Has anyone cruised Clipper Adventurer?

[cruisenfreak]

We just booked one of the repositioning cruises on the Clipper Line Adventurer from Halifax down to Charleston, SC for next September 18.

Has anyone cruised this ship? If so, what can you tell us about it or about cruising on it?

We cruised the Nantucket Clipper several years ago for a week in the BVI's and really enjoyed it.

Thanks.

[wander]

If you are talking about the Clipper Adventurer that does Antarctica in the winter (our winter), we were on it this past year. We loved it! Now, it is a very different experience from Celebrity, HAL, Princess, etc. as is it an expedition type ship with an ice hardened hull. It holds about 110 passengers. Nothing on the ship is "fancy" and the artwork is of the sort that many of us would have in our homes. However, it is all very comfortable and it was very clean and all was in good condition.

There is a very nice lounge is used for multiple things. For us it was where our many lectures were held, where pre-dinner appetizers were serves, where the main bar is and where there are alot of windows. It was of a size that we could all fit in there at one time. It was used for those wanting a simple breakfast and a soup/sandwich/salad lunch. Full breakfast and lunch service were also available in the dining. I do not know if the same goes for cruises such as yours.

Cabins - we had a cabin in the least expensive catagory with a porthole. Again the cabin does not compare with a mainline cruiseship, it is smaller and more basic. However, we found the beds to be very comfortable, there was a small desk and chair, good sized closet space and a very usable bathroom. For for our cruise all meals were casual (breakfast and lunch very, very casual as we were usually dressed for zodiac landings in near freezing weather), for dinner most evenings we cleaned-up a bit and wore slacks and sweaters. Unsure what clothing is like for a cruise like yours.

Crew - cabin and dinning room were excellent. We heard no complaints. We did meet the woman who is usually the cruise director who was most pleasant. However, for our trip an Expedition company had chartered the whole ship and brought their own expedition leader, cruise director, zodiac drivers and lecturers. Thus, the dinning room and cabin crew were the only Clipper Adventurer crew we met.

There is alot of wonderful deck space to enjoy on three levels of the ship, some of which is protected by plexiglass "walls".

Now, I could go on, but since I have no idea if you will look at this board again I will stop for now. (It has been some time since you sent the inquiry.) I will check back for time to time and if you have any specific questions I will try to answer them.

We would happily go on the Clipper Adventurer again in an instant, keeping in mind that it is a totally different experience than a larger line. The only real similarity is that they are both ships in the water.

[cruisenfreak]

You're right about not checking this post. I just now realized I had a response.

We've cruised the Nantucket Clipper once so know what to expect from the line and are looking forward to being on this line again.

I guess I was just interested in any tips you might have for this particular ship- sounds like you had a great experience.

Mary Jane

[ozzie09]

Not sure if we are going, but will contact you again if we decide to go.

[UVaWiseGuy]

I was just looking at the itinerary you booked. It looks very interesting. Late September is a good time for us to look at cruising. We've also been tossing around the idea of Europe in the same time frame. We've only been on a mid-large ship (1500 guests) on Princess. I'd be curious to hear from someone who can compare/contrast the two.

the Stanger

[cruisenfreak]

We've cruised a lot & have always enjoyed the small ships. (We like big ships too, though.) I guess it really depends on the individual. Small ship cruising is more like being on a yacht with little entertainment except talking with other passengers. Sometimes they have a local group on board or a historian for lectures.

This line has decadent chocolate chip cookies every afternoon!!

When in port there is no standing in line to get off or back on. You often get into ports the large ships cannot enter.

The staff also prides themselves on learning passenger names and/or drink preferences - the personal touch.

Cabins are small but certainly adequate.

We were on this line in the US and British VI's once and on the last night on board the captain decided to untie and cruise around the St. Thomas harbor for about an hour - it really was a special time. Can you even imagine a large ship making such a decision?

It's been several years since we've been on a small ship, so we're really looking forward to this trip.

Jim & Mary Jane

[Joanandjoe]

We're thinking about trying Clipper in 2006, after cruises on Wind Star in 2004 and Radisson this coming September. Will we feel cramped in cabins that are much smaller than anything we've ever had? (At 198 square feet, our cabin on the Wind Surf was by far the smallest we've ever had, and that felt mighty small to us.) Our idea of luxury is lots of space.

We also have a question about those chocolate chip cookies. Believe it or not, Joe is so highly allergic to chocolate that the smell of chocolate makes him dizzy, and eating one cookie would send him to the hospital. Is there a strong smell of chocolate on the ship? If there is, we'll have to pass on sailing with Clipper.

