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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 2,484 small ship expedition cruises.

Popular Expedition Cruises View all

Featured

12 Days Buenos Aires to Buenos Aires

Operator: Hurtigruten

From 9,695
Save 167

10 Days Broome to Darwin

Operator: APT

From 11,592
Save 1,103

11 Days Broome to Darwin

Operator: APT

From 12,483
Save 2,212

11 Days Darwin to Broome

Operator: Ponant

From 10,284
Save 131

Featured Expedition Cruise Lines View all

Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten Group is the world’s leading adventure travel group, offering unique small-ship and land-based adventures from pole to pole – and anywhere...more in between. We take our guests to the most spectacular areas on the planet, offering a mix of pristine wilderness and visits to genuine local communities.
Cruises Expeditions236
Budget:Premium
Known For:Norway Coastal Cruises
Fleet Size:15
Intrepid
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers off the beaten track to discover the world's most amazing places for 30 years. Every trip is designed to truly...more experience local culture - to meet local people, try local food, take local transport and stay in local accommodation. Led by a local leader, our small group tours offer a sustainable way to travel off the beaten track, while giving back to the places and people that travellers visit.
Cruises Expeditions424
Budget:Affordable & Premium
Accommodation:Mixed
Viking
A Viking ocean cruise is the discerning traveller’s dream. Whether you choose to visit Scandinavia, Asia, the Mediterranean or the Americas, our itineraries...more are designed to immerse you in the history and culture of each destination. With us, you could be exploring a local food market with our head chef one day and experiencing an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of a world-famous museum the next. Our state-of-the-art small ships take you right into the heart of each destination, and you won’t find any casinos or kids on board. Plus, our fares include just about everything you need - from meals, beverages and Wi-Fi to a culturally enriching shore excursion at every port of call. This unique combination of features has become affectionately known as ‘the Viking difference’. Viking is the world’s leading small-ship cruise line, and we can’t wait to welcome you on board to discover the Viking difference for yourself.
Cruises Expeditions160
Budget:Premium
Known For:Thinking Persons Cruise
Fleet Size:11

Discover Popular experiences and highlights on an Expedition Cruise

The Land of Fire and Ice

The Land of Fire and Ice

Discover the raw natural beauty of Iceland, from volcanic craters and sweeping glacial valleys to colossal thundering waterfalls.

<a href='/cruises/kimberley' class='brand-link-color'>Adventures Along the Kimberley Coast</a>

Adventures Along the Kimberley Coast

Board a Zodiac for a ride through Horizontal Falls as water thunders between the steep gorges that frame the turquoise cascade.

<a href='/tours/galapagos' class='brand-link-color'>Island Hop the Galápagos</a>

Island Hop the Galápagos

Discover an incredible ecosystem brimming with wildlife as you weave between the islands of this fascinating and scenically rich archipelago.

African Wildlife Safaris

African Wildlife Safaris

Dock in the heart of incredible destinations along the African coast and access some of the world’s most remarkable wildlife experiences, from spotting the Big Five in South Africa to the unique species of Madagascar's Nature Reserves.

<a href='/cruises/antarctica' class='brand-link-color'>Expeditions to Antarctica</a>

Expeditions to Antarctica

Immerse yourself in the icy wilderness on an expedition filled with bucket list experiences. Keep watch for wildlife on sea kayaking and Zodiac excursions, take an invigorating Polar plunge, and perhaps even camp out on the ice.

Recent Reviews What our clients are saying about their cruise expeditions around the world

A different expedition holiday experience.     , QLD, Australia, Apr 2023
Ship accomodation, meals + beveridges excellent, crew & expedition team exceptional (APT charge a premium & always do it very well)! Itinerary good, visiting coral islands & cays in zodiacs. Great opportunity to see wildlife & visit places not seen... to enjoy a different expedition holiday experience.
Up the Coral Coast WA     , QLD, Australia, Apr 2023
I have to start by thanking Georgie from Global Journeys for her special effort with our late reservation. Am so glad she succeeded. We knew nothing of APT and have been in awe of their organisation of everything from transport, accommodation and the expedition experience. Service and food presentation on the ship was first rate. Safety -particularly ...read more with zodiac transfers and snorkelling- was of high order. Of course it goes without saying that seeing this part of the WA coast and its islands was very special.
Jan and I will travel again with APT if another chance like this appeals to us. Thanks everybody.
The Amazing Kimberley   , NSW, Australia, Aug 2022
The cruise on the Caledonian Sky was once again a wonderful adventure. This was the fourth time we have travelled on this ship. Previously we had toured with Noble Caledonian tours and we can honestly say that the service from the expedition team and hotel staff was the same which was of high quality The highlight of the trip was Montgomery's reef. ...read more If you thinking of taking this trip it would be better at the end of the wet season as when we where there in September the waterfalls were dry but the landscape was beautiful. The knowledge of the expedition team was fantastic.

The only negative was that on arrival in Broome we had not been booked into the hotel that we originally booked and paid for due to confusion between Oaks and APT but the staff of Oaks Cable Beach were able to organise with Oaks Town for us to stay with them sat the Oaks Cable Beach Sanctuary. Thank you Rachael from Oaks Cable Beach.
Kimberley Cruise   , WA, Australia, Aug 2022
We had a wonderful time on the Kimberley cruise. The Caledonian Sky was very comfortable, the meals and drinks were first rate and the crew were excellent, very attentive and always polite. Overall, we’d give it 10 out of 10.

Explore More Your guide to Expedition Cruising

Bringing You Closer

10 December, 2021

Bringing You Closer

Experts on the Norwegian coast, many of whom live locally, will be by your side as part of your voyage with Hurtigruten, showing you their home and sharing their stories with you.  No guidebook, website, or mobile app can replace the human connection of having one of ...

Explore The Heart of Coastal Norway

27 September, 2021

Explore The Heart of Coastal Norway

Having established the Original Coastal Route along the coast of Norway 128 years ago, Hurtigruten is integral to, and ingrained in, the Norwegian culture and way of life. Their unmatched experience in sailing these waters, makes them the local experts, and no one knows the fjords, wildlife,...

 Discover Antarctica, the Arctic & the Great Lakes in Comfort and Style with Viking

09 March, 2020

Discover Antarctica, the Arctic & the Great Lakes in Comfort and Style with Viking

Following the recent launch of Viking expeditions, you can now look forward to exploring Antarctica, the Arctic and North America’s Great Lakes on board Viking’s two new purpose-built expedition ships. Maintaining its reputation as The Thinking Person’s Cruise, Viking has developed an...

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....read more 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...read 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.