world traveller vessel

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• Atlas Ocean Voyages

World Traveller

Cruise line Atlas Ocean Voyages

• Ushuaia (Argentina)

World Traveller current position

World Traveller current location is at Adriatic Sea (coordinates 43.62039 N / 13.50736 E) cruising en route to IT VCE > IT AOI. The AIS position was reported 19 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of World Traveller

World Traveller current cruise is 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Rome Round Trip Cruise . Prices start from USD 3149 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 03 Jun, 2024 and ends on 10 Jun, 2024 .

Specifications of World Traveller

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

World Traveller Itineraries

World traveller review, review of world traveller.

The 2022-built MS World Traveller cruise ship is a newbuild passenger vessel designed for operations in the polar regions (Arctic and Antarctica). The vessel is owned by Mystic Invest Holding (via the subsidiary Mystic Cruises USA ) and operated under charter by AOV-Atlas Ocean Voyages (USA-based travel company/brand owned by Mystic Invest).

The ship World Traveller is the 4th vessel in an initially planned 10-ship fleet of Mystic Cruises, grouping the sisterships World Explorer (2019), World Voyager (2021), World Navigator (2021), World Traveller (2022), World Discoverer (2023), World Adventurer (2024), World Seeker (2025).

The shipbuilder is WestSEA (naval shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal ).

The vessel (IMO number 9904807) is currently Portugal- flagged (MMSI 255806210) and registered in Madeira/Funchal .

Ship history and ownership

The vessel is owned by the Portugal-based company Mystic Cruises and seasonally chartered by Atlas Ocean Voyages (for polar cruises) and also by European river cruise operators including Nicko Tours (for the rest of the season). The ship charterer Atlas Ocean Voyages (2019-established) is a polar travel company specializing in expedition cruises to Antarctica using vessels with ice-strengthened hulls. AOV's first charter boat was World Navigator.

Atlas Ocean Voyages is managed by Alberto Aliberti (President) and Brandon Townsley (VP of Sales and Trade Partnerships), plus two Sales Managers - Alyssa Logan (North America West) and Richard Sims (North America East, former Sales Manager of NCL-Norwegian , Holland America and Seabourn ).

Mystic Cruises is a new brand owned by the Portuguese entrepreneur Mario Ferreira - president of Mystic Invest SGPS (group of companies) and best known as CEO of the Portuguese river cruise company Douro Azul, operating on Douro River roundtrips from Oporto . Mario Ferreira is also famous for being Portugal's first space tourist (traveling on Virgin Galactic's Spaceship One / owned by Richard Branson).

The shipowner Mystic Invest is a Portuguese family-owned financial holding that fully owns several brands specializing in the travel and tourism businesses (cruises, tours, hotels) and real estate. The list of brands (subsidiaries) owned by the parent company Mystic Invest includes DouroAzul (Portugal), Mystic Cruises (USA), Nicko Cruises (Germany), Priority Dolphin (shipbuilding), Mystic Tua (Portugal), Mystic Adventure (tour agency in Barca d'Alva ), World of Discoveries (theme park in Porto Portugal), Helitours (Porto and Douro Valley), BlueBus (Porto), hotels and resorts (Hotel do Cais, Monumental Palace Hotel, Douro Marina Hotel, Wine Lodge Hotel), Caminho das Estrelas (suborbital and Zero-G flights), Mystic Real Estate.

Decks and Cabins

World Traveller staterooms (98 total) are all in Suite categories and with step-out balconies, providing max passenger capacity 200 (max 140 on polar cruises). The boat has 8 decks , of which 6 are passenger-accessible and 3 with cabins.

Each of the staterooms offers as standard (complimentary / price-inclusive) amenities

• en-suite bathroom (shower, WC, washbasin, hairdryer, plush bathrobes and slippers, premium bath products)
• separate bedroom (Queen-size double bed convertible to 2 twins / single beds, bedside cabinets, bedside USB charging ports, wall-mounted lamps)
• mirrored vanity table/writing desk with armchair, lounge area (2-seater sofabed, coffee table with chairs), Horizon and Veranda cabins additionally have a plush loveseat
• smart HDTV (infotainment system, Internet, on-demand movies, Bluetooth connectivity), large wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), minibar (fully-stocked refrigerator)
• individual air-conditioning, LED lighting
• daily turndown service
• Still and sparkling bottled water is provided complimentary and replenished twice daily.

Towels (excluding those on the rack) and bedsheets are changed every 3rd day (depending on cruise itinerary length). Shipboard laundry and ironing services are available at extra cost. Laundry bags are provided in the cabins and collected each morning.

Each cabin is equipped with orange-colored lifejackets, which are used in cases of emergencies and during lifeboat drills. The ship's electrical supply is 220 V (50 Hz). The electrical outlets (found in all cabins and throughout the ship) are standard European 2-pin plugs. A total of 5 USB ports (per cabin) are for digital devices (cameras, smartphones, tablets, etc). Each cabin is also fitted with a total of 5 power outlets (110V / 220V).

Most cabins (~90%) are with private step-out balconies, excep only the aft-located (decks 5-6) "French Balcony" cabins, which are with a sliding window opening to a railing (Juliet balcony). Cabin balconies are furnished with 1 low table and 2 deckchairs.

MS World Traveller has 7 cabin categories ranging in sizes from 185 ft2 (17 m2, Adventure Stateroom) to 465 ft (43 m2, Owner/Navigator Suite). French Balcony cabins (Horizon/Infinity Stateroom) are sized 270 ft2 (25 m2) and feature a floor-ceiling glass wall with a slide-opening window (upper panel). Balcony cabins (Veranda Stateroom) are same-sized (25 m2) but with a step-out balcony.

All 12x Adventure-type (Porthole) cabins are located on Deck 3 and each has a large non-opening window.

The boat's all 10 suites (top-tier cabins) are in categories Journey Suite (380 ft2 / 35 m2), Discovery Suite (445 ft2 / 41 m2) and Navigator Suite (465 ft2 / 43 m2), plus four Junior Suites (300 ft2 / 28 m2). All suites are 2-Room (1-Bedroom) and with step-out balconies (sized 110 ft2 / 10 m2) furnished with 2 sun loungers, 2 teak deckchairs and 1 low table. Each suite has 2 closets and 2 large HDTVs (wall-mounted in the bedroom/living room). Junior Suites are triple-occupancy cabins in 2 different configurations - with either outdoor or French Balcony.

Cabin bathrooms are with spa showers (rain shower head, handheld showerhead, 4 adjustable body jets), L'Occitane bath products (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, handwash, hand lotion). Navigator Suites and Discovery Suites bathrooms are with double basin vanity (his-and-hers sinks) and separate WC. Navigator Suites bathrooms are with bathtub.

Shipboard facilities and activities

The ship offers plenty of public areas, including Observation Lounge (glass-domed, with surrounding outdoor terrace), Navigator Lounge (multi-purpose and full-bar venue with floor-ceiling windows and comfortable seating), Library (reading lounge), Lecture Theater (24-hour open Auditorium serving cruise company's enrichment program with daily scheduled activities, including port talks, discussions, media presentations), aft-located Dining Room Restaurant (with floor-ceiling windows and an outdoor terrace for alfresco dining/weather permitting).

Navigator Lounge doubles as a multi-purpose room hosting special events (anniversaries, birthdays, group and private meetings, etc). Fresh-baked cookies and pastries are offered in the afternoons. Hot and cold snacks are available during the evening cocktail hour (activities permitting) and special occasion events. Lounge's Bar is staffed by a professional bartender serving a selection of liquors, spirits, premium beers, wines and champagnes (by the glass). Complimentary beverages include soft drinks, juices, water, coffee, tea.

Polar Library is well stocked with books and popular board games. The Library is open 24 hours. Its collection includes books in various languages and themed on wildlife, history, marine biology, geology, ecology, also field guides, picture- and reference books.

Polar Boutique is a gift shop selling travel essentials and souvenirs, as well as a selection of expedition gear (clothing, waterproof pants, gloves, hats). The shop's opening hours are based on the daily scheduled cruise activities.

In the Lobby area is the Reception (Guest Services Desk) served by dedicated staff that assists passengers with information, purchasing PIN cards (Internet / email access, phone cards), arranging wake-up calls. The Reception also doubles as Cashier's Office for setting shipboard accounts and making payments of these accounts towards the end of the cruise. Also on Lobby Deck are the ship's two entrance areas (portside and starboard) used for passenger embarkation/disembarkation in ports of call where pier/quay/wharf is available for docking.

Wellness facilities include an outdoor jogging track (on top-deck), small gym, Sauna Room, Spa (room for massages/SeaSpa by L'OCCITANE treatments, showers, changing / locker rooms), Hairdresser. On Sun Deck is the outdoor heated swimming pool surrounded by a sunbathing area with loungers. The pool has a kids (shallow) area separated from the deeper saltwater plunge pool. The ship doesn't provide lifeguards on duty.

On top-deck (aft) is a Helideck - helipad used in cases of emergencies.

As complimentary shoreside activities are offered camping, seakayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, Zodiac boat tours.

AOV-Atlas Ocean Voyages deals are inclusive of complimentary roundtrip flights (from/to major airports in Canada and the USA) included in the ticket prices for all cabin categories and on all cruise itineraries. Price-included are also the prepaid gratuities, gourmet dining, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), Wi-Fi, premium brand cabin bath products (by L'Occitane en Provence), 1x shore excursion (per itinerary), in-cabin use binoculars, dedicated butler service (Suites only), medevac (emergency medical evacuation insurance) and return-to-home insurance. AOV's cruise insurance policy covers medevac transportation (from the ship to a local treatment center) plus return transportation (back home or a medical facility close to home).

Itineraries

On August 25, 2021, AOV announced World Traveller's inaugural season. Starting with the Maiden Voyage on July 15, 2022 (from Lisbon Portugal ), the season's schedule had listed total 11x voyages. Itineraries range from 6- to- 12-night, with signature destinations in Europe's Mediterranean Sea - including the Adriatic/Dalmatian Coast and Greece's Ionian and Aegean islands.

• The 9-night "Inaugural Cruise" itinerary (from Lisbon to Palma de Mallorca ) visits Portimao Portugal , Gibraltar UK , Cadiz-Seville , Puerto Banus-Marbella , Malaga , Balearic Spain ( Formentera Island , Ibiza Island ).
• (July 24) 7-night from Palma de Mallorca to Villefranche-Nice France
• (July 31) 9-night from Nice to Civitavecchia-Rome has overnights in Monte Carlo Monaco and Civitavecchia.
• (August 9) 10-night from Civitavecchia to Piraeus-Athens visits ports along Italy's Amalfi Coast (overnight in Positano ), Sicily Island, Greece.
• (September 7) 11-night from Piraeus to Valletta Malta visits Greek Islands and Sicily.
• (September 18) 9-night from Valletta to Malaga visits the Balearic Islands, Sardinia Island, Tunisia ( La Goulette-Tunis City ).
• Two Greece and Adriatic/Dalmatian Coast itineraries offer alternate departures (from Piraeus and Venice ), transit Corinth Canal , visit Montenegro ( Kotor ) and Croatia ( Dubrovnik , Hvar ). The 10-night northbound (August 19) offers an overnight in Hvar and visits in Greece Itea-Delphi , Katakolon-Olympia , Kerkyra/Corfu Island , Albania ( Sarande ) and Croatia ( Korcula ). The 9-night southbound (August 29) visits Croatia ( Rovinj ) and Greece ( Gaios/Paxos Island ).
• (September 27) 7-night from Malaga to Lisbon visits Gibraltar, Ceuta (Spanish Morocco) , Tangier (Morocco) .
• (October 5) 6-night from Lisbon to Tenerife Canaries visits Madeira Island ( Funchal ) and the Canary Islands.

The European season had to end with the Transatlantic crossing (RepositionCruises.com) from Tenerife to Brazil ( Rio de Janeiro ) visiting Praia/Santiago Island (Cape Verde) and Salvador da Bahia (Brazil). However, due to construction delays, the boat was delivered on October 7, and the Maiden Voyage was rescheduled for November 21, 2022 (out of Ushuaia).

For winter 2022-2023 (November thru March), World Traveller was deployed in Antarctica (inaugural season based on 13- to 20-night roundtrips from homeport Ushuaia Argentina ). As a promo offer, all bookings made by September 30, 2021, received 10% discount. An additional 10% savings (to 20% total) were offered to all full-paid bookings made by October 7, 2021.

AOV World Traveller's 2023 (summer and autumn) program included voyages in the Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa, Europe (Canary Islands, Mediterranean, UK-British Isles, Norwegian Fjords, Arctic Norway/Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland).

Two 10-night Canary Islands voyages also visit Morocco (both are with Casablanca overnight stays). For August 2023 are scheduled 3x European Arctic cruises in the Svalbard Archipelago , followed by an "Iceland Circumnavigation Voyage", and relocation to the Mediterranean via the UK (British Isles, Ireland), France, Iberia (Spain and Portugal).

AOV World Traveller's Antarctica 2023-2024 season (November through March) had scheduled 13-16-20-night roundtrips from Ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands , Diego Ramirez Islands Chile, the UK's Falkland Islands and South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands . Most itineraries are via the scenic Lemaire Channel, separating Booth Island from Graham Land's Kyiv Peninsula.

World Traveller - user reviews and comments

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World Traveller ship related cruise news

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Other Atlas Ocean Voyages cruise ships

• World Adventurer
• World Discoverer
• World Navigator
• World Seeker
• World Voyager

World Traveller Wiki

All Mystic Invest newbuilds as investments were backed by ICBC Leasing - part of ICBC Ltd (Chinese multinational bank, ranked world's largest by assets, deposits, loans, customers and employees). The shipbuilding financing was supported by Portuguese banks (during construction) and ICBCL Leasing funding (following delivery) through sale and charter-back of the vessel, with an obligation to repurchase it on maturity. Mystic Invest intends to build a 10-ship fleet of the same design.

