Antarctica21 Publishes First Sustainability Report

Antarctica21 Publishes First Sustainability Report

Antarctica21 has published its first Sustainability Report.

Titled “Ambassadors of the White Continent,” it documents how the company measured and managed its environmental, social and economic impact during its 2025-26 fiscal year.

The full report is available here, and the executive summary here.

It sets a measurable baseline for the company and was prepared in accordance with GRI Universal Standards 2021, incorporating SASB indicators applicable to the cruise sector.

It reports on 104 indicators aligned with the company’s Sustainability Policy, which includes a roadmap through 2033, the year of Antarctica21’s 30th anniversary.

“This new Sustainability Report is tangible proof of our commitment to operating our expeditions and our business with excellence, responsibility, transparency, and a long-term vision,” said Verónica Peragallo, CEO of Antarctica21.

“This is the beginning of a new chapter, one in which we will continue to learn, measure our impact, and raise our standards while meeting the responsibility of exploring one of the most extraordinary and sensitive places on the planet. For Antarctica21, beyond this report, sustainability is built every day by each member of our teams.”

During the 2025-26 season, Antarctica21’s total carbon footprint of 6,878 tCO2e, measured across Scopes 1, 2, and 3, was fully offset through certified credits tied to renewable energy projects in Chile.

The company completed a second consecutive season running its Zodiacs on e-fuels, the world’s first operator to use synthetic fuel in Antarctica.

Furthermore, solar panels at Explorers House, its expedition centre in Punta Arenas, covered 44 per cent of the building’s energy consumption.

In addition, 25.4 per cent of all supplier spending went to businesses in the Magallanes Region, while the Antarctica21 Foundation reached 4,000 direct beneficiaries during the season.

In the report, the company stated that the construction of the Magellan Explorer, the first hybrid-electric polar cruise ship in the Americas, under construction at the ASENAV shipyards in Valdivia, is over 90 per cent complete.

On April 19, 2026, the vessel completed its first autonomous navigation on the Calle-Calle River, in Valdivia, marking the first time it sailed using its own propulsion system, representing a key step ahead of the start of sea trials.

As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, the Discoverer is scheduled for delivery on September 30, with an inaugural voyage set for December 15.

Majestic Princess Swaps Galveston for South America in 2026-27

Majestic Princess Swaps Galveston for South America in 2026-27

Instead of offering cruises departing from Galveston, the Majestic Princess will sail in South America during the 2026-27 winter season.

Initially scheduled to sail from Texas to the Caribbean, the Royal-class ship saw its four-month season in the region cancelled in early April.

At the time, Princess Cruises said that the decision was part of a “broader global fleet redeployment strategy.”

The company then announced, in late May, its plans to operate the Majestic Princess in South America and Antarctica.

Running between November 2026 and January 2027, the ship’s season in the region includes five itineraries and six departures.

The deployment is highlighted by scenic cruising in Antarctica, including two overnight experiences in the Antarctic Peninsula.

Ranging from 15 to 33 days in length, the ship’s itineraries in the region will also mark Princess’s debut in the Beagle Channel Fjords and Glacier Alley.

The Majestic Princess is also set to visit Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and the Falkland Islands as part of cruises departing from Bridgetown, Buenos Aires and San Antonio.

In other recent deployment news, Princess announced that the Sapphire Princess, which is sailing in South America in 2025-26, will reposition to Asia.

Sailing along with its sister ship, the Diamond Princess, the ship will offer a series of cruises departing from Singapore and Yokohama.

The 14- to 42-night itineraries feature visits to destinations in Southeast Asia and the Far East, such as Hong Kong, Ha Long Bay and Ko Samui.

With the Majestic in South America and the Sapphire in Asia, Princess won’t offer cruises departing from Galveston in 2026-27.

The company is set to operate a farewell season from the Texas homeport in 2025-26, which will include the Regal Princess offering four- to eight-night cruises to destinations in the Western and Southern Caribbean.

Star Kicks Off Norwegian’s 2023-24 Season in South America and Antarctica

Star Kicks Off Norwegian’s 2023-24 Season in South America and Antarctica

The Norwegian Star recently arrived in South America to kick off Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2023-24 in the region.

Extending through April, the local program features different itineraries to Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, the Falkland Islands, Chile, and Antarctica.

After concluding its summer program in Northern Europe, the 2,200-guest vessel arrived in Brazil in early December.

Before concluding its repositioning cruise in Rio de Janeiro, the Star visited several destinations in the country, including Recife, Maceió, Salvador and Búzios.

Continuing its way to the Southern tip of the continent, the ship also offered a ten-night cruise to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay in mid-December.

The one-way cruise sailed from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires and featured visits to Búzios, Ilha Grande, Ilhabela, Santos, Balneário Camboriú, Punta del Este and Montevideo.

