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This Cruise Line Will Make Antarctica Trips Easier Next Year — Here's How

Lindblad Expeditions will offer flights over the Drake Passage for the first time, making the entire Antarctica trip only eight days.

Paul Brady is the news director at Travel + Leisure and the brand's expert on cruise travel. He has been covering the travel industry for more than 15 years for outlets including Condé Nast Traveler , Skift , and The Huffington Post .

JMP Traveler/Getty Images

Adventure cruise line Lindblad Expeditions will launch shorter trips to Antarctica in 2024, with flights from Argentina to the seventh continent that bypass what’s normally a two-day sailing of the Drake Passage.

The new option will shave several days off the typical Antarctica itinerary, making it possible to do the trip in as little as eight days. The flyover trips also eliminate the need to sail the Drake, a waterway that’s known for its unpredictability: travelers sailing to Antarctica often wonder if they’ll experience a calm “Drake Lake” or see massive swells that result in a “Drake Shake,” as writer Christopher P. Baker detailed for T+L in 2022 .

The new flyover trips will be a first for the cruise line, said Sven-Olof Lindblad, the CEO and founder of the company, during a recent appearance at ILTM Cannes, a luxury travel conference held this week in France.

“Starting in November 2024, with one of our ships, the National Geographic Explorer, we’ll have two new programs: one, which is five days in Antarctica, flying in and out, and the other which is five days in Antarctica with two days crossing the Drake Passage [one way].”

Lindblad said the decision to launch the service on the 81-cabin vessel was driven by multiple factors. 

“There are people out there that just don’t have the time [otherwise],” Lindblad said. He also noted that aviation technology has made flights to Antarctica more predictable, in spite of the sometimes challenging conditions seen in the region.

“We had chosen not to do this for years and years and years because I was concerned about the reliability — not the safety — but the reliability of people actually taking off and landing as they were meant to,” the CEO explained.

Now, Lindblad is confident that people can get there on time — and see one of the world’s most inspiring wild places.

“I think it's important to expose people to places like this for a lot of reasons,” said Lindblad, during his appearance at ILTM Cannes. “We need to understand these wild places better, and, as a consequence of that, we can be more productive as citizens as to how we deal with the challenges that we, as the human race, face as it relates to our relationship with natural systems around the world.”

The announcement comes as trips to the continent have surged in popularity. More than 70,000 people visited the ice in the 2022-2023 season, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. That number is almost certain to rise, as more and more vessels head south, Lindblad said.

“We were the only ship in Antarctica for quite some time,” Lindblad observed. “This next season, the average is closer to something like 70. So, extraordinary growth.” These days, the cruise line expects to operate three ships, including the National Geographic Explorer in the region.

Lindblad will offer the flights in partnership with DAP , the only air provider to Antarctica, which also contracts with lines such as Silversea to offer speedy service to the southernmost reaches of the planet.

The fly-and-sail trips will begin in November 2024 and continue through February 2025. Rates start at $9,475 for an eight-day expedition. Learn more at expeditions.com .

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A Journey to Antarctica with Lindblad Expeditions

• By Amie O’Shaughnessy

Now that I’ve tried expedition-style travel to visit the Galapagos and Antarctica with Lindblad Expeditions, I’d never go back to anything else for adventure destinations in particular. Many of Lindblad’s experiences take place on a ship, where maximum ground can be covered with minimal logistics, and although the ship itself is just the means of transport rather than the destination, the time onboard is consequential and is an integral part of the enjoyment of their journeys.

We traveled to Antarctica on the National Geographic Orion in November and our adventure from start to finish was nothing short of spectacular. Of course, the destination is unbelievable and plays a role in the joy, but together the ship, itinerary and staff complete the experience. And on a voyage to Antarctica, where the itinerary cannot be fixed ahead of time due to the ever-changing nature of the landscape, the ship and staff play an even more important role in all the pieces working well together.

Lindblad Expeditions Antarctica: Journey to the White Continent Review

Without a shadow of a doubt, the staff at Lindblad is second to none in the business when it comes to knowledge. Other operators may employ experienced guides, but Lindblad staffs their trips with true experts in their field. The expedition staff on our trip were passionate about the destination and the information they had to share with the guests.

Let us help you book the family expedition of a lifetime

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Every Lindblad trip has an expedition leader who sets the tone for the trip. Ours, Peter Cary, was that rare combination of leader and host, meaning he met guests’ needs while maintaining control in a place where a qualified expert is a must. Peter inspired confidence — something that is important when you are engaging in travel experiences with elevated risk. And likewise, Peter made us all feel like were were part of a team, not just passengers unconnected to one another. This sense of community is one of the big differentiators between a cruise and an expedition.

Lindblad takes safety seriously, but their approach is not so cautious that opportunities for adventures are missed; the expedition staff at Lindblad embody this spirit. They aren’t babysitters — they are facilitators to help guests optimize the experience in a destination.

Expedition Staff and Crew

Both of my Lindblad Expeditions journeys have involved truly exceptional crew. Coincidence? Definitely not. The crew aboard the Orion take pride in their work and consider it their personal mission to make each and every guest feel pampered — not an easy task on a 100-passenger boat. Although the Lindblad ships are well-appointed and comfortable, they aren’t designed to be flashy in a luxurious way, yet the crew could easily fit into any of the hotels of top global luxury brands.

The crew hosts a talent show at the end of the ship; through this show, guests get a glimpse of their off-duty connection with one another and Lindblad as the brand that takes care of them. It makes you want to support them as much as they support you.

Antarctica, the Destination

Antarctica is exotic and vast. Given the cost and distance, it’s not going to be the first international trip for most families, but put it on the bucket list for one of the very special trips that you’ll take as a family while your kids are still kids. Our son traveled to Africa, the Amazon, Chile and Europe before Antarctica and considers this trip one of his favorite places for awe-inspiring scenery and adventure. And from my perspective, there is no better way to raise a lifelong conservationist than for a child to see what a place on our planet looks like while it is still relatively untouched by humanity. Seeing Antarctica made it really hit home that we can either destroy or protect our planet, and doing one or the other is up to us.

We were on Lindblad’s first sailing of the season down to the Antarctic Peninsula, and we were rewarded with views of an incredible icy wildness just out of hibernation. The tradeoff of going so early is that we didn’t see as much marine wildlife as you may see later in the season. But we did see five species of penguins! These funny creatures do not disappoint — the way they walk and interact with one another in their native habitat is pure pleasure to witness.

We also saw a few species of seals. Most were sleeping, so not that exciting to watch, but it’s remarkable to see how they thrive in such a remote and rugged environment. Wildlife aside, the biggest surprise of the trip was how magical it was to experience the out-of-this-world scenery. The size and drama of it was way beyond my wildest dreams and expectations.

Lindblad Expeditions’ Antarctica Itinerary

Although the itinerary itself is a moving target, there is a sketch of where the crew wants to go each day and the captain follows ice charts to determine what what is passable at any given time. Venturing into the unknown is part of the fun, and the itinerary is followed with intention so that guests get a variety of scenery and activities and see as much of Antarctica as possible within this limited window of time.

In addition to hiking among a few different colonies of penguins, our itinerary included kayaking, cross-country skiing and a visit to Port Lockroy, a tiny station set up by the British in World War II and later used for research. It’s now a small museum and post office from which guests can mail Antarctica-postmarked postcards.

Most excursions from the Orion use zodiacs for exploration. These trips are lead by a naturalist who provides detailed information about the area and wildlife. Seeing the ice and animals at eye level is an entirely different experience than from the top of the ship. The animals didn’t care that we were there, which enabled close observation and wonderful photos.

Lindblad’s signature trip structure includes daily presentations by a variety of experts about the destination. This is one of the elements that distinguishes an expedition from a cruise. The presentations cover everything from history and geology to current events and political issues. Guests can join presentations in the lounge set up for this purpose (with a full bar) or choose to watch from the TV in their room. Either way, there is no shortage of avenues via which to learn; even my teenager kept the schedule in his pocket and actively sought out different presentations of interest on his own. It’s like school … but better, because you can directly experience what you are learning about.

