BACK TO THE BOREAL

I was writing about the new ship to visit Antarctica when I felt compelled to write about my former country of Peru. The situation is quite dire there and the government has now stepped in to offer some amazing deals for people still wanting to go. You can get approximately 50% off of everything from hotels to museums to guided tours....everything....except of course the famed ruins of Machu Picchu...which is closed until further notice.

So if you would like to combine a fantastic trip...why not visit Lima for the excellent cuisine and then go to Cuzco for a visit to the area's indigenous background....and then fly to the nearest port to board the MV Le Boreal and sail to Antarctica!

I know you are saying what a weird combination, but I can't tell you how many cruise ships are now circumnavigating South America visiting everything from Carnival in Brazil to tango dancing in Buenos Aires then the famed islands of South Georgia off the coast of Argentine Patagonia and then to Antarctica before returning to suburban Santiago, Chile. That in itself is a wild mix!

So what better to see the wonderful sights of South America by combining Peru and Antarctica as well?

In the words of the tour company Abercrombie & Kent;, "Follow in the footsteps of one of the greatest adventurers of all time: Sir Ernest Shackleton, who hiked across South Georgia Island to reach civilization—and thus saved the Endurance crew. From your base aboard Abercrombie & Kent’s sleek new expedition ship, Le Boreal, explore rocky peaks covered with glaciers to reach sites such as the abandoned whaling station at Grytviken, site of Shackleton’s final resting place. Join renowned scientists on a journey to the last frontier with panoramic views of the magnificent scenery and wildlife from your private balcony. South Georgia adds an unforgettable dimension to an Antarctic adventure: the stately king penguin, found nowhere else. In the Falklands, there is time for leisurely hiking to penguin rookeries and other unspoiled wildlife habitats, and a chance to stroll through the village streets to see how people live “at the ends of the earth.”

I think one of the most exciting things about Le Boreal is that it is one of the few ships sailing to the Antarctic that has a "kids" program. That in itself is amazing as this type cruise seems to cater to an older clientele. But A & K (as they are known in the trade) has bridged this gap by inviting the younger set on board with their own naturalists covering such topics as ornithology, marine biology, history and geology. Pretty cool stuff (no pun intended) for anyone let alone the kids.
Young Explorers are invited to participate in workshops created just for them, such as Marine Mammal Identification, Squid Biology (featuring squid dissection-yummy!), Charting the Ship’s Course, Fish of the Southern Ocean (including fish printing), Drawing Penguins, Nature Interpretation through Art and Plankton Lab.

Can I be a kid again, please? There is a special "Family Departure" Dec 17, 2010.


The ship itself is an "all-balcony" expedition ship with the company trying to bridge the gap between the word adventure and deluxe. This ship even has elevators!
It also has two dining rooms and world class cuisine (which you usually don't get on an expedition type ship).

Abercrombie & Kent has managed to bridge that gap in their tented programs in Africa as well as other off beat areas of the world and I well imagine that they will be able to accomplish the same here with the new MV Boreal. I hope to be on the 1st sailing in December of this year! What about you?