Expedition Cruise Network Updates on Members

One of the biggest stories this month was PONANT’s announcement of acquiring a majority stake in Aqua Expeditions. Both brands are renowned for their luxury expeditions, and this exciting collaboration promises to bring fresh opportunities and growth to both companies. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.

In other notable news, HX Hurtigruten Expeditions completed its acquisition, marking an important milestone for one of the world’s largest expedition cruise operators. With a €140 million investment behind them, this move sets the stage for accelerated growth and new opportunities in the market.

As anyone in the trade will know, January and February are busy months for expedition cruise operators, and AE Expeditions reported a remarkable 44% year-over-year growth in sales for January – a testament to the ongoing demand for adventure travel in the expedition sector.

To celebrate St. Valentine’s Day, Swan Hellenic launched a new service aboard its ships called ‘Love Aboard.’ This unique service allows couples to celebrate their commitment with non-denominational commitment ceremonies in some of the world’s most beautiful destinations. It’s a lovely offering for your clients seeking something special. But that’s not all – Swan Hellenic also reinforced its commitment to environmental and scientific efforts with its 2025 Cruising4Oceans programme, in partnership with the EU.

In an exciting move for travel advisors, Secret Atlas has partnered with Cabin Select, a cruise sales distribution company that streamlines the booking process. This integration will make it easier for agents to book, manage, and pay for Secret Atlas bookings, with access to live availability, pricing, and content all in one place.

For those seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure, Coral Expeditions introduced a new circumnavigation programme for Tasmania. These new itineraries let clients explore the pristine and wild Tasmanian coast – an adventure not to be missed!

Albatros Expeditions continues to stand out in the industry with its commitment to serving a diverse global clientele. They’ve recently introduced a ‘Chef on Board’ initiative, allowing Indian groups to bring their own chef onboard for a tailored culinary experience while exploring the polar regions. Albatros is leading the way in offering global and culturally diverse experiences.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises revealed a new brand look and campaign ‘Unforgettable – with all senses’ and appointed James Scott as a sales manager for UK and Ireland.

The Expedition Cruise Network have also been busy as they hosted their first interview with Graham Charles, founder of the Polar Tourism Guides Association, where they discussed what it takes to become a polar region guide and why industry standards are more important than ever. The ECN webinar on revisiting luxury expeditions, featuring experts from Silversea, Scenic Eclipse, PONANT, and Atlas Ocean Voyages, which will take place next Wednesday, will explore how the luxury expedition market is evolving. The ECN also launched their ‘Meet the Sales Rep’ blog series, offering a behind-the-scenes look at different sales representatives, and guest posts from travel advisors and expedition cruise operator members about their recent trips to Antarctica and the Galapagos.

Sign up as an Expedition Cruise Network member to keep up to date about this growing sector within the travel industry!