New expedition cruise company, Terra Nova, acquires former mail ship St Helena

#expeditioncruising .

Is there room for one more expedition cruise company? Australian tourism entrepreneur and Mawson’s Huts Foundation board member, Greg Carter, obviously thinks so.

Seabourn's 'Pole to Pole' Grand Expedition

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Seabourn, the leader in ultra-luxury and expedition travel, has unveiled its first-ever expedition Grand Voyage, the 94-day “Pole to Pole: Grand Expedition”, on the purpose-built Seabourn Venture - a once-in-a-lifetime journey for travellers who dream of exploring the ends of the Earth.

SH Minerva rejoins Swan Hellenic fleet

The next-generation expedition cruise ship that launched the rebirth of Swan Hellenic returns for good, with a stunning Antarctic Season followed by a first-ever Asia-Pacific Season that extends the pioneering company’s discovery choices worldwide.

How do our crew look so good?

#expeditioncruising .

Have you ever wondered where our sparkling expedition cruise and superyacht crews get their immaculate uniforms from?

Well, it's no secret. Quality Marine Clothing (QMC) is a local Australian company that has outfitted operations such as True North, Pearl Expeditions, Coral Expeditions, and almost every Australian domestic superyacht fleet.

Duncan Curnow
QMC Sales and
Marketing Director

With offices in Sydney, Auckland, Gold Coast and Hong Kong, QMC has access to hundreds of global suppliers enabling them to customise everything to match any client's vision, from full branding with all embroidery for a full crew, right down to chefs' shoes and brass buttons.

"We've just finished a massive task outfitting the entire Paspaley Pearl," says Duncan Curnow, QMC's sales and marketing director since 2017, "As a brand new vessel with very high demands for quality and distinctive design, it was a task we embraced with enthusiasm. And the client is delighted - and so are we."

Quality Marine Clothing (QMC) is a one-stop destination for premium marine apparel and accessories,   all perfectly tailored to the precise needs of international superyachts, marinas, cruise ships, and expedition vessels.

See their range at: www.qualitymarineclothing.com

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*NEW* APT 2025-26 Small Ship Brochure

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Click to view online

It’s been a few years since APT had a dedicated Small Ship Cruising brochure and now it’s finally here.

This comprehensive edition brings together the full collection of Small Ship Cruising journeys from around the world, all in one place. From Europe to the Kimberley, the Arctic to Asia, explore the globe in style and comfort aboard this exceptional fleet.

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BREAKING: Dive operator accuses Silversea of reef damage

#expeditioncruising . 

Tim Yeo, a scuba diving operator and General Manager & COO at Bluewater Travel, has accused Silversea of damaging the reef at Alor, Indonesia stating in a Facebook post: "A few days ago, the luxury expedition cruise ship Silver Cloud (owned by Royal Caribbean Group) brought its guests to snorkel here. What should have been a magical experience turned into an absolute environmental tragedy."

New River Voyages in India for Viking

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Viking has announced its first river voyages in India on the Viking Brahmaputra, a new 80-guest vessel designed specifically for the Brahmaputra River. Currently under construction and scheduled to debut in late 2027, the Viking Brahmaputra will set a new standard for modern river voyages in India. The ship will sail between Guwahati and Nimati Ghat in the northeastern state of Assam as part of Viking’s new 15-day itinerary, Wonders of India. In addition to an eight-day river voyage, the itinerary includes a fully guided land program with overnights in Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.

Ocean Victory Arrested - Sailings Cancelled [Updated]

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As of May 20, 2024, the polar expedition ship Ocean Victory (IMO 9868869) had been seized at the port of Malaga, Spain.

[UPDATE 7 July 2025: SunStone Ships’ Ocean Victory will enter an extended layup at the port of Funchal, in Portugal’s Madeira Island. According to local sources, the 8,000-ton ship is set to spend several weeks at the port while waiting for its next deployment. MORE]

According to a report in Seatrade Cruise News, the Infinity-class Ocean Victory, on charter to start-up Alma Cruceros, has been detained at the Port of Málaga following arrest by Spanish authorities, apparently at the request of the ship's agent, Lantimar Group.

Apparently, SunStone, also known as SunStone Maritime Group, is a Danish company specialising in designing, building, and operating expedition cruise ships. However, it now has only a non-controlling, minority interest in the vessel and no longer manages it. According to SunStone, Nordic Marine Partner, Denmark is currently the commercial manager, and Anglo-Eastern continues to be the technical manager.

According to media reports, Alma Cruceros has ceased operations, citing the "unilateral and unjustified termination of the charter contract by the ship's owner, which has made it impossible to continue with the solutions being explored to keep the project operational."

Denmark's Albatros Expeditions operates Ocean Victory in Antarctica during the Antarctic summer, and Alma Cruceros used the vessel for Mediterranean cruises from April to October. At this point, it is not clear how the Antarctic season will be affected. 

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From On Board: Seabourn Pursuit at Ashmore Reef

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Ashmore Reef, Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Timor Sea.
Latitude: -12.73° Longitude: 123.38°

Vessel: Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn guests were privileged to visit one of the most extraordinary natural sanctuaries in the Timor Sea - Ashmore Reef, a vibrant biodiversity hotspot and a true conservation success story.

Silversea passengers rescued after true remote island 'adventure'

#expeditioncruising .

Every now and then, [stuff] happens in expedition cruising. 

Source: AAP

According to a report from AAP, ten passengers and eight crew members from a luxury cruise were rescued from remote Adele Island, an uninhabited atoll off the Kimberley coast of Australia known for its beautiful coral reefs.

From On Board: Bigge Island, Kimberley

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Location: Bigge Island, Western Australia
GPS: Google Map Ref
Vessel: Seabourn Pursuit (under charter to APTouring)

Overlooking our landing site on Bigge Island

In 20 years of travelling to the Kimberley and sailing amongst these beautiful islands and landscapes, it's only the second time I've set foot here.

Vale Geoff McGeary OAM - APT Founder

#expeditioncruising .

With deep admiration, love, and respect, the APT Travel Group announces the passing of our founder, Geoff McGeary OAM. Just one week shy of his 84th birthday, Geoff passed peacefully at home with family.

He was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, colleague, business partner, and mate.

Geoff’s impact on the travel industry was profound. From his family’s modest bus business in Melbourne, he built APT into one of the most respected travel companies in the country, introducing generations of travellers to unforgettable experiences around the world.