cmi expedition cruise ship

Our Offerings

Our vessels.

Two decades of heavy lifting

• Safety & Training

Director General of Shipping inaugurates dual-fuel engine and LNG bunkering simulator at AEMTC Mumbai

• Company News

Euronav and Anglo-Eastern Join Forces

Philippines launches Adopt-A-Ship

• Tech & Innovation

Celebrating 100+ Starlink Maritime installations

You must be uk passport holder due to uk government funding requirements..

Ship Management

Anglo-Eastern buys Miami-based cruise ship manager CMI

Deal sees Hong Kong ship manager become a major player in the expedition cruise market

Anglo-Eastern Univan Group has signed a letter of intent to buy Miami-based Cruise Management International, one of the largest third-party managers of expedition cruise ships.

Anglo-Eastern said in a media statement released on Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with the shareholders of CMI to buy over the entire share capital of the company, which will continue to be based in Miami.

Trending Today

Norden exodus extends with further resignations at Danish heavyweight

Chandris joins Greek newbuilding rush with product tanker order

Heidmar enters technical management through Hong Kong VLCC outfit

TradeWinds is part of DN Media Group. To read more about DN Media Group, click here

Anglo-Eastern Enters Cruise Industry with CMI Acquisition

• March 28, 2023

Anglo-Eastern is entering the cruise market via acquisition, as the vessel management company has bought CMI (now Anglo-Eastern Cruise Management) and CMI Leisure (Anglo-Eastern Leisure Management). The companies currently provide services to 20 cruise ships and the goal is to grow that.

“Our fleet is diverse. We have full technical management for over 650 vessels, plus another 250 under crew management, covering all types and sizes of ships,” said Carsten Ostenfeldt, chief operating officer.

“Bulk carriers, container ships, tankers, gas carriers, heavy-lift vessels, ro-ro carriers, and more, but never cruise ships. It has long been our intention to enter the cruise industry, but the right opportunity never presented itself until now. When it did, we were delighted to take up the challenge, so that we can diversify our fleet and business, and grow into a new area where we see a lot of potential.

“Obviously, a cargo ship is not a luxury cruise ship, but our commitment to excellence transcends ship type and we have every confidence that we will bring the same high standards to managing cruise ships, with the benefit of a fresh perspective from outside the industry,” Ostenfeldt added.

Sanjay Sukhrani, president and CEO of Anglo-Eastern Cruise Management, said the scale coming in is key, with the company having 25 offices, 22,000 seafarers and 2,000 employees ashore. With that pipeline in place, expect the company to be a major player in crewing across the industry.

“Our economies of scale in procurement can be leverage,” he said, adding the company has a huge training center in Mumbai as well … training means better quality and a more satisfied customer and improves our value proposition.

“Cruise lines need to have a service provider that can manage assets safely and cost effectively,” he added, noting customers saw vessel management as a cost center.

“If you don’t have scale it’s hard to do that. Our training center in Mumbai would take $60 to $70 million to replicate, and that is cap-ex ship owners don’t want to do.”

At Anglo-Eastern Leisure Management, Dietmar Wertanzl, president and CEO, did not rule out further expansion beyond the niche and expedition markets.

“We have the infrastructure in place with the resources we can grow from,” he said. “They bring operational excellence and put some big horsepower behind us to create a bigger and stronger company together.”

The companies plan to offer an expanding a la-carte menu to cruise lines, ranging from full technical and hotel management to compliance help, crewing and more.

Cruise Industry News Email Alerts

• Breaking News

Get the latest breaking  cruise news .  Sign up.

