Meanwhile, more than 250 travel trade professionals have signed up to the trade membership portal within just two weeks of the network’s launch.

Martin Johnson, chair of the ECN, said: "It’s incredible to see the initial response of ECN both in terms of new operators joining the network, and travel trade members signing up to the platform.

"The expedition cruise sector has gone through a huge amount of development in recent years, and we are incredibly proud to form the first dedicated membership organisation."

The group will look to connect expedition cruise operators and "inform, educate and promote" their products to a targeted global travel-trade community.
  
The network has three categories of members: expedition cruise members; travel trade members; and associate members.

During ECN’s launch period, 10 travel trade professionals who join the network by the end of May will have an opportunity to spend an evening in June in London hosted by Lindblad Expeditions.