Expedition cruising emerges, from Antarctica to Panama

Twenty-seven expedition cruise ships are scheduled for delivery from 2021 to 2023 plus four repurposed vessels for 18 operators, moderator Mary Bond, group director, Seatrade Cruise, said in opening Thursday's Expedition Leaders Panel at Seatrade Cruise Global.

Just today, Ulstein Verft handed over National Geographic Resolution to Lindblad Expeditions.

Fewer than 10,000 berths

But those 27 newbuilds represent fewer than 10,000 berths, noted Conrad Combrink, SVP expeditions, tour operating and destination management, Silversea Cruises, and some replace older ships. He doesn't see shipbuilding continuing at such a pace, though demand for expedition travel is strong.

Silversea's first purpose-built expedition ship, Silver Origin, debuted in the Galápagos this year, and Silver Wind is undergoing conversion into a polar vessel in Poland ahead of the upcoming Antarctica season.

Antarctica the holy grail

'The Antarctica season for us is the holy grail,' Combrink said. Two of three Silversea ships will turn around in Chile, part of a longer-term plan to move operations there, which includes training Chileans to become expedition leaders.

Theresa Gatta, VP sales, Ponant Americas, said the pandemic has fueled high demand for small ships, including expedition vessels. 'People want to be awakened ... A whole new purposeful mindset is driving expeditions,' she said.

Just this week, Ponant inaugurated its Polar Class 2 hybrid LNG-powered Le Commandant-Charcot, which earlier this month reached the geographic North Pole. Ponant currently has five ships in operation and all 12 of its vessels are expected to be carrying passengers by year's end.

'Encounter travel'

'People are more curious now,' said Capt. Michael Bennett, director, expedition, American Queen Voyages (previously Victory Cruise Lines), whose new Ocean Victory is set to begin its first Alaska season in early May.

American Queen Voyages offers 'encounter travel' and the educational aspect is important, Bennett said. Ocean Victory will afford opportunities to interact with scientific researchers studying songbirds and marine mammal sounds and to learn about Tlingit life in the Native village of Kake.

'Wildlife is important but more and more we see our guests interested in the communities they visit,' Silversea's Combrink said.

Engaging with communities

The panel discussed the importance of preserving authenticity and getting governments and communities' support for visits, along with ensuring the local people benefit from tourism. This takes time and dedication.

Silversea spent three years engaging with communities in Bangladesh via the tourist board before it was able to visit. The Ponant Foundation built and maintains a school and helps fund access to drinking water and solar-powered electricity in Bijagós off the coast of Guinea-Bissau.

Beyond the poles

All the panelists talked about the importance of exploring destinations beyond the poles. The vast Indian Ocean — from Madagascar to Aldabra in the Seychelles — is of interest to Silversea, Ponant is keen on Australia's vast Kimberley and American Queen's Bennett suggested the Canadian Maritimes have 'everything' — beauty, culture and ice — and offer 'untapped potential.'

What it takes for a destination to crack the expedition market

Authenticity is the most important thing for a destination hoping to crack into the expedition sector, according to Denise Guillén, deputy minister of tourism, Panama Tourism Authority. It's also vital that countries have strong conservation programs to protect their nature and cultural traditions, she said.

Panama has seven protected indigenous communities, rain forests, wildlife and more than 1,000 islands spread across four archipelagos in the Caribbean and Pacific, with opportunities to create interesting itineraries combined with Costa Rica and Colombia.

Panama's Sustainable Tourism Master Plan 2020-2025 aims to transform the country into a world-class sustainable tourism destination.

Access this and many more sessions live and on demand by registering for Seatrade Cruise Global today. Extending further than ever before, Seatrade Cruise Global live is also virtual until Sept. 30, followed by Seatrade Cruise Global 2.0 running Oct. 4-31, including brand new content during the Power Networking week. Learn more and register at www.seatradecruiseglobal.com.

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