Quark Expeditions announces 2013-14 Antarctic Season; Book by Sept 30 for Discounts

Polar Pioneer Introduces the First-Ever Polar Floating Film Festival Voyage and a New Fly Cruise Itinerary

Quark Expeditions, a leader in polar adventure, has just announced its Antarctic 2013 -2014 season. Highlights include a voyage featuring the first-ever Floating Polar Film Festival in conjunction with Hot Docs, a fly-cruise itinerary that takes passengers across the Antarctic Circle, and a 23-day ‘do it all’ Antarctic adventure. The Epic Antarctica itinerary is the only voyage of its kind to take passengers to South Georgia, the Falkland Islands as well as the Antarctic Peninsula.

With 32 departures starting November 1, 2013, Quark offers more Antarctic voyages than any other Polar operator.

New Expeditions Added

Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica via Buenos Aires: Explorers and Kings
The inaugural voyage of the season aboard the Sea Spirit offers passengers an unprecedented experience. Departing from Buenos Aires, the 22-day voyage offers passengers the first-ever Floating Polar Film Festival. Curated by North America’s largest documentary festival, Hot Docs, this on-board festival will feature a diverse documentary film program set against the remote beauty of Antarctic waters. The journey starts on November 1, 2013 on the Sea Spirit.

Antarctic Express: Crossing the Circle
Quark’s newest fly-cruise voyage offers passengers all the incredible experiences and bragging rights of crossing the Antarctic Circle, in less time than a typical voyage. This new 11-day expedition (instead of the usual 15) departs on December 22, 2013 and will have passengers celebrating New Year’s Eve aboard the Sea Adventurer.

Crossing the Circle via Falklands & South Georgia: Epic Antarctica
For those looking for the ultimate Antarctic experience, there is now a 23-day ‘do it all’ expedition on the Sea Adventurer which departs February 23, 2014. This extensive itinerary offers travelers a chance to see seven species of penguins, and more than 30 species of birds while visiting the “Galapagos of the Poles.” This is the only voyage available taking passengers to the Falklands and South Georgia as well as across the Antarctic Circle to the Peninsula.

Ships
The largest of Quark’s fleet, the ‘Super Yacht,’ Ocean Diamond, is back with Quark Expeditions for its second season of Carbon Neutral voyages. The ship features unparalleled comfort and stability.

Passengers will enjoy a massage and wellness program, the largest Polar library, in-room flat screen TV and DVD player and each cabin offers exterior views and en-suite bath. An all-inclusive beverage package is also available on this ship.

Sea Adventurer (formerly known as Clipper Adventurer) boasts outside cabins with en-suite facilities, a TV and DVD player in every cabin, a Polar Boutique, internet access, a fitness room and more. All-inclusive beverage packages are available on this ship.

Sea Spirit is Quark’s luxury adventure ‘all-suites’ ship and features all-inclusive beverages on every voyage, every suite has an exterior view and en-suite bath, in-room satellite phone and flat screen TV and DVD player. This ship also offers passengers a hot tub and workout room, polar library and many more amenities to suit every passenger’s needs.

How to Book
As an early booking incentive, travelers who reserve by September 30, 2012 will receive a 25% discount on suites* and 20% off on all other cabin categories.

Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition – 14 & 15 days from $6,995
Antarctic Express: Cruise South, Fly North – 10 days from $7,395
Antarctic Express: Fly South, Cruise North – 9 days from $6,995
Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake – 8 days from $7,995
Antarctic Express: Crossing the Circle – 11 days from $10,995
Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent – 10-12 days from $4,595
Antarctic Peninsula East and West: Explorers’ Route – 15 days from $12,995
South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula: Penguin Safari – 17 days from $14,995
Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica: Explorers and Kings – 19 & 20 days from $9,495
Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica via Buenos Aires: Explorers and Kings – 22 days from $13,995
Crossing the Circle via Falklands & South Georgia: Epic Antarctica – 23 days from $13,495

Prices listed above are in U.S. dollars and are per person based on triple occupancy. For more information contact a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 888-892-0171 or visit www.quarkexpeditions.com.