In August 2017 were completed design's tank tests. The testing water tank and ship model were conducted by the Wageningen-based MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands).

In 2018 (February 20 through March 1), Nicko Tours scheduled a total of 10 road shows in Germany to promote company's new "ocean cruising" business. Each of the shows started with a casual get-together and buffet with finger food, followed by presentation of the vessel and its Nicko cruise itineraries. Then travel agents enjoyed full meals and gourmet desserts.

The vessel's physical construction started with the keel-laying ceremony (at WestSea Viana Shipyard ) held on October 5, 2020. On the same day was launched/floated out from drydock the sistership World Navigator (2021-built).

World Traveller was officially delivered to AOV-Atlas Ocean Voyages on October 7, 2022, at WestSea Viana. The delivery ceremony was attended by James Rodriguez (AOV's President and CEO). Following the Transatlantic repositioning crossing from Portugal to Ushuaia Argentina (RepositionCruises.com), passenger shipping operations started on November 21, 2022 (Maiden Voyage), with roundtrips from homeport Ushuaia to Antarctica .

AOV scheduled a dual naming ceremony (held on Nov 20, 2022, at Pia Glacier/Beagle Channel) during which were officially christened World Traveller (by Theresa Scalzitti) and the sistership World Navigator (by Karen Lundgren). Theresa Scalzitti is the CSO/Chief Sales Officer of Cruise Planners (privately owned travel agency franchise network headquartered in Coral Springs, Florida USA).

World Traveller ship technology

The ship's design is based on a Rolls-Royce expedition vessel platform developed by Giuseppe Tringali (Italian naval architect). It features an ice-strengthened hull (ice class 1B), top-notch automation and control system, modern propulsion (based on electrical pods / azimuthing thrusters), dynamic positioning system (using GPS data to accurately maintain ship's position without anchoring), advanced water treatment system, hybrid powerplant (diesel-electric) with efficient marine engines (two Rolls-Royce engines running on ULSD / ultra-low-sulfur diesel).

The Rolls-Royce powerplant costs GBP 7 million (EUR 7,75 million / USD 8,9 million) and includes two main engines (Bergen C25-33L8P) and one auxiliary dual-fuel genset (Bergen C25-33L6P). The engines are connected to ship's electric power system (Rolls-Royce SAVe CUBE) allowing them to operate efficiently at variable speeds. Rolls-Royce Promas propulsion is an integrated propeller-rudder system to optimize hydrodynamic efficiency. Promas includes two controllable pitch propellers integrated with two flap rudders, steering gears and tunnel thrusters.

World Traveller is a cruise vessel with hydrojet propulsion (technology initially developed for military vessels). The ship is fitted with two SPJ Pump Jets by SCHOTTEL (model SPJ 82, total power output 670 kW) allowing silent navigation at 5 knots speed (9 kph). This is an alternative propulsion system as the hydrojets are used only in destinations with specific marine life. Both hydrojets pump water to propel the ship and similarly to the in-hull mounted Azipods (underwater azimuthing thrusters) can rotate 360 degrees. They also allow dynamic positioning (via GPS) to stabilize / fix the vessel without using propellers or anchors.

Vessel's draft is only 15 ft (4,7 m) allowing access to remote islands and unique coastal destinations. The ship has all 2 lifeboats (full-capacity) which are fully enclosed. Ship-to-shore communications are via Inmarsat Capsat Fleet 77 (satellite phone and Internet). Landings (passenger transportation) and coastal exploration voyages are served by ship's own fleet of ten Zodiacs (motorized boats stored aft on Deck 7) and 2 loading stations.

The shipbuilder WestSEA ( Viana do Castelo, Portugal ) is owned by Martifer Group via the subsidiary Martifer SGPS. This is a family-owned holding company founded in 1990 (by the brothers Carlos and Jorge Martins), headquartered in Oliveira de Frades (Portugal) and Euronext Lisbon (stock exchange) listed since 2007. Martifer Group has over 3000 employees and specializes in metal construction and (since 2004) in renewable energy (wind and solar energy equipment production). Martifer Group is one of Europe's largest metal construction companies, with subsidiaries in Spain, Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Brazil and Angola.

• WORLD TRAVELLER

Passenger (Cruise) Ship, IMO 9904807

• VesselFinder
• Miscellaneous

The current position of WORLD TRAVELLER is at Adriatic Sea reported 19 mins ago by AIS. The vessel arrived at the port of Ancona, Italy on Jun 7, 05:18 UTC. The vessel WORLD TRAVELLER (IMO 9904807, MMSI 255806210) is a Passenger (Cruise) Ship built in 2022 (2 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Madeira .

Position & Voyage Data

Map position & weather, recent port calls, vessel utilization, vessel particulars, similar vessels.

WORLD TRAVELLER current position and history of port calls are received by AIS. Technical specifications, tonnages and management details are derived from VesselFinder database. The data is for informational purposes only and VesselFinder is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of WORLD TRAVELLER data.

Review: World Traveller

Reviewed by Stefanie Waldek

What is the line?  Atlas Ocean Voyages

Name of ship?  World Traveller

Passenger occupancy?  196

Itinerary?  Antarctica

Start out with the big picture—what is this cruise line known for?

Having launched in 2021, Atlas Ocean Voyages is still building its identity and its audience. While its initial plan was to challenge the likes of Crystal, Silversea, and Seabourn in terms of ultra-luxury, the cruise line has pared down to a more relaxed luxury experience—one that includes expedition travel to remote polar destinations and relaxing voyages to traditional cruising ports. All cruises are all-inclusive, from alcoholic beverages to excursions to gratuities.

Tell us about the ship in general

Making its debut in November 2022,  World Traveller  is the second ship in Atlas Ocean Voyages' growing fleet, and I sailed on her inaugural voyage to Antarctica. She's a small expedition vessel with a maximum passenger count of 196, though the count is scaled back in the polar regions for a more exclusive experience. But  World Traveller is not a rugged research vessel from days of yore—from an interior design perspective, the ship takes a classic yacht-like style, from wood-paneled walls to nautical stripes. Atlas brands the ship's inspiration as  la dolce vita , but I certainly felt a sense of New England in there, too. Of course, this is still a cruise ship, and that means cruise amenities like an al fresco pool and hot tubs, as well as a spa (L'Occitane branded).  Overall, the atmosphere was more casual than I anticipated, though the service and amenities put the ship in the luxury category.

Who is onboard?

Because Atlas is a new cruise line, it doesn't yet have a deeply established audience. My sailing on  World Traveller had quite the mixed crowd: young groups of friends, solo travelers of all ages, older couples, and even families, though there were no young children. Despite the cruise line being just a year old, there was one couple onboard that had already taken two other Atlas sailings—Atlas certainly seems to be doing something right.

Describe the cabins

I stayed in a Veranda Stateroom, the third-tier category overall and the first with a balcony. At 270 square feet, the cabin is cozy for two, but that's not uncommon in standard cabins on expedition ships. I did appreciate the separation of the sleeping area and a small living area with a desk and two side chairs. While I found storage space to be lacking overall, the bathroom was quite spacious, and its standout feature was the shower with its rain head and body jets, plus the L'Occitane products. As you move up the categories, you end up at multi-room suites with butler service. One unusual critique is that I found the bedding to be so satiny that I felt as if I were slipping around the bed as we rolled back and forth on the Drake Passage!

Tell us about the crew

Despite my sailing being the inaugural Antarctica voyage—there were just two short preview sailings beforehand—I found the crew to be a well-oiled machine, and very friendly to boot. The expedition staff comprised a combination of Antarctic veterans and novices, the latter with guiding and naturalist expertise in other parts of the world. Even those without Antarctic experience were well-educated on the continent, from its wildlife to its environment to its geopolitical history.

What food and drink options are available on board?

All meals are served in the Lisboa restaurant, with buffet breakfasts (with some menu options), buffet lunches, and a combination of à la carte and buffet dinners, each night with a different international theme. Ever-changing hot stations at lunch and dinner buffets included stir fry, pasta, and carving stations. Most memorable to me was Thanksgiving dinner, served as a buffet with all the classic menu items, from carved turkey to cranberry sauce to mashed potatoes. There's also 24-hour room service, as well as an early morning–to-dinner grab-and-go café that serves light fare, including yogurt pots, homemade granola bars, salads, and paninis, as well as pressed juices and coffee drinks—this is especially welcome when you're craving a light snack between meal times, particularly after long excursions. And finally, there's always an afternoon tea with a full range of finger sandwiches and sweets.

As for the bars, the multi-page cocktail menu found at both the Dome observation lounge and the main Atlas Lounge is robust for a small expedition ship—my favorite drink was the Americano in Bologna, made from Campari, sweet vermouth, amarena syrup, and soda water. The wine selection was largely Portuguese on my sailing, and I would've appreciated a bit more variety—such as wines from Argentina, where we embarked. Perhaps because this was an inaugural sailing and the ship had sailed to Argentina from Portugal (Atlas' parent company, Mystic Cruises, has a Portuguese owner), there wasn't yet time for a new delivery of local wines.

Is there a spa on board and is it worth visiting?  

The L'Occitane-branded spa is small, with just two treatment rooms, a sauna, and a lounge, but the services are excellent. After a stellar first massage, I booked a second.

Activities and entertainment

As with many expedition cruises, the activities on World Traveller largely revolve around the expedition staff's lectures, which I found extremely engaging on my voyage. But Atlas changes things up with evening entertainment, alternating between documentaries (including one made by our expedition leader, Jonathan Zaccaria, of his time at the French Antarctic station Dumont d'Urville) and musical performances by cruise director Michael Shapiro, special guest Asijah Pickett, and the ship's pianist and opera singer Chase Chandler.

How was the experience for families?

There were no children on my sailing, but Atlas did not advertise any kid-friendly programming in pre-voyage materials or onboard. The cruise line set its minimum age to eight years old on polar cruises, but given the sometimes dangerous conditions in Antarctica, I'd personally suggest bringing older children only.

Where did it sail and how were the excursions? Did anything stand out?

World Traveller really is a world traveler, splitting her time between the polar regions and warmer destinations, such as the Mediterranean. I sailed to Antarctica on a nine-night sailing—a bit shorter of a voyage than is typical for Antarctica, though  World Traveller also does longer trips. Excursions are typical for Antarctica with landings, Zodiac cruises, water sports, and the polar plunge, and I felt that the expedition staff handled them expertly. We typically got off the ship in two locations per day when the weather allowed, though some bad conditions had us forgo landings in favor of Zodiac cruises. In classic expedition style, the itinerary is not published in advance, as everything depends on local conditions, which can change every few minutes. Instead, guests are briefed each evening—cocktails in hand—with the intended plan for the next day. Of course, those plans can change at any time, so flexibility is essential.

Finally, give a sentence or two on why the cruise is worth booking.

This yacht-inspired ship is a balanced blend of expedition and traditional cruising. Keep an eye out for sales as the new cruise line casts a wide net to develop its audience.

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World Traveller Overview

World Traveller is the latest in Atlas Ocean Voyages’ luxury, yacht style ships and she does not disappoint. Relax and enjoy your cruise aboard World Traveller and her inspired Italian design. From spacious all-suite accommodations, cuisine from around the world and perfectly personalized service, you might never want to go home. In classic small-ship style, World Traveller ’s intimate public spaces encourage camaraderie and conversation between like-minded adventurers – those who love an adventure, but enjoy the finer things in life and living, as the Italians’ would say, La Dolce Vita. For more information on World Traveller and the elevated luxury of Atlas Ocean Voyages and their exclusive, included private charter flights, call our cruising experts at 1-800-377-9383.

• Passenger Capacity: 198 (double occupancy)
• Year Built: 2022
• Last Refurbished: N/A

Dining on World Traveller

Lisboa, exclusively on World Traveller

Paying homage to the Portuguese conception of Atlas Ocean Voyages, Lisboa offers indulgent buffets for breakfast and lunch, topped off with a fabulous five-course dinner, showcasing daily delicacies like aged Angus steaks and a rotating regional menu.

Paula’s Pantry

The onboard spot for snacks, Paula’s Pantry serves up munchies for any time of day, including freshly roasted, small batch coffee and fresh pressed juices! The perfect spot to grab something to go before spending your day exploring your destination.

In Room Dining on World Traveller

For an intimate dining experience, opt for in-room dining on World Traveller , with all your favorites served fresh by your butler. In room or on your balcony, this is going to be a date you’ll remember forever.

World Traveller Onboard Activities & Public Spaces

SeaSpa by L’OCCITANE on World Traveller

Optional, but absolutely necessary for a relaxing experience, choose any signature treatment at the spa to treat yourself or simply relax in the heat of the sauna after an adventurous day in port.

Destination Enrichment & Après Sea

Enrichment is key on any Atlas Ocean Voyage onboard World Traveller , aided by onboard destination experts, hosting seminars and intimate talks on the uniqueness of each port. After spending the day exploring, enjoy an Après Sea conversation with your fellow travelers, with a nightcap, of course.

Atlas Lounge

For a relaxing evening, step into the Atlas Lounge as the pianist draws your attention, tickling the ivories until the early hours of the morning while the bartenders serves up all your favorites.

As for accommodations onboard World Traveller , seasoned Atlas guests know to expect nothing but the best, but new guests can expect luxury that rivals the top cruise lines in the world. For more information on World Traveller and her luxurious onboard cuisine, experiences and accommodations, call our Atlas Ocean Voyages experts at 1-800-377-9383!

