Small Ships Cruises

The Maldives has once again received considerable acclaim for its tourist opportunities, with the archipelago being voted top of the Conde Nast Traveller Magazine's official favourite destinations list.

This ranking, compiled by the mass media company, is particularly impressive since it is voted by readers of the magazine. Voters opted for the stunning destination above all others, bumping last year's favourite the Balearic Islands into fifth place.

Writers of Conde Nast speculated that the 26 atolls that comprise the Maldives succeeded in clinching the top spot largely due to their subtly different characters – something that allows for plenty of variety on a beach holiday.

Indeed, it's been good news for a variety of Seafarer destinations, with the ever popular Greek Islands coming in at second place on the prestigious ranking. Sicily also proved it still has what it takes to bring in the luxury holidaymakers, with readers placing it third, and the Seychelles scored the sixth spot. Malta also squeezed into the top ten.

Destinations were ranked according to six criteria, including the quality of the beaches, how stunning the scenery is, value for money, cuisine, places to stay and the spirit of the local people.

Associate editor of Conde Nast Peter Browne commented that while the archipelago attained a strong overall score, reviewers had cited one aspect of the country in particular; namely, its stunning coastlines.

"The Maldives came out first thanks to high scores across the board, but most notably for its white-sand beaches," he confirmed.

"Closer to home, the Greek Islands, which have come in the top ten for a decade or more, are in part so popular because our readers love open-hearted Greek hospitality."

Whichever of these destinations you're seeking to experience, Seafarer can offer an intimate itinerary or a mega-yacht cruise that allows access to all the best-known holiday hotspots, plus a number of hidden gems inaccessible to those large-scale cruise vessels.

Tourists have long visited the Seychelles in anticipation of witnessing unspoilt beauty and incredible nature. But now, they could be set to add culinary delights and unique Seychelles culture to the list, following new efforts from the country's tourism and culture minister Alain St Ange.

During an interview with Weekend Business, Mr St Ange identified several key areas that he is working to improve upon in order to bring more people to the beautiful shores. According to him, beachside markets and carnivals could allow the Seychelles to bring in more tourists than ever before.

Mr St Ange cited a recent celebration – the Praslin Culinary & Arts Fiesta that was held during the first week of September – declaring it to be highly successful in promoting traditional Seychellois culture and attracting many international visitors.

"The fiesta that was held over three days last week has seen the unconditional support of many tourism establishments, and some hoteliers and restaurateurs have gone the extra mile in creating a festive mood with a Seychellois Creole flavour at their own properties," he said.

"The Praslin Culinary and Arts Fiesta was aimed at bringing out the best in our unique culture and this has been achieved."

According to Mr St Ange, more events that capitalise on the unique selling point of various islands within the country could prove equally successful in introducing Seychellois culture to holidaymakers – something that we highly approve of here at Seafarer.

There is plenty of opportunity to get to grips with the destination, with centuries-old rainforests, isolated villages and underwater paradises to explore on our Seychelles Cruise in the Garden of Eden itinerary.

Take advantage of our seven-night Cruises Summer 2015 Early Booking Discount and give yourself something to look forward to.

Crocodiles in Costa Rica are becoming a major tourist attraction thanks to their immense size and the fact they are easy to observe. The beasties are proving very popular, with visitors going out of their way to find places to watch them from.

However, experts at the Crocodile Conservation Commission are calling on tourists to exercise caution, as their behaviours might have a negative impact on the creatures and their habitat.

According to the organisation, it is becoming a popular pastime to approach the crocodiles while they are sunning themselves on the beach near the Tarcoles River. This particular stretch of water is renowned for being home to a lot of the animals, and there are even tours that allow and encourage foreign visitors to feed them with their own hands.

Such behaviour is extremely dangerous not just to the people offering food but also to the crocodiles themselves, who may well be driven away from their homes by an influx of visitors bothering them.

"Crocodiles are naturally aggressive and attack to defend their territory," crocodile researcher Ivan Sandoval said, adding that the CCC had calculated that there were 9.22 of the reptiles per linear kilometer of the Tarcoles River. 

If you are travelling to another part of the world, it is very important to consider the people and animals that you are sharing the country with, even if you are on holiday.

Travelling with Seafarer, you have the advantage of knowing that your holiday will not ruin the destination for anyone, as we consider responsible travel to be a major priority. Our vessels are fitted with the latest technology to avoid polluting the sea with waste, while the smaller size of the ships ensures the environmental and social impact upon our destinations is kept to a minimum.

Creative artists originating from the Seychelles got together yesterday (August 10th) for a prominent arts and crafts fair that is gaining momentum and becoming extremely popular with tourists from the area.

Taking place on the beautiful Port Launay Beach, the event was held following the success of its previous incarnation which happened earlier this year on May 31st.

Initially set up by the Pro Art Association in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and its National Arts Council, the event was established with a view to giving local artists a platform upon which they can showcase their work to an international audience.

