Latest news with #voyage
France 24
4 hours ago
- Science
- France 24
In Darwin's wake: Two-year global conservation voyage sparks hope
The majestic three-masted Oosterschelde, the last remaining vessel from a fleet of Dutch schooners that criss-crossed the globe in the early 20th century, arrived to a welcome befitting a voyage of more than 40,000 nautical miles (74,000 kilometres, 46,000 miles). Ceremonially escorted by more than a dozen vessels ranging from tall ships to steamships, all blaring horns, the Oosterschelde received a "water cannon salute" from fire service boats, as hundreds waved and cheered from the banks. Like Darwin in 1831, the Oosterschelde departed the British port of Plymouth in August 2023 to embark on a voyage of discovery that took in the major stops explored during the British naturalist's world-changing mission aboard the HMS Beagle. From the Falkland Islands to the southern tips of Africa, South America and Australia, the trip closely shadowed Darwin's voyage that inspired his groundbreaking theory of natural selection described in "On the Origin of Species". Aboard the Oosterschelde at various points of the voyage were some of the world's best young conservationists, 100 scientists aged 18-25, selected to study a species also observed by Darwin, himself aged 22 at the time of his trip. Giant tortoises, Chilean dolphins, and howler monkeys were just some of the weird and wonderful creatures the young "Darwin Leaders" investigated, tracking changes since their appearance in "Origin of Species" two centuries ago. With "online classrooms" onboard and slick social media output, the mission also hoped to inspire a new generation around the message: "Conservation isn't about what we've lost, it's about protecting what we still have." 'Barely anything left' One of the Darwin Leaders, 23-year-old Lotta Baten, spent a week on the ship and conducted a study into the impact of tourism on forests in Tenerife, Spain. She said only roughly four percent of the forest that Darwin would have seen from the Beagle is still alive today, with much torn down to support the tourism industry. "There's barely anything left, mainly the strips around the coast," the Dutch-German scientist told AFP. She said it was "quite something" to follow in the footsteps of Darwin, but noted that the botanist's legacy is divided, as a European in colonial times. "He basically explored and discovered things that maybe had already been explored and discovered by people at the places themselves. And then he claimed he discovered them," said Baten. Science co-ordinator Rolf Schreuder admitted that "it's not a rosy picture", with habitat loss and climate change all transforming the environment beyond what Darwin would have recognised. "You see the natural world degrading in many places," the 55-year-old told AFP. But Schreuder, like many on board, found the mission inspiring rather than depressing. He ran more than 100 local projects during the trip with people seeking to preserve their landscapes. "We met so many great people that are actually on the ground working on the survival of those species," he said. He found himself inspired too by the young scientists, "full of ideas, full of commitment and determination to really make a difference." 'Do another tour' Crew member Daan van Roosmalen was a boy of 17 when he set sail on the Oosterschelde. He returned to his native Netherlands having just turned 19. "I've just been to so many places. To the Galapagos Islands, French Polynesia. We went so far away and to then sail back up this river and see the skyline of Rotterdam again is just super special," he told AFP. He said he hoped the round-the-world voyage completed by scientists and crew his age would send a message to his generation. "I think it's very important that we keep inspiring young people to look after our world, because we are going to be the ones taking over," he said. "So to see all these young conservationists putting so much effort in Mother Earth... I think that should inspire more people to also take care of our planet." And what of Darwin, the inspiration behind the mission? "I would say he would have been enthused by his fellow young people taking care of this natural world, which he described so nicely," said Schreuder.
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South China Morning Post
11 hours ago
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Life finds a way in the deepest ocean trenches
A team of scientists have embarked on a voyage spanning 2,500km (1,550 miles) along the Kuril-Kamchatka and Aleutian Trenches in the northwestern Pacific. Diving to depths ranging from 5,800 to 9,533 metres, they discovered flourishing chemosynthetic life deep in hadal trenches. The communities are dominated by marine tubeworms called siboglinid polychaetes and molluscs called bivalves, which synthesise their energy using hydrogen sulphide and methane seeping out of faults in tectonic plates.
