Let’s talk about one of the hottest, fastest-growing trends in travel that most people aren’t even considering: expedition travel. And before you picture yourself freezing in Antarctica while wrestling a penguin, that’s not what expedition travel is anymore. Today’s expedition cruises are floating luxury hotels with naturalists, scientists, photographers, historians, Zodiac boats and experiences that completely change how you see the world. By the end of this guide, you might find Antarctica or the Arctic sitting on your list.
Why Everyone Is Talking About Expedition Cruises
For years, travel was about checking boxes: see Paris, visit Rome, go to Disney. I always say you should go and check those boxes. But then I’m in and out, done, moving on to the more authentic, less crowded experiences. Sure, the Colosseum is authentic Italy, if you want a lot of people. I’m good with fewer people and more culture.
Social media changed everything. People realized they didn’t just want a picture of something. They wanted stories and experiences. They want to come home and say, “I watched a whale surface five feet from my Zodiac and I nearly died.” (The “I nearly died” stories are always the best stories, even when you were nowhere close to dying.) “I stood among thousands of penguins.” “I saw a polar bear in the wild.” “I snorkeled with sea lions.” That’s expedition travel.
Personally, I want to see a polar bear chilling on the ice in real life, just like that scene on Soarin’ at Epcot. And then there’s the polar plunge. You could totally do it.
Travel also changed after the pandemic. People started asking, “If I’m going halfway around the world, I want it to mean something.” I’ve been saying that for years, and I’m glad everyone finally got on the bandwagon. Instead of taking five average vacations, many travelers are choosing one unforgettable trip and investing in the experience. That is exactly what expedition cruising offers.
What Makes an Expedition Cruise Different?
It’s not luxury versus adventure. It’s both. You’re not just visiting somewhere, you’re learning about it. On a big cruise ship in Alaska, you sit on your balcony and watch the orca, the whale or the dolphin float by, and it’s phenomenal. On an expedition, you go deeper, with experts explaining why penguins do what they do, why they mate for life and why polar bears sit on the ice waiting for food.
Small Ships, Big Access
Most expedition ships carry around 250 passengers or fewer instead of 4,000. That means more personal service, smaller groups, less waiting and access to places big ships can’t reach. There’s also a big push to keep large ships out of these fragile areas, because they can harm the natural environment, so the smaller the ship, the better.
Expedition Doesn’t Mean Roughing It
This surprises almost everyone. Many expedition ships have luxury suites, fine dining, wine pairings, spas, heated bathroom floors, lounges and observation decks. Some even have helicopters, submarines, kayaks and photography workshops. It’s luxury with a purpose. And no, it’s not cheap, but it is well worth it.
It’s Easier Than Ever
Years ago, expedition travel felt intimidating, and not many people did it. Today there are more cruise lines in the space, including brand-new ones where you can find some really good deals, and everything is taken care of: flights, hotels, transfers, expert guides and often even the giant waterproof boots and the whole outfit. You just show up, follow the program and explore.
There still aren’t a lot of companies doing expedition cruising, so it isn’t hard to research and figure out which one fits you best. There’s some range in pricing, but honestly it’s fairly similar across the board.
Who Expedition Cruising Is For
People assume you have to be an athlete. You don’t. Expedition cruising is for anyone who wants that moment of “There is so much more to the world than skyscrapers and YouTube,” that feeling of being very small in front of something enormous.
It used to attract mostly retirees. Today we’re seeing honeymooners, families, professionals in their 40s and 50s, adventure seekers, wildlife photographers and multigenerational families. Grandparents love the educational side, parents love unplugging and kids love the wildlife. Everyone wins. And yes, it’s family-friendly, so take your kiddos.
People are traveling younger, too, and thank goodness. Go see the world. Don’t wait until you retire, when you might not be able to climb the mountain you were so excited about.
The Best Expedition Cruise Destinations
Antarctica
This is my dream destination. It’s on my list, ready to go, and I just need to find the time. (And can we retire the phrase “bucket list”? It sounds like the end. Let’s call it a dream list.)
People expect ice, and of course you’ll see plenty of it. What they don’t expect is how emotional it becomes. Imagine standing in complete silence, and all you hear are thousands of penguins and massive glaciers moving. Icebergs the size of buildings. Whales surfacing beside your Zodiac. No crowds, no buildings, just nature. You don’t simply visit Antarctica. You experience it.
The Drake Passage: Drake Shake or Drake Lake?
