Small ship cruising guide
Small ship cruises take you to another world. To little bits of littoral loveliness you hardly knew existed. Places with names like the Kyles of Bute, or an island called Wolf. Find out more.
Top 10 expedition cruises
“I was really, really humbled by the experience,” says Responsible Travel’s Abbie Redman of her cruise to Antarctica. “You were looking at these unbelievable landscapes, these mountains without a footprint on them. Nature was the apex predator here.”
Our top 10 expedition cruises explore some of the planet’s most remote and most captivating landscapes. No onboard water slides or choice of 30 restaurants on these cruises. These are small ship adventures accompanied by expert crews that bring you up close with amazing wildlife like whales, polar bears and pink river dolphins. They also visit communities that see few tourists, and which benefit from smaller expedition cruises, whereas ‘floating hotels’ would overwhelm them. The suggested packing list includes items like binoculars and good quality walking shoes. The decks are for wildlife watching and practising your photography, and the onboard cinema shows inspiring nature documentaries. Keep reading to explore our top 10 expedition cruises...
Our top 10 expedition cruises explore some of the planet’s most remote and most captivating landscapes. No onboard water slides or choice of 30 restaurants on these cruises. These are small ship adventures accompanied by expert crews that bring you up close with amazing wildlife like whales, polar bears and pink river dolphins. They also visit communities that see few tourists, and which benefit from smaller expedition cruises, whereas ‘floating hotels’ would overwhelm them. The suggested packing list includes items like binoculars and good quality walking shoes. The decks are for wildlife watching and practising your photography, and the onboard cinema shows inspiring nature documentaries. Keep reading to explore our top 10 expedition cruises...
1. Antarctica
The voyage from Ushuaia in Argentina, the world’s southernmost city, via the Drake Passage to Antarctica and the South Shetland Islands, is a classic expedition cruise, with ice-strengthened polar vessels, highly qualified crew, and expert lectures throughout. Zodiac boat excursions seek out snoozing seals, vast colonies of penguins, and huge icebergs, while from the deck you can watch for orcas and humpback whales. Every care is taken to minimise your impact on these precious, fragile ecosystems.
Our top trip: Classic Antarctica cruise and South Shetland Islands
See all our trips: Antarctica cruise holidays
Read more: Antarctica travel guide
Our top trip: Classic Antarctica cruise and South Shetland Islands
See all our trips: Antarctica cruise holidays
Read more: Antarctica travel guide
2. Arctic
“Knock, knock” on your cabin door in the middle of the night; “We’ve spotted a polar bear, come out on deck for a look”. No need for spotlights, this is the land of the midnight sun. Our Arctic expedition cruises often explore the waters around Spitsbergen, in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago. More intrepid voyages head to the remote Franz Josef Land archipelago, or use icebreakers to reach the North Pole.Our top trip: Arctic icebreaker cruise, Spitsbergen
See all our trips: Arctic cruise holidays
Read more: Arctic cruises travel guide
3. French Polynesia
One of our more unusual expedition cruises sees you voyage French Polynesia on a cargo freighter that’s also delivering supplies, and the post. Sail from Tahiti to the Marquesas Islands via the Tuamotu Archipelago, with regular stops where you can dive or snorkel waters rich in marine life, while the crew make their drop-offs. Dine on fresh-caught fish, coconut crab, or traditional Marquesan meals cooked in underground ovens.Our top trip: French Polynesia cruise in the South Pacific
See all our trips: French Polynesia cruise holidays
Read more: French Polynesia travel guide
4. Greenland
Ilulissat welcomes careful cruisers – no vessels carrying more than 250 passengers please, lest this tiny harbour town on Greenland’s Disko Bay be deluged by tourism, like an iceberg lobbed into a bath. Speaking of icebergs, you’ll encounter many of them on a Greenland expedition cruise, with polar bears and whales often sighted too. Cruises typically depart from Iceland, and thrilling excursions range from kayak trips to helicopter flights.
