AURORA Expeditions Managing Director Robert Halfpenny has confirmed a third newbuild expedition ship may be on the cards, which would likely come into operation in Oct 2022. “We have tentatively got an option for a third ship that could come into play in Oct 2022,” Halfpenny told Cruise Weekly. He...
AURORA Expeditions Managing Director Robert Halfpenny has confirmed a third newbuild expedition ship may be on the cards, which would likely come into operation in Oct 2022.
“We have tentatively got an option for a third ship that could come into play in Oct 2022,” Halfpenny told Cruise Weekly.
He said the cruise line would make a decision within the next 12 months, to allow around 18 months to two years for the vessel’s construction.
Aurora last week released its 2021/22 program, the first season that its two newbuilds, the Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle (render pictured) will both be in service (CW 15 Jan).
However, after a third ship, Aurora Expeditions would probably have to stop expanding, Halfpenny admitted.
“I don’t ever see us being a large operator,” he said.
“When you start getting past three ships, for our model, is where you start struggling with repositioning the ships.
“We can’t really do repositioning voyages because that’s not in the core principles of Aurora,” he said
“We go to designated destinations where we do the type of travel and exploration that we do, so we have to do deadheads between those destinations.”
However, the new ships have allowed Aurora to expand its destinations, with Costa Rica the line’s fastest-selling destination.
“It gives you an indication that we have to seriously consider going to more destinations like that,” Halfpenny said.
The cruise line has two Costa Rica cruises in its 2021/22 brox.