Travel Weekly
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
Virgin Voyages launches a true-crime-themed cruise
Virgin Voyages is a debuting a themed voyage for fans of true crime podcasts. On Oct. 10, it will host a five-night true crime voyage with podcasters onboard from the shows "Stuff They Don't Want You to Know," "Betrayal" and "Buried Bones." The Valiant Lady sailing will feature live podcast recordings, meet and greets and podcasting lessons. Guests will travel round trip from Miami with stops at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and Virgin's Beach Club on Bimini in the Bahamas. Virgin Voyages has previously hosted themed cruises for holidays including Halloween, Valentine's Day, New Year's and Christmas. It has also hosted Nicky Jam, who will return in December for a sailing dubbed "Olas de Fuego," which will include a lineup of Latino and Caribbean artists. The true crime sailing will also feature Virgin's Halloween-themed events, including a costume contest and a Halloween show.
South China Morning Post
15-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Star Cruises trip from Hong Kong to Taiwan marks a special comeback for its operator
As the Star Voyager cruise ship departs Hong Kong and I look out at a sweeping vista of Victoria Harbour, I reflect on how the voyage I am about to embark on marks a special comeback for the ship's operator, Star Cruises. Over the next four days, we sail eastward to Kaohsiung, Taiwan's largest port city, and then to Magong, the capital of the Taiwan Strait's Penghu archipelago – a city renowned for its rich history and worship of the Chinese sea goddess Mazu. In 2022, Star Cruises' parent company, Genting Hong Kong, went bankrupt under the economic strain of the pandemic. But this 2025 season, Star Voyager will make 45 trips from Hong Kong's Ocean Terminal, including to Taiwan, Okinawa in Japan, and Southeast Asian destinations Nha Trang in Vietnam and Boracay in the Philippines. Dinner is already being served at Sophia, one of the ship's restaurants, when we depart at 6pm. Its set menu includes dishes such as snow crab and avocado tartare with wasabi dressing, lobster bisque soup with sorrel leaves, and roasted Angus beef tenderloin steak. A view of Hong Kong Island's eastern coastline gliding past the windows creates a unique dining experience. Star Voyager's main lobby, where activities like salsa dancing and karaoke nights are frequently held. I decide to turn in early in preparation for enjoying one of my most anticipated cruise experiences: watching the sunrise over the open ocean. I set my alarm for 5am and let the ship's gentle rocking lull me to sleep, already picturing the golden dawn that awaits.
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
First look at Explora Journeys' €3.5bn cruise ship expansion
The third cruise ship in Explora Journeys' growing fleet is getting closer to launch after it had its float-out ceremony this week. It forms part of a €3.5bn (£3.04bn) investment by the MSC-owned luxury cruise line to expand Explora Journeys' upmarket ships, boosting choice for passengers. Explora III is set to launch in 2026, joining sister ships Explora I and Explora II. The vessel touched water for the first time during a float out at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa on Monday. Its maiden seven-night voyage is scheduled for 3 August 2026 from Barcelona to Lisbon, with prices starting at £5,300 per person. The ship will sail around the Mediterranean as well as to the Norwegian fjords from Southampton in August and September 2026. Two more Explora Journeys ships are also being built at the shipyard, creating a triple celebration. Explora IV had its coin ceremony – where coins are put under the keel of a newly built ship for good luck – on Monday, and there was a steel cutting for Explora V to mark the start of its construction. The aim is for Explora IV and Explora V to join the fleet in 2027, while Explora VI is due to launch in 2028. Explora IV's maiden voyage is on 15 April 2027, an eight-night sailing from Genoa to Portugal. Prices start at £4,450 per person. The vessel will also operate itineraries to Copenhagen and Iceland. Similar to Explora I and II, the new ships will have capacity for around 900 guests but will have space for 463 suites instead of 461 and a higher gross tonnage of 72,810 (compared with 63,900 in the current fleet). There will still be five heated pools, six restaurants and 12 bars and lounges with a guest per host ratio of 1.25 to 1. Further details are yet to be revealed for Explora V and VI, but they are expected to be the same size as the new vessels. Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys, said: "This triple celebration reflects the strength of our vision and the power of collaboration between our team, our partners at Fincantieri, and the unwavering support of the Aponte-Vago family. 'Guided by our values of care, respect, and excellence, we are not just building ships - we are creating a legacy of transformative journeys that will endure for generations to come."
