All luxury expedition cruising ships worth their salt carry zodiacs, kayaks, paddleboards and dive equipment but the latest luxury vessels take exploring to new heights – or depths – with helicopters, submarines and more.
Although just a handful of the newest luxury expedition cruising ships have onboard helicopters to take guests on high-adrenaline scenic trips – and undertake route-finding and other practical functions – Aussie company True North launched its first True North vessel, complete with helicopter, back in 1999.
Fast forward to 2024 and cruise lines that carry helicopters on their luxury expedition ships include Scenic and Quark Expeditions. Scenic, Seabourn and Viking have added mini-submarines to their exploration inventories and despite last year’s Titanic disaster (the submarine one) the appetite for underwater exploration is unquenchable.
Scenic Eclipse
Scenic’s ‘discovery yachts’ Scenic Eclipse I and II set sail in 2019 and 2023 respectively. They are nearly identical – both 228-guest ships have two six-guest plus pilot Airbus H130-T2 helicopters and one submersible each, Neptune I and Neptune II.
Scenic Eclipse II’s submersible, Neptune II, is slightly larger than its sister, carrying nine guests rather than seven and is a US-built Triton, which means it can dive in US waters (Neptune I is a U-Boat Worx).
The subs dive to about 100 metres below the surface and feature 360-degree panoramic views – when conditions and visibility allow. A 20-minute submarine trip costs US$250, and 20-minute and 40-minute helicopter flights cost $US475 or US$925.
Scenic Eclipse II is sailing in Australia, the South Pacific and Indonesia for the next two years and clear, warm tropical waters should prove ideal for underwater exploration. Another thrilling adventure is the SEABOB dive, available at no extra cost.
Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit
Seabourn’s second luxury expedition ship, the 264-guest Seabourn Venture’s nearly identical sister Seabourn Pursuit, is also sailing warm-water voyages until 2025, and will be in the Kimberley from June to August this year and again next year.
Seabourn Pursuit’s expedition kit includes 24 zodiacs, kayaks, dive and snorkelling gear and a seven-person submarine – six guests plus the pilot. The submarine can dive to 300 metres and according to various reports costs from US$500 to US$900 per dive.
As well as featuring high-tech underwater cameras that will record your underwater experience, the subs are outfitted with custom-embroidered leather upholstery, a Bluetooth stereo system, air conditioning and – of course! – a Champagne chiller!
Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris
Viking Expeditions’ twin 378-guest expedition ships set sail in 2021 and 2022 and operate voyages in the Arctic, Antarctica and the Great Lakes in North America.
As well as carrying 17 zodiacs and nine kayaks each, the ships’ exploration equipment includes two six-guest yellow submarines (named after the Beatles, John, Paul, George and Ringo), and two military-grade, ice-strengthened 12-guest Special Operations Boats that are launched from the in-ship marina The Hangar.
Submarine dives are about an hour long, including 30 minutes underwater plus time to embark and disembark, and the maximum depth is 300 metres. The cost is US$499 and guests can make reservations for a submarine dive briefing ahead of departure.
There’s a strong emphasis on the scientific side of Viking Expeditions’ voyages. The line operates the Viking Resident Scientists program in partnership with the University of Cambridge’s Scott Polar Research Institute and The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Every voyage is accompanied by a group of scientists and guests are encouraged to get involved in research, whether in the onboard lab, joining lectures and documentary screenings in the fabulous Aula auditorium or brushing up on bird knowledge at The Studio.
Le Commandant Charcot
Launched in 2021, Ponant’s luxury icebreaker is the only expedition vessel of its type operating in the world right now – and in 2022, she became the first passenger ship to reach the geographic North Pole.
Apart from its environmentally friendly operating systems, the 245-guest ship is notable for its research facilities that enable scientists to record and monitor the fragile areas where she explores. There are two science labs onboard, sonars, drones and much more – including helicopters, snowmobiles, zodiacs and kayaks.
Before you get too excited, the helicopters and snowmobiles are for operational use only, not for sightseeing. However, depending on the ship’s location, activities such as dog-sledding, snow-shoeing, ice-fishing, polar diving and zodiac expeditions are laid on for guests, accompanied by a team of 19 to 23 expert naturalist guides. Guest involvement in the research programs is encouraged and the Scientific Coordinator organises lab tours and conferences.
Another industry first for luxury expedition cruising ships was the Blue Eye Lounge, which features on Ponant’s six Explorer class ships. These are multi-sensory underwater havens that allow you to observe the ocean outside through oval windows, while listening to its sounds piped in through hydrophones. Body Listening Sofas vibrate in sync with the sounds and you can enjoy a cocktail at the same time.
Quark Expeditions
Although Quark Expeditions has been operating polar expeditions since the 1990s, the company waited until 2020 to invest in its first purpose-built ship. The resulting 199-guest Ultramarine set sail in the Arctic in 2022, equipped with two helicopters and 20 zodiacs that are launched from an internal hangar.
Quark says that its twin-engine Airbus H145 helicopters take guests deeper into the Polar Regions than any other helicopter in its class, reaching places where few people have ever walked before.
Other exciting activities include heli-hiking, alpine heli-trekking, alpine kayaking, flightseeing (free for a 10-15 minute flight) and ice camping.
