A Very Unique, Out of the Ordinary Cruise Experience –Part 1
Posted Under: Family Cruise Ideas, Unique Cruise Experiences
Are you wanting to get away from the normal cruise itinerary, shore excursions, and typical amenities offered by the usual cruise lines? Looking for a truly unique, unusual cruise experience? Have you ever heard of Ascension Island or St. Helena? How about Walvis Bay? These are some lesser known, absolutely beautiful islands and locations along the West Coast of Africa.
Ascension Island
Ascension Island has never had permanent residents, but has long served as a critical communications base for the RAF, USAF, NASA, and the BBC. For decades, this island has basically been closed to visitors. However, with recent changes in these restrictions, Ascension Island is being opened up as a new and incredibly exciting destination. Currently, there are no big hotels or nightclubs, but there is unspoiled flora and fauna. Birds and marine life abound here along with beautiful country side, including many dormant volcanic craters. And, you can top it all off with some of the most incredible sport fishing available anywhere.
Jamestown, St. Helena Photo by Andrew Neaum
The island of St. Helena was once a critical trading center for the world until the Suez Canal was completed. Now, it is a quiet little tropical island with about 3,800 residents known as ‘Saints’, many of whom are direct descendants of the British East India Company workers, Boer P.O.W’s, and African and Chinese servants. The island lies about 1,500 miles northwest of Cape Town, South Africa within the Tropic of Capricorn. It’s an island of contrasts: part desert with 1,000 foot cliffs of bronze colored volcanic rock, part green pastures, and lush, vegetation filled valleys. The only way to get to and from St. Helena is aboard a ship. There is no airport (although there are plans for construction of an airport to begin in 2010 or 2011).
Walvis Bay, Namibia
Walvis Bay is widely considered the travel hub of Namibia. From this location, there are excursions that venture out to Dune 7, Sandwich Harbor, the salt fields, and birding tours of the bay itself (a huge, natural, deepwater lagoon).
These destinations (and a few others) are stunning and unique. Do they pique your interest? We hope so! But…how do you get to them? That too is unique in itself. Learn more about it in our next post, A Very Unique, Out of the Ordinary Cruise Experience – Part 2!
