CruiseWest World Cruise Discounts

October 19, 2009 - Cruise West, the world’s leading provider of small-ship explorations to the most fascinating destinations on earth, is offering unprecedented savings for all 24 individual voyages (ranging from nine- to 19-nights) that combine to form the epic world adventure, Voyages of the Great Explorers. Book and pay in full by December 18, 2009, for maximum value-add savings.

Whether guests are eyeing a trip to Southeast Asia, North Africa, the Mediterranean, Greek isles, East Coast, Australia or the South Pacific, there is tremendous value offered in this landmark year. Guests will save up to $1,550 per person ($3,100 per cabin) and receive FREE round trip international airfare from five select U.S. Cities: San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (ORD), Washington D.C. (IAD or DCA) and New York (JFK) or an air credit of $750 per person by booking and paying in full by December 18, 2009. The free air or air credit is valid for Voyages 1 through 18 of the 24-voyage segments of the Voyages of the Great Explorers.

Additional saving incentives for all 24 voyages (except where noted) include:

· Bring a friend (new booking) and each person receives $500 off the cruise fare

· 50% savings for all children 18 and younger

· Single supplement will be waived on Voyages 1 – 4 in all cabin categories

· Reduced single supplement for Voyages 5 – 24 in Superior, Majestic, Premium and Classic cabin categories

The best value afloat.

With most cruises, guests pay extra for every little thing (and big things) such as soft drinks, taxes and port charges, and shore excursions. But with Cruise West, the fare includes everything except alcohol. There are no surprise charges that can easily add up to double the fare or more.

Cruise West includes a shore excursion in every port, and in addition, each of the 24 voyages includes one ‘Ultimate Explorers Experience.’ A sampling includes tickets to Edinburgh’s world-famous Military Tattoo, the chance to participate in the special novitiate ceremony and feeding of the monks in Rangoon, or an overnight stay in Sydney Harbor during its magnificent New Year’s Eve celebration and fireworks display. These are once-in-a-lifetime events that only a small number of travelers will ever see.

This is the world that most people have never seen.

Each of the 24 journeys of the Voyages of the Great Explorers takes guests to the “must see” sights—Pompeii, Petra, Florence, Luxor, the Hermitage, the Guggenheim. Board a Zodiac bound for an uninhabited island in the Maldives or a remote village in the Tuomotus. Travel the narrow Corinth Canal and Kiel Canal where big ships can’t go. Visit tiny islands in the South Pacific like Pitcairn Island of HMS Bounty fame, and Palmerston Island, where all 50 residents are descended from one Englishman. In fact, these voyages will visit 85 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Further, engaging presentations by Smithsonian Journeys guest lecturers and renowned experts on each region’s culture, history and current events will bring each itinerary to life.

All voyages take place on the intimate 120-guest, all-suite Spirit of Oceanus. Prices start at $4,995 per person before savings and include a pre-cruise hotel night.

_____________________


NOTE: For Information on Cruises From New York Check out www.NYCruiseInfo.com.
For Information on Cruises From Baltimore, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Boston, Quebec, Montreal and the Great Lakes - Check out www.NortheastCruiseGuide.com.

CruiseWest Announce Baltic, Norwegian Fjords and North Atlantic Cruises

October 27, 2009- Inspired by the intrepid journeys and legendary explorations of Leif Eriksson to the New World, three voyages mark the third chapter of small-ship exploration line Cruise West’s epic world adventure, Voyages of the Great Explorers. Starting from Honfleur, France and ending in St. John’s, Newfoundland, guests will visit the United Kingdom and Scandinavia -- with excursions to multiple UNESCO World heritage sites -- before charting a course across the North Atlantic.

Guests will save up to $1,550 per person ($3,100 per cabin) and receive FREE round trip international airfare from five select U.S. Cities: San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (ORD), Washington D.C. (IAD) and New York (JFK) or an air credit of $750 per person by booking and paying in full by December 18, 2009.

