AdventureSmith Explorations Suggests Cruising Greenland and Iceland in September To Witness 11-Year Peak of Aurora Borealis

Details

Released on Thursday, 04 April 2013 08:22

Tahoe City, CA, April 4, 2013– The active travel company securing matches between adventure-seeking clients and a treasure trove of small expedition ships, AdventureSmith Explorations http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/, offers four journeys this fall to witness the Aurora Borealis which is experiencing the peak of an 11-year solar cycle. 

“The sun has a heartbeat and every 11 years or so it beats the strongest, increasing the amount of solar radiation released into space,” explains AdventureSmith Explorations director and founder Todd Smith.  “When this energy reaches earth it manifests itself in the form of spectacular aurora displays, also known as the northern lights, that can best be seen in northern locations such as the Arctic and Alaska.”  

Here are four cruise programs that will feature prime Aurora Borealis viewing: 

Greenland Aurora Borealis Cruise is 8 or 15 days aboard the 32-passenger, three-mast schooner S/V Rembrandt van Rijn sailing south along Greenland’s west coast. This voyage starts in Aasiaat and ends in Nuuk (8-day itinerary) or Narsarsuaq (15-day itinerary). Highlights beyond viewing the incredible Northern Lights will be spotting musk oxen, sailing by the enormous icebergs of the Jakobshavn Glacier, visiting old dwellings of Greenland’s Thule culture (dating from the 11th century) and bathing in a large hot spring surrounded by icebergs. The per person double rate for the shorter trip is from $2,400 and for the 15-day program from $3,640. 2013 departures are Sept. 9, 19 and 26. See: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/479 

Scoresby Sund Aurora Borealis Cruise is seven days departing Sept. 6 after a scenic bus tour from Reykjavik, Iceland, across northern Iceland to the port of embarkation in Akureyri. Guests board the 114-guest Plancius then cruise across the Arctic Circle to Scoresby Sund, East Greenland, the longest fjord in the world where conditions will be optimal to experience the Northern Lights.Time at sea is perfect for witnessing the Aurora Borealis; shore and zodiac excursions focus on wildlife, culture and icebergs. Greenland and its surrounding waters are home to an impressive array of wildlife. There are about 50 bird species on the island such as gyrfalcon, snowy owl, and barnacle and pink-footed goose. The per person double rate is from $5,300. See: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/475

Greenland Explorer takes cruise passengers aboard the 112-guest Sea Spirit to the home of the world’s greatest fjords and most active glaciers outside of Antarctica. From the Fjord of Eternity to the Arctic ghost town of Skoldungen, Greenland rewards with sights and experiences unlike any other place on Earth. Dog sledding settlements and cultural shows offer a connection to the people who live here, while whale-watching, tundra hiking and exploring one of the world’s fastest moving glaciers get visitors close to nature. Greenland remains largely untouched by humans, a rare treat - ideally suited for expedition travel. Late summer cruises may offer excellent views of the Aurora Borealis. A special offer allows savings up to 20 percent.  See: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/136

Eastern Greenland - The autumn and winter skies above Greenland’s eastern coast are renowned for putting on some of the best Aurora displays in the world. Ideal for more active travelers, this cruise aboard the Sea Spirit provides lengthy shore excursions, walking and hiking across the pristine wilderness of Greenland. A special promotion offers up to 20 percent off. See: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/460

Smith suggests that friends traveling together consider the price savings of booking triple and quad rooms. Also he suggests to always ask for an upgrade when checking in.

“Often managers will provide upgrades to unsold cabins that were restricted during the booking process,” Smith says. “You just need to ask.”

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, CA, along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. In 2012, owner Todd Smith joined the ranks of Conde Nast Traveler's prestigious 13th Annual Travel Specialists List as the world’s expert on small ship expeditions. For information, availability and 2013 reservations Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free, visit www.adventuresmithexplorations.com or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

# # #

For media inquiries, interviews and photos contact Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website and Portfolio of Past Releases: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

Follow AdventureSmith Explorations:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AdventureSmithExplorations

Twitter: https://twitter.com/adventuresmith

Website: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/

From Alaska to Australia, Small Ship Cruise Specialist AdventureSmith Explorations Offers Special Pricing for Multigenerational Groups

Details

Released on Thursday, 21 March 2013 08:57

Tahoe City, CA, March 21, 2013– The active travel company that secures matches between adventure-seeking clients and a treasure trove of small expedition ships, AdventureSmith Explorations http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/, suggests five summer cruise options from Alaska to Australia that are ideal for traditional as well as multigenerational families. 

“We’ve seen a 30 percent growth in multigenerational groups over the past three years,” says Todd Smith, small ship cruise expert and AdventureSmith Explorations founder. He emphasizes that booking early helps families get the trips they’re interested in, plus there are savings that come with early season bookings. 

