote regions of Western Australia‘s Kimberley were the ideal choice for expedition cruising in our region. Incredible rock formations, abundant bird life, rich Aboriginal culture and weird natural phenomenon like horizontal waterfalls attract thousands of visitors every year. Many cruise companies book out a year ahead, such is the popularity of this region. Papua New Guinea Often the subject of bad publicity, the sublime islands of the Bismarck and Solomon Seas exhibit none of the rough lawlessness found elsewhere on the mainland. Expedition cruise companies are falling over themselves to create itineraries in this region, and the PNG Tourism authorities are extremely supportive of these initiatives. New Ireland, New Britain, the Trobriands and the mighty Sepik River are the key destinations on most itineraries. The wild frontiers of PNG, so close by, perfectly fit the description of Transformational travel. Others regions to consider Tasmania Consider the supremely relaxing Gordon River cruises that explore the incredible World Heritage areas of Western Tasmania Amazon This huge river can accommodate cruise ships many hundreds of kilometres upstream. See the disappearing Amazon Basin jungle and landscapes. Russian Far East Several companies are experimenting with itineraries in the area immediately north of Japan through to the Bering Strait in Siberia. Characterised by isolated ecosystems and volcanic activity on the western perimeter of the Pacific Crusing of Fire these voyages will always be exclusive. Great Barrier Reef Another threatened ecosystem, Queensland‘s Great Barrier Reef has attracted millions of visitors over the years and continues to do so. Be quick, the reef will never be as good as it is now. New Zealand The brilliant scenery and harbours all around New Zealand are attracting adventure cruise companies with ambitious itineraries, including Coral Princess‘s semicircumnavigation and Bay of Islands products. | 