In addition to an included excursion at every port, each of the three voyages will be enhanced by an extraordinary ‘Ultimate Explorers Experience’ (UEE), designed to bring guests into direct personal contact with fascinating peoples, cultures and natural wonders. Engaging presentations by notable experts on the region’s culture, history and current events will bring each region to life.

The Viking’s adventures come alive in three distinct voyages

Cruise West’s own “Modern Day Explorer” Captain Reidulf Maalen, will take the helm of the Spirit of Oceanus for all three voyages. He brings not only a lifetime of maritime experience, but also a warm level of hospitality that has made him one of the most sought out captains in the industry.

Voyage 11: Honfleur to Oslo, encompasses Ireland, Scotland, and Scandinavia. The County of Wicklow -“the Garden of Ireland” -- brings guests up close to domed granite mountains, deep glens and wooded valleys. Scotland’s Stornoway, with ancient standing stones, and the Orkney Islands, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and birders’ paradise, reflects Scotland’s wild beauty. Exploring Norway’s spectacular fjords and fishing villages includes another UNESCO World Heritage Site – Saltstraumen, just above the Arctic Circle. In addition, there are ample opportunities to observe the abundant wild life including large colonies of sea birds and pods of Orca whales. In Bergen, guests are treated to a private recital of composer Edvard Grieg’s music in the Troldsalen Concert Hall.

An excursion of Magerøy Island and The North Cape brings guests up close to life in the north (UEE). Guests will travel along the Skipsfjord to the fishing village of Kammøyvaer, populated by 100 hardy souls, before a trip to see some of the Sami people's 4,000-reindeer herd that roams freely here during the summer months. Then, it’s onto Skarsvåg, the northernmost fishing village in the world, to shop for knitwear, Christmas decorations and more at the North Cape Christmas and Winter House.

The 19-night voyage departs July 19, 2010; prices start at $15,195 per person before savings. Add-on: pre-cruise three-night tour of Paris.

Voyage 12: Oslo to London focuses on history, art and architecture of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia and Russia. Visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites include the Swedish walled city of Visby; the Estonian city of Tallinn -- one of the finest medieval old towns in all of Northern Europe -- and the opulence of St. Petersburg. Notable excursions include a tour of Denmark’s small villages -- including Gudhjem, a vividly scenic fishing village -- en route to majestic Hammershus Castle Ruin.

Excursion highlights include a visit to St. Petersburg's Hermitage Museum (UEE). Founded by Catherine the Great in 1764, it's one of the largest and oldest museums in the world with collections comprising nearly three million works. Then a short bus ride to the Peter and Paul Fortress, built by Peter the Great in 1703 with a final stop at the Church on the Spilled Blood.

The 15-night voyage departs Aug. 6, 2010; prices start at $12,495 per person before savings. Add-on: three-night pre- or post-cruise The Best of England from London.

Professor Ron Wixman, a specialist in world cultural and political geography and well versed in the societies of Europe and the former USSR, joins both Voyages 11 and 12. His expertise on the peoples and cultures of Northern Europe is extensive, and his informative lectures will provide both a historical and contemporary context for Norway.

Guest lecturer David Perry, an authority on maritime history and an avid collector of maritime literature, artifacts and stories joins Capt. Maalen on Voyage 13: London to St. John’s. Perry’s expertise will prove invaluable on this transatlantic voyage that includes two continents and countless unforgettable stops along the routes that the Vikings charted more than a thousand years ago.

Guests explore the Royal London and Buckingham Palace, before heading for Scotland, Iceland and Greenland. Among the excursions: Iceland’s thermal and geological wonders, including Reykjavik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and a visit to the Greenland settlement founded by Erik the Red. The voyage culminates with arrival to L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland -- site of Leif Eriksson’s Vinland and the first European settlement in North America, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A highlight of the voyage is a private reception aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, hosted by Rear Admiral Sir Robert Woodard, KCVO, DL, the last serving Admiral, followed by a stirring performance of the annual Military Tattoo, one of Scotland's proudest cultural events (UEE). First staged in 1950, this dramatic spectacle in Edinburgh Castle combines the traditional sounds of the bagpipes and drums with military marching drills.

