Not Your Average Cruise
There are cruises and then there’s Aurora Expeditions.There are cruises, you know, like with water slides and Vegas-ish entertainment, zero health protocols and extra fees for excursions. And then there’s Aurora Expeditions. And now Aurora is on sale at 20% off.
Imagine cruising around Ireland and Scotland for 17 days out of Dublin, hitting some of the lesser known islands. Imagine wildlife excursions, included in the price of a berth, via zodiac to see colonies in the tens of thousands of gannets and puffins. Imagine educational lectures and expert guides as you get up close to UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Or imagine a 15-day cruise out of Lisbon to the islands in the Cape Verde, Canary Islands and Azores chains off the coast of Portugal and Africa, hiking ancient volcanoes, birdwatching and visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Other itineraries on sale include Costa Rica & The Panama Canal, as well as Jewels of the UK Coast.
What I like about this kind of alternative cruise is that the ships are small, the itinerary is always jam packed with fascinating activities that respect destinations, the service is much more personal and the other passengers are going to be just as keen to enjoy the locations and the journey. This is no floating city or an all-inclusive resort, except on a ship rather than a beach.
Gotta say, it’s a good thing some of Aurora’s itineraries are on sale because they ain’t cheap to begin with. That Ireland/Scotland trip is down to $11,750 per person and the other is at about $9000. Still, I like what’s included: overnights in Dublin or Lisbon, short haul flights to starting points, all food and drink, all those shore excursions and even the crew gratuities. Really, that includes everything except international flights to and from. The fascinating attractions and locations, as well as the perks aboard ship and getting to the ship make Aurora a tempting alternative cruise choice. If it’s in your price range, paying these much higher prices is worth it, especially when they’re discounted at 20 percent.
