Tailor-made travel with Graham Elsom
Experienced travellers are always on the lookout for something different.
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Graham has been travelling all his life and is always seeking something special and unusual.
Nothing excites the senses as much as the thought of a luxury World Cruise aboard one of the many opulent queens of the oceans.
Such is the popularity of these all-inclusive adventures that some of the leading cruise lines are offering one or two world cruises each year. In fact, many of the best accommodation packages on World Cruises in 2020 are already sold out.
Early booking is essential to ensure your desired accommodation and reap some of the many benefits on offer.
As a Travel Consultant, I have been fortunate to have enjoyed many cruises and I have ideas of my own about those I enjoy most. I suppose, however, that it comes down to personal preference and as far as World Cruises are concerned, they tend to cater for all tastes.
One of the attractions of a World Cruise is that the itinerary will generally be geared towards the best time of the year to be at the destinations.
Many of us have a lifetime dream to visit a particular part of the world, perhaps the South Pacific or South America. A World Cruise can be a great way to see these regions on the basis of cost. This is because although the World Cruise is bound to be lengthy, anything from say 100 to 140 days, the per day cost includes full board and lodging, entertainment and recreational activities.
Enrichment talks and lectures are usually given on the days at sea and these will not only cover the cruise destinations but all sorts of subjects, depending on the lecturers on board. Furthermore, the ship generally has a well stocked library.
All of the World Cruises on the market are on board fine cruise ships. They have to be good because you will be spending so much time on board. They come in various sizes and generally speaking, the larger the ship, the greater the choice of venues and facilities.
If you are already a seasoned traveller, a smaller ship, one which is able to enter more exotic ports, might be best for you.
Remember, the smaller the ship, the more personalised the service and the more it will feel like your own private yacht.
Generally speaking, if you enjoy the grand life and old world comforts, you will probably find Cunard’s “Queen Victoria” (January 2019) or “Queen Mary” (January 2020) to your liking. These are the biggest of the World Cruise ships.
Founded in 1988 as Crystal Cruises, Crystal can claim to be Hong Kong's cruise line. Its parent company is the global leisure and hospitality company, Genting Hong Kong. A pioneer in World Cruising, Crystal is also the World's Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line. In August 2016, Crystal Serenity embarked on what was arguably one of the world's greatest sea voyages. It took Roald Amundsen three years to make the first successful crossing of the North West Passage in 1906. Crystal's Crystal Serenity made the dangerous passage in only eight excitement-filled days. The year 2007 had been the first time in recorded history that the "Passage" was considered "ice free" in summer, a result of global warming.
It’s interesting to note that in an effort to attract a younger and more energetic clientele, Crystal are including some extreme, active and hearty-pounding pursuits in the programme of cruise activities. Examples are Kayaking in Namibia, Running a 14 km along Auckland’s iconic “Around the Bays” race route, Cage Diving with the Great White Sharks near Capetown, Hiking and Climbing the Las Palomas Volcanic Tube in Spain and Rainforest Hiking in Hawaii.
Crystal already has their World Cruise itineraries lined up until 2021.
2019: http://www.crystalcruises.com/crystal-world-cruise-2019
2020: https://www.crystalcruises.com/crystal-world-cruise-2020
2021: https://www.crystalcruises.com/crystal-world-cruise-2021
Seabourn’s “Seabourn Sojourn” (January 2020) and Silversea’s “Silver Whisper” (January 2019 and January 2020) both offer modern day luxury and smaller ships.
Princess Cruises’ “Pacific Princess” (January 2019 and January 2020) and Viking Ocean Cruises’ “Viking Sun” (August 2019 and January 2020) both offer cruises on board fine mid-size cruise ships.
Whilst for some it is the size of the ship and the degree of luxury that determines the cruise, for many it’s the ports of call that are of paramount importance. Generally speaking, the bigger the ship the bigger the ports of call. The smaller the ship, the more exotic the ports will be.
I would like to offer several World Cruise recommendations of my own.
The first is for Silversea’s 140 days World Cruise from Fort Lauderdale (USA) to London (UK) departing in January 2020. This cruise is especially noteworthy because it includes Antarctica. I believe this is the first time a World Cruise has included Antarctica? It’s expensive to visit the Antarctic Peninsula as a stand alone cruise but to do it as part of a World Cruise seems a practical and economical proposition. In addition, this cruise includes the spectacular Chilean Fjords.
My second recommendation is for Viking Ocean Cruises’ 245 day “Viking Sun” World Cruise departing in August 2019. Viking have been voted the “World’s Best” by USA’s Travel & Leisure magazine for three years in a row. The cruise begins and ends in London (UK) and it includes a comprehensive visit to South America. Jebsen Holidays can assist with hop-off/ hop-on touring arrangements should you wish to visit some inland destinations not included in the ship’s sightseeing programme.