National Geographic Orion Highlights

The National Geographic Orion was built in 2002 specifically for high-end expedition cruising. It’s modern and comfortable, with more than enough room for its capacity of 100 passengers to spread out, even in rough seas when everyone remains indoors. Guest rooms have plenty of light and amazing bathrooms with spacious showers; some of the higher-end rooms have balconies. We were in a suite with twin beds and a sofa bed — perfect for a family of three. Families with two or more kids can get adjacent rooms, but they are not connecting.

The design is upscale with beautiful wood finishes, polished brass and, of course, incredible National Geographic photos lining the hallways. Public spaces are wonderful, with big windows and cozy seating. The dining room is optimally configured so that guests can eat in smaller groups or at larger tables. There’s a buffet but still plenty of room for formal service. Meals on the National Geographic Orion are exceptional. It’s truly a wonder that this ship can feed so many people so well without the opportunity to stock up on additional supplies. Not only is the variety of food unbelievable, but it is fresh. Their salad is as crisp on the last day of the cruise as my lettuce is on the day that I bring it home from the market.

The main lounge on the Orion features a full bar and plenty of sofas, tables and cozy seating. Because the ship was built for expedition travel, the setup is optimal for presentations with multiple screens for multimedia; there’s not a bad seat in the house. The ship also includes a small gym and a book-filled observatory room with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Amazingly, we were able to eat lunch outside two days on our voyage — an unexpected pleasure in Antarctica. There is a sizable deck off the lounge as well as an upper deck for incredible views of the landscape. The Orion has an open bridge, which means guests can feel free to check out what the captain is doing up there. It was a lot of fun to watch the crew navigate the ice and big waves in the Drake Passage. And because they don’t run the ship from a hidden ivory tower, you feel like you are part of the navigation excitement.

Our trip to Antarctica was an A for adventure. I’d do it again in a heartbeat and recommend it to anyone who wants to embark on a true trip of a lifetime in every sense of the word. Want to know more? Call us!

Relevant Links:

Why expedition travel is the ultimate educational adventure for families

Family Vacation in the Arctic? Yes! And the Time is Now

Polar Expeditions with Kids: Choosing Between the Arctic and Antarctica

10 family vacations that will change kids forever

Lindblad Expeditions Galapagos Islands trip review

Tips for traveling with Lindblad Expeditions to the Galapagos Islands

Editor’s Note: Amie received a media rate to review Antarctica with Lindblad Expeditions. As always, all opinions are our own on Ciao Bambino. Photos by Amie O’Shaughnessy and Michael Nolan. 

Written By By Amie O’Shaughnessy

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Home News Lindblad Expeditions adds four Antarctic departures for 2022/23 season

Lindblad Expeditions adds four Antarctic departures for 2022/23 season

In the Antarctic early season (October–November), the austral summer is dawning and a seldom seen frozen world springs to life: flash-bright landscapes of virgin snow, a flurry of flipper-waving penguins share courtship rituals, and seal pups dart about in a sea punctuated by icebergs before hauling out on the shore.

Once a sight for only the most weather-hardy research scientists, this is a spectacle environmentally conscious travellers can observe on a  carbon-neutral voyage  aboard Lindblad Expeditions’ 126-guest  National Geographic Resolution ; a fully stabilised polar vessel with one of the highest ice class, which guarantees the smoothest, most comfortable ride with it’s patented X-Bow®.

With four new departures announced for the 2022/23 early season, adventurous travellers will have once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to witness the majesty of Antarctica as well as explore it, via snowshoe, cross country ski treks or an “into the ice” hike. Additionally, a special offer has been released for these departures, so guests can save $1,250 per person and receive complimentary charter flights.*

Explore wild and intriguing islands few ever get to see on Lindblad Expeditions’  South Georgia and The Falklands  voyage. Steeped in Shackleton and whaling lore, glacial South Georgia teems with wildlife including king, gentoo and macaroni penguins, enormous elephant seals, and a thriving fur seal population – a must-see for budding conservationists. Equally impressive, The Falkland Islands feature colonies of nesting albatross and rockhopper penguins among the cliffs, moors and tussock grass. The 17-day voyage departs 5 October 2022 with prices from AU$29,430 per person.

Alternatively, recreate the heroic age of exploration on Lindblad’s  Journey To Antarctica: The White Continent  voyage, which features a flexible itinerary that allows guests to experience the splendour of Antarctica by going where the conditions are best and the wildlife is most active. Home to an array of colossal ice forms, many guests come for the whales, seals and penguins but end up falling in love with the former. From AU$20,980 per person the 12-day voyage departs 9 November 2022.

Additional departures are also available on their Antarctica, South Georgia and Falklands and Antarctica and Patagonia: Legendary Ice and Epic Fjords voyages.All cabins aboard the  National Geographic Resolution  offer outward-facing windows and luxury amenities, with most featuring balconies. When booking be sure to enquire about a special savings discount. Most importantly, pack your curiosity as it will surely be rewarded. 

For more information on why you should visit Antarctica in the early season or to book your voyage. Call 1300 361 012, visit au.expeditions.com or contact your travel advisor.

Brought to you by  Lindblad Expeditions .

*Terms and Conditions apply. Speak to the team to find out more.

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I just spent the night in an igloo in Antarctica -- here's how you can, too

Editor's Note

I'm not sure I've ever had a room with a view quite as spectacular as the one I had last night.

From the teak wood bed, topped with a cozy white duvet, four sumptuous pillows and a plaid wool throw, I looked out through curving glass walls at floating Antarctic ice seemingly stretching for miles.

Snow-covered Petermann Island, famous for its gentoo and Adélie penguin colonies, was visible in the distance. So, too, were the soaring, snow-covered mountains and glaciers of the Antarctic Peninsula.

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At least, that was the initial scene. As I watched, mesmerized, while snuggling under the covers, the landscape soon began to change. New stretches of floating ice, mountains and glaciers came into view -- scrolling past the glass wall before me like some sort of real-life IMAX movie.

The room, a glassed-in "igloo," was on the move.

Dubbed the "Igloo Experience," the room is one of two such accommodations atop National Geographic Resolution, a hardy new expedition cruise vessel that is specifically designed for exploring Antarctica and other polar regions. When the ship moves, the rooms moves, too.

Related: The ultimate Antarctica gear guide

When I blinked open my eyes the next morning, the scene was of swirling open waters. The ship had traveled more than 100 miles southward toward the Antarctic Circle while I slept. I might have had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming, except knocking at the igloo's door was National Geographic Resolution's hotel director, come to wake me up with coffee and pastries.

An extraordinary overnight experience in Antarctica

National Geographic Resolution isn't the only new vessel with onboard igloos for overnight stays. Another just-unveiled sister vessel, National Geographic Endurance, also has two of the rooms.

Among the most advanced polar cruise ships ever built, both of the vessels are operated by Lindblad Expeditions, a leader in adventurous travel that has a long tradition of pioneering new experiences in polar regions.

Related: This new luxury tour gets you to Antarctica faster than most

Located at the very top and back of the ships, the glass-wrapped igloos can be booked for single nights during voyages on either of the vessels. Quite amazingly to me, they are available to passengers on a first-come, first-serve basis at no extra charge.

Lindblad easily could charge $1,000 a night for this sort of experience, and people would pay it.

It's an experience that goes beyond just sitting in bed watching the stupendous Antarctic scenery go by.

Each of the igloos is located next to a decktop hot tub, and they are just steps away from indoor spas that are home to side-by-side Nordic and tropical saunas.

Late at night, when everyone else has gone to bed, these hot tubs and saunas become like a private spa resort for igloo occupants.

I arrived at my igloo relatively late in the evening, following an after-dinner landing by Zodiac boats to see the penguins on Petermann Island.

