Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator Makes its Maiden Voyage from Pireaus, Greece to Alexandria, Egypt — Part 1

Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator

By Peter Knego

A maiden voyage is a milestone event that many crossers and cruisers yearn to be a part of.

However, as most know, the cachet of being a “maiden voyager” comes with caveats, especially when the ship is the first for a brand new company.

Atlas Ocean Voyages is a new luxe expedition cruise line formed by parent company Mystic Invest Holding, which in the past 25 years has grown from operating a day cruise ship on the Douro to a venture that has built and operated more than 60 river, ocean and expedition vessels.

The 200-pax World Navigator during her maiden call at Patmos. * Photo: Peter Knego

Expected Inaugural Bumps

Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator made her first revenue sailing on August 4 with a 9-night cruise from Piraeus, Greece to Alexandria, Egypt. There were several expected bumps, though overall, just about everyone on board was delighted to have been among the first to welcome this jewel of a ship into cruise service.

By the time this post is read, I’m pretty certain most of the following issues will have been addressed. So let’s get them out of the way so we can discuss the ship and eventually the service, food, life on board and the itinerary.

Well in advance of the cruise, as is now often done with upscale ships, guests were offered a virtual menu of stateroom options.

In our case, we had requested a queen (versus two twin beds), a blanket instead of a duvet, down pillows, and soda water (only) in our cabin fridge. When we arrived at the ship, only the bed was as requested and it took several days before the duvet was replaced with a blanket and the soda water (finally, after showing our cabin attendant a photo of a bottle from the bar) was filled.

The down pillows never materialized and little things like giving us a rudimentary initiation that would have shown us where the switch was for our Juliet Balcony window (more on that later), how to properly use the vexing TV remote and multi-jet shower, which coffee packets were decaf versus regular, etc. never happened.

And finally, a spoiler alert: I will mention more in Part 2, but briefly, there was a COVID-positive case mid-cruise that did have a profound effect on the remainder of the voyage. The Atlas team’s response to that was reassuringly swift, thoughtful and comprehensive. Please stay tuned for more on that topic.

COVID Protocols

Far more importantly, the COVID protocols were a mixed bag.

Atlas did thankfully require a negative PCR test within 72 hours of boarding and actually provided a rapid antigen test at the cruise terminal. Another rapid antigen test was provided mid-cruise.

Hand sanitizers and masks were located throughout the ship and at the gangway when in port. Additionally, we were each provided with a thoughtful kit in our cabins that contained four N95 masks, hand sanitizer, paper soap and a “no touch” door opening device.

Complimentary COVID kits with sanitizing mist, N95 masks, hands-free door openers and more were provided to each guest aboard World Navigator. * Photo: Peter Knego

Large signs were posted in various public areas reminding guests to abide by the protocols. Signage on the decking and stair towers had arrows to ensure safe distancing and in lounges and restaurants, every other seat had a “please do not sit” sign to enforce social distancing.

Unfortunately, while the staff and vast majority of guests abided by the rules, there were some guests who did not. For the safety and comfort of the many who did get vaccinated and wore masks, those rules should have been politely enforced.

Several fellow guests on the trip had mentioned that if they knew that the rules would not have been enforced, they would have considered not going.

I understand the management not wanting to be heavy handed during its debut but in this circumstance with the health and safety of all on the line, I am hoping that they will reconsider this position immediately.

While some of the dining staff were understandably a bit shy in the beginning, by mid-cruise most were feeling their stride. Some, like our favorite waiters Sim and Joseph, were shining stars. Their smiles beamed through their COVID masks and almost instantly, they knew our names and even our dietary preferences.

Joseph (left) and Sim were friendly, engaging, intuitive and skilled waiters. They made us feel welcome and were a highlight of our cruise experience. * Photo: Peter Knego

The Alma Portuguese alternate menu in the Porto Restaurant never happened. I’m not sure if this was a supply issue or if the staff was just not ready, but it’s not as if we didn’t have enough excellent culinary choices during our time aboard.

Indeed, much worse things have happened on maiden voyages and were the ship not catering to a high end and demanding market, these things — aside from the COVID issues — would be trifles.

Below, a quick video clip of the World Navigator at Santorini.

The Ship!

Now, let’s talk about this little jewel of a ship! At 9,930 gross tons and with a capacity for just 196 guests, the Ice Class 1B and Polar Category C, World Navigator is the perfect size for deluxe expedition cruising.

She is large enough to feel like a proper ship but compact enough that nothing is more than just a short walk away.

Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator does not boast impractical and expensive toys like helicopters and submarines.

Of course, such entities are exciting but can only be deployed in certain ports and command high usage fees, not to mention all the deck and storage space they take up.

Below, a quick clip of The Dome observation lounge, a spectacular space created by Oitemponto, the ship’s Portuguese design firm.