Ecuador - Galapagos Cruise aboard the Eric/Letty/Flamingo: The 20-passenger, eco-certified Eric, Letty, and Flamingo are sister ships offering talented naturalist guides, easy nature hikes and snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands on eight-day cruises. Each naturalist takes small groups (10 max) on all shore excursions and shares extensive insights into the Galapagos Islands' diverse wildlife and natural history. On select summer departures, savings can be 15% for adults and 15-25% for children. 

Alaska - Eastern Coves Adventure Cruise aboard the Wilderness Adventurer: This eight-day trip from Juneau to Ketchikan explores the back passages and narrow waterways of the most remote areas of Southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage by kayak, skiff, foot and small ship or yacht. Families with children under age 12 should consider the designated "Kids in Nature" cruises. In a rare introduction to wilderness lifestyles, kids and the entire family meet and interact with local families such as oyster farmers or commercial fishermen who live a remote, isolated lifestyle. Ages 12 years and younger receive a 25% savings on designated Kids in Nature departures. 

Greece - Classical Greece aboard the Harmony V: This eight-day cruise combines conventional cruising with private yachting while unraveling the wonders of Classical Greece. This adventure includes classic ancient Greek ruins and sites. On some departures kids cruise for free and some offer 25% off adult rates. Some restrictions apply and bookings must be made by March 31. 

Peru - Amazon River Cruise aboard the Delfin I: The Delfin I combines luxury with the wilderness of the Amazon in the most unique and personalized vessel ever to cruise the Amazon River system. This classic river vessel carries only eight passengers in four spacious deluxe suites, each with private terraces and two with private whirlpool baths. Activities include night safaris, wildlife watching, kayaking, swimming in the river, interacting with local children, fishing for piranhas and exploring the rain forest. Two rooms can be interconnected for families. Children receive 20% off the standard rate. 

Australia - Great Barrier Reef aboard the Coral Princess II: This cruise combines the numerous exclusive reef sites on the most comprehensive Great Barrier Reef itinerary available. The cruise can be for, five or eight days hopping among islands. Kids cruise free on select summer departures. 

Smith suggests that families considering a small ship cruise ask for details on cabin locations and bed configurations. He also recommends arriving at the embarkation destination the day before cruise departure to make the beginning of the cruise relaxing for everyone.  Also he suggests to always ask for an upgrade when checking in. 

“Often managers will provide upgrades to unsold cabins that were restricted during the booking process,” Smith says. “You just need to ask.” 

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, CA, along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. In 2012, owner Todd Smith joined the ranks of Conde Nast Traveler's prestigious 13th Annual Travel Specialists List as the world’s expert on small ship expeditions. For information, availability and 2013 reservations Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free, visit www.adventuresmithexplorations.com or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

# # # 

For media inquiries, interviews and photos contact Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website and Portfolio of Past Releases: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

Follow AdventureSmith Explorations:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AdventureSmithExplorations

Twitter: https://twitter.com/adventuresmith

Website: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/

Alaska Small Ship Cruise and Lodge Pairings Extend Remote Wilderness Adventures from Sea to Land

Details

Released on Tuesday, 12 February 2013 09:22

Tahoe City, CA, Feb. 12, 2013– Pairing wilderness lodges with small ship cruises is a specialty of Todd Smith, small ship cruise expert and founder of AdventureSmith Explorations that represents expedition cruising worldwide and virtually all small ship adventure cruises that ply Alaskan waters. 

Smith has compiled a list of favorite wilderness lodges matched to specific cruises to meet a growing demand for pre-or post-trip extensions to extend the Alaska experience.  His team handles the multitude of logistical details that can involve lodge access by sea planes only. 

Bear Track Inn, says Smith, “is the finest lodge in the quirky town of Gustavus, with a log cabin design, incredible activities and scrumptious meals.” It is paired with Glacier Bay Adventure Cruise because the cruise company and lodge are both locally owned and operated, making this one of the most authentic cruise tours in Alaska.  The setting is Glacier Bay National Park. 

Winterlake Lodge near the western edge of the Alaska Range is accessible only by float plane to an adjacent mile-long lake home to nesting loons and swans. It is paired with Discoverers Glacier Country Cruise because both expose guests, said Smith, “to pristine wilderness combined with exquisite cuisine and luxury accommodations.”  

Kantishna Roadhouse dates to the early 1900s deep inside DenaliNational Park. The main lodge serving 32 cabins boasts a hand-crafted bar and Smoky Joe's Saloon. Set on Moose Creek, this is a base for exploring the Kantishna Valley with views of Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range from nearby Wonder Lake.  The roadhouse is the focus of Denali Backcountry Explorer and can be paired with any Alaska small ship cruise.  Deigned to depart on any day this independent tour includes two nights in Anchorage, three nights at the Kantishna Roadhouse and the Alaska Railroad.   