[cruisenfreak]

The cabins are sparse & feel small - but by far not the smallest ones we've seen. Think yacht-type accommodations,not cruise ship. We love it.

I don't remember the smell of chocolate - but it would be worth a call to their office to ask.

[zackiedawg]

Will we feel cramped in cabins that are much smaller than anything we've ever had? (At 198 square feet, our cabin on the Wind Surf was by far the smallest we've ever had, and that felt mighty small to us.)

198 sq feet actually sounds pretty generous! The typical cabins on an RCCL ship are 165-170 sq ft. Celebrity's Millenium class are 170 sq feet, and 190 sq ft for the upgraded Concierge cabins. Carnival, Princess, etc all have standard inside and outside staterooms in the 170-180 sq ft region.

I would guess the cabins in the Clippers are slightly smaller than those on your typical mega-cruiser, which should translate to smaller than 170sq ft. There are suites available though, which may help to accomodate you if you need more space.

I haven't been on the Adventurer...but caught her pulling out of Costa Rica while I was aboard Coral Princess:

http://pic.funtigo.com/img/i2575649_18220.jpg

It looked like a fun, intimate little ship, and all the passengers I spoke to were having a wonderful time.

[Joanandjoe]

Thanks for the comments, Cruzenfreak and Zackie. A lot of people use their cabins just to sleep in and change. We've found that we spend a lot of time in the cabins, so size is important and we've avoided small cabins such as typical RCCL ones. On a clipper ship, we might spend less time in our room than on HAL or Celebrity.

We're still looking for a cruise for May or June, 2006. So many cruise lines are raising their prices that it seems like an impossible dream.

[dylantyler]

nantucket??? wheres that

[benchassc]

I'm a former sailor (Charleston Harbor), and compared to my boat, the Adventurer's cabins were most luxurious! We liked the ship so much we took a second cruise a year after the first. The first was the Western Med, the second the North African Med coast. We loved the ship, and would cruise it again anytime it went where we wanted to go. Can't imagine a large ship. It's great to get to know the Skipper and the crew, and I enjoyed my many visits to the bridge, which is open. Can't recommend it highly enough!
benchassc :)

[ultranet]

Will make a plan for next year.........

[not Cozumel again cruiser]

We two have booked the Tauck Tour. We have significant doubts about anyone reading this; however, we are trying to make contact with fellow travellers.
We will be driving a rental from the west coast of Fl. on 1/20/07 to MIA.
Hope to hear from someone.

[Louise22]

Hi - I was on the Adventurer in Antarctica last February. The cruise was half Tauck and half people who had booked through Intrav, Clipper's parent company. We had wonderful weather and smooth sailing. You will have a most fantastic experience. If you have any questions, please ask.

[Jade13]

still trying to figure out how it can be done for less than 30K for three people (perhaps my stepdaughter won't want to go)?

Can you tell me which expedition company you booked with? Our favoritte trip so far was in the Galapagos on a ship with 85 persons, ver expensive and we booked directly with the cruise campany. My husband didn't like the food but then he is a chef.

Anyway, which company? Hpw much is the travel insurance as I know its mandatory? And, how long was the actual cruise? If I'm not mistaken the ship only has twin beds, correct?

[Louise22]

I mentioned in my post that you could book the Adventurer through Intrav. I took a look at the prices for their February sailing and for the lowest price cabin (which is quite satisfactory) it would be $8,010 per person. To add a third person would be an additional $5,185. This does not include air at about $1,400 booking through Intrav. Total approximately $25,500. I believe that Intrav offers insurance but another option would be www.insuremytrip.com (http://www.insuremytrip.com) which gives you quite a few selections of companies.

[Leiter]

Can you tell me which expedition company you booked with? Our favoritte trip so far was in the Galapagos on a ship with 85 persons, ver expensive and we booked directly with the cruise campany. My husband didn't like the food but then he is a chef.

Anyway, which company? Hpw much is the travel insurance as I know its mandatory? And, how long was the actual cruise? If I'm not mistaken the ship only has twin beds, correct?
Reply With Quote


We were on the Clipper Adventurer for our Antarctica trip in 2004 and loved it.
We booked with ExpeditionTrips.com. They specialize in Antarctica and Galapagos small ship cruises and often give very good discounts. We lucked out on a 2 for 1 on their Antarctica trip, but that doesn't happen that often.
We used them for the Galapagos, too, but we did that on the Eclipse.

