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Clipper Designs Series Of War-Themed Cruises
With the baby boomer generation seeking travel opportunities that explore their family histories, award-winning small-ship operator Clipper Cruise Line has designed a series of military-themed cruises that honor the accomplishments and struggles of those involved in World War II and the Vietnam War. The 122-passenger Clipper Adventurer will carry passengers to significant battle sites along the Mediterranean and Western European coast; while the 128-passenger Clipper Odyssey will feature Vietnam and the islands of the South Pacific. Clipper and its operational partners will employ a number of distinguished guest lecturers to provide further detail — through in-depth lectures, informal discussions, and guided excursions — on the historic events that occurred at these sites. "Our staff has worked closely with a number of military history experts in designing these Clipper Cruise Line voyages so that they may provide further insight into the people and events that turned the tides of these campaigns," CEO David Drier said. "We introduced this theme in 2004 with our cruise along the Normandy coast to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion and furthered our efforts by adding an exploration of the Solomon Islands in March 2005. Each was so well received by military groups, history buffs, and families of veterans — ships departing with full passenger loads and returning to rave reviews — that we’ve decided to introduce a full complement of military-themed journeys aboard the Clipper Adventurer and Clipper Odyssey in 2006 and beyond." These itineraries were selected because of their prominent roles in determining the outcome of these legendary conflicts. Among the sites passengers will call upon in the Solomon Islands are Guadalcanal (the largest island in the group that saw six months of ferocious fighting), Plum Pudding (where John F. Kennedy and his shipmates swam ashore after the sinking of PT 109), Vella Lavella (home to the famed Marine Corps pilots nicknamed the "Black Sheep Squadron"), and Rabaul (featuring miles of underground tunnels and bunkers used for protection). In the Mediterranean, guests will learn about Operation HUSKY (the Allied effort to overtake Sicily that was the largest amphibious operation in World War II) and follow the path to Rome used by the Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth Armies. Along Europe’s Atlantic coast, they’ll pay tribute to the D-Day landmarks by visiting the German U-boat pens at La Pallice, the Patton Monument at Avranches, the landing beaches (scheduled on June 6!), the Pegasus Bridge near Caen, and the Cabinet War Rooms in London. Excursions on the Vietnam cruise will explore Hanoi, the underground tunnel complexes at Vinh Moc and Cu Chi, the Citadel in Hue, Da Nang, Khe Sanh, and Ho Chi Minh City. The first trip planned in the 2006 series is the World War II South Pacific Campaign, which follows the route of the Allied forces in their effort to overtake the Japanese stronghold on the region. Beginning in Sydney, Australia, and continuing through the Solomon Islands to Guam, guests will discover the remnants from the fighting and reflect upon the struggle. Joining passengers on this 16-day adventure aboard the Clipper Odyssey is Dave McComb, who specializes in the role of American destroyers in World War II. The cruise departs March 30, 2006, with rates beginning at $7,750 per person, double occupancy. "Due to the presence of the veterans and your onboard lecturers, the World War II South Pacific Campaign trip exceeded our expectations," said Bob Fish, CEO of the USS Hornet Museum and passenger on the March 2005 departure. "Because my father fought on Guadalcanal in 1943, I had wanted to visit the Solomons for a long time, but the ability to see more than just a few battle sites was not available until this tour. The bottom line is that it was an exceptionally memorable experience that provided us a treasure trove of valuable information and lasting memories." Beginning in Valletta, Malta, and ending in Rome, the Clipper Adventurer’s new World War II Italian Campaign spends 10 days following the footsteps of the Allied forces along the Sicilian and Italian coasts. Led by Dr. Kevin McCranie (a leader in the field of 20th-century European history) and renowned Civil War and World War II expert Edward Bearss (of History America Tours), the cruise visits Gela, Siracusa, and Messina, Sicily; and Salerno, Gaeta, Cassino, and Anzio, Italy, to highlight the efforts of General George Patton’s Seventh Army and General Sir Harold Alexander’s British forces. The cruise departs May 17, 2006, with rates beginning at $3,930 per person, double occupancy. The Tides of War – From the Spanish Civil War to the Shores of Normandy & England voyage aboard the Clipper Adventurer travels from Lisbon, Portugal, to London. In Portugal and Spain, guests will learn of the events leading to the Spanish Civil War and the rise of fascism along the Iberian Peninsula. Then, the ship heads north to present the tremendous planning and effort needed to undertake the D-Day invasion into Normandy — with a special visit planned to the landing beaches on the 62nd anniversary of the battle. Also led by Dr. McCranie, the 15-day journey concludes in Portsmouth (for its D-Day Museum) and London (including a visit to Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms). The cruise departs May 29, 2006, with rates beginning at $6,450 per person, double occupancy. The final military cruise planned for 2006, Return of the Gunfighters – Cruise to Vietnam, is another new voyage that focuses on the Vietnam War. Traveling from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City along the beautiful coastline, guests will enjoy luxurious amenities and an intimate setting aboard the Clipper Odyssey. Led by Major General James Livingston — the Operations Officer for the evacuation of Saigon in 1975 who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for his efforts in liberating the village of Dai Do — guests will gain a firsthand perspective of the American soldiers who fought in this 10-year conflict. The cruise departs September 27, 2006, with rates beginning at $5,590 per person, double occupancy. Along with a return of the Italian, South Pacific, and Vietnam cruises, Clipper will introduce several other military-themed adventures in 2007. Cruises aboard the Clipper Odyssey will include the World War II Philippine Campaign and the World War II Rise and Fall of Japan voyages in April. Aboard the Clipper Adventurer, Clipper has added a World War II North Africa Campaign – Chasing the Desert Fox cruise to Morocco, Gibraltar, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya that will depart in September. Rates on each of these military-themed cruises include deluxe accommodations in all-outside cabins aboard the ship, all shipboard meals, sightseeing and shore excursions, transportation and additional accommodations per the itinerary, discussions and shore excursions led by distinguished guest experts, and the services of Clipper’s hospitality staff. In addition, gratuities and port charges are included in the rates for all cruises aboard the Clipper Adventurer and Clipper Odyssey. For additional information on Clipper Cruise Line, please visit their website at ClipperCruise.com
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