World Traveller Cruise Destinations

Atlas (noun) – a book of maps. Pick up a book of maps and point anywhere, and the chances are you can cruise there with Atlas Ocean Voyages. A luxury-expedition cruise line with small, adventure-focused ships, Atlas Ocean Voyages is dips their toes in destinations all over the world, with many itineraries featuring intimate ports, inaccessible to larger ships. From Mediterranean cruises that can actually anchor in Venice to exclusive yacht harbors in the Caribbean, almost every destination you can think of is accessible with Atlas Ocean Voyages. All ships in the Atlas fleet are equipped with ice-breaking hulls, meaning these luxury ships can even get guests up close and personal with the Arctic and Antarctic regions. For more information on all the destinations on the globe you can discover with Atlas Ocean Voyages, call us at 1-800-377-9383 to speak with one of our luxury cruising experts.

Explore Antarctica with no inhibitions with Atlas Ocean Voyages! Whale watching, penguin colonies and more are waiting in Antarctica.

Venture into some of the northernmost points in the world to discover traditional villages, the elusive polar bears and more in the Arctic with Atlas Ocean Voyages.

Mediterranean

Dive into the ancient history and modern wonders of the Mediterranean on an Atlas Ocean Voyages cruise to Greece, Italy and more.

Northern Europe

Cruise through the canals of Copenhagen or hike through the Scottish highlands on a Northern Europe cruise with Atlas Ocean Voyages.

World Traveller Departure Ports

Atlas’ fleet features intimate ships that can access ports that are not accessible by larger cruise ships. For this, Atlas guests are treated to a once in a lifetime experience in some of the most unique departure ports in all of cruising. While you may still depart from the classics like Miami for a Caribbean cruise or Athens in the Mediterranean, Atlas affords guests the opportunity to depart from remote ports like Longyearbyen, the gateway to the North Pole, and the embarkation point of your next cruise.

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

Explore the Canary Islands with a cruise to their most populous city, Las Palmas, on Gran Canaria Island. These Spanish islands have one of the best climates in the world, perfect for your next cruise vacation.

Casablanca, Morocco

Casablanca is more than just an old movie; this city offers travelers a look into modern day Morocco with mosques, shopping malls and skyscrapers.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen is a delightful city with some of the world’s most interesting places, like the longest pedestrian street and one of the oldest amusement parks in the world.

Whether looking out into the city’s waterways, ancient castles or modern buildings, you’ll always have a great view when cruising to Stockholm, Sweden.

Learn about the Greek gods and the early philosophy of Socrates when you visit the incredible ruins left in Athens, Greece. At night, go out and take in the culture with the modern Athenians.

Longyearbyen, Svalbard (Norway)

This northern town situated in the Arctic Circle offers a glimpse into a colder but beautiful way of life where polar bears roam and the average summer temperature doesn’t even get into the 50s.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is a charming European style city with the perfect combination of new world characteristics mixed with old world history and culture.

Ushuaia, Argentina

The unique location and beauty of Ushuaia is unmatched by many other destinations as the Andes Mountains meet the Southern Ocean. Cruise to Ushuaia for many incredible outdoor adventures.

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon has deep cultural roots that are exposed through ruins and museum artifacts. Cruise to Lisbon and discover the culture and history of Portugal in its capital city.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Enjoy a trip to Dubrovnik, a cultural gem that was once a great and powerful European city and has been spectacularly preserved for your visit.

Nice, France

Exquisite weather, breathtaking views and great, fresh food make Nice second only to Paris in terms of France’s top hotspots.

A cruise to Civitavecchia is a chance for you to hop a quick train to Rome and explore the enormous history through ruins, galleries and The Vatican museums.

Valletta, Malta

This entire city is known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site leaving many historic areas and landmarks to explore during your visit to this impressive capital city.  

Palma De Mallorca, Spain

The island of Mallorca can boast of an impressive port city where the old and new worlds dwell in perfect harmony.

Malaga, Spain

Cruise to Malaga, the celebrated home of Picasso, one of the modern era’s most influential artists. Other attractions include the beautiful Moorish castles and mesmerizing coastal cliffs.

Tromso, Norway

Bundle up to experience the culture and beauty of Tromso, one of the largest cities within the Arctic Circle.

Tower Bridge (London), England

Enjoy sailing through the Tower Bridge in London and alongside HMS Belfast as you cross the River Thames. It is truly a spectacular sight!

Drake Passage, Antarctica

South Shetland Islands

World traveller deck plans, world traveller staterooms.

Balcony (E1)

Balcony (e2).

Balcony (A1)

Balcony (a2).

Balcony (B1)

Balcony (b2).

Oceanview (C1)

Photo Gallery for World Traveller Cruise Ship

Take a look at our stunning gallery of cruising photos for Atlas Ocean Voyages, from onboard to ashore with breathtaking destinations around the globe.

Lisboa Dinner Room on World Traveller

Apres Sea on World Traveller

Atlas Lounge on World Traveller

Guest Dining at Lisboa Dinner on World Traveller

Loccitane Sea Spa on World Traveller

Paula Pantry on World Traveller

Top 10 World Traveller Cruises

• World Traveller 10-Night Athens to Valletta Departing From Piraeus (Athens), Greece (Jun 2024)
• World Traveller 7-Night Valletta to Dubrovnik Departing From Valletta, Malta (Jun 2024)
• World Traveller 7-Night Dubrovnik to Athens Departing From Dubrovnik, Croatia (Jul 2024)
• World Traveller 9-Night Athens to Rome Departing From Piraeus (Athens), Greece (Jul 2024)
• World Traveller 12-Night Rome to Athens Departing From Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy (Jul 2024)
• World Traveller 9-Night Athens to Venice Departing From Piraeus (Athens), Greece (Aug 2024)
• World Traveller 9-Night Valletta Roundtrip Departing From Valletta, Malta (Aug 2024)
• World Traveller 5 NIGHT Mediterranean CRUISE Departing From Valletta, Malta (Aug 2024)
• World Traveller 4 NIGHT Mediterranean CRUISE Departing From Nice, France (Aug 2024)
• World Traveller 8-Night Valletta to Rome Departing From Valletta, Malta (Sep 2024)

Learn More About Atlas Ocean Voyages

Accessibility

Learn about Atlas Ocean Voyages' handicap accessible ocean voyages and accommodations for guests with special needs or disabilities.

Enjoy a sneak peak at the best cuisine offered by Atlas Ocean Voyages onboard their all-inclusive luxury cruise ships.

Entertainment

Learn about the entertainment that will fill your evenings onboard the luxury cruise ships from Atlas Ocean Voyages.

Onboard Activities

On a luxe-adventure cruise with Atlas Ocean Voyages, there is never a shortage of shoreside excursions, but even onboard, the activities are second to none.

Service & Awards

Learn more about how the staff onboard Atlas Ocean Voyages meets your every need. Plus, view a list of Atlas Ocean Voyages' cruising awards.

Spa & Fitness

Learn more about how you can stay fit and truly pamper yourself at the Sea Spa by L’Occitane onboard every Atlas Ocean Voyages ship.

Special Events

Make the most of your Atlas Ocean Voyage with golf cruises, exclusive guest speakers and more. Every cruise with Atlas is a special event.

Preview Atlas Ocean Voyages’ wonderfully appointed accommodations, each with a view of the ocean and the luxurious amenities for which Atlas is known.

Youth Programs

Learn about cruising with children on Atlas Ocean Voyages and about onboard programs designed with the whole family in mind.

Cruise Type

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World Traveller

Staff and Crew: 130

Guests: 198

Length: 129 meters / 423 feet

Breadth: 18.9 meters / 62 feet

Draft: 4.7 meters / 15 feet

Ice Class: 1B (Polar Category C)

Cruising Speed: 16 knots

Registration: Portugal

Launched in 2022, World Traveller realizes the possibilities of environmental stewardship with the latest hybrid power management and propulsion system, maximizing fuel efficiency and consuming as low as one-fifth the fuel compared to conventional cruise-ship systems. Its alternate hydro-jet propulsion system helps the ship quietly cruise up to five knots without disturbing marine wildlife for incomparable up-close encounters.

Including three decks of spacious and elevated accommodations, various onboard dining options, spa and sauna amenities, social spaces for gathering with your fellow travelers and more, World Traveller has been designed to always deliver relaxed luxury and highly personalized service.

World Traveller has 1 hot tub.

♦ Cabins & Amenities

• All cabins have exterior views
• L’OCCITANE bath amenities
• Terrycloth robe and slippers
• Egyptian cotton bed linens, duvet and pillow menu
• Nightstands equipped with the necessary tech (110/220 voltage + USB ports)
• Private climate control
• In-room dining*
• Butler service in suites
• FREE Stocked in-room minibar
• 24-hour room service including spirits, wine and beer
• Nespresso Coffee and Kusmi Teas
• Still and sparkling water in reusable glass bottles
• Walk-in mosaic glass shower with rain head and body jets
• Complimentary use of binoculars

*  In-room dining available for all guests. However, these services may be limited during peak dining times for stateroom accommodations.

♦ Onboard Facilities

• Dining venues with ever-changing menus (all meals and daily snack included)
• Lisboa Restaurant
• Vasco Da Gama Auditorium
• The Dome Observation Lounge
• Pool & 1 Hot Tub
• Small Sundeck
• Water’s edge observation deck
• Zephyr Lounge
• Fitness Studio
• Running track outdoor fitness
• Medical Center
• L’OCCITANE Sea Spa & Sauna
• Standard wireless internet service throughout the entire ship

♦ Always included

• Unlimited beverages, including fine wines, spirits and craft beers
• Open bars and lounges, including 24-hour bar service with specialty canapés
• Specialty coffees, teas and fresh-pressed juices
• Champagne and gourmet canapés during meet and greet
• 24-hour room service, including spirits, wine and beer
• Use of walking sticks and binoculars
• Reusable water bottle
• Butler service and expanded room service menu in suites
• Pre-paid gratuities
• Trip delay and medical evacuation coverage included at no additional cost
• Adventure Options: must be pre-booked and paid for prior to start of the trip. Ask for availability on each specific voyage (there are limited spaces). Camping US$500; Sea Kayaking US$350; Paddling and Stand-Up Paddling US$75 (prices subject to change)
• Mandatory Medical Evacuation & Repatriation Insurance: included.
• Inclusions & Exclusions: ask for details on each specific voyage.

Adventure Oceanview (AO)

• Located: Deck 3
• Occupancy: 2 Guests
• 183 sq. ft.
• Panoramic window
• Sitting area with chair, desk and TV
• Spacious wardrobe
• Queen-size bed (convertible to two single beds)

Navigator Suite (NS)

• Located: Deck 5 and 6
• Occupancy: Up to 3 guests
• 465 sq. ft.
• Oversized private balcony with teak furnishings
• Double sinks and tub
• Walk-in closet and wardrobe
• Living room with sofa and vanity
• Includes 2 wall-mounted TVs with “infotainment” system

Veranda (B2)

• 270 sq. ft.
• Private balcony with teak furnishings
• Sitting area with sofa and TV

Veranda (B1)

Horizon (A2)

• Occupancy: 2 Guests (select staterooms hold up to 3 guests)
• Floor-to-ceiling Juliette-style Balcony with top-drop electric window

Horizon (A1)

Veranda Deluxe (E2)

• Located: Deck 6
• 300 sq. ft.
• Wall-mounted television with infotainment system

Horizon Deluxe (E1)

• Occupancy: Up to 2 guests
• Floor-to-ceiling Juliette Balcony with top-drop electric window
• Interior seating area with sofa and TV

Journey Suite (JS)

• 382 sq. ft.

Discovery Suite (DS)

• Located: Deck 5
• 445 sq. ft.

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Dates & rates, antarctica 2022-23, arctic 2023, antarctica 2023-24, antarctica 2024-25.

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WORLD TRAVELLER Passenger (Cruise) Ship, IMO 9904807

Where is the current position of world traveller presently vessel world traveller is a passenger (cruise) ship sailing under the flag of madeira . her imo number is 9904807 and mmsi number is 255806210. main ship particulars are length of 126 m and beam of 19 m. maps show the following voyage data - present location, next port, estimated (eta) and predicted time of arrival (pta), speed, course, draught, photos, videos, local time, utc time..

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This New Cruise Line Just Launched a Ship in Antarctica — Here's What It's Like on Board

Atlas Ocean Voyages, which launched in 2021, now has a second ship: World Traveller.

Courtesy of Atlas Ocean Voyages

"It's my third trip to Antarctica," I heard one passenger say to another as we touched down in Ushuaia, Argentina, where we'd board Atlas Ocean Voyages' brand-new ship World Traveller.  

"Really?" the second passenger asked.

"Of course not," laughed the first.

I chuckled to myself. It was, in fact, my third trip to Antarctica. Like the vast majority of my fellow guests, it was our vessel's very first voyage to the White Continent. It was also the first trip to Antarctica for Atlas Ocean Voyages president and CEO James Rodriguez, who joined the cruise line in August after two decades with Oceania Cruises.

As a repeat Antarctic visitor — and as a travel writer developing a focus on polar expeditions — my mission on board was not to check off my seventh continent, but to see what both our ship, World Traveller , and our cruise line, the year-old Atlas Ocean Voyages, were all about.

World Traveller is the second ship in the Atlas Ocean Voyage fleet, following World Navigator, which launched in 2021. The ships are, in a way, fraternal twins — they are both custom-built, Ice Class 1B-certified ships with identical layouts but entirely different design schemes. While World Navigator takes on an art deco-meets-midcentury glam, World Traveller is all about la dolce vita yachting, per the cruise line, and, in my opinion, classic New England nautical sophistication. The entire ship is clad in wood paneling and bedecked with blue-and-white textiles and black-and-white photographs of vintage ships. It's all comfortable, understated luxury, and a divine place to spend two days at sea when crossing the Drake Passage.

