Expedition Cruising
Everyone knows about river cruising and ocean cruising, but many people are not aware of expedition cruising. This type of cruising appeals to travelers with a sense of adventure who want to get to the Earth’s more remote areas. They are interested in the experience more than the cruise. While the ships that do expedition cruising must be small with few passengers, they can be as luxurious as the larger ocean ships. And some of the destinations they explore are Antarctica, Galapagos Islands, Alaska, Northwest Passage of Canada, Machu Pichu and so much more.
When I was at my Virtuoso conference a few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to meet with some of these cruise lines and learn more about their companies:
Ponant:
Ponant is the World Leader in Luxury Expeditions with ultra-modern, intimate ships, offering attentive service, and well-designed itineraries sailing to all corners of the globe. Each year PONANT offers more than 400 awe-inspiring cruises, calling at over 450 ports on all seven continents. Their fleet of 12 purpose-built intimate ships are able to call at iconic, international ports as well as secret harbors accessible only to smaller-sized ships and our expeditions all include Zodiac landings, and onboard expert naturalists to enhance your experience. Ponant offers an “all-inclusive” cruising experience and best of all, there are a wide range of cruises with no single supplement, perfect for solo travelers.
Lindblad Expeditions:
For generations, the Lindblad name has been synonymous with exploration, adventure and responsible tourism. These abiding traits are born from their rich heritage as the first expedition company and our inherent passion for discovery and preservation, which together provide awe-inspiring travel experiences in every corner of the world. Since Lars-Eric Lindblad created Lindblad Travel in 1958 as a way to introduce like-minded adventurers to remote lands, pristine nature and diverse cultures, Lindblad has inspired tens of thousands of explorers to discover their planet and ponder their place within it. They explore the 7 continents and have a National Geographic Alliance where you can explore the planet’s most extraordinary places in the company of world-renowned scientists, naturalists, and researchers using state-of-the-art exploration tools. All activities are included on these shipr and they sail on both oceans and rivers.
Aqua Expeditions:
A recognized global leader in luxury small-ship expeditions, Aqua Expeditions explores the world’s most biodiverse and culturally significant destinations aboard best-in-class vessels. Expect tailored five-star itineraries, a highly exclusive 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, world-class dining, and small group expert-guided activities and excursions. Aqua Expeditions operates river explorations on the Amazon (Peru), the Mekong (Cambodia and Vietnam), and coastal yacht voyages to Komodo National Park, Ambon and the Spice Islands, as well as Raja Ampat (East Indonesia), with their latest superyacht sailing the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) from June 2022.
Seabourn:
Seabourn is passionate about travel. Traveling for pleasure has a redemptive power that enriches people’s lives. Cruising on a Seabourn ship is unlike other forms of travel. The experience is luxurious, yet relaxed -elegant, yet casual -sumptuous, yet understated. Our intimate ships visit desirable destinations worldwide, sailing to landmark cities & hidden gems where larger vessels cannot follow. Their ships attract people who seek to share experiences beyond the ordinary. Their acclaimed staff offers a style of heartfelt hospitality that is sincere, thoughtful & personal as guests sail on the World's Finest Ultra-Luxury Resort at Sea.