Long voyages are a way for people with time and money to see specific parts of the world in depth rather than spend endless days at sea just so they can say they have circumnavigated the globe.
Long cruises can last anything from one to three months: Voyages of Discovery has a 48-day journey from Hong Kong to Cape Town, South Africa in January, and Silversea Cruises has a mammoth 91-day Spirit of South America cruise from Fort Lauderdale to New York by way of Argentina, the Falkland Islands, Chile and the Panama Canal.
Generally, they are more port-intensive than a world cruise, so better suited to clients who want to see the world – or at least one part of it – rather than spend endless days at sea.
On a world cruise, passengers can have six or eight consecutive days at sea as their ship sails from one continent to another; on a long voyage, sea days tend to be scattered throughout the trip, no doubt providing a welcome moment for people to catch their breath between sightseeing.
On Holland America Line’s (HAL) 54-day Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea voyage departing in March next year, there are just four sea days between April 5 and April 29, a journey that will take passengers from Tangier in Morocco to Valletta in Malta.
HAL offers several Grand Voyages each year. Next year, there is a 70-day South America and Antarctica Voyage, departing in January, and a 69-day Grand Asia and Australia cruise departing in September, which starts from £6,699 per person including flights and transfers. Clients who book the whole cruise early will get up to $1,700 per person in on-board credit.
HAL managing director UK business Lynn Narraway says there are four types of Grand Voyage client, including those who have saved for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and ‘country collectors’ who have a list of places they want to tick off and who are more likely to book a sector.
There are also ‘status seekers’, who want a holiday they can tell their friends about – these people are more likely to book higher-grade cabins – and experienced cruisers looking for a comfortable way to spend winter.
Voyages of Discovery sales and marketing director Geoff Lawrence says Grand Voyages are popular among retired people with time on their hands, adding that the new Asia cruises are providing them with a welcome chance to spend winter in warmer climes.
He says: “Our longer itineraries have always been popular, and this year is no exception with bookings for Grand Voyages representing 26% of overall sales on the winter cruise programme.”
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has three long voyages next year including a 103-night Grand Asia Pacific cruise from Vancouver to Bangkok in September that takes in Alaska, Japan, China and Vietnam. It starts at £22,160 per person cruise only including flights, transfers, drinks, gratuities and excursions.
P&O Cruises has a long voyage on Artemis in January 2011 – the ship’s last cruise before it leaves the fleet. The 98-day Asian trip cruises to Japan before turning around and returning to the UK via Cape Town.
As the cruise is from the UK, and covers a huge geographical area, there are a lot of sea days – seven in the first 10 days alone, and seven consecutive sea days as the ship sails between Walvis Bay in South Africa to St Vincent in the Cape Verde Islands. Prices start from £8,359 per person cruise only.
New cruiseline Cruise and Maritime Voyages is kicking off its year-round programme of no-fly cruises from Tilbury on Marco Polo next year with two long cruises: a 30-night voyage to the Caribbean departing on January 2 2010 and a 42-night Amazon and Orinoco Discovery cruise departing February 1 2010. Prices start from £1,999 per person cruise only.
As with world cruises, many long cruises are split into shorter sectors for people who can’t afford the time – or cost – of two months or so away for home. The Artemis cruise is split into several sectors, allowing passengers to join the ship in India and disembark in Hong Kong, for instance, or cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore via Japan and China.
Regent’s Asia Pacific cruise has six sectors lasting from seven to 22 nights that can be booked individually, or put back to back.
Silversea says 30% of clients on Silver Spirit’s 91-day South America sojourn are on for the whole journey. All the top suites for the 91-day cruise have been taken and most of the Silver Suites are also full.
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Voyages of Discovery has a 48-day Grand Journey to Asia and Africa, cruising from Hong Kong to Cape Town on Discovery from January 29 to March 17 2010. It visits the Philippines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles, Mauritius and South Africa, and starts from £5,130 per person including flights and transfers. A 15-day sector, from Hong Kong to Singapore, is £1,795 per person including flights and transfers. voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk, 0845 018 1808
Silversea offers a 91-day Spirit of South America cruise from Fort Lauderdale to New York on Silver Spirit from January 21 to April 22 2010, cruising the Caribbean and circumnavigating South America. It starts at £25,350 per person cruise only, including drinks and gratuities. There are nine sectors between nine and 88 days with prices from £2,713 for a cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Barbados. silversea.com, 0844 770 9030
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has a 77-night Around South America voyage from Southampton on Black Watch between January 5 and March 23 2010. It starts at £7,149 per person cruise only. Five sectors of 24 to 55 nights are available from £2,199 per person including flights and transfers. fredolsencruises.co.uk, 01473 742424
