Poseidon Expeditions
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
| Industry | Travel |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Limassol , Cyprus |
| Services |
|
| Website | poseidonexpeditions.com |
Poseidon Expeditions is a provider of polar expeditions. The company was started in 1999 as a tour operator specializing in expedition cruises to the North Pole and the Russian High Arctic aboard icebreakers and ice-strengthened ships.[1]
History of Poseidon Expeditions
- 1999 The company was started up in the United Kingdom.
- 2001 Oerated the first North Pole cruise aboard the Yamal icebreaker.
- 2003 Operated two cruises to Franz Josef Land and Svalbard aboard the 100-passenger icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn.
- 2004 Operated the inaugural "Transpolar Bridge" expedition cruise through the Northeast Passage, including Franz Josef Land, North Pole, Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago, Taymyr Peninsula, Lena River Delta, New Siberian Islands and Wrangel Island aboard the Yamal.
- 2005 Operated the inaugural "Pearls of the Russian Arctic" expedition cruise including Novaya Zemlya, Oranskie Islands, Vise Island, Severnaya Zemlya and the ruins of Khabarovo Gulag aboard the Kapitan Dranitsyn.
- 2007 Introduced a new destination to the travel market: the Russian Far East (Kamchatka, Kuril Islands, Wrangel Island).[2] aboard 115-passenger ship Marina Tsvetaeva (now MV Ortelius).
- 2008 Chartered the world's most powerful nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Years of Victory during its first season in tourism service.
- 2013 A cruise reached the North Pole for the 100th time in the history of icebreaker navigation, on July 30, 2013.[3]
- 2014 Began operating Antarctic expedition cruises aboard a small ship Sea Explorer[4] with one voyage including the Falkland Islands & South Georgia.
- 2015 Began operating polar cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic aboard all-suite expedition ship, MV Sea Spirit.[5] and introduced a new[dubious – discuss] destination to the travel market: cruises to the British Isles.
- 2016 The company marketed its first West Greenland cruises.
- 2021 Named the world’s best operator of expedition cruises to the polar regions at the 28th annual World Travel Awards.
- 2022 Won an International Travel Award as the best polar expedition cruise operator in 2022.
Poseidon Expeditions' fleet
For 23 years of polar cruising Poseidon Expeditions has charted a number of vessels such as the Yamal icebreaker, the icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn, passenger ships Marina Tsvetaeva and the Sea Explorer. Nowadays Poseidon Expeditions operates its Arctic and Antarctic cruises aboard a small expeditions ship Sea Spirit. She can navigate into protected channels and bays that are out of bounds to larger cruise vessels. Providing spacious suites for accommodation of 114 passengers, m/v Sea Spirit at the same time features maneuverability and friendly atmosphere of small ships. The vessel has an ice-strengthened hull, a fleet of Zodiac Nautic, and a set of retractable fin stabilizers for smoother sailing.[6]
Since 2008, Poseidon Expeditions has operated North Pole cruises aboard the 124-passenger nuclear-powered Russian icebreaker 50 Years of Victory.[7]
50 Years of Victory, the most modern nuclear-powered icebreaker in the world, is equipped with helicopters and rubber inflatable boats, enabling travelers to explore wild Arctic areas.
However, as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Poseidon Expeditions has put on hold its cruises that travel in Russian territory.
Company highlights
Poseidon Expeditions offers expedition cruises to Antarctica, the North Pole and the Arctic destinations of Svalbard, Greenland, Franz Josef Land and Iceland. It is the only operator in the industry offering direct sailing from Longyearbyen to Franz Josef Land within 1.5 days.
Poseidon Expeditions is a member in good standing of IAATO and AECO.
The company is an advocate of the small ship concept which allows cruise passengers to have maximum time ashore and enjoy the greatest variety and selection of landing sites. Helicopter tours, photography workshops, camping, kayaking, educational lectures and briefings are offered by an expert polar team.
References
- ^ "Poseidon Expeditions charters Sea Spirit from May 2015". Archived from the original on 2014-02-26. Retrieved 2014-02-26.
- ^ "Breaking the Ice: How to Board Arctic Expedition Ships". Frommers.com. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
- ^ "The North Pole Has Been Reached for the 100th Time in the History of Icebreaker Navigation: Poseidon Expeditions Sets Foot on Top of the World". Prweb.com. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
- ^ "Poseidon Expeditions Announces Antarctica Cruise Booking Aboard m/v Sea Explorer for 2013 and 2014". Emailwire.com. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
- ^ "Poseidon Expeditions to Add Another Ship".
- ^ "Poseidon Expeditions Acquires Sea Spirit". 25 February 2014.
- ^ Cruises. "The best unusual cruises". Telegraph. Retrieved 2013-12-10.