Twins' Twin Paddle Steamers to Champion Slow Travel on Murray River

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Twins Craig and Rohan Burgess are leading a bold new chapter for river cruising in regional Victoria, committing $8 million to build two luxury paddle steamers aimed at celebrating the art of slow travel.

Based in Echuca on the Murray River, the Burgess brothers’ project is designed to give travellers a more relaxed and immersive way to explore Australia’s longest river, echoing the golden era of paddle steamer journeys.

Seabourn's 2028 ‘Cape To Cape’ 120-Day World Cruise

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Seabourn has announced its 2028 Cape to Cape World Cruise, a 120-day voyage aboard Seabourn Quest covering more than 26,000 nautical miles and visiting over 50 destinations across five continents. The cruise will include complimentary expedition-style experiences, offered for the first time on a Seabourn world cruise.

Aurora Expeditions founder, Greg Mortimer, airlifted off Douglas Mawson after 'medical episode'.

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ExpeditioinCruising.com understands that Greg Mortimer, who founded Aurora Expeditions in 1992 has been airlifted off the brand new Douglas Mawson after a "medical episode".

"We can confirm that Greg Mortimer experienced a medical episode while on board Douglas Mawson in his capacity as Expedition Leader," said a spokesperson for Aurora Expeditions. 

"His condition is stable, and as a precaution, the vessel is diverting to allow for medical evacuation to a hospital facility in New Zealand for further assessment and care.

 

"The safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew remain our priority. We will provide further updates if and when appropriate, and we respectfully ask that Greg’s privacy is maintained at this time."

 

The team at ExpeditionCruising.com join the vast expedition cruising community in wishing Greg a smooth recovery.

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Coral Adventurer runs aground in PNG [9 News] Updated

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This report from 9 News Gold Coast. Coral Adventurer has run aground in Papua New Guinea. No injuries have been reported, and damage is being assessed.

UPDATE: Passengers are being ferried to Lae for flights to Cairns and a tugboat which came from Lae to assist, failed to dislodge the vessel.

Update 29/12: AMSA has detained the vessel in accordance with the Navigation Act 2012, based on reasonable suspicion that it is not seaworthy due to potential damage sustained during the grounding, and that it is sub‑standard as a result of failures in the implementation of its Safety Management System under the International Safety Management Code. [source]

The Coral Adventurer had more than 120 people aboard when it hit a reef at Dregerhafen Point, Papua New Guinea. (Supplied: ABC via Jurgen Ruh)

 

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BREAKING: Yasawa Princess in "major fire incident".

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Deep Blue Dive Centers Private Limited wishes to formally inform all stakeholders that at approximately 1800hrs of 24 December 2025, our vessel, Yasawa Princess experienced a major fire incident.

Immediately upon identifying the incident, the vessel’s crew implemented all required fire safety and emergency response protocols. All guests and crew members onboard were safely evacuated, and we confirm that no injuries were sustained.

The relevant authorities, Maldives National Defense Force and Maldives Fire and Rescue Service, were promptly informed and have been actively managing the firefighting and emergency response at the scene.

Regrettably, due to the extent of the damage sustained, the vessel is no longer operational and will not be able to cruise for the current season.

We request the patience and understanding of our partners, agents, and guests while we complete a full assessment. Further communication will follow shortly regarding the handling of all future bookings.

We also respectfully request that all stakeholders refer to the appropriate official reports and statements released by the relevant authorities regarding this incident.

The safety of our guests and crew remains our highest priority.

Luxury Travel Magazine Cruise Issue: OUT NOW

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ExpeditionCruising.com's publisher and editor, Roderick Eime, has been tasked by Luxury Travel Media to write the cover story for the Luxury Travel Magazine's forthcoming cruising issue.

This superb glossy 200-page magazine is read by a most discerning audience.

• 112,000 highly engaged print readers
• 1,000,000+ unique website visitors annually
• 30,000+ responsive newsletter subscribers
• 78% earning over $250,000
• 60% flying first or business class
• 58% regularly cruising

Luxury Travel Magazine celebrates 25 years in print this year.

Luxury Travel Magazine also publishes its famous Gold List

If you need to reacquaint yourself with the publication, you can find a back issue here:

• Issue 91 Preview
• Previous Issue (89) Full Magazine

Susan Adie: Advocate of the Antarctic

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If ever there was a doyenne of Antarctic conservation, it would have to be the new president of the American Polar Society, Susan Adie.

I met Susan aboard G Adventures' MS Expedition more than ten years ago, when we sailed along the West Coast of Africa. The trip was a highlight of my more than 25 years of expedition cruising, and Susan was already a legend in the rapidly growing experiential travel sector.

Read the full story at: Asia Pacific Boating - Blue Planet 

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From On Board: AmaWaterways on the Eastern Danube. River Fortresses

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You could be forgiven for thinking these Balkan countries were all built around massive defensive fortresses. When the locals weren’t fighting off the constant Ottoman threat, they were in conflict with each other and their neighbours.

From On Board: AmaWaterways On The Eastern Danube. Vidin, Bulgaria

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Location: Vidin, Bulgaria

Vessel: AmaWaterways AmaMagna

Never had I seen two more forlorn-looking blokes in my life. Slumped behind rusting bars in the bowels of medieval Vidin Castle, known colloquially as "Baba Vida", and the oldest and only preserved such fortress in all of Bulgaria.

From On Board: AmaMagna on the Eastern Danube. Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

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Location: Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Vessel: AmaWaterways Amamagna

Their mesmeric chants echoed through the tiny 13th-century church like disembodied archangels calling the faithful to prayer.

Here in Veliko Tarnovo, just to the north of Bulgaria's geographic centre, our little group from AmaMagna is shoehorned into the vestibule-sized nave to see the exquisite ancient murals and hear the three senior clergy perform their renowned holy chants.

AmaWaterways adds Four New Africa Itineraries Debuting in 2026

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New itineraries will spotlight Kenya, Zanzibar, Namibia and the Skeleton Coast, joining AmaWaterways’ signature Chobe River cruise and Victoria Falls experience in an expanded lineup of African journeys.

AmaWaterways has unveiled a significant expansion of its Africa Safaris & Wildlife Cruise portfolio, announcing four new itineraries set to launch in August 2026. The enhanced program is designed to showcase the continent’s extraordinary natural and cultural diversity, pairing a three-night luxury cruise on the 24-guest Zambezi Queen along the Chobe River with in-depth land experiences.

PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP expands its partnership with The Explorers Club

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PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP announced the expansion of its partnership with The Explorers Club to include Paul Gauguin Cruises and Aqua Expeditions, beginning in late 2026.