Reliving an Explorer’s Dream

In 1519, Ferdinand Magellan sailed the ocean with the intent to fully circle the globe in his ship. Now, just short of 500 years later, Cruise West is planning to follow in his wake with what is likely the longest cruise since that time.

On March 6, 2010, the 120 passenger Spirit of the Oceanus will depart on the Voyage of the Great Explorers from Singapore. Retracing the actions bravely exhibited by such great explorers as Magellan, Christopher Columbus, Marco Polo and Leif Erickson, Cruise West is offering the trip as a complete world cruise lasting close to one year or as segmented trips in durations of 9 to 18 days.

During the 335 day world trip, guests onboard the Spirit of the Oceanus have the opportunity to visit 242 ports, 59 countries, sail across14 oceans and seas and traverse 3 canals along the way. Those who are able to invest 335 days for a world vacation will also need to invest almost a quarter of a million dollars; the approximate cost of the entire trip.

While other cruise lines have offered world trips that actually sail only half the way around, this planned voyage will be traveling from Singapore in March, 2010 and returning to Singapore in February, 2011; a true round the world journey.

During the journey, numerous speakers and lecturers will offer information on the routes that were undertaken by the great groundbreaker explorers of our past. With the ability to maneuver the small ship into ports that larger cruise ships are unable to approach, guests will have unique opportunities to visit areas not able to be offered with larger cruise lines.

The Spirit of the Oceanus is the largest ship in Cruise West’s small ship fleet. Those who have an adventurous spirit and enjoy the intimacy of a small ship for moderate to long durations will find this exciting chance to be an explorer of the high seas to be the ultimate of vacations.