Portugal's Mystic Cruises has boosted its series of polar expedition cruiseship newbuildings to seven.
Industrial group Martifer SGPS said its Portuguese shipbuilding subsidiary West Sea Estaleiros Navais had agreed a deal for four more ice-class Explorer vessels worth €286.7m ($319m).
The 9,300-gt, 200-berth units will have a hybrid propulsion system and will carry 112 crew.
"These vessels are part of Mystic Cruises' expansion plan in the international luxury cruise segment," Martifer added.
The ships will "prove to be true ambassadors of Portugal," it said.
Two newbuildings will be handed over in 2022 and two in 2023.
Big plans for cruiseships
Mystic, owned by Mystic Invest, already has one vessel in service, which was built at West Sea.
Two more are coming from the yard this year and in 2021. These were contracted for €60m each in 2018.
The total for the first three is more than €210m.
Run by president Mario Ferreira, the company has made clear its ambitions in the sector.
Mystic has a 12-year loan worth €165m with China's ICBC to fund its newbuilding drive, with the ultimate aim of ordering 10 vessels, according to Ferreira.
Caixa Geral de Depositos, Montepio and Banco Carregosa will guarantee financing during the construction period.
