Speaking during a media event in London on Tuesday (16 May), chair Martin Johnson announced Netherlands-based Oceanside Expeditions and Antarctica specialist Polar Latitudes were the latest brands to join the group, brining its cruise line membership to 16.

Johnson also said the network had amassed 330 travel trade members in its first month of operation and has set its sights on exceeding 500 members in the near future.

"We are looking to appeal to both new-to-expedition cruise sellers and those who are experienced in selling the product," Johnson said.

"The ECN was born because the expedition market is the fastest growing travel sector in the world, and we want to help the trade capitalise on that."

To support members with expedition cruise selling, the ECN will offer "the most extensive expedition cruise training programme and webinar series ever" during the second half of 2023.

"Expedition cruising is no longer a product for the super rich – it can be accessible to all, and this is what we want to get across in our training, to equip travel sellers in the best way possible to sell the product," Johnson concluded.

Sessions will include how to sell expedition cruising; sustainability and responsible travel in expedition cruising; selling luxury expedition cruising; Polar Matters: selling Antarctica, Arctic and beyond; and Galapagos and South America: small-yacht and expedition cruising.

Akvile Marozaite, chief executive of the ECN, said: "We are pleased to report that all of our Expedition Cruise Network Members have reported growth or significant growth in the first quarter of 2023.

"Antarctica is by far and away the best performing destination, with the northern polar region and the Galapagos Islands the next most popular destinations while Polynesia and Patagonia were specified as booking well too."

Agents and cruise specialists can sign up for the training here.