62 Embarking on an adventure Akvile Marozaite of Expedition Cruise Network gives Rebecca Gibson an insight into the appeal of expedition cruising, how the sector is developing and the actions operators are taking to protect the unique destinations that draw intrepid travellers KEYNOTE “ At their core, expedition cruises have always been about exploring unique destinations” Akvile Marozaite will never forget the night she joined a group of fellow cruise guests on an impromptu walk in the Madagascan jungle. “We had decided to look for nocturnal species in the jungle and took local boats to get to and from our ship. As we sailed, spellbinding bioluminescence appeared in the water – it was incredibly magical,” she says. This is just one of her many unforgettable experiences while expedition cruising. Another happened during an early-morning visit to a coastal village in West Papua. “We woke at 4am and boarded Zodiacs in the darkness, with the incredible Milky Way above us as we travelled to the village,” says Marozaite. “I held a torch for the Zodiac driver as we reached the jetty and then we walked in the starlight through the jungle to a tree, where we sat quietly waiting for birds of paradise to congregate. We shared a silent moment of wonder when they did.” Marozaite considers herself very lucky to have joined “quite a few” expedition cruises over the years, particularly during her time working for Silversea Cruises and Albatros Expeditions. “I’ve travelled extensively in the Pacific Ocean, spent an entire season in the Russian Far East, visited both Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands twice, and experienced Mexico’s Baja California peninsula,” she says. “The Sea of Cortez still stands out to me as one of the best places in the world to see whales, dolphins and incredible desert-like scenery. “Each expedition has something unique to offer. Learning from experts about a place adds an extra dimension of wonder – these are perhaps the reasons why I fell in love with this form of travel and have a seemingly infinite passion for it.” Expedition cruises are ideal for those who seek adventure in some of the world’s most remote destinations. The sector was first established in the 1960s, when Swedish-American explorer and entrepreneur Lars-Eric Lindblad founded his own cruise line and took the first paying customers to destinations previously only visited by scientists and explorers. Lindblad Expeditions sailed to Antarctica in 1966 and the Galapagos Islands in 1967. Other lines followed, bringing with them new ships and itineraries. “We saw a huge boom throughout the 1990s, with the addition of Quark Expeditions, Aurora Expeditions and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, which meant many more ships and destinations,” says Marozaite. “Most excitingly, during this time we saw the addition of shore landings, outings and activities, which remains a favourite part of the expedition experience to this day.” In the late 2000s, Silversea and Ponant brought new modern, luxury tonnage to Antarctica, which Marozaite says spurred demand for luxury, onboard experiences. “For the past 20 years the sector has grown steadily, and between 2019 and
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