Recommend July 2013 - (Page 14)

⏟ – Karine Bengualid, Marketing Manager, Quark Expeditions Lagoons and Volcanic Isles: Fiji to Tahiti (starting rate, $18,990 pp) will sail from Fiji to Tahiti’s volcanic bluffs. Divers and snorkelers will explore underwater canyons and tunnels formed from lava; visit remote island communities and villages; spot rare and colorful birds and ﬂowers in Fiji’s Garden Island, Taveuni, and the rainforests of Samoa; witness a traditional kava ceremony in Tonga; and sail into Rangiroa’s lagoon in French Polynesia to explore the area’s rich marine world. And you should start looking at these cruises, or any others your clients might be interested in, now because according to Hammelbacher, “guests are booking further out—the booking window has increased to an average of nine months prior to departure.” On board the National Geographic Orion, clients can expect classic Lindblad exploration tools such as kayaks; snorkeling gear; an onboard scuba program that can accommodate up to 24 divers at a time; and a state-of the-art ROV (remote operated vehicle reaching depths up to 1,000 ft.). In addition, like most other Lindblad tours, the expedition team will feature a National Geographic photographer on most departures, and the ship will maintain the accommodations, services and cuisine associated with the Orion brand. 14 july 2013 12-15 CR Expedition.indd 14 JACK S. GROVE | ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS “There are four types of travelers to the Polar regions: ‘Escapist,’ middle-aged exotic experience seekers who prefer vacations to help reconnect with self, and has a need for luxurious accommodations and gourmet food; ‘Learners,’ more mature in age, over 55 years old, who travel to the Poles to connect with nature, want to share experiences with like-minded individuals and are looking for education programs and connecting with ‘experts’; ‘Adventurers,’ younger travelers, 25 to 47 years old, who are still in the work force and are looking for an active adventure and are motivated to see all extremes of the globe; and ‘Checklist,’ mainly over 55 years old and for them visiting the Polar regions is a life goal, these are cultural- and sightseeing-oriented travelers who value their comfort and touches of luxury.” Zegrahm Expeditions take cruisers to destinations off the beaten path. If your clients want more snow than sand in their expedition cruise, the 25-day The Northwest Passage, Iceland and Greenland, new for 2014, has the National Geographic Explorer navigating from Iceland and southern Greenland on this inaugural voyage through the Northwest Passage, discovering its islands, protected waterways, ice-ﬁlled fjords, historic sites, and native communities, while also exploring the wild, rugged western coast of Iceland and its capital, Reykjavik, and the soaring icebergs at the mouth of Greenland’s Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Rates start at $24,990 pp. quark expeditions For over 20 years, Quark Expeditions has specialized in cruises to the planet’s Polar regions. But it can be a tough sell if you don’t know who the target client is, so Karine Bengualid, Quark’s marketing manager, sums it up for you. “There are four types of travelers to the Polar regions: ‘Escapist,’ middle-aged exotic experience seekers who prefer vacations to help reconnect with self, and has a need for luxurious accommodations and gourmet food; ‘Learners,’ more mature in age, over 55 years old, who travel to the Poles to connect with nature, want to share experiences with like-minded individuals and are looking for education programs and connecting with ‘experts’; ‘Adventurers,’ younger travelers, 25 to 47 years old, who are still in the work force and are looking for an active adventure and are motivated to see all extremes of the globe; and ‘Checklist,’ mainly over 55 years old and for them visiting the Polar regions is a life goal, these are cultural- and sightseeing-oriented travelers who value their comfort and touches of luxury,” she says. In 2014, Quark is offering 15 voyages for these travelers with three new Canadian Arctic tours and even a new ship—Quark is returning to the Canadian Arctic for the ﬁrst time since 2010. The three new itineraries—Arctic Quest: Greenland to Churchill; In the Footsteps of Franklin: Greenland and Canada’s High Arctic; and Epic High Arctic: Bafﬁn Island Explorer via Fury and Hecla will be on Quark’s new ship, the Sea Explorer. The 111-passenger, all-suites expedition ship has a hull able to break through thick sheets of ice, and is the sister ship to Quark’s Sea Spirit. The Sea Explorer includes 54 cabins, an all-inclusive beverage package, private facilities, a lecture theater, and carries a ﬂeet of Zodiacs for shore landings. Something worth noting for recommend.com 6/19/13 3:16 PM http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend July 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Eleven Experience
Tour Talk: DuVine Cycling + Adventure
Expedition Cruising: Explore the Unexplored
Eleven Experience's Chalet Pelerin
Brazil Travel Planner
Grand Solmar Land's End Resort & Spa
Guatemala Travel Planner
Latin America Specialist Courses
The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs
5 Ways to Adventure in North America
Swain Tours Shines in the Land Down Under
Seeing African Wonders Through a Viewfinder
Trinidad & Tobago
Soaring to New Heights in Saint Lucia

Recommend July 2013