On a heat September day in Good, France, I seize a desk at a restaurant terrace overlooking the Mediterranean and dimension up the vessel I am about to board: Atlas Ocean Voyages‘ World Traveller. Though you would not know to have a look at it, the navy blue hull is constructed to chop by ice. Because the ship glimmers below the southern French solar, I discover it arduous to think about that in lower than two months it will likely be again in Antarctic waters, having swapped the calm, summer season waters of the Mediterranean for a harsh polar local weather.
Expedition vessels are constructed to hold passengers to distant corners of the world, like Antarctica and the Arctic, in security and luxury with options like strengthened hulls, Zodiac launch areas, helipads and mudrooms. Their ice-class hulls, nevertheless, have gotten a well-known sight in a much less rugged and extra well-trodden a part of the world: the Mediterranean. In actual fact, in 2024, World Traveller spent extra time within the Mediterranean than in Antarctica (seven months versus 5).
Why? The peak season for European cruises is the offseason in Antarctica, the darkish winter months when no cruise ships go to due to pack ice and temperatures. Given the large recognition of the Mediterranean in summer season, it is smart that Atlas Ocean Voyages has determined to reposition one in every of its ships right here when it could’t be in Antarctica.
This 12 months, Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator will spend the summer season within the Mediterranean after its winter season finishes in Antarctica. The ship will not be the one expedition ship within the area. Nationwide Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions and Swan Hellenic are additionally bringing their expedition vessels to locations like Greece, Croatia and Italy in 2025. Aurora Expeditions’ latest launch, Douglas Mawson, will head north for a summer season season within the Mediterranean in 2026 after its inaugural season in Antarctica.
With so many selections for vacationers reserving a Mediterranean cruise, why would anybody select a ship constructed for a very completely different journey vacation spot? I used to be curious to see if an expedition ship might ship a brand new expertise on this traditional cruise vacation spot, particularly in comparison with the small-ship luxurious cruise strains that share the seas with it.
This is what I discovered throughout my journey from Good to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on an expedition cruise ship, World Traveller.
Its small dimension is a bonus
At 423 toes lengthy, with a most of 198 passengers in 98 cabins, World Traveller is among the smallest cruise ships within the Mediterranean, smaller than luxurious vessels from strains like Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn and Silversea Cruises. Even the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment‘s yachtlike ships are greater and may accommodate extra passengers.
Whereas a decreased capability is a trademark of expedition vessels, to search out one thing smaller than World Traveller when it comes to size and complete passenger capability on this area, you would want to have a look at Windstar’s crusing ships (Wind Star and Wind Spirit specifically) and yacht-style selections, akin to SeaDream Yacht Membership and Emerald Cruises’ oceangoing vessels.
Our crusing had 174 visitors and 127 crew members on board. The general variety of passengers World Traveller can carry is greater within the Mediterranean than when it’s in true expedition mode. That is as a result of the Journey Oceanview Staterooms on Deck 3 are open for reserving, relatively than reserved for the expedition leaders that be a part of as crew for polar sailings.
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I favored that the ship by no means felt crowded, and my daughter and I might discover our personal quiet nooks, regardless of World Traveller being near full capability. A solar deck behind Deck 6 felt like my very own personal terrace. Every time I went on the market to learn within the solar loungers, I had the area to myself.
The small dimension additionally meant that I obtained to know my fellow passengers rapidly. I discovered that many had been on their second crusing with Atlas Ocean Voyages, having been impressed with their preliminary expertise in Antarctica. Among the many largely North People, I heard a smattering of British and Australian accents, too. Late afternoons across the 7Aft Pool Bar had been notably social, as was the after-dinner dwell music in The Dome. Two visitor performers from the USA had individuals dancing till almost midnight most nights.
The itinerary balances a mixture of locations
One of many benefits of small ships is their capacity to entry smaller ports and locations different cruise ships do not sometimes go to. For those who’ve already visited most of the traditional Mediterranean sizzling spots, or want to keep away from the crowds throughout Europe’s summer season journey excessive season, a small ship is a superb selection.
Throughout its 2024 season, World Traveller referred to as upon an extended checklist of under-the-radar ports within the Mediterranean. Many of those, akin to Portoferraio on the island of Elba in Italy (well-known for being the place Napoleon Bonaparte was incarcerated), Saranda in Albania and Port-Vendres in southwest France, are frequented by only some different small-ship strains, most notably Seabourn, whose community on this a part of the world is especially intensive.
The crew informed me how, earlier within the season, the vessel even swapped the open sea for inland waterways, because it made its approach up the Guadalquivir River to dock for 2 nights within the coronary heart of Seville, Spain. Berths within the metropolis are typically restricted to vessels below 525 toes, and I can solely think about how magical the expertise of cruising on a river was for these lucky sufficient to be on board.
