Mystic Cruises

Mystic Cruises (mysticcruises.com) is a new cruise company (Oporto, Portugal-based subsidiary) owned by Mystic Invest SGPS SA (shipowner). The parent company is a Portuguese financial holding, owned by the Ferreira family, with brands primarily in the travel, tourism, and leisure industries.

Currently, Mystic Invest fully owns four cruise shipping companies (and travel brands): Mystic Cruises (USA), ATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES/AOV (North America), NICKO CRUISES (Germany/fleet, nicko-cruises.de/en), and DOUROAZUL (Portugal/fleet, douroazul.com).

Due to the COVID crisis, all Mystic-owned cruise brands (Nicko, DouroAzul, AOV-Atlas Ocean) canceled voyages fleetwide between March 2020 and May 2021.

Company History

Mystic Cruises is a brand owned by Portuguese entrepreneur Mario Ferreira, CEO and President of Mystic Invest SGPS (group of companies/mysticinvest.com), and best known as CEO of the Portuguese river cruise company Douro Azul, which operates on the Douro River. Mario Ferreira is also famous for being Portugal's first space tourist, traveling on Virgin Galactic's Spaceship One (owned by Richard Branson).

Mystic Invest fully owns several brands specializing in travel and tourism businesses (cruises, tours, hotels) and real estate.

The list of brands (subsidiaries) owned by Mystic Invest Holding includes DouroAzul (Portugal), Mystic Cruises (USA), Atlas Ocean Voyages (North America/USA and Canada), Nicko Cruises (Germany, via Schiffsreisen GmbH), Priority Dolphin (shipbuilding), Mystic Tua (Portugal), Mystic Adventure (tour agency in Barca d'Alva), World of Discoveries (theme park in Porto, Portugal), Helitours (Porto and Douro Valley), BlueBus (Oporto), Caminho das Estrelas (suborbital and Zero-G flights), Mystic Real Estate, and several luxury hotels and resorts (Hotel do Cais, Monumental Palace Hotel, Douro Marina Hotel, Wine Lodge Hotel).

In late-April 2019, Mystic Invest announced plans to establish and launch "Mystic Cruises USA" in 2021. Mystic Cruises is headquartered in Florida (Fort Lauderdale), with 20-60 employees, and is currently led by Alberto Aliberti (CEO and President).

On November 14, 2019, the new (adventure-luxe) brand "Atlas Ocean Voyages" was introduced, managed by Mystic Cruises USA. Bookings opened on January 2, 2020, with operations scheduled to start on July 7, 2021 (World Navigator). Early-booking promotions included per-cabin savings (up to USD 2000) and half deposits.

In early June 2019, Certares GBT Holdings Ltd (a NYC-based global company specializing in travel, tourism, and hospitality investments, a subsidiary of Certares Management LLC) became a 40% shareholder in Mystic Invest Holding for EUR 250 million (~USD 294 million). The Ferreira family is the majority stake owner (60%) of Mystic Invest's cruise companies (DouroAzul Portugal, Nicko Cruises, Mystic Cruises USA, Atlas Ocean Voyages USA) and full owner of the holding's non-cruise subsidiaries.

Mystic Invest fully owns (100%) the WestSEA Shipyard (shipbuilding/repair yard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal) where the Holding is currently building its new expedition cruise ships.

Ocean Ships

Mystic Cruises' ocean fleet is under the AOV brand. However, some of these ships are seasonally chartered to other cruise lines (small companies and independent tour operators), including Quark Expeditions and Riviera Travel UK/fleet. Another charter partner is Saga Cruises UK.

All ocean ships are operated by Mystic Cruises USA's brand "Atlas Ocean Voyages"/AOV. These include World Navigator (2021), World Voyager (2021), World Traveller (2022), World Discoverer (2023), and World Adventurer (2024). WestSEA (naval shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal) was contracted for the construction of all these units.

Each vessel features an ice-strengthened hull (allowing year-round operations in polar regions), LOA length of 126 m (413 ft), width of 19 m (62 ft), GT tonnage/volume of 9300 tons, maximum passenger capacity of 200 (maximum 176 on polar itineraries), crew capacity of 125, 8 decks (2 with cabins), 86 staterooms, and a shipbuilding cost of EUR 70 million (USD 80 million), or EUR 350,000 (~USD 395K) per berth.

On May 16, 2019, Mystic Cruises signed a partnership with Adonis AS (provider of maritime HR / human resources support and solutions) for the ocean fleet's management. Adonis Maritime HR Suite includes services such as staff recruitment, crewing, and payroll.

On October 13, 2020, Mystic Invest purchased the Vasco da Gama at an auction for USD 10.187 million after the previous shipowner (Cruise & Maritime Voyages/CMV UK) filed for bankruptcy in July.

