First time on an Expedition Cruise?
The anticipation of getting up close to nature in its most raw form is immense. The mind buzzes with a hundred questions of ‘what will I see’, ‘what should I pack’, ‘what will the weather be like’, ‘do I take every camera I have ever owned to get the shot’, ‘how do I get into a Zodiac’… Well, here are a few pointers to get you started.
Where to go?
If you have been craving your own David Attenborough experience in a wilderness of white, then it has to be a Polar Expedition. Polar bears, penguins, whales, walruses, seals, phenomenal landscapes, and the story of human survival in some of the coldest places on earth will all come to life on your Polar Expedition.
An expedition to the Arctic will introduce you to Greenlandic Inuit culture, polar bears (hopefully – they are the wanderers of the Arctic – so never guaranteed!), beluga, bowhead and humpback whales, and of course majestic icebergs. Ice floe and Fjords are part of the dramatic scenery of Greenland and Spitsbergen and you’ll be hard pressed to take a bad photo! It is also possible to see the Northern Lights (they are there all year round), but bear in mind the times of the year that the cruises operate is the ‘Summer’ and so not the darkest of night skies – so they may only be very faint. The Arctic consists of eight countries including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland Russia, the US, and Canada – so there are a number of starting points for Arctic voyages with the most incredible being the navigations of the North West or North East Passages.
Expedition Cruises to the Arctic can be taken with PONANT, Aurora Expeditions, Silversea, Hurtigruten, Quark Expeditions to name a few.
TIP 1: A trip to the Arctic takes a shorter amount of time – so if it’s your ‘first’ polar expedition – this is a good way to start!
Antarctica
The ‘White Continent’ has enthralled explorers for centuries with its incredible coasts, towering icebergs, and its unique wildlife. Many of the names of the landmasses, mountains, and seas are named after the first adventurous explorers who sailed in boats to discover this legendary land. Captain Cook’s visit in 1773 paved the way to allow today’s modern day explorers to do so with a much higher degree of comfort and pleasure thanks to the design of the new generation of expedition vessels that have been built to withstand the conditions.
A voyage to the ‘ends of the earth’ is an incredible experience as it is so far from tourist routes. It remains one of the most preserved places on our planet and any expedition vessel in Antarctica does not carry more than 200 guests at a time. It remains a home to a huge diversity of marine wildlife and birds – from humpback whales to wandering albatross to King Penguins, gentoos, chinstraps and rockhopper penguins.
The vastness and silence of Antarctica with her icebergs that defy physics will astound you. But no visit is complete without a visit to the former whaling stations that were set up here at the beginning of the 20th century. Imagining life back then, you will truly appreciate just how comfortable your floating hotel is today!
Voyages usually start from Ushuaia and include a 2 day crossing of ‘Drake Passage’, known as either the ‘Drake Lake’ or ‘Drake Shake’ depending on the conditions!
PONANT, Scenic Eclipse, Aurora, Quark Expeditions, Silversea, Crystal Endeavour offer trips to Antarctica. View all of our Expedition Cruise Lines here.
TIP 2: Many of the Antarctic voyages include a stay in Buenos Aires before a charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina. Consider adding time in this fascinating city pre- or post-cruise!
Tropical Expeditions
Of course an Expedition Cruise doesn’t just mean a trip to the frozen Poles! There are just as many tropical expeditions that will take you to the warmer climes around the world on an ‘off the beaten track’ adventure.
Likely to be the best-known tropical expedition is the Galapagos. Year-round warmth, thanks to its position on the equator, this unique set of islands is home to wildlife unlike any other. Giant tortoises, marine iguanas, seals that are so unafraid of humans that they’ll lie on the beach as you pass by.
Travel with Celebrity Flora, Silversea, and Avalon for epic Galapagos sailings.
Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands are high on most bucket lists and what better way to see these incredible countries than on an expedition. Australia is too big to do in one sailing, but there are a number of cruise companies that take a ‘chunk’ of the country and visit multiple cities. Coral Expeditions are a small ship expedition cruise company with some incredible itineraries all around Australia and the Coral Sea.
Silversea, PONANT, Aurora Expeditions, Seabourn and Scenic all have cruise itineraries covering these destinations.
Polynesia, Marquesas and Society Islands – Paul Gauguin cruises are one of the leading luxury cruise operators dedicated to this part of the world. Aranui V is a cargo-cum-cruise ship that will take you to the most remote atolls.
Easter Island – who hasn’t been inspired to travel across the Pacific Ocean to see the mysterious Moai Heads created between 13th-16th centuries? Travel to this isolated island on a voyage with Seabourn, Silversea, or PONANT.
See all of the destinations available for Expedition Cruises here.
The vessels and itinerary
Expedition cruise vessels are usually smaller in size to enable a more authentic experience – and the itinerary is more of a ‘guide’ rather than a fixed schedule, as both the Captain and the Expedition Leaders work closely to ensure that guests experience the maximum on the trip…if something spectacular has been spotted 2 nautical miles in a different direction, then it’s likely that the course will be redirected to enable guests to see such a natural wonder! View all of our Expedition Cruise itineraries here.
TIP 3: It’s an adventure you are embarking upon, so be ready to expect the unexpected with the itinerary!
Experts onboard: The Expedition Team
It is worthwhile remembering that the onboard Expedition Team, made up of naturalist guides, Expedition leaders, and guest lecturers, will all have been to the destination many times before – indeed most of them are experts in the specific region that they are working in. They are employed for their ability to unlock the secrets of the pristine destinations that you are visiting and through onboard lectures, conversations and presentations, they will help you to understand the flora and fauna and describe the ethnographic heritage and traditions of the locals you will meet.
TIP 4: Ask as many questions as you want – the on-board guides will each have a passion that they love to share, whether that’s bird watching, photography, marine conservation, or glaciology.
Fitness levels
An expedition voyage is one that requires a certain level of mobility and fitness as you will be getting into and out of zodiacs and doing both dry and wet landings. Hikes are always part of the daily activities, so a reasonable fitness level is an advantage, although not necessary.
What to pack
Most expedition cruise companies taking you on a Polar expedition cruise will provide waterproofs and wellies once you are onboard the ship (your sizes are pre-ordered before travel). Depending on the location it is usually best to adopt the ‘layering’ approach and make sure you have a decent pair of breathable trousers (for both polar and tropical expeditions).
Zodiacs
Each expedition cruise vessel has its own zodiacs that are stored onboard. Each morning the Expedition crew will check them over, get them into the water and ready for the day’s activities. Most zodiacs are entered by way of a pontoon on the back of the boat…so the ability to step down into it is required. They are really stable and usually take no more than 8-10 guests in each.
What’s included
On an expedition voyage all your excursions and daily activities are included, as are your meals and – on many vessels now – so are your drinks. But things like helicopter rides or trips in mini submersibles (on board the amazing Scenic Eclipse) will be at a supplementary charge.
So, now you have an idea of what’s involved and where to go…it’s just time to work out which itinerary you are going to do first! Don’t hesitate to get in touch for more information about Expedition Cruises by email us at [email protected].
Thanks to Amy Sharpe for providing this article.
Want to experience this? Give the Panache Cruises team a call on 0161 513 8200 and they'd be happy to help!