54 Ships | 122,002 Berths | $36 Billion | View

Highlights:

• Mkt. Overview
• Record Year
• Refit Schedule
• PDF Download
• Order Today

• 2033 Industry Outlook 
• All Operators
• Easy to Use
• Pre-Order Offer
• Advertising
• Cruise News
• Magazine Articles
• Quarterly Magazine
• Annual Report
• Email Newsletter
• Executive Guide
• Digital Reports

Privacy Overview

Infinity Class

Boundless Class

Get in touch

Press Release

Anglo-Eastern planned acquisition Of CMI and CMI Leisure Management

June 22, 2022

SunStone Maritime Group A/S is pleased to announce that the shareholders of Cruise Management International (CMI) and CMI Leisure Management (CMIL), of which SunStone Maritime Group is one such shareholder, have signed a Letter of Intent with Anglo-Eastern Univan Group regarding the sale of CMI and CMIL to Anglo-Eastern.

The shareholders will sell 100% of the share capital of CMI and CMIL to Anglo-Eastern, combiningCMI and CMIL’s cruise ship management expertise with Anglo-Eastern’s global capacity and reach.Anglo-Eastern is the world’s largest provider of independent ship management services with themanagement of 650 vessels, more than 1,800 shore based staff, and 30,000 active seafarers.The sale is expected to be finalized in July 2022, following the standard due diligence procedures.Cruise Management International and CMI Leisure Management will continue to operate from Miami, and no officers or crew will be moved from the SunStone fleet of vessels.

SunStone Maritime Group is thrilled about the opportunities this sale will bring for the future of OurFleet, Our Crew, and Our Shore Based Employees. We continue to explore ways of improving our fleet and our role as the leading tonnage provider to the expedition cruise industry, and we lookforward to welcoming Anglo-Eastern as the technical and hotel manager of the SunStone Fleet.Any questions in this respect can be forwarded to Carsten Lund at [email protected]

Sunstone Maritime Group A/S

Boltonvej 7 DK-2300 Copenhagen S Finance/Administration: +45 53 80 16 93 Commercial: +45 53 57 00 03 email: [email protected]

Available positions

Management Team News

© 2022 SunStone - All rights reserved

Progressively setting the standard

So that we can shape a better maritime future, together. Select your service of interest below to start your voyage with us.

Navigating the waves of change

Ship management is evolving. From decarbonisation to digitalisation, identify how you can optimise the performance of your ships.

Pioneers in global ship management

For 50 years and across 29 locations worldwide, we have been leading with integrity and a passion for quality. Together with many of the world’s most respected names in shipping, we have been driving safety and performance to new heights, all the while investing in our people, communities, and the environment.

Why Anglo-Eastern?

We continually seek to perform at the highest standards of safety, performance and crew wellbeing in our industry, values that are core to who we are. Our numbers reflect why clients trust us with their assets.

GET IN TOUCH

Benefit from our experience and scale.

Fueling the future

From LNG to LPG, Ammonia-ready and hydrogen, alternative fuel management and deployment of dual-fuel vessels are a key part of decarbonisation efforts and are now an embedded part of our long-term strategy.

Digitalisation

Providing transparency through technology.

We are committed to leveraging technology to optimise performance, increase efficiency, drive collaboration and provide transparency. With the my.angloeastern client portal, our clients gain real-time access to a wealth of information, empowering them to stay informed, track fleet information and make data-driven decisions seamlessly.

SUSTAINABILITY

Charting sustainable seas.

From reduced carbon emissions to higher attention on crew welfare, there are heartening developments re-shaping the industry for which we intend to be stewards of change.

FEATURED VESSEL

Mv ubuntu empathy: our first lng fueled bulker under management.

The Capesize+ LNG dual-fuel bulk carrier and its twin, MV Ubuntu Humanity were both newbuilds supervised by the Anglo-Eastern Technical Services (AETS) team. They weigh in at around 190K dwt each with an expanded carrying capacity exceeding 200K m3 and a 35% reduced carbon footprint.

Our first LNG fueled bulker under management

Fresh off the press, latest insights from anglo-eastern.

• Company News

Euronav and Anglo-Eastern Join Forces

Philippines launches Adopt-A-Ship

Our offerings, our vessels.

