Braving Antarctica's King George Island with Crystal Cruises

This is one for the books! Crystal Cruises has developed a super unique two-day excursion to Antarctica's King George Island. The largest of the South Shetland Islands, the only people living there include the scant few manning research stations.

A trip to King George Island isn't all fun and games. As Crystal Cruises notes, it's part of one of "the windiest, coldest, and least populated continent on the planet." Yet, each year a limited number of tourists visit to catch a glimpse of a variety of seals (elephant, weddell, and leopard) as well as chinstrap and gentoo penguins.

There's only room for six participants on this once-in-a-lifetime excursion from Crystal Symphony's December 20th Buenos Aires to Valparaiso, Chile itinerary that includes three days cruising Antarctica.

“Brace for a once-in-a-lifetime excursion that literally exemplifies the type of highly unusual, off-the-beaten-path experiential adventures our guests are seeking,” says John Stoll, director, land programs for Crystal Cruises. “Only a handful of people will ever have the chance to see this remarkable region so intimately.”

The adventure departs from Ushuaia, Argentina and rejoins Crystal Symphony in Punta Arenas, Chile. Highlights depend on weather conditions, and include:

• Travel by King Air beach craft from Ushuaia to King George Island;
  
  
• Overnight accommodations at the Chilean Antarctic Institute;
  
  
• Visits to the Chilean Eduardo Frei Antarctic Base and the Uruguayan Base Artigas;
  
  
• Snow coach trek to Collins Glacier, which once covered 90 percent of the island;
  
  
• Zodiac excursion to Ardley Island and a penguin breeding ground; and
  
  
• Two-hour hiking expedition to observe elephant and fur seals, and Villa Las Estrellas.

Other adventures ashore include a helicopter ride to a humpback whale sanctuary, a 4 x 4 expedition to a King penguin colony, and trekking the mountains of Chile. Fares for the “Extreme Overnight Adventure” start at $9,774 per person, double occupancy.

In addition to Buenos Aires and Valparaiso, the cruise visits Montevideo, Uruguay; Puerto Madryn, Argentina; Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; Ushuaia, Argentina; and Punta Arena and Puerto Montt, Chile. Cruise fares start $8,995 per person, double occupancy.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Crystal Cruises at (888) 799-4625.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo of baby elephant seal on King George Island

Play the Top Golf Courses Around the World with Silversea

Cruisers who also love to golf are probably already familiar with Silversea's popular Silver Links program. It will be offered again in 2010 on 12 itineraries aboard Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper. Thirty of the most challenging and beautiful courses in 15 countries across the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the Americas will be available for play.

Silver Links offers optional guided golf excursions escorted by the ship's golf professional as well as priority tee times. Prices vary for each course but include transfers to and from the ship, golf carts (where available), and any greens and caddy fees. Nike golf clubs are available for rent (about $45 per day).

Onboard both ships, a golf professional will offer complimentary group clinics, demos, and putting contests. Private instruction is available for a fee. There's also a digital coaching system that can analyze your swing for a mere $30.

This is definitely something to look into if golfing is your thing!

2010 Silver Links Voyages and Golf Courses

FAR EAST & SOUTH PACIFIC: Silver Whisper's January 3, 15-day cruise (#4001) from Auckland to Sydney with optional golf excursions to the Tauranga Golf Club; Cape Kidnappers Golf Club (Napier); Clearwater Golf Resort (Christchurch); Royal Hobart Golf Club; Royal Melbourne Golf Club; and Sydney's Camden Lakeside Country Club. Silver Savings cruise fares start at $6,798 per person.

CARIBBEAN, MEXICO & PANAMA CANAL: Silver Shadow's January 22, 16-day cruise (#3003) from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles with optional golf excursions to La Iguana Golf Club (Puntarenas); Fairmont Pierre Marques Golf Club (Acapulco); Club de Golf Marina Ixtapa (Zihuatanejo); Desert Course at Cabo del Sol Golf Resort (Cabo San Lucas); and San Diego's Steele Canyon Golf Club. Silver Savings cruise fares start at $5,158 per person.

