French cruise company Ponant, specializing in Antarctic expeditions has two of its vessels in the port of Ushuaia, extreme south of Argentina. L'Austral and Le Boreal twin vessels are 142 meters long with a capacity of 246 passengers and 140 crew.
On Sunday Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile saw the departure of the first cruise vessel to Antarctica under strict sanitary and safety conditions. The first Antarctic cruise since the start of the pandemic was implemented by what local authorities denominate the sanitary “green bubble”.
The expedition segment continues to be one of the most discussed elements of the cruise industry. Once a small niche, it is now poised for dramatic growth, prompting some to question how the market will develop.