DESTINATIONS EXPEDITION | CRUISE


CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: A yoga session on Swan Hellenic’s SH Diana; a Ponant vessel in Magdalenfjord, Spitsbergen; snoeshowing in Senja, Norway, on an excursion with HX PICTURES: Sylvain Adenot Photography; Espen Mills


SUSTAINABILITY AT SEA


In common with the rest of the cruise industry, expedition companies are investing millions of dollars to improve the sustainability of their vessels and reduce environmental impact. Some new ships operate for


short times on battery power and have GPS positioning to avoid dropping anchor and damaging seabeds; all have eliminated single-use plastics, use less paper and have waste-water recycling plants. Viking is working on ways


to operate at zero emissions in port through a hybrid propulsion system of liquid hydrogen and fuel cells. It also hopes to foster a greater understanding of the environment among passengers through partnerships with various scientific and wildlife bodies. Whether any of this influences


many [of whom] specialise in luxury adventure holidays rather than cruise.” The Expedition Cruise Network, which launched in April 2023 and has 23 cruise line and 1,150 travel trade members, says word is spreading among agents, operators, organisers and more. “We are capturing a different


type of [cruise] seller and getting more people talking about expedition cruising, which is brilliant,” says ECN co-founder and chief executive Akvile Marozaite. HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions)


sales director Mark Walter hails the support from agents but fears they get “distracted by easier – as in cheaper – sells”. Finding cheaper is not hard given the line’s 12-day Antarctica cruises start from around £6,500 per person, plus flights. At Ponant, a 28-day Hobart to Cape Town expedition, departing


in February 2026 on the icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, starts from an eye-watering £38,000 a


top tiip op t


Network with expedition cruise lines and get the


latest on adventure travel trends at this year’s


Atas Conference, taking place in Leeds on


October 15-16. Register at atas-conference.com


make from our type of cruising. There is fierce competition but room to grow in the UK.” Peter Shanks, Silversea Expeditions’ managing director for the UK, Ireland, Middle East and Africa, says all the new expedition ships have undoubtedly focused attention on the sector, but adds that customers are as happy with


the line’s older Silver Cloud and Silver Wind as the shiny new Silver Endeavour. “In expedition, it is as


much about the destination as the ship,” he emphasises. He welcomes the fact there are just a handful of new expedition ships on order over the next few years. “There will be more modest growth but that is a good thing as it allows us to consolidate.”


head. Nevertheless it is attracting incredible interest, according to international sales director Stephen Winter. “Agents are starting to understand the commission they can


ON THE RADAR Antarctica and the Arctic are the top two expedition favourites, but proving that cruising off the beaten track doesn’t have to mean


² travelweekly.co.uk 27 JUNE 2024 35


passengers is a moot point. AE Expeditions’ Andrew Turner says consumers are increasingly conscious about spending money with companies that are operating sustainably, but Ponant’s Stephen Winter admits it is not something its guests ask about. “They are more concerned about the size of the ship,” he says. Silversea has released a


‘Mission Expedition’ webinar for agents, in association with T


ravel Weekly, that answers questions about Zodiacs, packing and travelling to Antarctica. “Those are all the things guests want to know,” says Shanks.


Emperor penguin chicks in Antarctica


PICTURE: silverphotography.ru


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