Elite Traveler Summer 2022

MS Roald Amundsen is Hurtigruten’s fi rst hybrid ship

CRUISE NEWS

Ponant has launched an alliance with Smithsonian Journeys for themed expeditions in 2022 and 2023, including sailing to Australia in April 2023 to witness the total solar eclipse. This will be one of only fi ve total solar eclipses remaining worldwide this decade. Accompanying the expedition will be Alex Young, solar astrophysicist who serves as an associate director of science at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, located outside Washington, D.C. Ponant’s latest vessel, Le Commandant Charcot , will also sail to the geographic North Pole this summer during its fi rst Arctic season. ponant.com Ultra-luxury cruise operator Silversea Cruises® has announced that it will launch a 71-day trip called the Grand Voyage South America 2024. On January 4, 2024, guests will journey to 38 destinations in 18 countries across Latin America, before venturing inland along the Amazon River and to Manaus in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest on one of the most environmentally conscious cruise ships ever built — the soon-to-be-launched Silver Nova. As guests explore South America by sea, they will also get to immerse themselves in the culture, heritage and identity of each destination, from folklore festivities along the Panama Canal to Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Carnival. silversea.com

It used to be that one only rode the Hurtigruten ships along Norway’s storied coastline, cruising the ‘mail route’ to catch a glimpse of the fjords and the Northern Lights, or to sled with dogs. Today, the historic brand, under its Hurtigruten Expeditions line, takes guests to further- fl ung ports from Africa to Alaska. Consider the Galápagos Islands, where Hurtigruten runs carbon-neutral cruises, or an Alaskan sailing, which anchors at the rarely visited Aleutian Islands. hurtigruten.com In February, Oceania Cruises fl oated out its new 67,000-ton, 1,200-guest Vista at Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente, Italy, bordering the famed seaport of Genoa. With highlights such as 12 dining options, a massive wellness center and commodious bathrooms in all-penthouse suites and staterooms, the vessel sails her maiden voyage from Rome to Barcelona in April 2023. oceaniacruises.com Enjoy a Greek perspective in French Polynesia. For the fi rst time, Variety Cruises, Greece’s leading small ship cruise company, will sail the blue seas of the Paci fi c. Sailings began in May and will continue through December 2023. Ideal for nature, diving and hiking enthusiasts; honeymooners; LGBTQ and adventure travelers; and trip-of-a lifetime seekers, Variety Cruises takes guests to uncover the treasures of the Paci fi c in its graceful small ships. varietycruises.com

From top Ponant has partnered with Smithsonian Journeys; Variety Cruises is heading to French Polynesia; Oceania Cruises’ new vessel, Vista; Silversea’s Silver Nova

Photos PONANT / Nicolas Dubreuil, Oceania Cruises