AOV-Atlas Ocean Voyages celebrated a milestone weekend with the christening ceremonies for its new sisterships World Navigator and World Traveller.
World Navigator has been in service since 2021 but was never formally named due to COVID restrictions.
Karen Lundgren (adventurer) and Theresa Scalzitti (and chief sales officer for Florida-based Cruise Planners) served as godmothers at the Dual Naming Ceremony for World Navigator (Karen Lundgren) and World Traveller (Theresa Scalzitti).
The 2 yacht-style expedition ships were named in the fjords along Beagle Channel's Glacier Alley as part of an invitation-only preview voyage to Chilean Patagonia.
VIP guests at the naming ceremony included shareholders, travel advisors, media, and dignitaries from Chile and Argentina.
World Traveller was christened on November 19, followed by Pia Glacier Zodiac sightseeing.
The naming festivities for World Navigator took place the next day (November 20), preceded by a celebratory luncheon.
The vessels are both owned by the Portugal-based company Mystic Cruises and exclusively chartered by AOV (for polar cruises).
To serve as the vessel's godmother, AOV selected Karen Lundgren, an explorer and adventurer who is the 13th woman in the world to conquer the 7 Summits +1 – which includes the highest mountain peaks on each of the continents.
Theresa Scalzitti has championed travel agents on the supplier and agency sides of the industry for ~3 decades. She heads sales, marketing and business development at Cruise Planners, the largest home-based travel franchise organization in the US.
Both ships are Polar Category C- and Ice Class 1B-certified. They cater to global travelers with a passion for exploring off-the-beaten-path spots. The stylish expedition ships offer 5-star comfort, from luxurious accommodations and an all-inclusive onboard experience to customized private tours and in-depth excursions, for a truly personalized journey.
With just 100 accommodations, passengers enjoy nearly a 1:1 passenger-to-staff ratio and a special camaraderie and bond with fellow explorers. This way discerning travelers can immerse themselves in unique moments in remote destinations, from Antarctica to the Arctic, and discover sought-after ports of call in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and the Americas.