The Expedition Cruise Network is delighted to announce HX Hurtigruten Expeditions as the lead sponsor of the ECN Conference 2025 and three senior leaders from the expedition cruise industry as the first in the line-up of confirmed speakers, Captain Dan Blanchard, founder of UnCruise Adventures, Francesco Galli Zugaro, founder of Aqua Expeditions and Sophie Galvagnon, CEO of Selar.
ECN Conference Tuesday 30 September & Wednesday 1 October 2025 at Glaziers Hall, 9 Montague Cl, London SE1.
HX Hurtigruten Expeditions
HX is renowned for its pole-to-pole expeditions, bringing travellers to some of the most remote and awe-inspiring corners of the planet, with voyages to over 250 destinations across more than 30 countries. Combining sustainability, science, and education, HX creates transformative travel experiences and is a pioneer in sustainable cruising – being the first cruise company to eliminate heavy fuel oils, ban unnecessary single-use plastics across its operations, and launch hybrid-powered ships. HX continues to lead in environmental responsibility through initiatives like supporting research through donated cruise nights and funding community grants.
Nathaniel Sherborne, MD & VP, Europe and Global Sales Enablement of HX Hurtigruten Expeditions said: “As the world’s leading expedition cruise company, HX has been guiding curious travellers on mindful adventures since 1896. We are proud to be the lead sponsor of this premier travel trade conference dedicated to expedition cruising. With sustainability, science, and education at our core – and with 130 years of expertise as we look forward to celebrating our anniversary in 2026 – we are committed to championing this dynamic sector and its growth. We encourage travel trade professionals looking to expand their business to attend, connect, and discover more about the transformative experiences expedition cruising offers.”
Expedition Cruise Network
Akvile Marozaite, CEO and co-founder of the Expedition Cruise Network said: “We’re delighted to welcome HX Hurtigruten Expeditions as headline sponsor for The Expedition Cruise Network Conference for the second year, which is set to exceed the 162 delegates, 565 meetings and 22 exhibitors of last year’s event.
“In addition, we are pleased to unveil our first inspirational leaders from across the industry as speakers: Captain Dan Blanchard, founder of UnCruise Adventures and Francesco Galli Zugaro, founder of Aqua Expeditions and Sophie Galvagnon, CEO of Selar, one of our newest members will join panels.
“The ECN Conference is the world’s leading conference bringing together a volume number of travel trade professionals, who already excel in the field of adventure together with expedition cruise operators to contract, discuss, debate and analyse and build valuable links and relationships and to discuss issues that matter most to the most dynamic sector in the travel industry.”
Since registrations opened at the end of January, 19 expedition cruise lines have confirmed as exhibitors and already, more travel trade professionals have registered interest than attended in 2024.
Captain Dan Blanchard, CEO of UnCruise Adventures
Captain Dan Blanchard, CEO of UnCruise Adventures, embodies the spirit of maritime adventure and visionary leadership.
Born and raised in Washington State, Dan’s passion for boats ignited early as he restored his family’s wooden tug and navigated the Pacific Northwest waterways. Rising from Sea Scout, he built an impressive career in cruise.In 1996 he joined American Safari Cruises and rebranded the company as UnCruise Adventures. A natural storyteller with a deep love for nature, he was adopted into an Alaskan Tlingit tribe in 2013. Under his guidance, the company has redefined small-ship expeditions.
Sophie Galvagnon
Sophie Galvagnon, a French-Swedish captain, has spent a significant period in Arctic regions, exploring the polar world aboard a wide range of vessels, from research icebreakers to cruise ships.
At just 26 years old, she became the youngest woman to command polar expedition ships, earning maritime honours for her remarkable contributions to sea expeditions. Since 2017, she has expanded her influence in the field of polar adventure to entrepreneurship, founding maritime companies and developing ships tailored to these unique extreme environments. Selar is a pioneering expedition cruise line and plans to be the first fully sustainable collection of luxury polar ships.
Francesco Galli Zugaro, founded Aqua Expeditions
Francesco Galli Zugaro, founded Aqua Expeditions in 2007 with Peru’s first luxury river vessel on the Amazon River. The company then expanded its operations globally in 2014 with the launch of the Aqua Mekong on the historic Mekong River, and in 2019 with the ocean- faring Aqua Blu, which navigates the forgotten islands of the East Indonesian Archipelago. In 2021, Aqua Expeditions expanded its fleet from three to five vessels with the introduction of its second ship in the Peruvian Amazon, the Aqua Nera, and its latest superyacht, the Aqua Mare, sailing the volcanic Galapagos Islands since June 2022. As CEO, Galli Zugaro has personally supervised every vessel launch, completely changing the landscape of boutique expeditions. In 2025, Aqua Expeditions will further expand its fleet presenting all-new sailings in East Africa – Seychelles, Aldabra, and Zanzibar, Tanzania.
For both days of The Expedition Cruise Network Conference 2025, delegates will enjoy conference sessions in the morning followed by face-to-face meetings in the afternoon.
The 2025 ECN Awards will be held in the evening of Day One on board The Dixie Queen – a luxury Thames riverboat – to celebrate excellence across the expedition cruise industry with a prestigious welcome drinks reception and dinner.
To register your interest, follow the link: The Expedition Cruise Network Conference.
