2015-2016 Exploring the World by Small Ship Contents Introduction 02-03 Small Ships – Big Experiences 04-05 Small Ships Choice 06-07 MS Island Sky 10-21 MS Caledonian Sky 22-31 Sea Explorer 32-37 MS Serenissima 38-61 MV Tere Moana 62-71 Sea Cloud II 72-75 Silver Discoverer 76-83 Variety Voyager 84-87 Silver Explorer 88-91 Isabela II 92-95 Ocean Diamond 96-99 2 Dear Traveller I trust you will enjoy perusingThe our ‘Small Ship Cruising’ brochure.Voyages Perhaps a better description would be ‘Gazetteer’ as within its pages you will find the small ship cruises we operate all over the world. As the size of cruise vessels increase each year, the definition of a small ship becomes a matter of debate. Our interpretationTwenty is any vessel years from sayfrom 30 to now150 passengers you will and bethis ismore the size disappointed of vessels you will findby thewithin things these pages. Some carrying many hundreds of passengers also refer to themselves as ‘small’ and I suppose that relative to 3000-4000you passenger didn’t vessels do than they are, by but the not onesto us. you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Noble Caledonia’s raison d ètre, has from our earliest days been to offer varied cruises on vessels of a certain style and size. Such small ships allow us to create itineraries and an onboard ambienceExplore. that is conduciveDream. to Discover. exploring the world and learning of its wonders in the company of like-minded travellers. It is our view that the best way to Mark Twain achieve this ideal is to limit the number of passengers to such a size that allows the camaraderie to grow between passengers thereby creating a warm and friendly atmosphere onboard. Small numbers onboard also allow the crew and staff to provide a more personal and caring service, something which is not feasible on larger vessels. The company’s success has been built on providing an informative yet relaxed atmosphere onboard combined with a true spirit of adventure. Amongst these pages you will not find a seemingly endless series of similar itineraries, but many one-off voyages that can transport you to the most interesting and often little known places where only small ships can venture. Each year our horizons widen and within these pages you will find ample evidence of why Noble Caledonia is the world’s leading small ship cruising expert. Whether you join one of the trips close to home in the Hebrides or in far flung Polynesia you will be assured of a warm welcome onboard and a team of knowledgeable expedition staff and guest speakers that will make your journey an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Our first love is exploring islands. Small ships are perfectly suited for comprehensive itineraries around island groups particularly in undeveloped areas. You will find our vessels offering detailed trips around Cape Verde, the Azores, the Inner and Outer Seychelles, the Galapagos and the islands of the Arctic from Spitsbergen to the Bering Sea. Closer to home we will be returning to the Isles of Scilly, Channel Islands and Hebrides and out into the North Atlantic to the Faroes and Iceland. Noble Caledonia is a rarity in today’s cruising world where the vast majority of vessels are owned and operated by multi nationals. Being an independent company where the owners are involved in all aspects puts us in a unique place. From this position of freedom and not having to pander to shareholders and financial institutions we operate for the benefit of our passengers who reward us by returning time and time again. We are immensely proud of our portfolio of cruises and look forward to welcoming back onboard our past travellers and introducing some first timers to the joy of exploration by small ship. I do hope that within these pages you will find something of interest and although we do feature many of our trips in this brochure, there is much more also available. We constantly add voyages throughout the year and the best way to keep abreast of new trips and events is to visit our website www.noble-caledonia.co.uk As Michael Palin observed – “Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life” Yours aye Andrew Cochrane Founder & Director 3 Brown Bear, Silver Discoverer Small Ships – Big Experiences There was a time, not so long ago when all cruises were much the same. However, the last twenty years or so has witnessed an immense and quick evolution and today we are all spoilt for choice. Ships of all different sizes and styles make the selection of a cruise a somewhat hit and miss affair, and whilst some companies attempt to please everybody, we prefer to place our future in the realm of small ships. For those contemplating a cruise, supporting infrastructure necessary to service the vessel, and the there is the choice of travelling on one onshore requirements of the passengers. For us the itinerary is still of the vast new 4000 plus passenger paramount. vessels which offer every conceivable facility and diversion or you can opt Avoiding commercialism in today’s modern world is becoming for a journey aboard one of our small increasingly tricky, particularly when selecting a holiday with many specialist ships which offer good food so-called ‘off the beaten track’ destinations having been discovered and knowledgeable staff which make as mainstream tourism becomes the norm for countries around the your cruise not only a holiday, but an world. However, with small ships as our base we can still seek out educational voyage of discovery. Unlike and visit the remote ports which are not easily accessible by any most passenger cruise ships these vessels are constantly on the move other means. Small ships have the freedom of the seas and can come from region to region and continent to continent, small ships with big alongside in small docks or drop anchor in any suitable spot. After all, hearts which travel to every corner of the world, no matter how remote you do not go on holiday to be part of the all engulfing masses which or seemingly inaccessible. descend on a town when a number of large ships dock at the same time. Arriving at a port for the first time should be an invigorating In many ways the virtues of small ship cruising are best expressed by experience and can certainly be so when the right place is chosen detailing what you will not find onboard. For instance, there will be no and your arrival is on a small ship. organised entertainment and no black tie events. What there will be is a warm and peaceful atmosphere in which you can learn more about the Which vessel? wonders of nature, culture and ancient civilisations in the company of In addition to our two flag ships, the MS Island Sky and like-minded people in comfortable surroundings and with a high level MS Caledonian Sky, we also operate a wide variety of voyages of service. aboard vessels we have chartered and know well and which are especially suited to the itineraries devised by our team of planners. How important is the itinerary to you? These vessels range from private yachts such as the Variety Voyager In all the development over the past couple of decades the priority that or the MV Tere Moana in the Mediterranean to the stunning sailing has changed most is the itinerary. This used to be the most significant vessel Sea Cloud II or ice-strengthened vessels suited to the polar element and deciding factor for many. However, the advent of the big regions. In addition we work with partners on some of their ships and ship has led to the downgrading of this important part of the cruise, carefully choose such partnerships to offer clients once in a lifetime mainly because large ships can only dock in large ports with all the experiences. 4 www.noble-caledonia.co.uk On Deck, Caledonian Sky Life onboard The emphasis of our cruises is on discovery whether based around the natural world or a more cultural theme. Our cruises are therefore not for those who find large resort style vessels accommodating many hundreds or a few thousand passengers attractive. The experience and atmosphere onboard one of our vessels is very different to that onboard the usual big cruise ships and is more akin to a private yacht or country house hotel with informative guest speakers and cruise directors as well as expedition teams. Onboard you will not find endless entertainment, round the clock buffets and the people management which is so much a part of today’s big ship style. Instead you will find a little music in the lounge or bar after dinner, guest speakers and informative port briefings from our cruise director or expedition leader. You may be exploring exhilarating and exciting locations on land but back onboard you can expect the highest standards of comfort and service. Within days you will have made new friends in the open-seating restaurant, on the small-group shore excursions or whilst relaxing in the Your Onboard Team comfortable public areas onboard. You will be travelling amongst like- On all our voyages you will find informative staff onboard and whilst minded people but, for those who seek silence, there will always be the exploring ashore you will be accompanied by excellent English- opportunity to relax in a secluded spot on the sun deck or in your well speaking local guides.