The 19-night voyage departs Aug. 20, 2010; prices start at $12,795 per person before savings. Add-on: three-night pre- or post-cruise The Best of England, from London.

Book by Voyage or Multiple Segments
The Voyages of the Great Explorers – a cruise industry first -- is a collection of 24 individual voyages (which can all be booked separately) that combine to form a 335-day circumnavigation of the world along the major routes inspired by history’s great ocean explorers. Beginning March 5, 2010, on board Cruise West’s flagship, the 120-guest, all-suite Spirit of Oceanus, the world voyage will sail ever westward, returning to Singapore on February 3, 2011.

Prices per voyage include a pre-cruise hotel night, all excursions and transfers and a tour of the embarkation city. Guests who book more than one voyage will save an additional five percent.

--------------------------

NOTE: For Information on Cruises From New York Check out www.NYCruiseInfo.com.
For Information on Cruises From Baltimore, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Boston, Quebec, Montreal and the Great Lakes - Check out www.NortheastCruiseGuide.com

CruiseWest Announces 2010 Itineraries

August 3, 2009 - Explore new destinations and new itineraries with Cruise West (www.cruisewest.com), the world’s leading provider of small-ship explorations. The line has announced 38 worldwide itineraries, of which 29 are new for the 2010 season, with stops in 75 countries and more than 300 ports worldwide. The voyages will include 175 departures throughout all seven continents with visits to 92 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Cruise West’s small ships (with capacities ranging from 78-148 guests) allow for the company’s trademark “up-close, casual and personal” style of cruising. Cruises range from four nights/five-days to 19-nights/20-days, and start from $1,199 per person.

“Two thousand ten is truly an exciting year for Cruise West given all the new itineraries that we have very thoughtfully designed that include numerous new destinations,” said President & CEO Dietmar Wertanzl. “We’re making history by introducing an industry first – the Voyages of the Great Explorers, an epic worldwide cruise offered in 24 distinct voyages, each of which can be purchased separately. This exciting itinerary takes full advantage of what the Spirit of Oceanus does best, which is to really explore small ports and narrow waterways where few ships go. We get you closer to the really extraordinary sites.”

NEW 2010 ITINERARIES
· Voyages of the Great Explorers will circumnavigate the world in 335-days traveling westward from Singapore on March 5, 2010. The kick-off inaugural cruise is also a Chairman’s cruise hosted by Dick & Leslie West. Offered in 24 distinct voyages, true adventurers will be wowed by the included “Ultimate Explorers Experiences,” that take shore excursions to a new level. The action takes place on the 120-guest all-suite Spirit of Oceanus. Voyages may be purchased individually, in multiple segments, or all together as an entire circumnavigation of the globe.

· The six-night Cocos Island adventure onboard the 100-guest Pacific Explorer offers a rare visit to the tropical UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its large population of hammerhead sharks, 90 species of birds and outstanding kayaking and snorkeling opportunities. Offered January 24 and April 12, 2010, the cruise can be combined with the January 15, January 30 or April 3, 2010, departures of the popular Between Two Seas cruise that includes a transit through the Panama Canal.

· The 18-night ultimate Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands itinerary departs February 7, 2010, during the prime season for visiting Antarctica, and includes the Orkney Islands, a panoply of penguins including King and Rockhopper, and a rare visit to the Palmer Research Station. The 114-guest Corinthian II, sister ship to the Spirit of Oceanus, offers gracious accommodations and welcoming comforts.