For over 20 years, Quark Expeditions has been the leading provider of polar adventure travel. With its diverse fleet of specially equipped vessels and seasoned expedition leaders, they offer travelers unparalleled access to the most remote regions on earth. In 2011, Quark was named a recipient of National Geographic Traveler’s “50 Tours of a Lifetime” for their “Three Arctic Islands” voyage.

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Travcoa introduces new ‘Ancient Mysteries’ journey combining Easter Island and Machu Picchu with $1000 savings if booked before Oct. 31.

Travcoa, a world leader in luxury travel, announces the introduction of a new “Ancient Mysteries & Sacred Sites: Easter Island & Machu Picchu” Independent Journey, which explores two fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The itinerary features Easter Island’s newest luxury resort, the Hangaroa Eco Village & Spa as well as three luxury Orient Express hotels in Peru. In celebration of this intriguing 12-day journey, Travcoa is offering savings of $1000 per person for travel before October 31, 2012.

“Together, Easter Island and Machu Picchu encompass the mystery, power and natural splendor of two sophisticated, ancient societies,” stated Jerre Fuqua, President of Travcoa. “Our local expert guides, flexible travel dates, and luxury accommodations provide guests an extraordinary travel experience to these remote destinations for a truly unique encounter with the past.”

Travcoa’s guests will spend three days accompanied by a resident archeologist unraveling the mysteries behind the massive moai stone sculptures that are found throughout remote Easter Island. Highlights include up-close encounters with the massive moai statues; Aju Tongariki, the largest of the ahu stone platforms; Rano Raraku, a volcanic crater which served as a quarry for the island’s stone sculptures; and Rano Kau, an extinct volcano that houses a freshwater lake.

Next they will spend eight days exploring Peru including Lima, the capital city, the mountainous city of Cusco, the Urubamba Valley, also known as the ‘Sacred Valley of the Incas,’ and finally, the famed citadel of Machu Picchu. Here guests will enjoy a privately-guided tour of the ruins and a tranquil evening at the exclusive Sanctuary Lodge, the only accommodation at the site. After day visitors have departed, the guests will have the privilege of enjoying the sunset and sunrise at Machu Picchu without the crowds.

From North America, the journey departs every Saturday, connects in Lima, Peru and arrives at Easter Island early Sunday morning. Land is priced from $6,995 USD per person based on double occupancy, and special airfares are available. Exclusive to Travcoa guests: travel before October 31, 2012 and save $1,000 per person.

For more information on the Ancient Mysteries & Sacred Sites: Easter Island & Machu Picchu Independent Journey, travelers can join Travcoa’s upcoming webinar about South America taking place on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 11:00 AM PT. To register, visit www.travcoa.com/travel-agents.

For additional details or to request a brochure, call a travel agent or a Travcoa Journey Consultant at 1-800-992-2003, email info@travcoa.com or visit www.travcoa.com.

Travcoa has been leading luxury adventures and in-depth explorations of the world’s most interesting destinations since 1954. The company offers three types of travel experiences around the globe: small-group Escorted Journeys with comprehensive itineraries guided by professional Travel Directors; pre-designed and priced Independent Journeys for travelers who prefer private travel on a date of their choice; and Tailor-Made Journeys crafted to individual traveler specifications.

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Eureka Springs in Arkansas Ozarks is Prime Destination for Family ‘Exploravacation’

One of the best places to experience Eureka Springs, and have that connection to its heritage and history, is the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, a member of Historic Hotels of America (courtesy of 1886 Crescent Hotel).

Families looking for a vacation destination that can offer a lot to do in a small area, fun activities that don’t cost a lot, a safe place for kids to explore, and a place that has a proven track record in creating lifetime memories – in short, who want to do an “exploravacation” this year – can find it in Eureka Springs, a historic Victorian village in the Arkansas Ozarks that is surrounded by lakes and rivers for their family’s “exploravacation” this year.

“The term ‘exploravacation’ was one we coined after interviewing vacationing parents and kids, separately,” explained local hotelier Jack Moyer. “We discovered that parents feel comfortable allowing their kids to go off alone in exploring our historic downtown district assuming they are traveling in pairs and that their cell phones are on.  The kids described being wowed at the Eureka’s crazy staircases, unique history, interesting buildings and designs and the feel that you were on this fun scavenger hunt with a new discovery at every turn.  I enjoyed the kids’ analogy that being downtown was like hanging at the mall just a lot more interesting.”

