Expedition (small ship cruising to ‘adventure’ destinations) is growing rapidly – in these places, it’s all about the destinations that are ‘hard to get to except by ship’!
Expedition ships essentially used to be a floating expedition base for shore excursions by zodiac, but a great ship will certainly enhance the experience, and from 2019, a new range of purpose built ‘next generation’ luxury expedition cruise ships are being launched. This began with Aurora Expedition’s revolutionary ‘Greg Mortimer’ and Scenic’s stunning superyacht ‘Eclipse’ and from 2020-2022 will also include brand new ships launched by Quark Expeditions, National Geographic, Seabourn, Crystal & Viking, so you’ll be able to explore these remote locations in considerable comfort!
Popular destinations include Antarctica, Alaska, Spitsbergen, Arctic Canada, Greenland & Iceland, the Galapagos, Kamchatka, Melanesia & Papua New Guinea, the Kimberley and Patagonia.
Antarctica has a good range of small ship cruises with most offering a variety of activities including sea kayaking, camping on the ice and even diving. Do see our Polar pages covering Antarctica and the Arctic.
Alaska is a magnificent destination and without doubt the best way to see the delights of the Inside Passage is on a small ship. You get up close and personal with the wildlife and the scenery.
The Ushuaia to Punta Arenas is a fabulous adventure cruise. Sail through the Magellan Strait and the Beagle Channel between the Chilean city of Punta Arenas and the Argentine city of Ushuaia. Watch penguins, listen to expedition lectures and gaze at the amazing glaciers.
Related experiences
Fiordland / Te Wahipounamu small ship cruise
3-9 Jan 2021 (reverse itinerary), 9-15 Jan 2021, 18-24 April (reverse itinerary), 24-30 April 2021, 2-8 May & 16-22 May 2021 (all reverse itinerary), 22-28 May 2021, 5-11 June 2021, 13-19 June, 8-14 Aug & 5-11 Sep 2021 (both reverse … Continue reading
East Coast Explorer
Departs: 26 November 2020 Experience New Zealand from a very different perspective. The Coral Discoverer avoids well-trodden tourist trails and offers you access to remote and pristine wilderness areas. With over 7000 km of stunning coastline to be explored, you … Continue reading
South Island Splendour
Departs: 8 December 2020 With its stunning coastal landscapes, small seaside towns and an abundance of charismatic marine life, New Zealand is uniquely suited to be explored on a small ship expedition. Join us aboard Coral Discoverer and see a … Continue reading
Ross Sea – In the Wake of Scott and Shackleton 2021
13 Jan 2021 departure starts and ends in Invercargill, 11 Feb 2021 departure starts in Invercargill and ends in Christchurch. The Ross Sea region of Antarctica is one of the most remote places on Planet Earth and one of the … Continue reading
Forgotten Islands of the South Pacific 2020 – 2021
Departs 23 December 2020 You won’t find them mentioned in a travel brochure on your high street; you won’t find them in most guidebooks, you probably don’t know anyone that has ever been there and they don’t even appear on … Continue reading
Chatham Islands: A Land Apart
Discover amazing endemic wildlife, meet the locals and experience conservation in action as we journey through the incredibly-diverse archipelagos of the Chatham, Antipodes and Bounty Islands. Itinerary Day 1: Invercargill Make your way to the Ascot Park Hotel where we … Continue reading
Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake
You’re ready to explore King George Island and the Antarctic Peninsula – and no Drake Passage crossings required! Included charter flights between Punta Arenas and Antarctica have you experiencing the majesty of the Seventh Continent with a spectacular aerial view … Continue reading
Chilean Fjords – The Kaweskar Route
Enjoy a stunning cruise along the west coast of Chile with its glacier-studded fjords, emerald lakes and channels. For the nature lover, this opens up opportunities to see the multitude of wildlife found in these waters including dolphins, seabirds, foxes … Continue reading
Coastal Treks of Tasmania 2021 (Coral Discoverer)