The third is for Princess Cruises’ 111 day “Pacific Princess” World Cruise departing from and returning to Fort Lauderdale (USA) in January 2019. This cruise includes a call at the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena with its historic associations with Napoleon. I consider tiny and remote St Helena to be one of the most exotic ports of call in the world.
Do take a look at the cruises below and contact Jebsen Holidays for further information and reservations.
Silver Seas World Cruise - https://www.silversea.com/destinations/world-cruise.html
Viking Cruises - https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/world-grand/2020-world-cruise/resources.html
Princess Cruises - https://www.princess.com/learn/cruise-destinations/world-cruises/
Cunard Cruises - https://www.cunard.com/cruise-types/world-cruises/
Seabourn - https://www.seabourn.com/luxury-cruise-destinations/World-Cruise
If you would like to discuss any aspect of cruising, please feel free to contact me at any time.graham.elsom@jebsenholidays.com
Written by GRAHAM
Having lived and worked in Asia for 40 years, I have travelled extensively to off- the- beaten-track locations in Asia. I like to think of myself as your man on the ground in Asia.
My passion is for the less travelled, more remote and interesting locations, which many simply bypass. It is the local culture, architecture and heritage in which I am most interested.
I always wanted to be a Travel Consultant. My favorite geography teacher sparked my interest at a very early age.
My very first job was with the world’s oldest travel company, Thos. Cook & Son. I joined them in 1962 in Melbourne, Australia.
Later, I founded my own travel agency, Concorde Travel in Hong Kong, from 1978 until 2016. We have now merged with one of Hong Kong’s oldest and most prestigious companies, the Jebsen Group, founded in 1895. This allows me to devote more time to my favorite pastime, Travel Consulting.
I have a special interest in smaller and more adventurous cruise ships. These enable you to escape the crowds and visit often unexplored and truly pristine destinations. I have been intrigued that the Virtuoso map will not let me include some of the more exotic places I have visited. These are spectacular destinations, but one or two of them might require a bullet proof vest these days:
Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Djibouti (Republic of Djibouti), Koror (Palau), Saint Helena (British Overseas Territory), Phu Quoc (Vietnam), Aden (Yemen), Turpan and Macau (Peoples Republic of China) and Port Lockroy (United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust).
In these days of mass tourism, careful planning is required to ensure that one’s exploration is an enjoyable and memorable experience.
I hope you will let me help you to find these roads less travelled. All you have to do is let me know about your own special interests.
Please feel free to email me at graham.elsom@jebsenholidays.com
Having lived and worked in Asia for 40 years, I have travelled extensively to off- the- beaten-track locations in Asia. I like to think of myself as your man on the ground in Asia.
My passion is for the less travelled, more remote and interesting locations, which many simply bypass. It is the local culture, architecture and heritage in which I am most interested.
I always wanted to be a Travel Consultant. My favorite geography teacher sparked my interest at a very early age.
My very first job was with the world’s oldest travel company, Thos. Cook & Son. I joined them in 1962 in Melbourne, Australia.
Later, I founded my own travel agency, Concorde Travel in Hong Kong, from 1978 until 2016. We have now merged with one of Hong Kong’s oldest and most prestigious companies, the Jebsen Group, founded in 1895. This allows me to devote more time to my favorite pastime, Travel Consulting.
I have a special interest in smaller and more adventurous cruise ships. These enable you to escape the crowds and visit often unexplored and truly pristine destinations. I have been intrigued that the Virtuoso map will not let me include some of the more exotic places I have visited. These are spectacular destinations, but one or two of them might require a bullet proof vest these days:
Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Djibouti (Republic of Djibouti), Koror (Palau), Saint Helena (British Overseas Territory), Phu Quoc (Vietnam), Aden (Yemen), Turpan and Macau (Peoples Republic of China) and Port Lockroy (United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust).
In these days of mass tourism, careful planning is required to ensure that one’s exploration is an enjoyable and memorable experience.
I hope you will let me help you to find these roads less travelled. All you have to do is let me know about your own special interests.
Please feel free to email me at graham.elsom@jebsenholidays.com
Fancy a trip to Europe? Do you want to see everything the continent has to offer but worry that you don’t have enough time? Come to Mallorca! It is Europe in miniature.
Presented by Graham Elsom
Experienced travellers are always on the lookout for something different. Keep an eye on these columns! Graham has been travelling all his life and is always seeking something special and unusual.
Tailor-made travel with Graham Elsom
Experienced travellers are always on the lookout for something different.
Keep an eye on these columns!
Graham has been travelling all his life and is always seeking something special and unusual.
Tailor-made travel with Graham Elsom
Experienced travellers are always on the lookout for something different.
Keep an eye on these columns!
Graham has been travelling all his life and is always seeking something special and unusual.
Tailor-made travel with Graham Elsom
Experienced travellers are always on the lookout for something different.
Keep an eye on these columns!
Graham has been travelling all his life and is always seeking something special and unusual.
