Expedition cruising is for people who want more than cocktails by the pool.
These cruises take you to some of the wildest places on Earth, from icy polar landscapes to remote islands packed with wildlife. But choosing the right expedition cruise line matters more than you might think. They don’t all offer the same kind of adventure.
Some take expedition cruising to another level, with experiences you simply won’t get on a regular cruise. So which cruise lines are really worth considering?
Planning an Expedition Cruise?
Compare routes, ships, and prices with expert help from a trusted specialist.
1. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
If you want an expedition cruise where the adventure comes before the luxury, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is hard to beat.
The partnership combines Lindblad Expeditions’ decades of experience exploring remote parts of the world with National Geographic’s expertise in science, conservation, photography and storytelling.
What really sets these cruises apart is the team travelling with you. Depending on the voyage, that can include naturalists, marine biologists, historians, photographers and other specialists who help you understand what you’re seeing rather than simply pointing it out.
Expeditions are built around getting closer to the destination too, with Zodiac trips, hiking, kayaking and other activities depending on where you’re sailing. Photography is another big part of the experience, with expert guidance available to help you capture everything from wildlife encounters to enormous polar landscapes.
There’s a strong focus on exploration and learning throughout, making this one of the best choices if wildlife, nature and discovering somewhere properly matter more to you than having the flashiest ship at sea.
National Geographic-Lindblad has 24 small expedition ships
The fleet is much bigger than you might expect, with 24 small expedition ships operating across the world.
Among the standouts are National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution. Both carry just 138 guests and are purpose-built for polar exploration, opening up remote parts of Antarctica and the Arctic.
But not every ship is designed for battling through polar ice. The fleet includes vessels created for very different types of adventure, from National Geographic Quest in Alaska and Central America to tiny Galápagos vessels such as National Geographic Delfina, which carries only 16 guests.
That variety is a big advantage. Rather than trying to make one type of ship work everywhere, Lindblad can match smaller vessels to the places they’re designed to explore.
You can explore everywhere from Antarctica to the Galápagos
Antarctica, the Arctic, Alaska and the Galápagos remain some of the headline destinations, but the choice goes much further.
Current expeditions also cover places including Greenland, Iceland, Baja California, Central America, Patagonia, Japan, the South Pacific and the Amazon.
So if you’re looking for the classic expedition experience, where the destination and what you discover there are the real stars of the trip, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is an excellent place to start.
2. Silversea
Silversea is one of the pioneers of luxury expedition cruising, and it’s still a standout if you want proper adventure without giving up the finer things in life.
You could be gliding past glaciers in Antarctica one day and returning to an elegant suite and fine dining that evening. Expeditions are led by specialist teams, with Zodiac trips and activities designed to get you much closer to the places you’re visiting.
It’s a great choice if the idea of expedition cruising appeals to you, but roughing it definitely doesn’t.
Silversea has four expedition ships
There are four expedition ships in the Silversea fleet: Silver Endeavour, Silver Origin, Silver Wind and Silver Cloud. They carry between just 100 and 274 guests, so these are much more intimate than your typical ocean cruise ship.
Silver Endeavour is Silversea’s purpose-built polar expedition ship, carrying 220 guests and 207 crew. Silver Cloud carries 254 guests, while Silver Wind accommodates 274.
Silver Origin is the smallest of the four, carrying just 100 guests with 90 crew. She’s designed specifically for the Galápagos, so the ship and the experience onboard are very different from Silversea’s polar expeditions.
Silversea explores both polar and tropical destinations
Antarctica is one of Silversea’s headline expedition destinations, alongside the Arctic and Greenland. Its ice-class expedition ships allow you to explore some seriously remote landscapes while still enjoying the luxury Silversea is known for.
But expedition cruising with Silversea isn’t all about snow and ice. You can also explore the Galápagos, the Kimberley in Australia, Northern Europe, French Polynesia and the Pacific, as well as parts of Africa and the Indian Ocean.
If you want a genuine expedition but still appreciate excellent food, beautiful suites and attentive service when you get back onboard, Silversea offers one of the best combinations of adventure and luxury.
