Cruising Antarctica With Atlas Ocean Voyages

Atlas Ocean Voyages Has New Management and New Model Messaging

Atlas Ocean Voyages is the U.S. subsidiary of Portugal-based Mystic Make investments Holdings, which owns and operates the third-largest river cruise fleet on the planet. Their portfolio consists of motels, resorts, sights, helicopter excursions, and shopper house journey. 

When the corporate’s first expedition ship, World Navigator/evaluations/evaluate.cfm?ShipID=1481), launched in August 2021, it was touted as a yacht-style ultra-luxury model consistent with cruise firms like Silversea and Seabourn, with itineraries centered on lesser-known and unique ports of name worldwide.

James Rodriguez, who was named as Atlas’ new president and CEO on August 1, 2022, and who was on the inaugural crusing, shared with Cruise Critic that this advertising technique had a pre-pandemic mindset and the itineraries wanted to vary.

Rodriguez, a 19-year business veteran with Oceania Cruises, was one of many founding members of Oceania in 2002 and most not too long ago served because the vice chairman of gross sales and advertising for the road. He advised us that vacationers have been trying to reconnect with the world after the pandemic. They usually needed to sail to the marquee, acquainted, and secure locations like Rome and Barcelona – and never solely to lesser-known ports of name.

He additionally defined that there wanted to be extra communication and readability across the model’s technique after coming into the market in 2021, particularly with journey brokers (commerce companions). There have been additionally pre-cruise customer support points associated to the ever-changing laws round COVID-19 that induced a breakdown in messaging to purchasers.

 With the brand new management and creating partnerships with commerce companions like Avoya Journey, Atlas now manufacturers the road as upper-premium. Rodriguez explains, “We under-promise and overdeliver.” He provides, “We provide most of what luxurious strains supply, however not on the value – and persons are shocked.”

World Navigator and World Traveller sailed to Antarctica on November 21, 2022, after a twin naming ceremony in Ushuaia, for his or her first expedition beneath the road’s new management – and with an unexpectedly low fare. Rodriguez explains, “We did not have a previous visitor listing to depend on, so we marketed a Labor Day Sale, the place the second visitor sails free. It truly is the deal of the century – and it labored surprisingly properly.” Whereas the marketed pricing for the crusing was surprisingly low, particularly since most individuals regarded the model as being within the luxurious house, the fares have been deceiving.

From first-hand expertise on their inaugural expedition, World Traveller provides passengers an distinctive solution to sail. I used to be impressed by the educated and gracious workers, skilled expedition crew, and practically flawless execution of our 9-night round-trip crusing from Ushuaia to Antarctica.

World Traveller is a Luxurious Yacht-Fashion Expedition Ship

World Traveller is a sublime and intimate yacht-style polar class ship (9,930 gross tons) with 98 cabins, accommodating 196 visitors at double occupancy. For expedition sailings within the polar areas, the passenger quantity is barely decrease, with roughly 186 visitors, permitting more room to accommodate the expedition staff. There are sometimes 117 crew and between 12 to 17 expedition staff members.

On our crusing, there have been 100 passengers and 12 expedition staff members, and one unbiased observer from IAATO, a bunch designed to “advocate and promote the apply of secure and environmentally accountable private-sector journey to Antarctica.” The observer was there to make sure that the expedition staff, the ship, and the corporate did all the things to adjust to the principles and laws, as required beneath the framework of the Antarctic Treaty System, to change into a member of IAATO. As a aspect notice, the ship was authorised throughout our crusing.

Atlas at present provides 9-, 11- and 13-night roundtrip expeditions to Antarctica from Ushuaia. The road will add a 3rd ship within the area, World Seeker, on the finish of 2024, and two extra vessels are deliberate for the longer term. Rodriguez stated they want to fly the Drake Passage on some voyages. Nevertheless, navigating one of many world’s roughest waterways is a part of the expertise of visiting this distant a part of the world.

Roundtrip Expedition from the “Finish of the World” to The White Continent

My crusing, the 9-night roundtrip expedition from Ushuaia, challenged even essentially the most skilled cruisers as our captain navigated the roughly 48-hour Drake Passage crossing en path to the South Shetland Islands and the extra prolonged return voyage from the Antarctic Peninsula. Nobody might have ready first-timers for the tough journey by the “Drake Shake”– and at occasions scary seas – with common swells at 12 to fifteen ft or extra and waves crashing in towards the ship, inflicting it to shake, pitch, and roll.

