By
Laura Hyde |
The second Expedition Cruise Network (ECN) Conference took place in London, UK, on 30 September and 1 October 2025, with two announcements set to “shape the future” of the organisation, which was founded in April 2023 by Akvile Marozaite and Martin Johnson. The ECN now represents more than 29 expedition cruise operator members to a network of over 2,300 travel advisors.
On day two of the conference Johnson announced he was stepping down as chair and would be replaced by Anthony Daniels, general manager for the UK and Ireland at Ponant Explorations, who joked he had “big shoes to fill” taking over from Johnson.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be stepping in as chair of the Expedition Cruise Network,” said Daniels. “Expedition cruising is such an inspiring and rapidly evolving sector – it blends adventure, discovery and stewardship of our planet in ways few others do. At Ponant Explorations Group, we see firsthand how innovation and sustainability can shape extraordinary travel experiences, and I look forward to bringing that perspective to our exceptional community of operators, travel professionals and partners. Together, I believe we can set new benchmarks for education, quality, responsibility and impact in expedition cruising.”
Anthony Daniels at the ECN Conference in London, UK
Johnson said it had been a “privilege and an honour” to serve as chair for the ECN’s formative years. “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in such a short time,” he said. “We’ve built an engaged community of expedition cruise specialists and forged strong partnerships across the industry. As ECN continues to grow, I’m delighted to hand over the reins to Anthony Daniels, whose wealth of experience and passion for expedition travel make him the ideal person to lead us into the next chapter. I look forward to continuing to support ECN as a director and founder, and to seeing the network flourish.”
As co-founder of the ECN, Johnson will continue as director alongside Marozaite, who said Johnson’s leadership had been “instrumental in establishing strong foundations” for the network. “Anthony has played a pivotal role in the story of ECN from the very beginning,” she said. “He was instrumental during our launch, ensuring that one of the first major expedition cruise companies joined the network, and he has supported us ever since as a founding member of the ECN Advisory Board. His long-standing commitment to our community underscores not only his passion for expedition cruising but also his belief in the value of ECN as the home of this sector.”
Read more: Marozaite on the expedition cruise sector’s rapid growth, changing ships and environmental efforts in Expedition Cruise Business: the era of exploration
The conference also launched the ECN’s Corporate Membership, which was described as “a natural next step in our mission to provide a true home for expedition cruising”. The organisation is extending its collaborative model to travel businesses actively selling or seeking to grow their expedition cruise offering. Marozaite said: “This new membership tier reflects our belief that travel agencies and tour operators are central to the continued success and sustainability of the sector. ECN is not just a trade organisation; it’s the home for expedition cruising. We believe growing the sector responsibly means empowering those who sell it with the right tools, training and connections. Whether you’re a newcomer or an established player in expedition travel, ECN offers the expertise, relationships and recognition to help your business thrive.”
Attendees were also presented with the results of an exclusive consumer survey amongst readers of Wanderlust, which revealed five per cent of readers of the travel publication were still unaware of expedition cruising, while 43 per cent were somewhat familiar. The survey also revealed of those readers who had been on an expedition cruise, 73 per cent said the experience exceeded their expectations, with the majority visiting Antarctica (30 per cent) and the Norwegian archipelago Svalbard/the Arctic (35 per cent).
For those readers who had not been on an expedition cruise, 70 per cent said they would like to, with 40 per cent of saying they’d like to go within the next five years. Greenland was named by 70 per cent of respondents as the top destination for those who want to go on an expedition cruise, closely followed by Antarctica (65 per cent), Svalbard/the Artic (64 per cent) and the Galapagos islands (53 per cent).
Numerous industry experts also shared their insights, expertise and experiences of many years in expedition cruising during panel discussions and presentations across the two days. Speakers included Captain Dan Blanchard, founder and CEO of UnCruise; Oscar Dunn, vice president of cruise sales at Abercrombie & Kent; Niek van Eck, product manager at HX Expeditions; Mark Fifield, CEO of Coral Expeditions; Francesco Galli Zugaro, owner of Aqua Expeditions; and John McKeon, founder and CEO of Polar Latitudes. Everyone shared their passion for exploring with ‘love letters’ to their favourite destinations, including Svalbard, the Galapagos islands and Fournier Bay; the panel even featured a shortened rendition of the Alaskan Flag Song by Captain Dan!
The conference also included an awards presentation evening, cruise line showcases and networking opportunities.
The ECN’s 2026 conference will take place on 29-30 September, with further details, including the venue, still to be announced.