New Clipper Ship Aims for Bigger Adventures

St. Louis-based Clipper Cruise Line, which specializes in what the company calls “small ship adventures,” has recently added a more expedition-minded vessel to its fleet, the 122-passenger Clipper Adventurer.

In a massive make-over, the former Alla Tarasova spent 11 months in dry dock in Scandinavia, and with its hardened hull can comfortably and safely navigate the waters around the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falklands and the South Georgia Islands.

Passengers accustomed to the line’s smaller, more yacht-like Nantucket Clipper and Yorktown Clipper will find the Clipper Adventurer offers a great deal more public lounge space, more deck expanse and a fleet of inflatable Zodiacs in which to go adventuring.

At the same time, it provides a more challenging cruise experience for Clipper’s repeat passengers, most of whom are well past retirement age. During our cruise between Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Boston, the ship’s 16-foot draft permitted docking at only one port of call out of seven. The remaining six were reached by Zodiac rides across the water after sometimes difficult embarkation procedures that required climbing down a steep spiral gangway to board the bobbing craft.

Adding to the difficulty for mobility-impaired passengers is not only the lack of an elevator (none of the Clipper ships has one) but staircases between passenger decks that are often curved and/or narrow. (The ship is not suitable for children due to the lack of play areas and activities.)

However, fit, adventure-minded travelers should be delighted with the new vessel. On board there are two spacious lounges; a bright, airy dining room with large windows and plenty of room for all the passengers to dine at one time; and, another first for Clipper, a large, elegant library and game room in a quiet, secluded area. All cabins are outsides with windows or portholes, and furnished with two built-in lower beds. Nineteen of them can accommodate a third passenger with a pull-down upper berth. Bathrooms are fairly basic, with tile floors and walls, heated towel racks and new plumbing. Only the owner’s suite has a tub; the rest are equipped with showers.

The three suites aboard are all about the same size, but the owner’s suite has a wooden room divider separating bedroom from sitting room. All cabins have a desk area with chair; night stand; and a closet with full-length hanging space, shelves and built-in drawers. Hair dryers, a lockable drawer for valuables and laundry service are provided, along with a beauty salon, gym and sauna and small gift shop. There is no room service, and cabins do not have TVs or telephones.

The food aboard is quite good, and light eaters have the option of ordering half portions if they wish. The passengers on our sailing particularly enjoyed the warm chocolate chip cookies served every afternoon around 4:30. Chef Robert Opdenbrouw, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, creates fresh menus daily, offering at dinner a choice of a meat or poultry dish, a fish dish, a pasta specialty and a vegetarian entree. Ice cream, baked goods and desserts are made on board, and fresh vegetables and herbs are used generously. One evening there was fresh boiled lobster, another evening a rack of lamb.

A buffet breakfast and lunch in the main lounge supplement the dining room meals. Passengers may sit where and with whom they wish.

Tips (about $9 a day per person) are pooled and divided among the crew, which is mostly American. Officers aboard the Bahamian-flag vessel are Swedish, with Filipino support staff.

Wine prices are moderate, with house labels available. Hot hors d’oeuvres are served at cocktail time in the lounges.

Lectures are scheduled frequently with the ship’s naturalists and historians, and there is occasional light entertainment--feature films and musical evenings--after dinner.

Antarctic cruises continue through the sailing of Feb. 16. Itineraries range from 14 to 22 nights, priced from $7,330 to $16,690 per person, double occupancy, including port charges and round-trip international air fare.

Other 1999 destinations include the Amazon and colonial Brazil; rivers of South America; the eastern and western Mediterranean; Europe’s medieval seaports; castles and gardens of Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England; and expeditions to Greenland, Iceland and the Northwest Passage.

The popular Great North American Odyssey, part of which we sampled this year, will set out Sept. 2 on its 22-day voyage from Halifax to Port Everglades, with 20 U.S. and Canadian ports of call. Fares range from $6,920 to $12,680 per person, double occupancy, with port charges but not air fare included.

In November, for passengers who prefer small, ultra-deluxe ships, Clipper will introduce the 120-passenger Clipper Odyssey, the former Oceanic Grace/Oceanic Odyssey, a Japanese-built Sea Goddess clone, which first entered service in 1989.

For free color brochures or more information, see a travel agent or call Clipper at (800) 325-0010.