What is expedition cruising all about?
Expedition ships tend to be a lot smaller so they can visit the smaller destinations that they specialise in, but many offer some amazing luxury with lots included. What differentiates expedition cruising from traditional cruising is the relationship between voyages and ports. Instead of a cruise director and staff, expedition ships are led by an expedition team with the support of naturalists, and education rather than entertainment becomes the key experience.
Also aboard an expedition ship schedules and stops may change to take advantage of weather, sea conditions and wildlife sightings. It is clearly not for everyone with the extensive use of Zodiac inflatable crafts as opposed to docks and tenders. Demand for this type of cruising is high so prices tend to be as well, but the experiences offered are simply amazing.
One of the bigger operators in expedition cruising is Hurtigruten. This company, famous for its Norwegian coastal voyages, has been exploring polar regions since 1896. They give you the opportunity to view wildlife, culture and incredible scenery from pole to pole. From the polar bears of Svalbard in the north to the penguins of Antarctica in a fleet of advanced expedition ships. But it is not just the polar areas that they operate to, expedition cruises also visit North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe and the famed North-West Passage.
Some of the new ships that Hurtigruten are developing for their expedition fleet are hybrid which reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions considerably.
It is not just Hurtigruten who offer these cruises National Geographic (in conjunction with Ponant Cruises); Silversea; G Adventures and Celebrity Xpedition all offer a variety of expedition cruises.
If you would like to discuss expedition cruises in greater depth to decide if it is the right thing for you, just give me a call.