Atlas Ocean Voyages will expand with a 400-guest luxury expedition sailing ship, the Atlas Adventurer, with delivery slated for November 2028, according to James A. Rodriguez, president and CEO.
“We are expanding with a newbuild that is a world-class vessel, and a totally new class of vessel that will set the standard for luxury expedition cruising with sailing ships,” Rodriguez told Cruise Industry News.
The company’s’ owner, Mystic Invest, ordered the ship in December from China Merchants.
The ship will be built in China and for its debut season, 15 cruises are on offer as it repositions from Asia to Africa and then the Mediterranean, Rodriguez said.
Also available is a 128-day grand voyage from Japan to South Africa.
The initial itinerary package is comprised of new regions and new ports for Atlas and should be a big hit with repeat guests, Rodriguez said.
Eventual plans call for the ship to sail in Antarctica.
Guests can already book priority access for 13 sailings, with an additional two reserved for past brand guests. Itineraries so far include turn ports and dates, and transit ports will fill in over the coming weeks, said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez called the ship innovative and credited Mario Ferriera, founder, owner and chairman of Mystic Invest, with the passion and vision behind the project.
“We will have 40 percent fuel savings when the wind is available,” Rodriguez said.
In addition is a 9 megawatt battery pack.
The new 26,000-ton ship joins Atlas’ trio of 200-guest ships. Company plans had previously called for more of those vessels.
“From a financial standpoint, it makes a bit more sense to go larger; we believe this is the right size for the kind of guests we are attracting,” Rodriguez explained. “We are going after a high net worth expedition traveler and need a new type of vessel.”
The brand has developed into a year-round expedition company, also offering expedition and epicurean programming in non-polar regions, he continued.
While the U.S. remains the company’s core market, interest is coming from both the UK and Australia, Rodriguez noted.
Having the only luxury expedition sailing ship with an ice class rating will help set the brand apart. Rodriguez called it a significant milestone.
“There is lots of competition coming aboard in the (luxury) market,” he said. “There are hotel brands coming but we are cruise centric and built by cruise veterans.
“We understand the psychology of how a cruise unfolds day-by-day and how to program that. We are not confused by who we are and we are not trying to be a hotel brand that doesn’t understand the cruise market.”
