Mystic Cruises orders four more Explorer Class Polar expedition vessels

New Portuguese expedition cruise line Mystic Cruises’ promises to become a major player in the global expedition cruise vessel market have been further reinforced by placing an order for a further four Explorer Class polar vessels, due for delivery in 202

The four new 200-guest ships will sail for Atlas Ocean Voyages, Mystic's U.S. brand. They will carry the names World Traveller, World Seeker, World Adventurer and World Discoverer.

They are sisters to the World Explorer, which launched for Mystic-owned Nicko Cruises last summer and is currently on charter to Quark Expeditions. In addition, the company has two expedition ships currently under construction at Westsea, the World Voyager and the World Navigator, set to be launched in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Mystic already has three 9,300gt, 200-passenger capacity Explorer Class vessels on order at WestSea Viana Shipyard, the first of which, WORLD EXPLORER, was delivered in the summer of 2019 to Mystic subsidiary Nicko Cruises and is currently on charter to Quark Expeditions. The remaining two vessels, WORLD VOYAGER and WORLD NAVIGATOR, are currently under construction in Portugal and due to enter service in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

The latest four ships of this class, to be named WORLD TRAVELLER, WORLD SEEKER, WORLD ADVENTURER and WORLD DISCOVERER, will operate for Mystic’s US brand Atlas Ocean Voyages. The ships are being financed via local Portuguese banks and takes Mystic’s investment in new ships past the EUR 500 million mark. Kongsberg is supplying the complete propulsion package, comprising two Bergen C25:33L8P main engines and a Bergen C25:33L6P auxiliary dual generator.

Maritime Business World