Once in Buenos Aires, the Norwegian Star kicked off the first sailing of a regular series of cruises to Argentina, Antarctica, Uruguay, and the Falkland Islands.

The 16-night cruise features visits to several destinations in the region, such as Puerto Madryn, Punta Arenas, Port Stanley and Punta del Este.

Before returning to Buenos Aires, the Norwegian Star is also scheduled to spend a few days cruising around Elephant Island and other parts of Antarctica.

After additional itineraries in the region, the 2001-built vessel is scheduled to return to Europe in mid-April, via a transatlantic crossing that starts in Rio de Janeiro and ends in Lisbon, Portugal.

In addition to the Star, Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2023-24 program in South America also includes the Norwegian Sun.

Between January and early March, the vessel is scheduled to offer a series of cruises to the Andes, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego that include visits to destinations in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and the Falkland Islands.

Norwegian Cruise Line Could Be Set To Move Some Asia Capacity

Norwegian Cruise Line Could Be Set To Move Some Asia Capacity

With uncertainties still surrounding operating cruises in parts of Asia, Norwegian Cruise Line could be poised to redeploy ships in the near future, according to NCLH President and CEO Frank Del Rio, speaking on the company’s first-quarter earnings call.

Despite what Del Rio said were cruises selling at very high prices, there is still a risk.

“And so we will likely take some chips off the board in the coming weeks to balance that risk-reward, likely at the Norwegian brand, which has more flexibility in where it can achieve good pricing and accelerate the bookings, much faster than Oceania and Regent can, because of the longer booking curve there,” Del Rio said.

The Norwegian Sun has a scheduled Asia program for the 2022-2023 season, while the newly-refurbished Norwegian Spirit is scheduled to sail in Australia and New Zealand.

“The good news is that we heard from the Minister of Tourism in New Zealand that they expect New Zealand to open up no later than October to cruising. That opens up that whole Australasia area for us (including) Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti. And we hear good commentary coming out of some Asian countries, some Asian ports, (but) not China. And we're not very big in China as you know,” he continued.

Del Rio said he was hopeful for Asia and also South America, where Argentina, Uruguay and Chile will be open to ships.

“The world is reopening perhaps at different paces. But it is reopening. And that's good news for us.”

Fincantieri Signs Green Hydrogen Agreement

Fincantieri has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Enel Green Power Italia to explore and develop the use of green hydrogen for port operations and long-range maritime transport.

In particular, Fincantieri said the two companies will evaluate the possibility of collaborating both in the supply of green hydrogen to naval, submarine and surface vessels, and to industrial users within the port area, including the design and construction of the necessary infrastructure elements, including storage, where necessary; and in the design and development of a system for the management of energy flows, including the involvement of other companies from the respective groups.

Enel’s Eugenio Montale power plant in La Spezia (Liguria region) will be used as an initial test site for the activities covered by the agreement, thus launching a sustainable energy transition path for the site.

In the context of the energy transition, hydrogen can make a valuable contribution to the decarbonization of energy-intensive industries such as chemicals, aviation, maritime transport and non-electrified railways, provided it is produced in a sustainable manner, Fincantieri stated in a prepared announcement.

Enel Green Power is committed to the creation and development of projects for the production and use of ‘green’ or ‘renewable’ hydrogen, derived from the electrolysis of water-powered exclusively by renewable electricity. The Group has therefore started studying new business models that include the supply of green hydrogen for the decarbonization of industrial sectors, with partnerships and projects already being developed in Italy, Chile, the United States and Spain.

According to the two companies, this MoU may also lead to further agreements.

New Magellan Explorer Christened

New Magellan Explorer Christened

Antarctica21 christened the Magellan Explorer on a sunny Southern Hemisphere summer day in Punta Arenas, Chile. More than 200 special guests attended the Nov. 8 ceremony, a select few of which were invited for an overnight cruise.

Francesco Contini, executive vice president of sales and marketing, called the ceremony “moving” and that the friends-and-family overnight sail was a chance to test the ship out.

“It was the first opportunity to test the ship for guest operations, including boarding procedures, hospitality, dining, zodiac operations, et cetera,” Contini said. “We're now very much looking forward to welcoming your guests and delivering our personalized, boutique service onboard our beautiful, new ship.”

The distinctive hull design and logo marks the company's chance from Antarctica XXI to Antarctica21 last year. Several photographers are booked on the inaugural cruise Nov. 28 to Dec. 8.

The 90.7 meter, 4,900 ton, Magellan Explorer has a crew of 60. The ship was built for 100 guests but will sail with just 73 passengers for the season, the same number as the of seats on the company's flights to King George Island, according to the 2019 Expedition Market Report by Cruise Industry News. The ship has been built for expedition operations, with a 60-day operational capacity, meaning huge amounts of cold storage space and fuel tank space.

The local operation has an edge in the market, as the only player operating a full season of fly-cruises, cutting days off sailing time with no Drake Passage transits.