Two decades of heavy lifting

• Safety & Training

Director General of Shipping inaugurates dual-fuel engine and LNG bunkering simulator at AEMTC Mumbai

• Tech & Innovation

Celebrating 100+ Starlink Maritime installations

You must be uk passport holder due to uk government funding requirements..

• Shippax Database
• Shippax Awards

Members login

To activate your existing membership, you have to recreate your password . This is only required the first time you login.

JavaScript must be enabled in order to be able to shop in our online store.

Getting access to our website

• Press Releases

Anglo-Eastern planned aquisition of CMI and CMI Leisure Management

SunStone Maritime Group A/S announced that the shareholders of Cruise Management International (CMI) and CMI Leisure Management (CMIL), of which SunStone Maritime Group is one such shareholder, have signed a Letter of Intent with Anglo-Eastern Univan Group regarding the sale of CMI and CMIL to Anglo-Eastern.

The shareholders will sell 100% of the share capital of CMI and CMIL to Anglo-Eastern, combining CMI and CMIL's cruise ship management expertise with Anglo-Eastern's global capacity and reach. Anglo-Eastern is the world's largest provider of independent ship management services with the management of 650 vessels, more than 1,800 shore based staff, and 30,000 active seafarers.

The sale is expected to be finalized in July 2022, following the standard due diligence procedures. Cruise Management International and CMI Leisure Management will continue to operate from Miami, and no officers or crew will be moved from the SunStone fleet of vessels.

SunStone Maritime Group will continue to explore ways of improving their fleet and role as the leading tonnage provider to the expedition cruise industry and look forward to welcoming Anglo-Eastern as the technical and hotel manager of the SunStone Fleet.

Jun 03 2022

• Share press release

Shippax Ferry Conference, +450 delegates booked (Upd. 19 Apr)

Apr 15 2024

Polferries’ VARSOVIA left the yard for sea trials

Apr 08 2024

The first of two 6,500 CEU PCTCs for Wallenius Marine has been delivered

Apr 14 2024

Stena Line acquires shares in Africa Morocco Link to expand outside of Europe

Apr 09 2024

DFDS to deploy fleet of battery electric vessels on the English Channel

Apr 12 2024

The electric ferry NERTHUS for Alslinjen launched

Naming and launching ceremony held for SUNFLOWER KAMUY

Finnlines starts new Malmö to Swinoujscie route

Apr 06 2024

Get the latest news - for FREE

Receive our weekly newsletter with the latest news and unique special offers.

Don’t miss out!

The place to meet the ferry shipping industry!

Scientists went on a hunt for the elusive colossal squid — and brought cruise ship tourists with them

• Kolossal hopes to film a colossal squid in its natural habitat, the waters around Antarctica.
• The squid is large but elusive and difficult to study since it lives thousands of feet underwater.
• Using Antarctic tourist boats made searching for the squid far more cost-effective.

Over the course of four trips, tourists on an Antarctic cruise ship watched researchers lower a camera into the frigid, icy waters of the Southern Ocean. They had the same question every day: "Did you find it yet?"

The scientists were searching for the colossal squid, an evasive cephalopod that can weigh 1,100 pounds. Though fishing boats have found a handful of complete and partial specimens, researchers have had difficulty finding one in the wild.

Matthew Mulrennan hopes to change that with Kolossal, the nonprofit he founded to film a colossal squid in its natural habitat. The goal is to learn basic information about the sea animal , like how it hunts and looks in different life stages.

"I always like to say that it's an oversize poster species for how little we know about the ocean and how little we've explored it," he told Business Insider.

In 2022 and 2023, Mulrennan assembled a team of scientists to attempt to get footage of the squid aboard the Antarctic tourist cruises. Though he estimates the endeavors cost $500,000 in total, it was far cheaper than hiring a research vessel.

The cruise ship holds 200 passengers, each paying upwards of $6,720. While they expected lectures from geologists, marine biologists, and other experts, they didn't necessarily know there would be a full research station aboard.