· A new seven-night Alaska’s Inside Passage itinerary highlights more wilderness and Zodiac experiences and authentic ports of call including Sitka, Wrangell and Petersburg. Twenty-five weeklong departures, roundtrip Juneau, will operate May - August 2010 onboard the 138-guest Spirit of Yorktown and the 102-guest Spirit of Endeavour.

· Two new cruise itineraries join the European river line-up. Venture down the Danube and Rhine Rivers on October 3, 2010, traveling for 10-nights from Vienna to Cologne; and, departing on October 13, 2010, cruise from Cologne to Basel for 10-nights on the Rhine, Main & Mosel Rivers. All European river cruises take place on the elegant 148-guest Amadeus Diamond.

2010 ITINERARY UPDATES
· Alaska: The four-night Glaciers of Prince William Sound and Glacier Bay Highlights itineraries that include one port call will become the standard; the three-night cruises have been discontinued. The 10-night Gold Rush Inside Passage itinerary has been revised to include Misty Fiords and the authentic Tsimshian community, Metlakatla.

· Galapagos: During the 2010 season, the nine-night itinerary will journey throughout Darwin’s inspiring islands on the elegant, 100-guest Galápagos Explorer II, sister ship to Cruise West’s Spirit of Oceanus.

· Columbia & Snake Rivers: The seven-night River Voyage of Discovery itinerary will include a stop at historic Pendleton, Oregon, along the route used by the Oregon Trail Pioneers. The cruise will operate April through October on the Spirit of ‘98 and also the Spirit of Discovery in the fall only.

Favorite itineraries including the seven-night Sea of Cortes Whales & Wildlife operating weekly December-March; the nine-night Panama & Costa Rica’s Between Two Seas operating November-April; the seven-night San Juan Islands and British Columbia Pacific Northwest Coastal Escape operating spring and fall; and the 11-night Danube River Bucharest to Vienna departing September 23, 2010 return status quo. As with all Cruise West voyages, through the lines’ Spirit of Distinction program there is an included excursion at every port, engaging topical lectures designed to entertain and educate and an enhanced array of delicious food and wine choices.

Smithsonian Journey Experts on CruiseWest Spirit of Oceanus World Cruise

CRUISE WEST AND SMITHSONIAN ENTERPRISES PARTNER
ON VOYAGES OF THE GREAT EXPLORERS


Epic World Cruise Will Feature Smithsonian Journeys Experts
On 10 Select Itineraries and a Cruise Sweepstakes

The Voyages of the Great Explorers – the Cruise West yearlong world cruise that launches in March 2010 -- will feature lectures and presentations by noted travel experts from the Smithsonian Journeys on select segments of the epic world voyage.

Cruise West and Smithsonian Journeys will develop the lecture series for 10 of the 24 distinct itineraries of the yearlong cruise highlighting such exotic locales as Singapore, Rome, Alexandria, Istanbul and Mumbai. Smithsonian Journeys experts will lead in-depth discussions and presentations on each region’s rich history and culture.

The Voyages of the Great Explorers is a collection of distinct voyages that reflects the exploits of the legendary seafarers. Booked separately or as a complete journey, each segment offers historical insights into the sea commanders who first made history along the same routes.

“A world journey deserves world-class lecturers and guides,” said Dietmar Wertanzl, president and CEO of Cruise West. “We recognized early on that a lecture series provided by Smithsonian Journeys would be a perfect complement for our adventure, given their long experience with onboard enrichment augmented by speakers recognized as authorities on our destinations. Working together, we can better achieve our mutual objective -- to educate people in the arts, history, sciences and culture through rich travel experiences.”

Smithsonian Journeys, the Smithsonian Institution’s educational travel program, feature top experts who are passionate about their subjects and delight in sharing their knowledge in lively, informative lectures and informal discussions.

