Mystic Cruises Debuts First Ocean Ship

World Explorer is christened in Portugal

MIAMI, April 8, 2019 — In a grand, pier-side gala in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, Mystic Invest Chairman Mário Ferreira and singer, songwriter, supermodel, French former-First Lady, and ship’s Godmother Carla Bruni-Sarkozy christened World Explorer as Mystic Cruises’ first ocean cruise ship. The ceremony was held on April 6.

“Portugal has a rich maritime history and we are very proud that World Explorer is the first luxury cruise ship to be built here. We are further honored to have Ms. Bruni-Sarkozy as the ship’s godmother,” said Mr. Ferreira. “Active and adventurous travelers will delight in sailing with the new Mystic Cruises, which will exemplify Mystic Invest’s more than 25 years’ experience in innovating travel and tourism.”

Captains Alex Zakalashnnyuk from Russia, Filipe Sousa from Portugal, and Terje Willassen from Norway will master the new World Explorer and bring more than 75 years of combined experience aboard the 9,300-gross-tonne, 200-guest World Explorer. A low crew-to-guest ratio will ensure that guests enjoy a luxurious experience as they explore far reaches and smaller ports that larger ships cannot reach.

World Explorer – and sister-ships World Navigator and World Voyager, both scheduled for 2020 – will incorporate the latest maritime technology to be among the world’s most-advanced and safest ships. These 1B Ice Class ships are each equipped with two Rolls Royce 9,000 kw hybrid diesel/electric engines and incorporate FarSounder’s Forward-looking Sonar (FLS) to deftly navigate harbors, rivers, and iceberg fields for convenient access to city centers and incomparable, up-close vistas. Portugal’s WestSea Viana Shipyard is constructing all three ships.

Mystic Cruises is a new expedition cruise company, offering programs in captivating destinations, including Antarctica, Europe, Iceland and Greenland. Focused on offering unique experiences in an eco-friendly way, Mystic Cruises delivers unspoiled landscapes with all the comfort of a five-star cruise ship. German-brand Nicko Cruises will sail World Explorer’s inaugural, summer 2019 season, and Quark Expeditions has chartered the ship for breathtaking Antarctica voyages in winter 2019-20.

Mystic Cruises and Nicko Cruises are brands of Mystic Invest, a privately held Portuguese financial holding company with more than 25 years of experience in the travel and tourism sector. Started in 1993 with the establishment of river cruise company DouroAzul, Mystic Invest has grown to aggregate more than 15 companies and a workforce of more than 550 dedicated professionals working around the world to create unforgettable experiences for more than 375,000 guests who choose a Mystic Invest brand for their holidays every year. From river cruising to hotels and resorts, including museums and helicopter tours, all the way to space tourism, Mystic Invest’s brands are leading the innovation of how travelers discover the world.

---