Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary adventure? Find out why an expedition cruise should be at the top of your bucket list. Discover the world’s most remote and stunning destinations, from the polar regions to tropical paradises. Learn about unique itineraries, impressive ships, and expert-led experiences.
What is an Expedition Cruise?
An Expedition Cruise is a unique style of travel focused on exploring remote and often untouched destinations. Unlike traditional cruises, expedition voyages use smaller ships that can navigate through tighter waterways and reach places larger ships cannot. These cruises emphasise immersive experiences, education, and a deep connection with nature and local cultures.
What Makes Expedition Cruise Operators Unique?
Many cruise operators offer expedition-style voyages, each with its own unique selling points. From sustainability-focused ships to ultra-luxury all-inclusive vessels, you’ll have plenty of choices when researching your expedition cruise holiday. Here are a few of the main cruise lines which stand out in the expedition sector:
- AE Expeditions: This Australian company, founded by explorer Greg Mortimer, is known for its passion for discovery and adventure. Their small, ice-strengthened ships carry a maximum of 132 passengers, ensuring all guests can join every excursion. They have a high staff-to-passenger ratio (1:8), and offer adaptable itineraries that can change based on conditions, stopping for wildlife encounters. Education and enrichment are central to their voyages, with onboard lectures and citizen science programmes. They are also a Certified B Corporation™ and proudly carbon neutral.
- Albatros Expeditions: This Danish, family-owned company has been offering expeditions since 1985, with a focus on polar regions and beyond. They operate two state-of-the-art X-Bow vessels, Ocean Victory and Ocean Albatros, which have among the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per guest in the industry. They also have a strong commitment to sustainability, with clean ship certifications, fair-trade organic products, and recyclable parkas. Their expert expedition teams aim to help guests fully understand and appreciate their destinations.
- Coral Expeditions: This Australian-owned and operated company has been a pioneer in Australia’s remote wilderness exploration for over 35 years. Their purpose-built, Australian-flagged vessels are small, allowing them to access remote locations, such as the Kimberley, that are not accessible to foreign operators.
- Heritage Expeditions: A family-owned and operated company based in New Zealand, known for its signature voyage to the Subantarctic Islands. Their voyages, featured in Conde Nast Traveler’s “The 25 Best Places to Go in 2025,” focus on the ‘Albatross Latitudes,’ and remote islands. They offer unique opportunities to see penguin species not found anywhere else, and support conservation efforts.
- Hurtigruten Expeditions: Hurtigruten has a heritage of 130 years of sailing in the Arctic. Their expedition-style cruises are focused on authentic encounters with nature, people, and wildlife, with itineraries that can change depending on weather conditions. Onboard experts provide lectures and activities centred on science, nature, culture, and history.
- PONANT: This company brings a French way of life to expedition cruising, with exceptional services, a multilingual crew, and unique itineraries away from major tourist routes. They provide cultural, scientific, and historical presentations. PONANT offers all-inclusive experiences including Zodiac outings, shore visits, excursions, lectures, parkas, and boot rentals on polar expeditions. They are specialists in both polar and tropical expeditions. They also offer unique itineraries such as North Pole expeditions. They partner with National Geographic on some voyages.
- Quark Expeditions: Specialising exclusively in expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica, Quark Expeditions is known for innovating polar adventure. They have a diverse fleet of specially equipped small expedition vessels, with some of the most luxurious offering twin-engine helicopters. Their expedition teams have a high member-to-guest ratio (1:6), and they run a unique polar training program. They are committed to environmentally responsible tourism with a comprehensive sustainability strategy.
- Scenic Cruises: Scenic provides all-inclusive, ultra-luxury ocean cruises, with a focus on small ship discovery voyages on custom-built 6-star Discovery Yachts. Their ships are designed to access smaller ports and offer high levels of comfort and space. All-inclusive means gourmet meals, service, excursions, and experiences are included in the price.
- Seabourn: Seabourn offers an all-inclusive luxury expedition experience with purpose-built ships featuring a PC6 ice-strengthened hull and advanced manoeuvring technology. Their expedition team of experts guides guests on Zodiac cruises, hikes, and walks, and provides insights into wildlife encounters and cultural explorations.
- Silversea Expeditions: This is the first ultra-luxury expedition line, with all-suite, butler-serviced, and all-inclusive small-ship expeditions. They offer a 360° immersion into remote and pristine destinations, with a high staff-to-guest ratio. Their fleet includes Zodiacs for off-the-beaten-path explorations and offers pole-to-pole itineraries.
What are Some of the Most Impressive Expedition Cruise Ships?
Several expedition ships stand out for their technology, comfort, and capabilities. As one of the fastest-growing sectors in the cruise travel industry expedition cruise ships keep getting better and better, however, these are some of our current favourites.
- Ocean Victory and Ocean Albatros: These Albatros Expeditions vessels are state-of-the-art X-Bow ships with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per guest in the industry.
