February News Roundup from the CEO - Akvile

One of the biggest stories this month was PONANT announcement of acquiring a majority stake in Aqua Expeditions . Both brands are renowned for their luxury expeditions, and this exciting collaboration promises to bring fresh opportunities and growth to both companies. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.

In other notable news, we saw HX Expeditions complete its acquisition, marking an important milestone for one of the world’s largest expedition cruise operators. With a €140 million investment behind them, this move sets the stage for accelerated growth and new opportunities in the market.

As many of you know, January and February are busy months for expedition cruise operators, and Aurora Expeditions reported a remarkable 44% year-over-year growth in sales for January – a testament to the ongoing demand for adventure travel in the expedition sector.

To celebrate St. Valentine’s Day, Swan Hellenic Limited launched a new service aboard its ships called ‘Love Aboard.’ This unique service allows couples to celebrate their commitment with non-denominational commitment ceremonies in some of the world’s most beautiful destinations. It’s a lovely offering for your clients seeking something special. But that’s not all – Swan Hellenic Limited also reinforced its commitment to environmental and scientific efforts with its 2025 Cruising4Oceans programme, in partnership with the EU.

In an exciting move for travel advisors, Secret Atlas - The Home of Expedition Micro Cruises has partnered with Cabin Select, a cruise sales distribution company that streamlines the booking process. This integration will make it easier for agents to book, manage, and pay for Secret Atlas - The Home of Expedition Micro Cruises bookings, with access to live availability, pricing, and content all in one place.

For those seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure, Coral Expeditions introduced a new circumnavigation programme for Tasmania. These new itineraries let clients explore the pristine and wild Tasmanian coast – an adventure not to be missed!

Albatros Expeditions continues to stand out in the industry with its commitment to serving a diverse global clientele. They’ve recently introduced a ‘Chef on Board’ initiative, allowing Indian groups to bring their own chef onboard for a tailored culinary experience while exploring the polar regions. Albatros is leading the way in offering global and culturally diverse experiences.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises revealed a new brand look and campaign ‘Unforgettable - with all senses’ and appointed James William S. as a sales manager for UK and Ireland.

At the Expedition Cruise Network Ltd. , we’ve also been busy! We hosted our first interview with Graham Charles , founder of the Polar Tourism Guides Association, where we discussed what it takes to become a polar region guide and why industry standards are more important than ever. Our webinar on revisiting luxury expeditions, featuring experts from Silversea Cruises , Scenic - Luxury Cruises & Tours , PONANT , and Atlas Ocean Voyages , that will take place next Wednesday, will explore how the luxury expedition market is evolving. We also launched our ‘Meet the Sales Rep’ blog series, offering a behind-the-scenes look at different sales representatives, and shared guest posts from our travel advisor and expedition cruise operator members about their recent trips to Antarctica and the Galapagos.

On a personal note, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing two very different, yet equally remarkable, expedition cruising adventures: sailing the Ganges River in India aboard Antara Cruises - Heritage River Journeys ’ Ganges Voyager and navigating the icy waters of the St. Lawrence River in Canada aboard PONANT ’s Le Commandant Charcot. These two trips – one through the heart of India, the other through the icy Canadian waters– have left me in awe of the incredible diversity within the world of expedition cruising.

This is my first news roundup as CEO of Expedition Cruise Network, and I’m excited to bring you relevant, useful, and inspiring updates from our industry. Your feedback is valuable to me, so please don’t hesitate to leave your thoughts or suggestions in the comments.

Wishing you all continued success and adventure in the months ahead.

Warmly,

Akvile CEO,

Expedition Cruise Network