Tag Archives: AdventureSmith Explorations

AdventureSmith Explorations Engages Fleet of Luxury Yachts to Island Hop along Dalmatian Coast

Small ship cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com has engaged a fleet of sleek, 150-foot modern yachts to transport in style 38 to 40 guests per sailing on 17 island-hopping departures along the Dalmatian Coast this season.
Small ship cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations  has engaged a fleet of luxury, 150-foot modern yachts to transport  38 to 40 guests per sailing on 17 island-hopping departures along the Dalmatian Coast this season.

TAHOE CITY, CA,– Small ship cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations has engaged a fleet of sleek, 150-foot modern yachts to transport in style 38 to 40 guests per sailing on 17 island-hopping departures along the Dalmatian Coast this season.

Croatia Island Hopper Cruise aboard the Futura, Prestige, President or M/V Admiral (all very similar in size and amenities) is the only deluxe, small ship cruise on a fully crewed yacht (including expert guides) that focuses exclusively on the 1,100-mile Dalmatian Coast. (Other cruises simply stop in the region as part of a larger Adriatic or Mediterranean itinerary or are only available as a full boat charter with no crew and little guidance.)

“The nature of our Island Hopper itinerary is. yes, to explore the history and culture of Croatia but also to enjoy swimming, hiking in the countryside, kayaking and bicycling,” said Todd Smith, AdventureSmith Explorations Founder and President.

This eight-day/seven-night cruise starts at $1,440 per person, double. The rates (nearly all-inclusive) and dining schedule offer leeway to enjoy regional cuisines and wines over lunches and dinners while strolling through towns, Smith said.

“This is affordable luxury in Croatia. Our combination of deluxe accommodations, superior service and expert guides is rare, especially for prices starting at under $1,500 per person,” Smith said.  The rate includes accommodations, daily buffet breakfast and lunch or dinner; a beverage with lunch; drinking water; services of a professional tour manager; guided walking tours; fees for bus transfers and cable cars; visitor taxes, port and national park fees; luggage handling; daily cabin service and free Wi-Fi on board.

The cruise begins and ends in Split with on Day 1 a guided tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. A welcome reception and briefing greet guests on their return from visiting Roman ruins.  Day 2 is an excursion to Marco Polo’s birthplace, Korcula Island, where appetizers and local vintages are sampled on the tail end of an excursion.

Dubrovnik, the jewel of the Adriatic, is Day 3’s destination after stretching legs in Mljet National Park and on St Mary Isle.  Unlike other ships that spend a hurried half day inside Old Town’s walls, Island Hopper guests enjoy a dinner cruise along the shore followed by a guided tour and full day in this historic port. (Smith also recommends a pre or post cruise trip extension to fully appreciate Dubrovnik’s charm.)

Day 5 brings guests to the Peljesac Peninsula, a region known for wines. Here guests enjoy Croatian specialties over a dinner in a rural village.  Jet-set Hvar, known for lavish lavender fields and such beauties as a Renaissance cathedral, comes on Day 6 followed on Day 7 by the final stop on the Island of Brac and at the town of Bol. Fishermen and tourists blend together here before the Captain’s farewell dinner on board and the journey back to Split.

AdventureSmith Explorations offers additional cruises on European waters thanks to an expanding inventory of small ships. Two examples are a tour called Classical Greece aboard the 49-guest Harmony V that embodies the best of spring in the islands and on the Mediterranean. The per person double rate for this eight-day cruise is from $2,790. Another is a nine-day luxury cruise of the Cyclades aboard Sea Cloud with an exclusive charter of this historic windjammer. The per person double rate is from $8,790.

For more details on 2015 cruises in the Mediterranean and on the Adriatic, see:
http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/top-small-ship-cruises-for-spring-2015

For information, availability and 2015 reservations, 800-728-2875, www.adventuresmithexplorations.com.

 

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AdventureSmith Explorations’ Small Ships Cruise Into Intimate Ports this Spring

Small ship cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com announces Spring 2015 cruises that probe the fecundity of the Galapagos and the profundity of classical Greece.
Small ship cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com announces Spring 2015 cruises that probe the fecundity of the Galapagos and the profundity of classical Greece.