But at the recommendation of the ship's hotel director, Laura Fuentes, I didn't jump right into bed after arriving at the igloo. Instead, I turned the evening into a late-night spa retreat.

Changing into my bathing suit at the spa, I dashed through the freezing Antarctic air to the hot tub next to my igloo for a long soak. Soaring mountains and glaciers were my backdrop.

Related: These 8 books are must reads before an Antarctica trip

Once sufficiently pruney, I dashed back to the spa for back-to-back sits in each of the saunas. Both of them are lined with a wall of glass facing the water.

I had all of it completely to myself.

Not as cold as I expected

The tropical sauna's thermometer recorded the temperature as 61 degrees Celsius -- about 141 degrees Fahrenheit. The Nordic sauna was an even more blistering 80 degrees Celsius -- about 176 degrees Fahrenheit. That was more than enough to give me a lingering heat boost just before bedtime, and it made me drowsy, to boot -- just as Fuentes had predicted.

A caveat to the igloo experience is that the igloos aren't heated. Nor are there many of the other conveniences of standard hotel rooms, such as a television, running water or toilets.

Think of it as camping, except without having to put up your own tent -- and on top of a ship.

Still, to my surprise, the igloo experience wasn't nearly as cold as I thought it would be.

In a wonderful touch, the bed was heated with giant hot water bottles placed underneath the covers. When I slid between the sheets after getting back from the sauna, it was like a toasty warm cocoon. I was in heaven.

It was then I began taking in the passing scenery in earnest, which was still lit up due to the nearly continuous daylight of the Antarctic Peninsula near the winter solstice.

The curving glass of the igloo is frosted on the side facing the ship's top deck, for privacy. But the side facing outwards from the ship is clear and unimpeded. So is the top of the igloo's dome. It makes for a stunning field of vision.

On a clear night, it also would surely allow for star-gazing right from the bed, assuming the ship is in a latitude where the sun goes down.

On this night, alas, the sky was mostly clouded over. Even if it had been clear, the window of darkness at this time of year in the Antarctic Peninsula is extremely short.

Indeed, it's so short that one of the amenities of the igloo is an eye mask. I also received earplugs should noises from the ship intrude and a fleece-lined cape to wear during middle-of-the-night dashes to the bathroom in the nearby spa.

When I finally began drifting off to sleep, around midnight, it had just started to get semi-dark to the point that it almost felt like bedtime. The mountains and glaciers parading in front of my window had started to grow dimmer.

In the moments before oblivion took hold, lying with my eyes closed under the eye mask, I could hear the whistling of the wind and the whoosh of the waves against the hull as the ship headed out toward open waters.

The ship began to pitch forward and back just the littlest bit, rocking me ever so slightly in my bed like a baby in a rocker.

To someone who loves the sea and the places that sea travel makes accessible, it was a perfect moment.

I soon was fast asleep.

Planning an Antarctica expedition? Start with these stories:

• Dreaming of Antarctica: How to book the trip of a lifetime
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• 7 tips for visiting Antarctica before it's too late
• The ultimate packing list for an Antarctica trip
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Antarctic Cruising with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic

Photos: Dori Saltzman

Travel Market Report senior editor Dori Saltzman wrapped up her 2023 with an almost two-week trip to Antarctica with Lindblad Expeditions. The voyage included an afternoon bus tour and overnight in Buenos Aires, a catamaran trip around Ushuaia, and a 10-night cruise onboard National Geographic Explorer, with six full days in the Antarctic.

Here’s what to expect on a Lindblad Expeditions trip to Antarctica.

Inclusions There are more than a dozen cruise lines to choose from when matching an Antarctic voyage with your clients. Among the many differences between the lines is what’s included in the voyage fare. In some ways, Lindblad is one of the least inclusive lines. In other, it’s quite inclusive.

Like most of the lines in Antarctica, Lindblad includes all meals and most drinks, with only top shelf liquors costing extra.

Also included are tips for crew and expedition staff (though envelopes are put out at the end of the sailing and most people tipped extra), super warm parkas that you get to take home with you, reusable water bottles, and up to two Zodiac cruises or boot-on-the-ground landings per day while in the Antarctic.

Of note, charter flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia are not included, and cruisers are required to purchase their charter flights from Lindblad.

Also not included, knee-high rubber boots for landings – you can either buy your own and bring them along, or rent a pair from Lindblad’s Ship-to-Shore program. (You can also rent, waterproof shells and hiking poles – although we found there were plenty of hiking poles to borrow on site without having to pay.)

One thing that is included that some other cruise lines don’t include is kayaking. We had the opportunity to kayak in a place called Holtedahl Bay, among small ice bergs and floating ice. To say it was magical would be a vast understatement.

Itinerary Unless you’re on a longer sailing that includes the South Georgia Islands, most “standard” Western Hemisphere Antarctic cruises depart from Ushuaia in Argentina, head down to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands and then return to Ushuaia. All such itineraries include two full days transit south via the Beagle Channel and Drake Passage, and two days full transit north.

Few ships cross the Antarctic Circle.

Lindblad is one of the few cruise lines that attempts it. However, as with everything Antarctica cruising related, nothing is set in stone; the itinerary can change from sailing to sailing – though there are standards that ships try to get to – and flexibility is the name of the game. (According to our Captain, only two to three sailings per ship, per season, make it into the Circle.)

On our sailing we crossed the Antarctic Circle on our first full day in Antarctica, which happened to be the December solstice. That day we visited two destinations within the Antarctic Circle: Detaille Island and the Lallemand Fjord.

In the late afternoon, we crossed back over the Circle, heading slightly north for the next day’s stops, which included our first – and only – continental landing at Prospect Point. (We also kayaked that morning in Holtedahl Bay, and did a Zodiac cruise among the so-called Fish Islands.)

The next day we sailed through the Lemaire Channel, a common destination for Antarctic cruises. During our sail-through, we spotted a Ponant ship, and as we were coming out, a Scenic ship was heading in. (FYI, it’s common because it’s stunningly beautiful.)

Another spot that we visited that is pretty commonly visited is Deception Island and Whaler’s Bay in the South Shetland Islands.

Between the Lemaire Channel and the South Shetland Islands, we visited a number of spots along the Antarctic Peninsula, with the remaining landings all on islands.

Generally speaking, when not visiting the two or three more commonly visited spots, Lindblad tries to stop in less visited areas so that guests don’t have to “share” their experience with cruisers on other ships.

On ship experience Being onboard a National Geographic vessel with Lindblad Expeditions is a little like being in the middle of a Nat Geo documentary. The expedition team comprises naturalists, scientists, technicians, photographers, historians, underwater specialists, and more.

That last one, underwater specialists, is something that’s pretty unique to Lindblad. On our sailing we had two divers taking underwater video that we got to see twice during evening presentations. It was amazing to see what life under the Antarctic waters looks like and learning about the starfish, sea worms, anemone, and more that live out their lives in sub-freezing waters.

Throughout our sailing, either during evening recaps or during afternoon presentations, the expedition team gave lectures about the history of Antarctic exploration and whaling; the wildlife (penguins, whales, seabirds, pinnipeds, lichen and moss, krill); geology, glaciology, and plate tectonics; photography; working in some of the Antarctic research stations; and more.

Our sailing also featured a guest speaker, National Geographic Explorer Jennifer Lopez, a NASA director who talked about the intersection of space exploration and Earth observations, specifically in Antarctica.

For the youngest cruisers (our sailing had 16 kids under the age of 18), there is the National Geographic Global Explorers program, which has its own set of activities that on our sailing ranged from learning how to use a microscope to a kids-only Zodiac cruise in which participants collected plankton to examine under a microscope to painting with watercolors, and more. Because of the large number of kids onboard, the Global Explorers group on our sailing had two naturalists assigned to it. These naturalists are “certified field educators” who have completed a National Geographic-designed field education course.

