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Adventure Travel > Adventure Cruises > Island Escape Cruises > Meet Us

ISLAND ESCAPE CRUISES Auckland, International State New Zealand www.islandescape.co.nz
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The Island Passage

The Island Passage has all the amenities that you would expect of a much larger cruise ship, including:

Main Dining Room
Large Saloon Lounge
Sundeck and BBQ
Helicopter Carried Onboard
Expedition Boats Carried Onboard
Phone and Fax Facilities
Satellite TV
Security Safe
Fully Stocked Cocktail Bar and Wine Cellar
Air Conditioning
Library Including Videos and Books

Three expedition boats are carried onboard. Designed for expedition work, these large and heavy-duty craft are extremely safe. The design permits these crafts to land directly onto the beaches. The ship also carry three smaller tenders for use by passengers to explore areas away from the ship. There are also kayaks carried on board.

The Island Passage operates with a crew of up to 8 and is registered as a New Zealand vessel under NZ Safe Ship Management. She has a tonnage of 496 GRT.

About the Helicopter

Island Passage carries a helicopter onboard. With seating for five passengers, this is an awesome way of extending your cruise experience. Take flights to local vineyards, golf courses, a spot of heli-fishing or a flight to any of the numerous scenic delights along our route.

The Island Escape Story

Being born in Auckland and spending considerable amounts of my spare time cruising and fishing the Hauraki Gulf by yacht, I have over the years developed a real passion for this spectacular region, that covers 3,500,000 acres of pure natural paradise.

I lived in Tokyo for ten years while I was the owner and operator of an International Shipping Line. This period away from New Zealand only fed my passion further. Having been fortunate to travel many times to most corners of the world, I believe the Hauraki Gulf is one of the most sensational snapshots of nature to be found anywhere. I eagerly looked forward to visiting my home country on business trips to enjoy brief encounters with the Gulf and rekindle my love of the region.

After retiring from the shipping business in 2002 and returning to New Zealand, I was presented with the opportunity of building a new business that would allow travelers from all corners of the world to experience this fantastic paradise. Three years in the planning took us to a stage where we were almost committed to building a luxury waterside lodge in the Gulf. However, the shortcomings of a stationery venue soon became obvious. With 3,500,000 acres to explore, we needed mobility together with the ability to offer flexible and seasonal scheduling for our travelers.

Another two years later, my daughter launched our purpose built 500-ton luxury expedition ship Island Passage. She is fitted with three levels of spacious accommodations and caters to only 24 guests, carries a professional crew of eight, together with specialized fishing and exploration guides.

For our travelers to fully experience the areas where we travel, we have onboard a twin-engine six-seat helicopter, six tenders and kayaks for ventures away from the Mother-ship to intimately explore the magnificent scenery or to fish the rivers, bays, and channels.

We invite you to join our expeditions. Come along and relax, be pampered, be spoiled, be amazed.

Peter Bissett
President, Island Escape Cruises Limited