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This allows passengers in cabins a quick place to run outside for a view when the captain announces that wildlife has been spotted. Design-wise, all of the cabins and suites on World Navigator evoke the 1940s with such flourishes as glossy mahogany walls and chrome accents, though the rooms are thoroughly modern. Crossing the fearsome Drake Passage — the violent confluence of three seas between the tip of South America and Antarctica — the ocean pitched, rolled and yawed.
Where does World Voyager sail from?
If you're sure that Atlas Ocean Voyages is your line, look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand. You want someone who understands all the little quirks that are unique to Atlas cabin categories and, preferably, has done a ship inspection to see the cabins first hand. Note that the included-drinks menu on World Navigator features one to three mid-level brands of each major type of liquor. There is one included bourbon whiskey, for instance, Knob Creek, and two included vodkas (Ketel One and Absolut Vodka Citroen). You'll pay $6.50 or $7.20 extra, respectively, for a pour of Tito's or Grey Goose vodka. The included flights alone can be worth more than $1,000 in added value, as many passengers will find themselves flying long distances to reach Atlas ships.
First look at World Voyager, the stylish new expedition cruise ship from Atlas Ocean Voyages
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.
Night Ushuaia RoundtripDetails
Not so successful, at least on our sailing, was the complimentary culinary excursion. Billed as "The Joy of Pesto" and described as a tasting/demo, the event in Porto Venere was held on a passenger ferry, that oddly stayed at dock. Again, the space wasn't set up well for anyone who wasn't right in the front row to see, seating was cramped and the resulting atmosphere was decidedly not joyful (a shame, considering both how gorgeous Porto Venere is and how delicious pesto can be). Specialty menu items from their restaurants were also served in the main dining room one night.
It's been hit or miss, although as the Med season chefs have gotten their groove, the quality does seem to improve by the day. We overheard the guest chefs saying that they spent time in the galley answering questions and helping out, although that claim could come with a touch of braggadocio. But as is typical for cruise lines at the high end, Atlas is including a lot in its base price. Atlas allows passengers to bring their own alcohol onto ships, typically with a corkage fee.
Additionally, in early 2022, the line plans to convert six of these cabins from rooms designed for two people into "solo suites" designed for just one traveler. This is notable, as solo suites are relatively rare on luxury expedition ships. Atlas Ocean Voyages takes explorers on intimate, yacht-style cruises to captivating destinations and remote expeditions. Atlas’ two small ships World Traveller and World Navigator, with more to come through 2024, can dock steps away from iconic city centers, bringing travelers straight into cultural immersions.
The itineraries are set to begin on October 2025 and run through March 2026, with options ranging from seven to 18 nights. The majority of the sailings depart from Ushuaia, while some voyages are scheduled to embark from Punta Arenas, Chile. The pool grill 7 Aft does double duty as Josper's Grill in the evening.
Atlas Ocean Voyages Announces 2025-26 Antarctic Season - Cruise Industry News
Atlas Ocean Voyages Announces 2025-26 Antarctic Season.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 11:30:05 GMT [source]
Cabins and suites
One of the biggest differences between an expedition ship and some of the bigger luxury cruise ships is the expert team of marine biologists, ornithologists, glaciologists and historians onboard; they enrich daily outings with talks and daily recaps. Still, its program is lighter than what you'll find on the expedition vessels of more established players in the space, such as Lindblad Expeditions, Silversea Cruises and Quark Expeditions. As is typical for expedition ships, there are no truly giant suites on World Navigator of the sort found on some traditional luxury ships such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Seven Seas Splendor (where a single suite measures more than 4,000 square feet). Giant suites like that typically only are found on vessels much larger than World Navigator.
Who sails Atlas Ocean Voyages?
Measuring 9,930 tons, it's designed to hold far fewer people — as noted above, just 196, not including crew — than is typical for a cruise ship, even in the luxury space. 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. 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.
All but 14 cabins are on Decks 5 and 6, with easy access to 4 and 7 seven from two center staircases with elevator banks situated forward and aft. There are no public venues on these floors, so they are very quiet. It’s perfect for travelers who want adventure without giving up creature comforts.
When Atlas Ocean Voyages debuted in 2021, the small ship cruise line didn't seem to be able to tell people exactly what kind of experience they were going to have. TPG's Gene Sloan recently reported live from the inaugural voyage of World Navigator. You can find all of his dispatches from the ship on his author's page. Atlas had intended to offer unlimited Wi-Fi with no data limit on sailings — and still does intend for this to be the way it operates. But it's struggling with the fallout from a wiring mistake during the building of World Navigator that's forcing it to ration bandwidth for now.
There are two guest elevators available should you wish to avoid taking the stairs. When it's time to head off the ship, you'll find lockers equipped with cold-weather gear for the polar regions – or snorkeling equipment in warm destinations – and the boarding areas for the Zodiacs. The "Drake Express Expedition" consists of a 7-night roundtrip voyage from King George Island that avoids the notorious Drake Passage by offering charter flights to the Antarctic island.
Lowest pricing is based on our 3rd party pricing supplier and valid as of April 21st, 2024. The two other al fresco options, the 7-Aft Pool Bar and 7-Aft Grill are additional dining venues when World Traveller is sailing in warmer climates. In keeping with the line's commitment to conscious navigation, guests will also find a Vero water station on Deck 4 where water aluminum bottles can be refilled that are supplied to each guest for the expedition. And expect the deals at Atlas to continue, at least until brand recognition grows. "We are the best value in expedition cruising right now, simply because we're new and we're trying to get our name out there," Rodriguez said. "Our intention always is to raise our fares as we go along, as occupancy fills. But at the moment, because of where we are, I think the value compared to what else is out there right now is just extraordinary."
But it already has four more ships on order from a shipyard in Portugal for delivery over the next three years. By 2024, it should be a five-ship brand, and there's already talk about an order for a sixth vessel. The L'Occitane-branded spa is small, with just two treatment rooms, a sauna, and a lounge, but the services are excellent. We had a 10 year old and two teens on our sailing and there wasn't much geared toward them specifically apart from board games as far as I could see. Internet doesn't work at this latitude so we were offline for the entire duration, so if you're bringing kids, be sure to bring books and download plenty of entertainment for them beforehand.
I was shown pictures of a wine tasting in a lovely Spanish restaurant and heard tales of a French wine tasting that was lots of fun. That told us that the Atlas passenger is more independent and value-focused than perhaps you find on other small ship lines. From what we saw, Atlas draws value-oriented passengers who appreciate the lengthy port days -- and who don't have trouble making plans on their own. We haven't been on a Med cruise where so many fellow passengers booked their own train tickets, took Ubers and generally just used the ship as a launching pad for their own adventures. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear.
Wine, beer, spirits and cocktails of all kinds are available onboard at no extra charge, as drinks are included in the fare. World Navigator also offers a close-to-the-waterline outdoor observation area at its very tip that will offer equally stunning views during expeditions in scenery-rich places such as Antarctica and the Arctic. Called The Water's Edge, it boasts a long, curving bench that's heated from within to take the chill off during adventures in such cold-weather locales. Both the indoor and outdoor portions of Porto are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, with dinner's bringing rotating, regionally inspired menus (one night might be Italian themed, the next night Peruvian themed). In addition to regionally inspired menu items, the dinner menu has an "always available" section with classic main dishes such as filet mignon and a salmon filet. There were no children on my sailing, but Atlas did not advertise any kid-friendly programming in pre-voyage materials or onboard.
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