The one-ship expedition line’s international sales chief Kate Statsenko exclusively told TTG how the UK and Irish market has “a lot of potential” to grow and become one of the Poseidon’s top source markets alongside the US, Germany and Asia.
Reflecting on this year’s trade showcase in Portsmouth in May, Statsenko said: “It was pretty full. We had more than 60 UK and Irish agents on Sea Spirit.”
The 114-passenger Sea Spirit calls into the UK port when repositioning from Antarctica to the Arctic ahead of its summer season.
When asked how the polar specialist hopes to evolve its UK trade event, Statsenko said: “There are few ideas. Maybe we will take our agent partners on a short cruise from Portsmouth and even do a few landings.
“Most of the agents this year got their own cabins. It’s very important we stay engaged with the trade, and we’re very passionate about polar destinations.”
Poseidon is not the first expedition line to consider expanding educational events to help agents understand their products.
In June, AE Expeditions welcomed more than 100 agents in Troon and Aberdeen for overnight ship visits which were designed “to go beyond the typical short ship tour”.
Statsenko also issued a note of caution around the expedition cruise market’s growth, saying: “My thoughts are the growth of the expedition market is at its limit. It’s at its peak.
“I do think growth is going to slow down as demand slows, though. It’s growing at the moment, we can see it growing, but also, I think the all new-builds from the Covid-era are now operating.”
She added: “We will not see that big capacity growth again.”
Statsenko called for a ban on companies without “at least a decade of experience” from operating in the polar regions’ most delicate areas.
“It seems like everyone wants a piece of the pie,” Statsenko explained. “We started operating in 1999. In 2013, we started operating in Antarctica. It’s a very important area that requires expertise and experience. We did not rush it and we started with the Arctic.”
Poseidon, according to Statsenko, is weighing up whether to add to its fleet or replace Sea Spirit which it currently leases from shipping firm Anglo-Eastern.
“We’re passionate about small ships,” Statsenko said, adding: “We’re considering adding to the fleet. We do not know if we’ll add a second ship or replace Sea Spirit. That’s been an ongoing project for the company. I think it would be great to both ships – Sea Spirit or another one like that.
“Every two years Sea Spirit is put into dry dock and small improvements to the interior and exterior of the ship are made. In 2017, it was completely refurbished.
“We’ve not have any cancellations because of the ship this season and we’re halfway through."
