IN FOCUS
From left: Seabourn Venture; the vessel’s Veranda Suite; whirlpool on Silver Endeavour
Venture, which took place four months after the vessel officially launched to guests. The 264-passenger ship features an ice-strengthened hull and all the water ‘toys’ an explorer might require, including 24 Zodiacs, eight double sea kayaks and two six-person submersibles – all bolstered by a 26-strong expedition team. The ships come hot on the heels of last year’s
entrants to the expedition market, which include Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot – reportedly the first luxury hybrid electric polar exploration ship powered by liquified natural gas – and Ultramarine, Quark Expeditions’ first owned new-build, which features two twin-engine helicopters, two heliports and 20 Zodiacs. And product is only set to expand. Next year,
Seabourn Venture’s sister ship, Seabourn Pursuit, will enter service alongside Scenic Group’s second ‘discovery yacht’, Scenic Eclipse II.
Agent opportunity Naturally, enhanced product has prompted a healthy hike in consumer demand. Mundy Cruising’s managing director Edwina Lonsdale said luxury expedition cruise was performing
aspiretravelclub.co.uk
“extraordinarily well”, with bookings up 39% this year compared with 2019. “This is a huge growth opportunity for us, and
Naturally, enhanced product has prompted a healthy hike in consumer demand
the reasons are threefold,” she says. “First, there has been a growth in capacity with conversions and new-builds. Second, in preparation for that growth, we’ve invested heavily in our website, digital and print marketing and staff training, to enable us to sell expedition with confidence. Third, the post-Covid demand for iconic holidays, as well as the ‘do it now’ urgency of the market, have resulted in many interested parties taking the plunge and going ahead with bookings.” In October, Designer Travel partnered with
Polar Routes and Latin Routes to spotlight expedition cruise as part of its Cruise Designers education programme, which aims to boost cruise sales among its homeworkers (see box). Managing director Amanda Matthews is braced for more expedition demand. “Since Covid, a lot of people are ticking off wish-list opportunities, so it’s definitely on the up for those looking for something more than the norm,” she says. Testament to the success of expedition cruise in the UK, established expedition brands such
DECEMBER 2022 ASPIRE
ª 59
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128
