AE Expeditions, Australia’s award-winning Adventure Travel Company, welcomed the ship Greg Mortimer into Portsmouth Harbour for the first time prior to its debut Jewels of Coastal UK voyage.

As the ship was preparing to set sail on its debut exploration of the coastal United Kingdon, Jos Dewing, Managing Director, EMEA, AE Expeditions, welcomed aboard leading tour operators and travel agents to inspect the ship first-hand.

Jos commented, “All of the specialist travel companies who joined us on Greg Mortimer, have customers who share AE Expeditions’ passion for exploring unique hidden pockets of the planet”.

He continued, “AE’s ethos for the preservation and conservation of the natural world is shared amongst all of our travel partners. This was the perfect opportunity for Aurora to showcase the ship and for them to meet some of our expedition crew who are carefully selected for each voyage”.

Karen Hollands, Sales Executive, was on hand to explain the ‘Special Guest’ programme, a highlight of the coming seasons, which commenced with Miranda Krestovnikoff, the President of the RSPB, prominent TV presenter, zoologist and leading conservationist joining the Jewels of Coastal UK voyage later in the day.

Jos further commented that, “The UK is a highly successful market for AE Expeditions. With the invaluable help of some of the UK’s leading travel agents and tour operators who specialise in small ship, expeditionary cruising, sales for polar voyages on our ships, Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle have increased year on year by 124%, alongside a 50% increase in agent partnerships.

He continued, “Aurora greatly values its trade relationships, and Katie Harber and Karen Hollands have nurtured these alongside a programme of training and sales support. Joined now by Andrew Tait, Senior Business Development Manager, I am confident that the trend in expeditionary voyaging will continue to rise alongside the consumer choice of travelling with a cruise line that puts sustainability and conservation right at its heart”.