Ship Technology

Ship design was developed by Leadship Ltd (Piraeus, Greece-based company) owned by Italian naval architects Giuseppe Tringali and Mirco Zoia. It features an ice-strengthened hull (ice class 1B), top-notch automation and control system, modern propulsion (based on electrical pods/360-degree azimuthing thrusters), dynamic positioning system (using GPS data to accurately maintain the ship's position without anchoring), advanced water treatment system, and a hybrid powerplant (diesel-electric) with efficient marine engines (two Rolls-Royce engines running on ULSD / ultra-low-sulfur diesel).

The Rolls-Royce powerplant costs GBP 7 million (EUR 7.75 million / USD 8.9 million) and includes two main engines (Bergen C25-33L8P) and one auxiliary dual-fuel genset (Bergen C25-33L6P). The engines are connected to the vessel's electric power system (Rolls-Royce SAVe CUBE), allowing them to operate efficiently at variable speeds. Rolls-Royce Promas propulsion is an integrated propeller-rudder system to optimize hydrodynamic efficiency. Promas includes two controllable pitch propellers integrated with two flap rudders, steering gears, and tunnel thrusters.

The vessel's draft is only 15 ft (4.7 m), allowing access to remote islands and unique coastal destinations. The ship has 2 fully enclosed lifeboats (full capacity). Ship-to-shore communications are via Inmarsat Capsat Fleet 77 (satellite phone and Internet). Landings (passenger transportation) and coastal exploration voyages are served by the ship's fleet of ten Zodiacs (motorized boats stored aft on Deck 7) and 2 loading stations.

The shipbuilder WestSEA is owned by Martifer Group via the subsidiary Martifer SGPS. This family-owned holding company, founded in 1990 by brothers Carlos and Jorge Martins, is headquartered in Oliveira de Frades (Portugal) and listed on the Euronext Lisbon stock exchange since 2007. Martifer Group has over 3,000 employees and specializes in metal construction and, since 2004, in renewable energy (wind and solar energy equipment production). Martifer Group is one of Europe's largest metal construction companies, with subsidiaries in Spain, Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Brazil, and Angola.

Riverboats

The two Mystic Invest-owned European river cruise companies - "DouroAzul" (Portugal) and "Nicko Cruises" (Germany) - operate mainly modern newbuild riverboats deployed, respectively, on the Douro River (in Portugal) and on the Seine-Rhone rivers (in France) and on the Moselle-Rhine-Main-Danube rivers (in Central Europe). Almost all boats are built after 2000 and have 4 decks with a capacity of 80-180 passengers (Portugal-based ships are smaller).

Mystic Cruises also has riverboats chartered to other brands, including Uniworld (Queen Isabel) and AmaWaterways (AmaDouro).

In the UK, Nicko Cruises operates through Light Blue Travel (direct and trade sales). Nicko's Douro River cruise prices start at GBP 1400 per person (double occupancy). Fares are inclusive of return economy flights, land transfers in Portugal, all shipboard meals, unlimited drinks (wine, beer, cocktails, all soft and hot drinks), onboard gratuities, Wi-Fi, 4 guided shore excursions, and port taxes.

NICKO CRUISES

Nicko Cruises (Stuttgart-headquartered) joined CLIA Europe in 2021. In the UK, the brand is represented by Light Blue Travel Ltd (Cambridge-based travel agency).

Nicko Cruises' current CEO/Chief Commercial Officer is Guido Laukamp, who was promoted in May 2023 (from his position as Managing Director) while Michael Baden (previously Sea Cloud Cruises' Sales Director) was employed as Nicko's CCO/Chief Commercial Officer.

Since April 2024, Nicko Cruises' Head of Sales is Bert Freter (formerly employed by Hurtigruten), who succeeded Christian Kaatz.

In 2018 (February 20 through March 1), Nicko Tours scheduled a total of 10 roadshows in Germany to promote the company's new "ocean cruising" business. Each of the shows started with a casual get-together and buffet with finger food, followed by a presentation of the vessel and its cruise itineraries. Then, travel agents enjoyed full meals and gourmet desserts.

Currently, Nicko's only ocean-going ship is Vasco da Gama.

All four of Mystic Cruises' ocean-going ships will operate on global itineraries departing from various seaports worldwide. The new company will primarily focus on sourcing passengers from North America. Fly-cruise deals from the USA will also be available for booking.

The company's fleet of modern riverboats is exclusively deployed in Europe, operating on the Douro River (Portugal), the Seine-Rhone River (France), and the Western-Central European rivers Moselle, Rhine, and Danube. The boats' homeports (departure ports) include Germany (Passau, Cologne, Berlin, Stuttgart, Stralsund, Saarbrücken, Potsdam), France (Paris, Lyon), Basel-Zurich (Switzerland), Prague (Czech Republic), Amsterdam (Holland)).

