Schooner will be used to explore the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Expedition Experience is reaching out to those who will appreciate a particularly Gallic twist to their seaborne vacations. August will see the Nova Scotia-based company offer sailings off the east coast that will include visits to St-Pierre and Miquelon Islands, which are part of France, something that will quickly be apparent, says Expedition Experience operations manager Joao Franco.
“Not many people have been to this archipelago.It’s far and hard to access. It’s a beautiful sailing experience and on many people’s bucket list,” he states. “Very few cruise operators sail to these French Islands. Visiting St. Pierre et Miquelon Islands is like living in old France. It is more French than on the French continent.”
The French archipelago is found south of Newfoundland. Sparsely populated Miquelon-Langlade island contains the Grand Barachois lagoon, home to seabirds and seals. Busier St. Pierre has a distinctly French atmosphere, with a cathedral and the Musée Heritage museum, which celebrates regional history. Franco adds the island has “cool cafés, restaurants with excellent French menus and gift shops with local crafts.”
Canadians need their passports to enter the islands. Franco says wildlife enthusiasts will be in their element on the Gulf of St. Lawrence sailings, with Expedition Experience having local marine biologists on the voyages “so guests get to learn from experts.”
He notes that fall sees the Gulf of St Lawrence, P.E.I., the Magdalen Islands, the Cape Breton coast and the French archipelago home to a large variety of seabirds, among them seagulls, guillemots. terns, and Atlantic puffins.
Regional marine wildlife includes starfish and anemones, as well as seals and whales, both humbacks and blue whales. Recent years have seen sharks as well, something Expedition Experience hasn’t promoted. Scientists are studying the phenomenon off the coast of Nova Scotia. Expedition Experience will most likely support some of the studies and have shark experts joining their voyages. Franco says the company will support research work, adding it likes to “give back as much as they can. They operate a sustainable business.
“Canada’s East Coast voyages are best sellers,” Franco continues. “Expedition Experience knows the regions extremely well as several staff members are from the region. Their level of expertise and diverse programming is different from other operators operating much bigger ships.”
Expedition Experience staff are currently developing themed voyages such as “sail and ale,” a pub crawl and seafood delights where people will be able to go discover a location on their own and have dinner off the ship.
“The cultural and historic aspects of these voyages can’t be ignored,” Franco states. “The vibrant Maritimes culture is present everywhere.”
The company also has a golf voyage dubbed Fiddles and Sticks, and which Franco labels “a dream trip for golfers. Who gets to access these golf courses from the water and play Canada’s best links course on Cape Breton Island? The courses on P.E.I. and the Magdalen Islands are also superb. Non-golfers can enjoy that voyage as well. Expedition Experience offers kayaking and paddle boarding and shore excursions. A well balanced mix of activities.”
The vessel used is the Klara, a three-masted schooner “It’s elegant and spacious and offers eco-friendly amenities and locally sourced produce and meals prepared by a chef,” Franco reports.
Expedition Experience says the Klara can comfortably host 36 people,with 18 cabins, with lower deck, lower deck deluxe, upper deck, and upper deck deluxe categories. The vessel has a bar/social space and a dining room where people can eat in one seating. “The food is excellent and the chef uses locally sourced food, and caters to guests with special dietary requirements,” Franco adds.
The Klara also has a sun deck and a hot tub. “That kind of small-ship expedition cruise is attractive since it’s intimate, safe and easy, and well priced for all the experiences it offers and provides access to places that are often only accessible by boat,” Franco continues. Passengers can take part in activities or simply rest on the sun deck or in their rooms. Franco says the vessel provides a sustainable way to travel, burning less fuel, something clients appreciate.
Expedition Experience has been in business for almost two years operating charters. It is now pro-actively promoting FIT and small-group business, and working with the travel trade. Staff have been working in the small-ship expedition business for decades.
Meanwhile, Expedition Experience has a travel agents’ fam trip on a March Caribbean sailing. Space is limited. Interested agents need to contact the reservations team at 1-902-919-1787.
More information can be found at expeditionexperience.com.