The small ship expedition company Heritage Expeditions made history, this time as the first passenger ship to operate in New Zealand this season.
The Christchurch NZ-based company's (chartered from Russia 50-passenger icebreaking ship) Professor Khromov (fka Spirit of Enderby) set sail on its first New Zealanders-only cruise this week.
According to Heritage Expeditions' Commercial Director and Expedition Leader, the sold-out 7-day "Unseen Fiordland and Stewart Island" voyage departed Bluff "under perfect conditions."
Professor Khromov was the first passenger ship to get an exemption to sail from the NZ's Government. Aaron added the Kiwis-only season had received "incredible support from New Zealanders wanting to explore the furthest reaches of their amazing backyard."
International travellers had made up ~80% of Heritage Expeditions passengers, said Aaron.
Heritage Expeditions Southern Ocean season features 7-day expeditions to Fiordland and Stewart Island as well as 8- to 13-day cruises to New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands. The company is looking forward to the opportunity to return to Ross Island in January-February.