Kenai Riverside Lodge and Kenai Backcountry Lodge are paired to maximize travel time on the Kenai Peninsula.  Smith suggests first visiting Riverside Lodge, a world-class fishing lodge and home base for adventures to Seward, the Exit Glacier, Coopers Landing or even Homer.  He recommends that guests then raft down the Kenai River to the Kenai Backcountry Lodge to experience the hospitality of this historic and ecologically managed log lodge surrounded by a million acres of designated wilderness. These family-friendly accommodations can be paired with any Alaskan Family Cruise 

Brooks Lodge symbolizes brown bears eating leaping salmon in theheart of Katmai National Park. This can be paired with Active Inside Passage Cruise that also specializes in bear viewing as well as glaciers, whales and extraordinary wilderness.  

Camp Denali’s history is intertwined with the preservation of Denali National Park.Because of its history of conservation and dedication to education, this lodge is paired Camp Denali with Lindblad Expedition’s Exploring Alaska’s Coastal Wilderness, whose partnership with National Geographic shares these qualities. 

Windham Bay Lodge is a former fishing lodge only accessible by boat from Juneau offering access to Tracy Arm Fjord, Admiralty Island and the Pack Creek Bear Viewing, whale watching in Frederick Sound and the Tlingit community of Kake.  Lodge and cruise packages combine three nights at Windham Bay with four nights aboard the Alaskan Dream Cruises beginning in Juneau and ending in Sitka. 

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, CA, along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. In 2012, owner Todd Smith joined the ranks of Conde Nast Traveler's prestigious 13th Annual Travel Specialists List as the world’s expert on small ship expeditions. For information, availability and 2013 reservations Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free, visit www.adventuresmithexplorations.com or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

# # # 

For media inquiries, interviews and photos contact Widness & Wiggins PR: 

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website and Portfolio of Past Releases: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave 

Follow AdventureSmith Explorations:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AdventureSmithExplorations

Twitter: https://twitter.com/adventuresmith

Website: www.AdventureSmithExplorations.com

AdventureSmith Explorations Announces Stellar Lineup Of Academicians and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Authors To Co-Host Upcoming Small Ship Cruises

Details

Released on Tuesday, 15 January 2013 13:23

Tahoe City, CA, Jan. 15, 2013– Small ship, expedition cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/ announces a stellar lineup of academicians, Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, travel writers and professional photographers as experts in residence for upcoming cruises as far-flung as Antarctica and Borneo. 

“Choosing a cruise with a guest expert adds a level of fascination and learning beyond what you’d find on an ordinary cruise,” explains Todd Smith, AdventureSmith founder and director. “These professionals can offer a deeper understanding of a particular topic or add a global perspective to the regional experience. An important part of travel is gaining a deeper awareness and understanding of a destination and small ship cruises with onboard experts can help accomplish this.” Smith suggests booking one of these special departures well in advance as they sell out quickly: 

Antarctic Explorer: Jonathan Shackleton (cousin of Sir Ernest Shackleton) and Falcon Scott (grandson of Robert Falcon Scott) will be guest lecturers aboard the 189-passenger Ocean Diamond Feb.9-19, 2013 from Ushuaia, Argentina. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/172

Land of the Ice Bears: Arctic Svalbard: Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and professor of Geography at the University of California, Los Angeles will travel aboard the 148-passenger National Geographic ExplorerJune 21-July 1, 2013.He is the author of Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed and the widely acclaimed Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, which won him a Pulitzer Prize as well as Britain's 1998 Rhone-Poulenc Science Book Prize. He is a founding member of the board of the Society of Conservation Biology and a member of the board of directors of World Wildlife Fund/USA and Conservation International. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/69

National Geographic The White Continent: Ed Larson, who won the Pulitzer Prize for Empire of Ice, travels aboard the National Geographic Explorer to Antarctica Feb. 5, 2013 and Feb. 5, 2014 . A Pepperdine University professor, his latest book was published in May 2011, An Empire of Ice: Scott, Shackleton, and the Heroic Age of Antarctic Science. He places the famed voyages of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, his British rivals Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton, and others in a larger scientific, social, and geopolitical context in this terrific new history, much enlivened by his own Antarctic travels. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/68

Ancient Sites, Rain Forests & Coral Reefs: Sandra Noble, executive director of the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc. joins guests on the 138-passenger Yorktown Jan. 26-Feb. 2, 2013 for a tour of the natural and archaeological wonders of Belize and Guatemala. On a Feb. 2-9 departure she will be joined by Sandra Brooke, director of Coral Conservation at the Marine Conservation Institute. For the Feb. 16-23 departure the guest speakers are Stephen Whittington, director of the Museum of Anthropology and adjunct associate professor at wake Foerst University, and Susan Perkins, an associate curator in the Division of Invertebrate Zoology and the Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics at the American Museum of Natural History. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/464