The team's underwater camera filmed dozens of Antarctic species, including one squid resembling a young colossal.

The enigmatic colossal squid

Measuring about 46 feet with its tentacles spread out, the colossal squid is nevertheless hard to spot.

Adults live over 3,000 feet deep in the waters around Antarctica, putting them beyond the reach of even the most skilled technical divers. Submersible vehicles may scare them off.

Many of the known specimens were found in the stomach of sperm whales, whose diets may be 77 percent colossal squid. Only 12 complete specimens have been found, according to a 2015 study .

"There isn't that much that's known about it because it's so elusive," according to Myrah Graham, a master's student at Memorial University's Marine Institute who accompanied Mulrennan on one of the expeditions.

Related stories

They're also difficult to preserve for long-term study, and so a lot of the fundamentals about them aren't known, including how old they get, details of their reproduction , and the population size, Graham said.

"The bottom line is we just need to film it, and we can learn a lot off of just brief interactions," he said.

Combining science and tourism

Mulrennan first became interested in colossal squids in 2007 when he was studying abroad at the University of Auckland. Researchers dissected what he called a "monster specimen" captured by a fishing vessel.

Though Mulrennan wasn't involved in the dissection, he was hooked on learning more about the sea animal. In 2015, he made a goal to film the colossal squid within 10 years.

Chartering research vessels can cost tens of thousands of dollars a day. Similar expeditions have cost as much as $8 million, Mulrennan said.

Eventually, Mulrennan hit on the idea of getting on Intrepid Travel's Ocean Endeavor, a cruise ship that would already be traveling to Antarctica .

Once aboard, curious cruise-goers would stop by and watch brittle stars and other deep-sea life captured by an underwater camera . The passengers started referring to the researchers as the "squid heads," Mulrennan said.

"You're getting this kind of privileged access immediately on board, Graham said. "One of the comments I got the most was, 'Oh, I wish I had gone to school for marine biology .'"

In order to accommodate the cruise passengers' itineraries of seeing penguins and seals — what Mulrennan called "air-breathing cuties" — the researchers had to pull all-nighters when the ship was in the deep ocean .

Sometimes the passengers would complain about the smelly toothfish bait the scientists used to lure the squid. The researchers had to be flexible about lowering the underwater camera, especially when the waves churned ice nearby.

Once, the researchers had to take down their whole research station so passengers could use the nearby door for a polar plunge.

"You get 150 half-naked guests walking out doing vodka shots in your research station," Mulrennan said. "It's like bizarre stuff that can't happen on a normal vessel."

The future of the colossal squid search

During 58 days at sea, Kolossal's camera captured over 80 marine species , including giant volcano sponges, dragonfish, icefish, Antarctic sun stars, and — maybe — a colossal squid.

"We're not claiming this is the colossal squid, but it's also not not a colossal squid," Mulrennan said of footage of a translucent squid that the camera filmed.

Based on assessments of experts who have seen the footage, it's impossible to tell whether the animal is a young colossal squid or a full-grown glass squid.

Graham said she thinks it shows they're on the right track.

Mulrennan hopes to return to Antarctica during the next season, just in time for his self-imposed deadline of finding the colossal squid by 2025.

"We're closing in on a hundred years of our interaction with the species," Mulrennan said, "and we still know so little about it."

Watch: Dumbo octopus 'wows' researchers during deep-sea expedition

• Main content

The 3 types of Viking cruise ships, explained

MSN has partnered with The Points Guy for our coverage of credit card products. MSN and The Points Guy may receive a commission from card issuers.

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Viking is unusual among major cruise lines in that it operates both ocean ships and river ships. Despite this, it has one of the easiest-to-understand fleets.

The vast majority of Viking’s river ships — at last count, there were 80 — feature the same design. If you’ve seen one of them, you’ve seen them all.