When cruisers were not in a Zodiac, on land, at a presentation, or eating, there were breaks for napping, reading in one of the lounges, and there’s even a large library of movies to relax with. While keeping one’s eyes on the water is always a good idea to ensure you don’t miss any wildlife, naturalists will often make a ship-wide announcement. That’s how we got to see Orcas and Dusky Dolphins.

Cruisers looking for any type of traditional entertainment will not find it on Lindblad. The closest we came to “entertainment” was a performance by the Spice Boyz & Girlz, a rock band composed of crew members, whose enthusiasm made up for any lack of talent.

Zodiacs & landings While the onboard experience with Lindblad Expeditions in the Antarctic is educational, it’s the Zodiac and landings that everyone comes to the Continent for.

One thing that is the same for every cruise line sailing to Antarctica is that all plans for Zodiac cruises and landings depend on weather conditions.

Also the same for all cruise lines, landings are limited to no more than 100 people at a time (including the expedition team members). For our cruise, which had 124 passengers onboard, we were split into four groups. Generally, two groups would be out at once, with the second two groups going out after the first groups were back. On occasion, two groups were on land, while two were in Zodiacs.

Zodiac cruises rarely had more than eight people at a time, along with one naturalist to offer information and answer any questions. Landings typically saw about 50 to 60 people on land at a time, with naturalists stationed at key spots and cruisers free to roam around between them. Bright orange cones indicated how far we could go in areas where wildlife were around. 

The off-ship experience starts the morning of the first full day in the Antarctic, and there are always plans for a morning and afternoon activity.

On our sailing we managed four landings and five Zodiac cruises. Of the landings, only one was on the actual continent. (According to our expedition leader, most sailings achieve at least one continental landing.) On top of those, we had a morning of kayaking and an afternoon polar plunge, which gives cruisers the opportunity to jump into calm but sub-freezing waters (for no other reason than to say that they did it – this reporter did not do it).

Two of our Zodiac cruises were originally planned to be landings. In the first case, landing conditions were not safe. In the second, on-site researchers passed on the message that some seals in the area were showing signs of avian flu, which made a landing off-limits for fear cruisers could accidentally spread the disease. In both cases, they were replaced with Zodiac cruises.

Zodiacs and landings are typically anywhere from one hour to two hours long, though they can be cut short if the weather turns.

It’s during the Zodiac cruises and landings that cruisers do most of their wildlife sightings, though our trip’s only leopard seal sighting was during a deep water scenic cruise of Cierva Cove, and we saw lots of porpoising penguins on the sail into Deception Island.

The final piece of the Lindblad experience in Antarctica is the dining. With three Lindblad ships in the region, the layout of meals might vary, but breakfasts are always buffet style, while lunch and dinner are served.

Both the lunch and dinner menu have an always available section, with a larger always-available range of options at dinner. Menus always have multiple vegetarian options, with several that can easily be made vegan. Dinner features four mains – vegetarian, fish, meat, and a pasta of the day.

The menu ranges from basic to somewhat more refined, though nothing a foodie would ever call gourmet. Quality is high though, and we enjoyed every meal we had. Guests will likely find lots of Spanish and Latin American dishes, along with a few French standards like beef bourguignonne and croque madame, among others.

Service is friendly, and one of our waiters (we sat in the same section every night) quickly got to know my standard drink and salad order. Cruisers expecting white glove service might be disappointed with how slow service can be, and we were not the only cruisers to have orders mixed up.

Overall, dining is not a reason to choose Lindblad – the expedition team, onboard education, and off-the-beaten-path itineraries are.

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Nine Star Princess cruises have been cancelled because of the delay. 

Carnival Corp. made it very clear that travel agencies and advisors must also comply with the new law in their own marketing.

A sold-out Cruise360, presented by CLIA, kicked off this week in Fort Lauderdale with more than 1,250 advisors in attendance. 

The ship will officially sail starting in April 2025. 

Three Holland America Group brands -- and their cruise tours -- are affected. 

Options will include the line's first upscale Thai restaurant and a dedicated plant-based venue.

The Scoop: What to Know About Lindblad Expeditions

For more than 50 years, this expedition cruise specialist has brought travelers to antarctica, the galapagos, and beyond..

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The expedition cruise company Lindblad Expeditions was started in the 1960s by explorer Lars-Eric Lindblad, who led expeditions for private citizens (rather than just for explorers and scientists) to wild places like Antarctica and the Galapagos. Considered to be an earlier pioneer in ecotourism, Lindblad wanted to connect people with the world “so that they might think differently about the planet and our role in protecting it.”

Lindblad continues to be a family-run company (led by Lars-Eric’s son Sven-Olof), and since 2004 has had a partnership with National Geographic that gives guests access to Nat Geo experts who join select voyages. 

The thing that really struck me on my first Lindblad Expeditions tour was how deeply engrained the culture of safety is with the company. From the standardized way people are helped on and off zodiacs to the way the expedition leader always had at least four backup plans to revert to depending on conditions. Each evening, the guests and staff would review the map and the conditions for the following day so everyone knew what was going on. I loved this because it made me feel confident that we were being responsibly adventurous. Someone defined it to me as Lindblad cruises being “not only a life changing experience but an incredibly safe one.”

TourScoop Takeaways: Lindblad

• Destinations: 100 itineraries/seven continents
• Tour Size Average: There are never more than 148 guests on a ship
• Tour Type: Expedition ship

How to Book

To book a Lindblad expedition cruise, you have two primary options: to book directly through the company or book via a travel agent. Lindblad reports that direct bookings have increased in recent years, with people opting to either book via the website or by calling an agent in the company’s call center for professional guidance about how to get the exact bucket list experience they’re hoping to have.

Credibility Check

Lindblad has a Cruise Critic user ranking of 4.4 out of 5 and rates 4.7 out 5 on TravelStride . It has won dozens of awards over the years, including Best Expedition Ships from Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards in 2023. 

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Tour Destinations

Lindblad Expeditions is the world’s largest expedition cruise provider in terms of number of ships, with 170 unique itineraries and more than 550 annual departures across 120 countries on seven continents. Its best-known trips include Antarctica and the Galapagos. 

Lindblad Expeditions operates expedition cruises, with certain itineraries geared to particular areas of focus. For instance, a number of its departures have a National Geographic Photography Expert onboard who offers ongoing photo instruction and one-on-one teaching. There are also trips with a music focus and some trips (usually during school vacations) that offer specific programming for kids with the company’s National Geographic Global Explorers program. 

Tour Guides

Each Lindblad expedition is led by an expedition leader and staffed by a mix of specialized researchers and local experts that may include naturalists, geologists, and glaciologists. In addition, the ship has crew plus hotel staff, stewards, and other staff whose job is guest comfort onboard. 

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Lindblad is pretty next level about its staff. It has a rigorous hiring and training process, all staff get both on-ship and off-ship mentors, and there’s ongoing professional development. There are training voyages for new staff so they can come onboard to really understand how the company operates, and the company pays for people to train in specific regions for hands-on experience before they ever work with guests.

As a guest, I also noticed the way the Lindblad culture allows its leaders and staff to be themselves; I never felt like I was interacting with a cookie-cutter perfect employee but rather a group smart and capable humans passionate about their work who would give me real answers to my questions.

What’s Included

• Food: All meals, snacks, and drinks (except premium wines and spirits)
• Activities and Excursions: Daily activities on and off the ship, plus educational sessions with onboard experts.
• Gear to Borrow: Depending on location, gear might include wetsuits, parkas, snorkel gear, and camera equipment courtesy of the OM System Photo Gear Locker.
• Basic Wi-Fi: Satellite internet that connects you to email and messaging (anything beyond that is a paid option). 
• Transfers: Transfers as specified in the itinerary.

