The next BIG thing - Expedition Cruising

So, they say travel broadens the mind and, so it should do. More and more people are taking to adventures and experiences on their holidays. These destinations appeal because they can only be reached by smaller ships, are journeys away from the crowds and are just simply closer to nature.

If you find yourself with plenty of time, like to explore, be active and experience wild landscapes and encounters, then expedition cruising is for you. The focus is not about the ship’s creature comforts but very much about the destination, it’s nature and wildlife - and to experience this not just from the water but also on land. Specially designed boats are used, called “Zodiac inflatable boats” and these allow daily landing possibilities in the remotest of places.

You will not find any west end shows, black tie dinners or floating mega hotels but a pure form of cruising. Fresh local produce from every port, films, talks and lectures from expert ornithologists/biologists to immersive excursions which may involve picking up litter whilst your there! Ships are classed as working ships in that they deliver goods and post between ports. You won’t be sacrificing comfort though, all vessels feature excellent meals, great facilities and very comfortable cabins.

The expeditions take you off the beaten track to untouched environments. Visiting these places is a privilege and care is taken to ensure there is minimal impact. With this in mind, you will find that these cruise operators take responsible tourism very seriously too.

None more so than Hurtigruten Cruises. They have exploring heritage dating back to 1893. Hurtigruten is the first operator to ban the use of polluting and toxic Heavy Fuel Oil on its ships and are campaigning for a full international ban. Instead, Hurtigruten uses Special Distillate Marine which has 30 times lower sulphur emissions and less soot. Engineers have installed new, highly efficient propellers reducing emissions of CO2 by 2,300 tonnes per year.

Hurtigruten and Rolls Royce have signed a letter of intent to retrofit 9 ships to run on LNG (Liquid Natural Gas), fossil-free renewable fuel produced from dead fish and battery power. This means that by 2021, Hurtigruten entire fleet will be hybrid ships. The combination of battery power and the most environmentally friendly gas engines available.

So, expedition cruising is not your “normal way of cruising”. You will travel with like-minded travellers from all over the world. Wanting to learn about this wonderful planet of ours, who value sustainable travel and that value all this over luxury.

Expedition cruising offers the following experiences: - Northern Lights cruising at its best Travelling to remote/scenic countries such as Greenland, Antarctica, Norway, North Pole and many more. Experiencing UNESCO sites Expedition adventures with experienced leaders Landscape and animal Photography Hiking, climbing, snowmobiling, dog sledding and kayaking

So, if this is for you, what are you waiting for? Experience the wilderness, experience nature at its finest, chose expedition cruising.

Expedition cruising takes the intrepid traveller to the world’s hardest to reach regions. Whether sealed in ice most of the year, untouched by human activity or just a speck in the ocean on a world map, these far-flung destinations are often only accessible by boat. If you’re tempted by a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, that contact me for further information. this kind of trip entails and when is the best time to go.