The company also owns a luxury hotel barge, Spirit of Chartwell, which has been cruising on the Douro River since 2012.

Atlas Ocean Voyages/AOV Itineraries

AOV - Atlas Ocean Voyages - is a subsidiary and travel brand managed by Mystic Cruises USA (parent company Mystic Invest).

AOV's fleet currently includes the newbuild vessels World Navigator (2021), World Voyager (2021, transferred from Nicko in 2023), World Traveller (2022), World Adventurer (2024), and World Discoverer (2023).

In 2023, AOV's Epicurean Expeditions introduced the open-air dining concept "Alma Alfresco" on World Navigator and World Traveller. The experience is complimentary and includes a wine-pairing menu with traditional Portuguese dishes prepared from authentic recipes. The food is cooked using artisanal methods (oven-roasted), cookware (clay pots), and locally sourced ingredients (from regions such as Santa Luzia/Algarve, Mirandela/Norte, Setubal/Lisbon). Dishes include Polvo a Lagareiro (octopus, potatoes, olive oil, roasted garlic), Alheira de Mirandela (sausage, potatoes, radish greens), and Torta de Azeitao (roll cake with egg custard cream). AOV's Epicurean Expeditions also feature wine tastings (with regional wines) and guest chefs (who may come from Michelin-starred restaurants or be local culinary celebrities). The voyages offer the opportunity to participate in the culinary competition Yachtsman Cookoff and enjoy complimentary poolside Josper Grill Dining.

Bookings for AOV's World Voyager cruises (Antarctica 2023-2024 itineraries) opened on May 16, 2023. For Atlas Ocean Voyages, World Voyager's inaugural season begins on November 8, 2023, with homeporting in Ushuaia, Argentina. The voyages will visit popular Antarctic destinations such as Deception Island, Graham Land/Paradise Harbor, Wiencke Island/Port Lockroy, the Lemaire Channel, and the South Shetlands.

AOV's World Voyager Antarctica 2023-24 program included four 9-day roundtrips from Ushuaia (departures on Nov 8, Nov 28, Feb 27, and Mar 18) and six 11-day roundtrips from Ushuaia (departures on Nov 17, Jan 14, Jan 25, Feb 5, Feb 16, and Mar 7). With World Voyager, Atlas Ocean introduced its first fly-cruise options. The fly-and-cruise deals include direct charter flights from Punta Arenas, Chile to King George Island, Antarctica (Chile's Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva), along with optional 1-night hotel stays (pre- and post-cruise) for all cruisetours departing from and returning to Punta Arenas.

AOV's Inaugural Voyages

Bookings for the brand's inaugural year (2021) opened on January 2, 2020, with operations scheduled to begin in July 2021 with World Navigator. AOV's inaugural season featured 66 different port destinations (including the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and Holy Land) across a total of ten itineraries (ranging from 7 to 15 nights).

AOV's inaugural cruise (11-night itinerary, July 17) from Valletta, Malta, visited Piraeus-Athens, Zakynthos Island, Katakolon-Olympia, Elafonisos Island, Chania (Crete), Sitia (Crete), Rhodes Island, Mykonos Island, Siracusa (Sicily), and Kusadasi.

Black Sea cruises (7-night itinerary, July 28) from Piraeus-Athens visited Kusadasi, Nessebar, Bucharest, and Odessa (2 overnights). A 9-night Black Sea cruise (August 4) from Piraeus-Athens visited Novorossiysk, Batumi, Sinop, Amasra, Sochi (overnight), and Istanbul (overnight). Both Black Sea voyages were combinable into a 16-night B2B/back-to-back itinerary.

Three Holy Land voyages included overnights in Haifa (Tel Aviv) and Ashdod (Jerusalem).

A 7-night Mediterranean cruise (September 18) from Piraeus-Athens to Civitavecchia-Rome visited the Corinth Canal (passage), Itea-Delphi, Katakolon, Taormina (Sicily), Agropoli, Amalfi, Ravello, Positano, and Naples.

A 7-night Mediterranean cruise (September 25) from Civitavecchia-Rome to Lisbon visited Livorno, Marseilles, Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, and Gibraltar.

Following these, a 17-night Europe-to-South America Transatlantic crossing (October 4, from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro) stopped in Funchal (Madeira Island) and Mindelo (São Vicente Island, Cape Verde) before continuing to Brazil (Fernando de Noronha Island, Natal, Recife, Salvador, and Buzios). An 8-night itinerary (Rio de Janeiro to Montevideo) visited Buzios, Paraty, Ilhabela, Porto Belo, Imbituba, and Punta del Este.