What’s Not Included

• End-of-Trip Gratuities: This one is ship specific. On some ships, gratuities are built into the price of the cruise, while on others, guests have the option to leave a gratuity of around $25 per guest per day that’s split among the onboard staff.
• Premium Spirits: While alcoholic drinks (at the bar in the lounge and in the dining room) are included in the base price, premium spirits are an additional cost.
• Premium Wi-Fi: Since Lindblad ships tend to sail far off the beaten path, the company uses satellite internet across its fleet. The standard complimentary internet gives guests access to email and messaging, but faster internet (for web browsing, streaming, video calls, etc.) is an added cost that can be paid as a daily fee or on a per-sailing price.
• Airfare : Except in a few cases in which airfare is built into the cost of the cruise, flights aren’t included in the up-front cost. Lindblad agents will work with you to book airfare though (and can accommodate award travel and flights booked in all classes), and if your flights are booked through the company, they manage any delays or flight issues. 

Typical Travelers

Like many tour companies, Lindblad’s core demographic is travelers ages 50 and older, though in recent years, the company has been skewing younger on certain itineraries. For instance, its Galapagos, Alaska, and Antarctica trips tend to attract a mix of younger and older travelers, and trips with National Geographic Global Explorers programs for kids see more families onboard. 

When I chatted with the folks at Lindblad, they noted that they’re seeing more and more environmentally conscious travelers looking to explore remote and wild places with an emphasis on conservation. They’re drawn to Lindblad’s emphasis on safety and knowledge-based travel, and its focus on protecting these wild places.

Communication

After booking, guests are invited into the Communications Portal, which has forms, the complete expedition guide, and other information about the trip. A few weeks before the departure date, guests receive additional documents, luggage tags, etc. in the mail. And during the expedition, guests can direct family and friends to check the daily expedition report filed by the expedition leader and available online,

Loyalty Program

While Lindblad doesn’t currently have a branded loyalty program, it does offer discounts on future sailings to guests who indicate interest in a future sailing while onboard a cruise (you don’t actually have to book, just indicate interest in a future sailing). 

The company also has an invitation-only “Friends for Life” program that offers specials and discounts. Occasionally Linblad offers membership into the program.  

Sustainability Efforts

Sustainability is at the foundation of Lindblad. The company was created to inspire stewardship of the earth, and while its ships definitely have an environmental impact (and guests flying from around the world to go on the expeditions have a carbon footprint), Lindblad is committed to minimizing its environmental footprint and preserving the cultures and nature it spotlights. 

Lindblad is a carbon neutral company (through reducing emissions and purchasing offsets). It does not use single use plastics, and gives passengers metal water bottles to use on trips and take home. It also has programs to source its food responsibly, support artisans and local communities, engage with citizen science, and supports global conservation projects. It also provides financial support to local communities as they pivot to more sustainable practices (for instance, subsidizing local fishermen as they switch from net fishing to line fishing). 

Health and Safety Practices

Lindblad goes to some very off-the-beaten path places while also making safety a top priority. In fact, “Maintain a balance between adventure and safety” is one of the company’s 10 guiding principles. It shares detailed safe exploration protocols on its website. 

Family Companies

Lindblad has had a 20 year partnership (that has just been extended) with National Geographic. The two companies are closely aligned and work together to develop programming and onboard experiences that are specific to Lindblad’s itineraries.

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Expedition cruises: The ultimate guide to cruising to remote, hard-to-reach places

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One of the fastest-growing segments of cruising in recent years has been “expedition cruising,” a type of cruising that involves traveling to remote, hard-to-reach places such as Antarctica on small, hardy vessels.

This is a type of cruising so different from what the big mass-market lines offer that it might as well be considered an entirely different form of travel.

With traditional cruising, the experience often revolves heavily around shipboard activities, dining, drinking and entertainment. Yes, a traditional cruise is partly about getting you to (mostly mainstream) destinations for brief visits. But at its core, it’s a resort experience.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter .

An expedition cruise, by contrast, isn’t designed to be a resort experience. It’s a cruise that is all about getting you to an off-the-beaten-path place that, in many cases, has little or no land-based infrastructure and can be reached no other way but by ship. You are “cruising” in the sense that you are traveling by ship. But the trip isn’t about the ship. It’s about where the ship can get you.

As I’ve been lucky enough to experience many times over nearly three decades of writing about cruising, expedition cruises can get you to some of the least visited and most wondrous places in the world — including parts of the Arctic and Antarctica that as recently as a century ago had never been seen by humans.

Here is a guide to everything you need to know about expedition cruises and cruising.

What is an expedition cruise?

Expedition cruises are ship-based trips designed to get you to remote and hard-to-reach places that most people never get to see.

It is travel by ship to places so far off the beaten path, such as Antarctica, that the journey itself is a bit of an adventure. Adding to the adventure is that, in some cases, you don’t know what you’re going to do from day to day once you reach your destination. Your expedition leader will make the call depending on the movement of wildlife, changing ice conditions (if you’re in a polar region) and the waves and the weather around possible landing sites.

Should whales pop up off your bow on an expedition cruise to Antarctica, for instance, your expedition leader might decide to scrap morning plans for a landing near a penguin colony in favor of whale watching. Then you’ll visit penguins in the afternoon. Or not.

Maybe changing ice conditions will make it possible to do a landing on floating ice for a hike. Eventually, you’ll probably make multiple landings at penguin colonies, maybe hike across floating ice and hopefully see whales and other wildlife. But how it all happens will be at the whims of nature.

In that sense, being on an expedition cruise is a bit like being part of a team of explorers on an “expedition” — hence the name.

As vacations go, expedition cruises have more in common with safari vacations in Africa or trekking trips in the Peruvian Andes than traditional cruises.

On an expedition cruise, the focus is on remote wilderness areas and the wildlife that inhabits them. This could be Antarctica’s rocky, ice-lined shoreline, with its massive penguin colonies, or the uninhabited islands of the Galapagos, with their giant tortoises and Darwin’s finches.

What is an expedition cruise ship like?

The typical expedition cruise vessel is custom-built for these remote and rugged areas. Expedition ships typically are small and agile, so they can tuck into remote bays and waterways that big ships can’t reach.

And they’re inordinately tough. Expedition ships are typically built with strengthened hulls to allow them to bump through ice in polar regions and with unusually large fuel tanks and food storage areas to allow them to operate long periods in remote areas without re-provisioning (in some cases, as long as 40 days).

In addition, expedition cruise ships travel with their own landing craft — typically small rubber Zodiac boats —  to get passengers ashore in remote areas. Expedition ships also often carry other adventure gear for exploring in remote areas, including kayaks, paddleboards, snowshoes, snorkeling equipment, wetsuits and sometimes diving equipment.

A handful of expedition cruise ships even travel with submarines for underwater exploration and helicopters.

Expedition ships also will have “mud rooms” where you will find cubbies to store your outdoor clothing and gear. Many expedition cruise ships will have waterproof rubber boots for you to borrow — either for free or for an extra charge — that you will need for “wet landings” on beaches by Zodiac boats. They’ll be stored in the mud room, as well.

Instead of a cruise director and the other entertainment staff found on traditional cruise ships, you’ll typically be accompanied on expedition cruises by an “expedition team.” The group is made up of expedition leaders with deep knowledge of the destination along with scientific experts such as biologists, geologists and ornithologists, and often a historian, who will lead landings and lecture on board.

Many expedition ships also sail with a photography expert. One well-known expedition cruise company, Lindblad Expeditions, staffs many of its ships with National Geographic photographers who will teach you how to use your own cameras to capture the scenery and wildlife you’re experiencing.

In short, expedition cruises are designed for exploring and learning. Unlike most traditional cruises, an expedition cruise is not meant to be a resort experience, though an increasing number of expedition ships are being outfitted with more upscale amenities than in the past.

These luxury touches include a greater variety of dining venues, including high-end restaurants, as well as elegant bars and onboard spas. However, these amenities will play second fiddle to the off-the-ship adventures at the core of the experience.

How small are expedition cruise ships?

