The market for expedition cruises is bullish, now QUARK, subsidiary of TUI Group, was anouncing a new ship to be added to its expedition fleet for the season 2018/19.
Some are predicting a collapse for this bullish market. But as long as we see a steady growth in the mass market, where the companies swamp the usual ports with its "screaming cargo", and the cruise offers more and more becoming like shore resort vacancies, the desire for special destinations and a more sophisticated vessel, cruise feeling, better service, food&beverage, is rising. The sophisticated traveller/cruiser who has done it all, what is on the pannel and is a bit better on his feet - financially, is turning to the new offers.
by Earl of Cruise
Rendering of WORLD EXPORER published at Cruise Industry News - courtsey QUARK EXPEDITIONS
It may be another reason existing for the demend for expedition cruises - I think of those into the regions of "endless ice". Some stupid ignorants believe, that we don´t have a clima change ... instead we have a clima catastrophy, direct to be seen with our own eyes. The ice is melting at the poles, and in the mountains! And therefore it may be a bit of a macabre catastrophy sigthseeing ...
Polar bear pubs in Spitsbergen - © by Rinie van Meurs
Their enviroment is melting, and with that their prey, the seals which need the ide to give birth to their pubs
Back to QUARK EXPEDITIONS and their new vessel - WORLD EXPORER.
QUARK EXPEDITIONS has announced its 2018/2019 Antarctica program
which is being highlighted by WORLD EXPORER, a new luxury
expedition cruise vessel. The ship is 126 meters long, designed by Italian Naval Architect
Giuseppe Tringali.
WORLD EXPORER will accommodate 200 guests, served by a 111
international crew members. The ship will have an operating cruise speed
of 16 knots with a strengthened hull and propellers for traversing ice.
She will be 126 meters in length with a width of 19 meters, a draft of
4.8 meters and be 9,300 tons.
Rendering of WORLD EXPLORER under MYSTIC CRUISES ownership and management, chartered by QUARK EXPEDITIONS - courtsey QUARK EXPEDITIONS
One of the biggest expedition operators by capacity confirmed to Cruise Industry News on
Wednesday that the 176-guest ship was a complete newbuild, being built
with input from QUARK at a shipyard in Portugal. The building process is
underway at WestSea Yard, part of Martifer Group.
QUARK, in a prepared statement, said the ship is an all-suite, all
balcony vessel, that will embark on 10 voyages during the upcoming
season. The ship has six premium suites.
The 1B ice-class hull is propelled through the water by contemporary twin ROLLS-ROYCE engines.
The ship will be built on a ROLLS-ROYCE technical platform and is the first in a planned series of cruise ships.
QUARK EXPEDITIONS will operate the vessel, WORLD EXPORER, for 10 charter cruises for the 2018/2019 Antarctica season.
According to a statement, for the rest of the season the ship will
visit small and distinct ports around the world normally not accessible
to larger cruise ships and will be distributed worldwide by the German
Company NICKO CRUISES - owned by MYSTIC INVEST A company that also
owns river brand DOURO AZUL.
Rendering the future, a passenger in his kajak cruising in front of WORLD EXPLORER - courstsey QUARK EXPEDITIONS
Mário Ferreira, MYSTIC CRUISES - owned by MYSTIC INVEST, CEO said: “These are very exciting
times for us, this project is something that we’ve been working on for
some time, crafting it to perfection to meet our clients’ and the
market’s needs. The MS World Explorer will be the first of our
expeditionary cruise ships. She will offer passengers a once in a
lifetime experience of exclusivity and personalized service visiting the
vast frozen landscapes of Antarctica and small, exclusive ports around
the world. Antarctica offers a unique setting for expeditionary cruises, and
we’ll offer the opportunity to explore this amazing region with all
comfort and luxury of a five-star plus hotel. Aboard the MS World
Explorer, guests will have the opportunity to marvel at the beauty of
the landscape, while enjoying all the amenities of a luxury hotel with a
personalized service, where staff will know their name and preferences. Being one of the last unspoiled and untouched regions in the World,
Antarctica poses a unique challenge for cruise companies in order to
offer the high-quality service that guests are used to in other areas,
while being environmentally sustainable. We are very pleased to be
working with an industry leading company such as Rolls- Royce. Since we
started our partnership the results have been very positive, and we
believe that we made the correct call in selecting them. For us it’s
essential to have a sustainable, efficient and environmental friendly
solution. That is why we opted for the hybrid technology that
Rolls-Royce proposed.”
The World Explorer is the first of several ships to be built by the
Portuguese company WestSea Yard for its expeditionary cruise line, according to a
press release.
"The design is the result of several years of study and development
to create the perfect balance between luxury, comfort, efficiency and
environmental friendly operation," the company said.
Rendering of WORLD EXPLORER sailing in the sea of Anarctica - courtsey QUARK EXPEDITIONS
ROLLS-ROYCE has supplied two Bergen, C25:33L8P main engines and a
Bergen C25:33L6P auxiliary dual generator. This connects to a Low
Voltage AFE “SAVeCUBE” Power Electric System which allows the engines to
operate at variable speeds maximizing their efficiency for the required
power. ROLLS-ROYCE is also providing the automation and control system,
and the complete Promas propulsion system with two CPP propellers
integrated with two flap rudders, also steering gears and tunnel
thrusters.
John Roger Nesje, ROLLS-ROYCE, Vice President, Power Electric Systems
– Marine said; “Our experience of all aspects of ship design and
construction, has allowed us to help Mystic Cruises, carefully consider
the World Explorer ‘s operational profile and identify the optimum
combination of technologies to use in order to reduce emissions and
achieve improved performance and fuel economy.”
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