Ditto for the line’s ocean ships. Nine of Viking’s 11 ocean ships are nearly identical. The two exceptions are the recently unveiled Viking ocean vessels specifically designed for expedition cruising — a type of cruising that involves traveling to remote, hard-to-reach places on hardy vessels that carry their own landing craft.

For more cruise guides, tips and news, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter .

As a result, the bulk of Viking’s vessels falls into one of just three groups; all the ships in each group sport nearly identical designs.

An introduction to Viking cruise ships

Viking has expanded enormously in recent years with the addition of dozens of new river and ocean ships.

Founded in 1997 with four river vessels, the company operated just 29 ships as recently as 2012. Now, there are more than 90 ships in its fleet.

The vast majority of these ships are river ships — the company’s sole focus for its first 18 years in business. The company dominates the market for river cruises aimed at North Americans, accounting for about 50% of all such trips.

Starting in 2015, Viking began rolling out ocean cruise ships, too.

In early 2023, as noted above, Viking had 80 river ships in its fleet — almost all of which have the same basic design. The exceptions are a few vessels that Viking operates on rivers in Egypt and Asia (more on these ships below). The line also recently began offering cruises on the Mississippi River and its tributaries using a new type of vessel.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries

Viking’s ocean ships fall into two distinct groups: a series of 930-passenger traditional ocean ships that began debuting in 2015, and a series of 378-passenger expedition ships that began debuting in 2022.

Unlike most cruise lines, Viking doesn’t use the term “classes” to define different sets of ships in its fleet. Instead, it refers to its series of traditional ocean ships as the “Viking ocean ships” and its series of expedition ships as the “Viking expedition ships.” We’ve followed the same breakdown of the line’s ocean and river fleet below.

Viking ocean ships

Ships: Viking Saturn (2023), Viking Neptune (2022), Viking Mars (2022), Viking Venus (2021), Viking Jupiter (2019), Viking Orion (2018), Zhao Shang Yi Dun (2017), Viking Sky (2017), Viking Sea (2016) and Viking Star (2015).

Size: 47,800 tons.

For years, Viking only operated river ships, and some cruisers still think of the brand primarily as a river cruise company. However, since 2015, Viking has been rapidly rolling out a series of upscale ocean vessels; these new additions are increasingly dominating the world of higher-end ocean cruising.

As of June 2023, Viking has nine ships sailing the world’s oceans, each with a capacity for 930 passengers. That gives Viking 8,370 berths in the upscale ocean cruise market — more than competitors Oceania Cruises and Azamara combined.

The series is far from finished. Six more of the vessels are on order from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for delivery between 2024 and 2028, and the company also has options with Fincantieri for four more of the ships to debut in 2029 and 2030. Assuming they are all built, Viking’s ocean division will soon be bigger than Oceania, Azamara, Seabourn and Silversea Cruises  combined.

The first thing to know about the ships in this series is that they all are pretty much identical. When sailing on any one of them, you will be hard-pressed to tell what is different.

They’re also quite upscale. While Viking doesn’t market itself as a luxury line, some still consider it so. The vessels are full of luxury touches, from sumptuous bedding in cabins to heated floors in cabin bathrooms.

Related: The complete guide to Viking cabins and suites

Each of the ships in this series has a stylish, Scandinavian-influenced design that is a Viking trademark, and the cabins are large by cruise ship standards. Even the smallest cabins on each of the vessels have 270 square feet of space — a generous amount. Many cabins are significantly bigger than that, with 14 two-room suites on each of the vessels ranging in size from 757 to 1,448 square feet. Many of these bigger suites offer sweeping views from wrap-around private balconies.

Each of the ships’ interior spaces is built around an elegant, three-deck-high atrium filled with comfortable seating areas that have a living room-like feel. Each also has a bar and guest relations desk. At the top of the ships, you’ll find two-deck-high, glass-walled lounges that offer stunning views over the bow. Other interior spaces include a fitness center and a stylish spa with a thermal suite area that is open to all passengers at no extra charge (something that is not common on cruise vessels).