3. Scenic Ocean
Scenic Ocean takes expedition cruising in a very luxurious direction. Its first Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse, launched in 2019, followed by Scenic Eclipse II in 2023.
And these aren’t ordinary expedition ships. Alongside spacious suites, multiple dining venues and butler service, they offer experiences you won’t find on many cruises, including helicopters and custom-designed submersibles.
Scenic offers an all-inclusive experience, so you can spend your days exploring some incredible places before returning to a seriously luxurious ship.
If your idea of adventure involves flying over glaciers in a helicopter rather than simply looking at them from the deck, Scenic is definitely one to consider.
Scenic Ocean has two Discovery Yachts
There are two Discovery Yachts in the Scenic Ocean fleet: Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II.
Both accommodate up to 228 guests, with numbers reduced to 200 in Antarctica. That keeps the ships relatively intimate despite the impressive number of restaurants, bars and facilities onboard.
Both ships have a Polar Class 6 rating and use dynamic positioning technology, which allows them to stay in position without dropping anchor in sensitive environments.
But the headline features are undoubtedly the helicopters and submersibles. These optional experiences can give you a completely different perspective on the destinations you’re exploring, although availability depends on the itinerary and conditions.
Scenic goes far beyond the polar regions
Antarctica and the Arctic are obvious highlights, but Scenic’s expedition and Discovery Yacht voyages cover much more of the world.
Depending on the itinerary, you can explore destinations including Greenland, Iceland, the Norwegian fjords, the Kimberley in Australia, Japan, the South Pacific and parts of South America.
For me, it’s those extra ways of exploring that make Scenic particularly exciting. Zodiacs and kayaks can get you close to a destination, but few expedition cruise lines can also offer the chance to see it from a helicopter or beneath the water in a submersible.
4. Seabourn
Seabourn Expeditions is proud to be curated by ‘Mother Nature’, encouraging guests to become active participants in the natural world during their ultra-luxury expeditions.
With elements of these sailings including Zodiac tours under cliffs and along jungle rivers, kayaking through icebergs and tropical islands, as well as hiking through remote landscapes, you can see that the natural world has a great influence on the itineraries Seabourn offers for expedition guests.
The cruise line offers an ultra-luxury level of service, accommodation, dining and more. Complimentary caviar, luxuriously appointed suites and all-inclusive amenities are just some of the things to look forward to during your sailing.
Seabourn Ships
There are two purpose-built expedition ships in the Seabourn fleet: Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit.
Seabourn Venture launched in 2022 and was the first purpose-built expedition ship for the line, holding up to 264 guests in all-veranda, ocean-front suites. Seabourn Pursuit followed in 2023 and is a sister ship to Seabourn Venture.
Seabourn Destinations
Seabourn’s expedition ships explore some of the most remote places in the world, including Antarctica, the Arctic and the Northwest Passage.
Depending on the ship and itinerary, you can also explore South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, Greenland, the Kimberley in Australia and remote islands across the South Pacific.
Seabourn Venture offers voyages through the Northwest Passage, while Seabourn Pursuit spends part of the year exploring the Kimberley and South Pacific before heading to Antarctica.
5. Quark
Having spent more than three decades taking travellers to some of the most remote parts of the polar regions, Quark is one of the most experienced expedition cruise lines.
Since launching in 1991 with the first tourist transit of the Northeast Passage, the cruise line has developed into a specialist in Arctic and Antarctic expedition sailings. They’re certainly one of the best options for polar expedition cruises.
Guests can expect Zodiac trips and plenty of opportunities to get off the ship and explore, with activities varying depending on the itinerary. Ultramarine even has two helicopters for flightseeing on selected expeditions.
Quark Ships
Quark currently has three ships offering expedition cruises: Ultramarine, Ocean Explorer and World Voyager.
Ultramarine is the largest of the three, carrying up to 199 guests and 140 crew. It’s purpose-built for polar exploration, with two helicopters, 20 Zodiacs and plenty of outdoor space for wildlife watching.