Specific voyages featuring the Smithsonian Journeys’ Lecture Series include:

-- Voyage 2, 16-nights Song of India Chennai to Mumbai departing March 20, 2010, starts at $9,995

-- Voyage 4, 18-nights Pharaohs and Prophets Muscat to Alexandria departing April 17, 2010, starts at $10,695

-- Voyage 5, 14-nights Isles of the Turquoise Coast Alexandria to Istanbul departing May 4, 2010, starts at $11,595

-- Voyage 6, 14-nights Echoes of Odysseus Istanbul to Venice departing May 17, 2010, starts at $11,595

-- Voyage 7, 12-nights Pax Romana Venice to Valetta departing May 30, 2010, starts at $9,995

-- Voyage 8, 13-nights, Romans & Carthaginians Valletta to Rome departing June 10, 2010, starts at $9,595

-- Voyage 18, 9-nights Sojourn to Easter Island Guayaquil to Easter Island departing October 24, 2010, starts at $3,895

-- Voyage 22, 17-nights Discovering the Maori Coast Auckland to Sydney, December 15, 2010, starts at $14,395 (also a holiday cruise)

-- Voyage 23, 19-nights, The Land Down Under Sydney to Darwin December 31, 2010, starts at $10,695

-- Voyage 24, 16-nights Dragons and Spice Darwin to Singapore, January 18, 2011, starts at $10,995

Prices per voyage include a hotel night pre-cruise. For maximum savings, guests can book and pay in full by October 15 and save up to 21 percent. Guests who book more than one voyage save an additional five percent. For guests who book the entire voyage starting at $230,295, Cruise West will include first class airfare.

Other features of the partnership include select books and DVD’s provided by Smithsonian Enterprises and a sweepstakes for a cabin for two on the Voyage Three, 14-nights Treasures of Persia traveling from Mumbai to Muscat, April 4-18, 2010. Sweepstakes information is listed in the September issue of Smithsonian magazine and online at www.Smithsonianmag.com/winatrip

Departing Singapore on March 5, 2010, Cruise West’s flagship -- the 120-guest, all-suite Spirit of Oceanus -- will sail westward to return to Singapore on February 3, 2011.

CruiseWest Execs Sail on World Cruise.

August 17, 2009 - Underscoring the significance of Cruise West’s series of journeys that combine to form the worldwide exploration concept, Voyages of the Great Explorers, the West family, long recognized as pioneers in small-ship explorations, will host Voyages 1, 10 and 24. In addition, 25-year cruise veteran, President and CEO Dietmar Wertanzl will lead Voyage 13. Guests can anticipate notable hosted special events in addition to the already included excursions. Guests can save as much as 32 percent by booking and paying in full by August 28, 2009, or save up to 21 percent from August 29 - October 15, 2009.

Dick West -- chairman and managing director of Cruise West, and son of Chuck West, Alaska tourism legend and the founder of the Seattle-based cruise line -- and his family will lead three segments of The Voyages of the Great Explorers, including the inaugural 16-night voyage Lands of the Lotus from Singapore to Chennai that kicks off the worldwide adventure on March 5, 2010. The West’s family’s presence will mark a memorable start to the voyage including a themed dinner of Singaporean & Asian cuisine at the world famous and historical Raffles Hotel complete with transportation via rickshaw. In addition, esteemed Captain Reidulf Maalen will be at the helm of this voyage. The voyage also includes a two-day Ultimate Explorers Experience in Rangoon complete with a visit to the Shwedagon Temple and the Kalaywa Monastery.

The Voyages of the Great Explorers -- a collection of 24 individual voyages that combine to form a 335-day circumnavigation of the world along the major routes inspired by history’s great ocean explorers -- begins March 5, 2010, on board Cruise West’s flagship, the 120-guest, all-suite Spirit of Oceanus. Sailing ever westward, this world voyage returns to Singapore on February 3, 2011.