- Scenic’s Discovery Yachts: These 6-star ships are custom-built for small ship discovery voyages, with access to smaller ports, spacious interiors and luxurious amenities.
- Le Commandant Charcot (PONANT): This is a hybrid-electric polar exploration vessel, and is a PC2 Polar Class icebreaker. It offers unique itineraries to the North Pole.
- SH Vega and SH Diana (Swan Hellenic): These are luxury expedition ships designed for exploring remote regions, with features like 12-person Zodiacs and daily excursions.
- Seabourn Venture: This is a purpose-built ultra-luxury expedition ship, with advanced technology and PC6 ice-strengthened hull.
- Quark Expeditions’ Fleet: Quark operates a diverse fleet of small expedition ships, including the Ultramarine, World Explorer, and Ocean Explorer. Some are equipped with twin-engine helicopters.
- AE Expeditions’ Ships: Their purpose-built small ice-strengthened ships are designed for up to 132 passengers and feature ocean views with almost all including balconies.
Which Destinations Can I Explore on an Expedition Cruise?
Expedition cruises reach all seven continents and explore a wide array of environments. Destinations include:
- Antarctica: A vast wilderness of rugged terrain, snow, ice and sea with diverse wildlife. Voyages often include the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands.
- Arctic: Explore the dramatic landscapes and unique wildlife of the Arctic, including the Svalbard Archipelago and Greenland.
- The Kimberley: This remote region of Australia features stunning landscapes, ancient gorges, and unique wildlife. Coral Expeditions and Seabourn offer cruises in this region.
- Subantarctic Islands: Discover remote islands near New Zealand and Australia, with unique penguin species and diverse wildlife.
- Galapagos Islands: This is a unique and biodiverse area known for its diverse species.
- Spice Islands, Raja Ampat, and West Papua: These Indonesian regions offer rich colonial heritage, snorkelling and diving, and unique cultural experiences with indigenous tribes.
- Africa: Expedition cruises along the African coast, with stops at the Skeleton Coast of Namibia and the West African coast.
- Costa Rica: Explore the lush rainforests and incredible biodiversity of Costa Rica.
What are the Differences Between Polar and Warm Weather Expeditions?
- Polar Expeditions: These focus on the Arctic and Antarctica, and offer incredible landscapes, ice formations, and unique wildlife, including penguins, seals, and whales. Ships are often ice-strengthened, and excursions might include Zodiac cruises among icebergs and landings on shore. These often include lectures and expert guides to help you appreciate the wildlife.
- Warm Weather Expeditions: These explore tropical and temperate regions, with opportunities for snorkelling, diving, kayaking, and cultural immersion. These voyages often focus on diverse ecosystems, coral reefs, and indigenous cultures.
What Unique Itineraries are Available?
- Ponant’s North Pole Expeditions: Travel to the geographic North Pole on a polar class icebreaker. Will you be part of the bravest in the world to take the Polar plunge?
- Heritage Expeditions’ “Birding Down Under” Cruise: This trip explores the remote Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand and Australia, with opportunities to see unique penguin species and support conservation efforts.
- Kimberley Cruises with Seabourn: Explore the rugged coastlines of the Kimberley region in Australia with guided hikes, Zodiac cruises and wildlife encounters.
- 12-Night Spice Islands, Raja Ampat, and West Papua Expedition: Explore this remote region of Indonesia with cultural experiences and unique wildlife encounters.
- Swan Hellenic’s Africa Cruises: Experience diverse landscapes and cultures along the coast of Africa with various itineraries to choose from.
- Quark’s Arctic and Antarctic Expeditions: Choose from a variety of itineraries from 7 to 23 days, with a focus on immersive experiences led by expert guides and scientists.
What is Included in an Expedition Cruise?
Inclusions vary, often depending on your budget, and how luxurious you’d like your voyage to be, but generally, expedition cruises include the following:
- Accommodation: On smaller ships, often with ocean views and sometimes balconies.
- Meals: All meals on board, often with gourmet dining.
- Expert Guidance: Passionate and knowledgeable expedition teams, including historians, botanists, and archaeologists.
- Lectures: Educational presentations on the destinations, wildlife and ecology.
- Excursions: Shore visits, Zodiac cruises, and other activities led by experts.
- Expedition Gear: Often including parkas and boots for polar regions.
What are the Benefits of Choosing an Expedition Cruise?
Expedition cruising provides a more immersive and educational experience. You’ll have the opportunity to:
- Visit remote and pristine locations.
- Engage with nature and wildlife.
- Learn from expert guides and lecturers.
- Travel in small groups.
- Support sustainable and responsible tourism.
By choosing an expedition cruise, you are not just taking a holiday; you are embarking on a journey of discovery and learning that will no doubt provide lasting memories for you to treasure. As the great explorer and scholar Ibn Battuta famously said, “Travelling leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.“