As for amenities, there are all your standard players: a lecture hall, a main-deck bar and lounge, an all-window observation lounge on the top deck called The Dome that doubles as an entertainment venue, a running track, and a L'Occitane spa with treatment rooms, a sauna, and a relaxation room (OK, that might not be so standard). There's also an outdoor pool and hot tub. While I wasn't brave enough to go for a swim, I did take a dip in the hot tub during a light snowfall, with icebergs to both port and starboard.

For dining, there's one main restaurant, which serves a buffet breakfast with an à la carte option, a buffet lunch, and a blend of buffet and seated dinners, with the latter being more popular. There is an outdoor grill, but it's understandably closed on polar itineraries. ( World Traveller , as the name suggests, will sail all around the world, including to destinations with much milder climates.) We should note that this is an all-inclusive cruise, so there is no additional charge for meals and house drinks, including wine and cocktails.

My absolute favorite feature on board, however, was the grab-and-go café Paula's Pantry, where you could order both hot and cold beverages and pick up light bites (yogurts, paninis, salads). My favorite snack was the house-made granola bars. Most expedition ships adhere to a standard three meals per day, plus occasional snacks at tea time or happy hour, so grab-and-go is a true luxury. "[Paula's Pantry] is the best thing about this ship," remarked naturalist Jean-Roch de Susanne, an Antarctic veteran.

All in, the ship is an extraordinary environment to come back to after scrambling up a snowy ridge next to waddling (or tobogganing) chinstrap penguins, kayaking next to a curious young humpback whale, or getting splashed in the face with icy salt water as a gale picks up during your scenic Zodiac cruise — all things that happened during our voyage. (At least there's always a hot drink waiting for you in the mudroom upon your return.)

The Excursions

There are very strict rules about excursions in Antarctica, issued by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), which are designed to protect the natural environment. Only 100 passengers from a ship can be on land at any given time, and ships that carry more than 200 passengers are limited to specific landing sites that can handle larger capacities. And ships that carry more than 500 passengers can't do landings at all. Fortunately, World Traveller carries a maximum of 184 passengers in Antarctica — and on our sailing, we had exactly 100, which meant that we could all get off the ship at once.

To lead excursions, Atlas Ocean Voyages has recruited a blended team of both Antarctic veterans and Antarctic first-timers who have honed their skills guiding in other regions of the world, such as the coasts of the Pacific Northwest or the mountains and salt flats of Bolivia. Our expedition staff was led by Jonathan Zaccaria, who not only has experience on Antarctic ships, but also at land-based research stations. He has worked at both the Dumont d'Urville Station near the emperor penguin colony made famous by the documentary The March of the Penguins , as well as the Concordia Research Station in one of the most remote locations on the planet: Antarctica's Dome C.

In Antarctica, there are three main types of excursions: landings, Zodiac cruises, and water sports. And on World Traveller, we experienced them all. Landings often require a bit of athleticism, whether that's hiking through deep snow or across uneven rocks, or hoisting yourself into the Zodiac as the frigid sea rushes up to your knees. But they also afford you up-close and personal moments with wildlife, particularly penguins, sea birds, and seals. When conditions aren't ideal for a landing, there's often the option of a Zodiac cruise, in which you dart around icebergs and along shorelines to explore without putting your feet on terra firma. And finally, there are water sports, like kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, when conditions allow.

As is standard with expedition travel, a schedule is never set in stone. Everything depends on the conditions of the sea, the air, and the land — and many times, the expedition leader and captain won't know those conditions until they arrive at a given destination. So flexibility is the name of the game. Every evening at a nightly recap in the lecture hall, Zaccaria would lay out for us potential plans for the following day. I'd say about half of them went off without a hitch, while the other half were Plan Bs or Cs or Ds. Because the expedition staff and the crew are so nimble, it's pretty easy for guests to roll with the changes, though it does sometimes mean early-morning PA announcements advising guests of the schedule shifts.

Expedition travel can be very overwhelming, and no matter how much research you do, it's not easy to prepare yourself for the experience. "I've been selling this voyage as an expedition, but to actually experience it really puts it into perspective," Rodriguez told Travel + Leisure . "You're waking up, going to these briefings that are explaining to you the weather conditions or what you may see out there, and taking safety into consideration, then putting on all the gear and getting ready to actually go out. There's an element of uncertainty — you don't know what you're going to see. And that's exciting, but a little bit surprising."

The Onboard Activities

As is standard on every expedition, lectures by the naturalists help immerse guests in the unique environment around them. On our voyage, they ranged from talks about the seabirds we saw around the ship on the Drake Passage to the geopolitical complexities of the Antarctic Treaty. The majority of the lectures take place during sea days, but I appreciated that Atlas Ocean Voyages fit a few in during our time in Antarctica, too. Plus, in the evenings, Zaccaria organized screenings of documentaries every other night — including one that he filmed during his time at Dumont D'Urville.

Those educational components, however, were balanced with classic luxury cruise activities, such as afternoon tea in The Dome, piano music at cocktail hour, and evening musical performances by cruise director Michael Shapiro. And as we were on the inaugural Antarctic voyage, we had a special guest on board, singer Asijah Pickett, to provide additional entertainment. Between the two, plus our pianist Chase Chandler, we were regaled with soul, Broadway, pop, and even opera on select evenings throughout our voyage.

I'll admit that I'm not always a fan of traditional cruise activities in Antarctica, because for me, the breathtaking landscapes, inquisitive wildlife, and overwhelming sense of nature's grandeur are the primary reason I keep returning. That said, when there's downtime on the ship — in the event of bad weather that cancels or shortens excursions, for instance, which happened several times during our voyage — I appreciated having more to do than read a book in the lounge or take a nap in my cabin. Plus, I recognize not everyone has my precise taste when it comes to polar expeditions, and some passengers might pass on an excursion in favor of relaxing at the spa. (I, too, love a good spa treatment, but I scheduled mine during our sea days on the Drake so that I wouldn't miss an excursion.)

The balance of expedition and traditional cruising is where Atlas Ocean Voyages absolutely hits the mark, and it's the main reason the cruise line stands out to me. My deep desire for education was perfectly sated — as was my desire to dance (or, rather, bop about in my chair, cocktail in hand) to Shapiro's rousing rendition of Copacabana. 

The Cruise Line

The cruise industry is an intriguing ecosystem, where there's a healthy blend of first-time cruisers, casual cruisers, and die-hard cruisers who sail multiple times per year. In that latter group, loyalty is everything. I've been on river cruises with guests who have sailed with their line of choice more than 50 times. So when it comes to launching a new cruise line, finding an audience is a tough task. Lucky for Atlas Ocean Voyages, which just launched in 2021, Rodriguez is no stranger to that challenge. He was with Oceania from the start, so he knows all about the importance of developing a brand identity.

"This was a brand that was conceived and created in a pre-pandemic world," said Rodriguez. "So what I did when I came in, having the benefit of hindsight, is said, 'Let's look at this in a post-pandemic world, where people are really wanting to reconnect with the world that they left.'"

Originally, Atlas Ocean Voyages was branded as an ultra-luxury cruise line with adventurous, off-the-beaten-path itineraries. But Rodriguez notes that in the current travel climate, people aren't necessarily looking for those kinds of trips. So, he's rejiggered the itineraries to focus more on the familiar with a few surprises thrown in. "I tried to mix in some of the marquee ports, like the Romes and the Barcelonas and Ibizas that Americans know about and have been to, with yacht-style ports in places they've never been to before," says Rodriguez.

That said, World Traveller and World Navigator were designed with polar destinations in mind, so Antarctica will still be on the docket. Traveller will cruise Antarctica until March 2023 when it heads to the Mediterranean. So where does Atlas Ocean Voyages sit within the rapidly expanding field of Antarctic cruising? In my own limited experience in Antarctica, plus what I've heard from expedition staff across the industry, polar expedition ships often skew more toward hardcore expedition or more toward traditional luxury cruising. Atlas Ocean Voyages has a surprising balance of both, where I felt completely satisfied in terms of education and expedition, but also in terms of a luxury shipboard experience, from amenities to entertainment.

"There were a lot of guests where either the husband wanted to come and do this, but the wife was reluctant, or the wife really wanted to do it, but the husband was reluctant," said Rodriguez of our voyage. "I think we're that perfect product to offer experiences for both."

Rates for a nine-night voyage on World Traveller start from $7,999 per person, and you can book your cruise here .

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Introduction to the World Traveller

World Traveller is the fourth ship in the Mystic Cruises fleet and is distinguished by being “relatively small, and capable of undertaking expedition voyages in distant and difficult to navigate seas, including visits to remote locations where a large cruise ship can’t reach”.

World Traveller will be able to accommodate 200 passengers and 112 crew members, with the highest standards of quality and comfort. The ship built at the Viana do Castelo shipyards will take customers to the Arctic and the Antarctic area, in the high season of these two destinations.

World_Traveller

The World Traveller is 126 meters long, a hull that was made to be able to walk in icy waters, and the bow is prepared to break ice up to a meter high. the World Traveler has a modern, simple, cheerful and Mediterranean look“. The team needed two years to carry out the decoration project for the various facilities, from an amphitheater with capacity for more than 180 people that functions as a cinema room or space for other shows, in addition to the swimming pool, sauna, SPA, gym, luxury, bar and restaurants.

Do not miss other news, updates, and reviews of World Treveller on Cruising Journal with photos, videos, and cruises on offer.

World Traveller

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• 11-Night Longyearbyen Roundtrip 7.16.24
• 10-Night Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq 8.5.24
• 10-Night Kangerlussuaq to Reykjavik 8.15.24
• 11-Night Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq 8.21.24
• 12-Night Reykjavik to Longyearbyen 8.25.24
• 11-Night Kangerlussuaq to Reykjavik 9.1.24
• 9-Night Longyearbyen to Reykjavik 9.6.24
• 24-Night Edinburgh To Longyearbyen 6.17.25
• 12-Night Trondheim to Longyearbyen 06.29.25
• 9-Night Longyearbyen Roundtrip 7.11.25
• 11-Night Longyearbyen Roundtrip 7.20.25
• 18-Night Copenhagen To Longyearbyen 8.8.25
• 10-Night Reykjavík To Kangerlussuaq 8.9.25
• 9-Night Tromso to Longyearbyen 8.17.25
• 10-Night Kangerlussuaq To Reykjavík 8.19.25
• 9-Night Longyearbyen Roundtrip 8.26.25
• 10-Night Longyearbyen to Reykjavik 9.4.25
• View The Arctic
• 11-Night London to Tromso 6.10.24
• 11-Night Oslo to Reykjavik 8.10.24
• 8-Night Reykjavik to Amsterdam 9.12.24
• 9-Night Dublin to London 9.23.24
• 10-Night London to Glasgow 5.26.25
• 12-Night Edinburgh to Trondheim 6.17.25
• 11-Night Reykjavik to Oslo 7.10.25
• 9-Night Stockholm To Copenhagen 7.30.25
• 9-Night Copenhagen to Tromso 8.8.25
• 14-Night Reykjavík to Dublin 8.29.25
• 7-Night Reykjavík to Dublin 8.29.25
• View Northern Europe
• 8-Night Reykjavik Roundtrip 6.1.24
• 9-Night Reykjavik to Bergen 6.9.24
• 9-Night Reykjavik Roundtrip 7.3.24
• 11-Night Reykjavik to Oslo 7.12.24
• 7-Night Reykjavik Roundtrip 6.19.25
• 8-Night Reykjavík To Dublin 09.14.25
• View Iceland & Greenland
• 21-Night Lisbon to Tromso 5.31.24
• 10-Night Lisbon to London 5.31.24
• 9-Night Venice to Athens 6.5.24
• 10-Night Athens to Valletta 6.14.24
• 7-Night Valletta to Dubrovnik 6.24.24
• 7-Night Dubrovnik to Athens 7.1.24
• 9-Night Athens to Rome 7.15.24
• 12-Night Rome to Athens 7.24.24
• 9-Night Athens to Venice 8.5.24
• 9-Night Valletta Roundtrip 8.23.24
• 12-Night Las Palmas to Casablanca 4.15.25
• 15-Night Barcelona to Rome 05.05.25
• 17-Night Lisbon to Zeebrugge 5.20.25
• 7-Night Rome to Barcelona 05.20.25
• 7-Night Lisbon To Bordeaux 5.20.25
• 14-Night Barcelona To Venice 5.27.25
• 10-Night Bordeaux to Zeebrugge 5.27.25
• 11-Night Venice To Rome 6.10.25
• 8-Night Naples To Nice 7.12.25
• 16-Night Naples To Barcelona 7.12.25
• 10-Night Santa Cruz (Tenerife) To Lisbon 4.9.26
• View Mediterranean
• 10-Night Montevideo to Ushuaia 11.3.24
• 13-Night Ushuaia to Buenos Aires 4.2.25
• 10-Night Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro 3.16.26
• 14-Night Rio de Janeiro to Tenerife 3.26.26
• View South America
• 16-Night Palma de Mallorca to Las Palmas 9.23.24
• 13-Night Las Palmas to Rio de Janeiro 10.14.24
• View Transoceanic
• View The Caribbean
• 13-Night Ushuaia to Buenos Aires 3.3.26
• View Patagonia & The Falklands
• Polar Expeditions
• Epicurean Expeditions
• Cultural Expeditions
• Accommodations
• Conscious Navigation
• Our Company
• Executive Team
• Our Partners
• Salute and Sail Savings
• Adventure Beyond Savings
• New 2025 2026 Antarctica Expeditions
• Academia Barilla
• New 2025 Expeditions
• Second Guest Sails Free
• New 2025 Arctic Expeditions
• Sail More Save More
• Single Explorer Savings
• Military Edge

Intimate Yachts

World voyager ™.