Historically, expedition ships have carried no more than 200 passengers — a manageable number for an exploration-focused vessel operating in a remote location such as Antarctica. But a growing number of expedition ships carry more. Viking designed its new expedition ships to carry 378 passengers. Some new Hurtigruten expedition vessels are designed for around 500 people.

Even these bigger vessels are far smaller than traditional, resortlike cruise ships, which often can carry 3,000 passengers or more (with some capable of carrying nearly 7,000 passengers).

Note that by international agreement, some remote places that expedition ships visit, including Antarctica and parts of the Arctic, have limits on how many passengers can land from an expedition cruise vessel at any given time — an agreement designed to protect wildlife and historical structures from the impacts of large group visits.

In some places, such as Antarctica, the limit is broadly set at 100 people, with some sensitive landing spots having even tighter restrictions. As a result, expedition ships that carry more than 100 people only can land a portion of their passengers in a destination such as Antarctica at once.

If you’re on such a vessel, you’ll have to wait your turn to go ashore and might miss out if changing weather forces the ship to reposition. This is one reason travelers who want the most in-depth expedition cruise experience should choose a small ship with relatively few passengers.

I prefer expedition ships that carry in the vicinity of 100 people for this reason. I also look for vessels that are built for toughness, as they can access more remote and hard-to-reach places than less-tough-built vessels.

How tough are expedition ships?

When sailing in polar regions, you’ll want to look at a ship’s polar-class rating to gauge its toughness. There are seven polar classes, from PC1 (which stands for polar class 1) to PC7 (polar class 7). PC1 is the highest polar-class rating, meaning the ship can go anywhere in polar regions year-round. At this level, the ship is a true icebreaker that can crunch through all sorts of floating ice (and, as you’ll learn on an expedition cruise to a polar region, there are many types of floating ice).

There currently are no passenger vessels with a PC1 rating, though a new Ponant icebreaker called Le Commandant Charcot has an almost-as-high PC2 rating. With such a rating, the 245-passenger ship is cleared to crunch through ice all the way to the North Pole, which it sometimes does .

Most expedition cruise ships are rated PC5 or PC6, which means they can operate in medium first-year ice (ice that is only a year old and not outrageously thick) with some older ice inclusions. But they’re not designed to go to a place like the North Pole.

A ship rated PC7 is only designed to sail through thin first-year ice, and ships without polar-class ratings should steer clear of icy areas. This is one reason you don’t see a lot of big, mass-market cruise ships heading down to Antarctica or up to the Arctic — at least not in particularly icy areas. These ships generally don’t have polar-class ratings.

Where can I go on an expedition cruise?

You’ll find expedition cruises to remote places all over the world. But two destinations account for a disproportionately large portion of all expedition cruises: Antarctica and the Arctic.

This is not by coincidence. Antarctica and large portions of the Arctic are tough to reach any other way than by expedition ship. They are the last two places in the world with large uninhabited areas without infrastructure for tourism.

Many expedition cruise ships will spend nearly all their time in either Antarctica or the Arctic, oscillating between the two destinations based on the changing seasons. They will explore the Arctic from June to September, when the weather is warmest in the region, before repositioning to Antarctica for the months of November to March, when the weather there is warmest.

Related: The best cruise destinations for every type of traveler

That leaves just a few months when the ships move between the Arctic and Antarctica. Sometimes, they’ll sail empty between the two regions. Other times, they’ll offer a handful of one-off voyages while in transit.

Other destinations known for expedition cruising include the Galapagos, the Amazon River, the coasts of Costa Rica and Panama, Mexico’s Sea of Cortez and Alaska.

Take a look at some of the key expedition cruise destinations:

In many ways, Antarctica is the ultimate expedition cruise destination. It’s a place that is almost impossible to reach other than by expedition cruise ship, and getting to it by expedition ship is a true adventure that merits being called an expedition.

It’s also one of the most spectacularly scenic places you will ever see, with wildlife found nowhere else. Getting to experience Antarctica on an expedition cruise — something I’ve done several times and hope to do again — is a true trip of a lifetime.

Antarctica trips typically start in Ushuaia, Argentina, or Punta Arenas, Chile — the southernmost settlements in South America. From there, your ship will make a two-day crossing of the Drake Passage — the notoriously rough waterway between South America and Antarctica — before spending five or six days exploring the icy coast of the continent. A return trip across the Drake comes at the end.

Some longer Antarctica itineraries add in visits to South Georgia Island and the Falkland Islands on the way to or from Antarctica.

Alternatively, a handful of tour companies operate so-called fly-cruise trips to Antarctica that use hardy airplanes to fly tourists directly to the continent from Punta Arenas — no sailing across the Drake required. On such trips, travelers still explore the coast of Antarctica by cruise vessel. But they don’t board the vessel that will take them exploring until after they land on the continent.

As I’ve written about before, there are pros and cons of both types of Antarctica trips .

Related: Skip the Drake: What it’s like flying to Antarctica on a chartered plane

A few cruise vessels sail to Antarctica from Australia and New Zealand, though this is less common.

Once in Antarctica, you’ll land by Zodiac boats to visit penguin colonies and hike through the snow to the remnants of early explorer huts, sail through ice-filled fjords, and (if you’re lucky) watch whales during Zodiac boat outings. All around you will be soaring mountains, glaciers and floating icebergs.

TPG has a broad array of guides to cruising to Antarctica, all written by in-house writers who have firsthand experience traveling to Antarctica, including:

• How to get to Antarctica: The pros and cons of flying vs. cruising
• 6 ways to travel to Antarctica in luxury and style
• The 11 best Antarctica cruise ships
• These are the best times to visit Antarctica
• Antarctica gear guide: What you need to pack 
• An untamed world: Discovering the wild dreamscape of Antarctica
• I just spent the night in an igloo in Antarctica — here’s how you can, too
• Why kayaking in Antarctica should be on your bucket list
• Antarctica reading list: These 8 books are must-reads before a trip

The Arctic is the second great destination for expedition cruising — and, for me, it’s a toss-up as to which polar region I find more mesmerizing.

Like Antarctica, it’s a land of ice and icebergs and snow, and often spectacular wildlife on display, as well as historical sites related to early explorers. It also has a cultural element that you won’t find in Antarctica, as some land areas in the Arctic are home to Indigenous peoples such as the Inuit, who have occupied the areas for hundreds of years, if not longer.

On some Canadian Arctic itineraries, for instance, expedition ships will stop at one or more of the Inuit settlements that dot the region. Sometimes an Inuit guide will be along for the voyage to talk about Inuit culture and life.

The Arctic offers a far more diverse array of expedition cruise itineraries than Antarctica. You’ll find sailings that typically focus on just one but occasionally more of the following Arctic destinations:

• The Canadian Arctic, including the Northwest Passage
• The North Pole

Until recently, a handful of expedition cruise companies also operated sailings to remote parts of the Russian Arctic, including the ice-covered islands of Franz Josef Land and polar bear hot spot Wrangel Island. A few expedition cruise vessels even have made a complete crossing of the so-called Northeast Passage — the 4,000-mile-long, ice-clogged route across the Russian Arctic that connects Western Europe to the Americas.

Related: 8 things to know about cruising to the Arctic

The latter trips have included stops in remote places that had never been seen by humans until the 20th century, and such voyages have been relatively rare. In 2018, I took part in just the fourth expedition cruise across the Northeast Passage by a Western cruise vessel — a monthlong trip that included many days where we never saw signs of civilization. Additional vessels operated by Russian companies also have made the journey with travelers over the years.

All such trips in the Russian Arctic have been canceled since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and it’s unclear if and when they might resume.

While there are commonalities to the expedition cruises offered in all the Arctic regions (you’ll see ice, for instance, and probably a polar bear, no matter which one you choose), each region of the Arctic is a little different.

If I had to choose just one Arctic cruise (and this is a question I get a lot from would-be Arctic cruisers), I probably would pick a sailing around Svalbard. Located between the top of mainland Norway and the North Pole, it’s a relatively compact archipelago where you can get a taste of many of the Arctic’s allures in a relatively short time. You’ll see ice-carved mountains and glaciers, as well as polar bears, reindeer, Arctic foxes and massive bird colonies.