Ocean Explorer carries just 138 guests, making it the smallest ship in the current fleet. It’s a modern, purpose-built polar ship with an unusual X-Bow design and plenty of outdoor viewing areas.
World Voyager is the newest addition to Quark’s fleet. The ship carries 168 guests and is designed for science and discovery, with all-balcony accommodation and its own Science Hub.
Quark Destinations
Quark is a true polar specialist, concentrating on expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic rather than trying to cover every corner of the world.
In Antarctica, itineraries explore destinations including the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and Snow Hill Island.
Head north and you can explore Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland and the Canadian High Arctic, including voyages through the legendary Northwest Passage.
If polar exploration is the main reason you want to try an expedition cruise, Quark’s specialist focus makes it one of the strongest choices on this list.
6. Ponant
Another upscale expedition line, Ponant is a luxury expedition specialist. Offering a five-star setting with a travel experience that’s authentic and high-end, the cruise line is a great option for those seeking indulgent expedition cruises.
The fleet is made up of small ships, meaning there are opportunities to reach ports and remote locations that larger cruise ships simply can’t access. Guest numbers are much lower too, so life onboard can feel closer to travelling on a private yacht.
Ponant Ships
Ponant operates a varied fleet of luxury small ships, many of which are designed for expedition cruising in remote regions including the Arctic, Antarctica and tropical archipelagos.
The most notable expedition ship is Le Commandant Charcot, the line’s hybrid-electric polar exploration ship powered by liquefied natural gas. It’s an icebreaking cruise ship rated as Polar Class 2, allowing it to reach some seriously remote destinations, including the geographic North Pole.
Ponant’s Explorers series includes six expedition yachts. These sleek, modern ships are designed for expeditions in both warm and cold waters and each accommodates up to 184 guests. They feature an innovative underwater lounge called Blue Eye, offering a unique way to experience the underwater world.
Another group of expedition-ready vessels is Ponant’s Sisterships, made up of four ships: Le Boréal, L’Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial. These vessels can access isolated locations and smaller ports while still offering the luxury Ponant is known for.
Ponant Destinations
Ponant offers a wide range of expedition itineraries that take guests to some of the most remote and awe-inspiring regions on Earth. The polar regions are among the highlights, where Ponant’s advanced expedition ships, especially Le Commandant Charcot, can access areas that few other cruise ships can reach.
In Antarctica, Ponant takes travellers to destinations including the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea. Voyages can include Zodiac landings on ice-covered shores, encounters with penguin colonies and opportunities to spot seals, whales and enormous icebergs.
In the Arctic, Ponant offers equally adventurous expeditions. Guests can sail to Spitsbergen in Svalbard, explore Greenland and the Canadian Arctic, while Le Commandant Charcot can travel all the way to the geographic North Pole.
Galapagos
Beyond the poles, Ponant offers tropical and subpolar expedition cruises to destinations including the Kimberley in Western Australia, Madagascar and Papua New Guinea.
Whether it’s watching a calving glacier in Greenland, snorkelling in tropical waters or visiting remote communities, Ponant expeditions are designed to offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences with expert guides and naturalists onboard.
Final Word
There’s no single best expedition cruise line for everyone. The right one depends on what kind of adventure you’re looking for.
For serious exploration and learning, National Geographic-Lindblad is hard to beat, while Quark is a standout if the polar regions are your priority. Silversea, Scenic and Seabourn combine adventure with much more luxury, while Ponant offers some incredible opportunities to reach seriously remote parts of the world.
Whichever you choose, expedition cruising is about getting off the ship and experiencing places that most people will only ever see in photographs. And once you’ve stood among penguins in Antarctica or watched a polar bear in the Arctic, a normal day at sea might never feel quite the same again
Book Your Expedition Cruise
I recommend Panache Cruises as the ideal expert to help you book your perfect expedition cruise.
- Panache Cruises are specialists in expedition cruises
- Their expert Cruise Connoisseurs will tailor your trip to your exact requirements
- I love their motto – “Nothing is too much trouble”
Update antarctica expedition ships please including Falklands and south Georgia.
Thank you
Thank you. A very well formulated review and full of useful insights. Enjoyable read too