Collaboration invitation for AECO-members, season 2024
The most beneficial collaborations and partnerships are established when stakeholders have good knowledge of what an expedition cruise is and how operations are conducted, as well as knowing how AECO’s guidelines, measures, tools, and standards are implemented and work in the industry
There are ongoing regulation processes and political discussions related to cruise in all of AECO’s geographical areas Many decision makers have little competence or experience with expedition cruising. AECO believes it is beneficial for the future of our industry if partners, decision makers and other influential stakeholders experience AECO members cruises.
AECO Stakeholder Cruises is a collaboration between the members and the Secretariat where we invite stakeholders on a cruise or on a visit on a vessel to learn about AECO members’Arctic expedition cruise operations.
In 2023 there were more than 60 people onboard member vessels in the four different regions. The feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive, showing that the initiative has great value.
At the 2023 AECO AGM members decided to institute AECO Stakeholder Cruises as part of the portfolio of named activities.
Stakeholder cruises and cruise vessels visits can be organized in different formats that require different levels of operator involvement
Stakeholder group travels
AECO’s secretariat, in collaboration with the involved member, identify and invite stakeholders on a cruise.
AECO’s secretariat and the operator plan the program for the stakeholder groups visit, but the group will largely follow the regular cruise program.
If the cruise program includes community visits where other relevant stakeholders live/work, it may be planned for ship visits with meetings/tour of vessels while in port.
The group should be accompanied during the whole cruise by representative(s) from AECO’s secretariat, as well as a designated representative from the involved operator
AECO’s secretariat keeps a list of relevant stakeholders that the industry may benefit from educating with insight in cruise operations
If an AECO member agrees to allocate one or a few cabins on one or more departures, AECO and the operator will try to match the offer with relevant stakeholders.
If there is no capacity at the Secretariat or with the operator to accompany stakeholders, some of them can travel alone. In these cases, it is important that there is an onboard staff member who serves as contact-person, and who can take part in a preparation/introduction from AECO prior to the cruise.
The operator will receive information and assistance from AECO to prepare for hosting stakeholders.
The stakeholders will receive information from AECO prior to the cruise, with a general introduction to the industry and AECO’s work, tools, measures and policies.
For various reasons, stakeholders may not be able to travel on cruise. It can be an option for AECO’s secretariat, in collaboration with the operator, to organize community visits with the vessel as base.
In these cases, one or more representatives from AECO’s secretariat, together with operator representative(s) travel. In each relevant community, groups or individuals are invited onboard where meetings, presentations and tour of the vessel are included.
The plans are developed in a collaboration between AECO’s secretariat and the operator with high regard to practicalities. There will be need for access to an onboard meeting room.
In these cases, it is important that the vessel staff and crew are well informed of the plans, and that the vessel can accommodate for visits to e.g. bridge, engine-room, hospital – and other relevant areas of the vessel. Talking to onboard crew and staff is also relevant, and invitation for e.g. lunch is appreciated.
A low-key introduction to expedition cruising and a way of meeting stakeholders is by inviting stakeholders for informal ship visits.
For operators that have capacity and interest in meeting local stakeholders, AECO can connect interested stakeholders with a vessel contact.
Ship visits can be conducted without major involvement from AECO, but it can also be relevant for an AECO representative to be present and/or help preparing for such visits. This may be especially relevant in turn-over ports and places where AECO has representation (Nuuk, Reykjavik (periodically), Longyearbyen (periodically).
For 2024 AECO’s Executive Committee has approved the following plan for Stakeholder Cruises:
Where
1. Priority
Svalbard Individual traveler(s) join a cruise without AECO representative.
Greenland Stakeholders visiting ships while in port
Iceland Stakeholders visiting ships while in port
2. Priority Members are invited to be involved by offering:
- Single cabin(s)
Individual traveler(s) join a cruise without AECO representative.
AECO rep. travel to meet stakeholders locally together with Operator rep.
Canada One stakeholder group travel together with AECO rep and Operator rep.
Individual traveler(s) join a cruise without AECO representative.
- Invitation to visit ships in ports.
- Single cabin(s)
- Invitation to visit ships in ports.
- 1-2 cabins for AECO’s Sec + Operator rep.
- 5-8 single cabins on one departure.
- Single cabin(s)
If you are interested in being involved in Stakeholder cruises and/or ship visits, please reach out to AECO’s secretariat on aeco@aeco.no.
• When we have received feedback from members, we consider options (dates and cabins) and invite relevant stakeholders.
• Stakeholders usually need a few weeks to consider.
• When we know stakeholder interest, we will start the more detailed planning in collaboration with the operator.
A checklist has been developed listing information that stakeholders should be introduced to
Stakeholders traveling should receive all information that other guests receive before, under and after the voyage.
AECO will conduct meetings with individual stakeholder travelers (without company from AECO’s secretariat). They will be receiving information in accordance with the checklist.
A report template for stakeholders has been developed. Stakeholders traveling with AECO members will be asked to complete the report and return it to AECO. The report will be shared with the operator.
Please do not hesitate to contact AECO’s secretariat on aeco@aeco.no for information about Stakeholder Cruises
"I was actually overwhelmed by how many resources there are on an expedition ship. There is a very small hospital on board, and we experienced that the ship, at a time when we were far from a hospital, could help a kayak tourist with an injury that otherwise could have ended really badly. The ship is also equipped with rubber boats adapted to Arctic conditions as well as research equipment that could be imagined used in collaboration with local educational institutions."
Gerth P. Olsen, Qeqertalik Business Council"It has become quite clear to me that expedition cruise ships can be a great resource for us in relation to monitoring and visiting archaeological sites in Greenland that are otherwise very difficult to reach. The example from this trip has really inspired me to look at the possibilities of collaboration "
Hans Harmsen, Greenland National Museum
“Learning and observing Aurora Expeditions operation and their role in the expedition cruise industry was an eye-opening experience that will allow me and my team to work closely with Aurora Expeditions in the years to come. My time on board Sylvia Earle allowed me to learn about Aurora Expeditions. In turn, I was able to share knowledge about the Canadian Search and Rescue System and further advance our work towards improving search and rescue in Canada’s Arctic.”
Cailey Dyer, Canadian Coast Guard“Our yearlong cooperation with AECO has built trust between the coast guard and expedition cruise industry. We see those vessels as a resource now, and as partners in the field. It was great to be able to arrange a helicopter exercise on short notice with Hurtigruten’s Fridtjof Nansen. This event was a good testament of our strong cooperation.” Auðunn Kristinsson, Chief of Operations, the Icelandic Coast Guard
“I had never realized that there were different types of cruises before. My understanding of expedition cruises and their objectives is much better now, after having been invited on board.”
Ragnhildur Hjaltadóttir, owner of Gistiheimilið Básar guesthouse in Grímsey
“100 % useful for my further engagement in tourism to Svalbard. To see and understand how operations are being done by a professional and serious company is valuable, also to have seen how zodiacs in water can be perceived wrongly through a lens or binoculars. And how important flexibility is when it some to landing sites, due to shifting weather and ice conditions.”
Ronny Brunvoll, General manager, Visit Svalbard"As an AECO member, it is important to us that we operate with integrity and in an equal cooperation that has value for both parties. We only achieve this by talking and getting to know each other. That is why we supported AECO's initiative to invite our important partners on board " Karin Strand and Tudor Morgan from Hurtigruten Expeditions
