Three Exotic Cruises on My Hit List

One of my favorite bloggers, Gary Leff of View from the Wing, often talks about aspirational travel. His focus is on frequent flyer miles and back in July he talked about why he loves spending his own miles on first class travel to places like Southeast and Central Asia.




His blog post got me thinking about the cruises I prefer and which are still on my wish list. Many are "aspirational" because they either focus on far-away ports of call, wildlife sightings, or the chance to meet and talk with the great thinkers of our time. 




Here are a few cruise itineraries that I'm looking forward to...

Orion Expedition Cruises

Camp Leakey: Faces in the Forest Bali – Borneo – Singapore Itinerary

Orion II

2011: September 30 and December 29

2012: January 8, February 17, August 14 & 24, October 2 & 12

This itinerary travels between Bali and Singapore with seven days spent in Borneo in search of wild and ex-captive orangutans.

Compagnie Du Ponant Yacht Cruises

Male, Maldives Roundtrip

Le Ponant

2012: January 11, 18, 25, February 1, 11, 18, 25, March 3

The Maldives have been calling my name all year and the toughest question has been, which atoll should be home base during our vacation. Compagnie Du Ponant Yacht Cruises has solved that dilemma with its series of cruises that visit the following atolls: Mulaku, Thaa, Dhaalu, Faafu, South Ari, North Ari, and South Male.

Anantara Cruises

Chao Phraya River, Bangkok, Thailand

Anantara Dream

In July 2011 Anantara took over Manohra Cruises, a specialty travel company sailing two refurbished 100-year-old rice barges down Bangkok's Chao Phraya River. I'd book the two-cabin Anantara Dream for an ultra exclusive two-night experience.




What cruises are you most looking forward to? I'd love to hear about them! 

—Andrea M. Rotondo for Luxury Cruise Bible