Our itinerary was a mixture of huge cities (Rome and Barcelona), standard resort cities (Good and Palma de Mallorca) and lesser-known locations (Saint-Raphael and Toulon on France’s Cote d’Azur and Mahon in Spain’s Balearic Islands). Because of its small dimension, the ship was capable of dock within the coronary heart of every vacation spot.
In Toulon, it was lower than a 10-minute stroll from the gangway to town’s charming previous city with its vigorous morning produce markets and avenue distributors promoting piping sizzling cade, a chickpea pancake that could be a native specialty. In Marseille, each Mucem, town’s grand museum devoted to European and Mediterranean civilizations, and the putting Cathedrale La Main had been simply steps away from our berth. Saint-Raphael, the quieter neighbor of Cannes, was the one place we stayed at anchor, however it was a brief five-minute tender trip into the marina within the fairly city heart.
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A culinary-themed cruise is a deal with for the tastebuds
Expedition cruises set themselves aside from different kinds of cruises by immersing visitors within the vacation spot with academic actions and hands-on exploration. Atlas Ocean Voyages interprets this method to Mediterranean voyages by specializing in meals and the area’s wealthy culinary heritage. All of its sailings in Europe are themed as “epicurean expeditions” and embrace one culinary expertise ashore and a choice of day by day actions like wine and meals tastings and cooking demonstrations. Though each day’s program is completely different, the schedule sometimes consists of one demonstration or tasting within the afternoon.
We had been joined by two visitor cooks at some point of our journey: tv chef Christy Rost and Salt Lake Metropolis-based chef Viet Pham, who gained 2014’s “Iron Chef America.” The pair rotated actions each day: When one was internet hosting the cooking demonstration within the afternoon, the opposite was prepping elements to cook dinner dwell for visitors within the night, making certain a aromatic movement of fresh-from-the-pan dishes akin to panko-crusted pork tenderloin and buffalo hen wings. The cooks got here collectively for the cook-off occasion when 4 groups of passengers battled it out to create the prettiest Provencal sharing platter.
It was straightforward for the visitor cooks to be approachable on a small ship with fewer visitors. With Pham, I talked meals and household over espresso one morning within the all-day cafe, Paula’s Pantry, and I observed he joined a workforce of Canadians for trivia one afternoon in The Dome Statement Lounge.
World Traveller solely has one restaurant, Lisboa, relatively than the a number of specialty eating venues you’d discover on most small luxurious vessels. For an informal meal, the top-deck eatery, 7Aft, gives a restricted choice from the principle buffet in Lisboa at lunch.
Within the night, it transforms into an intimate spot serving meats grilled in a flowery Josper charcoal oven at no additional cost to passengers. Capped at 20 visitors per night, the venue is extraordinarily standard: I referred to as to e-book on the second day solely to be informed that each one dinner tables had been already full for our complete crusing. I continued and was rewarded with a reservation on the final evening. The tender filet mignon made the trouble to get a desk value it.
Whereas the eating choices could be restricted in comparison with different small-ship strains, the pairing of Government Chef Valeriu Surugiu’s wonderful delicacies with the specialties of the 2 visitor cooks meant my style buds had been by no means bored.
I appeared ahead to Surugiu main a market tour in Barcelona, adopted by the possibility for visitors to cook dinner the elements within the cookhouse, one of many complimentary epicurean expedition inclusions. Our day within the Catalan capital coincided with the pageant of Merce, a celebration of the patron saint of town, and sadly, due to the crowds anticipated within the streets, the market tour was canceled on the final minute. Luckily, the paella dinner that night — the included ashore culinary expertise — went forward with out a hitch.
Public areas are restricted however not limiting
World Traveller is among the youngest cruise ships plying the Mediterranean. In-built 2022, it feels contemporary and new. Nonetheless, its intimate dimension compromises the variety of facilities on provide on board. World Traveller does not have the area for the array of public areas you’d discover if you happen to cruise on bigger luxurious vessels belonging to strains like Regent, Silversea or Seabourn.
Along with the dearth of specialty eating places, World Traveller doesn’t have a on line casino or a big auditorium for large productions, though it has a good-size theater for port talks and the crew present. World Traveller’s sizable mudroom, important within the polar areas, is redundant area within the Med.
Nonetheless, a lot has been packed into the ship’s 423 toes, together with three bar and lounge areas, an all-day cafe, a spa, a heated swimming pool and sizzling tub, a health room, and spacious deck areas. I by no means felt restricted by the onboard choices. The interiors aren’t as formal as on Regent Seven Seas cruise ships, for instance, that are identified for his or her opulent design, glittering chandeliers and uncommon artwork. As a substitute, World Traveller’s decor felt heat and chic. The general environment was extra relaxed and laid-back than on many different luxurious small-ship strains (and the gown code was too).
