Pelorus and OceanSky Cruises collaborate to usher in a new age of no-footprint airship voyages that will unlock some of the most inaccessible corners of the world. Olivia Palamountain reports
Experiential travel and yachting company Pelorus has joined forces with “airline of airships”, OceanSky Cruises, to support the development and progression of ultra-sustainable airship travel. (You can learn more about the technology in this interview Globetrender conducted with airship manufacturer Hybrid Air Vehicles.)
As OceanSky’s “expedition partner”, Pelorus will deliver comprehensive research, planning and logistics to build bespoke private experiences pre-, post- and onboard OceanSky Cruises’ fleet of industry-leading “lighter than air” airships.
The first charters are planned to take flight in 2024 when guests will have the opportunity to cruise in complete comfort and luxury from Svalbard to what is often considered “ground zero” for climate change – the North Pole. Tickets will be about US$200,000 per person.
Geordie Mackay-Lewis, co-founder and CEO of Pelorus, says: “It’s not every day that opportunities become available to partner with a brand who is looking to move the needle quite as much as Carl-Oscar and his team at Oceansky Cruises. At Pelorus, innovation in sustainable travel is at the very forefront of our minds and business.
“We are devoted to crafting perspective changing experiences for our clients. We’re incredibly excited about the future of this collaboration and possibilities it creates to showcase remote parts of the planet in a much more environmentally conscious way.”
Passengers can expect to embark on a luxurious 36-hour round-trip cruise, 1000ft above sea level, taking in a unique perspective of the majestic landscape and its natural inhabitants.
Pelorus says that will passengers will find “immaculately designed individual cabins and living spaces akin to what can be found onboard some of the world’s most impressive superyachts”. There will also be Michelin star fine-dining and 360-degree panoramic viewing areas. Polar experts and scientists who have dedicated their careers to the research and preservation of the region will also be onboard, giving guests the opportunity to learn about the region from experts in the field.
The peak of this experience is the extraordinarily rare opportunity to drop down onto the exact location of the Geographic North Pole and spend a few precious hours at the very top of our planet having lunch. This will only be possible thanks to the unique capabilities of the low-impact airship that does not require a runway and can lift off the ground peacefully. Carl-Oscar Lawaczeck, CEO of Oceansky Cruises, says: “We partner with the best experiential companies in the world: to make sure we execute the future of airship travel in the most excellent way possible. Pelorus is a leader in the market curating bespoke adventures, and together we’re delighted to be pioneering this unique expedition to the North Pole.
More information about the exact details of Pelorus x OceanSky Cruises charter experiences will be released in 2023 with plans already being formulated for additional routes and regions.
To learn more about the emerging luxury travel trend for “Clean Tech Expeditions” (a term coined by Globetrender), download the free Pelorus x Globetrender report on Luxury Travel and Yachting Trends: 2023-2027.