Expedition Cruises
Discover ports and far flung destinations larger ships simply cannot access and enjoy exhilarating excursions in these incredible pockets the globe. Embark on an expedition cruise to the Polar regions, discover the beauty and bays along Australia's Kimberley coastline, island hop through the Galápagos, or cruise around Africa on one of 2,832 small ship expedition cruises.
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Popular Expedition Cruises
30 Days Manaus to Guayaquil
Operator: Cosmos
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Destination-focused adults-only cruising
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French luxury expedition cruising
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Popular experiences and highlights on an Expedition Cruise
The Land of Fire and Ice 
African Wildlife Safaris 
Recent Reviews
What our clients are saying about their cruise expeditions around the world
Perfect Journey
Ultimate Baltic & Nordic Marvels: Stockholm, Copenhagen & Norwegian Fjords
Marea and Mark, VIC, Australia, Aug 2026
Thank you Rachel at Global Journeys for helping us to book our dream holiday on Scenic Exlipse II when we found Scenic to be unhelpful. Grace took over from Rachel and was also very efficient with some details as well as obtaining a refund for our flight change from Emirates to Thai Airways. The boat is magnificent - brilliant stabilisers, great facilities, read more staff couldn’t be better and excellent and varied dining experiences. The included daily excursions and guide were of very high quality. We enjoyed the 21 day trip from Stockholm to Bergen visiting Estonia, Latvia, Germany and the Scandinavian countries. There were many highlights but we will never forget sailing through the Norwegian Fjords.
A great trip
Essence of the Kimberley with Kimberley Coastal Expedition (Land in Reverse)
Roger and Mary, NSW, Australia, Aug 2026
We firstly did the 9 day APT Broome to Broome overland trip followed by the 10 day Broome to Darwin coastal expedition booked through Global Journeys. I am glad we did it in that order and not the sea going followed by land option. The 9 day adventure was in a purpose built Mercedes coach with 20 other hardy souls. It was a bit of a rugged trip with read more some serious trekking to get to each waterfall or waterhole. At the end of each day we were rewarded with excellent meals at the various accommodation stops. These were all very good, mainly glam tents style. Overall this part of our trip was well worth the effort, enhanced by our lively coach driver/guide Scotty. With respect to the booking process with Global Journeys, all went smoothly, no issues at all.
The next section was a 5 star cruise out of Broome. The trip start was encountered some industrial action in Broome which meant everything had to be transported on and off the ship by Zodiac. Nothing like starting an adventure with an adventure. Overall this was a very relaxing trip, food and staff were all excellent. The off ship excursions by zodiacs were well organised and very good. The only minor criticism is that APT were a little risk averse. A normal non APT trip would have included such thing as snorkeling on Ashmore Reef which was supposed to be a highlight, but with APT this was not an option. I suppose losing one or two guests due to sharks was thought as not worth it. However, overall, a great trip.
The next section was a 5 star cruise out of Broome. The trip start was encountered some industrial action in Broome which meant everything had to be transported on and off the ship by Zodiac. Nothing like starting an adventure with an adventure. Overall this was a very relaxing trip, food and staff were all excellent. The off ship excursions by zodiacs were well organised and very good. The only minor criticism is that APT were a little risk averse. A normal non APT trip would have included such thing as snorkeling on Ashmore Reef which was supposed to be a highlight, but with APT this was not an option. I suppose losing one or two guests due to sharks was thought as not worth it. However, overall, a great trip.
Top quality way to see the Kimberley coast
Australia's Iconic Kimberley
Lynn, NSW, Australia, Jul 2026
This trip exceeded my already high expectations. The expedition crew packed in as many outings as possible and we visited multiple places really only accessible by water. There were also excellent talks from the crew on the wildlife, geology, history and culture of the places we visited. Added to this were a comfortable cabin, really good food and impeccable read more service from all crew. A really outstanding trip.
Best Galapagos experience
Galápagos – West & Central Islands aboard the Reina Silvia Voyager
Jo and David, NSW, Australia, Jul 2026
Amazing trip, G Adventures and South American team made everything easy. Boat was incredible, crew fantastic, guide Omar was a standout. Such a fun group of people from all over the world to travel with too. Included transfers took away any stress. Just do it, most incredible place on earth and a great way to do it.
Wonderful Scenic cruise.
Scottish Isles: Historic Trails & Wilderness
Wendy and David, SA, Australia, May 2026
Travelling with Scenic is always very well organized and worry free. Their attention to detail insures there are plenty of options for land excursions to suit all ages and different abilities. Whenever possible or weather permits Scenic will offer additional things to the program, like helicopter flights, paddle boarding or kayaking. The food is always read more amazing with an extensive wine list and the staff are wonderful.
Botanica Japan
Spring Gardens, Culture and History of Japan & South Korea by Small Ship
Bill and Yvonne, NSW, Australia, Apr 2026
The trip was really well organised & of high quality. All Botanica staff were excellent being both down to earth as well as knowledgeable. The ship & crew was excellent with the cabins being spacious & plenty of storage. The food was fabulous. The local guides were also fabulous. The trip was very well handled for us by Hannah Perry who is always pleasant.
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Your guide to Expedition Cruising
Common Questions
Common Questions About Expedition Cruises
What is an expedition cruise?
An expedition cruise focuses on exploring remote and exotic locations and getting up close to the stunning scenery and wildlife of destinations less travelled. Expedition cruises are led by an expedition team made up of experts in fields such as ecology, marine biology and the environment as well as photography. Once the choice of hardy adventurers, expedition cruising is now serviced by many luxury cruise operators meaning you can enjoy the adventure without forgoing beautiful cabins, fine dining and a little bit of luxury.
What is the difference between a traditional cruise and an expedition cruise?
One difference between traditional and expedition cruising is the size of the ship. Traditional cruise ships vary in size from huge to small and intimate whereas expedition ships are always smaller. This not only enables them them to reach more remote areas, but also keeps passenger numbers low which is far more sustainable for exploration in those areas. Traditional cruising involves sailing from port to port all the while enjoying fantastic eateries, lavish entertainment and an abundance activities on board as well as day excursions at each stop. Expedition cruising is more focused on one destination rather than the cruising lifestyle. Entertainment tends to be educational and a great deal of time is spent off the ship exploring and enriching the passengers understanding of the region.
