How do you position yourself in the cruise market as a new French shipping company?
Interview with Philippe Videau, President and Founder of Exploris
The new French expedition company Exploris was born of a long-standing love of exploration. Created under the impetus of Philippe Videau and a team of experts, Exploris symbolizes a desire to pass on this passion for incredible destinations.
Officers, guides and naturalists: like the flag of its first ship, all Exploris teams are French-speaking. Expeditions are limited to less than 140 passengers, and even to less than 120 in the polar regions. This intimate format allows for an intense, exclusive and personalized experience, with less waiting during disembarkation and more time ashore.
How do you position yourself in the cruise market as a new French shipping company?
Today we meet Philippe Videau, President and Founder of Exploris.
1- Could you briefly introduce yourself and Exploris’ mission?
My passion for the sea has shaped my life and my career. After 10 years as a merchant navy officer, in 1988 I founded the world’s first expedition cruise company, La Compagnie des Îles du Ponant. After steering the company for almost 20 years, followed by 10 years on the Supervisory Board, I moved into other fields, before finally returning to my first love. In 2021, a new project is born with the creation of Exploris, alongside an expert and passionate team.
Exploris’ mission is first and foremost to restore the value of people and emotion to the expedition cruise industry.
Above all, it’s about sharing our passion for expeditions and turning our passengers into true explorers, making them aware of the beauty of the destinations we visit, and turning them into ambassadors for these regions.
Passing on our enthusiasm and sharing a unique and enriching human experience with our on-board teams is what drives us every day.
2- How is your rollout going on the French market?
Everything is going wonderfully well, and sales have been open since September 2022 for the Winter 2023/2024 season. We are now present with many specialized tour operators and travel agencies. We are also distributed in Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Canada. Our cruises, which start in December 2023, are beginning to fill up, especially our expeditions to Antarctica and the Atlantic islands.
We are also actively preparing the Summer 2024 season, which will take our explorers to discover the British Isles, the Norwegian fjords, the Arctic with Spitsbergen and Greenland, as well as Iceland, the St. Lawrence in the middle of an Indian summer, and the Amazon… The Summer brochure will be revealed in early 2023.
3- Who are your targets?
The target traveler is first and foremost a lover of nature and its riches, who wishes to combine relaxation with discovery, and who is a fan of smaller vessels and the more intimate, welcoming atmosphere that characterizes them. We target both couples and families, as well as solo travelers.
4- How do you want to differentiate yourself from the competition?
First and foremost, the size of our first ship. Our cruises are very intimate, limited to 140 passengers on board (120 for the polar zones). Then there’s the guarantee of a single language of communication on board: we’ll be 100% French-speaking, with top-of-the-range services. We also offer stopovers in the most remote regions, where few people go, for new and unforgettable experiences. Our stopovers are also accompanied by naturalist guides, with a ratio of 1 guide for every 12 passengers (10 in polar zones), well below the regulatory norm, which also allows us to adapt and access areas without port access. What’s more, our expeditions will be “all-inclusive”, including open bar and land excursions on many of our stopovers.
We have also introduced a concept of “augmented travel”. While the Exploris experience certainly takes place during the expedition, everything is done to ensure that the journey begins as soon as the booking is made and continues beyond disembarkation: interaction with passengers before the cruise, meetings with the teams, sharing of experiences and photographs, and maintaining contact when passengers return…
5 – In particular, you want to be the first cruise line to join ATR (Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable – Acting for Responsible Tourism). How can you earn this label?
I’m going to quote our raison d’être, which sums up our determination to make environmental and societal issues an integral part of our DNA.
” Aware that we must do everything in our power to ensure that future generations have the chance to experience the same expeditions that we offer today, we at Exploris, under French flag, claim a balanced vision of the company between performance, individual fulfillment and respect for the blue planet and the beings that inhabit it.
With our passengers, we share exceptional experiences that commit us to taking action to contribute to sustainable tourism. “
Our commitments for tomorrow take into account our desire to make our contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and to join various collective programs, notably ATR (Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable), aimed at guiding our actions towards greater sustainability. Our aim is to offer our passengers unforgettable yet responsible journeys, right from the start of their expeditions.
We have also been elected members of several associations that organize and regulate tourism in the polar zones, including IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) and AECO (Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators).
6- Why did you choose to work with Travel-Insight to manage PR and social networks?
We turned to Travel-Insight to help us with our press relations and social networking, and ensure our launch in French-speaking markets. Their expertise in the tourism sector is essential for our roll-out, and communicating according to our targets.
7- Do you have any future projects to share with us?
Among the next major steps in our deployment, we can mention the renovation of our first ship, Exploris One, in October 2023 before the launch of our first season. It’s a light renovation, however, which will enable us to add a “French Touch” to the current décor, mainly in the common areas. Exploris One is currently operated by the excellent Silversea company (under the name Silver Explorer), and enjoys one of the best reputations among expedition ships. We are also working on the design of our next vessels.
We will soon be announcing our Exploris “Great Witnesses” program, in which, during each of our expeditions, renowned experts in the fields of exploration, conservation, science, photography, art and culture will enrich the expeditions with their perspectives and points of view, recounting their unique experiences to the explorers.
8- What message would you like to convey to tourism professionals?
Despite the health and energy crises of recent years, the expedition cruising sector is still booming. We must, however, ensure that the territories we explore are respected. Our mission is also to make travelers aware of the world around us, because we only protect what we know best.
9 – The final word?
The unexpected doesn’t wait! Our story is just beginning, and we look forward to writing it alongside all the tourism professionals and our future explorers.
To find out more about Exploris, click here