However, following its success with foreign visitors, the minister responsible for tourism and culture Alain St Ange has confirmed he would like to make it the centrepiece of a new touristic drive for the country.

As well as featuring hand-painted arts and crafts, the festival features live music from the likes of well-known and much-loved singers, such as Claude Rene, Serge Oreddy, Donatien Madeleine, Collin Athanasius and George Agripine. These names were among those who took to the stage last night in recognition of the event.

“Today we see culture and talent through the creative artists and supported by the Performing Artists taking its place as the center display of our tourism industry,” Mr St Ange said.

“Yes, we have the best of sun, sea, and sand holidays, but that is just not enough anymore. We needed more, so we launched the concept that tourism for Seychelles is now culture and experience.”

Those wishing to experience more of this incredible country than just its lovely beaches and charismatic landscape can do so on a Seafarer Cruise. Our itineraries always allow for exploration of the local culture, whether that takes the form of seeking out local wildlife or visiting the island community of La Digue on the Sister Islands.

Holidays to the Bahamas are often an incredible experience, with the nation's endless stretches of perfect white sand, turquoise waters and verdant forests ticking all the boxes for those seeking the perfect break away from daily life.

So it comes as no surprise that 1.8 million tourists visited the country in the first quarter, with a report published by the Central Bank's latest Quarterly Economic Review indicating modest gains in tourism arrivals.

The news will no doubt be highly welcomed by the government, which expressed shock at a 3.3 per cent decline in the same figures a year earlier.

In the breakdown, it was revealed that, in terms of components, air arrivals rose by 0.2 per cent, reversing a contraction of 3.4 per cent in 2013, while growth in sea visitors continued its strong increase with a rise of 0.9 per cent.

Minister of tourism Obie Wilchcombe told Bahama Journal that the increase in visitors is largely due to the worldwide economic recovery, and that steps are already being taken to attract tourists who are finding they are once again able to travel to the Bahamas.

"With the uptick in economic trends, you will see more disposable income, which bodes well for the tourism industry," the tourism minister said. "This means people will travel more. We are also working aggressively on our marketing strategy."

Here at Seafarer, we believe it is no coincidence that people are choosing to visit the Bahamas by sea, as evidenced by the figures in the report.

The white sandy beaches of the picturesque coastline are all the more pretty when viewed from the ocean, and a a sailing cruise on a professionally crewed catamaran allows you to experience every romantic cove, luscious island or quiet community village without finding yourself interrupted by your fellow holidaymakers all the time.

The Seychelles remembered the many people who died during the First World War last week, with special events held across the archipelago that commemorated the efforts of Seychellois war victims in particular.

At the time a British colony, the 115 islands ended up sending troops into the great battle to aid in the fight against the Kaiser.

Celebrations were prominent but subdued as the time came to remember people who died in the fight for freedom.

The Seychelles' vice president Danny Faure, government ministers, members of the resident diplomatic corps and representatives of other religious faiths attended a special congregation organised by the British High Commission.

A number of war veterans from the Second World War met with high commissioner Lindsay Skoll, who was quick to praise the people who lost their lives to the cause. She also commented on the fact a quarter of the population of the island nation was wiped out.

"But there is perhaps no greater testimony than to the spirit and character of the people of Seychelles than the fact that , a little over twenty years after suffering this terrible trauma , they did not hesitate to take up arms again in defence of the Commonwealth at the outbreak of the Second World War," Skoll added.

Another speaker was Major Andre Baronne, a soldier and survivor of the Second World War, who spoke at length of how difficult it was to survive in the Seychelles during the global conflict.

Get a sense of what the soldiers felt they were fighting for by visiting this beautiful unspoilt island paradise. We provide a Mega Yacht Cruise of the archipelago that encompasses all elements of Seychellois culture – from its warm and wonderful people to the stunning natural surroundings.

Panama has registered an uptick in tourist numbers flocking into the country to experience the incredible Panama Canal, which is set to celebrate 100 years since opening and becoming the epicentre for world trade.

The countdown for the milestone anniversary – which is set to take place on August 15th – actually began last year, as the local government implemented an exciting programme of events designed to inspire excitement.

Various celebrations have highlighted the incredible history of this beautiful waterway, which is now a cruising favourite, and also discussed how the canal is being adapted to take future vessels.

"The Panama Canal has been connecting the world since August 15th, 1914," said Roberto Roy, president of the Panama Canal Authority’s (ACP) board of directors. "The fact that 14,000 vessels make use of the waterway every year in order to serve 1,700 ports in 160 countries is sufficient proof of this statement."

A spectacular extravaganza is in the process of being planned for the big day, with recent announcements confirming that the fun will start from the moment the first vessel passes through the entrance at Miraflores Locks on August 15th.

There will be a world premiere of the film Historias del Canal (Canal Stories) that aims to portray the waterway's impact through five fictional stories that will be screened at Panama's National Theatre.

Finally, the Centennial Gala will take place on the evening of the 15th, boasting a musical artistic performance that will attempt to recreate the canal's construction. This will be broadcast across the nation.