Atlas Ocean Voyages has extensive experience in travel. It is an established US cruise brand and part of the Mystic Invest Holding Group, and will be the first ocean cruise line to sail under the Portuguese flag.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 59 – December 2021
Based in Portugal, Mystic Invest Holdings has over 25 years of experience in the hospitality sector and is a business leader in the travel and tourism industry, including river cruises, excursions and attractions.
Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Atlas Ocean Voyages boasts a management team comprised of cruise industry experts with nearly 10 decades of experience. They are also passionate about travel and eager to create experiences that take elite travelers off the beaten path.
The company's objective is to create a new luxury and adventure travel brand defined by a community of spirited individuals with an unlimited desire to experience life. Its mission is to offer superior, all-inclusive cruise vacations that provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences in highly desirable destinations, and to embody values such as Passion, Discovery, Customer Focus, Fun and Friendly Service, Teamwork, Integrity, Well-being, Safety, and Environmental Responsibility
Atlas Ocean Voyages offers a luxurious onboard environment and a program of exciting shore excursions. The emphasis on active exploration is evident in the included shore excursions available in every port and in a selection of premium experiences, from hang gliding to whitewater rafting, available for a reasonable supplement. Specially designed pre- and post-cruise land programs will also appeal to adventurous travelers.
Onboard, everything is included, and service levels will rival those of its six-star competitors. Despite the ships' small size, there's a wraparound deck, a jogging track, a conference room, two lounges, a main restaurant and an al fresco dining area by the pool, and most cabins have private balconies.
A fleet of Zodiacs will allow landings in expedition regions, and the ships' hybrid diesel/electric engines and advanced propulsion will allow excellent maneuverability in shallow waters, whether in a remote cove or a small marina, and will also reduce the environmental impact.
At Atlas Ocean Voyages, they invite modern explorers to embark on a new style of luxury adventure travel, with inaugural itineraries in the Holy Land, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea that take travel to new levels of discovery, with smaller ships allowing guests to experience port cities and perspectives that are impossible to reach by traveling on larger vessels.
The company currently operates the World Navigator, which was launched in July 2021, and the World Traveller is scheduled to launch in mid-2022. In addition to the World Navigator and the World Traveller, three additional expedition ships are scheduled for delivery starting in late 2023: MS World Seeker, MS World Adventurer, and MS World Discoverer.
“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,” assured Ferreira, President of Mystic Invest Holding, parent company of Atlas Ocean Voyages.
The Atlas' extensive list of free services also includes emergency medical evacuation insurance, premium wines and spirits, international beers and coffees, WiFi, L'Occitane bath products, and regionally inspired gourmet dinners.
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.
Navigator
, with 100 cabins, is the first of five identical ships designed to combine the best of luxury cruising with the best of expedition, a cross-cutting product that will operate in both classic cruise destinations, such as the Mediterranean, and expedition-focused regions, such as Antarctica.
Launched in July 2021, the World Navigator realizes the possibilities of environmental management with the latest hybrid power and propulsion management system, maximizing fuel efficiency and consuming up to one-fifth the fuel compared to conventional cruise ship systems. Its alternative waterjet propulsion system helps the ship cruise silently at up to five knots without disturbing marine life, enabling unparalleled close encounters.
The World Navigator was the third cruise ship commissioned by Mystic Cruises from the West Sea Viana shipyard in Portugal. It was conceived with the sensibility of an explorer, who believes that the best way to experience the world is up close, without losing sight of the destination. Offering one of the largest guest space ratios in the industry, the newly built World Navigator features state-of-the-art hygiene and cleaning measures integrated into its sleek and modern design
Atlas Ocean Voyages is serving six distinctive dining options aboard its newly built small expedition ship, the World Navigator. Passengers can savor Atlas's regionally inspired gourmet cuisine through the enticing array of choices offered on the menus of Porto, Alma, 7AFT Grill, The Dome, Paula's Pantry, and via room service. “We are thrilled to introduce the dining options on the World Navigator,” said Alberto Aliberti, President of Atlas Ocean Voyages. “Our menus draw inspiration from our company’s Portuguese heritage, as well as the many captivating destinations we visit, to deliver a delightful culinary experience on an Atlas luxury adventure voyage.”
Porto is the World Navigator's main dining room, honoring Atlas Ocean Voyages' Portuguese heritage. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with indoor or al fresco dining options. Breakfast features à la carte and continental buffet choices, while Porto's lunch menu offers a blend of international and local dishes, balancing freshly prepared proteins with plant-based superfoods, smoked vegetables, a variety of flavorful cheeses, charcuterie, soups, and much more.
Dinner focuses on regional flavors and themes each night, drawing inspiration from food lovers' favorite destinations, such as Greece, Peru, Spain, Italy, Japan, and Mexico. Dishes like "Dorade & Greek Fava Dip"—fresh sea bream fillet, traditional fava bean sauce, pickled red onions, fried capers, and new potatoes—and "Solomillo de Cerdo Ibérico"—grilled Iberian pork loin, patatas bravas, and spinach—will evoke the flavors of some of World Navigator's inaugural season itineraries. Dinner in Porto is served with open seating, and the restaurant extends its hours to accommodate all passengers and facilitate social distancing.
It features an alternative water jet propulsion system to navigate silently at up to five knots without disturbing marine life.
One way to experience Portuguese flavors in Porto is with the special Alma menu, available on alternate dinner nights. The menu reflects the soul of the cruise ship's Portuguese heritage, featuring recipes lovingly passed down through generations of cooks. The dishes celebrate key Portuguese culinary traditions, including artisanal techniques using ceramic jars and other culturally significant cooking utensils. Dishes include Bacalhau à Brás from Lisbon, Alheira de Mirandela from Mirandela, and the delicious regional dessert Torta de Azeitão from Setúbal.
