Spread the love

Alberto Aliberti, president of Atlas Ocean Voyages, a cruise line I believe we will hear a great deal more about in coming years and months, says “Atlas Ocean Voyages is already one of the industry’s most-inclusive luxury experiences, and we are adding more value by delivering more immersive inclusions”, adding, “Experienced travellers and anyone eager to see more of the world should start at the top of their bucket list and go there on an all-inclusive, luxe-adventure Atlas expedition in 2021”.

In the meantime, in an initiative that perhaps some other companies should follow, Aliberti has also announced that customers who book a voyage on Atlas Ocean Voyages World Navigator from before the end of 2020 will receive a complimentary shoreside excursion at every port, with excursions including a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ancient Olympia from Katakolon, Greece, a visit to Zippori from Haifa, Israel exploring the village’s rich and diverse historical and archaeological legacy; the inspection of World War II monuments and Soviet-era memorials in Novorossiysk, Russia, seeing St. Lucia by land and sea atop an ATV and aboard a catamaran, visiting notable sites of the Falkland Island conflict of 1982, and more.

When she starts sailing in July 2021, the World Navigator will be traveling to 107 ports in the Holy Land, the Black, Mediterranean, and Caribbean Seas, and South America, with Atlas Ocean Voyages offering all guests its “All Inclusive All the Way” commitment, which includes an emergency medical evacuation insurance, complimentary round-trip air travel, prepaid gratuities, premium wine and spirits and international beers, coffees and smoothies, Wi-Fi, L’Occitane bath amenities, and Michelin-inspired dining.

In addition, in every stateroom, guests will be provided with binoculars to use onboard, en suite coffee, tea and personalized bar service, and butler service in suites.

The World Navigator with a capacity of 200 guests is Atlas Ocean Voyages’ first ship, with four more fabulous looking vessels on the way, World Traveler and World Seeker in 2022 and World Adventurer and World Discoverer in 2023.

So who is Atlas Ocean Voyages and where have they appeared from?

Well, very surprisingly, as they are new to me too with Atlas Ocean Voyages launched in November 2019, as a new, adventure-luxe brand, owned by Mystic Invest and managed by Mystic Cruises USA, with Mystic Cruises a brand owned by the Portuguese entrepreneur Mario Ferreira, who is CEO and President of Mystic Invest SGPS group of companies and best known as the CEO of the Portuguese river cruise company Douro Azul operating on Douro River.

Mystic Invest amazingly owns several brands in travel and tourism including DouroAzul – Portugal; Mystic Cruises – USA; Atlas Ocean Voyages – North America; Nicko Cruises – Germany; Priority Dolphin – Shipbuilding; Mystic Tua – Portugal; Mystic Adventure – a tour agency in Barca d’Alva; World of Discoveries – a theme park in Porto Portugal; Helitours – Porto and Douro Valley; BlueBus – Porto; hotels and resorts including Hotel do Cais, Monumental Palace Hotel, Douro Marina Hotel, Wine Lodge Hotel; Caminho das Estrelas – suborbital and Zero-G flights; Mystic Real Estate and the WestSEA Shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal) where the new Atlas Ocean Voyages expedition cruise ships are being built.

An incredible portfolio!

With Mystic Invest in 2019, announcing plans to establish and launch in 2021 Mystic Cruises USA a new subsidiary company, in November 14, 2019  their new adventure-luxe brand Atlas Ocean Voyages which is managed by Mystic Cruises USA was launched, with bookings commence in January 2, 2020 and the operation scheduled to start with World Navigator on July 7, 2021, but of course affected by COVID-19.

Mystic Cruises fleet consists of 6 vessels, of which some are chartered to other cruise lines including to some Mystic Invest-owned brands, with World Explorer launched in 2019 and World Voyager launched in 2020 and operated under charter by Nicko Cruises and Quark Expeditions.

The other 4 ships under construction World Navigator – 2021, World Traveller – 2022, World Seeker – 2022, World Adventurer – 2023 and World Discoverer – 2023, will be operated by Mystic Cruises USA, with each vessel featuring an ice-strengthened hull allowing year-round operations in polar regions and a maximum passenger capacity of 200 or 176 on polar itineraries), with 125 crew

Where we or even I heard about Mystic is that it is the purchaser of former P&O Vasco da Gama for $USD10.2 million after the demise of CMV, with Mystic Invest advising according to a press release from Mystic Cruises, she will sail in the British, German, and Portuguese markets.

Well there you have it all with Mystic a “Mystery” no longer, with great brands definitely to look out for in the future!

A report by John Alwyn-Jones