Universe Explorer Sails South

World Explorer Cruises, a small San Francisco-based line with only one ship and a well-established record for 14-day, in-depth Alaska sailings, will expand its offerings this year into Central America with itineraries that emphasize education and cultural enrichment.

The 737-passenger Universe Explorer will make two sailings through Central America. The first will leave Dec. 12 from Nassau, Bahamas, and arrive Dec. 30 in Ensenada, Mexico. The second will depart Ensenada on Dec. 30 and arrive Jan. 17 in Miami. Ports of call include Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Puerto Limon, Panama; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; and Acapulco and Cabo San Lucas on Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Passengers can explore Mayan ruins and go snorkeling and diving in Cozumel, and see the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere in Belize, along with a sizable rain forest. Costa Rica offers opportunities to go river rafting and to visit a rain forest, tropical gardens and some renowned national parks on the country’s west coast. The transit of the Panama Canal promises a dramatic day as the ship passes through three sets of locks. In Guatemala, excursions are available to the ancient Mayan ruins at Tikal and the Mayan city of Copan in Honduras.

Rates begin at $2,330 for the first passenger in a cabin, with a discounted rate of $1,165 for the second passenger sharing that cabin, an inside with two lower beds. If the same couple books the entire 36-night round trip, the fare starts as low as $100 a day per person. Singles will find no surcharge when they book inside or outside cabins in categories E and F (upper and lower beds).

The 23,500-ton Universe Explorer was built in the U.S. in 1958 as the Brazil for Moore-McCormack Lines and later sailed as Holland America’s Volendam, American Hawaii’s Liberte and now-defunct Commodore Cruise Line’s Enchanted Seas. Because of its long-term charter with World Explorer, the ship remained in service when parent company Commodore and its sister ship Enchanted Isles went into bankruptcy late last year.

We saw a sturdy, scrupulously clean ship when we went aboard in Vancouver, British Columbia, in June. It’s not fancy, nor do its repeat passengers expect it to be. Cabins, built before the days of modular duplicates, are different sizes and shapes throughout the vessel, but most are fairly spacious. All contain tiled bathrooms, most with showers only. It’s a good idea when booking to specify if you want a shower or tub and whether you prefer twin or queen-sized beds because not all cabins allow converting twins to a queen.

A couple of tips: Cabins on the bottom Bali deck are all without windows or elevator access; passengers occupying them have to walk up one flight of stairs to get to an elevator. Most cabins on the Sun deck, while large and comfortably furnished, have views partly obstructed by hanging lifeboats. Families should look at adjoining cabins 433 and 434, which make a suite that can sleep up to eight and has two bathrooms, one with a spa tub. The six top-category accommodations, which the line terms superior cabins with sitting area, also offer perks such as fresh fruit, mini-bars and bathrobes to use during the cruise.

The Universe Explorer is for serious travelers who want to be enlightened with frequent lectures about the region they’re seeing and entertained with evening concerts rather than chorus girls and casinos, neither of which you’ll find on board. In fact, in place of the former casino, there is a 16,000-volume library. During the winter season, except for December holidays, the ship carries the University of Pittsburgh’s Semester at Sea academic program, now in its 25th year.

You can expect lectures on Mayan art and architecture, the biology of Central American rain forests, the Belize barrier reef and the Panama Canal. For an extra fee, optional in-depth programs offer Spanish language conversation, natural and environmental sciences and pre-Columbian archeology and history.

Activities aboard are not just educational, however; there are bingo games, movies, watercolor lessons, a costume parade, dancing, deck and other games, plus a fitness program and a gym.

Meals are served at two seatings at assigned tables, with lunch and breakfast also available from a buffet. Menus emphasize the familiar rather than the trendy.

Dress codes on board are fairly casual, with comfortable clothing and practical shoes more important than dressy items. Men may bring a jacket and tie if they like for the captain’s welcome party, but neither is required.

For more information, see a travel agent, call the line at (415) 820-9200 or log onto https://www.wecruise.com.

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Shirley Slater and Harry Basch travel as guests of the cruise lines. Cruise Views appears twice a month.