Experience extraordinary Antarctica to the fullest and in the shortest amount of time aboard our newest yacht, World Voyager ™ . Spend more time exploring the Antarctic Peninsula by flying over the Drake Passage one way and still lay claim to the iconic experience of sailing the other direction with our NEW Drake Express options. Or, if you’re an intrepid explorer, you can still conquer the famed Drake Passage both ways with all Ushuaia Roundtrip expeditions.

World Traveller ™

World navigator ®, highly personalized attentive service, up-close & personal.

To Book, Call your Preferred Travel Advisor or our Voyage Specialists at 1.844.44.ATLAS (28527)  

• FREE cultural immersion
• FREE gourmet dining with ever-changing menus
• FREE unlimited beverages, including fine wines, spirits and craft beers
• FREE open bars and lounges, including 24-hour bar service with specialty canapés
• FREE stocked in-room minibar
• FREE specialty coffees, teas and fresh-pressed juices
• FREE afternoon and high tea
• FREE champagne and gourmet canapés during meet and greet
• FREE 24-hour room service, including spirits, wine and beer
• FREE L'OCCITANE bath amenities
• FREE pre-paid gratuities
• FREE use of walking sticks and binoculars
• FREE reusable water bottle
• FREE butler service and expanded room service menu in suites

Exclusively on Polar Expeditions

• FREE private charter jet service*
• FREE enrichment lectures and destination briefings
• FREE shore landings led by expert field guides
• FREE escorted sightseeing safaris by Zodiac
• FREE polar plunge
• FREE Atlas Ocean Voyages parka and vest
• FREE use of knee boots
• FREE private group transfers between airport and yacht*
• FREE 1-night pre-cruise hotel stay on all Antarctica expeditions
• FREE 1-night post-cruise hotel stay on select Antarctica expeditions

Exclusively on Epicurean Expeditions

• FREE cultural immersion includes culinary experience ashore, such as local market visits, specialty tastings and more
• FREE Josper Grill Dining Experience at 7AFT Grill
• FREE culinary presentations and wine tastings
• FREE cooking demonstrations and cuisine tastings
• FREE events hosted by a Tastes & Traditions Expert on select expeditions
• FREE Atlas Ocean Voyages backpack

Exclusively on Cultural Expeditions

• FREE enrichment programs and workshops on select expeditions
• FREE authentic, local experiences and on board events on select expeditions

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• All Destinations Antarctica  (70) Arctic  (21) Caribbean  (0) Holy Land and Egypt  (5) Iceland and Greenland  (18) Mediterranean  (48) Northern Europe  (18) Patagonia and The Falklands  (4) South America  (5) Transoceanic  (3) Select
• All Yachts World Navigator  (53) World Traveller  (54) World Voyager  (58) Select
• All Ports Cruising Greenland Sea  (1) Otranto (Puglia), Italy  (2) Bastia (Corsica), France  (2) Koper, Slovenia  (1) Rijeka, Croatia  (1) Navigating the Strait of Messina  (1) Ajaccio (Corsica), France  (1) Rønne (Bornholm), Denmark  (1) Binz (Rügen), Germany  (1) Sandnes, Norway  (3) Santa Maria Island (Azores), Portugal  (1) São Jorge Island (Azores), Portugal  (1) Palmeira (Sal), Cape Verde  (1) Exploring South Georgia – Captain’s Choice  (3) Positano, Italy  (2) Piraeus (Athens), Greece  (9) Barcelona, Spain  (11) Búzios, Brazil  (2) Cartagena, Spain  (4) Chania/Souda, Crete, Greece  (2) Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy  (12) Capri, Italy  (8) Ravello, Italy  (2) Giardini Naxos (Taormina/Mt. Etna), Italy  (2) Syracuse (Sicily), Italy  (3) Gozo, Malta  (2) Valletta, Malta  (8) Lisbon, Portugal  (17) Gibraltar, UK  (7) Malaga, Spain  (8) Palma de Mallorca, Spain  (6) Mahon (Menorca), Spain  (5) Portofino, Italy  (6) Giardini Naxos (Taormina/Mt. Etna)  (1) Zakynthos, Greece  (2) Katakolon (Olympia), Greece  (3) Puerto Banus (Marbella), Spain  (2) Trapani (Sicily), Italy  (3) Patmos, Greece  (1) Corinth Canal Transit  (4) Itea (Delphi), Greece  (3) Naples (Pompeii), Italy  (2) Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy  (9) Marseilles (Aix-en-Provence), France  (5) Valencia, Spain  (1) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil  (3) Funchal (Madeira), Portugal  (3) Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands  (4) Recife, Brazil  (1) Ilhabela, Brazil  (1) Punta del Este, Uruguay  (3) Montevideo, Uruguay  (4) Ushuaia, Argentina  (69) Buenos Aires, Argentina  (4) Port Stanley, Falkland Islands - Captain’s Choice  (9) Puerto Madryn, Argentina  (1) Exploring the South Sandwich Islands – Captain’s Choice  (8) Exploring the South Shetland Islands - Captain’s Choice, Antarctica  (65) Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey  (1) Itajai/Florianopolis, Brazil  (1) Drake Passage Navigation  (65) Crossing the Antarctic Circle — Captain’s Choice  (32) Santorini, Greece  (2) Motril (Alhambra), Spain  (1) Praia (Santiago), Cape Verde  (2) Arrecife (Lanzarote), Canary Islands  (5) Casablanca, Morocco  (8) Portimão, Portugal  (10) Sagres, Portugal  (2) Seville, Spain  (6) Ibiza, Spain  (4) Monte Carlo, Monaco  (3) Sorrento (Pompeii), Italy  (1) Porto-Vecchio (Corsica), France  (1) Sete (Montpellier), France  (2) Cadiz, Spain  (3) Leixoes (Porto), Portugal  (8) La Coruña, Spain  (6) Bordeaux, France  (10) St. Peter Port,( Guernsey) Channel Islands  (7) London (Tower Bridge), England  (7) St Mary’s (Isles of Scilly), England  (2) Cork (Cobh), Ireland  (3) Galway, Ireland  (2) Killybegs, Ireland  (2) Londonderry, Northern Ireland  (2) Bangor (Belfast), Northern Ireland  (7) Dublin, Ireland  (10) Lerwick (Shetland Islands), Scotland  (2) Glasgow (Greenock), Scotland  (2) Fort William (Loch Ness), Scotland  (1) Stornoway (Isles of Lewis), Scotland  (4) Bergen, Norway  (8) Flåm, Norway  (8) Olden, Norway  (1) Geiranger, Norway  (7) Kristiansund, Norway  (1) Trondheim, Norway  (5) Leknes (Lofoten Islands), Norway  (4) Arctic Circle Crossing  (2) Tromsø, Norway  (8) Longyearbyen (Svalbard), Norway  (14) Ny-Ålesund (Svalbard), Norway  (10) Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland  (3) Isafjörður, Iceland  (9) Reykjavik, Iceland  (8) Heimaey (Vestmannaeyjar), Iceland  (6) Tórshavn (Faroe Islands), Denmark  (5) Kirkwall (Orkney Islands), Scotland  (2) Invergordon (Loch Ness), Scotland  (2) Leith (Edinburgh), Scotland  (5) Douglas, Isle of Man  (5) Liverpool, England  (1) Riga, Latvia  (1) Tallinn, Estonia  (1) Helsinki, Finland  (1) Stockholm, Sweden  (1) Gdansk, Poland  (1) Ijmuiden (Amsterdam), The Netherlands  (5) Honfleur (Paris/Normandy), France  (6) St. Malo, France  (6) Punta Arenas, Chile — Captain’s Choice  (1) Hydra, Greece  (1) Nafplion (Mycenae/Epidaurus), Greece  (3) Cassis (Aix-En-Provence), France  (1) Nice, France  (10) Corfu, Greece  (3) Dubrovnik (Old Town), Croatia  (7) Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), Canary Islands, Spain  (8) Hvar Island, Croatia  (3) Kotor, Montenegro  (9) Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal  (2) Portoferraio (Tuscany), Italy  (3) Porto Venere, (Cinque Terre), Italy  (4) Sanary-Sur-Mer (Bandol), France  (1) Saranda (Butrint), Albania  (3) Stromboli Volcano Circumnavigation  (2) Tangier, Morocco  (9) Trogir, Croatia  (2) Venice, Italy  (7) Rabat (Casablanca), Morocco  (1) Glacier Alley - Captain’s Choice  (1) Magdalena Island, Chile — Captain’s Choice  (2) New Island, Falkland Islands — Captain’s Choice  (5) West Point Island, Falkland Islands — Captain’s Choice  (3) Lipari Island (Sicily), Italy  (5) Fiskardo (Kefalonia), Greece  (3) Sibenik, Croatia  (1) Monopoli, Italy  (1) San Remo, Italy  (1) Saint-Tropez, France  (3) Port Vendres, France  (3) Roses, Spain  (1) Alicante, Spain  (3) Almeria (Granada), Spain  (3) Puerto del Rosario(Fuerteventura), Canary Islands, Spain  (3) Safi, Morocco  (7) San Sebastian (La Gomera), Canary Islands, Spain  (4) Santa Cruz (La Palma), Canary Islands, Spain  (5) Santander, Spain  (2) Akureyri, Iceland  (8) Grundarfjörður, Iceland  (6) Kangerlussuaq, Greenland  (6) Nuuk, Greenland  (6) Narsarsuaq, Greenland  (3) Ilulissat (Disko Bay), Greenland  (4) Sisimiut, Greenland  (1) Kangaamiut, Greenland  (1) Arsuk, Greenland  (3) Nanortalik, Greenland  (1) Itilleq, Greenland  (1) Crossing N80 Moffen,Captain’s Choice  (8) Patreksfjörður, Iceland  (1) Seyðisfjörður, Iceland  (7) Gudvangen, Norway  (7) Kristiansand, Norway  (2) Arendal, Norway  (2) Porto Cervo (Sardinia), Italy  (4) Zeebrugge (Bruges), Belgium  (2) Oslo, Norway  (3) Ilheus, Brazil  (1) Ålesund, Norway  (8) Exploring Greenland-Captain’s Choice  (3) Exploring Svalbard - Captain’s Choice  (14) Fjords of Greenland — Captain’s Choice  (3) Eskifjordur, Iceland  (2) Grimsey, Iceland  (2) Hammerfest, Norway  (3) Exploring the Antarctic Peninsula – Captain’s Choice  (69) Gijon, Spain  (5) Agadir, Morocco  (5) Palamós, Spain  (1) Parga, Greece  (2) Split, Croatia  (1) Saint-Raphael , France  (2) Toulon, France  (2) Garibaldi Glacier, Chile — Captain’s Choice  (4) Skagen, Denmark  (2) Stavanger, Norway  (4) Sisimiut, Greenland  (2) Praia da Vitoria (Azores), Portugal  (1) Bilbao, Spain  (6) Holyhead, Wales  (1) Surtsey Island Scenic Navigation  (1) Eqi Glacier (Disko Bay), Greenland  (4) Prince Christian Sound – Captain’s Choice  (6) Reykjavik, Iceland  (13) Copenhagen, Denmark  (3) La Goulette, Tunisia  (1) Mindelo (Sao Vicente), Cape Verde  (1) Menton, France  (1) Mykonos, Greece  (3) Igoumenitsa, Greece  (1) King George Island, South Shetland Islands  (8) Ilha Grande, Brazil  (1) Newcastle upon Tyne, England  (2) Molde, Norway  (2) Reine, Norway  (2) Lofoten & Vaerøy Islands Cruising  (2) Skarsvåg (North Cape), Norway  (3) Qaqortoq, Greenland  (2) Paamiut, Greenland  (2) Akulleq Island, Greenland  (2) Waterford, Ireland  (2) Bantry, Ireland  (3) Falmouth, England  (1) Poole, England  (1) Ancona, Italy  (3) Durres (Tirana), Albania  (3) Sao Francisco do Sul, Brazil  (1) Isla de los Estados, Argentina  (3) Magdalena, Chile - Captain’s Choice  (1) Exploring the South Orkney Islands - Captain’s Choice, Antarctica  (8) At Sea  (72) Spetses, Greece  (1) Messina (Sicily), Italy  (1) Aberdeen, Scotland  (3) Scrabster, Scotland  (3) Måløy, Norway  (3) Crotone (Calabria), Italy  (1) Porto Santo Stefano, Italy  (1) Kongsbreen Glacier Cruising — Captain’s Choice  (2) Caen (Normandy), France  (2) Dunkirk, France  (2) La Rochelle, France  (1) Rouen (Paris), France  (2) Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France  (4) Bodø, Norway  (2) Alta, Norway  (2) Höfn, Iceland  (3) Siglufjörður, Iceland  (1) Greenock (Glasgow), Scotland  (1) Tobermory, Scotland  (3) Ullapool, Scotland, UK  (1) Tilbury (London), England  (1) Klaipeda, Lithuania  (1) Vilagarcía (Santiago de Compostela), Spain  (2) Zadar, Croatia  (1) Select
• All Offers Drake Fly & Sail  (0) Fall Savings Event  (0) Select

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• Classic Antarctica
• Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica
• Crossing the Circle
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• Weddell Sea
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• Canadian Arctic
• Chilean Fjords
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• Galapagos on a shoestring
• Special Offers Antarctica
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• Dates & Prices

World Traveller

Be among the first to experience our newest yacht-style ship,  World Traveller  on an all-inclusive voyage. She encompasses our signature style of relaxed luxury, highly personalized service and destination immersions with a distinguishing and timeless Italian design inspired by La Dolce Vita. Refined accommodations, globally inspired gourmet dining and premium drinks, and an atmosphere that encourages connection combine to create intimate moments that feel exclusively made for you. Journey to Antarctica on her inaugural season and beyond.

