Gentleman with an explorer gene

World Voyager from nicko cruises

With the World Voyager, nicko cruises ventures into the waters of expedition-ready mega yachts - and focuses on elegance and understatement in a business gray custom outfit. A dark hull, shiny black window fronts and, as a stylish contrast to the bold stern, a rather proudly swollen bow, which immediately makes you believe that it can not only break hearts in the harbor, but also the ice in the Arctic with ease: In the Vieux Port de Nice, the World Voyager is a real eye-catcher - and a bit of a macho type too. Perhaps this is why nicko cruises has decided to always refer to its new addition to the fleet, which entered service in April 2020, in the masculine form. This is quite unusual for ships - but also quite fitting for the World Voyager.

Will the inner values of the "premium gem", designed for 200 passengers and 100 crew members, be just as impressive as the exterior? We have seven days between Nice and Lisbon to find out ...

In any case, our first impression is extremely positive: It takes just 20 minutes from the first security check on land to the last sip of welcome champagne in our own cabin - antigen test, captain's chat and suitcase in front of the cabin included. What awaits us behind door number 510? A 25 m2 hideaway with first-class beds, pretty interior details, XXL flat screen and private balcony. The highlight, however, is the mosaic-tiled bathroom with a large multifunctional shower complete with stone bench and tons of massage jets that you could let yourself be soothed by for hours. But get out of your own four cabin walls and up to the Observation Deck! Located right at the front on deck 5 and equipped with benches all around, this is the best place for the first trip out into the open Mediterranean - and on expedition cruises it is certainly also the perfect place to watch whales and count icebergs in the Atlantic.



Speaking of expedition cruises: in Sète, the on-board Zodiacs are launched the next morning immediately after docking. A good opportunity to explore the "French Venice" from the water - and at the same time a small foretaste of the adventure excursions offered in other waters. The freshly caught oysters in the picture-book town at the mouth of the Canal du Midi, which are served in every fisherman's pub without any chichi or champagne, but with baguettes, seaweed butter and simple country wine, are also to our taste. On our way south and around the Spanish peninsula, we stop off in Barcelona a day later. We will stay there for almost 48 hours - enough time to discover the Catalan metropolis of millions on our own tours. Our berth reserved for small cruisers right behind the World Trade Center proves to be the ideal starting point. With La Barceloneta and the Columbus Monument almost within reach at breakfast on the open-air deck, the city can be easily discovered from here on foot or by city bike. After another shore leave in Valencia, we enjoy a full day at sea until the stop in Gibraltar - and a World Voyager that tries to present itself from its best side: Whether in the panoramic Observation Lounge high up on deck 7, in the Auditorium, where accompanying lecturers set the mood for the next stops, or in the elegant Mystic Restaurant with its covered al fresco terrace and a touch of private yacht atmosphere: all the on-board facilities are pleasing with their elegant understatement and a level of space that you would hardly have expected on a 126-metre overall length. There is even room for a large panoramic sauna in the spa area or a smoothie bar from Austrian fruit juice manufacturer Rauch behind the lobby area with its wall-filling high-tech LEDs. The only thing lacking in airiness and luxury is the pool, which is built up high and surrounded by railings - rather unusual for such a modern ship and also disturbing because you are always looking at a white wall and the view of the sea is lost. The sun loungers are too close together, the smell of cigarettes wafts over from the smoking area and there is a lack of privacy everywhere. In any case, we don't fancy the advertised BBQ in this ambience. Instead, we head to deck 4, where we are also served grilled seafood in the main restaurant, even though it's not on the lunch menu and our waiter has to walk across the ship to get it. The crew in general: whether receptionist or cabin steward, spa staff or Alexandro and his colleagues in the restaurant - everyone is highly motivated, cordial and always eager to help guests. You rarely experience this level of quality and continuity!

The World Voyager can be both a sir and a sea dog

Reaching Gibraltar in the early evening has advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, all the day tourists who have come for duty-free shopping have already left and you only have to share the smallest British overseas territory with its 33,694 inhabitants. On the other hand, the Barbary macaques have already filled their bellies so full by this time that they are no longer interested in visitors and no longer want to be seen. However, a spectacular sunset high up on the famous rock with a view of two continents and three countries makes up for this: Morocco to the left, Spain to the right and "good old England" at the foot ...



On the last night on board, on the way to Lisbon, our World Voyager can finally prove that he is not only a sir, but also a sea dog. During the gala dinner, one of the dreaded storm lows has brewed up over the Atlantic: while the salmon and fennel salad are still accompanied by a gentle breeze, a stiff breeze is already blowing against the braised veal cheeks on parsley risotto - and with the baked lobster tail, it foams and whistles quite a lot in front of the panoramic windows. But at the table - or later in bed - there is little sign of this. Obviously, our host's driving style is just as gentlemanly as so much else on board.

World Voyager

■ Cabins & suites
98 in total in 8 categories
between 17 and 44 m2. Deluxe cabins with separate living/sleeping area, Navigator Suite with extra-large balcony. VIP Suite also with walk-in closet. Explorer Suites with second closet, separate WC and bath and shower.
■ CCircle tips
The Infinity (Deluxe) cabins have retractable panoramic windows
instead of a balcony. This creates more space in the cabin and an airy conservatory ambience - a very good choice depending on the cruising area and personal preferences.
Style & ambience
Familiar and informal.
No dress code, only on gala evenings "it may be a little more festive".
■ Restaurants & bars
Main restaurant Mystic with beautiful
terrace and fine cuisine.
cuisine. Open-air restaurant by the pool, Smoothie Bar, Observation Lounge, Main Lounge
On-board entertainment
Lectures by traveling lecturers,
guest musicians in the evening, small
library, movie afternoons, bridge
guided tours, cooking courses, on-board shop
Sports & Spa
Gym, outdoor running track on deck 7, spa with 2 treatment rooms,
4 heated loungers and panoramic sauna
Service
Exceptionally friendly and always concerned about the well-being of guests in all areas
■ Environment
Hybrid drive technology, multiple chimney filters, micro-auto
gasification system that converts waste into ship energy.
■ Conclusion
The World Voyager is an exceptional mega yacht that sails exceptional routes. Although many of the facilities are of 5* standard, it is not a luxury ship, but a first-class premium product! Butler service is not offered. www.nicko-cruises.de


Text: Jörg Bertram