Press - Pamela Coombs chooses Prince Albert II for her 25th Expedition Voyage with The Cruise People Ltd

Pamela Coombs Chooses Silversea's PRINCE ALBERT II

for her 25th Expedition Voyage

Pamela Coombs, who has booked more than 25 expedition voyages with The Cruise People, meets the captain of the Prince Albert II.

PRESS RELEASE

To mark her 25th expedition cruise, 83-year old Pamela Coombs decided to try her first ‘ultra-luxury’ adventure and in June 2008, she boarded the newly renovated Prince Albert II – Silversea’s latest addition to their fleet – for the 18-day maiden voyage, sailing from London to Tromso.

Over the last 15 years, Pam has sailed on 25 expedition cruises to many of the world’s more remote and exotic destinations - from the Falklands and Antarctica to the Aleutian Islands and up the Amazon to Iquitos, Peru - choosing expedition ships over the more traditional cruise vessels as her mode of transport. All 25 voyages have been booked through The Cruise People in London.

The 132-passenger Prince Albert II, designed specifically for navigating waters inaccessible to larger vessels, has an ice-class 1A hull, similar to the expedition ships Pamela would have sailed on in the past. What makes the Prince Albert II different is the multi-million dollar renovation, providing guests with the largest average size accommodation of any expedition ship in 66 spacious ocean-view suites and staterooms all with private marble bathrooms and bathtubs. The all-inclusive luxury Silversea signature style is evident throughout, although casual dress is positively encouraged and guests are more likely to be spotted wearing their complimentary parka than a black tie or cocktail dress. With a crew to guest ratio of nearly 1 to 1, the vessel provides the thrill of a true expedition whilst guests enjoy a privileged lifestyle that is simply second-to-none.

As one of a handful of true ‘expedition voyagers’ on board the maiden cruise, Pam cajoled some of her fellow passengers into leaving the comfort of the Prince Albert II to join the experienced expedition team in the fleet of inflatable Zodiac boats (carried on board the vessel and used for excursions, shore landings and Zodiac cruising). “Some of the passengers were a little unsure about venturing into the Zodiacs and over dinner one evening I managed to persuade them to try”, says Pam. “I had been to the Faroe Islands on a previous expedition cruise and knew full well there weren’t too many ‘comfortable’ jetty’s ahead of us ... neither on these Islands nor as we sailed further north. So, on the remote volcanic island of Jan Mayen, as some passengers bravely made their first shore landing from the stern of a Zodiac, I am sure they were secretly thanking me ...! And, by the end of the voyage, many were much more enthusiastic about the idea of adventure and expedition cruising ... and were talking about sailing south to Antarctica.”

Pam’s impressive list of expedition cruises booked with The Cruise People includes nine voyages to Antarctica, her first being in 1993, at the very beginning of tourism to Antarctica. Prince Albert II operated her first Antarctic voyage on 14 November 2008 – a 16-day ‘Explorers’ cruise sailing from Ushuaia in Argentina, heading for West Point and Carcass on the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, the South Orkneys, Elephant Island and the Antarctic Peninsula. Prices are from £4641 per person sharing a double suite including charter flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, excluding international flights London/Buenos Aires.

Those with less time on their hands could join an 11-day Classic Antarctic Peninsula cruise on board Prince Albert II sailing from Ushuaia on 30 November 2008. Prices are from £3725 per person sharing a double stateroom including charter flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, excluding international flights London/Buenos Aires.

Pam celebrated her 84th birthday in August 2008 and plans to continue sailing the ‘high seas’. As Pam disembarked the Prince Albert II in Tromso she said, “I am still unsure as to how well luxury combines with expedition but I am seriously considering booking my second ultra-luxury adventure onboard Prince Albert II ... just to check!”

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Notes to editors:

1) Interviews with Pamela Coombs can be arranged by appointment. Please contact Debra Taylor at toucanmoon on 01491 613424/07956 852197 or debra@toucanmoon.com

2) The Cruise People website is www.cruisepeople.co.uk

3) For enquiries and reservations, please contact Gay Scruton or Dessy Sajewicz at The Cruise People on 020 7723 2450 / cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk

4) The Cruise People specialise in niche cruise markets including ultra-luxury, small ship cruising, expedition voyages and freighter travel. For more information on their range of itineraries and vessels please contact Debra Taylor at toucanmoon or Kevin Griffin at The Cruise People.

5) Silversea Expeditions www.silversea.com operate the Prince Albert II

6) For press enquiries and images please contact Debra Taylor at toucanmoon on 01491 613424/07956 852197 or debra@toucanmoon.com.

Enquiries & Reservations 020 7723 2450

Prepared by toucanmoon / 28 July 2008

Posted 10th December 2008