1 0 5 Endeavour and National Geographic Explorer, the safety and operational parameters of a ship are always my first consideration when helping to design or create a new expedition vessel. I have also been a freelance travel writer for more than 22 years, so I’ve experienced many ships from a passenger’s perspective. For example, I wrote this article while onboard Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas and even on this ship, I’ve looked at many elements and thought: “Wouldn’t it be cool if an expedition ship had that?” So, my experience as both a captain and travel writer have an influence on my preference and approach to interior design. Of course, designers must focus on the inside spaces too, and there are a whole host of things for expedition ship operators to consider. For instance, some regions have 24 hours of daylight and in others, windows need to be completely blacked out from the outside to prevent bird strikes. Interior lounges should be focused on showcasing the outside world, while also allowing for the communal experiences that are so key on expeditions, such as the traditional nightly ritual where everyone gathers to recap the day’s events. Expedition ships are ultimately about connecting with the areas that guests are travelling in, and I firmly believe that this focus should be reflected within a ship’s interior design. The interiors should facilitate opportunities for guests to watch scenery and wildlife, and calming decor choices that complement, rather than compete with, the environment tend to work best. Our team at EYOS has collectively worked on just about every expedition cruise ship and yacht out there, so we have decades of experience in seeing which designs are successful and we have a variety of platforms in use. It can be hard for individuals who have not travelled on expeditions before to understand just how different they are to ocean and river cruises and how the ship’s design can influence the quality of the guest experience. Therefore, our collective experience and partnership with Damen Shipyards helps to prevent costly mistakes in the interior design process for cruise operators. CFI Ben Lyons is CEO of EYOS Expeditions and Expedition Voyage Consultants, and a freelance travel writer “ Guests need and want great outdoor spaces onboard expedition ships” The design of expedition ships needs to accommodate for the extreme weather conditions and environments that the vessel will sail through Photo: EYOS Expeditions/Reeve Jolliffe
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