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EXPEDITION MARKET
POLAR LATITUDES
Full Season, Two Ships
“We are an experience
delivery company and
we happen to do it on a
cruise ship in Antarctica.”
considering dedicating one ship to the
Chinese market.
John McKeon, 50 percent,” said John McKeon, presi- Nine Nights and More
president dent.
While nine-night cruises have been
Adding more nine-night voyages “I’m convinced and I pound this into a hit, the additional capacity is open-
has played well in the Western markets the guys; we’re not an expedition cruise ing up more options including a 15-day
for Polar Latitudes, allowing the com- company, we are an experience deliv- in-depth Antarctica Peninsula cruise,
pany to shave a day off pricing, while ery company and we happen to do it on as well as a 15-day Antarctic Circle
also appealing to guests short on time a cruise ship in Antarctica. crossing.
that want to see Antarctica.
Demand is rising for Polar Latitudes “The Antarctic crossing has been
The Vermont-based line is on a in China, with five key agency partners super popular,” McKeon told Cruise
growth trek, and will have two ships for and an agreement with Tencent driving Industry News. “Most companies go
the full Antarctica season in 2018-2019 bookings. down there and turn back; we stay for a
as the Island Sky will join the Hebrid- few days. Last season we were the fur-
ean Sky (the two are sister ships). McKeon said Chinese business had thest south of any ship. We did camping
been doubling year-over-year, and he is and some kayak outings; it was fantas-
“This is big for us, we are expanding tic.”
our inventory and offerings by around
The company’s two chartered ships
The Hebridean Sky originally launched as the Renaissance
VII and VIII and are the only two of
the eight vessels in that class with ice-
strengthened hulls.
“We say the ships are a perfect com-
bination of adventure off the ship and
real luxury and comfort on the ship,”
said McKeon. “We’re not marketing as
luxury, it’s not a five-star product, and
we don’t do any of the over the top stuff
with butlers and monogram robes. We
do offer a very comfortable semi-luxu-
rious return when you come back from
being onshore.”
Launching 2019-2020 deployment
earlier this year, the company is plan-
ning to roll out 2020-2021 even earlier.
“There are a lot of new ships coming
into the market, and our strategy has
been to get out there early enough to
get some commitments and breathing
78 Cruise Industry News: 2018 Expedition Market Report