The World Navigator’s interiors are by a land-based outfit called Oitoemponto who have averted the mistakes made by many land design firms who forget ships move, especially when cruising Polar regions.

This means that sharp edges and fragile fittings can be easily damaged or cause injury and from what I could see and experience, the Navigator was free of those issues. I was also pleased to learn that as gorgeous as the Navigator is, her four future sisters, all scheduled to debut within the next couple of years, will feature different design styles, color schemes and furnishing.

The Water’s Edge is an observation terrace with heated seating only 30 feet away from the sea on forward Deck 5. * Photo: Peter Knego

Unlike some other expedition ships that have limited observation vantages, this one has it in spades.

There’s a forward-facing terrace on Deck 7, an unobscured running track (with four open air workout stations) at the top of the ship on Deck 8, and an open bow platform with heated seating called The Water’s Edge on Deck 5.

You’ll also find open-air terraces on aft Decks 5 through 7.

Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator Deck 7

On Deck 7, there is a beautiful observation lounge with a skylight called the Dome, followed by a shallow pool with two whirlpools. This area is served by a bar called 7 Aft that becomes a chop house offering several cuts of steak and Lobster Thermidor for up to 60 guests per evening and a maximum of 16 at a time.

Below, the Atlas Lounge is another gorgeous space that is as comfortable as it is pleasing to look at.

Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator Deck 4

Deck 4 is dedicated to public areas, beginning with the Dom Henrique Theater and meeting room that can seat all guests at once as can the beautiful Atlas Lounge, which follows.

The Atlas Lounge has a bar, a dance floor and a small library as well as furnishings that are as solid and comfortable as they are beautiful to look at. Color schemes here and throughout the ship feature walnut tones (in a mahogany grain), vivid golds, teal and charcoal gray that are bold, yet tasteful and pleasing to the eye. The overall style is Art Deco (with a dash of Frank Lloyd Wright in the patterns) and flourishes of MidCentury. All of this is infused with sunlight via full length windows.

World Navigator’s reception area follows the Atlas Lounge and adjoined by a gym with TechnoGym equipment, a L’Occitaine en Provence Spa (with two treatment rooms, a steam area and a relaxation room) as well as a boutique.

Continuing aft, Paula’s Pantry is a wonderful juice, coffee and snack bar that has a variety of treats that change throughout the day. This was a perfect place to begin the morning with a fresh espresso drink and a great place to grab something to take on the go.

It also has a self-serve water filling station for refilling metal water bottles supplied in each cabin to help cut back on use of plastics.

Below, the Porto Restaurant is an ideal setting for a casual but upscale dining experience.

The gorgeous Porto Restaurant wraps up Deck 4. Broken up into intimate alcoves and with a sheltered al fresco terrace that overlooks the ship’s wake, this space can seat all guests at once. With its open seating policy and some competition from 7 Aft, this space never felt crowded during our cruise.

Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator Deck 3

On Deck 3, there is a mud room for changing and storing expedition wear, wetsuits, and the like. On our cruise, without there being a place for the ship to anchor and launch the expedition gear (which includes six zodiacs, two jet skis, six paddle boards and twelve kayaks), we never put it to use.

The sitting area of Navigator Suite 521. * Photo: Peter Knego

Accommodations run the gamut from 465-square-foot Navigator Suites with a separate sitting area, a bedroom, upgraded amenities, butler service and a large balcony to more modest 183-square-foot Adventure Staterooms with a picture window.

All staterooms and suites are equipped with either a queen or two twin beds, a Nespresso espresso machine and L’Occitaine en Provence amenities. They’re also stocked with a mini bar, plenty of storage space, ample electrical outlets, a glass shower with rain head and body jets, luxury cotton bed linens, use of terrycloth bathrobes and binoculars, slippers and wireless internet access.

Horizon Cabin 636, facing port. * Photo: Peter Knego

Our stateroom, 636, was a 270-square-foot Horizon cabin. It featured a Juliet balcony, a feature popular on numerous European river ships (some built by Mystic) that is basically a full-length window, with the top portion being able to slide down with the touch of a button.

Especially during the heatwave we experienced, this was a perfect way to have open air access from our stateroom without wasting space on a balcony that we would have never used. And it gave us an especially inviting and commodious sitting area to enjoy.

So, that covers the maiden voyage caveats and the basics of our lovely ship in a Brazil-sized nutshell. More on World Navigator’s service, entertainment, food and the cruise, itself, in Part 2.

RELATED: Part 2 of Peter’s review of Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator,

AND THIS: Peter’s Part 3 of his World Navigator Maiden Voyage.

AND ALSO THIS: Peter’s great full ship video tour!

RELATED: Check out writer Peter Knego’s awesome YouTube channel HERE, he’s got some great videos of ships of all kinds, but mostly historic, small and/or quirky ships & boats. Subscribe & enjoy!

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