Multiple restaurants on board each of the vessels include Italian eatery Manfredi’s (named after former Silversea owner Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, a friend of Viking founder Torstein Hagen) and The Chef’s Table. The latter features rotating themed menus.

The centerpiece of the top deck of each of the ships is the main pool area, which features a glass magrodome that can close during inclement weather. The main pool area on each of the ships sits next to a lovely, glass-topped lounge with comfortable seating called the Wintergarden, which is home to afternoon tea. A den of serenity, it’s one of our favorite places on these vessels.

A secondary pool area with an infinity pool is at the back of each of the ships.

While all of the ships in this series are essentially identical, you will find small differences on a few of them. Most notably, two of the vessels in the series — Viking Orion and Viking Jupiter — have a small planetarium built into the top level of the two-level lounge at their fronts (known as the Explorers’ Lounge). Some of the later ships in the series have slightly larger fitness centers and slightly smaller hair salons.

Note that in addition to the nine Viking ocean ships officially in the Viking fleet, a 10th ship from the same series, Zhao Shang Yi Dun, caters exclusively to the China market as part of a joint venture between Viking and a Chinese company. When it debuted in 2017, the ship originally catered to the North American market and was called Viking Sun.

Viking river ships

Ships: Viking Fjorgyn (2022), Viking Kari (2022), Viking Radgrid (2022), Viking Skaga (2022) and more than 60 other Longships built since 2012, as well as additional river vessels.

Size: 4,000 to 5,000 tons.

River ships originally put Viking on the map, and they’re still at the core of the brand.

As noted above, the line has 80 river ships in its fleet. The vast majority of them have the same basic design and are known as Longships — a reference to the historic vessels used by Vikings in the Middle Ages.

Unveiled in 2012 and designed specifically to fit into the locks used across many of Europe’s rivers, the Longships broke new ground in river ship design in multiple ways.

For starters, they have a configuration that includes some of the largest suites ever for river ships in Europe. They also have a significant number of cabins with balconies — which is made possible by an innovative cabin area layout that offsets main corridors. (In other words, the corridors don’t run down the middle of the ship, creating a wider side with space for balconies and a narrower side with cabins turned sideways to also create room for verandas.)

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking’s cruise loyalty program

Other innovations include a squared-off bow that allows for eight more cabins than similarly sized ships operated by competitors. Also, quieter engines allow for more cabins at the rear. An enormous amount of groundbreaking engineering went into redesigning the bow areas of the ships, in particular, to enable extra cabins while still leaving room for needed machinery.

As a result of such innovations, the Viking Longships can carry more passengers than similarly sized ships operated by competitors. This has allowed Viking to offer lower prices than other river cruise lines and still bring in a similar amount of revenue per ship — a fact that has contributed greatly to the company’s rapid growth.

Like many river ships, each of the Viking Longships has one main restaurant where most passengers eat their meals as well as one main interior lounge with a bar. There’s also a secondary, casual dining area at the front of each vessel with indoor and outdoor seating. (The outdoor portion, called the Aquavit Terrace, also serves as a forward-facing outdoor lounge during off hours.) Unlike many river ships, the vessels have no spas or fitness centers.

As is typical for river ships, the top of every Viking Longship is covered with an expansive lounge area. There’s also a walking track and an herb garden — the latter used by the kitchen staff to grow herbs used during the preparation of onboard meals.

Most Viking Longships are 443 feet long — the perfect length to fit into the locks on many of Europe’s rivers. Viking also built slightly smaller versions of the Longships, measuring 361 feet or 410 feet in length, specifically to sail on rivers where lock sizes or other navigational factors require smaller vessels. The 410-foot-long versions of the vessels, for instance, were specifically built to sail into the heart of Paris on the Seine River.

