Stefano Pastrovich designs new luxury X‑Expedition cruise ship powered by Wärtsilä

‘They’re travellers who find what they’re looking for in the world of boutique hotels, luxury concierge services and private jets,’ explains Pastrovich, ‘but are still not served by anything like that in the cruise Industry’.

Cruise ship vs. super yacht

In order to maximise the efficiency of materials and space, each X-Expedition ship is designed on modular principles, including a standard cruise ship construction platform with cabins, windows, vertical accesses and common areas that meet like a ‘jigsaw puzzle’. 

‘Right from the first sketch, we based the design on integrating different construction techniques, leveraging the efficient modular approach of the cruise industry while combining it with the high-end techniques typical of superyachts’, comments the 20 years’ veteran in ship design. ‘This enables us to achieve efficient cost management and construction times without sacrificing luxury construction detail.’ 

A 101mtr long ship with a 19mtr beam, there are three possible suite configurations: Optimal for 108 guests in 48 standard suites, four deluxe suites and two owner suites; Deluxe for 84 passengers in 24 standard suites, 16 deluxe suites and two owner suites and Owner for 64 guests in 24 deluxe suites and four owner suites. 

Measuring 29 sq mtr, 58sq mtr and 87sq mtr respectively, each suite comes with a balcony and is set for a 1:1 guest-crew ratio, keeping with Pastrovich’s expression that ‘space makes for privacy and privacy determines exclusivity’.    

Eco technology

A partnership between Pastrovich and Wärtsilä means the X-Expedition design works with the Wärtsilä HY hybrid system, which is currently utilised in the naval industries.

‘The partnership with Wärtsilä has focused on integrating the Wärtsilä Hybrid system in the ship’s operating system but the aim was to go beyond energy savings’, says Pastrovich. ‘Guests have the opportunity to enjoy nature’s symphony of sounds undisturbed’.

Wärtsilä’s system increases power redundancy to engines, meaning ships can operate closer to their optimum design point; allegedly releasing ‘zero smoke under all conditions’ the system consists of  a green mode for zero noise, zero vibration and zero emissions. 

In addition to its environmentally friendly elements, the hybrid system utilised in the X-Expedition design is claimed to lower maintenance costs owing to ships’ reduced engine operations and result in longer Time Between Overhauls because of decreased component stresses.