Specifications

• Staff and Crew 117
• Guests 200 
• Registration Portugal
• Built: Oct 2020
• Length 129 meters
• Breadth (Beam) 18,9 meters
• Draft 4.7 meters
• Lifeboats 2, fully-enclosed
• 2 Rolls Royce 9,000kW engines and 2 electrically driven 335kW Schottel SPJ 82 pump jets.
• Ice Class 1B
• Cruising Speed 16 knots, in open water
• Private charter jet service*
• Enrichment lectures and destination briefings
• Shore landings led by expert field guides
• Escorted sightseeing safaris by Zodiac
• Polar plunge
• Atlas Ocean Voyages parka and vest
• Use of knee boots
• Private group transfers between airport and yacht
• Dining venues with ever-changing menus
• Unlimited beverages, including fine wines, spirits and craft beers
• Open bars and lounges, including 24-hour bar service with specialty canapés
• In-room minibar with your preferences
• Running track outdoor fitness
• The dome observation lounge
• Pool & hot tubs‡
• 7-aft grill
• 7-aft pool bar
• Small sundeck
• Water’s edge observation deck
• Zephyr lounge
• Paula’s pantry
• Fitness studio
• Atlas lounge
• Medical center
• Vasco Da Gama Auditorium/ Dom Henrique Auditorium
• L’occitane sea spa & sauna
• Lisboa Restaurant/ Porto Restaurant
• Lisboa alfresco/ Porto alfresco

While you’ve chosen to embark on an immersive journey with Atlas Ocean Voyages to captivating destinations, luxury accommodations must always remain top-of-mind. 

ALL ACCOMMODATIONS INCLUDE:

Chilled craft cocktail or sparkling wine welcome | In-room mini-fridge stocked daily with your preferences | Room service from our “always available” menu  | Nespresso coffee and Kusmi teas | Still and sparkling water delivered in reusable glass bottles | Terry bathrobes and slippers | Sumptuous Egyptian cotton bed linens | Complimentary use of binoculars

Navigator Suite

Located: Deck 5 and 6 – Occupancy: Up to 3 Guests

• 465 sq. ft.
• Oversized private balcony with teak furnishings
• Queen bed (convertible to two single beds)
• Elegant private marble spa bathroom featuring L’OCCITANE bath amenities
• Walk-in mosaic glass shower with rain head and body jets, a tub and double sinks
• Walk-in closet and wardrobe
• Living room with sofa, vanity and mini fridge
• Includes 2 wall-mounted TVs with “infotainment” system

Discovery Suite

Located: Deck 5 – Occupancy: Up to 3 Guests

• 445 sq. ft.
• Walk-in mosaic glass shower with rain head and body jets

Journey Suite

• 382 sq. ft.

Horizon Deluxe Stateroom - E1

Located: Deck 6 Occupancy: Up to 2 Guests

• 300 sq. ft. total living space with floor-to-ceiling Juliette Balcony with top-drop electric window
• Interior seating area with sofa, mini fridge and TV with “infotainment” system

VERANDA DELUXE STATEROOM - E2

• 300 sq. ft. total living space with 52-sq. ft. balcony featuring teak furnishings
• Living room with sofa, vanity, mini fridge and TV with “infotainment” system

HORIZON STATEROOM - A1/A2

Located: Deck 5 and 6 Occupancy: Up to 3 Guests

• 270 sq. ft. total living space with floor-to-ceiling Juliette Balcony with top-drop electric window
• Sitting area with sofa, mini fridge and TV with “infotainment” system

Veranda Stateroom (B1/B2)

Located: Deck 5 and 6 – Occupancy: Up to 2 Guests

• 270 sq. ft. total living space

ADVENTURE OCEANVIEW STATEROOM - AO

Located: Deck 3 – Occupancy: 2 Guests

• 183 sq. ft. of total living space
• Sitting area with chair and desk, mini fridge, and TV with “infotainment” system

SOLO OCEANVIEW STATEROOM - SA

Located: Deck 3 Occupancy: 1 Guests

Voyages by this vessel

The below departures correspond to the World Traveller, you can use our advanced filters to help you search and find the most perfect voyage for you. Please note all prices are reflected in USD and are quoted per person.

Advanced filters:

Antarctica Roundtrip

The Antarctic Circle Crossing

Iceland Roundtrip

Norway & Iceland

Copenhagen to Tromso

Copenhagen to Longyearbyen

Tromso to Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen Roundtrip

Longyearbyen to Reykjavik

Reykjavik to Dublin

Chilean Fjords Glaciers and Falklands

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Atlas Ocean Voyages Takes Delivery of World Traveller

Atlas Ocean Voyages has taken delivery of its brand new 200-passenger vessel, World Traveller , scheduled to be officially named on November 20, 2022. The handover ceremony took place on October 7, 2022, aboard the docked vessel where the yacht-style ship was constructed at the West Sea shipyard in Portugal. World Traveller will reposition to Ushuaia, Argentina, where she will be set up for expeditions to Antarctica.

“This ceremony to mark the completion of the ship, and our acceptance of delivery, is just the first of a number of significant events over the next few weeks – including the ship’s official naming in Chilean Patagonia,” said James Rodriguez, the line’s president, and CEO.

The second ship in the Atlas Ocean Voyages fleet, World Traveller will join her sister ship, World Navigator . Both ships are scheduled to be officially named during a naming ceremony held at Chile’s Garibaldi Glacier. The company will showcase the ship to dignitaries and the international media before her maiden voyage departure on November 21, 2022.

An Expanding Adventure Cruise Fleet for Atlas 

Word Traveller repositions via the Canary Islands to Europe for 7–10-day voyages through the Mediterranean, after a series of voyages in Antarctica. Home ports will include Lisbon, Barcelona, Nice, Seville, and Rome’s home port, Civitavecchia. Kicking off in August, prospective passengers can choose from three Arctic voyages, featuring scenic views and intimate wildlife observation. 

RELATED: Atlas Ocean Voyages World Navigator Ship Review

World Traveller is Polar Category C and Ice Class 1B certified and promises guests an immersive expedition through well-preserved and iconic land. The luxury yacht-style ship features 5-star accommodations with hands-on excursions and customizable tours for a truly tailored expedition.

Atlas Ocean Voyages is a small-ship, luxurious cruise company of Mystic Invest Holdings. The company’s vessels feature open bars, complimentary Wi-Fi, and so much more. Both World Navigator and World Traveller can accommodate up to 200 guests.

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M/V WORLD TRAVELLER

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WORLD TRAVELLER

Current trip.

Current Position

Information.

The current position of WORLD TRAVELLER is in Adriatic Sea with coordinates 43.62040° / 13.50733° as reported on 2024-06-07 06:28 by AIS to our vessel tracker app. The vessel's current speed is 0 Knots and is currently inside the port of ANCONA .

The vessel WORLD TRAVELLER (IMO: 9904807, MMSI: 255806210) is a Passenger It's sailing under the flag of [PT] Portugal .

In this page you can find informations about the vessels current position, last detected port calls, and current voyage information. If the vessels is not in coverage by AIS you will find the latest position.

The current position of WORLD TRAVELLER is detected by our AIS receivers and we are not responsible for the reliability of the data. The last position was recorded while the vessel was in Coverage by the Ais receivers of our vessel tracking app.

The current draught of WORLD TRAVELLER as reported by AIS is 4.8 meters

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Last port calls, most visited ports (last year).

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WORLD TRAVELLER

• Latest Event ●●●●●● All Events
• AIS Name WORLD TRAVELLER
• IMO 9904807
• MMSI 255806210
• Callsign CQAL8
• Year Built 2022
• Length 126 m
• Draught 4.8 m / 4.7 m / 25.5 m Avg/Min/Max
• Speed 9.5 kn / 20.9 kn Avg/Max
• Deadweight ●●●●●●
• Gross Tonnage ●●●●●●
• AIS Class —

Current Voyage & ETA Changes

Current location, position received, navigation status, eta sent by vessel ais, eta calculated by fleetmon, vessel and fleetmon eta difference, actual time of arrival.

• Vessel Datasheet
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WORLD TRAVELLER

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We last observed the vessel in Ancona (IT) less than 1h ago. The vessel has arrived there on Friday 7th June.

WORLD TRAVELLER built in 2022 is a vessel in the Cruise segment. Its IMO number is 9904807 and the current MMSI number is 255806210. The vessel has callsign CQAL8. Summer deadweight is 1166 DWT. WORLD TRAVELLER is sailing under the flag of Madeira.

We last observed the vessel in Ancona (IT) less than 1h ago. The vessel has arrived there on Friday 7th June. WORLD TRAVELLER built in 2022 is a vessel in the Cruise segment. Its IMO number is 9904807 and the current MMSI number is 255806210. The vessel has callsign CQAL8. Summer deadweight is 1166 DWT. WORLD TRAVELLER is sailing under the flag of Madeira.

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The Alternative to Huge Cruises? 3 Masts, 28 Sails and Wind Power.

We checked out the 136-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit on a Mediterranean cruise. In this era of gargantuan ships, its elegant clipper design, wooden decks and relatively small size stands out.

By Ceylan Yeğinsu

From the bridge of the three-masted windjammer, the Sea Cloud Spirit , the captain called out the words we’d all been waiting for.

“Let’s set the sails!” he cried, after turning off the engines, while maneuvering to maintain an optimum angle for his 18 deckhands to climb into the shrouds and unfurl the ship’s 44,132 square feet of sails by hand.

Like acrobats, the crew scurried up the masts to the upper topgallant sails that rose nearly 200 feet above us. The ship’s captain, Vukota Stojanovic, later insisted that none of it was for show. “Whenever there is an opportunity to sail, we sail,” he said.

For the next hour, the crew hauled the ropes until the 28 sails were billowing in the wind, propelling the 452-foot-long ship — the world’s largest passenger sailing vessel on which the sails are raised by hand — toward its first port of call, Portofino, Italy.

At a time when cruise lines are packing their ever-more-gargantuan ships with water parks and basketball courts, the 136-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit, with its old-fashioned clipper design and wooden decks, stands out. It is the newest ship from the Hamburg-based Sea Cloud Cruises , and while it is the company’s biggest, Sea Cloud said it wanted to leave space for passengers to connect to the surrounding elements.

“Wherever you are on the ship, it feels like you are sitting on the water,” said Amelia Dominick, 71, a retired real estate agent from Cologne, Germany, who was on her third cruise onboard the Sea Cloud Spirit.

I had arrived for a four-night “taster sailing” from Nice, France, to the Ligurian region of Italy, designed to entice passengers to sign up for a longer cruise. Here’s what I found.

The ship and cabins

The Spirit has many comforts and luxuries, including a fitness center, library, hair salon and a spa with a Finnish sauna that overlooks the sea. The deck layouts are spacious, with nooks carved out for privacy and relaxation.

Sixty-nine spacious cabins have windows that open onto the sea. My room, a junior suite on the third deck, had two large arched windows, mahogany tables, a balcony and a comfortable couch and armchair. The marble bathroom was lavish, with a gold-plated sink and large jetted bathtub.

The elegant interior design is inspired by the original Sea Cloud, built in 1931 for Marjorie Merriweather Post, the American heiress of the General Foods Corporation, with glossy wooden panels and gold trimmings. The Sea Cloud was the largest private sailing yacht in the world before Post handed it over to the U.S. Navy for use as a weather-reporting vessel during World War II. The four-mast, 64-passenger ship has since been restored to its former glory and will sail across the Aegean and Adriatic this summer.

The experience felt authentic — even before the sails were set — with a detailed safety drill. On most cruises, the drill entails a safety video and signing in at an assembly point. But here, passengers put on their life jackets and walked through emergency scenarios that included rationing food supplies and fishing from the lifeboat.

Each day, the sails were set, even during heavy rain and wind speeds over 30 knots. Guests wanting to participate in the rigging are usually invited to do so, but the weather conditions made it too risky for this sailing.

“It was amazing to watch the work go into putting the sails up and down and to experience the wind power pulling the ship so fast without the engines,” said Malte Rahnenfuehrer, a 50-year-old psychologist from Zurich, who was traveling with his partner and two children.

The captain

It is rare for cruise passengers to see the ship’s captain after the initial welcome drinks or gala dinner. But Capt. Vukota Stojanovic was omnipresent throughout the cruise, from setting sails to lifeguarding to mingling with guests.

Originally from Montenegro, Captain Stojanovic piloted container ships for years. When he was asked to consider helming the original Sea Cloud nearly 10 years ago, he hesitated because he had no experience sailing. Even after he learned the ropes — and there are 340 ropes (known as running rigging) on the vessel — he was unsure. “I grew to love the sailings, the boats, the crew the lifestyle, but I still felt I belonged on container ships,” he said. “It would be a big adjustment, especially because I would have to shave every day,” he joked.

Eventually, he accepted the opportunity and worked tirelessly to learn how to sail and operate the ship. Today, he keeps an “open bridge” policy, allowing passengers to visit the control room, even when he is wrestling with the wind.

“The crew and the passengers are all part of the experience, and I like to meet people and receive their feedback,” Captain Stojanovic said.

Environment

Sea Cloud Cruises aspires to take a “gentle” approach, using wind power to drive its ships wherever possible, even if that means changing course for optimal weather conditions. When sailing is not possible, the Spirit has two diesel-electric engines that run on low-sulfur marine diesel fuel. The company is also working with ports that have shore power capabilities to plug into the local electric power.

Onboard, there is an emphasis on reusable bottles and paper straws, and crew members separate solid waste to be compacted and removed when in port.

Excursions and Activities

We made stops in Portofino, San Remo, Italy, and St.-Tropez, France, anchoring offshore and getting to land by tender — a contrast to the big cruise ships with their loud horns and thick plumes of exhaust spewing from their funnels.

For passengers wanting to take a dip (there is no pool), the crew marked an area in the water with floats and an inflatable slide. The water was frigid, but many passengers took the plunge from the swimming deck. Guests could also take “Zodiac Safaris” around the ship to get views of the vessel from the water.