As for trip insurance try Insuremytrip.com. They compare all the insurance companies and give very good rates with good coverage. Each insurance company listed is rated A, A+, A-, B+, etc. and the complete coverage is given. You can choose three and they will automatically compare them side by side for you. I've never had to collect, so I can't tell you anything about that, but if a company is rated A or A+, I imagine collecting on a legitimate claim is not a problem.

Good luck,
Jackie
Leiter@bellsouth.net

[Jade13]

one? Dd you book within a month of the sailing?

[Jade13]

the payment and cancellation policy is scary!

No Credit Cards and payment by wire transfer. Within 90 days 100% of payment is due and if you cancel and haven't payed you still owe it.

Btw, there Galapagos cruise looks like half the price we paid for the Master Suite two years ago. I suppose they are good if you can travel last minute..like make a 3-4 week decision?

Why would someone pay a deposit before 90 days?


Cancellation Policy
2006-2007 Season
All requests for cancellations must be received in writing. Cancellations received 90 days prior to departure are fully refunded less an administrative fee of $500 per person. Please note that within the 90 day limit all deposits and tariffs are forfeited. If cancellation occurs within the 90 day period and full payment has not yet been received, the full penalty will still apply and unpaid monies are due immediately.

2007-2008 Season
If cancellation is received up to 150 days prior to departure, deposits are refundable, less a $500 administrative fee per person. If cancellation is received between 149 and 90 days prior to departure, deposits are non-refundable.

For the Sarpik Ittuk 01/14/08 & Orlova 01/15/08 trips to Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia please note that if cancellation is received up to 180 days prior to departure, deposits are refundable less a $500 administrative fee per person. If cancellation is received between 179 and 90 days prior to departure, deposits are non refundable. If cancellation occurs within the 90 day period and full payment has not yet been received, the full penalty will still apply and unpaid monies are due immediately.

[Leiter]

one? Dd you book within a month of the sailing?
Sorry it's been so long for a reply. I'm in the midst of booking two trips and I lost track of this posting. Anyway, we booked in October for the December cruise to Antarctica, so that was pretty close to the sailing date. We are on the mailing list for ExpeditionTrips.com and we're very flexible with our travel most of the time. My husband is semi-retired and I'm fully retired. It came on my email and we booked. I guess they had some last minute availability. Still, if you go on their website, you can see many trips to Antarctica with very good discounts.

[Leiter]

the payment and cancellation policy is scary!

No Credit Cards and payment by wire transfer. Within 90 days 100% of payment is due and if you cancel and haven't payed you still owe it.

Btw, there Galapagos cruise looks like half the price we paid for the Master Suite two years ago. I suppose they are good if you can travel last minute..like make a 3-4 week decision?

Why would someone pay a deposit before 90 days?


Cancellation Policy
2006-2007 Season
All requests for cancellations must be received in writing. Cancellations received 90 days prior to departure are fully refunded less an administrative fee of $500 per person. Please note that within the 90 day limit all deposits and tariffs are forfeited. If cancellation occurs within the 90 day period and full payment has not yet been received, the full penalty will still apply and unpaid monies are due immediately.

2007-2008 Season
If cancellation is received up to 150 days prior to departure, deposits are refundable, less a $500 administrative fee per person. If cancellation is received between 149 and 90 days prior to departure, deposits are non-refundable.

For the Sarpik Ittuk 01/14/08 & Orlova 01/15/08 trips to Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia please note that if cancellation is received up to 180 days prior to departure, deposits are refundable less a $500 administrative fee per person. If cancellation is received between 179 and 90 days prior to departure, deposits are non refundable. If cancellation occurs within the 90 day period and full payment has not yet been received, the full penalty will still apply and unpaid monies are due immediately.
We booked last minute on both our trips and never had a problem because we didn't have to cancel, but we always take out cancellaltion insurance to cover the last minute cancellation policy. This company has been around for quite awhile. My niece just used them for her honeymoon and hers was not a last minute trip.

[Jade13]

Thank you for the reply. Can I ask who has cancellation insurance? Do you find one company better than another?

Thanks again.

[Louise22]

I have actually booked quite a few trips through Expeditiontrips and never had a problem. I have a favorite travel agent so she does all the booking for me. I think she gets some kind of percentage which I would not get by doing it myself.

Also, as to insurance - there is a great website www.insuremytrip.com (http://www.insuremytrip.com) where you can enter your trip information and it will give you a lot of selections. Personally, I have carried Access America and CSA. I don't think you can get cancellation by itself but will have to buy a "whole" policy.

