|
Dear Traveler,
Between the coasts of
Africa and South America lies a string of small islands, idyllic
stepping stones rarely heard of by most travelers and even more rarely
visited. In years past this handful of far-flung islands provided much
needed shelter and provisions to explorers, seafarers, and adventurers.
But today they constitute some of the world’s most isolated and pristine
places. Next November, we will discover these historic lost islands of
the Atlantic on a sweeping, 32-day voyage that traverses the entire
breadth of the South Atlantic.
The journey begins in
Las Palmas, in the lush, subtropical Canary Islands. Here we’ll make a
bit of history ourselves as the first passengers to board the elegant
new Orion as it embarks on its maiden voyage.
Then, heading south across the Atlantic, we’ll follow in the wake of
such storied individuals as Captain James Cook, Charles Darwin, Napoleon
Bonaparte, and Sir Ernest Shackleton. We’ll discover the Cape Verde
Islands, a small cluster of islands off the coast of Senegal that are
known for their distinctive artistic and musical traditions; volcanic
Ascension Island, the tropical Atlantic’s most important breeding site
for seabirds; and a training site for NASA’s moon walkers; and beautiful
St. Helena, where Edmond Halley charted the southern stars and where
Napoleon was exiled in 1815 after his defeat at Waterloo. Then it’s on
to tiny Tristan da Cunha, considered to be the world’s most remote
inhabited island, and nearby Nightingale Island, uninhabited by humans
but home to millions of birds, including greater shearwaters, Tristan
buntings, penguins, and the rare yellowbilled albatross.
As Orion crosses the
Antarctic convergence en route to spectacular South Georgia, we’ll
watch for marine mammals and seabirds from the decks of the ship. With
its magnificent,
glacier-clad mountains and huge concentrations of wildlife, South
Georgia offers some of the journey’s most dramatic scenery. The final
resting place of the great Antarctic explorer
Ernest Shackleton, the island literally overflows with tens of thousands
of king penguins and
large numbers of fur and elephant seals.
Our last two ports of
call are in the remarkable Falkland Islands, a bird-watcher’s paradise.
Over 150 species of birds have been recorded in the archipelago,
including such endemic species as the Falkland Island steamer duck and
the tussock bird, as well as oystercatchers, cormorants, black-browed
albatross, and Magellanic and rockhopper penguins.
The 106-guest Orion
is a ship unlike any other. Meticulously designed and expertly crafted
in Germany, this sturdy, state-of-the-art vessel is simply the most
elegant and comfortable expedition ship afloat. All staterooms and
suites are exterior and feature a sitting area or living room, Internet
access, TV/DVD, mini-refrigerator, private bathroom, ample closet space,
and twin beds that can be converted to a queen-size bed. A magnificent
glass atrium and elevator dominate the center of the ship, and a gym,
sauna, whirlpool, masseuse, beauty parlor, boutique, and a computer
center equipped with Internet access offer all the amenities you would
expect to find on a fine cruise ship. The ship’s fleet of Zodiac boats
will allow us to explore the remote Atlantic islands and visit places
that are
otherwise inaccessible.
We invite you be
among the first to experience the magnificent new Orion as it embarks on
its own historic voyage to the Lost Islands of the Atlantic.
|
