Expedition Cruise Specialist

What exactly is an expedition cruise? Quite simply, it's cruising off-the-beaten path places with a higher degree of adventure. Your cruise will likely be led by an expedition team rather than a tour director. Tendering via inflatable Zodiac watercraft will be more common than the typical type of tender boat. If adventure is what you're after, then here are some of my favorite places to consider exploring, along with a list of some of the cruise lines that can take you there.

Antarctica & The Arctic

Image of Penguins in Antarctica
Image of Sun Over Antarctica
Image of Kayakers in Antarctica

The Galápagos Islands

Image of Bird in Galapagos Islands
Image of Iguana in Galapagos Islands
Image of Tortoise in Galapagos Islands

Iceland & Norway

Image of Northern Lights in Iceland
Image of Snowmobiling in Iceland
Image of Horseback Riding in Iceland

Aurora

Aurora Expeditions' aim is simple — to take small groups of travelers on voyages of discovery to regions that inspire, thereby creating lifelong ambassadors for the preservation and protection of these sacred places. Less people mean more solitude and greater flexibility if tides, currents, ice, or weather dictate a schedule change. And because they have fewer people to ferry ashore, they often make more landings.

Celebrity

Celebrity accommodates guests with amenities in a most unique and intimate atmosphere. Designed not just for travel, but for exploration, their three exploration ships sail to the Galapagos Islands, one of the world's last pristine environments. They offer the perfect combination of explorer's voyage and cosmopolitan bliss. Stylish detail meets intimate ambiance.

Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten offers you breathtaking experiences of nature in remote corners of the world, offering voyages that appeal to those who value real exploring. Get up close and personal with wildlife, culture, and incredible scenery — from pole to pole. Hurtigruten is revolutionizing the travel industry’s approach to sustainability, allowing them to offer authentic local experiences while leaving a footprint they are proud of — both in nature and with the communities they visit.

Lindblad

Lindblad Expeditions goes to the most amazing places on the planet — 40+ geographies in all. Their teams will do whatever it takes to ensure you have unforgettable experiences. Whether it’s manning the spotting scopes all night to ensure a polar bear sighting, orchestrating a landing at an extraordinary wildlife site to coincide with a magnificent sunrise, or sending waitstaff out with gourmet ice cream bars to refresh you as you explore a Polynesia atoll, their commitment creates thrilling moments for you.

Ponant

Refinement, curiosity, authenticity. Ponant's unique travel philosophy reinterprets cruising and invites you to discover or rediscover iconic destinations. They offer a new way to travel, by combining cultural enrichment with time to unwind in a luxury setting and sites that only insiders know about.

Quark

Quark explores the Polar Regions differently from everyone else. When you travel with Quark Expeditions, you’re exploring alongside the most seasoned polar experts on Earth, setting foot where few ever will, and doing what few ever dream. Do you want to explore off the beaten path? They’ll take you to where there are no paths at all. Will you be content to take another cruise? Or would you prefer to cruise 1,000 feet over the untouched polar wilderness in a twin-engine helicopter? The choice is yours: Do you want to go on vacation — or go on the expedition of a lifetime?

Scenic

When you embark on an Arctic discovery cruise with Scenic, you’re joining a very select few who have ventured to the farthest reaches of planet Earth. Add to this the luxurious environment of the Scenic Eclipse fleet, with the highest Ice Class of any luxury vessel, allowing safe navigation in polar waters. One of the reasons Scenic Eclipse is unique, is its onboard extras, such as its Airbus EC-130-T2 helicopters, which enable guests to soar high above the white landscape and take in all its beauty from above.

Silversea

Silversea sails luxury and high-end expedition cruises. Its six-star vessels carry 100 to 608 guests each. Silversea's luxury expedition cruises visit off-the-beaten-path destinations of pristine natural beauty and prime wildlife viewing, like Antarctica, the Arctic, and the Galapagos Islands.

Viking

Experience all the comfort and elegance of their award-winning fleet with expedition ships built specifically to explore the world's most remote destinations, immersing yourself in each and every region — from the Great Lakes to Patagonia and the Chilean Fjords to Antarctica.