Just a few years ago, you weren’t likely to hear “expedition cruises” and “luxury” used in the same sentence. Explorers setting off for, say, Greenland, the Northwest Passage or Antarctica would likely be tucking into cramped quarters on a decommissioned research ship. Fast forward to 2019: Inquisitive travelers are visiting those same remote destinations—but sleeping on high-thread-count sheets in lavish suites, a glass of champagne in hand and a butler at their service.
This new wave of luxury expedition cruising is a win-win for those wanted to kayak among seals in the Galápagos or track polar bears in the Arctic (or penguins in Antarctica) — without forfeiting any of the creature comforts they’ve enjoyed on their favorite luxury cruise lines.
A World of Discovery
While the polar regions and the Galápagos Islands are among the most popular expedition destinations we sell, we also arrange expeditions to:
- Australia’s Kimberley
- Papua New Guinea or other Pacific Islands
- The Amazon
- Patagonia
- The Sea of Cortés
- And many more intriguing and photogenic places around the globe!
What Type is Best for You?
At Cruise Specialists, we classify our expedition offerings into three general categories to help you find the perfect cruise: The first being luxury cruise lines such as Seabourn, Silversea and Crystal Cruises, which offer traditional cruise ship amenities and a wealth of specialty dining on board custom-designed, new or completely refurbished ships. The second is exploration-style cruising, with providers such as Ponant, Hurtigruten and UnCruise Adventures featuring smaller ships and a range of activities to satiate curious minds. The third is truly expedition, with Quark Expeditions, Lindblad/National Geographic and Zegrahm Expeditions leading the way as our clients’ companies of choice.
Learn more about the inclusions offered by these cruise lines in the comparison chart below.
Expedition ships carry a full complement of kayaks and Zodiacs for up-close exploration. Accompanying you on these exhilarating excursions are passionate expedition leaders who, along with onboard experts, bring the destination into clear focus with in-depth lectures covering topics in history, biology, geography and geology. Expedition cruises also incorporate flexibility into their itineraries to take advantage of spontaneous, unscripted nature opportunities as they arise.
According to Cruise Industry News, 28 new expedition ships have launched—or will launch—between June 2018 and 2022.
Need to Know
Because of their limited capacity and the spectacular promise of adventure, expedition cruises sell out quickly. We often receive advance notice of the most popular expeditions from our cruise line partners, so that we are able to assist your travel planning as soon as possible.
