News & Analysis

Last week Swan Hellenic confirmed that it will be leaving Antarctica after this winter and instead sailing to India and the Far East.

In doing so, it is following in the footsteps of sister cruiseline Voyages of Discovery - both are owned by All Leisure Group - which is swapping the Antarctic chills for a debut Far East season this winter, and Saga-owned Spirit of Adventure, which has also pulled out of the White Continent to cruise in Asia this winter.

Yachts of Seabourn, meanwhile, is to operate cruises year-round from Asia for the first time, with Seabourn Pride based in the region from January 2010.

The mass exodus from Antarctica - Hurtigruten has also cut back from two ships to one - is notable, given it was only about four years ago that these cruiselines, as opposed to small exploration-style companies, started going there in such numbers, but it's not surprising.

Antarctica is a fascinating destination, but a long way to travel, which makes it expensive, and especially hard to sell during an economic crisis. Also, just as countries go in and out of favour among consumers taking land-based holidays, cruise destinations come in and out of fashion.

For instance, after several years in the doldrums, river cruising is having a growth spurt, but demand for Alaska this year is down, not so much because it's no longer fashionable, but because it is an expensive destination, made more expensive by a $50 head tax imposed in 2006.

The drop in bookings has prompted Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line to each pull a ship out of the region for 2010. Princess Cruises, which has a huge operation in Alaska, is adding calls to Yakutat Bay next year, and has more excursions this year, but it is also reducing capacity, going from eight to seven ships.

According to the Alaska Travel Industry Association, there will be about 120,000 fewer cruise visitors in 2010, a 12% decline compared with 2008, when one million people cruised in Alaska.

Closer to home, northern Europe is booming and snapping at the heels of the Caribbean in terms of UK passenger numbers. Clearly, Antarctica is out at the moment, while the Far East is well and truly in. Costa Cruises has been establishing a base there for a couple of years now and Royal Caribbean International has also been inching in.

All Leisure Group chief executive Rob Bryant said the decision to pull Voyages of Discovery and Swan Hellenic out of Antarctica was partly to do with fashion, but also because it was getting increasingly difficult to operate there due to restrictions imposed by the green lobby.

He said: "Voyages of Discovery cruised in Antarctica from 2004/5 to 2008/9, which is a long time. It's a must-go place, but there are only so many new passengers you can get, and last season was hard work getting the numbers.

"We always ask passengers where they would like to go and the consensus was the Far East. The region's popularity has increased generally in the past few years, and it works well for our more mature passengers, as they can visit lots of places [in comfort]."

Bryant said the decision to pull Minerva from Antarctica was made after Abercrombie and Kent in the US made it clear it was not keen on taking its usual winter cabin allocation.

He said: "We could have taken the risk on our own, but decided we would be better off trying something else, and the Far East offers a lot of opportunities.

"We're not shutting the door on Antarctica. It's an incredible destination and I expect we will go back sometime, unless we are told we can't."

Princess Cruises is putting its Far East cruises for 2010/11 on sale in the UK on May 22, more than a week ahead of the rest of the Exotics programme, which includes Hawaii, South America and the Panama Canal, to enable British passengers to book early and secure the cruise they want.

Head of brand marketing Pieter van der Schee said: "That's a measure of how popular it is. We have had ships there for many years, but others are starting to find out what a wonderful destination it is."

Key points: Voyages of Discovery in Asia and the Far East

• The season runs from November 28 to March 2 2010, when Discovery arrives in Mauritius and begins its Africa and Indian Ocean cruises.
• Six cruises of between 15 and 24 days are on sale, which can be put back to back to make longer voyages of up to 41 days, for a Grand Orient round-trip from Singapore, which visits Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia.
• Prices range from £2,248 per person for a 24-day Passage to India cruise from Barcelona to Mumbai, to £5,695 per person for the 41-day Grand Orient cruise. All prices include flights and transfers.

Key points: Princess Cruises' Far East programme 2010/11

• New 14-night cruise from Osaka in Japan to Shanghai in China on Ocean Princess from £2,549 per person including flights and transfers.
• New 19-night voyage from Singapore to Bangkok in December 2010 on Ocean Princess, with maiden calls at Manila, in the Philippines, and Xiamen, China.
• New 26-night voyage from Sydney to Beijing on Diamond Princess in February 2011, which can be combined with a cruise from New Zealand to Australia to make an epic 35-night Grand Adventure. Prices start from £3,349 per person including flights and transfers.

Key points: Yachts of Seabourn year-round in the Far East

• Operating mainly 12 and 14-day cruises between Hong Kong and Xingang (the port for Beijing), Singapore and Kobe in Japan, visiting various ports in China, Japan, Vietnam and South Korea.
• Four 'in-depth' journeys, splitting a 20-day voyage between Hong Kong and Kobe or vice versa, with a two-night mid-cruise stay in Beijing. Prices start from £7,800 all-inclusive, excluding flights, but including full-board accommodation in Beijing and excursions to the Great Wall of China and the Chonghua Palace in the Forbidden City.