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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. As vacations go, expedition cruises have more in common with safari vacations in Africa or trekking trips in the Peruvian Andes than traditional cruises. An expedition cruise, by contrast, isn't designed to be a resort experience.
NEW! Canada & Greenland Explorer
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. 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.
National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution
Waves leapt to 39 feet, but we were buffered against the worst of it as we zig-zagged to briefings, polar gear fittings, welcome drinks and dinners. Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling. When kayaking, we had penguins jumping in front of our vessels, whales surfacing beside us for closer looks, and lazy seals basking on ice flows as we passed close by. Most ships even allow visits to the bridge to visit the captain and learn how the ship is sailed. World Navigator is the first of five nearly identical sister vessels that Atlas Ocean Voyages will roll out by late 2024, many of which will sail regularly to Antarctica. All members — regardless of status — will enjoy a $250 onboard credit to use on incidentals.
Activities in Panama and Costa Rica
At night, you can sit back with a cocktail or glass of wine to listen to lectures, browse their libraries, or take a dip in the hot tub. National Geographic Sea Bird sailed into Crow Butte in the early morning while guests on the bow enjoyed viewing the Columbia River, which forms the border between Washington and Oregon. Guests had the option of an aerobic hike, nature hike, photo hike, and history walk around Crow Butte and Crow Butte Campground. The beauty of the area awed guests, sporting views of local vineyards, dams, wildlife refuges, and the dry sagebrush-step ecosystem that dominates the area. Guests spied a variety of wildflowers and birds of prey, including spotting a golden eagle. After hiking, guests enjoyed a hot beverage on shore brought by National Geographic Sea Bird’s hospitality team, followed by an informal chat on food, wine, and energy by Naturalist Patrick MacQuarrie and Wine Expert Eric Degerman.
Named after the archipelago's largest island, the MS Spitsbergen offers a stylish Scandinavian interior with plenty of deck space to view wildlife. Carrying 200 passengers, the vessel is not super big and can navigate the coastal waters around Svalbard with ease. Having had a complete renovation in 2016, the cabins all have a clean a fresh feel to them which really adds to the enjoyment of the cruise. One of the larger ships in the Arctic region, the L'Austral provides super luxury in a relaxed and elegant manner. Purposefully built for cruise goers, the ships feels stead in the water and you'll hardly notice any movement.
Featured Expedition Experiences
While large ocean liners may offer more than 100 shore excursions on a one-week itinerary, expedition cruises offer fewer options, but focus on active adventure or an immersive nature experience. 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. 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.
Coral Expeditions joins Expedition Cruise Network - Cruise and Ferry
Coral Expeditions joins Expedition Cruise Network.
Posted: Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:38:57 GMT [source]
Yes, you'll have a butler on the Silver Cloud, and en suite dining—it's an expedition ship, but it's still Silversea! And if a polar plunge is on your bucket list (no, not watching a seal or penguin do it, but you, in a bathing suit, in Antarctic waters), Silversea will be at your service for that, too. They provide a safety harness and, once you're back on board, a heated bathrobe and glass of champagne. On Antarctic sailings (you will see orcas!) stand-up paddleboarders can go forth amid ice floes, then toast the achievement at a whiskey bar with more than 100 selections. The waved albatross lays a single egg yearly and breeds, from April through December, in the Galapagos , on Espanola island. See the goings on courtesy of the new Aqua Mare (its maiden voyage was this month).
Onboard accommodations, all meals, most drinks, gratuities and shore excursions are part of the ticket price, plus round-trip airfares from select U.S. and Canadian gateways. Emergency medical evacuation insurance is also included — something few other expedition companies offer. We started our crisp and sunny morning with a ride into the boat basin at Sacajawea Historical State Park. The park is home to the October 16-17, 1805 campsite of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and also the Confluence Project Story Circles installed by the acclaimed artist, Maya Lin. As this is a Food and Wine expedition, we departed for Dunham Cellars, with some passengers going to the Whitman Mission National Historic Site. This is the scene of the tragic 1847 encounter between the missionaries and local natives.
On expedition cruises, each day is very active, and you’ll generally have to get up pretty early to join the day’s adventures. Although there’s some downtime each day, it’s a very different experience than on the average cruise ship. Depending on the destination, expedition cruise ships often can drop anchor when and where the conditions are right—there’s no need for the ship to wait until it reaches a port. Passengers take semi-rigid skiffs, or Zodiacs, from the ship to explore the area, get up close to marine life, or head to shore. Many expedition cruises start in some very remote areas of the planet, and the last thing you want to do is miss your cruise altogether.
On board you'll find a full spa treatment centre, gym, mud room, window-lined library and even a video chronicler! All 81 cabins come with a view and there is plenty of deck space to stretch your legs and view the wildlife. Unlike traditional cruising, expedition cruises focus on adventure, exploration, and education. 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.
Some of the brands mentioned above, including Lindblad, Silversea and Ponant, offer expedition cruises in a wide range of destinations. 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.
Expedition cruises are an adventurous ride and that’s what I like about them. Some ships include watercraft like wave runners, underwater scooters, even small submarines! Any specialized gear you’ll need to enjoy these water sports will be on the ship.
Panoramic lounges, 122 outward facing cabins and excellent deck space mean you'll never miss any of the excitement! Although one of the smaller ships that sails to Antarctica, the Silver Explorer is most definitely one of the more luxurious. Just out from a multi-million dollar renovation in 2017, the Silver Explorer is tailored to navigate the small inlets and bays along the Antarctic Peninsula. She boasts a full spa service and several top-deck jacuzzis for passengers to relax in.
Carrying 116 passengers, you'll be able to navigate the small channels dotted around the Svalbard archipelago. The bar offers large panoramic views that allow you to see for miles. There is a presentation room that turns into a observation lounge when needed. The Plancius is a basic, but cozy vessel with good space and a good atmosphere. Unlike polar-focused ships, the 100-passenger Azzurra (eight-day trips from $4,330) sticks to warmer-weather destinations such as the Aegean, Black, and Mediterranean seas, hitting smaller ports not often visited by larger vessels. Discover our innovative, purpose-built expedition ships designed to explore the world’s most remote destinations in comfort and immerse you in these majestic, untamed regions.
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