Expedition ship damaged in South Georgia [updated]

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Albatros Expeditions Ocean Victory (file image)

Information is slowly coming in and it seems Albatros Expeditions' vessel, Ocean Victory, sustained some damage while in South Georgia, possibly to a stabiliser. Previously reported as Antarctica.

As can be seen on Cruise Mapper, the ship is heading to Ushuaia under its own power and at a respectable 12-13kts. It should arrive on the morning of November 14th to carry out inspections and possible repairs. There are no reported injuries to passengers or crew.

The ship was about halfway through a 19-day Antarctica, South Georgia and Falklands Islands itinerary and was due to head to the Antarctic Peninsula.

How this will affect the remainder of the ship's season is unclear. Albatros Expeditions have been contacted for comment.

We will update this report as new details come to hand.

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Expedition Kit: This little Bluetooth speaker could get you into trouble.

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Review: Ultimate Ears MINIROLL Bluetooth Speaker

Once upon a time, those little add-on speakers for your Walkman, Apple iPod or MP3 player were tinny, rattly little things that had all the HiFi quality of fingernails down a blackboard.

Seabourn announces 2026-2027 Expeditions

Seabourn, a leader in ultra-luxury cruising and expedition travel, has unveiled its new 2026-2027 expedition itineraries to the world's most remote and exotic destinations. The line's two new ultra-luxury expedition ships Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, are scheduled to visit up to 161 destinations in 31 countries on 24 unique sailings of 46 departures:

BREAKING: Paspaley Pearl cancels 2025 bookings

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Updated: 6 Nov 24

The much-anticipated luxury Kimberley expedition vessel, Paspaley Pearl, will not sail its inaugural 2025 season as planned and has cancelled future bookings.

The website (since taken offline) carried the simple message:

Industry insiders are speculating about the future of the 56m, 32-passenger boutique vessel, which was to be managed by Ponant and championed by industry identity Sarina Bratton. Bratton was contacted for comment, but declined.

According to reports received by Expedition Cruising, Ponant sales reps contacted trade partners to advise that Ponant would no longer be marketing the vessel. Competing operators have also emailed their respective databases offering places to passengers displaced by the cancellations.

In a statement sent to ExpeditionCruising, Ponant Asia-Pacific CEO Deb Corbett said:

"PONANT regrets to inform its valued customers and travel partners that the proposed cruise program to operate on PASPALEY PEARL is not proceeding with Ponant as the cruise operator. However, PONANT remains dedicated to exploring the Kimberley, Australia’s Far North, Papua New Guinea and East Indonesia, with over 40 explorations on PONANT’s Le Soleal and Le Jacques Cartier over the next 2 years. Guests holding reservations have been advised that they will receive a full refund or alternatively, guests can receive a travel credit with an additional 15% saving to choose a cruise on PONANT’s fleet across the globe, which is combinable with the PONANT Bonus Savings and PONANT Yacht Club benefits for members of the club. Guests have until 31 December 2025 to book an alternative cruise for travel at any time. Trade partners have been advised that their commission will be fully protected. PONANT continues to innovate and develop new experiences and looks forward to sharing this pioneering spirit with future travellers”.

Launched by now-defunct operator, Island Escape Cruises, the vessel was arrested in 2022 and later sold at auction. The Pearling dynasty, Paspaley, purchased the vessel for a reported A$5.5 million.

Have you been affected by these cancellations? Let us know

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From On Board: Meet photographer, Harry Rogers

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Guests aboard modern expedition cruise ships now enjoy many benefits that were never available when I first sailed aboard the sturdy old ex-Soviet vessels in the late 1990s.

The cavalcade of enrichment that has always been part of the expedition experience is now further enhanced with dedicated photographers and videographers whose task it is to record the voyages for guests. Once upon a time, a camera was just thrown into the hands of an available crew member, but now we are seeing credentialled documentary artists produce broadcast and magazine-quality material as a permanent reminder for guests to keep as lasting mementoes of their life-changing vacations.

From On Board: How to enjoy a day at sea #expeditioncruising

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A day at sea has the potential to be one of the duller sections of a long expedition voyage. The side gates are stowed, the zodiacs strapped down and the coffee tends to flow. Lectures are attended and much fabulous knowledge imparted but in between our minds can wander. For those keeping a weather eye on the horizon there may be a thing or two to make them stand and raise a pair of binoculars to their eyes. Perhaps a migratory sea bird soars on locked wings, riding the air pockets above the waves. Perhaps a lonely boat is tossed on a choppy sea. Perhaps an intrepid whale takes their necessary breaths of air on their long trek through the deep oceans.