Jetsettersblog

Cruise West is offering winter cruises on Mexico’s Sea of Cortés on the recently upgraded Spirit of Yorktown. The 138-guest vessel is being upgraded with four new balcony category cabins; renovations to corridors, lobby areas and the lounge; and a new collection of artwork. The Jan. 5 and Jan. 12 departures will include guests who will lecture on John Steinbeck, who visited the region in 1940 and wrote “The Log from the Sea of Cortez.” Guest lecturers include Steinbeck scholar Dr. Susan Shillinglaw and Marine Biologist Bill Gilly.

Shillinglaw is a professor at San Jose State University and a Scholar-in-Residence at the National Steinbeck Center. Gilly has retraced the legendary journey made by Steinbeck and biologist Ed Ricketts and has lead a research program on the Sea of Cortés since 2001 that is focused on the ecology of the Humboldt squid. The Jan. 12 sailing also includes a post-cruise philanthropic event at La Paz Children’s School for a painting party Jan. 18-20. This event is offered through Cruise West’s philanthropy program, “Our Bear Cares.” The Jan. 19 departure will feature professional photographer Kerrick James, who is sponsored by Pentax. James will coach guests on photography and help them test drive Pentax camera gear. For more information, visit http://www.pentaxslr.com/ or http://www.kerrickjames.com/

All Sea of Cortés cruises are eight day roundtrips from Cabo San Lucas and include calls at Loreto and Isla Espiritú Santo, home to several plant and animal species. Guests can also kayak, snorkel and take nature walks at the islands Los Islotes and Isla Partida. Guests may also add on a four-night Copper Canyon post-cruise tour. Prices start at $2,399 per person, double occupancy. The post-cruise La Paz Children’s School Paint Party is an additional $299 per person and space is limited.

For more information, call 800-296-8307 or visit http://www.cruisewest.com/