All 98 cabins have ocean views. My Veranda Stateroom was as plush and comfy as cabins on different small ships I’ve sailed on. In actual fact, for the reason that artwork deco-inspired geometric materials and comfortable wealthy wooden paneling had been extra to my style, it grew to become a simple favourite. The balcony, which I am unable to think about is used that a lot in Antarctica, was a stunning place to loosen up and benefit from the Mediterranean solar.
Equally as inviting had been the Horizon Staterooms with a drop-down electrical window for floor-to-ceiling views and further inches of cabin area.
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Expedition ships provide novel facilities common cruise ships lack
My cabin additionally had facilities you do not usually discover within the Mediterranean, like a pair of binoculars. Although they’re normally meant for recognizing penguins within the poles, I discovered an area use for them: testing the luxe villas alongside the Cote d’Azur.
On polar expeditions, passengers are supplied with parkas which they’re welcome to maintain as soon as their cruise ends. We had been gifted a backpack and water bottle to make use of on shore excursions and take dwelling. Different welcome touches had been the bookmarks left in my room within the evenings that inform the story of nice Portuguese explorers.
Shore excursions are at the moment a weak spot
Shore excursions are one factor Atlas Ocean Voyages remains to be determining because it companies up its Mediterranean presence and is an space the place its rivals in Europe at the moment have the higher hand.
Save for the paella dinner in Barcelona, World Traveller’s program of shore excursions all got here at an additional price. Whereas Regent consists of all shore excursions in its fare and Silversea gives one free shore expertise in every port, different small-ship cruise strains like Windstar and Seabourn additionally do not provide any shore excursions of their fares.
On common, we had three selections for every port of name. The excursions leaned into the epicurean theme, making them superb if you happen to take pleasure in wine tastings and winery visits. I might have liked to see some selections that embraced a extra conventional expedition angle. As an illustration, you do not have to journey too removed from the coast on the Cote d’Azur to search out some implausible mountaineering and biking trails, appropriate for all capacity ranges.
I had booked one shore tour earlier than my departure: a strolling tour of Le Panier, the oldest district in Marseille. However there was a mix-up with my reserving and by the point I figured it out, it was too late to hitch. Luckily, the ship was docked simply subsequent to town’s shiny, bohemian neighborhood, so I headed off on a strolling tour of my very own at my leisure.
Nonetheless, I used to be not alone find some flaws within the tour operations. My fellow passengers additionally grumbled about last-minute modifications to booked actions and underwhelming experiences ashore. Atlas Ocean Voyages has since informed me that it has obtained these feedback, and the workforce frequently works to enhance your complete visitor expertise.
Expedition ship fares are according to traditional cruise ships
General, Atlas Ocean Voyages’ fares are pretty according to what you possibly can count on to pay on a nonexpedition small ship within the Mediterranean in summer season.
On the time of writing, a seven-night crusing on sister ship World Navigator from Barcelona to Rome in June, stopping at Port-Vendres, Toulon, Saint-Tropez, Good, Portofino and Livorno, was accessible for $5,199, based mostly on double occupancy, for a balcony cabin. The 2025 Mediterranean season is already closely booked; nevertheless, bookings are open for 2026, when World Traveller returns to the Mediterranean. A ten-night crusing from Rome to Barcelona in July 2026, for instance, begins at $5,299 per individual, based mostly on double occupancy, for an ocean-view cabin. Drinks and pay as you go gratuities, however not Wi-Fi, are included in each fare.
After I checked, a 10-night crusing from Barcelona to Rome on Seabourn Ovation (capability 600) in June 2025 was priced at $5,899, based mostly on double occupancy, for a verandah suite. A seven-night Rome-to-Barcelona crusing in July 2025 aboard Windstar’s Wind Surf crusing yacht (capability 342) began at $4,382 with Windstar’s all-inclusive bundle, based mostly on double occupancy, for an ocean-view class A cabin. The fare is decrease partially as a result of the ship’s cabins are smaller.
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Backside line
The primary traits that outline World Traveller as an expedition vessel — the mudroom, the zippy Zodiacs and the ice-rated hull — basically hibernate within the Mediterranean. But the mixture of the ship’s small dimension, itinerary of uncrowded locations and foodie taste gives vacationers a unique approach to expertise this standard cruising space — on one of many latest ships on the water.
For those who favor intimate, relaxed ships that carry solely a pair hundred individuals, and if good meals is a vital a part of any journey expertise for you, this new model of small-ship cruising within the Mediterranean ought to undoubtedly be in your radar.
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