The booming expedition cruise market is continuing to drive newbuild orders, with 32 expedition ships slated for delivery between today and 2022.
Hurtigruten’s late October surprise of a third newbuild at Kleven pushed the expedition orderbook over 7,000 berths, and made it 32 ships with an average capacity of 225 guests at an average size of 13,3224 tons.
Huritgruten has the biggest capacity plans, with three 530-guest ships adding 1,590 berths to the market.
Next up is Ponant, with an additional 990 berths coming, following the French brand’s double ship delivery earlier this year.
VARD, part of Fincantieri, dominates the orderbook with 11 newbuilds.
Four ships are under construction at CMIH in China for SunStone, while Kleven has three ships on order and Croatia’s Brodosplit has two.
In addition are two-ship orders at Mariotti Damen from Seabourn, part of Carnival Corporation, and Crystal’s Endeavor-class, under construction at Genting’s MV Werften.
These numbers are only set to grow based on newbuild options on existing contracts, potential market entrants, and more ships from established players in the industry.
Expedition Orderbook:
| Cruise Line | Ship | Cost(1) | Tonnage | Capacity | Yard | Sailing | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scenic | Eclipse | $185 | 16,500 | 228 | Uljanik Group | World | January 2019 |
| Coral Expeditions | Adventurer | $75 | 5,500 | 120 | VARD | Australia | Q1 2019 |
| Mystic Cruises | World Explorer | $85 | 9,300 | 200 | West Sea | World | March 2019 |
| Hapag-Lloyd | H/Nature | $155 | 16,100 | 230 | VARD | World | April 2019 |
| Hurtigruten | Roald Amundsen | $220 | 20,000 | 530 | Kleven | World | Spring 2019 |
| Oceanwide | Hondius | $85 | 6,300 | 196 | Brodosplit | World | May 2019 |
| Celebrity | Flora | $75 | 5,739 | 100 | De Hoop | Galapagos | May 2019 |
| Ponant | Le Bougainville | $110 | 10,000 | 180 | VARD | World | Summer 2019 |
| Ponant | Le Dumont-d’Urville | $110 | 10,000 | 180 | VARD | World | Summer 2019 |
| SunStone | Greg Mortimer | $65 | 8,000 | 160 | CMIH | World | August 2019 |
| Hapag-Lloyd | H/Inspiration | $155 | 16,100 | 230 | VARD | World | October 2019 |
| Antarctica XXI | M/Explorer | $50 | 4,900 | 100 | ASENAV | World | Q4 2019 |
| Hurtigruten | Fridtjof Nansen | $220 | 20,000 | 530 | Kleven | World | TBA 2019 |
| Lindblad | NG Endurance | $135 | 12,000 | 126 | Ulstein | World | Jan 2020 |
| Ponant | Le Bellot | $110 | 10,000 | 180 | VARD | World | Q1 2020 |
| Crystal | Endeavor | $195 | 19,800 | 200 | MV Werften | World | Q1 2020 |
| Silversea | Silver Origin | $75 | 5,739 | 100 | De Hoop | Galapagos | March 2020 |
| Scenic | Eclipse II | $185 | 16,500 | 228 | Uljanik Group | World | Q2 2020 |
| Ponant | Le Surville | $110 | 10,000 | 180 | VARD | World | Q2 2020 |
| SunStone | Unnamed | $65 | 8,000 | 160 | CMIH | World | August 2020 |
| Quark | Unnamed | $150 | 13,000 | 200 | Brodosplit | World | TBA 2020 |
| Lindblad | Unnamed | $135 | 12,000 | 126 | Ulstein | World | Q1 2021 |
| SunStone | Ocean Victory | $65 | 8,000 | 200 | CMIH | World | March 2021 |
| Seabourn | Unnamed | $225 | 23,000 | 264 | Mariotti Damen | World | June 2021 |
| Ponant | Unnamed | $324 | 30,000 | 270 | VARD | World | Q2 2021 |
| Viking Ocean | Unnamed | TBA | TBA | TBA | VARD | World | Q2 2021 |
| Hapag-Lloyd | H/Spirit | $155 | 16,100 | 230 | VARD | World | Q2 2021 |
| Hurtigruten | Unnamed | $220 | 20,000 | 530 | Kleven | World | Q2 2021 |
| SunStone | Unnamed | $65 | 8,000 | 160 | CMIH | World | August 2021 |
| Crystal | Unnamed | $195 | 19,800 | 200 | MV Werften | World | TBA 2021 |
| Seabourn | Unnamed | $225 | 23,000 | 264 | Mariotti Damen | World | May 2022 |
| Viking Ocean | Unnamed | TBA | TBA | TBA | VARD | World | Q2 2022 |
| Crystal | Unnamed | $195 | 19,800 | 200 | MV Werften | World | TBA 2022 |
(1) In Millions
