Fort Lauderdale - November 5, 2007 - Regent Seven Seas Cruises, voted the "#1 Small-Ship Cruise Line" in Condé Nast Traveler's 2007 Readers' Choice Awards poll, has unveiled an expanded program of destination-intensive "Adventures Ashore" in conjunction with its two World Cruises in 2009. These exciting land packages, which are separate from Regent's core shore excursions, provide guests with unprecedented opportunities to broaden their knowledge of the exotic regions on Regent's World Cruise itineraries. Regent made history earlier this year by becoming the first luxury cruise operator to announce two global cruises in the same year.
Regent's "Concierge Collection" of Adventures Ashore range in length from 12 hours to four nights and encompass a broad range of once-in-a-lifetime activities. Participants can tour Chile's volcanoes amongst Magellanic penguins on a "Grand Patagonia Overland" journey, or enjoy an exclusive Imperial dinner prepared by Chairman Mao's chef in China's Forbidden City as part of the "Beijing and The Great Wall" package. These and other enlightening Adventures Ashore tours are available in conjunction with Regent's two World Cruises for 2009, with per person, double occupancy rates ranging from $310 to $5,450.
Regent's "Grand Circumnavigation" aboard 700-guest, all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Voyager departs January 12 from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, calling at ports in Australia, New Zealand, China, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey through May 2009. Regent's 2009 "Ring of Fire" journey aboard 700-guest, all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Mariner departs January 26 from Fort Lauderdale to call at ports in Argentina, Chile, Australia, Singapore, China, Japan, Alaska and Canada through May 2009.
"Our 2009 "Concierge Collection" Adventures Ashore offer our guests incredible opportunities to extend their exploration of intriguing destinations and cultural capitals on every continent," said Darius Mehta, Director of Land Programs. These eye-opening programs provide Regent guests with more opportunities to enjoy memorable travel experiences by venturing inland and off the beaten track."
Adventures Ashore aboard Seven Seas Voyager's 2009 Grand Circumnavigation cruise include:
- "Romantic Escape at Moorea Pearl" (January 22 to 23) - Guests enjoy an intimate journey to Moorea, one of the most idyllic Polynesian islands considered the inspiration for James Michener's novel Bali Hai. Guests can enjoy an intimate dinner for two and spend the night in an above-water bungalow at the distinctive Pearl Resort.
- Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat & Indian Pacific Train (February 17 to 21) - Explore Australia in a unique new way during tours of Adelaide and Kangaroo Island, followed by a scenic journey by rail to Perth. Along the way, guests will cross the Nullarbor Plain, visit the Gold Rush town of Kalgoorie and observe the continent's diverse natural beauty. Upon arrival in Perth, guests will take a tour of the twin cities, Perth and Fremantle, before being transferred to the ship.
- "Imperial to Colonial and Mai Chau's Hill Tribes" (March 13 to 16) - This eye-opening look into the history, culture, architecture and people of Vietnam features an insider's tour of the intricate maze of markets - and ancient legends of the lake - in Hanoi's Old Quarter.
- "Delhi, Agra, Jaipur' (March 23 to 26) - Guests explore the palaces, temples, forts and monuments linking contemporary India with past rulers, empires and dynasties. The program features four days of exploration in India, including visits to the Buddhist temples of Colombo, Jaipur's Pink City, Lutyen's Delhi and the Taj Mahal at both sunset and sunrise.
Adventures Ashore aboard Seven Seas Mariner's 2009 Ring of Fire cruise include:
- "Darwin, Bamurru Safari Camp and Kakadu" (March 30 to April 3) - Australia's colorful past and rugged natural beauty is on display during this scenic sojourn through the Northern Territory. The tour begins with a flight to Darwin, where guests will visit the Botanical Garden, Museum of the Arts & Natural Sciences and other historic sites of the city. Guests will then fly to Bathurst Island, one of the Tiwi Islands, to meet the Tiwi People, and delve into their centuries-old culture and history. The next day, guests will proceed to Swim Creek Station for a two-night stay at Bamurru Plains Safari Camp. During the stay, guests can participate in a wide range of activities, and explore the thriving ecosystem, pristine coastal floodplains and wetlands abundant with diverse bird, reptile and wildlife species. The tour concludes with a cruise on the lovely Yellow Waters Lagoon at Kakadu National Park, a World Heritage site, followed by a chartered flight featuring spectacular views over the park en route to Darwin and the ship.
- "Special Access Terracotta Warriors and Li River Cruise" (April 24 to 27) - This thrilling excursion features exclusive access to a second level of Xian, China's spectacular Terra Cotta Warriors, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a heavily restricted archeological discovery.
- "Panda Encounter - A Day at the Panda Research Base" (April 29 to May 1) - Here, travelers can share a hug - and a memorable photo op - with a giant panda at the Giant Panda Breeding Research base in Chengdu City, the capital of China's SW Sichuan province.
- "Nara, Kyoto and Traditional Japanese Inn" (May 6 to 7) - Japan's distinct culture, history and traditions are on display as guests journey to the historic cities of Nara and Kyoto. In Nara, guests will visit the 8th century Todaiji Temple, Hall of the Great Buddha and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Travelers will also have the rare opportunity to experience the customs and traditions of daily Japanese life through an overnight stay in a traditional Japanese hotel, or roykan.
All segments of the Regent's 2009 World Cruises are now open for sale. Further details on these programs can be found on Regent's website, www.rssc.com.
About Regent Seven Seas Cruises - Regent Seven Seas CruisesSM (RSSC) is part of Carlson Companies, a global leader in the hotel, restaurant, business and leisure travel, and marketing industries. The Regent brand encompasses luxury hotels, resorts, residences and cruises throughout the world, offering discerning travelers The Regent ExperienceSM with unique and personalized luxury. 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 third consecutive year as part of the 2006 Travel Weekly Awards and readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine voted RSSC "World's Best Small-Ship Cruise Line" in 2007.
