Expedition Cruise Diary

EXPEDITION CRUISING
EXPEDITION CRUISING
DISCOVER:
EXPEDITION CRUISING
Expedition cruising has been on the sidelines of the industry, considered
something for a small band of adventurous travellers prepared to rough it
in return for visiting out-of-the-way places, but things are changing fast as
more cruise lines enter the market with luxurious new ships.
An unprecedented 30 or more expedition ships are
being built over the next four years, offering grand
suites, butlers and upscale restaurants for those
venturing off the beaten path.
It doesn’t mean that expedition cruising is a
mainstream holiday choice yet – most people still
see a cruise as a time to relax in the sun rather than
be challenged by new experiences - but it has put
the sector under the spotlight as never before.
It means agents who want to grab a share
of the market need to get to grips with a whole
new style of cruising and destinations.
SMALL SHIPS
Expedition ships are small, holding anything
from 200 to 500 passengers. That is important
as it means they can navigate into little bays
and convey passengers ashore by tender quickly
and efficiently (there are no ports in many of the
places these ships visit).
Size is even more important in the polar regions.
In Antarctica, only ships with 500 passengers or
fewer are allowed to offer landings and then only
100 can be ashore at one time. Many cruise lines
limit passenger numbers to 200 and allow just an
hour ashore, ensuring a smooth landing operation
with the minimum waiting time.
In the Galapagos, ships are not allowed to
carry any more than 100 people and itineraries
are carefully planned so there is only ever one
vessel at each of the landing sites to ensure the
wildlife is not disturbed. »
6 | Expedition Cruise Diary | March 2019
Stowaway Media | 7