Fort Lauderdale - January 3, 2008 - Regent Seven Seas Cruises, voted the "#1 Small-Ship Cruise Line" in Condé Nast Traveler's 2007 Readers' Choice Awards poll, will offer enlightening and stimulating adventures ashore in combination with its 2008 and 2009 worldwide itineraries. Regent's exotic pre- and post-cruise land programs are highlighted by exciting and unusual transportation modes.
For example, travelers who enjoy riding the rails can go fast from Tokyo to Osaka aboard Japan's Shinkanse, or bullet train, or really fast aboard China's Magalev from Shanghai. Guests who prefer a more leisurely pace can cross Kent, England in a 19th century Victorian railway car, journey from Colombo to Kandy in Sri Lanka aboard the famous Viceroy railway, or take an Indian Pacific Railroad luxury sleeper from Adelaide to Perth. Airborne adventurers can drift 1,000 feet over historic Stockholm or soar above Kenya's Masai Mara national reserve in hot-air balloons. Helicopters provide the means to survey the breathtaking waterfalls of a Central American rainforest or Italy's stunning Amalfi coast.
Thinking of active pursuits? Guests on Regent shore excursions can catch a wave in Maui as they learn to ride the pipe on a surf board, travel by canoe across Helsinki's placid sounds, and deep-sea raft near the Arctic Circle from Honningsvåg. Need wheels? Vacationers can opt for an escorted tour through historic Berlin via Rolls-Royce, or rev a Harley-Davidson around sunny St. Maarten. Modern-day cowboys and cowgirls can steer their mounts across Kalmar, Sweden to the island of Oland, or gallop along a Tahitian beach in Huahine aboard a robust Marquesan steed. The four-legged options extend to the largest of land animals - guests can take rides on elephants from South Africa's Camp Jabulani.
These and other exotic shore excursions are offered in connection with Regent's 2008 and 2009 voyages aboard 700-guest, all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Voyager®, 700-guest, all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Mariner® and 490-guest, all-suite Seven Seas Navigator®.
"Regent offers the most comprehensive and varied land programs in the industry from exotic train travel to intimate stays in European capitals," said Darius Mehta, Director of Land Programs. "We strive to lead the industry with innovation and variety."
Regent's 2008 land programs offer a wide array of land programs transportation options including:
- "Vintage Railway and Bodiam Castle" (Seven Seas Voyager, June 9, 2008 from Monte Carlo to Dover; June 24, 2008 from Dover to Copenhagen) - Guests journey to Tenterden, in the heart of the Kent countryside, to board an authentic steam train for an eye-opening journey to Bodiam in a genuine 19th Century railway carriage. Bodiam Castle, one of Britain's most famous and evocative, was built in 1385 and features ramparts that rise dramatically above the moat below.
- "St. Thomas Ocean Racing Challenge" (Seven Seas Navigator, Feb. 25, 2008, roundtrip Fort Lauderdale) - Guests experience the thrill of world championship yacht racing during this unique and amazing ocean adventure in St. Thomas. Following a brief orientation and safety briefing, guests have an opportunity to help trim the sails, tack, jibe and take the helm.
- "Catamaran Sail and Reef Snorkel" (Seven Seas Navigator, April 7 and 18, 2008, roundtrip Fort Lauderdale) - This shore-side adventure features the best sailing and snorkeling in Nassau, Bahamas. Guests journey by catamaran to a lush tropical reef for amazing snorkeling. Bottled water is provided throughout and rum punch is offered after snorkeling.
- "Hot Air Ballooning" (Seven Seas Voyager, July 15, 2008 roundtrip Stockholm; July 26, 2008 Stockholm to Copenhagen; August 2, 2008 Copenhagen to Stockholm) - Following a comprehensive briefing, guests board the balloon for an airborne view of the "Venice of the North." Floating at 1,000 feet, guests enjoy a stunning view of Stockholm's parks, squares, airy boulevards, twisting medieval streets and waterside walkways.
- "Deep Sea Rafting and Ice-Bar" (Seven Seas Voyager, June 24, 2008, roundtrip Stockholm) - Guests embark on an unforgettable deep-sea experience during this boat ride to North Cape, Magerøya Island, Helnes and Honningsvåg's famous Ice Bar. Guests receive a security briefing and the equipment required for the tour, including an approved floatation suit. Embarking on rubber launch boats, travelers start from Honningsvåg and raft out to the Sarnesfjord, Sarnes and later Sarnesfjorden. Upon returning to Honningsvåg, guests will visit the Ice Bar, carved from real ice, for non-alcoholic beverages.
- "Helicopter Flight to Volcanic Montserrat" (Seven Seas Mariner, April 7, 2008, roundtrip Fort Lauderdale; Seven Seas Navigator, March 14 and Dec. 29, 2008, Fort Lauderdale roundtrip) - Experience the awesome presence of a live volcano during this picturesque flight-seeing tour over Montserrat. Guests embark on a 50-minute helicopter flight to the East Coast of Montserrat at an elevation of approximately 1,500 feet. Rising to 3,000 feet over the still-active volcano, guests view the frequent emissions of ash, smoke and steam.
- "Kandy by Viceroy Train" (Seven Seas Voyager, March 13, 2008, Singapore to Mumbai) - Vacationers board the 75 year-old Viceroy Special, an immaculately restored, fully-functional private luxury train, for a journey to Kandy, one of Sri Lanka's most historic and celebrated destinations. Furnished in period style, the Viceroy Special features two observation saloons with plush seating, adjoining smoker's lounge and restroom facilities, and a restaurant car. The last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings, Kandy was ceded to the British in 1815. Its shrines and monasteries remain prime examples of Buddhist influences in Sri Lanka to this day.
- "Elephant Back Safari at Camp Jabulani (Seven Seas Navigator, Nov. 1, 2008, Mumbai to Cape Town) - At the Kapama Private Game Reserve, a 32,000-acre game preserve named after a Swazi King whose tribe inhabited the Drakensberg Mountain region in the 1880s, guests interact with a specially trained herd of 12 elephants as they explore the vivid wildlife of the African bushveld from atop the backs of these giant mammals. Daily elephant safaris are supplemented with morning and evening game drives, bush walks, off-road wildlife safaris and bird watching.
Regent's shore excursion options are truly extensive and exciting, allowing guests to personally create the travel experience of a lifetime. Regent's 2008 and 2009 schedule of itineraries, ports of call and shore excursions can be found at by clicking here.
About Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent Seven Seas (formerly Radisson Seven Seas) operates a fleet of medium-sized luxury cruise ships that visit over 300 ports on all seven continents, including Antarctica. RSSC is consistently rated among the world's top three cruise lines by readers of luxury travel magazines. Travel professionals worldwide voted RSSC the "World's Best Luxury Cruise Line" for the fourth consecutive year as part of the 2007 Travel Weekly Awards and readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine voted RSSC "World's Best Small-Ship Cruise Line" in 2007.
