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Attivo escapes: in the footsteps of legends
Wherever your wanderlust takes you, there’s nothing like arriving by sea to fully appreciate the voyages that shaped our heritage. Nicole Carmichael explores some of the famous historical routes to enjoy on a luxury cruise.
There’s something special about historical voyages. The mystique of the Spice Route, its riot of colour and frenetic rhythm… the plump lushness of the Amazon rainforest and Galápagos Islands, teeming with implausibly weird and wonderful wildlife… the unyielding landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctic…It’s the stuff of legends – the subject of natural history books and school geography lessons; the kind of places and adventures we never dreamed we could experience ourselves.
Except now we can. Expedition is the buzzword of modern-day cruising, eschewing tired tourist routes and offering new sensory experiences. ‘The new focus on luxury expedition ships means that it is possible to travel further afield and off the beaten track, in the footsteps of the great explorers,’ says leading travel expert Edwina Lonsdale, Managing Director of Mundy Adventures. ‘Nimble far-reaching ships are able to follow in the footsteps of history’s great pioneers and appeal to clients who would never have considered a conventional cruise but are looking to explore the planet in a thoughtful and unforgettable way.’
The world is your very reachable oyster when it comes to cruising. It’s just a matter of which cruise company to select. And we know much Attivo clients value travel companies that go above and beyond expectations, pushing the boat out (pardon the pun) with exceptional service and extraordinary itineraries. Here’s a selection of the historical routes that are finding new fans with the modern cruiser.
The Last Frontier
Scott and Shackleton’s Antarctic quest
In terms of unchartered waters, it doesn’t get more remote than Antarctica – the draw for Victorian explorers Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton, two of history’s most famous naval explorers, who were both determined to reach the South Pole first. Sailing from New Zealand on Ponant’s sleek Le Soléal, you’ll follow Scott and Shackleton’s Antarctic – Ross Sea Expedition to Campbell Island, Macquarie Island and the Snares Islands, to witness spectacular wildlife and dramatic fauna. You’ll also be in incredible company. Jonathan Shackleton, Ernest’s cousin, will be on board as a lecturer and guide.
Departing 16 February 2025, Ponant’s adventure includes 21 nights onboard. Fares start from £15,260pp, based on two people sharing a Superior Stateroom. Price includes all meals, drinks, a choice of shore excursions, international flights, one-night pre-cruise hotel stay in Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island and all overseas transfers.
Fantastic Journey
Literature’s celebrated voyage of discovery
The word odyssey is synonymous with epic journeys, inspired by Homer’s hero Odysseus and his return home to Ithaca in Greece from the Trojan War. Along his 10-year journey, Odysseus, the original Greek island hopper, encountered umpteen challenges including the Cyclops, Circe and the deadly Sirens.
Although the distance from Troy (located in present-day Hisarlik in Turkey) to the Ionian islands of Ithaca is only around 550 nautical miles, Odysseus took an unnecessarily complicated route, and the places he visited have been identified with various islands in Greece, Italy, Croatia and Malta. Several cruise companies offer their interpretation of an odyssey around Greece (though not necessarily following the route of Homer’s hero), while others focus on classical Greek mythology, such as the Minotaur’s labyrinth in Minoan Crete and the birthplace of Apollo off the coast of Mykonos.
It is possible, of course, to charter a private yacht to tick off all of Odysseus’s landings in your own way, but Windstar’s Star Collector: Italy and Greece Odyssey cruise visits a selection of the iconic islands and countries he visited and ancient architectural wonders. Based on a 22 October 2025 departure, this fabulous 16-day voyage starts from £4,500pp (not including flights).
Rediscover The Americas
The route of Leif Eriksson from Greenland to Canada
‘In fourteen-hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue…’ And that was when the Americas were first discovered. Or so we were always led to believe. In actual fact, half a millennium before the Italian voyager navigated the Santa Maria to the New World, Norse explorer Leif Eriksson was the first to set foot on continental America. For years, Eriksson’s discovery was disputed, but in the 1960s an ancient Norse settlement dating back to 1,000 AD was discovered in Canada’s L’Anse aux Meadows, cementing Eriksson’s place in world history.
