Pictured: Adventures in Antarctica

We put it out there as a concept and I was amazed by the response we had from all these prestigious yachts – in fact, Octopus was one of our first clients. It was never really envisioned as a company to offer charters; it was more to help owners and yachts discover new places. Nobody else was doing it.

One of our first trips happened when a group booked Hanse Explorer through Fraser Yachts to go the Antarctic, and Fraser asked for our help. We arranged what turned out to be the first ever fly-in fly-out Antarctic charter. They flew in on a Uruguayan Hercules air force plane which only added to the feeling they were chartering at the end of the world! It was a really wonderful group of people and they had an incredible trip - it is still one of our most memorable because it was all so new and exciting. That trip helped us develop a great system for arranging charters in the Antarctic, which is now part of our regular operation. This season we will be doing about 15 charters alone this way, and we are still regularly working with that same broker at Fraser almost 15 years later!

In spite of Covid, EYOS is busier than ever - what’s driving this boom?

For this Antarctic season we have a few clients who have postponed from last season. And then when we go back to the Northwest Passage, hopefully this summer, we had several yachts who weren’t able to go during the past two years. 

Pictured: The Wilds of Alaska

Obviously Covid has changed the way people travel and visiting remote places in a bubble aboard a yacht is more popular than ever. People have also had time to think about what they want from their lives and have realised how precious time is. They can go to the typical destinations any time, busy areas and packed restaurants may have lost their appeal, so why not spend 10 days going somewhere really special and enjoy being isolated in a wild and beautiful place? 

There is also more freedom to work remotely. The systems have improved and it has become more acceptable, so with yachts now so well connected even far off the grid, I think our clients have realised they can venture further afield while remaining connected to keep on working if they need to. 

Lastly, the overall expedition industry - cruises, yachts, etc - is just growing rapidly. When EYOS started, seeing a yacht in Antarctica was a novelty. After we’ve been operating there for over a decade, on what is now a very large number of private yachts, there is wider recognition that travelling by superyacht to the polar regions is even possible! And when travelling to such a remote region, clients want a track record, competence and experience, so we are in a very fortunate position as that brings them to us.

Left: Specialist Moira Le Patourel ©Reeve Jolliffe EYOS; Right: Specialist Skip Novak ©Justin Hofman EYOS

Do clients with experience of larger group expeditions ever transition to an explorer yacht? 

It’s a very different audience - a typical superyacht client would probably not go on a cruise because they prefer not to be with a large group. We all know a yacht is a perfect way to spend quality time with friends and family or to enjoy complete privacy. But in the wilderness areas without many outside distractions this is even more noticeable. We often hear how great it is for families to visit these places together by yacht so they can really reconnect with each other through the experiences they share. Being in such a small group in these wild regions is a privilege, and one our clients both recognise and appreciate. 

Are any of your clients first time charters? 

Yes, we’ve had several - I think our expeditions really catch the attention of those who may not have been interested in a traditional yacht charter before but are interested in the meaningful experiences we can offer. They might be high-end travellers more likely to book a villa than a yacht, but in the places we work there is generally no quality accommodation ashore or even a way to reach these places without going by sea, so they realise a yacht is the best way to visit if they also want to have the privacy and flexibility they are used to. 

Pictured:  Tribal Culture in Papua New Guinea

Do most clients come to you with a destination in mind? 

Yes, I would say the majority of our clients contact us the first time because they want to go to a specific place, but there are several I can think of who got bitten by the bug and have kept on exploring. When you spend time with our guides, who have travelled the world, we can talk about all the best wild places to go. They may have come to see penguins but that type of traveller might well enjoy seeing polar bears next time!

What are some of the challenges from your point of view?

I don’t see this as a challenge, but I do think we have a slightly different perspective on a yacht charter. On expeditions, you are first and foremost selling an experience, rather than the yacht itself, which may be more the focus on a traditional yacht charter. Of course, expedition yachts now are very popular, but we see that not every yacht that is called an expedition yacht actually has the capability that it should. We have always said we see the yachts first and foremost as platforms for discovery and new experiences; we want clients to look beyond just the yacht interior to understand its true expedition capabilities that will be able to deliver the expedition the client truly wants.