Passengers can also enjoy a unique experience at the intimate 7Aft Grill, which features a one-of-a-kind onboard cooking technique called “Jospering,” a grilling method that originated in Barcelona in 1969 and is now considered an epic preparation technique in gourmet charcoal-grilling. 7Aft will be the first onboard venue in the world to utilize this renowned method. Dinner specialties cooked on the Josper grill will include Black Angus filet mignon, New York strip steak, rack of lamb, Dover sole, grilled shrimp, and lobster.
Lunch is also served on the 7Aft pool deck and features modern gastropub-style dishes such as smoked bread, beer-marinated chicken, hot dogs, smoked ribs, and a range of à la carte soups, pizzas, and more. Lunch specials, such as the burger served on a brioche bun, are freshly made on board from scratch, and the 7Aft Angus burgers are always fresh, never frozen.
The Dome is the World Navigator's 270-degree observation lounge, featuring floor-to-ceiling glass walls and, during the day, a place for passengers to enjoy a light, late-night meal after a day of exploration. The Dome's aesthetic is inspired by the horizon and sky, with indoor seating and an extension of the outdoor seating area. The Dome's offerings include hot herbal teas and infusions, such as fresh mint and rosemary, iced tea, cold juices and infusions, such as cucumber and lime, cookies, cakes, specialty sandwiches, savory spreads and cheeses, and vegetarian options.
Passengers can sample Atlas's regionally inspired gourmet cuisine through the tempting array of options on offer.
Passengers looking for delicious, eco-friendly takeaway food can visit Paula's Pantry, named after Ms. Paula Ferreira, an executive at Mystic Invest, co-owner, and wife of Chairman Mário Ferreira, founder of Atlas Ocean Voyages. From early morning until 6:00 p.m., Paula's Pantry will serve grab-and-go beverages, including espresso and specialty coffees made with small-batch, organic, and Fairtrade-certified CaffèMilano beans, Kusmi teas, and fresh detox juices with celery or turmeric; a variety of sandwiches and cold salads; soups; and cupcakes. Like the rest of the World Navigator, Paula's Pantry does not offer single-use plastic products, instead using bamboo straws and cutlery, and biodegradable plates and cups.
The World Navigator also offers room service, with an "always available" menu for all guests, featuring options such as organic cream of tomato soup, hamburgers, club sandwiches, vegan eggplant burgers, and Buddha bowls. For breakfast, passengers can choose between the "classic breakfast" or the "healthy breakfast.".
Atlas Ocean Voyages is a luxury expedition cruise brand designed for discerning travelers seeking immersive and unforgettable experiences in remote and captivating destinations. The World Navigator fosters a refined and welcoming atmosphere and features state-of-the-art hygiene and cleanliness measures integrated into its cutting-edge design. At 9,930 gross tons, the World Navigator boasts SeaSpa, L'OCCITANE's first spa at sea, and is certified as a Polar Category C and Ice Class 1B vessel.
The ship departed from the Port of Viana do Castelo on July 24th to embark passengers at the Port of Leixões for its inaugural cruise to Greece. This 11-day itinerary also included visits to Gibraltar, Formentera, Ibiza, Capri, and finally, Piraeus, Greece. During the summer of 2021, the World Navigator operated itineraries with alternating departures from Athens (Piraeus), Greece, and Cairo (Alexandria), Egypt. From August 4th, the World Navigator was the first and only cruise ship in the industry to take travelers to Egypt, offering a distinctly different, safe, and luxurious regional travel experience. The five new itineraries, ranging from seven to twelve nights, included UNESCO World Heritage sites in almost all of the fourteen unique ports of call, as well as several nights in either Cairo or Mykonos, Greece, allowing passengers to enjoy the vibrant nightlife of each destination. On the inaugural voyage on August 4, guests were also treated to an all-inclusive celebratory dinner and a party on the Giza plateau overlooking the iconic pyramids, which were illuminated at night exclusively for World Navigator passengers. World Navigator passengers enjoyed Atlas's "All Inclusive" promise throughout the voyage, which includes complimentary round-trip airfare, a choice of one shore excursion at each port, prepaid gratuities, gourmet onboard dining, premium beverages, and much more.
Atlas Ocean Voyages offers a luxurious onboard environment and a program of exciting experiences on land.
Due to its small size, the World Navigator also made exclusive stops at small Greek islands inaccessible to larger ships, offering a selection of complimentary shore excursions that included must-see attractions as well as optional diving experiences. Among the captivating complimentary excursion options were Ano Mera, perhaps the most traditional of the Mykonos villages; a visit to Akrotiri, ranked among the top 10 archaeological sites in the world; and the National Museum of Alexandria and its iconic Library.
All shore excursions and land tours were conducted in small groups, led by expert local tour guides, and aboard coaches with less than 50% occupancy to provide ample personal space. Wireless headsets were also used so guests could maintain social distancing while still enjoying the guides' commentary.
The Atlas's extensive list of complimentary amenities also includes emergency medical evacuation insurance, premium wines and spirits, international beers and coffees, Wi-Fi, L'Occitane bath products, and regionally inspired gourmet dining. Guests in each stateroom enjoy binoculars for onboard use, in-room coffee, tea, and personalized bar service, as well as butler service in suites.
The World Navigator will be joined by the World Traveller and the World Seeker in 2022 and the World Adventurer and the World Discoverer in 2023.