MEDITERRANEAN: Silver Whisper's May 31, 12-day cruise (#4014) from Monte Carlo to Southampton with optional golf excursions to the Club de Golf Llavaneras (Barcelona); Club de Golf de Malaga; Penha Longa Golf Club (Lisbon); and St. Malo's Dinard Golf Club. Silver Savings cruise fares start at $5,798 per person.

NORTHERN EUROPE & BALTIC: Silver Whisper's June 12, 11-day cruise (#4015) from Southampton to Stockholm with optional golf excursions to the Royal Zoute Golf Club (Zeebrugge); Estonian Golf and Country Club (Tallinn); and Helsinki Golf Club (Tali). Silver Savings cruise fares start at $5,118 per person.

CANADA & NEW ENGLAND: Silver Whisper's September 14, 10-day cruise (#4027) from New York to Montreal with optional golf excursions to the Newport National Golf Club; Franklin Park Golf Club (Boston); Glen Arbour Golf Club (Halifax); Bell Bay Golf Course (Sydney); Royal Quebec Golf Club (Quebec City); and Club de Golf de l'Ile de Montreal. Silver Savings cruise fares start at $4,118 per person.

CANADA & NEW ENGLAND: Silver Whisper's October 14, 10-day cruise (#4030) from New York to Barbados with optional golf excursions to Port Royal Golf Club and Belmont Hills Golf Club (Hamilton); Palmas del Mar Golf Resort (San Juan); and Cedar Valley Golf Club in St. John's. Silver Savings cruise fares start at $3,278 per person.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Zambezi Queen: Luxury African River Safaris in Botswana

People often ask me if cruising is the only type of vacation I ever book. Well, luxury cruising is my area of expertise so many, many of my trips do include time on a ship. My other passion, however, is any type of safari where I can get up close to animals. That means anything from zipping across icy Alaskan waters on a Zodiac in search of humpback whales, trekking through the jungle of Borneo in search of the elusive orangutan, or riding a 4x4 vehicle in the African bush on the trail of leopard, lion, or cheetah.

Truth be told, southern Africa is one of my favorite regions on Earth. The topography is diverse, animal viewing—including the "Big Five" of African elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, and Cape Buffalo—is almost too easy, and the people are incredibly engaging. That's why I was very intrigued to learn about the new Zambezi Queen riverboat—built in 2009—that is now offering safaris on the Chobe River in northeast Botswana.

If you're addicted to HBO's series No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency that's set in Botswana, you know the country's southern border is buffeted by South Africa, to the west and north is Namibia, to the east is Zimbabwe. (A very small portion of the northern border is also shared by Zambia.)

Visitors from all around the world are drawn to several regions of Botswana: the Kalahari Desert at the center of the country, the lush Okavango Delta in the central north, and Chobe National Park to the northeast. It's at Chobe National Park that you'll see the largest population of African elephants (numbering close to 120,000).

The steel hulled Zambezi Queen riverboat explores the Chobe between Namibia's Caprivi Strip and Chobe National Park and ties up just miles from where four countries—Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—meet. (It's an easy trip to the dramatic Victoria Falls from here.)

This brand new riverboat houses 14 cabins, all with private balconies. Four are master suites with air conditioning while the remaining 10 staterooms are cooled via ceiling fans.

You'll enjoy the pool on the top deck (forward) as well as the dining room and lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows that are perfect for spying game all day long.

Onboard guides will take you on safaris via tenders (three aluminum high-speed boats) that allow for super up-close viewing of animals. Land-based game viewing from 4x4 vehicles is also an option in Botswana's Chobe National Park. If you'd like to see what local village life is like, the Zambezi Queen can arrange for a tour. And, there are two fiberglass boats for those who wish to hook some tiger fish and bream.

Two- and three-night safaris are available and are priced in South African rand. Pair your voyage aboard the Zambezi Queen with one or two game lodge stays in Botswana; the Royal Livingstone in Zambia for Victoria Falls; or lodges in South Africa's Timbavati or Sabi Sands Private Game Reserves.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Zambezi Queen at +27 (0) 21 438 0032.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com