Atlas Ocean Voyages World Navigator

The Balconies and Picture Windows: All 98 staterooms and suites feature an ocean view—and nearly 90 percent have a balcony. They come in seven categories, ranging from 183-square-foot Adventure Staterooms with a large picture window and a mosaic-tiled spa shower to 465-square-foot one-bedroom Navigator Suites with a spa shower and bathtub plus a 106-square-foot veranda. A notable option are the 269-square-foot Horizon Staterooms, which feature a floor-to-ceiling glass wall with an upper panel that slides open to make the entire cabin a veranda. Solo suites will be available in 2022. Atlas’s Porto-based parent company originally developed the concept for its DouroAzul river ships. 

The World-Spanning Itineraries: Visiting six continents and offering access to everything from the pyramids of Egypt to the gleaming blue icebergs of the Antarctic Circle, World Navigator’s initial seven-to-24-night itineraries in 2021 and early 2022 focus on the Mediterranean, Egypt, the Caribbean, South America and Antarctica. 

Design That’s Not Fussy: Laid-back elegance is the brand’s design mantra and using a blend of classic and contemporary styles—a touch of Art Deco in muted greens, blues and neutrals in the staterooms and panoramic lounge—combined with a heated pool and whirlpools and restaurants featuring regionally-inspired gourmet cuisine, Atlas has created a soothing environment for its luxe-adventure brand.

A Focus on Sustainability: Like a growing number of cruise lines, Atlas has banned single-use plastics aboard its ships. But World Navigator also cruises with the benefit of the latest hybrid power management and propulsion system that consumes as little as one-fifth the fuel of conventional cruise ship systems. And with its alternate hydro-jet propulsion, it can quietly cruise up to five knots without disturbing sensitive marine wildlife. 

Authenticity Seekers: Atlas describes its intended cruise clientele as “low-key connoisseurs in search of authentic cultural experiences and once-in-a-lifetime journeys.” And 423-foot-long World Navigator is built to deliver that with a 1B-Ice Class-certified hull and custom-designed Zodiac MilPro Mark V inflatable boats to ferry passengers ashore in even the remotest bucket-list locales.

All-Inclusive Luxe-Adventure Has a High Price Tag: Yes, it’s all included—roundtrip airfare, direct private jet service for Antarctica, accommodations, food and premium beverages, gratuities, complimentary excursions in select ports, and more combining luxury onboard with adventure ashore at a great value — but it may be beyond some traveler’s budgets. 2022’s  published fares start at $5,279 per person for a seven-night South America sailing from Balboa to Lima and $13,199 for a 12-night Antarctic journey.