In response to the fast-growing expedition cruise market, Damen has teamed up with Expedition Voyage Consultants to develop a specialist cruise ship.
The cruise ship with a capacity for around 100 passengers is to offer luxury travel to destinations from Polynesia to the Northwest Passage.
Any Destination
Henk Grunstra, Damen Product Director says: ‘Capable of visiting virtually any destination, the design will offer cruise lines the option of including activities such as helicopter operations and submersible diving alongside traditional small boat landings and watersports.’
The move is driven by the fast growing expedition cruise sector, which has seen unprecedented expansion into remote destinations. Mr. Grunstra explains, ‘Expedition cruising requires small, comfortable and highly capable vessels that customers can be confident in, no matter if they are cruising Polynesia or the Northwest Passage. With the existing tonnage aging and environmental regulations tightening, it is important that operators have vessels they can rely on well into the future.’
SeaXplorer
This partnership follows a successful cooperation with Expedition Voyage Consultants’ sister company, Eyos Expeditions, which resulted in Damen developing the world’s first Polar Code compliant expedition yacht – the SeaXplorer.
The final design will be unveiled in the Autumn.