Related: I didn’t think I’d like an Arctic cruise — here’s why I was wrong

That said, an expedition cruise down the west coast of Greenland would be a close contender. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything as stunning as the Ilulissat Icefjord and the huge icebergs that spill out of it into Disko Bay. Put that place on your bucket list. You will not regret it.

The Galapagos

The wildlife-filled Galapagos, where most islands are uninhabited, is another classic expedition cruise market — one with an expedition vessel ecosystem all its own, thanks to unusual local regulations.

By law, only vessels based year-round in the Galapagos can offer expedition sailings in the islands. As a result, expedition ships that sail in other parts of the world can’t operate in the Galapagos, and the ships that do operate there are unique to the destination.

In addition, vessels that operate in the Galapagos can’t hold more than 100 passengers. That means that most Galapagos-based expedition vessels are small. Many hold just 16 to 48 passengers.

Cruise companies that have expedition vessels based in the Galapagos include Hurtigruten Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions, Silversea Cruises and Celebrity Cruises . The latter is a big-ship line that, a bit incongruously, also owns a Galapagos cruise operation using vessels a small fraction of the size of the rest of its ships.

Other cruise companies and tour operators that offer expedition cruises in the Galapagos, typically using chartered vessels, include Avalon Waterways and Abercrombie & Kent. Note that it’s not uncommon for more than one travel company or cruise brand to sell sailings on the same ship in the Galapagos.

The Galapagos comprises 19 larger islands, all but four uninhabited, and the typical weeklong Galapagos cruise includes stops at just five or six of them. That said, many lines offer back-to-back itineraries that include stops at different islands, allowing you to create a longer sailing that is more diverse in its stops.

Cruise lines will generally break the islands into north, south, east and west loops. However, some lines offer inner, outer and central loops. Others feature a combination. The best way to choose among them is to decide which islands you’d most like to visit.

Related: TPG’s ultimate guide to cruising the Galapagos

Several expedition cruise companies and adventure tour companies offer expedition-style sailings up the Amazon River, particularly in the portion located in Peru. These trips are generally operated by tiny vessels that remain on the river year-round.

Among the companies known for Amazon sailings is Aqua Expeditions, which operates two small vessels on the Amazon out of Iquitos, Peru — the 32-passenger Aria Amazon and the 40-passenger Aqua Nera.

The vessels travel along the Maranon River, the Amazon’s largest tributary, as well as other neighboring rivers (the Yarapa and Yanayacu-Pucate) in search of such local wildlife as three-toed sloths, toucans, macaws, taricaya turtles and the Amazon’s elusive pink dolphins.

Most Amazon voyages also include stops at small villages along the riverways, though the focus is on wildlife watching from the river.

Other companies offering similar trips include Exodus Travels, Lindblad Expeditions, Pandaw and Delfin Amazon Cruises.

When imagining an Alaska cruise, most people think of the many sailings offered by big-ship lines such as Princess Cruises and Holland America — traditional cruise voyages that focus on Southeast Alaska’s main tourist towns of Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. But Alaska also is the stomping ground of a handful of expedition cruise operators — most notably UnCruise Adventures and Lindblad Expeditions — that offer expedition cruises into the wilderness areas of Southeast Alaska. On these trips, the focus is not on the region’s towns but on its scenic wild lands and wildlife.

Both UnCruise and Lindblad operate small expedition ships in Alaska that mostly carry fewer than 100 passengers (even the biggest UnCruise vessel in Alaska carries just 82 people) and have Zodiac boats for landings as well as kayaks, paddleboards and other adventure equipment.

The ships essentially serve as a floating adventure platform to get you into the most remote areas.

A typical seven-night Alaska expedition cruise might include whale watching in Frederick Sound; a visit to Dawes Glacier and ice-filled Endicott Arm; landings in Tongass National Forest for hiking as well as kayaking, paddleboarding and Zodiac boat touring; and boat-based searching for bears, Sitka deer, sea lions, eagles, mink, porpoises and mountain goats.

The trips often begin and end in one of Southeast Alaska’s small towns, such as Juneau or Sitka.

One other small cruise company, American Queen Voyages, operates a 186-passenger expedition ship in Southeast Alaska that combines wilderness experiences with more traditional cruise-type stops at the area’s towns. Every sailing includes a visit to Ketchikan, Petersburg and Wrangell, as well as outdoorsy pursuits, making it a hybrid of a traditional sailing and an expedition cruise.

Related: The pros and cons of small-ship cruising in Alaska

Alaskan-owned Alaskan Dream Cruises offers small-ship, expedition-style voyages that combine wilderness experiences with at least one and sometimes several stops at small Southeast Alaska settlements such as Pelican, Kasaan, Wrangell, Petersburg and Kake.

Which cruise companies offer expedition cruises?

Most of the big cruise brands that offer traditional cruises (think Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line ) don’t own expedition ships or offer expedition cruises. Instead, for the most part, specialized expedition cruise companies have emerged over the past few decades that do nothing but expedition cruises.

That’s not always the case. Traditional luxury cruise operator Silversea Cruises , for instance, in 2008 began building up a separate expedition cruise division that has become a major player in expedition cruises. In just the last two years, traditional cruise brands Viking and Seabourn also have gotten into expedition cruising with new, specialized expedition ships.

In addition, luxury river cruise specialist Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours recently unveiled its first two expedition ships.

Indeed, a move by traditional cruise operators to add expedition cruises to their offerings is one of the big trends in cruising right now.

Still, many of the best-known brands in expedition cruises aren’t companies you would know if all you know is traditional cruising.

The biggest and most notable players in the expedition cruising space as of 2023 include:

• Antarctica21 (only in Antarctica)
• Aqua Expeditions
• Atlas Ocean Voyages
• Aurora Expeditions
• Celebrity Cruises (only in the Galapagos)
• Lindblad Expeditions
• Hurtigruten Expeditions 
• Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
• Heritage Expeditions
• Ponant Cruises
• Quark Expeditions
• Scenic Luxury Cruises
• Silversea Cruises 
• Swan Hellenic
• Oceanwide Expeditions
• Poseidon Expeditions
• UnCruise Adventures

In addition, many well-known tour companies such as Abercrombie & Kent and Overseas Adventure Travel market expedition trips on vessels chartered in whole or in part from other companies. Abercrombie & Kent, for instance, operates trips to polar regions on vessels chartered from Ponant.

Among the companies with the longest track records in offering expedition cruises to remote places are Lindblad Expeditions and Hurtigruten Expeditions.

Lindblad Expeditions was founded in 1979 by Sven-Olof Lindblad, whose father, Lars-Eric Lindblad, led the first expedition trips to Antarctica (in 1966) and the Galapagos (in 1967). Lindblad Expeditions later pioneered expedition cruise voyages to places like Baja California and parts of the Arctic.

Lindblad Expeditions currently offers more than 100 expedition cruise itineraries across all seven continents.

In recent years, Lindblad Expeditions has partnered with National Geographic and has renamed its ships to include National Geographic in their monikers. For instance, one of Lindblad’s premier vessels sailing in polar regions is called National Geographic Resolution. If you hear someone say they did an expedition cruise with National Geographic, they probably mean Lindblad Expeditions.

Related: Why Lindblad’s new ship may be the ultimate polar exploration vessel  

Hurtigruten Expeditions, a Norway-based company that caters to an international clientele, traces its roots to a cruise service from Norway to Svalbard in the Arctic that started in 1896. The company likes to say this early entry into cruising to a remote place makes it the founder of expedition cruising. It also bills itself as the world’s largest expedition cruise line.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, a German company that caters heavily to Germans but draws some English speakers, also was a pioneer in expedition cruising, operating some of the first voyages in parts of the Arctic. The first four voyages by a Western cruise vessel through the Northeast Passage, including the one that I did in 2018, for instance, were on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises expedition ships. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises also did some of the first sailings across the Northwest Passage — the fabled routing across the Canadian Arctic.

