Expedition Close to Home

Recently, we have seen an exponential rise in cruise bookings and we couldn’t be more excited. Almost every member of our team at Panache Cruises has been lucky enough to step on board a cruise ship in the past few months and experience the thrill of cruising again post-pandemic.

While the world has slowly been opening up, with the most recent development being the opening of the USA from November this year, two of the most popular cruises we are seeing on the rise are British Isles cruises, or itineraries close to home, and expedition cruises! Combine the two and you have yourself an intriguing concept which we are certain is going to take the cruising world by storm.

So, what is an expedition cruise?

An expedition cruise takes you closer to the heart of the most remote parts of the world, in far-flung corners such as Antarctica – the cruise world’s final frontier. It is a path of enlightenment that takes an average holidaymaker from tourist to intrepid adventurer, offering a huge range of immersive experiences.

Expedition cruises appeal to those travellers who have a heightened sense of adventure and wish to truly immerse themselves in a destination or region. Expedition cruise lines offer in-depth learning opportunities, often guided by experts specializing in the local culture, wildlife, geography, or history. There are always a range of fully inclusive, exciting excursions to take part in, from whale watching in Zodiacs, braving a polar plunge, or sea kayaking to scuba diving, hiking and even taking a scenic helicopter ride.

Why go on an expedition cruise close to home?

This is certainly a valid question, as the first thing which springs to mind when most people think ‘expedition’ is a polar cruise, exploring the remote lands and icebergs of Antarctica or looking out for polar bears in the Arctic. However, expedition cruises can take you all around the world on unique and thrilling adventures.

Firstly, certain areas of the Arctic are very easily accessible from the UK, so no-fly cruises out of Dover or other UK ports are easy to find and provide that buzz of an expedition to those who prefer not to fly. From here you can explore Norway and Iceland, where the Northern Lights are visible at certain times throughout the year. Hurtigruten Expeditions is a popular choice for cruises departing from Dover to the Arctic, plus a huge perk of booking an expedition cruise with them is that they offer the Northern Lights Promise; if you don’t get to see the natural wonder on your 14-night cruise, you will be able to book onto another 7-night cruise completely free of charge! During the summer, hike to the stunning Gullfoss waterfalls and swim in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, or kayak down the fjords and drive the iconic Atlantic Road in Norway.

Alternatively, from the UK you can explore…the UK! At first glance it may not sound as thrilling, but trust us when we say that an expedition around the north coast of Scotland, the Faroe Islands, Orkney Isles, and emerald landscapes of Ireland offers up a wonderful taste of adventure. After all, how many people really dig deeper into the place they live and discover its fascinating ancient history, geology, wildlife and more on an immersive expedition?

Jos Dewing, managing director of Aurora Expeditions, emphasizes the rising popularity of expeditions close to home, such as the Ireland West Coast itinerary which visits real Irish gems like Slieve League Cliffs, Killary Harbour (Ireland’s only true fjord), and the Skellig Islands where Star Wars was filmed!

Another incredible and unforgettable experience on an expedition cruise around the British Isles is the abundance of wildlife – one thing which I for one didn’t even consider at first thought! Puffins and grey seals can be spotted on many of the Scottish Isles, including St Kilda, Orkney, and Shetland. If you’re lucky, you might even spot bottlenose dolphins off the east coast of Scotland or, even more rare, minke whales.

So, with all that in mind, would you consider an expedition cruise close to home?

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Want to experience this? Give the Panache Cruises team a call on 0161 513 8200 and they'd be happy to help!