Miranda Richardson on Abercrombie & Kent Darwin 200th Anniversary Cruise in the Galapagos
This is a landmark year in the Galápagos Islands: the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, the 150th anniversary of the publication of "On the Origin of the Species" and the 50th anniversary of the founding of Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation.
Miranda Richardson's films include "Get Carter" with Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine, "Sleepy Hollow" for Tim Burton, "The Apostle" with Robert Duvall, "The Designated Mourner" by Wallace Shawn, and Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun". Her recent credits include "Churchill - The Hollywood Years", "The Prince and Me", "Phantom of the Opera", "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", "The Young Victoria" and "Dagenham Girls".
Richardson has been involved with the Galapagos Conservation Trust since 2003, but this will be the first time she has achieved her ambition to visit the Islands. She has appeared in a number of TV programs about conservation, including Extinct in 2006 and is passionate about the need to address climate change.
Randal Keynes is a great nephew of the economist John Maynard Keynes and author of "Annie's Box, Darwin, His Daughter and Human Evolution", a book about Darwin and the aspects of life with his family that influenced his thinking. During the cruise, Randal will give a series of after-dinner talks about Darwin and Galapagos and there will be many opportunities for discussion of other topics.
Keynes first visited Galapagos in 2000 and joined the General Assembly of the Charles Darwin Foundation in 2004. He was elected to the Board of the CDF in 2007 and is one of the champions of the Floreana project, stressing the key importance of Floreana's unique mockingbird species in Darwin's thinking about evolution.
"Creation", the new film about Darwin starring Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly, which has been chosen to open this year's Toronto International Film Festival, is based on Randal's book, and he has acted as advisor for the production.
In addition, when M/V Eclipse calls at Puerto Ayora, guests will be treated to an exclusive program organized by the Charles Darwin Foundation, and hosted by the Executive Director of the Foundation in Galapagos, Dr. Gabriel Lopez.
M/V Eclipse was awarded the Smart Voyager green seal of approval by the Rainforest Alliance. Most Galapagos ships of similar size carry 80 to 100 passengers; the M/V Eclipse, however, hosts a maximum of 48 guests in 27 spacious, air-conditioned cabins, all with outside views. A fleet of inflatable pangas -- rubber boats that are quick to launch, stable and able to land almost anywhere -- make even the smallest islands accessible on twice daily shore excursions led by expert naturalist guides. Snorkeling equipment and kayaks are available for those with the urge to explore on their own.
Conservation Consciousness in the Galapagos with Abercrombie & Kent (Darwin 200th Anniversary cruise Oct 22 - Nov 1, 2009); 11 days from $6850 per person. $1000 donation required.
For more information call 800-554-7094. Preview or download an itinerary at: www.abercrombiekent.com.
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