Robert Bateman is one of the world鈥檚 premier wildlife artists, as well as a naturalist and an environmentalist. From his home on Saltspring Island, his work is known the world over, from the Tryon Gallery in London to the Russian State Museum in St. Petersburg. An Order of sa国际传媒 recipient and holder of countless honorary doctorates, he is one of sa国际传媒's greatest living treasures.
This year, Bateman is going on a cruise.
No, the ships will not have 10 restaurants, theatres or nightclubs鈥� actually, during the evening the silence will be deafening.
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society is hosting a trip to explore the West Coast's Great Bear Rainforest on sa国际传媒鈥檚 northern mainland with adventure cruise company Maple Leaf Adventures.
The inaugural nine-day trip will operate June 19-27 this year. Robert Bateman is joining the trip as special crew. According to the Society, guests 鈥渨ill sail on a flotilla of up to three small, Maple Leaf Adventure coastal ships, explore the fjords, rainforest and islands 鈥� while bear viewing and whale watching 鈥� plus visit whale researchers and local villages to trace the area鈥檚 history.鈥�
Says Bateman: 鈥淪o much of the Great Bear Rainforest is pristine, like the world used to be everywhere before modern man changed it. It鈥檚 kind of a Garden of Eden.鈥�
Only eight passengers will be on each boat and be given the opportunity to sail with the man who has been a long-time protector of this area. The trip is being used as a fundraiser for the Society and is priced at $9,995 (plus GST). That鈥檚 all-inclusive, with local flights.
Read more at: www.mapleleafadventures.com/cangeo.
鈥⑩赌⑩赌�
Travel Weekly, one of the best-known trade publications that caters to people who sell cruises, has announced its 2013 Readers Choice Awards. While the travel agents do the voting, they keep in mind what you, their customers, like and dislike on the cruise in deciding how to vote.
Here are some of the winners:
Royal Caribbean needed two hands to haul away its awards, winning in five categories with sister line Celebrity Cruises collecting in three.
Royal took the title for best Overall, best domestic line, best in Caribbean, best in sales and service and Allure of the Seas won the overall individual ship category. Celebrity picked up top honours for best premium cruise line 鈥� for the sixth straight year, best cruise line in Europe and the Celebrity Reflection was the best premium ship.
How is this for a record? Cunard won the luxury ship award with the Queen Mary 2 for the 10th consecutive year. The overall luxury winner was Seabourn.
In a few months, the Alaska fleets will be starting their north-south trips and Princess was the winner for best Alaska line.
Viking River Cruises won the river cruise line category and Uniworld's S.S. Antoinette was the best river cruise ship.
You will find more, including best air, hotels and cities鈥ll part of the cruising milieu at travelweekly.com.
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Phil鈥檚 Pick of the Week
Fly to Tahiti and, 22 days later, you're back in sa国际传媒 having seen a lot of the South Pacific. This is a combo trip, Tahiti to Hawaii and Hawaii to Vancouver. As always, it鈥檚 per person, double occupancy and does not include taxes and fees, and check with your travel agent on possible perks.
April 11, 2014
Tahiti to Vancouver: 22 days
Pacific Princess
Ports: You鈥檙e in Papeete overnight, then on to Moorea, Bora Bora, Hilo, Kona, Maui, Kauai and Honolulu. On the second leg, back to Kauai, Kona and Hilo before crossing the Pacific to Vancouver.
Starting price: $1,899US
See princess.com