Baja’s Bounty: Ellen Barone joins a March 16, 2013 departure aboard the 86-passenger Safari Endeavour. She is nationally recognized travel writer and photographer. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/39. Giovanni Malagrino shares insights on a March 30, 2013 departure. He is a full professor in the Marine Biology Department at University of Baja California Sur, La Paz and devotes his time to Coastal Zone Management. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/39

Hawaiian Seascapes: Peter West Carey, a Seattle-based professional photographer, is aboard the 36-passenger Safari Explorer for a cruise beginning April 6, 2013. Patient and resourceful with a wide range of brands, equipment and techniques, he loves to help others learn first-hand how to bring back stunning images that tell the true story of the exciting journey they have experienced. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/200 

AlaskaUnleashed: Amy Gulick is aboard the 60-passenger Wilderness Adventurer for a June 8, 2013 departure. She is an award-winning nature photographer and writer, and a founding Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers. 

http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/22. Joe Upton is aboard for an Aug. 10, 2013 sailing and will share his experience as an author. His many books and illustrated maps, including Journey’s Through the Inside Passage and The Coastal Companion, have shared the wonder of The North with Alaska visitors since 1993. In 2009 Upton teamed up with Alaska commercial fisherman and filmmaker Dan Kowalski to produce The Alaska Story Project, a collection of videos about places up and down the Alaska and BC coasts. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/22

Camp Leakey Borneo will feature Dr. Birute Galdikas on board the 100-passenger Orion II for the October 25, 2013 departure. Scientist, conservationist, educator: for almost four decades Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas has studied and worked closely with the orangutans of Indonesian Borneo in their natural habitat, and is today the world’s foremost authority on the orangutan. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/289

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, California along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. In 2012 it joined the ranks of Conde Nast Traveler's prestigious 13th Annual Travel Specialists List. For information, availability and 2013 reservations Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free, visit www.adventuresmithexplorations.com or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

#  #  # 

For media inquiries, interviews and photos contact Widness & Wiggins PR: 

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website and Portfolio of Past Releases: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

AdventureSmith Explorations Adds 13 New Itineraries for 2013: Reports Next Year’s Sales 20 Percent Ahead of Last Year

Details

Released on Tuesday, 11 December 2012 09:02

Tahoe City, CA, Dec. 11, 2012– Small ship, expedition cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/ reports that 13 new cruise itineraries have been added to its 2013 portfolio, which now represents more than 65 vessels operating worldwide. 

“Our top new trips have something for everyone, with familiar and easy destinations such as Alaska and Hawaii to exotic locales like the Arctic, Belize and the Adriatic Sea. Some of these trips are active with ample activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkeling while others offer easy wilderness or cultural cruising,” said Todd Smith, owner and founder. He noted that the new trips were added to support growing demand from past clients who have indicated their preferences for Alaska, Antarctica and Galapagos. 

Smith, in late 2012 joined the ranks of Conde Nast Traveler's prestigious 13th Annual Travel Specialists List as the world’s top expert on expedition cruising.

“Three quarters of our clients this year were experiencing small ship cruises for the first time,” said Smith, adding that 2012 sales are up 30 percent over 2011 and that 2013 sales are already 20 percent ahead of this point last year.

Following is a sampling of five new itineraries some of which are currently offering booking specials.

Fabled Lands of the North  http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/471

The increasingly popular Arctic thrills adventurers with sightings of polar bears, walrus and whales in Arctic Svalbard and Spitzbergen.  While most Arctic trip itineraries focus on Svalbard and Iceland and depart from northern Europe, making them challenging for travelers in North America, Fabled Lands of the North begins in Ottawa and ends in Newfoundland, making it easier for North American travelers to explore the dazzling North. This itinerary explores the Canadian Arctic including Baffin Island and the Labrador Coast combined with the rugged west coast of Greenland. New bookings made by Dec. 31, 2012, can opt for complimentary charter airfare from Ottawa toKangerlussuaq (a value of $1,200 per person). 

Alaska Unleashed http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/22

On the 36-passenger Wilderness Explorer guests spend significant time with the expedition team guiding them into some of Alaska’s most scenic and untouched places.  Although the lower passenger counts make the price point higher, the additional activity, says Smith, “makes it all worth it.” Combine this with the company’s Alaska Ultimate Adventure http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/466 for Alaska’s most extreme cruise tour.  New bookings on any Alaska Unleashed 2013 departure receive a $100 per person shipboard credit through Jan. 11, 2013. 

Belize Ancient Sites, Rain Forests and Coral Reefs http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/464

With the second largest barrier reef in the world, countless island cayes, accessible rivers and small ports Belize is perfectly suited for small ship cruises. Remote mainland ports allow access to ancient Maya temples, pristine rainforest teeming with wildlife and the diverse cultures of Belize. Guests booking departures from Miami, Atlanta, Houston or Dallas-Ft. Worth can fly free, round-trip economy to Belize City or receive up to a $500 air credit. 