[Leiter]

Jade and Louise,
That is the insurance website we always use for choosing our policy. I always look for the companies that are in the A range and then look for things like coverage if an agency goes out of business or for preexisting illnesses because of my 95 yr. old mother. Jackie

[iamtrustworthy]

Can you tell me which expedition company you booked with? Our favorite trip so far was in the Galapagos on a ship with 85 persons, very expensive and we booked directly with the cruise campany. My husband didn't like the food but then he is a chef.

Anyway, which company? How much is the travel insurance as I know its mandatory?

Hi Leiter,

Travel insurance will be in the 4.5% to 10% range of the cost of your trip. You'll want to look for a plan that as relatively high emergency medical & transportation coverage. IMHO $50,000 emergency medical & $250,000 emergency medical transportation coverage is enough.

Watch out for the plans that don't have per person coverage. Some well known & less expensive plans have limits that are per policy & not per person.

You should shop around. You'll get better plans for a lot less money. Go to www.google.com (http://www.google.com) and search for "trip insurance". You'll find some good comparison sites that offer reputable companies.

I hope this helps.

[Louise22]

O.K. Steve, you seem like you are an expert in travel insurance - I would really like some information. In looking at differing policies, I am reading in some that if you have to be medically evacuated, no matter if the coverage is $1,000,000, you will only be transported to the closest hospital or medical facility capable of providing treatment. This is scary if you want to be home and will be hospitalized for an extended period and cannot sit in an ordinary airline seat to travel home. I have had Medjet Assist for several years now to cover me in the advent of any unforeseen circumstance. I tend to travel to some pretty out of the way places. Am I reading the policies correctly or have I gone overboard? Thanks for any advice.

[iamtrustworthy]

O.K. Steve, you seem like you are an expert in travel insurance - I would really like some information. In looking at differing policies, I am reading in some that if you have to be medically evacuated, no matter if the coverage is $1,000,000, you will only be transported to the closest hospital or medical facility capable of providing treatment. This is scary if you want to be home and will be hospitalized for an extended period and cannot sit in an ordinary airline seat to travel home. I have had Medjet Assist for several years now to cover me in the advent of any unforeseen circumstance. I tend to travel to some pretty out of the way places. Am I reading the policies correctly or have I gone overboard? Thanks for any advice.

Hi Louise22,

I like Medjet Assist - I've worked with them for a few years. The only drawback to them & other similar ones is that they only pay the cost of the transport, not any of the costs associated with medical treatment. This is fair because they truthfully only offer emergency transport services, although many people I've spoke with assume emergency transport service companies also pay the other costs.

You are correct that some (imho many) plans only medically evacuate the insured person to the closest hospital or medical facility capable of providing treatment. This is different from going to a medical facility with standards equal to US standards. Insurance policies are carefully worded so you can't assume every policy will cover you the same way.

Along these lines, you may have to be first transported to a medical facility with standards not quite equal to US standards because the insurance company doesn't want you to die or get worse through its negligence. However, some policies will then move you to a better medical facility when you can be moved again.

The saying "you get what you pay for" most definitely applies to travel insurance. One of the most surprising things I find are the number of people who want the lowest possible cost for their travel insurance, but they don't realize what they are giving up.

I don't mean that we encourage people to get the most expensive plans, because some choices are clearly overpriced. However, when planning a trip that's on the more expensive side, you could ruin your vacation trying to cut corners on the travel insurance.

Something else travel insurance can cover is when you "cannot sit in an ordinary airline seat to travel home". Many plans will pay the cost for extra seats if you have to lie down.

I hope this helps.

[Louise22]

Steve - thank you so much for your response. Trip insurance companies have been very fair to me - I have collected on four different occasions in the past 10 years. Once when my husband's Mother died and another when he had to have open heart surgery. One was a trip to Egypt and the other Africa. Also, we had to be transported off an island in the South Pacific by helicopter when a hurricane was coming and we needed to make our flight home and another when we were the victims of theft of all our documents in Turkey.

I always try and advise my friends and most of the time it doesn't do any good. I am happy you verified that I was reading the policies correctly so I am not giving out misinformation. I am insured for two trips this year but will check your website out in the future.

[Jade13]

Here is the information that I received from InsureMyTrip.com. I was asking about cancellation insurance. (What if a close relative has a heart
attach a few day before I am to travel and I need to cancel? My other concern is if someone who is supposed to care for our pets suddenly backs out?) So, I guess the question is whether M.H. Ross and TravelSafe offer emergency evacuation to an American standard hospital?

I am traveling on Holland America for our next trip, purchased their platinum plan because I can get 90% back on my credit card (minus the insurance cost of course) if I decide not to go 24 hours in advance. They say they have the best policy, so it must be true. 90% is a lot better than 75%, but perhaps that is the best you can do in Antartica and other remote places?

