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August 29, 2024

There are cruise lines that are immediately associated with a specific characteristic—perhaps the size of their ships, the richness of their culinary offerings, or the allure of sailing. For Atlas Ocean Voyages, at least on a personal level, I didn’t have a strong and unique characteristic in mind to attribute to this relatively new brand in the cruise industry.

While certainly more associated with the expedition sector, I found the World Traveller to be an excellent ship even on a summer itinerary in the Mediterranean. Not standing out for a single characteristic but instead impressing fully on all levels, leaving an impression of positivity and excellence, is, I believe, a valuable asset today in a context where fleets are becoming increasingly numerous and diverse. The quality onboard the World Traveller is composed of multiple elements, whose combination is able to convey a true sense of comfort, service quality, and overall value of the cruise product.

World Traveller belongs to a class of expedition ships that have already demonstrated their versatility and quality in previous units. Personally, I traveled on the World Navigator a few years ago and was truly impressed by the ship’s functionality. The unit was recently added to the Atlas Ocean Voyages fleet, a company that stands out for the richness and exclusivity of its itineraries, even within a sector—expedition—that sees an increasing number of players.

A first touch of class from Atlas Ocean Voyages is felt even before boarding. Not only for the detailed pre-boarding information received but also for the attention given in indicating the specific dock where the ship would be located and a precise and reliable boarding time. On a scorching Italian summer day, the less-than-welcoming terminal in Civitavecchia was transformed by the company into the setting for an excellent refreshment. While waiting for the go-ahead to board, a rich buffet of sweet and savory canapés was provided, while waiters circulated with bottles of decidedly refreshing champagne.

Attention to detail and the availability of the staff is a feature that is not easily conveyed through advertising or catalogs but is experienced hour by hour and day by day, living onboard. These elements proved to be an essential part of the high standards of Atlas Ocean Voyages.

The ship’s size is ideal for the style of cruising it offers its guests. In service since 2022, it is considered small in comparison to the current cruise landscape but allows for a feeling of comfort and space around you, with many areas available to guests and a great variety of environments. Although the atmosphere is one of informal luxury, where the substance of quality takes precedence over form and appearance, the interiors are all truly beautiful and elegant. The ambiance resembles that of a grand yacht, where every corner reveals something beautiful to observe and discover. The “expedition” character is occasionally evident but blends perfectly with a much more welcoming style, similar to that of a traditional cruise.

The spaces are spread across five decks dedicated to guests, conveying a sense of spaciousness and brightness that is the common thread throughout all onboard areas. One of the most frequented spots is the Atlas Lounge, located on deck 4, featuring a series of sofas and seating served by a lovely central bar. It’s one of those places where the most relaxed atmosphere is felt onboard, both during navigation and on a day in port. You can enjoy a coffee or an evening aperitif, perhaps with the musical background of the piano placed just before the entrance to the theater. A beautiful dark library houses illustrated books dedicated to many of the polar destinations visited by the fleet.

Deck 4 is also rich in other areas, starting with the Auditorium, located forward of the Atlas Lounge, hosting briefings and lectures typical of expedition itineraries, as well as the Reception, Future Cruise stations, and Excursions. Midship, a stop at Paula’s Pantry is inevitable, with its wide selection of coffee and snacks available throughout the day. The quiches and cereal bars made onboard are truly exquisite!

The Spa and Gym are also on the same deck. The Spa offers a lovely relaxation area with sea views, from which you can access the sauna, also spacious and with a view of the sea. There are also rooms dedicated to massages and treatments, services managed in collaboration with the renowned brand L’Occitane. The gym, on the opposite side, is functional and spacious, offering all the essential equipment and ensuring you don’t forget, thanks to the large windows overlooking the sea, the beauty of your journey even during an intense workout. The Boutique offers a range of uncommon items, some interesting, such as the ship model made from recycled materials.