Some of the brands mentioned above, including Lindblad, Silversea and Ponant, offer expedition cruises in a wide range of destinations. Others are more focused.

UnCruise Adventures, for instance, is a specialist in adventurous, outdoorsy, ship-based trips in remote parts of Alaska, although it also offers expedition cruises in the Sea of Cortez and other parts of Central America. It also offers Hawaii cruises that combine outdoorsy pursuits with a cultural-focused visit to the island of Molokai and a day in the town of Lahaina on the island of Maui.

Expedition cruise operator Antarctica21 only operates voyages in and around — you guessed it — Antarctica.

How long are expedition cruises?

As with traditional cruises, there is a wide range of lengths for expedition cruises. For trips to remote places such as Antarctica and parts of the Arctic, even the shortest trips available can be 10 days. Some itineraries extend to two weeks or more.

If you’re planning a trip to Antarctica, note that just getting to the starting points for such trips in Ushuaia, Argentina, or Punta Arenas, Chile, from the United States (assuming that’s your home) can take two full days — longer if, like many Antarctica-bound travelers, you add in a stop in Buenos Aires, Argentina, or Santiago, Chile, on the way. (Pro tip: You may want to do just that to break up a grueling transit.)

As a result, even the shortest vacations to Antarctica from the United States are usually two-week-long affairs. If you pick a sailing that includes a stop at South Georgia Island and the Falkland Islands, you’re looking at a minimum of three weeks away from home.

Related: The ultimate guide to picking the right cruise line for you

Expedition cruises in the Arctic also can stretch into multiple weeks. If you’re short on time, as noted above, your best bet is a sailing around Svalbard, which can be done in a week plus travel time to reach the archipelago.

You can find some expedition cruises in the Galapagos that are shorter than a week. But as with Antarctica, it’s a destination that takes a long time to reach. The typical U.S. traveler heading to the Galapagos will fly first to Quito, Ecuador, and spend at least a night there, maybe several, before continuing to the Galapagos. After all that travel, you might want to make the most of it and stay in the islands longer.

Expedition cruises in the Peruvian Amazon typically are short — sometimes just three days long. But they’re often paired with other touring to create longer South America trips.

How much do expedition cruises cost?

Expedition cruises can be expensive, with pricing on par with traditional luxury cruises. It’s not unusual to see expedition cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic priced at $1,000 per person per day — or more. Add in flights to reach the starting points for such trips, pre- and post-cruise hotel stays and other extra costs, and you could pay $15,000 or more per person for such trips.

If that seems high, remember that expedition ships are specialized vessels that are expensive to build on a per-berth basis (particularly those with polar-class ratings). They also require a relatively high ratio of staff to passengers to operate compared with mass-market cruise ships.

In short, expedition cruise companies face a high cost on a per-berth basis to operate their vessels — and those costs will be reflected in the cruise fares.

Related: These expedition cruises are $30,000 and have no set itinerary

Can anyone do an expedition cruise?

Travelers with mobility issues may find it difficult to get the most out of expedition cruises, as the trips are relatively active.

By definition, expedition cruises involve visiting remote places with little or no infrastructure for tourists, and the lack of infrastructure extends to a lack of docks and tender boat services that would allow a passenger with mobility issues to get on and off the vessel. In addition, once you land at an expedition cruise destination, you will often be moving over uneven terrain.

In many cases, touring from an expedition ship starts with stepping off the side of the vessel onto a small, open-to-the-air rubber Zodiac boat bobbing in the waves and then being driven by a guide in that small vessel a considerable distance to the shore, sometimes in choppy seas. Once at the shore, passengers often must climb over the side of the boat into ankle-deep or deeper water and wade ashore in what is known as a “wet landing.”

Touring from there can involve hiking over rocky areas, snowfields and ice in search of wildlife.

If all of the above sounds like something you wouldn’t enjoy doing, you might want to skip an expedition cruise and focus on more traditional cruises instead.

That said, I’ve seen many travelers with mobility issues on expedition cruises enjoying the experience, even if the landings part of the trip came with some difficulty.

One line that has designed its expeditions vessels specifically to be more widely accessible for passengers with mobility issues is Viking, a line that traditionally has catered to travelers ages 55 to 75 years old.

Viking’s two expedition ships, which debuted in 2022, were built with an unusual enclosed marina that allows passengers to easily transfer into 12-seat “special operations boats” while still in the protected interior of the ship. It’s a first for an expedition cruise ship, and it makes it easier for passengers with mobility issues to get on and off the ship and see wildlife and scenery up close.

Bottom line

Expedition cruising is nothing like traditional cruising. It’s all about getting to off-the-beaten-path destinations, including places with no infrastructure for tourism, such as Antarctica and parts of the Arctic, Galapagos and Amazon River basin. If you’re hoping to see scenic wonders and wildlife, and you’re up for an adventure, then an expedition cruise may be right for you. If so, you’ll find a wide range of both destinations to visit by expedition cruise ship and companies that offer them.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 15 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your 1st cruise

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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage

January 22 - 29, 2025

From $9,895 per person based on double occupancy..

The White Continent launches you into a unique world of marine wildlife, frozen landscapes, and incredible geological formations. Bypass the traditional Drake Passage crossing on a two-hour flight to and from Antarctica and discover all of the highlights without sacrificing the extra time. Once on the White Continent, watch for the telltale spout of orcas and acrobatic pods of leaping dolphins off the deck. Approaching the Antarctic islands, we float into an ice desert of crystalline air and frozen seas. Staggering in its variety of forms, the visual beauty of polar ice makes every Antarctic explorer vow to return. Kayak and hike among Antarctica's most riveting, and often raucous, denizens: the Adélie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins. Whether courting, squabbling, or fetching krill, their fascinating antics and adaptations to life on the ice are at once amusing and awe-inspiring. Zodiac cruise in search of leopard seals hauled out on the sea ice, then watch for the big dark eyes of Weddell seals popping their heads above the water. And explore lesser known terrain. While the White Continent is famous for its snow, glaciers, and icebergs, its rockier volcanic past is revealed at places like Edinburgh Hill, where columnar basalt juts out of the sea, and at the black-sand beaches of a submerged caldera called Deception Island.

Call (615) 322-3673 or contact us to learn more and register.

The National Geographic Explorer is an ice-class expedition ship that truly lives up to her name. She embodies the expertise that Lindblad Expeditions has developed throughout more than 55 years of exploring Antarctica. This powerful yet intimately scaled vessel brings you directly, and safely, into the heart of this icy wilderness and allows you to experience it in unique and immersive ways. Her bow’s low profile gives you an exhilarating vantage point, making you feel as though you’re suspended over the glassy water. And you’re always welcome to talk to the captain and officers on the Bridge, where you can learn the ins and outs of navigation or take a turn at the spotting scope.

• Round-trip charter flights Puerto Natales/King George Island
• All accommodations aboard ship
• Excursions, hotels, and airport transfers, as indicated in the itinerary
• All meals as indicated in the itinerary, both aboard and on shore. Meals and hors d’oeuvres are inspired by regional cuisine and locally sourced where possible
• Beer, wine, cocktails, and spirits, with super premium wines and liquors available for purchase
• 24-hour access to snacks, premium coffees and teas, non-alcoholic beverages, and filtered water
• Selection of exploration tools such as Zodiacs, kayaks, and other state-of-the-art gear
• Guidance and company of our leading expedition staff
• Presentations by the expedition staff
• Access to the OM System Photo Gear Locker with the latest gear to try out on loan
• Gratuities for the ship’s crew
• The services of a medical professional
• Morning stretch classes and 24-hour access to the fitness center
• 24-hour access to lounges, observation decks, library, and other shared spaces
• Complimentary parka and reusable water bottle
• Special access permits, park and site entrance fees, and port taxes
• Request More Information
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