A cruise-holiday to Canada, which includes a 12-night voyage into the heart of the Arctic and Greenland aboard Adventure Canada’s Ocean Endeavour, has won praise from travellers and travel agents alike.
‘The Cross Canada Caper’, 25 nights, is the latest offering from boutique voyage and cruise specialist Cruise Traveller.
Travellers are likely to sight polar bears, walrus, marine mammals and bird colonies during a cruise of Hudson Strait. They are serenaded by Inuit throat-singers in remote Mittimatali and they cross the Arctic circle while sailing in the shadow of a spectacular Greenlandic fjord. ‘The Cross Canada Caper’ lets participants mingle with world-renowned Inuit carvers in Kinngait, visit a Greenlandic settlement and head across Canada from the prairies to the mountains on the iconic Rocky Mountaineer train in fabulous Goldleaf class.
The holiday starts with a flight to Ottawa from Australia on 17 July 2017, followed by a night’s accommodation provided at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel Ottawa. ‘The Cross Canada Caper’ lasts 25 nights and costs from A$23,995 per person, including flights, cruise, train and touring across Canada and the Arctic wilderness.
Narelle Coenraads, a senior travel consultant from Helloworld Hornsby in Sydney’s upper North Shore, travelled on the same cruise recently and was delighted. She praised the pre-cruise information and booklet, the on-board lectures and presentations.
“The presenters were fantastic and always so interesting. They were very approachable as well. There was always a presentation on some topic throughout the day which was great. The Nikon camera program was a good idea for budding photographers to be able to borrow lots of different types of lenses etc to see what suited their needs,” she said.
Narelle also loved the excursions: “The communities were really interesting and it was wonderful to experience their local customs and traditions which they proudly displayed to us. All the local guides in the communities did a great job… They showed a passion and were proud of their communities and their customs and were happy to share with us.”
Ocean Endeavour carries no more 198-passengers and is perfect for expedition cruising. Outfitted with twenty Zodiacs, advanced navigation equipment, multiple lounges and a top-deck observation room, Ocean Endeavour is purpose-built for comfort in remote environments and is rated 1B ice class.
Narelle described Ocean Endeavour as “a lovely ship”.
“There was a gym and spa and outdoor areas with plenty of seating. There was also a well-stocked library. The lounge areas were large and well-appointed with bar areas and one of the lounges was large enough to accommodate all passengers for meetings and presentations. The restaurant was nicely appointed and the food was fantastic and so much of it with great choice for both breakfast and lunch buffets and dinner a la carte.”
The 12-night ‘Heart of the Arctic’ cruise aboard Ocean Endeavour heads from Nunavik in northern Quebec to Nunavut and, finally, the coast of Greenland across the Davis Strait. It’s timed for just after the summer solstice, when the midnight sun is near its zenith. The chances of seeing wildlife, including polar bears, walrus, and musk ox are excellent. As Narelle indicates, the expedition follows a community- and art-focused Arctic itinerary. Kinngait (Cape Dorset) is acknowledged as the Inuit art capital and is home to some of the most celebrated stone carvers in the Arctic.
Following the cruise, a nine-night ‘Canadian Trails’ independent rail and coach tour from Toronto to Vancouver includes three nights accommodation in a private bedroom on VIA Rail’s ‘Canadian’ train from Toronto to Jasper, two nights at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and a wildlife tour in Jasper.
Memorable highlights include a night at the fabled Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, two nights accommodation at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, a sightseeing tour of Banff, a Sulphur Mountain Gondola ride from Banff and two days in Goldleaf on the famous Rocky Mountaineer Rail to Vancouver.
To impart the flavour of land touring on ‘The Cross Canada Caper’, the itinerary for just one memorable day takes in an Ice Explorer ride on the Athabasca Glacier, then a stop at the award-winning Glacier Skywalk to experience a glass-floored observation platform 280 metres over glacier-formed valleys and waterfalls. Continue along the Icefield Parkway with stops at Lake Louise, Bow and Peyto Lakes, the Crowfoot Glacier and the Athabasca Falls. The highway is renowned for sightings of bears, elk, moose and mountain sheep, so keep your camera handy.
For more information, contact: Cruise Traveller, Boutique Voyage and Cruise Specialists
Freecall 1800 507 777 or (07) 5575 809, email Sales@cruisetraveller.com.au or visit www.cruisetraveller.com.au
SOURCE: Cruise Traveller, Boutique Voyage and Cruise Specialists