Todd Smith, visionary founder of AdventureSmith Explorations, is leading the way in sustainable travel.

It is not an easy task to find companies, cruise lines, tour operators, and hospitality organizations willing to step into the spotlight to talk about their sustainability plans. While compiling my roundup of sustainability leaders, I ran across Todd Smith.

At the helm of AdventureSmith Expeditions, Todd Smith

Expedition Cruises & Wilderness Adventures

Todd Smith from AdventureSmith Explorations offers what he calls “a new style of adventure travel,” which combines small vessels, expert guides and sustainable practices to experience nature and wildlife up-close.

His cruises and tours consist of specially outfitted yachts, small ships and wilderness lodges that serve for naturalists to lead small group explorations into the wilderness.

Smith is a fan of small ship cruise experiences off-the-beaten path, away from crowds allowing his guests a chance to connect with nature and the local community.

When asked about sustainable practices in the cruise industry, Smith points out that that “small ships have always been inherently low impact.” Adding that , “as a closed system that does not visit port regularly, small ships need to be efficient with resources and minimize waste.”

Because of space limitations, Smith and I discussed the challenges that small ships have in terms of space, which naturally leads to creative ways to reduce and reuse products. Smith also noted that small ships are are more likely to employ local people and purchase local commodities than their big ship cousins.

Small ships, little impact

Smith points out that many small ships have taken this concept further to enhance guest experience and further reduce environmental impact.

Island Spirit in Alaska is outfitted with a bank of solar and generator charged batteries that allow them to shut off generators at night allowing guests to experience Alaskan solitude.

Several boats in the Galapagos have achieved certification from Smart Voyager which considers rigorous environmental and social standards to decrease impact and ensure benefits to local populations.

Award-winning

• 2005 Outside Magazine Best Trips of the Year
• 2006 National Geographic Traveler – 50 Tours of a Lifetime
• 2007 Conde Nast World Saver Award – Conservation
• 2008 National Geographic Adventure – Best Travel Companies on Earth
• 2011 Travel Age West Trendsetter Award

Get connected

To learn more about AdventureSmith Explorations, check out their website and make sure to “like” them on Facebook.

• www.facebook.com/AdventureSmithExplorations
• www.youtube.com/user/AdventureSmithTravel
• BLOG www.adventurecruisenews.com

Read more about sustainable travel from CruiseBuzz.net

• Sustainable Tourism: cruising and beyond. – Recap

American Cruise Lines shines in the #CruiseChat Spotlight

American Cruise Lines

• Top 10 by number of impressions:

 
1. cruisebuzz: 825,084
2. halcruises: 137,173
3. shipsandtrips: 111,480
4. cruiseradio: 92,625
5. carevacations: 89,872
6. musecrossing: 72,384
7. traveldesigned: 70,880
8. kymri: 45,474
9. american_cruise: 32,781
10. rickgriffin: 30,570

• Top 10 by number of tweets:

 
1. carevacations: 82
2. cruisebuzz: 82
3. american_cruise: 49
4. shipsandtrips: 40
5. bargeconnection: 28
6. cruiseradio: 25
7. gmdance: 23
8. kymri: 22
9. cruisecoaches: 22
10. halcruises: 17

• Top 10 by number of followers:

 
1. rickgriffin: 30,570
2. mcmedia: 13,406
3. isabellestravel: 10,499
4. cruisebuzz: 10,062
5. cajunmama: 9,641
6. halcruises: 8,069
7. jkheaton: 7,896
8. landlopers: 7,518
9. traveldesigned: 7,088
10. itravel2000: 6,589

The Questions

• Q1.  What is your favorite US #cruise destination? Tell us why and/or share a picture! #CruiseChat
• Q2.  Have you been on an Alaskan cruise? What was your favorite site?  #cruisechat
• Q3. Fill in the blank: _____is the number one American lobster-producing state in the USA.  Have you been? #cruisechat
• Q4. River cruising is a hot topic. What rivers in the US have you cruised? #cruisechat
• Q5 Are you a #cruise genius? What is difference between a paddlewheeler and a  sternwheeler?  Hint> http://ow.ly/i/eyA6 #cruisechat
• Q6.  Pop Quiz. Which ship in ACLs fleet was the only one acquired and the only one built before 2002? #cruisechat
• Q7. We know you’re a cruiser, but are you a 1)traveler 2)vacationer 3) both. Why? #cruisechat
• Q8. The great outdoors – can you guess this popular US site? #CruiseChat  http://ow.ly/5DVXc
• Q9. Fall foliage themed #cruise? Been on one? Tell us where. #CruiseChat