See the best of the Tasmanian coastline with these brand new cruise & hike voyages. On your voyage enjoy time ashore completing hikes that allow you to experience the imposing cliffs, sandy beaches and sapphire waters of the rugged coast … Continue reading
Forgotten Islands of the South Pacific
You won’t find them mentioned in a travel brochure on your high street; you won’t find them in most guidebooks, you probably don’t know anyone that has ever been there and they don’t even appear on some maps of the … Continue reading
Easter Island to Papeete: Pacific Islands Expedition Cruise
Join us for a journey that reverses part of the odyssey of the mutineers of the Bounty when they were looking for a new home in what today is French Polynesia. Starting on Easter Island we will get to see … Continue reading
The Kimberley: Broome to Darwin (Coral Adventurer)
Perfected over three decades, this 11-day Kimberley cruise takes you on an unforgettable journey from Broome to Darwin (or Darwin to Broome). Expert guides interpret 40,000-year-old rock art and retrace the history of Phillip Parker King who first charted this … Continue reading
Exploring Spitsbergen via the Faroes and Jan Mayen
Eerily beautiful, starkly secluded and richly interwoven with Norse myth, the Arctic territories of Scotland, Denmark and Spitsbergen stand as travel destinations both spectacular and captivating. In cruising from isle to inlet, fjord to fishing village, you’ll develop a deep … Continue reading
Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica: Explorers and Kings
This extended expedition encompasses the wildlife paradise of South Georgia, the remote Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), as well as the extraordinary beauty of the Antarctic Peninsula. You’ll experience a great diversity of environments and landscapes, which will provide unprecedented wildlife … Continue reading
Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent
This expedition offers the perfect chance to discover the best of the Antarctic Peninsula, the last continent’s most northern region. You’ll be delighted by penguins, seals and whales as they accompany you on your journey along the Antarctic coastline. Landing … Continue reading
Spirit of Antarctica
Embrace the spirit of polar exploration on this classic expedition to the coveted white continent. Sail across the famed Drake Passage, admiring spectacular seabirds and approaching the ice as the explorers of old did: by sea. With a chance to … Continue reading
In Search of the Polar Bear
Now Open for Bookings! 11-day Escorted Expedition Cruise 01 June – 11 June 2021 (land only) Tour cost from: $12,595 per person twin share, Twin with Porthole Cabin $10,995 per person, Quad share (very good value for solo travellers) To secure … Continue reading
Galápagos — West & Central Islands aboard the Monserrat
On this cruise you’ll view the Galápagos from the deck of the comfortable Monserrat as she cuts through blue waters bound for another island paradise loaded with natural splendour. You’ll get up-close and personal with aquatic wildlife like sea lions … Continue reading
Galápagos Islands aboard the Monserrat
There’s simply no better place to appreciate the magic of this precious little blue planet of ours than the Galápagos Islands. Join us aboard the roomy Monserrat for a mind-expanding cruising adventure through the archipelago’s central, southern and eastern islands. … Continue reading
Spitsbergen Explorer
If there is such a thing as a “classic Arctic” expedition, this is it. You’ll get all the best of Spitsbergen, by exploring the western edge of the island and venturing to some outlying northern areas home to polar bears … Continue reading
Unseen Fiordland and Stewart Island: Exploring New Zealand’s Remote Backyard
It is time to explore the furthest reaches of New Zealand’s backyard and discover the primordial majesty of Fiordland and the time-forgot rawness of wildlife-rich Stewart Island/Rakiura on a new expedition cruise: Unseen Fiordland and Stewart Island. Or venture further and … Continue reading
In Search of the Polar Bear
Escorted Expedition Cruise 01 June – 11 June 2021 (land only, departing Oslo) Tour cost from: $12,595 per person twin share, Twin with Porthole Cabin $10,995 per person, Quad share (very good value for solo travellers) To secure your space on … Continue reading
