CRUISE EXPEDITION DESTINATIONS
of expedition operations and planning, Robin West, says: “Luxury cruise lines have realised that people want to see remote destinations but are not prepared to compromise on the five-star product.” Seabourn entered the expedition
sector in 2013 when it converted Seabourn Quest into an ice-class ship. The vessel visits Antarctica in the winter and next August will be cruising the Arctic Ocean on a 24-night cruise from Reykjavik in Iceland to Montreal in Canada.
w DESIGN OF THE TIMES One of the most revolutionary expedition ships on order is Hurtigruten’s Roald Amundsen, which launches in July 2018 and will operate mostly on marine gas but will be able to switch to electric power for up to 30 minutes at a time. Not only is that good for the
environment, but passengers will be able to experience the eerie silence of Antarctica, where the ship will be based from October 2018 to March 2019, even while sailing. Most cabins and suites on the
530-passenger vessel will have balconies. It will also have three restaurants, an infinity pool, Jacuzzis, a science centre and lecture halls. Sister ship Fridjof Nansen follows in 2019. For exploring extreme destinations in luxury, Scenic’s Scenic Eclipse is going to be hard to beat. Launching in August 2018, the vessel is being built
Luxury lines have realised that people want to see remote destinations but not to compromise on the five-star product
to the highest ice-class standards for cruising the Arctic and Antarctica, but will accommodate just 228 passengers (reducing to 200 when sailing in the polar regions) in suites with balconies. It will have nine places to eat, and carry a helicopter, seven-seat
submarine and scuba diving equipment for exploring above and below the ocean, as well as snowshoes, snorkels and e-bikes. Taking its cue from the company’s
river cruise product, almost everything on Scenic Eclipse will be included in the price, from flights and transfers to drinks on board, shore excursions and gratuities (the submarine, helicopter and scuba diving will cost extra). An 18-day Chilean Fjords and Falklands Islands cruise from Valparaiso to Ushuaia, departing November 21, 2018, that visits glaciers and penguin colonies and includes a night in Buenos Aires, costs from £7,845.
ABOVE AND LEFT: Artists’ impressions of Scenic’s Scenic Eclipse and Hurtigruten’s Roald Amundsen
w BELOW THE SURFACE French cruise line Ponant is launching two 184-passenger expedition ships next year that will have a lounge with portholes below the water line and hydrophones beneath the keel so passengers can see passing fish and coral, and hear sounds from beneath the ocean as well. Le Lapérouse’s launch next June will be followed by sister ship Le Champlain in September 2018. Another two siblings, Le Bougainville and Le Dumont-d’Urville, are due to enter service in 2019. From €7,290 per person cruise-only for a 13-day voyage around the Seychelles on Le Lapérouse departing November 29, 2018, with birdwatching, snorkelling and scuba diving (extra charge) on the agenda. Crystal Cruises is entering
the expedition market with the 200-passenger luxury expedition
19 October 2017
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