MALE, Maldives (11 Jan 2003) -- In the wake of 3,500-passenger behemoths pounding the waves, the small-is-beautiful school of cruising received a boost when Toronto-based Four Seasons -- the world's largest operator of luxury hotels -- quietly unveiled its first cruise ship here last month. The Island Explorer is a US$5-million, 39-metre-long, three- level catamaran whose staterooms transport 22 passengers -- and a crew of 12 -- to some of the planet's most remote and idyllic atolls. The Republic of Maldives is an archipelago of 1,090 islands in the Indian Ocean southwest of Sri Lanka. Itineraries range from three to seven days, beckoning would-be castaways to dive by day, sunrise and night at historic shipwrecks and reefs swirling with marine life. Passengers can swim among reef sharks and sea turtles, anchor at exquisitely deserted islands, drop in on an ancient Buddhist temple, play Robinson Crusoe (or Tom Hanks) on a beach to call your own, barbecue seafood under the palms, fish at sunset and take pictures of the iridescent turquoise sea. The on-board PADI Dive Centre is managed by professional dive instructors and outfitted with state-of-the-art gear including Nitrox Air and scooters. Divers access the ocean by stairs to swim platforms on transoms, each outfitted with showers for rinsing off salt water. Non-divers are not relegated to the status of wallflowers. They can participate in a discover scuba diving course, snorkel, kayak, windsurf and take in presentations by a marine biologist. Or they can gawk, read, snooze and eat from East-West menus. The genius of the Australian-built vessel -- one guaranteed to vault it to the elite ranks of international tourism -- is its ability to play it both ways: Welcome to the ship-as-destination and ship with a destination. It offers passengers resort-style amenities including 20-square- metre staterooms with spacious bathrooms, air-conditioning and DVD, two sundecks with Jacuzzis, indoor and outdoor dining, lounge and library. The VIP quarters is the Explorer Suite, 45 square metres of comfort with panoramic windows looking out over the bow. There's a spa, too, with resident massage therapist and treatments from India, Indonesia, Thailand and Maldives. One such treatment, Earthlink, ministers specifically to divers, the massage incorporating strong knee and shoulder strokes and oils blended to restore the body's balance between earth and water. The new ship is the ocean-going wing of the Four Seasons Resort Maldives, whose cottages and water bungalows occupy the entire coral atoll of Kudas Huraa, a speed launch ride from the Maldivian capital of Male. Staterooms, twin-basis, cost US$340 to US$470 a night, according to the season. This includes meals, all excursions, equipment rentals and seaplane transfers where needed. SOURCE - CDNN NewsWire, eNews | | Designed to take the Four Seasons resort experience to sea, as a floating dive resort. Accommodation on board is luxurious and on a par with the facilities and services to be found at Four Seasons resort ashore. |