After we might muster the balancing act of going exterior on the decks, between the moist, windy, and snowy situations, it was spectacular to observe the Antarctic birds hovering overhead and alongside the ship, together with the biggest birds on the planet with a wingspan of as much as 13.5 ft, the Wandering albatross.

Our expedition chief, Jonathan Zaccarria, who is not any stranger to the “Drake Shake” after greater than 70 crossings, stated that whereas the passengers have extra points with the movement on the way in which down, the state of affairs improves on the return journey as soon as everybody acquires their sea legs. World Traveller is designed for journey on the excessive seas and has wonderful stabilizers. And he and the captain defined that they do all the things they will to keep away from the immense waves, whether or not which means slowing the ship down or encountering delays. They do not need to make the passengers or crew uncomfortable, particularly when the workers must work within the galley.

On the return passage, the “shake” was way more dramatic with rougher seas and extra intense waves. The captain additionally suggested us {that a} storm was coming, so within the curiosity of security, the final afternoon’s Zodiac journey was canceled, and we high-tailed it out of Antarctica at full velocity again to Ushuaia.

The Expedition Workforce on World Traveller was very Skilled

Zaccarria, who has been working within the polar areas for 10 years, spent 14 months in Antarctica’s French analysis station, Dumont d’Urville 14, which is considered the windiest place on Earth. Dumont d’Urville 14 is the closest station to an Emperor penguin colony and was made well-known by the documentary, “The March of the Penguins.”

Zaccarria and lots of expedition staff members had notable backgrounds, with a lot of their time spent in Antarctica, so the onboard lectures and day by day recaps have been very informative and entertaining, particularly on the matters of wildlife, birding, and on early explorers to the area. We additionally watched the documentary Zaccarria filmed throughout his time on the station, “Icebound in Antarctica.”

The staff was very thorough in instructing all of us concerning the security measures associated to our gear (together with our shiny lime inexperienced parka that was a present from Atlas), correctly becoming the life jackets, and the necessities to make Zodiac landings ashore or go on Zodiac cruises. There have been additionally particular coaching periods for passengers wishing to go kayaking or paddleboarding through the expedition. There was a bunch of kayakers, however I did not see any takers for paddleboarding within the frigid Antarctic waters.

4 Days to Discover in Antarctica

Whereas 9 nights aboard an expedition ship in Antarctica seems like a protracted journey, it glided by shortly whenever you issue within the time spent navigating the Drake Passage, which is roughly 4 full days of the itinerary. The time will be even longer if the captain must take a distinct and longer course to keep away from unhealthy climate, as we did on the return journey.

Our first cease was within the South Shetland Islands on Day 4 earlier than heading south to the Antarctic Peninsula for the following three days. The itinerary exhibits “Captain’s Selection” for the times when you’ll be able to discover off the ship within the South Shetland Islands and past, however the place you go and what you are able to do finally is dependent upon the climate.

The everyday schedule consisted of a touchdown, Zodiac journey and/or sea kayaking within the morning and afternoon, situations allowing. For environmental, conservation, and wildlife safety causes, solely 100 persons are permitted to do any exercise directly. Zacarria defined, some passengers go ashore within the morning for a touchdown whereas others take the Zodiac journey to discover. The reverse schedule happens within the afternoon, once more relying on the climate.

The captain and expedition staff are consistently revising schedules and altering methods to offer the very best and most secure experiences, however plans can shortly change. Within the night recaps, Zaccarria at all times talked about Plan A and Plan B, however one night with out web entry that day to assist with the following day’s climate forecast, there was Plan ??? for each the morning and afternoon time slots.

Because the staff talked about on the very first day of the expedition, flexibility is important. You may be upset should you’re a planner and have your coronary heart set on seeing the rookery of Gentoo penguins at Brown Station, an Argentinian analysis base. It both might not be doable to succeed in that precise spot, or it might not be out there if one other ship has already deliberate to land there. The entire landings and excursions are rigorously monitored in Antarctica.

Expedition ships with as much as 500 passengers have an added problem due to the strict limitations – and vacationers may not see as a lot, or have as many landings or Zodiac rides, as individuals crusing on a smaller vessel, particularly on a shorter expedition. Any bigger ships (over 500 passengers) are solely in a position to cruise the waters. They don’t seem to be permitted off the ship.

For our 9-night expedition, we had a complete of three landings, three Zodiac cruises, and three sea kayaking journeys. We additionally had the polar plunge, thought-about by some to be a ceremony of passage when touring to Antarctica. Forty-four passengers braved the frigid waters of the Neumayer Channel so they might have bragging rights for his or her bravery (or madness) for making the plunge. (I wasn’t a kind of passengers).