My travel partner and best friend, Kelly, has a long-standing joke with me. Whenever I text her, “Okay, I have an idea,” she writes back, “How much is this going to cost me?” She’s on board for Antarctica. What scares the living daylights out of her is the Drake Passage. Every time we hit rough seas on a cruise (and we’ve been on more than 100 cruises), I tell her, “This is your preparation for the Drake Passage. Grit it out.”
I mention it not to scare you, but to prepare you. Sailing to the Antarctic Peninsula from South America means crossing the Drake Passage, and it can be the “Drake Shake” or the “Drake Lake.” You clearly want the Drake Lake. Search for videos and you’ll find the scariest ones you’ve ever seen. Some days you’re lucky and some days you’re not, and I’ve heard many people get the shake one way and the lake the other.
There are now itineraries that let you fly over the Drake and skip the crossing (I call it the chicken route). But I think crossing is a rite of passage, and not everyone has a Drake Passage story. If you get motion sickness, do your research and prepare ahead of time.
Samantha’s Secret Spot: South Georgia Island
Hardly anyone has heard of it, but if you love wildlife, South Georgia may be even better than Antarctica itself: hundreds of thousands of king penguins, elephant seals, fur seals and historic explorer sites. Many Antarctic itineraries include South Georgia, so make sure the one you choose does.
King penguins by the hundreds of thousands: why many Antarctic itineraries include South Georgia.
The Arctic
Top of the world instead of the bottom. Here you’re looking for polar bears, walruses, Arctic foxes, massive glaciers, tiny Inuit communities and the midnight sun. On my Iceland cruise, we sailed from Portsmouth, up into the Arctic Circle and around Iceland, and it never got dark. Quite possibly the coolest thing. The Northern Lights are possible on select sailings, but they have a season, so if they’re your thing, pay close attention to timing.
Polar bears on the sea ice: the Arctic is the top of the world, with the midnight sun in summer.
The Galápagos Islands
People are loving the Galápagos. Only a limited number of ships are allowed to sail there, and there’s a season, so do your research. If you love wildlife (and good God, the birds), nothing compares. Sea lions swim around you, blue-footed boobies perform their dances, marine iguanas sunbathe on the lava rocks and giant tortoises wander freely. It’s the closest thing to stepping inside a nature documentary, and it’s a little warmer than Antarctica.
Blue-footed boobies are one of the Galápagos’ famous residents, and the wildlife here isn’t shy.
Alaska, Iceland and Greenland
You can absolutely do Alaska on a big ship, but you can also do it as an expedition cruise that takes you into the nooks and crannies, not just Ketchikan and Sitka. You’ll have a smaller group, kayaking, bear watching and someone guiding you who knows all about it. It’s a completely different experience. If Antarctica or the Arctic feels too far, an Alaska expedition is a great place to start.
Iceland and Greenland work the same way: volcanoes, hot springs, waterfalls, puffins and icebergs, explored from a small ship that can get in close. That’s what you want to see.
The Amazon
Instead of oceans, you explore rivers: pink dolphins, monkeys, sloths, colorful birds and Indigenous communities.
The Kimberley, Australia
One of the least visited places on Earth, with waterfalls, ancient Aboriginal rock art and saltwater crocodiles. I’m paranoid about our alligators here, so a croc would freeze me in place.
Speaking of Australia: years ago, in my 20s, I took a night walk through the rainforest hoping to see crocs. I was dressed for it, with long sleeves, long pants and closed-toe shoes. Two girls showed up in flip-flops, short skirts and tank tops, and our guide looked at them like they had seven heads. Later he picked up a frog that he said squirts poison when you touch its back, explained all of this, and then touched its back. I had already positioned myself behind everybody. The girls had moved in closer. You can guess what happened. He told them they’d be fine. I feel terrible for laughing, but that is my good Australia story.
Is an Expedition Cruise Worth the Money?
Absolutely. Expedition travel isn’t inexpensive, so save your pennies, and know that this may be your big trip that year. But you’ll come back in awe that the world still exists in its full natural glory, and you’ll be telling these stories for decades.
Travel hack: book early. The best cabins on expedition cruises can sell out one to two years ahead, and because the ships are small, once they’re full, they’re full.
Travel isn’t just about seeing the world anymore. It’s about feeling connected to it. Whether you’re dreaming of Antarctica, kayaking beside a glacier in Alaska, snorkeling in the Galápagos or searching for polar bears in the Arctic, these aren’t vacations you forget. If expedition travel has been sitting on your dream list, my team at Fabulous Adventures Travel can help you figure out which line and itinerary fits you best.
