“Expedition Cruising” is a bit of an oxymoron. When most people think of cruising, images of opulent décor, and sumptuous dining spring to mind. Shore excursions? You bet! A day at the beach, or zip-lining through the jungle; or how about a day on a private island in the Caribbean? Well, you won’t find any of those on an expedition cruise! What you will find, instead, is sailing well off of the beaten path to places where there are few, if any, facilities or amenities. The sun and fun will be replaced by stunning natural beauty, and exhilarating interactions with local people or wildlife. The Arctic, South Pacific, Asia, Alaska, and the last frontier Antarctica; are the most common regions that expedition cruise ships visit.

This is still a cruise and there are lots of things people love about cruising that are part of the experience. Since we are still talking about a cruise, there is still good food, and socializing over a drink. But the casino or live music shows are replaced by lectures, and interactive science centers. There are varying levels of comfort offered to expedition cruise passengers. They vary by operator, and specific ship you select. Silver Sea, for example offers extremely luxurious cruises to Antarctica on their smaller ships. The ‘expedition’ part comes into play when you leave the ship. It’s all about enrichment, and getting close to nature. You can head out in the morning in a Zodiac onto shore, and enjoy champagne and strawberries.

At the other end of the comfort spectrum are cruise operators such as “Uncruise” where your experience is closer to being part of the crew of an expedition. The ships are quite small with less than 100 passengers. There is no ‘luxury’, although your living quarters are comfortable; but the experience is more intimate and immersive, and the food is still top notch. “Uncruise” is known for their very personal service to their guests. With “Uncruise”, here is no doubt, you will get to know all of your crew and fellow passengers before your cruise is over!

Historically, expedition cruising meant sailing on ships that were originally designed for something other than carrying adventure travellers. It used to mean comfort was at a premium, in an effort to visit some of the world’s out-of-the-way destinations. However, cruise lines are now having ships built specifically tailored to expeditions, so this is no longer the case. The latest generation of expedition cruise ship offers passengers a high level of comfort, in a smaller size; which is advantageous to access more remote areas where the spaces are tighter and the water shallower.

Expedition vessel operators are providing the best immersive experience, as well as being increasingly mindful of the effect a cruise ship can have on the local environment. These ships are visiting some of the most pristine (and fragile) landscapes in the world; with Antarctica probably being the best example. Understanding their responsibility, cruise lines have created ships that utilize new cutting-edge technology to lower their environmental footprint. Hurtigruten Expedition Cruises, for example, within the last several years have launched the world’s first ‘hybrid’ cruise ships. Sister ships “Roald Amundsen” (pictured above) and “Fridtjof Nansen” are capable of sailing on electric power only. This means absolute silence when in the vicinity of wildlife, or near the shore of an Arctic coastline. It also reduces the ship’s CO2 emissions as well. It is worth noting that Norway has mandated that beginning in 2026, only zero-emission ships will be allowed to sail in their ‘Heritage’ fjords. That means ships that are only powered by electricity. It completely eliminates the noise and greenhouse gas emissions of the traditional diesel engines that almost all cruise ships use to operate today.

In addition to the size and design of the vessels, there is another key difference between expedition cruising and traditional cruising. “These are ‘see and do’ cruises, not just ‘sight-see’ cruises. There are cruises to Antarctica aboard cruise lines such as Celebrity that offer guests the ability to see the breathtaking vistas of that continent. I’m not knocking it, but it’s a purely passive experience. By contrast, sailing to Antarctica with an operator such as Hurtigruten means getting off the ship in small inflatable zodiacs and going ashore to experience a close-up encounter with a penguin colony! Or how about kayaking among Antarctic icebergs? Those are the kinds of incredible experiences that expedition cruising offers.   

Another differentiator for expedition cruising is the addition of dedicated onboard expedition teams. They consist of highly qualified and experienced expedition leaders who have worked in the industry for years. They can be lecturers, conservationists, or researchers. Your guides may be marine biologists, oceanographers, archaeologists, or glaciologists. Their knowledge and experience are world-class and add so much to the educational aspect of an expedition. They are the one’s leading (and curating) the shore excursions. They will also conduct onboard lectures in advance of reaching a particular ecosystem; so that the passengers, armed with new knowledge, get the most out of their offboard experiences.

The expedition teams take guests out in small groups, in zodiacs, to explore the destination. You might sail among the icebergs, or actually go ashore to visit a colony of penguins or seals. The expedition leaders are there not just to enhance your experience, but to also protect the animals and the environment they are living in. With their guidance and curation, you don’t visit a destination, you immerse yourself in one!

Although expedition cruises visit all seven continents, traveling in the polar regions remains such a unique experience and a so-called ‘bucket-list trip’, for a growing number of travellers. Whether you’re sailing in a Greenland fjord, or camping overnight in Antarctica, the landscapes are literally breath-taking. These experiences will leave you in awe, and feeling quite small as you contemplate your presence in an environment that is totally new and wonderful! This is what I truly look forward to, in anticipation of a cruise to Antarctica, with my wife, in 2022. There’s a blog to look forward to!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, or to plan and book your expedition cruise; contact me at jim@jameshilltravel.com.