Text text CFI 1 0 4 DES IGN PERSPECTI VE Designers must consider how to combat extreme weather conditions while maximising safety and wildlife-spotting opportunities when creating expedition cruise ships to ensure they deliver memorable guest experiences Expedition ships should reflect the environment they are operating in to connect guests with the scenery and wildlife outside. The polar environment is a unique element to contend with when designing ships. Guests need and want great outdoor spaces onboard expedition ships – some of the best expedition experiences involve being bundled up in warm clothing while standing on the deck in freezing temperatures watching wildlife or listening to the ice crunch against the hull. However, guests cannot spend long periods of time in these outdoor spaces and so they need to be designed to allow them to quickly transition from inside to outside and vice versa. After all, guests want to maximise spontaneous moments and make long-lasting memories. Outside areas also need to accommodate for a large number of guests and extreme weather conditions. Weather can change rapidly, with winds seemingly coming from nowhere and gusting up to 60 knots. Consequently, it is important that designers create outdoor areas that can withstand sudden meterological changes and are also appealing for guests. Designers also need to factor in the impact of the ocean. Expedition ships sometimes operate in extremely inhospitable seas, so finding a place to safely put lounges and large windows is a prime consideration. Having worked as a chief officer on Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 and as a chief officer and captain on Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic By Ben Lyons, EYOS Expeditions and Expedition Voyage Consultants Photo: EYOS Expeditions/Martin Enckell Capitalising on a captain’s expertise
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