Table Of Content
Other venues on board include a small but enticing L'Occitane spa with two treatment rooms, a relaxing lounge area and a sauna; and a small fitness center. There's also a jogging track on the very top of the ship, as well as some outdoor fitness equipment. Just be warned that, given the ship's small size, you'll have to make quite a few revolutions of the jogging track to run a mile. World Navigator also sails with a floating adventure dock that can be used to launch Jet Skis, kayaks and paddleboards that are kept on board, and there's a mudroom with cubbies where passengers can keep their parkas and boots during polar adventures. He's purposely set the dress code to be casual -- a polo shirt with slacks for men at dinner is just fine (no jacket required). In between sailing in the two polar regions, World Navigator will offer a mix of sailings to South America, the Baltic and the Mediterranean.
Malaga, Spain
World Navigator was launched in August 2021, and can hold 196 passengers across 98 staterooms and suites. Because it’s so new, it’s built to the latest standards with state-of-the-art technology that makes it one of the most eco-friendly ships on the seas. Atlas worked with Rolls-Royce to develop hybrid engines that don’t rely on the use of heavy fuels and anchorless positioning that doesn’t harm marine life. I was in a Horizon Stateroom, which had the retractable window, or what Atlas calls a Juliette balcony. While some travelers want a balcony at any cost – even in Antarctica -- I preferred my cabin because the lack of on outdoor balcony gave me a larger seating area, complete with a small sectional and unobstructed views. The main dining room, Atlas Lounge, lecture hall, spa, fitness center, Paula’s Pantry grab-and-go snack bar and gift shop and reception desk are all on Deck 4, which sits right above the water line, offering great views from virtually every seat.
Vacation Deals
Beds are comfy, there's a coffee maker in the room (as well as binoculars), and the mini bar and water are replaced daily. An extra set of drawers would have been welcome, but my friend and I found enough space for our things. From what we saw, Atlas draws value-oriented passengers who appreciate the lengthy port days -- and who don't have trouble making plans on their own. We haven't been on a Med cruise where so many fellow passengers booked their own train tickets, took Ubers and generally just used the ship as a launching pad for their own adventures.
Pleasant Holidays now offers Atlas expedition cruises - Travel Weekly
Pleasant Holidays now offers Atlas expedition cruises.
Posted: Sat, 07 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Beaches and Islands
Balcony cabins are what everyone wants these days, and Atlas has loaded up World Navigator with lots of them. On many recently built luxury ships, every single cabin is not only a balcony cabin but also a suite. That said, all-suite vessels are not the norm in expedition cruising, even at the luxury level. Additionally, in early 2022, the line plans to convert six of these cabins from rooms designed for two people into "solo suites" designed for just one traveler. This is notable, as solo suites are relatively rare on luxury expedition ships. And second, Atlas wisely created itineraries that scoop around different ports in the Med, without many repeats and no sea days.
The workhorse of the ship is Paula's Pantry, a coffee shop that also has smoothies and pastries in the morning, cold sandwiches at lunch and the afternoon. This became our favorite spot for a morning flat white (two shots, please) and muffin. If you don't want a grab and go option, the main restaurant has breakfast and lunch buffets, with daily menu items available. Since the ships are new, there are plenty of outlets, both American and European, with USB outlets on one side of the bed, as well as in a desk.
Unlike other cruise lines, Atlas Ocean Voyages does not brag about its food offering, but it certainly should. The dinner menu has a different theme every night, so there’s no repeat dishes. Gratuities are included in the price of your trip, so there’s no need for you to worry about that final bill. And while excursions are extra, there are some fun outings that you can take part in for free.
There is one main restaurant, Porto, where passengers have most of their meals. Located at the back of the ship's main public deck (Deck 4), it has a relatively large covered outdoor seating area overlooking the wake of the vessel in addition to indoor seating. Note that Atlas plans to phase out the oceanview cabins on its first ship, World Navigator, over the coming year. There only are 10 of them, measuring 183 square feet apiece, and even now, they're not always all available for booking.
Atlas Ocean Voyages (AOV) is a subsidiary company and travel brand managed by Mystic Cruises USA (parent Mystic Invest). In January 2021, AOV signed a partnership with Ensemble Travel Group (a member-owned and run organization of ~850 American independent travel agencies (USA and Canada). The deal was signed by Brandon Townsley (AOV's VP of Sales and Trade Partnerships) and David Harris (Ensemble's CEO). In January 2021, AOV signed a partnership with L'OCCITANE en Provence (1976-founded French luxury retailer) for the first-at-sea "Luxury SeaSpa by L'OCCITANE" on the ship World Navigator. World Navigator initially will sail in the Mediterranean before heading to Antarctica for the winter.
