The Real World Cruise: Cruise West Announces 335-Day Circumnavigation

When Cruise West says it is offering a world cruise, they really mean it. The exploration-driven cruise line has announced the "Voyages of the Great Explorers," a 335-day circumnavigation of the world. The cruise departs Singapore on March 6, 2010, on the 120-guest, all-suite Spirit of Oceanus, which will sail westward returning to Singapore on February 3, 2011.

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The voyage is a collection of 24 individual voyages, each ranging from nine to 18 nights. "No other cruise line offers a journey as long or as varied as Voyages of the Great Explorers," said Richard West, managing director and chairman of Cruise West who will host the inaugural departure from Singapore. "These voyages are designed to visit remarkable destinations; waterways and sites during the best time of the year, and only a small exploration ship can access many of these destinations."

The Voyages of the Great Explorers includes visits to 242 ports of call in 59 countries and 85 UNESCO World Heritage sites while crossing 14 seas and oceans, transiting three canals—Port Suez/Port Said (Suez Canal transit); Corinth Canal/ Corinth (Mycenae/Nafplion); and the Colon/ Panama Canal—as well as a voyage tied to The Famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Scotland's colorful military musical.

The Voyages:
1.    Marco Polo  - Ancient Trade Routes of the Mystic East, March 6 – May 5, 2010.  Four  voyages recall the ancient trade routes from Southeast Asia to the Mediterranean Sea. Itineraries include visits to Thailand and Burma before exploring the Indian sub-continent and Sri Lanka. Then it's on to Iran, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Jordan and Egypt, before concluding in Alexandria.  

2.    Odysseus and the Phoenicians  - Mediterranean Odyssey, May 5 – July 20, 2010. The voyages begin in Alexandria and sail on to destinations in Greece and Turkey while guests also experience Tunis, Algeria, Italy, Sicily, Malta, Spain and Portugal before arriving in Honfleur, France.        

3.    The Viking Sagas, July 20 – September 8, 2010.  Inspired by the heroic exploits of the Vikings, three voyages combine glaciers, capital cities and leisurely days at sea between two continents. Departing Honfleur, France, these itineraries explore Ireland, the Orkney Islands and Scandinavia as well as the cities of Tallinn, St. Petersburg, London and Edinburgh. Then it’s across the Atlantic with stops at Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands before ending in St. John’s, Halifax.  

4.    Christopher Columbus  - The New World, September 8 – October 25, 2010.  Five voyages bring the New World into a new perspective. Depart St. John's, Halifax and cruise along the Atlantic coastline, in the Caribbean and transit the Panama Canal. Extensions are available to the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu.

5.    James Cook - Idylls of the South Pacific, October 25, 2010 – January 19, 2011.  Cruise the South Pacific from Guayaquil to Darwin, in waters Captain Cook once charted. These five voyages feature remote islands with pristine beaches, fabulous snorkeling and fascinating local cultures in Easter Island, Polynesia, New Guinea, the Cook Islands, New ZealandAustralia and , ending in Darwin.  

6.    Ferdinand Magellan - In Search of the Spice Islands, January 19 – February 3, 2011.  The final chapter of the Voyages of the Great Explorers departs from Darwin bound for Singapore.

Prices per voyage start at $4,995 and include a hotel night pre-cruise. Book and pay in full by July 15, 2009 and save up to 35 percent. The entire voyage starts at $233,995 and includes first class airfare.   

Visit www.cruisewest.com