Hurtigruten Expeditions has revealed two new momentus Pole to Pole expedition cruises that will encompass the likes of Alaska, the Northwest Passage, Greenland, Caribbean, Panama Canal, South America and Antarctica.

Ponant has recommenced luxury expeditions to the Arctic following its recent restart of French voyages. Between now and September 2020, Ponant will be undertaking no fewer than five itineraries to the Arctic, four of them brand new.

Hurtigruten will introduce new year-round departures along the Norwegian coast directly from the UK, Germany and Norway in 2021. Sailings will operate from Dover, Hamburg and Bergen starting from January.

This week LATTE chats with the team at Quark Expeditions, in Australia and based in Toronto, to learn how the polar expedition specialist is handling the coronavirus crisis and its impact on operations. Providing input in our exclusive interview are Quark Expeditions’ Vice President of Sales, Thomas Lennartz, and Global Partnership Director, Meg Murgatroyd, in Toronto; and Asia Pacific Regional Sales Director, Jarrod Zurvas, and APAC Sales and Marketing Manager, Sarah Arane.

Quark Expeditions has unveiled a new Polar Learning Channel (PLC) designed for both travel advisors and consumers to expand their knowledge on the polar regions.

Viking has confirmed a launch date of January 2022 for the first ship of its new expedition division, with voyages planned for Antarctica and North America’s Great Lakes. Viking Octantis will embark on explorations in the US states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada, ahead of the second ship, Viking Polaris, which will offer voyages to Antarctica and the Arctic from August 2022.

Bookings have opened for the inaugural Arctic season of Quark Expeditions’ highly-anticipated polar vessel, Ultramarine. 2021 voyages will incorporate Spitsbergen, Greenland, the Canadian Arctic. This season will include many new, inspiring excursions and amenities exclusive to Ultramarine and Quark Expeditions.

This week LATTE chats with Jarrod Zurvas, Quark Expeditions’ Regional Sales Director, Asia Pacific. Jarrod has been in the travel industry for over 10 years and joined the Arctic cruise specialist in early 2018, following roles with Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Carnival Australia. The travel junkie has traversed the world, having visited more than 70 countries. He’ll be visiting the White Continent for the seventh time soon, and continues to expand his knowledge of Antarctica.

Adventure World Travel has launched its 2020 dedicated Canada, Alaska & High Arctic brochure, with an expanded selection of off-the-beaten track experiences for knowledgeable travellers.

Silversea is offering guests an enhanced All-Inclusive Polar Package, now available on all luxury expedition voyages to the Arctic and Antarctica. The package provides a seamless travel experience for guests, unlocking deep travel into Polar Regions.

Polar cruise specialists, Quark Expeditions, has revealed the name of its upcoming polar vessel will be Ultramarine. Billed as a “game-changer”, Ultramarine will offer guests adventure activities including heli-hiking and heli-skiing for the first-time.

Last week LATTE sat down with the CEO of Hurtigruten, Daniel Skjeldam, to hear about the company’s growth aspiration in the Australian market, and learn why more and more Australians are choosing the Norwegian company to explore polar regions.