Related: Fast-growing Viking unveils four new ships for the Seine

While the Longships come in several different lengths, they are essentially identical in their offerings and decor. The only notable difference is that the smaller versions of the ships have fewer cabins and thus hold fewer people. The 443-foot-long versions of the ship are designed for 190 passengers, for example, whereas the 410-foot-long versions of the vessels hold 168 passengers (since they have 11 fewer cabins).

While most Viking river ships are Longships, there are a few exceptions in the Viking river fleet. Viking operates several smaller, purpose-built vessels on the Nile River in Egypt. It also has several older river vessels that predate the Longships and traditionally have operated on rivers in Russia and Ukraine. (For now, river cruise itineraries in both countries are on hold due to the war in Ukraine.)

Viking also recently began sailings on the Mississippi River with a new ship specifically designed for the river and its tributaries.

As of May 2023, Viking had another 14 river ships either under construction or on order via provisional contracts.

Related: First look at Viking’s stylish new Nile River ship

Viking expedition ships

Ships: Viking Polaris (2022) and Viking Octantis (2022).

Size: 30,150 tons.

Designed to hold just 378 passengers, the Viking expedition ships are specifically designed to take travelers to the most off-the-beaten-path parts of the world, including Antarctica and the Arctic.

As of now, Viking operates just two ships in the series, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, both of which debuted in 2022 . No more are currently on order.

As is typical for expedition ships, these are tough vessels with reinforced bows that let them bump through ice in polar regions; the ships also have extra tanks for fuel and food.

Each of these vessels has its own landing craft on board to bring people ashore in remote locations, as well as kayaks and even submarines for exploring. (The latter is the hot new thing for expedition ships — upscale cruise brands Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Seabourn have been adding submarines to expedition ships , too.)

Like other expedition ships, both Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are designed to operate with a large and seasoned “expedition team” that includes biologists, botanists, geologists, glaciologists and ornithologists who lecture regularly.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Viking ship

Each of the vessels has several new and unusual features, too. Most notable is The Hangar: an enclosed marina that allows passengers to transfer to a 12-seat excursion craft while still in the protected interior of the ship. It’s a first for an expedition cruise ship.

In another first for a polar expedition cruise vessel, every cabin has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide partially open from the top to create a balcony-like feel.

Both Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are designed to be upscale. Like all Viking’s vessels, they boast elegant Scandinavian designs. The restaurants on both vessels include a version of Viking’s signature Italian spot, Manfredi’s and the Scandinavian-inspired Mamsen’s outlet.

Another feature of both ships that will be familiar to regular Viking customers is a top-of-the-ship, glass-walled Explorers’ Lounge offering stunning views of passing scenery.

In case you’re curious, Viking Octantis is named after Sigma Octantis, the current “south star” that hovers over the South Pole (also known as Polaris Australis). Polaris is named after the current “north star” that hovers over the North Pole. The names are a nod to the polar regions where these expedition ships will likely spend much of their time.

Bottom line

Viking operates more cruise vessels than any other major cruise company catering to North Americans. This is in part because it’s involved in both the ocean cruise and river cruise businesses. Despite its large size, its fleet of vessels is relatively easy to understand. The vast majority of both its ocean ships and river ships are almost identical in their designs.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

SPONSORED:  With states reopening, enjoying a meal from a restaurant no longer just means curbside pickup.

And when you do spend on dining, you should use a credit card that will maximize your rewards and potentially even score special discounts. Thanks to temporary card bonuses and changes due to coronavirus, you may even be able to score a meal at your favorite restaurant for free. 

These are the best credit cards for dining out, taking out, and ordering in to maximize every meal purchase.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Indigenous Landowners in Kimberley, Australia, to Serve as Stewards of a New Luxury Cruise Ship

The wunambal gaambera traditional owners in western australia will serve as the godparents of the luxury expedition vessel “ seabourn pursuit” . here’s what the pact means for the community, the destination, and for those sailing with seabourn..

• Copy Link copied

Kuri Bay in Western Australia’s Kimberley region is among the ports Seabourn Pursuit will visit this summer.