AdventureBound Hawaii http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/462

Hawaiiis an active travel playground but traditional vacations miss the mark with crowded beaches and rushed activity tours. AdventureBound Hawaii offers an affordable and active small ship cruise experience for travelers seeking to experience traditional culture, meet locals, and discover a Hawaii most never know. All explorations include a slate of activities including stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeling, kayaking, and skiff tours with opportunities to go ashore for touring, hiking, or lose-your-cares beach time. 

Adriatic Odyssey http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/472

The Adriatic Odyssey is an exciting new alternative to more traditional Mediterranean small ship cruises. By focusing solely on the eastern Adriatic this cruise offers a unique exploration of the lesser known and less crowded ports and historical sites. Guests who book a cruise departure by January 31, 2013 will receive a 50 percent discount for the second traveler. Solo travelers receive a discount on the single supplement (pay 25% supplement instead of the standard 50%). 

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, California along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. For information, availability and 2013 reservations Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free, visit www.adventuresmithexplorations.com or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

#  #  # 

For media inquiries, interviews and photos contact Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website and Portfolio of Past Releases: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

Todd Smith, Founder of AdventureSmith Explorations, Named Top Travel Expert In Condé Nast Traveler's 13th Annual Travel Specialists List

Details

Released on Tuesday, 13 November 2012 08:19

Tahoe City, CA, Nov. 13, 2012– Todd Smith, visionary director of AdventureSmith Explorations http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/, the active travel company securing matches between adventure-seeking clients and a treasure trove of expedition small ships, for the first time this year is profiled as a Top Travel Specialist in Condé Nast Traveler's prestigious 13th Annual Travel Specialists List. 

The magazine’s award categories singled out Smith, the company’s founder, as a Top Specialist in the category of Small-Ship Expeditions (adventure cruising). This is a newly created awards category this year and focuses on the services and experiences that expedition ships provide the traveling public.

Condé Nast Traveler’s Wendy Perrin, Director of Consumer News & Digital Community, has published her 13th annual Top Travel Specialists in the December 2013 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. 

According to Perrin, “The travel planners featured represent the best blend of destination knowledge, insider connections, user-friendliness, and value for your dollar that I’ve found in more than two decades of scrutinizing the travel industry for this magazine. They have all been road-tested by Condé Nast Traveler readers, editors, or both. Of the more than 10,000 travel agents and tour operators who have tried to break onto this list since its inception 13 years ago, only a tiny fraction have made the grade. Getting into this group is, statistically speaking, tougher than getting into Harvard.” 

Staying on Perrin’s list is tougher still: It requires not only an absence of valid reader complaints but also ongoing positive assessments from both readers and editors. 

Smith was humbled upon hearing that he was being singled out for this honor although he was also quick to give some credit for his company’s meteoric success to one of his vacation sales consultants, Andrew Browning, who in 2011 received TravelAge West’s Wave Award in the category of “Trendsetters - Upward Bound, Rock Star Agents Under 40”.  This distinction was repeated again in November, 2012 when Browning was named as one of Travel Agent Magazine’s35 Rising Stars Under 30. 

Browning, with AdventureSmith Explorations since 2007, specializes in assisting clients with all aspects of a small ship cruise vacation. He is a certified expert on Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama and Alaska. Although when asked about his own success, Browning replied, “Todd Smith is the true rock star in the office. He taught me all I know about small ship cruising!” 

Celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2013, AdventureSmith Explorations has been widely recognized as today’s global leader in small ship, adventure cruise vacations. 

“We have built strategic brokering partnerships with many of the biggest and best names in small ship cruising as well as the smaller, boutique ships that don't usually make it on the cruise traveler's radar. However I need to be clear that while we specialize almost exclusively as a booking resource for small ship cruising, we are not a cruise line and we do not own or operate any ships of our own,” said Smith. 

He added that today the company represents 65 yachts and small expedition ships with passenger capacities from 8 to 189. 

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, California along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free or 530-583-1775. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or visit the website: www.AdventureSmithExplorations.com. 

# # # 

For media inquiries, interviews and photos contact Widness & Wiggins PR: 

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website and Portfolio of Past Releases: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

Small Ship Cruise Expert AdventureSmith Explorations Keeps Eye on Sun and Client Pocketbooks With Mid-Winter Specials on Close-to-Home Yacht Cruises

Details

Released on Wednesday, 31 October 2012 08:59

Tahoe City, CA, Oct 31, 2012– Small ship cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations (http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/), the active travel company securing matches between adventure-seeking clients and a treasure trove of expedition ships, reports savings on a handful of close-to-home, sun-drenched cruises.

