19 May 2019

Having recently booked a 'once in a lifetime' expedition cruise for a group of friends to experience the 'Northern Lights' on the Norway coastal journey crossing the Arctic Circle along the way, I thought I would share with you some information about this rapidly growing area of cruising. Expedition cruising is becoming a very popular holiday of choice. A journey in an expedition ship is the best way to visit many of the world’s hardest to reach places. Some offer comfort, and some offer top class luxury, but more importantly they all offer remarkable journeys that passengers treasure forever. They are ships that capture the true meaning of adventure and travel, and that bring you closer to nature than almost any other form of travel. Trips in these ships aren’t just excursions – they are expeditions, with more emphasis placed on the experience ashore, excursions and ports of call, with many being bucket list destinations. Where expedition ships vary compared to mainstream cruising, is in size and detail: an expedition ship is much smaller in size and has a lot less passengers, making maneuverability much easier and, therefore, allows an expedition ship to take its passengers on much more intriguing journeys to hard-to-reach corners of the earth where the path may be winding and difficult to navigate. Passengers on an expedition cruise are encouraged to explore their surroundings on various stops, with the help of the expert Expedition Teams onboard, who share their first-hand knowledge about wildlife, natural phenomena, history and landscapes – and pursue adventurous detours when opportunities arise. You will travel by zodiac to shore, for a hike to wildlife sanctuaries and icebergs, view bucket-list animals and wildlife, learn of the local cultures and attend lectures and presentations from naturalists and scientists. Aside from offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences, expeditions also promote environmentally-friendly cruising. Following the introduction of the Polar Code in January 2018, expedition ships holding a Polar Ship certificate are required to comply with specific standards concerning the ships’ construction, equipment and training of the crew when operating in the Polar Regions. This ensures that the ships are safe and staff pay attention to environmental pollution. They encourage passengers to help with voluntary environmental activities such as beach clean-ups. With these expedition ships you also have complimentary use of snorkelling equipment, a complimentary parka and thermals for polar expeditions. Some of the luxury vessels have their own submarines and specialist diving equipment, some even have helicopters and landing areas on deck. Celebrity Cruises have just launched their new state-of-the-art ship Flora, the only ship of its kind ever to be designed with the destination in mind - The Galapagos Islands. With a growing market for expedition cruises and a longing thirst for adventure, an expedition cruise is a phenomenal opportunity to witness once-in-a-lifetime wonders and experience an unforgettable journey. Where will your expedition take you? To the top of the world, on an ice-breaker voyage to the North Pole, via the North-West Passage? Or will you follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin and come face-to-face with blue footed boobies, marine iguanas and tropical penguins on the Galapagos Islands? (Top of my own bucket-list).