Expedition Cruises - AURORA EXPEDITIONS announces new world-class expedition vessel

AURORA EXPEDITIONS, Australia’s leading polar adventure cruising company, has announced its new world-class expedition vessel May 15th. The delivery of its first brand new, purpose-built, expedition vessel will be in the Antarctica season 2019/20.

by Earl of Cruise

ULSTEIN design 104 m expedition cruise vessel for SUN STONE, built in China for the world wide cruise line charter market - courtesy ULSTEIN

After LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS, founded by Lars-Eric Lindblad (January 23, 1927 – July 8, 1994) was a Swedish-American entrepreneur and explorer, who pioneered tourism to many remote and exotic parts of the world. He led the first tourist expedition to Antarctica in 1966 in a chartered Argentine navy ship, and for many years operated his own vessel, LINDBLAD EXPLORER, in the region. Observers point to LINDBLAD EXPLORER´s 1969 expeditionary cruise to Antarctica as the frontrunner to today’s sea-based tourism there. This first pupose built cruise vessel, LINDBLAD EXPLORER, later joined by the German WORLD DISCOVERER, had been for a long time the only real expedition and discoverer cruise vessels. These special cruises are for the sophisticated traveller, who has seen the world, but not the "eternal ice", which turns out is not any longer eternal ... especially when "clean coal" will be used further on.

In the 1990s the demand was rising, with the Baby Boomers having cruised the globe on "normal" cruise vessels and have seen the most. And a somewhat to be called building boom started, but too a number of vessel, not purpose built for ice expeditions or discovery had been transformed into vessels, sailing out of the beaten path.

AURORA EXPEDITIONS´ new World-Class expeditions and discovery cruise vessel - courtesy ULSTEIN

With 25 years’ experience in expedition cruising to Antarctica and the Arctic, AURORA EXPEDITIONS has worked closely with US-based ship owners Sun Stone Ships Inc. to create a custom-designed ship, in fact designed by ULSTEIN, that remains true to the company’s ethos of pioneering adventures, intimate experiences with nature, exploring new regions and protecting the enviroment - by reducing the carbon footprint.

The state-of-the-art ULSTEIN ice class 1A ship will be built to the latest polar code specifications, offering unprecedented levels of safety and environmental protection - for operations not just in the high latitudes, but across the planet. Exclusively designed for expedition cruising, the 104-metre vessel will allow AURORA EXPEDITIONS to continue to provide the authentic, small-ship experience for which they are renowned.

Fijian greeting expedition cruise guests - courtesy Fiji-Culture (www.tutai.com)

"With the development of our purpose-built expedition ship, we stay true to our small-ship philosophy where the focus is on the experience and engagement with the environment while at the same time providing the most comfortable form of travel in these challenging environments. In the polar regions, we will have the ability to reduce passenger numbers so we can continue to visit existing landings sites as well as explore new areas where strict regulations enforce no more than 100 people ashore at any one time" says Robert Halfpenny, Managing Director of AURORA EXPEDITIONS.“We are excited to be the first to market with this exciting new design. The vessel is the first to use the patented X-BOW technology which has the ability to pierce waves with much greater stability, making open sea journeys – like Antarctica’s notorious Drake Passage – more pleasant for passengers than what is currently available from other small ships on the market today,” Halfpenny says.

AURORA EXPEDITIONS´new World-Class expedition ship with Zodiac tendering guests ashore - courtesy AURORA EXPEDITIONS

While a traditional bow vessel rises on the waves and then drops violently onto the surface of the water, an X-BOW vessel, less subject to the vertical motions induced by the waves, continues on course more smoothly, while maintaining its speed. Because it uses less fuel to get through the waves, it also helps to save energy versus a conventional bow designed vessel.

AURORA EXPEDITIONS´ new ship will make access to nature easier and offer passengers a more comfortable experience than ever before. It will also allow for greater adventure opportunities with a custom-designed platform to cater for additional numbers of kayakers and divers, and a mud room for easier preparation for climbers and skiers.

Small inflatable Zodiac crafts will continue to carry expeditioners between ship and shore, with a dedicated sea-level Zodiac loading platform for quick and easy boarding.

Expedition guests experiencing the Antarctic life and frosty - courtesy Expedition Cruise Specialists

In between adventures, passengers will return to the warm, friendly and inclusive onboard atmosphere for which Aurora Expeditions is well-known. Whether it’s making new friends over dinner, sharing entertaining lectures, or briefings in the lounge, the small-group experience remains the same.

Add to this private bathroom facilities, cabin balconies, a 180-degree indoor observation deck, wellness facilities including gymnasium, sauna and spa, and plenty of outdoor viewing areas for additional enjoyment and comfort.

AURORA EXPEDITIONS´ new World-Class expeditions and discovery cruise vessel - courtesy AURORA EXPEDITIONS

At a time when the cruising industry is focused on 6-star luxury and onboard activities to attract passengers, Aurora Expeditions remains steadfast in its belief that its destinations are best-experienced in small groups, as close as possible to the heart of nature.

This would be more my climate and destination, I guess my parents implemented "palm gens" in me ...

Arts Village Pac Harbour - courtesy fidjimarinas.com

This means getting off the ship as often as possible with multiple daily landings and getting amongst the action; seeing up close penguin adults feeding their chicks, polar bears hunting seals on pack ice or Galapagos sea turtles diving for a meal.

The yet-to-be-named ship will be delivered in time for AURORA EXPEDITIONS’ 2019/2020 Antarctic season (November to March) and will complement the company’s existing fleet of vessels and destinations. Itineraries for the new ship are expected for release later this year.

Coming Travel and Cruise Trends for 2018

Expedition Cruises - SUNSTONE SHIPS and ULSTEIN go China

PEACE BOAT is planing its first purpose built ship, a revolutionairy design

New rules demand new solutions

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