Aurora Expeditions has joined forces with the luxury travel agency network Virtuoso.

The partnership will see Virtuoso travel advisors given access to the Aurora profile, including voyages, pricing sheets, images, trip notes and other relevant collateral via their portal.

Virtuoso recently appointed former Austravel general manager Karen Joyce as its London-based EMEA general manager.

Aurora’s second new-build ship, Sylvia Earle – named after the marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer and conservationist Dr Sylvia Earle – is scheduled to launch in October 2021, following on from Greg Mortimer.

Both ships feature the Ulstein X-BOW, which is designed to improve environmental performance and fuel efficiency.

Aurora Expeditions CEO Monique Ponfoort said: “Becoming part of Virtuoso’s global network is a milestone accomplishment.

“We’ve been afforded the opportunity to work with their incredibly talented and reputable member agencies in other areas of the world such as the Asia-Pacific, and our home country of Australia, so adding the global team and its adventurous client base to the mix is a true honour for us.”

Virtuoso vice-president global partner relations Beth Butzlaff added: “Virtuoso is thrilled to expand our relationship with Aurora Expeditions to now include a reach that goes beyond our initial offerings to the Asian-Pacific market.

“Aurora’s passion for adventure, one of the leading drivers of post-pandemic travel, conservation and perspective-altering experiences, are what our advisors and their clients continue to seek out and embrace with open arms.”

Meanwhile, Virtuoso chairman and CEO Matthew d. Upchurch said: “In a new landscape where travellers are looking for more life-changing and transformative experiences, Aurora Expeditions helps to ignite this curiosity. Our shared value of experiential travel resonates with the Virtuoso family, making Aurora an ideal fit for our network.”

Aurora recently appointed its first ocean conservation ambassador, Joanna Ruxton, founder of Ocean Generation, and welcomed Jos Dewing as its UK MD in June.