The New Zealand-based expedition travel company Heritage Expeditions (fleet) welcomed its new flagship Heritage Adventurer for her maiden New Zealand voyage.
The company’s 140-passenger boat made a New Zealand debut at Port Tauranga (Rotorua) on Tuesday, November 15, and welcomed tourists before setting sail on her Kiwi maiden voyage New Zealand Coastal Odyssey.
According to Directors Aaron and Nathan Russ, the arrival of Heritage Adventurer marked an exciting time for the family-owned company which had been exploring New Zealand’s coastline with intrepid passengers since 1985.
Dubbed the ‘Grande Dame of Expedition Cruising’ because of her celebrated history and expedition prowess, the arrival of Heritage Adventurer to the fleet of Heritage Expeditions opened a new chapter for the pioneering line.
The ship is currently sailing on her 11-day New Zealand Coastal Odyssey: The Ultimate Exploration, from Auckland to Queenstown, uncovering the towering mountains of Fiordland, the geysers of Rotorua, the playground of Marlborough Sounds, wildlife havens of Stewart Island and Ulva Island, the French-infused village of Akaroa, New Zealand’s Art Deco capital Napier, and more.
The 1991-built MS Heritage Adventurer cruise ship (fka "RCGS Resolute" and "MS Hanseatic") is a premium polar expedition vessel that used to be chartered by the now-defunct Canadian cruise company "One Ocean Expeditions" (OOE). The boat has a max passenger capacity of 146 (plus 11 crew) and offers comfort, luxury amenities, a unique "small ship travel" vacation style, expansive educational programming, and numerous onboard and ashore activities tailored to guests' individual interests.
In mid-May 2021, the shipowner announced that starting in 2022, the vessel will be chartered to Heritage Expeditions (a New Zealand-based expedition travel company) and operated under the new name "Heritage Adventurer". Originally designed with a max capacity of 184 passengers, Heritage Adventurer's capacity was reduced to 140 in order to create a comfortable experience and allow more personalized service.