Called The Water's Edge, it boasts a long, curving bench that's heated from within to take the chill off during adventures in such cold-weather locales. Both the indoor and outdoor portions of Porto are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, with dinner's bringing rotating, regionally inspired menus (one night might be Italian themed, the next night Peruvian themed). In addition to regionally inspired menu items, the dinner menu has an "always available" section with classic main dishes such as filet mignon and a salmon filet. In all ports, passengers have access to one or more included port excursions as well as additional extra-charge excursions. Only a handful of upscale cruise lines, most notably France-based Ponant and Windstar Cruises, focus on vessels with so few passengers.
Its ships -- the 196-passenger World Navigator, followed by sister World Traveller in 2022, with more to come -- were built as expedition vessels, able to handle cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic. Inclusions, such as free alcoholic drinks, shore excursions and gratuities, and the brand's marketing, seemed targeted to a luxury market. I was in a 300-square-foot Veranda deluxe stateroom, a spacious room with a balcony with outdoor seating. There was plenty of space and storage for two people as well as a small sitting area, a desk with mini bar, and TV. The bathroom was snug but nicely appointed with L'Occitane products, and the multi-jet shower was a dream after a tiring excursion. With less than 200 passengers, Atlas’ ships like World Navigator are designed with guest experience in mind, each featuring the highest level of service and comfort.
While the suites come with butler service and extra perks like an expanded room service menu, all cabins – even at the lower level – otherwise have the same amenities, including 24-hour room and cocktail service and large spa showers. Deciding which are the best or which are the best to avoid is largely a matter of personal preference, as the bulk of the staterooms are fairly big, by both traditional cruise ship and particularly expedition ship standards. All but the 14 Deck 3 cabins have balconies or floor to ceiling windows that retract with the push of a button.
World Traveller is Atlas Ocean Voyages' newest ship and the second of five intimate, yacht-style vessels planned for the upper-premium cruise line, a U.S. subsidiary of Portugal-based Mystic Invest Holdings. World Traveller joined her sister ship, World Navigator (launched August 2021), for her inaugural season in Antarctica after a dual naming ceremony in Chilean Patagonia on November 18, 2022. Seeking an adventure on the farthest reaches of earth but without forgoing any of the finer touches of life? Atlas is the ultimate luxury expedition trip, designed for travelers looking to wade knee-deep through riverbeds while hiking to remote Arctic glaciers before ending the night in high-design comfort with plenty of caviar on hand.
While accessibility is a big factor in expedition cruising, one traveler on our ship had mobility issues. And the crew was always at the ready to help him get around or offer extra assistance navigating the halls during rough seas and getting food from the breakfast and lunch buffets. I traveled on the World Traveller (launched in November 2022) this past September as part of the nine-night Ring of Iceland sail, and I must say that, despite being a fairly new cruise line, everything at Atlas World Voyages runs like clockwork. That may be why I encountered so many return passengers, most of whom had gone on an Antarctic cruise with Atlas World Voyages and decided to trust the cruise line with another bucket-list sail. It was my first time traveling with this cruise line, but the promise of luxury, adventure, and remote destinations were beyond fulfilled, enticing me to book with them again as quickly as possible. The cruise line’s specialty, however, is to take passengers to lesser-known ports of call within those bigger destinations.
The sailings also provide tourists with the opportunity to participate in the culinary competition Yachtsman Cookoff and enjoy the complimentary poolside Josper Grill Dining. World Traveller's deck plan is easy to learn and will become familiar in just a short time on board the ship. Passenger accommodations are located on Decks 3, 5, and 6, while most public spaces, lounges, the Vasco da Gama Auditorium, and restaurants are on Deck 4. If you're on an expedition to Antarctica, you will spend most of your time on Deck 4 and in The Dome Observation Lounge on Deck 7.
Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money. Reykjavik was just a small village until seeing a major expansion after World War II, but this popular cruise destination still offers a small town feel different than any other European capital. Enjoy the great outdoors in Oslo, the beautiful and spacious capital of Norway, where the city includes lakes, forests and lots of history. Explore the past through ancient ruins while being present for a once-in-a-lifetime luxury cruise to Europe with Atlas Ocean Voyages.
Adjacent to Paula’s Pantry and reception area there also a few small seating areas with partial walls that are great for tucking away to read, play a game, have a semi-private conversation or simply taking in the views. All of the bars, lounges, dining, spa and other public spaces are on the fourth and seventh floors. When you think of an expedition cruise, you might not always think the ship has luxurious accommodations, but with Atlas Ocean Voyages, luxury is the standard onboard all of their Polar-class, expedition style ships. Atlas Ocean Voyages claims it’s an all-inclusive cruise line, and it certainly sticks to its word. There’s no such thing as a drinks package, so you can guzzle all the cappuccinos, cokes, fancy wines, and daiquiris your heart desires without ever having to pay more.
No comments:
Post a Comment