The 13-page document summarises a roundtable discussion with nine suppliers, the results of an ECN members’ survey and 13 leadership interviews conducted across the expedition cruise sector.

ECN said the aim of the white paper was to “contribute to an industry-led understanding of what expedition cruising represents today and how it continues to evolve”.

The white paper explains how the sector's fleet now includes boutique small ships, expedition yachts, river expedition vessels and hybrid luxury exploration vessels, not just polar expedition vessels.

Chief executive Akvile Marozaite said the idea to create the white paper came about after ECN started attracting operators who offered products away from the polar regions.

"The expedition sector has picked up the pace in the last five years," Marozaite explained. "A lot of companies started building ships before the pandemic and then launched them during the pandemic. Companies entered the market with different types of ships and different selling points. 

"During that time, Atlas Ocean Voyages came in, [and[ Viking and Seabourn both launched expedition ships to name just a few. Aqua became a bit more prominent when Ponant acquired a majority stake in the company. There was definitely a diversification in terms of new operators entering the market."

She added: "Of course, the more operators we have, the greater the need for these operators to differentiate themselves to convince passengers to sail with them."

According to Marozaite, the sector is "maturing" as it pivots away from a "predominantly polar, small ship, adventure-style expedition cruising to other cruising styles, ship sizes and destinations". "This to me signals the sector is maturing and becoming very much its own," she continued.

Senior leaders from companies including 60 Degrees South, Aqua Expeditions, UnCruise Adventures, Ponant, and HX, discussed the topic of “Redefining Expedition Cruising” at the roundtable organised to help create the white paper. 

Marozaite said the white paper was about making sure expedition cruising remains “responsible”. She hopes that not only will ECN’s 3,000 travel agent members read the white paper closely but also trade members who aren’t currently members of the trade body.  

“Other agents will need to register to read the white paper – ECN is free of charge,” she added. “It is quite exciting to bring these people together and spend some time reflecting and understanding where the sector is going. It really helps expedition cruise operators sing from the same hymn sheet.” 

Agents can access the white paper via the ECN's Expedition Cruise Academy website.