Poseidon Expeditions announced today that it will begin operating the 114- passenger expedition vessel Sea Spirit in May 2015. Founded in 1999, the company was a pioneer in icebreaker cruises to the North Pole, and has more recently broadened its offerings to include Antarctica aboard the Sea Spirit’s sister ship, the 114-passenger Sea Explorer.

With the acquisition of the Sea Spirit, Poseidon will offer a full range of polar cruises, beginning with a May 2015 14-day voyage from the Netherlands to Scotland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland. This will be followed by:

• A Circumnavigation of Iceland, June 2, 2015, 11 days
• Iceland, Jan Mayen and Spitsbergen, June 12, 12 days
• Around Spitsbergen, June 23 and July 3, 11 days
• Franz Josef Land, July 13, 25 and August 7, 13/14 days
• Spitsbergen Explorer, August 19, 11 days
• Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland, August 29, 14 days
• East Greenland, September 11, 13 days
• Iceland, Faroe Islands and Shetland Islands, September 23, 15 days

The vessel will then position to South America to commence a series of expedition cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands during the 2015-16 austral summer season.

In addition to the new Sea Spirit Antarctic departures, Poseidon will continue to offer Antarctic cruises aboard the Sea Explorer. With that vessel, the company is operating Antarctic programs during the current 2013-14 season, and will offer 11 different departures during the upcoming 2014-15 season. Starting with the 2015-16 season, Poseidon will offer Antarctic cruises on both vessels, making it one of the leading providers of expedition cruises to the Antarctic.

The Sea Spirit and Sea Explorer were built in 1991, originally operated by Renaissance Cruises. Since then, they have been upgraded for expedition cruising, including ice strengthening and other technical improvements appropriate for polar environments.

Both vessels feature luxurious all-suite accommodations, restaurants that can accommodate all passengers in one seating, well-stocked libraries, comfortable multi-purpose presentation lounges for educational programming and entertainment, and ample outdoor deck space to enjoy the passing scenery. Activities are directed by a team of seasoned polar guides and educators, and include Zodiac excursions, hiking ashore and optional kayaking, as well as informative presentations aboard.

Poseidon Expeditions takes safe and environmentally responsible polar travel seriously, and is a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO). It also actively supports the efforts of Polar Bears International and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

With offices in the US, UK, Russia, China and Japan, Poseidon Expeditions is a leading provider of polar expeditions in the cruise industry. In addition to offering polar cruises aboard the Sea Explorer and Sea Spirit, the company provides guests with the unique opportunity to travel to the North Pole aboard the 50 Years of Victory, the largest and most modern nuclear-powered icebreaker in the world. Three 14-day Top-of-the-World programs are scheduled for the upcoming 2014 summer.