Excursions ranged from food and wine tours to e-biking and beach trips. In Portofino, passengers were free to explore the sights independently, including the Castello Brown Fortress and the lighthouse on Punta del Capo rock. There was ample time to eat meals on shore as the ship did not depart until 11 p.m. Over the summer, the Sea Cloud Spirit will sail to Spain, Portugal, France and the Azores, among other destinations. On Nov. 11, she will depart for St. Maarten in the Caribbean for the winter.

Wherever the vessel goes, said Mirell Reyes, president of Sea Cloud Cruise for North America, the company tries to “stay away from the crowds and ports where big cruise ships spit out 6,000 passengers.”

Summer prices, which include food and beverages, range from $3,995 for a four-night sailing in a superior cabin to $9,420 for a veranda suite. Seven-night sailings cost between $6,995 and $16,495.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Ceylan Yeginsu is a travel reporter for The Times who frequently writes about the cruise industry and Europe, where she is based. More about Ceylan Yeğinsu

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Princess Cruises ships ranked by size from biggest to smallest — the complete list

A re you looking for the most venue-packed, resort-like Princess Cruises ships at sea? If so, you'll want to get on one of the biggest Princess cruise ships.

The biggest Princess cruise ships are, by their very nature, the Princess ships with the most onboard restaurants, bars and showrooms, as well as the most sprawling decktop pool and lounge areas. The biggest Princess ships have the biggest casinos and spas among ships in the Princess fleet and the most cabins and suites — as well as the most variation in cabin and suite types.

With room for 4,000 passengers or more, the biggest Princess ships are truly large resorts of the sort you find at the biggest vacation destination on land. If you're in the "bigger is better" camp when it comes to a resort experience, these are the Princess ships for you.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Still, Princess doesn't just operate large vessels. The Los Angeles-based cruise giant — the fifth largest cruise line in the world — also has several relatively small cruise ships in its fleet that carry just 2,000 or 3,000 people and have a more intimate feel. In some cases, these vessels are nearly 50% smaller than the size of Princess Cruises' biggest ships. These smaller ships, notably, have less deck-top pool space and fewer interior venues than the biggest Princess cruise ships. However, with fewer people on board, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The smallest Princess cruise ships are best for vacationers who like a more intimate, less crowded resort experience.

Related: The 4 types of Princess Cruises ships, explained

To make sure you end up on the right Princess ship for you, it pays to study which Princess ships are the biggest and which are the smallest before booking.

Here, every Princess ship currently in operation is ranked from biggest to smallest.

1. Sun Princess

Maiden voyage: 2024

Size: 177,882 gross tons

Passenger capacity: 4,300

2. Discovery Princess

Maiden voyage: 2022

Size: 145,000 gross tons

Passenger capacity : 3,660

3 (tied). Enchanted Princess

Maiden voyage: 2020

Size: 144,650 gross tons

3 (tied). Sky Princess

Maiden voyage: 2019

5. Majestic Princess

Maiden voyage: 2017

Size: 143,700 gross tons

Passenger capacity : 3,560

6 (tied). Regal Princess

Maiden voyage: 2014

Size: 142,229 gross tons

6 (tied). Royal Princess

Maiden voyage: 2013

8 (tied). Ruby Princess

Maiden voyage: 2008

Size: 113,561 gross tons

Passenger capacity : 3,080

8 (tied). Emerald Princess

Maiden voyage: 2007

8 (tied). Crown Princess

Maiden voyage: 2006

11 (tied). Sapphire Princess

Maiden voyage: 2004

Size: 115,875 gross tons

Passenger capacity : 2,670

11 (tied). Diamond Princess

13. caribbean princess.

Size: 112,894 gross tons

Passenger capacity : 3,149

14. Grand Princess

Maiden voyage: 1998

Size: 107,517 gross tons

Passenger capacity : 2,600

15. Island Princess

Maiden voyage: 2003

Size: 92,822 gross tons

Passenger capacity : 2,200

16. Coral Princess

Maiden voyage: 2002

Size: 91,627 gross tons

Passenger capacity : 2,000

What is the biggest Princess cruise ship?

The biggest Princess cruise ship is the 4,300-passenger Sun Princess , which is also the line's newest vessel. It just debuted in February.

Sun Princess is the first vessel in Princess Cruises' new Sphere Class of ships, which have been designed to be much bigger and more venue-packed than the vessels in the line's last new series of ships, the Royal Class.

Sun Princess measures 177,882 gross tons, which is about 22% bigger than the biggest ship in the Royal Class (the 145,000-ton Discovery Princess). Royal Class ships range in size from 142,229 to 145,000 gross tons.

Note that gross tons is a size measurement referring to interior space, not weight.

A second ship in the Sphere Class series, Star Princess, is under construction at a shipyard in Italy and will debut in October 2025 .

For more details on Sun Princess, including what venues are on board and what it's like to sail on the vessel, see TPG's comprehensive first look at Sun Princess after an early sailing.

What is the smallest Princess cruise ship?

The smallest Princess cruise ship is the 2,000-passenger Coral Princess. Measuring just 91,267 gross tons, it's about 36% smaller than Discovery Princess, making it a significantly smaller vessel.

Coral Princess dates to 2002, a time when cruise ships were built far smaller than they are today and with far fewer venues. At 21 years old, it's also one of the two oldest vessels in the Princess fleet and will probably be phased out sometime in the next decade.

Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises

While significantly smaller than the newest Princess ships, Coral Princess still has many of the signature spaces and venues found on new Princess vessels, including an Italian eatery called Sabatini's and a steakhouse.

Entertainment venues on Coral Princess include a relatively large main theater for production shows, a secondary lounge that offers comedy shows and other entertainment, and a casino. Like other Princess ships, the top deck of the vessel is mostly devoted to pool areas with hot tubs and lounge chairs. There's also a spa.

While smaller and older than the typical Princess ship, Coral Princess has a loyal following among Princess fans who prefer smaller and more intimate ships.

Are bigger Princess cruise ships coming?

It's not clear yet. Princess currently has one new ship on order, Star Princess. But the final size of Star Princess won't be known until the vessel debuts in late 2025.

Star Princess will be the second vessel in the new Sphere Class of ships at Princess. It's likely to be very similar in size to the first vessel in the series, the new Sun Princess. But it's not uncommon for each new vessel in a series to be slightly bigger than the one before.

Star Princess is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard near Monfalcone, Italy.

Note that this isn't the first time Princess has named a ship Sun Princess or Star Princess. Both are recycled names from past Princess ships. Princess operated smaller vessels under the Sun Princess and Star Princess names up until 2020.

Related: Everything to know about Princess cabins and suites

What's the difference between bigger and smaller Princess ships?

The biggest Princess cruise ships have room for more onboard venues and attractions than smaller Princess ships. That makes them more alluring for vacationers who prefer a big resort experience with lots of options as compared to a stay at a smaller resort.

On the biggest Princess vessels, the Sphere Class and Royal Class vessels, you'll find the largest piazza-like central atriums in the Princess fleet surrounded by lots of bars and restaurants; multiple entertainment venues for live shows, comedy acts and more; and expansive pool decks with more space for sunning than you'll find on smaller Princess vessels.

You'll also find some only-on-the-Royal-class-ships extras, including, on some of the Royal Class ships, a glass-floored "SeaWalk" that extends over the side of the vessel.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Princess ship

Princess' smaller cruise ships also are generally its older cruise ships and lack some of the above features, which are more typical of newer ships. These smaller Princess ships have a more intimate feel, at least in the pantheon of relatively big, mass-market ships, and they hold fewer people.

While Sphere Class and Royal Class ships can hold more than 4,500 passengers with every berth full, the line's smaller vessels (particularly the relatively small Island Princess and Coral Princess) often sail with just 2,000 or so passengers on board.

That makes the smaller Princess ships a good choice for someone who wants to try Princess but isn't eager to travel with huge crowds. The smallest ships in the Princess fleet thus appeal to a subset of Princess fans who prefer more intimacy in a cruise vessel and don't mind giving up some onboard amenities to get it. They are also often less expensive to sail on, on a per-day basis.

Related: Don't miss out on these Princess loyalty perks

In addition, because of their size, the smallest ships at Princess Cruises are able to operate itineraries to places that aren't as easy for big ships to visit. Not all ports in the world can handle a ship the size of Sun Princess.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• 8 cabin locations on cruise ships you should definitely avoid
• Which cruise brand is best for you? A guide to the most popular lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your first cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise
• The 15 best cruise ships for people who never want to grow up
• Cruise packing list: The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Vessev Launches World’s First Premium Tourism, Electric Hydrofoiling Vessel 

• Revoutionary electric hydrofoiling vessel set to unlock entirely new opportunities in marine passenger transport through enhanced capability
• State-of-the-art America’s Cup foiling technology maximizes efficiency
• Super smooth experience akin to travelling on a quiet waterborne airplane
• The VS-9 will be commercialized by Fullers360, New Zealand’s largest ferry operator
• Technology, which is under advanced development, scales up to much larger passenger vessels

Auckland, New Zealand — Vessev, a global leader in sustainable marine technology, has today revealed the VS-9 which will unlock entirely new opportunities for premium passenger transport on the water. By partnering with Fullers360, New Zealand’s largest ferry operator, the VS-9 will become the first fully electric passenger vessel to operate in Auckland and the first hydrofoiling tourism vessel to operate in the world.

NetZero Maritime, Fullers360’s specialist maritime green technology and innovation team, has played a pivotal role in the adoption of this new type of vessel.

Designed and built by Vessev (formerly Seachange) the VS-9 delivers smooth and quiet travel on the water like never before. The state-of-the-art vessel is currently undergoing sea trials out of Auckland, New Zealand, and the first VS-9 will be certified this year, entering commercial operation with Fullers360 thereafter.

The nine-meter VS-9 will transport up to 10 passengers at a service speed of 25 knots providing an experience that is more like flying than sailing The VS-9 has a range of 50 nautical miles (57 miles/92.6km) thanks to state-of-the-art efficient hydrofoiling technology.

Eric Laakmann, Vessev CEO, said: “We are in the earliest stage of a global transition to sustainable energy use. Our partnership with NetZero Maritime is one of the most powerful in the world in accelerating the adoption of new technologies. There are 33 million vessels in the world today with sustainable vessels representing the smallest fraction. Through significant enhancements in efficiency, hydrofoiling will play a key role in this once-in-a-generation shift.”

Vessev’s expert team of marine engineers and boat builders, combined with Fullers360’s NetZero Maritime decarbonization team, has ensured the VS-9 is designed and built to align seamlessly with commercial and tourism transport requirements.

“Our partnership integrates New Zealand’s largest ferry transport and tourism operator with one of the country’s foremost sustainable marine technology providers. At Vessev, our ethos of ‘engineered for safety’, ‘built to last’ and ‘impact through performance’ is vital, and that’s exactly what the VS-9 delivers,” added Laakmann

Unlocking new opportunities

The VS-9 will unlock new opportunities on the water that haven’t been possible until now.

Laakmann commented: “Traditionally, larger vessels are required to deliver a comfortable passenger experience as they can handle the impact of waves and wake. By flying above the waves the VS—9 delivers a large vessel experience on an agile platform that can be berthed and charged in nearly any marina.

“The development and commercialization of the VS-9 unlocks entirely new possibilities on the water enabling a shift toward more efficient, more reliable and more comfortable marine transport. The VS-9 will enable thousands of new routes around the world that are currently impractical for traditional vessel.

“The costs of maintaining and fueling commercial fossil fuel vessels is quite substantial. We expect that in almost any commercial application, the lifetime cost of ownership of these vessels will be substantially less than comparable fossil fuel vessels. That is not including any additional revenue for operators which may come from operating vessels that deliver the best possible passenger experiences’.”

Laakmann further commented: “The benefits of the VS-9 scale up to larger vessels. We are already working to develop the VS-18, a 100-passenger vessel using the same technology and design of the VS-9, which will have additional seakeeping capability and unlock even more opportunities.”

Incredibly efficient foiling technology

The VS-9 features ultra-high authority hydrofoil systems, where the foils change shape using high precision flaps under the water to optimize efficiency. This enables the VS-9 to handle adverse weather and provide far better seakeeping than other technologies. Vessev’s engineers used some of the same techniques employed by winning America’s Cup teams to make its systems ultra-efficient and resilient.

“To our knowledge, the VS-9 will be the only certified passenger electric hydrofoiling vessel to utilise this technology. We use techniques similar to America’s Cup vessels which provide very high control authority when compared to other systems. That means we can handle more wind and bigger seas. The system is more difficult to engineer up-front, but results in a very performant vessel that is both more capable and more efficient,” says Laakmann.

“The VS-9 is so efficient that we are able to use very safe and longer lasting battery technologies when compared to other vessels of this type.”

Vessev’s technology reduces energy consumption by up to 95%, facilitating a range of up to 50 nautical miles at a service speed of 25 knots and significantly reduced operational costs. The energy efficiencies deliver much faster charging, more range and energy cost savings already evident after just two weeks of sea-trials.

“To put it into perspective, the VS-9 is undergoing on-water testing with a petrol-powered chase boat following, doing the same motions and distance. At the end of each day, the cost of the petrol fueling the chase boat is 25 times the cost of the electricity used to charge the VS-9,” explains Laakmann.

Fullers360 CEO Mike Horne says the business is thrilled to partner with Vessev as part of its transition to zero emission solutions.

Mike Horne, Fullers360 CEO, commented: “It’s our intention for Fullers360 to be 100% electric or hydrogen operated by 2040 and foiling is absolutely a part of that vision for us. The establishment of NetZero Maritime has enabled us to dedicate a team to enabling zero emissions projects with the VS-9 being the first fully electric passenger vessel to operate in Auckland.”