TAHOE CITY, CA – Small ship cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations announces Spring 2015 cruises that probe the fecundity of the Galapagos and the profundity of classical Greece, among others.

“Cruises into pristine, nature-focused destinations such as Darwin’s magical archipelago, the ancient Greek Isles of Plato and Homer and into Baja’s Sea of Cortez, a favorite playground and laboratory of Jacques Cousteau are voyages every modern adventurer should take. Plus it’s ever so much more exciting in the spring when the oceans are full of life and rebirth,” said Todd Smith, Founder and President of AdventureSmith Explorations.

Here are Smith’s favorite spring trips for the upcoming 2015 season:

Small Yacht Galapagos Cruises
While equatorial Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands technically have no “spring season” weather-wise, April and May offer the best air and water temperatures and calmest seas, making these months best for snorkeling with sea lions, penguins and tropical fish. Stunning waved albatross return to Espanola Island; many other birds and reptiles are nesting in the spring. Favorite springtime ships include the 20-passenger sister ships Eric, Letty and Flamingo. According to Smith, “Their family cruises are second to none” and are offered during spring and Easter break in March and April. These ships boast the best guide-to-passenger ratio and are some of the more eco-friendly yachts to ply Galapagos waters.

Hawaiian Seascapes
Springtime in Hawaii means perfect weather and an explosion of flowers, blossoms and fruit. Rainfall diminishes as trade winds fade; the surf also calms and water temperature rise, all adding up to excellent snorkeling, kayaking and paddleboard conditions. Whales are active in the Auau Channel. The 36-guest adventure yacht Safari Explorer navigates a unique Hawaiian Seascapes cruise itinerary to Molokai, Lanai, Maui and the big island introducing authentic Hawaii in intimate ports of call.

Delfin II Amazon River Cruise
The weather cools down in March, April and May marking the end of the Amazon’s high water season, Smith’s favorite time to cruise. But the water is still high enough so that skiffs can make forays into the rainforest to sight wildlife. Four or five day cruises aboard the luxurious 28-guest Delfin II are more affordable than other ships in the region. Activities include skiff rides, kayaking, hiking and fishing. From the river guests often extend their adventure with a trip to Machu Picchu or a Mountain Lodge Trek.

Classical Greece
Savvy travelers know that spring is the best time to travel in Greece. Temperatures are moderate, winds are calmer, crowds are light and wildflowers are abundant. Classical Greece aboard the 49-guest Harmony V embodies the best of spring in the islands and Mediterranean small ship cruising. The ship accesses smaller ports of call that aren’t accessible to large ships: Delos, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete and Nafplion. Along the way the ship stops in hidden coves and glimpse ancient history away from tourist crowds.

Great Barrier Reef Cruises
It’s autumn in the southern hemisphere in April and May, a small window between high and low seasons offering comfortable air and water temperatures and less rain making snorkeling and diving ideal in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. The Coral Princess I and Coral Princess II are specially outfitted to explore the reef in style. Unlike live-aboard dive cruises, these small ship voyages of four, five and eight days focus on average travelers who would like to explore on foot, by skiff and by snorkeling, with an option to dive.

Cousteau’s Aquarium of the World
The elegant and functional 84-guest Safari Endeavour is returning to Baja for the first time since she was Cruise West’s Spirit of Endeavour. Recently refitted with ample air conditioning, spacious common areas, comfortable cabins and numerous off-vessel activities, this expedition ship cruise includes hiking, kayaking, snorkeling and sunbathing as primary activities. After whale season ends, the weather warms up and winds die down making Baja a great beach and adventure getaway. Think snorkeling among gentle whale sharks and sea lion pups. In a setting of steep bluffs and sandy beaches, guests explore Cabo Pulmo, where French Oceanographer Jacques Cousteau led numerous expeditions. Baja is easily reached in less than four hours from most major US airports.

