Atlas Ocean Voyages is pushing the boundaries of expedition cruising with the introduction of the industry’s first ice-class luxury sailing yacht, according to Chief Executive Officer James Rodriguez.

The company is also strategically expanding its deployment starting in 2028, he added, noting that technical innovation and respect for the environment are what drive the brand’s future.

“I think innovations are going to be leading the way in the future expedition market because, just by the nature of the pristine places we go to, we have to be responsible in how we think, where we go and also how we’re building ships,” he explained.

The brand’s upcoming vessel, the Atlas Adventurer, will feature an advanced hybrid propulsion system designed to reduce emissions significantly.

“Our new yacht is going to have carbon fiber sails mixed with solid sails. We have nine-megawatt batteries with dual propulsion systems, which will allow us to actually save about 40 percent in our footprint,” he said.

When the weather conditions permit, the 400-guest sailing ship will be able to sail nearly silently, Rodriguez added.

This operational capability supports the brand’s geographic expansion into non-polar regions like the Mediterranean, a move driven directly by passenger retention efforts.

“We want to expand because we’re bringing all these new-to-cruise guests and they love the experience. They’re asking, ‘Where do I go next? I love traveling this way, so what are some new areas that we can go to and travel this same way?'” Rodriguez noted.

Moving into traditional cruise markets, however, requires a fundamental shift in itinerary programming to maintain the expedition product’s core identity.

Having spent over 20 years in the traditional cruise business, Rodriguez noted that the two models operate on entirely different principles regarding onboard revenue and guest flow.

“In cruise, you’re trying to make money onboard; you’re in the casinos, you want to keep people onboard. You want them to spend money at the bars,” he explained.

“In an expedition, you want them to go off and immerse themselves in the places that we’re going to.”

Rodriguez also noted differences in the mindsets of guests coming onboard for expeditions, who were said to have distinct expectations.

“They’re not coming onboard to sip a margarita by a pool. We do have those people who do that, and we do have great margaritas, but they’re coming onboard because they’re looking for something they want to feel, something they want to walk away from.”

To deliver this level of immersion outside of the polar regions, Atlas developed its Epicurean Expeditions, he said.

“We basically take our polar expedition team off, and we put our epicurean expedition team on, and they bring those areas to life through taste and smell,” Rodriguez explained.

Rather than standard sightseeing, the programming focuses on tangible interactions, such as learning to make pasta in Rome or sitting with a local family to learn about their community, instead of just visiting the Vatican.

“They want to do something that is tangible, that they can walk away with stories and talk to their family about what they experienced,” he added.

Rodriguez said that this thirst for authentic immersion is being fueled by an evolving traveler profile, as well as shifting generational preferences.

“From a generational standpoint, it’s not an age; it’s a mindset,” Rodriguez said, noting that experiential travel is increasingly viewed as a necessity rather than a luxury.

“They want to know that they’re walking away with something that’s bigger than themselves. And so they’re going to spend their money on these types of experiences,” he continued, adding that “onboard programming is equally as important as geography.”

“We are good at geographic expansion, expanding the idea of what expedition is beyond just the polar regions,” Rodriguez said.