I am also not clear how the purchase within 15 days works for those reserving cruises with the $100 deposits (large cruise like Princess and now HAL)

Response:

"Thank you for using InsureMyTrip.com.
We do offer "cancel for any reason" policies with two package policies.
M.H.Ross and TravelSafe. Please read below the qualifications for this coverage. **Must purchase one of these policies within 15-days of your first trip payment or deposit.**
Optional Cancel For Any Reason Benefit:
If you cancel your Trip for any reason not otherwise covered by this policy, we will reimburse you for 75% of the prepaid, forfeited, non-refundable Payments or Deposits you paid for your Trip provided:
1. your enrollment form and premium payment is received (or, if mailed, is
post-marked) within 15 days of the date your initial deposit/payment for your Trip is received; and
2. you insure all prepaid Trip costs that are subject to cancellation penalties or restrictions and also insure within 15 days of the payment for those arrangements the cost of any subsequent arrangements (or any other arrangements not made through your travel agent) added to your Trip; and
3. you cancel your Trip two (2) days or more before your Scheduled Trip Departure Date.
The package policies are designed for travelers going on a single trip.
They can
be used for Cruises, Tours, Flights, House Rentals and a world of other trip types.
All offer Trip Cancellation, Baggage, Medical, Dental, Emergency Evacuation, 24 Hour Traveler Assistance, Baggage Delay, Travel Delay, and Accidental Death Coverages. Some policies also have options for Collision/Damage coverage for rented cars, Flight Insurance (a form of Accidental Death Coverage while flying
only) and added Emergency Evacuation insurance. Some package policies include coverage for children at no extra charge.
Please use the link below to obtain a quote and purchase right online.
http://www.insuremytrip.com/myquote-package-1000-0-10015-43.html (http://www.insuremytrip.com/myquote-package-1000-0-10015-43.html)
Please let us know if you have any further questions or need additional information.

Sincerely,
Debra
InsureMyTrip.com Customer Service
service@insuremytrip.com
(Mon-Fri 9:00-9:00 ET)
(Sat,Sun 9:00-5:00 ET)
(800) 487-4722
(401) 773-9300
(401) 921-4530 fax"

[Jade13]

Also, we are still working so I think that my PPO would cover the medical portion (it may only be 70& out of Network). I would need to check if the travel insurance covers the difference.

[walterharris]

Has anyone ever been on an Australian cruise? What cruise line did you use? How long was the Cruise? Where did your ship depart from? What were your ports of Call?

[Tony8489]

The Clipper Adventurer was chartered by Ice Axe Expeditions in Truckee, California for a ski mountaineering cruise November 9-20, 2011. My daily reports and pictures here, along with references to some professional photography. http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards/viewforum.php?f=6

This was an amazing trip. If you see a big cruise company like Princess or Royal Caribbean with an Antarctic itinerary, they are scenic cruising only. You are not allowed to land more than 100 people in Antarctica at one time. Therefore any trip with landings is a small expedition ship for a minimum of 10 days. There were a very few inside cabins for $6,900 but I was in a porthole cabin for $7,600 per person. This price is very much in line with what I've seen for other Antarctic small ship cruises that do not involve skiing. Sometimes those cruises may package in airfare from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and maybe a couple of hotel nights. When you consider that Ice Axe leader Doug Stoup must get approvals from the Antarctic Treaty Organization for potential ski sites and bring 25 mountaineering guides on the ship, I was frankly relieved that the trip did not cost more.

For the Ice Axe cruise you will also have to pay your own airfare to Buenos Aires (~$1,000), probably at least one night there and then Argentine airfare down to Ushuaia (~$400). We had 2 nights in Ushuaia and the Ice Axe package included one of them plus a dinner. If you do not own alpine touring gear you must buy all of that plus harness, crampons, ice axe and a few other mountaineering incidentals. If you're starting from scratch you're probably looking at ~$1,500 minimum in equipment.

For dedicated skiers I recommend this trip highly. This time there were only 6 non-skiers among the ~100 passengers. Doug Stoup consulted every day with the ship Captain and with Quark Expedition leaders to find the best weather for landings and best ski sites. Plans were changed on the fly frequently. This is a customized level of service rarely seen on cruise ships.

The first Ice Axe cruise was in 2009. It will be repeated in November 2013 and most likely every second year after that given the strong word of mouth. http://www.iceaxe.tv/expedition/antarctic-peninsula-cruise-2011/