Supporting Cruise West’s emphasis on casual and personal cruising, West and his family will also host Voyage 10 Exploring Iberia and Gaul, which sails on July 4, 2010, from Barcelona to Honfleur in 16-nights. West will host two additional ultimate explorer special excursions, Catalonian Tapas & Flamenco in Barcelona, and a private visit to Château Kirwan in Bordeaux that includes a wine aperitif tasting and an authentic French dinner accompanied by exceptional wines.

On the final 16-night segment, Voyage 24 Dragons and Spice, sailing from Darwin to Singapore on January 18, 2011, West will also host special functions that will be announced soon. The exciting itinerary includes a visit to the spectacular temple complex of Borobudur and Komodo Island.

In addition, Dietmar Wertanzl, president and CEO of Cruise West, will lead the 13-night Voyage 16 In Search of El Dorado, which sails from Palm Beach to Panama via the 50-mile long Panama Canal on October 13, 2010. Guests can anticipate a unique and memorable event hosted by Wertanzl including a pre-cruise party at the historic Brazilian Court Hotel in Palm Beach.

Cruise West explorers can purchase individual voyages, a set of multiple voyages, any of the six Chapters, or the full circumnavigation. Prices per voyage start at $4,995 and include a pre-cruise hotel night. For maximum savings of 32 percent book and pay in full by August 28; or save up to 21 percent by paying in full from August 29-October 15, 2009. Guests who book more than one voyage will save an additional five percent.

CruiseWest Releases Revised 2010 Itineraries

June 25, 2009 -Drawing on its 63 years of tour/cruise experience in Alaska, Cruise West, is introducing a new seven-night Alaska’s Inside Passage itinerary that highlights more wilderness and Zodiac experiences and authentic ports of call. Four-night departures will be offered on Glacier Bay Highlights and Glaciers of Prince William Sound voyages, and the popular 10-night Gold Rush Inside Passage returns with a new port of call. The deployment changes reflect the Spirit of ’98 staying on the Columbia River and the Spirit of Oceanus venturing on a new epic world voyage in 2010.

“Our redeployment is in response to demand and current market conditions, while maintaining the integrity and heritage of our core Alaska products,” said President and CEO Dietmar Wertanzl. “In addition, the new Inside Passage itinerary really reflects our core values as a company, which is to get off the beaten path and explore! The best attributes of both our Whales & Wilderness and classic Alaska’s Inside Passage itineraries were combined for the new streamlined itinerary. The included ports of call and waterways are a natural for our small vessels and this itinerary also offers further exploration by small craft excursions.”

The deployment modifications include 25 departures of the new seven-night Alaska’s Inside Passage cruise roundtrip from Juneau, which includes a winning combination of authentic ports, an included shore excursion in every port and awe-inspiring wilderness cruising. Guests spend one full day exploring both historical Sitka where a choice of additional shore excursions awaits, and World Heritage Site Glacier Bay National Park.

The company enhances the itinerary with Wrangell, a hidden jewel that offers a plethora of high action optional excursions including bear viewing from the Anan Bear Observatory and taking a jet boat up the Stikine River. The lovely fishing village of Petersburg features a performance by the Leikarring Dancers, beautiful walks, and the charm of the local people and their rich Norwegian heritage. Always a favorite is scenic cruising in Frederick Sound and Stephens Passage, considered the most prolific whale watching waters in Alaska.

Also featured are two additional days spent searching for sea and wildlife, including opportunities to explore around Lake Eva, Red Bluff or Security Bay by Zodiac inflatable craft, and a full day at Icy Strait and the Inian Islands. The action takes place on the 138-guest Spirit of Yorktown and 102-guest Spirit of Endeavour. Prices start at $4,399, per person double occupancy.

Further, the 84-guest Spirit of Discovery will operate 24 departures of the four-night Glacier Bay Highlights itinerary, roundtrip from Juneau. This cruise offers two nights in Glacier Bay National Park, with a stop at Bartlett Cove for a special presentation and an opportunity to take a nature walk, and a full day of adventures at Haines and Skagway. Prices start at $1,599 per person, double occupancy. Pre and post night hotel packages are available to build in time for "Cruise West crafted" excursions to enhance your experience.