Viking Cruises follows Eriksson’s route to the Americas from Greenland (discovered by Leif Eriksson’s father Erik the Red) across the ice-floe-studded Labrador Sea to L’Anse aux Meadows, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by Halifax, Nova Scotia and New York City. The 1,000-mile stretch of ocean, known as Iceberg Alley, is the coldest part of the sub-polar North Atlantic and home to two dozen species of whales and dolphins.
The multi-award-winning Viking is destination-focused and culturally enriching. Resident historians, world-class lecturers and TED talks are available onboard every cruise, setting it apart from other cruise companies’ offerings. For the last five years running, Condé Nast Traveller has voted Viking the number one choice for expedition and ocean travel. Viking’s 15-day Iconic Iceland, Greenland & Canada voyage costs from £6,990pp (including flights) for a Veranda Stateroom, up to £18,690pp for a stunning Explorer Suite with living and dining area opening out to a generous veranda. Departing 3 June 2025.
Richer Than Gold
The flavours of the Spice Route
For more than 2,000 years, the Spice Route, also known as the Maritime Silk Road, connected the East and West, stretching from the Middle East, around India, Indonesia and to the west coast of Japan. In the late 15th century, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama established direct maritime trade links with the lucrative spice markets of India, exporting cardamom, turmeric, saffron and cinnamon amongst others, and his legacy is celebrated in the family-friendly cruise line Royal Caribbean’s Spice Route Cruise.
Dubai is the ultra-modern launching point for the cruise before sailing on to Mumbai, India’s glamorous capital and the home of Bollywood. After a day at sea, you’ll visit India’s Cochin, the centre of the historic Spice Route with rich Dutch, Portuguese and British influences. Next stop is the stunning island of Phuket in Thailand, known as the ‘Pearl of the South’ and part of the vast ancient trading route, then on to the wonderful cities of Penang and Singapore. It’s a great flavour of the Spice Route, but thankfully, without the less palatable and treacherous elements of Da Gama’s epic voyage.
Royal Caribbean’s wonderful 14-night Spice Route Cruise onboard Anthem of the Seas from Dubai to Singapore, takes in the fascinating Indian cities of Mumbai and Cochin before sailing on to Phuket and Malaysia’s Penang. From just £1,803 to £3,325 for the incredible Royal Class Suite. Contact Royal Caribbean for 2025 dates.
The Origins Of Adventure
Discover Darwin’s Galápagos
The unique archipelago of the Galápagos Islands has the highest number of endemic species in the world, but curiously it was the volcanoes of the island group which initially drew the Victorian naturalist Charles Darwin to visit. On arrival, he quickly recognised the importance of its wildlife, writing: ‘Very remarkable: it seems to be a little world within itself; the greater number of its inhabitants, both vegetable and animal, being found nowhere else.’ His voyage to the South American islands aboard HMS Beagle took four years, during which he began researching his magnum opus On the Origin of Species.
A huge number of Darwin-themed Galápagos cruises can be tracked down in a matter of keyboard clicks, but for the discerning traveller, an expedition ship such as Hurtigruten’s MS Santa Cruz II is essential. During In Darwin’s Footsteps (Eastern Route), your ship visits Ecuador’s Quito before heading to the Galápagos Islands for an unforgettable sea adventure featuring giant tortoises, marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies.
Compared to other Galápagos cruises, Hurtigruten’s six-night cruise is unique because it offers comprehensive exploration of all the islands with an onboard team of expedition guides, small panga vessels, kayaks and glass-bottom boats. Departing 12 March 2025, the cruise costs from £8,320pp, based on two people sharing a Darwin Suite, including all flights, a two-night pre-cruise Quito hotel stay, a one-night post-cruise hotel stay in Guayaquil and all overseas transfers.
By Nicole Carmichael
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