“Short flights from Canada and the US to such cruise destinations as Hawaii, Baja and Belize mean more ship-and-shore time,” said Todd Smith, AdventureSmith founder and director. “Plus, while North America is locked in a deep chill, it’s nice to escape to the sun-drenched tropics!”

Three mid-winter departures of an 8-day Costa Rica & Panama Canal adventure aboard the 62-passenger Sea Lion come with a free pre or post cruise extension to the Monteverde Cloud Forest or $500 off the expedition cost that starts at $4,980 per person, double occupancy. The dates for this promotion are Dec. 1-8, Dec. 15-22 and Jan. 5-12, 2013 (note: cruises depart weekly from mid-November through early April).

In both countries guests walk rain forest trails in national parks and wildlife reserves, swim, snorkel and kayak Panama’s famed Isla Coiba, horseback ride, learn the lore of the canal and visit Barro Colorado with scientist escorts from the Smithsonian Research Station. For trip details please see: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/48

For ship details see: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/accommprofile.php/d/costarica/accid/322

Bookings made on the Belize - Ancient Sites, Rain Forests & Coral Reefsexploration before Dec. 31, 2012, for cruises departing weekly Jan. 12 through Feb. 15, 2013, come with a waiver on single supplements on some cabins and free roundtrip economy air to Belize City (or up to a $500 air credit) from Atlanta, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston and Miami. The 8-day cruise takes place aboard the 138-passenger Yorktown. Valid from the US only, air travel from other gateways is available for an add-on cost. 

The cruise is priced from $3,795 per person double occupancy. Dubbed the Eden of the Americas, Belize is home to jaguars, howler monkeys, ocelots, giant tapirs and a lush plant life that attracts more tropical birds than any other place in Central America.  Guests will visit Quiriguá, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for Mayan carvings, and Belize’s Barrier Reef, the second largest in the world. Expedition leaders and naturalists enrich time both on and off the yacht. For trip details please see: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/464

For ship details see: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/accommprofile.php/d/belize/accid/420

A March 9 or 30 departure of Baja’s Bounty on the 86-passenger Safari Endeavor comes with 25 percent savings for ages 12 and under. The 8-day cruise traverses the Sea of Cortez, one of the most biologically diverse marine environments on earth. Guests kayak, paddleboard, snorkel, sail, ride a skiff, swim with sea lions, whale watch and mule ride into the arroyos. The per person double occupancy rate begins at $2,995. Cruise departures operate weekly from mid-November to mid-April. For trip details see: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/39. For ship details see: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/accommprofile.php/d/bajacalifornia/accid/401

More savings come to families on March 9 and 30 departures of Hawaiian Seascapes with 25 percent discounts for ages 12 and under aboard the 39-passenger small yacht, Safari Explorer. Rates are from $4,995 per person double occupancy. The five-island cruise offers opportunities for whale watching and exploring local culture. For trip details please see: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/200. For ship details see: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/accommprofile.php/d/hawaii/accid/296

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, California along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free or 530-583-1775. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or visit the website: www.AdventureSmithExplorations.com. 

# # # 

For media inquiries, interviews and photos contact Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website and Portfolio of Past Releases: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

Small Ship Cruise Expert AdventureSmith Explorations Announces Rare and Deep Discounts on Antarctic Cruises

Details

Released on Monday, 01 October 2012 08:35

Tahoe City, CA, Oct. 1, 2012– AdventureSmith Explorations (http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/) the active travel company that secures matches between adventure-seeking clients and a treasure trove of small, expedition ships, reports unprecedented deep discounts in cruises to Antarctica this coming season.

“One of the main factors may be that travel bookings slow down as a U.S. Presidential election approaches,” speculates Todd Smith, AdventureSmith founder and director.  Smith explains that August through November is prime booking season for Antarctica small ship expeditions.

“Every four years there seems to be excess cruise capacity to Antarctica and consequently ship owners provide deep discounts, but this year seems special and a great opportunity for adventurous travelers seeking to check off a bucket list vacation to the bottom of the planet.”

He attributes this to “people being reluctant to make big purchases prior to an election due to any perceived uncertainty about the future.  The trend is not nearly as pronounced in other lower ticket travel destinations. We noticed this trend in 2000, 2004 and it was especially pronounced in the 2008 election cycle and economic downturn.”

Following are programs discounted up to 30 percent and others offering significant charter air savings. Small cruise vessels that ply these southern waters vary in capacity from 110 to 189 passengers.