My recommendation – and what I hope to do on a return journey – is to decide on the longer itinerary. Additionally, do not skip occurring a touchdown or a Zodiac cruise when it is supplied. You by no means know when the captain might should shift course and reduce out an tour because of the ever-changing climate.

Public Areas and Choices on World Traveller

After we weren’t ashore traversing by foot-high snowy landscapes – or gliding by the huge silence in a Zodiac capturing pictures of humpback whales, penguins, seals, ice flows, or eerily turquoise blue icebergs, actions appeared plentiful all through the day. And the times glided by so shortly, although we have been restricted principally to indoor public areas (apart from wildlife viewing and the polar plunge).

Crew and expedition members talked about that it may be extra snug on the tough sea days to observe the lectures, motion pictures, and recaps from our fantastically appointed staterooms slightly than in the primary theater, Vasco de Gama Auditorium, on the ship’s bow. Nevertheless, staying within the public areas, such because the Atlas Lounge and visitor relations space on Deck 4 was simpler for me because it was two decks down from my cabin. This space within the heart of the ship felt like a considerably extra secure spot within the vessel.

This space was additionally an important spot to talk with fellow passengers and the participating crew, together with the cruise director and the lodge supervisor, who have been part of nearly each exercise on the ship, together with aiding within the mud room when it was time to move out for a touchdown or Zodiac journey.

Deck 4 can be the place you may discover a lot of the eating choices out there in Antarctica. Lisboa, the aft-situated most important eating room, additionally provides al fresco eating in season. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style in Lisboa with a big selection of freshly ready meals and cooked dishes. The variety of selections and high quality of the meals have been wonderful. Most days at lunch, there was additionally a carving station or an individually ready specialty, corresponding to a truffled risotto, an Asian noodle stir fry, or mussels ready with white wine and garlic.

They served a buffet dinner the primary and final night on board, and for a particular vacation meal, however the remainder of the evenings have been plated meals. You too can request a menu once they have a buffet. I seemed ahead to the eating expertise each night with fantastically executed dishes and attentive service. I can also’t cease eager about the scrumptious freshly baked loaves of bread (a few of the finest I’ve had on any cruise) and the day by day do-it-yourself ice cream flavors, with Blueberry Muffin nonetheless rating as one in every of my favorites.

Paula’s Pantry, positioned in the identical space because the Cruise Director’s and expedition staff’s desks, is an excellent grab-and-go idea with specialty coffees, fresh-pressed juices, yogurt, morning and lunch choices, freshly baked pastries, muffins, cookies, and extra. And at The Dome on Deck 7, you may discover panoramic views, a spacious and comfy lounge house, and lightweight bites through the morning. The Dome can be the place tea is served within the afternoon, and night leisure takes place after dinner.

A memorable contact by the crew was a Thanksgiving Day meal full with all the normal fixings. It was additionally considerate to supply visitors a brief non-denominational Thanksgiving service in The Dome (Deck 7) hosted by the minister that had officiated the naming ceremony. It was an emotional expertise as we sailed in distant waters so removed from residence. Many people have been with out household, so it was notably transferring when visitor entertainer Asijah Pickett sang “What a Fantastic World.”

Atlas Offers You An Intimate Providing in a Distant Vacation spot

My final expedition cruise within the Galapagos was additionally a life-changing and bucket-list expertise. The distinction was that we have been so busy spending time without work the ship on daily basis that the design and décor of the vessel weren’t the highest precedence.

This expedition to Antarctica was very totally different. With a lot time spent on board between crossing the formidable Drake Passage twice, ready for the following time to go ashore or on a Zodiac journey, and spending lengthy hours indoors, consolation was paramount – and luxurious a bonus.

An expedition to Antarctica is a shared expertise with fellow vacationers and the crew. The World Traveller’s onboard areas make for a convivial setting – whether or not you are exhibiting photographs from the day’s touchdown or conversing over a night cocktail, the ship is a welcome – and chic refuge. In the event you did not go on board as buddies, you may come away with a couple of new acquaintances it’s possible you’ll even need to journey with once more.

On World Traveller, you’ll be able to have an all-inclusive, adventure-filled, and once-in-a-lifetime expedition to The Final Continent whereas having fun with all of the luxurious appointments, top-notch eating, and attentive service on a yacht-style ship. I’m able to ebook my subsequent – and prolonged – journey to discover deeper into The White Continent and cross over the Antarctic Circle.