Our top trip: Greenland cruise and Northern Lights
See all our trips: Greenland cruise holidays
Read more: Greenland travel guide
Our top trip: Greenland cruise and Northern Lights
See all our trips: Greenland cruise holidays
Read more: Greenland travel guide
5. Iceland
Instead of tackling Iceland’s famous (and busy) Golden Circle route by road, make it a larger circle with an expedition cruise around the entire country. And do it with a reduced carbon footprint too, aboard a hybrid electric ship. This way of travel allows you to reach remote, less-visited parts of Iceland including the Westfjords, Grimsey Island with its Atlantic puffins, and Bakkargerdi, known as the ‘land of the elves’.Our top trip: Iceland circumnavigation cruise
See all our trips: Iceland cruise holidays
Read more: Iceland cruises travel guide
6. Japan
A small ship expedition cruise is a fresh perspective from which to discover Japanese history, culture and wilderness areas. A two-week voyage around Honshu takes in ports of call that are well beyond the regular tourist trail. There is Matsue with its scenic canals, the Kakunodate samurai district in Akita, and Ise-Shima National Park, which has served as the official source of seafood for Japanese royals since the 5th century.Our top trip: Japan circumnavigation cruise - arts and culture
See all our trips: Japan cruise holidays
Read more: Japan travel guide
7. Patagonia & Chilean fjords
Cruise among the fjords and glaciers of Chile and Argentina, departing from Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. The region’s spellbinding scenery and marine life will keep you glued to the deck, when not exploring on smaller Zodiac crafts. Highlights include visits to the lighthouse and old radio station in Cape Horn National Park, the vast penguin colony on Magdalena Island, and getting up close to immense glaciers as they creak and crack.
Our top trip: Ushuaia to Punta Arenas cruise in Patagonia
See all our trips: Patagonia holidays
Read more: Patagonia travel guide
Our top trip: Ushuaia to Punta Arenas cruise in Patagonia
See all our trips: Patagonia holidays
Read more: Patagonia travel guide
8. Subantarctic Islands
What exactly happens when you set off south from the southern tip of New Zealand, and head towards Antarctica? Well, if you're aiming right, you'll hit a string of fascinating islands which lie between the two. The Snares, Auckland, Campbell and Macquarie island groups are distinct from each other, and from the rest of the world. They are birdlife havens, and include UNESCO-protected natural habitat. Such is the importance of protecting these areas, our cruises carry government officials on board to ensure everything is above board.Our top trip: Subantarctic Islands cruise
See all our trips: Subantarctic Islands holidays
Read more: Subantarctic Islands travel guide
9. Indonesia
There are some incredible experiences on our expedition cruise around some of Indonesia’s most remote islands: swimming with whale sharks, snorkelling off Raja Ampat (said to be the most biodiverse marine habitat on the planet) and walking with Komodo dragons will be among sure highlights. With onboard talks led by naturalists and a host of other excursions, this is an unforgettable wildlife cruise.Our top trip: Raja Ampat cruise & Spice Islands
See all our trips: Indonesia cruise holidays
Read more: Indonesia travel guide
10. New Zealand
From the misty veils and waterfalls of remote Fjordland to the dense bushland of Stewart Island, the wine trails of Marlborough and the stunning coastal scenery of Abel Tasman National Park, our New Zealand expedition cruises are full of exciting shore excursions. But keep an eye on the sea as well. You never know when a pod of dolphins will give chase, or when a whale will break the surface of the waves.
Our top trip: New Zealand, Stewart island and Fjordland cruise
See all our trips: New Zealand cruise holidays
Read more: New Zealand travel guide
Our top trip: New Zealand, Stewart island and Fjordland cruise
See all our trips: New Zealand cruise holidays
Read more: New Zealand travel guide
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Expedition cruising takes the intrepid traveller to the world’s hardest to reach regions.
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