Expedition Cruise Network chief finds sector ‘evolving at astonishing pace’

The Expedition Cruise Network (ECN) has found more than 60% of agents have increased their expedition sales in the last year in its 2025 Industry Insights survey.

The body now has 2,300 travel agent members, while its Expedition Cruise Academy training platform has had 1,700 registrations since its launch in April.

Speaking at the association’s second annual conference, ECN co-founder and chief executive Akvile Marozaite said: “The landscape of expedition cruising is evolving at an astonishing pace. It is no longer what it was 10 years ago or even one year ago.

“More travellers are considering it, more sellers are promoting it, and more suppliers are innovating, expanding into new destinations and re-imagining experiences.”

Marozaite highlighted Ponant taking its ice-breaker ship Le Commandant Charcot to the Canadian Arctic in winter, Silversea’s new hotel in Puerta Williams, new operators like Selar introducing solar powered vessels and HX changing its winter deployment for the northern lights as examples of innovation.

She added average booking values often exceeded £12,000 per person, more than half of bookings were “still made well in advance”, despite last-minute deals and 80% of agents surveyed wanted more consumer coverage of expedition operators.

Marozaite stressed “the biggest challenge” for the sector “remains the same” as it was in 2023 when the organisation was set up, which is helping agents and consumers understand the differences between operators.

She said culinary expeditions were “gaining ground” in particular, which was “proof” that exploration is “not only about the landscapes”, but also about "the cultures, tastes and ways of life”.

Marozaite also revealed 60% of the ECN’s operator members had reported “growing interest” in warm weather expeditions.

The ECN has also launched a corporate and affiliate membership option for travel agencies and tour operators at its second conference.

Corporate membership benefits include recognition as an ECN-approved expedition cruise seller, guaranteed access to the annual conference, premium ECN Academy training access for up to five seats, profile listing on the ECN website, priority invitation to trade events, webinars and workshops and priority access to fam trips and ship visits with supplier members.