Two Le Boreal cruises canceled to repair ship

Ponant has canceled the Nov. 30 and Dec. 10 departures of Le Boreal, a yacht that was damaged by a fire on its previous cruise.

Ponant evacuated all of the passengers from Le Boreal after a fire “of a technical nature” broke out as the ship was cruising near the Falkland Islands. The passengers were repatriated last weekend, Ponant said.

The ship is now at the quay in the East Cove Military Port in the Falkland Islands, and will be towed in the next few days to Punta Arenas’ shipyard in Chile for repairs.

The 264-passenger ship had just started a 15-night round trip Antarctica sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, on Nov. 15. The itinerary included a visit to South Georgia before landing in Antarctica and touring Deception Island. 

Norwegian adds cruise tours in South America

Norwegian Cruise Line said it has developed three cruise tours for guests booking its South America itineraries on Norwegian Sun.

One of the cruise tours includes three days pre- or post-cruise in Buenos Aires and includes a tango lesson from professional dancers. A second adds a two-day eco-tour in the region of Iguazu Falls, as well as a visit to a working ranch.

The third tour includes a three-day adventure on Easter Island and two days in Santiago, Chile.

Norwegian Sun will cruise through South America from November 21, 2015, through April 9, 2016, sailing alternating eastbound and westbound 14-day voyages between Santiago and Buenos Aires. 

Adventures in South America With HAL

October 07, 2013Holland America Line provides an adventurous South America itinerary filled with wildlife, wines and bikingBy: Stuart Wasserman

Cruise

Guests onboard Holland America Line’s Veendam on South America and Antarctica Explorer cruises have the option of photographing local penguins. // © 2013 Stuart Wasserman

On a 20-day cruise on Holland America Line’s (HAL) Veendam from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires, I decided to mix my adventures: wildlife, wines, technical classes onboard and a real thriller, a bicycle tour in Buenos Aires.

My companion and I chose this last activity because we thought it would be a good way to see the oldest sections of Buenos Aires: the La Boca and San Telmo districts. There were around a dozen participants and we were supplied with everything — bicycles with wide tires and helmets and two guides to accompany us, one in front and one in back.

One would think that anybody could ride a bike — didn’t we all do that once as kids? Judging by our experience, it turns out that riding a bike in Buenos Aires is really for daredevils. HAL warns their guests that participants should be experienced bicyclists able to ride off curbs and that helmets are required, but there were other perils. Buenos Aires is a big city and doesn’t have bike lanes in place. On our tour, I quickly found I didn’t know the local driving customs.

“Stay together,” the guide told us at the beginning of our ride, but Argentine drivers don’t seem to be accustomed to bicyclists on their streets. We learned this as a fuel truck driver making a right turn blared the truck horn for about 10 seconds before he continued his turn, splitting our long line of riders in two.

One of our group members described it as “a harrowing day, the kind of day that you will take to you grave” — but we all survived with war stories. Perhaps we should have chosen a day of wine tasting instead.

Actually, we did that as well, just outside Montevideo, Uruguay, at the Bouza Winery, a family-run business that believes that small is better. The winery features some new structures, including a large dining room with grand windows. Waiters roamed the room, pouring four tastes of wine, and served us an extravagant lunch of lamb, beef and tasty cheese. Live traditional music at lunch was provided by an accordion player and a pianist.

That experience was topped only by a later visit with penguins in their natural habitat. Three choices were offered on the Veendam. Magdalena Island, near Punta Arena, Chile, proved to be the best choice for us, as guests have more time with the penguins. In addition, access to the island via a modern ferry is easy and involves less walking than the other options.

Magdalena Island is home to Magellanic penguins, charming because they look like they are smiling. More than a thousand of them were hopping about, some digging out a new front porch, others coddling their fledglings, which were born just about 40 days earlier. Some of the adults were waddling around, while others were lifting their heads, puffing out their breasts and making a honking call. Sadly, we learned from Palmer Station employees that the arctic penguin population is dying off due to global warming, which is bringing sub-arctic penguins to the station.

The adventures continued on our days at sea. I was thrilled with the complimentary onboard digital workshops, including tips on camera operation and photo editing and organization. These new hour-long classes are offered on all HAL ships in a classroom setting. On Veendam, small classes of 10 covered using a digital camera, photo editing, movie and slideshow creation, PC organization, cloud storage with SkyDrive and navigating Windows 8. The classes began last year as a marriage between HAL and Microsoft and were so popular that they were extended through 2014.

In addition, one-on-one coaching called Techspert Time is available 70 hours each week so guests can stop by with questions. Those in need of more in-depth assistance can attend these help sessions.

HAL offers its three-week South America and Antarctica Explorer cruises on the Zaandam, embarking Dec. 18 of this year as well as Jan. 8 and 29, and Dec. 22 of next year.