The new cruise line launched in 2021.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Atlas Ocean Voyages has certainly made a splash with its triad of superyachts that immediately entered the Polar expedition market after the line launched its first sailing in 2021. Typically, cruise lines test out more tried-and-true destinations like the Caribbean or the Mediterranean when they start. Not so with Atlas though, which dived in “bow first” into the Antarctic market with luxury sailings at a lower price point than the competition.
That’s what set travel advisors a-flurry. They were used to selling luxury, once-in-a-lifetime dream vacations at the Poles for five digit-starting prices. These days, Atlas Ocean Voyages has expanded beyond the typical Polar trips, but to many travelers, says Chris Gray Faust, executive editor for Cruise Critic, it still remains an unknown brand.
Here are five things to know about America’s newest cruise line.
A fleet of three, and just three
Atlas Ocean Voyages has three ships, which it calls super yachts, in its fleet.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Atlas launched with World Navigator in late 2021, a ship that can hold 196 passengers (far fewer than its luxury competitors like Seabourn or Regent Seven Seas). All ships in the fleet have almost a 1-to-1 staff to guest ratio. The line has continued the same trend with World Traveller, which debuted in 2022, and its newest vessel, World Voyager. It began sailing late last year.
Its fleet is all purpose-built expedition vessels, something that competitor lines have added after testing the marketplace, comprising Polar Category C- and Ice Class 1B-certified ships. And these aren’t the expedition ships of years past, they look more like billionaire yachts and are built to withstand environmental pressures in the same way those money makers withstand market ups and downs.
Atlas has ships in the Polar regions almost the entire year.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Atlas Ocean Voyages is the only luxury cruise line to offer Polar expeditions on almost a year-round basis with ships rotating between the Poles. It does not sail during April or October to either region. This past winter season, its entire fleet was operating expedition sailings in Antarctica. No other cruise line has doubled down in such a way.
This year, it has two of its super yachts in the Arctic. Its goal, say executives, is to take people to the polar edges of the Arctic and the Antarctic without charging what the competition does, but without missing out on the premium that such an exclusive trip would cost. That sweet spot is unique in expedition cruising.
A guest room aboard Atlas Ocean Voyages
Atlas Ocean Voyages
It is also offering several fly-in options to the seventh continent so that queasy travelers do not need to endure the sometimes-rocky Drake Passage. Starting in the 2025-2026 season, the line will double the number of fly-in options, in the hopes that travel advisors and consumers notice.
Operating smaller cruise ships gives it an edge in the buyout world of incentive and corporate groups, too.
“It is always a bit of a gamble for us starting out with a cruise line we haven’t chartered previously,” says Jeff Gundvaldson, president and owner of BrandGVacations. “After completing three full-ship charters, with several more on the books, we couldn’t be happier. Our guests absolutely love the design of the ship and her cabins as well as the food and service levels.”
Smaller ships can visit niche ports that larger cruise lines cannot access.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
The ships can reach the Polar regions as well as its growing roster of cultural immersion sailings through Iceland, Northern Europe, South America and the Caribbean. These yachts can squeeze into smaller ports and waterways, like the “Corinth Canal in Greece and Guadalquivir River in Spain,” according to the line’s website.
Atlas is a private company with no imminent plans to take the business public and no current plans to grow its fleet.
For now, executives say, the focus is on growing technology and online partner booking systems as well as expanding outreach to travel agents.
An Epicurean focus
The grab-and-go market is complimentary and open 24 hours a day.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Its polar sailings are a mainstay of the brand, and they do not skimp on food and beverage (including a unique grab-and-go concept that is open 24 hours a day). But, it is the mid-season, Mediterranean sailings that the young line has turned into a foodie escape.
These cruises are branded “Epicurean Expeditions” and bring aboard well-known chefs and experts from notable restaurants, magazines and TV programs to interact with guests. They vary from sailing to sailing, which is one of the reasons that some travelers choose to do back-to-back itineraries to see the onboard programming and not just the ports of call.
The onboard cuisine often includes local recipes from the day’s port of call.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Recent sailings have included food expert Mara Papatheodorou, contributing editor to Bon Appetit magazine, and chocolate expert Julieta Davey, also known as Mamá Cacao.
Other sailings hosted names like Top Chef Brazil winner Luciana Berry, who appears on Bravo, and Peter Campbell, who has had stints on The Food Network and a master pizza chef.
Their expertise not only provides entertainment and value to passengers, but it also helps the cruise line seek out unique experiences for its customers, too.
Many of the presentations and activities, including foodie “cookoffs” between guests take place in … [+] the lounge.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Activities include live cooking demonstrations, guest lectures, guided port visits to local markets, culinary competitions with guidance from the onboard experts and the chance to chat one-on-one over a meal or in the bar with leaders in the food and beverage industry.
A new partnership with Academia Barilla brings its famous Chef Marcello Zaccaria, who has been personal chef to celebrities and diplomats, aboard select sailings to share everything he knows about pasta from how to cook it properly to what to pair it with during each meal.
Earlier this year, Atlas started its “Cultural Expeditions,” which it says will follow the same type of immersive experience (with onboard experts) as its culinary sailings.
Small ships, big aspirations (especially for sustainability)
The pool deck has two whirlpools and is ringed by a jogging track one deck above it.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
While the three super yachts are small (fewer than 200 passengers), they offer plenty of private space with decks at the front and back of the ship for those that don’t want to sit by the main pool.
The size of a smaller ship also allows it the ability to call on niche destinations that the bigger lines cannot visit (even luxury brands like Seabourn and Silversea).
Another element that has been a part of Atlas from the start is having a zero-waste operation in the kitchens. For example, things like onion skins might be turned into onion powder used in sauces for other dishes. Ideally, each sailing would disembark with minimal fruit and vegetables remaining.
Outdoor dining offers a second restaurant option.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Historical data, like with airlines, helps the cruise line plan for the percentage of different food items to provision for a particular sailing, depending on the audience, destination or length of the cruise. This prevents waste of food items that could otherwise go bad.
Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style, and since the buffets are heated or chilled in different areas, the cruise line can share leftover dishes with staff in addition to their regular menus. This is a popular perk for cruise staff, but also helps reduce waste.
Atlas Ocean Voyages is focused on operating a sustainable cruise line.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Any food waste gets sent to the pulper, which like on other ships, reduces it to a mulch-like substance that can be used as compost. It really is a zero-waste process. Bones are the only thing that cannot be put in the pulper.
It is not just above deck where the cruise line pays attention the environment, but below deck, too. The ships are built to respect the underwater life by using a hydro-jet propulsion system that does not disturb marine life, giving passengers the chance to follow marine migrations on some voyages. This is similar to what Celebrity uses in the Galapagos, for example.
More inclusions than expected
Drinks, meals and entertainment are all included in the cruise fare. Cruise directors do double duty … [+] as performers on many evenings.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Since this line tends to price lower than other smaller ships, the expectation from many travel advisors was that there would be fewer inclusions, but not so says gray Faust. Atlas includes a long list of extras for all cabins like free minibars and all-hours room service (alcohol is part of the deal), a guided culinary excursion on each sailing and prepaid gratuities. While these might vary by itinerary, the idea is that the cruise line offers more for the discerning traveler than what others might.
The addition of some shore excursions and gratuities puts it in the window of lines like Viking, which have taken the small-ship market by storm in an effort to bring a more exclusive experience to sailors.
Some activities are complimentary, but others carry a fee.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Atlas does not provide complimentary shore excursions in each port of call, however. They sell options of varying lengths and price pointss. On Polar expeditions, its Zodiac landings are included, but additional activities like kayaking and overnight camping are not.
Onboard entertainment is another area that may surprise. There is a theater, but it is used more for presentations rather than revue shows although live entertainment is a nightly event in the ship’s bars and lounges.
A “second guest sails free” promotion offered outside of peak Polar sailing season has proven popular as Atlas works to build its name. It end Sept. 30 although executives say another promotion will replace it.
An evolved experience
Zephyr Lounge is an outdoor deck popular throughout the day.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
When the brand first launched, it had a few service hiccups. But, that does not seem to be the norm anymore, says Gray Faust.
“When Atlas launched in 2021, it positioned itself more as a top-of-the-line luxury brand, which meant it was competing with well-established cruise lines that have been providing amenities such as caviar on demand and butler service for decades. That’s a high bar of entry, particularly when we’ve seen other companies, such as Ritz-Carlton and, soon, Four Seasons, enter that space.”
She noted occasional service hiccups, but that the line has been making strides and correcting that fairly quickly.
Atlas ships sail in the Polar regions almost all year.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Don Bucolo of EatSleepCruise.com agrees, saying that he has noticed more diverse menus, better flavor and improved service after sailing the line for the second time.
“We were amazed how a few crew members we met on our first sailing remembered us and quickly recalled our drink orders,” says Bucolo. “That level of detail is something you rarely find on larger cruise ships.”
According to Gray Faust, the line hired key industry veterans in 2022 to help with execution.
Atlas executives say that “consistency in execution across all destinations and yachts” is the focus before adding capacity.
There is also a new loyalty program, Atlas Yacht Club, which started earlier this year. Members earn cruise discounts, onboard credits and welcome gifts based on the number of nights they sail.
Atlas yachts have numerous outdoor decks.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
“Prices and value have started to build a cadre of loyal guests; meanwhile, the line has worked hard to improve its service and onboard product,” Gray Faust adds.
Gray Faust praises the onboard amenities that are a standout for small expedition shops. They include things like L’Occitane-equipped showers with fantastic pressure and multi-head nozzles, more than one dining option each night (all included) and plentiful power outlets.
While noting great value, Bucolo’s impressions are that the atmosphere is more relaxed and less stuffy from other luxury cruise lines.
Atlas specializes in expedition sailings.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Atlas Ocean Voyages seems to have tapped into a void in the cruise scape where price and exclusivity meet bucket-list itineraries. Only time will tell if this strategy will work, but according to Gray Faust, the proof is in the pudding. This affordable approach to expedition luxury is something the cruise industry was missing.
Gray Faust says: “the expedition cruising landscape is more crowded than ever, but Atlas does seem to be carving out a niche for value and giving passengers an excellent trip, at an affordable price.”
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Publish date : 2024-08-25 06:15:00
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