Environmental
Seabourn runs cruises that focus on the Arctic, with itineraries also visiting Iceland, Greenland, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Russia, New Zealand, Australia, Patagonia and the Antarctic. Jen Martin, the director of expedition product development at Seabourn, explains that every voyage is focused on education about the destination – the wildlife, geology, history and archaeology of an area – with an expedition team of 26 on board to facilitate this. “They will accompany every excursion on shore or in Zodiacs, offering commentary and information, and will present educational programmes on board the ship,” she says. To get a sense of what each guest is interested in, Martin says that the team makes sure to spend a lot of time getting to know them on and off the ship, making a point of socialising with guests and joining them for meals. Intrepid Travels takes its passengers to remote parts of Antarctica, the Falklands and South Georgia, which its polar manager Simon Evans describes as being “some of the most extreme environments in the world”. Each daily excursion sees an expedition team venture out with a maximum of eight guests per guide, meaning there is always someone on hand to answer any questions about the area they are exploring. Evans notes that these excursions also serve as an eye-opening way to see the effects of climate change first-hand and truly appreciate the strain it has put on the natural world. “People often return feeling more passionate about the need for us to look after our planet,” he notes. Similarly, Martin says that Seabourn’s expedition team feels a sense of responsibility to help guests better understand the effects of climate change on the wild and beautiful places they visit, and the creatures that call them home. “Change and species loss around the world are very real things and many people have chosen to visit some of these remote destinations because they want to see them while they’re still wild,” she shares. “Without the education to complement the experience on shore, however, the message is sometimes lost.”
When combined with awe-inspiring experiences of humpback and killer whales in the Antarctic or being able to approach the penguin colonies of the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia Island and the Falkland Islands to watch them building nests and rearing small chicks, education is often the most powerful instigator of change – and these expeditions are able to offer that rare glimpse. “We often see crabeater seals or leopard seals on Zodiac cruises and Weddell seals are sometimes onshore near our landing sites,” Martin relays. “We do everything possible not to affect their behaviour or life cycle with our presence, but we are lucky enough to experience them close up.”
A unique experience for every explorer Increasingly, vessels are offering educational packages curated for the curious among their guests, but the focus has to be on finding a balanced educational
World Cruise Industry Review /
www.worldcruiseindustryreview.com 25 More adventurous than ever
Australia’s adventure cruise company, Aurora Expeditions, has launched its expanded 2022–23 season brochure introducing its Arctic, Antarctica and global programme. Aurora Expeditions’ season of voyages features 16 new itineraries and several returning favourites, while Aurora’s new state-of-the-art ship, the Sylvia Earle, is also making its debut as part of the 2022–23 season. The new brochure additionally provides a first look at the company’s newly expanded citizen science programme.
“Aurora Expeditions’ 2022–23 season is sure to provide the captivating and perspective-altering experiences that our guests continue to return for,” commented Monique Ponfoort, CEO of Aurora Expeditions. Along with Aurora’s Antarctica programme, new itineraries that are featured in the 2022–23 season include Aurora Expeditions’ first ever voyages to Alaska by way of its own vessels, as well as journeys to the north-west passage, the marine
biodiversity hotspot of Raja Ampat and West Papua Islands, and more. Source: Aurora Expeditions
approach to suit different guests’ desires, because as Kuyper states: “It’s all about giving them an experience they will never forget.”
On board an Aurora vessel, guides cover a range of topics in the lecture theatre, from stories about explorers to the swimming techniques of a penguin. Similarly, Intrepid expeditions include daily lectures from all manner of scientists, hosted in the ship’s presentation lounge. But how much information is too much? “I find that genuine enthusiasm is never overbearing for our guests,” says Kuyper. “That’s what we’re bringing – often guests tell us it’s contagious and thank us for reminding them how important it is to do something you are passionate about.”
Below: An emperor penguin tending to three chicks; one of many natural sights that expeditionary cruises offer.
Previous page: Aurora’s Greg Mortimer approaching the rarely spotted Minke Whale while exploring the Antarctic Peninsula.
“People are curious and adventurous, and the world has become so much more accessible, so naturally they want to explore further.”
Florence Kuyper
For the ardent nature enthusiasts, both Aurora Expeditions and Intrepid Travel run a citizen science programme, where passengers are invited to assist with all kinds of data collection, which contributes to
Roger ARPS BPE1 CPAGB/
Shutterstock.com
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