Another venue suitable for any time of the day is The Dome, which serves as an Observation Lounge and evening entertainment spot. Live music and a wide variety of cocktails provide the perfect environment for socializing and relaxing between intense days of excursions. Strolling aboard the World Traveller allows you to discover a series of well-curated corners, ideal for finding a bit of space and enjoying the itinerary, whether among the polar ice or in the Mediterranean islands, as it was for our experience. The outdoor decks feature the central pool, around which are two Jacuzzis, and several other separate areas, such as the various aft terraces spanning from deck 4, where the restaurant’s outdoor area is located, to deck 6. The Pool Bar is the outdoor reference point for a cocktail or refreshing drink while enjoying these outdoor areas and the pool. A small ice cream stand offers extraordinary flavors daily, paired with chocolate chips, crumble, or marshmallows!

The cabins are offered in a wide range of categories, all elegant and spacious, equipped with every comfort and plenty of light. Room service is provided twice a day, the minibar is restocked free of charge, and room service is available 24 hours a day. Dining revolves around the Lisboa Restaurant, which hosts breakfast, lunch, and dinner service. For the first two, a rich indoor buffet is set up, complemented by some à la carte dishes and freshly prepared beverages. In the evening, however, the entire service is à la carte, with a wide choice of dishes, including those always available and those of the day. There is always attention to the itinerary, with the inclusion of typical dishes from the ports visited during the cruise, and often famous chefs are hosted, or themed culinary cruises are offered.

A valid alternative to the restaurant is also the Pool Grill, which serves excellent grilled meats, sandwiches, and vegetables at lunch, presented buffet-style but with great elegance. In the evening, the same Grill transforms into a free dining option by reservation, the Josper Grill Dining Experience. Exceptional dishes, impeccable service, and a spectacular view of the sea are the main ingredients of this unmissable experience we were fortunate to have aboard World Traveller.

In general, dining represents another strong point of the cruise line. The offerings are not sophisticated but attentive to detail, the quality of the ingredients, and the selection of ingredients, capable of satisfying an international audience while paying close attention to local tradition. From the chef to the waitstaff, the entire crew is always available to explain the dishes served, ensure they meet guests’ expectations, and make every meal a truly enjoyable experience. A special moment during our experience was the suite breakfast service—a moment of intimacy and great relaxation before starting a new day onboard, enriched by the punctuality of the staff and the choice of truly excellent products and dishes.

Atlas Ocean Voyages offers a truly competitive All-Inclusive formula, covering most onboard expenses and beverages consumed. This is a significant added value to the final product, combined with other genuinely “luxury” features available onboard. The wine selection is excellent, and the exclusivity of some specialty stations in the restaurant, such as seafood and other delicacies prepared on the spot, is worth noting.

As mentioned, the product offered by Atlas Ocean Voyages is a blend of expedition experience in a grand yacht style, with an extraordinary level of comfort in this sector and a range of itineraries in regions not exclusively expeditionary, where you can still benefit from the experience of the onboard guide team and all the features offered by the fleet’s ships, such as the onboard zodiac fleet, the ship’s small size that allows access to exclusive ports, or approaching less frequented coasts. Special cultural or gastronomic itineraries, such as the Epicurean Expeditions, offer in-depth experiences that guarantee even more specific experiences for interested guests.

The experience aboard the World Traveller proved incredibly positive, both for the ship’s structure, elegance, and maintenance, and for the services offered onboard, particularly the dining and the crew’s courtesy. We particularly appreciated the ability to combine the characteristics of an expedition ship, which hosts, for example, a large and modern Mud Room and a fleet of Zodiacs, with those of an elegant and modern yacht, making it an ideal option for a Mediterranean cruise, as in our case, or in other regions of the world beyond the polar zones.

A transversal quality, observed from the Spa to the dining options to the suite maintenance, represents a real value in today’s context, where cruise lines strive for the exclusivity of something, sometimes forgetting what is truly important. This value is not only represented by the service but also tangible in terms of products, wines and drinks included, and the extensive all-inclusive package offered onboard.

Don’t miss more updates, the full video tour, the photo album, and reviews of World Traveller on Cruising Journal.

Gabriele Bassi

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