For more details on all spring 2015 cruises from AdventureSmith see:
http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/top-small-ship-cruises-for-spring-2015

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, CA. For information, availability and 2015 reservations, call 800-728-2875 or visit www.adventuresmithexplorations.com.

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AdventureSmith Explorations Adds Historic Yacht Westward To Inventory of Small Ships Exploring Baja Peninsula

Small ship cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations announces a new 10-day Baja, Mexico cruise aboard the 86-foot, historic eight-guest adventure yacht, Westward.
Small ship cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations announces a new 10-day Baja, Mexico cruise aboard the 86-foot, historic eight-guest adventure yacht, Westward.

TAHOE CITY, CA–Small ship cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations announces a new 10-day Baja, Mexico cruise aboard the 86-foot, historic eight-guest adventure yacht, Westward.

Launched in 1924 as the flagship of the Alaska Coast Hunting and Cruising Co., she is arguably Seattle’s most famous motor yacht having pioneered hunting, fishing, and adventure travel in the remote regions of Washington, British Columbia and Alaska.

“Westward Voyages in the Sea of Cortez, launching January 2015 is our perfect complement to an already outstanding portfolio of Baja small Ship Cruises,” said Todd Smith, AdventureSmith Explorations’ Founder/Owner. Ten-day itineraries featuring both the Sea of Cortez and whale watching in the Pacific’s San Ignacio Lagoon are offered in January and February 2015.

Smith likened cruising the eco systems of the Baja Peninsula to cruising the islands of the Galapagos. Both regions offer explorations of geography, flora and fauna, bird and wildlife. Both regions are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Westward Voyages in the Sea of Cortez spends seven days cruising in the Sea of Cortez with three days watching gray whales based from Kuyimita Tent Camp adjacent to San Ignacio Lagoon Whale Sanctuary. The resulting 9-night/10-day cruise/tour is the most in-depth and intimate Baja exploration available. The per person double rate is $5,750. See: www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/westward-voyages-in-the-sea-of-cortez .
Westward will ply the pristine waters of Baja in the coolest months in order to enhance the cruise experience that includes the cacophony of leaping rays, spouting whales, acrobatic dolphins and chirping bird song from the dawning shore.

Guests and crew gather on the 17 by 14-foot shaded back deck for meals and conversation.  Each stateroom has three portholes that open. In addition each bathroom has one opening port. Staterooms are outfitted with a portable, battery-powered fan to provide a breeze on still nights. The air may be warm and dry in the Gulf of California winters, but the water is cool and helps offset the warmth of the day, especially in staterooms that extend below the waterline.

Other cruise programs on ships for up to 84 guests are available. (See: www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/baja-california).

Additional options include two eight-day whale watching cruises January-March on a variety of small ships. Rates are from $2,995 per person, double, aboard the 84-guest Safari Endeavor. Rates are from $5,990 per person, double, aboard the 62-guest National Geographic Sea Lion and Sea Bird. Additional cruise programs for up to 15 days are also offered in this region.

Westward is listed with the US National Register of Historic Places and remains dependably powered by her original Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine. Westward’s historical and adventurous spirit enriches the voyages of those lucky enough to cruise the waters with her. Modeled after a salmon cannery tender, she launched in 1924 as the flagship of the Alaska Coast Hunting and Cruising Co. Westward served a noteworthy clientele of hunters and fishermen for nearly 20 years. Distinguished guests included Bing Crosby, Walt Disney, E.F. Hutton, John Wayne, Dean Witter and numerous other VIP’s of the era. During WW II Westward served as a patrol boat off the California coast before returning to the Pacific Northwest. See: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/westward

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Exploration has become a global leader in small ship, expeditionary cruise vacations. Company president and founder Todd Smith pioneered the concept of wilderness cruising – combining the comforts of a small cruise ship with the adventure of sea kayaking and exploring ashore in remote wilderness areas. In 2012, Smith joined the ranks of Conde Nast Traveler’s prestigious 14th Annual Travel Specialists List as the world’s expert on small ship expeditions, and again in 2013 and 2014. For information, availability and 2015 reservations, 800-728-2875 or visit www.adventuresmithexplorations.com.

 

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