At a 30 percent discount, Antarctic Peninsula Basecamp Cruise is geared toward the traveler interested in actively exploring away from the ship for enhanced adventures (kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, camping, mountaineering, scuba diving and photography workshops). Departure dates are Nov. 22-Dec. 3 and Dec. 3-13, 2012. The per person (double) rate before the discount begins at $8,050. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/170

The Antarctica Peninsula with South Shetlands Cruise comes with a 30 percent discount aboard a research vessel that gets up close and personal with the land of snow and ice.  Departure dates are Dec. 3-13, 2012, and Dec. 23-Jan. 1, 2012/13. The per person (double) rate before the discount is from $8,050. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/169

Mawson’s Antarctica offers a discount of up to 15 percent (or no single supplement). Beginning and ending in New Zealand, this 19-day expedition commands sightings of elephant seals to wandering Albatross of Antarctica. Departure dates are Dec. 20-Jan 7, 2013, and Jan. 7-25, 2013. The person (double) rate before the discount is from $17,430. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/276

Antarctica Air Cruise is a whale photo safari that comes with a $1,500 per person air credit for a Dec. 7-13 departure. The per person (double) rate is from $10,800. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/173

National Geographic the White Continent is a journey with Lindblad Expeditions that comes with a $1,400 air credit or a $700 air credit and two complimentary days in Buenos Aires. This has the finest naturalist program of all Antarctic cruises. Departures are Nov. 27-Dec. 10 and Dec. 7-20, 2012. The per person (double) rate is from $11,740. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/68

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, California along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free or 530-583-1775. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the website: www.AdventureSmithExplorations.com.

# # #

For media inquiries, interviews and photos contact Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website and Portfolio of Past Releases: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

Small-Ship Cruising with AdventureSmith Explorations Allows Travelers to Visit Off-the-Radar Villages From Alaska to New Guinea

Details

Released on Thursday, 06 September 2012 10:26

TAHOE CITY, CA, Sept. 6, 2012 – The active travel company securing matches between adventure-seeking clients and a treasure trove of small expedition ships, AdventureSmith Explorations, allows guests to experience indigenous cultures with off-ship visits to remote, villages from Alaska to New Guinea. 

“Our small ships designed for as few as eight passengers can navigate channels and harbors that larger vessels can’t. This means that we can offer authentic cultural exchanges in villages and markets where few outsiders ever visit,” said Todd Smith, founder. 

For example, an exploration of the lost paradise of Papua, New Guinea, is reminiscent of James A. Michener’s Adventures in Paradise. Diversity (think 800 languages) abounds during a welcome ceremony that greets travelers landing in the Tami Islands with traditional Trobriand dances and drumming.  Explore the village for intricate carvings and craftwork including carved walking sticks, small stools and exquisitely crafted bowls.  With no roads, phones, electricity or luxuries the open and happy outlook of the villagers is inspiring. A dragon dance welcomes guests at Watam Village along the Sepik River where woven baskets and exceptional Sepik artifacts and unique carvings are among the take-home treasures. A 12-day cruise on the 100-passenger Orion is from $8,095 per person, double.  See: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/261

Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage, guests visit in addition to Glacier Bay National Park, the village of Kasaan with a population of just 65. It is a main historical community of the Kaigani Haida and home to the only remaining Haida clan house in Alaska. Here in a newly erected carving hut young carvers practice their skills alongside a whale house and totem park. If this journey on the 42-passenger Alaska Dream is booked for a 2013 sailing by Oct. 31, 2012, clients will save 20 percent per person. A 9-day journey starts at $3,749 per person, double. See: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/71

Panama’s Embera Indians are a proud people who have maintained both lifestyle and traditions as they were before the Spaniards colonized the region 600 years ago. They are master crafters of cocobolo wood carvings and basketry. After motoring up river, guests see their village emerging, as if by magic, from the jungle. They witness how sugar cane is squeezed and grains are milled by hand, perhaps purchasing weavings and baskets. A seven-day catamaran cruise on the 24-person Discovery is from $3,450 per person, double. Guests who pay in full 180 days before sailing receive an early booking discount of $250 per person. See: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/189 

The people of Peru’s Amazon rainforest where they have lived for thousands of years depend on an intimate relationship with the natural environment for survival. From the moment the cruise begins guests see people living along the river: a dugout canoe full of piranha, a gathering of huts on a high riverbank and boats full of goods to sell and trade along the waterways. Interaction with villagers who live within the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve helps them to develop and promote a balance between their needs and those of the wildlife with which they share habitat and ecosystems. In Puerto Miguel villagers bring their handicrafts aboard the ship for sale and barter. Cruises of four or five days are from $3,200 per person double aboard the four-suite Delfin I. See: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/203

About AdventureSmith Explorations:

AdventureSmith Explorations http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/ is the global leader in small ship, adventure cruise vacations. Company founder Todd Smith helped pioneer the concept of wilderness cruising that combines the comforts of a small cruise ship with the adventure of sea kayaking, hiking and exploring remote wilderness areas ashore. The company matches guests with the top names in small ship cruising as well with intimate, boutique ships that may not make the radar of most travelers. 

