Page 17 - 2020 CIN Expedition Market Report
P. 17
EXPEDITION
MARKET
ing to go to Antarctica or to the Arctic understand p Zodiac marketing more excursions and not landings as
the advantages that a smaller vessel can provide adventures capacity grows and operators may not be able
– better access to remote areas and landing sites; to guarantee two to three site visits per day.
more ‘face time’ with the expedition team; and a
camaraderie among guests and staff that is more “All operators are certainly concerned about
difficult to achieve aboard larger ships.” the continued growth of tourism and we work
with one another as a group to manage the best
Deployment we can,” Wellmeier said.
The Sea Spirit has fallen into a traditional Future
deployment pattern. Antarctica is followed by
a shoulder season British Isles sailing, and then Deployment for 2021-2022 is similar and was
an Arctic program. rolled out in January 2020.
Best sellers in Antarctica are a New Years ex- Among the news is complimentary WiFi dur-
pedition and a now-traditional three-week cruise ing voyages.
in early January.
Along with a full schedule of departure dates
“We like to get out and rates, the company announced early booking
early in the mar- discounts of 10 to 15 percent that can be applied
ket and feel that on reservations made from now through Oct.
it gives us some 31, 2020.
advantages.”
“We had been in discussions with key partners
“That always sells out at premium prices,” said and groups for sub charters earlier than that,”
Wellmeier. “It includes South Georgia and the Wellmeier continued. “We like to get out early
Falklands. We, like everyone else, do long cruises in the market and feel that it gives us some ad-
at the beginning and end of the season, and this vantages.”
one is smack dab in the middle; it is popular.”
In the Arctic, the company has seen the market
Landing site expectations are being reframed get more competitive but has a strategic advan-
for guests heading to Antarctica – focusing on tage in three voyages dedicated to Franz Josef
Land with expedited immigration clearance other
companies don’t enjoy.
In addition are three summer departures to
the North Pole, 13 days in length, aboard the 50
Years of Victory, a Russian-built nuclear-powered
icebreaker.
Next up, the company confirmed it is still plan-
ning to move forward with a newbuild, with guest
capacity under 150 passengers. ¾
Cruise Industry News: 2020 Expedition Market Report 165