Courtesy of Seabourn

There are myriad steps when it comes to launching a cruise ship, from designing and building the ship itself to decorating the interior and finding the right crew to set sail, to name a few. Before the inaugural sailing, it is tradition to call upon a prominent public figure to serve as godparent of the ship, typically a godmother. This tradition dates to the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans, who turned to their gods to bless their ships and keep them safe during their journeys.

This week, Seabourn made seafaring history in announcing the Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners in Western Australia as the godparents of the luxury cruise line’s newest expedition ship, the 264-passenger Seabourn Pursuit . With this announcement, Seabourn says it will be the first cruise line to appoint traditional Indigenous landowners as godparents of a cruise ship.

The history of the Wunambal Gaambera traces back 70,000 years in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. They are the Traditional Owners of a region in the Kimberley that includes Ngauwudu (Mitchell Plateau), Yirinni (Hunter River), and Ngula Jar Island (Vansittart Bay); Seabourn Pursuit will call upon Ngula Jar Island during its voyages. In choosing the Wunambal Gaambera as godparents of the ship, Seabourn says that it is rededicating its commitment to the stewardship and sustainability of the communities and environments its ships visit worldwide.

As part of the pact with Seabourn, Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners in Western Australia will receive funding to develop land-based tourism facilities.

Photo by Chris Trantina/Ocean West Media

“We believe no one can give a better blessing to our ship than the communities we visit. When we visit local communities, we are able to both celebrate their culture and drive positive sustainable change in the places they call home,” Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn, said in a release.

As part of the partnership, Seabourn will support a community of local artists whose original works will be available to passengers aboard the Seabourn Pursuit and to other visitors to the region, and it will invite local guides onto the ship to share their stories with guests. Seabourn is also making a monetary contribution (the cruise line did not disclose the amount) that will be combined with funding already received from the State Tourism Authority, Tourism Western Australia, to help finance the Wunambal Gaambera’s masterplan to develop seasonal land-based tourism facilities in the Kimberley.

King George River Gorge is among the sites in the Kimberley that Seabourn guests will visit.

Photo by Marion Carniel/Shutterstock

On June 22, Wanumbal Gambeera Aboriginal Corporation Chairperson Catherine Goonack, Uunguu Ranger, and Senior Traditional Owner Desmond Williams, and Senior Traditional Owner Maria Fredericks will represent the community aboard the Seabourn Pursuit for the dedication ceremony in the Kimberley.

The Wunambal Gaambera people “have a communal need and responsibility to look after and prosper from our country. Seabourn’s contributions will assist us to . . . look after and keep our land and sea country healthy, strengthen our Wanjina Wunggurr culture, and create economic opportunities for our people,” Goonack said in a statement.

After the dedication ceremony on June 22, Seabourn Pursuit will set sail on its 10-day Inaugural Voyage: Discovering the Kimberley , departing from Broome and calling upon Lacepede Island, Talbot Bay, Montgomery Reef, Freshwater Cove, Kuri Bay, Hunter River, Ashmore Reef, Vansittart Bay, and King George River before arriving in Darwin.

In addition to the Kimberley, the vessel will also sail in Papua New Guinea, West Papua, Indonesia, and across the South Pacific between Chile and Melanesia through October 2024.

All of the accommodations on the Seabourn Pursuit are suites.

While the naming and inaugural Kimberley voyage will take place in June, the luxury expedition vessel Seabourn Pursuit , sister ship to Seabourn Venture , actually launched and has been sailing since August 2023. The ship was designed to explore more off-the-beaten-path destinations, including polar regions, and has 24 Zodiacs, two submarines, as well as kayaks onboard for deeper exploration.

Seabourn Pursuit is an all-suite vessel with a duo of two-story Wintergarden suites, in addition to eight dining venues, a spa and wellness center, gym, pool, hot tubs, a Discovery Center for academic talks, and retail stores.