Despite the fact that there is a general acceptance of the adage that the world gets smaller all the time, there still are many parts of Earth which are considered remote and exotic.
They have names like Tari, the Triobriand Islands, Goa, Tuticorin, Ningbo, Banda Aceh and Antofagasta.
Some of these are no more than tiny villages, while others are actually well-developed islands. What they have in common is that most people probably have never heard of these places and have no idea where they are.
What they also have in common is that the easiest way to visit them is on a cruise ship, because many of these spots are so remote that the only way to get to them is by water. Also, the ease of cruising also removes a lot of the aggravation involved in visiting underdeveloped countries. Here’s why:
Cruise ships usually provide excellent port information through on-board lecturers and plan shore excursions which will expose you to the highlights of the destination. They will provide English-speaking guides. And living aboard ship removes the problem of coping with strange foods, questionable water, and lack of air conditioning. The medical staff aboard most ships (doctor, nurse or both) is also a comfort in strange climes. Many of the ships are smaller, which offers the chance to get to know everyone on board.
Cruising exotic destinations is also a good way to sample a destination if you’re considering investing the time and most probably a hefty amount of money in a longer trip to a particular place, say Indonesia or South America.
Cruises to such far-away places often cost more than the over-the-counter Caribbean air/sea package but early booking specials and taking advantage of frequent flyer miles and special air fare deals can make them more affordable than you might think, especially if you’re somewhat flexible as to when you can go.
Here is a sampling of exotic cruises being offered this winter:
Papua New Guinea
Special Expeditions is offering 18-day Three Faces of Papua New Guinea cruises aboard its 42-passenger Melanesian Discoverer.
The itinerary includes the remote highlands of the interior, the Sepik River and the lush islands of the Solomon Sea. In the highlands, a traditional mountain lodge will be the base for two days of exploring.
In 1994, departures from Los Angeles are Jan. 27, Feb. 24, Aug. 25 and Oct. 20. The cost is $7,400-$8,300 a person, double occupancy ($8,900 single) not including air fare. All meals, shore excursions, intra-island air fare and sightseeing are included. For more information, call 800-762-0003.
Indochina
Classical Cruises will explore Southeast Asia in its 20-day Sacred Cities of Southeast Asia trip aboard its 80-passenger Aurora I. The key sites are the ruins of Angkor (Cambodia), the temples of Borobudur (Java) and the island of Bali.
Departures are Jan. 18, Feb. 1 and Feb. 25. The ship sails between Singapore and Bali. With a crew of 52, the ship enjoys one of the highest crew/passenger ratios among cruise lines. The cost is $6,375-$7,745 a person, double occupancy ($7,595 single) not including air fare. All meals, shore excursions, hotels and internal flights are included.
The itinerary includes 11 nights of cruising, three nights in Phnom Penh, two nights in Bali, one in Singapore and one in Siem Reap, Cambodia. For more information, call 800-252-7745, ext. 364.
French Polynesia
Just the name Tahiti conjures images of rugged volcanic peaks and lush beaches. Windstar Cruises offers seven-day trips to the Society Islands of the South Pacific aboard its 148-passenger Wind Song.
Ports visited include Huahine, Bora Bora, Raiatea, and Moorea and a cruise around Tetiaroa.
The Wind Song is a motor-assisted sailing ship and all cabins are the same size. Departures are every Saturday from Papeete, Tahiti. For 1994, the cost is $2,795 to $2,995 a person depending on the date, not including air fare and port charges. For more information, call 800-258-SAIL.
Upper Amazon River
While the Lower Amazon River between Belem and Manaus has become quite familiar to cruisers, the Upper Amazon extending into Peru is another matter. Only small ships can penetrate beyond Manaus and one of those is the Columbus Caravelle, a smart, new 250-passenger ship launched in 1990. (This ship offers 78 single cabins at no surcharge.)
This ship will make two sailings, beginning March 1 and 15, that will explore this exotic territory during the Amazon’s rainy season. The first cruise is 16 days and costs $4,160 to $6,480 a person double ($4,160-$5,570 single), including air fare from Miami and some hotel accommodations. The second cruise is nine days and runs $2,580-$3,840 ($2,580-$3,340 single).
