The New Zealand-based expedition cruise company Heritage Expeditions has released details of its 2022-23 expedition season, including two new voyages, aboard polar exploration vessel Heritage Adventurer.
The latest addition to the New Zealand family-owned and operated company’s fleet, Heritage Adventurer has had an interesting past as a polar exploring cruise ship having served as; Hanseatic, Resolute and Society Adventurer. The small payload passenger carrier an impressive history of polar and remote region exploration. Now in her new livery she will make her maiden voyage on the company’s first expedition of the season – a brand new voyage circumnavigating Japan’s northernmost island and last frontier Hokkaido. Renaming her to become Heritage Adventurer recalls the history of the vessel with the legacy of HMS Adventure’s explorations alongside the HMS Resolution during Captain Cook’s second expedition of the Pacific.
Built in 1991 at Finland’s Rauma shipyard and specifically designed for Polar exploration, Heritage Adventurer is 124-metres long, and classed as an 1A Super ice class vessel. Originally designed to accommodate 184 guests, Heritage Expeditions will operate her with just 140 passengers in a spacious, comfortable onboard experience and the continuation of the exceptional, personalised expedition experience synonymous with the company. While a fleet of 14 Zodiacs ensures all guests are able to maximise their expedition experience.
While the vessel was being prepared for the upcoming season, Heritage Expeditions was reviewing its on board COVID-19 protocols. One of the few cruise companies who have been able to successfully and safely operate in spite of COVID-19, the company has a proven track record of ensuring the safety of all guests, expedition staff and crew while on board.
An adventurous fleet
Every year Heritage Expeditions voyages with small groups of between 18 and 140 intrepid travellers to some of the most remote islands, coasts and shorelines on earth aboard their expedition ships Heritage Adventurer, Spirit of Enderby, Akademik Shokalskiy and Heritage Explorer on voyages ranging from 5 – 28 days.
Founded in 1985 by the Russ family in Christchurch, New Zealand, Heritage Expeditions is still family-owned and operated. Contributing to conservation through experiential learning and providing funds for research and management, they are pioneers in environmentally responsible expedition travel offering intimate group excursions to Antarctica and the Subantarctic Islands, through the Pacific, and around the Russian Far East and Wrangel Island on their purpose built expedition ships.
Each expedition is led by a team of botanists, ornithologists, naturalists, and experts in their field, ensuring passengers maximise every opportunity to learn, discover and experience as much as possible, while minimising the impact of their visit and returning as ambassadors for these very special places.
Lions share
As Heritage Expeditions flagship vessel, Heritage Adventurer will be operating the lion’s share of the company’s authentic expedition cruises including its explorations of the Russian Far East on popular Arctic adventures such as ‘Russia’s Ring of Fire’, ‘Siberia’s Forgotten Coast’, ‘Jewel of the Russian Far East’ and ‘Chukotka: Where Russia’s Day Begins’ as well as ‘Across the Top of the World’ which visits the world’s polar bear denning capital, Wrangel Island.
Explorations in Heritage Expeditions Southern Programme will see Heritage Adventurer sailing to Raja Ampat and visiting the whale sharks of Cenderawasih Bay on Indonesian Explorer before discovering the tropical shores and wildlife rich islands of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu on a new voyage ‘Discover the Secrets of Melanesia’ which combines the best of Heritage Expeditions Melanesia voyages on one unforgettable 17-day adventure.
Continuing south down to New Zealand and Australia’s Subantarctic Islands, Heritage Adventurer will sail Heritage Expeditions renowned ‘Galapagos of the Southern Ocean’, ‘Birding Down Under,’ ‘Beyond Fiordland: New Zealand’s Wildest Islands’ and ‘Forgotten Islands of the South Pacific’ voyages before putting her impressive polar credentials to the test on a bucket list expedition into the heart of Antarctica, the Ross Sea, on ‘In the Wake of Scott & Shackleton’.
The brand new 12-night voyage ‘Hokkaido: Northern Sea Circuit’ departs from Niigata, Japan on 3 June 2022 and sails to Otaru, Japan, with passengers disembarking 15 June 2022.
Prices start from US$7950pp based on a triple share cabin with private bathroom and US$9995pp sharing a twin cabin with private bathroom, including all meals during the voyage and expedition shore excursions.