The 78-guest Spirit of Columbia will operate 19 departures of the four-night Glaciers of Prince William Sound itinerary, roundtrip from Anchorage. One fifth of the state’s tide water glaciers are located in Prince William Sound and this is nature cruising at its finest. The glaciers and scenery are sure to stun even the most seasoned traveler. The small fishing village of Cordova, known for its prized Copper River salmon and inaccessible by highway, is a featured port stop offering adventure activities including kayaking, hiking and river rafting. Prices start at $1,199 per person, double occupancy.

Cruise West’s popular 10-day Gold Rush Inside Passage itinerary has been revised to include Misty Fiords and the authentic Tsimshian community, Metlakatla. Ten departures will cruise between Seattle and Juneau at the beginning and end of the season on all four ships. Port calls include traditional favorites and many jewels: San Juan Islands; scenic sea and wildlife cruising in the Strait of Georgia, Frederick Sound, Tracy Arm and Sergius Narrows; the Norwegian fishing village of Petersburg, Sitka, Skagway and Glacier Bay National Park. This cruise offers exceptional value with prices starting at $3,599 per person, double occupancy.

Cruise West is the only cruise line that provides a land tour extension featuring a 3-night stay at the six million acre Denali National Park and Preserve, included in all standard land tours. Guests have more time to explore the park and enjoy included exclusive lectures by naturalists from the Denali Education Center and Alaska Geographic. For guests seeking an even more in-depth and active Denali adventure before their cruise, the company offers a more exclusive and intimate experience at two interior park lodges: Kantishna Roadhouse or North Face Lodge.

As always, Cruise West includes a shore excursion in every port and offers numerous optional excursions to further personalize the guest experience. For maximum value, book and pay in full by August 14, 2009, and save up to $700 per person.

CruiseWest Offers Epic Year-Long World Cruise.

~Ground Breaking Journey Will Visit 242 Ports, 59 Countries on 24 Voyages~

Seattle, WA – Marco Polo; Odysseus; Leif Eriksson; Christopher Columbus; James Cook; Ferdinand Magellan -- history’s great sea explorers have inspired an epic global voyage destined to become the most memorable cruise of a lifetime.

These legendary adventurers whose travels shaped much of the known and the new world set the theme for Cruise West’s Voyages of the Great Explorers -- a 335-day circumnavigation of the world. Departing Singapore on March 6, 2010, Cruise West’s flagship, the 120-guest, all-suite Spirit of Oceanus will sail westward, following the sun, to return to Singapore on February 3, 2011.

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." St. Augustine’s words will come to life on the worldwide itinerary of the Voyages of the Great Explorers. Following the major routes inspired by history’s great ocean explorers, this new world voyage is a collection of 24 individual voyages within six themed "chapters" comprising one awe inspiring "book" that reflects the exploits of the legendary seafarers. Each distinct voyage, ranging from nine to 18 nights, will offer historical insights into the sea commanders who first made history along the same routes.

Drawing from its 63 years of tour and cruise experience, Cruise West promises one-of-a-kind voyages that will appeal to the history buff as well as the bold seafarer; traveling to places and sites that many people have only dreamed to venture.

"No other cruise line – big or small -- 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. "A true explorer knows that smaller is better. 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. Our guests also appreciate the casual but gracious environment that the Spirit of Oceanus provides."

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 spectacular.

Further exploration by Zodiacs and included "Ultimate Explorer " experiences will bring guests even closer to spectacular natural and historical wonders. A hallmark of the Cruise West experience is engaging and thought-provoking presentations aboard every sailing. These cruises will boast renowned guest lecturers, local experts and onboard Exploration Leaders who will expand upon the significance of the cultural and historical highlights as well as the explorers who left their mark.

More information about these voyages can be found online at www.cruisewest.com.