The Columbus Caravelle carries a fleet of Zodiacs (inflatable boats) to explore river tributaries. For more information, call MarQuest at 800-510-7110.
New Caledonia/Vanuatu
The Club Med 2 sailing ship has been exploring remote corners of the South Pacific in 3-, 4- and 7-night cruises out of Noumea, New Caledonia. The shorter itineraries focus on the Loyalty Islands of Ouvea, Isle of Pines and Hienghene. The weeklong trips, priced from $1,400 to $1,700 (per person, double occupancy) highlight the Vanuatu Islands: Espiritu Santo, Pentecost, Port-Vila and Anatom. These trips continue through March before the ship will be repositioned in the South China Sea.
March 26 to July 8, the Club Med 2 will be based in Singapore, sailing a variety of itineraries from 3-13 days. Destinations will include Bali, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Thailand.
The ship carries 392 passengers and has an extensive water sports program. Prices include meals, all sports (including scuba diving) and complimentary beer and wine at meals and port taxes. Tipping is not permitted. For more information, call 800-CLUB-MED.
New Zealand and Australia
In October, Orient Cruises began operating the 800-passenger Marco Polo on a set of trips that combine land stays with cruises. One of the more interesting is a 20-day trip from April 14-May 3 to New Zealand and Australia that offers 13 days on ship with a post-cruise stay in Sydney. Ports include Picton, Napier and Tauranga.
The Marco Polo offers 13 cabin categories with prices ranging from $3,450 to $8,450 per person, double, not including air fare (air add-on from Chicago is about $700). Port charges are $148 per person. For details: 800-333-7300.
Mediterranean
Silversea Cruises will launch the luxurious 314-passenger Silver Cloud in April. Its 14-day “Islands and Empires” cruise fom April 23 to May 7 will begin in Greece and visit Cyprus and Turkey (Istanbul, Antalya, Alanya and Bodrum) before ending in Venice.
The Silver Cloud has 157 suites (117 with verandas) in four categories, costing $7,295 to $16,195 (seven-day segments are available) per person, double, for this trip. Air add-on from Chicago is $300. The price includes a hotel stay before the cruise, port charges, on-board beverages, all gratuities, transfers and shore events. Her sister ship, the Silver Wind, enters service in December in the Caribbean. For details: 800-722-6655.
Myanmar
For 11 years, Pearl Cruises has been offering itineraries in the Far East and this season is introducing an 18-day trip to the Land of the Golden Pagodas, Myanmar, formerly Burma.
This trip includes an 11-day cruise aboard the 400-passenger Ocean Pearl plus pre- and post-cruise stays in Singapore and Bangkok. Featured is a three-day port call in Yangon, formerly Rangoon, and stops in Malacca, Penang and Port Blair.
Departures are March 17, Dec. 2 and 12 in 1994 and Feb. 16 and 26 next year. The Ocean Pearl has 12 categories with prices from $3,349 to $6,294 per person, double, plus $150 in port charges. The air add-on from Chicago is $695 per person. For details: 800-556-8850.
Central America
Regency Cruises is offering a very intriguing Land of the Maya itinerary of seven-day cruises to Central America which visits Guatemala, Honduras, Belize and Mexico, sailing round-trip from Montego Bay, Jamaica, on the Regent Sea through April 16.
Highlights include sunrise and sunset in Tikal, Guatemala, a train excursion to Quiriqua, the ruins of Copan, Honduras, and visits to the well-known Mexican archeological sites of Chichen Itza and Tulum.
Rates range from $1,185 to $2,065 a person, double with price breaks for early bookings. The air add-on to Montego Bay from Chicago is $345 a person. The Regent Sea carries 715 passengers in 10 cabin categories.
India/Africa
Most major cruise lines pretty much stick to familiar routes, but Princess Cruises does offer some unusual itineraries, as outlined in its Exotic Adventures brochure.
The Pacific Princess and Island Princess (each carrying 610 passengers) will visit ports in Africa, India, Asia and the Holy Land. One such trip, April 22-May 6, departs from Bangkok, Thailand, and ends in Bombay. Cabins range from $4,520-$10,053 a person, double occupancy. Princess offers 50 percent off the second person for some cruises.