In moving through exotic natural environments and exploring vibrant native cultures seldom associated with more mainstream cruise itineraries, AdventureSmith Explorations dedicates its efforts to small footprint, sustainable travel and has launched a carbon free cruising initiative. Its off-the-beaten-path destinations include Alaska, Baja, Costa Rica, Belize, Ecuador and the Galapagos, Hawaii, Panama, Peru, the Arctic, Antarctica, Australia and now the Mediterranean. 

The company's mission is to give back to the individuals, communities and environments touched by AdventureSmith Explorations trips by connecting travelers with a network of grassroots and global nonprofit partners worldwide including the Alaska Natural History Association, Neotropica Foundation and Galapagos Conservancy. The company was named by National Geographic Adventure as one of “The Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” and is the recipient of Conde Nast Traveler’s prestigious “World Savers Award.” 

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, California along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe.  Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free or 530-583-1775; Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Visit: www.AdventureSmithExplorations.com. 

# # # 

For media inquiries, interviews and photos contact Widness & Wiggins PR: 

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website and Portfolio of Past Releases: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

AdventureSmith Explorations Secures Relationship With Travel Dynamics International To Offer New Small Ship Cruises to Belize

Details

Released on Wednesday, 11 July 2012 11:09

Seven-Night Programs Come with $2,000-Plus Savings if Booked by Aug. 1, 2012

TAHOE CITY, CA, July 11, 2012 – The active travel company securing matches between adventure-seeking clients and a treasure trove of small expedition ships, AdventureSmith Explorations, announces savings of over $2,000 for bookings made by Aug. 1, 2012, on a new small ship cruise to Belize beginning in late December and including an optional pre-cruise extension to Guatemala.

Ancient Sites, Rain Forests and Coral Reefs dates are Dec. 22-29; Dec. 29-Jan. 5; Jan. 5-12; Jan. 12-19; Jan. 19-26; Jan. 26-Feb. 2; Feb. 2-9; and Feb. 16-23. Cruises begin and end in Belize City. See: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/464

Seven-night, all-inclusive cruises on the 138-guest Yorktown include ample off-ship opportunities to snorkel the world’s second largest barrier reef, explore Maya ruins, hike the Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve with a naturalist guide, and relax on Laughing Bird and South Water Cayes. There is also an optional extension to Tikal and Xunantunich, Guatemala. Excursions are enriched by naturalists, Mayanists, archaeologists and scientists who lecture on board.

Guests are assisted on and off ship by the seasoned Travel Dynamics International tour staff that specializes in escorted study groups around the world. Cocktail receptions, baggage handling and transfers and gratuities to porters, guides and drivers are all included in the fee offering savings from $1,600 to $2,200 per cabin if booked by Aug. 1. Per person, after-discount rates begin at $3,795.

The Belize Barrier Reef is known to support 70 species of hard coral, 36 species of soft coral, 500 species of fish and hundreds of species of invertebrates. At Great Blue Hole, a 1,000-foot circular coral rim, the clear water reveals underwater stalactites and sea creatures. Birders will delight in red-footed boobies, magnificent frigate birds, motmots, trogons, great green macaws, parrots and toucans. Active travelers enjoy swimming, snorkeling and kayaking.

The ship was built to maneuver in and out of small bays and cayes that are inaccessible to larger cruise liners. A spacious lounge, dining room, sun deck, swimming platform and Internet access compliment comfortable cabin accommodations.

About Travel Dynamics International

Travel Dynamics International is the leading operator of high-caliber educational and cultural cruises aboard small ships. Offering customized voyages guided by distinguished scholars and experts, Travel Dynamics International caters to the traveler who has a keen intellectual interest in history, culture and nature. Founded on the belief that traveling and learning about the world and its many cultures enriches individuals and society as a whole, Travel Dynamics International excels at voyages that engage travelers with the destination and with one another.

About AdventureSmith Explorations

AdventureSmith Explorations is the global leader in small ship, adventure cruise vacations. Company founder Todd Smith helped pioneer the concept of wilderness cruising that combines the comforts of a small cruise ship with the adventure of sea kayaking, hiking and exploring remote wilderness areas ashore. The company matches guests with the top names in small ship cruising as well with intimate, boutique ships that may not make the radar of most travelers.

In moving through exotic natural environments and exploring vibrant native cultures seldom associated with more mainstream cruise itineraries, AdventureSmith Explorations dedicates its efforts to small footprint, sustainable travel and has launched a carbon free cruising initiative. Its off-the-beaten-path destinations include Alaska, Baja, Costa Rica, Belize, Ecuador and the Galapagos, Hawaii, Panama, Peru, the Arctic, Antarctica, Australia and now the Mediterranean.

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, California along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe.  Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free or 530-583-1775; Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Visit: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/. 

# # # 

For media inquiries, interviews and photos contact Widness & Wiggins PR: 

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website and Portfolio of Past Releases: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave