State-of-the-art ice class ship the first in a “new series of high-performance vessels”.
Aurora Expeditions has just announced the construction of its first ever brand-new purpose-built expedition ship. The vessel will be built by US-based SunStone Ships Inc, and is scheduled for delivery in time for Aurora’s 2019/2020 Antarctic season.
The new ship will make the most of Aurora’s 25-year heritage of polar cruising, “offering unprecedented levels of safety and environmental protection, for operations not just in the high altitudes but across the planet”.
Aurora Expeditions managing director Robert Halfpenny said “with the development of our purpose-built expedition ship, we stay true to our small-ship philosophy where the focus is on the experience and engagement with the environment, while at the same time providing the most comfortable form of travel in these challenging environments”.
He confirmed the new vessel would be the first in a new series of ships, with the unnamed craft the first to use the patented X-BOW technology which has the ability to pierce waves with much greater stability, making open sea journeys “more pleasant for passengers than what is currently available from other small ships on the market today”.
Halfpenny said the ship would offer a custom designed platform for divers and kayakers, a mud room for climbers and skier preparation and inflatable Zodiacs accessible via a dedicated sea-level Zodiac loading platform. Private bathrooms, balconies, a 180-degree indoor observation deck, gymnasium, sauna and spa will also feature.
More details in today’s issue of Travel Daily and tomorrow’s Cruise Weekly.