Some of the tweets

American_Cruise AmericanCruiseLines

You’re good! RT: @shipsandtrips A5: Guessing here: weheel at the back vs front or sides? #cruisechat

19 hours ago

robinwsmith Robin W. Smith   A5 – Stern-wheeler has one paddle and a Paddle-wheeler has two – both on the rear

gmdance Gerard Murphy

A7. Vacationer most. Traveler sometimes…

PortholeCruise Porthole Magazine

A4: Cruised the Mississippi River on a river barge years ago. Very cool to dock right under the St. Louis Arch.

CareVacations CareVacations

A1 – I love #RhodeIsland and #Maine! The food and history are amazing! Don’t have my pix handy…

American_Cruise AmericanCruiseLines

@CruiseBuzz we are psyched to be here, Carrie! #cruisechat welcome everyone

Sites you can link to:

• http://americancruiselines.com/press_room.php
• http://americancruiselines.com/traval_egent.php
• http://americancruiselines.com/ship_main.php
• http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/americancruiselines

Cruising through summer

A photo review celebrating cruises, boats, water, ships, and seaside destinations.

More and more people have been choosing a cruise for their summer holidays and vacations. But if traveling by ship is not your thing, there are plenty of amazing seaside port towns ready to explore.

Catalina Island bids farewell to Carnival Paradise. Photo by Carrie Finley-Bajak

Hiking from my house to Laguna Beach to the sea. 8 miles.

View from Princess Cruises ship sailing out of Oslo, Norway

Alaska-bound cruise ships in port.

Catalina Island

Looking to capture those “wild animals” while on a cruise vacation?

To help celebrate the #FriFotos theme for today, I am on the hunt to find a couple of cruise itineraries where one might encounter some animals…

The obvious choice for our first destination is Alaska

What types of animals will you see on a cruise to ALASKA?

Did you know:  Katmai National Park has a platform at Brooks Falls to view the 100-some grizzly bears that fish for salmon here. The wolves also fish here. Have you been?

On Safari with Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines is famous for a lot of things, towel animals being at the top of the list.

Head to the Galapagos Islands for an expedition trip

Adventure cruises on small-ship expeditions to the Galapagos and land extensions in Ecuador and Peru are a great way to connect with the animals.  Galapagos marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and  sea lion pups standing by.

Antarctica Anyone?

Cruisers visitng the Antarctic may see  penguins going about their day or humpback whales feeding and swimming about.

Links to popular Alaska cruise ports, cruise calendars, and cruise line roundup.

Alaska-bound cruise ships in port.

Popular emabarkation ports

For more information, visit Experience Ketchikan

• Vancouver – 2011 Vancouver Cruise Ship Schedule
• Seattle – 2011 Seattle Cruise Calendar
• Seward – 2011 Seward Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule
• Whittier – 2011 Whittier Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule

Popular cruise ports serving Alaska cruise visitors.

• Dutch Harbor – 2011 Dutch Harbor Cruise Ship Schedule
• Glacier Bay – 2011 Glacier Bay Cruise Ship Schedule
• Haines – 2011 Haines Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule
• Hubbard Glacier – 2011 Hubbard Glacier Cruise Ship Schedule
• Juneau – 2011 Juneau Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule
• Ketchikan – 2011 Ketchikan Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule
• Sitka – 2011 Sitka Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule
• Skagway – 2011 Skagway Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule
• Tracy Arm – 2011 Tracy Arm Cruise Ship Schedule
• Prince Rupert – 2011 Prince Rupert Cruise Ship Schedule
• Victoria – 2011 Victoria Cruise Ship Schedule

Cruise lines offering Alaska cruises