5 surprising things you should know about Expedition cruising

Would you like to walk where only a few others have been and watch the Penguins in Antarctica diving for their dinner? Or do you dream of searching for the mighty Polar bear in the Arctic? Maybe you want to visit the awe-inspiring islands of the Galapagos? Well expedition cruising takes you to the world’s hardest to reach places, only accessible by sea and is rapidly becoming more popular now than ever before.

So, what do you need to know?

1. Expedition ships are designed specifically for the destination – take the Celebrity Flora for instance. This small ship (100 passengers) launched this year features an innovative outward facing design that makes the destination the centre of attention virtually erasing the boundaries, You can even ‘Glamp’ at sea! They have 2 luxurious cabanas on the top deck, so you can spend a night under the stars – and there is no better place to star gaze!!

2. Responsible tourism – Experts in expedition cruising, Hurtigruten are committed to reduce the impact of man in the Polar regions. They operate beach clean ups where passengers can partake in removing man-made rubbish that’s washes up on the shores of the Arctic and they are launching the first ever hybrid ships which use a new and environmentally sustainable technology – reducing fuel consumption by over 20%. They were the first cruise line to ban all single use plastics onboard their ships

3. Best time to travel – For the Arctic it’s between April-September. Going earlier in the season means you may still get the chance to see the northern lights plus there are bigger icebergs but later in the season for the best time to see the Polar bears. For Antarctica, it can only be reached between November and March, Dec & Jan being the best for Penguin hatching. Whereas the Galapagos can be visited all year round, with June-December being best for wildlife viewing.

4. Onboard entertainment – you won’t find glitzy west end productions onboard but you will find talks, lectures and photography workshops with experts making sure you get the most out of your expedition.

5. Onboard facilities – The main focus on expedition cruising is about the destination but you don’t have to give up your luxuries! Silversea offer small luxurious purpose-built expedition ships allowing you to discover off the beaten track destinations with their onboard experts but still staying in the most lavish of surroundings – including spacious ocean view suites with butler service.

Expedition cruises need to be planned well in advance, they are available to book up to 2021 with many already showing limited availability. Get in touch for expert advice and let me guide you through all the options. Katie.collis@travelcounsellors or 01625 439 693