World Voyager Enters Drydock Ahead of Antarctica Season

Mystic Cruises' World Voyager is undergoing emergency drydock repairs at the Lisnave Shipyard in Setúbal, Portugal, ahead of its upcoming deployment to Antarctica. Company CEO Mário Ferreira said the 200-guest vessel required an unplanned stop to replace a faulty stabilizer before heading south. Ferreira said the ship was brought into drydock for a week so engineers could address the deficiency, with Lisnave bringing in specialists from German manufacturer SKF to carry out the stabilizer replacement. He emphasized that guest safety and comfort remain the company's top priorities throughout the process. The 2020-built, 10,000-ton World Voyager is scheduled to begin its repositioning voyage toward Antarctica the week of 19 Oct 2026, with its season set to start in early November offering expedition cruises from Argentina. The ship will sail for Quark Expeditions during the 2026-27 winter season under a seasonal charter agreement, while continuing to operate for Mystic's Atlas Ocean Voyages brand in summer months. It replaces sister ship World Explorer, which has been sold to Windstar Cruises and is leaving the expedition market. The World Voyager is part of a series built for Mystic Cruises at the West Sea shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, alongside the World Navigator, World Traveller and Star Seeker. Before moving to Atlas Ocean Voyages in 2023, the vessel sailed for Mystic's German brand, Nicko Cruises.