He continued: “Auckland is quickly becoming a case study for the adoption of green technology and the IP within NetZero Maritime is playing a fundamental role in accelerating the understanding and adoption globally. Seeing this project come to fruition reinforces our move to establish NetZero Maritime to enable the commercialization of new technology such as the VS-9.

“The VS-9 combines the first fully electric passenger vessel to operate in Auckland with the latest hydrofoiling technology to deliver premium tourism experiences. Our understanding is there are currently no electric hydrofoiling vessels certified for commercial tourism use in the world and the testing done here in New Zealand will set a new standard for bringing this new class of vessel into service globally.”

Enhanced stability to master any sea condition

The VS-9’s foils enable it to ride completely above the waves, providing an infinitely smoother passenger experience than conventional vessels and enhancing its operational capability. The VS-9 takes off at 18-19 knots, transitioning from foil assist to full foiling mode, and cruises with optimum efficiency between 22-25 knots. The foil stabilization systems enter operation at 12 knots — actively reducing pitch and roll motion, even when not fully on foils and ‘flying’.

Constructed using carbon fibre laminates, the VS-9 is incredibly resilient and built to last. For maximum durability, the VS-9’s foils are fully retractable which enables the vessel to operate in shallow water and protect the foils so the vessel can be transported on a trailer.

“The ability to remove the foils from the water completely is a design element we’re particularly proud of. We were told it would be impractical, but we’ve delivered a system which makes it easy for operators to maintain pristine foils for maximum efficiency. To our knowledge, the VS 9 will be the only certified passenger electric hydrofoil in the world capable of this,” says Laakmann.

Accessible charging capability

The VS-9 is so efficient it can be charged using existing electric charging infrastructure commonly available in most marinas, accelerating the speed to service. Once high-speed DC charging is in place, recharge times will be up to 0.8 nautical miles of range per minute of charging.

Laakmann said: “Our objective is to break down the barriers to adopting electric vessels. From the outset, our goal was to design a commercial electric vessel that can use the charging capacity already available in many marinas to run serious commercial businesses. Through a combination of size and efficiency, we have succeeded with the VS-9. During sea-trials we have been running up to three test sessions a day using a standard AC 3-phase connection. We think that operators and tourism businesses around the world will see the benefit in that.”

Not just an electric boat experience — a better boat experience

With seating for ten passengers, the VS-9 will deliver premium experiences and completely transform how people travel on the water. Vessev’s hydrofoilling technology enables the vessel to glide above waves at 25 knots providing an experience more similar to travelling in a quiet airplane to deliver previously undreamt-of premium tourism experiences.

“Customers will glide across the Hauraki Gulf enjoying smooth travel that feels more like flying than sailing thanks to the foils that slice through waves usually uncomfortable for a vessel of this size to operate in. This means that rolling sensation you feel on traditional boats just disappears when the VS-9 enters foiling mode, creating an onboard experience unmatched by conventional vessels,” explained Horne.

An exciting voyage ahead

Utilizing the design of the VS-9, Vessev is already working through further enhancements to the vessel performance and applying this to larger foiling vessels with capacity for more passengers suitable for a range of routes.

“We eagerly anticipate our continued partnership with Vessev to deliver zero-emission foiling vessels, cementing Auckland’s position as a global leader in innovation and sustainability,” concluded Horne.

“We are honored by our partnership with Fullers360. They are one of the most innovative operators in the world and are leading the way in genuine decarbonization of marine transport. We thank both Fullers360 and NetZero Maritime for their support and their vision,” finished Laakmann.

The VS-9 entered the water for the first time earlier this month at Auckland’s Westhaven Marina where it is undergoing robust sea trials and risk mitigation testing before gaining certification by Maritime New Zealand. The VS-9 is on track to be the first vessel of its kind in the world to be certified for commercial use.

Intended for premium tourism services the VS-9 signifies a defining moment in Auckland’s decarbonization journey as the city welcomes its first fully electric passenger vessel.

VS-9 specifications:

• Length: 8.95m 
• Weight: 4 tonnes fully loaded 
• Power: Battery electric 
• Capacity: 10 passengers 
• Crew: 1 skipper 
• Top speed: 30 knots, 55km 
• Cruise speed: 25 knots 
• Range: Up to 50 nautical miles at 25 knots 
• Charging: Up to 90kW

Vessev is a sustainable marine technology company based in New Zealand led by former Apple Watch engineering program lead Eric Laakmann (CEO) and Max Olson (founder and CTO). Vessev is introducing extraordinarily high efficiency electric hydrofoiling technology into the commercial marine space. The company combines state-of-the-art technology created for sport sailing, with vehicle electrification, and robotics into an entirely new class of vessel. Founded in 2018 by Max Olson, Vessev’s purpose is to “Propel a More Liveable World” – a world where greater access to our waterways creates better commutes, reductions in road traffic, new routes to affordable housing, closer connections with nature, better tourism experiences, and clean air and clean waters.

The Vessev team :

Vessev’s team experience spans key industries and technologies. They have built America’s Cup-winning racing yachts, delivered orbital rockets into space, created iconic international technology products, earned PhD’s in hydrodynamics/control theory, and collectively built and designed hundreds of boats including a number of world-first electric vessels. Together, the team have covered hundreds of thousands of miles at sea.

About Fullers360 :

Fullers360 is New Zealand’s largest ferry operator delivering transport and tourism experiences for more than 40 years in Auckland, New Zealand. Led by Mike Horne (CEO), Fullers360 is a global leader in maritime decarbonisation, having already spearheaded several emissions reducing projects. The VS-9 is the first zero emissions vessel Fullers360 will deliver and commercialise.

About NetZero Maritime:

NetZero Maritime is Fullers360’s dedicated decarbonisation team, specialists in the adoption of green technology and innovation. Being a global leader, Fullers360 has recognized the need for cities and operators around the world to transition to zero emissions technology. NetZero Maritime combines real-world operator experience with leading decarbonisation solutions to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.

News item from Vessev via email.

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Travel plans in disarray as P&O Cruises retires iconic Pacific Explorer

For Jane Newson, taking a cruise every year has been her chance to see the world when other options were too expensive. 

For months, she's been saving for a much-anticipated trip next year from Auckland to Tonga aboard the P&O Pacific Explorer.

She would be joined by her partner and some of her closest friends, including two who are nearing their 80th birthdays.

"It is lovely to be away for a week and not to have to do any of the things you do at home," she said.

"[These trips] offer a fantastic opportunity for people to cruise that don't have high incomes."

But on Tuesday, Ms Newson received an email advising her cruise had been cancelled, hours after P&O announced it was retiring the Explorer and folding operations into its parent company Carnival Cruises .

"It's a shame, such a shame, and we are all so disappointed, especially because there was six of us going," she said.

Social media has also been flooded with comments from disillusioned cruise ship passengers who had planned to take trips onboard the Pacific Explorer next year, while others have lamented the loss of the brand after 90 years on the water.

For Caitlin Dennis, the iconic cruise company shaped her life.

She took her first cruise onboard a P&O ship when she was 16 and would later go on to work on several cruise ship companies as a dancer and singer.

"It's a really sad loss to the industry and to the wider public," Ms Dennis said.

"That first cruise inspired me to go and seek out a career on a ship and I know a lot of other entertainers that work on that ship are going to be devastated about it."

A sign of things to come

The Pacific Explorer, which travels through Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific and is known affectionately as "Dora" among the cruise community, will be retired on March 2 next year.

P&O's larger cruise ships, the Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure will be rebranded and transferred to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, along with their workforces.

P&O Cruises Australia issued its surprise notice to customers on Tuesday.

"As a result, all itineraries on Pacific Explorer scheduled to sail after 2nd March 2025 are being cancelled," it said.

"If you are booked on one of these itineraries you will be contacted by guest services in the coming days with refund details.

"We are all immensely proud of P&O Cruises Australia's 90-year heritage of dedicated operations in the region, and Carnival Cruise Line are honoured to carry forward its storied legacy and continue to deliver the same onboard experiences and itineraries."

Carnival CEO Josh Weinstein said in a statement that the decision to retire the Explorer was made due to the South Pacific's "small population" as well as "significantly higher operating and regulatory costs".

The senior lecturer in tourism management at the University of South Australia, Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, said the cruise ship industry appeared to be moving away from the smaller cruise liners of 2,000 passengers.

This year the world's biggest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, was launched by Royal Caribbean International. It can take 7,600 passengers, almost four times the capacity of the Pacific Explorer.

"The major cruise companies are all moving towards 'mega-ships' so this could be the end of cruise companies like P&O that have a national character and serve a particular market," Professor Higgins-Desbiolles said.

"They are decommissioning and part of the reasoning is the environmental consciousness of passengers. They want to be more environmentally responsive to changing technology."

She said the cruise industry was also still recovering from the global pandemic, with high operating costs and port fees impacting on their bottom line.

The Explorer brought in tens of thousands of tourists to several Australian towns, including Airlie Beach and Cairns, on day trips.

Professor Higgins-Desbiolles said there will be fears about the effect on local economies.

"Some of the regional destinations will be wondering how the change in itinerary will impact on them and we won't know that straight away," she said.

"Places like Cairns, Airlie Beach and Adelaide, Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln could all be affected."

Queensland Tourism Minister Michael Healy said he was "surprised" by Tuesday's announcement and there may be "some impact" on coastal communities, where the Pacific Explorer docks.

"I have had correspondence from the company talking about strategic alignment and I look forward to investigating that," Mr Healy said.

A spokeswoman for Carnival Australia told the ABC no-one from the company was available for an interview but did say "thousands" of passengers would receive refunds for cancelled Pacific Explorer trips.

Customers who had cruises booked on the Explorer after March 2 2025 have the option of a refund or credit for Carnival with extra onboard spending money.

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A new agreement would limit cruise passengers in Alaska’s capital. A critic says it falls short

FILE - Cruise ships are docked on June 9, 2023, in downtown Juneau, Alaska. A new agreement between Alaska’s capital city and major cruise lines seeks to cap the daily number of cruise ship passengers arriving in Juneau starting in 2026, but a critic of the cruise industry says the planned limits don’t go far enough. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

FILE - Passengers stream off the Norwegian Bliss after the vessel arrived in Juneau, Alaska, April 25, 2022. A new agreement between Alaska’s capital city and major cruise lines seeks to cap the daily number of cruise ship passengers arriving in Juneau starting in 2026, but a critic of the cruise industry says the planned limits don’t go far enough. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

FILE - A cruise ship sits docked near downtown Juneau, Alaska, Sunday, June 4, 2017. A new agreement between Alaska’s capital city and major cruise lines seeks to cap the daily number of cruise ship passengers arriving in Juneau starting in 2026, but a critic of the cruise industry says the planned limits don’t go far enough. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

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JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A new agreement between Alaska’s capital city and major cruise lines seeks to cap the daily number of cruise ship passengers arriving in Juneau starting in 2026, though a prominent critic of the cruise industry said Tuesday the planned limits do not do enough.

The agreement, finalized late last week, seeks a daily limit of 16,000 cruise passengers Sundays through Fridays and 12,000 on Saturdays. However, officials said that doesn’t necessarily mean there will be that many people every day.

Cruise passengers numbers ramped up rapidly after two pandemic-stunted years, hitting a record of more than 1.6 million passengers in Juneau last year. That’s caused tension between businesses that rely on tourism and residents who are fed up with increased traffic, busy trails and the hum of helicopters ferrying visitors to glaciers.

Cruise seasons also have gotten longer, with the first boat this year arriving in Juneau in early April and the last set to arrive in late October. On peak days in the past, passenger numbers have totaled about two-thirds of Juneau’s population of roughly 32,000 people.

A daily limit of five large ships took effect with the current season, as part of a separate agreement signed last year.

Alexandra Pierce, Juneau’s visitor industry director, said Tuesday that the aim with the current agreement is to hold cruise passenger numbers roughly steady, in the 1.6 million range.

“The idea is that the agreement buys everybody time not only to see if it is sustainable but also to build the infrastructure that will help it feel more sustainable,” she said.

Pierce said she expects a number of projects will be completed in the next five years “that will help our current numbers feel less impactful.” She cited plans for a gondola at the city-owned ski area, updates to the downtown sea walk and increased visitor capacity at the popular Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area .

The agreement, which was signed by the city manager and major cruise line executives, also calls for yearly meetings to “review lessons learned, to review and optimize the subsequent season’s operations, and align on community and industry parameters, goals, and opportunities.”

Pierce said city leaders are “trying to balance the needs of our residents, the needs of our economy, the needs of future opportunities for people to stay in our community.”

Karla Hart, a longtime critic of the industry, is skeptical of the new agreement, saying it doesn’t do enough to address concerns many residents have that current tourism levels are unsustainable.

“It feels like we’re just getting led along again, and expansion will continue and more time will pass” and impacts will continue, she said.

Hart is helping push a proposed local ballot initiative that would institute “ship free Saturdays,” with no cruise ships with a capacity of at least 250 passengers allowed to stop in Juneau on Saturdays or on July 4. The signature-review process for the proposed measure is underway. If the measure is certified, it could appear on the October ballot.

Renée Limoge Reeve, vice president of government and community relations for Cruise Lines International Association Alaska, a trade group, said initiatives “remove the opportunity for collaboration and discussion, and I think that that leaves a lot to be desired.”

She said the agreements with Juneau are the first such agreements the industry has signed in Alaska and underscore the cruise lines’ commitment “to being good partners in the communities that we visit.” Juneau and other southeast Alaska communities are popular stops on cruises that leave from Seattle or Vancouver. The much-smaller community of Sitka also has been grappling with the debate over tourism numbers.

Reeve and Pierce also participated Tuesday in a Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce news conference to discuss the agreement.