To give kids -and their parents- a head start in exploring downtown Eureka Springs, a Downtown-n-Underground Tour has been developed that traces the town’s history from its beginnings through the Civil War era, the days of Wild West outlaws, right on up to today.  Additionally, the downtown Eureka Springs Historical Museum offers numerous maps of hidden walkways and trails of this “city that time forgot”.  The community is so historically distinctive, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Eureka Springs as one of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations.

“The kids also told us that a summer vacation without water is like a day without sunshine,” Moyer noted, “and Eureka Springs doesn’t disappoint in that area either.”

Just minutes from downtown are Table Rock and Beaver lakes, recreational swimming and boating are easily accessible as is world-famous trout fishing in the White River and bountiful bass fishing and floating on the Kings River.

Surrounding 85-acre city-owned Lake Leatherwood are 40 miles of trails for hiking and biking, perfect for family outings.  For those skilled adventurers, area caves and more rugged trails can be found in almost every direction.  Many of these excursions can be found on arkansas-outdoor-adventures.com.

Affordable commercial attractions abound, too.  The list includes such “must sees” as Turpentine Creek, a wildlife refuge with the largest collection of lions and tigers and bears in the region; The Great Passion Play remains America’s number one attended outdoor drama; and the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway, a real steam-driven train.  Nearby Pea Ridge National Military Park is the perfect entrée into the sesquicentennial commemoration of America’s Civil War.  A complete list of attractions, calendar of events, and many activities available for kids and families can be found at reserveeureka.com.

“One of the most intriguing aspects of our community is its reputation for our ghosts,” added Moyer.  “Perhaps the most famous for ghosts, thanks to nationally televised episodes on such programs as ‘Ghost Hunters’, is the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa.  This four-story limestone structure is a successful mountaintop spa resort yet boasts of having ‘guests who checked out but never left’.”  The hotel offers nightly ghost tours and has a special paranormal website, americasmosthauntedhotel.com.

Moyer explained, “No community is like Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and no family vacation provides such positives without spending the majority of your day and your vacation budget while waiting in line in the sun for a two-minute roller coaster ride.  We hear it time and again, our guests remember their visit here as the time that their family actually did something together that produced lifetime memories, memories that can be shared by generations to come.  And they did it within the family budget.”

Family vacation packages abound for Eureka Springs.  Many can be found at reserveeureka.com.  Most of the packages include lodging and attraction tickets while many include some meals.  Throughout the season both attractions and places to say will post “hot deals” on facebook.com/officialeurekasprings.

“In a time when family ties long to be tightened and vacation budgets are short on cash, moms have told us that an ‘exploravacation’ to Eureka Springs proves to be a pretty good investment,” Moyer concluded, “an investment that reaps major dividends in lifetime memories.”

1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa

Eureka Springs has been attracting family vacationers for more than a century. In fact, the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations.

One of the best places to experience Eureka Springs, and have that connection to its heritage and history, is the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, a member of Historic Hotels of America. The 1886Crescent Hotel is a palatial structure that echoes the recuperative splendor of the surrounding Ozark Mountain region.

The hotel features 15 on-site acres of gardens and nature trails. Located in the historic district with more than 100 restored Victorian shops, restaurants and galleries, the hotel seamlessly retains its 19th-century character, from the Victorian-style Crystal Dining Room to the elegantly furnished guest rooms, without sacrificing a single full-service amenity. The Ozark Mountains premier spa, The New Moon, boasts spa, salon and wellness treatments while the hotel host numerous meetings and wedding events. The New Moon Spa, the recently rebuilt conservatory the addition of luxury suites in the previously vacant stone annex reinforce the modern identity of this century-old hotel.

By the way, frequent paranormal sightings rank the hotel as one of the most haunted hotels in the U.S.

(1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, 75 Prospect Avenue, Eureka Springs, AR 72632, 479-253-9766, www.crescenthotel.com, Historic Hotels of America toll-free reservations number, 800-678-8946).

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