The Portuguese cruise company Mystic Cruises, part of Mystic Invest Holding, has announced, in an agreement with the Westsea shipyard in Viana do Castelo, in northern Portugal, an order for four new expedition cruise ships, in addition to the two currently under construction and increasing its investment in shipbuilding to 500 million euros.
The new ships will join Mystic Cruises' Polar-class fleet, which began sailing in 2019 with the MS World Explorer. The company had previously ordered two more expedition ships, the MS World Voyager and the MS World Navigator, which will be launched in 2020 and 2021, respectively. With the announcement of these four new ships, Mystic Cruises aims to strengthen its position in the small expedition cruise ship market.
“These are exciting times for us,” said Mario Ferreira, CEO of Mystic Invest. “With the launch of the World Explorer in 2019, we took a firm step towards establishing ourselves as a key player in the expedition cruise market, bringing our 25 years of experience in small luxury ships and onboard services, complemented by authentic shore excursions.”.
With the announcement of these four new ships, secured through financing from Portuguese banks, Mystic Cruises raises its investment in shipbuilding to over €500 million by 2023, reaffirming the company's intention to quickly become one of the world's largest players in the small expedition cruise market, which currently represents only 1% of the cruise industry. All seven ships will have polar capabilities and offer unique experiences in remote landscapes, while actively reducing the environmental footprint of their operations.
“A significant part of the investment we are making will equip our ships with the latest eco-friendly technologies available on the market, including new solutions to reduce environmental impacts; all ships will have “Green Ship” certificates,” Ferreira assured.
Mystic Cruises' ships will be equipped with state-of-the-art hybrid engines, shore power outlets, and a groundbreaking implementation of hybrid electric jet propulsion systems that ensure the ship does not damage polar ecosystems when stationary, thanks to dynamic positioning. The ships' small size also ensures minimal environmental impact. With a total capacity of 200 guests, Mystic Cruises has opted to build small, intimate ships that will allow for personalized onboard service and guarantee access to smaller, more exclusive ports of call.
All four new ships; MS World Traveller, MS World Seeker, MS World Adventurer and MS World Discoverer, will be distributed exclusively by Atlas Ocean Voyages, a cruise brand based in the USA and part of the Mystic Invest Holding Group.
