G Adventures will introduce a new expedition vessel for its Antarctica season beginning in October. The company is replacing its longtime ship, the Expedition, with a more fuel-efficient vessel currently named Ocean Adventurer, which will be renamed Expedition to honor its predecessor.
The newly chartered ship from Danish maritime company SunStone features brand-new engines and a more streamlined design that is expected to reduce the overall carbon footprint per person per day by up to 30 percent compared to the previous vessel.
“While we all wanted to continue to operate our little red ship, it became apparent that doing so would not be good for the environment, or the business,” said Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures. “The new ship marks an exciting leap forward — one that will allow us to continue delivering life-changing expeditions for our travelers, aboard a more comfortable and efficient vessel, while making big advancements in our climate goals as well."
The 102-meter vessel includes a restaurant and bar, a 170-square-meter presentation lounge, library, fitness area, observation deck, sun deck and outdoor jacuzzis. Its 70 cabins feature ocean-facing portholes or windows and ensuite bathrooms, with suites offering double beds and larger sea-view windows.
The ship maintains the company's focus on small-group exploration with 11 zodiacs for twice-daily excursions. With at least 14 expedition experts onboard, the passenger-to-expert ratio remains at 10-to-one, allowing travelers to interact with specialists in fields such as marine biology and ornithology.
Built with an Ice Class 1A designation for enhanced safety, the vessel features a refurbished propulsion system and updated stabilizers aimed at providing smoother navigation through rough waters.
"Demand for our polar offering continues to be incredibly strong, as travelers are drawn to our small-ship offering and a more immersive, expedition-style adventure in this truly unique part of the world," said Ben Perlo, CEO of G Adventures.
The new Expedition will operate five Antarctica itineraries, with prices for the 11-day Antarctica Classic starting from $8,399 per person, the 21-day Spirit of Shackleton from $20,999 per person and the 22-day Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica from $17,199 per person.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by G Adventures. It has been fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.