EXPEDITION CRUISE


similar areas on other ships of this size. Designers have gone all out to make the most of the views, whether it’s ÜiÌh Ìhi ÜÀ>«>ÀoÕn` `iVk on liÛil wÛi] Ìhi }l>ÃÃ-Ü>lli` *>noÀ>m> oÕn}i >n` >À oÀ Ìhi yooÀ-Ìo-Viilin} Üin`oÜà in the spa, sauna and gym, which is one of the largest I’ve Vomi >VÀoÃà on >n iÝ«i`iÌion-ÃÌÞli Ãhi«°


Creature comforts


The 102 cabins are split between nine categories, ranging from the solo Panorama Cabins (which measure an impressive 132sq ft) to the sprawling Ultra Suite. Beyond the cabins, which all have either huge windows or balconies, there’s a wonderful sense of space; hallways and corridors, adorned with beautiful monochrome murals depicting Arctic wildlife, seem wider than usual. i>là >Ài ÃÕm«ÌÕoÕà >vv>iÀà q LÕvviÌ-ÃÌÞli voÀ LÀi>kv>ÃÌ >n` lÕnVh >n` > ÌhÀii-VoÕÀÃi ovviÀin} voÀ `inniÀ] ÜhiVh includes red and white wine. Standout dishes include a delicious tuna tartare and a seafood paella. The one night when we’re warned of rough seas serves as a brilliant reminder of the ship’s innovative design – the captain announces that stabilisers have been deployed to reduce the vessel’s movement, which turns out to be minimal, despite the frothing waves outside my window. There’s plenty of tech elsewhere too, whether it’s the ÃÕ«iÀÃiâi`] hi}h-`iwniÌion «ÀojiVÌoÀà in Ìhi Ìhi>ÌÀi oÀ Ìhi >}à ­ iVÀo ƂÕÌo


>ÃiwV>Ìion -ÞÃÌim®] ÜhiVh ÌÀ>nÃvoÀmÃ


waste into energy. I grow to embrace the slow pace of life and enforced disconnection (a basic internet package is included as standard, although the remote location means the brief moments of connectivity allow for little more than the sending of messages, rather than emails). One of my favourite spots is the small library, where I spend hours reading books about Arctic explorers who didn’t have the lÕÝÕÀÞ ov hi>Ìi` yooÀà >n` ÌhÀii-VoÕÀÃi mi>lð /hiÀi½Ã > ÃliVk Ü>ÌiÀ-liÛil h>n}>À voÀ Ìhi Ãhi«½Ã Óä <o`i>Và >n`] on the uppermost deck, two helipads, although laws imposed by the Norwegian Environment Agency mean yi}hÌà >Àin½Ì «oÃÃiLli on -Û>lL>À` VÀÕiÃið oÌ Ìh>Ì ÌhiÀi½Ã >nÞ ÃhoÀÌ>}i ov >VÌiÛiÌiið /hiÀi >Ài `>ilÞ <o`i>V VÀÕiÃià >lon} Ìhi ÃhoÀilini oÀ >mon} Ìhi Ü>lÀÕÃ-`oÌÌi` iVi yoiÃ] and there’s only one day when we’re unable to head to


ª aspiretravelclub.co.uk


FROM TOP: Ultramarine; writer Tamara Hinson; watching birds take yi}hÌ Ühili injoÞin} > hiki OPPOSITE: Observing walruses from Ìhi Ã>viÌÞ ov <o`i>VÃ FRONT: Polar bear with twin cubs Credits: Sam Crimmin; Nicky Souness; Acacia Johnson; Shutterstock/Alexey Seafarer


DECEMBER 2022 ASPIRE


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